Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 142

“You can’t keep standing like that.”

At the answer that came back so matter-of-factly, Yujin felt even more stunned.

“Ah... you’re not going?”

Finally letting out what was on his mind, Winston responded casually.

“I have the freedom to be wherever I want.”

Of course. But what about my freedom to be alone?

There were so many things he wanted to say that his words caught in his throat. Yujin opened his mouth but couldn’t make a sound, then closed it again. No matter what he said, he felt he couldn’t win against this man, and that negative thought crushed all his will.

“...Do as you please then.”

Muttering weakly, he made his last statement by turning his body and lying down. The throbbing pain splitting his entire body in half with every movement was agonizing, but he bit his lip and endured it. He thought it was better to bear the pain than to be defenselessly exposed under that gaze.

After that, silence stretched on. How much time passed in the stillness where even breaths couldn’t be heard? After a nurse came in, gave him an injection, and he fell asleep, Yujin finally relaxed his tense body and closed his eyes with relief.

Thanks to the medicine, when he opened his eyes, his mind was foggy. But the dullness in his body made the pain feel weaker than the previous day. Although he couldn’t stop the groans slipping from his lips with even slight movements.

“Hmm...”

Yujin, furrowing his brow and making a small sound, turned his body absentmindedly—and suddenly opened his eyes wide in surprise. Dark purple eyes were staring at him. The gaze, watching him motionless like a statue, made Yujin freeze in place.

Suddenly, the last memory from the day before resurfaced. He had escaped into sleep, unaware—could it be that Winston had been like that all night? Sitting right there the entire time?

Why?

His head filled with questions. Then Winston suddenly sighed. Yujin saw his stiffened shoulders drop slightly for a moment. His loosened lips and collapsed expression too. It was an unmistakable look of relief spreading throughout his whole body.

Yujin only stared, bewildered. It felt like the first time since their reunion that he had seen Winston’s bare face. If such a raw expression was shown, it was impossible to ignore. It was as if Winston had kept watch there all night, unable to sigh for worry over Yujin.

There had to be another reason.

He clearly averted his eyes from the fact in front of him. If Winston had stayed awake all night out ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) of concern for Yujin, the old Yujin might have cried with gratitude. But that was literally the “old Yujin.” Winston was no longer that man either. So this reality must have a completely different meaning. When circumstances change, so do the outcomes.

Only a few seconds passed with neither of them speaking. The silence lingering between them was unlike the previous day. Confusion, relief, and other tangled emotions mixed as Yujin finally spoke first.

“...Why are you like that?”

His hoarse voice leaked out embarrassingly even to himself. He felt suddenly weak and it soured his mood. He absolutely didn’t want to look vulnerable in front of this man.

Contrasting Yujin’s defeated expression, Winston quickly returned to his masked face. As Yujin watched, he was the first to move his body. Like stretching out a body stiffened overnight, Winston slowly changed legs and sat cross-legged, then opened his mouth.

“How’s your body?” It was a simple question, but in the current situation, it was a special one. Yujin hesitated before answering obediently.

“It still hurts. But it’s better than yesterday.”

He deliberately withheld any thanks—he felt no gratitude toward him. Those who have much can be honest, and those who have nothing can bare their insides like that.

Of course, the opposite might also be true.

Putting aside the bitter counterargument rising in his mind, Yujin continued.

“What were you doing? You didn’t spend the night here like that, did you?”

If that were true, it would have been an enormous burden. Someone had been watching his sleeping face the whole time, and that someone was Winston. He felt as if his wound, already healing, might be reopened. Though he had practically seen the answer with his own eyes, Yujin had to ask. If the answer was yes, he would tell him to leave. He watched nervously as Winston slowly answered.

“I usually don’t sleep much.”

Yujin was momentarily lost for words at the unexpected answer. Blinking and moving only his lips, Winston casually added.

“You know that, don’t you? That I hardly sleep.”

“Ah, I know that.”

Yujin stammered unintentionally and shut his mouth again. Countless thoughts raced through his mind, making it impossible to organize them. Actually, Winston wasn’t wrong. While sharing a bedroom, Yujin had learned that Winston literally hardly slept. Winston woke immediately if Yujin moved even slightly, went to bed much later, and left for work before Yujin even opened his eyes. His daily sleep was less than three hours, and even that was fragmented. Can extreme Alphas really go without sleep like this?

“You have to at least lie down and rest... even if you don’t sleep.”

Without realizing it, he had uttered words tinged with pity.

“Watching me all the time won’t change how I’m doing. It’s a waste of time.”

Yujin hurriedly tried to brush it off. Even while deliberately speaking coldly, a part of him felt heavy. Was Winston trying to guilt him on purpose? Anyway, knowing that he worried like that wouldn’t bring peace of mind. Lost in thought, Yujin quickly denied it.

No way, that man worries about me? No chance. There must be another reason.

Maybe he was watching in case Yujin tried to run away again. Probably so. That reason was much more believable.

“There’s no need for this. I’m not some great person who can escape the hospital after getting hurt like this. I’m no CIA agent.”

He sneered fully, but Winston’s face still showed no particular emotion.

“Right, you don’t have government agent skills. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be in this state.”

He agreed in his usual slow tone and added casually. Again, Yujin thought, he was furious at having even momentarily pitied this man.

“To think you sat on that folding chair all night just to blame me—now that’s dedication.”

Yujin wanted to applaud, but had no energy. Fighting required tremendous stamina too, he realized, and gave up his will.

“That’s enough. Just go. I can be alone.”

Before Winston could say anything, Yujin quickly added,

“I’m too uncomfortable to rest with you here. Don’t you have to go to work? Please leave.”

He said his piece and closed his eyes. Choosing to ignore reality, he heard the sound of a chair scraping a few seconds later.

...Huh?

Startled by the movement, Yujin couldn’t help but react. Was he actually listening to him? Opening his eyes reluctantly, he saw Winston looking down at him from a much higher position than before. The sudden overwhelming pressure hit him just as Winston spoke.

“I’ll change my clothes and come back. Rest.”

“Wha—”

Yujin stammered, flustered.

“You don’t have to come back again.”

Calling out hurriedly behind Winston as he turned to leave, Winston left without a word. Left alone, Yujin finally had the private space he had longed for. But he still lay there staring at the closed door for a long while.

True to his word, Winston returned after just over two hours. Yujin mocked, asking what about his company, but after seeing a stream of men bringing documents and office supplies into the hospital room behind Winston, he had no choice but to shut up. To Yujin’s astonishment, Winston sat down and began working right there in the hospital room.