I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega - Episode 212
I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega – Episode 212
“Understood. I’ll prepare it right away, please wait on the sofa for a moment.”
Seo I-Kyung turned his steps while following Butler Do’s retreating figure with his eyes. He thought about standing to wait for Butler Do, but instead walked to the sofa and took a seat.
He had been bustling about trying to wake Jin Seon-yoo for a while.
Also, he felt drained after being on edge throughout the car ride home, trying to read Han Seung-jae’s mood.
―Do you want to come down? Or should I come up?
Seo I-Kyung’s eyes were lost in thought. Han Seung-jae’s voice over the phone had been cold.
At that time, he didn’t intend to put Han Seung-jae second. He hadn’t stayed by Jin Seon-yoo’s side in that room until Jin Seok-young arrived with such intentions.
However, if the same situation were to occur again, Seo I-Kyung would make the same choice. For Seo I-Kyung, it wasn’t a matter of who was more or less important. The two weren’t comparable for him. They held entirely different meanings for Seo I-Kyung.
“Young Master, the snacks to take to the study are ready.”
Seo I-Kyung slowly raised his knees.
As he entered the elevator, Seo I-Kyung suddenly stared at his pajama-clad reflection in the door. Maybe he should have changed clothes. Somehow, his loose-fitting, fluttering waist caught his eye, making him look unkempt.
Thud, Butler Do walked ahead and approached the study door. After confirming Seo I-Kyung’s slow approach, he knocked in time with his steps.
Knock knock.
Butler Do grasped the doorknob and gently opened the door.
“Director Han, I’ve brought tea.”
Just as Seo I-Kyung was about to step inside, Han Seung-jae looked up and spoke coldly.
“Well. I don’t feel like drinking.”
Seo I-Kyung’s steps abruptly halted. He took in the sight of Han Seung-jae sitting at his desk. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t taken aback. In fact, Seo I-Kyung hadn’t thought for a moment that Han Seung-jae would say such a thing.
Usually, when he brought tea to the study, Han Seung-jae would stop his work and welcome Seo I-Kyung. He might have simply assumed it would be the same this time. And since Han Seung-jae had acted no different than usual in the car, Seo I-Kyung might have thought he was fine. However, it seemed Han Seung-jae wasn’t.
…In the end, Seo I-Kyung turned back the foot he had placed inside the study. As he turned to leave, he slowly lowered his head.
“I-I’m sorry, Director Han. I didn’t mean to disturb you… I’m truly sorry.”
Butler Do, who had been standing there bewildered, repeatedly apologized while closing the open door. It wasn’t clear what he was apologizing for. He had just reflexively done so, feeling like he needed to do something on Seo I-Kyung’s behalf.
Seo I-Kyung’s shoulders, standing with his back to the closed study door, looked small and frail. Butler Do stood holding the tray, unable to do anything, looking at Seo I-Kyung with sympathetic eyes. Nevertheless, seeing Seo I-Kyung’s dejected back, he offered a few words of comfort.
“He must be busy with work. Isn’t he a busy person?”
Seo I-Kyung slowly raised his head and murmured. Butler Do.
“…Yes? Yes. I understand. I’ll be right back.”
Butler Do, who had been listening carefully to Seo I-Kyung’s words, went down the stairs without looking back. He set down the tray containing the teapot, teacups, and snack plates, then busily gathered the things Seo I-Kyung had mentioned.
***
Knock knock.
Butler Do knocked on the study door. However, unlike before, there was a hint of fear in his eyes. Having been rejected once, he was even more apprehensive. And there was no guarantee that the rejection wouldn’t happen twice, making him even more timid.
Nevertheless, Butler Do opened the door and spoke.
“Director Han.”
As Han Seung-jae, sitting at his desk, looked straight ahead, Butler Do felt his knees weaken. However, for Seo I-Kyung’s sake behind him, he gathered more courage.
“I’ve brought the alcohol you usually enjoy.”
Butler Do deliberately added that it was something Han Seung-jae often enjoyed. Han Seung-jae particularly liked high-proof whiskey. So there was an earnest plea implied: please don’t reject Seo I-Kyung this time.
―Butler Do, please bring the alcohol Seung-jae likes instead of tea.
A little while ago, Seo I-Kyung had lifted his dejected face and calmly made that request. Although he had been rejected when bringing tea, Seo I-Kyung seemed to be thinking of trying again with alcohol. That’s why Butler Do had quickly gone down and come back up.
“……”
A heavy silence settled in the study. Though he wasn’t immediately rejected like before, Han Seung-jae hadn’t invited him in either. So Seo I-Kyung just stood in front of the door as if waiting for Han Seung-jae’s words, not daring to step in like before. Soon, Seo I-Kyung, standing as if in a standoff, opened his lips.
“I won’t sleep…”
Seo I-Kyung added while looking straight ahead.
“I’ll wait.”
As if having said his piece, Seo I-Kyung turned around. It seemed this method wouldn’t work either. Seo I-Kyung knew well that Han Seung-jae was busy. He hadn’t brought the alcohol with the intention of disturbing him. Butler Do apologized to Han Seung-jae once again and carefully closed the door.
He followed Seo I-Kyung into the bedroom and placed the whiskey bottle, crystal glasses, and ice bucket from the tray he was carrying. While doing so, Butler Do asked Seo I-Kyung, who was sitting in a chair, with a pitying look.
“Would you like me to bring some tea for you, Young Master?”
No one knew when Han Seung-jae would come. Butler Do had observed Han Seung-jae over time. He wasn’t a person whose movements could be predicted. Han Seung-jae looked down coldly and indifferently, spoke harshly regardless of how others might take it, and maintained an icy, aloof attitude.
“I’ll tell you if I need anything.”
Seo I-Kyung, who had been sitting in the chair with his head hanging lifelessly until then, looked up. He had a composed look in his eyes. It was as if he was trying to show Butler Do that he was fine, telling him not to worry.
However, it looked different to Butler Do. To him, there were still times when Seo I-Kyung’s image overlapped with that of the young, powerless Young Master. Nevertheless, it now seemed there was nothing he could do to help.
“Then, please let me know if you need anything.”
“Yes, I will.”
Seo I-Kyung turned his head to look down at the table. Butler Do trudged out of the bedroom.
Wasn’t Seo I-Kyung carrying Han Seung-jae’s child, of all people? How could he be so cold? Butler Do felt a bitterness in the corner of his heart.
As he was going down the stairs, there was a sound of the study door opening and closing.
No one ever comes up to the second floor in the evening. So Butler Do couldn’t have misheard. He quickly went down the stairs. It was fortunate that, unlike with others, he wasn’t indifferent to Seo I-Kyung.
***
As the bedroom door opened, Seo I-Kyung’s gaze turned. He thought perhaps Butler Do had come back with tea, unable to let go of his worry.
However, it was Han Seung-jae who entered. Shadows fell diagonally across the dress shirt enveloping his firm shoulders. Seo I-Kyung’s lips parted slightly.
“Seung-jae.”
Afraid he might leave again, Seo I-Kyung reached out and grabbed the whiskey bottle. However, looking at his left arm in a cast, his eyes wavered slightly. Despite his enthusiasm, it was difficult to open the cap with one hand.
“I’ll tell Butler Do to…”
Inevitably, Seo I-Kyung stood up. Han Seung-jae took the whiskey bottle from Seo I-Kyung’s hand. He lightly tilted the bottle to fill the crystal glass.
The amber liquid splashed against the glass.
“Why don’t you sit down instead of standing like that?”
Han Seung-jae’s low tone flowed out.
“…!”
Only then did Seo I-Kyung realize he had been standing there, staring at Han Seung-jae’s face in a daze. He bent his knees, which he had been keeping straight, and sat down in the chair.
Han Seung-jae stretched out his long arm to pick up the crystal glass, then sat down across from Seo I-Kyung. He brought the glass to his lips, took a drink, and said,
“Sometimes I feel like you know me well.”
It was a strange feeling. Han Seung-jae had been receiving reports about Seo I-Kyung for a long time. At first, it was to preemptively prevent any unsavory incidents since Seo I-Kyung was to be his marriage partner, but it had continued until it went beyond habit and became an obsession.
But what did it mean that a similar feeling was coming from Seo I-Kyung?