If You Want Me - Episode 35
<Episode 35>
Seo-won shook his head and shoved his cell phone into his pocket. How on earth did he find out that he was in Seoul? It was absurd, but considering that he had even found out about Seo-won moving to the countryside, it probably wasn’t difficult for him to find out this much.
If he went into hiding like last time when he took a long break due to the aftereffects of the heat cycle, he didn’t know what kind of misunderstanding Do-gyeom would have. He might think that Seo-won ran away because he had no confidence in winning the deal. That might be why he came looking for him.
For various reasons, it seemed like he had to meet him. Seo-won was about to go out with just his cell phone when he glanced at the mirror. Perhaps because he had just woken up from sleep, his appearance looked quite haggard. His hair was disheveled, and his eyelids were slightly swollen from wiping away tears while looking at the ultrasound picture.
Even though he had decided not to have any more expectations for Do-gyeom and to give up, it was still embarrassing and awkward to show him this appearance. He would be neatly groomed without any disarray, so the comparison would be even more stark.
Seo-won hastily tidied up his hair, slipped his feet into slippers, and went out to the yard. When he opened the tightly closed iron gate, Do-gyeom was standing there. With a cigarette in one hand.
“Yoon Seo-won.”
As soon as Seo-won came out, Do-gyeom called his name while putting out the cigarette.
Even though he had only called his name, it felt like a reproach for coming out so late.
It seemed like a situation where he had to explain that he couldn’t answer the phone because he was sleeping due to fatigue. However, such an explanation wouldn’t be helpful when he had to cut ties cleanly like cutting a kite string.
Instead of an explanation, Seo-won asked as if he was questioning something he wasn’t even curious about.
“…How did you know I came to Seoul?”
“Is that important?”
Do-gyeom answered indifferently.
Of course. It wasn’t surprising since he had even come to the house in the countryside. What was there in this world that he couldn’t do? Honestly, most things could be solved with his wealth. He must have used errand boys or something.
When Seo-won didn’t say anything, seeming to know how he found out, Do-gyeom scanned Seo-won with a calm gaze. His eyes that were searching every corner of his body were persistent as if looking for something.
“Why didn’t you answer the phone?”
While still fixing his gaze on Seo-won like someone searching for something, Do-gyeom asked.
Why was he staring at him like that? Thinking that he might have worn his clothes strangely, Seo-won glanced down but it was similar to usual. What was it?
“I didn’t even know you called because I was sleeping.”
“You were sleeping until now? Are you not feeling well somewhere?”
“No. It’s not like that, I think I was just a bit tired from riding the bus for a long time.”
“…”
A suspicious gaze followed him. Even though he hadn’t lied, being under that gaze made his body timidly shrink as if he had committed a crime.
Feeling self-conscious, he couldn’t even bring himself to ask why he was staring at him like that or if he was doubting him. Even though he thought he shouldn’t care about what Do-gyeom thought since they shouldn’t see each other anymore, he habitually became small in front of him.
As Seo-won mumbled and couldn’t say anything, Do-gyeom exhaled softly and changed the subject.
“What did you come to Seoul for?”
“Ah, that… I had to meet my parents and stuff.”
“Is that all?”
“Then what other reason would there be?”
In fact, it was because of the obstetrics and gynecology checkup, but he couldn’t say that so he played dumb.
He was anxious that he might get caught this time too since he had rarely succeeded in lying to Do-gyeom.
As he lowered his gaze and swallowed his saliva, Do-gyeom, who had been staring at Seo-won for a while, slightly furrowed his brows and opened his mouth.
“Next time you have something to come to Seoul for, contact me. I’ll give you a ride.”
“What? Why would you do that? You’re not a chauffeur.”
“I said I’ll do the chauffeur’s job for you, so tell me.”
Do-gyeom replied seriously without any change in his expression, as if it wasn’t an empty promise.
Even though he said it so bluntly, Seo-won knew it was meant to be considerate. However, he wanted to refuse such consideration even if it wasn’t necessarily from Do-gyeom but from anyone else. It takes several hours round trip, and he says he’ll do that… It was unnecessary trouble.
“Forget it. Why would you do such a thing…? Anyone will give you a ride if you pay them.”
“Are you talking about the bus? How can you ride that when it’s uncomfortable?”
“Only you don’t ride it, everyone else rides it. It’s very convenient for me.”
“My car is more comfortable.”
“No. Being with you is also uncomfortable, and I like the bus.”
Seo-won knew why Do-gyeom found the bus uncomfortable. It was because he was someone who only received top-notch services, and also because Do-gyeom had a larger physique compared to others.
However, Seo-won wasn’t uncomfortable. Moreover, riding in a car alone with Do-gyeom could be more dangerous and uncomfortable for him right now than taking the bus.
When Seo-won refused for that reason, Do-gyeom mumbled and exhaled as if frustrated.
“Ha… Then at least contact me when you come to Seoul. It’s annoying to receive reports through the secretary.”
“No, why would you receive such reports…?”
It was absurd. It was already surprising when he confidently came to the house Seo-won had moved to in the countryside, but this was no different from blatantly saying he was monitoring him.
He had expected it, but how could he say it so confidently…? Even if he told Do-gyeom not to monitor him, he knew he was a man who would bring up the deal anyway or say he wouldn’t do it. Knowing that, he couldn’t even bring himself to say not to do such a thing in the first place.
“If you don’t want to hear about me, can’t you just not receive the reports?”
“How can I not receive the reports when I’m concerned about when, where, and what you’re doing?”
“Then why are you concerned…?”
As he retorted, a chilling feeling suddenly ran down his spine.
If he was keeping tabs on him to this extent, could it be that he also knew Seo-won had gone to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic today?
Judging from the fact that he wasn’t asking about it now, it seemed like he didn’t know, but it also seemed like he knew because he casually asked if Seo-won wasn’t feeling well earlier.
Could it be… that he had already been caught knowing that Seo-won was pregnant?
His heart pounded loudly, but if Do-gyeom knew a child had been conceived, he was the type of man who would raise his voice and tell him to get rid of it right away. Seeing that he wasn’t mentioning it, it seemed he didn’t know what kind of treatment Seo-won had received.
Then Seo-won couldn’t bring it up first. It would only be stirring up trouble for no reason. Thinking that he should be more careful with his every move from now on, Seo-won changed the subject for now.
“S-so, why did you come all the way here? Did you come to say you’d give me a ride?”
“No. That’s not why I came.”
“Then why?”
“I came because I wanted to see you.”
“…”
At Do-gyeom’s unexpected answer, Seo-won lost his words after preparing to refute anything.
When he said he had something to do, Seo-won thought he was going to bring up the deal and try to find fault with him again. So he was standing crookedly, ready to fight back… But he said he missed him.
He thought about it last time too, but Do-gyeom had a talent for making people feel strange. Like when he drove all the way down to the countryside alone, saying a thirsty person digs a well, even though it didn’t have any special meaning, and now too…
Seo-won had never seen Do-gyeom flirting with another person, but if he had acted this way to other omegas, many people would have expectations for him. That’s probably why Seo-won also couldn’t let him go for a long time. Until now.
The lingering feelings he had neatly folded in a corner of his heart tried to unfold on their own, but Seo-won closed his eyes for a moment to compose himself.
Having barely regained his composure, Seo-won tried to send Do-gyeom back again in a slightly dry voice.
“If you’ve confirmed, please go now.”
“Isn’t it too soon to send me away? It hasn’t even been ten minutes since we saw each other.”
Do-gyeom spoke as if treating Seo-won as a heartless person. He looked as if he was hurt, as if asking how Seo-won could be so unaffectionate.
I’m the one who misses you more than you do. Those words rose to his throat, but Seo-won swallowed them down and pretended to be nonchalant.
“You’ve seen me like that for 6 years, what more do you want to see? Aren’t you tired of it…?”
“I’m not tired of it. I’m even more glad to see you because it’s been a while.”
“What do you mean it’s been a while? We saw each other last weekend.”
“Last weekend, you went out saying you had a date with an elementary school student, so I couldn’t see you much.”
“It wasn’t a date…”
It wasn’t a date with an elementary school student, but… Anyway, on that day, Seo-won had left the house to try to deceive Do-gyeom, so he didn’t spend much time with him.
That day, when he returned home and ate the macarons Do-gyeom had left, he even felt a bit sorry for making him wait when he said he had driven directly. Of course, it didn’t change the fact that Do-gyeom had barged into his house on his own…
Anyway, because he had such thoughts, he wavered, thinking, “Is that so?” but he had to send Do-gyeom back quickly because the more time he spent with him, the more his heart would waver. Seo-won shook his head again, barely pulling himself together.
“A-anyway, it’s late today. You should go to sleep soon. You have work tomorrow.”
“Can’t I sleep here tonight and then go?”
“What?”
What came out of Do-gyeom’s mouth was unexpected.
It was so absurd that for a moment, Seo-won thought he had misheard. However, seeing Do-gyeom nodding his head in front of him, urging for an answer, it seemed like he had heard it correctly.
Why on earth was he making such a request? It was so absurd that he couldn’t even think of what to say.
“What do you mean? You have a house nearby. It’s much more spacious and nicer.”
“But you’re not there.”
“…”
If he says it like that, as if he doesn’t like a house without me, am I interpreting it too much?
Seo-won unknowingly swallowed his saliva. If he had heard such words before, he would have really told Do-gyeom to sleep over and go. Because even when he was sick after returning from the US, Do-gyeom had recklessly come out and slept together with him, saying it was late.
Why does he always speak ill of me and then shake people up like that? No matter how much I try to compose myself, every time… he makes it difficult for people.
He tried to calm his wavering heart. As Seo-won bit his lower lip and was choosing words of refusal, Do-gyeom continued.
“I want to sleep with you. It’s not because I want to have sex. I just… want to sleep together.”
“Why?”
This time, it wasn’t even to coax him into becoming partners again. Seo-won couldn’t understand why he was saying he would sleep over and go.
To him, wasn’t I just… a convenient partner? I already knew that he was obsessed with me beyond that meaning, but I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.
I wouldn’t know if he didn’t tell me. He was the kind of person who would kiss my lips on the day I manifested as an omega and then act as if it meant nothing.
When Seo-won seriously asked why he was making such a request, Do-gyeom hesitated and opened his mouth.
“If you’re there… I think I’ll be able to sleep well.”