#Side Story 6
“What’s this? Why isn’t he answering the phone?”
Taemin pouted. Just as he was about to answer Secretary Kang’s call after leaving Idam, it disconnected. So he called back, but this time there was no answer. Wondering if it had been dialed by mistake, Taemin returned to the bench, feeling irritated at the wasted effort.
“Huh?”
Idam was talking to some guy. Looking closer, it was Han Seungwon. As he had been the most bothersome presence since Idam lost his memories, Taemin approached aggressively. Meanwhile, Han Seungwon stepped back from Idam and walked in the opposite direction, as if he knew Taemin was approaching.
Moreover, Idam’s complexion didn’t look good.
“Did something happen?”
“Ah… mister.”
“Was that Han Seungwon bast… I mean, teacher just now?”
“Yes, that’s right. He came to see the fireworks and greeted me happily when he saw me.”
“Did that person do anything?”
“No, nothing special happened.”
Idam spoke calmly, but his complexion wasn’t good. There was clearly something going on, but since he denied it, Taemin couldn’t press further.
Then Jimin’s face gradually crumpled and he suddenly burst into tears.
“Waaah!”
Flustered, Idam didn’t know what to do and panicked. So Taemin quickly took Jimin in his arms.
“Jimin, what’s wrong, hm?”
“Uung… Baba!”
Jimin clung to Taemin’s chest, whining. His eyes, which had been bright like candy, were now drooping. He seemed sleepy. Taemin patted Jimin’s back.
“Mister, let’s just go home.”
“What? Why?”
“Jimin seems very tired.”
“What about the fireworks festival?”
Taemin was perplexed by Idam’s sudden change of heart after being excited all day. He also felt sorry about going back like this.
“We can see them another time. If Jimin is struggling, the fireworks won’t look pretty at all.”
Idam’s tone and expression seemed to have returned to the 21-year-old Idam that Taemin knew, rather than the 14-year-old, giving him a strange feeling.
* * *
Back in the sedan, Taemin took the wheel. Idam occupied the back seat and put Jimin in the car seat. Jimin kept whining with droopy eyes, then fell asleep as they left the park. His tearful face was gone, replaced by an angelic look.
“Jimin must have been very tired. He’s sleeping soundly.”
Idam wiped Jimin’s tear-stained cheeks with a handkerchief.
“Yeah. It was surprising when he suddenly cried, but I’m glad now.”
Taemin also felt relieved seeing Jimin asleep through the rearview mirror. Sometimes Jimin would get sensitive like this. At those times, Idam would skillfully soothe and comfort him. Even now, though his mind was 14 years old, his paternal instinct towards Jimin seemed to remain, as shown by his willingness to give up the fireworks.
“Now I can finally relax.”
Idam sighed in relief and looked out the window. The sedan was driving along the coast, so the sea was spread out beautifully. And since they weren’t far from the park, the fireworks were visible.
“Wow! The festival must have started. It’s pretty even from here.”
“Want to stop and watch for a bit?”
“Huh? Are we going back to the park?”
“No, let’s stop at the beach ahead for a while to watch. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s great!”
Idam, who had been calm for a moment, was back to being lively. Taemin turned the steering wheel. He made this decision feeling it would be too disappointing to go back like this.
* * *
“Wow… it’s beautiful.”
Idam marveled, looking at the sky as he stepped onto the soft sand. Taemin also faced the sparkling fireworks. It was beautiful, as if blessings were raining down on the night sky. It would have been bigger and more magnificent if viewed from the park, but this was enough.
Suddenly, he remembered watching fireworks with Idam on his birthday in Jihwado. It was a moment that was bitter, regretful, and embarrassing.
Idam, who had been watching the fireworks, gradually moved closer to Taemin. Though it wasn’t very bright around them, Idam’s fair face could be seen turning bright red. Soon, Idam’s small hand carefully held Taemin’s.
“Um… mister.”
“Yes.”
“There’s something I want to say…”
Idam’s voice was trembling, as if full of tension. This made Taemin turn his gaze to Idam.
“What’s wrong? Are you cold?”
He asked this question because the sea breeze was quite chilly. Moreover, Idam’s hand was hot and his eyes were unfocused. He sensed that Idam’s condition wasn’t normal. Taemin thought about taking off his jacket to give to Idam, but Idam shook his head.
“No… that’s not it… I mean… mister, no, I… CEO…”
His soft voice was trembling. Taemin tilted his head, wondering why Idam was acting like this.
“I like you. No… I love you. When I think of you, my… my heart races… I want to be with you all the time… That’s how I feel…”
At Idam’s confession, Taemin felt like he had returned to Jihwado in the past. Those passionate eyes looking at him lovingly. Himself being cold-hearted in front of them.
It was also the moment in his life he regretted most and wanted to undo. He had been very foolish that day, but not now.
“I love you too. Let’s be together forever.”
He answered, filled with his true feelings. At the same time, Idam’s eyes became moist, and glass-like tears flowed down his cheeks.
As if recalling what had happened in Jihwado.
“Why are you crying?”
Anxious, Taemin wiped Idam’s tears with his thumb. He felt tender towards his omega who was sniffling.
“No… I… I thought you wouldn’t accept my feelings. But I couldn’t bear it, so I spoke up.”
Could his memories be returning? Taemin felt both glad and a heaviness in the corner of his heart.
“Why would I reject you?”
“I don’t know. Just… hah…”
Idam, exhaling roughly, let go of Taemin’s hand and clutched his head.
“Hah… my head…”
Taemin, feeling sorry for Idam in this state, tried to embrace him. But Idam turned away. Taemin was bewildered and felt his chest tightening.
“What’s wrong?”
Taemin tried to grab Idam’s wrist and turn him around. Their eyes met. Idam’s eyes, which had been lively and fresh, were now calm. It seemed like the current Idam had returned, not the 14-year-old Idam. But as if not fully back, his expression seemed to have a whirlpool living and breathing in it.
“I… just… need to organize my thoughts. P-please wait a moment.”
Groaning, Idam started running towards the opposite side of the beach.
“Idam!”
Taemin, feeling anxious, tried to follow but stopped, thinking this action might burden Idam more. And his heart trembled, feeling like Idam who had left him briefly was coming back.
For now, he calmed his heart, deciding to wait patiently as Idam was precious. That’s when he felt his phone ringing. Given the situation, he wanted to ignore it, but the vibration continued, making it impossible to ignore further. Finally, he checked his phone. It was a call from Secretary Kang.
It had been a missed call earlier, so he wondered why a call would come at this timing. But in his current state, it seemed too much to have a proper conversation, so as he was about to reject the call, a message arrived from Secretary Kang.
<CEO! We’ve found out who injected the poison into the madam! Please answer the phone.>
“What?”
Taemin hurriedly started a call with Secretary Kang. And he faced a shocking truth.
* * *
“Hah… hah…”
Idam ran, clutching his head that felt like it might shatter.
Over the past two weeks, Taemin had been very considerate, mature, and gentle. Idam felt the hot emotion blooming in his chest growing day by day as they spent time together. Correspondingly, his head felt like it was being squeezed and his heart raced.
It was sweet yet bitter, and hot, making it difficult to define precisely.
But just now, in that moment under the fireworks with Taemin. The emotions he had been holding collided and rose explosively, and unable to bear it, he conveyed his feelings to Taemin. And Taemin gently accepted his feelings in return.
A wave of euphoria washed over him, as if a long-awaited wish had been fulfilled. But for some reason, another voice of Taemin overlapped in his mind.
‘What should I do. I don’t like you, Idam.’
Feeling sorrowful and heartbroken, he felt it becoming unbearable to face Taemin further. So Idam had separated from him momentarily to sort out his tangled thoughts.
His head strangely tingled and Taemin’s voice continued to echo in his mind.
‘I’m sorry for not realizing it and making you like this.’
‘I love you.’
‘I was stupid for not knowing my own feelings all this time.’
Idam’s pupils shook violently. It felt as if a huge wind of memories was entering and stirring inside him.
The times he had spent meeting and being with Taemin unfolded before him like a panorama. The moments he felt excitement, the memories of sadness, the fruition of this flower-like emotion was love.
The 21-year-old Idam, who had disappeared briefly, opened his eyes. That’s when a shadow fell over him from behind. Feeling a chill, Idam hurriedly looked back.
“Idam, we meet here again?”
Han Seungwon was standing there. He didn’t expect to encounter him here again.
“Teacher?”
“Why are you alone?”
Han Seungwon gradually approached. As he did, his shadow grew larger over Idam’s small body.
“Why? Did your husband treat you badly?”
“N-no, it’s not like that.”
Idam answered softly and stepped back. The more he did, the closer Han Seungwon came. Because of this, Idam reached the sea, and soon his sneakers and ankles were wet.
“Why are you avoiding me? Idam?”
Han Seungwon grabbed Idam’s wrist. Idam sharply shook him off.
“Are you trying to blackmail me again?”
“Oh? You recognize me this time?”
He stared at Idam’s head.
“Was something wrong with your head last time? Well, it’s strange that your body was intact after being poisoned.”
Gradually, Han Seungwon’s mouth curled up like a devil’s and he started changing the subject.
“Anyway, blackmail… I just want to have a serious talk with our Idam.”
Gradually, Han Seungwon’s gaze moved to Idam’s white nape. It was lecherous and persistent, like a predator before hunting. Just as his hand was about to grab Idam’s neck.
“Stop!”
With hurried footsteps, Taemin approached. He grabbed Han Seungwon’s collar and struck his face.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
