Chapter 61 (2/2)
She told him again. He touched her smiling lips and called her name.
”SoYoon.”
”Yes.”
”You were SoYoon.”
”Yes, Yochanan.”
The beautiful face came closer. SoYoon reflexively closed her eyes. His lips softly kissed hers, and Mad Hatter smiled.
”I hadn't intended this to happen. We had been talking about something serious…”
Even as he said this, he kissed her again. It was only then that she realized that Mad Hatter had kissed her, but she didn't feel any other emotion. They were like wounded animals licking each other's wounds. The thought that this could be a new feeling to their relationship bloomed only for a second in the back of her mind then quickly disappeared.
Mad Hatter leaned his head against her shoulder and said, ”To engrave the insignia, I will need some time. Come in two days—no, tomorrow afternoon. We will do it then.”
”Are you sleepy?” she asked, sensing his tired voice.
Mad Hatter nodded. ”Stay next to me while I sleep. You can do that for me, right, SoYoon?”
SoYoon watched his hair wave and felt a strange fondness for him.
***
The midday sun soon sank in the west. Mad Hatter woke up from his deep sleep and stared blankly at SoYoon, who was quietly asleep on his arm.
”SoYoon.”
He slowly mulled over the two syllables then pulled her in a tight embrace. He knew she must have heard the sound and felt his movement, but she didn't move in the slightest and continued to sleep.
”SoYoon.”
In this place, there wouldn't have been anyone who called her by this name. He was reminded of his reddened eyes and the saltiness he felt in his mouth. He suddenly felt an urge to kiss her.
”Wake up, SoYoon,” he said as he kissed her round nose. She wrinkled her nose as if she was about to wake up but soon fell back asleep.
”What are you doing all night that you can't wake up?”
His voice mixed with annoyance and jealousy as he complained out loud. He bit playfully at her nose.
When the imprint of his teeth showed white then disappeared, she opened her eyes. She blinked in surprise at the white face she saw the moment she woke up, but realized it was Mad Hatter and relaxed instinctively.
”Why Mad...Yochanan.”
”It's noon now. Get up.”
Mad Hatter lifted her by her arms. SoYoon followed upward naturally. Mad Hatter felt an ease in her friendliness.
Whatever SoYoon gave him, he loved. However, there was something else he wanted from her. Mixed in Mad Hatter's eyes was a combination of happiness and obsession.
Mad Hatter led her out of the bedroom and sat her at the dining table, then started to cook. He washed the fresh asparagus, cut its bottom, and scraped off the rough patches with a knife. He wrapped bacon around the asparagus and put it in the oven. When he finished, he led SoYoon into the living room.
”SoYoon? What's wrong?”
Pulled by his attraction, he sat on the sofa next to her. He saw the first aid kit in her hand and laughed.
”You were worried about me. Thank you.”
She ignored his words and started to put ointment on the cuts on his hands. She must have gotten annoyed by her interfering hair because she wrinkled her nose at it. Mad Hatter swept her hair back with his free hand.
She glanced up at him for a moment then went back to concentrating on his hand. He, in turn, went on happily observing her fluttering white lashes and her concentrating lips.
A few moments after she finished treating him, a sound from the oven rang. Mad Hatter got up and said, ”You can stay sitting here, SoYoon.”
She watched the back of Mad Hatter who scurried over to the kitchen.
”You must be hungry, having slept through lunchtime.”
Mad Hatter put a tray in front of her. A fried egg, bacon-wrapped asparagus, black tea, cold sponge cake, and vitamin capsules. The only things meant for Mad Hatter were the vitamin capsules.
SoYoon saw that the hand that reached for the bowl of capsules had a burn that had not been there moments ago. Mad Hatter realized what she was staring at and so pushed the food toward her and said, ”Hurry and eat. It won't be good once it gets cold.”
The salty bacon and the asparagus that had soaked in its juices were delicious. The sponge cake was fluffy and moist. However, she couldn't get her mind off the burn on his hand. Mad Hatter pretended to not notice and smiled.