“Why? I’m planning to do it.”
With a woman, not a man.
“I’d like to if I could. Well, there’s also the option of a common-law relationship. Creating my own family has been my lifelong wish.”
He planned to get his own home rather than renting to avoid property taxes, and to have as many children as possible with a lovely wife.
He also thought about that. To live a long life with his partner so that his children would never have to be raised by others.
“Looking at you, one would think you grew up alone.”
“I am an orphan. My parents died in an accident, and I was raised by my uncle. My uncle is amazing, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is.”
In the end, it was boasting about a non-existent uncle, but the hidden purpose of this conversation was to establish a sense of connection. After all, Sa Gong-hyun also had no parents, just like him.
Despite the personal details Jae-young shared so freely, there was no change in Sa Gong-hyun’s expression. Not a hint of surprise or sympathy—those quintessentially human emotions—was visible.
Since Gong-hyun had investigated him before, he must have known that Jae-young had no parents. Was he showing no reaction because he already knew? Jae-young felt awkward for no reason. He slightly erased the bright smile that had bloomed on his face.
“You’re not surprised.”
“Should I be?”
“Most people are surprised when they hear someone’s an orphan.”
“There are surprisingly many people like you in this world, Do Jae-young-ssi. It’s neither surprising nor something to pity.”
That’s true. If it were just a matter of one or two people, there wouldn’t be child care facilities.
He had never once felt sorry for himself just because he had no parents. However, he had hidden it before because he didn’t want to become the subject of gossip. He had referred to his aunt as “mom” and his uncle as “dad.”
The day his friends found out the truth was when his aunt was called to school. Surrounded by friends demanding the truth, Jae-young kept silent, and his lie was exposed.
Once, an empty-headed friend had explicitly pitied him, and after pretending to be fine and brushing it off lightly a few times, he eventually grabbed the guy by the collar and punched him in the face.
Sympathy directed at him was rather uncomfortable. He had lived well even without parents. He had an apartment with a clear view of the Han River, even if it was rented, and he always ate meals with meat.
Sometimes, when sitting alone at a dining table large enough to lie down on with room to spare, he would think of his parents, but it was only for a very brief moment. Just a very brief moment, and even that was rare.
He hadn’t expected comfort from someone who also grew up without parents. Just empathy would have been enough. But to not even have that.
Wondering what he expected from Sa Gong-hyun, Jae-young unconsciously let out a small laugh. As he turned his gaze to the window, he felt the other’s eyes on him.
“That’s true.”
Jae-young whispered softly.
“But why are people so interested in others’ business?”
He had just wanted to avoid causing a commotion. He had never, even for a moment, considered it his weakness. Sa Gong-hyun maintained his silence despite hearing the small murmur.
The car stopped. Then came the feeling of the gear being shifted.
Have we arrived…? Jae-young looked around outside the window and put his hand on the seat belt. He had thought they were going somewhere special since they had been traveling for quite some time, but it was just a restaurant.
Just as he was about to unbuckle his belt, a warm temperature settled on the back of his hand. Jae-young reflexively turned to look at Sa Gong-hyun.
Sa Gong-hyun, with a rarely seen gentle expression, clicked open Jae-young’s seat belt.
It’s too… too close. It was quite embarrassing to make eye contact. His gaze crawled up to the 1 o’clock position. The 2 o’clock position, back to 1 o’clock, and now the 3 o’clock position.
The seat belt, stretched diagonally, retracted slowly. He lowered his eyes and then met the other’s gaze again.
“…”
His face felt like it was going to burn a hole. Sa Gong-hyun was staring at Jae-young so intently. Without even moving his lips.
He didn’t want to avoid those eyes again because it would hurt his pride, so he glared back.
“You still have the habit of getting nervous in front of your lover.”
“Nervous…who…? Lover?”
“Didn’t you know? You were the one who first assumed we could be this kind of relationship.”
“…I did.”
“I carefully selected a restaurant that Do Jae-young-ssi would like. It has all the rare alcohols you might want. The food is said to be quite good too.”
“…”
“It’s a fellow orphan treating you for our first date.”
Jae-young’s eyes suddenly widened. Sa Gong-hyun, with one corner of his mouth stretched long, slowly backed away.
He really is an unpredictable person. Jae-young took a deep breath. Then he hastily grabbed Sa Gong-hyun, who was about to get out of the car first.
The gaze that had turned to the opposite side came back.
“Is this what you wanted?”
As if finding it amusing that Jae-young was just staring blankly after grabbing his hand, he laughed softly.
“Ah… that’s not it…”
Belatedly finding his voice, Jae-young lowered his eyes and caressed the rough hand. After a moment’s hesitation, he rummaged through his coat pocket with his other hand.
It was hand cream he had prepared before leaving home. Originally, he had planned to give it when they were about to part. Such gifts were more timely at the end of a date. This was all because Sa Gong-hyun had unnecessarily covered his hand with his own.
“Your hands seem very rough. This is hand cream I sometimes use when my hands crack… I’ll give it to you as a gift, Hyun-ssi.”
Jae-young smiled brightly and squeezed some hand cream onto Sa Gong-hyun’s hand. After applying the cream to the scarred and rough skin, he massaged it like he was kneading the hand.
“Even if you give it to me, I won’t use it. Take it back.”
“Why won’t you use it?”
“I’m the kind of person for whom even twenty-four hours a day isn’t enough to waste on such bothersome things.”
Jae-young blinked as he gently rubbed Sa Gong-hyun’s hand. Suddenly, a broad smile leaked out. He patted the back of Sa Gong-hyun’s hand several times to make sure the cream was well absorbed, then took his other hand.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“That means meeting me isn’t a bothersome thing, right? It seems like you’re using your already scarce time on me quite well. You even personally found a good restaurant for me.”
Just like before, he squeezed out the same amount of cream and massaged Sa Gong-hyun’s hand. The corners of his mouth, which showed no signs of going down, made even himself laugh.
It was a very satisfying answer. You know what they say—when someone who usually chooses harsh words occasionally says something nice, your impression of them changes a little.
As if brainwashed by his own method acting, Jae-young couldn’t erase the smile clearly blooming on his face.
“I didn’t find it myself—I just picked one from a list that my secretary compiled.”
Making such a dismissive comment at this point was quite irritating.
“It seems like our Hyun-ssi can’t help but downplay everything. In times like this, you should just stay quiet.”
He cast a playful side-eye. Sa Gong-hyun looked back at him with a dry gaze, but Jae-young wasn’t bothered by that expression.
“Since you’re soooo busy, I’ll specially apply it for you. Every time we meet.”
Sa Gong-hyun always looked at him with that same face. Moreover, the fact that someone who was clear about his likes and dislikes didn’t push away his hand meant he had some feelings for him. They had clearly become lovers, after all.
“It would be a pointless act.”
“So what? I’m happy to have an excuse to hold your hand even once more. Like this.”
Jae-young, who had been meticulously applying cream, interlaced their fingers. He waved their joined hands like a boast and smiled like a child. This caused a subtle change in Sa Gong-hyun’s expression.
It was an ambiguous face that Jae-young found difficult to interpret precisely.
“That’s enough. Let’s get out now, unless you’re thinking about reclining the seats and having sex here.”
Before Jae-young could decipher that expression, Sa Gong-hyun pulled his hand away. Watching his back as he got out of the car, Jae-young opened his door too.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
