60 – Proof of Relationship (3)
“Mr. Taehyuk!”
Thud, thud, thud.
The firmly closed door was pounded on.
Standing in front of the shabby apartment door was a girl, her face covered with a half-face respirator, humming.
“I’ve come for a visit!”
Thud, thud, thud.
The thick iron door, for security, echoed the impact under Dayeon’s hands.
Then, with the sound of a chime ringing –
“Ouch…”
She momentarily sat down, holding her hand.
As the door opened, she quickly stood up, smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes, and with a wide smile on her face,
speaking with a lively voice to appear pleasant to the person she was expecting –
“Mr. Taehyuk is currently resting.
Noise affects the quality of sleep, so please refrain from knocking on the door.”
She couldn’t help but feel disappointed at the appearance of her rival who showed up.
With just a slight gap, allowing only a glimpse,
Ilyria showed only her dry eyes between the door and the wall.
“Uh… then… is it okay if we talk like this?”
Slightly tightening her throat, she cautiously exchanged words as if the wind was carrying them, and then smiled broadly.
Even though the purifier and the mask covered her mouth, the transparent visor vividly highlighted her curved eyebrows in the visual module.
“The attitude has changed.”
“I told you. I won’t give up—!”
“There’s no need to excessively lower the volume. Are you aware that speaking with a respirator on significantly reduces the sound?”
Even though he had been told to lower his voice before. Yet, Da-yeon didn’t bother to let her inner voice subside.
Speaking ill of Ilia would only lead to losses in the end. After all, Ilia regarded Da-yeon as, at the very least, a comrade and at most, a lover.
“Is that so? Um… it’s uncomfortable staying outside for too long. Can I come in?”
“Why did you endure the inconvenience of coming here?”
As much as Da-yeon disliked being questioned like a gatekeeper, there wasn’t much she could do about it with the girl.
Like dismantling a security system one by one, Da-yeon decided to test the patience of the IT team.
“Well, it’s because I’m worried about Tae-hyuk. …Besides, it’s hard to contact him on the phone, and it’s bothersome to call him for no reason.”
“Your visit can also be burdensome.”
“I didn’t come empty-handed. Look here.”
Opening the zipper of her backpack on her back, Da-yeon shrugged her shoulders, revealing the ingredients inside.
“I was a bit concerned about what you pointed out last time. So, this time, I want to make something real with fresh ingredients.”
Would this be enough reason?”
“I deeply apologize for my rudeness last time. It was inappropriate to casually talk about the soup I prepared for Taehyuk’s recovery.”
And then, with wide eyes at Illia’s changed attitude,
I swiftly glanced at Illia’s appearance revealed through the open door.
She must be a ‘machine’ for sure. Of course, I had decided not to think of her as a machine anymore –
The ‘woman’ who lowered her head in comfortable sportswear and a short-sleeved shirt, which even a human would find comfortable,
“If you could come in quietly, I would appreciate it.”
She smiled softly and showed something shaking in her chest.
Shining – metal, no, a heart.
It was a necklace. And quite a splendid one at that.
It was definitely not a cheap accessory that came at a low price.
The girl knew that fact.
“That… necklace. Could it be – “
“Yes, it is a gift from Taehyuk.”
She said politely. And cleanly.
The machine that had been scratching the girl’s nature and attacking her psyche calmly was no longer there.
Instead,
“If you could quietly come inside, I would appreciate it.
Once again, I want to remind you that Taehyuk is currently resting.”
With a token in hand, the man’s lover merely played the role with a relaxed smile.
For Da-yeon, it was more bitter than painful, piercing her heart and innermost being.
As her stomach bubbled and her body grew heavier, urging her to throw the bag down and rest immediately, the man spoke.
“I’ll handle the luggage. Meanwhile, if you sit in the living room, I’ll prepare a drink for you.”
As if confirming her condition in an instant, Da-yeon nodded quietly to the competitor offering kindness.
She had already prepared for this, and so…
There was a need to manipulate the gatekeeper, even if it meant going below.
***
“Is it okay if I check the contents of the bag?”
“Oh, here? I had something I wanted to give you too.”
Suppressing the slowly rising jealousy, Da-yeon slowly began unpacking the luggage.
Wiping away the slightly melted makeup like dabbing moisture with a handkerchief, clearing the dusty container aside –
“Do you know how to put on makeup by any chance?”
“Yes, that function is already installed in me. However, the intention behind that question is – “
“Well, it’s a gift of cosmetics.”
Taking out paper boxes supporting ingredients one by one, she presented them to the expressionless machine in front of her.
Then, one by one, she removed the packaging, handing the bottles and tools to those hands.
“Do you usually wear makeup?”
“No, Mr. Taehyuk has never given me skincare products separately.”
“…The necklace, huh.”
What had already slightly distanced itself in appearance drove an even deeper nail into the eager heart of the girl.
It was a modest heart placed on a chest with much more dimension than hers.
Dayeon was not unaware of the meaning behind that shape,
especially in Ilia’s eyes, it seemed she understood the significance very well.
“Yes, that’s correct.
…If it’s uncomfortable, I can cover it for a while.”
“No, just leave it. It’s a gift from Mr. Taehyuk.”
After briefly covering the tears welling up, she forced a smile –
The girl, leaning against the sofa, trying to settle her trembling back, eventually let out a hot breath.
Along with a drop of defeat in her cheeks.
“I’ll bring something to drink.
Shall I prepare warm tea to help calm your emotions?
We also have instant coffee if you prefer.”
“Tea, please. I’ve had enough coffee to get tired of it.”
“I’ll prepare powdered green tea for you.”
Dayeon envied the newfound composure to the extent that she could pretend not to know her sobbing self.
Despite the consideration that could be shown due to being chosen,
she kept her mouth shut, knowing for sure that she would have done the same.
It was something he had already anticipated to some extent, but now that he faced it, he could only sigh at the difficulty he was experiencing.
From Noble mtl dot com
No more, no less.
Because someone who is worried is said to be resting.
“The requested drink is ready, but may I excuse myself for a moment to check Taehyuk’s condition?”
Illya, holding a tray against her chest, asked as she placed the tea in front of him.
As if showing consideration for the necklace, like a formidable rival…
Dayeon nodded and took a sip of the tea.
Then slowly gathered the energy that had slipped away with her legs.
“Oh, yeah. Um… would it be okay if I watched with you?”
At the question, a stiff posture was immediately captured.
Awkward posture.
Awkward nod.
And a gaze that rises as if scrutinizing.
“…It could stimulate Taehyuk’s condition.”
“Is it very painful? By any chance, is it not just the wrist that got hurt…
You said it was okay during the call, right?
Is that perhaps a lie – “
“No, it’s true that he only sustained an injury to his wrist.
However, the fatigue has accumulated considerably.”
It was as if, to say, filled with life –
In that indescribable expression, Dayeon felt a shiver run down her spine as it brushed against her clothes.
“Because the room is in disarray for treatment, I’ll tidy up for a moment before welcoming you. Would you mind waiting?”
“Well, if it’s just that much. Yeah. Still… I want to see his face.”
“Thank you for understanding.
…But before that, Miss Goh Dayeon.”
Placing the tray on the table and taking a step closer, with a slight step back at the approaching figure –
Illya gently spoke to the girl who had laid back on the sofa, pulling her back.
“Could it be that the change in attitude is because of Mr. Taehyuk?”
With a smile that didn’t suit the situation and question.
As the visual module of the machine was no different from a prosthetic, Dayeon tried to convince herself that her dead eyes were no different –
“Did you judge that improving our relationship could contribute to narrowing the gap with Mr. Taehyuk?”
To her, the words spoken by the competitor in front of her seemed to contain emotions.
It felt like she was daring to surpass, drawing a line like ‘her’.
Before it became an irreversible rift, Dayeon quickly spoke up.
“W-Well, even the second time is fine!”
“…To say the second time, what – “
In this day and age, where marriages hardly happen anyway –
“Just meeting various people is considered the trend in free relationships.
However, there’s no need to meet just one person. Even though it might be a bit… for the upper class people,
They often casually date two or three people.”
A plea for even a little opportunity.
That’s what the girl was asking of Illya.
“I understand how you feel about me from the necklace you gave.
In truth, I’ve been thinking a lot since then. I was quite excited at the time and spoke roughly… I’m sorry about that.
Really.”
“Are you admitting that there was an intention to improve the relationship with Taehyuk?”
“…Yes. Talking like this may seem a bit superficial.”
The one in power and the one in submission.
It was decided there – Dayeon accepted it without showing any discomfort.
At least comrades, at most lovers, or perhaps more.
There was no way for her to win against a partner she had already intertwined with, even if not with a ring, but with a token.
That’s why she was asking.
To give her even a little chance.
“Improving the relationship with Taehyuk is something between Taehyuk and me,
So, I don’t think there’s any room for me to intervene. However.
I believe the meaning of the necklace is very important to both Taehyuk and me.”
And, as expected.
“Depending on Taehyuk’s choice, I suppose, but I oppose this relationship.”
The ‘rival’ in front of her unhesitatingly drew a line on the ground.
It was the anticipated outcome, but even so, it was a blow to the girl.
“I will prepare to leave after seeing Taehyuk. Will you wait for a moment?”
“…Yes.”
Watching the confident strides as he walked away, Dayeon wiped away the tears that had fallen a bit more.
As the door opened and closed, the sound seemed to create an insurmountable wall, leaving a sense of regret.
– Slam.
Until an unusual sound reached her ears.