Stranger

“…”

“I guess it’s worth it being sick. Because of you.”

It was a remark that was uncharacteristic of Yeon Woojeong, but cheesy like Yeon Woojeong. He closed his mouth for real. The following breath was a bit softer as well.

Lovely? Such a word… was certainly not suitable for me. Can such a word be used for this big, firm man as well?

It’s strange. Yeon Woojeong was a strange man in various ways. After looking down at him for a while, I carefully lowered my head. The lips, touched as if grazing, were burning hot. Swallowing that heat, I took off my lips.

Feeling that my movements could disturb his sleep, I sat down under the bed and leaned my head only onto the bed. My hand was still clasped.

.

.

.

I opened my eyes because my legs were numb. When I looked up as I realized that I had fallen asleep while sitting under the bed, I made eye contact with Yeon Woojeong.

Yeon Woojeong, with the blanket wrapped around him, sat and looked down at me. The sky that began to lighten up was spread behind him.

Even though our eyes met, Yeon Woojeong showed no particular response. It was as if he was thinking about something, or he was just absent-minded, or maybe he was scanning my face thoroughly. The time went by just like that. Then, the eyes that were cast down, engrossed in me, soon slowly closed.

“Why did you sleep there? Like an abandoned child.”

“Does it hurt?”

As he pulled my hand, I ended up sitting on the bed. My hand was placed on Yeon Woojeong’s forehead. It was hot, but the fever was not as bad as last night.

Yeon Woojeong put down my hand, then he playfully bit my fingers. After doing that, he turned his head. The nape under the disheveled hair, and the wrapping blanket that was about to slide down. I looked at the exposed bare skin in between, then I followed him to move my gaze outside.

It seemed like the weather today would be good. Yeon Woojeong, who was looking at that view —the brightening sky— with a face paler than usual, was just like a picture.

I was staring blankly at Yeon Woojeong, and suddenly he turned his head. The corners of his lips were lifted, but he still looked listless. He grabbed my arms, then dropped himself on the bed. I laid down as well, then Yeon Woojeong came closer and hugged me.

“Let’s sleep.”

“Are you going to work?”

“I have to.”

“But you’re sick?”

“I got better, didn’t I?”

“You’re burning hot.”

“Burning hot?”

“…”

“Unfortunately, I can’t rest with this level of fever. And I told you, your hand is cold.”

Yeon Woojeong grabbed my hand with both hands, brought it to his mouth, then he blew out a warm breath. My fingertips flinched. My hand felt hot instantly.

“Did you go home after getting off work and getting a shot?”

“Mhm. Should have been sick at noon, so I can get a reason to rest.”

I wonder if there was a hospital operating at that time. My heart dropped as I pictured Yeon Woojeong, who drove alone to the emergency room. There is nothing more sorrowful than being sick alone. 

I lifted my hand and touched Yeon Woojeong’s neck. He flinched his head.

“Sleep. You are going to work too.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

“Is it already the time for morning people to move? I’m sleepy.”

Yeon Woojeong wriggled down, then leaned his head on my chest. After checking him closing his eyes, I wrapped the blanket back. It felt just like hugging a big doll in fever. Though this kind of doll was nowhere in the world.

I didn’t fall back asleep and looked at Yeon Woojeong. He looked a bit listless, but he was the usual him. I felt relieved.

I spent time feeling Yeon Woojeong’s heat through my body and viewing his face, then I got up at the appropriate time. I left the bedroom and went to the kitchen. After boiling water in the pot, I put in cold rice and vegetables. I also added tuna, which had been drained from its oil, then it changed into a decent porridge.

“What are you doing?”

Yeon Woojeong walked in his underwear. He came closer, looking inside the pot, then smirked and tapped my cheek.

“The service is good.”

He talked like a bully, then left. Yeon Woojeong, who came out of the bathroom when the rice completely broke down, entered his room to change clothes.

I poured the porridge, took out the side dishes, then set them on the table. The savory smell filled the kitchen. I got hungry. It seemed that it took quite a bit of strength just to nurse.

When I sat on my seat and stirred the porridge, Yeon Woojeong in formal dress and styled hair came out and sat across from me.

“Thank you for the food.”

Yeon Woojeong picked his spoon without saying anything more. I nervously stared at him, but he ate the porridge well.

Only then, I also took a spoonful. Even though it was only a somewhat normal porridge, Yeon Woojeong quite enjoyed it. If I recorded a video of him now, it wouldn’t be bad, I guess.

“Will you go home early today?”

Won’t it be good to go easy because he is sick? I asked with such intention, but Yeon Woojeong stopped moving his spoon and stared intently at me.

He then opened his mouth, somehow smiling and not.

“Okay. I’ll do that.”

My palms felt ticklish. I wriggled my hand holding the spoon, then I ate the porridge.

Yeon Woojeong got up after emptying his bowl. When I followed him to the entrance, he turned around after wearing his shoes, and put his hand on top of my head.

“I’ll be back.”

“Mhm.”

Yeon Woojeong opened the door. He, who acted as if he would go right away, turned his head and looked at me. I waited for him, wondering if he had something to say, but he only looked at me once like that, saying “sleep more,” then left. As the door closed and I was left alone, my hands felt somewhat hot. After rubbing them on my thighs, I turned around.