Chapter 22: A Daring Break-In and Unlikely Encounters
by xennovelLara hesitated, then decided, ‘What the heck,’ as she planted both arms on the window frame. With all her might, she managed to hook one leg over, and soon the rest of her climb was smooth. Gripping the frame like a determined frog, she scaled the window and landed gracefully on the smooth floor.
“Who… are you?”
Not far off, Misung’s gruff voice cut through the silence.
Lara turned her creaky head and looked aside. Standing there was a light blond man whose appearance clashed with the gloomy setting. His waxen pale face and fragile, light-gold eyelashes shimmered with cautious intent.
Determined not to look like a petty thief, Lara scrambled to offer an excuse. But before she could speak, Mikhail stepped back and declared firmly,
“I don’t know who you are, but get out.”
“Um, um…”
Half-hidden sky-blue eyes glared at her from the window. With a catlike defiance, he didn’t exactly seem friendly.
Lara couldn’t find an excuse as she noticed his clenched fist trembling—not out of anger at her, but from a fear that seemed to bind him.
She decided that clumsy consolations would only make matters worse. Overwhelmed by awkwardness and palpable caution, she longed nothing more than to retreat.
‘Oh, God, help me!’
“…”
“…”
Lara’s sealed lips remained as if glued shut. Uttering those words now would surely have earned a, ‘Are you stupid?’ remark.
‘This… just won’t do.’
‘That only works because she’s the female lead. I really can’t do this…’
As Lara vehemently refused, God continued to insist on a one-day advanced course in your chosen subject.
“…”
“…Won’t we… be friends…?”
Lara muttered the words with difficulty, her eyes bashfully downcast. From the other side, a mocking laugh reached her.
“Friend? What, you expect us to be friends right off the bat when you know nothing about me?”
“…”
“…Ah, I know…”
It sounded as if an automated program were reciting lines. As a heavy silence enveloped them, Lara scrambled to continue.
“Aren’t you the owner of this house…?”
Just when she braced for a blow, an unexpected effect occurred. The creased set of his lips smoothed out, replaced by a shallow, playful smile.
“Heh, so all journalists are that brazen these days? Ha ha, heh.”
‘What on earth is funny?’
As Lara offered an awkward laugh in return, a dark stain began to spread slowly across the front of his tan trousers.
“Ah… here we go again.”
Mikhail stopped laughing, yet water continued to trickle down his calf. Soon, Lara stared in shock at the clear puddle forming on the floor. Even God was left speechless.
“Are you really sure you want to be friends with someone like him?”
A natural air of self-mockery appeared on Mikhail’s face. His light sky-blue eyes took in Lara’s earnest expression as he managed a sorrowful smile. Meanwhile, droplets, unable to defy gravity, plummeted softly at his feet.
He had been this way since birth. An overwhelming surge of divine energy pressed not on his heart but on his bladder, rendering him hopelessly incontinent.
“Male incontinence, huh? Isn’t that hilarious?”
The tone, laced with resentment, was as sharp as that of a discontented rich lady scolding a wayward son.
‘Calm down. I’m just stating the obvious!’
As God’s agitated voice rustled through Lara’s hair, Mikhail bit his lower lip and dropped his head. His face now bore the unmistakable marks of his condition.
It was a curse he couldn’t shake. Confined since childhood to incontinence diapers, even smiling became a risk, leaving him friendless.
Mikhail had long known the bitterness of despair. Watching warm liquid seep onto the floor had grown tiresome. Doing laundry or changing sheets—everything felt like hell. No one could fathom the torment that repeated dozens of times each day.
He had tried, once or twice, to live normally—without the constant reliance on incontinence diapers. But every attempt ended in failure. The relentless condition dragged him into despair, mocking him at every turn; even now, nothing had changed.
‘Incontinence is a disease in itself. It makes the sufferer look truly pathetic. My grandfather struggled with it, so believe me, I understand how hard it is.’
‘How dare you disrespect someone’s grandfather right now?!’
“Ha, laugh if you must. If you think it’s filthy, so be it.”
Living with a chronic ailment is like this—a life where one never leads, always shadowed by illness. Is there any meaning in barely scraping by?
Mikhail stood stiffly, his gaze fixed on the bedroom door. Would hiding in there grant him even a sliver of peace? Deep inside, a hot cauldron of ridicule simmered.
“Um, sorry.”
Then, as if by fate, an unbelievable voice broke through.
“I wasn’t listening—I was lost in thought. What did you say…?”
“…What…?”
“I said I wasn’t listening because I was lost in thought. Could you repeat that?”
“If you think my urine is disgusting, just say so honestly. …I’ve been alone for 20 years because of this damned condition. Don’t you think I’m cursed? Am I wrong?”
Pouring out words soaked in self-pity, he clearly sounded mentally distressed. Concerned, Lara cautiously addressed him.
“Honestly… while I find others’ urine disgusting, I don’t believe your illness is. My grandfather suffered immensely from incontinence too. I understand how hard it is.”
Receiving no reply, Lara glanced at the shoulder of his tied-back light blond hair before turning to leave.
“I’m sorry for barging in. I’ll be on my way now.”
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached from behind as a large hand snatched Lara’s right hand. Startled, she turned her head mid-way; before she knew it, a handsome face loomed close, etched with desperation.
With her body facing forward and her face turned away, Lara soon staggered. Mikhail grabbed her other arm quickly, but lacking strength, they both collapsed.
A thundering crash filled the air. Pinned under Mikhail’s weight, Lara was helpless. Though he appeared slight, as a man he was surprisingly heavy.
“What’s with you falling? Is it a fuss just because you tripped on your own?”
A gruff voice from above snapped Lara’s head up in irritation.
“Hey, who do you think you are to grab me like that…?”
In that instant, she felt a slender nose descend dangerously close to hers. ‘What? Is he about to steal a kiss?’ Lara squeezed her eyes shut.
Yet, she felt nothing on her lips. Instead, a more provocative voice whispered along her ear.
“Hold still like this… uh, ha.”
“…?!!”
A rush of heated breath caressed her face, and Lara’s cheek flushed bright, like a baked sweet potato.
Not stopping there, Mikhail gripped her wrist even tighter. The tension deepened the furrows on his brow, giving him an unexpectedly sexy look.
While Lara stared blankly at her bound wrist, the sound of raindrops drumming on the floor below reached her ears. Heavy, stone-like eyes dropped, as if an earthquake were silently shaking her pupils.
Water droplets from his trousers were soaking her uniform.
‘How much water did he drink?! Ahhh!’
It should have been mortifying to shower and change clothes in a stranger’s house for the first time, yet Lara felt an almost enlightened detachment—as if she had weathered countless hardships.
‘What am I even doing right now?’
With a long sigh, she stepped into the living room and spotted a man reading on a sofa. His milky complexion and unyielding, clear sky-blue eyes were as flawless as porcelain.
“Um, I’m planning to head out now. Could you help me with directions…?”
“Where are you going when your clothes aren’t even dry?”
“Can’t I just wear these clothes?”
“I never said I’d lend them to you.”
In a composed tone, he replied. Irritated, Lara strode up to him and placed both hands on her waist.
“Hey! Who’s responsible for my clothes getting soaked…?”
“It’s your fault for being underneath me. Why don’t you calm down and have some tea?”
Lara couldn’t help but snort at the sight of him nonchalantly lifting a teacup.
“Stop drinking tea. Tea increases urination!”
“It must be the diuretic effect.”
“Anyway! If you’re going to be this picky, I’ll leave in these wet clothes. Now, tell me the way out—immediately.”