Chapter 21: It Seems Like She's Serious
Two days later, Chae-ah's nursing duties finally came to an end.
She was healthy enough now to go about her daily life without any issues at all, and she was thrilled about it.
It made sense, considering she'd been cooped up at home for days.
"Chae-ah."
"Yeah?"
"Come to think of it, how did you catch that cold anyway?"
"Oh, that... umm..."
It was time for her to head back home, so as I packed my things before bed, I tossed out the question that had suddenly popped into my head.
She hesitated before answering, like there was something embarrassing about it.
"The day before I caught the cold, we tried on those cosplay outfits for play, right?"
"Yeah, we did."
"You said it was the first batch you were selling, so... what was it? Market trend analysis? I went around to a few other adult toy stores to check it out."
I was caught off guard by the completely unexpected reason, but a smile soon crept onto my face.
I really had the most diligent, hardworking employee imaginable.
Who would've thought I'd have a staff member who did her market research on foot instead of just online?
"I wore the outfit kinda thin, and boom—caught a cold."
I paused my packing and walked over to Chae-ah.
Climbing onto the bed, I slowly stroked her hair.
"Don't work too hard. Even I, the boss, don't go that far."
"Okay... unni..."
Her eyes gazing up at me as I petted her were filled with excitement.
A simple gesture born from admiration had her heart racing.
"Ah, sorry."
"Huh?"
I kept telling myself these actions weren't right, but every time I snapped out of it, I found myself doing them again.
"If I keep this up, you'll get the wrong idea. I won't anymore."
Even as I promised not to, I didn't believe myself.
It felt like I was just setting myself up to repeat it all over again.
"Unni, it's fine."
Just as I averted my eyes and tried to pull my hand away, Chae-ah grabbed it.
She placed it right back on her head.
"You don't have to think that way. I like it."
"Well... that's a relief, then."
"Unni, you did the right thing hiring me, right?"
"Yeah, it's in the top ten best decisions of my life."
"Top ten? That's too many fingers."
"Fine, top five."
"Three! Make it top three. At least that."
She held up three fingers, her eyes narrowed in playful dissatisfaction.
I couldn't fathom why something so silly warranted that expression.
"Alright, top three it is."
"Yay, unni."
"Time for bed."
Lights out at bedtime.
Chae-ah lay on the bed, I on the futon on the floor, passing the time until sleep came.
"Unni, you asleep?"
"You think anyone's falling asleep a minute after laying their head on the pillow?"
"Unni, remember what you said last time? The wish you'd grant once I got better."
"Yeah, you wanted me in a nurse cosplay outfit."
"Can I... be a little greedy?"
I figured she'd bring up her wish soon, so I responded naturally.
But what did she mean by greedy?
"Spill it."
"Can we... take just one day off tomorrow?"
"I've never seen such a bold employee."
"No go, huh?"
I stared wide-eyed at the pitch-black ceiling.
Soon, I started imagining what face she'd made while saying that.
No matter how I pictured it, I felt like total garbage.
I'd always prided myself on being at least a domestic car, if not a luxury import.
Yet here I was, lying in bed fantasizing about a woman I'd sworn I'd never date.
"Haa..."
"Unni?"
Was it just the mind-blowing stimulation from our sex that had me like this?
Am I whipped?
That was such a trashy way to put it.
"Unni, asleep?"
That was when it happened.
"Yui-ya, you already asleep?"
A voice I utterly loathed echoed in my head.
A chill ran down my spine, my brows furrowed on their own, and any drowsiness I'd felt vanished completely.
Why was her voice suddenly in my mind?
"Unni?"
"Chae-ah."
"Yeah, unni."
"Let's take tomorrow off."
"Why?"
"Just... my mood soured."
I left it at that and slowly closed my eyes.
*
That unwanted voice echoing briefly for just a moment kept me up all night.
I felt like I'd slept some, but I was more exhausted than if I'd pulled an all-nighter.
"Haa, I'm so tired..."
As I scratched my head and sat up, a strange sound reached my ears.
"Hngg... hngguuk..."
It was Chae-ah crying.
Worried about what was going on, I turned toward the bed. Chae-ah was huddled under the covers up to her head, sobbing.
"Chae-ah, what's wrong? Nightmare? Or are you feeling sick again?"
"Hngguuk... unnii..."
"Yeah, Chae-ah. Tell me."
She kicked off the covers and bolted upright, her eyes puffy and swollen.
Did she cry all night?
"Unni... did I... bother you too much...?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Last night... hng... before bed... you said your... mood soured... hngg... hwaaaang!"
Her choked sobs pieced the situation together in my mind.
A sudden trauma had sharpened my nerves, and I'd blurted it out without thinking.
That one phrase had wounded her deeply.
"That's not it, Chae-ah."
"Then... hng... what is it...?"
"Well..."
Telling her about my past felt too heavy.
My lips froze, and all I could do was repeat that it wasn't about her.
"See... hngguk... you hate me now... hwaaaang!"
"Ah, no, really! It's not that. Why would I hate you?"
"Then why won't you... hngguuk... tell me..."
"That's..."
"Hngg... hwaaaaaang!"
"Okay, fine! I'll tell you, so stop! Quit crying!"
I handed her a full pack of tissues and waited for her tears to subside.
No matter how I spun it, this wasn't a light story to share with her, but clearing the misunderstanding left no choice.
It was my fault, so I'd fix it.
"Puaang!"
"Better?"
"Y-yeah... so why'd you say that?"
"Well... how do I even put this."
"Hngguk..."
As I struggled to find the words, she started sniffling again.
Seeing that, I spilled it raw, without any wrapping.
"It's about my ex-girlfriend."
"Huh...? Your ex?"
"Yeah, so I didn't wanna tell you. You like me, after all."
"I wanna know even more now."
"Why?"
"What she did to make you so sensitive about it."
Chae-ah gripped my hand tight, her gaze steady and unwavering.
Reading the emotion in her eyes, I realized I couldn't hesitate just because she liked me or was young.
"It's not a good story."
"It's okay."
"I truly loved her. But she didn't love me back."
"What? She just toyed with you?"
"Kinda felt that way. And yet she kept saying she loved me right up to the end. It was so... infuriating."
There was another reason I'd hesitated to bring this up in front of Chae-ah.
Once I started, the loathsome past would come rushing back in vivid detail.
My prediction was spot on—her voice echoed sharply with all the memories.
"Maybe I loved her too much, but even after learning everything... I clung to her. Begged her not to go."
"But... she left anyway?"
"Yeah, she did. Now? Who knows... probably living it up with some other woman."
"So last night..."
"Her voice just popped into my head. Ruined my mood instantly."
That was when I was laying it all out step by step.
"Hngguk... hng..."
Chae-ah started sobbing and tearing up again.
I was the one who'd dragged out such a horrific past—why was she crying? It left me utterly flustered.
It even felt like she was crying on my behalf.
A small laugh escaped me as I gently stroked her hair.
"Why are you crying? If you cry, how can I?"
"Hngguk... that's awful! How could she do that to you!"
"It was five years ago. I've forgotten it all now."
"You haven't. That's why your mood soured."
Even mid-tears, she spat out undeniable facts.
Each one stabbed at a corner of my heart.
I couldn't pinpoint why it hurt so much.
"Yeah, you're right. Truth is, I still haven't gotten over what happened five years ago."
"You... still like her?"
"No, I hate her. Despise her."
"Was she... pretty?"
Why ask about her looks now?
"Yeah, she was pretty."
"Prettier than me...?"
"Hmm... no."
"Bad unni. Why even hesitate... hng..."
"Sorry, Chae-ah."
She rested her head lightly on my chest.
As I debated whether to hug her, she started bumping her head against me.
"Why hesitate... you hate her... despise her..."
"Yeah, exactly. Why did I?"
"Unni..."
"Yeah, Chae-ah."
I looked down at her as she slowly lifted her head.
Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes.
Not only was I stringing her along, but now I'd made her cry too.
I had no idea why these moments kept repeating.
"Chuuup..."
Mid-thought, Chae-ah's lips pressed against mine like they were meant to be one.
Startled, my eyes widened, bringing her face into sharp focus.
Tears streamed down her closed eyes, tracing slowly over her pale cheeks.
Knowing those tears were for me made the kiss taste like bitter medicine.
"Chuuuup..."
"Chae-ah."
"Unni, then... forget that woman. How about me?"
I could tell how much courage it took for her to say that.
I didn't stammer or dodge before answering.
"Yeah, you'd definitely be better."
"So we're dating from now on, right?"
"Sorry, no."
"You bitch."
Did I hear that right?
"What'd you say, Chae-ah?"
"Yeah. Let's see how long you hold out. Just you wait—I'm gonna make you fall flat."
The unexpected words from her mouth brought a smile to my face.
"Pfft, looking forward to it."
Unlike what I'd said at the motel, the words flowed out naturally.