After leaving the hospital, Dylan didn’t immediately start his car but pressed the shortcut for Gia’s number.
After a couple of rings, Gia quickly answered the phone with a teasing voice.
-What brings our prosecutor to call me?
Dylan frowned.
“Is that how you greet someone?”
-Then how should I do it? Hello, prosecutor? Or, Big brother, what’s up?
“Ugh! Let’s just drop it.”
Dylan sighed first, giving in to Gia, who wouldn’t let a single word go. Gia asked again from the other end of the line.
-What is it this time?
“Who was that man from earlier?”
-That man?
Dylan pointedly told Gia.
“His last name is Becky.”
-Ah. You mean Dr. Becky. But why are you asking about him?
“Is he close to Lola?”
-…….
Suddenly, there was silence on the other end of the line. Dylan called out quietly, wondering if the call had dropped due to the lack of response.
“Gia Eve.”
-Big brother, are you really okay? You’re not feeling uncomfortable or anything, right?
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
-It sounds like nonsense is coming from you.
Dylan had asked if Lola was close to Becky, but instead of answering, Gia filled the conversation with unnecessary chatter, causing Dylan to frown.
-It’s strange that you’re asking about that.
“Do they seem pretty close?”
-So, are you feeling uneasy?
“Yeah.”
When Dylan honestly admitted it, Gia on the other end of the line chuckled softly.
-Wow! Big brother, that sounds like possessiveness. I didn’t know our Dylan had such strong possessiveness.
“So, are they close? Or not?”
When Dylan asked for confirmation, Gia burst into laughter this time.
Dylan frowned at Gia, who was just laughing.
-They’ve been through thick and thin together, so I guess you could say they’re somewhat close.
At that, Dylan felt a moment of discomfort, but then Gia added,
-But you don’t have to worry about Dr. Becky. He’s been seeing someone lately. It seems like he’s in a relationship.
Dylan’s previously tense expression relaxed at Gia’s next words.
Clearing his throat, Dylan asked another question.
“I heard a suspect was admitted to your hospital’s emergency room. Is it a dangerous patient?”
-Oh my! I feel like a spy for saying this.
Honestly, Dylan had never seen Gia answer so obediently without a single complaint. Although he found her long-windedness annoying, he calmly responded.
“Can you play the role of a spy for me?”
-Why should I?
“Because I’m your Big brother.”
-Then you should treat me better usually.
“When did I ever say I was like the sky, the sea, or a tree?”
-Ugh, seriously!
Finally giving in to Dylan’s unyielding words, Gia sighed and answered his question.
-Yeah. I heard he attempted suicide while undergoing a prosecutor’s investigation.
“Hey! Does your hospital really take in patients like that? What if a dangerous patient hurts the doctors? Who’s going to take responsibility for that?”
Since Dylan had been worried after Gia had been hurt before, he couldn’t help but react sensitively.
-Which hospital in the world picks and chooses patients?
It wasn’t an incorrect statement, and Dylan knew that all too well, so he sighed.
-Big brother, you’re worried because you’re afraid Lola might get hurt, right?
“Yeah.”
Dylan’s honest answer brought a bright laugh from Gia through the speaker.
-So it turns out our Big brother is a softie.
Gia ended her sentence with another laugh.
-Can I let you in on a secret?
“What is it?”
-I gave Lola a gift that would make you go crazy if you saw it. Enjoy your night.
Sometimes, Dylan found himself completely unable to understand Gia’s words, just like now.
Even after hanging up, he continued to tilt his head in confusion.
“Enjoy my night?”
What does that even mean?
What kind of gift would make me go crazy?
He felt that, contrary to his original intention for the call, he was left with even more questions.
******
The dinner table was abundant. Living with Dylan, Lola never set a shabby table. She never served the same dish twice in a row, and soup and side dishes were a must, with three or four kinds of stir-fried vegetables.
Getting used to the meals Lola prepared, Dylan tried to come home for dinner as much as possible.
Tonight’s dinner menu included pollack stew, braised pork ribs, spicy stir-fried pork with a smoky flavor, and tofu nuggets, along with several side dishes. The food she made was not only delicious but also visually appealing.
As the savory aroma wafted up to his nose, Dylan sat at the table, unable to contain his admiration for a while before finally picking up his spoon.
“I’ll eat well.”
“Eat a lot, Dear.”
As Dylan took a few spoonfuls of the pollack stew Lola had made, he suddenly seemed to remember something and blurted out,
