Love for Love's Sake - Chapter 78
Chapter 78
A devastated voice settled into a whisper from Cha Yeowoon’s lips. The air quivered.
He was deeply hurt. When I was sick, he wandered around with a heavy heart.
“Now do you understand how I felt when I carried you to the hospital?”
“I want to wrap you in a blanket and take you to the hospital right now.”
“With what diagnosis? I didn’t even collapse.”
“But you almost did. Do you know how shocked I was yesterday?”
“I just stumbled for a moment.”
Cha Yeowoon didn’t seem very convinced. To him now, I was practically a critical patient.
“Isn’t it because you worked too hard? Working part-time on the weekends, studying, and still worrying about me.”
It was questionable to say that I studied, and my part-time jobs weren’t that difficult. I did worry about Cha Yeowoon, though.
“If it’s difficult, just say so.”
A delicious smell wafted from the opened porridge lid. As if to test whether it was hot, Cha Yeowoon briefly held the porridge spoon to his lips.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
As Cha Yeowoon lifted his gaze, our eyes met.
At that moment, I realized. Ever since he came into my life, my gaze hadn’t strayed from him.
“It’s difficult.”
Saying it was surprisingly easy, to the point it felt trivial.
Cha Yeowoon raised his eyebrows as if he had heard me wrong.
[ Calculating Cha Yeowoon’s favorability. ]
[ Favorability: 72 ]
Really, I questioned whether he had heard me wrong.
Despite my almost dying state, a smile escaped my lips.
“If I sign the contract and make money, will you quit your part-time job?”
“…Hey.”
“I hope senior doesn’t find it difficult.”
Cha Yeowoon’s eyes twinkled beneath his eyebrows as he gently lowered them.
“Let’s live together after graduation.”
It was fortunate I had finished eating. If it had been something that required chewing for a long time, I would have spat it out by now.
Cha Yeowoon’s moist and tender pupils swirled with countless lights. His shoulders were firm, and his hands were tightly holding the disposable spoon.
He was agitated right now.
“Yeowoon.”
“Yes.”
“Hit the brakes. If you suddenly step on the accelerator like that, the car will flip.”
“Was it too sudden?”
“Yes. Suddenly talking about living together…You’re only in your 2nd year of high school. You know that, right?”
“But senior is in your 3rd year.”
“That’s even more of a problem. Both of us are young.”
“You’re only 19; there’s no need for you to work and worry alone until you’re sick, is what I’m saying.”
Cha Yeowoon inexplicably wanted to take care of me. To the point where everything he wanted to say came out of context and out of order.
It was the kind of attention I had never received from my parents.
“Has it been your birthday? It hasn’t passed yet, has it?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s much worse and you’re actually only 16.”
When I said this, Cha Yeowoon looked like a puppy whose eyes were partially open.
“Then senior is only 17 years old.”
“Oh, that’s right. When is your birthday?”
Wanting to change the topic, I smoothly shifted the conversation.
I didn’t want to talk about events that would happen after graduation. I didn’t want to make more promises I couldn’t keep.
“It’s in November.”
Cha Yeowoon’s hesitant answer revealed a subtle embarrassment.
“Senior’s birthday is close to mine. Yours is on October 18th, and mine is on November 8th.”
As if it was an incredibly amusing topic, Cha Yeowoon smiled. I could imagine him counting my birthday in amazement after discovering it himself.
November 8th. I counted the days in my head.
Then I realized.
There were exactly 100 days left until Cha Yeowoon’s birthday.
When I laughed it off, Cha Yeowoon thought it was strange but smiled along with me. It felt like the fever that had dropped was rising again.
“…What do you usually do on your birthday?”
“Well, sometimes I celebrate with my grandmother. Sometimes, both my grandmother and I are too busy, so often we just let it pass without doing anything.”
“Is there anything you want?”
“Birthday present? I’m fine.”
“Tell me. Even if it’s something expensive.”
Maybe I could leave a gift and go. Cha Yeowoon, unaware of my dilemma, was busy clearing the empty porridge bowl.
“I just want to be with senior on that day.”
Cha Yeowoon handed me a glass of water. The fever reliever I had rejected in advance was still in its packaging, inside a bag.
I reached for the glass but fumbled. The glass slammed into my chest, causing the water to spill. Lukewarm water flowed down my chest. My shirt soaked up the water and clung to my chest.
“Where do you put your clothes?”
Cha Yeowoon, who had been wiping away the water with a tissue, stood up. I grabbed the hem of his shirt, trying to stop him.
“It’s fine. Give me the medicine.”
“Fever reliever?”
Although I had changed my words after saying that my fever had gone down, instead of asking questions, Cha Yeowoon took out the box of fever relievers. I put a white pill in my mouth and swallowed it without water.
“I’ll get you some water. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ve already swallowed it.”
“But still.”
Before the conversation could continue, I interrupted.
“Yeowoon, I have a favor to ask you.”
* * *