#114
At that time, Jaeha was filled with despair. It was unbearably painful that he couldn’t even remain as a friend by Eunhong’s side because of his inescapable trait. On top of that, his mother’s tragedy, which had struck him more clearly after his manifestation, added to his despair.
People envied him as someone who had everything, but he resented his fate for denying him the one thing he wanted most, the only thing he wasn’t permitted to have.
The reason he didn’t make an extreme choice after leaving for a distant land was because he clung to one last, thin thread of desire. Hearing news of Eunhong, receiving photos of Eunhong safely attending school in his hometown of Busan—these became Jaeha’s driving force to live.
After three years of this, he began secretly taking pheromone-reducing drugs that were fatal to alphas, trying to suppress what he had come to view as his cursed trait. He found a way to become half of himself by killing his pheromones. Only then did he realize the demonic emotions within him were finally subsiding.
When he heard Eunhong had chosen a university in Seoul and returned, seeking him out was purely impulsive. For days, Jaeha parked his car in a corner of the path frequently used by students from Eunhong’s department and waited all day curled up inside. When he finally encountered Eunhong, Jaeha trembled with shock.
Eunhong, whom he had only seen in photos, was moving, talking, and smiling. The sight of his hair swaying in the spring breeze and his brushing away flower petals that had fallen on the bridge of his nose imprinted on Jaeha’s eyes like slow motion. Walking with his peers while sharing frivolous jokes, he seemed both exactly the same as when he was young and completely different. Eunhong shone like a jewel reflecting different colors as the angle changed.
I can’t do without you. What am I going to do from now on? Jaeha gripped the steering wheel and silently shed tears.
What should I do now?
***
“Blood ties are really something, aren’t they? Some random mutt from who-knows-where casually takes over the director position.”
Lee Jaeseong smirked at her brother’s caustic tone. She toyed with the long nameplate conspicuously placed on the large black desk, her hand tightening on it. She lifted the crystal block engraved with “Director Lee Jaeha.” It was quite heavy.
“What do you take me and grandfather for? If you were that stupid, do you think we would have given you this position?”
“As if. You know as well as I do that there are more than just a few people who are dissatisfied.”
“There are always people who complain without reason. What kind of person is grandfather? Stop arguing and work here for a year, then transfer to the bio division.”
“Too tiring. You continue in that area. I’m just going along with grandfather’s rhythm.”
“Isn’t it good for you? Now that you’re in line for succession, see how all those vultures are crawling back. They’re all sucking up on their own.”
Jaeha exhaled deeply at Jaeseong’s voice, which was almost cheerful. He pressed his fingertips against his furrowed brow, smoothing it out.
“Don’t you have anything to do? Why did you come here?”
“Just visiting. To see if my brother is working well, to show off our sibling relationship, among other things.”
In these days when there was so much talk about succession, the two of them would send away even their driver if they just rode in the same car. The PR team would fabricate a beautiful story about Jaeseong’s visit today and distribute it to the media.
“I’ll say it again, I’m not interested in what belongs to you or our younger sister. Even now, if you step up properly, I’ll step back.”
The playfulness on Jaeseong’s face briefly faded. She put down the nameplate, got off the desk where she had been perched, and carefully examined her brother’s expression.
“I know. But don’t you have any ambition? Not even a shred of pride? No thought of growing the group with your own strength? You know everything our group has accomplished.”
“No.”
The answer came without a moment’s hesitation, leaving Jaeseong speechless. Silence fell between them.
Just then, there was a knock, and Secretary Kim entered. He had transferred departments to follow Jaeha after he started working here, as if he had been waiting for it, putting aside all other work. Secretary Kim gave a slight bow to Jaeseong and approached Jaeha, who was sitting on the sofa. He handed over a folder with several papers and three or four photographs.
“He runs a small business, and his daily routine is rather monotonous. We contacted him saying we were interested in purchasing a watch, but there was no reply, so I’m thinking of visiting in person.”
The papers handed over by Secretary Kim contained detailed information about the alpha who was wearing Eunhong’s watch. The small, haphazardly run business and accumulated debt were as predictable as his appearance.
Judging by the fact that he wore a watch that didn’t suit him, he must be full of clumsy ostentation. Jaeseong, who was peering over Jaeha’s shoulder as he examined the documents, made a disgusted sound.
“I’m bad enough, but you’re really something.”
Despite how much they both claimed to despise and loathe their father, they were both unavoidably dominant alphas. Their ruthless behavior when removing obstacles in their path was chillingly similar. Only the presence or absence of someone to apply the brakes distinguished them.
Jaeha, who had been reading the documents handed over by Secretary Kim, frowned and replied:
“Try approaching anonymously a few more times first. Make sure there’s no gossip.”
“Understood.”
“Secretary Kim, you know taking photos and investigating like this is a crime, right? Stop indulging Jaeha’s childishness.”
At Jaeseong’s words, Secretary Kim left with an awkward smile. Jaeseong waved her hand at his back as he bowed his head and turned to leave.
Jaeha was lost in thought, staring at the alpha’s photo that Secretary Kim had left. Jaeseong exhaled briefly and changed the subject.
“When are you going to apologize to grandfather?”
Only then did he respond. Jaeha abruptly lifted his head.
“Apologize? Don’t you think what I’m doing now is an apology?”
“What sin did grandfather commit? Just being soft on his child? He’s been nothing but kind to you.”
“He adored your mothers.”
Jaeseong shook her head at her brother’s muttering about being a petty child.
She wondered if her brother realized that his stubborn attitude was exactly like their grandfather’s. Everyone has lingering emotions. He could stop projecting himself onto his hopeless father and break free from that shadow.
“If you like Han Jung that much, you take it all over. You could just have a dominant alpha child, even though you’re a woman.”
Jaeseong, who had been smiling throughout, suddenly crumpled her face.
“You know it won’t work for me and Buyoung. Are you trying to pick a fight?”
“It won’t work for me either.”
“Why wouldn’t it work for you two?”
Perhaps because the topic had shifted in that direction, Jaeha took out his phone and habitually checked Eunhong’s location as he answered.
“I won’t constrain Eunhong. With anything. In any way. I’ll let him leave whenever he wants. If our relationship changes and Eunhong wants a different situation.”
Jaeseong closed her mouth briefly, then asked with a hardened face:
“Looking at how you two have been together so far… it doesn’t seem like your relationship will change… Will you change?”
At that, Jaeha’s eyes flashed blue. His expression said he was hearing the most absurd thing.
“I won’t change.”
Jaeha abruptly stood up from the sofa and strode to the desk. He pressed the call button, and as soon as he connected with Secretary Kim, his voice was in a different tone than before.
“Secretary Kim. I think Eunhong has arrived downstairs. Could you go down first and check?”
Only then did Jaeseong notice what her brother had been looking at. On his phone screen left on the coffee table, a round green dot was blinking on a map.
“You crazy bastard.”
Jaeseong’s eyes shot daggers of curses that she couldn’t fully express in words.
“Jaeha, are you aware that your words and actions are completely disconnected? Are you still taking a lot of medication these days?”
“I need to finish up work and go meet Eunhong, so you should leave too. I don’t have time.”
As if you’d really let Eunhong go if he wanted to leave… How many laws was he breaking with that nonchalant face? Jaeseong shook her head even as she was pushed out by her brother’s hands. Her seemingly proper brother was undoubtedly just as crazy as she was.
***
“Oh? Eunhong!”
Eunhong narrowed his eyes at the sound of someone calling his name while waving from a distance.
How did Secretary Kim know to come out and meet me?
While Eunhong was watching with suspicious eyes, Secretary Kim approached with awkward steps. The security guard standing next to Eunhong also fixed his gaze on Secretary Kim.
“Eunhong! What brings you here!”
He started running when he got close enough that his voice could be heard without shouting. Eunhong awkwardly shuffled behind the entry barrier, unable to go in.
“I’m Kim Hansang from the Director’s office. This is our guest.”
Only then did the security guard relax his face and lower his guard.
The two of them got into Eunhong’s car, which was parked at the side of the entrance, and entered the company premises. Since the distance from the barrier where the security guard had stopped Eunhong to the company building was quite far, Eunhong tilted his head in confusion.
“The grounds here are very spacious, and the security is extremely tight.”
“Yes. Haha. It’s because this is a new business that the Chairman is pouring his heart and soul into.”
“But you came out to the entrance as if you were waiting for me, which surprised me. I was about to call Jaeha…”
“Ah…”
Secretary Kim, breaking into a cold sweat at Eunhong’s unexpectedly sharp observation, tugged at his tie several times to loosen the knot.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
