episode_0069

From an objective standpoint, Shihyuk understood to some extent that my appearance was not very good.

Lack of care, thick hair that covers the lower part of the neck,

A beanie hat pulled down low enough to shade the eyes.

The clothes he wore, which suited his taste, which overwhelmingly placed importance on practicality, were mostly made of stiff, dark materials that would not be noticeable even if they got dirty, like work clothes.

There was absolutely no style, no flashiness.

Even on the exposed neck, chin, and around the mouth, there were still faint traces of scabs.

It was simply because the wounds had not fully healed, but this was enough to make Shihyuk look precarious.

The decisive factor, of course, will be the weed killer you have on hand.

Domestic herbicides are usually labeled with the word “pesticide” in large letters to make them easy to distinguish. If you openly carry it with your bare hands and climb a mountain to save on the cost of the bag, who wouldn’t be suspicious?

This will be even more true if you leave the trail and go down a deserted side road.

Regardless of the party’s grievance, the woman’s suspicions were reasonable.

Shihyuk suppressed his inner agitation and chose his words calmly.

If we talk, if we talk, we can correct this misunderstanding.

“… I think you’re mistaken. It’s not what you think.”

“… … .”

No, it failed. The explanation was too insufficient.

The woman remained silent and did not respond to Shihyuk’s poor explanation.

Although the woman’s pupils were not visible due to her thick hair, her gesture as she took out her cell phone showed that her suspicions were not dispelled but rather increased.

“Please wait a moment.”

Did the earnestness in that request reach you?

The woman, who seemed ready to start tapping the number pad at any moment, paused for a moment and looked at Shihyuk.

“This is a situation that could easily be misunderstood, but I am not a suspicious person.”

“… But your behavior is suspicious… .”

“… … .”

Well, that’s true, though.

In a cowardly and factual manner, Shihyuk opened and closed his mouth like a carp, but eventually he shut it tightly.

It wasn’t wrong, but I wanted to counter something.

Of course, if you only consider the gloomy appearance, aren’t women also quite the bad guys?

The gray tracksuit, loose and loose, had a stained collar and sleeves, and the three-stripe slippers, one of which had come off after being pushed by him, were so worn that the white part was peeling off.

What about her appearance? Her thick, tangled hair hung like wet seaweed, covering the bridge of her nose.

With her snow-white skin, slender jawline, pink lips, and sharp nose peeking through her hair, she was somewhat reminiscent of a beautiful woman… but she was too pale.

It was somewhat gloomy, and the hunched shoulders and weak voice that made even the listener feel drained added to the gloominess.

If you had to run into one of the two, Shi-hyuk and a woman, in a deserted alley around midnight, wouldn’t everyone turn pale and shake their heads?

Sihyuk shook his head.

It was painful, but the priority now was not to refute, but to clear up this woman’s misunderstanding.

He regained his composure and began to explain the situation in a calm voice.

“I was on my way home. I live halfway up this mountain, and the medicine was purchased to maintain the yard.”

“You live in the mountains like this…?”

“If you follow this road, you will find the house that my old teacher… and father left to me.”

A moment of wistfulness permeated Sihyuk’s voice as he continued to speak.

“It’s hard to explain in detail, but I also have a proper license.”

The woman pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side, seeming to be dubious as she listened to the explanation.

Perhaps it would be better to show it directly. Shihyuk held out his hand to the woman.

“If you find that hard to believe, follow me for a moment. I’ll show you where I live.”

The woman’s shoulders stiffened at the suggestion.

I hesitated for a moment, then carefully grabbed the hand he extended and stood up unsteadily.

“laugh… .”

A short groan.

Shihyuk clicked his tongue. Her right ankle was noticeably swollen.

When he was startled and pushed her, she fell and sprained her ankle while wearing her slippers.

“Can you walk?”

“It’s a little uncomfortable, but… .”

“There should be some ice at home. Let’s go and get some cold compresses. Can I help you?”

“Please… .”

Si-hyuk found a pair of slippers that had fallen off and put them on for her, supporting her shoulders.

I hadn’t seen her properly before, but the woman who stood up was surprisingly quite tall.

175cm. No, more than that? His lower jaw was well over 190cm, and his crown of the head touched it.

Was it hidden by the baggy training suit? Compared to her slender and delicate arms and legs, her body was also quite voluminous.

Compared to some girl with short green hair, there’s about the difference between a cherry and a melon.

Even though we were just shoulder to shoulder, my chest touched Shihyuk’s arm.

Unlike him, who hesitated out of embarrassment, the woman didn’t seem to mind at all.

I didn’t realize that all my attention was focused on the pain in my ankle. I didn’t mean to.

The sweet scent I felt earlier was not an illusion.

Unlike her slightly messy appearance, her overlapping bodies gave off an indescribably good smell as the mountain breeze blew across his shoulders and tickled his cheeks, her hair.

It was a completely different feeling from the refreshing minty scent I felt from Eunha, as if all the negativity was being washed away.

Along with that scent, there was a strange sexual aura emanating from the woman who appeared gloomy and dark on the outside.

Shihyuk turned his eyes away from the woman. Even he, who was half free from desire and agony-

Something felt like I was being possessed.

“Why are you like that…?”

“Nothing.”

It was hard to explain. It was a bit unpleasant and somewhat nostalgic.

Sihyuk shook off the mysterious feeling with a long sigh and grabbed the woman’s hand.

“I will take your time.”

“Yes… .”

Her pale fingers entwined with Shihyuk’s.

And I held on tight, giving it strength.

-.-.-

“It’s true that you live here… .”

The woman sitting on the sofa looked around the house and let out a vague sigh.

The yard was still a bit messy and untidy, but there were clear signs of human hands, evidence that it was being maintained.

The inside of the house was as lacking in humanity as the outside.

However, that does not mean that there was no human smell at all. It was faithfully fulfilling its role as a residential space.

Sihyuk asked while taking out ice from the refrigerator.

“You didn’t believe me?”

The woman answered the question earnestly, although her expression was slightly stung.

“Honestly, a little bit. I’m sorry to say this, but I really thought you were lying… .”

“… … .”

Shihyuk smiled bitterly at her bold and direct words, which were different from her vague impression.

The woman, who realized that she had been rude after speaking, bowed slowly.

“I’m sorry. I spoke too harshly… .”

“No.”

“Still, it’s a nice house… .”

“Thank you.”

That made me a little happy. I was proud that the gift my teacher had given me was being praised.

After wrapping a fistful of ice cubes in cheesecloth and tying them up, Shihyuk sat down at her feet.

“Please lift your feet a little.”

“I can do it… .”

“I’m the one who hurt you, so I can’t cause you any inconvenience. I have to do it.”

A white ankle was caught in his hand.

The ankles were thin and slender enough to be held in one hand, and their elegant curves reminded me of a swan’s neck. The peach bones that jutted out cutely were adorable.

Was the ice pack on top too cold? She muttered softly and curled her toes.

“Please bear with me for a little while as the swelling needs to go down.”

“No, I was just a little surprised… .”

Is the cold only temporary and does it cool down immediately?

The woman, whose tension had melted away with the ice pack, relaxed her stiff back and only then completely laid down on the sofa.

“Are there any other inconveniences?”

She rolled around so much that she couldn’t be sure that she only sprained her ankle. Shihyuk looked her over.

It was difficult to find any other problems as they were hidden by the baggy training suit.

“Yes, not really… .”

The voice that came out from deep in the soft sofa sounded even more languid. Suddenly, a woman’s palm, gently waving, caught his eye.

Only my palms are red, as if I had poured peach juice on them.

No, it wasn’t dyed, it was crushed.

It’s so good that I wonder if that’s what would happen if I touched a deer horn mushroom.

“… That hand?”

“Ah, this is something I got hurt before… . It’s okay. Don’t worry, it’ll get better soon… .”

It was a bit harsh for something that was said casually. Sihyuk got up from his seat, went straight into the room, and took out a first aid kit.

I never thought I would end up writing like this, even though I had achieved enlightenment and had no use for it. The world is full of unpredictable things.

“Would you like to give me your hand? If you leave it like that, it will get ugly.”

“… You are so kind… .”

Despite the spiral, there wasn’t much he could do. All he could do was apply a gauze soaked in disinfectant and wrap a bandage around it.

But rather, I like that.

A woman who opened and closed her bandaged hand a few times smiled for once.

Her smile, seen for the first time, was so charming that it set many men’s hearts on fire, even though half of her face was hidden.

“Come to think of it… . We didn’t even exchange names… .”

If you think about it, it’s true. Since he was so busy explaining the situation, he didn’t even know her name.

Shihyuk answered nonchalantly.

“I see. My name is Lee Si-hyuk.”

The woman’s smile grew deeper.

“My name is Yoo Hee-ah.”

… Was that meeting a coincidence?

No, maybe it was inevitable.