Junyoung seemed to understand and changed the subject as if remembering something else.
“Since it came up… have you talked to Jeonghoo?”
At the sudden mention of that name, Jaehyuk and Junghyun answered almost simultaneously.
“What does he have to do with anything?”
“Do I need to talk to him?”
As Junghyun and Jaehyuk expressed the same sentiment in completely different ways while accepting their freshly served coffee, Junyoung was genuinely impressed.
“Now I see why you two get along so well.”
They definitely matched well. It was hard to describe exactly what it was, but their basic temperament and way of thinking were similar.
They were both similar in not caring about others, being stubborn, and pushing through like bulldozers once they’d made a decision.
Now Junyoung understood why Jaehyuk had pressed ahead so insistently, saying it would be hard to find another person like this one.
“I was worried that you were rushing things, but you seem fine. I think you two will get along well in terms of temperament.”
When Jaehyuk had called him a human AI, Junyoung thought it was an exaggeration, but at this level, it seemed there wouldn’t be any emotional problems, at least.
Of course, you never really know a person from brief interactions, but a good start is better than nothing.
Given that the incident had already happened and they had to proceed regardless, Junghyun was the most ideal match.
As Junyoung was getting used to the situation and organizing his thoughts about the two, a café employee approached with three cups of coffee. As they set the cups down in front of the three, Junyoung changed the subject.
“By the way, what have you decided about housing? Are you just moving into Jaehyuk’s place? Not getting a new place?”
As Junyoung asked about specific plans loud enough for the server to hear, Jaehyuk, who had just received a warm coffee, looked at Junghyun with still-affectionate eyes.
“Time is tight. The current house is convenient for both of us to commute.”
“Then, what about interior design?”
“After we finish with you, we’ll go furniture shopping together.”
At those words, Junghyun, who was drinking his coffee, turned to Jaehyuk in surprise.
“Me too?”
Seeing that face which unconsciously revealed annoyance – as if saying “why would I need to go when you’re buying furniture?” – Jaehyuk laughed once, and while brushing back Junghyun’s still-new-looking hair, whispered in his ear.
“We’ll be using the furniture together, so we should choose it together, right?”
While it felt like he was gripping his head hard enough to crush it under the guise of stroking his hair, Junghyun ignored the signal as always.
It felt like he was going to crush it, but he hadn’t actually crushed it.
“I need to pack my things this afternoon. It’s a bit rushed with only two weeks left.”
“There’s no need to hurry. We can call people to help.”
“I don’t have much stuff, so there’s no need to call anyone. It’s just that I won’t be going home starting tomorrow for a while.”
“Are you that busy?”
Just as Jaehyuk asked with shameless concern, the server who had finished serving disappeared back into the café with the tray. After confirming the employee was completely gone, Junghyun drank his coffee and answered honestly.
“I am busy, but I’ve also blocked my father’s number because it’s annoying. With me this unreachable, he’ll probably stake out my place, so I’m planning to stay at a hotel for a while. I can work remotely anyway.”
“Escaping to a hotel won’t work. It doesn’t look good for you to be going in and out of a hotel alone. Things will blow up big this afternoon, so you need to be careful about every move.”
While continuously stroking Junghyun’s hair with an affectionate touch, Jaehyuk gazed at him with what anyone would recognize as a loving look as he whispered those words.
Clearly conscious of the cameras, Junyoung glanced around and followed up on Jaehyuk’s comment with a smile.
“You’d better listen to him. I’m not sure how much he’s explained, but whatever you imagine about his surroundings, it’s more than that. To put it bluntly, think of it as swimming naked in the ocean with a pack of killer whales. The gangsters of the sea that even great white sharks, sperm whales, saltwater crocodiles, and walruses avoid – those killer whales, and not just one, but a whole pack.”
At Junyoung’s kind warning – basically saying that to those people, Junghyun wouldn’t even be a single bite – Junghyun, who had just swallowed a sip of coffee, frowned.
“That sounds like I’m going to die no matter what I do.”
“That’s why you need to be careful. For the next year, don’t even breathe, don’t make a sound, just go with the flow like you’re dead. Follow the waves when they come, and float when it’s calm. Don’t try to go against the current, don’t try to jump out, don’t try to run away. You’ll be caught immediately if you do.”
At the implication that at that moment he would be torn to pieces and devoured without even bones remaining, Junghyun looked at Jaehyuk sitting beside him again.
Although his eyes weren’t visible behind the sunglasses, Jaehyuk seemed to understand what Junghyun was thinking and, with an affectionate touch, brushed back his fallen hair and smiled with his eyes.
And then he said:
“No.”
“…I haven’t said anything yet.”
“Whatever you say, the answer is no. So give up. As I told you yesterday, I need to marry you no matter what.”
“I haven’t signed anything yet.”
“Verbal contracts are still contracts.”
“What if I break it?”
“You can’t, it’s not allowed. No withdrawal, no refusal, no cancellation.”
“You didn’t tell me in advance that I’d have to swim with killer whales. Not disclosing critical risks at the time of contract can be grounds for cancellation.”
“It’s just a figure of speech; you’re not really being thrown in naked. I’ll set up at least minimal safety measures.”
“But killer whales are still killer whales.”
Seeing Junghyun sulk about being deceived despite trying to talk his way around it, Jaehyuk patted his head soothingly.
“Don’t worry. You’re the type who could eat a killer whale.”
“I don’t want to. They probably don’t taste good.”
“Right. So don’t eat them. It’s not good for you. Just ignore them appropriately, and if they bother you, just harpoon them occasionally.”
“Can I really do that?”
“Of course, that’s why I chose you.”
“Did I look like a megalodon to you?”
At that point, Jaehyuk interrupted with a surprised expression.
“…To be honest, I thought of you as a mosasaurus, but megalodon might be better.”
At his comment that it seemed bigger, more violent, and meaner, Junghyun smiled brightly with just his lips and stroked Jaehyuk’s cheek.
“I’m glad you wore sunglasses.”
Implying that he was cursing with his eyes, Junghyun leaned casually on Jaehyuk’s shoulder and, still smiling, continued with the next topic.
“Fine. Since I’ve already agreed to do it, I’ll do it. But if there’s anything else you’re hiding, tell me now. No matter who I am, if something explodes like a landmine when I know nothing about it, I might panic and cause trouble.”
“There’s nothing more. I’ll explain a few detailed points you need to know after we register the marriage.”
“Those detailed parts seem important though?”
“As I said, those parts don’t involve big risks. And honestly, you don’t really care anyway, do you?”
Junghyun’s face showed neither surprise nor confusion despite his words.
His face clearly showed that he found it annoying to worry about various things, and when Jaehyuk lightly tapped Junghyun’s forehead, he didn’t insist otherwise.
“…Well, that’s true, but…”
While Junghyun drank his coffee with a dissatisfied look as if offended by something, Jaehyuk continued to fiddle with his hair as if petting a companion animal.
The two, practically embracing and constantly touching and whispering, would look like a couple flaunting their relationship in front of a friend if one were watching the scene on mute.
If they had just kept smiling, it would have seemed unnatural, but Junghyun’s occasional frowns and dubious expressions made it all too natural.
The disconnect between the content of their conversation and their expressions and actions was almost nauseating.
Thinking that both of them had strong stomachs, Junyoung grimaced while drinking his coffee, when the sound of light footsteps approached.
With the noise of a tray being pulled along and the sense of someone approaching, Junyoung quickly put down his phone and looked up to see a server who politely addressed them.
“I’ll prepare your meal now.”
At that signal, as food was placed one by one on the table, all three smiled nonchalantly and began their meal.
Leisurely and peacefully, fitting the relaxed, lazy Sunday morning atmosphere.
* * *
“This seems to be wrapped up for now. I’ll organize everything and send it to you by 7 PM, so let me know if there’s anything else that needs to be changed.”
Having taken brief notes on his phone throughout the meeting, which had been set up as if introducing a friend to a lover, Junyoung began wrapping up, saying he would send the file by seven that evening.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
