Beautiful Flower: A BDSM Romance. Book 2

My heart is shattered.

I still couldn't believe that Su-ji was capable of mistreating the one person who loved her the most in the world!

My grandmother is very ill; I heard it again from the doctor as soon as we arrived in Seoul, and not being able to be by her side because she had to be in the ICU with equipment that allowed her to breathe was even more painful.

"She should have come to the hospital earlier," the doctor said. At that moment, it was just me and Hyun-Suk, and I was thankful to have him. Without his support, help, and comfort, I would surely have succumbed.

But Hyun-Suk surprised me a lot. I never thought I would see him the way I am seeing him now.

I never thought he would be like this by my side.

"I thought she was getting the treatment she needed. But..." I sighed, feeling Hyun-Suk squeeze my shoulders even harder.

"Are you responsible for her?"

"Now he is," Hyun-Suk replied. "The person who used to take care of her left her without treatment in an inferior hospital. Please do everything you can to make her well."

"Well, now she's breathing through the machines, but I presume that with the right medication, she'll be able to breathe on her own soon. But I must warn you in advance, she needs a transplant. Both lungs are in short supply. Was your grandmother a smoker?"

My eyes burned, and I had to deny it. "No, but once she... was exposed to a large amount of coal smoke for a long time. She inhaled it for about ten minutes..."

"Oh my goodness, do you know how dangerous that is? Coal emits high concentrations of carbon monoxide, inhaling it can even lead to death!"

"Yeah, I know..." I lowered my gaze, feeling my head ache. I hated having the same memory. After that, I didn't want to be alone. We were far from Hyun-Suk's house, but close to one of the buildings he owned. I still didn't feel comfortable entering another apartment after what had happened with the previous one, but when he promised me that no one had ever been with him to that one, I decided to give in and try to rest. I was still thinking about my grandmother, Su-ji, and especially how I felt even more guilty now for not even bothering to find out if the money was really being used for the right care.

"I have a headache," I said, looking at the sky from the top-floor balcony. It's cold, but I sigh when Hyun-Suk hugs me from behind and comforts me a little more.

"I'll call the pharmacy, okay? But you need to come inside and eat a bit," he says, pulling my body closer to his. Hyun-Suk had nothing here that could feed us; all that ruled the apartment was beautiful, dust-free furniture. But to avoid spending the night hungry, he ordered pizza. I sit at the table, watching him call the pharmacy to order medication and personal hygiene products. I lean over the table, opening the pizza box, noticing that Hyun-Suk ordered my favorite flavor.

After sitting across from me, trying to serve himself a slice of pizza and another for himself, he looked around, sighed, and then looked at me again.

"What do you think?"

I smiled and shook my head.

"It's beautiful, but don't even think about it."

"Why not? Don't you think this is a good place for you and your grandmother to stay?"

"My grandmother?"

"She's going to leave the hospital, Jaejun, don't you believe that?"

"Of course, I believe it. I just don't want you to do this."

"It's not a big deal, you know. There are two bedrooms here; you'll be fine. Or if you don't want to, you can stay with me at home. It's so big and empty, I'd be happy if you were there."

I sighed, resting the nearly finished slice of pizza back on the box.

"Hyun, I know you just want to help me. But we've already talked about this. I'll look for a place I can afford and that's comfortable."

"Please," he interrupted, looking at me with those ridiculously cute eyes.

"It wouldn't make sense, Hyun-Suk."

"Why not?"

"Because we're not even dating! I would be living in your house as what? A fling? And then if all this ends? Would you kick me out?"

Hyun-Suk stared at me silently. I lowered my gaze and sighed when I saw him stand up and come over to where I was sitting. When Hyun-Suk stopped there, his hand came to my face and lifted it slowly.

"Do you think I would kick you out?"

"If you didn't, you'd keep me in your house out of obligation. I don't want that..."

"Jaejun, for God's sake!" he seemed upset, but I knew I was right in my principles. I don't want to be a burden; I've been through that twice in my life, a third time is completely unnecessary.

"Thank you, Hyun, but I can't accept it."

"Then stay here," he said, returning to his food. "Anyway, this apartment is yours."

I chuckled softly, reaching for my pizza, but Hyun-Suk picked up his phone, unlocking it to show me the screen. It was a message from him to Hajun, and in a simple and direct way, he was asking Hajun to transfer that particular apartment into my name.

"You're crazy!" I protested, but he just locked his phone.

"The building is mine; I can give apartments to whomever I want, especially to the person of my life."

"Hyun..."

"I told you, this is not a joke to me, Jaejun. I've never cared to have one person; I've always had many, but then you appeared, and I realized how unique you are. I don't want to buy you; I would never do that because I know your values. But just as you allowed me to help your grandmother with the hospital, let me give you this gift. This is a place that will be yours; I'll only come if you want me to. You and your grandmother will be comfortable, and it's close to your work. There's a subway line right here because I know that if I offered to give you a private driver, you would definitely refuse."

"I would refuse, indeed," I pouted. I felt Hyun-Suk caress my cheek, and I rested my head on his shoulder. "Thank you..."

"So, do you accept?"

"For my grandmother... and you can come over anytime, you silly."

Hyun-Suk smiled and kissed me, mixing the taste of the pizza he had just chewed with mine. I made a brief face, and I saw him smile even more as he stood up to answer the door.

I shook my head; he seemed genuinely happy, but it was all so crazy. When I looked around, all I could think about was how much all of this was worth and why Hyun-Suk wanted to give it to me. There was no need, but it didn't seem to matter much to him. It made me realize how different we were in terms of finances and how we could naturally be in different realities. But Hyun-Suk still seemed comfortable with me, my friends, and my life the way it was. He didn't seem like the type of rich person who likes to feel superior. He was just taking care of me.

"It's better to split it in two, don't you think?" he approached with a pill and a small bottle of water.

I reached for it and laughed, looking at him. "You don't need to, Hyun; I can swallow a pill without dying."

Hyun-Suk sat beside me and watched me swallow the pill without water, choosing to drink it only afterward.

"Do you think I'll be able to visit Grandma soon?" I asked, feeling him come closer and hug me around the waist.

"Well, I hope so."

"I hope she wakes up soon. I miss seeing her well."

"She'll be fine soon. Now eat a little more; I don't want you to get sick. Okay?"

I grabbed another little piece of pizza and ate while he continued to watch me. I even teased him into eating a little more, but after two slices of pizza, we were full. Then he showed me the bedroom, and I sighed as I entered the suite and saw the large shower right there.

I brushed my teeth before shamelessly undressing and rushing under the hot water. My body was a mess; I was almost rotten from exhaustion.

Hyun-Suk didn't join me in the shower, so when I came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, I looked for him and smiled when I saw him busy changing the bed sheets for clean ones.

"Do you need help?" I asked, walking to the middle of the room.

"No, I'm done," he said, straightening up and placing both hands on his waist, approving of the work he had done.

"Hyun, where are the pajamas?"

"There aren't any," he said, smiling. "I'll have Hajun or Hanguk bring some from home tomorrow, but for now, is it okay to sleep like this?"

"Isn't it going to be cold?"

He shrugged. He walked over to the bedside table and opened the curtains with the remote control. The sky was beautiful, the moon right there, blessing us. The windows remained closed to keep the cold wind out, but I sat on the edge of the bed, lost in the view of the stars.

"I'm going to take a shower," he announced.

I looked over my shoulder and laughed as I saw him undress and fold his clothes to leave them on a chair in the corner. Mine were still scattered on the bathroom floor, and as embarrassment washed over me, I saw him return to the room already naked but with my clothes in his hands, also neatly folded.

"Thank you," I said.

He didn't complain; he just went back to the bathroom.

I lay naked on the bed and wrapped myself in the warm duvet. I was still looking at the moon, never having the sensation of lying down and feeling so much tranquility after an episode in hell, but it was good, and I wanted to savor more of it. Maybe savor it every day of my life. I deserved to feel tranquility too.

I heard the sound of the water stop, and minutes later, I watched Hyun-Suk walk naked as he dried the tips of his wet hair. He left the towel on the chair as well, but he simply threw it there. His body came to the bed, and I felt good when he pulled me close and cuddled me in a nice spooning position.

"Goodnight, my love," he wished, kissing my neck.

I smiled and kissed the back of his hand that was around my shoulders.

"Goodnight, love," I wished, biting my lower lip before closing my eyes and surrendering to exhaustion.