Chapter 28

A sudden downpour began. Da Hee huddled, listening to the heavy raindrops drumming against the world. Normally, she'd savor the sound of the rain and the leaves swaying with the raindrops, but now she had no energy for it. The flu-like symptoms that started yesterday morning had worsened considerably within a day. And just now, the neighborhood ladies had rushed in, placing large orders all at once, so she hadn't been able to rest properly since opening. She thought about washing the pile of dishes in the sink but then sank back down. Overwhelmed by exhaustion, Da Hee slumped onto the counter and lay down.

"Let's just rest a little."

Da Hee thought that and closed her eyes tightly. She could hear the sounds of the stormy wind and rain. Da Hee listened to the sound and regulated her breathing. Lying prone made it difficult to breathe, but she didn't have the energy to get up. As she forced herself to breathe, she suddenly remembered that Woo Hyun hadn't stopped by the café yesterday. It was the first time since he'd left for a two-night, three-day trip to the U.S. or made business trips to other regions. He would even text or call occasionally when he went to the U.S. or other parts of the country.

"Our last meeting was the day before yesterday, in front of my house."

Woo Hyun was a quick-witted and intelligent man, so he must have understood what she was trying to say. And he would have judged accurately that continuing their relationship would only hurt them both.

He must also know well that saying 'let's go back to how things were' now would be useless. While they could have continued their relationship by pretending not to know, a relationship that's already been overturned cannot return to its original state. Woo Hyun confessed, and Da Hee refused. Therefore, they couldn't continue a loveless relationship as before.

Da Hee, lying prone, smiled faintly. Come to think of it, they really had shared so much. They'd gone to restaurants she couldn't go to alone, driven around together, and very occasionally shared beer by the night sea, sometimes even sharing a kiss. Woo Hyun would come to her place, and they'd be intimate, and sometimes she'd go to his place, stay the night, and head to the café the next day. Except for love, their actions were no different from those of a couple.

'Would I be able to find someone like that again?'

Probably not. Woo Hyun was undoubtedly the best man Da Hee had ever met.

As that thought came to her, a sudden chill swept over her. It was a cold unsuited for midsummer. Following it came pain. It hurt so much that she felt like crying.

Ding-dong!

The bell above the door chimed as it opened. Da Hee straightened her back and picked up her mask.

"Welco..."

Da Hee stopped speaking mid-greeting.

"Why did you stop talking?"

Woo Hyun, with his hands in his pants pockets, walked across the café and asked. He looked around the empty shop, then very naturally pulled up a chair and sat opposite Da Hee. Da Hee looked at Woo Hyun with a blank face. She wondered if it was a dream. He had entered and spoken to her so casually.

"Mask? Why? Are you sick?"

Woo Hyun stretched out his long arm and placed his hand on Da Hee's forehead. Woo Hyun's palm was cool. Only then did Da Hee realize this situation wasn't a dream. Woo Hyun narrowed his brows and asked.

"You have a fever. Is it a cold?"

"No. It's the flu."

Da Hee, having come to her senses, answered calmly.

"Medicine?"

"I took it."

"Have you eaten?"

"I'm about to."

The conversation abruptly ended with Da Hee's answer. Woo Hyun rested his chin on his hand and stared at Da Hee.

"What would you like to drink?"

Da Hee broke the silence and asked.

"I don't need anything. Just keep sitting there."

The conversation ceased again with Woo Hyun's reply. Da Hee picked up a mask, worried that Woo Byun might catch her cold. Just as she was about to put it on, Woo Hyun's finger pulled the mask away.

"I came to see your face. Take off the mask."

"You'll catch my cold."

"That's my problem to deal with."

"This cold is really bad."

"Anyway, it's not like I'm someone you love, so why does it matter if I catch a cold or not?"

Woo Hyun's words had a sting. Da Hee glared at Woo Hyun, her face contorted. Then she stubbornly put on the mask. She didn't want Woo Hyun to catch her cold. Woo Hyun tried to take the mask off again, but Da Hee leaned back and asked.

"What brings you here?"

"Just like now."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just be like we are now."

Da Hee looked at Woo Hyun with a puzzled expression. He was a smart man. He knew better than anyone how worthless and impossible it was to say, 'Let's go back to how things were.' Yet, he was saying such a thing?

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. This isn't a situation for jokes, is it?"

"..."

Woo Hyun was still resting his chin on his hand, looking at Da Hee skeptically. He had gotten thinner in just one day. It was clear he had been agonizing all day. Da Hee felt sorry for him.

"After you recover from your cold, let's go for a drive."

"..."

"Answer me. I might look fine, but I'm incredibly anxious right now."

"Okay. Let's do that."

Da Hee had told Woo Hyun to come if he intended to return to their previous relationship. She'd said it knowing it would be impossible. But, she never expected Woo Hyun to actually take her up on it. Since she had made the offer, Da Hee accepted.

"And let's walk together at night sometimes too."

Woo Hyun said with an expressionless face.

"Okay."

Da Hee replied, feeling resigned.

"I'll come here every day for coffee."

"Okay."

"Let's kiss too."

"Okay."

"And sex."

"Okay."

"And let's not break up."

"Ok..."

Da Hee, who had been answering reflexively, suddenly stopped.

"I have no intention of breaking up with Lee Da Hee."

"You'll get tired."

"If anyone gets tired, it'll be me."

"I'm sorry, but I don't like things that are intense. Or uncertain."

Intense things eventually cool down. Da Hee answered coldly. Woo Hyun, as if he expected her to react that way, uncrossed his arms from where he'd been propping his chin. Then he sat up straight and looked at Da Hee.

"You don't like intense things because you're afraid they'll become uncertain, right?"

At Woo Hyun's words, which pinpointed the core issue, Da Hee momentarily wore a speechless expression.

"My temperature, without me realizing it, rose beyond what we initially agreed upon. I'm sorry about that. But, what can I do about something that's already intense?"

Woo Hyun paused, holding his breath, then continued.

"Instead, I'll stop here. I'll continue this relationship just this much hotter than you are. This is my decision."

"You mean right now..."

Perhaps due to her cold, her mind wasn't working quickly. Da Hee stopped speaking as if to organize her thoughts, and just as she slowly parted her lips, Woo Hyun spoke a step faster.

"You just like me. Because I'll love you."

"..."

"It was difficult for me to make this decision too. No, at first, I was angry. The first woman I've ever loved said she'd love me lukewarmly. But what can I do? I've come to love the cool-headed Lee Da Hee."

"..."

"And when I thought about it carefully, I can't imagine Lee Da Hee falling deeply in love. Rather than a woman who's consumed by love and rushes in, I prefer Lee Da Hee who only likes me this much. I like that Lee Da Hee is cool. Because she gives me time to slowly become intense. So, what I'm saying is, we actually suit each other quite well."

Because Lee Da Hee was a woman who didn't become overly passionate, he could love her. Lee Da Hee gave him time to slowly become intense, and even when he became intensely passionate to the point of breathlessness, the relationship endured because of Lee Da Hee's coolness.

Woo Hyun leaned his upper body forward. Their faces were about a palm's distance apart. Woo Hyun's index finger lowered Da Hee's mask. Da Hee's cheeks were flushed with fever. Hot breath escaped her lips. Woo Hyun's gaze grew hazy.

"I'm going to kiss you."

Saying that, Woo Hyun's hand wrapped around the back of Da Hee's neck.

Woo Hyun's head tilted. Slowly, as if seeking her consent, his head drew closer. Da Hee, her mind not working quickly due to the fever, fiercely debated with herself.

"Don't think any more."

Woo Hyun's voice was heard softly. He stood right in front of her, looking at Da Hee. His face completely filled her vision.

"You want to hold my hand, don't you?"

"..."

"You want to kiss me, and you want to be with me, don't you?"

"..."

"Just focus on that."

The hand gripping the back of her neck tightened. Woo Hyun's lips touched hers. For a moment, her mind went blank. She might regret it later, perhaps even deeply regret this moment far in the future, but she couldn't think anymore.

Because it was an undeniable fact that she had missed these lips.

Da Hee's eyes slowly closed.

[Main story ends here.

One epilogue left.]

~~~~~

Miel's Translations