I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega - Episode 174
I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega – Episode 174
“I-Kyung, take this.”
Min Ra-hyun approached and held out the gift box he was holding. It looked as if he was giving it to Seo I-Kyung himself. However, Seo I-Kyung didn’t move an inch. Seo I-Kyung knew that Min Ra-hyun was doing this because he was curious about what was inside the box.
At that, Jin Seon-yoo suddenly raised his hand and took it instead.
“Why are you taking that?”
Ignoring Min Ra-hyun’s words as he furrowed his brow, Jin Seon-yoo passed the gift box to Butler Do.
“Butler Do, we’re out of tea in the studio. Could you bring some more?”
“Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”
Butler Do placed the box he was holding on the sofa table and turned around. Seo I-Kyung left the reception room with Jin Seon-yoo.
Click, Jin Seon-yoo closed the studio door. He stared at Seo I-Kyung standing in front of the work table. His complexion looked worse than before. Jin Seon-yoo took a step.
“My second brother said he was going to send a gift from our house too. He asked me what would be good. So I made an excuse saying I’d ask you.”
Jin Seon-yoo said this while scanning Seo I-Kyung’s expression.
“And Gi-jun was asking what would be good too…”
Already, all sorts of rumors had spread far and wide. Especially since this was the child of Han Seung-jae, who would lead Myeongjun Financial Group in the future. So things were already overheating as people tried to make an impression.
“……”
But Jin Seon-yoo couldn’t continue. After all, he knew well what the canvas next to Seo I-Kyung meant.
A moment later, the studio door opened and Butler Do came in to replace the empty teapot and fill the cups with tea before withdrawing. He looked busier than usual due to the influx of gifts.
“Have a cup of tea before we start.”
Seo I-Kyung held out a teacup to Jin Seon-yoo as if nothing had happened. As Jin Seon-yoo took it, Seo I-Kyung added:
“Can you finish it today?”
Jin Seon-yoo almost dropped the teacup. Although he could have finished this painting long ago, he had kept refining it, saying he would paint more carefully. He had tried to delay the completion somehow.
However, looking into Seo I-Kyung’s eyes, he realized he had no more excuses to make. Jin Seon-yoo blushed as if he had no choice.
“Was I found out? Alright. I’ll definitely finish it today.”
Jin Seon-yoo drank the tea and put on his apron. He approached the canvas and moved his brush. Seo I-Kyung came closer and watched as a beautiful winter mountain scene was completed.
***
“I-Kyung, can’t we open the things in the reception room?”
Min Ra-hyun, sitting across from him at the dinner table, spoke up.
“They all seem to be for you. After we eat, let’s go open them together.”
Seo I-Kyung acted as if he couldn’t hear his words, then slowly raised his head to look at Min Ra-hyun. As their eyes met, Min Ra-hyun asked brightly:
“Aren’t you curious about what’s inside too, I-Kyung?”
“No. I’m not interested in such things.”
Saying this, Seo I-Kyung stood up. He went into the studio and closed the door, reaching back with his hand.
He cleaned the work table thoroughly and organized the items on the shelves.
Seo I-Kyung looked at the pocket watch necklace on the display stand. He caressed the glass surface with his finger. This was what Seo I-Kyung had accidentally bought by pressing the wrong button at the auction he attended with Han Seung-jae.
‘Twenty billion.’
This tiny pocket watch necklace cost a whopping twenty billion. Han Seung-jae had paid for it without a second thought and put it here. He even bought a hat too.
Seo I-Kyung alternately looked at the display case containing the hat next to it. He withdrew his hand that had been touching the glass surface and carefully looked around the studio.
At some point, he had started coming here every day. At first it had felt unfamiliar, but now it felt like his touch was all over the place. Seo I-Kyung approached the canvas. Oil paints need time to dry.
Would his feelings be sorted out in that time too?
He wished it would be, but the thought alternated with the idea that it wouldn’t be so easy.
Above all, Seo I-Kyung still had the most important task left. Giving this painting to Han Seung-jae.
Seo I-Kyung turned his head to stare at the old canvas. He looked at the faded winter mountain mixed in. He had chosen this painting not only because it matched Han Seung-jae’s image, but also because it was a painting he had seen once before.
If it was a painting he had seen before, it wouldn’t feel out of place.
So he could avoid Han Seung-jae’s suspicion too.
***
For several days, people had been coming and going in the house, but Butler Do no longer went to find Seo I-Kyung. He sorted the items according to his own judgment. Herbal medicines went to the chef. He had helpers move baby items to an empty room. Also, he brought expensive items into the studio and placed them in one corner.
As usual, after placing a box in the studio, Butler Do suddenly straightened up and looked at Seo I-Kyung standing in front of the canvas. These days, as soon as he opened his eyes, he would go into the studio to look at the painting, and sometimes he would stay in the studio all day. However, he no longer seemed to be painting.
Butler Do picked up the teapot and filled the teacup. Seo I-Kyung turned his head back. He moved away from the canvas as if detaching himself and sat in a chair.
“I’m not sure what to call you now.”
Seo I-Kyung looked up as he picked up the teacup. Butler Do added with a smile:
“I’ve been calling you Young Master, but now there’s really going to be a Baby Master, isn’t there?”
Butler Do seemed to be trying to somehow lighten Seo I-Kyung’s sunken mood. Since Jin Seon-yoo stopped coming, Seo I-Kyung no longer smiled.
However, instead of answering, Seo I-Kyung drank his tea and pointed to the canvas.
“Please take this up to the study.”
“The painting? Ah, were you planning to gift it to Director Han? He’ll surely like it when he sees it. I’ll do it right away.”
Butler Do put down the teapot and gladly picked up the canvas. A moment later, a helper came in and took out the wooden easel.
During this time, Seo I-Kyung remained in the studio.
Seo I-Kyung finished his tea and stood up. He told Butler Do, who had come down from the second floor, to let him know when Han Seung-jae arrived, then got on the elevator.
His eyes met Min Ra-hyun’s, who was sitting on the sofa, but as the elevator doors closed, his presence disappeared too.
Seo I-Kyung, who had entered the bedroom after passing through the long corridor, sat on the bed. But not long after, he opened the terrace door and went out. The cold wind tousled his thin hair as it passed. If he gave Han Seung-jae the painting and said he wanted to leave, what expression would he make?
Would he say no? Or would he say go ahead?
Either way, wouldn’t there be no big change on Han Seung-jae’s face?
With a sunken look in his eyes, Seo I-Kyung went back into the room. Winter days darkened early, and outside quickly turned gloomy. Butler Do knocked on the bedroom door. Knock knock, the knocking sound continued. Seo I-Kyung opened the door and came out of the bedroom.
“I’ve set up the painting well in the study.”
Butler Do seemed somewhat excited. Because of this, he spoke without being asked, swelling with expectation.
“Director Han is changing clothes in the dressing room now. He’ll be up soon.”
Butler Do bowed to Seo I-Kyung while watching the floor numbers change on the elevator indicator.
“I’ll go down and prepare tea and refreshments.”
Butler Do quickly went down using the stairs. And as the indicator number changed to 2, the tightly closed elevator doors opened.
Han Seung-jae with his cold features fully appeared. Han Seung-jae, with his dress shirt falling over his broad shoulders and looking flawless, came out of the elevator as if he had spotted Seo I-Kyung. He moved his steps while adjusting his dress shirt sleeves.
“Why are you out here?”
Seo I-Kyung turned his body slightly. He took in Han Seung-jae’s back deeply with his eyes. Suddenly, as if realizing Seo I-Kyung was still standing there, Han Seung-jae’s legs stopped. He turned his body back and said:
“It’s not bad meeting like this after always seeing you sleeping.”
“Seung-jae.”
Seo I-Kyung’s lips parted. Han Seung-jae turned his body fully. He waited without interrupting Seo I-Kyung’s words.
“I have something I want to give you.”
“Ah.”
Han Seung-jae seemed to know what it was.
“Have you finished painting?”
Seo I-Kyung also thought Han Seung-jae must know. Seo I-Kyung curled his fingers and clenched them tightly. His heart was beating frantically without rest. It felt like it might burst out of his chest at any moment.
Han Seung-jae asked nonchalantly:
“Is it in the studio? I’d like to see it right away.”
Seo I-Kyung slowly shook his head horizontally and said:
“It’s in the study now.”
“Is that so? Even better.”
Han Seung-jae turned without hesitation. He opened the closed study door.