TWELVE 68

“Woo Seungkyung, I think you should be thankful to your parents.”

“Pardon?”

“Because they passed down a body with such great recovery power.”

“Haha, yes.”

The doctor praised my recovery power in his own witty way and even gave me a thumbs-up. He said that among the patients he has seen, I’m the top in terms of recovery. I couldn’t even remember my parents’ faces anymore, but it was something to be thankful for.

“Now you just need to keep up with your rehabilitation treatment.”

I felt so good that my body felt exceptionally light. Perhaps because my recovery progress was satisfying, Gi Seoin also seemed pleased. He had a smile on his face as he meticulously tucked in my collar.

Just as the weather forecast said, winter arrived out of nowhere. I wondered why there were so many sick people; today, Gi Seoin circled the underground parking lot for a long time before eventually parking the car outside. He was worrying needlessly again, asking what would happen if I caught a cold.

On the contrary, I was worried about Gi Seoin.

“You should dress more thickly too.”

The fellow was wearing only a knit sweater without even a coat.

“It’s fine since I drive around.”

“Even though you’re very sensitive to the cold.”

“Me?”

The fellow asked back and opened the car door. It was the passenger side, as always. Only after I got into the car first did Gi Seoin get into the driver’s seat.

“Yes, you.”

I brought out the answer I couldn’t give while getting into the car.

“Whenever you came to my house, you’d always say it’s cold and turn up the boiler temperature.”

“That was because your house was cold. I was worried you’d catch a cold. I don’t feel the cold.”

“What? That was why?”

Thanks to that, I had to wake up in the middle of winter dripping with sweat, lowering the boiler temperature late and worrying about the heating bill. Thinking he must have been so cold to do that, I never said a word. If I had known it was because of me, I would have stopped him long ago.

“I thought it was because you were cold. So you really don’t feel the cold?”

“I was born in winter, so I don’t.”

“What does that have to do with anything. I was born in summer, but I feel the heat more than the cold.”

Thinking about it, Gi Seoin only said it was cold when he was at my house; he never said such a thing outside. He never hunched his body or shivered even in sub-zero weather. I just thought it was because he wore such good clothes.

“Anyway, still, dress a bit more thickly. You’re the only person not wearing outerwear.”

“You’re walking around wrapped up from head to toe.”

“Then it’s hot.”

“It’s better to be hot than to be weak and ailing from catching a cold.”

I’m not the type to feel the cold easily either, but I always used to catch a cold in the winter. Every time that happened, Gi Seoin would make a fuss as if I had some major disease and drag me to the hospital to make sure I even got a shot.

“Alright.”

Because I was more reluctant to make him worry than to be sick, I nodded.

Looking quietly out the car window, the fact that winter had come felt clearer than when I breathed in the cold air. Already, buildings with Christmas decorations were not uncommon. Furthermore, a department store on the way even had a giant ribbon wrapped around the entire building.

“Wow, Seoin. Look at that.”

When I pointed that way, Gi Seoin swerved the car. He was entering the department store parking lot entrance.

“I didn’t mean we should stop by.”

“I was planning to go originally.”

“Why?”

“There’s something I need to buy.”

I thought he might be going grocery shopping. However, Gi Seoin didn’t even go down to the basement where the market was and just walked along the first floor. Only then did I get curious and ask him.

“What are you going to buy?”

“Winter clothes, for you.”

“I have winter clothes?”

Of course, they were at my house, where I hadn’t gone once after the unfortunate incident. I was just thinking that I should go soon. While I was away, a lot of dust must have accumulated.

I didn’t want to leave the house where I lived my whole life with my great-aunt neglected for a long time. Even if I didn’t live there, I wanted to keep it clean. Just as my grandmother did when she was alive.

“Seoin, I have winter clothes. You don’t have to buy them.”

“All your clothes are thin.”

I know well the fact that I can’t break Gi Seoin’s stubbornness at times like this. It was a moment where a compromise was needed.

“Fine. Then, buy something a bit cheaper, not luxury brands. Don’t they sell clothes on the upper floors too?”

Of course, the clothes sold on the upper floors were expensive too. Still, they were several times cheaper compared to luxury brands.

“Buy what I pick out for you.”

“Pick it out from the upper floors.”

“I’m going to pick it out here.”

“Ugh, you stubborn mule.”

He really doesn’t listen. I wanted to give his head a good thump.

“Just because it’s a luxury brand doesn’t mean it’s all good, you know.”

“Right, it’s not that good, so just wear it.”

There was no way to win against him.

Gi Seoin, who was walking briskly, came to a halt. After staring intently into a show window, he took my hand and stepped inside. I thought the brand logo looked familiar, and it turned out he had bought clothes from here before. Of course, they were for me. It seemed he had a separate brand he preferred for himself.

“Pick out anything you like.”

Even when he said that, to my eyes, everything looked more or less the same. Clothes where I thought, ‘Why is this so expensive?’ or clothes where I thought, ‘How can anyone walk around in this?’

Unlike me, Gi Seoin asked the staff to show him this and that. Sometimes he held them up against my body, and other times he just scanned them with his eyes.

“It suits you so well!”

The staff member poured out a barrage of compliments every time I held up a piece of clothing, saying it suited me well. They probably had no choice since they had to increase their sales, but for me, it was quite burdensome.

“How about this one? I usually recommend more casual styles, but since you can pull off unique designs, I keep wanting to show them to you.”

On top of that, Gi Seoin went a step further.

“It’s because his face does all the work. It’s nice. Are there no other colors?”

‘Because his face does all the work’?

To say such a thing so nonchalantly in front of a stranger, a dry cough came out of me involuntarily.

Unlike me, whose face turned hot from embarrassment, Gi Seoin and the staff member just looked very happy. Like that, I had to endure several hours in the role of a doll in a doll-playing game, going from this store to that store.

Every time Gi Seoin made a payment, my eyes almost popped out after hearing the price. I couldn’t nag him in front of the staff, so I kept my mouth shut, but he must have noticed everything by looking at my expression.

“Don’t say anything.”

Look at this.

As soon as we left the store, the fellow spoke.

“Because I’m quite satisfied right now.”

Normally, Gi Seoin is the type to give a half-hearted answer even if you ask how he feels, so it was absurd that he brought up such a thing first. He really must not want to be scolded. He was cute, though. He was always on the cute side, but lately, the fellow was actively doing cute things. Does he think I’ll just forgive everything then?

“Ha, honestly…”

It was the correct answer.

“Fine, fine. If our puppy is satisfied, then that’s enough. I’ll wear the clothes I bought today for a hundred years and even take them with me when I die.”

“A hundred years is a bit much.”

“Even so, I won’t get my money’s worth. Look at the price.”

“It was an average price.”

“My average and your average are too different. I guess we’re people from different countries.”

While grumbling for effect, an item displayed in a show window we were passing caught my eye. I couldn’t stop and look because I was afraid Gi Seoin would ask if I liked it and try to buy it. I secretly made a promise for next time. December 19th. Recalling the fellow’s birthday.

Until now, the gifts I gave Gi Seoin for his birthday were only shabby things. It couldn’t be helped since I was in a position where even the cost of a meal was a concern. Still, it always weighed on my mind. Every time, the fellow would smile and say he liked it, but I felt sorrowful and sorry even as I gave it.

This time, I want to give a gift that Gi Seoin can truly be happy about. I wouldn’t be able to buy something that everyone would marvel at, but I could give a much better gift than before. It was thanks to Benwood giving me a salary that was more than I deserved.

From my hospitalization until now, I have owed an enormous debt to Gi Seoin. Even if I couldn’t pay it all back, I intended to return at least a fraction of what the fellow had done for me.

“Seoin. Aren’t you going to buy anything for yourself?”

“For me?”

“Yeah, is there nothing you need?”

I was testing the waters slightly, thinking it might help in buying a gift. But Gi Seoin shook his head.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because the only thing I needed is right next to me now.”

Speaking as if whispering, Gi Seoin leaned his head toward me. He was trying to kiss me. And we were still inside the department store.

I tapped the fellow’s chest with my shoulder. He laughed as if he knew I would do that.

“You’re not going to give me a kiss?”

“Do it later, later. There are eyes watching here.”

“What does it matter.”

“You’re a lawyer. Don’t you know about public indecency?”

“That’s why I compromised with a kiss.”

“Wow. This guy… if there were no laws, you’d just, just, eh? You’d just do it anywhere.”

The more I was appalled, the more Gi Seoin laughed as if he found it more enjoyable. Seeing that face with a wide smile made me grin along with him.

As soon as we got into the car, Gi Seoin showered me with kisses. I let my guard down, thinking he was fastening my seatbelt. Even if it’s inside the car, it can be seen from the outside… I don’t know. Since we didn’t do it openly in plain view, it wouldn’t be the crime of public indecency, would it?

I rationalized it however I could and hung my arms around Gi Seoin’s neck. I kissed him as deeply as I wanted. It’s not like we have to part soon, but lately I’ve been anxious. Time was being unkind. It was because the time for Gi Seoin to return as a lawyer was approaching right before my eyes.