CHAPTER 16 – Sickness (Part 3)

From the way he sat and watched her, it seemed like he intended to wait until she finished drinking. She took a small sip of the lemon-flavored water and then swallowed it all at once.

“Thanks.”

Putting the cup down, Seoyeon grimaced. Dojun smiled in response. It was refreshing to see him smile as if he’d heard something funny. 

How could he be like that? The same person who had been so ruthless that night, how could he show such a smile now?

“Want some candy?”

Dojun teased, and Seoyeon glanced at him. 

She didn’t know. Really. 

At some point, she had stopped being Yoon Seo-yeon in front of Hwang Dojun, and she didn’t even know what Yoon Seo-yeon was anymore.

“The outfits, the setting… They’re not done yet.”

She couldn’t finish her sentence. Because instead of candy, Dojun kissed her. His soft lips touched her dry ones. As they gently parted and then broke away, her lower abdomen tightened slightly.

“If you’re not feeling well, say so. Don’t stubbornly endure.”

Who’s to blame for all this?

She wanted to blame Dojun. Blame him for kissing her so nonchalantly. Blame him for seeing her hidden vulnerabilities. Blame him for being mean and then sweet, hot, and then cold.

Instead of saying the words that echoed in her mind, Seoyeon said calmly.

“I was planning to go to the hospital once I finished setting up.”

She simply said she wasn’t someone who would stubbornly endure, but Dojun asked,

“You want me to call a doctor?”

Seo-yeon sighed.

“No, I’ll get up.”

As she pulled back the sheets, she chuckled at her newfound self. It was funny to sit in someone else’s bed like the owner, and it was funny to see Dojun sitting next to her like a caregiver.

“Did you bring a car?”

“No.”

“I’ll call a driver. Lie down.”

“It’s okay.”

Ignoring Seoyeon’s words, Dojun tried to get up while pressing buttons on his phone. As the bell rang incessantly, Seoyeon wished she could close her eyes.

No, don’t call. It’s not that serious.

“Don’t call.”

Seoyeon said, grabbing the hem of Dojun’s shirt as he stood up.

“Don’t call. I don’t want to.”

I had seen this before, and now I had to witness it again today? 

Even if she was Dojun’s employee, she didn’t want to see such behavior repeatedly.

Seoyeon shook her head, and Dojun stared at her for a moment before hitting the end button.

“I won’t call.”

Seo-yeon let out a sigh of relief and nodded slightly. Dojun was looking down at Seo-yeon’s hand holding his t-shirt. For some reason, Seo-yeon felt uneasy and let go of the t-shirt with a shrug.

“Again.”

Dojun said. Unsure of what he meant, Seoyeon just looked at him, but Dojun reached out his hand. He cupped Seoyeon’s cheek and asked,

“What can I do for you?”

Seoyeon chuckled. She tried to turn her gaze away, but Dojun’s eyes held hers steadfastly. With his thumb gently stroking her cheek, Dojun looked into Seoyeon’s eyes.

Nothing. Don’t do anything for me.

Those words didn’t come out, caught in her throat by his affectionate gaze. Dojun looked at Seo-yeon and smiled.

“Since you’ve taken the medicine, go get some sleep.”

“No.”

As Seoyeon was about to say something, Dojun pressed her body firmly.

“Sleep. Don’t collapse again.”

Before she could say anything, Dojun turned away. The door closed with a thud. Seo-yeon stared blankly at the door. Ironically, she felt somewhat amused.

It’s too late to swallow her pride and pretend everything is fine. She had already cried and struggled. Would anything change just because she looked sick?

I’ve already laid down, so what difference does it make if I take another?

Seoyeon thought so as she closed her heavy eyelids.

* * *

When she opened her eyes again, she noticed that the curtains were drawn. It was dark outside, and the sky was cloudy. Dust-like snowflakes were blowing in the wind.

And one more thing. She realized Dojun was beside her, sitting with his back against the head of the bed, looking at his phone.

“What time is it?”

Seoyeon, lying down, looked at Dojun and asked. Dojun swiped at his phone and answered.

“It’s 5 o’clock.”

What an absurd conversation.

Me asking what time it is after sleeping for three hours on someone else’s bed, and you casually answering while looking at your phone. We’re so weird.

Dojun lowered his phone. Turning towards Seoyeon, he touched her forehead. His hand was so big that it covered not just her forehead but her eyes too.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling better.”

Dojun stared at Seo-yeon as she answered. He observed the sweat on her forehead, her disheveled hair, and the lingering warmth in her eyes. Seoyeon’s face blushed slightly.

“You didn’t have to stay by my side.” 

When Seoyeon pointed out that he had unnecessarily sat next to her in this spacious house, Dojun chuckled and replied.

“I was afraid you might fall off the bed.”

At his ridiculous answer, Seoyeon couldn’t help but laugh. Dojun reached out his arm and grabbed Seoyeon’s cheek. His large hand covered half of her face. Under Dojun’s silent gaze, Seoyeon’s laughter faded away.

This man had a strange habit. One moment he was cupping her cheek, the next he was looking into her eyes, the next he was kissing her.

Just like right now.

Their lips met once, softly pressing against each other before Dojun leaned back slightly. His bright brown eyes stared deeply into Seoyeon’s.

His eyes caressed Seo-yeon’s face, and then he tilted his head again. He probed deeper, from a different angle.

A sigh escaped Seoyeon’s throat. It was more of a sigh of relief than a sound. It was the vibration of air that naturally erupted from her throat as tension released, her belly tightening and releasing, the vibration of air escaping through her throat.

As their tongues danced and breaths mingled, Seoyeon’s lower abdomen kept twitching involuntarily. Dojun’s soft lips were addicting, and Seoyeon reciprocated by kissing him back. Even though her back touched the bed, she felt as though she were sinking somewhere deep.

Ah…

As their lips parted slightly, Seoyeon let out a ragged breath. Dojun turned his body completely, reaching his arms around Seoyeon’s sides. He draped himself over her and their lips met again. A hot breath was sucked into his mouth.

Seoyeon also wrapped her arms around Dojun’s neck. His tongue slid in deep, skillfully curling around hers. Her stomach quivered and her knees buckled involuntarily. A mix of dazed and languid sensations blended with intense and vivid feelings, causing Seoyeon to instinctively squirm and cling to Dojun.

As he continued to kiss her, Dojun unbuttoned Seoyeon’s blouse. He slipped his hand inside her bra and squeezed her br*ast.

As Dojun’s fingers teased a sensitive spot, Seoyeon arched her back. She felt dizzy. Dojun gently caressed before applying pressure, causing Seoyeon to gasp sharply.

After lifting Seoyeon’s waist a few more times, Dojun sat up and restrained her body with his legs while he removed his shirt by raising his arms. Seoyeon watched him mesmerized. Even as he removed his shirt, Dojun never took his eyes off Seoyeon.

They didn’t need to speak. It was now. Someone had pushed, someone had pulled. They’d held on long enough, but they knew this was what would happen eventually.

“I’ll go wash up.”

Seoyeon looked up at Dojun and said. Now that she thought about it, she realized she’d been sweating profusely while she slept. Dojun smiled thinly. Leaning down, he took Seo-yeon’s hands on his own and tilted them upward, kissing the line from her neck to her shoulder.

“Sweating….”

Seo-yeon said, shrugging her shoulders. With a small snap, her bra came loose. Dojun’s large hands pushed the fabric away.

“Wait…….”

“Later.”

Dojun said as he unbuttoned Seoyeon’s slacks. His hand gently delved into the space between her flesh and the fabric.

“That’s not…”

“Later.”

Dojun kissed her deeply again. Once again, a dizzy feeling surged through her. One by one, her clothes fell from her body. Goosebumps rose on her skin as it met the cool air.

“We have plenty of time.”

Though it was just a casual remark, the tension eased. Seoyeon stopped trying to get up. It seemed like it would be okay. Even though she didn’t pay attention to every detail of her body, even though she had sweated, even though her hair was messy, it seemed okay.

With Hwang Dojun, everything seemed okay.

After all, he was a person who did as he pleased. They don’t mean anything to each other. If it’s something that has to pass, like an illness that only gets better, then so be it.

Dojun’s huge body blocked the ceiling. It felt like the entire world was being covered.