Chapter 51

Haji took a step back, exhaling. As space formed between them, a chill seeped into her body.

“If it’s because of a sense of responsibility, you don’t have to do this.”

“Responsibility?”

Seojin asked back, as if he didn’t understand Haji’s sudden words.

“If you’re tired of me or don’t like me anymore, it’s okay to break up.”

“What nonsense…”

“I’m saying you can just say it instead of cowardly running away.”

Haji, who had regained her composure, wiped the tears from her eyes and exhaled to stop her voice from trembling.

“Haji.”

“Be honest.”

“I really had something…”

“Not some lame excuse.”

Haji looked him over intently, as if urging him to tell the truth, thinking Seojin was making excuses.

“I never even thought about that.”

“Sunbae.”

Haji sighed and bit her lip.

“How much more pathetic do I have to become?”

How miserable it is to have the courage to be abandoned by someone.

Are you making me do that by myself in the end?

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“If you’re just going to keep making excuses, stop.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

I was already sorting it out.

Seojin frowned at the quietly added words.

“What are you sorting out?”

“Don’t ask when you already know. Don’t act cowardly till the end.”

Watching Seojin run his hand through his hair in frustration, Haji turned her body.

“Just go now.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“No. There’s no tomorrow for us.”

Haji didn’t look back as she entered the villa, as if the cold words she spoke were true.

“That can’t be.”

Seojin stayed at the spot until Haji disappeared into the door and was out of sight.

***

“Crazy bastard.”

As soon as Seojin returned to the hospital, he was cursed at, but he lay down on the bed nonchalantly.

“Did you get a hole in your head along with the one in your chest?”

“No way. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be able to face you like this.”

“If only you couldn’t talk!”

Matthew shook his head and clicked his tongue.

He’s out of his mind. He must be crazy. 

Muttering to himself, Matthew’s large body sank into the sofa, folding his thick arms.

“If you went out, you should have come back in one piece. What were you doing until your suture site almost tore?”

“They didn’t tear.”

“Right, you always correct me. They didn’t tear, blood just leaked, right?”

Matthew thumped his bulging chest in frustration at Seojin’s correction, who always had to be right.

Seeing the blood leaking from his chest as soon as he came in made someone’s heart race, but only that guy was calm.

“Did you meet Haji?”

Seeing him silently scrolling through the tablet, it was clear he met her. There was no other reason for him to go out.

Matthew, who had heard from Nick and seen how Seojin treated Haji, was certain.

This guy is crazy about Haji.

“Why don’t you just tell the truth?”

“Not yet.”

“If not yet, then when? After she dumps you and marries another guy?”

At Matthew’s exaggerated words, Seojin’s eyes glinted coldly. Matthew flinched, avoiding his gaze, and cleared his throat.

“I’m saying you should tell her. Why go through all this trouble? Just tell her the truth.”

“Not now.”

“You’re really incomprehensible. If you say you were in the hospital because you were hurt, who’s going to blame you? They’d be worried instead.”

Isn’t that what usually happens?

Despite Matthew’s persuasive words, Seojin didn’t budge. Instead, he seemed more convinced of his thoughts.

Putting down the tablet, he looked out the window. Watching the drops wetting the window one by one.

“That’s exactly why I shouldn’t.”

Haji shouldn’t be worrying about others, feeling sorry for them, or anything like that right now.

She was a woman who was awkward about expressing her feelings and blaming others because she had never lived like that.

Even when she pushed him away a little while ago, she was more hurt, curling up her small body.

“She felt cold.”

With that thought, Seojin reached for his phone.

Without any greetings, he dialed a number and spoke.

“Leave some porridge in front of Haji’s house.”

Ending the call after saying what he needed, Seojin picked up the tablet again to check his schedule, as if he was about to start working.

Matthew, exasperated, opened his mouth.

“Boss, have you decided to stop being human?”

“Stop talking nonsense and adjust the schedule for the house opening ceremony.”

“What? When? It’s already set.”

The date was set to match the schedules of dignitaries, including the Mayor of Seoul and members of the National Assembly, who wanted to pretend they were doing good work.

“On the weekend.”

“The weekend?”

Tell everyone to come out and work. Enough of them trying to just show up for the photo op.

“What about me?!”

“What?”

“I’m forced to work on the weekend too?”

“Aren’t you doing that already?”

True. He was always at the site, weekdays and weekends alike, but with Seojin injured, his workload increased.

“Think of it as doing it while you’re at it.”

Matthew shuddered at Seojin’s words, which sounded like those of a ruthless employer.

“Let’s renegotiate my salary.”

“Next year. Finish this year’s work well.”

“What?”

He was frustrated to death by his boss, who didn’t understand that he had no time to work out because he was working like a cow.

Whenever he saw Seojin lying in bed working, any complaints he had would disappear as quickly as they came.

“You’re postponing your return to the site, right?” 

“Unless something comes up.”

He knew that Matthew would lead well even without him, as the important initial work was done.

And he planned to not focus on work for a while.

Because he couldn’t leave her alone anymore.

***

Woobae’s gaze, slicing a sandwich, turned to the entrance. His eyes filled with a mix of pity and exasperation.

He was a man with a slight blood relation who frequently called him for errands these days.

Woobae was beginning to wonder if this guy thought of him as a matchmaker for love, making him deliver something to his boss day and night.

“It seems certain they fought.”

Sehee nudged Woobae with her elbow and spoke.

“…”

It must be more than just a fight.

The lingering gaze from the entrance table, which had a clear view of the café’s kitchen, was intense. It would be hard to ignore him, but his boss never looked towards the entrance. She skillfully avoided it, smiling only at the customers.

For days, this sharp, unbreakable line existed in the café.

“Ahem.”

Sehee pretended to clear her throat and nudged Woobae’s arm again. When Woobae pretended not to notice and turned his body, she hit him harder, openly signaling him.

“Ha…”

At Sehee’s silent plea, Woobae let out a small sigh and approached Haji hesitantly.

“Boss, we’re going to eat.”

“Oh? Is it that time already? Go ahead.”

Though she seemed focused on work, Haji was startled when she checked the time.

She had been like this ever since Seojin was around. Moving her body without knowing how time passed.

As soon as Haji responded, Sehee eagerly grabbed Woobae’s arm and pulled him out.

“I hope they make up soon.”

“Indeed.”

Then he wouldn’t have to deal with his phone ringing day and night.

He had always been curious about Seojin’s intention to have him work here.

His cousin must have had this in mind when he sent him here in the first place. What was once suspicion was now close to certainty.

Whenever Haji was somewhere without him, Seojin would ask Woobae in detail what had happened.

And knowing she wouldn’t accept what he gave, he subtly used Woobae to send porridge or medicine.

“Doesn’t the boss’s face look better?”

“Yes.”

Sehee was right. Before Seojin came, she looked like she might collapse at any moment, but recently her expression had started to come back to life.

“Love quarrels are like cutting water with a knife. Even if they fight, good things are still good.”

“Is that so?”

“Ah, did you say you haven’t dated yet, Woobae? Love is like that. You can’t hide a cough or love, you know?”

Woobae discreetly closed his ears to Sehee’s love lecture.

He just hoped those two would make up quickly so he wouldn’t be affected.

***

Inside the café, only the gentle sound of music flowed. Soon, even the last two customers got up from their seats.

Having chopped fruits, filled bread, and moved around here and there, Haji realized there was nothing left to do.

Standing blankly in the kitchen, she sensed a presence.

“When are you going to eat?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Should I not?”

Haji’s head whipped around. Her sharp gaze landed on Seojin.

“I told you to stop coming here.”

It was something she had been saying for days.

“I told you I’d see you tomorrow.”

He was the man who had ignored her words for days.

“Don’t you have work to do?”

“I’m not planning to.”

“You used to say you were busy.”

“It was all for nothing.”

Since when did he become so sly?

It didn’t show on his face at all, but somehow it seemed as if there was a smile lingering on his face.