My Bloody Valentine - 75

Han, who had been playing with the soft ice cream wrapper as if it contained slime, threw it into the trash and went up to his room.

As soon as he opened the door and entered, he could tell Taeshin was inside. The musky scent mixed with woody notes became stronger as he walked down the hallway, which was decorated with landscape oil paintings.

The suite, with its bright morning sunlight, was as luxurious as ever. The large charcoal gray fabric sofa and two single couches were arranged with some distance between them. Beyond that, a desk occupied the entire wall, facing the glass window. This was where Taeshin handled his work.

Taeshin was sitting on a black leather chair, looking at his tablet.

Unlike his usual practice of wearing perfectly fitting suits, he was dressed casually in a knit and slacks. His hair, which was always neatly combed, now fell gently, covering his scars. Only then did Han realize it was the weekend.

Even though Taeshin must have noticed Han’s presence, he did not look up. Instead, he asked as if he already knew.

“There shouldn’t be anyone else around. Why are you going downstairs?”

“Just… feeling a bit suffocated.”

Only then did Taeshin look up and notice Han’s outfit, which consisted of only a sweatshirt. A thin line of worry appeared between his eyebrows.

The only places Han was allowed to go, apart from this hotel building, were Yujeong’s hospital. Taeshin reluctantly let him go, fearing Han might protest with fasting or self-harm if he didn’t. Even when Han went to the hospital, he was always accompanied by two to three people for tight security.

It must be frustrating. Taeshin recalled his casual remark.

“You need to leave some breathing room. Keeping you locked up might make things temporarily easier, but it could end up causing even more problems.”

Taeshin, who had been silently watching Han, slowly stood up. His mere presence exuded a sense of intimidation.

“Put on some clothes.”

At Taeshin’s heavy tone, Han nodded without saying a word. He then moved like a robot following a command, went to the closet, took out a hoodie, and put it on. A faint laugh was heard from behind him.

“Do you know where you’re going and putting on clothes?”

“Huh?”

Han, turning around with a blank expression, shook his head. Seeing this, Taeshin sighed in exasperation.

Taeshin took a shirt-style jacket off the hanger and put it on. He then picked up a black leather duffel bag, packed it with clothes, underwear, and socks, and asked Han.

“Don’t you need to pack anything?”

“Pack… What? Where are we going?”

“You said you were suffocating.”

“… Huh?”

In place of Han, who was standing blankly, Taeshin packed Han’s few belongings into the bag.

Han was then led outside again by Taeshin. Myeongseop, who had been waiting near the elevator, stood silently behind Taeshin without asking anything.

When the elevator, which had stayed on the lobby floor, finally opened, Taeshin reached out his hand to Myeongseop.

“Car keys.”

“… Yes?”

“Don’t follow us today. Wait until I contact you.”

Taking the car keys from a bewildered Myeongseop, Taeshin wrapped his arm around Han’s waist and entered the elevator.

Taeshin drove Han in the passenger seat of his car. The car smoothly slid out of the underground parking lot onto the road.

Taeshin glanced at Han. Han, looking around with curiosity, stared at the central panel with its large display monitor, air conditioning, and audio controls, and the gear lever between the two seats.

“It’s distracting. Why are you like this?”

“Just… it’s my first time.”

“First time driving?”

“No, sitting in the passenger seat.”

“…”

After observing Han quietly, Taeshin turned his attention back to the road and asked while changing lanes.

“Is there anywhere you want to go?”

Han paused to think. What if he suggested going to the orphanage on this road? Maybe showing him familiar places could help him recall something.

But Han soon shook his head.

Forgetting is said to be the greatest gift from the gods to humans. It might be true. Taeshin’s tragic life might have led the gods to grant him the blessing of forgetfulness, so he wouldn’t struggle in painful memories.

It might be better for him to not remember those days. The burdens of a past full of suffering, and even his existence, whether back then or now.

“No… I don’t.”

After a long silence, Han gave a bland answer, causing Taeshin to chuckle as he made a call.

“Yes, it’s me. I’d like to use the villa. Yes.”

Wondering who he was calling, Han kept quiet and focused on the scenery flowing outside the window. The cityscape of Seoul quickly passed by.

After ending the brief conversation, Taeshin’s car exited the congested city and entered the highway.

The sedan’s engine roared as it smoothly crossed the open road. The tranquil interior was filled with the familiar scent of Taeshin.

Sunlight through the window made Taeshin’s hair, eyelashes, and profile glisten in gold. It was the first time Han had seen him driving. Taeshin’s left elbow rested on the window frame as he lightly gripped the steering wheel with his right hand. It was both strange and fascinating.

In his childhood, Taeshin had also learned to ride a bicycle on his own. He had mounted an old, large bicycle donated by someone, wobbled a few times, and quickly learned to ride it properly.

Han had a hard time teaching Han how to ride that bicycle later on. When Han lost his balance and fell sideways, he only scraped his palms, but Taeshin, who tried to block the falling bicycle with his whole body, ended up getting hurt more severely.

Noticing Taeshin’s gaze fixed on him, Han looked up at him.

“What are you staring at?”

“… It’s fascinating.”

“What is?”

“Just… seeing you drive… it makes me think you’re really an adult…”

“… What’s that supposed to mean?”

Taeshin frowned at the strange emotion Han was evoking.

Even if Han spoke informally because he disliked Taeshin and didn’t want to use honorifics, for some reason, Han had been acting oddly like his guardian for a few days. But strangely, it didn’t bother Taeshin, so he left it alone.

Han was constantly attentive to his every move. Taeshin, with all his heightened senses, couldn’t figure out what he was hoping for.

After driving for about two hours away from Seoul, the sea began to come into view outside the car window.

The white foam crashing and the bluish horizon became visible. It was just past noon, and the intense sunlight on the surface made the water droplets look like sparkling jewels.

The sky was already thick with the spring atmosphere, and it didn’t seem cold outside at all.

Han diligently examined the door trim on his side. To maintain a unified interior design, the window control switch was installed in a way that it was hidden and not visible.

Taeshin glanced at the passenger seat and operated a button from the driver’s side to lower the passenger seat window. Han eagerly moved his face toward the window.

The salty sea breeze touched his nose. The salty air touched his cheeks, and the wind tousled his hair, brushing his forehead.

After driving along a road that repeatedly brought the sea closer and then pushed it away, Taeshin’s car entered a two-lane road lined with restaurants.

He drove the car skillfully without using the navigation. As he drove through a narrow road densely lined with pine trees, a low wall decorated with old tiles came into view.

Han still couldn’t tell where they were even after parking the car in the gravel parking lot and getting out.

Following a wall adorned with yellow forsythias and passing through an old-fashioned entrance, hundreds of traditional jars densely occupied a spacious yard. A middle-aged woman in a traditional Korean house from afar approached and greeted Taeshin.

This was Chun-kyungwon, a VIP-only Korean restaurant. It was a place where even making a reservation was difficult, and knowing its name was hard.

The name, “Mirror of Spring,” comes from a line in a poem by a Tang dynasty Chinese poet, symbolizing the beauty of spring.

“Mr. Bae isn’t here today. Should I prepare two servings?”

“Yes.”

Without discussing the menu, they were led to a small annex.

Taeshin, accustomed to it, washed his hands with a wet towel and prepared for the meal, while Han, distracted, looked around frantically.

Soon, the food started to be served.

Most of it consisted of traditional local dishes from the renowned Kangnung Yoo family, known for their good cooking. A variety of clean side dishes made with homemade sauces, stone pot rice cooked with mineral water, and a bubbling tofu seafood stew were served first.

Suddenly taken out of Seoul and arriving here, Han looked at the food placed in front of him with a blank expression, like a scarecrow. His wandering eyes made him look like a doll.

“Eat.”

“Ah, okay… I’ll eat well.”

Confused by the number of side dishes, Han didn’t know what to start with.

Han hastily picked up a spoon and took some tofu from the black stew pot right in front of him. He put it straight into his mouth.

“…!”

Han’s hand, which had been lightly placed on the table, clenched into a fist by itself. His eyes widened in surprise like a rabbit, and soon tears welled up.

Taeshin immediately frowned and held out his palm in front of Han’s face.

“Spit it out.”

Han, unsure of what to do, saw Taeshin’s hand in front of his lips. Taeshin’s palm seemed to overlay with images of his childhood, and Han, who was overwhelmed, unknowingly swallowed the hot tofu.

“Ugh…”

A cup of water was handed to Han, who was holding his throat and closing his eyes in pain.

“Drink, quickly.”

After drinking a whole cup of cold water, the burning sensation finally subsided. Tears streamed down Han’s face, falling onto his hunched-over head.

“Was it that hot?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Han nodded with a stunned expression. Tears fell from his hair, which was bowed low.

Every action of Taeshin reminded him of his past, where he had been warmly cared for. It was profoundly sad to realize that only he, among the two, had those kind memories.