The Invincible Hour
"I want to stay with you."
"All right. Mind if I watch a little? I'd like to see what kind of look you go for, Hyesun."
"It's not as if this is a day or two and done."
"Even so, you do your own makeup?"
"Sometimes."
"......And the rest of the time?"
Hyesun's hands moved with practiced ease. Her gaze lifted toward the ceiling, then came back down.
"Gyeo-wool does it. Or I stop in at a salon."
"You have time for that?"
"You. Does this look like ordinary makeup to you?"
"Hmm. So you're saying it means something else."
"Of course it does. You wouldn't know, but soldiers put camouflage cream on their faces before an operation."
The words caught in my throat. The way she said it, as if it were only natural I wouldn't know, dragged back the two years of blood, sweat, and tears that had vanished from me, and I barely managed to scatter the gloom before it could settle. Of everything about coming to this world, that was the part I found hardest to get past.
"Ah, r-right. Army talk isn't really your thing, is it? I forgot for a second."
"......Combat makeup?"
"That's right. I can't afford to be underestimated. Walking in already losing on first impressions isn't my style."
"But you're beautiful even bare-faced, Hyesun. And your makeup isn't all that heavy."
"......I-it's just that I'm in strangely good condition today......"
"Because of me?"
"......I... I suppose so......"
She flushed all at once, but when that shy smile broke across her face I smiled back just as gently and lifted my phone. I needed to let her concentrate on her makeup. First I sent Hyunji a message that we'd be leaving for the hospital soon. Dropping in as a surprise would have been fun, but Hyunji might have found it humiliating.
......Why is this blowing up?
I'd opened Band without thinking, and the post I'd left telling them not to wait had drawn a hotter response than I expected. Crying emoticons crowded the thread, and for a second I wondered if I'd made a mistake. The comments beneath them made it clear, though. They were grateful.
Then today...... see Hyunji first, and once she's discharged...... let her do whatever she wants.
Hyesun's warning had cooled some of the anticipation, but that was a hundred times better than being caught off guard. I wanted to hear what Hyunji thought, too. After that I'd stop by the gym, watch the renovation get underway, and help move some of the equipment.
"What are you doing?"
While the thoughts were still running, Hyesun sat down beside me and quietly leaned into my shoulder.
"I checked Band. And I messaged Hyunji so she wouldn't be startled."
"......Ah, I don't want to go......"
I let out a soft laugh as her arm came around my waist. I'd meant to kiss her on the lips, but instead I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"You'll smudge your makeup. Shall we get going?"
"Just do it on the lips......"
I looked at her pleading face, kissed her mouth once more, and quietly stroked the nape of her neck.
"There. Enough?"
"......Not enough. Again."
"Here."
When I kissed her once more, Hyesun finally broke into that shy smile, cheeks flushed, and looked up at me.
"I feel so good......"
"I'm glad you seem satisfied."
"......It was the best...... The night, and the morning......"
"It's not the end, so don't get too disappointed. Up we go."
The moment we rose from the bed, the regret on her face was unmistakable. I looked at her, gently helped her up, and we left the hotel. The instant she stepped into the elevator and put on her sunglasses, she was perfectly the Hyesun the world knew.
"I'm sorry. We should have had breakfast together."
"Sorry for what. I told you it's fine."
"I'll be more careful next time...... I didn't think it would happen in the morning, too."
"When the mood takes hold, it happens. I wanted it too."
I quietly took her hand, drew her in against my side, and whispered.
"Then should I hold back from now on, even when I want you?"
"No. Absolutely not. Keep doing this. Anytime is fine with me."
"Even now?"
"......Th-that's dangerous......"
Only then did a troubled look settle over her face, but the way she swallowed told me she didn't dislike it. I huffed a quiet laugh and stroked her backside, light and unhurried.
"Hnn...... If you tease me any more, I'll be in trouble. I really will skip the meeting."
"I don't want to let you go either. I want more."
"......Honestly...... You liked my body that much?"
"Yes. Was I not much, then?"
"......I told you. I thought I was going to die......"
"Exactly. So work hard. And we'll have another good time. Understood?"
"......Understood......"
The Hyesun who was cute when it was just the two of us was lovely enough, but the Hyesun who blushed even inside this everyday version of herself was pretty cute too. Deciding I'd teased her enough, I rode the elevator down and felt eyes gathering on us. Right. Today was the weekend.
......At least there are plenty of foreigners. That's something.
Being foreign didn't make the looks any different, though. I caught sidelong stares, even white women winking at me, though none of it sank to the crude level of catcalling. When our eyes met and they smiled, bright and open, I only answered with a quiet nod.
This is awkward.
For a moment I could almost have mistaken the place for somewhere overseas. And I had no immunity at all to foreigners offering me smiles that kind. On the few trips abroad I'd taken, the only people who'd been friendly were touts, or kids hawking DVDs and flowers.
"Should I call Gyeo-wool?"
"No. I already did. If she's waiting out front, she'll come. She can drop you off, and then I'll head to the company."
"Convenient. I like it."
"......Do you really not need a car?"
I started to say I didn't, then found myself hesitating. For an instant it struck me that this was the taste of money Hyesun had talked about in the auditorium, and I hurriedly shook my head. Last night's luxurious bed, and what it cost to keep Hyesun the way she was, were already enough to tell me money was good. If she'd offered to buy me that bed, I might even have nodded. We'd be using it together.
"I did look into it yesterday. Delivery takes forever. They said ten months. So maybe a used car, depending......"
"......Do you really have to go that far?"
She looked at me, hurt written all over her face, and went on. She was taking it more seriously than I'd expected, and before I knew it—yeah. Honestly, I was a little intimidated.
"Do I look like someone who can't even buy you a single car?"
"......N-no, it's not that. I explained it well enough, didn't I?"
"In all my life, I never thought I'd be reduced to begging someone to please spend my money. Enough. Don't even think about a used car. I am not putting that pretty backside of yours on some filthy seat."
The force of it was enough to fluster even me. When I couldn't find a reply, she pressed on like someone issuing a decree, eyes blazing.
"I won't hear any argument. I already know, more than enough, how lovely your heart is. But taking it that far is foolish. I'll handle it, so drive what I give you. Understood?"
"......It's too big for a gift. What will people around us think?"
"Accept a gift as a gift. I...... received something far too big today. I want to pay you back."
"I told you I liked it too. We did it because we both wanted to, and if I take a car...... it'll look like I'm selling my body. Never mind me. I don't want to turn you into that kind of person, Hyesun."
"......Who says that? If anyone talks like that, you tell me at once."
She caught my hand, looked at me with eyes that didn't waver, and took off her sunglasses.
"......Don't even think that. It hurts...... If I'm a burden, or if you dislike this and that's why......"
"No. I held you like that all night. You still don't know how I feel?"
"You're the one who doesn't know. Don't you see how I feel? I'm so happy too...... I just want to make you happy, however I can......"
Her eyes had gone wet, on the verge of tears. I looked into them, sighed, and nodded.
"You're enough for me, Hyesun."
"......I felt that more than enough. My whole body remembers how warmly you held me...... So... please?"
I thought it over for a moment. In the end, my mind didn't change. There were the things I'd said, and the way I'd carried myself. If I accepted this, my body and my bank account would be comfortable, but authority and respect would disappear. Principles that swayed with the size of a sum? Even I would find that hard to respect. What I absolutely had to protect in this world was an ordinary masculinity that had turned into something special, and the moment it wavered I would plunge from the one holding the reins to the one being kept. Maybe I was reading too much into it. Still, I had no desire to live on a leash.
You think it's easy for me to refuse a face that heartbroken?
The way I worked out what the women of this world would think was simpler than I'd expected. If it looked wrong to me, it was wrong. Even this brief hesitation was something I needed to guard against. The wavering itself made me feel that, in the end, I was nothing more than an ordinary man.
No. Rahi was already worried about exactly this.
I wasn't unaware of how much Rahi fretted over having no financial room to spare. And since I'd decided to take responsibility for Ju Hayeong, protecting my authority truly mattered. Even so, I needed to soothe Hyesun when she pleaded like this. Ah. There was a way.
......Hyunji. Hyunji had a car. I'll calm her with that for now.
"......Then how about I talk to Hyunji, and we share her car?"
"......Do you really hate it that much? You dislike my gift that much?"
"No. Later. I'll take it later. You mentioned the corporation, too. We don't know how any of this will turn out. You know that. I haven't even sorted out a place to live...... Honestly, I can tell you'd get me a good car, but a luxury car is too much for where I am. I'm barely a part-timer at a cafe. Not even that, anymore."
"You're a Multimale. What does your job have to do with anything......"
"Even so. You know what I mean."
"......All right......"
"I'll talk to Hyunji first. If she likes the car, it might be difficult."
"Don't worry. She doesn't know cars. She doesn't even like driving. Still, one car will be inconvenient for the two of you, so I'll buy Hyunji another."
Hyesun's stubbornness was no ordinary thing. And with the single line I answered before I could stop myself, the whole matter was settled.
"Then, when Hyunji gets pregnant—or you do—give it to me then, as a congratulatory gift. How about that?"
For an instant her face went blank with surprise, and then embarrassment flooded it. If marriage had existed, this could have been settled the way wedding gifts were, but this was a world without that. Then again, if it had, I probably never would have met both Hyunji and Hyesun. The pregnancy excuse landed better than I'd expected, though. I'd have to use it now and then.
"......Ah......"
"Then I'll accept it gladly. That's all right, isn't it?"
"......All right......"
"And take this, at least."
I hurriedly pulled my ID from my wallet. Pregnancy, and then this—a one-two, meant to turn the subject.
"Ah......"
"Want to go register it together?"
"N-no...... It's the weekend anyway......"
Gone apple-red in a flash, Hyesun carefully accepted my ID and swallowed. I nearly let out a sigh of relief without meaning to, but I had no intention of wrecking a conversation I'd only just managed to steer.
"......Please take care of me from now on. All right?"
"......Yes...... You take care of me, too......"
"You are a little scary in the daytime. I was a bit intimidated, you know?"
"......Y-you were? I'm sorry......"
"You're cute in bed, so it's fine."
"......You were really scary in bed, too."
"Do you like it better when I'm gentle, like this morning?"
"N-no...... I just... like everything you did......"
Her fingers fidgeted over my ID, and I was just about to laugh at how cute it was when the sedan we'd ridden yesterday pulled up in front of us.
"Here."
"Ah, no! You don't have to open it......"
"Hurry."
"......Thank you......"
The door opened the opposite way from an ordinary car, which felt a little awkward, but Hyesun looked plainly moved. I watched her climb in, let out a small sigh, and got in beside her, offering Han Gyeo-wool a greeting.