chapter 20

“Because my wife only needs me as a man.”

Yeonhwa’s two eyes shook more than ten times a second. With no time to mend the bursting heart, Geonwoo tilted his upper body a little more toward Yeonhwa and she immediately closed her eyelids tightly. 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds. Something should touch her lips by now but suddenly something came across her chest. When she opened her eyes, Geonwoo was sitting right in the driver’s seat, and there was a seat belt on her body. Yeonhwa realized Geonwoo just helped her put on a seatbelt, then she rolled her lips inside. Her face burned with embarrassment. As soon as she turned to the window, the car started.

Like a rolling wheel, Yeonhwa’s feelings were complicated. With all sorts of thoughts in her mind, Yeonhwa closed her eyes and leaned her head against the seat. Because of that, she couldn’t see Geonwoo’s expression reflected in the window. Geonwoo’s right hand tightly holding onto the steering wheel, and his face was burning red unknowingly.

After stopping at a red light, Geonwoo, who grabbed his forehead with his left hand, recalling his words and feeling embarrassed. He thought it would be nice if he could get rid of those embarrassing words that lingered around his ears. He wanted to jump out of the car.

*******

Yeon-hwa sat at the end of the bed and waited for Geonwoo to come out of the bathroom. When the sound of the water stream stopped, she got up and grabbed her pillow. Soon the door opened, and Geonwoo came out with a misty steam. Geonwoo, who was drying off his wet hair with a white towel, looked at Yeonhwa standing far away. In Yeonhwa’s arms, there was a large pillow.

“What are you doing?”

The awkward moment in the car made it difficult to see Geonwoo’s face, so Yeonhwa replied with her face turning to the door.

“My sleeping habit is so awful. Because of that, you must have struggled. So i’m going to sleep in another room.”

Yeonhwa wanted to say something else, but her Iips didn’t open as she intended. When Geonwoo was silent, Yeonhwa hesitated and turned back.

“Good night.”

As she was about to reach a doorknob, Geonwoo grabbed it first. Yeonhwa turned around as Geonwoo’s shadow on the door. Seeing him standing close behind her, Yeonhwa stepped back. The scent of his shampoo spread gently made her dizzy.

“Do you have something to say?”

When Yeonhwa asked while making eye contact with Geonwoo who was looking down at her quietly.

“Geonwoo?”

Geonwoo opened his mouth when Yeonhwa urged him to answer.

“Sleep here. I’m okay if we sleep together.”

After hearing those words, Yeonhwa’s face heated up, and she turned her gaze aside. Why did he say it’s okay when she mumbled embarrassing words while sleeping? Wouldn’t it be better to say that it was bothersome?

“I can’t remember yet, so I don’t feel like sleeping together.”

Even with the gaze that fell on her cheek, Yeonhwa steadfastly looked only sideway and did not make eye contact. The sound of the door opening was heard from her back. When Geonwoo’s hand fell from the doorknob, Yeonhwa pushed through the open door. Geonwoo closed the door only after Yeonhwa entered the room across the hall. Alone in a quiet room, Geonwoo’s emptiness lay deep in his heart.

The purpose of using the room with Yeonhwa was to take care of her injured body. From the time she took off her bandages in the morning, he knew they had no reason to sleep together. Still, he tried to pretend he didn’t know. Eventually, Yeonhwa went to another room as she wanted. Geonwoo turned off the room’s lights, lying in bed and closing his eyes, but he couldn’t sleep. He raised his eyelids lightly and pondered for a moment.

“Shall I bring her back?”

In the room across the hall, the blanket that touched Yeonhwa’s skin was soft. Alone in the room made her feel strange because she had been sleeping in Geonwoo’s room for a long while now. To get some sleep, Yeonhwa began to gather sheep. When the 509th sheep crossed the fence, Yeonhwa quickly lifted her upper body and held the pillow in her arms.

‘’Why did I refuse? Shall I go back now?”

However, as Yeonhwa remembered what she said that she didn’t want to sleep together with Geonwoo, she buried herself in the bed again and quickly rose up like a roly poly. After a few moments, Yeonhwa grabbed the pillow then lay down on the bed, and swallowed her loneliness.

******

The next morning, Yeonhwa, who was ready to go to work, came out of the room. Naturally, she turned to Geonwoo’s bedroom, then suddenly his voice touched Yeonhwa’s ears.

“Come eat breakfast.”

When she turned toward the kitchen, there was French toast on a white plate. It was difficult for Yeonhwa to look into Geonwoo’s eyes because her heart tickled every time she looked at him. Sitting at the kitchen table, Yeonhwa cut her French toast into small pieces. Yeonhwa asked, glanced at Geonwoo’s tired face.

“Did you sleep?”

“A little.”

Geonwoo didn’t fall asleep until 3 a.m.

“Then I’ll take a taxi. You don’t have to take me to the museum.”

For dinner yesterday, Yeonhwa drove in the same car with Geonwoo, and her car was still parked in the museum’s parking lot.

“I’m not tired. I can take you.”

If Geonwoo had said “I want to take you”, Yeonhwa’s heart would have burst like yesterday. However, her heart didn’t show any reactions as she felt like it was just a mere word of duty. Did the words he said yesterday by accident? This man may actually be saying something meaningless. Yeonhwa wondered if she may be mistaken because she was the only one who liked it. While thinking about it, Yeonhwa picked up the cup next to the plate and drank a sip of milk. As she put the cup down, she could feel Geonwoo’s gaze at her mouth.

“What is it?”

Then Geonwoo reached out with a napkin and gently wiped the white milk off Yeonhwa’s lips.

“You have milk on your lips.”

Yeonhwa’s eyes opened in a circle and shook in an instant. From making a hot breakfast, to wipe off the milk on her lips. Whoever looked at it, they looked like a real happy couple. Yeonhwa felt like she was still in a dream even though she barely slept last night. She felt greedy for this warm’s moment.

Yeonhwa smiled gently when Geonwoo pulled his arm back.

“If someone sees us, they will think we are a real happy couple.”

Yeonhwa was so happy that she spoke those words out loud unknowingly. At that moment, she almost dropped the fork she was holding. It didn’t make sense to say that because they were already married so it’s normal to look like a real couple. Yeonhwa had forgotten that she had pretended to have memory loss because she was so happy. Then she lifted her eyes at Geonwoo, but Geonwoo was so calmly putting the last piece of toast in his mouth like he didn’t hear what she said. At that time, Geonwoo’s lips gradually widened.

“Are you done with your breakfast?”

As Yeonhwa nodded a little, Geonwoo stood up first.

“I’ll start the car up, so come out slowly.”

Putting on the jacket which he hung on the chair next to him, he walked out of the house first. “Did he really not hear what I said?” Yeonhwa wondered because she wasn’t talking to herself then. With her fork down on the table, Yeonhwa looked at the seat where Geonwoo was sitting curiously.

As they approached the museum, a message came into the cell phone in Yeonhwa’s hand. Yeonhwa quickly opened the message to a very happy name that appeared on the phone’s screen.

[This is Go Joon. I’d like to visit the museum next Monday, but when is a good time?]

💞💞💞

[This is Go Joon. I’d like to visit the museum next Monday, but when is a good time?]

At the message from Go Joon, Yeonhwa’s heart began to race. The tip of her finger trembled, so she erased the message several times and repeated writing.

[Thank you so much for contacting us. Please tell us your desired time zone and we will be waiting in advance.]

It was only a message, but Yeonhwa had the joy of having already signed an exhibition contract. When she couldn’t hide her fluttering expression, Geonwoo asked.

“What is it?”

Yeonhwa replied, unable to take her eyes off her cell phone.

“I got the call I was waiting for.”

The call she has been waiting for? Geonwoo, who had hit the handle with his index finger, asked once again.

“That man?”

As Yeonhwa was drunk with joy, she had no time to look at how Geonwoo’s expression was. Yeonhwa, who took a long breath, held the phone tightly with both hands.

“Yeah.”

At that time, Geonwoo’s car was stopped in front of the museum. Yeonhwa hurriedly unfastened her seat belt to inform Mi-ok of this good news quickly.

“Thank you for bringing me.”

‘The person you’re grateful for isn’t the window, so why do you look at the window to say? Who was the one who took all of your attention?’

Yeonhwa pulled the doorknob, leaving Geonwoo unable to answer his curiosity. However, the lock of the open door was locked back. When she turned her head, Geonwoo unfastened his seat belt and said bluntly.

“How about a hug?”

Geonwoo didn’t even look for a hug these days. Yeonhwa, blinking her eyelids, made a confused voice.

“Aren’t you not hugging anymore?”

“I never said no.”

For some reason, her tone became a little harsh.

“You forgot it yesterday.”

“Then I will do it today.”

As he said so, Geonwoo spread out his arms widely. When Yeonhwa stared at him, Geonwoo glanced at his chest. At the sign of welcoming, Yeon-Hwa hesitated for a while, but could not refuse, and leaned over to Geonwoo. It was the first time in her life, she was gently hugged by Geonwoo. However, Geonwoo did not release his arm around her waist as if to prevent Yeonhwa from escaping.

“Geonwoo?”

“You are receiving what you didn’t receive yesterday.”

With his chin on her shoulder, Geonwoo hugged her tightly at her waist. As Yeonhwa was being hugged like this, her head turned white like a blank paper, and couldn’t think of anything else. Yeonhwa wondered how good it would be if every day was the same. Should she just pretend to have lost her memories forever?

As she released her hand which was holding his jacket and tried to hug Geonwoo, but the weight on her shoulders disappeared. Her hand that did not reach the destination was holding only the air. Geonwoo, who finished hugging without consulting, said to Yeonhwa, who was closing her eyes.

“Open your eyes. You have to go to work.”

Yeonhwa, who opened her eyes wide, opened the passenger’s door busily while tidying up her hair and collar.

“Okay. I’ll go in now.”

Yeonhwa disappeared toward the office building, but Geonwoo remained there for a long time. With his eyes closed, he remembered Yeonhwa, who had leaned on him, and smiled.

******

Yeonhwa, who was in the office, received a phone call and came down to the cafe on the first floor. When she opened the door of the cafe and entered, a person who Yeonhwa wasn’t glad to see raised her hand with a smile at her. As soon as Yeonhwa sat down in the front seat, the woman’s awful smell of perfume stuck her nose.

“How long has it been? It’s nice to see you again.”

Yang Miri and Yeonhwa’s family knew each other since they were kids, but they were friends who didn’t get along.

“I’m busy, so I don’t have much time.”

“I heard from your mom that you were hurt. She said you had to stay in the hospital for a few days.”

Contrary to her anxious voice, Miri’s mouth shook up. For Miri, Yeonhwa was a thorn. Unlike Yeonhwa, who has been in the top ranks of all classes since middle and high school, Miri was always at the bottom. Their characters were also different, and Yeonhwa never disobeyed her parents, but Miri had been in and out the police station for theft and violence. On top of that, Miri’s mother always compared Miri with Yeonhwa. That made Miri hate Yeonhwa even more. Miri, who was talking by herself, brought up with the reason for her visit.

“I’m getting married.”

Not so long ago, Yeonhwa knew that Miri didn’t date anyone. It seemed that she decided to marry a blind date.

“Congratulations on the wedding.”

“Before the marriage, I decided to gather my friends together and have a covenant ceremony. You know the kids who were close to me in high school. They will also come.”

Yeonhwa knew who Miri was friends with. Talkative rich girls. It made Yeonhwa tired just by thinking about them.

“I want you to come this Sunday too. And we’ve decided to bring each of our partners, you can come with your husband.”

In advance, she pushed out the invitation she had prepared on the table. Of course, Yeonhwa was going to attend the wedding. However, Yeonhwa could not understand why Miri invited her because they were not closed. Yeonhwa knew it wouldn’t be a very pleasant place for her, so she pushed the invitation slightly.

“I don’t think I can’t come because I’m busy that day.”

She refused neatly, but Miri frowned as if she was sad.

“It’s a covenant ceremony that will be held once in my life. Can you come and celebrate it with me? I came this far to see you. Or is it awkward to bring your husband?”

With her lips closed, Yeonhwa grabbed a white invitation.

“He could be busy… I might come along.”

Miri had been stubborn since childhood. It was more troublesome to refuse, so Yeonhwa thought she would attend the party by herself.

“Come to Geonwoo. Drag him if you need to. I haven’t seen you two together since the wedding.”

Yeonhwa has never taken Geonwoo to a private place. She didn’t want to be a burden to him because he was busy with his work, but the bigger reason was that she didn’t want to tell him because she was afraid he would refuse. At the end of the business, Yeon-Hwa pushed her chair out and stood up.

“I’ll get going now.”

“Yeonhwa!”

As Yeonhwa was about to leave the cafe, Miri called her in a hurry. When Yeonhwa turned around, Miri asked.

“By the way .. You’re getting along well with Geonwoo, right?”

Yeonhwa’s expression froze visibly. It was a completely different word from the question of how you were doing. Intuitively, Yeonhwa felt that Miri knew what she did not know.