TBE 16

chapter 16

After the sound of a few careful footsteps, Yoon-ah’s voice came from behind Yeong-won.

“Uh, Mr. Yeong-won! I’ll do it!”

“It’s fine, don’t come any closer.”

Yeong-won focused all his attention on acting as if nothing was wrong. What else could he do? He couldn’t have been more genuine anyway. Without even turning back, he shifted slightly and firmly covered the glass shards.

But since it had been her mistake to begin with, Yoon-ah edged closer out of guilt, one hand pressed nervously against her chest as she asked,

“Then… at least tell me where the rag is. I’ll get it.”

“…There’s no rag. Just bring me a towel.”

“…A towel?”

“We’ll use it as a rag from today.”

“Oh! Okay!”

Yoon-ah answered with energy, then the rapid dodododo sound of her running echoed behind him. How tiny must her feet be to make that sound? Yeong-won glanced at the slippers she had left behind. They looked so small they could almost fit inside his sneakers.

Hurrying into the bathroom, Yoon-ah pulled out three towels and soaked them in water. On her way back to the entrance, she also picked up the empty paper bag from the dining table. Carefully approaching from behind, she held the things over his shoulder.

She absolutely couldn’t face him right now, so she stretched out her arm in the opposite direction of her face, trembling slightly. She didn’t forget to keep her other hand pressed firmly against her chest.

Yeong-won, still staring at the spilled apple syrup, silently raised his hand to receive the items.

His large frame blocked the view of what he was doing as he cleaned up. The more she couldn’t see, the deeper Yoon-ah’s guilt grew. Her voice dropped.

“I’m really sorry, Mr. Yeong-won… I didn’t mean for this to happen…”

“It’s fine. More importantly, what brings you here?”

“Oh. I called to ask if you had a burner at home, but you didn’t pick up… The apple syrup was just… a housewarming gift.”

She had called? Well, it wasn’t like Yoon-ah was the type to just barge in. At the pool he usually didn’t take his phone in, and afterward he rarely checked messages. With people staring at his bare body in the showers, he just rinsed off quickly and showered properly at home. That must have been why he hadn’t noticed.

“My phone was in my swim bag.”

“So you came from swimming…”

“Yes.”

Their efforts to act as if nothing had happened paid off somewhat. Each thought their conversation sounded natural, and both sighed in relief inside. Even the storm raging in Yeong-won’s chest began to calm.

After gathering the glass pieces into the paper bag and wiping the apple syrup from the floor and her slippers, Yeong-won stood up. Yoon-ah, startled to find him suddenly rising so close behind her, awkwardly crossed her arms over her chest and stepped aside.

“Erm… you go first.”

“…”

Without a word, he walked past her into the house. Yoon-ah trailed after him, speaking quickly.

“Mr. Yeong-won! Give me the towels. I’ll wash them.”

“It’s better to throw them away. They’ve got glass dust on them.”

“Ah… Then I’ll bring you new ones… to-tomorrow…”

“…Alright. Tomorrow.”

He knew if he said “don’t bother,” she’d just fidget and worry, so he let her have her way—except he firmly made it clear she didn’t need to bring them today.

After tossing the towels in the trash, Yeong-won went to the kitchen and opened the pantry. In such a spacious apartment, there was even a large separate storage unit. Only then did Yoon-ah take a proper look around his home.

It seemed three or four times bigger than hers. The bathroom was big enough for a tub, and besides the living room there were two more rooms. A newly built place, with so little furniture, made it look even larger. Neat and tidy, just like Yeong-won himself.

He had never spoken much about his background, but the place gave off the air of someone raised in a well-off family. There was no way a college student saved up part-time wages for this. Was he a rich family’s young master?

While she wondered, Yeong-won rummaged through the pantry and pulled out a portable burner and butane gas.

“Looks like this will actually come in handy.”

“Wow, you really had one! Thank goodness.”

Relief lit up her face, her earlier embarrassment forgotten, and she smiled brightly. The sight was so very her that a sigh slipped out between Yeong-won’s lips.

“I’ll leave it on the table.”

“Okay! Thank you, Mr. Yeong-won!”

At least the late-night chaos hadn’t been for nothing, and Yoon-ah couldn’t stop smiling. Yeong-won turned his gaze away from her to somewhere in the air.

Anyway, having achieved her original goal, Yoon-ah hurried to leave. It was nearly one in the morning—she shouldn’t be hanging around a man’s apartment alone. Especially after what had just happened.

Clutching her trembling chest with one arm, she tried to act casual as she slipped back into her slippers.

“S-sorry for bothering you so late, Mr. Yeong-won. I’ll cook you something really delicious tomorrow.”

“Okay. Get home safe.”

“Good night!”

Luckily, the door lock was the same as hers, so she opened it in one try and tossed a farewell as she stepped out. Before Yeong-won could reply, the door shut.

Hurrying down the hall, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.

“Ha… He seemed totally fine, so why am I the only one like this…”

Her heart still pounded. It felt like she had some new kind of x-ray vision. Even though he’d been fully dressed, she couldn’t stop seeing what lay beneath his T-shirt.

Worse, she could almost feel the smooth texture of his skin. And he had lifted her so easily, like it was nothing—was that from training? She forced herself not to think about that warm hill she had been pressed against, but another heavy sigh escaped her lips. She had fully realized—Yeong-won was a man.

At least he didn’t seem to notice that she hadn’t been wearing underwear. She couldn’t very well press her chest against her own shoulder to check how obvious it had been.

“…”

From her slippers rose the faint sweet scent of apple syrup. Even though he had wiped them clean, the smell had already seeped in.

She remembered the sight of that broad-shouldered “young master,” crouching in his entryway and diligently scrubbing her slippers. Yoon-ah burst into stifled laughter.

“Didn’t… didn’t you say you’d prepare together? You just went to work out alone?”

“You really are hopeless when it comes to being a gentleman.”

“…Leave him be. Maybe he’s training to be a national fitness champion or something…”

Seeing his wet hair, Gi-tae and Seo-yeon shot Yeong-won very cold looks. At first Gi-tae had nearly grabbed him by the collar, demanding what he’d done to the boss, but when Yeong-won explained he had just showered at the gym, the scolding came instead.

“…It’s not like that…”

He wanted to explain, but where would he even start? Was it even something he should explain? Of course, he knew he was supposed to cook with Yoon-ah.

But standing side by side in the kitchen, chatting while preparing food—that was something couples or married people did. He’d agreed, thinking it would be like working together at the café. But for some reason, this time he just couldn’t do it.

Besides, whenever he hovered nearby to help, Yoon-ah firmly refused, probably out of guilt over yesterday. So he ended up just standing there, watching her cook, which felt strangely awkward. He wanted to look away, but his eyes wouldn’t leave her.

Thoughts as childish as “She looks especially pretty today” kept looping in his head, making him feel pathetic. In the end, he decided the only option was to leave the house. If he hadn’t, he might have actually said something like that to her—for real. Like some two-bit thug.

While he was still struggling for an excuse to defend himself, Yoon-ah spoke up for him.

“He only went out because he thought I’d be more in the way. But before he left, he even turned on some music through the TV, so I wouldn’t get bored.”

“So not a fitness champ—he was playing DJ, huh? A DJ does stand in front, I guess…”

“That guy doesn’t even usually listen to music. What kind of delicate playlist could he have possibly picked, boss? Don’t tell me your precious ears were harmed by his rudeness.”

“Hahaha, no, it was fun. Upbeat songs. An idol work-song playlist, actually.”

And with that, Yoon-ah finally placed the main dish down on the burner. Everyone seated at the table turned their eyes to it at once.