“I missed you!”
Seol Yu-jin shouted excitedly as he threw himself at Winston. That part was fine. However, Winston, being just a boy of the same age, lacked the strength to withstand the impact.
“Whoa!”
Winston let out a short yelp as he was knocked backward by Yu-jin and tumbled to the ground. It happened in the blink of an eye, but even in that brief moment, Winston instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around Yu-jin, who had thrown himself into his embrace.
“Ugh…”
A dull thud echoed as Winston groaned softly. Yu-jin, who had also fallen in the scuffle, blinked in a daze before suddenly realizing what had happened. He scrambled up in a panic.
“Oh no! Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?”
Hearing Yu-jin’s urgent voice, Winston awkwardly pushed himself up—only to let out a sharp cry.
“Ahh!”
“Winston!”
Yu-jin paled as he saw Winston flinch, his face twisting in pain.
“Did you get hurt because of me? Oh no, I’m so sorry, I’m really sorry!”
“Huh? No, no, it’s fine! I’m okay!”
Seeing Yu-jin’s eyes quickly well up with tears, Winston hurriedly waved his hands and forced a smile.
“I just lost my balance and fell. Really, it has nothing to do with you.”
Yu-jin studied his expression, still half-doubting his words. Winston repeatedly reassured him, insisting, “I swear, I never lie.”
Well… except when I do.
Winston added silently to himself, grinning in satisfaction at his own logic. It wasn’t a lie to Yu-jin, after all. He had successfully convinced himself, feeling quite pleased about it. Only then did Yu-jin sniffle and break into a small smile. His tiny nose was flushed red, making him look unbearably adorable. Winston felt his own face heat up as he smiled back.
***
“So, you’re from Korea.”
Winston remarked as they sat side by side in a clover field, listening to Yu-jin talk. Yu-jin nodded and continued.
“Harold brought me here.”
“My father?”
Winston repeated without thinking. Yu-jin nodded again, answering naturally.
“Yeah, your father. Harold Campbell.”
Well, that made sense.
Winston quickly accepted the explanation. After all, if anyone had the authority to bring someone into a separate residence that was practically part of the mansion, it could only be Harold, the master of the estate. It was obvious that Harold was behind Yu-jin’s presence here. Besides, Winston had introduced himself the day before, so Yu-jin must have already guessed that the man who brought him here was Winston’s father.
“But why are you here? Don’t you get lonely all by yourself?”
“Bored.”
Yu-jin answered honestly when Winston asked again, letting out a sigh that seemed far too heavy for a child.
“But I have nowhere else to go… This is my home. Harold gave it to me.”
At that time, Winston had no way of knowing the dark secret behind why Harold had brought Yu-jin to the estate. He was simply too young to understand.
“Then, what about school? You don’t go to school?”
When Yu-jin shook his head, Winston’s eyes widened in shock. Did that mean Yu-jin spent all day, every day, in this annex? The thought unsettled him, and he blurted out hastily,
“Seriously? You don’t have any friends? You’re all alone?”
Yu-jin couldn’t answer. He simply lowered his head in silence. He might start crying again.
Panicked, Winston quickly shouted, “You have me!”
Yu-jin, who had been staring dejectedly at the ground, snapped his head up in surprise, his eyes widening. Winston, emboldened by the reaction, repeated himself, this time as if he were making a promise to himself.
“You can be friends with me. That’s all we need, right?”
Yu-jin felt dazed, watching the boy puff out his chest as if to prove his sincerity. Before he could even process it, Winston suddenly grabbed both of his hands. Startled, Yu-jin instinctively tried to pull away, but Winston only tightened his grip, his gaze locked onto Yu-jin’s face.
“From now on, I’m your friend. Your only friend.”
The last part was added deliberately. Winston had no intention of sharing this beautiful angel with anyone. Love, he believed, became diluted when divided. And friendship? It was just another form of love.
“Friend…”
Yu-jin echoed the word quietly, and Winston nodded eagerly.
“I’ll even teach you! Math, Latin, Spanish—anything you want. Oh—”
“Huh?”
“Uh…”
Everything Winston said was completely overwhelming. Study? Me? I don’t even go to school. The confusion on Yu-jin’s face was obvious, but Winston was persistent.
“There are lots of kids who do homeschooling. You can do that too. When you’re ready, you can take the exams and get certified. It’s no different from going to school.”
It sounded convincing. Very convincing. Yu-jin hesitated before cautiously asking,
“But… what about you? Don’t you have to study too?”
“Don’t worry! We’ll study together.”
Winston answered as if he had been waiting for that question, tilting his head with a bright smile.
Yu-jin’s heart suddenly pounded. He had never wanted anything before. He had always thought that simply having desires was selfish.
“Really… Is it really okay? You’ll teach me?”
“Of course. It’s really okay. Trust me.”
Winston beamed as he spoke, and Yu-jin, unable to contain his happiness any longer, broke into a smile as well. What an incredible moment—he had a friend and someone willing to teach him. Could anything be more wonderful? His chest swelled with emotion, and a natural flush colored his cheeks.
Overcome with excitement, Yu-jin impulsively threw his arms around Winston’s neck.
“Thank you, thank you…! I’ll never forget this, I swear—thank you so much!”
Yu-jin’s excited voice rang out as he repeated his gratitude over and over. Winston laughed joyfully, wrapping his arms around him in return.
And just like that, their story began.
***
A loud crash jolted Yu-jin and Angela awake from their deep sleep, nearly sending them tumbling out of bed. Yu-jin clutched his chest in relief, thankful that no accident had occurred, before turning his gaze toward the entrance.
The moment he saw the man standing in the doorway, his eyes widened in shock.
What is happening right now?
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The man who always wore a perfectly tailored suit, complete with a vest. The man whose hair was never out of place, meticulously combed back without a single strand falling loose. The man who usually wore elegant egg-toe straight-tip shoes and carried himself with effortless composure. With his tall stature, striking features, and unwavering confidence, he had always appeared flawless. He never made mistakes, was always calculated and coldly rational—he was the very definition of perfection.
Despite being the youngest, he had inherited the empire. Even his mother, who had given birth to multiple children, openly favored him—a favoritism so blatant that it was almost understandable. He had always been considered untouchable.
But now, that very man was gone.
Yu-jin, still half-sitting up in bed, stared blankly, blinking in disbelief.
The man standing before him was barefoot. Beneath the loosely tied belt of his robe, his bare legs were exposed. His dark hair was a complete mess, his chin covered in a thick, unshaven stubble. The sharp eyes that usually analyzed every situation with precision were now wide open in sheer shock. His ever-composed demeanor had completely vanished, replaced by ragged breaths and a face drained of color.
It was nothing short of a disaster.
Who the hell is this?
Yu-jin swallowed dryly before forcing himself to speak.
“Winston… what… what’s going on all of a sudden?”
He was so stunned that he stammered, unable to form a proper sentence. The shock was overwhelming. For a moment, he even entertained the absurd thought that someone had kidnapped Winston overnight and was now impersonating him.
As Yu-jin anxiously waited for an answer, Winston finally snapped out of his daze. His expression darkened instantly, turning harsh. Alarmed, Yu-jin quickly clamped both hands over Angela’s ears as she continued sleeping beside him.
Then, Winston growled in a rough, furious voice,
“What the hell are you doing in a place like this?”
