PHUW 39

The dog matched Haeri’s pace, walking calmly. But the trip home was anything but easy. Passing by Janggun’s house was the real problem.

Woof, woof!

Janggun appeared beyond the iron gate and barked madly. He clearly didn’t approve. The bear-dog also stared to run wild.

Woof, woof! Woof, woof!

The two big dogs varked incessantly, sending the whole neighborhood into chaos. The Jindo, known for being unruly, even to its owner; the Maltese, known for its ferocity towards rude people; the Shiba, the world’s most timid dog; and the Beagle, oblivious to the situation and simply excited. The sound of barking resonated through every house.

“If we open the gate now, Janggun will run out, so you bachelors get inside first,”

Janggun’s owner said, she gestured and blocked the gate. Haeri wanted nothing more than to get inside quickly, but he didn’t have the strength to pull the bear-dog. Even with his heels dug in, he was being dragged.

“Stop! You damned bear, listen to me!”

“Give it here.”

Jeong Mok, who couldn’t stand to see Haeri being dragged around by the bear, took the leash.

“Sit down!”

The two dogs, who had been barking, froze; startled by the magnificent shout that resonated from his core. Not only Haeri, but even Janggun’s owners stared in shock. The chorus of barking from the entire neighborhood died down.

The force radiating from Jeong Mok’s large frame was no joke. The two dogs, subdued by his gaze alone, focused on the leader of the territory.

“Sit,”

Jeong Mok ordered coldly. When the uncle gestured, Janggun sat at once. The bear-dog hesitated, sending Haeri a pleading look, and even tugged at the leash to resist Jeong Mok.

“You sit too,” Haeri said.

The bear-dog reluctantly sat.

“As expected of Song-i’s oppa. He subdued them in one go. ”

The aunt said in admiration. Haeri had no idea what that had to do with Song-i. Was Song-i a professional trainer?

While the two dogs were still, Janggun’s owner quickly slipped inside the gate, grabbed Janggun’s leash, and dragged him toward the house. Janggun, coming back to his senses, thrashed to be let go so he could put the bear-dog in its place. The bear-dog’s rump jerked in response.

“Enough.”

When the bear tried to bark again, Jeong Mok yanked the leash, as if hauling in a huge catch. The massive front paws lifted off the ground. Even as it bounced back on its hind legs, it swung a paw toward Janggun. Janggun, who was being dragged away, did the same.

“Let’s go.”

With a firm command, Jeong Mok pulled Haeri along, and the bear-dog, having no choice, followed his strength up toward the house.

They couldn’t let a parasite-covered dog inside the living area. But leaving it in the parking lot didn’t sit right either. There was a terrace, but from there it could see Janggun’s house, which would mean an endless long-distance barking match. In the end, they decided to keep it in the entryway. Since they’d find the owner tomorrow, one night would be fine.

“I’ll get a mat, so stay here for now,” Jeong Mok said.

Leaving Haeri and the bear-dog in the entryway, he went inside.

Haeri squatted down in front of the closed inner door. The bear-dog, apparently tired, lay down too. It almost filled the entryway that could easily fit a twin bed.

When it had been fighting Janggun, it was terrifying, but like this, it wasn’t so bad. The dog rested its muzzle on Haeri’s foot. It was more affectionate than it looked. Haeri slowly stroked its head.

“You bear. What’s your name? Why’d you leave home?”

It just looked at him, flapping its dumpling-like ears.

“Move over a bit?”

Jeong Mok appeared, opening the inner door. He was carrying a huge dog bed and a water bowl the size of a washbasin. The dog stood, sniffed the bed, and then climbed onto it.

He filled the bowl with fresh water. The dog, lying down moments before, got up and drank greedily.

“You had this here?” Haeri asked.

“It was Song-i’s,” Jeong Mok said.

“Oh.”

So Song-i must have been a professional dog trainer. That would explain why the equipment was here, why Jeong Mok wasn’t afraid of large dogs, and why he handled them so well. She had probably kept a dog with him before she died. The plan to build a training and rescue center made sense now. Maybe it had been her wish.

Her architect boyfriend would design it, and the professional trainer girlfriend would run it. But she had died early, halting construction. Recently, he’d resumed the work, only for an accident to happen. If Haeri were him, he’d want to see it through too, if only to avoid leaving it tainted by bad luck.

He felt sorry and grateful to Song-i, even though he had never met her. And maybe a little envious, envious that she’d had someone like Jeong Mok.

It felt pathetic and trashy to feel that way toward someone who had died young. He felt a bit guilty. But the feeling wouldn’t go away, especially when he saw how gently Jeong Mok looked at the runaway bear-dog.

‘I feel like crying again.’

He didn’t know why he’d been so sentimental lately. He still had plenty of life ahead. What was so hard that he was acting so pitiful? For a middle school graduate, getting one hundred million won from a concussion was a lottery win.

Haeri blinked rapidly. If his eyelashes were any longer, they might have flown off.

“What got in your eye?”

Jeong Mok cupped Haeri’s face in both hands. His hands were as warm as always. They were so big that the tips of his middle fingers brushed his ears. The faint electric sensation ran down from the nape of his neck to his lower back.

“Uh, um…”

“Hold still. Let me see if something got in.”

Jeong Mok’s face drew closer. The blade-like bridge of his nose came forward and bumped Haeri’s own. His heart roared like an eight-cylinder engine, and a current ran straight down his spine. The solid pad of his thumb slid up to Haeri’s cheekbone. As he gently tugged down the lower eyelid, his chiseled face filled Haeri’s world.

“There’s nothing there.”

Haeri stayed frozen, unable to move his eyes. Then Jeong Mok’s neat lips pursed. Slowly, almost in slow motion, he blew a gentle stream of air into both of Haeri’s eyes. The sigh-like warmth made the bridge of his nose tingle and a tear finally spilled over. It wasn’t just because his eyes stung.

‘Why is he so affectionate? It’s bringing tears to my eyes.’

He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again. Another tear fell.

“I think a lot of dust got inside. I have eye drops.”

At least this gave him an excuse to hide the tears.

“No, I’m fine now. The tears flushed it out.”

“Still.”

Jeong Mok pulled him inside and personally applied the drops. Meanwhile, the bear-dog had passed out, even snoring. Unbelievable, considering this was the same one that had lunged at people and animals, throwing the whole neighborhood into chaos.

“It might look calm, but it’s probably been on edge the whole time. I doubt it’s eaten properly either. Let’s wash up and eat.”

“Alright.”

Haeri didn’t know if the bear-dog had fleas or ticks, he stripped off all his clothes and tossed them straight into the washer. While their clothes mingled together inside, Haeri went to shower first. He stood naked, testing the water temperature, when he heard someone knocking on the door, and Jeong Mok opened it slightly.

“Ah!”

Haeri pressed his thighs together and hunched a little, looking at Jeong Mok peeking his head in.

“What is it?”

“Head, do you need help?”

He meant helping Haeri wash his hair.

“I’m fine now that the stitches are removed.”

“Really?”

Even after that answer, Jeong Mok didn’t close the door. His gaze lingered on Haeri’s half-turned body, and Haeri felt suddenly exposed.

“Or should I scrub your back?”

“No! I can use a shower towel. I’ll be out soon.”

“….Okay.”

Trying to focus on the water, Haeri didn’t notice it heating too much until it was already scalding.

“Ah!”

He dropped the shower head, unable to reach the tap. On the floor, the shower head thrashed like a cobra, spraying boiling water everywhere.

“Ah, it’s hot!”

Haeri leaped out of the tub-shower, he hopped around while Jeong Mok darted in, he got splashed by the spray as he shut off the water. Then he ran cold water into a towel and pressed it to Haeri’s thigh.

“Ahh…”

The cool cloth was a relief. Jeong Mok stripped off his shirt, picked up the shower head, and ran cold water over his own arms. Only then did Haeri realize he’d been hit by the scalding water too.

“I’m sorry. Is it hot?”

“It’s fine. My clothes took most of it. Sit here so I can pour more cold water.”

Haeri sat on the edge of the tub as told. Jeong Mok soaked the towel, and water dripped down. Just before it could reveal too much, Haeri pulled the towel back up. The burn was on his thigh, but somehow his face was getting hot.

“Let me see.”

Ignoring the fact that he might get wet, Jeong Mok squatted in front of him and lifted the towel. His thigh was bright red.

Jeong Mok’s fingers gently rubbed the wet skin. Maybe it was because the heat had made it so sensitive, but the touch felt strange, tingling and almost ticklish. His calf twitched, his toes curled. That wasn’t the real problem.

“Let me check the inside too.”

Jeong Mok pressed his hand between Haeri’s tightly closed thighs.

“Ah…”

A whimper escaped before he could stop it. When Jeong Mok looked up, Haeri’s face went crimson.

“Does it sting?”

Haeri bit his lip and shook his head quickly.