Zion's Garden - Chapter 7.1
I lowered my head. Like a cat intoxicated by the warmth of the sun, I couldn’t escape Zion’s gentle touch.
My angel. My demon. My patient. My Zion.
As his hand slid smoothly through my hair, I fell into the sweet illusion that Zion truly had become my friend. If this was a dream, I never wanted to wake up.
“Did you sleep well?”
Zion stroked my head and brushed a light kiss against my ear. I threw off the blanket as if startled and glared at him standing by the bed.
“I told you not to come into my room without permission.”
“Why shouldn’t I come into my own room? Besides, we’re friends, right? Zion and the doctor. Did you forget already?”
I needed to explain, step by step, as he casually grabbed my hand and helped me up.
“Even friends need boundaries and privacy.”
“Ah, privacy. That’s something Zion hasn’t had since I was ten. I guess I forgot it even exists.”
There was no countering Zion when he spoke like that. Lately, I’d noticed just how clever he really was. Since the day we agreed to be friends, he no longer climbed on top of me at night, but he did appear in my room every morning, catching me off guard.
“Let’s go. Hurry.”
“Where are we going?”
I ran a hand through my disheveled hair and quickly pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt to cover my embarrassment. Zion grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room.
“We’re going for a drive. Do you like driving?”
I was too stunned to resist as he led me out. Morning drives? I wasn’t even fully awake yet.
“It’s raining.”
I stopped by the front door, holding back Zion as he tugged at my clothes. Outside, a gentle spring rain was falling. If we stepped out, we’d both be soaked.
“That’s why we’re going. It’s the perfect weather for a drive.”
Without a hint of hesitation, Zion took my hand and started walking into the rain without an umbrella. Dazed, I followed him. Maybe it was the grogginess of the morning, but the feeling of the rain soaking into my skin wasn’t unpleasant.
“You said we’re driving. The garage is the other way.”
“Wait a second. Doctor, are you always this impatient?”
Zion looked at me with a mischievous smile, and I fell silent, letting him lead me. His hand swung mine back and forth, and though sweat slipped from my palm, he didn’t seem to mind. The scent of wet earth mixed with the smell of grass filled the air.
After about ten minutes, Zion led us behind the mansion to the lake.
“We’re here.”
I knew Zion’s property was large, but I hadn’t imagined this. In front of me was an oval-shaped racing track. The idea of how much it must have cost to clear part of a mountain for this was beyond comprehension.
“We’re driving this today.”
Zion opened the garage, and I couldn’t help but gape as he laughed at my expression. Inside were not luxury sports cars but transparent racing go-karts. He tilted his head playfully in front of his high-end toys.
“Aw, are you disappointed, Doctor? These might look simple, but they’re fast. They can go up to 150.”
“I’m not disappointed. I’ve just never driven one.”
“It’s easy. The only tricky part is that there’s no ignition, so you have to push it before you get in.”
Zion shrugged and rolled out one of the karts. I stood there watching, still taken aback, as he beamed at me while pushing the kart.
“What are you waiting for? Pick one and bring it out.”
The sight of him being so enthusiastic made my heart thump embarrassingly. I gestured for him to go ahead.
“You go first. I’ll watch, and if it seems safe, I’ll join.”
“Alright. You’ll love it, trust me. The speed is exhilarating—it feels like you’re flying just above the ground.”
With eyes glistening, Zion pushed the kart and ran into the rain. Even the way he ran was graceful. After about twenty meters, he jumped into the kart and sped around the track.
“Hurry up, Jeong-won!”
He called my name as the wind whipped through his wet hair. On his second lap, he waved at me, urging me to join. Zion was laughing, the sound carried on the breeze.
“Come on! Don’t tell me you’re scared, Doctor? Haha!”
On the third lap, I could see the kart gaining even more speed. His laughter, joyful and free, resonated through the rain. At that moment, Zion looked like a leopard racing across the plains—untamed and alive. He was no longer a superstar or a troubled patient; he was just a person, free and ordinary in the best way.
The rain poured down, drenching us both.
The sky, heavy with storm clouds, burst open as rain pelted down in torrents. When was the last time I’d felt rain on my skin like this? The drops pounded on my head, washing away the fog that had clouded my mind.
I gripped the go-kart’s frame tightly. As I ran down the track, pushing the kart, the idea that I, too, could just be a regular person—neither the son of a prostitute nor a failed doctor—seemed possible.
Breathless, I threw myself into the kart and pushed down on the accelerator.
Vroom—
The force pushed me back as the speed surged. My heart pumped wildly, sending bl00d rushing through my veins. I sped toward Zion, who was already navigating a corner.
“Haa…”
The wind smacked against my face, exhilarating and raw. Zion’s words about the thrill of flying just above the ground were spot-on. The faster I went, the more sweat trickled down my body, mixing with the rapid, panting breaths escaping my mouth.