Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 184

Chapter 184 Side Story 6

 

Medeus beamed, pointing out the grapes to Nataek. Nataek then realized the standard by which Medeus had been choosing the foods in his hands. Medeus had been selecting strictly with a focus on things Nataek would like to eat—things he wanted to feed Nataek. Nataek let out a helpless little laugh.

Told him to pick what he wanted to eat…

Even so, Nataek did not reject Medeus’s choices. Accepting Medeus’s selections was also one of the things Nataek could do for him.

“Grapes are great. Let’s get them.”

“Yeah. There are plums over there, too.”

But the heart that had swelled over the grapes suddenly froze at the mention of plums.

“Teresi. Have one.”

“Teresi. You like plums, don’t you?”

He remembered the thick shaft that had shoved down his throat until his lips felt split.

“Haa… ngh. Teresi… Teresi…”

Two luscious testicles, each the size of a plum, that had knocked against his chin also flashed before his eyes. He recalled Medeus’s face as he’d gripped Nataek’s hair, unable to control his lust. The rough breaths he’d spilled, and finally the sticky semen that had splattered into his throat.

In an instant, the erotic memories of that night were overlaid with the present Medeus. Heat rushed into his lower belly. Medeus asked cautiously,

“Should we not buy the plums?”

To think that in a department store crowded with people, he was recalling the memory of sucking his lover’s cock while looking at the luscious flesh of fruit. Nataek shook his head hard.

Idiot. Get a grip.

“No, let’s buy them.”

Watching Medeus pick up the plums, Nataek began to sing the national anthem. By the time he’d solemnly finished the second verse, the heat had cooled a little.

This was enough to last three days with ease. Pleased, Nataek headed for the exit with Medeus, who was carrying the bags. But as Medeus walked, eyes fixed ahead, his gaze gradually lagged behind toward one spot. Wondering what he was watching so intently, Nataek followed his line of sight to find a flower shop. In a large tub outside the display, flowers of many colors had been arranged, and inside there were loads of lush green potted plants.

“Do you like plants?”

“They gladly accept my touch. They don’t refuse me, and they don’t talk behind my back. Sometimes just seeing them grow healthier the more care I give is a source of strength.”

In a flash, the image of Medeus, lonely in an ancient civilization, came to mind.

There won’t be any more loneliness now. Still, it seems he loves plants just the same.

Nataek stopped in his tracks.

“The flowers are blooming really beautifully. Let’s take a look.”

Medeus tilted his head, scrutinizing Nataek’s eyes as if to probe his true intention. Nataek signaled again with firm resolve.

“I was thinking that having plants at home would make things feel nicer anyway. This is perfect. You know plants better than I do, so pick something pretty.”

Only then did Medeus readily accept Nataek’s suggestion.

“There are so many plants here I’ve never seen before.”

Medeus bent at the waist, examining the potted plants one by one. His broad back blocked Nataek’s view of the greenery. Pressing up close behind him, Nataek asked,

“Which one is the prettiest? Pick one for me.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for quite a while, Medeus chose a eucalyptus in a terracotta pot.

“It smells good, and… this seems like it would suit you.”

Nataek gladly went with Medeus’s choice. More important than the difficulty or the type was the fact that Medeus had chosen this plant. For Medeus, who still wasn’t used to the modern world, Nataek wanted to provide anything he liked, anything familiar.

After choosing the potted plant, Medeus moved over to the mass of flowers beside it. Then, with his large frame, he began to take in the scent of each flower, one by one.

“Does your friend like flowers?”

Watching Medeus with a fond gaze, Nataek answered the clerk in the affirmative. Medeus, buried in blooms, wore a deeply content expression. With each deep breath he took, the rise and fall of his back was plain to see. Seeing the light brown hair buried among the colorful flowers, Nataek smiled.

“Yes. He loves them.”

Nataek looked at his casted arm, then at Medeus, and then at the flowers. He was already carrying a lot, so a big bouquet was out of the question. Besides, if they bought flowers now, Medeus might not be able to enjoy the fragrance at ease.

After a moment’s thought, Nataek spoke in a low voice to the clerk.

“Could you wrap a small bunch of flowers along with the plant at checkout? We’re carrying a lot, so if it’s too big, we won’t be able to manage it.”

Not knowing the situation, the clerk caught on and replied conspiratorially,

“What kind of flowers would you like…?”

“The most fragrant ones. And could you tell him the flowers are just on the house?”

The clerk looked at Nataek, then at Medeus, and back at Nataek again. The blinking black eyes quickly curved into a bright smile.

“Of course. Absolutely.”

The clerk headed straight toward Medeus. In front of plants, the line between modern and ancient no longer existed. Watching the two of them naturally strike up a conversation, Nataek made a small resolve.

Must give flowers for his birthday.

Side Story 2

Warm sunlight poured down on the two of them. A small flatbed truck stood in front of the residential building. A middle-aged man came out of the building and opened the driver’s door.

“Nothing else to load, right?”

“No. That’s all.”

“Never seen a place with so little stuff before.”

Leaving the muttering delivery driver behind, Nataek spoke to Jungyeom.

“Jungyeom, I’m counting on you.”

“Sure. Don’t worry. Saved me bus fare, anyway. I’m just stacking everything in the small room, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, call when you arrive.”

Jungyeom waved and opened the passenger door. Then, seeing Medeus, he hesitated and lowered his hand. The delivery driver climbed into the driver’s seat as well.

“Then we’ll be off.”

The driver slammed the door and started the engine. As the truck rumbled and began to move, Nataek looked back at Medeus.

“Let’s go too.”

“Mm.”

Medeus gazed at Nataek with a gentle smile. The flatbed carrying Jungyeom and Nataek’s things receded into the distance.

It had already been two months since their return to the modern world. As soon as the cast came off, Nataek began to prepare for the move. It was all to help ease Medeus’s gradual adjustment to modern life.

Nataek asked Medeus,

“Dizzy or anything?”

“No. I’m fine.”

Medeus tried not to show it, but he found the noise of the city extremely difficult. The tall buildings that blocked out the sky, and the loud roads that sometimes left him with headaches after a trip—those were hard too. All the while, he clung to Nataek’s side, unwilling to separate. The changes in environment and the psychological burden that came with them could not have been small. And Medeus still felt a mission to protect Nataek. Thus, Nataek had no choice but to decide on moving.

“Once we get to the new place, life will be much more comfortable than here.”

The rural home of Nataek’s grandparents, where he’d grown up, was set to become their nest. It was a decision made to change the environment even a little. With a troubled expression, Medeus said,

“Teresi. You’re doing this on purpose for my sake…”

“No. It’s for me, so don’t worry.”

Even so, the gloom on Medeus’s face didn’t fade. Nataek stopped in front of him and smiled brightly. The upward-tilted brown eyes were reflected in Medeus’s gray irises. In a warm voice, Nataek said,

“Remember what I said before? My wish was to live quietly in the countryside with the person I love. My arm is almost healed, and since we’ve both been through a lot, I want to rest for a while somewhere quiet. We’re moving for both you and me, so don’t make that face. Can’t you see how excited I am?”

As Nataek grinned wide, Medeus’s expression softened at once. He let out a faint sigh and nodded.

“…Mm.”

Walking slowly down the alley, Nataek murmured to himself. It would take quite some time to reach the countryside house on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province. They should probably eat before setting out.

“Are we taking a taxi again today?”

“Yeah. We are, but before that, it’d be better to eat something… hmm…”

Once they left this alley, they would immediately hit an eight-lane road. There was heavy vehicle traffic and lots of people. Nataek wanted to expose Medeus to such a bustling environment as gradually as possible. There was a reason he had used taxis for hospital trips, limited walks to within residential neighborhoods, and mostly ordered food during this period. During that time, Medeus had gradually learned about modern life through Nataek’s explanations. Nataek looked slowly up at Medeus.

“How about trying a restaurant nearby today?”

 

1. “Flatbed truck” (용달차): In Korea, a small freight truck hired for moving or delivery of goods; often cheaper and more informal than full moving services.