I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega - Episode 179
I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega – Episode 179
“I can still endure it.”
As Seo I-Kyung said this, he was biting his lip with all his might. It wouldn’t have been surprising if his lower lip burst and started bleeding at any moment.
“This sweat too. I wondered why you didn’t want a bandage, but your hand isn’t just slightly injured. Let’s go to the hospital first. Everyone’s asleep now, so we can sneak out quietly.”
Jin Seon-yoo carelessly took off his pajamas and changed clothes. Then he put on his outer clothes and draped a coat over Seo I-Kyung’s shoulders.
“Be careful on the stairs.”
Jin Seon-yoo went down first, lowering his voice and looking back. Seo I-Kyung nodded instead of answering. He felt that if he opened his mouth, a groan of pain would escape.
The two came down the stairs stealthily. Fortunately, they didn’t encounter anyone. Jin Seon-yoo opened the front door and headed towards the parked car. Seo I-Kyung opened the passenger side door and sat down.
While driving, Jin Seon-yoo checked on him several times.
“Nowhere else hurts?”
Last night, Jin Seok-young had come home and relayed a message while avoiding Jin Tae-won’s eyes, hadn’t he? Seo I-Kyung couldn’t be sick. Especially because he was pregnant.
Afraid that the sharp Jin Tae-won might notice, he had cut off Jin Seok-young’s words, so he hadn’t heard everything, but he could guess the rest without hearing it.
Jin Seon-yoo had already encountered Han Seung-jae once before, hadn’t he? When Seo I-Kyung lost consciousness at the Alpha Club, he had looked at Jin Seon-yoo with frightening eyes. Recalling that incident made Jin Seon-yoo’s spine shiver. Because of this, Jin Seon-yoo drove even faster.
Being early morning, there was no traffic on the roads. And Jin Seon-yoo entered Seju Hospital’s emergency room, confirmed that Seo I-Kyung’s arm was fractured, and had a dazed expression.
“Has it been like this since you met me yesterday?”
Seo I-Kyung had been saying he was fine all along. Even now.
“I’m okay. Don’t worry too much.”
With his pale face, it was hard to tell who was comforting whom. Seo I-Kyung looked like he might collapse at any moment. Yet he was worried that Jin Seon-yoo might be shocked.
Jin Seon-yoo had believed Seo I-Kyung was really fine when he said so. He hadn’t taken those words at face value.
“The pain must have been severe.”
Even at the doctor’s words, Seo I-Kyung just repeated that he was fine. For Seo I-Kyung, feeling pain was a luxury right now. Wasn’t he already indebted to Jin Seon-yoo for so much?
When the two left the emergency room, day was just starting to break.
Getting in the car, Jin Seon-yoo took in the cast wrapped around Seo I-Kyung’s left arm.
“From now on, if you’re in pain, say you’re in pain. I really…”
The words “thought you were fine” were swallowed on Jin Seon-yoo’s tongue.
“No. I was just insensitive.”
Rather, Jin Seon-yoo blamed himself. It wasn’t Seo I-Kyung’s fault. Who had always said such things? That Jin Seon-yoo was insensitive. For such words to come to mind at a time like this, even Gwon Gi-jun’s words weren’t wrong at all.
Jin Seon-yoo had a crestfallen expression. He had never suppressed anything. Even his likes were so obvious it was a problem. To the point where everyone around him could tell. Moreover, he had always expressed this kind of pain and suffering outwardly, never hiding it.
“Did I startle you? Calling you suddenly like that.”
But Seo I-Kyung was comforting others first, wasn’t he? Seeing this, Jin Seon-yoo’s shoulders drooped involuntarily.
“No, it’s not that. And I should be the one saying such things.”
Jin Seon-yoo felt that something was seriously wrong, but he couldn’t fix it. It wasn’t an illusion that Seo I-Kyung sometimes seemed more mature than himself.
“My brothers haven’t left for work yet, so we should go back a bit later. Where should we go for breakfast? Is there anything you want to eat?”
Seo I-Kyung seemed to be thinking deeply. But nothing particularly appealed to him. Just as Seo I-Kyung was about to speak, Jin Seon-yoo at the wheel preempted him.
“Enough with saying you’re fine. You don’t have to say that to me. More importantly, I’ve had a great idea.”
Seo I-Kyung looked at him questioningly. Jin Seon-yoo was about to start the car but took out his phone and called somewhere. As he did so, he murmured to Seo I-Kyung:
“Let’s sell the pocket watch necklace first.”
Seo I-Kyung’s lips moved.
“Would anyone buy that?”
Given the price, and strictly speaking, the pocket watch necklace was an antique. So unless it was a collector, not many people would buy such a thing.
At that moment, the call seemed to connect and Jin Seon-yoo brightened.
“Gi-jun, you said you’d treat me to a meal as thanks for the Christmas gift, remember? Do it now.”
“……”
Seo I-Kyung’s heart pounded. He was surprised that Jin Seon-yoo had called Gwon Gi-jun, but judging by Gwon Gi-jun’s hoarse voice coming through the phone, it seemed he had woken him from deep sleep.
[… Do you know what time it is?]
Seo I-Kyung in the passenger seat glanced at the time. It was just past 6 o’clock. Gwon Gi-jun’s voice was cold. Like someone else.
But unlike Han Seung-jae, his feelings seemed knowable. Seo I-Kyung understood why Gwon Gi-jun was in a bad mood. Wasn’t it too early? Moreover, his voice sounded unpleasant, probably from just waking up. But Jin Seon-yoo responded as if used to it.
“It’s six ten.”
In the quiet car interior, Gwon Gi-jun’s long sigh spread through the phone. Haah.
Seo I-Kyung was about to say that didn’t seem to be what he was asking, but decided against it. There was no malice on Jin Seon-yoo’s face. He had checked the time himself and told him.
“Are there any places open at this hour? Should we do dinner instead? I have something I really need to tell you.”
At Jin Seon-yoo’s cheerful words, Gwon Gi-jun’s heavy voice continued.
[I’ll send the address by message.]
“Okay. Oh, make a reservation for one more person besides me. I-Kyung will be coming to eat too.”
***
Jin Seon-yoo got out of the car. Seo I-Kyung slowly exited the passenger seat, the cast on his left hand seeming awkward. He adjusted his coat so it wouldn’t slip down and followed Jin Seon-yoo into the hanok.
“Welcome. I’ll guide you to your seats inside.”
Despite the early hour, the employee seemed to have been notified in advance and gladly welcomed and guided the two.
“I’ll prepare the meal right away. Mr. Gwon instructed us to have everything ready for you two to eat first when you arrive.”
Soon food was laid out before the two. In front of Jin Seon-yoo were many nearly raw dishes, while in front of Seo I-Kyung were nicely cooked menu items.
“These are all things I like.”
Seo I-Kyung, holding his chopsticks, looked to the side. It seemed Gwon Gi-jun knew what Jin Seon-yoo liked. Moreover, he appeared to have considered that Seo I-Kyung was pregnant.
“Then, please let me know if you need anything else.”
As the door closed, Jin Seon-yoo picked up a piece of sashimi and savored the taste.
“I-Kyung, you try some too.”
Seo I-Kyung picked up a nicely cooked piece of white fish. He tasted a little, but it was hard to eat more. It tasted good but didn’t suit his palate.
“What’s wrong? Doesn’t it suit your taste? I’ll ask for something else.”
“I’m eating. It’s just inconvenient because of my arm. Don’t worry about me, go ahead and eat.”
He couldn’t cause any more worry to Jin Seon-yoo, who must have been exhausted since dawn. Seo I-Kyung forced himself to put food in his mouth. Jin Seon-yoo selected menu items Seo I-Kyung might eat and pushed them closer in front of him with his sore arm. Eat this too. It’s delicious. And not long after, there seemed to be a presence, and an employee’s voice seeped in.
“I’ve shown the two gentlemen to the inner room.”
The door opened and Gwon Gi-jun appeared. Dressed in an impeccable suit, he sat down across from the two. He greeted Seo I-Kyung with his eyes and asked Jin Seon-yoo:
“What did you want to tell me?”
Seo I-Kyung tightly gripped his chopsticks, which he had barely moved. Jin Seon-yoo put both hands in his pants pockets.
“Where did I put it?”
Found it. Soon, Jin Seon-yoo took out the pocket watch necklace from his pants pocket and showed it. The chain wrapped around his fingers dangled down, glittering.
Jin Seon-yoo smiled and said:
“This was originally 5 billion won, but I’ll sell it to you for 2 billion.”
“…!”
Seo I-Kyung’s arm with the cast twitched. Jin Seon-yoo’s face, which he turned to look at, was still bright. The fact that there was no trace of malice made it more problematic.
“You buy it, Gi-jun.”