* * *
We were in the living room because, compared to Taehwan’s place, our home was so small it bordered on shabby.
There were only two rooms: the bigger one had been split in two with curtains and furniture so the twins could share, and the other was Mom’s.
Only one bathroom.
The living room and kitchen were half the size of Taehwan’s.
And as for stuff—we probably had two, no, maybe five times as much as he did.
During dinner, Mom had offered us her room, but we’d refused.
It wasn’t that spacious anyway, and it wouldn’t have been comfortable for the two of us.
Sleeping somewhere open and wide made more sense.
The only problem was…
Mom, the head of the household, had gone to sleep way too early.
“I’ve got my blanket, but what about yours?”
“I’ll go get it. I know where it is.”
“Huh? You do?”
“Yeah. I do.”
He sounded very confident—and he wasn’t bluffing.
Taehwan tiptoed into Mom’s room and quickly returned with an extra set of bedding.
Even got one that matched the season.
He unfolded and laid it out smoothly, not missing a step.
I couldn’t help but be impressed.
“You really know your way around our house.”
He might know it better than I do. I still fumble around looking for stuff, but he doesn’t hesitate at all.
Sure, part of that might be his good memory, but maybe Eunyul was right—he really did come over often.
“‘Our house’…”
“Hm?”
“Haah… never mind.”
Taehwan sighed and shot me a pointed look, brows furrowed, then gave a small nod in reluctant acknowledgment.
“Well, I did come over a lot.”
“Why though?”
“Oh, moving days, helping carry stuff… I played the son in your place.”
As I looked at his profile, calmly stating that, a thought popped into my head. No way…
As if he’d read my mind again, Taehwan came closer and ruffled my hair like he always did.
“You made the pride of the family a person who couldn’t leave the hospital. Least I could do was step up.”
So my suspicion was right after all.
He didn’t have to do that…
Taehwan had already done more than enough for me.
No—too much.
And yet he still carried guilt.
That made me feel awful, unable to sit still.
But… I guess he believed this was the best he could do.
I was still too powerless to repay him for everything he’d done for me and my family.
Still, there was one way I could maybe make us both feel better.
“Taehwan, I’m gonna take a bath.”
“Yeah? Here, take this with you.”
“Uh…?”
Taehwan rummaged through the bag he brought and handed me a bunch of things.
They were the same kinds of bath products I used at home.
“It’s okay…”
“Your skin’s sensitive. You can’t just use anything.”
“But I used the stuff at home yesterday and it was fine.”
“No, it wasn’t. Use what suits you.”
“…Okay.”
“Do you remember how to use them? And the order? If you’re not sure, it’s written on the back. You can read it while soaking in the bathwater. The order is…”
Even though he told me to check for myself, he still ended up explaining everything—the usage, the right sequence, what each one does.
Some had to be used at a specific time, others were crucial…
It was all a bit overwhelming.
But… the reason I told Taehwan I was going to take a bath wasn’t because I wanted suitable bath products.
I stared up at his face, and his thick eyebrows lifted slightly.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Huh? Oh. Nothing… I’ll go wash up.”
“Alright.”
I trudged into the bathroom and started filling the tub.
Honestly, I thought we’d be bathing together.
We always had before.
Even when I said I could manage on my own, he insisted on helping.
I’ve been out of the hospital for a while now, but I’ve barely bathed alone since.
So I was fretting over how small our tub was—would I have to sit on Taehwan’s lap if we both got in?
But all that thinking turned out to be pointless.
I guess… maybe the fact that he sent me home alone this time was his way of telling me it’s time to start doing things by myself.
‘Why do I feel kind of… sad?’
I’d told myself over and over that I needed to become independent, that I wanted to.
And yet now that Taehwan seemed ready to help me do just that, I felt… let down.
People’s hearts really are fickle.
Still, when I dropped the bath bomb Taehwan gave me into the water, my gloomy mood melted away.
It fizzed and shimmered in all kinds of colors, like a magical elixir a wizard might make.
The sweet fragrance filled the bathroom like enchanted powder, and just like that, I felt lighter.
Before I knew it, I was humming.
Just like Taehwan said, I started checking the instructions… when I sensed something outside the door.
It was subtle—like someone trying not to be noticed—but it was definitely there.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah…?”
Sure enough, when I opened the door, Taehwan was standing there.
He looked absolutely shocked—so unlike him.
“You, how did you…”
“Hm?”
“Ah. Right.”
“What’s wrong?”
“…It’s nothing.”
What the heck’s up with him?
I’d tried to sneak up on him for fun, sure, but he’s the one who looks completely flustered.
Then it hit me. I realized why Taehwan looked so stunned.
That bastard, Im Taehwan… did he forget I’m awakened now?
Not just awakened, but an S-class!
He must’ve figured that if he, an awakened person, suppressed his presence, there’s no way I’d notice.
But here I was, noticing.
Unusually for him, he was blushing all the way up to his neck and couldn’t even meet my eyes.
“I-I wasn’t doing anything weird. I just wanted to check on you real quick. It’s not like I was peeking, I just thought I’d listen in case something happened.”
“What were you worried about? I’m just taking a bath.”
“You never know. You might slip or something…”
“You worry too much. I’ll be fine. I’ll be out soon.”
“Uh… Jaehee.”
His hand touched my face.
He gently brushed my damp bangs back, wiped away the water near my eyes, then placed the back of his hand softly against my cheek.
He hesitated, then quietly asked:
“Should I bathe you? Like I always do?”
Ah.
He tilted his head slightly, so his eyes were so close.
His hand—just the back of it—felt unbearably warm against my cheek.
Unlike Taehwan’s place, which had wide doors and was adapted for wheelchair users, our house was just a regular home.
Maybe that’s why he felt so big, just standing there at the doorway.
What was this? My heart was pounding so hard it echoed through my whole body.
I couldn’t meet his eyes.
Then I realized—I was completely naked in front of him.
And unguarded. I quickly slipped behind the door.
Maybe my naked body wasn’t anything new to him… but strangely, I didn’t want him to see it right now. I felt shy.
“It’s fine. I can do it myself.”
“…Okay.”
Only after I shut the door did I let out a deep breath.
Maybe it was just a weird moment—my heartbeat slowly calmed down.
But then something else tugged at my mind.
Just before I closed the door, Taehwan’s expression…
I found myself lingering by the door, then quietly opened it a crack and peeked out.
Thankfully, he wasn’t standing there anymore.
I saw him in the kitchen, holding a glass, probably to get some water.
I called out to him.
“Taehwan. Instead of that…”
“Huh? Yeah?”
“When I come out… dry my hair for me.”
“Ah.”
He froze for a second, totally dazed—as if he might drop the cup he was holding.
But then, suddenly, his whole face lit up in a bright smile, white teeth showing.
“Okay. I’ll get everything ready. Just don’t fall asleep in the warm water, Jaehee.”
“I won’t!”
Ugh. The moment I feel better, he has to say something annoying.
I pouted and went back into the bathroom.
I got into the tub a little quicker than before.
I’d spoken a bit sharply to Taehwan, but in truth… no.
I was feeling really happy.
So happy I couldn’t stop smiling.
I had to press my lips together for a long while just to stop myself from giggling out loud.
Later, I noticed something odd.
Our hair dryer was the exact same model as the one Taehwan used at his place.
I thought, ‘No way,’ but of course—it was another thing he’d bought and brought over one day.
Said it had low noise and adjustable settings so it’d make rushed mornings more comfortable.
At this point, I started to worry a little.
What if Taehwan had practically furnished our whole house?
My own friend… acting like some kind of secret benefactor.
Thank god I at least fed him today.
If I’d just let him go home like that, I’d have felt so guilty I wouldn’t have been able to eat or sleep.
* * *
