Chapter 20đźŤ
Milim tore off a few strips of tissue and wiped herself after using the bathroom. She stepped on the trash can's pedal with her foot and dropped the used tissue inside. Only then did she tie the drawstring on her sweatpants. Out of habit, she kicked the water tap switch with her foot and turned around—only to nearly jump out of her skin.
Dylan was standing right behind her.
Startled, Milim blurted out, "Okay… when did this guy even come in?"
Dylan didn't answer. He just tugged at his collar and slowly turned away, pushing the bathroom door open. But his mind was still stuck on what he had just seen. His thoughts were a mess. His heart was beating fast.
I don't remember how I looked at seventeen or eighteen, he thought. But there's no way I was this delicate and clean… Tsk, I even said she was just a kid—barely grown.
He stepped aside to let Milim out first. Milim quickly smoothed the hem of her slightly wrinkled top. Just as she was about to leave the bathroom, she heard her father's voice approaching from outside.
Startled, she immediately stepped back in and shut the door. She looked up, her eyes meeting Dylan's in a silent panic. Her mind went completely blank.
Dylan stood still, watching her with calm eyes. He didn't speak, but the air between them became heavy and strangely tense. In the tight space, every breath, every small sound, echoed louder. It made her heartbeat quicken, though she didn't understand why.
Finally, Milim whispered, "Thank you for taking care of me."
Outside, she could still hear her father's footsteps.
Dylan looked down at her young face. He took in a deep breath and quietly replied, "It's something I'm supposed to do."
After all, this wasn't a small issue between them anymore.
Doesn't she understand what it means to have a child together? Dylan thought.
Soon, the sound of footsteps faded, followed by the click of a door closing. Milim sighed in relief and smiled slightly. It was a small smile—soft and faint—but it lit up her entire face. That tiny smile made Dylan's heart tighten without warning. The girl who always looked annoyed at him… smiled. At him.
He suddenly felt like he needed a strong drink and a cigarette just to calm down. But on the outside, Dylan stayed composed. Cool and collected, he reached out to open the door and motioned for Milim to go ahead.
Milim washed her hands quickly. Just as the toilet behind them flushed, she panicked and grabbed Dylan's wrist, dragging him out with her head lowered. Dylan, still stunned, followed silently. The whole way to the office, he walked in a daze, still reeling from everything that had happened.
When they arrived, he finally regained his senses and acted annoyed. "Next time, don't walk so fast," he scolded.
Milim saw that his hands were still wet. Feeling guilty, she quickly pulled a tissue from her bag and handed it to him, bowing her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to rush you before you could wash your hands."
Only then did Dylan realize she hadn't even finished rinsing. He took the tissue, wiped his hands, and stayed silent.
Later, after another discussion with Enzo, Milim looked up and said, "Mr. Dylan, it's getting late…"
She kicked at Dylan's polished leather shoe lightly and whispered, "I want to go to the pastry shop, okay?"
Without a word, Dylan picked up the nanny bag—stuffed with snacks, tissues, an umbrella, a portable fan—and walked with her. As they stepped into the hot sun, Milim turned on the small fan and held it close to her face, enjoying the breeze.
Dylan, feeling the tension from the earlier bathroom moment, leaned slightly toward her. Their arms were almost touching.
"The weather's hot enough already. Don't lean so close," Milim muttered as she entered the elevator. Now that her father wasn't nearby, she finally felt safe.
At the entrance of Sunshine Bakery, the sun was blazing.
"Stay still," Dylan ordered as Milim reached for the car door.
He unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car, and opened an umbrella before walking around to open her door. "Seriously, you can't be careless like this."
Milim pouted. "Getting a little sun is good for your health."
Dylan knocked on the car roof. "With this much UV? You're joking. Your brain clearly isn't fully developed yet."
Milim felt uncomfortable. He cares for me… but it feels so strange.
When they entered the bakery, the cashier recognized Milim immediately. "Mimi! Are you back to work?"
"No," Milim smiled awkwardly. "I came to talk to the store manager."
"He's in the back," the lady said, glancing curiously at Dylan.
Milim turned to Dylan. "Will you wait here?"
"None of your concern," he replied coolly, raising his chin.
Milim nodded and walked off. She quickly explained her reason for coming, and the manager understood. When he heard she was leaving, he immediately packed a bag of bread and snacks for her. Apparently, all the staff who left before her got similar farewell gifts.
Milim felt a pang of guilt. If I hadn't gotten pregnant, I'd be in college now.
Back at the car, Dylan silently took the paper bag from her—it weighed nearly two pounds. Once they were seated, he noticed Milim's odd expression.
"If you want more of this kind of thing, I'll take you to buy better ones," he said. "You don't have to rely on these."
"I know," Milim replied with a snort. "They're full of sugar and calories."
Dylan's eyes twitched. "Well."
After lunch, in a surprisingly good mood, Dylan carried the nanny bag in one hand and a fruit box in the other. As he walked through the office hallway, heads turned in curiosity.
Once inside his office, Milim didn't waste time. She made her way to the lounge and dropped onto the bed. Dylan adjusted the air conditioning, took off her shoes, and placed her feet neatly on the bed before returning to work. Every half an hour, he'd quietly check on her, staying just 30 seconds before going back.
At 3:30 PM, Milim was awakened by her phone.
"Mimi, let's go out tonight!" It was Bria, her classmate. "I'll introduce you to a guy!"
Still groggy, Milim rubbed her eyes. "What guy? You haven't even lost weight yet."
"This guy's good-looking and pure. He's from the high school next door!"
"Stop it. We're not exactly supermodels," Milim sighed. "You used my photo to talk to a guy again?"
"I did! Please, just this once! I already promised we'd be there. Don't make me look bad," Bria pleaded.
"I can't go," Milim said, pressing a hand to her forehead. "I quit my job, and I'm not feeling well."
There was silence on the other end. Milim could imagine Bria fuming.
"…Alright. Rest well. I'll figure something out," Bria finally said.
Milim ended the call and lay with her arm over her eyes. Her heart felt heavy. Bria was one of her only close friends—always loyal, always helping her. She'd just always wanted to be loved, but guys ignored her for her looks.
Suddenly, another message popped up.
Bria: Time and address… Haven Road, near Lune River. I'll wait for you at 6:30.
Milim checked the clock. Just past four. She knew she couldn't tell the truth—Dylan would never let her go. She sat up, slid on her shoes, and walked out.
"Mister Dylan," she called.
He looked up immediately and stood. "Go ahead."
"Do you want to eat dinner early tonight?" she asked casually. "I have something to do at home."
Dylan didn't answer right away. Instead, he walked to the bathroom and said, "Sure."
Milim smiled. "Then I'll leave now."
" I'll take you home" he said, raising his brow.
"I—uh—fine," she stammered.
At 6 PM, Milim returned home.
"Bye-bye," she waved as Dylan held the elevator open. But instead of leaving, he waited until she entered her flat.
Two minutes later, Milim peeked out. Seeing no one, she slipped away.
"Bria, I'm on the way," she texted.
From his parked car, Dylan, smoking with the window down, saw a familiar figure exit the gate. It was Milim.
She got into a taxi and told the driver, "To Lune River."
Dylan narrowed his eyes, crushed the cigarette, and stepped on the gas to follow.