#69
“Me too? Ah…”
For a moment, Idam wondered why he had to go this far. But he felt obligated to comply with Taemin’s wishes, as he was now contracted as Taemin’s wife. Feeling strangely nervous, Idam picked up the ring and slipped it onto Taemin’s finger. Though simpler in design than the ring Idam was wearing, it matched beautifully with his delicate hand. Suddenly, seeing this made Idam feel even closer to him, and his heart began to flutter.
“Please wear this ring until the genetic disease I’m suffering from disappears.”
“Ah.”
Idam stared at the ring on his own finger with wavering eyes.
Taemin said he needed Idam because of his omega aversion. If that was the case, Idam wondered if he really needed to pretend to be his wife. Shouldn’t it be enough to just be by his side in whatever form?
Suddenly, he wondered if the strategic marriage that Taemin’s father had insisted on never existed in the first place. Even when Idam first spent the night with Taemin at the hotel, he hadn’t mentioned the strategic marriage, but later said he had. He couldn’t understand why Taemin had told such a cumbersome lie.
Just as the affection rising for Taemin was about to turn into disappointment and fall, Taemin spoke again.
“Wear this ring when we go out next Monday evening.”
“Why?”
Idam wondered if there was another gathering.
“My father asked us to have dinner.”
“What? Your father?”
Idam’s heart sank.
“Yes, I’ve already told my father that we’re married. So he wants to see your face.”
“Ah. I see.”
Idam felt a bit sorry for doubting the strategic marriage that Taemin had claimed just moments ago.
“Why are you nervous?”
“Yes…”
“You don’t need to be. It’s just a simple dinner.”
Although Taemin said it was nothing, Idam was anxious and uneasy about making a mistake in front of him. Moreover, he had never been with such an elder before, which made him even more nervous.
“We’re meeting at a Korean restaurant in Incheon.”
“What? We’re going all the way there?”
Idam’s eyes widened.
“It’s a favorite place my father frequents.”
“Ah. I see.”
Knowing it was a place frequently visited by that elegant-looking father, the pressure increased even more. It seemed like it would be a very formal place. Idam decided to study dining etiquette starting today. It felt like facing the final boss in a game, and he couldn’t bear the anxiety.
However, Taemin, oblivious to these feelings, was looking at the ring on Idam’s finger with a satisfied expression.
* * *
Time passed like that.
“Hayun…”
Idam stood at the front gate with sorrowful eyes. Hayun looked back at Idam with the same expression.
“Take care, Idam.”
The time had come for Hayun to leave this mansion. The belongings from his villa had been moved to the new apartment where he would be staying, and a place had been prepared for him in the department where he would be working.
“Hayun, let’s keep in touch often.”
“Of course. Come visit.”
Hayun patted Idam’s shoulder. Over the past week, they had taken walks together, shared meals, and talked about various things. It was the first time they had been together for so long since leaving the orphanage. But now, thinking about parting, it felt like there was a hole in his chest. He wanted to hug Idam out of regret but refrained. He could feel Taemin’s blue gaze shooting at him from beside Idam.
But Taemin was very generous to Idam alone.
From what Hayun had observed over the past few days, Idam was living a life that seemed like a vacation.
There were no set meal times, so he ate when he wanted and slept whenever he felt like it. When awake, he took walks or engaged in various other leisure activities.
Taemin, who had asked Idam to be by his side as his wife, was also extremely kind to Idam, like a husband. It wasn’t unreasonable for the naive Idam to fall completely for such a Taemin.
But…
Hayun wanted to rescue Idam, who was trapped in Taemin’s fake kindness, from his shadow as soon as possible. Although he was retreating for now, he made a renewed vow to reclaim Idam.
Hayun said goodbye to Idam once more before leaving through the main gate.
A large sedan was visible, and men in black suits stood in front of it. The burliest of them opened the back door. Comfortable-looking seats came into view. Once he got in, he wouldn’t be able to see Idam for a while. Hayun looked back at the gate with a heavy heart. Idam was looking at him, blinking his large eyes.
Hayun took in the sight of Idam, whom he wouldn’t see for a while, with eyes full of lingering attachment before getting into the sedan. He thought of it as one step back for two steps forward.
* * *
“Phew.”
Idam let out a breath full of tension. Today was the day of the dinner appointment with Taemin’s father. With Hayun leaving today as well, he felt unsettled in various ways. Hoping to alleviate this complicated feeling even a little, he looked out the car window. Idam was now in a sedan heading to Incheon. Taemin, sitting next to him, had been on a call for a while before putting his phone away.
“I got a call from Secretary Kang. He says Mr. Jang Hayun has safely arrived at the apartment.”
Idam’s expression, which had been full of confusion, lightened considerably. Then Idam felt his own phone vibrate in his pocket and checked it.
“Yes, I got an arrival message from Hayun too. He sent a picture of the apartment, and it looks really nice?”
Honestly, Idam was grateful just for providing a space for Hayun, but he was surprised that it was more luxurious than expected. It looked about five times larger than the villa where Hayun had been staying.
“It’s not an extremely nice place, but it should be sufficient for a man in his 20s living alone. The security facilities are also good, so there shouldn’t be any dangerous situations.”
“It looks like an amazing place to me.”
Idam continued to express admiration while staring intently at the picture Hayun had sent.
“It’s just okay.”
Taemin added that it wasn’t something to be so impressed about.
“He’ll start work tomorrow. The company is about a 5-minute walk from the apartment.”
“That’s really close?”
“Yes, and there are plenty of nearby facilities, so it should be good enough for living.”
“Yes. Thank you for taking care of Hayun.”
Idam expressed his gratitude to Taemin with both hands clasped. Without Taemin, it was frightening to think what might have happened to both Idam and Hayun in this situation. He was such a great benefactor.
“When I meet your father, I’ll behave well. I’ve studied dining etiquette too.”
“You didn’t need to do all that. I told you not to feel burdened. Just be yourself.”
Taemin held Idam’s hand tightly. His clean right hand caught Idam’s eye. Yesterday, he had removed the bandage at the hospital. The revealed palm was smooth without a single scar. Being an extremely dominant alpha, his recovery was remarkably fast.
The wedding ring on his left hand also caught Idam’s attention. Naturally, Idam looked at the ring on his own finger as well. It made him feel as if he had become one with Taemin, and his chest felt warm for no reason.
After driving for a while, the sedan soon arrived at a spacious Korean restaurant. It was an even larger and more majestic place than expected, with beautiful traditional roof tiles. The thought of soon meeting his father filled Idam with tension up to his hair tips.
The face of Taemin’s father, whom he had briefly encountered while dining with Taemin at a restaurant before, flickered in his mind.
Resembling Taemin, his appearance was full of dignity, and his impression was clearly good. Although he was said to have cut ties with Baekwol Corporation now, he had once worked in the gangster world. He probably wasn’t an ordinary person… Idam felt his palms gradually becoming sweaty.
* * *
As they entered the Korean restaurant, an employee wearing a beautiful modernized hanbok welcomed them warmly. They were led to a pre-booked room. The space, decorated with natural wood, had a strong traditional atmosphere and even felt warm. One wall was entirely glass, offering a clear view of the sea.
However, the table and chairs were Western-style. The basic setting, including table mats, water, and utensils, was for three people. Taemin and Idam sat side by side, and the seat across from them would be occupied by Taemin’s father when he arrived.
As far as Idam knew, the appointment time was 6 PM. The clock on the wall showed it was approaching 5:59 PM. His heartbeat was getting faster, and his worry was also rising. At that moment, Taemin’s hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Idam’s.
“Ah.”
Surprised by his sudden touch, Idam looked at Taemin. He smiled kindly.
“I thought this might help you relax a bit.”
“Ah… But my hands are sweaty right now…”
Feeling embarrassed, Idam tried to pull his hand away. But Taemin’s hand showed no sign of retreating. Instead, he gently massaged each joint of Idam’s fingers. It was like he was trying to fit a new wedding ring.
“Actually, I’m nervous too.”
“You are, CEO?”
“Yes…”
Taemin seemed nervous about having to lie to his father, with whom he had a conflicted relationship. This made Idam feel even more determined to do his best as Taemin’s wife.
