#108
In fact, Lee Gyo-ha and Lee Sung-ha rarely had overlapping tastes. Due to an unsavory incident in their childhood, family members never put the two together.
Both brothers liked luxury items, but they always preferred different brands. Gyo-ha liked clean and sophisticated styles, while Sung-ha wanted his luxury brands to be conspicuously labeled as such.
The same applied to people. Gyo-ha didn’t tend to keep many people around him. Though he was kind to everyone, those truly close to him could be counted on one hand.
In contrast, Sung-ha frequently formed groups. He enjoyed drawing in people who would whisper only sweet things to him, and then dismissing them when they displeased him.
So Gyo-ha couldn’t help but be confused. Sung-ha originally had no reason to like Jung Hwi-kyung. As far as Gyo-ha knew, Sung-ha was heterosexual, and all the people he had dated boasted flashy appearances.
In comparison, Hwi-kyung’s appearance was neat. He was handsome but far from flashy. It was strange that Sung-ha, who used to curse Gyo-ha for dating men, showed interest in him. Biologically, Jung Hwi-kyung was definitely male.
First he curses me for dating men, and now he tries to seduce my boyfriend for a one-night stand? After multiple reconsiderations, Sung-ha seemed to be more than simply heterosexual. Gyo-ha completely erased his brother’s sexual orientation from his mind, something he hadn’t particularly wanted to know.
Even with the Korean tendency for denial, he declined to accept that Sung-ha might be discovering a hidden preference through Jung Hwi-kyung.
“Why did you come to someone else’s home?”
“Someone else’s home? I come to see my brother after a long time and you speak so coldly.”
“Of course. You came without notice and surprised Hwi-kyung too.”
“Wow, so you really are dating a man? I thought someone was spreading false rumors.”
“…”
“Why date a man? There are so many decent women in the world.”
Gyo-ha considered briefly. It seemed safer for him to break his brother’s nose before Hwi-kyung stepped in. Should I hit him? Looking back, Sung-ha had been quite satisfied with his nose surgery. Though that was in a previous iteration.
“Would you like to go to the room first? I’ll talk with your brother and join you.”
“Okay.”
Though Hwi-kyung was displeased by Sung-ha’s appearance, he retreated to the bedroom instead of getting between the brothers. He knew there was nothing to gain by getting entangled with Sung-ha.
But he was also worried. How would Lee Gyo-ha, of all people, drive away Lee Sung-ha? Hwi-kyung stood leaning against the bedroom door, ready to step in with his fists if Gyo-ha was cornered.
While others thought Gyo-ha could easily drive Sung-ha away, Hwi-kyung saw Gyo-ha as somewhat weak. Given how often Gyo-ha appeared foolish in front of Jung Hwi-kyung, it was natural to worry.
I thought my boss was too weak for his position, and now he’s going to get pushed around by his own brother… Hwi-kyung didn’t know that when a clear-eyed madman fights an outrageous lunatic, the former wins. He’d only fought the latter type.
“Lee Sung-ha.”
“This bastard is calling his brother by name.”
“You act like you’ll vomit if I call you brother affectionately.”
Because the door was slightly ajar, some of the conversation was audible. The two were discussing BK Entertainment. Sung-ha seemed bothered by BK Entertainment’s recent brilliant achievements.
“Jung-hye might be fooled, but not me. You joined to take a position, right?”
“No?”
“How can you deny it when it’s so obvious?”
“I’m the one who’s bewildered. Why would I need to take a position? I’m going to America with Hwi-kyung.”
“I’m recording everything you say. Don’t regret it later—speak clearly. What’s your purpose?”
“I told you. I’m going to America with Hwi-kyung.”
They were clearly exchanging words, but they weren’t communicating. Hwi-kyung felt frustrated behind the door. It was like they were talking to walls. Neither was lying, but neither could understand the other’s true intentions.
Eventually, Lee Sung-ha was the first to give up on this pointless conversation. He flung open the door and summoned Hwi-kyung back. He seemed to have decided that communicating with Gyo-ha was impossible.
“This is too frustrating. You answer me. Are you really planning to go to America with him?”
Nearly knocked over by the suddenly opened door, Hwi-kyung nodded after a moment’s delay. Though he wasn’t sure exactly when, since Gyo-ha needed to graduate from graduate school, they would need to cross the ocean together.
Get a passport, visit countries other than China… Now going to America wasn’t impossible. Without the system window, crossing the ocean was possible tomorrow with just a plane ticket.
But Sung-ha seemed to think differently. Lee Sung-ha thought Jung Hwi-kyung and Lee Gyo-ha were conspiring to lie. Seeing Sung-ha react wildly no matter what was said, Hwi-kyung looked down at his own fist.
“No, Hwi-kyung.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“Really, no. Let me handle it instead.”
Sung-ha would never know that his nasal bone had just been in danger of collapse. Ignoring Sung-ha’s demand not to act lovey-dovey in front of him, Gyo-ha firmly held both of Hwi-kyung’s hands.
“You shouldn’t enchant people with violence.”
“What are you talking about…”
“Understand? Even if Lee Sung-ha is crazy, you absolutely must not hit him.”
Being with Gyo-ha made Hwi-kyung feel like his IQ was dropping. Lee Gyo-ha always said incomprehensible things. But being held by him, Hwi-kyung wasn’t bothered by Lee Sung-ha snorting like an angry bull nearby.
Indeed, the world was best lived stupidly.
* * *
As soon as his unpaid leave ended, Hwi-kyung immediately returned to BK Entertainment. Having used all his vacation days plus a week of unpaid leave, it was his first time back to work in almost three weeks.
Being still a new employee, he didn’t have much backlogged work. Without Assistant Manager Lee pushing tasks on him, after putting out the urgent fires, he actually felt rather leisurely.
[Hwi-kyung]
[Today’s lunch]
[Are you eating alone?]
A company messenger notification popped up while he was doing minor tasks that could be quickly solved with Excel formulas. It was a message from Yoon Se-young, who sat nearby.
Without much thought, Hwi-kyung replied that he was. Se-young always ate with other people. Whether dining out or bringing lunch boxes to save money, she always had people to eat with.
It was better not to insert himself among such people. Hwi-kyung usually avoided eating in the company cafeteria and didn’t take the lunch boxes available on request during weekend work.
Like smoking areas, lunch groups were also places where all kinds of talk circulated. While joining in everywhere was good for social networking and gathering information, Hwi-kyung preferred eating alone unless forced to join a group meal.
Why risk indigestion from being on edge while eating? Particularly, Se-young’s group had connections with all departments. Se-young was, charitably speaking, friendly and outgoing; less charitably, a tremendous opportunist.
[If you’re eating alone]
[Eat with me]
[I want to eat out today]
[Everyone else brought lunch boxes]
[(Crying cat emoticon)]
But you can’t reply “I don’t want to?” to someone who asks to eat together… Hwi-kyung reluctantly agreed.
As lunchtime approached, Hwi-kyung’s phone vibrated softly. This time it wasn’t the company messenger but his personal messenger.
[Let’s have lunch together today]
[To celebrate your return to work]
[(Dog with party hat emoticon)]
You’ve got to be kidding me…
Hwi-kyung unknowingly sighed at the consecutive lunch appointments. Nothing was more awkward than having your boss offer to buy you lunch right after you’ve agreed to eat with a colleague.
Especially now, with rumors about being Gyo-ha’s lover, it was difficult to kick Se-young out of the lunch plan by saying, “The team leader said he’ll buy me lunch, so I can’t eat with you.”
After long consideration, Hwi-kyung decided to abandon Gyo-ha. After all, he could see Gyo-ha at the officetel after work. He was someone Hwi-kyung could eat breakfast and dinner with, not just lunch.
But Se-young was a colleague he could only eat lunch with. Hwi-kyung judged his choice to be rational.
[I’m sorry, but I can’t have lunch with you today.]
[I already have plans.]
[And please don’t send personal messages during work hours.]
Gyo-ha was Hwi-kyung’s first lover. To think that such a message would hurt the other person’s feelings—he didn’t even know the basics of dating.
And so Gyo-ha, who had been hoping to enjoy office romance with him, was struck by a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Prior engagement? With whom? Who could be eating with Hwi-kyung when even I can’t?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
