Munjeong - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

 

Yeonjun carefully brought the ice pack to Chaeon’s cheek.

 

“Ahh…”

 

Chaeon winced at the stinging and throbbing sensation, her eyes slightly squinting. Seeing her expression, Yeonjun leaned in closer, shortening the distance between them.

 

“Is this what you were hiding from me all this time?”

 

“What?”

 

“I haven’t seen you for days. Not even at the orphanage.”

 

She had indeed been avoiding him, not wanting to run into him often, but now that she realized he had been aware of it all along, she didn’t know how to react. Tilting his head against the backrest, Yeonjun silently studied her.

 

“I’ve been going out often.”

 

“…”

 

“To see you.”

 

Yeonjun’s eyes crinkled softly as he looked at her, causing Chaeon to blink in sudden embarrassment.

 

“I’m joking.”

 

He chuckled, playfully tousling the hair that had fallen over his forehead. His lighter tone put Chaeon a bit more at ease, and she smiled awkwardly. Soon after, Yeonjun wiped the smile from his face and gently cupped the uninjured side of her cheek with one hand. With the other, he carefully touched the swollen cheek, brushing over it delicately as he murmured.

 

“That must’ve hurt.”

 

The genuine sympathy in his furrowed brow made something stir in her chest. How long had it been since someone showed her such sincere concern, since someone truly worried for her?

 

“I’m fine.”

 

The moment she uttered those words, she realized she wasn’t fine at all. Her eyes, burning with pent-up sorrow, quickly grew wet with tears. She had endured and bottled up so much, forcing herself to keep everything inside. Yet, with just a sliver of warmth and attention, it felt as though everything would come crashing down.

 

“Chaeon.”

 

“…”

 

Yeonjun gazed at her tear-filled eyes with a peculiar expression and asked in a low voice.

 

“Who’s been hurting you?”

 

His gentle call of her name, each word of his question, was so soft and tender.

 

But admitting that someone had been mistreating her was far more complicated than simply enduring it. Despite not being at fault, enduring resentment felt akin to broadcasting her flaws—a paradoxical situation that felt unfair.

 

“Are you not ready to talk about it?”

 

His deep voice seemed to seep into her chest. Chaeon bit her lip and shook her head. With a small sigh, Yeonjun brushed away the tears pooling in her eyes with his thumb.

 

“If it’s hard to say, then don’t.”

 

His clear, light brown eyes reflected her like a mirror. Opening a small tube of ointment, Yeonjun squeezed some onto his fingertip before carefully applying it to Chaeon’s cheek.

 

“Tell me if it hurts.”

 

“…”

 

“Okay?”

 

“Yes…”

 

Her voice cracked as she responded, nodding. Except for her mother, Heejung, it was her first time experiencing this warmth and kindness from someone else. It made her throat tighten again. Was this what it meant to yearn for affection? Swallowing the lump of emotion rising in her throat, her small Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

 

Soft strokes. As Yeonjun gently spread the ointment, Chaeon held her breath, her eyes following his light gaze that darted between her and her swollen cheek. His quiet focus was oddly soothing. Occasionally, when his breath grazed the bridge of her nose, it tickled her, and a corner of her heart felt tickled as well.

 

Suddenly, another face overlapped his in her mind—a cold, unfeeling gaze that had once swept over her. The stark contrast hit her. How different they were. While that man’s presence made her feel like a trapped animal, this person made her feel strangely at ease.

 

Yeonjun, engrossed in applying the ointment, finally spoke.

 

“But if it ever gets too much, talk to me. Holding everything in will only make you sick.”

 

His tone was as if he were speaking from experience. Tilting his head slightly, Yeonjun inspected the area where he had applied the ointment and quietly added.

 

“I know because I’ve been there.”

 

“Have you been through something like that?”

 

“…‘Young master.’”

 

The title seemed to amuse him, as he chuckled lightly, covering his mouth. He then glanced at her with narrowed eyes.

 

“Are you saying I don’t look like I’ve had it rough?”

 

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

 

Watching Chaeon’s ears turn pink, Yeonjun smiled faintly and whispered softly.

 

“When I was a kid, I was often sick.”

 

Her eyes widened at the unexpected confession. Seeming slightly hesitant, Yeonjun muttered to himself before continuing.

 

“Even now, I sometimes experience hyperventilation.”

 

“…”

 

“That’s why I don’t go out much. Naturally, I don’t have many people to open up to.”

 

The more he spoke, the more unexpected his words were. Unsure of how to respond, Chaeon merely listened quietly, clutching her skirt tightly. Eventually, she murmured a small apology.

 

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

 

“Why apologize? I brought it up because I wanted to.”

 

Watching her squirm uncomfortably, Yeonjun gazed at her with an inscrutable expression before letting out a faint smile.

 

“If you’re really sorry, how about this?”

 

His voice dipped lower as he looked into her still-moist eyes and softly suggested.

 

“Don’t avoid me anymore.”

 

“…”

 

“If either of us has something weighing us down, let’s talk about it.”

 

“Oh…”

 

“And only with me.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll do the same with you.”

 

That voice was devastatingly low and smooth, as if confessing a most secretive and intimate truth. Chaeon looked at Yeonjun, who seemed as if he was crafted from only the finest and sweetest things, whispering words as sweet as his appearance.

 

It felt a little like a dream, this moment where someone from a realm she’d never imagined crossing paths with was so freely extending a hand to her. For a while, silence filled the space between them.

 

Tick, tick.

 

The sound of the second hand on the clock hanging in Yeonjun’s room was the only thing filling the void during the brief pause.

 

“Would that… be okay?”

 

Chaeon hesitated, her words escaping like a faint breath.

 

She had always avoided things she couldn’t have. She had seen the hollow outcome of coveting something beyond one’s reach through Eui-cheol and remembered vividly how much she had despised him for it. That’s why she had always avoided making any connection with people who seemed to live in a world entirely different from hers.

 

…And yet.

 

“Yeah, it’s okay.”

 

“…”

 

A small desire arose within her. She wanted to enjoy just a little more of Yeonjun’s kindness and attention that he was so generously offering now. After all, nothing in her life ever turned out as she wished anyway. Couldn’t she allow herself, just this once, to be connected to someone like him?

 

“…Okay.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“I’ll tell you everything. I won’t avoid you.”

 

As she spoke those words with such a feeling in her heart, her chest pounded wildly. This moment felt like a small rebellion to her.

 

“Alright.”

 

Yeonjun smiled gently, reaching out to her again just as—

 

Knock, knock.

 

Someone tapped lightly on the door from outside. Yeonjun, his face returning to its usual calm expression, glanced toward the sound.

 

“Excuse me, young master. The lady of the house is looking for you.”

 

“…”

 

For a brief moment, annoyance seemed to flash in Yeonjun’s eyes before he responded in a composed tone.

 

“Let her know I’ll be there shortly.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

The sound of footsteps retreated from beyond the door, and Yeonjun’s gaze slowly returned to Chaeon.

 

“Sorry about that. I had something I needed to do today, but I completely forgot.”

 

“No, it’s alright. And… thank you.”

 

Yeonjun observed Chaeon as she bowed her head politely, then he, too, stood up.

 

“Shall we head out together?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Nodding, Yeonjun took the lead. As Chaeon moved to follow him, she suddenly stopped. Her gaze landed on something on his desk.

 

Though her eyesight wasn’t the best, she was certain of what she saw—among the scattered papers on the desk, a photograph peeked out. It depicted a male student wearing a familiar school uniform…

 

Before she realized it, she had taken a step toward it. Just then, Yeonjun gently called out to her.

 

“Chaeon.”

 

“Oh, yes.”

 

Startled, she turned around to see Yeonjun smiling faintly, holding the door open for her.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

…Was she mistaken?

 

Tilting her head in confusion, Chaeon stepped through the doorway he held open for her. Whatever lingering questions she had quickly dissolved the moment she saw his smiling face.

 

She had never truly let anyone into her heart before, but for some reason, she felt she could trust someone as kind as him.

 

For the first time, she opened her heart to another person.