CHAPTER 16 – Sickness (Part 2)

The bell rang once more. Dojun headed to the bathroom. He pressed the intercom connected to the bathroom to open the front door and took out a short-sleeved T-shirt from the dressing room to put on.

Still struggling to open his eyes properly, Dojun turned on the cold water. After lightly washing his face and brushing his teeth, he opened the bathroom door.

“Madam…”

He stepped out, making eye contact with Seo-yeon, who was pacing around in the master bedroom. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him. Thinking naturally that it was the housekeeper who had opened the door for her to enter.

She was flustered, turned her head, and looked around in confusion. Dojun felt like he was seeing things. He wondered if Seo-yeon was real.

The person who rang the bell was Yoon Seoyeon. Since the door opened, she must have come into the master bedroom. Even though he had expected it, the moment he saw her, something stopped him in his tracks.

“I told her to take the day off.”

Dojun said as he tossed a towel into the basket in front of the bathroom.

Why…….

Although she didn’t ask aloud, a question mark appeared on Seo-yeon’s face. She was a woman who didn’t easily show her emotions in ordinary situations, but she seemed very flustered.

“I’m going to rest.”

As he answered, Seoyeon tucked her hair behind her ear. It was a somewhat languid gesture. The way she looked at him, looked back at him, opened her mouth to say something, then stopped, was like an illusion.

Maybe it’s just jet lag. Or maybe I’m still not awake. 

There was a severe cognitive dissonance. He felt like a slow-loading machine that didn’t start working immediately after turning it on. Dojun thought that drinking hot and strong coffee might help clear his mind, so he briefly glanced at Seo-yeon and headed towards the door.

“Then I’ll come back another day so you can rest comfortably.”

At Seo-yeon’s words, Dojun turned his head away from the door. The bewildered expression on Seo-yeon’s face had disappeared. Although she looked a bit tired, it was Yoon Seo-yeon’s characteristic composed face. Dojun lightly extended his hand towards Seo-yeon.

“Don’t worry about it, just work.”

Seo-yeon looked at him and blinked a few times. She looked like she was trying to decide what to say in response. Thinking that she had a strangely languid expression today, Seo-yeon finally spoke.

“Well then, I’ll go to the dressing room.”

Dojun nodded and turned around. He made himself a hot cup of coffee and took a slow sip, looking out the living room window. The sky seemed ready to pour down any moment.

Knock.

A knock on the door made Seo-yeon turn around. Dojun stood in the open doorway of the dressing room.

“You don’t drink coffee or tea.”

Inside a transparent glass was orange juice with ice. Seo-yeon closed and opened her eyes slowly as she watched Dojun set the glass on top of the drawer.

“I thought you might want something cold to drink.”

Dojun smiled gently. Her head felt like it was filled with hot steam, but she was still dazed by his nonchalance.

“Ah……. Yes, thank you.”

Even with Seoyeon’s response, Dojun didn’t turn around. Instead, he leaned against the door with his arms crossed, like someone who had more to say.

“I just got back from a business trip.”

I know. Your schedule was shared by the secretary.

“I arrived at dawn and had a breakfast meeting right afterward.”

She didn’t seem to have been informed about the breakfast meeting. That thought struck her dazedly. 

But why isn’t he going? 

She wanted to lean on something for a moment, take a break.

“Yes.”

Seoyeon responded, meaning she understood and he could leave now.

“I’ve been busy.”

Understood.

Seo-yeon thought as she reached for the shelf that divided the closet. The hanger she was holding felt incredibly heavy.

Strangely, her body felt like it was falling apart at a rapid pace after seeing Dojun. The screws that had been tightened seemed to loosen and her whole body felt like it was about to collapse.

It was already difficult to respond and to make matters worse, Dojun, who had been leaning against the door, now detached himself and walked towards Seo-yeon.

“It’s hot, humid, and pouring rain. That’s how it is in Singapore.”

She lifted her eyes to look at him, but he blurred in her vision for a moment before becoming clear again. She just wished he would hurry up and say whatever he had to say and disappear.

“I deliberately didn’t contact you.” 

Ha.

A hot breath escaped the tip of Seo-yeon’s nose.

After being sent off in the car that day and then not hearing from him for a solid five days, the only thing he had to say was that he deliberately didn’t contact me?

“You don’t have to explain…….”

Seo-yeon leaned back against the closet and squeezed her eyes shut. It was exhausting to even utter a word, and with the room spinning beneath her, she couldn’t help it.

Seeing her like that, Dojun raised his eyebrows. He walked over and placed his hand on Seo-yeon’s forehead.

“Yoon Seoyeon.”

As she heard those words, Seoyeon closed her eyes. Feeling her feet give way, Dojun’s voice grew distant.

* * *

When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a white ceiling fan hanging from the ceiling. Just that was enough for Seoyeon to know where she was lying.

I’m not supposed to be lying on a bed.

At that moment, she wanted to close her eyes again. It was hard to believe she was lying on the giant bed in the master bedroom. And even covered with a thin sheet up to her chest.

Seo-yeon sighed and lifted her head. The slightest movement made her dizzy, so it took her a while to sit up. As she sat upright, she could see the view of the room.

The dark room had light coming in through the open curtains in a long rectangular shape on the dark floor. It was the light from the living room coming through the open door.

Thirsty.

Seoyeon swallowed dryly as she thought.

I’m dizzy, nauseous, and sweaty, but the worst thing is I am thirsty.

Her mouth was so dry that it hurt like a tear to swallow.

What time was it? How long had I been like this? 

Seoyeon looked around the dark surroundings.

“Are you awake?”

Dojun’s shadow loomed over a rectangular shape of bright light. He looked nonchalant as if it was an everyday occurrence for a woman to collapse at his home.

He stood by the door, she looked at him with weary eyes. She couldn’t gauge how to deal with this man.

“Yes.”

Her voice came out hoarse as she answered. Seoyeon fidgeted, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear as she glanced around. Her bag and cell phone were lying on the nightstand to her right. Glancing at the phone’s screen, it read 2 o’clock. Fortunately, it hadn’t been too long.

“I’ve been feeling a little under the weather. I apologize for the inconvenience in many ways.”

“Just a moment.”

As Dojun heard Seoyeon’s words, he turned away. Moments later, he returned holding a mug and approached the bed. The mattress sank under his weight as he sat down next to her.

“Drink.”

Dojun said, holding out the mug, and Seoyeon eyed him suspiciously. Dojun chuckled lightly.

“It’s cold medicine.”

As if urging her to take it quickly, Dojun extended the mug cup once more. Seo-yeon grabbed the cup with both hands. The lukewarm water smells like lemon. Still skeptical, Seoyeon looked at him. Dojun explained casually as if describing something mundane.

“I don’t have a hobby of embracing unconscious women.”

She hadn’t assumed it would be that kind of medicine. Seoyeon was about to say something but stopped herself.