MUL - Chapter 50

After standing behind me for a moment, Nam Kangwoo slowly walked over and naturally sat down in the seat next to me.

The people who had frozen at Nam Kangwoo’s appearance began to come to their senses one by one, stammering, “Hello,” as they greeted him. As if this were a familiar occurrence, Nam Kangwoo met each of their eyes and nodded.

“The coffee’s gone cold.”

“……Ah.”

“Should I go buy you a new hot one?”

Nam Kangwoo first checked the temperature of the cup in front of me. With a face that showed he was bothered by the cold coffee, he gently wiped the cup and then studied my face. “Does it hurt?” His voice was quiet, but it was delivered perfectly to the surroundings, which had fallen silent in an instant.

“……No.”

It doesn't hurt. That was the truth. The cough had left only a faint pain in my chest, and I was tired, not sick.

Nam Kangwoo habitually reached out his hand to touch my forehead and then nodded. Thankfully, it seemed I didn't have a fever.

Park Chanmin, who had been staring at the two of us, looked around at the other three and asked, “Right?”

“See? He takes such good care of him.”

It seemed Park Chanmin wanted confirmation that he was right. But why…

“Why.”

At Park Chanmin’s words, Nam Kangwoo’s question was directed at poor me. I was already running out of energy to even speak… and trying to explain felt exhausting.

“…They say you’re affectionate.”

I condensed a rather long sentence. Actually, that seemed to be a sufficient explanation. He could be terrifyingly affectionate at times.

“Ah.”

As if he understood as well, Nam Kangwoo gave a small nod and began to gather my belongings. What’s this? My gaze, which had been following Nam Kangwoo’s long, fine hands, gradually moved upwards. In response to my curious look, Nam Kangwoo gave a faint smile.

“The coffee’s cold, too.”

Nam Kangwoo stared at me intently before once again packing my things. His eyes, as they looked at me, were filled to the brim with heat.

With his neat hands, Nam Kangwoo tidily put away even my laptop and stood up. My body, pulled up along with him, staggered from the momentum, and Nam Kangwoo’s hand naturally wrapped around my waist.

“I’ll be taking Ha Yeoul.”

“Huh? Ah… yes, yes!”

The gazes directed at Nam Kangwoo, who hadn't even stayed for five minutes, were full of disappointment. Especially Park Chanmin’s.

This guy had a particular fondness for Nam Kangwoo, and I couldn't quite tell if it was adoration, respect, or both. But perhaps… seeing his eyes sparkle as they followed Nam Kangwoo’s movements, it seemed to be both.

Nam Kangwoo left the table first, and I followed right behind, but Jin Nari, who had shot up from her seat in an instant, held her phone out in front of me.

“Oppa!”

“Uh, huh?”

Startled by the sudden call, my body flinched. Jin Nari’s clear, sharp voice even caught Nam Kangwoo’s attention.

“Please give me your number.”

At Jin Nari’s bold request, I reflexively checked Nam Kangwoo’s expression first. As expected, he looked displeased with the idea of exchanging numbers, his face hardening.

Not knowing what to do, I paused awkwardly before moving my hand to take the phone. As my fingers hovered over the keypad, Nam Kangwoo scoffed.

Right. I don’t know my own phone number. It seemed Nam Kangwoo was aware of that fact.

I embarrassedly lowered the fingers that had been hovering over the keypad and held out my own phone instead.

“You put it in.”

Despite my awkward voice, Jin Nari’s face brightened as she carefully pressed each digit, one by one. Then she immediately pressed the call button. 

After confirming that my number appeared on the phone held in her small hand, she returned my phone to me. Nam Kangwoo still, still wore a scowl, as if he disliked the situation.

“Let’s, let’s see each other again sometime. Sorry for leaving first. You guys have fun—”

Before the end of my farewell, I was being led down the stairs by Nam Kangwoo’s hand. This guy seemed to be acting deliberately, knowing full well that I would stumble.

As I moved my legs hastily to keep up with his fast pace, I, just as I’d expected, staggered and clung to Nam Kangwoo, who caught me.

A firm arm wrapped around my waist. I was incredibly embarrassed, but Nam Kangwoo, as if he couldn't care less, walked out of the cafe with an indifferent face. His arm around my waist showed no sign of letting go, even as we headed to the parking lot.

Heat rushed to my face. I squirmed a bit out of embarrassment, but this guy pretended not to notice and walked all the way to the car, still holding me.

Only after we stopped in front of the passenger seat was his arm released. A fine hand reached out, opened the door, and pushed me inside.

I sat down with a dazed “Uh, uh..” and followed Nam Kangwoo’s movements with a blank face. He should at least tell me where we’re going…

Rounding the hood, Nam Kangwoo got into the driver’s seat, pressed the start button with familiarity, and turned the dial gear from park.

“Wh-where… where..”

“Where.”

“Huh?”

Instead of telling me where we were going, Nam Kangwoo mimicked my words. A needless anxiety washed over me, and my heart began to pound.

I was only half-conscious when Nam Kangwoo suddenly turned his body and leaned towards me. I reflexively squeezed my eyes shut.

But instead of what I expected, a light laugh spread over my face. Damn my life… A wave of shame washed over me. What on earth was I thinking…? Has my mind been possessed by a dirty devil?

When I cautiously opened my eyes, my vision was filled with Nam Kangwoo’s face. His chilly eyes were curved softly. After rubbing my likely flushed cheeks with that usual gentle touch, the action I had anticipated followed, a beat later. A light kiss landed on my parted lips.

As if satisfied with the light press of our lips instead of a deepening one, Nam Kangwoo pulled away. Then, he did what he originally intended to do. He pulled my seatbelt and fastened it into the clip. A clicking sound echoed, and the car began to move smoothly.

Classical music, likely suited to his taste, always flowed from Nam Kangwoo’s car. But since it was, damn it all, not my taste at all, I, as usual, began to doze off.

* * *

It seems I had fallen quite deeply asleep. I vaguely woke up because of a gentle hand stroking me.

The hand that gently brushed through my tilted hair was, as always, careful and soft. Gradually shaking off the sleepiness, I slowly lifted my tightly shut eyelids.

“Did you sleep well?”

I was reflected fully within Nam Kangwoo’s eyes as he looked at me. At his softly curved lips, I found myself smiling back without realizing it. 

Nam Kangwoo’s hand, which had been gently stroking my hair, moved down to my cheek and lightly pressed a spot somewhere on it. Seeing as it was a somehow familiar spot…

It must be there. Those dimple enthusiasts.

“Where… is this…”

My voice cracked at the end, clearly revealing that I had just woken up. I cleared my throat with several dry coughs. Nam Kangwoo’s lips, which had been lingering on my cheek, parted and uttered a familiar but completely unexpected word.

"Sea."

“…What?”

At my dumbfounded expression, Nam Kangwoo gave a soft, melting smile. No, shit… if you smile like that…

Whether it was because I had just woken up, or because that always-chilly face had melted so softly, my heart was pounding like crazy.

Instead of answering me, Nam Kangwoo first opened his door and got out. Then, as always, he walked around the hood, opened the passenger door, and took my arm.

“Come on out.”

It was sunset, and the sight of the blue sky turning red was a magnificent spectacle. The glittering surface of the water and the red sky felt beautiful to an almost absurd degree. Before I could even feel the sea breeze as cold, I was completely lost in the scenery before me.

The blowing wind messed up my hair haphazardly. The sea breeze, carrying moisture and salt, blew, shook both me and Nam Kangwoo, and then fled.

As I turned my body from the hair tangling in my face, I met Nam Kangwoo’s gaze. I didn't know how long he had been looking at me. A gentle smile lingered on his handsome face.

When Nam Kangwoo reached his hand towards me, my body naturally took a step closer to him. Opening his coat to embrace me, Nam Kangwoo lowered his head and rested his chin on my shoulder.

“The wind is cold.”

“…….”

His low voice drifted away on the sea breeze. “Yeah,” I answered in a barely audible voice. I pressed my ear to Nam Kangwoo’s chest and listened to the thumping of his heart, blinking slowly. The atmosphere was a little... a little sensual.

“Tonight.”

“…Huh?”

“We’re not going home.”

My heart pounded. I felt like I knew all too well what Nam Kangwoo’s words meant.

My body trembled slightly. It seemed to be partly because the sea breeze was cold, and partly because I was nervous.

Nam Kangwoo pretended not to notice my trembling as he slowly stroked my back.​