Chapter 25
Chapter 25
“What is it?”
Yi-jun stopped the car, looking bewildered by Bom’s sudden cry. Bom didn’t even answer. She unbuckled her seatbelt and scrambled out of the car.
She hadn’t seen wrong. A small white puppy—a Baek-gu—was huddled at the edge of the packed dirt road where cars frequently passed.
Was it abandoned in a place like this? Poor thing. Bom looked the little cotton ball of a puppy over before glancing around the area.
“What on earth is going on?”
Yi-jun, who had followed her out, soon spotted the puppy as well. Bom scanned the surroundings with an anxious expression.
This wasn't the main road, but still...
“It’s still just a baby. It’ll be dangerous to leave it by the roadside.”
Bom carefully scooped the puppy into her arms.
“It’s okay, Baek-gu.”
Perhaps out of fear, the little puppy flailed its short legs.
“What do you plan to do with that dog?” Yi-jun asked, looking down at Bom for a long moment.
“I think I should take it home for now.”
“Get in, then.”
“Is that okay?”
“Did you plan on walking?”
Bom, who had expected the cold Yi-jun to leave her behind, felt a bit awkward at his unexpected response as she climbed back into the car.
“He’s shivering. And his paws are a little swollen.”
Bom gently placed the puppy on her lap and stroked its fur. The puppy, which had been whimpering, soon fell into a deep sleep, as if exhausted.
“I think he’s sleeping. He’s so cute.”
She had never raised a dog and knew nothing about them, but Bom already felt a fondness for the puppy. Its fearful and timid demeanor reminded her of herself, and her heart went out to it instantly.
This puppy, who surely had parents and siblings somewhere, had been cast off alone and pushed all the way to this dangerous road.
How lonely and difficult must it have been?
He was so young. She pushed her sunglasses up onto her head to observe the puppy more closely.
As she smiled down at the puppy, Bom suddenly felt a gaze on her and turned her head.
“...He is cute.”
After uttering those unexpected words, Yi-jun let out a faint, airy chuckle.
Bom kept stealing glances at him.
He doesn’t seem like a completely bad person.
At the beginning of the semester, the first unit of the Ethics and Ideology class Bom taught covered theories of human nature—the idea that a person’s innate character is predetermined.
Usually, the debate was split between the theory of innate goodness and the theory of innate evil. As for Bom, she believed in innate goodness. She felt it would be too sad to think that everyone was born evil.
“Um, Mr. Choi Yi-jun.”
Yi-jun, who had insulted her earlier, had just helped her rescue the puppy. She harbored a vague hope that if she spoke sincerely, he might listen.
“Go ahead.”
His aura was as cold as ever, but she felt like she could speak now. Her heart had calmed down considerably.
“It’s true that I came here because I was kicked out of my house.”
Though she had applied for the teacher exchange herself and come here on her own two feet, it was her family who had pushed her to that point. So, as Yi-jun said, she had indeed been kicked out.
“You’ve probably heard the reason. And it’s true I was caught up in that incident.”
Yi-jun didn't seem shaken; he kept his eyes on the road and continued driving. Reassured by his calm reaction, she continued.
“Whether you believe me or not is up to you, but I didn't do it. I’ll be going back to Seoul soon. Probably next year.”
She had said everything she could. Even after hearing her words, Yi-jun didn't show much of a reaction.
It felt like she had made a pointless excuse to someone who didn't even care, but she had no regrets. It was better than letting him go without saying anything.
“It’s right over there. We’re here.”
As the Stone Bridge of Cheongseol-eup came into view in the distance, her heart felt even lighter.
The closer they got to the house, the more the car’s speed dropped sharply.
“Oh, you should stop here. It’s hard to park further inside.”
“Understood.”
Yi-jun followed her instructions readily. He was vastly different from a certain someone who called himself a 'Parking King' while mindlessly shoving the front of his car into any space.
I wonder what Jae-gyu is doing right now.
The thought crossed her mind, and she found herself curious.
Jae-gyu had called this morning, saying he was going hiking at Jirisan early today. When he suggested she join him, Bom had, of course, declined.
[It’s a course that goes up toward Kalbawi, stops by Beopgyesa Temple, and hits the summit of Cheonwangbong. It’s a piece of cake, a total breeze.]
She hadn't known he enjoyed hiking. Regardless, he was a very diligent man. One would think his main job would keep him busy enough, but Jae-gyu always seemed to have plenty of free time.
She was a bit envious of how he would show up at a moment's notice to meddle in things, and how he found time to go on trips here and there.
Anyway, he had said the hike would take about six hours in total, so she figured he must have come down by now.
If he was down, he probably would have contacted her. As soon as the thought occurred, Bom realized how ridiculous she was being.
Why did I think Jae-gyu would contact me? It’s not like we’re in a relationship. Get a grip.
While she was shaking off those stray thoughts, the engine cut out.
“Thank you for the ride.”
She was unbuckling her belt and gathering her bag when Yi-jun got out first.
What is he doing?
Then, Yi-jun opened the car door for her from the outside. She was a bit dazed, as she hadn't realized the man possessed such manners.
“Thank you.”
Holding the puppy, Bom carefully stepped out of the car and gave Yi-jun a short bow.
“Oops!”
At that moment, the sunglasses perched on her head slipped. As they fell, Yi-jun caught them with quick reflexes.
She heard him click his tongue softly.
“Are you always this clumsy?”
Then, Yi-jun lightly grasped a lock of Bom’s hair that had fallen forward and tucked it behind her ear.
His hand brushed against her ear. It was a cool, soft hand. It was startling how his body temperature and touch were the exact opposite of a certain someone else's.
“It’s not usually like that...”
She felt a bit strange. There was no need for this man to fix her hair, was there?
“You looked like you were ready to walk away wearing them like that.”
Ah, it was because of the sunglasses. Bom breathed a sigh of relief and said brightly, “Oh, these? I’m sorry. If it weren't for you, Mr. Yi-jun, I really would have walked off with them on my head.”
“They suited you. I’ll buy a new pair and send them to you.”
There was no need for him to go that far. Besides, they wouldn't be seeing each other again. Bom took it as a polite formality.
“I appreciate the sentiment.”
At her words drawing a line between them, Yi-jun’s brow furrowed. His glare was so intense that she turned her head slightly away, but now his gaze was fixed on her neck.
Why is he looking at me like he’s going to devour me?
Yi-jun was licking his dry lips. Seeing him like that, with eyes like a predator standing before its prey, her body went stiff.
“Mr. Yi-jun?”
“Ms. Yoon Bom, I...”
Yi-jun took a step closer. What was he trying to say? She didn't know, but whatever it was, she didn't want to hear it. Instinctively, she took a step back.
Whimper, whimper.
“Baek-gu?”
Then, the puppy, which had been quiet the whole time, began to whimper in Bom’s arms.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
At the sound of the sorrowful whimpering, Bom took her eyes off Yi-jun and adjusted her hold on the puppy.
“I’m sorry. I think I should head up because of Baek-gu.”
Leaving behind a frustrated-looking Yi-jun, Bom climbed the stairs and entered her house.
She didn't know what Yi-jun would tell his family when he went back, but one thing was certain.
Today’s blind date was the absolute worst.
Thud. She closed the door and set the puppy down, feeling the tension finally drain away. A long sigh escaped her.
The atmosphere was strange at the end...
What was that? She thought about it for a moment before giving up. Yi-jun was a hard person to read to begin with.
Besides, since she had made it clear she was moving back to Seoul, he probably wouldn't bother with her anymore.
Mom had such high hopes for this. She’s going to be disappointed.
She didn't know how to answer when her mother called later with an excited voice. She just didn't know.
For now, she decided to handle the task at hand. The most important thing right now was washing the scruffy puppy.
She put the puppy in the bathroom, ran some lukewarm water, and began to bathe him.
“Does that feel good?”
There were small and large scratches on the puppy’s body. The fact that he wasn't used to being handled at all made it clear he had been abandoned. Poor Baek-gu.
Even as she wrapped him in a towel and brought him out, the puppy never once showed any sign of dislike. He was the gentlest puppy she’d ever seen—even gentler than the neighbor’s dog, Hwang-gu.
After she dried his fur with a low-heat setting, the now-fluffy puppy drank a little water and settled down on the living room floor. He soon curled up and began to doze off.
He must be hungry. What should she do about food? If she bought kibble, would he even be able to chew it? She had no idea what to give a puppy that was still as light as a leaf.
Let’s look it up.
Sitting on the sofa, Bom opened a portal app and searched for animal hospitals in Cheongseol-eup.
<Search Results - 0>
Recalling that the abandoned building at the entrance of the village used to be an animal hospital, Bom sighed. Even the one they had had gone out of business.
She changed the search to Shinsu-eup, and fortunately, a few results popped up.
<Shinsu Livestock Hospital, Bitcoin Livestock Hospital, Bachelor’s Livestock Hospital...>
But they were all livestock hospitals.
Do they not treat small animals? Do they sell puppy food and snacks?
Not only that, she needed to buy hygiene supplies, but the lack of information left her feeling lost.
“This is a headache.”
Even the places she did find had no information other than the business name and hours, so she would have to find her way there carefully. Since she was using public transportation, it would be a problem if her route got tangled.
In times like this, she regretted not having a car. She had put off buying one until she moved back to Seoul, and now she regretted it.
Anyway, where should she take Baek-gu? While she was lost in thought, her phone rang.
[You have elastic-waist pants at home, right?]