TIP #20: “Car, vois-tu, chaque jour je t’aime davantage, aujourd’hui plus qu’hier et bien moins que demain”
(For, you see, each day I love you more, today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow)

The atmosphere between both of them is disconcerting.

“So you’re still not gonna tell me what happened.” Jongin deadpans from the side without sparing a glance.

Not answering his question, Baekhyun sips down a mouthful of vodka down his system. It burns in his oesophagus, but the fire in him burns greater.

“Just.. she’s a woman. Shouldn’t be roaming around late at night.” He lies through his teeth. Baekhyun is having the huge dilemma on whether to tell Jongin the truth. The entire truth. Or if it’s better for In Hya to tell it herself. He knows that it’s critical for him to know, considering how much he likes her, but Baekhyun can’t help to think that the damages will be kept to minimum if he shoulders it alone.

“Woman? Do you even hear yourself? You’ve never referred to them as women. As far as I remember, only ‘playthings’, exist in your narrow dictionary.” Jongin shoots through a mocking tone.

Baekhyun freezes in his seat. Jongin has a point, since when has he ever treated anyone as a woman? And most importantly, since when has he been seeing In Hya as one? Heck, he’s been investing so much time on her that nothing seems logical anymore. It is more to magic, Baekhyun believes.

“Are you serious right now? There’s nothing earth-shattering about what I just called her than that horrible encounter just now.”

Jongin suddenly feels a pang of pain injected in his chest, “I know, I know what she, and you went through was horrific. But this is a different matter altogether. You called her a woman, Baek, and it actually means something because that’s probably the last thing I will expect from you.”

Baekhyun lets out a condescending snort, “And what does it mean, huh? What can it possibly mean?”

A minute of silence replaces their sharp argument before Jongin answers, “Have you taken a liking to her?”

Baekhyun is taken aback, “What the are you talking about?”

“Answer my question.” Jongin’s tone is serious and gravely.

Baekhyun turns to look away, “No.”

“Remember that time when you said she was definitely not your type? Does your statement still stand?”

“Of course it does.” Baekhyun says a little quieter.

Jongin picks up the tab and stands up to leave.

“I hope you will honor your words too.”

* *

“This might sting a bit, so bear with it.”

Wonwoo grits his teeth as the solution of alcohol blazes his open gash that causes Mdm Bae to quickly wrap up her treatment.

“I’m sorry to be bothering you this late at night.”

“What are you saying? Thank God I’m still in the store, otherwise who will clean up your wound for you?” She reprimands and slides his shirt down a little, “How did you get this by the way?” She enquires as she inspects the wound that is clotted with blood.

“I was paying my dues..” Wonwoo says vaguely while intently staring at the older woman before her.

“My my, whoever did this to you deserves to get punished.” Mdm Bae muses unknowingly.

“You really think so?” He smirks twistedly.

“Of course. How can they hurt such a good man like you?” She encourages and pastes a band on the side of his neck.

Mdm Bae’s unexpected reply probably causes a subtle reaction in him as he gazes her who is still adjusting the band on his neck. Every single one of her kind and thoughtful words penetrates into Wonwoo’s system like a gum. Mdm Bae, she is a person who has been caring for him since he got out of jail like the role deemed perfect for a mother.

“Mdm Bae.”

“Hmm?” She quips while securing back the bottles of disinfectants.

“I’m just thinking of what I should do. Should I just stop here.. or should I just keep on going till the end?” Wonwoo suddenly start shedding doubts.

“Why? Are you supposed to fulfill something, Won?” Mdm Bae says incredulously.

“Huh?” Wonwoo perks up, “O-Oh yeah. I have a goal that I want to achieve. But after being in this state, I thought that maybe I should just move on. So I was wondering if I should just stop here or keep going till the end. That’s what I’m thinking.” He lets out a small laugh.

“But if you’re already like this, shouldn’t you just keep on going to the end?”

“Should I? You really think so?” Wonwoo his head for confirmation.

“Yeah. You have to see to it.” Mdm Bae nods, “You were even willing to get injured to fulfill your goal.” She shows support to his underlying commendable attitude, “That shows it must be really important right?”

Wonwoo masks a low cynical scoff, “That’s right. I have to see it through the end.” He watches Mdm Bae darkly as she goes back into the kitchen, unbeknownst of his hungry glare, “That’s what I think too.”

* *

Baekhyun takes half-day off the next day because the pain in his hand was acting up in the meeting. He visits the pharmacist for some antibiotics and cream before driving to the shady gadgets store he visited 3 days ago.

“So how? Did you get what I asked for?”

The shopkeeper unlocks one of the drawers and takes out In Hya’s phone along with a slip of post-stick note.

“Here is the number. And here is the location from where the texts are coming from.”

Baekhyun slides the note off the table and brings it before his shades, “Jeju