“Yeah, Mom. If you ring the bell, they’ll open the door.”
After hanging up the phone, Heewoon took a deep breath. He had considered going to meet her at the front, but he had to use crutches again to come back up the stairs. It wasn’t really a difficult thing to do, but he thought his mother would feel even more sorry to see him like that. Or perhaps it was just a selfish desire to meet his mother a little later.
As if worrying, his mother saw Heewoon and burst into tears. Seeing her getting surprised at the cast, Heewoon calmly explained it. When he resisted getting on the van, he had gotten a little beaten up for rebelling, and that’s when his leg got broken. He explained as Kangwoo had told him to.
His mother got angry, but suddenly her face turned pale, as if recalling a terrifying memory.
That’s probably why. The reason why his mother didn’t ask about Seo Kangwoo, or why Heewoon didn’t go to the hospital or the house.
While talking to his mother, the house helper brought tea and dessert. As his mother, poking at the beautifully decorated cake as if it was a waste to eat it, Heewoon handed her the bank account book.
“What’s this?”
His mother looked at Heewoon and opened the account book.
₩8,000,000.
“I made a new account. The passcode is attached at the front.”
It was a completely new number, not the usual old passcode. His mother looked at him perplexedly.
“Why…?”
“Use it, Mom. Just don’t tell Hyung that I gave you money.”
Heewoon hoped that his mother would use the money. Without giving it to his brother.
However, he knew those chances were slim. He couldn’t imagine his mother turning down his brother’s request for money, but he sent the large sum anyway because he was now in Kangwoo’s house. After all, he didn’t have to return to the cramped room every day.
Not wanting to have the heavy emotions pressing down on him again, he decided to become a selfish person.
“You don’t need to, Heewoon. Why are you giving this money to Mom?”
“Hyung got hurt too, and you would need money to use right away.”
Heewoon said, pushing the account book towards his mother again, who was hesitating. Seeing Heewoon like that, his mother shook her head.
“We don’t necessarily need to have this much. Mom will work now too.”
His mother said forcefully. Heewoon stared at her quietly. She still looked pale and haggard.
“Mom has been going to the hospital lately.”
“Hospital?”
The word made Heewoon’s heart sink. Where could she be sick again?
“A-Are you hurt somewhere?”
“Oh, it’s nothing to worry about…”
His mother hesitated and then spoke quietly. It’s depression.
Heewoon stared at the awkward smile left on her face. The resigned face that stayed still in front of the TV and the face filled with despair that was pulled into the dark space came to his mind.
‘If only I could just…’
He could vividly remember the cracked voice. Heewoon gritted his teeth and strained his eyes. If he let his guard down, tears threatened to overwhelm him.
His mother, her hair tucked behind her ears, spoke in a cheerful voice.
“I don’t really have to go to the hospital just because I’m a little depressed. But Secretary Choi insisted, so I had to go a few times.”
The way his mother sounded like she was making excuses stabbed Heewoon in the heart. Heewoon plunged his fork into the smooth surface of the cake. He opened his mouth, his eyes fixed on the crumbling cake.
“You have to keep going. They say a lot of people are getting counseling these days.”
Each word was carefully chosen by him.
“…Yeah.”
A soft voice was heard. The fork, rolling a bright red strawberry, paused briefly before poking it. Heewoon lifted his head, wearing a bright expression.
“Mom, have some cake.”
As Heewoon put a strawberry into his mouth as if to show, his mother, who had been watching for a moment, murmured that it looked delicious and ate the cake.
“I’m feeling great, getting a lot of positive energy from meeting people and going out.”
“That’s great to hear.”
“I’m also looking for a job.”
“Mom, use the money I gave you, and I’ll send you money every month, so you can just stay at home…”
“The doctor said that.”
His mother interrupted Heewoon’s words. The momentarily darkened expression on his mother’s face returned to normal as she took a breath.
“The doctor said that I should go to work, have hobbies, like that.”
Her voice was firm. Heewoon hesitated, then let out a sigh.
“…But don’t push yourself too hard from the beginning, just get a part-time job.”
“….”
“Mom, it hasn’t been long yet since the surgery.”
His mother’s face brightened a little at the added words.
“What do you mean it hasn’t been that long, four months have passed.”
“It’s only four months.”
That’s why, Mom, use that money. Otherwise, my heart will feel uncomfortable.
In response to Heewoon’s words, his mother eventually nodded slightly. She looked down at the account book for a moment and then raised her head, glancing around.
“The room is very spacious. Do you sleep in this room?”
Her voice was moist. Heewoon pretended not to notice and showed his mother around the house. He wanted to show the lower floor as well, but his mother stopped him, so he only showed the second floor. When they returned to the room, his mother’s voice was dry.
“This house is nice.”
Heewoon smiled faintly and, remembering something, asked.
“What did you tell Hyung?”
“Just that. I told him that you’re going independent now.”
“Does he believe you?”
At Heewoon’s words, his mother smiled silently.
It didn’t matter. His brother wasn’t an important person to him.
The resentment didn’t disappear just because his brother went up to the surgical table, but the hatred that remained was rounded and gentle rather than sharp and pointed. Thinking about him didn’t make Heewoon angry anymore
He just wished his brother wouldn’t make his mother suffer. That was all Heewoon wanted for him.
After a while, Kangwoo arrived. Since his mother and he had spent some time together, now it was time to move on.
“Hello.”
“Uh… yes, hello.”
His mother seemed very uncomfortable with her son’s boyfriend. Heewoon was busy watching for such signs from his mother, so the only relaxed person was Seo Kangwoo.
Heewoon was nervous, fearing Kangwoo might say something like his mother resembled him a lot or that his mother was beautiful. Fortunately, there was no such cliché greeting.
“Shall we get to the meal right away?”
“Yes. That would be great.”
His mother seemed to think that eating a meal was better than standing awkwardly. Heewoon agreed with that.
“Hmmm, I’ll go down first.”
At his mother’s words, Heewoon realised belatedly that he had greeted his mother in Kangwoo’s bedroom. Although there was a living room and other spaces where they could talk, it felt like he shouldn’t be leaving this bedroom.
His motjer, who was smiling awkwardly, went outside. When someone standing on the stairs guided his mother, she followed along, stroking her own hair as if it felt unfamiliar.
As his mother disappeared from view, Kangwoo’s lips suddenly touched Heewoon’s cheek. Heewoon, surprised, looked up at Kangwoo.
Laughing in a low voice, Kangwoo pulled Heewoon by the waist. Heewoon, who had barely caught the crutches, sighed. Kangwoo, looking at the crutches, caressed Heewoon’s back and asked.
“Did you have lunch?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you take your medicine?”
“Yeah.”
“Did the conversation with your mom go well?”
Heewoon responded with another “yeah.” He wanted to go downstairs quickly because he was concerned about his mother. In this spacious house, not a single sound could be heard. What if his mother asked the people working here about Seo Kangwoo?
“Did you miss me?”
“Yeah.”
Oh. Heewoon inadvertently answered, then stared blankly at Kangwoo. When their eyes met, Kangwoo smiled gently, almost meltingly.
“I missed you too.”
“…”
“Do you keep looking away because you don’t want to give it away that you missed me?”
“…No.”
“No?”
Kangwoo raised an eyebrow, muttering.
“Then…”
“I missed you!”
Afraid Kangwoo would say something scary, Heewoon shouted. Kangwoo, who was cut off, looked perplexed, raising an eyebrow.
“I missed you, Kangwoo.”
“…”
Everyone who heard that would feel it sounded awkward.
“You’re buttering me up.”
Kangwoo sighed, sounding disapproving. However, his lips curled up slightly in a small smile.
Watching Heewoon rolling his eyes, Kangwoo planted a light kiss on his lips. Smooch. After that, Kangwoo headed to the dressing room.
“Your mother is waiting. Let’s go quickly.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Heewoon shifted his crutches. Kangwoo, who had left his coat in the dressing room, looked at Heewoon’s back in disbelief.
“Shouldn’t we go together?”
“…Is that so?”
Turning around, Heewoon’s questioning face looked stupid, so Kangwoo approached, grabbed both cheeks, and bit his lips.
“Ah!”
Heewoon twitched, squeezing his face and fumbling with his lips. It’s not bleeding. Kangwoo gently lowered Heewoon’s hand and ruffled his hair.
There was a small landing on the stairs. Heewoon wanted to go down alone on crutches in case his mother saw him, but Kangwoo clucked his tongue at him for trying so hard for nothing.
Heewoon couldn’t beat Kangwoo in the end. With his arm draped over Kangwoo’s shoulders, Heewoon went down the stairs. He cast anxious glances around as they descended because even though the kitchen wasn’t visible from the stairs, his mother might come out.
“Just stay still for a moment.”
Kangwoo lightly smacked Heewoon’s jittery buttocks.
Once they reached the floor, Heewoon quickly grabbed his crutches and headed towards the kitchen. Even though Kangwoo chuckled in disbelief behind him, Heewoon couldn’t hear that now.
Mealtime was awkward, but it wasn’t to the point of getting indigestion.
It seemed like his mother had loosened up a lot. Seo Kangwoo’s good looks probably played a part in winning people’s favor. And maybe that would slightly diminish the thought that Heewoon had been sold for money.
When the meal was over, his mother spoke,
“…That, thank you.”
Her face turned red after uttering the words. Though grateful, she might not be able to completely shake off the thought that her son had been sold off to Kangwoo.
After saying that, his mother left without spending more time. When Seo Kangwoo briefly excused himself, his mother commented that Heewoon’s face looked great.
It was expected since he had eaten well and slept well. The weight of the debt that had pressed heavily on his shoulders didn’t even feel like a speck of dust now.
Except for today when he met his mother, Heewoon hadn’t experienced chest pains. He had been feeling fine spending time with Seo Kangwoo. When he suddenly felt a pang in his chest after seeing his mother today, Heewoon didn’t feel guilty. He only had selfish thoughts that he should avoid seeing his mother for a while.
“Mom.”
Heewoon called out to his mother as she stepped outside the door. He opened his mouth but quickly closed it. He couldn’t even casually bring up the request for his mother not to worry about him. When his mother turned around, her face showed prominent cheekbones, and her cheeks looked hollow. Despite her light makeup, she seemed like a sick person.
His mother didn’t look well at all.
“Mom, when my leg is completely healed, let’s go eat something delicious.”
Heewoon said with a faint smile. Nothing was going to change no matter how hard he tried, so he’d rather make at least himself comfortable instead of his mother.
“Alright. Don’t come out. The taxi is already here.”
Mom will leave now. Heewoon waved back to his mother’s waving hands. As he watched the taxi his mother drove away on the empty road, he grasped the crutches he had tucked under his arm again.
“Do you feel disappointed?”
Kangwoo asked beside him.
“No.”
Heewoon shook his head without hesitation.
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