Chapter 11
Eunsol’s eyes widened. He had encountered someone he never expected to see in such a place.
“I’ve missed you since that day. It seems not all chance encounters are bad,” said Ryu Jeong-woo. He was the only person at the gathering Eunsol had attended with Hyun-oh who had shown kindness to Eunsol. Like Eunsol, Ryu Jeong-woo was dressed in just a comfortable robe.
“Did you come alone? This place is members-only, and it’s hard to get in without an introduction from an existing member.”
His words didn’t seem intended to intimidate Eunsol; he genuinely looked puzzled. He seemed curious about who had brought Eunsol.
“Ah, that… I came with my mother.”
The word “mother” felt foreign on his tongue. Eunsol found the words “mom” and “mother” awkward, making it even more so.
“I see. I’ve seen you a few times at parties.”
Ryu Jeong-woo smiled, looking at Eunsol’s flushed cheeks as if they were cute.
“Do you want to get a massage together? It seems like you’re getting one alone too.”
Ryu Jeong-woo had also heard the rumors about Kang Ye-ryeong. If she had brought Eunsol and he was alone, he could guess the situation.
“Should I prepare for you to receive one together?”
“What do you think, Eunsol?”
“…Okay.”
To Eunsol, Ryu Jeong-woo seemed like a kind person. He had approached him warmly from the first time they met and didn’t look down on him despite his shortcomings.
It was awkward to call him a friend, but they were of similar age. Since he hadn’t attended school properly, he didn’t have memories of socializing with peers.
Though he couldn’t completely let his guard down yet, just having a light conversation made his heart flutter unexpectedly.
***
“You have really pretty hands.”
“Ah… Thank you.”
Eunsol bowed his head slightly. After the full-body massage, Eunsol was sitting next to Ryu Jeong-woo, getting his hands taken care of.
It was the first time someone had touched his hands so carefully, and the unfamiliarity made his fingertips stiff.
“They look like baby hands, don’t they? So cute.”
Ryu Jeong-woo agreed with the staff’s words. The blush on Eunsol’s cheeks deepened.
“Most men don’t usually get manicures. Or they get colors similar to apricot. What would you like?”
“The same as Jeong-woo, please.”
Ryu Jeong-woo chuckled softly at the way Eunsol addressed him.
“Should we sort out our titles?”
“Titles…?”
“Yes. We’re not that far apart in age, and it’s fate that we met like this. Calling each other with titles like ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’ feels too formal, doesn’t it?”
“Ah…”
Eunsol’s eyelashes fluttered. He couldn’t immediately think of what to call Ryu Jeong-woo if not “Mr. Jeong-woo.”
“How about I call you Eunsol, and you call me Jeong-woo hyung? Am I overstepping?”
“Ah, no…”
At Ryu Jeong-woo’s slightly disappointed tone, Eunsol shook his head vigorously in denial.
“Then I’ll call you Eunsol from now on. Speak comfortably too. Try calling me once.”
The blush that had been on Eunsol’s cheeks spread down to his neck. After hesitating for a while, Eunsol whispered Ryu Jeong-woo’s name in a small voice.
“…Jeong-woo hyung.”
“Good job.”
Ryu Jeong-woo lightly patted Eunsol’s head. It felt different from Hyun-oh’s warmth. When Hyun-oh touched Eunsol, there was a mix of slight fear, tension, and excitement that made his heart race.
Ryu Jeong-woo’s touch felt like a blanket being draped over his cold heart. Comforted by the warmth, Eunsol’s expression softened.
“I’ll just get a simple nail trim and a massage. Do you want to do the same, Eunsol?”
“Yes.”
Eunsol couldn’t even call his blood-related brother “hyung” properly. He avoided meeting his eyes as much as possible, fearing sharp words would come out just by making eye contact, and there were rarely any occasions to call him.
Though the gathering had been tough, Eunsol thought it was fortunate to have met Ryu Jeong-woo. Today was no different.
Thanks to coming with Hyun-oh’s mother, he was able to spend a happy time with Ryu Jeong-woo.
The staff carefully trimmed Eunsol’s nails. He was a customer with a high chance of becoming a VVIP in the future.
The salon operated on a system where staff received commissions if customers designated them. The staff attended to Eunsol’s hands more sincerely than ever.
“Getting along well with your mother will make things easier in many ways.”
Ryu Jeong-woo continued, sipping the tea provided by the staff.
“Surprisingly, she has a fiery personality. She’s ruthless to her enemies but quite generous to those within her circle. And since she’s your mother-in-law, it’s better to be on good terms than bad.”
The expression on Ryu Jeong-woo’s face as he said the last part looked as bitter as if he had swallowed soot with his tea.
Eunsol listened attentively to Ryu Jeong-woo’s words. He was older than Eunsol and also a senior in married life.
He, too, had a marriage arranged by contract like Eunsol, not a love marriage. Ryu Jeong-woo chose his words carefully, but Eunsol could sense that his married life wasn’t very smooth.
His calm expression hid eyes filled with sorrow, as if they might spill tears at the slightest touch.
“We’ll prepare a tea set for you. What kind of tea would you like?”
“I’ll have Earl Grey. Eunsol, what tea do you like?”
“I’ll have Earl Grey too.”
“Then please prepare some tea snacks that go well with Earl Grey.”
After finishing their hand care, Eunsol and Ryu Jeong-woo moved to the lounge. They were still in their robes.
Checking the time on his phone, he saw that three hours had already passed. They ate the tea snacks provided by the staff while waiting for Kang Ye-ryeong to appear.
“You’re coming out late. Did you say you came with your lover?”
“Yes. I think so.”
He hadn’t seen the face of Kang Ye-ryeong’s lover, but from the phone conversation, it seemed so. He had heard Kang Ye-ryeong request a couple’s course from the salon manager right next to him, so it was certain.
“Hmm. It seems like they’ve moved to another place. Excuse me for a moment.”
After serving the tea, Ryu Jeong-woo called over a staff member who had been waiting by the wall. He whispered something in her ear, and she bowed before leaving the lounge.
“This place is quite famous.”
“In what way?”
“For wives bringing their lovers to play. You should bring someone next time, Eunsol.”
“Ah, I…”
It was an unexpected remark. Eunsol couldn’t immediately understand the idea of having a relationship with someone else while being married.
His already large eyes widened even more, and Ryu Jeong-woo smiled faintly.
“It’s a joke, a joke. If you really want to bring someone, a more secretive place would be better. Rumors tend to spread here.”
Is this what married life is like? Eunsol’s expression darkened. He thought of the message he had sent to Hyun-oh.
Recalling the thought process that led him to send that message, his eyebrows drooped like reeds soaked in rain.
“Maybe it’s because you’re still newlyweds. But Hyun-oh isn’t the affectionate type, is he?”
There was no malice in Ryu Jeong-woo’s words. Knowing that, Eunsol tried to hide his gloomy feelings and managed a faint smile.
In truth, Eunsol knew almost nothing about Hyun-oh. The information Kim Myungjun had given Eunsol only contained details about the attendees of the gathering.
And the information Manager Do had given him before going to the hotel had almost nothing about Hyun-oh.
“But… he’s really cool.”
Just thinking of Hyun-oh made Eunsol’s heart race. His trembling fingertips felt like his heart had moved there.
Ryu Jeong-woo’s mouth fell open slightly in admiration. Eunsol’s shy smile was captivating enough to want to capture in a photo.
“I didn’t think Eunsol would have this kind of vibe at his age. Maybe it’s inborn.”
The face of someone in love was beautiful. Actually, Eunsol’s appearance wasn’t the type that would stand out if you assumed he was in a party venue. It was a place filled with dazzling figures.
But once your eyes met his, your gaze would unconsciously keep returning. His particularly large eyes, his flawless features, and his delicate facial features packed into a small face became more charming the more you looked.
The emotions swirling in his pitch-black eyes were so vivid they felt tangible. Ryu Jeong-woo smiled bitterly.
He could imagine what lay ahead for Eunsol, who seemed to be walking the same path as him.
“I hope Eunsol continues to smile like this.”
Actually, it was meddling. Though Hyun-oh and his husband attended the same gatherings, they weren’t close enough to meet personally.
It was best to maintain an appropriate friendship with Eunsol. But he couldn’t help it; from the moment he first saw him, Eunsol reminded him of himself when he had just gotten married.
“So, whenever you’re feeling down, contact me. Don’t hesitate.”
“…Yes. I will.”
Eunsol fiddled with his phone containing Ryu Jeong-woo’s number. It felt like Ryu Jeong-woo’s concern for him was contained within the phone.
***
Just as Ryu Jeong-woo had said, Kang Ye-ryeong didn’t appear. As Eunsol, left alone like a lost cat, was about to be taken home by Ryu Jeong-woo, Kim Myungjun entered the salon and found Eunsol.
After hearing the situation from the manager, he politely bowed to Ryu Jeong-woo and then took Eunsol out.
Eunsol bowed deeply to Ryu Jeong-woo, who waved at him, just as Kim Myungjun had.
The ride in the back seat of the car driven by Kim Myungjun to the newlywed home with Hyun-oh was silent.
Actually, Eunsol wanted to ask Kim Myungjun. Whether Hyun-oh had received his message.
He felt it was impudent to bother him over such a trivial matter and just bit his innocent lower lip.
“In the future, it would be best if you let me know before you go out. The same goes if the madam suddenly visits.”
“…Yes.”
Kim Myungjun, who had taken Eunsol all the way to his house, advised him. In his view, Eunsol knew too little.
From his position as Hyun-oh’s right-hand man, Eunsol’s existence was, to put it bluntly, a concern. In a place overflowing with those trying to bite at Hyun-oh, Eunsol was like a defenseless child.
“Then… can you tell me the things I need to know about Hyun-oh…?”
The white hand grabbed Kim Myungjun’s arm as he was about to leave after greeting Eunsol.
“Because I know nothing… I might make a mistake without realizing it.”
Eunsol didn’t want his words and actions to harm Hyun-oh. There was a subtle nuance in Kim Myungjun’s tone when he said to contact him first before going out.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
