Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Bom froze right then and there. Dropping formalities already? Just like that?
“……”
“Say it one more time, please.”
“Ha… Are you always like this?”
“I don’t do this for just anyone. Seriously.”
Jae-gyu answered his own question with a hearty laugh. Just then, the light turned green, and he smoothly pressed the accelerator.
Vroom.
Just as she was about to snap back at him, the phone inside Bom’s bag vibrated. She opened her bag and pulled it out.
The unwelcome name ‘Head of Academic Affairs Seo Young-ju’ was floating on the screen.
What could it be? Calls from school after work usually meant being saddled with more tasks or some incident breaking out in her class. Neither was a pleasant prospect.
Bom hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to answer. If it was the former, she shouldn't; if it was the latter, she had to.
I should pick up.
She made up her mind, but being inside Jae-gyu’s car bothered her. If he suddenly chimed in during the call, strange rumors might start spreading.
“You can take it.”
“But…”
“I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
Surprisingly, he was quick on the uptake. Bom nodded. Praying it was nothing serious, she swiped the answer button with her thumb.
“Yes, Department Head.”
—Teacher Yoon. Have you left work? Are you home?
“I’m on my way home now. Is something the matter?”
When she asked tensely, Seo Young-ju started the story with a loud, “Aigoo!”
—The Office of Education told us to submit the environment-related club plans by today, but Department Head Hong forgot all about it! Honestly, he’ll be the death of me!
The preamble was long. It felt like an ominous signal. Before Bom could even respond, the explanation continued.
—Anyway, I hurriedly threw together a Green Energy Club and sent in a rough plan. The name is Greennarae. It’s okay if I put you down as the advisor, right, Teacher Yoon?
It was absurd. Bom felt a wave of dizziness.
Why was her name being put on an energy club managed by the Office of Education? Was she being treated so carelessly just because she was leaving soon anyway? She felt a surge of irritation.
“But I don’t know anything about that field. A science teacher would be better than me…”
—Ah, it’s just a name! It’s just for the paperwork, anyway.
According to the Head of Academic Affairs, all they needed was a record of one green energy-related activity per semester. It sounded easy in words, but recruiting students and starting a new activity was bound to be exhausting.
After persistent persuasion, there was ultimately only one answer Bom could give.
“…Yes, I understand.”
After hanging up, Bom swallowed a sigh. To be saddled with something like this.
She put her phone back in her bag and looked out the window. They had gotten quite close to her house in the meantime.
The car slowed down significantly at the quiet entrance of the village. She decided it would be best to get out here.
“Um, I’ll get out right up there.”
“Bom, where exactly is your house?”
“If you just drop me off at the Stone Bridge…”
“I asked where you live.”
Jae-gyu stopped the car by the roadside and glanced at the Money Tree in the back seat.
Bom followed his gaze to the source of all her trouble, currently buckled into the back seat, and let out a long sigh.
I can’t carry it home by myself anyway…
Jae-gyu’s determination to deliver it to her door seemed firm. Bom eventually raised her arm and pointed toward her house with her index finger.
“Past the Stone Bridge, that red brick house. The one with the cherry blossom tree.”
Bom’s house was on the second floor of a detached home located down an alley across the Stone Bridge. It was a relatively new addition; the landlord had built it because his son’s family in Seoul was planning to move down in a few years.
Since it occupied half of the rooftop, it was practically a rooftop room, but it wasn't too cold or too hot. It was a fairly pleasant place to live—at least for the two years she planned to stay.
“If you were going to live there, why didn’t you find a place in front of the school? There are plenty of similar places in Shinsu-eup.”
“Just because.”
There was a reason she had found a place here. Since it was a small rural town, living near the school meant too many prying eyes. That was why she had intentionally found a house in Cheongseol-eup, the neighborhood next to Shinsu-eup, which required a two-stop bus ride.
Because of those circumstances, she didn't have the slightest intention of revealing where she lived to others. And yet…
“If you could just drop me off in front of the house…”
“What, is someone going to eat you?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m just here to move a flowerpot, but you’ve got eyes like a startled rabbit.”
In the end, not only had she given Jae-gyu her address, but it looked like they were going all the way to her front door together.
“You won’t be able to carry that thing more than a few steps. I’ll drop it off at your door and go.”
“Okay…”
Unlike in Seoul, where transportation was inconvenient, it was common for people to give each other rides here. Had she overreacted? Feeling a bit embarrassed, Bom decided to lower the guard she had set so firmly.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Do you live alone?”
“Yes. The landlords live downstairs.”
Jae-gyu hummed and pressed down on the accelerator again.
“Um, but there’s no place to park in front of the house. Please just drop me off there.”
“Don’t worry. I’m the parking king.”
Jae-gyu immediately crossed the Stone Bridge and charged toward Bom’s house.
“Huh?”
“It’s fine.”
He then squeezed the large mid-sized sedan into a narrow spot surrounded by obstacles.
How was he planning to get out? Bom was flustered, but Jae-gyu was undeterred.
With the heavy thud of the car door opening, Jae-gyu stepped out. Unbuckling the Money Tree and lifting it, he approached Bom, who was standing by the car.
“Lead the way.”
When Bom hesitated, Jae-gyu let out an exaggerated groan.
“Aaaargh. My arms are falling off.”
“…Then give it to me. I’ll carry it.”
Bom made a move to take the pot in front of the outdoor stairs leading to the second floor.
“Forget it. If you start lifting things like this now, your wrists will be shot by the time you're an old lady.”
Brushing past Bom, Jae-gyu stomped up the stairs and waited for her in front of the door.
“Um, thank you for your help. You can leave it here.”
“Where?”
“Um, over there would be good.”
Bom pointed to a corner of the rooftop. It was right next to the wooden platform.
“Why there? Aren’t you putting it inside?”
“No. The sunlight… it’s good here.”
It was a makeshift excuse, but the area where she hung her laundry on the second floor was indeed spacious and got plenty of sun. Jae-gyu set the pot down with a thud and clicked his tongue.
“Wow. The security here is zero. This house is dangerous.”
You’re the most dangerous one. Bom swallowed the words that were about to burst out.
Jae-gyu looked around and blinked in curiosity when he spotted a small beige handkerchief hanging on the clothesline.
She couldn't let him look around any longer. Bom quickly expressed her gratitude.
“Um, Han-gyeol’s Uncle. Thank you for the ride.”
“What’s with that? We dropped the formalities earlier. Yoon Bom.”
“Thank you… Jae-gyu… ssi…”
After barely forcing the words out, Bom kept glancing down the stairs, sending a silent signal for him to leave.
Jae-gyu stood his ground, quietly looking down at Bom.
“……”
The lingering sunlight illuminated him clearly.
Since his skin was tanned, she didn't think bright colors would suit him, but the crisp white shirt looked remarkably good on him. He seemed like the type who would be quite popular with the opposite sex.
But why isn't he leaving?
If she kept staring, it felt like he would settle in and start saying strange things again. Bom quickly spoke up.
“Well then, get home safely.”
“Not even a cup of coffee. How cold, how cold. Is this the famous hospitality of a Seoulite…?”
“I’ll buy you one later.”
“No thanks.”
Unexpectedly, Jae-gyu declined. What? Bom was slightly taken aback. She hadn't actually intended to buy him one, but she didn't expect him to refuse so flatly. Bom wore a bewildered expression.
“How much could a teacher’s salary be? I’ll buy. Just keep your promise to have it with me next time.”
“Pardon?”
Have coffee next time? How did the conversation turn out that way? Bom blinked, rubbing her eyes.
Is this how a next appointment gets made? I don't want that.
Startled, Bom hurriedly grabbed Jae-gyu.
“Just have it now and then go! I suddenly feel like I need some caffeine too…”
“You must really want that coffee.”
Jae-gyu seemed to think about something, then abruptly turned around.
He gave a hand wave with his back turned and nimbly headed down the stairs, leaving Bom without even a chance to say goodbye.
Just like that, Jae-gyu vanished in an instant.
He’s completely self-centered.
Whenever she met that man, she lost her mind. At any rate, he was a type of person she had never encountered before. Bom shook her head and rummaged through her bag for her keys.
Click.
With the sound of the key turning, the front door slid open.
Bom’s house didn't even have a common digital door lock. As Jae-gyu said, the security was terrible. She hadn't cared much. She didn't want to be fussy and ask the landlord to install a digital lock for a place she was only staying in temporarily.
“Ugh…”
As soon as she stepped inside, the aches returned to her entire body. It was definitely muscle pain. Perhaps because she had been so tense about moving that flowerpot here, her body felt like a waterlogged sponge.
After taking a shower immediately, Bom changed into a loose gray T-shirt and yellow shorts.
“Hah, now I can breathe.”
She was drying her hair, feeling a bit refreshed. That was when the phone she had left on the shoe rack by the entrance began to vibrate.
Vroom. Vroom.
Bom loosely draped the towel over her wet hair and picked up the phone, but the vibration stopped at the same time.
Checking the screen, Bom let the towel drop to the floor.