Contract Marriage with Memory Loss on Top - Chapter 16
“Uh… yes.”
Even though there were times his eyes looked scary, Yeon-woo had never seen his eyes look sad before. Yeon-woo was captivated by Ki-won’s strangely sunken eyes. At the same time, he was also curious about Ki-won’s reaction.
‘What’s wrong?’
There was nothing that seemed like a slip of the tongue, but Ki-won’s lukewarm reaction bothered him. Should he have notified him earlier about his intention to terminate the contract? He felt uneasy, wondering if he had committed a grave discourtesy to him.
However, before Yeon-woo could say anything, Ki-won returned to his usual expression. The man put down the calendar and left the bedroom, saying he would really go. When Ki-won said there was no need to see him off, Yeon-woo had to blankly stand there and watch his back.
‘I think I really did something wrong to hyung…?’
He had been doubtful, but now he was sure. Ki-won was subtly cold. Rubbing the back of his neck, Yeon-woo looked down at the calendar with a troubled expression. He should have said it in advance instead of marking it there. Belated regret painfully pricked a corner of his heart.
***
The house felt infinitely dreary after Ki-won left for work. His life here would soon come to an end too. Yeon-woo thoroughly took in the place that had given him peace for half a year. The day he misses this place will surely come someday. Living on, he would probably many times recall the fact that he had been married to Kwon Ki-won and reminisce about that time a lot. No, he definitely would.
Honestly, he wasn’t confident he could completely forget him.
Yeon-woo took the passport he had placed under the bed with a bitter taste in his mouth. Woong-. Woong-.
It had been nice to be free from them for a few days, but as time passed, calls started coming in again. They seemed to be reminding him that today was the promised day. Yeon-woo put the passport in his pocket and reluctantly answered the phone.
“Yes.”
– Kiddo, you didn’t forget you’re coming today, right?
“I know.”
It was as expected. Yeon-woo answered without adding any other words. He didn’t want to make small talk or even exchange simple greetings with them.
– Ha, the kid loses all his manners after paying back some of the principal.
Clicking his tongue, the loan shark raised his voice, making a phlegm-filled sound. Although the conversation was being conducted over the phone, it felt like he was facing the man directly. Even without seeing, his expression and gestures were imagined. It must be largely due to that. Yeon-woo put the phone on his shoulder and walked into the living room, checking the wall clock.
It was about time for the chauffeur to arrive. Listening to the loan shark’s words with one ear and letting them flow out the other, Yeon-woo slightly opened his mouth.
“I’ll be leaving now. Since I’m stopping by somewhere else too, it’ll take about an hour to get to the office.”
– So what do you want me to do, kid? Boil some tea for you?
He didn’t know why the man was twisting his words like that, but Yeon-woo responded with a low sigh. They must have contacted him because they were curious about when he would leave, but they were really hard to understand.
“I’ll hang up.”
– Ugh, really, that ill-mannered kid.
Lightly ignoring the loan shark’s nonsense, Yeon-woo pressed the end call button without hesitation. Putting on the coat he had prepared in advance, Yeon-woo glanced around the spacious house before heading to the shoe closet.
Today wasn’t the last day, but he felt unexpectedly regretful and unsettled. The scent of the house came with the deeply inhaled breath. It was similar to the scent that clung to him when he stood by Ki-won’s side.
It was as if he was bidding him farewell and safe travels. Yeon-woo, strengthening his eyes, confidently unfolded his drooped shoulders.
The Seo Yeon-woo of now was not the Seo Yeon-woo of the past. The days when he reluctantly did as told by the loan sharks, whether they told him to crawl or pretend to die, had passed. Yeon-woo decided to act with dignity.
***
Yeon-woo got into the car that was waiting for him and familiarly fastened his seatbelt. The destination was a bookstore near the station.
‘If I run to the station right after leaving the bookstore, it should be fine, right?’
Fortunately, the office was only two subway stops away. Of course, he had to walk about 5 more minutes after getting off at the station, but it was a distance he could go and come back from quickly enough. He had to make sure no one knew he had taken a detour. Yeon-woo unconsciously fumbled over the pocket he had put his passport in.
The scenery beyond the car window changed rapidly. There were many people strolling outside because it was the weekend. As Yeon-woo was watching them, the bookstore entered his field of vision. Yeon-woo glanced toward the driver’s seat and opened his mouth.
“I think I’ll be at the bookstore for a long time today.”
Yeon-woo’s voice filled the interior. The chauffeur, who had been looking ahead, looked at Yeon-woo through the rearview mirror instead of answering.
“I noticed last time that parking seems difficult, so you can wait somewhere else for a bit and then come.”
“How many hours will it take?”
“Two… hours? Is that too much? Please let me know if it’s inconvenient.”
“No, you can take your time and look around. I will come as you said, in two hours. If you think you’ll come out earlier, please contact me.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Although an hour would be enough if he just handed over his passport and left, Yeon-woo set a long time just in case. It was in consideration of the subway being delayed or the loan sharks grabbing him and not letting him go.
Soon, Yeon-woo got out of the stopped car and stared at the bookstore in front of him as if glaring at it. He had visited this place from time to time, but today, the steps he took felt awkward. Yeon-woo, who had been acting like someone with numb feet, clenched his fists as if to get a grip. He couldn’t let on that he was going to change his route and move. Of course, it seemed the chauffeur wouldn’t think much of it whether he walked like a robot or hopped around, but it was better to be careful.
“Welcome.”
As he entered the bookstore, the mechanical voice of an employee welcomed Yeon-woo. Yeon-woo headed to an area where the entrance was clearly visible and he could pretend to choose books appropriately. Fortunately, the car Yeon-woo had ridden seemed to have left in time with the departure signal. Even after the vehicle disappeared from his sight, Yeon-woo inwardly counted to 10 and put down the book he was holding.
‘I’m really doing all sorts of things because of the loan sharks.’
If someone saw, they would think he was trying to run away to avoid Kwon Ki-won. Yeon-woo repeatedly swung his gaze around and left the bookstore with short steps. Just like when he came in, the employee monotonously recited, “Please come again.”
Yeon-woo dashed to the nearby station entrance. Perhaps because he had been idle for so long, he started to get out of breath even though he hadn’t run much. Yeon-woo swallowed his dry saliva and quickly grabbed the stair railing, taking the steps.
‘How many minutes are left until the subway?’
His feet and eyes moved busily. His feet kicked the ground and his clear eyes chased the real-time train information. The subway in the direction Yeon-woo had to take had fortunately departed from the previous station. The timing was good. Knowing that if he missed this one, he would have to wait 10 more minutes, Yeon-woo quickly passed through the gate.
“Huff… Whew…”
Yeon-woo only caught his breath after stopping at the subway platform. His largely heaving chest handled Yeon-woo’s overwhelming breaths. To steady his rough breathing, Yeon-woo placed his hands on his thighs and slightly bent his upper body.
– The train bound for … is now arriving. Please take one step back from the boarding area.
As soon as the announcement was heard, the subway began to reveal itself. Yeon-woo, who had somewhat stabilized, stood in front of the screen door. It was probably not his imagination that the complexion reflected in the glass window was dark.
***
Yeon-woo arrived in front of the office and looked up at the shabby building. No matter when he saw it, he couldn’t get used to the exterior. The first time he set foot here, his legs had trembled with fear devouring his reason, but now the situation was different from then. Yeon-woo, reminding himself not to tremble, boldly stepped inside.
The stench of cigarettes wafted strongly from the corridor even before opening the office door. Trash and dust filled the place, making it seem like an abandoned building if one wasn’t careful.
Yeon-woo lightly knocked on the door with a clenched fist. The wait wasn’t long. As if knowing the person standing outside was Yeon-woo, someone flung the door open.
The interior revealed in an instant was an all too familiar sight. Yeon-woo, gritting his back teeth so as not to show his nervousness, crossed the threshold.
“Huh, you really came?”
The loan shark’s chief manager, sitting at the head of the sofa and picking his nose, snorted. Even though he would have caused a commotion if Yeon-woo didn’t come, his attitude was contradictory. Yeon-woo strode up to the man and took out the passport he had put in his pocket.
“Here’s the passport. Since I gave it to you, I can leave now, right?”
The gaze scanning him from head to toe was so disgusting that his hair stood on end. Instead of making a face, Yeon-woo tightly clenched his fists. The chief manager, who had snorted, pointed to the seat next to him with his chin, wearing a fishy sneer.
“I think we have some things left to talk about, so why don’t you sit down before leaving?”
“I have nothing to talk about. We met in the first place because of the passport, didn’t we?”
When Yeon-woo sharply rejected his suggestion, the chief manager raised one eyebrow.
“There’s no way there’s nothing to talk about.”
The man sent a glance to his subordinates lingering around. Yeon-woo, startled by the instantly changed atmosphere, turned his body toward the exit.
‘They blocked the entrance…?’
It would have been fortunate if they had only blocked the entrance. The ones who sauntered over painfully grabbed Yeon-woo’s shoulders. Another one rudely pushed Yeon-woo’s back as well.
“Shall I make you sit? Or will you sit yourself?”
He already knew they were these kinds of jerks, but it was a situation that deviated from his expectations. Yeon-woo, furrowing his brows, forcefully pushed away the hand of the man grasping his shoulder.
“I’ll sit, so don’t touch me.”
Even if he spoke in a chilly tone, it seemed to be seen as mere whining to them. The man’s subordinates were busy snickering, imitating Yeon-woo’s actions.