As True as a Dream

“I just realized that men have wings, too. You look really pretty today, boss.”

Hae-Joo said playfully and Yi Ho looked at her again.

 “Just me?” “Am I pretty today?” Hae-joo’s face flushed as she took in his words, then shook her head. No, you don’t have to answer that, I know it when I look in the mirror. I’m very pretty today, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks.” 

There was a kind of evasion in the words she spat out quickly, her eyes averted from him.

 

Yi Ho looked at Hae-Joo, who flattered herself like a peacock in flight.

 

It was as if she was afraid to hear his answer.

 

But it was his nature to give an answer when he didn’t want to hear it.

 

He was about to answer.

 “Oh, right!”

Hae-Joo suddenly turned her face and leaned in to whisper to him.

 “Thank you for this night. It’s only been two days, but the nightmares aren’t nightmares anymore because I changed my mind, just like you said.” 

Yi Ho tilted his head and looked down at Hae-Joo.

 

A short distance away, Hae-Joo smiled.

 “I see. You must have slept for two days. Your skin looks better.” “Skin?” 

Hae-Joo casually brushed her hand across her cheek.

 

Yi Ho lowered his face a little more toward Hae-Joo and said with a hint of amusement in his voice,

“Your skin is better.” “And you look beautiful today. I thought you were joking when I saw the receipt you gave Song Yue, but I’m pretty sure…” 

Hae-Joo’s eyes widened at the teasing tone and she stole a sly glance at him.

 “It’s worth it.” 

And then her heart, which had been calm, fluttered and beat half a beat faster. 

 “You’re pretty, so you’re worth the money.” 

The nape of Hae-Joo’s neck and the rims of her ears flushed bright red.

 

She was like a ripe peach.

 

Yi Ho looked at her color and thought she was dripping with sweet juice.

 

***

 

They drove to the arcade where the birthday party was to be held, with one of Song Yue’s employees acting as their chauffeur.

 

After seeing them off, Mr. Hongo said that Yi Ho likes to travel alone, but since it’s a birthday party, he’s in good shape.

 

But Hongo’s words didn’t quite register in Hae-Joo’s head at the time.

 

She was too excited to realize that the car she was about to get into was a Buick.

 

Sitting in the back seat with Yi Ho, Hae-Joo’s jaw dropped.

 

Of course, the seat leather is different.

 

She never thought they would drive in a Buick!

 

Hae-Joo couldn’t contain her excitement and rubbed the leather and caressed the door frame.

 “Hae-Joo, wake up.” 

Yi Ho’s reprimand made Hae-Joo drop her pretense of being a good girl from a good family and straighten up as she turned her head to look at the car.

 

She had seen enough to have no regrets.

 

It didn’t take long for her to catch a whiff of the refreshing scent she’d liked so much a few days ago.

 

For some reason, she remembered the way he’d smeared the medicine on the back of her hand that day, the way he’d smiled out of the corner of his eye when their eyes met.

 

Hae-Joo pursed her lips and lowered her hand to her chest, then scooted away from Yi Ho.

 

When he looked at her, she smiled and opened her mouth with an innocent expression.

 “You said my job today was to keep you away from things that might bother you, so what’s your definition of a bother?”

She asked. 

 

Hae-Joo looked at him blankly for a moment, at a loss for words.

 “Everything they say and do, except greetings.”

Yi Ho answered.

 “That’s too broad.” “Yes. But you can do it, right?” 

She fumbled with her purse in her lap.

 

Inside were a few items she’d deliberately packed in small quantities.

 

They were meant to get her out of a sticky situation, should one arise.

 

A black natural stoneware dissolved in water, a narrow-mouth jar of oil, and a few zombies in a small glass jar.

 

Of course, it’s best not to use it, as it can cause a lot of fuss.

 “…I have a potion ready, but… Well, I’ll try.” 

With an inward sigh, Hae-Joo turned her attention to Yi Ho.

“How are you feeling?” 

She remembered that he hadn’t looked so good a few days ago.

 

It wasn’t easy to tell now with the mask on his face.

 “What do you think?” 

Yi Ho turned to her, leaning against the back seat.

 

Hae-Joo concentrated for a moment, studying Yi Ho’s face under the mask, but she couldn’t make out anything.

 

In fact, when she thought back, the man had always been pale since she first met him.

 

Sometimes she could almost see his blood.

 

He was usually reclining somewhere, as if lazy, and he liked the silence, as if he was in a cultivated state.

 

Thinking about it, she suddenly remembered something he said once.

 

“You said your neck was hanging in the painting. Does it have anything to do with your physical condition?”

 

“What if it is?”

 

At that time she had said she was sorry, but she was serious.

 

If it’s true, it’s a big deal. So, why is he laughing?

 

Hae-Joo furrowed her brow as she watched Yi Ho’s lips curl into a rounded arc.

 

She doesn’t know what he’s thinking.

 “Are you saying you need the painting to make you okay?” “Something like that.” 

Hae-Joo asked no more questions and remained silent for a while.

 

After a while she looked at Yi Ho with a confused face.

 “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was a life and death situation.” 

She could feel Yi Ho’s look through the mask.

 “I don’t think I ever apologized properly, sincerely, for unintentionally passing off the fake Guishan Dao as the real thing. I’m sorry if I gave you hope then.” 

‘It was just a painting,’

she thought.

 

It’s only now that she understands why he bet so much money, why he was so angry, why he grabbed it and stretched it.

 

Of course, she couldn’t see how the painting could save his life, but she didn’t think he was joking.

 

Even if she was curious, he didn’t have to tell her.

 

She owed him her life, and she had agreed to take responsibility for the painting, so there was only one thing she could do.

 “I will do my best to find the Guishan Dao.” 

The corner of Yi Ho’s mouth curled into a pout as he looked at Hae-Joo’s dutiful face.

 

When it came to life, she was always so serious, so sincere, and so humble.

 

Now, she seemed even more sincere than before, when she had been so cautious.

 “Yes.” 

The corners of Yi Ho’s mouth turned up and he could see the back of Hae-Joo’s hand.

 

Two days ago it had been a scar that looked like it wouldn’t heal.

 

But now there was no trace of it.

 

It looked smooth and soft as if it had never been hurt.

 “See, the medicine is good, right?” 

Feeling his gaze, Hae-Joo lowered her eyes and smiled wryly.

 “It is good. Isn’t it a very expensive medicine? If it wasn’t for my own experience, I would never have believed that such a medicine existed.” 

Hae-Joo rubbed the back of her hand and repeated in amazement.

 “How can such a medicine exist? If it’s made in a factory, it shouldn’t be a matter of getting rich overnight.” 

Yi Ho laughed at Hae-Joo’s impertinence.

 

Then he interrupted her thoughts.

 “It’s so rare, you can’t get it even if you have money.” 

Hae-Joo stared at him for a moment, as if measuring the truth of his words, then opened her mouth.

 “Why did you use such good medicine on the back of my hand? This kind of thing can be cured with acupuncture!” 

As if the medicine he used on her was really a waste, Hae-Joo rubbed the back of her hand.

 

Yi Ho was stunned by Hae-Joo’s behavior.

 

He didn’t know who it was that had been so kind to him, telling him to take care of himself.

 “I wouldn’t have used it if I didn’t have to.” 

Hae-Joo, who had touched the back of her hand, turned her head toward him.

 “I used it because it was worth it, and I won’t owe you.” 

Hae-Joo’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.

 “I didn’t waste it on you.” 

He might have thought about it earlier, but Hae-Joo had put it out of his mind.

 

It felt good to have someone so generous and see the value of something.

 

Hae-Joo, who should have said something, was eerily silent.

 

Her face was turned to the opposite car window, her hands clasped on top of her purse, digging into her handsaw.

 

Yi Ho tilted his head to look at Hae-Joo’s complexion.

 

Her earlobes were pink all over, just like he’d seen in front of Song Yue earlier.

 

It was as if the fever was concentrated there.

 “Hae-Joo, do you have a fever?” “No.” 

She shook her head as if his question had not been asked.

 

Yi Ho removed his gloves and gently pinched Hae-Joo’s pearl earring with his fingertips.

 

Hae-Joo looked back at him, her eyes wide.

 “Do you think you have a fever?” “No, I don’t.” 

Hae-Joo pushed his hand away and covered her ear with her palm.

 “It’s just that I haven’t worn earrings for so long that my ears react to them. Maybe it’s poisonous. I’ll have to sterilize my ears later.” 

Yi Ho was convinced by Hae-Joo’s firm grip on her ears.

 

The tiny earlobe where the earring was inserted was black and taut, definitely swollen.

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