My Bloody Valentine - 105

Chapter 106

Han opened the door to Taeshin’s room with the access card he received from Myungseop.

He had boldly asked Myungseop for the card, promising that he would take full responsibility if any consequences followed. Though he expected a refusal, Myungseop surprisingly took it seriously and handed him the card without hesitation.

Now, Han was back in the suite where Taeshin stayed. This place, which once felt like a prison to him, he had returned to on his own.

It had been nearly a month since he had last visited, and he surveyed the room with a nostalgic gaze, as though returning to a home he hadn’t seen in years.

Every space carries traces of those who have stayed there. As he entered the room, the familiar scent of woodsy cologne mixed with the musty smell of cigarettes greeted him. It was the same scent that had once stopped him at the airport.

For some reason, Taeshin’s scent, which had become so familiar, now brought him a strange sense of comfort.

But Han could never have known that the cologne Taeshin had started using frequently after meeting him was actually meant to mask the smell of bl00d—a detail that was kept hidden. The things Taeshin casually did were of a nature most people could never even imagine. He didn’t want to remind Han of those truths, especially considering how scared Han was, preferring to keep the distance between them intact.

“Hah…” Han let out a long sigh, feeling as if he had just returned from a long journey.

According to Myungseop, Taeshin had gone to the quarterly shareholder meeting and was expected to return after the dinner with the executives.

Sitting on the sofa, Han, who used to spend his time blankly watching TV when trapped here, became lost in thought.

Suddenly, memories of the time since he first came to Tasenda rushed through his mind.

His life had always been like a watercolor painting, faded and diluted. But the parts painted here were bold and vivid, leaving a lasting impression.

He recalled the day he had been kidnapped on his way home from the convenience store, his first arrival at this place, and how he had accidentally hidden in a room where Taeshin was. He remembered meeting Jaegu and Jeong, discovering the scar on Taeshin’s knee and hating him for it, and later meeting Oh Seongjin, the man who had kidnapped him and nearly killed him.

“Uh…?”

As Han reflected on these memories, he stopped midway as something felt off. He remembered when Oh Seongjin first visited Tasenda, with Jeong sitting next to him. Han had been working as a waiter, filling the wet wipes and ashtray. Then, Taeshin had barged in, and Oh Seongjin, glancing at Han suspiciously, had offered him a drink and a piece of fruit on a fork.

“You’re drinking well. Here, have some snacks.”

When Han took it, not knowing what it was, Taeshin immediately slapped his hand away. It was only after the fruit piece rolled on the floor that Han realized it was a peach.

At the time, Han had thought it was just a coincidence, but now it seemed to gnaw at him. Was it really just a coincidence? Could he have left even the tiniest trace in Taeshin’s mind?

Thinking about it, there were many things that reminded him of Taeshin’s childhood, besides the scar on his knee. He would often do things without thinking that reminded Han of his younger days, like asking who had made him cry or offering his hand when Han was struggling with hot food.

And then there was the moment when Taeshin had knocked the peach away. Could it have been an unconscious effort to protect Han, who had a severe allergy? If those memories still existed within Taeshin, if they were hidden deep within his unconscious mind… how could Han confirm that? How could he bring those memories to light?

Suddenly, an idea flickered in Han’s mind.

He had never realized how daring he could be. Since meeting Taeshin again, Han had witnessed sides of himself that felt foreign.

Approaching a console table in the living room, Han flipped through a brochure with the room service menu before picking up the phone. He dialed the concierge number. A soft voice answered.

“Hello, I’d like to order the fruit platter.”

“Yes, sir. Would you like a fruit platter prepared for you?”

“The menu just says a variety of fruits… Does it include peaches?”

“Since they’re in season, it should. Would you like me to check with the kitchen and let you know?”

“Oh, no, that’s fine. You don’t need to go that far…”

“Alright. We’ll send it up as soon as it’s ready. Is there anything else you need?”

“No, thank you.”

Less than 30 minutes later, a hotel staff member rang the bell, set the items on the table, and left. The fruit, arranged on a shining silver plate, looked fresh and delicious, with grapes, kiwi, watermelon, and more.

Han’s gaze focused on the peach, which was neatly placed on one corner of the tray. The sight of it made his mouth go dry. He knew what would happen if he ate it, and his back stiffened in instinctive anxiety.

It was when he was about seven that he unknowingly ate canned peaches despite his allergy and had to be rushed to the ER. Taeshin had clung to his side and cried, begging him not to die.

Now, looking at the peach, Han remembered vividly how Taeshin had climbed a tree to pick a persimmon for him, instead of a peach, to protect him from his allergy.

As he pondered these memories, the door to the room suddenly clicked open. Taeshin entered, loosening his tie, and froze when he saw Han sitting on the sofa.

Their eyes met, and there was a brief silence.

Han noticed that Taeshin looked a bit thinner. His tired eyes were shadowed, and his already cold expression seemed even sharper.

The silence was broken by Taeshin.

“Who opened the door? Was it Nam Junho or Myungseop?”

“…….”

“It must be Kim Myungseop. That useless guy.”

Taeshin took off his jacket and hung it on the sofa. Without acknowledging Han’s presence, he tried to head straight for the bathroom. Han, facing Taeshin’s back, called out to him.

“Let’s have a drink, together.”

“What?”

As if he hadn’t heard right, Taeshin turned around. His face showed a mix of disbelief and confusion, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“I’m saying let’s have a drink, one last time. We’ve never had a drink together before.”

“…….”

Han had received a report confirming that Taeshin had gone through the immigration process safely. There was no room to wonder why Han was still here when he should be on a plane, in the sky above the clouds.

To suddenly show up and suggest having a drink was clearly not something Taeshin had expected.

But then again, it was always like this. Han had never once reacted the way Taeshin had anticipated. When he thought he had him caught, Han had run away, and when he pushed Han to run, he had stayed by his side.

Taeshin, with an unwilling look on his face, brought over whiskey and glasses from the minibar, then sat across from Han.

He quickly filled two glasses, handed one to Han, and said in a lazy voice:

“Drink it quickly and leave.”

“…….”

Han carefully took the glass Taeshin handed him. The task he was about to undertake required a lot of courage, so the help of alcohol seemed like a good idea.

Han gulped the whiskey down, as if swallowing bitter medicine, and immediately gasped for breath.

“Hah… Hah…”

Taeshin, watching Han, quickly emptied his own glass.

“If you’ve got something to say, say it quickly and go.”

Han stared at the fruit plate in front of him, as if he were glaring at a pile of fruit, and asked:

“Do you really want me to disappear?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you serious?”

“Hah… Are you seriously asking me that again? It’s so tiresome.”

Han thought he might now understand why Haejun liked to gamble so much.

It was a game with uncertain results and high risks, but it also promised a clear and definite end.

The large slice of peach in front of him made him think that if he ate it, he could die instantly. Of course, that was just a false hope. Slowly, his throat would swell with pain, and he would die choking.

In fact, no matter what conclusion came, seeing Taeshin’s face one last time before dying might not be so bad. His life had been filled with Taeshin from childhood until now.

He was scared, but he didn’t want to run anymore.

“Ah, this alcohol is so bitter.”

Han spoke with an awkward laugh, his voice trembling.

Han picked up the peach with a golden fork with a black handle. The fruit was so ripe that it seemed to burst with sweetness. The juice leaked from the pierced spot, and a sweet fragrance rose to his nose.

Han lifted the fork, as if it were a gun barrel pointed at his temple, and was about to bring it to his lips when—

Tap.

He turned his head towards the sound and looked down. The fork he had been holding was now on the carpet, rolling away.

His palm was stinging. Taeshin had slapped his hand away again.

Han slowly shifted his gaze to Taeshin.

Taeshin was staring at Han’s hand in disbelief, as if he couldn’t understand why Han had done that. His face was a mix of confusion and surprise.

Han, feeling a surge of emotions, picked up another fork and picked up a piece of peach.

Half convinced, he brought it to his mouth, but sure enough, Taeshin stood up and snatched the fork from his hand. Taeshin looked at him with an even more confused expression.

“Why?”

Han, staring at the bewildered Taeshin, asked.

Taeshin, perhaps feeling a headache, rubbed his temples with his fingertips. Han, watching his internal turmoil, held back tears and asked again.

“Why won’t you let me eat it…? Why?”

The tears he had tried to suppress welled up, and his voice trembled at the end.

Deep furrows appeared on Taeshin’s brow. It was clear that he was in pain. Pushing someone in distress, especially Han, was never going to end well.

However, Han still hoped, even if it was through some dramatic push, that Taeshin might break through the barrier and remember even the smallest thing about her.

“Do you know? You did the same thing last time.”

“…….”

“Last time, you also wouldn’t let me eat a peach. Why do you keep doing this?”

Taeshin’s eyes were beginning to show the bloodshot signs of anger. It felt like something sharp was piercing through his body from head to toe.

For the first time, he experienced the searing pain of being torn apart by something like a wild animal’s claws. Taeshin raised both hands and pressed them hard to his temples.

His voice, crushed as if scraping his throat, came out, barely audible.

“…Leave.”

In a moment of panic, Han forgot the words he had planned to say. She cautiously reached out to him.

“Ta-Taeshin…”

“Leave, right now!”

Taeshin hunched over and buried his face in his hands, screaming. Han stood there, trembling and on the verge of tears, then quietly turned and walked away.

A soft click echoed as the door closed, and in the luxurious room, only the man, struggling with something he couldn’t even understand, remained alone in his agony.