This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 465

I guess today’s the last day I can lounge around like this.

Since morning, I’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts.

It’s like I’ve been forced onto a seesaw or something.

My feelings keep sinking suddenly, then bouncing back, repeating over and over.

So, I didn’t feel like doing anything, but… I finally got up from my seat early.

They said the personnel shift would happen weekly, so if I don’t see Dogun today, it’ll be a whole week before I see his face again.

… It could even be longer than that.

So, I better take the chance to see him while I can.

That way, when I think of Dogun later, I can remember his face more vividly.

I sat in front of my vanity from early morning, starting to beautify myself.

‘With all this fuss…’

I felt just like I was back on that day when I had my first proper date with Dogun.

Back then, my heart raced so much that I worried I might suddenly faint from happiness.

If I said I wanted to feel that emotion again, would that be too greedy?

Honestly… I’m not sure.

So, I decided to check for myself.

After quickly but carefully finishing my makeup, I headed down the stairs to leave the house.

“Are you going to see Dogun?”

“Yep.”

“At this early hour?”

“I need to see him early so I can spend more time together.”

“But you should at least have breakfast before you go… Dad was preparing something special because our daughter has a business trip for a week starting tomorrow…”

“Then please make it for tomorrow morning instead.”

“Really? Alright then!”

That’s how it was.

I had told both Mom and Dad to keep it a secret, pretending I wouldn’t be home for a while because of the business trip.

Fortunately, they didn’t seem to suspect anything at all.

“Well then, have fun. Say hi to Dogun for me.”

“Sure.”

It seemed they hadn’t come out to talk about anything specific; they just reacted to the sound of my footsteps coming down the stairs.

With Dad seeing me off at the front door, I hopped into the car parked in the alley in front of the house.

Usually, I would take a taxi after getting to the main road, but today it felt better to have a car, so I rented one on my way home yesterday.

Thanks to that, it was a bit larger than the car I had practiced with after getting my license.

‘… It should be fine, right?’

I was slightly worried, but… it would probably be okay.

Though it had been six months since I last drove, the memories of Dogun teaching me to drive until I cried were still vivid in my mind.

‘Looking back, I was really assertive back then…’

It would be nice if I could show that side of myself more often, though.

As I pouted my lips for no reason for a moment, I glanced at my reflection in the heavily tinted window before opening the driver’s side door and getting in.

Then, I took a moment to breathe before starting the engine and setting off towards the hospital where Dogun was.

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Going out from the hospital like this…

I can’t remember the last time it’s been.

I think winter is honestly the best time to hibernate inside a cozy, warm house rather than going out, but even someone like me couldn’t help but feel a bit giddy at the thought of finally stepping outside after about two months.

‘Hmm…’

What should I wear?

Maybe it was because I barely went outside except for the times it got unbearable in this VIP ward’s little garden, but I had lost track of the weather out there.

I mean… I know it’s colder now than when I first got admitted, but I can’t exactly tell how cold it is.

The garden that was supposed to be available is basically an indoor garden surrounded by glass walls, so it only added to the confusion.

Just to check, I tentatively opened the window and slipped my hand outside.

‘Definitely… it’s been getting colder.’

Maybe it’s winter.

The air tingled and felt cold and dry against the tips of my fingers.

I guess I should dress warmly…

But the weather forecast says mornings are like this but then the afternoons can get pretty warm…

While I was going through the clothes I thought would be stuck in the closet for a while, I heard a knock on the door and thought it would be a nurse visiting.

“Yes, come in.”

Just after I said that, the door swung open and it wasn’t a nurse but Yoonseo.

“…? What’s up?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t we agree to meet at ten?”

If I were to mention the current time, the hands of the clock were just past nine, moving towards ten.

In other words, it meant there was nearly an hour left before our scheduled meeting.

But she showed up early.

“… Early is good, right? So what? Do you have a complaint?”

“No, it’s just… I feel bad for making you wait.”

“Why feel bad about that?”

Did she really want to say sorry for everything?

Yoonseo replied with a nonchalant expression and then strode over to the sofa, plopping herself down.

Then she stretched out on the sofa like…

“Did you stay up all night or something?”

Seriously, she looked tired like she had just come back from a long trip.

So that’s why I asked, but thankfully that wasn’t the case.

“What are you suddenly talking about…”

“No, it’s just… you look tired.”

“It’s because I drove for the first time in a while.”

“What? Did you buy a car?”

“No, it’s a rental.”

“Ah…”

Well, after some time away from driving, it does make you tired.

Especially in a crowded place like Seoul, where there are cars everywhere.

After nodding as if to agree, she turned back to the closet and started picking out clothes again.

I don’t know how much time passed, but when I sensed her gaze on my back and turned to look, it seemed Yoonseo was staring at me.

“What’s up?”

“… Have you been working out or something?”

“Uh…?”

“No, I just feel like your body has gotten a bit toned lately.”

“What? That’s not true. I’ve always been toned!”

Honestly, with the way things have been going, I wouldn’t survive unless I put in the effort over the past two weeks.

Is it really that noticeable already…?

She has a knack for noticing the strangest things.

Anyway, since I figured it wouldn’t be good to have my intentions for becoming a strong man exposed already, I thickened my voice in annoyance.

“Stop staring. It’s uncomfortable.”

“Geez… I can’t help it. It’s not like it’s going to wear out or anything…”

“Unfortunately, my feelings wear out.”

As I shot back with a snappy answer, I returned my focus to picking out clothes. Yoonseo, seated on the sofa, didn’t seem to mind just sitting around.

“Not that, how about this one?”

How did she even get up from the sofa to come right behind me?

But a familiar voice accompanied by a hand draped in a beige sweater slid between my arms.

She pulled out a khaki-colored coat from the many clothes hanging in the closet.

Coincidentally, it was a coat of a similar shade to the one Yoonseo had draped over her shoulder.

“What? We’re not doing a couple look or anything…”

“So…? You don’t like it?”

“Not at all.”

I couldn’t care less about wearing matching outfits, but if I could lift Yoonseo’s spirits with just one piece of clothing, that’d be a win-win.

Anyway, I couldn’t just leave while only wearing the coat, so I was in the middle of picking out something to wear underneath.

At this point, I could have gone back to the seat I was sitting in, but for some reason, Yoonseo wouldn’t budge from in front of me.

So even though I wanted to change my clothes, the only thing I could do was stand there because she was acting like a stone statue and wouldn’t move.

“… Why?”

So I accidentally asked her, and suddenly her face turned an even deeper shade of red.

And for a moment, her fingers flitted nervously before she squeezed out her voice amid her embarrassment.

“C-Can I help you put it on?”

“… Huh?”

What?