It was a quiet afternoon. Sunlight streamed through the wide window as Ji-woo sipped her warm tea. It was the day of Seo Tae-joon’s medical evaluation, and their planned visit to Mt. Dongak.
She lifted the mug to her lips, her eyes drawn to the man doing push-ups under a nearby tree. His rhythm was unwavering, the muscles of his arms and back glistening in the sun. His powerful legs were stretched wide—
No! She squeezed her eyes shut. Her mind had drifted back to the other night, to the sight of Seo Tae-joon emerging from the bathroom with nothing but a towel slung low on his hips. Ji-woo shook her head, a blush creeping up her neck. The sheer, startling bulk of him beneath the thin cotton had left an impression she was trying very hard to forget.
“Female peacocks observe the upper part of the male’s tail from a distance, but they focus on the lower part when they get close.”
Ji-woo nearly dropped her mug. She turned to find Gyu-baek walking toward her, though his gaze remained fixed on the man outside. His face was a mask of neutrality. She tried to brush off her thoughts about Seo Tae-joon and greeted him calmly.
“How long have you been standing there?” she asked. “Have you eaten?”
“The Director was observing the male’s reproductive organs,” Gyu-baek declared.
“Gyu-baek!”
“Female peacocks value the color and length of the feathers. The shape and pattern are also important.”
Ji-woo frowned. “They sound very picky.”
“The Director also looks for excellent qualities in a male,” the child stated with unwavering confidence.
“What?”
“She is also picky.”
Ji-woo was speechless. She grabbed a cookie from a nearby plate and shoved it into Gyu-baek’s mouth. Out of habit, she checked behind his ears for dirt. Seeing he was clean, she poured him a glass of milk.
Gyu-baek pulled a thick encyclopedia from his bag and looked up at her, his eyes sharp and clear.
“Director, watch out for the elephants.”
“Huh?”
“Be careful.” With a serious expression, the child tapped a page in his book.
The Estrus of Animals.
It was the chapter Gyu-baek had been fixated on lately. A huge elephant, its ears flared wide, filled half the page.
“A male elephant, when it wants to mate, becomes a monster.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Male elephants turn violent when they are in estrus. You should never approach them during that time,” Gyu-baek rambled, his finger tapping anxiously against the page.
“When estrus begins, the elephant’s temples swell and a thick fluid oozes from its skin.” It was a surprisingly terrifying thing to hear from a child.
“They also become uncontrollably ferocious. Elephants that can’t control their urges will attack anything in their sight. The Director needs to watch out for the male.”
Whether Gyu-baek truly understood the meaning of estrus or not, Ji-woo was just happy to see him speaking so passionately. All the while, his eyes never strayed from the window. She was surprised; the boy was finally showing interest in something other than insects and encyclopedias.
Why is he so fixated on Seo Tae-joon?
“When elephants are ready to mate—”
Just then, Seo Tae-joon finished his workout and strode through the door. Ji-woo swiftly shoved another cookie into Gyu-baek’s mouth, cutting him off mid-sentence.
They become blinded by love.
“Gyu-baek is just a strange child. He doesn’t mean any harm by it,” Ji-woo said. They were on their way to the hospital in an old truck with a faded ‘Pine Hospital’ sticker on the door. “He didn't mean to be rude when he called you a lemur…”
“I know,” Seo Tae-joon said.
“When he gets obsessed with a topic, he just latches onto it, no matter what.”
“I suppose I’m the same way.”
Her hand trembled on the steering wheel. She had felt his intense gaze on her from the moment she’d climbed into the driver’s seat. Seo Tae-joon, sitting beside her, was just staring.
“Seo Tae-joon, look ahead. The road.”
“I’m not the one driving. Do I have to?”
“You won’t be happy if I crash this truck because you’re distracting me.”
“Are you going to crash?”
“Maybe!” She could feel the heat of his stare on her skin. He sighed, a sound of mild dissatisfaction, but finally turned his head to look forward.
“Ji-woo, I need an ID.”
The light turned red. Ji-woo slammed on the brakes so hard the truck lurched, throwing her forward. Before she could hit the steering wheel, Seo Tae-joon’s arm shot out, bracing against the dashboard and shielding her body.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Her world narrowed to the sudden pressure of her chest against the hard muscle of his forearm. Heat flooded her face, and she couldn't bring herself to look up, acutely aware of the thin fabric of her shirt separating her from his skin. A strange, coiling heat sparked low in her belly, and she pressed her knees together instinctively. It was a bizarre, overwhelming sensation.
“Ji-woo, what’s wrong? Are you alright?”
“Nothing’s wrong! I’m fine.”
Ji-woo leaned back hard into her seat. “Um… Seo Tae-joon, you’re too close.”