Red Mansion

Chungrim no longer visited at regular intervals of four days. The times he showed up were no longer predictable. Sometimes he would suddenly appear at the Red Mansion and stay for a long time, while other times he left quickly. However, he never failed to visit Store No. 3 and unzip his pants.Sung-kyung’s notes on Chungrim’s schedule had long since been disrupted. As Chungrim visited the Red Mansion more frequently, Sung-kyung started making notes even more often. He frequently forgot things, as if the part of his brain responsible for memory only responded to Chungrim, making other moments blur away.― Come to the common area at 12.The heavy, tangled cord hung beneath the receiver. Holding the phone between his ear and shoulder, Sung-kyung grasped a pen.“Okay.”He wrote “12 o’clock common area” on a small sticky note. It was for drug delivery. Each delivery took up a lot of time, could be dangerous, and was tiring, but it paid well.When his parents managed the store, they could take turns handling deliveries day and night. But now, as Sung-kyung was managing the store alone, the frequency had significantly decreased.― Don’t come with a tail. And don’t be late.“Got it.”He tore off the sticky note with the time and reached over to the desk calendar. His fingers stopped at a spot while looking for the date. He stuck the note on the boundary between today and tomorrow.― Oh, and why the hell aren’t you around when we need to store stuff? We’re not asking you to store things for free. We go to Store No. 3 because we’ve always done it with the boss and his wife. Can’t you stop being absent so often?“Okay. I won’t be absent anymore.”Sung-kyung replied curtly and put down the receiver.“How long do I even stay away?”Except for the days when he went to repay the interest, he was usually back within five minutes. It was just going to the bathroom, sending up a basket, or going to the storage room. He couldn’t be gone for long, so he even ate his meals stuck in the store. Anyone listening would think he was away for hours.Muttering in annoyance, Sung-kyung picked up his spoon again. He scooped up the fried rice in the disposable container and ate it.Sung-kyung got his meals once a day from a nearby restaurant. Made with leftover ingredients from the previous day, it was much cheaper. His parents only had one or two meals a day, all of which were porridge, so rice ran out quickly. He couldn’t afford to waste rice for himself. As long as it satisfied his hunger, it was fine. He forced himself to chew the unseasoned fried rice.“It’s really tasteless.”Despite saying that, he scraped the bottom of the container to gather every last grain of rice. It was the only meal he bought.“Is that your lunch?”As he ate the last spoonful, Chungrim suddenly appeared in front of the counter. Their eyes met through the wide-open glass door. Feeling somehow ashamed of Chungrim’s astonished gaze at the empty container, Sung-kyung quickly stood up, chewing and swallowing the remaining food.“…It’s edible.”“But you said it was tasteless.”When did he hear that? Sung-kyung’s cheeks turned slightly red.“It was just a bit off today.”Chungrim nodded roughly. Sung-kyung took out a toothbrush and toothpaste from the pencil holder. He thought Chungrim must have come to relieve himself, so he needed to brush his teeth quickly. It was a bit funny to think that if Chungrim had come a little earlier, he might have had to suck him off mid-meal.“Hold on, I’ll be quick with the brushing.”“Why? Worried I’ll ask you to suck me off again? Is that all you think about?”Sung-kyung’s hands, which had been hastily tidying up the disposable dishes, paused. Wasn’t that what he wanted?“I didn’t come here for you.”Through the counter’s glass, he saw Chungrim moving leisurely. His eyes, layered with fatigue, tenaciously followed Chungrim’s movements.“I’m busier than you think.”Just when it seemed like he was about to leave, Chungrim headed for the ice cream freezer. Every time he moved his arm, the outline of his shoulder blades became prominent under his tightly pulled shirt. The sight of his large body bending over to rummage inside never seemed to get old. That subtle mismatch made Sung-kyung cling to his shabby regrets. Perhaps he would also reach out to someone as rundown and shabby as him.As always, Chungrim returned with two of his favorite ice creams.“Somehow, it doesn’t taste the same outside. Weird.”No matter what expensive dessert he ate, it was never better than the old ice cream from the store. It was strange. Chungrim tore open the ice cream package covered in frost. Sung-kyung just stood awkwardly in the middle of the store.“One’s for you.”He tossed the unopened package over the counter. Hesitantly, Sung-kyung picked up the ice cream. Instead of eating it right away, he just fiddled with the wrapper. His pale face showed disappointment, as if expecting something else.Noticing this, Chungrim deliberately licked his ice cream slowly. Sung-kyung’s gaze stuck to his lips. Maybe it was the heat in his mouth or the hot weather, but the ice cream melted too quickly.“Hey, do you have a ledger? Do you keep records of credit?”“Yes. We keep credit records separately.”“Show me.”Why was he interested in the ledger? Though confused, Sung-kyung naturally followed Chungrim’s orders. He carefully set the wet ice cream package aside and bent down.“This is the ledger, and we record the credits here separately…”The credit ledger was in the top drawer. As soon as he took out the worn-out spiral notebook, Chungrim snatched it and began to scan it with his eyes.June 3 / Unit 313 / 23,000 wonJune 9 / Unit 148 / 4,500 wonJune 14 / Unit 223 / 4,700 wonJune 22 / Unit 201 / 11,200 wonJune 23 / Unit 148 / 10,900 wonJuly 2 / Unit 354 / 19,500 wonJuly 9 / Unit 525 / 12,600 won…The credit ledger Sung-kyung meticulously kept only had a few pages filled. Though he had a separate credit ledger, almost no one repaid their debts. So he rarely extended credit in the first place. Most of the people listed had forcibly taken the goods, but Sung-kyung meticulously recorded everything. Just because they didn’t repay didn’t mean he should forget.“Pen.”Chungrim mumbled through the ice cream in his mouth, but Sung-kyung understood and quickly handed over a pen he retrieved from under the cash register. Without much thought, Chungrim tore out the two pages with the credit amounts and tossed the old spiral notebook back inside the counter. Sung-kyung watched him leave for a long time. The old fan was still busy blowing hot air.It was only long after Chungrim had disappeared that Sung-kyung regained his senses. He hurriedly ate the half-melted ice cream and cleaned up the trash. He washed his sticky hands and brushed his teeth in the bathroom.As he rinsed the foam from his mouth, he wondered why Chungrim hadn’t done what he usually did today. Was it because he didn’t enjoy it as much after trying it a few times? Sung-kyung had thought he was becoming someone useful to Chungrim. For the past few days, whenever Chungrim sought him out, Sung-kyung couldn’t shake the feeling that he was special to him, despite only performing a humiliating act. He was easily swayed by Chungrim’s every move.Droplets from the toothbrush left a trail as Sung-kyung walked back to the store. He looked up at the window in the hallway and saw storm clouds gathering, ready to engulf the Red Mansion. He opened the store door and searched for his raincoat, anticipating rain during his delivery later. Weather didn’t matter when it came to deliveries.He hung the black raincoat on a hook and sat down. The counter remained sticky no matter how much he wiped it due to the humid air. Sung-kyung lowered his head, idly passing time until he caught a whiff of a familiar cool scent, reminiscent of Chungrim’s.“Count it.”A low voice interrupted his thoughts, making Sung-kyung look up sharply.“Ah.”The scent he had sensed really was Chungrim’s. He could now recognize Chungrim’s presence without seeing him, a realization that strangely pleased him. Just as he felt a thrill, Chungrim threw a wad of cash and two crumpled pieces of paper onto the counter.June 3rd / Room 313 23,000 wonJune 9th / Room 148 4,500 wonJune 14th / Room 223 4,700 wonJune 22nd / Room 201 11,200 wonJune 23rd / Room 148 10,900 wonJuly 2nd / Room 354 19,500 wonJuly 9th / Room 525 12,600 won…The crumpled papers were the pages Chungrim had torn from the ledger earlier. All the credit amounts were crossed off in black. He had collected every last bit, something Sung-kyung hadn’t managed to do in two years.“What are you doing, not taking care of it?”“……”“Do you think you’ll make rent doing business this loosely?”Though not a scolding, Chungrim’s tone was harsh. When Sung-kyung showed no intention of taking the money, Chungrim pushed the wad further inside the counter, prompting Sung-kyung to look up. Their eyes met, and just as Sung-kyung was about to speak, a large figure approached from behind.“They’re almost here.”The gruff voice was casual but commanding.Sung-kyung snapped his mouth shut. He might have impulsively asked Chungrim if he wanted him to repay the debt quickly so they wouldn’t have to meet anymore. Such clueless impulses surfaced occasionally.“Let’s go.”Holding up his phone, the large man indicated someone had arrived.“Yeah, coming.”Chungrim sometimes dragged out his words. Just as he seemed about to leave, he turned back, leaning over the counter to look at Sung-kyung through the glass. Their eyes met again.“Thanks for the ice cream.”It was then Sung-kyung realized Chungrim hadn’t paid for it.“……Ah.”Seeing Sung-kyung’s fluttering eyelashes, Chungrim smirked as if mocking him for being such an idiot.“I’m leaving.”“……Yes.”As soon as Chungrim left, Sung-kyung hurriedly opened the drawer. He wasn’t thinking about putting the collected credit amounts in the safe. Instead, he grabbed a pen and started scribbling in his notebook. He glanced at the clock and noted the time.Today was the first time Chungrim had spoken to him.＊＊＊Sung-kyung spent the rest of the day in a state of excitement. Unlike before, when he greeted customers indifferently, he now showed a bit of kindness. He should have napped in preparation for his early morning delivery, but he couldn’t. Every time he closed his eyes, Chungrim’s face appeared beneath his eyelids.He felt his status had shifted slightly from being just another resident among the many. Out of over six hundred people, who else would take care of Chungrim’s needs like he did? Who else would collect the debts for him? He was too excited to sleep.He eventually closed the store earlier than planned and wandered around the common area. As night deepened, the heat intensified. The humid air made his body sticky, and the raincoat he held made his hands hot. A trail of greasy water ran along his feet, reflecting the colorful lights above.“Hey.”A skinny man called out from the entrance of the building across. Sung-kyung recognized him and headed over, looking around cautiously. He stepped inside through the glass door the man held open.The air inside was stifling. Sung-kyung tried to cool off by fluttering his t-shirt, but it was futile. He thought of the wide and luxurious living room where he would feel cold even when standing still. Chungrim must be comfortable now, he thought. Every thought led back to Chungrim.“What’s that in your hand?”The man squinted at the raincoat, his suspicions evident.“It’s a raincoat.”As if to verify Sung-kyung’s claim, the man glanced at the broken window. Being inside the mansion, the sky was not visible.“It might rain later. I’ll be riding my bike.”“Ah, a bicycle.”It was very rare for the residents to own a car. First, they had to buy a title, which was incredibly expensive. Only a few who needed to make long-distance deliveries or traveled frequently had one. Stolen motorcycles or bicycles were the main means of transportation here. Sung-kyung’s family had been sharing one bicycle for ten years already.“Right. You’re from the store, aren’t you? Where did you get beaten up? I almost didn’t recognize you.”A man who had been glancing at him several times in the dim light spoke up. Sung-kyung responded in an unfriendly tone.“I just got hurt.”“Hurt? Looks more like you got beaten up.”Was it amusing to see someone get beaten up? The man chuckled continuously, seemingly thrilled. The empty hallway echoed with his unpleasant laughter. Sung-kyung no longer responded.“It looks like you’re going on a delivery for the first time in a while. It’s been a while, right?”“Yes.”“Figures. These days, supplies aren’t coming in, and customers have decreased. Maybe they’ve found other suppliers. Those who used to beg when in need.”The skinny man continued talking, occasionally checking behind him. Maybe he needed someone to talk to, as he poured out unsolicited information. The man’s voice echoed through the Red Mansion hallway.“Still, your brother probably called you because he knows your situation.”Those in the know were aware that Store 3’s family had been bedridden for years. The situation the man referred to seemed to be about Sung-kyung’s parents. Sung-kyung, unsure how to respond, simply replied, “Yes.”He followed the skinny man up the stairs and across the sky bridge. It was only when his back was drenched in sweat that the man’s steps and words finally stopped. He took a bunch of keys from his pocket and naturally opened the front door. As soon as the door opened, a bright light and a pungent smell flooded in.“Come in.”The man grinned, revealing teeth uniformly decayed. It was clear how much he had used drugs. As Sung-kyung passed by him, he held his breath against the strong smell of sweat and stepped inside the front door.The house was cluttered with no room to step. Newspapers and plastic wrap were strewn across the floor, and there were two large men and a familiar face inside.“Oh, if you’re here, help with this.”It was the man he had spoken to on the phone earlier. Known as Dari because of his limp, he managed the drugs coming into the mansion. He had the authority to handle packaging and delivery, which made him walk around with a lot of swagger.Dari was shaking something vigorously in a spray bottle. The strong smell stung Sung-kyung’s nose, making him cough. Only then did Dari toss a mask lying on the table.“Sorry. I forgot.”Sung-kyung picked up the mask that had hit his chest and fallen to the floor. It was just a piece of cloth barely covering his nose and mouth, probably not very effective.“Some of these are going to the airport, so you need to be thorough.”“……”“Why are you standing there like an idiot? Come and help.”One of the other men was wrapping something the size of a palm in plastic wrap. The table was filled with items to be packaged next. Helping with the packaging wouldn’t get him paid extra anyway, which annoyed Sung-kyung. He stood his ground, not immediately helping.“I thought I was only delivering?”“You have to package it to deliver it. If you don’t want to, then don’t. There’s plenty of delivery guys.”Testing him, Dari sprayed the air, frowning when Sung-kyung hesitated. Reluctantly, Sung-kyung moved to the table with a displeased expression. He took a spot at the table cluttered with plastic bags.He alternated wrapping with plastic wrap and newspapers. If the volume increased slightly, he taped it and sprayed it with the bottle Dari handed him. Conscious of not inhaling the spicy pepper oil smell, he finished the last wrapping with colored paper.“You just need to plant these two today. The locations are…”Dari limped over to the wall where a map was pinned. It showed a wide area centered around the Red Mansion. It was almost comical how well-equipped they were for mere drug deliveries.“Here.”The spot Dari pointed to wasn’t far. It was a short distance reachable in about 20 minutes by bicycle.“Plant it between 1 and 2 o’clock. The location is the third flowerbed to the right of the elementary school gate.”His bruised fingernail pointed at the elementary school. Sung-kyung nodded. The third flowerbed to the right. He repeated it several times to ensure he wouldn’t forget.“Make sure the person in blue sneakers picks it up, and you’re done.”“Got it.”The man who finished packaging turned up the fan speed and set it to rotate. Despite this, the smell inside didn’t dissipate easily. Outside, thin raindrops began to replace the hot air.“The money will be sent to the store tomorrow morning. Although work has decreased lately, we got a big speed shipment. It’s a lot, but since it’s being divided, we might call you more often.”He seemed to be talking about the items Sung-kyung had just packaged and sprayed with pepper oil. Each delivery dropped several tens of thousands of won, enough to cover two months’ worth of his parents’ medicine.“Early in the morning is fine.”All he had to do at home was take care of his parents. Cutting down on sleep wasn’t difficult.Dari put the two packaged items into a belt pouch and moved to Sung-kyung’s side, his limp pronounced.“And get a cell phone. How much does it cost to buy a title? Nobody uses a phone as inconvenient as yours these days. How can we contact you when we need deliveries?”It started again. Dari often complained to Sung-kyung, probably because his parents had managed the work for a long time. Despite the difficulty of handling both the store and drug deliveries alone, Dari seemed unwilling to consider that.“I don’t even have that little money. That’s why I’m here in the middle of the night.”“Stop whining. Everyone here is poor. But they’re all trying to make a living by pushing themselves. If you keep being so miserly, you’ll miss all your chances to make money, got it? Young people these days are always complaining.”The unwanted lecture continued. Sung-kyung consciously averted his gaze, staring into the distance. At the end of his line of sight was a clock. It was over 20 minutes past midnight. Meanwhile, Dari tightened the belt pouch around Sung-kyung’s waist and patted his skinny back a few times. Sung-kyung didn’t respond and started walking.“It’s raining, how are you going to go? The goods shouldn’t get wet.”“Bicycle.”He grabbed the black raincoat thrown on the shoe rack.“I have this.”“Make sure the goods don’t get wet.”Sung-kyung nodded and opened the front door. The man who had brought him here was nowhere to be seen. Water droplets were scattered in the hallway.As he left the hallway where he could see the entrance of the building across the street, the raindrops grew heavier. By the time Sung-kyung reached the storage room in a corner of the first floor of the mansion, the rain was pouring down fiercely. As he opened the storage door, a few rats quickly scattered.He turned on a small light bulb and stepped inside. He grabbed the pedals of the bicycle stored in the shop’s storage room and spun them a few times. Though the chains made a loud noise from lack of oil, the bike was still rideable.He fumbled with the belt pouch to check the contents. When he turned off the light bulb, the storage room was engulfed in darkness. Soon, the figure in the black raincoat ran into the downpour.Sung-kyung was slowly pedaling and had just passed the back gate when he heard the sound of wheels scraping the wet ground. He stopped his bicycle and put his foot on the ground, lifting the raincoat slightly to look towards the approaching car. A car, speeding as if to hit him, came into view. Bright lights met his eyes.Screech—! The car, speeding madly, hit the brakes. Sung-kyung squeezed his eyes shut. If he died here, what about the drugs? He wouldn’t get the delivery fee. Ridiculously, the thought of not getting paid came to his mind before the fear of dying.“Where are you going in such a hurry in this rain?”Instead of the pain he expected, a playful voice reached his ears. His wet eyelashes slowly lifted. Raindrops from the raincoat trickled down his lashes and into the corners of his eyes. He wiped them with his hand and looked towards the familiar voice.A head peeked out from the half-open driver’s side window. Even in the dark, his face seemed to shine.“Are you running away?”The rain grew even heavier. Chungrim’s voice began to get buried under the sound of rain pounding the car. Sung-kyung wondered if he should let go of the bike handle and move closer. Chungrim spoke again, so he squinted and listened carefully.“Huh? Were you really trying to run away?”Rain splashed into the open window, soaking his expensive shirt. Despite this, he didn’t close the window. Unlike Sung-kyung’s creaky bike, Chungrim’s car’s engine purred quietly.“No. It’s not that—.”Sung-kyung hesitated to mention the delivery, but the hesitation didn’t last long. All the drugs passing through the Red Mansion probably came through him anyway.“A delivery.”“You’re the one doing the delivery today?”Chungrim took a breath and nodded, a mischievous smile spreading across his previously expressionless face.“Get in.”“What?”Did he say ‘go’ or ‘get in’? Unsure, Sung-kyung asked again with a dumbfounded expression.“We’re going to the same place, so get in.”“What?”Even after asking again, Chungrim only repeated his command before pulling his head back in and closing the window. Sung-kyung stood there for a moment, perplexed. He could take off the raincoat, but putting the bicycle back in the storage would take some time. He couldn’t keep Chungrim waiting…He could see Chungrim leaning on the steering wheel, watching him through the windshield, now cleared by the wipers. At this hour, there were hardly any people around, and with the rain, no one would steal the bicycle, right? With a worried face, Sung-kyung parked the bicycle near a utility pole. He then undid the raincoat buttons and approached the car. The passenger window rolled down halfway, and Chungrim’s voice was heard.“Put that in the back seat.”He seemed to be referring to the raincoat. So, he was to sit in the front seat? Biting his lower lip, Sung-kyung took off the raincoat. Raindrops immediately soaked him. He shook off the raincoat, folded it, and placed it on the back seat floor. By then, his hair was thoroughly wet.“Hey, get in already.”“Yes.”He closed the back door and opened the passenger door. As he climbed in, a cool fragrance filled the car. The confined space filled with Chungrim’s scent made his heart pound. Why was he alone today, at this hour, when he usually brought drivers to the Red Mansion? There were many questions, but he swallowed them. He knew they weren’t close enough for such questions yet.“If I rode the bike, I would have gotten there quickly… Thank you.”Chungrim glanced at the soaked Sung-kyung and tossed a few tissues onto his lap. He watched as Sung-kyung wiped his wet arms and hair. His rustic face looked more suited to the old bicycle than a car.“Do you think you’d make it there today on that junk?”It was clear mockery. Still, Sung-kyung didn’t mind. The important thing was that he was sitting in the passenger seat of Chungrim’s car. Only one person could sit here. Unsure where to discard the wet tissues, he stuffed them into the pocket of his belt pouch.“Still, it’s still rideable.”Chungrim glanced at Sung-kyung and slowly reversed the car. Beep-beep—a soft warning sound rang out. Sung-kyung looked around, not knowing where the sound was coming from. Chungrim, however, didn’t seem to notice it at all and stepped on the accelerator.Thud—! He hit the parked bicycle in an instant. The old bike crumpled easily and rolled onto the ground. The worn-out wheels spun in the air, deflating completely. The orange light from the streetlamp cast a glow on the now-useless bike.“……”Sung-kyung blinked dumbfoundedly. Raindrops hanging from his hair trickled down his cheeks.“You can’t ride that anymore, can you?”Chungrim grinned and reached out his hand. Sung-kyung inhaled sharply at the sudden approach. From Chungrim’s leaning body came a cool fragrance. As Sung-kyung slowly inhaled, his chest expanded greatly.His eyes doggedly followed the movement of Chungrim’s hand as he pulled the passenger seat belt. Sung-kyung’s dark eyes rolled from right to left as he tracked the hand’s movement diagonally downward.“You should have gotten in quickly when I told you to.”After buckling the seat belt, Chungrim leaned back. It seemed he was blaming Sung-kyung for not getting in quickly. Sung-kyung made a mental note. Don’t make him repeat himself. Do things promptly when asked. Otherwise, he might end up like that worthless bicycle.“Where’s the delivery to?”Even though he said their destinations were the same, it seemed like he offered a ride because he was worried about Sung-kyung getting soaked. Chungrim appeared to care about him, perhaps without even realizing it himself. Sung-kyung felt as though he understood Chungrim’s hidden feelings, which made his chest tingle.Sung-kyung promptly mentioned the name of the elementary school. Chungrim smiled, seemingly satisfied with his quick response. Sung-kyung was learning how to meet Chungrim’s expectations.“Over there.”With the car, it didn’t take long to reach the destination. On either side of the school’s main gate were neatly arranged flowerbeds at regular intervals. It’s the third flowerbed from there.Sung-kyung looked around. The heavy rain and late hour meant few people were around. Thanks to Chungrim, he arrived quickly, but there wasn’t much time before the agreed-upon time. He turned his body, ready to get out and grab his raincoat.“Use an umbrella. Don’t flood the backseat.”Having left the raincoat out for a while, the backseat still had some rainwater on it. Sung-kyung answered while undoing his seatbelt.“……Yes.”I don’t have an umbrella. Since I shouldn’t open the backseat door, should I just run through the rain quickly? ……Then I’ll get drenched. Should I say I’ll walk back to the Red Mansion? I don’t want to dirty Chungrim’s space. While deep in thought, Chungrim’s voice continued.“Open the door.”Sung-kyung did as he was told.“Press the round thing next to the door.”Without fully understanding the instructions, Sung-kyung obeyed. An umbrella handle popped out next to the door. This car even has something like this. As he curiously examined it, Chungrim’s irritated voice prodded him.“Hurry up and go. If you’re late, I’ll leave without you.”It was a shameless statement, given that Chungrim had just destroyed his only means of transportation, making it difficult for him to return. But when Chungrim looked at his wristwatch, pretending to check the time, Sung-kyung quickly grabbed the umbrella.“Yes.”He fully exited the car before opening the umbrella, worried about letting rain in. His barely dry body got wet again. Still, Sung-kyung felt happy. He had taken another step into Chungrim’s space.The rain showed no signs of letting up. After taking a few steps, he turned around. Chungrim was leaning on the steering wheel, watching him.“……”He really is going to wait. Sung-kyung bit his lower lip to suppress a smile. Chungrim was waiting for him. Who among the residents of the Red Mansion had ever felt this way? A small laugh mixed with the rain disappeared. Worried that Chungrim might leave, Sung-kyung quickened his pace. The umbrella was large and sturdy, preventing any rain from soaking his shoulders.“One, two, three.”He stopped in front of the third flowerbed, just as Dari had told him. It was a dark spot not reached by the streetlamp’s light.Sung-kyung stuck his hand into the middle of the flowerbed where yellow and purple flowers were planted alternately. He dug through the wet soil with his fingers. The flowers around him shook as their roots were disturbed.He felt grains of sand digging under his fingernails. Despite this, Sung-kyung didn’t stop. Though he could only use one hand while holding the umbrella, the wet soil made the work easier.“This should do.”He created a rectangular space among the flowers. It looked like it could hold about two bundles. Remembering it was Chungrim’s umbrella, Sung-kyung refrained from gripping the handle with his dirty hand. He wiped the soil off on his pants and opened the pouch. He took out the securely wrapped packages and placed them neatly inside, covering them back up. The slightly raised mound looked like a small grave. It was noticeable, but it didn’t matter. In the rainy early morning, no one would pay attention to the third flowerbed in front of the elementary school.“It’s done.”After burying the medicine, Sung-kyung cautiously looked around. Only a few cars passed by in the distance. He quickly wiped the remaining soil off his pants and stood in front of Chungrim’s expensive-looking car.He hesitated for a moment before closing the umbrella and putting it back in its original place. He took his time, worried about letting rain inside the car. By the time he finished, he was soaked again.As he fully retracted the umbrella, he hesitated. The heavy rain had soaked him, and he didn’t want to dirty the car by getting in.“What was the point of the umbrella then? Hurry up and get in, the rain is coming in.”At Chungrim’s blunt words, Sung-kyung quickly got into the passenger seat. As soon as he closed the door, a few tissues landed on his lap.“I’ll wipe it up quickly.”The cool air from the car’s air conditioner wrapped around his body, making it feel like the moisture would dry quickly. Sung-kyung wiped the door and seat before tending to himself.Chungrim leaned on the steering wheel, observing the sight of Sung-kyung’s soaked back. From his wet neck down to his shirt clinging to his back, Chungrim’s gaze lingered. He hadn’t expected Sung-kyung to be doing the delivery. Whether it was unfortunate or fortunate, he wasn’t sure.“We’re already here…….”