Love is better than pain
7. Then help me now.
The air inside the car was somehow warm.
He didn't go to the hospital, and Siyeon repeatedly insisted he was fine, but Myungho was still worried inside.
The car was heading back towards the Hive building.
On the road, while the scenery outside the window slowly flows by—
Siyeon opened her mouth cautiously.
강시연
"Thank you so much… from the bottom of my heart. Even in China, today… I've done this many times before…"
She lowered her voice slightly.
강시연
"I never thought I'd receive this much help. I feel so sorry... If there's ever a time when I can help, I definitely want to help."
Seeing her speaking softly with her head bowed, Myungho watched her quietly for a moment.
Words that felt sincere. Though her voice was thin, her feelings were clearly conveyed.
Then suddenly— He turned on the turn signal and turned the steering wheel.
디에잇(명호)
"Then help me now."
강시연
“…Huh?!! What, what?!”
Siyeon looked up in confusion, and Myungho tilted his head slightly, his eyes filled with playfulness.
디에잇(명호)
“You said you’d help everyone? You weren’t serious?”
At that reaction, Myeongho finally burst out into laughter, having been holding back his laughter.
강시연
“Oh, no, that... Seriously... all of a sudden?”
디에잇(명호)
"Phew! Look at how surprised you are, it's cute."
강시연
"Uh...? Oh, so that's it! How can I help you?"
디에잇(명호)
“I’m hungry, so let’s go eat. The way you help me right now is by eating with me.”
강시연
"..food?"
디에잇(명호)
“Why? You said it would be fine if I just ate. So let’s go eat.”
At those words, Siyeon let out a snicker. The tension slowly began to ease, and even the noise of the city outside the window felt a little distant.
A moment later, the car stopped in front of a quiet, secluded restaurant.
A small, cozy Korean restaurant perfect for just the two of you.
Myeongho said as he opened the passenger door.
디에잇(명호)
"It's really going to be okay now."
Siyeon carefully got out of the car, smiling at those words.
Inside a cozy restaurant. A space filled with warm soup and soft music. As soon as Myeong-ho sat down, he glanced at the menu, as if he were used to it.
디에잇(명호)
“Here, I know the boss a little. He comes here often.”
At those words, Siyeon nodded.
I thought the naturalness would ease some of the tension— but the problem was what happened next.
디에잇(명호)
“What would you like to eat? Is there anything you want to eat?”
강시연
“Ah… I’m fine with anything…”
Myeongho nodded and said, "Then I'll order something to eat with you," and immediately placed his order.
디에잇(명호)
“Boss! I’ll have abalone porridge, bulgogi, soybean paste mushroom stew… Oh, and tuna tataki too.”
Siyeon listened to Myeongho recite the menu fluently, but was startled when she saw the prices on the menu.
‘No, lunch… what… ordering something like omakase?!’
Before I knew it, my gaze was fixed on the prices at the bottom of the menu.
Abalone porridge 22,000 won. Tuna tataki small skewer 38,000 won.
강시연
‘I’m crazy… I should definitely pay for the meal…’
The corners of my mouth were forced up, but inside, an inexplicable disaster movie was unfolding.
디에잇(명호)
"Why is your expression like that~?"
Myeongho asked, holding back a smile. Siyeon looked up in surprise.
강시연
“Oh, no…! It’s just… a little expensive… haha…”
Myeongho chuckled and said in a playful voice.
디에잇(명호)
“Oh, this… I suddenly wanted to eat it.”
He added mischievously, narrowing his eyes. Siyeon blinked in bewilderment at the joke.
강시연
“Yes… whatever… eat as much as you want… I’ll… I’ll buy it…”
In her heart, her bank account was already on the verge of collapse before she even received her paycheck, but on the outside, she pretended to be cool and smiled in despair.
That sight actually felt even cuter. Myungho spoke, lightly fiddling with his chopsticks.
디에잇(명호)
"At the airport.."
강시연
"yes?"
디에잇(명호)
"Are you okay with falling?"
강시연
"…airplane… ??"
강시연
“Surely, back then… did you see me fall?!”
Siyeon covered her mouth in surprise, and Myungho nodded slowly.
디에잇(명호)
“At that time… it wasn’t a situation to talk. I just… saw it.”
강시연
"oh my god…"
Siyeon's face grew increasingly red. As the scene in her memory came back to her, she felt like she needed to roll over under the covers.
강시연
“Back then… I was really out of my mind… Ah, it’s embarrassing…”
디에잇(명호)
“I didn’t push you, but I felt bad for some reason.”
강시연
"No! What are you talking about? That was absolutely not the case..."
They looked at each other and continued their conversation cautiously. In the air, which had become much softer than before, the two laughed quietly.
After finishing their meal, and about to head outside, Siyeon hesitantly took out her wallet.
강시연
"I'll pay. Seriously..."
The moment I was about to take out my card, the clerk said.
???
“Oh, you’ve finished calculating.”
강시연
“Huh? What… when?!”
Looking back, Myeong-ho was already out the door. Si-yeon stood there blankly for a moment, then quickly followed him and shouted.
강시연
“Mr. Myungho! Wait a minute!! The account… me…!!!”
At that shout, Myeongho turned his head and showed a playful smile.