If You Want Me - Episode 28
<Episode 28>
When she said she was curious about something, I naturally thought it would be a question related to the workbook she had just solved. But what…? Debt collectors?
It was surprising that she thought of me that way, but is that something an elementary school student would say? Do kids these days know such words? No, more importantly…
“Where did you hear that?”
“The aunties were saying it? Teacher, they said that’s why you suddenly came here.”
“…”
I knew the neighbor lady last time had that kind of view of me, but I never thought such a rumor would spread in the village.
I clearly explained that wasn’t the case, but it seems many people looked at me strangely as Secretary Bae and Do-gyeom took turns looking for me.
It was a situation that could arouse such suspicion, but still, they should watch what they say in front of children… Seo-won shook his head.
“No, it’s not like that.”
“Then who was that person coming out of your house, teacher?”
“…Did you see him?”
“Yes. A person way more handsome than you, looking like a celebrity, was coming out of your house? The car he was riding was shiny and cool too!”
“I see…?”
I thought she had just overheard it somewhere, but it seems she had seen Do-gyeom with her own eyes.
By the way, I thought she was so young she wouldn’t know anything about the ways of the world, but her eyes are accurate… Even though she’s young, she can see that Do-gyeom is exceptionally handsome and that the car he drives is a nice one.
“He’s someone I used to work with. When I quit my job and came to the countryside, he told me to come back.”
“Huh? Then why don’t you go back? Seoul is way better than here!”
“You’ve been to Seoul?”
“I have. My older brother lives in Seoul so I went a few times and it was really nice!”
“Really? Your brother lives alone in Seoul? There must be a big age gap between you two.”
“Yes. Hmm, how many years apart are we? I think he’s around your age, teacher… No! Teacher, you’re changing the subject now, aren’t you?”
Seulgi was answering Seo-won’s question, then raised her voice with a start, saying the topic was about to change. Anyways, she was quick-witted.
“That person looked super rich and kind, so why don’t you go?”
Do-gyeom didn’t seem like someone who would look kind to anyone… Anyway, the question was wouldn’t it be better to go back to Seoul and work with him rather than being here like this?
It wasn’t wrong. Even if he didn’t do a job that involved meeting Do-gyeom, there would be many more job opportunities and he could make more money in Seoul than here.
But… He had come here to avoid him. Even though it had become futile since Do-gyeom came looking for him, he had pretended to come to the countryside for various reasons, so he couldn’t go back to Seoul.
“I decided to stay here for a while due to some circumstances. I like the village too…”
“Your taste is unique, teacher. Seoul has lots of delicious things and it’s nice.”
Is a nice neighborhood at that age simply one that sells a lot of delicious things? A hollow laugh escaped at the too simple reason.
Come to think of it, he had also been disappointed that he couldn’t drink decaffeinated coffee because there was no franchise cafe after settling in this village. Even the common delivery foods could be counted on one hand here, so it made sense to feel that way.
Seo-won laughed and drew a big circle on the last problem of the workbook, then said to Seulgi,
“I’m done grading. Let’s study now.”
“Ah… Already? Let’s play some more.”
When Seo-won said to focus on the lesson now, Seulgi made a very disappointed face.
Now that he thought about it, it seemed she was just talking nonsense because she didn’t want to study. Just like asking a teacher about their first love for no reason at school, she was bringing up a useless topic.
Kids these days are really smart… Seeing the face full of interest instantly change to boredom, Seo-won focused on explaining the formulas for the incorrect parts.
* * *
“Yoon Seo-won, open the door.”
Weekends were now frightening for Seo-won.
When the weekend came, Do-gyeom visited Seo-won’s house again as if on a promise.
Seo-won really wanted to ignore him. He had come down to this unplanned countryside village for fear of running into him by chance… If he had known Do-gyeom would visit every week, he would have stayed in Seoul where it was more comfortable.
Driving an expensive sedan and attracting attention with his attire and excellent appearance, which was rare in this neighborhood, was burdensome… A few days ago, even Seulgi had asked him if he had settled in this village because he was being chased by debt collectors, so he couldn’t ignore him for fear of creating worse rumors in the village.
While thinking for a moment, there was a loud knocking sound on the flimsy gate. So impatient. Seo-won sighed and opened the gate.
“Sigh… Please. Be quiet.”
“If I don’t do this, you won’t open the door.”
When Seo-won complained while opening the door, Do-gyeom spoke confidently with the corners of his mouth raised.
He naturally lowered his head to pass through the low gate and entered the yard. It was a very natural action as if coming and going to his own house. Seo-won looked at him absurdly and followed close behind.
“Aren’t you busy? The young master I’ve seen wasn’t this idle.”
“This is also part of my job. If you’re thinking of reducing my workload, either admit it quickly or come up to Seoul.”
“What kind of job is this…?”
“This.”
When Seo-won was about to argue, asking what kind of job it was to come looking for him and if he was just doing as he pleased, Do-gyeom presented something in front of Seo-won’s eyes as if he had been waiting.
It was a contract. The content they had bickered about and dealt with last time was written much more neatly and in detail on the paper.
“We made a deal, so we have to confirm it.”
“…”
At Do-gyeom’s answer, Seo-won let out a big sigh of absurdity. He was already brazen, but he had become even more brazen under the pretext of having made a deal.
He had accepted it impulsively out of anger, but to think he would go this far. He had been unlike himself from the moment he came looking for him after quitting as a partner, and he was getting stranger and stranger. He knew he was originally a presumptuous and brazen person, but he had too much pride to cling like this no matter how regretful he was…
Because he hadn’t completely given up on his feelings for Do-gyeom, he was both happy and troubled every time he saw him. Rather than reprimanding him, Seo-won gave another reason and told him to stop coming.
“It must be tiring for the chauffeur to drive all the way to the countryside like this.”
“He’s on vacation today.”
“Huh…? Then who drove? Was it Secretary Bae?”
He was looking at the parked black sedan. When Seo-won asked in wonder how he had come then, Do-gyeom answered indifferently as if it was obvious.
“No. I came alone today.”
“…You came alone?”
If it had been someone else, he would have thought nothing of it, but he couldn’t believe it since it was Do-gyeom.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t drive or was afraid to. It was just that he was a person whose every minute and second was precious. Whenever Seo-won rode in the car with him, he always had a tablet or documents in his hand, taking care of work. The reason he had someone else drive was not simply because it was bothersome or tiring, but to secure time.
Thinking that way, it made him feel several times more burdened that Do-gyeom was coming to see him even without that.
“Why go that far when there’s nothing to do even if you come…?”
“The person who wants to see someone digs the well.”
“…”
Do-gyeom smiled slyly as he said something that might or might not be a joke.
The person he wants to see… It would have been nice if he meant he wanted to see me, but I knew it wasn’t in that sense. Seo-won swallowed his expectations and tried to speak coldly.
“Stop saying useless things. What do I have to do for you to stop coming?”
“When I confirm your words are true.”
“…When you won’t believe me anyway.”
Seo-won grumbled, but Do-gyeom didn’t even pretend to hear. His reaction was telling Seo-won to show believable behavior first.
But certainly… It seems I didn’t act in a way that would make him believe I found someone I love. There wouldn’t be many people who would think a person who only stayed at home had fallen in love either.
Should I at least act in a believable way? Come to think of it, it seemed necessary to go out even if it was for show. In this countryside, I needed to give the impression that I interacted with other people.
It was uncomfortable being in the same house as Do-gyeom anyway, and I couldn’t focus on work, so… Above all, I was extremely shaken last time when he tried to kiss me, so there was no guarantee I could endure it if something like that happened again.
Plus, on any other day, I wouldn’t have dared to deceive him, but today was a day Do-gyeom came alone. Even if he tailed me, I only had to shake off one person.
Once my thoughts reached that point, it seemed like a good idea to try it today. Seo-won went into the room, changed into going-out clothes, then came to the shoe rack and put on white sneakers with a black brand logo. Seeing Seo-won getting ready to go out, Do-gyeom, who was sitting on the sofa, asked casually,
“Where are you going?”
“I have an appointment.”
“Appointment? Don’t tell me, a date? Are you going to meet that person? I thought it was one-sided love?”
He had only said he was going out and coming back, but Do-gyeom misunderstood on his own and jumped up from his seat. Although his expression and tone weren’t like that, his faster than usual actions seemed a little shaken.
It was an act meant to lead to misunderstanding, but the reaction was more intense and immediate than he thought.
Maybe he could get him to give up today.