Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Left alone, Bom stood there, hesitating. Near the entrance were shops selling wild greens and tofu. Since there wasn't much to see, she stood still and waited for Jae-gyu.
Who was it that he had chased after so urgently? She had never seen that expression on Jae-gyu’s face before. The image of him craning his neck, desperate not to lose sight of the person, lingered in her mind.
Lee Hee-yeon. She had heard the name clearly.
An ex-girlfriend?
Or maybe a first love? Her thoughts kept drifting in that direction. She knew perfectly well that whoever it was, it had nothing to do with her.
But why did it bother her so much?
Her mood gradually sank. Standing in front of the tofu shop felt like she was interfering with their business, and as the crowd began to grow, she felt like she was blocking the path. Bom decided to move.
She stopped in front of the "Shinsu Monster" Jae-gyu had mentioned earlier.
"Hmm..."
After taking in the surrounding scenery for a moment, Bom pulled her phone out of her bag.
She saw a few new messages. She tapped the one at the top first. It was from Nan-hee.
— Text me as soon as you’re done. I’m dying to know.
— Don’t call, though. My dad is home.
Nan-hee seemed to have high expectations, but unfortunately, there was zero chance of things working out with Choi Yi-jun. Bom decided to reply late in the evening. It wasn't exactly good news, anyway.
Below that were some unimportant messages and advertisements. Among them, one caught her eye. Surprisingly, Choi Yi-jun had sent a message. The content was simple.
— I had a pleasant time today.
"Ha."
A bitter smile escaped her lips. A pleasant time? How could he say that after cornering her with things he’d heard from others?
Part of her wanted to block him immediately, but she held back. It was true that he had willingly given her a ride when she was rescuing Bom-sik. After several drafts, she finally finished her reply.
— You worked hard today.
— Have a happy rest of your day. :)
That should be enough for him to get the hint. Bom was about to put her phone away when she hesitated.
Should she call Jae-gyu? He had told her to wait just a moment, but he hadn't returned yet.
Just who is this Lee Hee-yeon?
As she stared at the call button, debating for a long time, the voice she had been waiting for finally reached her ears.
"Ms. Bom!"
Jae-gyu was behind her, gasping for breath. Seeing the beads of sweat on his forehead gave her a strange feeling.
Did he run back because he was worried I’d be waiting?
No. He probably sweated because he had run with all his might to catch that woman named Lee Hee-yeon. Bom asked in a low voice, "Did you take care of your business?"
"Ah, yes. You waited a long time, didn't you? I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
It wasn't really okay. It seemed Jae-gyu had failed to catch the woman. A look of frustration was written all over his face. The fact that it was so obvious was the problem.
"Now, let's go explore the market."
She didn't think touring a market in this mood would be much fun.
Yoon Bom, what is wrong with you? Mr. Jae-gyu came here to help you.
She reminded herself of the facts she knew rationally. Besides, there was still plenty of time left before Bom-sik finished his IV. She didn't have a good reason to suddenly refuse, either.
Bom forced the gloom from her face and nodded. "Yes, let's go."
"I'll be your guide, so listen closely."
As they entered the market alley, Jae-gyu began pointing out the local "hot spots." Though her spirits were low, this was her first time visiting since moving down here, and there was surprisingly much to see, so Bom listened attentively.
"See them roasting seaweed over there? They roast it right on the spot like that, and it's so crispy it'll drive you crazy. Do you like seaweed?"
Crispy seaweed over warm white rice was always delicious. Bom chewed on the sample piece Jae-gyu popped into her mouth, and her eyes widened.
"It's good, right?"
"Yes, it's incredibly crispy."
Even though it wasn't his shop, Jae-gyu beamed at her words. Then, he called out to the man roasting the seaweed.
"Give me one bag of Charcoal-Grilled Seaweed, please."
One bag was 5,000 won, and three bags were 10,000 won. Bom asked Jae-gyu if it wouldn't be better to get three bags since he was buying it anyway.
"If you buy a lot just because it's cheap, it won't taste like this. I'll just keep buying it for you whenever you run out."
"What?"
Jae-gyu handed over a five-thousand-won bill and took the bag of Charcoal-Grilled Seaweed. Bom’s heart grew heavy at the realization that he had bought it for her.
Why did he keep making her misunderstand? If any other man had acted this way, she would have thought he liked her. But with Jae-gyu, she honestly couldn't tell.
He was naturally a person who enjoyed taking care of others, and he was popular wherever he went. On top of that, joking was second nature to him, so she couldn't decipher the meaning behind his behavior toward her.
These thoughts persisted even as they finished a full lap of the market. Jae-gyu knew all the best eateries, and at every stop, he bought small portions of things Bom might like.
By the time her hands were full, Jae-gyu checked the time and asked her, "How hungry are you?"
"Pardon?"
"If 0% is how you feel after a buffet and 100% is right before starvation, what percent are you at now?"
What a peculiar way to ask. To be honest, she had been hungry earlier, but her appetite had vanished the moment Jae-gyu went running off calling that woman's name.
"Forty percent?"
"Then let's just order one plate of Meat Pancakes, and also..."
"Mr. Jae-gyu."
"Yes?"
"Um, let's save the meal for next time."
Bom caught Jae-gyu just as he was leading her toward the Meat Pancake shop. She felt like she would have had indigestion eating with Yi-jun earlier; if she ate with Jae-gyu now, her stomach would surely turn.
Jae-gyu narrowed his eyes slightly but readily agreed. Instead, he bought some Meatball Patties from the shop, telling her to make sure she ate them at home.
"Meat Pancakes aren't good once they're cold. Take these and pan-fry them later. I guarantee the taste."
Why was he buying her so much? Bom was still feeling troubled.
After a few more turns, the two of them finally exited the market. It was larger than she had expected. Rather than a straight line, it was a complex web of interconnected alleys shaped like a ladder.
Bom made a mental note of a few places Jae-gyu had introduced. There were spots she might want to visit later—a lifestyle shop, a bedding store, and a flower shop among them.
"We're here to pick up Bom-sik."
When they returned to the animal hospital, it was quiet as many of the patients had left. As soon as Bom-sik, who had finished his IV, saw Bom and Jae-gyu, his tail started wagging like crazy, and he didn't know what to do with himself.
How can he be this happy to see us after only knowing us for a few hours?
A lump formed in her throat. It finally felt real that Bom-sik had truly become her family. Jae-gyu seemed to feel the same way.
"Did you miss your daddy that much?"
He suddenly started snapping photos of Bom-sik with his phone. He mentioned that he needed to take photos constantly to make a growth album and to have memories for when the dog got older.
The blood test results were also ready.
The paper was filled with incomprehensible technical terms and various levels. The veterinarian's explanation was long as well. Summed up, it meant he was generally healthy. Nothing could have made her happier.
"And if you look at the X-rays here, everything is fine. He was definitely hurt somewhere, and it looks like he strained a muscle, but he'll be fine if he just rests at home for a while. It's best not to take him on walks for about ten days."
Everything was normal. Jae-gyu asked the vet about necessary supplies and food for Bom-sik, listening intently to the doctor's advice.
After leaving the exam room, Jae-gyu began sweeping up the recommended items.
"There might be better stuff online, but since we need it right away, it's probably best to have it ready. Right?"
"Yes... Do you think he needs a house, too?"
She wondered what it would be like to sleep with Bom-sik. She usually felt lonely at night and slept clutching an extra pillow; having Bom-sik there would be reassuring. However, Jae-gyu disagreed.
"The bed is high, so he might get hurt if he falls off. How about letting him sleep separately for now?"
It was something she hadn't considered. Bom marveled at Jae-gyu's thoughtfulness and stopped questioning the items he was piling up.
He's only four years older than me, but why does he seem so much like an adult?
This wasn't something she had only thought today. The reason Jae-gyu had felt so dependable until now was largely due to this maturity. Perhaps raising Han-gyeol had made him more grounded and capable.
"Alright, let's go."
After purchasing everything they needed, Bom, Jae-gyu, and Bom-sik left the animal hospital. After loading the trunk with an armful of supplies, Jae-gyu handed something to Bom.
It was a membership card from the animal hospital. On the front was a photo of Bom-sik taken at some point. When Bom saw the back, a flush crept into her cheeks.
MEMBERS
Seon Jae-gyu ♡ Yoon Bom ♡ Bom-sik
⋆★⋆
How did it end up like this?
Bom was currently being held by Jae-gyu. And in a "princess carry" position, no less.
The sky, tinged with blue as the sun dipped below the horizon, was peaceful. A soft breeze fluttered around them.
Given the posture, Bom was dying of embarrassment. However, her arms were wrapped tightly around Jae-gyu's neck.
This was, so to speak, an unavoidable contact.
After returning to Cheongseol-eup with Jae-gyu, Bom placed the pink house he had picked out in the living room. As if he knew it was his, Bom-sik went inside and lay down.
"Sale price: 1 billion won. Pay back your loan, Bom-sik."
Jae-gyu made a bizarre joke to the dog, but the house was his gift. The microfiber fabric looked cozy, and the design was cute.
The food Jae-gyu had bought her at the market was enough to last over a week. As she organized the cupboards, Bom hesitated for a moment.
I should at least feed him before he goes, right?
After all, she had been indebted to him again today, and he had mentioned being hungry earlier. It weighed on her mind that she hadn't even eaten lunch with him.