Deal Breaker - Chapter 74
After all that deliberation, something so ordinary came out. No, it was a relief that it was ordinary.
‘I was waiting for you, Director.’
Just as he was hesitating, wondering if he should cut the connection since there was no reply, the voice he heard made Kanghyeon’s heart jolt.
‘…Why? The Center must’ve told you I’m alive.’
‘You said you’d contact me later, but you didn’t.’
From that moment on, the reason his heartbeat rang in his ears changed. Noh Hyeji, why are you saying things only lovers say. In the past, he would’ve been on guard, thinking it crossed a line.
‘I’m sorry. I thought I might be making you worry, Hyeji-ssi.’
He heard a murmured complaint that she’d worry either way, whether he contacted her or not, and then her voice grew heavier.
‘I heard about it.’
As soon as Kanghyeon read the guard’s memories, he had sent the location information from that time to the Center. When he woke up after failing to escape, he had also immediately informed them that he was now in an unknown location. That meant Hyeji had heard that news as well.
‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m okay.’
‘I heard you were pushed right up to the brink of a rampage.’
There was worry and reproach in her voice. Strangely enough, it sounded good to him.
‘Don’t overdo it, and when you come back, I’ll give you my guiding right away.’
Well. He didn’t really feel like receiving guiding. He just wished he could be having this conversation while looking at her face.
‘It kind of feels like guiding even now. Is this maybe remote guiding?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. Not even a radial Guide can do that.’
Still, just hearing Hyeji’s voice was calming the throbbing in his head. So he kept asking pointless questions, dragging the conversation out.
‘What did you do today, Hyeji-ssi?’
‘Just the same as every day. Went to work…’
‘I’m not even there, and there’s still work?’
‘Yes. Since you’re not here, Director, I have more work.’
‘I’ll make sure your bonus is good. Don’t quit.’
‘It’s fine. I’m not quitting.’
You really do live long enough to see everything. For Noh Hyeji, who always acted like she’d leave if her salary didn’t go up, to say something like that.
‘Then what else did you do?’
‘During the day, I went to the hospital…’
‘The hospital?’
‘Ah… because of my grandmother.’
He felt relieved when she said it wasn’t Hyeji who was sick, though he felt sorry for her grandmother.
‘She’s still not well?’
‘No, the surgery went well, but she’s getting physical therapy… Yes, so I went.’
‘Ah… I’m glad the surgery went well.’
When Hyeji fell silent after that, Kanghyeon asked carefully,
‘I’m not bothering you, am I?’
‘No, of course not. You’re the one who pays me.’
‘Right. If I die, who’s going to pay you then, huh?’
‘I’m working on it.’
‘I know.’
He knew all too well. He had heard that Hyeji was running around everywhere, from the Center and the company to even his father, doing everything she could to rescue him. Honestly, he hadn’t expected her to go that far.
‘I’m grateful, but don’t push yourself too hard.’
‘I’m not starving myself and obsessing over it, so it couldn’t be considered pushing myself.’
She really is so blunt.
‘So what did you eat?’
Since she said he wasn’t bothering her, he asked more pointless things. Maybe she was just answering out of politeness even though it was annoying. Kanghyeon brazenly crossed a line he would’ve withdrawn from in the past.
‘I ate kimchi jjigae.’
‘Without me? That’s harsh.’
‘I’ll buy it for you when you come back.’
‘What’s gotten into you? Noh Hyeji, you always just gets treated, and now you’re buying me a meal.’
‘You never give me a chance to pay. Anyone listening would think I’m some shameless cheapskate.’
Bickering like this brought back old memories. It had only been a month, but it felt like the distant past, and the smile he formed for the first time in a while twisted awkwardly.
‘Then if I ask you to buy me prime beef, will you?’
‘Uh… How about I buy the prime beef and grill it for you at home? It’s not because I’m trying to save money, I swear.’
What. That sounds like she’s saying she’ll cook for him.
‘I’ll buy two plus. And I worked part time at a barbecue place a long time ago, so I’m really good at grilling meat. Sounds good, right?’
‘Deal.’
As they continued their trivial, inconsequential conversation, Kanghyeon closed his eyes and replayed the memories of touching Hyeji. As her languid, calm voice layered over the memories of her body heat, texture, and breathing, it felt vividly like she was in his arms.
Hyeji-ya.
His throat tightened. Words he wanted to say but shouldn’t pooled together and surged up his throat. As words different from the reason he’d contacted her kept trying to spill out, Kanghyeon had no choice but to end the conversation.
‘I contacted you because I had something to say.’
‘…What is it?’
‘That’s something I should tell my father, not you, Hyeji-ssi.’
‘Ah.’
‘What time is it there?’
‘Two in the morning.’
‘Ah, sorry.’
‘It’s okay.’
Hyeji didn’t say anything more. Kanghyeon swallowed his words, then finally said his goodbye.
‘Sleep well.’
‘You too, Director.’
After closing the channel, he stared blankly at the ceiling. He felt strange. It was as if hot flames and waves were alternately surging up and receding inside his chest.
