The Visit (6)

“Mmm…”

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed such blissful rest.

And on a Saturday, no less—not even a Sunday.

Stretching luxuriously across my bed, I checked the time and smiled contentedly when I saw it was already past ten in the morning.

Yesterday had been complete chaos.

After Prince Edward’s departure, we had spent hours gathering sensitive documents, locking them away in the safe, and restricting access to important files. Because of that, everyone had left work much later than usual.

Yet no one seemed unhappy about it.

After all, it had been a very long time since we’d had an entire weekend to ourselves.

“…Now I finally feel like a real civil servant.”

It was ridiculous.

I’d been a government employee for quite some time already, yet only now did it truly feel real.

Chuckling to myself, I stretched again before climbing out of bed.

Lazing around was nice, but I still needed to eat.

Making my way into the kitchen, I searched for food and let out a sigh when I discovered there was nothing but kimchi.

I had planned to spend the entire day relaxing at home.

Unfortunately, it seemed a trip to the supermarket was unavoidable.

Rubbing my empty stomach, I headed to the bathroom, washed up quickly, and returned to my room.

Since I hadn’t washed my hair yet, I decided I’d just wear a cap and get back as quickly as possible.

After changing into casual clothes, I put on a white baseball cap, grabbed my wallet and phone, and left the house.

“…The weather’s nice.”

The sky was brilliantly blue.

Not a trace of fine dust.

Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily overhead.

Looking at them made me feel as though I needed to get outside and refresh myself.

Maybe I should take a walk around the neighborhood and enjoy the day.

“Phew…”

The temptation only lasted a moment.

The warnings from others echoed in my mind.

Try not to go out alone if possible.

I forced myself to abandon the idea.

Days like this would come again.

There was no reason to risk causing trouble for everyone else.

After buying groceries, I headed straight home.

Yet the moment I looked up at the sky again, my resolve began wavering.

“…The weather really is amazing.”

The more I told myself not to go out, the stronger the urge became.

Suppressing the impulse, I opened the gate and stepped into my yard.

The sight before me immediately brightened my mood.

Of course.

If I couldn’t go outside, then I’d simply enjoy myself at home.

After putting away the groceries, I returned to the yard and headed toward the small storage shed beside the main house.

“Now where did I put that picnic mat?”

If I spread it out in the shade and lay down for a while, it would be the perfect way to spend a day off.

After some searching, I found the mat leaning against one of the shed walls.

“There you are.”

Wrapped in its faded blue cover, it looked like something I hadn’t touched in years.

I dusted it off and carried it outside.

“Good. Still in decent condition.”

I’d been worried it might be unusable, but it looked fine.

After laying it out beside the house, I grabbed some wet wipes and thoroughly cleaned it.

By the time I finished eating brunch, the damp spots would be dry.

After quickly finishing a meal with the side dishes I’d bought, I returned outside carrying my tablet, phone, and a pillow.

…

It was comforting to have a place like this.

A place where I could relax without needing to leave home.

Lying flat on the mat, I stared at the clouds drifting across the sky.

It felt like heaven.

Unable to stop myself, I smiled.

“…This is nice.”

Honestly, I could get used to resting like this every day.

I spent quite a while watching the clouds and imagining different animals hidden within their shapes.

Then my phone buzzed.

A new message.

I immediately picked it up.

[Hyung, what are you doing? (/∇＼*)｡o○♡]

It was a message from Kim Se-hyun.

He hadn’t contacted me for two whole days.

Maybe that was why seeing the text made me unexpectedly happy.

I replied immediately.

[Resting at home.]

[Lying down? (⸝⸝⸝⁼◡⁼⸝⸝⸝)??]

[Yes, I’m resting. And no, you can’t have a picture.]

[( ㅎ⌓ㅎ )]

“Pfft.”

The moment he asked whether I was lying down, I remembered the last time he’d demanded a photo.

That’s why I refused immediately.

I hadn’t expected him to answer with only an emoji.

Trying not to laugh, I reinforced my stance.

[No.]

[(´•̥̥̥ ᎔ •̥̥̥) I miss you, hyung. (╥_╥)]

[You already have photos.]

[I want today’s Ha-neul hyung! ; ㅂ;!!!]

[Still no.]

[…Then at least a video call! (๑◕︵◕๑)!!!!!!]

[No.]

His reactions somehow became funnier every time I rejected him.

I was still laughing while repeatedly refusing when another message arrived.

[Then hyung has to meet me tomorrow. ♡( ૢ⁼̴̤̆ ꇴ ⁼̴̤̆ ૢ)~ෆ♡]

[Me?]

What was that supposed to mean?

Tilting my head in confusion, I read the next messages.

Then I immediately sat upright.

[I’ll come to your house.]

[Let’s spread out a picnic mat in your yard and hang out. ヾ(≧▽≦*)o]

[I’ll bring delicious food. ( ๑ ❛ ڡ ❛ ๑ )❤]

[Grilling meat in the yard sounds amazing. (๑′ڡ‵๑)۶४४yϋᵐᵐӵ♡॰⋆]

…

I’d met Kim Se-hyun in front of my house before.

But I’d never told him anything about what was inside the gate.

While I was wondering about it, realization struck.

“Ah.”

Well, anyone could guess there might be a small yard beyond the gate.

Then another detail caught my attention.

The words picnic mat.

The reason they stood out so much was obvious.

At this very moment, I was literally lying on a picnic mat in my yard.

But…

No matter how much I tried to ignore it, the coincidence bothered me.

Eventually, I got up, folded the mat away, and went back inside.

[=͟͟͞͞(꒪ỏ꒪)]

[=͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪;;) You’re only perceptive at times like this!!]

[Hmm.]

The timing of that message was absurdly suspicious.

Not only because of the yard and the picnic mat.

For a moment, I had the strange feeling that Kim Se-hyun might actually be nearby.

Unable to shake the thought, I stepped outside and looked around.

Nothing.

No sign of him anywhere.

Eventually, I went back inside.

[Hyung, I’ll come around lunchtime tomorrow. (´,,•ω•,,)♡]

I hadn’t even agreed to let him come.

He’d already picked a time.

After hesitating, I typed a reply.

[Can I invite you another time instead?]

[ʕʘ̅͜ʘ̅ʔ ???????????]

[The house isn’t cleaned up yet.]

That wasn’t entirely true.

The real reason was that my teammates’ warnings about letting Kim Se-hyun into my house suddenly came back to me.

“Hmm…”

A reply should have arrived by now.

Instead, my phone remained silent.

I was beginning to wonder if something had happened when—

Ding.

Ding ding.

Ding ding ding ding ding.

[(꒰๑ऀ •̆ꈊ •̆๑ऀ꒱⁇)]

[(( ʘ̥̥̥̥ ه ʘ̥̥̥̥ )?)]

[(oꆤ︵ꆤo)]

[Is it because we’re not friends? ‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚]

[So this is discrimination? ｡:ﾟ(;´∩`;)ﾟ:｡]

[Yeon Ha-neul, wake up! Σ੧(❛ㅂ ❛!!) No discrimination allowed!]

[If you don’t open the door, I’ll just lie down in front of your house!! ≡(:D)┿━<]

“Ha…”

I hadn’t expected such a dramatic reaction.

By the time he threatened to stage a sit-in protest outside my house, I couldn’t help laughing.

Another message arrived announcing his determination to protest.

Finally, I replied.

[Still no. I’ll invite you properly another time.]

[∑(๑ºㅁº๑)!! …Properly?]

[Yes. I’ll clean everything up and invite you.]

[Hmm. If that’s the case, maybe I’ll consider it. ꒰๑͒•௰•๑͒꒱ℒℴѵℯ❤]

Apparently his mood had improved.

The heart emoji had returned.

After reassuring him once more that I’d invite him next time, I slipped my phone into my pocket.

“Sigh…”

It had only been a short conversation.

Yet somehow it felt as though Kim Se-hyun was right beside me.

I glanced out the window one more time before returning to my room.

*************************************************************

Only one day had passed since that conversation.

Just one day.

“Hyung! I’m here!”

…

I was fairly certain I’d told him yesterday that I would invite him another time.

Stunned by Kim Se-hyun’s completely unexpected visit, I paced nervously near the front door.

Then I caught sight of myself in the mirror.

And immediately ran into the bathroom.

“Ha…”

What was this situation?

Unlike yesterday, I’d planned to spend the entire day doing absolutely nothing.

I hadn’t even washed my face yet.

In fact, I had only been awake for a short while.

After hurriedly washing up and running my fingers through my messy hair, I did my best to look presentable.

But the constant calls from outside left me no choice.

Eventually, I rushed out exactly as I was.

“Hyung!”

His voice, brighter and higher-pitched than ever, rang from beyond the gate.

I hurried over and opened it.

“Hyung, I’m he—”

“…Ah.”

The moment the gate opened, my vision filled with red.

And the familiar fragrance that accompanied it immediately reached my nose.

A bouquet of roses.

I instinctively stepped backward.

Then my eyes met Kim Se-hyun’s.

He was silently watching me.

“…Hyung.”

“W-What brings you here?”

The dreamy look in his blue eyes slowly sharpened.

Not only that, they seemed brighter than usual.

Almost overwhelmingly so.

Standing outside the gate, he looked around the yard curiously.

Then he took a step forward.

Only then did I realize what was happening.

“I came because I missed you.”

“Ah, um…”

I never imagined he would cross the gate so naturally.

Before I knew it, he was already inside the yard, looking around with obvious interest.

After taking in the surroundings, he approached and handed me the bouquet.

I accepted it automatically.

Click-click-click-click-click!

“Even your messy morning look is adorable, hyung!”

“…Ha, ha…”

“Hyung, just give me a cup of coffee. I need to head back soon after that.”

“What?”

Considering everything he’d done up until now, I had fully expected him to stay and push his way inside.

My determination to defend the house at all costs suddenly became meaningless.

I stared blankly at him.

“This isn’t an official invitation, is it?”

“Today I just wanted to see your face.”

…

How was I supposed to respond to something like that?

Should I react to him saying he’d leave because it wasn’t a proper invitation?

Or should I react to him casually admitting he’d come because he missed me?

I couldn’t decide.

Yet no matter how much I struggled, my attention kept drifting toward the second statement.

Because Kim Se-hyun’s bright smile at that moment was more dazzling than ever.

And in the end, all I could do was stare at him in silence.