Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Ye jun

The door creaked wider and there she was. Mom stood frozen in the doorway with her hand still on the knob. Her eyes went huge. She looked like she had walked in on something awful instead of just two wet idiots half tangled on the bed.

I shoved off Si-woo so fast I almost rolled right off the mattress. My knee hit the floor hard. My heart pounded so loud it felt like it wanted to jump out of my chest. “Mom, shit, wait. It’s not. We weren’t.”

Si-woo just propped himself up on one elbow. He looked annoyingly calm even though his face was still pale and the bandage showed under the cap he had yanked back on. He did not even bother fixing his shirt where it had ridden up over his stomach.

Mom’s mouth opened then closed. She sucked in a sharp gasp. That sound made my stomach twist hard.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted out. I scrambled to my feet. My hands went up like I was giving up. “I swear it’s not what it looks like. We were just. We fell. I tripped. He pulled me down because his head hurts and I was trying to. Fuck, Mom, please don’t freak out. I can explain.”

Si-woo snorted loud enough to cut right through my panic. “Jesus, drama queen. Breathe. She didn’t see shit.”

Mom blinked at me like I had grown an extra head. “Explain what, Ye Jun? What are you apologizing for?” Her eyes flicked to Si-woo then back to me. They narrowed. “Did you hit your head too? Because you look like you’re about to pass out.”

I stopped talking. Right in the middle of my sentence. My mouth just hung open.

She had not seen the kiss.

She had only seen me basically crash into him or him yank me down. And somehow her brain went straight to him smacking his head again. She thought I was losing it because of that.

I let out a shaky laugh. It came out more like a choke. “Nothing. Nothing at all. I just thought you’d think we were fighting again. You know. Usual stuff.”

Mom rolled her eyes so hard I swear I heard the sound. “You two fight like cats in a sack every other day. I’m used to it. But if you gave him another concussion I will chain you both to separate continents.” She stepped inside the room. She sniffed the air. “You smell like hospital. Both of you. Downstairs. Dinner’s ready. Now. And Si-woo, if I see you touch that laptop tonight I’m throwing it in the pool.”

Si-woo groaned like the world was ending. He flopped back onto the pillows. “You’re killing me, woman. Slowly. With love.”

“Love’s the only thing keeping you alive right now,” she shot back. She was already turning to leave. “Five minutes. Move it.”

The door clicked shut behind her.

I stood there breathing hard. My hands shook a little. I stared at the closed door like it might open again and yell at me. My face felt hot. My chest still hurt from how fast my heart had been going.

Si-woo let out a low laugh from the bed. “Your face right now. Priceless. Thought we were about to get kicked out of the family or something?”

“Shut up,” I muttered. I rubbed my face with both hands. “I really thought she saw. I thought we were done for.”

He propped himself up again. Just enough to look at me. “She saw you acting like your usual panicky self. Which is normal for you. Relax. We’re fine.”

I glared at him. “You yanked me down. You could have just let me stand there.”

“Yeah and you kissed me back like you were starving. Don’t act innocent.” He smirked even though it looked like it hurt his head. “We’re even.”

I wanted to argue more but my stomach growled loud. It echoed in the quiet room. I pressed a hand to it. “Whatever. We have to go down. Before she comes back with a spoon or something.”

Si-woo pushed himself up slower. He winced when he sat all the way. “Give me a second. The room is still spinning a little.”

I stepped closer without thinking. “You okay?”

He waved me off. “I’m fine. Just don’t baby me in front of her or she’ll make you sleep in my room to watch me all night.”

I snorted. “Like that would be a punishment.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Careful. Sounds like you want round two already.”

“Shut up and get dressed properly,” I said. I grabbed the hem of his shirt and tugged it down so it covered his stomach again. My fingers brushed his skin for a second. He did not pull away.

He stood up. A little wobbly. He grabbed my arm for balance. “You’re still damp. You look like a drowned rat.”

“You’re one to talk. You smell like antiseptic and sweat.”

He grinned. “Romantic.”

We headed downstairs. I kept one hand near his elbow just in case he tipped. He pretended not to notice.

Mom was already at the table setting out plates. The food smelled good. Rice and grilled meat and some vegetables she always made too spicy. Dad was still in his office. We could hear his voice through the door. He was on a call. Something about deadlines.

Mom looked up when we walked in. “Finally. Sit. Eat before it gets cold.”

Si-woo dropped into his chair. He leaned back like he owned the place. “Smells amazing. You trying to bribe us into behaving?”

Mom pointed a spoon at him. “Eat your vegetables or I bribe you with no dessert.”

I sat across from him. I kept my eyes on my plate. Every time I looked up he was watching me with that stupid half-smirk. Like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

We ate quiet for a minute. Then Mom started talking about their trip again. Paris this. Paris that. New clothes she bought. Snacks she brought back. She kept pushing more food onto our plates.

Si-woo picked at his rice. He was not eating much. His face still looked pale under the kitchen light.

“You need to eat more,” I said low. “You look like crap.”

He kicked my shin under the table. “Mind your business, nurse.”

Mom caught it. “No kicking. And Ye Jun’s right. Eat. You need strength to finish that project your dad keeps asking about.”

Si-woo groaned. “Not you too.”

Dad walked in right then. He ended his call. He looked tired. “Speaking of the project. You said end of week. You still on track?”

Si-woo nodded. “Yeah. I’m on it.”

Dad sat down. He looked at Si-woo hard. “You sure? You look half dead.”

“I’ve worked through worse,” Si-woo said. “Concussion is just extra motivation.”

Mom smacked his arm lightly. “No sarcasm. And yes he’s on track. Because Ye Jun is helping him rest.”

I almost choked on my water. “Helping how?”

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