Chapter 26
Chapter 26
The person who sent the nonsensical message was, naturally, Jae-gyu.
Why would he send something like this out of the blue? As Bom was typing a reply, another message arrived.
Why does he suddenly need elastic-waist pants? And when did he get back from Jirisan?
Bom became intensely curious. She glanced back and forth between the sleeping Baek-gu and her phone, waiting for a reply.
He really was a master at making people curious. He was always spouting such random things that it naturally piqued her interest. It definitely wasn't because she was interested in Jae-gyu himself.
So that was it? She was dumbfounded that he’d told her to wear elastic-waist pants just to go to a beef festival. Of course, she loved beef, but so suddenly?
While she was mentally scolding him, another message arrived.
“He’s always ‘heading out’!”
Bom jumped up from her seat without realizing it. He was always way too fast to act. She hopped around, frantically tapping out a reply.
To be honest, her mouth had started watering the moment she saw the word "Hanwoo." But she wasn't in a position to leave.
Baek-gu had only just arrived in a strange place; he’d be anxious if he were left alone.
Click.
Bom took a photo of the sleeping Baek-gu and sent it. Part of her wanted to show him off. She was also curious about Jae-gyu’s reaction.
He doesn’t hate dogs, does he?
Vroom, vroom.
The phone rang the moment she sent the photo. It was a video call.
I’ve never been close enough to anyone to do this. Well, I guess it’s the same as a voice call.
Bom, who had never received a video call before, reflexively pressed the accept button and then felt a wave of embarrassment.
What is this?
Both her face and Jae-gyu’s face appeared on the screen.
Her eyes went wide, and she froze for a moment. She hadn't realized that a video call would show her face so clearly.
It was awkward showing him how she’d dressed up for her blind date earlier. She wondered if he’d notice, and immediately, Jae-gyu’s voice dropped an octave.
—Where did you go today? Why do you look so pretty?
Since she and Jae-gyu weren't in any kind of relationship, it shouldn't have mattered if she told him she’d been on a blind date. However, something else slipped out of her mouth.
“It’s nothing, really. No big deal.”
On the screen, Jae-gyu was clearly dressed like he’d just come from a hike.
He was wearing a gray wide-brimmed hat with a chin strap and a red hiking anorak. He was fully geared up, even holding trekking poles.
He looks like someone in a hiking club.
In the video, Jae-gyu’s eyes were darting around. Was he looking for Baek-gu? Bom carefully crouched down next to the puppy.
She adjusted the phone’s angle to show Baek-gu. Not knowing if he could see properly, she pressed her face close to the screen. Jae-gyu’s eyes widened.
“This is the puppy I mentioned. Can you see him?”
—Whoa. Hahaha!
Jae-gyu let out a refreshing laugh, baring his teeth. Bom smiled along with him. He likes dogs. Should I ask him to come see him later?
As she smiled, feeling heartened, Bom suddenly tilted her head.
Why does Jae-gyu’s laughter sound so close?
Just as she thought it was strange, someone suddenly knocked on the door.
Knock—knock-knock—knock.
That rhythmic knocking style... could it be? Half-doubting, she opened the door.
“Ha, Jae-gyu!”
“You’re dying to see me, aren’t you? Good thing I came, or it would’ve been a disaster.”
“…….”
Jae-gyu was standing there in the exact same outfit from the video call. She had no idea how he’d gotten there so fast.
“You said you were just heading out.”
“I’m like a bullet.”
He’d said he was starting out when he had already arrived.
“But…”
Jae-gyu muttered, narrowing his eyes. He scanned Bom from head to toe, his eyes gleaming.
He stroked his chin, letting out a "hmmm" sound. He was clearly about to say something ridiculous again.
“What is it?”
“It’s not just your face that’s pretty. You’re all dressed up in these clothes, too.”
“…….”
“Did you go on a blind date or something?”
“What?”
She almost collapsed from the shock. Confused as to whether he actually knew, Bom felt relieved by his next words.
“Or did you rush to get ready because I was coming? Is that it?”
He was talking nonsense. Relieved, Bom grabbed Jae-gyu’s wrist.
“Stop saying weird things and just come in.”
Bom pulled Jae-gyu inside. Perhaps because she’d let him in once before, it didn't feel particularly bothersome to have him in the house.
Jae-gyu also stepped naturally into the living room, looking around until he spotted Baek-gu.
“He’s cute, right?”
Bom whispered, standing beside Jae-gyu. The puppy had been sleeping on his stomach, but at some point, he’d flipped over and was now sleeping with his belly to the sky. His pale, light-pink tummy was visible.
“But, I don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy.”
“Can’t you see right there? It’s a boy.”
Is it? Bom crouched down quietly, trying not to make a sound, and examined Baek-gu’s belly before standing back up. She couldn't tell where he saw that it was a boy. She tilted her head.
“I don’t know, I can’t tell even when I look. Is this... that?”
“Do you not even count the small ones?”
“…….”
Bom pretended not to hear. But Jae-gyu lowered his voice, muttering almost inaudibly.
“…I guess you’d count me as a man, then.”
“What is wrong with you!”
Her face flushing red, Bom gave Jae-gyu a hard shove.
I’m already distressed enough because of that.
She’d been trying so hard to forget, but his words brought it all back. The scene from the bathroom flashed in her mind, and her face began to burn.
Are you crazy? How can you think about that bathroom incident? Get it together, Yoon Bom. Don't think about it. If you think about it, you’ll really…
It was like a giant water bottle. Ugh, no! Don’t think about it!
The harder she tried, the more vividly the image of Jae-gyu from that day appeared in her mind, like a high-quality 4K image.
“You really only say weird things!”
“Ack, I’m sorry.”
Bom pushed Jae-gyu’s chest with both hands again. I’m not letting this go, seriously. Jae-gyu chuckled and pretended to be pushed back before hunching his large frame.
As the surroundings grew noisy, Baek-gu finally woke up.
“…….”
“…….”
The two of them were in a pointless standoff. Jae-gyu gently scratched Baek-gu’s neck. He could feel the tense puppy start to relax.
“Did you fall for me?”
Jae-gyu scooped up the blinking Baek-gu. His short legs flailed in the air.
Nestled in Jae-gyu’s large arms, Baek-gu seemed to be in a good mood. How did they get close so fast?
“That’s amazing. Baek-gu likes you, Jae-gyu.”
“Well, I’m used to being popular.”
“…….”
“Have you picked a name for him?”
“Not yet…”
Jae-gyu opened his mouth wide and pretended to gobble up Baek-gu’s tiny head. Unaware that he was being "eaten," Baek-gu let out a yelp of delight.
“Bom-sik.”
When Jae-gyu called him that, Baek-gu’s tiny tail wagged furiously. Bom-sik?
“His name is Bom-sik. It’s good, right?”
“I guess…?”
It felt a bit embarrassing that the name was derived from her own, so Bom fiddled with her cheek. But it wasn't a bad name. She’d heard somewhere that giving a pet a slightly old-fashioned name helps them live longer.
“He’s all fluff, this Bom-sik. We need to feed him a lot.”
“Right? I haven’t even bought kibble yet. Since he’s a baby, should I give him milk?”
“If his teeth are sturdy, kibble is better. Bom-sik, let’s see those teeth. Ack!”
Bom giggled as she watched Jae-gyu get his finger nipped while trying to check Bom-sik’s teeth.
He’d been bitten by Hwang-gu a few days ago, too; he seemed to be a habitual victim. Did dogs find Jae-gyu annoying, too?
“That hurt. He can definitely eat kibble. You’re a strong one, Bom-sik!”
“Really? I don’t know where to buy kibble. Do you know any animal hospitals? I think he needs a checkup, too.”
“Just you wait.”
Jae-gyu stood up and immediately made a call.
“Hey, Philip. Are there any animal hospitals in Cheongseol-eup or Shinsu-eup? Tell me where your Elizabeth goes.”
Philip? Is he a foreigner? And who’s Elizabeth? Bom listened in, stealing glances at Jae-gyu as he focused on the call.
His red long-sleeved shirt was slightly damp with sweat from his hike. Because of that, the thick muscles of his upper body were clearly visible.
Where does he even buy clothes like that?
She’d always wondered. Where did that feeling of being slightly different from other men his age come from?
Was it because of his overwhelming physique, or did his clothes make him feel even more out of place? Looking at the cooling towel wrapped around his neck, she felt even more certain.
What young person wears something like that?
As Bom stared at his back, Jae-gyu’s loud voice rang out.
“What?”
What is it? Jae-gyu had a serious expression on his face. Bom began to focus intently on his conversation.
“Is that for real?”
It had been nearly six months since she first met this man. She knew he joked around a lot. But right now, there wasn't a hint of playfulness in his voice.
“Yeah. I had no idea. Got it.”
Exhaling a rough sigh, Jae-gyu rested his head in one hand.
Something must have happened.