Contract Marriage with Memory Loss on Top - Chapter 45

“I thought I didn’t have a lot of luggage…”

Yeon-woo examined the suitcase that was still far from having enough space despite stubbornly squeezing things in. It seemed like he needed to buy additional luggage bags, or it wouldn’t work like this. Yeon-woo put the clothes he hadn’t been able to put in back in their original place and straightened his bent waist while tapping it. He didn’t know how many hours he had spent just organizing clothes.

What was certain was that even after the divorce, Kwon Ki-won’s shadow would linger by his side. Unlike when he had packed his luggage in a small suitcase because he didn’t have much, there was a severe lack of space when leaving. Yeon-woo recalled the memories contained in each piece of clothing and then closed the wardrobe door.

Yeon-woo, who had taken a step away from the suitcase, looked around widely. It was to gauge how much more luggage he would have to pack in the future. It seemed like it would be enough to just buy two more luggage bags in a generously large size.

“I wonder if there’s a store nearby that sells bags.”

Yeon-woo moved his Adam’s apple while thinking deeply. If he had known in advance that there would be a lack of bag space, he would have purchased them cheaply online, but there wasn’t enough time to wait for delivery. Having no choice but to decide to buy bags at a nearby large mart or department store, Yeon-woo hurriedly prepared to go out.

‘Right, the phone.’

Just as he was about to change clothes and send a text message to the chauffeur, Kwon Ki-won’s face came to mind. It was because of the man’s request to let him know in advance before going out. Changing the order, Yeon-woo called Ki-won and put his arm through his outer coat while the dial tone was going.

– Hello.

Yeon-woo, who had roughly hung the phone on his shoulder, realized that Ki-won had answered the call and immediately opened his mouth.

“Hyung, are you available to talk right now?”

While listening to Ki-won’s answer that it was fine and to talk, Yeon-woo left the bedroom.

“It’s not anything else, but I think I need to buy luggage bags, so I’m going out.”

– Luggage bags?

“It’s better to pack in advance than to frantically pack on the day the contract ends, right? The suitcase I brought before is not even close to being enough.”

Yeon-woo, who was standing in front of the entrance, remembered that he hadn’t sent a text to the chauffeur yet and hurriedly backtracked. Since he would have to wait for the chauffeur even if he went out early, it seemed like he could sit on the sofa and leave when the time came.

– Yeah? I think I can help you with that.

Is he going to buy them for me? Yeon-woo, who had innocent eyes, tilted his head slightly. Although he didn’t know what kind of help it was, it was something he could do himself, so Yeon-woo shook his head.

“You, hyung? I can just call the chauffeur and go out.”

– Then do you want to come to the department store? I was just on my way back from an outside job.

Ah, that’s right. Yeon-woo let out a small exclamation. If he had to buy bags anyway, it would be better to buy them at Yeonsung Department Store. Even if buying a few bags wouldn’t affect sales, he wanted to help Ki-won in any way possible.

When Yeon-woo answered that he would do that, Ki-won added as if he had been waiting.

– I’ll call the chauffeur, so you can come down in 10 minutes.

“Okay.”

– Ah, and Yeon-woo.

The moment he was about to hang up thinking the conversation was over, Yeon-woo had to bring the phone back to his ear at the small voice he heard.

“Yes? Do you have something else to say?”

Is there something he needs to bring? The issue of leaving a USB in the study room and going to work suddenly came to mind. These days, he often worked from home, so it wouldn’t be strange even if he left something behind and went to work.

– The caretakers will come to disinfect the house today.

“Disinfection…? Around what time?”

– It seems like it will overlap with the time we go to the department store.

Today isn’t the day the caretakers come. Just as Yeon-woo was secretly expressing his doubts by tilting his head back and forth with question marks popping up above his head, Ki-won, who uncannily caught Yeon-woo’s state, explained the reason.

– A lot of rainwater had come into the house, right? They said they’ll take a look at it one more time because of that and also disinfect it while they’re at it.

“Ah.”

Yeon-woo pressed his lips together and raised his eyebrows. He had nothing more to say because he was the very cause of it. Yeon-woo, who answered that he understood, slowly lowered the phone from his ear as he wrapped up the conversation.

***

This is really absurd. Yeon-woo shook his head from side to side, revealing an unusual emotion. How can the bags be sold out and unavailable in every store he goes to? Yeon-woo, who had become miserable, looked up at Ki-won standing next to him with his shoulders drooping.

“It’s strange.”

Ki-won also shrugged his shoulders, saying it was a sight he was seeing for the first time.

“I think we’ve been to all the stores except one, so why aren’t there any…?”

“Well, supervising the internal circumstances of the stores is not within my range of control. I guess today’s not the day, Yeon-woo.”

When Ki-won said he would speak to them and coaxed Yeon-woo comfortably, the protruding lower lip slowly went back in.

“Do you want to go to the last place?”

Ki-won gently pushed Yeon-woo’s back, who had come to an abrupt stop, encouraging him to walk. His legs were starting to ache and he was getting a bit hungry, so his feet felt quite heavy. Yeon-woo, who maintained a dragging gait, went straight to the employee without fully looking around the store.

“Do you have bags here too?”

“If you tell me what kind of bag you’re looking for, I’ll find it for you.”

Despite Yeon-woo’s question oozing with fatigue, the employee responded with a bright smile. Perhaps because of that, Yeon-woo was able to swallow the sigh that was about to come out and answer.

“The type doesn’t matter, I just need the largest bag possible. Something that can be used as luggage.”

“Oh my… What should we do, customer? Bags of that size are sold out in our store. If you had a specific product in mind that you saw, I can contact you when it’s back in stock.”

In the end, a soundless sigh escaped through Yeon-woo’s teeth. He didn’t know what kind of coincidence had overlapped, but the situation was the same here and there. Yeon-woo, who raised his hand saying there was no need for that, looked at Ki-won with a troubled expression.

“They don’t have it here either. What should we do when you came all this way…?”

According to Ki-won, he came because he had no schedule after his outside job, but Yeon-woo felt bad as if he had taken away his only resting time. Yeon-woo tapped his gradually aching thighs and left the store with him.

“I’m fine, so you don’t have to worry, Yeon-woo.”

“But still…”

“I guess it’s because the students’ school opening season and travel season overlapped.”

No matter what he said, this was too much. The corners of Yeon-woo’s mouth, which had been down for a while, trembled. If he had known this would happen, he should have come alone. Even though he had taken up Ki-won’s entire time, there was no gain, so he didn’t feel energized.

“I’ll get the bags for you as soon as they’re in stock and bring them to you.”

“What? No…! You don’t have to go that far…!”

The surprised Yeon-woo hurriedly waved his hands, strongly showing his will that he didn’t need to do that. If anything, he could order them online and pack them tightly, and he could go to other large marts or individual stores to additionally check if they had bags. He tried not to inconvenience Ki-won, who was already busy enough with just work, but his attitude was as firm as Yeon-woo’s.

“I want to do it for you.”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

At the strongly coming comment, Yeon-woo hurriedly lowered his gaze to the ground and stammered his words. What eliminated the silence that was about to follow was a small growling sound.

Did he hear it? The startled Yeon-woo gripped his stomach and glanced up at Ki-won.

“Do you want to eat something before going back?”

Ki-won slightly rolled up his shirt cuff to check the time and then put his arm around Yeon-woo’s waist. What if someone who knew Ki-won’s face witnessed this scene? As the location was Yeonsung Department Store, Yeon-woo’s attention spread to his surroundings.

“You did eat lunch, right?”

“Yes, yes…”

“It’s too early for dinner…. Do you want to have a snack?”

“Sounds, sounds good.”

Before the question could be processed in his head, the answer came out hurriedly first. Whatever it was, he wanted to get away from the crowded lobby. Not long after Yeon-woo sent a look to leave quickly, Ki-won started moving. Yeon-woo, who was preoccupied with the man’s firm arm wrapping around his lower back, failed to notice Ki-won’s subtle change in expression.

***

The place they arrived at in Ki-won’s car was a cafe filled with the aroma of fragrant coffee and freshly made waffles.

“I heard the waffles here are pretty good.”

Come to think of it, there were quite a few cafes inside the department store as well. If they were going to have a snack, they could have gone up to the upper floor and entered a cafe, but it was strange that they deliberately took the car and moved.

“Did you perhaps look for this place on purpose?”

“I thought you might be hungry.”

He said he searched for a place famous for waffles because Yeon-woo liked sweet snacks, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Even though hyung doesn’t like sweet foods.’

Imagining Ki-won searching while squeezing time for him, he was touched and couldn’t stop smiling. It seemed like he shouldn’t laugh too much, but his thoughtfulness made Yeon-woo happy.