TDIMEH Chapter 52

52. Will You Look at Me Now?

It had already been a month since they were stranded.

Ahead of them was still a dense, unending forest.

“Isn’t hiking supposed to be tough on the way up but easy on the way down? What kind of forest just never ends?”

“Exactly.”

Se-ah nodded at Boss Nam’s grumbling.

Because it wasn’t a well-paved hiking trail, the descent was just as challenging as the climb had been.

It became painfully clear why no one had ever come to the area where they had been staying.

Even experienced mountain hiking club members, who climbed *Mount Jiri as if it were their backyard, would’ve avoided this place.

Perhaps that was why no one ever ventured near them.

If given a choice between a safe but difficult path and an easy but dangerous one, they had naturally chosen the former. Despite the challenges, everyone pushed through without much complaint.

Everyone except one person.

“We’ll rest here.”

As soon as Junhyuk announced the break, Se-ah turned her attention to Amihan, who was behind her.

“[Are you okay?]”

“[I’m… fine.]”

Amihan forced a smile, but he looked as though he might collapse at any moment.

The closer they got to the bottom, the paler Amihan’s complexion became. While his physical condition was part of the problem, his fear of the people below seemed to be the larger issue.

Anticipating this, Se-ah had considered leaving Amihan at the beach until the day of their departure.

But since treating his withdrawal symptoms as quickly as possible required him to come along, there was no better solution.

“[Just hang in there a little longer.] I’ll definitely find the medicine for you.”

Though the last part was muttered in Korean, Amihan seemed to understand. He rubbed his head against Se-ah’s palm.

Although he was an adult, Amihan, who had been trapped on the island and deprived of a normal life, often appeared childlike for his age.

This made Se-ah feel even more compelled to care for him.

Moon Sohee and Boss Nam’s concerns were gradually becoming a reality.

If they left this island, Se-ah wanted to help Amihan, who had no family.

Finding Director Kim would bring some financial stability, and asking Marino to help secure a place for Amihan to stay didn’t seem like a bad idea.

But first, his withdrawal symptoms needed to be treated.

As Se-ah looked down at Amihan’s hand holding hers, she felt a weight on her other hand.

Junhyuk, his palm wrapped in bandages, had taken her other hand.

Following his grip, Se-ah’s gaze moved to his face. Even after days of camping without a proper chance to wash, his face seemed to shine.

His sculpted features looked less like a human’s and more like a carved statue.

She was once again struck by how his appearance seemed to radiate no matter where he was.

While she stared blankly up at his face, he tilted his head slightly, his lips protruding in a childish pout, and spoke.

“I’m hurt too.”

“What?”

Thinking she had misheard, Se-ah tilted her head in confusion and asked again.

“What did you say?”

“I said I’m hurt too.”

With a pout, he gestured at his hand with his chin.

Se-ah’s eyes widened.

Wait, I didn’t hear wrong?

Could it be… did Junhyuk really say that?

It was the first time she’d ever heard him say he was in pain, despite the obvious cuts on his palms and all the hardships they’d endured. She doubted her own ears at first.

“You’re… hurt?”

“Yes. Here, and here too.”

He pointed to various places on his body, starting with his palm.

The way he gestured resembled a puppy seeking attention, causing Se-ah’s lips to twitch.

She couldn’t believe Junhyuk had a side like this.

Stifling the laughter that almost escaped, she reached up on her tiptoes and patted his head as if he were Amihan.

“Really? Oh no… our poor Junhyuk, and I didn’t even notice.”

His soft hair slid like fine grains of sand between her fingers, making her heart flutter as much as her fingers tingled.

“Will you look at me now?”

His deep voice carried a tinge of jealousy as it rumbled up his throat.

Through his slightly longer hair that brushed against her fingertips, Junhyuk stared at her with darkened eyes.

His clearly defined, shadowed gaze exuded intense possessiveness.

“When haven’t I?”

Se-ah coughed lightly, lowering her face to hide her flushed cheeks.

“You’re always just looking at that guy.”

He gestured toward Amihan, who had stepped aside as he approached.

That’s not true.

Se-ah barely managed to hold back her urge to shout those words.

Sure, she cared about Amihan, but she was far more conscious of Junhyuk. Even though she was too shy to stare at him directly, his face had occupied her thoughts more than anyone else’s lately.

Why doesn’t he know that?

“Are you… jealous right now?”

She teased, her voice tinged with laughter.

But then.

“Yes, I’m jealous.”

She hadn’t expected Junhyuk to confirm it so quickly.

“Wh-what? How can you just say that so easily?”

Her face felt like it would burst into flames.

“Should I lie instead? Yes, I’m jealous. So don’t coddle him so much in front of me. If you keep doing that, it’ll hurt me too.”

Even after saying something so absurd, his confident demeanor remained unchanged.

It was Se-ah who found herself speechless instead.

“…..….”

“Well? Your answer?”

“…Alright. I understand.”

Only after hearing her response did he seem satisfied. With a content expression, he announced he was going to pick some fruit and left.

“Could he be feeling unwell?”

“Is there anyone here who isn’t hurt?”

Se-ah murmured to herself as she watched Junhyuk’s strange behavior. Just then, Moon Sohee passed by with a loud noise.

The moment was disrupted, but in a way, Se-ah was relieved.

It wouldn’t do for the two of them to keep getting lost in their own little world when others were around.

***

Late into the night, sleep eluded her.

Se-ah tossed and turned on the narrow sleeping bag she had made by layering clothes.

According to Junhyuk, if they passed this area, they would reach flat land and eventually find where people were.

But those people were clearly dangerous, so the plan was for Junhyuk to scout the area alone at dawn.

There was no one else in the group better suited for the task, but the thought left Se-ah too uneasy to rest.

After tossing and turning for a while, she finally sat up abruptly.

She glanced at Boss Nam, Moon Sohee, and Amihan, all sleeping soundly, then turned to see Junhyuk lying nearby, their eyes meeting.

‘Can’t sleep?’

He mouthed the words silently.

Se-ah nodded and motioned for him to follow her. Despite his large frame, Junhyuk moved like a cat, slipping out without making a sound.

She led him to a rock near a nearby stream, where they both sat down. Junhyuk glanced at Se-ah’s side profile, slightly roughened by fatigue.

“Aren’t you tired? We walked a lot today. Everyone else passed out.”

“I’m fine. After walking so much, I feel like I could do it with my eyes closed now.”

He chuckled, his eyes crinkling in amusement.

“It’s not because you’re brimming with energy. So, what’s troubling my little soldier so much that you can’t sleep?”

Junhyuk spoke in a deliberately light tone.

Se-ah stared at him for a moment before opening her mouth hesitantly.

“Let me go with you.”

“To where?”

“Tomorrow. Let me go with you.”

“What? Absolutely not!”

He rejected the idea so firmly that there wasn’t even room for consideration.

“What if something dangerous happens while you’re alone? Someone should be there to either protect or help you.”

“I don’t need anyone.”

“Yes, you do!”

Se-ah’s tone was equally firm.

No matter how strong or resourceful he was, he was still human. Even if he were thirty-three instead of his current age of twenty, she would’ve opposed the idea just the same.

And the people they were going to face were armed.

They could shoot without hesitation.

There was no way she could let him go alone into such danger.

“I work better alone. It’s safer that way.”

“How is that safe? Two people are always better than one.”

Junhyuk smiled affectionately at Se-ah’s exasperated expression, reaching out to pat her head.

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

“Then take me with you—”

“No.”

He cut her off, his smile fading into a more serious expression.

His next words left her with no room to argue.

“You coming with me would be more dangerous. I’d be too focused on you to keep us both safe.”