Chapter 81
Yuwon shamelessly lied. No matter how much Taeju was his subordinate, there was no way Jeonghyeok would have honestly told Taeju about yesterday’s events.
It wasn’t that he didn’t know Taeju was Jeonghyeok’s man, but he had to consider even the smallest possibility.
If Taeju had only received instructions to take good care of a sick person, he might readily let him go. Even if they went out together, once he got outside, there would somehow be a chance to slip away.
Yuwon thought of places in his mind where he could hide. First, the best place would be the orphanage, but it would take too much time to get there. It was also the first place Jeonghyeok would visit when he disappeared.
Then where would be good? While pondering for a moment, a large building near the station suddenly came to mind. It was the place with the movie theater where Sohyeon said she worked.
There, he might be able to avoid Jeonghyeok’s eyes, even if just for a while. He would wait there hoping to meet Sohyeon, then borrow just the fare he needed immediately and leave for somewhere far away. He was confident that if he explained the situation, Sohyeon would gladly help him.
But contrary to his plan, Taeju spoke in a rather firm voice.
“I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible.”
“……Why not?”
“Hyung-nim specifically instructed that going out is absolutely not allowed.”
He had somewhat expected this, but he didn’t think it would be this cutting.
Yuwon chewed his lip as he pondered. Even if it was difficult right now, he had to somehow find a way to persuade Taeju.
“Your name is Jo Taeju… right?”
Taeju nodded at Yuwon’s question.
“Can I call you Taeju hyung?”
At the unexpected words, Taeju fell into brief contemplation. Jeonghyeok’s sharp gaze suddenly came to mind, but a title like hyung didn’t seem like it would be much of a problem.
“Yes, please call me comfortably.”
“I think I can only call you comfortably if hyung speaks to me comfortably too.”
“Uh……”
Despite his gentle appearance, it was a bold suggestion. Quite flustered, Taeju gave an awkward smile.
Even so, Yuwon was Jeonghyeok’s lover. Even if he was younger than himself, he wasn’t someone he could easily speak casually to.
“Later, when we become closer, I’ll speak casually then.”
Though he wasn’t sure if there would be a later, Taeju said that for now.
“Then we’ll have to become close quickly.”
Yuwon answered with a bright smile. He smiled as cheerfully as possible so that Taeju wouldn’t notice anything.
***
Site Manager Kim’s funeral hall was packed with no room to step, filled with his long-time acquaintances. Everyone had bewildered faces at the unexpected sad news.
Jeonghyeok mixed in among them and quietly entered the mourning hall. After lighting incense and paying his respects, he faced Site Manager Kim’s wife. Next to her stood a son and daughter side by side. They had appearances that closely resembled Site Manager Kim.
“I was completely beside myself…… Thanks to you, boss, I was able to prepare for my children’s father’s final journey. Thank you so much.”
Site Manager Kim’s wife expressed her gratitude to Jeonghyeok in a completely hoarse voice. Though her face still showed unabated grief, the way she smiled with her round eyes curved wasn’t forced.
It was the natural thing to do for him, who had been the only adult remaining in his life, so there was no need to be grateful. It must be very difficult, but please endure it steadfastly.
Though there were many things he wanted to say, Jeonghyeok simply bowed silently with a calm face.
Finally, he captured in his eyes Site Manager Kim, who was smiling brightly in the portrait photo. The fact that he could never again hear his voice calling “Jeonghyeok-ah” still didn’t feel real.
Jeonghyeok, who left the funeral hall, got on the elevator. The narrow interior was crowded with people dressed in black.
Standing with his body pressed against the edge, he saw a particularly round back of a head in his field of vision. The smooth, rounded shape looked exactly like Yuwon’s.
What are you doing right now? You’re probably not thinking of me. Even if you are thinking of me, it probably isn’t in a good way. Since I’m the person who hurt you so much you can’t even sit properly, you probably don’t even want to see me.
Last night, the impulsive act he committed with his eyes rolled back was the biggest mistake of his life. Even while forcibly spreading his unprepared body and roughly thrusting into him, he wanted to cry inside.
Why did you say such things to me? You made me anxious and afraid too. Everything I’ve become is all because of you.
Yuwon’s words that he no longer liked him felt exactly like a death sentence. The impulse to block that small mouth saying let’s break up kept surging up.
He should have just blocked his mouth instead. The problem was that he had done something even worse than that. When he recalled Yuwon groaning all night, his chest ached. Even though he was the one who had made him like that.
Just as he was swallowing a bursting sigh, the elevator arrived at the floor with the underground parking garage. Following the people streaming out, Jeonghyeok also moved his steps.
Before starting the engine after getting in the car, he opened the glove box in front of the passenger seat. Inside was Yuwon’s phone with the power turned off. He planned to keep the phone here until the day he left the officetel.
He thought about turning it on but stopped. Just in case there was contact from Yuwon’s biological parents looking for him. Though he had already heard the details from Minhyeon, he didn’t particularly want to confirm that fact with his own eyes.
But how long could he pretend not to know?
Even if he blocked everyone’s contact for now, once they moved and he returned the phone to Yuwon as promised, he would have to give it back. No matter how hard he tried to hide it now, it would only delay time and he would eventually be found out.
After pondering for a while, Jeonghyeok took out his own phone from his jacket’s inner pocket. Then he found a phone number he had saved sometime ago and pressed the call button.
After several dial tones, a gentle voice flowed from the receiver.
—Yes, hello.
Perhaps he would regret this action more than yesterday’s events. Still, even so……
“Hello, Director. This is Moon Jeonghyeok.”
Jeonghyeok put on the most polite voice he could manage.
***
Jeonghyeok, who had parked his car in the orphanage parking lot, loosened his black tie. It seemed like he was showing too much that he had been to a funeral hall.
After unbuttoning the top button of his dress shirt and checking his appearance one last time in the rearview mirror, he opened the driver’s door. When he straightened his bent back, the old villa immediately came into view.
“……”
Jeonghyeok raised his eyebrows and made an effort to soften his stiff expression. When he knocked on the office door after passing through the villa’s entrance, Misook opened the door as if she had been waiting.
“Teacher, hello. It’s been a long time.”
“Yes. It’s been a long time. You’ve been well, haven’t you?”
“Of course. Please come in.”
Jeonghyeok followed Misook’s guidance into the director’s office. The cozy atmosphere of the room was unchanged from before.
As he skillfully sat on the sofa, Misook asked in a kind voice.
“Is coffee alright?”
“Yes. Something cold, please.”
Misook left the director’s office and the sound of clinking came from the kitchen.
Jeonghyeok unconsciously clasped his hands tightly together. His own voice had been echoing in his ears as an auditory hallucination since earlier.
Are you still human after doing that? Do you think Kim Yuwon will forgive you? If that kid finds out, you’re finished. It’ll be even worse than now.
Then he heard the click of a door opening from behind. At the same time, the noisy inside of his head became quiet all at once.
Misook placed a white teacup filled with coffee on the table and said.
“Please drink. It’s coffee I ground and brewed myself from beans.”
“It smells good. Thank you.”
Though he wasn’t particularly interested in coffee, he answered that way for now. When Jeonghyeok took a sip of coffee, Misook also sat across from him.
“We’re gratefully using the supplies you sponsor every month, teacher. Especially the stationery set you gave us in March, it was very popular with the children.”
“That’s good to hear. I worried about choosing it.”
It was a lie. The donated supplies he sent once a month were always popular products he roughly selected and ordered. He didn’t even know what the exact contents were.
Unaware of this fact, Misook looked at Jeonghyeok with curious eyes and asked.
“You have really good taste. Do you perhaps have children?”
“No. I don’t.”
“Then you’ll make an excellent father later.”
Looking at Misook smiling contentedly, Jeonghyeok inwardly scoffed.
Father. It was a title he could never have. When he silently took another sip of coffee, the bitter liquid went down his throat.
Jeonghyeok shifted his gaze to the clock hanging on the wall across from him. It had already been nearly two hours since he left home. There was no more time to delay.
“The reason I came today is,”
After saying that much, he put down his cup on the table.
“Because of Yuwon’s request.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
