Chapter 55

Seojin looked over Haji’s face, who had fallen asleep as if she had fainted in his arms. He noticed the tear stains that had spread around her eyes.

He clenched his teeth and swallowed his aching heart. He knew she would suffer if she regained her memories, but facing it directly even made his own insides rot.

The previous night, tears did not dry from Haji’s eyes as she clung to him, seeking warmth. No matter how much he tried to absorb them with his lips.

He was suddenly afraid to see that scene again. The empty eyes that abandoned reason and turned away from the sight of her dead parents right before her.

A young child who did not shed a single tear while being transported to the hospital.

That memory was something Seojin could never forget for the rest of his life. The incident that happened to the bright child he met again after a few hours was horrific.

Seojin stayed up all night, watching over Haji with his eyes open, as she wanted to be close to him. That was how unstable Haji’s condition was.

“Hmm.”

Seojin’s brows furrowed at the sight of Haji mumbling softly and frowning.

What kind of dream is she having? Am I in your dream? If I am, I hope I can protect you there too.

He bent the arm supporting Haji further inward and pulled her into his embrace.

“Oppa…”

Haji spoke softly without opening her eyes.

“I’m here. Sleep more.”

“No…”

Haji shook her head slightly and slowly opened her eyelids, which were sore from shedding tears all night, repeatedly closing and opening them.

“What time is it?”

“11 o’clock.”

“Seonghee said she was returning today.”

“She’ll be busy. Don’t worry about it.”

Seojin tidied the stray hairs around Haji’s eyes with his fingertips, adding that Seonghee would have many schedules related to the successful fashion show she completed overseas.

As Haji tried to get up, Seojin got up first and helped her. When Haji reached out her hand, he handed her the phone first.

“Thank you.”

Haji’s voice came out hoarse as if scratching her vocal cords. After speaking, she winced as if her throat hurt.

“I’m going to make a call. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

While Haji handled her phone, Seojin got out of bed.

***

In the kitchen, Seojin put an Earl Grey ginger tea bag into warm water. It was something Haji had bought for him when he had a cold before, saying ginger was good for colds.

Seojin slightly opened the bedroom door, adjusting the temperature of the cup by adding a bit of cold water so that it wasn’t too hot.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just woke up. I’m with Oppa now.”

He saw Haji trying to smile brightly despite her fatigue and sadness.

If she hadn’t been with him, she might have tried not to show any signs even to herself. Selfishly, he felt relieved that he was the one who had been with her at that moment.

“Drink this.”

As Haji ended the call, trying to act cheerful, Seojin handed her the cup. Haji took the cup, holding it with both hands, but didn’t do anything else.

It took a while for the silence to break.

“I…”

Haji finally opened her mouth and bit her lower lip, as if suppressing her emotions.

Seojin’s pinky finger slipped between Haji’s lips.

“Bite my hand.”

“How could I do that?”

“It’s better than your lips getting torn.”

Haji shook her head and stopped biting her lips.

“If someone else gets hurt because of me…”

Haji’s eyes reddened as if emotions were rising.

“It’s not because of you. It was an accident.”

“No, it’s not. I remember everything now. Because I was being immature and demanding, that’s why Dad…”

Thick tears fell onto the white blanket.

The events of that day vividly appeared before her eyes as if they had happened yesterday. The cruel memories shook her mind.

“He wouldn’t have thought that way.”

Seojin wrapped his arms around Haji’s shoulders. Her small, trembling body seemed so fragile, as if it could break at any moment.

“What should I do…”

The tear-soaked voice echoed in Seojin’s embrace several times. Like a lost child, Haji kept repeating the same words.

Seojin had no choice but to hold her shoulder. Lending his embrace was all he could do.

Listening to her sobs, his heart pounded painfully, but he couldn’t show any of it. The woman’s heart, which was more tormented than his, must have been torn to shreds.

***

Early in the morning, Haji went with Seojin to the underground parking lot, as usual.

“Are you going to be at the cafe today, too?”

“Of course.”

When Seojin replied as if it were obvious, Haji looked at him as if she couldn’t believe it.

Since that day, Haji had been staying at Seojin’s house instead of her own. Perhaps she couldn’t find a reason to refuse Seojin’s suggestion.

Her previously clear judgment was now confused, so she had no choice but to agree to his suggestion.

“Is it really okay not to go to the company?”

“It’s doing well on its own.”

“Even if the CEO doesn’t go?”

As Haji fastened her seatbelt and looked at him intently, Seojin chuckled.

“Why do you keep wanting to send me away?”

“I thought maybe you weren’t going because of me…”

You don’t have to do that.

These days, Seojin was almost overprotective, treating her like a child who couldn’t do anything on her own. If Haji didn’t keep a straight face, he seemed ready to feed her.

“It’s not like that. Don’t worry.”

“I’m okay being alone. You don’t have to be by my side every day like this.”

“I’m doing it because I want to be.”

Seojin started the car and casually expressed his feelings. Haji was always the one who blushed at such words.

“Do you feel burdened being with me?”

“What? No, it’s not that…”

It’s not.

When Haji mumbled softly, Seojin’s lips relaxed. It was a bad habit of his to ask and confirm, even though he knew what her answer would be.

When they arrived in front of the café building, Seojin received a call on his phone.

[Jeong Eun-sol]

Seeing the name on the screen, Haji quickly turned her head. She had recently learned that the owner of that name was Matthew.

She felt so embarrassed and sorry to Matthew, and Seojin’s teasing was annoying.

“I’ll go in first.”

“…Okay.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Seojin nodded. Hearing the passenger seat door click open and Haji getting out, Seojin brought the phone to his ear.

“Is everything ready?”

• Yeah, you have to attend next weekend, right?

“Got it.”

Because he hadn’t been to the company for a while, Matthew’s nagging wasn’t small. But since he wasn’t completely neglecting his work, his complaints would rise and then subside.

• You have to see the housing complex you completed while putting a hole in your body.

“I guess I should.”

Because of that, he had left Haji alone. Hopefully, it will be okay then.

He recalled that Haji had said she would meet Seonghee that day.

“What about the advertisement?”

• Emily’s side has already started running it. The atmosphere is good.

“Prepare ours too.”

• Got it. I’ll call Nick up as well.

After ending the call, Seojin tapped the steering wheel. He didn’t want to send Haji, who had come into his house, away again.

Using his anxiety as an excuse, he wanted to keep being with her.

“Shall I prepare?”

Seojin, who was imagining marrying Haji, put a period with his fingertips.

“I should look at some land.”

To build a house.

Seojin picked up his phone again and called Matthew.

***

“Boss, the muffins are already sold out. There’s only one box left.”

“Already?”

Haji bit her lip and fell into thought as she looked at the showcase. The bakery, which she had worried about before, was indeed doing well.

As the weather got warmer and more customers visited the café, the bakery items that could be easily eaten were being consumed faster.

“Order plenty.”

“Yes, oh, and Woobae will start coming in the evening from tomorrow.”

Haji nodded.

After being discharged from the military, Woobae, who had been working at the café while taking a break, said he was studying during the day to prepare for the semester. AAt the same time, he changed his part-time hours to the evening shift, and they decided to extend the cafe’s operating hours, which they had been contemplating.

“But didn’t you come together today?”

Sehee looked around the café, searching for Seojin, who always sat in the same spot.

“Oh, he’s just outside for a moment…”

“Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.”

Sehee smiled slightly as she saw Seojin entering through the entrance.

Seeing Seojin, who only followed her around, Haji felt a bit embarrassed and hung her head low.

Seojin, who naturally came as ordered, poked Haji’s forehead.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just.”

“Hmm?”

Haji’s face grew hotter at Seojin’s gentle questioning. Sehee’s glances were bothering her.

“Phew…”

Haji fanned herself and lifted her head.

“Go to work now.”

Seojin’s behavior of poking her face made her increasingly embarrassed.

The presence of this man, who stayed with her all day, became too natural.

This won’t do.

They needed their own time. Especially when working.