Contract Marriage with Memory Loss on Top - Chapter 23
Unlike the bright Yeon-woo, Ki-won didn’t look very pleasant. Although the man’s face couldn’t be seen over the phone, it somehow seemed that way. Yeon-woo had truthfully revealed where he had gone and what the purpose was, but why? Yeon-woo, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment, brought up a different topic to change the atmosphere.
“By the way, did you tear up the calendar? I saw a discarded calendar in the trash can.”
There was no reason for Ki-won to do that, but Yeon-woo asked just in case. He was also curious about how the calendar ended up torn in the trash can overnight. Ki-won answered Yeon-woo’s question a beat late.
“Calendar? I don’t know which calendar you’re talking about.”
Confusion could be heard in Ki-won’s voice. Even Yeon-woo had only felt that the bedroom was strangely empty and wouldn’t have noticed the change if he hadn’t looked carefully. Yeon-woo, slowly nodding his head, added to help Ki-won understand.
“You know, the calendar where I circled the 28th. The one on the table in our bedroom.”
“Well, I don’t know. Maybe the cleaning staff made a mistake.”
“You’re right. But how did only this month’s part get torn…?”
“Does it bother you?”
“No, I was just curious. It’s fine since we can just buy a new calendar.”
Did the management staff accidentally tear it while cleaning and try to destroy the evidence? Yeon-woo felt like he had tattled on their hidden secret to Ki-won, their employer. Yeon-woo pretended to be nonchalant, worried that there might be penalties for them.
“Yeon-woo.”
When the conversation was somewhat wrapped up, Ki-won’s low voice was heard. It seemed he had more to say. As Yeon-woo responded right away, Ki-won got to the point.
“Take the chauffeur with you.”
“Well… I thought it would be a bit awkward if the chauffeur knew I was going to the court before I told you. Those people wouldn’t know about the contract, right?”
Not only the people around him but also his family knew Yeon-woo and Ki-won’s relationship as “real”. Therefore, he tried to prevent the news of the divorce from spreading before the contract end date as much as possible.
“You could have told me from the beginning and gone out. Right?”
“…I guess so.”
“Yeah, but you went out without a word, Yeon-woo.”
The more they talked, the more uncomfortable a corner of his heart felt. Is this a situation where I did something wrong? He had just discreetly gone out for Ki-won’s sake, but it seemed like he had become a wild colt running around doing whatever he wanted, and his lips pouted out. It was also upsetting that his intentions and the results didn’t align.
“I’m sorry, I’ll tell you before going out from now on…”
“What about the chauffeur?”
“I’ll take the chauffeur too…”
Yeon-woo, drooping his shoulders, rested the side of his head against the window. He was disappointed that he didn’t receive praise even though it was for Ki-won’s sake.
“Okay, good boy.”
After that, Yeon-woo and Ki-won exchanged a few more small talks. If Ki-won’s secretary hadn’t come to inform him of the changed schedule, the flow of the conversation might have continued for a long time. It seemed to be coming to an end with Ki-won’s gentle question about whether they should wrap up the call.
“Ah, is there anything you want to eat? I’ll buy it on the way home.”
“Then I want shabu-shabu. I’ve been craving it!”
Maybe because the weather was getting chilly, he wanted to drink hot broth. As Yeon-woo answered as if he had been waiting, Ki-won quietly replied that he got it.
The call ended with a greeting to go in well. Yeon-woo put his phone in his pocket and listened to the announcement flowing. There was still a long way to go before arrival.
***
It was almost time for Ki-won to arrive. It was just a matter of handing the uncontested divorce intention confirmation application to Ki-won, but why was he so nervous? His heart was pounding so hard that it wouldn’t be strange if it popped out of his throat at any moment.
He was pacing back and forth in the living room with an unknowable anxiety when he heard the sound of the front door lock opening, signaling Ki-won’s arrival. Yeon-woo, shrugging his shoulders, grabbed the documents and ran to Ki-won.
“Hyung, hyung…!”
The call was so urgent that Ki-won, who was taking off his shoes, looked at Yeon-woo with a startled expression. Yeon-woo, without catching his breath properly, attempted to talk in a barrage.
“These are the divorce papers…!”
His expression was solemn. Unlike Yeon-woo, whose strength was taut, Ki-won’s eyes were indifferent. He received the documents Yeon-woo handed him with a slow gesture. It was the opposite speed of Yeon-woo, who had become quick. Yeon-woo’s innocent eyes were on Ki-won for a few seconds, but he didn’t place much significance on his reaction. He just passed it off as Ki-won being tired.
“What’s the rush.”
Ki-won, entering the kitchen, put the documents and the paper bag containing the shabu-shabu on the table.
‘I should set the table while he’s here.’
Yeon-woo planned to set the table while Ki-won changed clothes. As Yeon-woo was taking out the contents of the paper bag, Ki-won, who was heading to the bedroom, called.
“Yeon-woo.”
“Yes?”
Yeon-woo drew out the end of his words so that Ki-won, who had entered the bedroom, could hear his answer.
“Can you come here for a moment?”
Yeon-woo, who was taking out the shabu-shabu, immediately turned and headed to the bedroom. Thinking Ki-won might have something to say, his steps became busy. As soon as he entered the bedroom, he saw Ki-won standing in front of the closet.
“My hand is uncomfortable, so can you help me take off my clothes?”
“Yes, yes? Okay…!”
He couldn’t hide his surprise at the request he had never received before. Yeon-woo, who stuttered like a fool, kept swallowing his dry saliva. Well, Ki-won’s right hand was injured now. There must have been more than one or two inconveniences he felt while going about his daily life. Yeon-woo approached Ki-won, stroking his earlobes that were starting to feel hot.
It seemed he had somehow taken off his outer coat. Yeon-woo, standing in front of him, helped loosen his necktie. He didn’t know why it was so hard to make eye contact when he was just helping a patient. Yeon-woo’s fingertips trembled, and his eyes that couldn’t meet Ki-won’s stopped vaguely around his chest.
“Yeon-woo, did I make you uncomfortable in any way?”
As Yeon-woo was about to help with his undressing, pushing aside the unnecessary thoughts, Ki-won asked in a reciting tone. Yeon-woo, removing the loosened necktie, let out a small gasp.
“Ah, no… That’s not it.”
“Then why are you trying to divorce me. If it’s because of the debt, don’t worry about it. It’s all taken care of.”
“But…”
“Or is it that you don’t need me anymore.”
“No way!”
Yeon-woo strongly denied it, saying what kind of nonsense that was.
“I’m really grateful to you. You’ve been very good to me too…”
That’s why he didn’t want to stay by Ki-won’s side without a conscience. Yeon-woo had nothing to give Ki-won. Reality made Yeon-woo feel infinitely small. As Yeon-woo was about to lower his hand,
“Yeon-woo, you have to take this off too.”
Ki-won, grabbing the hand that was moving away, brought Yeon-woo’s palm to his chest. Feeling the firm muscles and warm temperature through his palm, Yeon-woo couldn’t help but jump.
“Wh-what…”
His large eyes shook finely. His face must have turned red. Yeon-woo, covering his cheeks that felt not only hot but also as if they were burned, took a step back.
“I’m in pain, so you should help me. Why are you running away.”
“No, I-I wasn’t trying to run away…”
The bewilderment didn’t go away. He knew he was overreacting. Nevertheless, Yeon-woo couldn’t easily approach Ki-won.
“I said take it off.”
Ki-won urging him to take off his clothes seemed strangely erotic, and Yeon-woo wanted to hit his own head. Thinking such impure thoughts about a sick person… If Ki-won looked into his inner thoughts, he might think of Yeon-woo as a pervert.
“Hyung… Is it very uncomfortable for you to move your fingers?”
The mumbled words were barely audible enough to reach Ki-won. He wanted to blurt out the nonsense of telling Ki-won to change by himself and come out if he was only slightly in pain.
“Yeah, it hurts.”
What can you do when it hurts? Yeon-woo, who had stepped back, walked forward carefully with a big resolution. Standing in front of Ki-won again, his heart began to beat like crazy. He was worried that Ki-won might hear his heartbeat.
Yeon-woo, unbuttoning the buttons, was quite cautious. It was an attitude of focusing so that his fingers wouldn’t touch Ki-won’s chest by mistake. Ki-won, whether he knew Yeon-woo’s feelings or not, just quietly looked down at Yeon-woo undressing him.
The buttons of the shirt were completely unfastened, and the gathered fabric spread open on both sides. The naturally exposed abs mercilessly entered Yeon-woo’s sight. Yeon-woo’s agitated pupils shook pitifully. As he raised his gaze upward to avoid looking at the abdominal area, this time, a firm chest greeted Yeon-woo.
“I-I… I’m not looking at your body.”
Yeon-woo, stuttering in embarrassment, stared at the empty air. His clueless eyes were trying to slowly go down again, worrying that Ki-won might see him as a pervert at this rate. Isn’t this a foul play? Ki-won’s unnecessarily great body was seducing him.
“Who said what. You can look if you want to.”
With Ki-won’s movement, the shirt that was half-off fell to the floor. The thorax that swelled with each breath drew Yeon-woo’s gaze. Yeon-woo, as if he had seen something obscene, fixed his eyeballs with all his might and stammered.
“Hyung, hyung… I can go now, right?”
He was trying to hurriedly leave the spot, but Ki-won blocked Yeon-woo’s way.
‘What is it this time!’
The house wasn’t that hot, but the heat that kept rising created a blush. Yeon-woo looked up at Ki-won with a half-protesting gaze. He was embarrassed that Ki-won might discover his impure inner thoughts if he stayed with him.
However, Ki-won’s next words stopped Yeon-woo’s steps in an instant.
“The belt is not coming off well.”
Ki-won was frowning as if in trouble and making motions as if trying to unfasten the belt. However, his hand was not very deft, so only the rattling sound was heard, but it didn’t come off.
‘Do I have to take off his pants too?’
In the case of pants, his underwear would be visible just by unfastening the button. Yeon-woo’s eyes shook rapidly.
‘It’s because of me that this happened. Let’s stop the weird thoughts.’
Yeon-woo bit the inside of his cheek inconspicuously. There was nothing more ridiculous than hesitating in front of someone who was purely seeking help. Yeon-woo, slowly exhaling, placed his fingers on the man’s waist.