Chapter 17: Three Minutes to Persuade Him

Excitement and anticipation for upcoming trips filled the air on all sides.

The bustling airport looked more lively than ever.

Amid that crowd, Si-hyeon sat scratching at the edges of his fingernails over and over.

Today was the day he would return home.

He should have been happy at the thought of going back to his homeland, but Si-hyeon’s stomach felt terribly uneasy.

Ever since his first consultation with Doctor Go, he hadn’t been able to see Cha Hae-jun at all.

When Si-hyeon boldly asked whether they should at least meet because of the special clause, the answer came back without a moment’s hesitation.

‘He stopped by at dawn.’

The bodyguards, Doctor Go, and even Secretary Kang all gave the exact same response.

Anyone listening would think they had attended some kind of answer-training academy together.

The common explanation was that he had come briefly while Si-hyeon was asleep late at night.

In other words, everyone else had seen Cha Hae-jun except Si-hyeon himself.

Feeling frustrated, Si-hyeon even tried pretending to sleep one night while secretly staying awake.

But on that particular night, as if by magic, Cha Hae-jun’s shadow didn’t appear at all.

The timing could not have been more perfect.

Exactly one week later, the date of his return flight was decided.

For Si-hyeon, it was enough to drive him crazy.

He had only just gotten his bandages removed, yet he was about to return home without accomplishing the purpose that brought him all the way to New York.

If this was how things would end, why had he obediently stayed in the hospital room?

He should have forced his way outside somehow…!

The decision he made because he wanted to recover quickly had ended up backfiring.

Si-hyeon anxiously scratched at the rough skin around his nails while glancing around.

“Boarding starts in five minutes, so sit still. Did you steal something or what? If not, get a grip. Stop fidgeting like a puppy that needs to pee.”

At Secretary Kang’s scolding from the seat beside him, Si-hyeon briefly lifted his head before lowering it again.

He fiddled with his phone and shut his mouth tightly in silent protest.

There was nothing else he could do.

He knew in his head that he shouldn’t behave like this.

No matter how he thought about it, Cha Hae-jun had been considerate toward him.

The form that consideration took made things awkward for Si-hyeon, but objectively speaking there was nothing wrong with it.

Hae-jun had covered medical expenses that didn’t even have to be paid.

Even while busy, he visited the hospital room regularly and spent time with Si-hyeon.

Since he couldn’t stay long because of work, he even increased Si-hyeon’s hourly rate once, from ten thousand won to twenty thousand.

Even so, that amount barely made a dent in the total debt…

Anyone else would applaud such luxury that couldn’t be enjoyed anywhere else.

But Si-hyeon couldn’t bring himself to smile.

‘Why did I even come all the way to New York in the first place…!’

While digging into his nails as if he might tear them off entirely, Si-hyeon suddenly lifted his head at the sweet body scent drifting toward him, reminiscent of honey.

His wrist was caught and lifted upward.

At the same time, he saw blue eyes like the sea and a smooth, handsome face.

“Be careful with your body.”

It was Cha Hae-jun.

Seeing him after so long naturally brought joy.

Si-hyeon jumped to his feet and grabbed Hae-jun’s hand, shaking it enthusiastically.

“Boss! I missed you!”

For a brief moment, Hae-jun’s expression stiffened, but it soon softened again.

Unaware of the change in expression, Si-hyeon rambled on.

“I really, really missed you, boss. Do you know how much I missed you? If I had to describe my feelings in one sentence, it’s like meeting the only intelligent person in an alien world where no one understands your language. Boss, this might be an unreasonable request, but could I go out just for a moment around six in the evening? Together with you! It would really only take a little while.”

People said that if you wished for something desperately enough, the world would help you.

Si-hyeon believed those words sincerely and looked up with sparkling eyes.

He thought that if it were this man, surely he would understand his earnest wish.

Whether he knew Si-hyeon’s thoughts or not, Cha Hae-jun gently but firmly removed Si-hyeon’s hand.

The sudden emptiness made Si-hyeon clasp his hands together awkwardly and smile.

“Um… boss.”

“Bae Si-hyeon.”

Whenever Hae-jun spoke like that, using his full name, it always meant something serious.

Si-hyeon’s lips twisted slightly.

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Raising his hand to stop Hae-jun, Si-hyeon quickly spoke.

“I know what you’re going to say. But please just hear me out first. I spent a lot of money to come all the way to New York. To see the sunset in Manhattan. I planned to go the day after the accident, exactly the next day. My return flight ticket was for that date too. Wow, now that I think about it, I wasted the flight ticket as well. Round-trip tickets aren’t cheap. Anyway, I kept postponing it, but I finally decided I would see it. But then! An accident happened the day before. My money was stolen, my health got wrecked, and even my schedule was ruined. If that’s not the worst luck ever, what is?”

“And?”

Hae-jun’s tone remained calm, as if inviting him to continue.

Si-hyeon swallowed hard.

For some reason, his throat felt dry.

“So… could I just go see that one thing? It won’t take long. Around six in the evening… Just a little while….”

For something he had begun with such enthusiasm, the ending sounded pitiful.

Cha Hae-jun reached out toward Si-hyeon, who had lowered his head and was tearing at his bloodied nails again.

At this rate, it looked like he might bleed too much.

“It’s one o’clock now, and boarding will start soon. I’m busy enough that I’ll have to work even on the plane, and once we land I’ll go straight to the office for a meeting. If I grant your request, I’d have to postpone the board meeting and reschedule it. How do you plan to compensate for the loss of time?”

“…”

“There are three minutes until boarding. If you can persuade me in that time, I’ll grant your wish.”

Si-hyeon had no idea what to say.

He rubbed his bloodied fingertips absentmindedly and looked at Hae-jun.

Those blue eyes were fixed entirely on him.

Hae-jun’s expression looked the same as always, but for some reason Si-hyeon felt that the man was displeased.

“The cancelled plane ticket cost quite a lot….”

“I’ll compensate you for that. If you want, I can transfer it to your account right now.”

“I couldn’t leave the hospital at all….”

“Your leg injury isn’t my fault, is it? You could have moved around with the cast. You were the one who chose to stay in the hospital room to heal faster.”

“That…”

Every word was correct.

He had stubbornly endured it himself, determined to let his leg bone heal properly even if bedsores appeared.

No one forced him.

Even if it felt unfair, he couldn’t complain.

He had gained nothing from the argument.

What else could he say?

He couldn’t return empty-handed after coming this far.

Si-hyeon’s eyes wavered helplessly.

“You said you’d do everything… that you’d grant what I wanted.”

By the end, his voice sounded like a whine.

Suppressing the emotions swelling in his throat, Si-hyeon picked at his nails again.

Then something firm slipped between his clasped hands.

It was Cha Hae-jun’s hand.

“I’ve already spent a lot of time here, so I can’t stay any longer. If I leave New York alone, you’ll be the one in trouble. You remember Clause Two of the special agreement, right?”

Of course he remembered.

Clause Two was the opposite of Clause One.

If the party B failed to sell his time to party A due to B’s own fault, then B must compensate A for the loss.

In other words, if Si-hyeon went off somewhere or wasn’t present when Hae-jun needed him, he would have to repay whatever loss resulted.

“You remember.”

Speaking softly, Hae-jun seated Si-hyeon back down.

Looking at the blood now flowing from his fingertips, he sighed.

“Si-hyeon, your hand.”

Thinking that Si-hyeon was truly a troublesome man to take care of, Hae-jun extended his hand toward Secretary Kang.

Secretary Kang quickly placed a tube of ointment and a wide bandage in Hae-jun’s palm.

Hae-jun set the bandage on his thigh, opened the ointment, and applied it carefully to Si-hyeon’s fingertips.

His touch was surprisingly natural and attentive.

He didn’t look like someone accustomed to doing such things, yet he was unexpectedly skilled.

“I want you to live healthily, Si-hyeon. Without pain, without wounds. As for the debt… well, you can repay it slowly.”

“Ah….”

Maybe it was because Hae-jun’s body temperature was slightly cool, but the place where he touched felt strangely vivid.

The lingering sensation made Si-hyeon’s stomach churn.

Was it because the touch applying the medicine was so gentle?

Or because the man’s voice sounded pleasant?

Even though he should have felt heavy-hearted for failing to achieve what he wanted, his chest felt ticklish.

It was like a small glass bead was tapping lightly against his heart.

“Stop picking your nails too.”

After wrapping the bandage around Si-hyeon’s finger, Hae-jun looked at him.

Si-hyeon’s lips were slightly parted, revealing glimpses of white teeth between them.

At first glance he seemed harmless, like a small animal.

But Hae-jun knew very well that inside, Si-hyeon had a temper not unlike a stubborn llama kicking around.

Si-hyeon stared at him for a moment, opening and closing his mouth before lowering his head.

The round crown of his head became visible.

Under the airport lights, his smooth hair gleamed.

If those strands slipped between one’s fingers, they would surely make a soft rustling sound.

Without realizing it, Hae-jun began to reach out his hand, but paused when he heard Si-hyeon mumble.

“Boss.”

“Yes.”

After a long silence, Si-hyeon finally spoke in a small voice, his shoulders hunched.

“…Is it really impossible?”

Cha Hae-jun did not answer.

Since the question already had a decided answer, he saw no reason to waste time saying it aloud.