Doctor Demon

Chapter 312 – Melting Hearts

Siwan sighed out loud, wondering how he got himself into this situation. Only moments ago, he was having a drink alone and now…

"Wanwan, I wanna go to the park!" Jiwoon exclaimed, her voice slurry. She was acting like a child on an adventure, enjoying the piggyback ride she was receiving from Siwan. He hoisted her on his back but it was hard to keep her in check because she was over excited.

"You can't go to the park now," he said in a calm tone. "You need to go home and rest."

"B-b-but…little Jiwoon wants to go to the park!" She insisted. She jerked backwards, nearly falling but Siwan kept a firm grip on her.

"If you behave, I'll treat you to chocolates," he promised. 

"Really? Okay! Little Jiwoon will be quiet!"

She giggled loudly, her hands wrapped around Siwan's neck. "Wanwan is so nice!" she went on.

Jiwoon pouted her cheeks and kept on glancing around as if she was seeing everything for the first time. When drunk, she was like a happy child who clung on to the nearest person. Everyone on the street was staring at the odd duo but Siwan was more concerned about Jiwoon because she might fall down.

She was not heavy but her state was delicate. He could have taken his car but Jiwoon refused to get into it so he had to abandon it at the parking lot for the night.

Siwan did not mind the situation but he was quite amused. Jiwoon was going 'oooh' and 'ahhh' at everything she saw. Her eyes were glittering under the streetlights and she had a childlike innocence which was quite fun to witness. 

"Pwettyyyy!" She gasped at a random light.

"You mean, 'pretty'," Siwan corrected her.

"Pwetty."

"Pretty."

"Silly Wanwan! They're pwettyyyy!"

Siwan shook his head in amusement. He was slowly walking along the street with Jiwoon on his back. Their house was still ten blocks away but he was not in a hurry. For some reason, it felt nice to carry her around like this.

"Wanwan, do you wanna know a secret?" She whispered into his ear.

"What is it?"

"Promise me that you won't tell!"

"I promise."

"Wanwan…" she began. "Wanwan…I really really really like you!"

Siwan froze for a moment but he shook off the awkwardness and kept walking. Jiwoon, on the other hand, was too wasted to care about anything else. She lay her head against his back, feeling sad.

"Little Jiwoon knows Wanwan doesn't like her," she mumbled. "Wanwan likes someone else but little Jiwoon can't help it."

"What…What do you like about Wanwan?" Siwan asked, feeling curious.

"Hmm…" Jiwoon was now in deep thought. "Wanwan is nice. He is kind and thoughtful. He wants to save everyone around him. And little Jiwoon wants to save him."

She hugs him tightly, her eyes turning a little misty. Siwan felt her shaking a little and she sniffed.

"Wanwan cares too much for others so he doesn't take care of himself," she murmured. "So little Jiwoon cares for him."

The barriers around her were falling and for the first time, Siwan got a peek into her heart. Beneath the quiet and stoic exterior was a girl who once had many dreams. Jiwoon was also once a person who had the wish to love and be loved. She sought it with Sungki who destroyed her but she rose from the ashes to create new dreams. 

"Wanwan has many things to do now," Siwan admitted to her. "His life is too dangerous. Wanwan doesn't want little Jiwoon to suffer-"

"Little Jiwoon will suffer more if she is told to stop liking Wanwan."

Siwan stopped in his tracks. They were standing in front of Jiwoon's building for a while. He was unable to answer her at all. Her simple confessions were stirring something in his heart which he never felt before. Not even with Jina.

Jiwoon slowly got off his back and climbed down. She hung her head low like a child who was caught doing something naughty.

"Little Jiwoon can't stop liking Wanwan," she sobbed. "Wanwan is too precious."

Siwan stared at her for a while. "Why do you want to keep loving Wanwan so much?" he finally asked.

"I just want to."

Jiwoon was still not looking at him, staring at her feet instead. She was slightly pouting, adamant in her stance.

Siwan took a step forward. He was a foot taller than her and she slowly looked up at him.

"Little Jiwoon can't stop liking you," she whispered. "And she is not sorry for it."

"Tell little Jiwoon she doesn't have to be sorry," he said. "But I am sorry."

"Sorry? Wanwan is sorry? For what?"

"For this."

He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Jiwoon froze for a moment, her drunk mind not able to decipher what was happening but she closed her eyes and slowly kissed him back. His lips were soft and had a toffee taste which was quite sweet. 

His hands cupped her face, holding her as if she was quite delicate. They stood under the streetlight, their lips locked in a chaste kiss which made butterflies flutter in their stomach. 

Siwan gently let her go, pulling back. Jiwoon was in a daze and her unfocused eyes were on Siwan. 

"I'm sorry for kissing little Jiwoon when she's dead drunk," he winked. "Next time, I'll make sure she's not drunk."

"Little Jiwoon is drunk?"

Jiwoon was confused. She was trying to think but…think about what? Why was she feeling so happy all of a sudden?

"What's going on?" 

Siwan turned around to find Baekha who had just returned from cram school. She was peering suspiciously at Jiwoon and then at Siwan.

"Did something happen?" she asked. "Why is sis drunk?"

"Give her some painkillers and lemon juice in the morning," Siwan instructed with a smile. "Oats Porridge also helps with hangovers."

"Huh?"

Baekha was confused but Jiwoon was starting to fall asleep so she rushed forward to support her. Siwan merely nodded and turned around to walk away.

"Little Jiwoon says bye bye!" Jiwoon yelped. Siwan waved at her and left, smiling to himself.

"Little Jiwoon knows how to melt someone's heart," he mused.