[Dear passengers, hello. Our flight is L348, departing from Incheon International Airport and heading to London Heathrow. For your comfortable journey…]
Ji-hwan sat back in the spacious business class seat, relaxing his body. After tucking his passport with the ticket into his suitcase, he quietly placed his clasped hands on his knees. Drowsiness washed over him, and his eyes slowly closed.
“Sir, could you please fasten your seatbelt?”
A flight attendant in a neat uniform slightly bent at the waist and spoke to him. Ji-hwan opened his eyes and nodded. Once the attendant confirmed that he had fastened his belt, she smiled kindly and left.
“……”
Was his mind so far away that he even forgot to fasten his seatbelt? Ji-hwan let out a short sigh and cast his gaze out the small window, wide open to the runway.
“……”
Right now, he was on his way to a small town near London. The very same road that Jin Siwoo and Baek Sanho had taken three months ago.
The accident involving Jin Siwoo was unexpected. It completely shattered all the plans that Siwoo had made over the past month. But who could have predicted it? Ji-hwan remembered the sight of Siwoo, determined to shake him off, running towards Baek Sanho. That image was etched deep in his mind, like frames of a film. Bang. The loud crash, the screeching sound, the friction of tires spinning out of control. Siwoo’s body, cradling Baek Sanho, rolling roughly on the asphalt. It felt like a horrific nightmare.
“You should take a break for a while. At least until Siwoo wakes up.”
After Siwoo was taken to the hospital, Chairman Jin Tae-seok had said that to him. Ji-hwan simply lowered his head and nodded in agreement. He couldn’t defy him. However, he couldn’t just rest either. Because there was something Siwoo had once asked him to do.
“It might be a bit of a difficult request, but could you do it for me?”
Ji-hwan clearly remembered Siwoo’s soft voice that day.
“Please help me. Not now, but later.”
Had Siwoo anticipated this situation? Did he know that he or Baek Sanho would find themselves in trouble in some way? In truth, it didn’t matter now. What mattered was that he had promised to fulfill Siwoo’s request, and he had to keep that promise. The only thing that mattered was that he had to take care of Baek Sanho as per Jin Siwoo’s request.
But Baek Sanho was completely broken. He had intermittent seizures and eventually lost all vitality, like a doll devoid of emotions. It was pitiful. And it was resentful. Ji-hwan’s mixed feelings towards Baek Sanho were taut, unable to lean towards either side. But Ji-hwan also knew. No matter what feelings he harbored, the intertwined fate of the two would never be severed. Advising Baek Sanho not to get involved with Siwoo had merely been a form of spite.
“It’s emotional imprinting.”
Professor Kim, Siwoo’s attending physician who had taken care of Baek Sanho at Ji-hwan’s request, explained simply. That simple term was the key that could solve everything.
“Emotional imprinting is different from the imprinting commonly known. It’s not a physical act but a connection formed by emotions, making it a much stronger bond. Therefore, it’s also quite rare.”
“Then you’re confident about the emotional imprinting between the director and Baek Sanho?”
“Yes. I am confident.”
Professor Kim seemed to weigh each word carefully. But it wasn’t because he doubted his own judgment. After a brief pause, he added this to Ji-hwan.
“It may sound like a melodrama. But the certainty is that external factors cannot separate them. You must have heard the myth that if one twin is in pain, the other feels it too. That’s a story not scientifically explained, but emotional imprinting is different. In fact, those who are emotionally imprinted not only share emotions but also physical reactions.”
“That means…”
“Baek Sanho waking up means that you will eventually wake up too. And it will be soon. If you were not going to wake up, Baek Sanho would not have survived either.”
It was a fantastical story. Ji-hwan silently gazed at Professor Kim.
“I will inform the chairman as well. No matter how much of a chairman he is, he cannot break this kind of bond.”
Yes, there was no other way. Jin Siwoo’s beloved was Baek Sanho. Baek Sanho was Jin Siwoo’s one and only omega.
The airport in London was draped in a monochrome hue. The British sky, which wore a gloomy color for most of the day. Sometimes, it was puzzling why Siwoo had chosen England as a place to escape Chairman Jin’s gaze, especially with Baek Sanho. Jin Siwoo was a warm person, someone who suited the bright sunlight more than the shade.
As he entered the arrivals hall, he immediately spotted someone who had come to greet him. It wasn’t just because he was the only Asian among the Europeans, but because of his exceptionally graceful appearance. Tall with broad, straight shoulders. His well-defined muscles exuded ease, and his light-colored hair and small, fair face looked almost radiant. Ji-hwan lightly gestured towards him and took a step forward. He was very glad to see him, but his dry expression didn’t fully convey his joy.
“Manager Jung.”
Just as Ji-hwan was about to slightly bow his head towards Siwoo, Siwoo lightly embraced his shoulder. It was a gesture akin to how one would treat a close brother. Ji-hwan stiffly reached out and grasped his arm.
“Director. You were here…”
“Just call me Siwoo.”
“……”
“It’s been ages since I dropped the title.”
Just like when they were young. Ji-hwan stared intently at Siwoo’s eyes, which curved like a painting. Then he pressed his lips together. With a still smiling face, Siwoo took hold of Ji-hwan’s suitcase handle.
“Let’s go. We have a lot to talk about.”
Siwoo’s car parked in the lot was a cream-colored compact sedan. It was a car that didn’t match Siwoo, who always got into a large black sedan. Before Ji-hwan could reach for the trunk, Siwoo, as if to explain himself, said,
“Sanho liked this car.”
Ji-hwan looked at Siwoo, who was closing the trunk without saying a word. Siwoo smiled and casually walked to the driver’s seat. With a click, he opened the driver’s door and got in, leaving Ji-hwan standing there with a slightly bewildered expression.
“Get in.”
“You’re driving… yourself?”
He had no memory of ever riding in a car driven by him. Siwoo’s eyes widened as he looked at Ji-hwan, who stood frozen in place. Then he curved his body again.
“Manager Jung can’t drive here. Do you have an international license?”
“I do have an international license.”
Siwoo chuckled. Then, without answering, he nodded his head. It was a sign that it was okay to get in the passenger seat. Ji-hwan hesitated for a moment but soon opened the passenger door.
“I don’t like having other people in the passenger seat.”
As the passenger door closed, Siwoo muttered as if to himself.
“Pardon?”
“Oh.”
Another laugh filled with excuses spread out.
“Sanho doesn’t like having anyone else next to me. I might get scolded by him. No, maybe I’ll be the one getting scolded.”
As Ji-hwan stared blankly at Siwoo, Siwoo chuckled softly again.
“So, please fasten your own seatbelt. If I have to fasten it for you, I’ll be starving for dinner tonight.”
It was quite a teasing remark. He felt like he could understand how Jin Siwoo’s day flowed here without even asking.
The cream-colored car rolled smoothly along the road. Since they were heading to the outskirts rather than London itself, it took quite a bit of time. Siwoo glanced at his wristwatch and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, tilting his head slightly. The smile lingering at the corners of his mouth clearly revealed his eagerness to meet someone waiting for him. Ji-hwan let out a faint sigh.
Before long, the car exited London. Ji-hwan, who had been silent, cautiously opened his mouth.
“Director. It seems the JR UK branch will be decided by the end of next month. The chairman seems to have made up his mind.”
Siwoo, looking ahead, raised his eyebrows slightly in response.
“By the end of next month? That’s faster than I expected.”
Is it fast? Or perhaps it might be late. Chairman Jin Tae-seok might have anticipated this moment since he agreed to the deal with Baek Sanho.
“I expected it to be around the end of this year, but it seems he thinks there’s no point in dragging it out.”
“Yeah. My father hates wasting time unnecessarily.”
Hmm, Siwoo, who had been clearing his throat, spoke in a light voice, pulling the corners of his mouth up.
“Oh, I already don’t want to work. Can’t we delay my reinstatement as a director a bit longer?”
His voice was filled with playful mischief. Ji-hwan found himself at a loss for words in response to his joke. It was a joke, but he understood Siwoo’s words. The establishment of the JR UK branch by Chairman Jin meant the reinstatement of Siwoo’s directorship, which also meant restoring their relationship. Inevitably, it also meant officially recognizing the relationship between Jin Siwoo and Baek Sanho.
“Well, it can’t be helped. I have someone to support, so I need to earn a lot of money.”
“…….”
“What if you pressure me to earn money? I’m scared of that.”
Giggling, Siwoo glanced at his watch again. The car entered a small town in the outskirts.
“Manager, I have a favor to ask.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“Please try not to bring up my father in front of Sanho.”
“Oh, yes. Understood.”
“I just… think he might feel uneasy.”
Ji-hwan nodded lightly. Uneasy? Well, would Baek Sanho, who had even proposed a deal using his life as leverage, really be afraid of Jin Tae-seok?
The cream-colored car smoothly rolled along the streets lined with pointed roofs. Behind a large tree, looking at a blue roof, Siwoo smiled brightly.
“Please treat him well. For Sanho.”
“……Don’t worry.”
“Yeah, I’m not worried. You’re not the kind of person to make me worry.”
But Siwoo smiled again with a somewhat awkward expression.
“Yet, why do I feel so worried? Just… thinking about Sanho makes everything feel this way.”
It was an absurd statement. It seemed Jin Siwoo was aware that he was particularly anxious about matters related to Baek Sanho. Well, it was better than not knowing. Ji-hwan silently gazed at the small house with a blue roof at the end of the street.
Baek Sanho was sitting on a chair in the garden. His figure, sitting casually on a white chair at a white table, looked quite peaceful. The porcelain doll that had long occupied the family’s display case suddenly came to mind. What had happened to that doll? Had he shattered it into pieces and disposed of it? As the cream-colored car entered the garage and came to a stop, Ji-hwan unfastened his seatbelt and opened the passenger door.
“Sanho.”
Siwoo, who had also gotten out of the driver’s seat, turned towards the garden with a smile. His arms naturally opened wide. Baek Sanho, who had been sitting in the chair, stood up and approached him. With a somewhat timid demeanor, he moved closer to Siwoo’s embrace, and Siwoo gently held him and kissed his forehead. Ji-hwan noticed Baek Sanho’s ears turning slightly red.
“You know well that the manager saved you.”
Siwoo said as he took Ji-hwan’s suitcase out of the trunk.
“The house is a bit small.”
“Oh, I’m sorry about that. Back then…”
Ji-hwan immediately shut his mouth. It was to avoid bringing up Chairman Jin in front of Baek Sanho. The situation when they were looking for a house had been complicated in many ways. It wasn’t possible to find a grand house while avoiding Chairman Jin’s gaze, so they had settled for an ordinary, small house. For Siwoo, who had only lived in a large family home with a yard or a penthouse-like officetel, this small house might feel cramped.
“Oh, that’s not what I meant to say.”
Siwoo said with a smile.
“I was just worried that you might feel uncomfortable while you’re here.”
Ji-hwan hurriedly shook his head. Siwoo quietly reached out his hand towards Baek Sanho. He took Siwoo’s hand in his.
“But our garden is pretty.”
Siwoo’s eyes softened as he looked around the small garden. He gently shook Baek Sanho’s hand that he was holding, like a mischievous boy. Watching that scene, Ji-hwan opened his mouth.
