Chapter 67

On a weekend morning, as usual, Haji was having a late breakfast and glanced at Seojin sitting across from her, specifically at his heart area.

“When are you going to the hospital?”

“Next week.”

“When next week?”

As Haji’s questions became sharper, Seojin swallowed hard.

“It’s okay if you don’t go with me.”

“I’m not okay with it.”

Haji sharpened her gaze at Seojin.

“I’ve been telling you to let me go with you to the hospital. Why do you keep going alone?”

“It’s not serious.”

“Who said I want to go because it’s serious?”

Today seemed to be the right day to confront him.

As Haji continued to question him with fiery eyes, Seojin gulped down his water while trying to think of what to say.

“I’m really going with you now.”

But even that was completely blocked.

Seojin scratched the end of his eyebrow and fell into thought for a moment. If Haji appeared at the hospital with him, his uncle, Sanho, would talk about everything.

From the moment he came into the emergency room with a rebar stuck in him to all the events after the surgery.

“Hmm? I’m going to go!”

Ha……

A small sigh escaped Seojin’s lips. It seemed he couldn’t avoid it this time.

“Okay.”

“When is it?”

Haji’s expression was firm, not letting him gloss over it.

“Thursday evening, will that work for you?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

I can leave it to Woobae.

Haji’s face lit up with excitement after getting what she wanted. Watching her, Seojin’s lips also relaxed.

Since that day, Haji hadn’t had nightmares. After forgiving herself and wishing for her own happiness, she smiled more often.

“You’ve been smiling a lot lately, Ki Seojin.”

It was only natural that Seojin’s expression changed while watching Haji.

“Because you’re smiling.”

“See, it would have been nice if you let me go with you from the start.”

Seojin chuckled softly.

Previously, such expressions of affection would have made Haji’s face turn red, but now it seemed they had no effect.

Srrrk, Seojin’s chair slid back. He walked around the table and leaned down to capture her lips.

“Mmph!”

Haji, seemingly surprised, grabbed his shoulder.

As the brief kiss, which only involved their lips, ended, Seojin smoothly raised the corners of his mouth.

“I feel hurt when you keep ignoring my feelings, Haji.”

“When did I ever ignore……?”

Her words were cut off by his hand lifting her chin.

“You haven’t cooled off already, have you?”

“What?”

“Your feelings haven’t cooled, right?”

At the unexpected question from his mouth, Haji blinked.

“How could that be?”

Even now, her heart was pounding as if it would burst out.

Haji, whose face was flushed, mumbled softly. Seojin seemed to like her reaction and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

“Don’t let it cool.”

“You be careful first.”

“That won’t happen, not for me.”

Tsk, Haji pouted her lips.

Seojin spoke with such certainty about his feelings for her.

“You never know with people.”

“That’s true. But.”

Seojin’s fingers poked Haji’s cheek until she met his gaze.

Once their eyes met, his jet-black eyes held a firm resolve.

“I know.”

“…….”

“I’ll never change.”

He was confident in his emotions. No matter what future comes, his feelings would remain the same.

Meeting Seojin’s eyes, Haji brought the hand that was poking her cheek to her mouth and lightly bit his fingertip.

“Don’t forget we’re going to the hospital together.”

A laugh escaped Seojin’s lips.

***

Sehee, who was watching a few guests in the hall, approached Haji, who was doing the afternoon accounting.

“Boss, should we prepare for dinner time?”

“Hmm…….”

Haji, looking out the glass window, glanced at the electronic clock in the store.

“Yes, we should.”

As she nodded, Sehee began preparing the bakery and sandwich ingredients for the evening.

In the peak of summer, with the days getting longer, it was often hard to tell how much time had passed while absentmindedly looking outside.

She recalled what Seojin said about why he liked summer.

‘Because I see you every summer. 20 years ago when we first met, 10 years ago when we met again. And now, being with you is summer.’

He said he liked summer because of her. The feelings that made her tingle and her heart race came back to her.

“Boss? Are you feeling unwell?”

“Huh?”

“Your face is really red.”

“It’s because the weather is hot. It’s gotten warmer.”

Haha, with an awkward laugh, Haji fanned herself and subtly avoided Sehee’s eyes.

“Where’s Woobae?”

Haji changed the subject and took out her phone.

“Hello?”

• Yes, Boss.

“Are you on your way?”

• I’m almost there. It’ll take about 10 minutes.

During the day, Woobae diligently studied and worked part-time in the evening. Although the hours were short, he was entrusted with very important tasks.

“Okay, come safely. Make sure the bread doesn’t spill.”

Haji hung up and checked the bakery inventory.

The types of bread that had been lacking were now being supplied by a new vendor. From Jinkyung, who lived next door of them.

By purchasing bread and cakes in bulk, they were able to sell them at a slightly cheaper price.

Woobae was in charge of bringing the bread from Jinkyung’s bakery.

“We shouldn’t run short when they arrive today.”

Since Jinkyung’s cakes and bread started coming in, sales had surged. Cakes made with seasonal fruits and a wide variety of bread were quite popular.

“He’ll bring the cake too, right?”

If the cake she reserved separately arrived, today’s plan would go off without a hitch.

“I should contact him.”

Haji tapped out a message with her fingertips. It was asking Seojin when he would arrive.

Today was the day she was going to the hospital with Seojin. And the day she would meet Seojin’s uncle.

She found out about this when she was probing to see if Seojin was hiding anything from her. That his attending physician was his uncle.

And she also learned that he was Woobae’s father.

Though she hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, she was assured that his uncle hadn’t told the family about the injury, and wouldn’t say anything about their relationship either.

Bzzz, a reply to her message came.

“He’s already here?”

Surprised by Seojin’s message that he had arrived, Haji changed her clothes.

Soon after, Woobae arrived, and she took the cake and headed to where Seojin was.

***

Haji was seen coming with quick steps, carrying a cake in one hand and a small, cute bag in the other.

She seemed to have decided to dress beautifully, thinking she was going to meet his family, as his uncle was his attending doctor.

The fluttery yellow dress made her look like a forsythia flower.

“Should I not go?”

I want her all to myself.

If I take her to the dreary hospital, she might shine alone.

While contemplating a detour, the passenger door clicked open.

“Did you wait long?”

“No.”

As soon as Haji closed the door, Seojin turned his body.

“This cake is for…”

Peck, as she was speaking, her lips were blocked, and Haji opened her eyes wide. Finding her reaction cute, he kissed her lips once more.

“Did you miss me?”

Now he even says such cheeky things. With a shy face.

When asked like this, there was no choice but to answer honestly.

“I missed you. What about you?”

“Me too.”

“Really?”

Even though he heard the answer, Seojin asked, and Haji nodded sincerely.

“Then do it here.”

He suggested, offering his cheek. At his gesture, Haji blinked, and he even tapped his cheek with his fingertips.

“…… Huh?”

“A kiss.”

As if hearing the word for the first time, Haji was startled. Realizing she had never initiated a kiss before.

“I’m doing it?”

As if unaware, she asked again, trying to ease her tension.

“Yes, you, Haji.”

With a definite answer, Haji swallowed hard and nodded.

“I’m going.”

In a solemn voice, like announcing the start of a game, Haji said ‘Ready, set,’ and Seojin held back a smile.

“I’m really going…….”

Her actions were much slower than her words. Despite the slow approach, Seojin waited patiently.

The first time is difficult, but the second will be easier.

He thought positively about the future, knowing this situation would eventually come. He knew Haji would come to him like this.

Waiting leisurely for her lips to touch, he glanced sideways to see her slowly approaching with her lips puckered.

Cute.

Feigning ignorance, Seojin closed the gap between them. At her pace, they might as well watch the setting sun.

Waiting for that time was nice, but if they did, they wouldn’t make it to the hospital.

Touch, her moist lips barely grazed his flat cheek.

Then Haji quickly backed away, covering her lips with both hands.

“I did it!”

She confirmed emphatically.

“Yes, you did.”

Laughter filled Seojin’s voice.