Chapter 55
“Th… thank you.”
The words barely managed to escape from his throat. In novels, he’d occasionally read phrases like ‘the words got caught in his throat and wouldn’t come out,’ and now he felt like he could understand why such expressions existed. He truly felt like he couldn’t breathe. After hearing Igeon’s response, Han Taekyung removed his hand as if he’d been waiting for it.
“Jae-woo.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“I’d like to talk with Seo Igeon-ssi, whom I haven’t seen in a long time. Could you give us some space? We seem to have a lot to discuss.”
Is that true? Judging from his current attitude, Han Taekyung didn’t seem to have anything to talk about with him at all. Nevertheless, Han Jae-woo nodded happily, as if he believed those words were true.
“Ah, right! Yes, of course. I wasn’t being considerate. Please talk.”
In his heart, Igeon wanted to grab Han Jae-woo and say, “Don’t go! Don’t leave! Take me with you!” He didn’t want to talk with Han Taekyung right now. It felt like it would somehow cross a final line. But unfortunately, Han Jae-woo left the room, leaving the two of them alone. In the awkward atmosphere that followed, Han Taekyung was the first to move. He gestured toward the sofa as he walked toward it.
“Please sit.”
Suddenly formal speech. How should he respond to this? Igeon was tired from having to think more than he expected, but still tried to keep his wits about him.
“Yes.”
Korean etiquette dictates that formal speech should be met with formal speech. As Igeon sat on the sofa, Han Taekyung sat across from him and pressed a button on the phone that was placed on the table.
“Two coffees, please.”
He doesn’t even ask what I want to drink? If it had been the old Han Taekyung, he would have asked what I wanted to drink, and if I said coffee, he would have asked whether I wanted an americano, if I wanted syrup, if I wanted milk, if I wanted a vanilla latte or a caramel latte – he would have asked about every single detail. No, he might not have asked at all. Because he knew Igeon’s preferences perfectly.
Silence fell until the secretary brought the coffee. Soon, the secretary brought the coffee and placed it on the table.
“Don’t let anyone in until I say so.”
“Yes, understood.”
Really, what kind of important conversation is he trying to have that requires such formality? After the secretary left, there was another brief silence.
“Please drink.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Han Taekyung picked up his coffee cup first and drank. The coffee was just an ordinary americano. It was very bitter and strong. Igeon frowned after one sip and placed it back on the table.
“I heard we were roommates.”
And sure enough, Han Taekyung was the first to go on the offensive.
“Yes.”
“As you probably heard from Director Han, I was in an accident and my memories are jumbled. So in my mind, my memories of you… are almost nonexistent.”
“I don’t understand. If they’re jumbled, why is there nothing about me? This might sound ridiculous coming from someone you don’t remember, but it seems like we spent quite a long time together.”
“Are you upset?”
“What?”
“It sounds that way.”
“Upset… I’m too complicated right now to express it with just that one word.”
“It seems I didn’t consider you that important.”
Why?
“After hearing about it from Director Han, I really tried to recall things about you for several days. I searched through the memory warehouse of my high school days, but nothing came up. I turned over every unmatched puzzle piece one by one, but found nothing. So I looked into my college days. Same university, roommates, entered together, and we were good rivals. This came up even when I searched for articles. There were several photos of us together. Looking at those photos, I vaguely recalled training together, but it wasn’t perfect. Director Han told me there was an incident in high school, and that you came along at that time. He also told me that someone who had been protecting me since childhood said you fought and took risks for me. But well, I don’t remember.”
Why am I having to listen to this?
He regretted it. If only he hadn’t known, if only he hadn’t accepted the job. If only he had refused. Then he could have thought, ‘Oh, Han Taekyung had an accident and couldn’t contact me. Misunderstanding cleared!’ and moved on.
Yes, it was Igeon’s own fault. Han Jae-woo had warned him several times. That Han Taekyung had changed. But he had taken those warnings lightly and come anyway. Who was this man in front of him? Was this really Han Taekyung? Saying such insensitive, harsh words?
“I see. It can’t be helped. Hmm…”
Igeon thought for a moment, then smiled slightly.
“Han Taekyung, it seems I wasn’t that important to you. But you were important to me, so I remember well. So if you’re curious about anything, just ask. I’ll tell you.”
This wasn’t directed at Han Taekyung. It was something Igeon was saying to himself. So there was no need to be hurt or to shrink back. He had done nothing wrong.
Sure enough, after hearing Igeon’s words, Han Taekyung frowned slightly and then laughed as if in disbelief.
“Is that so. It’s reassuring to hear you say that.”
Back to informal speech. What is he trying to do?
“So, am I hired?”
“Well, since Director Han has already decided, I can’t refuse. Director Han is the type who, once he’s made a decision, pushes forward like a bulldozer and doesn’t stop until he’s accomplished it.”
“I see…”
Just like you.
“But I think your opinion is important too. So tell me what you think. If you’re uncomfortable…”
“No, I need a bodyguard right now anyway. Someone who can stay by my side 24 hours a day. You know why Director Han chose you? I agreed with it because I thought it was necessary, as Director Han said. To be guarded by an Olympic medalist – if anything, it’s an honor for me. So I’d like you to be my bodyguard.”
“Alright. Then I’ll start tomorrow.”
“We’ll prepare the employment contract and other documents. The secretary will explain everything to you when you go out.”
“I understand. Well then.”
“Where are you going?”
Thinking that he was being told to go out and listen to the secretary’s explanation, Igeon stood up, but Han Taekyung’s voice stopped him.
“What? Weren’t you telling me to leave?”
“You’re impatient.”
Hah, I’ll be patient. Igeon sighed deeply and sat back down in the chair.
“What else do you have to say?”
“Pheromones.”
“What?”
“Release your pheromones.”
“What?”
He didn’t understand why he was suddenly being asked to release his pheromones in this situation. Of course, he wasn’t managing his pheromones as strictly as during his athletic career, but releasing pheromones in front of others was still considered very rude, so Igeon was trying his best to hide and conceal his pheromones. But now he was suddenly being asked to release them.
“Why?”
“Think of it as the final interview stage. Don’t worry. Even though we’re both alphas, I won’t be affected by your pheromones.”
Ah, come to think of it, Han Taekyung’s pheromones couldn’t be felt. It felt like they were completely concealed, like a regular beta. There were no pheromones in this room either. It felt like there wasn’t even a trace of pheromones that would inevitably be left from daily life. Like the quiet universe… But his eyes were red. He thought that eye color was only possible when he was in rut… Oh, could it be that because of the imprint, he couldn’t feel pheromones? No, that’s not it. Back then, when Han Taekyung came to find him for the last time about 10 years ago, he was imprinted but his pheromones could be felt. Does that mean the imprint has become perfect now?
“Alright.”
Igeon slowly released his pheromones. Han Taekyung slowly closed his eyes. Feeling Igeon’s pheromones touching his body, he straightened his posture and slowly opened his eyes.
“Seo Igeon, amid having no memories of you, there’s one thing I do remember.”
“What?”
“That I know your pheromones.”
“…Well, that’s because we were roommates.”
That’s right. He could know them because they were roommates. But why was his heart pounding so anxiously? Surely he’s not talking about ‘that time’?
“I guess that could be it. I understand. You can withdraw your pheromones now. You’ve passed.”
Is it really over now? Seo Igeon withdrew his pheromones. When Igeon’s pheromones could no longer be felt, Han Taekyung stood up first.
“Can I go now?”
He nodded, and Seo Igeon left that excessively large room that had been full of unease. As soon as the door closed, the secretary greeted Igeon and took him to the conference room to explain various things, but Igeon only gave the necessary responses while his mind was completely filled with thoughts of Han Taekyung. Everything just felt surreal.
Was the person he had just seen really Han Taekyung?
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, thank you.”
After receiving all the explanations from the secretary, Igeon stood in front of the elevator. Through the mirror-like golden elevator, he could see the door of the executive office where Han Taekyung was located behind him. His lower abdomen ached slightly. Igeon rubbed it once, then slapped his cheek with a ‘thwack.’
Pull yourself together. The water is already spilled. Regret is useless. Protect Han Taekyung. That’s what you decided to do. That’s what you’re going to do, Seo Igeon.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
