New Normal - Chapter 59

Chae Juwon showed up with nothing but a single bottle of Tylenol, not even a proper bag of medicine. Was he seriously here just to hand me this? Still… the fact that he came just to check on me in person made me a little thankful.

“I already took some medicine. But… thanks.”

I gave him a tired smile and reached out to take it, but he ignored my hand and slipped the bottle back into his pocket. I stared at him, a little baffled, and he just tilted his head while staring right back at me.

“Shin Jisoo… You don’t look sick. You look… hurt. Here.”

I froze. I’d never cried in front of him, so maybe it wasn’t strange that he could tell right away.
I stayed quiet, just watching him, and then he suddenly pulled me along toward his car. Without explaining, he popped the trunk open.

“…What is this?”

I looked between him and the trunk, stunned. Inside were shopping bags and a huge bouquet of flowers. He picked up the bouquet first and handed it to me—roses in a soft orange and vintage pink, mixed with lisianthus, arranged so beautifully it looked like something out of a magazine.

“When we talked on the phone earlier, your voice was all hoarse… Thought this might cheer you up.”

He gently brushed my hair back as I took the flowers. My mind was still blank, but I buried my nose in them and smiled faintly.

“It’s definitely working.”

At that, the corners of his lips curved up. He handed me a small shopping bag next. I didn’t ask what it was—just gave him a quick glance. He shook it lightly in front of me and then placed it in my hand.

“Something sweet. Helps when you’re physically tired… and also when you’re hurting here.”

I let out a small laugh at the thoughtful explanation—so very Juwon. When I saw the familiar logo on the bag, I couldn’t help smiling.

“Macarons?”

“Mm-hm. You liked them last time.”

“This’ll definitely help too.”

He smiled warmly, and I felt something in my chest loosen. That soft, steady attention of his—it was hard not to let it sink in. Then, instead of handing me anything else, he tilted his chin toward the rest of the bags in the trunk.

“These are all for you too. To make you feel better.”

“I figured.”

I said it with a mock-proud face, and he gave me an exaggerated look in return.

“Was gonna get these when we went to the department store today. But since our plans fell through, I picked them myself. Oh, and—there’s no necklace here. That one, we’re buying together.”

“Okay.”

“We have to. Gives me an excuse to see you again.”

I couldn’t help smiling with my eyes, and he smiled back.

He was the type to give me something every time we met—not always expensive things, though he’d done that too. If I felt uncomfortable about pricey gifts, he’d bring candles, bath salts, books, or cute notebooks instead. Once, he even showed up with a stuffed animal—something you’d expect a college kid to get—and I’d burst out laughing.

However, he approached relationships, I knew he was sincere in showing his feelings. It wasn’t about the price, it was about the thought. Over time, I’d learned to accept it—not because I took it for granted, but because I could genuinely appreciate the care behind it.

Holding the bouquet, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his waist. He didn’t even flinch—just held me back with a satisfied pat. Standing on tiptoe, I kissed the edge of his jaw.

“Why are you so good to me?”

“Because you’re pretty.”

I scoffed. “Most people say ‘because I like you.’”

He paused, then leaned down and kissed me softly.

“I think ‘because you’re pretty’ is more accurate. Pretty is an objective fact. Liking someone is subjective.”

“Would be nice if you just didn’t talk sometimes.”

He was generous with gifts and actions, but when it came to actually saying “I like you” or “I love you,” he was clumsy. I called him out on it, but he just kissed me again, murmuring against my lips—

“You’re too pretty, Shin Jisoo.”

I couldn’t hold back the warmth that bloomed inside me. I gave him a quick series of kisses along his jaw, and his smile stretched wide.

“Careful, Jisoo. You’re making it hard for me.”

“How?”

“I told you—I’m weak-hearted. Keep this up and I’ll just hand over my credit card and car keys.”

I tapped his nose lightly and muttered, “I’m not with you for that. So don’t say it.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

I shot him a look. Once, when I told him I’d like a handwritten letter someday, he’d tried to give me his credit card instead. I had no interest in that—if I wanted money in place of affection, my father was already enough of that. Still, thanks to him showing up, the heaviness in my chest had eased. Even so, his gaze drifted to my swollen eyelids, and he gently brushed them with his thumb.

“What made you cry like that?”

The way he asked—soft, careful—made me want to spill everything right there. But cars kept passing in and out of the lot. Not the place for it. I shook my head.

“I’m okay now.”

“Really?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Have you eaten?”

“I had memorial food.”

“I was gonna get you spicy chicken feet or tteokbokki since you love salty-spicy stuff.”

“I’m full. And you don’t eat late-night food anyway—you always say it’ll make you gain weight.”

“Then… there’s nothing else I can do for you?”

I hesitated, then said, “The sea.”

“The sea?”

“Yeah. I want to see the ocean.”

***

The deep pre-dawn sky was soaked in darkness, the line between sea and sky still blurred. The empty shore felt quiet, almost lonely. The faint moonlight skimmed over the rippling surface like a whisper.

Wrapped in a blanket from Juwon’s car, I stepped barefoot onto the sand. It was cold and damp, the chill seeping between my toes—but instead of uncomfortable, it felt grounding, almost soothing. The autumn waves were calm, rolling in gently before slipping back, leaving seaweed and shells scattered like tiny treasures in the moonlight. The air smelled of salt, mixed with a dry, melancholy scent like fallen leaves.

“I’ve never been here this early,” I murmured. Beside me, Juwon quietly took my hand. His palm was warm, and that alone made the cold, dark dawn feel less lonely.

I leaned into his arm, and he shifted to wrap me closer, staring out at the edge of the sea.

“Don’t you have work in the morning? You’re gonna stay up all night with me like this?”

I looked up at him. In the pale moonlight, his profile was calm, steady. His eyes, fixed on the horizon, held a depth like the sea itself—quiet, but impossible to measure.

“Pulling an all-nighter isn’t new for me. You can take responsibility for it.”

It didn’t match his expression at all, but it was so him that I laughed softly and reached up to touch his face.

“You’re done with the joint investigation. You don’t need to pull all-nighters anymore.”

“Yeah. But I have another business trip coming up.”

He’d just secured the Jeju Hansong Art Museum project, but he was always busy. Which was why the moments he carved out just for me felt so precious.

“Another one to New York?”

“Mm… yeah.”

“You go there a lot.”