A Gift I Never Received in My Past Life

“This is nice…….”

The first words he muttered to himself upon waking up in the new house on the first morning were these.

Throughout his past life, Haejin had never lived alone.

Even though he had left his guardians’ house when he married Beomwoo in his past life, he immediately started living with him.

So, when he was left alone in this house, he felt awkward and fearful.

He wondered if this was really okay.

But due to the many events of the previous day, he fell asleep quickly, not seeming like someone who worried.

And this first morning here.

Haejin woke up before the alarm, buried his face in the cozy blanket, and felt a creeping sense of happiness welling up.

When living with his guardians, his daily routine was preparing their meals as soon as he woke up.

He did household chores, and suffered verbal abuse and violence.

Here, there was no one to do that to him.

Even when he married Beomwoo in his past life, there was no one who verbally abused him.

But he hadn’t felt this way back then either.

He had been overly conscious of Beomwoo’s moods.

Even without violence, he couldn’t be at ease because people constantly found fault with his every move.

Especially just before his death, they had criticized him for sleeping too much.

They made it uncomfortable to share a bed with him.

Compared to that time, this felt even better.

Just as he was fully savoring the peaceful morning that protagonists in dramas or movies experience, the doorbell shattered the peace.

Ding-dong—!

“Hmm……?”

“There shouldn’t be anyone coming……?”

He was surprised to hear this house’s bell for the first time.

More than that, it was at such an early hour.

Also, he had just moved in last night, so there shouldn’t be visitors.

The only person who knew he was in this house was Beomwoo, so it was likely him.

Perhaps someone who lived here before, or an acquaintance who came by mistake.

Thinking nothing much of it, he went to check the intercom.

The thought struck him—what if it was his aunt and uncle?

He hadn’t told them where he was going.

They weren’t the type to find out in a day, so he knew they probably didn’t know.

But it was a fear of ‘just in case.’

As Beomwoo said, since he had never done this before, the idea that they wouldn’t be capable of this might just be his own thought and wishful thinking.

Even while thinking it was absurd, a chill ran down his spine.

Haejin hesitated, then cautiously went to check the intercom.

A familiar face appeared on the screen.

“……Beomwoo?”

As he first thought, the face on the intercom was Beomwoo.

So it was just anxiety after all…….

Even Beomwoo visiting so early in the morning wasn’t a normal thing.

But the moment he saw his face, his heart instantly relaxed.

Seeing his face through the intercom, Haejin felt relieved.

He habitually tidied his appearance lightly, and opened the door.

“I know you might dislike an unannounced visit.”

“Leaving a message on a phone right now is difficult, so I had no choice but to come without notice.”

“Ah, yes…….”

“Take this.”

Beomwoo asked for understanding as if it was unavoidable.

Then he took a small box from his bag and handed it to him.

Wondering what it was, Haejin looked down and saw the model of a phone currently being advertised on the front.

Yesterday, Beomwoo had said he would give him a new phone.

It seemed he had come to deliver it.

Knowing it was the latest model phone of this period, he hesitated briefly.

But it was too late to refuse now.

As Haejin carefully took the phone box, Beomwoo spoke as if explaining.

“We’ll communicate through this from now on.”

“Thank you…….”

“And yesterday, you looked too tired, so I couldn’t say.”

“But it would be best not to contact not only your guardians but also acquaintances around you for a while.”

Haejin thanked him with gratitude, even if it wasn’t a gift purely for him.

Beomwoo explained what should be done going forward.

He mentioned something he hadn’t been able to say last time.

Last time, Haejin had eagerly asked what he could do.

But what Beomwoo said was different from the tasks he had imagined.

Moreover, hearing that he shouldn’t go out for work either, following the contact restriction, somehow overlapped with memories from his past life.

The memory of when he was made to cut off all people around him, unable to contact anyone.

Even when told it was good to confide his worries to people around him due to depression, there was no one by his side to talk to…….

Was he going to end up alone again like in his past life due to his wrong choice?

Unable to bring himself to say he would do so due to the fear of isolation, Haejin firmly closed his mouth without saying anything.

Beomwoo stared intently at him and then spoke.

“It’s not about cutting off contact forever, just for a short while.”

“It will be over quickly.”

“…….”

“Once this matter is resolved, you can meet friends or anyone even better than before.”

“When you meet them then, explain it well to your friends.”

While firmly stating that contact must be cut off, unlike in his past life, he comforted Haejin.

He said it wasn’t forever and that he could meet them again anytime.

Of course, the person who had pushed him to sever all ties back then wasn’t Beomwoo but the madam…….

But it was clearly different from that time.

He wasn’t being ordered to do so unconditionally and left isolated for life.

Since he wasn’t making an unreasonable, absurd request, Haejin thought for a moment and nodded.

“I’ll do that…….”

“And this.”

It should be okay to cut off contact for a while.

Also, this time, he could explain the reason too…….

As Haejin nodded in understanding, Beomwoo handed him a paper shopping bag he was holding.

“What’s this……?”

“I thought it would be a bit much to just tell you not to contact people around you without warning.”

“……?”

It’s okay.

What is he trying to give now……?

Having received so much already, he was now scared and couldn’t even imagine what it might be.

There was nothing suitable to give at this timing, which made it worse.

As Haejin hesitated, Beomwoo gestured again for him to take it.

Unable to resist his gaze, Haejin reluctantly accepted and checked the contents—it was quite heavy.

Haejin’s eyes, looking down at the items, grew even more filled with surprise.

Inside the shopping bag were a latest-model game console, books, and some small, sweet snacks.

What…… is this?

They were ordinary items.

But considering it was Beomwoo giving them, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

Even in his past life, they had exchanged gifts, but he had never received something like this…….

Unable to hide his surprised expression, Haejin alternately looked at the items and Beomwoo.

Beomwoo, as if reading his thoughts, spoke with an awkward expression.

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought things that were recommended.”

“…….”

He had found it strange that Beomwoo, who seemed like he had never played games, would give such a gift…….

It seemed someone had recommended it.

But what surprised Haejin more than that reason was the novelty of receiving something like this from him.

It was surprising, regardless of whether he liked it or not.

In this life, they had only known each other for a short time.

Beomwoo, who had seemed to only look at his goal without any thought for Haejin’s feelings, had considered how Haejin would feel and prepared for it.

It might be something trivial and insignificant.

But to Haejin, it felt more delicate than anything else.

Was he feeling this way because Beomwoo wasn’t the type to do this?

Or was he being overly sensitive?

Or both?

As Haejin remained surprised, having forgotten to react, Beomwoo watched his reaction and cautiously asked.

“Do you…… dislike things like this?”

“Ah, no!”

“It’s not that, it’s just…… surprising…….”

He hadn’t given anything strange.

It was something given with thought for him, so no one would dislike it.

Worried his reaction seemed odd, he quickly spoke up.

But in his fluster, he ended up answering too honestly.

Even when flustered in his past life, he had never been this open…….

Had he become too comfortable?

Haejin was still flustered even after speaking.

Beomwoo, who was already acting awkwardly, perhaps because he heard the outright ‘surprising’ remark, turned his body as if it was too much.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“I have work left.”

“Ah, wait……!”

As Beomwoo looked ready to leave immediately, Haejin snapped back to his senses and reached out to him.

Even in his haste, he cautiously grabbed the hem of his clothes lightly.

But even that weak force made Beomwoo stop his turning body.

Under his gaze, Haejin quickly averted his eyes.

He himself didn’t know why he dared to hold him back or what he intended by doing so…….

But there was only one thing he needed to say to him.

“Thank you…….”

“…….”

Money aside, going to such lengths to be considerate was, in reality, a very troublesome matter.

They weren’t even close acquaintances.

In this life, they were practically strangers.

He might be able to make this level of effort since his desire regarding Haejin was clear and he wanted to gain favor.

But Haejin, having known the Beomwoo of his past life for years, couldn’t help but be more affected.

As Haejin conveyed his sincere thanks, Beomwoo looked at him with calm eyes, nodded, and then turned away.

Even after Beomwoo left the house, Haejin stood there, looking at the spot where he had left.

……Is he really the person I knew?

The him from his past life was someone who didn’t care whether Haejin was bored or lonely.

Looking at how he still unilaterally appeared before him and the things he said, it seemed like ‘he is indeed the person I knew.’

But he wasn’t as unilateral as back then.

Throughout his married life, it felt like the first time he had this many conversations with him recently…….

Although in his past life, he had never really made requests of him, this was also the first time he had been accommodated like this.

Had Beomwoo changed as much as Haejin had tried to change in this life?

Or was he just the type of person who could change to make a good impression?

But one thing was certain.

His current appearance, different from before, was unfamiliar but not unpleasant.