Chapter 20
[Jajangmyeon] Director Jang asks what time you’ll be leaving work today.
At the text that arrived during lunch, Jaehyuk immediately sent a reply.
[I’ll leave work on time.]
After sending the short message, Jaehyuk put down his phone and focused on his meal again. At that sight, Junyoung, who was sitting across from him, drank water while gauging Jaehyuk’s mood. Somehow, Jaehyuk’s current expression bothered him.
“Good news?”
“Not really.”
“It doesn’t seem like ‘not really’?”
“Eat your meal.”
As if he didn’t want to talk about it anymore, Jaehyuk unilaterally cut off the conversation and began moving his chopsticks again. Junyoung slowly looked over Jaehyuk, who was eating leisurely as usual. Whether fortunately or unfortunately, Jaehyuk looked different from what he had been hearing recently.
He had gotten thin as rumored, but he wasn’t sensitive. And the dark circles under his eyes were lighter than what he’d heard. He just looked like someone who had just finished a somewhat busy period. Of course, he had gotten quite thin for that…
Having been on edge about Jaehyuk’s condition, Junyoung also continued eating while throwing probing words at him.
“I heard you haven’t been moving around at all lately? Not just gatherings, but you’ve rejected all dinner invitations too. Everyone’s worried, asking if something happened?”
“As everyone knows, I was busy.”
It was a tone that said he didn’t have time to deal with people who had time overflowing. That was typical of Jaehyuk.
“March is the busiest time, but… even considering that, haven’t you been exercising too little? You’ve lost a lot of muscle too?”
“I didn’t have time to exercise either.”
Junyoung was convinced by that too.
“Well, you’ve had your share of troubles too. So will you have more free time from now on?”
“To some extent.”
“Then surfing?”
When Junyoung casually threw out the decisive bait and pretended to continue eating, Jaehyuk responded calmly.
“The water temperature is still cold. I’ll start around June.”
“Didn’t you usually start around this time every year? I think you used to go down around when the cherry blossoms bloom every year?”
“Junghyun gets cold easily.”
At that name that suddenly came up, Junyoung’s hand paused. But he soon moved his hand again and asked back as if surprised.
“Really? That’s unexpected? He looks like someone who would walk around in shorts and slippers with ice cream in his mouth even in the middle of winter.”
“I thought so too, but he gets cold easily. Thanks to that, I lived in a dry sauna all winter.”
At the past tense expression that made it hard to gauge the current situation, Junyoung picked up some bulgogi and naturally changed the subject.
“Come to think of it, don’t you get hot easily?”
“Can’t help it. It’s better to be a bit hot than to see him walking around at home wearing a hood and bundled up.”
“Hmm, that’s really unexpected. That’s different from how he looks.”
Junyoung, who had been dragging out his words suspiciously, swallowed the bulgogi and then asked in a casual tone.
“But anyway, since you’ve agreed to divorce in June, wouldn’t it be strange to go surfing together after the divorce?”
Finally getting to the main point and pointing out what he was most curious about, Jaehyuk emptied his bowl and put down his chopsticks. Then he opened his mouth somewhat heavily.
“That’s exactly why I called you.”
“Is there something to revise?”
“Think of it as on hold for now. And be careful not to let the story leak out.”
Junyoung immediately put down his chopsticks. Then he stared at Jaehyuk seriously for the first time in a while and asked.
“I’ll maintain confidentiality, but you just agreed on it a few days ago, so why suddenly?”
“There are two months left, so I have to try persuading him before then.”
“Is persuasion possible?”
At Junyoung’s tone that seemed somewhat mocking, as if certain it was impossible, Jaehyuk, who was about to pick up his water glass, paused. Then he stared at Junyoung with sharp eyes and asked.
“…What does that mean?”
“Don’t the secretaries report to you? The rumors going around that you and Junghyun are separated? I heard Junghyun hasn’t been seen at that apartment for quite a while?”
“Who said that?”
“There’s a famous idol group dormitory in your apartment building, right? So a paparazzi rented a short-term place in that apartment and stands guard every day, and there are rumors that you’ve been commuting alone recently?”
“If they don’t even know he quit his job, they probably can’t even recognize his face?”
“Maybe they thought that because they don’t see you going out together on weekends either?”
“Because he was always just staying at home. I was constantly busy too.”
“Then why did you have the lawyers handle the divorce mediation?”
“Because it’s uncomfortable to face each other and talk about such things.”
“So Junghyun has been at the apartment the whole time? Even now?”
Just as Junyoung was questioning somewhat aggressively, as if asking whether he was going to lie even to him, a text notification sound rang from Jaehyuk’s phone. At that sound, Jaehyuk picked up his phone and moved his fingers as if sending a text, then after a moment showed the screen to Junyoung.
[Jajangmyeon] Tonight’s dinner will be braised short ribs. He’s asking if there’s anything else you want to eat.
[Spicy stir-fried octopus. Make it spicy.]
After checking the text exchange that happened in a brief moment, Junyoung smiled awkwardly to hide his bewilderment.
“Still the same. But why are such rumors spreading?”
“You’d have to ask the person who spread such rumors.”
“…It’s fortunate that you’re doing well, but if you’re doing this well, why divorce? In this state, it seems like you could just maintain it?”
“That’s not your business.”
“As an accomplice in your contract marriage, I think I should know at least that much?”
“That’s a problem between the two of us.”
“It’s not just a problem between you two. Do you think there are eternal secrets in this world? One year is fine. Anyway, your grandfather knows but pretends not to, and your parents can’t interfere with whatever you do. That’s fine up to that point. The problem is your uncle. Do you think that person doesn’t know at all? About your relationship with Junghyun?”
Even without Junyoung saying it, Jaehyuk knew well that there was absolutely no way that could be true. No, it wasn’t just his uncle. Anyway, all the family members would have noticed. Even the dull Suhyuk and Yeonwoo would roughly know.
They just pretend not to know because there’s no evidence. And until now, there’s been no particular problem, so they’re tacitly staying silent. And that means, as Junyoung said, when an unfavorable situation comes to them, they can raise issues.
But that’s something to think about when the time comes. He’s not stupid enough to not be able to handle that much.
“That’s something I’ll take care of.”
“That’s what you think. By now, they’ve probably gotten some evidence in their hands. They’re keeping quiet for now considering Suhyuk hyung’s position, but who knows how long that will last. After the child is born, their attitude will completely change. They might already be working on it. If your uncle decides to start seriously, can you handle it?”
“That’s also a problem I’ll handle.”
Even with Junyoung’s threats, Jaehyuk’s determination was firm. At that stubborn attitude, Junyoung frowned as if displeased.
“Are you really thinking of maintaining the marriage?”
“I don’t think I need to say it twice.”
“Do you think it’s worth it?”
“It’s not a matter of worth.”
“Then?”
“Because I want to be with that guy. That’s the only reason.”
“Do you think that guy has the same thoughts as you?”
“That’s why I said I’d persuade him.”
“The guy who deliberately deceived you from the beginning?”
Is that still okay? Junyoung scratched at the most painful part. This one had some impact. So Jaehyuk hurriedly changed the subject.
“Get up now. I need to go straight to the office.”
Watching Jaehyuk get up from his seat as if trying to escape too obviously, Junyoung clicked his tongue quietly. But since it was also true that it was getting late, Junyoung also hurriedly got up and picked up the jacket he had hung on the chair next to him. Then he put on his jacket and followed Jaehyuk out of the room.
After finishing the payment and leaving the restaurant, standing in front of the elevator, Junyoung casually threw out some words.
“You’ll regret it in the end.”
“That’s also my burden to bear.”
“A relationship that started with lies can’t have a good ending.”
Right now, good feelings might be leading so he might think he can overcome everything, but the moment affection cools, that past could become a disaster for both of them. Love turning into hatred happens in an instant. And once emotions are corrupted, they’re hard to restore.
Jaehyuk knew that much too. He wasn’t living in a dream to the extent that he couldn’t recognize such things.
“That’s why we need to start over. From the beginning.”
“If it were just a problem between you two, it might be different, but since the families are involved, it won’t be as easy as you think.”
“I didn’t make this decision without being prepared to handle that much.”
While they were talking, the elevator arrived and the doors opened. Since it was lunchtime, the elevator was quite crowded. Due to the presence of people standing around them, Junyoung gave up on talking further.
Anyway, it wasn’t an atmosphere where words would get through no matter what he said. Then he had no choice but to find another method. He had to turn things back before things got more complicated. Back to where they were originally.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
