It seemed like it wouldn’t take long to find them. Aside from Secretary Kim’s family, there were no records of anyone having gone overseas. That meant they were still in the country for sure.
And yet, Da Haram and Kang Tae-jin had both vanished as if they’d evaporated into thin air. Where the hell were they hiding? Kang Tae-jin wasn’t the type to hole up in some dingy place, and despite searching every possible location, not a single trace had turned up. Tae-yi was starting to wonder if they were holed up in some underground bunker or something.
“Haaah…”
Though it had been a while since he’d parked in the garage, Kang Tae-yi still hadn’t stepped out of the driver’s seat. He was lost in thought.
Was Da Haram alone right now? There was no way Kang Tae-jin, who clearly couldn’t stand the sight of Haram, would be keeping him close. Maybe Secretary Kim was the one guarding him.
No matter how he looked at it, he didn’t like the situation—but he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Was Haram sleeping well? Was he eating? The worries came endlessly.
In the past, whenever Kang Tae-jin caused trouble, Tae-yi would be the first to explode in anger. But this time, it was different. From the moment he found out Haram had been kidnapped, worry for Haram had far outweighed any rage toward Kang Tae-jin.
And it wasn’t just that. The emptiness beside him felt almost wrong. Even though he’d spent more of his life alone than he had with Haram, the absence of that small presence left a gaping hole. It shocked him how much it affected him. Still, he kept that yearning inside. He would whisper those feelings only once Haram came back. He planned to hold him tight and murmur them all day long.
He no longer cared about catching Kang Tae-jin or making him powerless. None of that mattered. All he wanted was for Haram to come back safely. Just that—and nothing more.
Rubbing his face with dry hands, Tae-yi stared quietly at the empty passenger seat. The image of Haram sitting there—chatting away, waiting for red lights to sneak him bites of his ice cream—flickered in his mind.
Whenever the light turned red, Haram would hurriedly lean over and press the cone to his lips with a bright smile. And when Tae-yi took a bite, Haram’s smile would shine even brighter—brighter than anything else in the world. It wasn’t some phony, fake grin; it was a smile that neither Tae-yi nor anyone else could ever replicate.
Just thinking about those lips curling upward made him smile, even now, in a situation where there was absolutely nothing to smile about. The moment he realized he was smiling, though, the expression quickly faded.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Tae-yi finally stepped out of the car and headed inside.
***
“Who told you you could come in?”
Even though he’d replaced every subordinate in the house, not a single one could be relied on. Loosening his necktie, Kang Tae-yi glared at Yoon Ji-seok, who was sprawled out on the couch like it was his own damn living room.
“I was just waiting to catch up with an old friend,” Ji-seok replied smoothly, flashing a crooked smile.
“What about Professor Yoon?”
“No clue. He’s with Min-ho.”
Their father had probably left his younger brother in charge. Ever since Ji-seok got caught using drugs, he’d been out of their father’s favor. Him being around would just raise his blood pressure. That was more dangerous than any car accident.
“How’s your dad doing?”
“Don’t know.”
Tae-yi’s reply was indifferent, as if he genuinely didn’t care. He brushed past Ji-seok and headed upstairs. Watching him go, Ji-seok gave a small nod. At least he wasn’t the only disgrace in the family. The thought brought him a strange kind of comfort, and he followed Tae-yi up the stairs.
“So, what’s your plan?”
Trailing after Tae-yi as he made his way not to a bedroom but to the study, Ji-seok kept talking. But Tae-yi didn’t answer. As he started to close the door behind him, Ji-seok wedged himself in through the narrowing gap.
“Haaah…”
With a low sigh, Tae-yi sank into the sofa in the middle of the study and leaned back. The exhaustion was written all over his face. Watching him closely, Ji-seok sat across from him and spoke.
“You’re not seriously gonna just leave Kang Tae-jin alone, right?”
Faced with another barrage of questions, Tae-yi finally opened his eyes and looked straight at Ji-seok. A plan? Did he even have one anymore?
Without Haram, there was nothing he could do. The sense of helplessness came crashing back like a tidal wave, sweeping through his head. He kept telling himself Haram would be okay, but it was useless. Haram, who even broke out in a cold sweat just walking through the neighborhood—there was no way he’d be fine after being taken to some strange place.
In the silence of the wide study, another deep, heavy sigh escaped Tae-yi’s lips.
“Come on. It’s not like he’s got him in shackles or anything. Haram’s probably fine. He’s an important hostage. The moment he kidnapped him, Haram became Tae-jin’s lifeline.”
Even Ji-seok, who’d never seen Tae-yi in this bad of a state, felt unsettled. He rambled on, trying to sound reassuring, but Tae-yi’s expression didn’t soften at all.
“I have a plan.”
Ji-seok finally said, after watching him for a while.
“Kang Tae-jin’s already not doing so well.”
His mind had never been stable to begin with, but the fact that he was pulling this kind of stunt proved he’d fully lost it. They had to take advantage of that.
“Forget Tae-jin—let’s use his secretary.”
“What the hell can we do with him?”
Tae-yi muttered, pressing his fingertips hard into his brows to relieve the building fatigue. If even Kang Tae-jin had gone into hiding, there was no way Secretary Kim would be easy to find. Tae-yi had already checked into Kim’s family—they’d all been hidden away overseas long ago.
And Kim was the only one Kang Tae-jin had ever kept around for years. It would take a hell of a lot to make him turn on Tae-jin. Honestly, it felt like a waste of time—time better spent finding Haram.
Even as Tae-yi’s frown deepened, Ji-seok, excited by finally getting a response, kept pushing.
“So, my plan is this: let’s assume we’ve already found Haram, and plan for what comes after.”
“Find Haram first. Then talk.”
His head already felt like it would explode just from thinking about Haram. He didn’t have the energy, let alone the will, to think about what came after.
When his idea got shut down, Ji-seok clicked his tongue and cursed under his breath. Weak bastard. So blinded by love he’s putting revenge on hold… Muttering nonstop insults, Ji-seok shot him a sidelong glance and casually said:
“Would be nice if we could get that secretary to drug him.”
He fiddled with the little medicine pouch in his pants pocket and looked at Tae-yi. If they dosed someone who’d already lost his mind, things were bound to spiral even further out of control.
But if Kang Tae-jin started making enough of a scene, they might be able to get rid of him from the company without Tae-yi ever having to dirty his own hands. Ji-seok wasn’t suggesting this purely for Tae-yi’s revenge, either. He still hadn’t forgotten the car crash that Kang Tae-jin had caused, the one that injured his father. This was personal.
“What’ll you do if Kang Tae-jin contacts you before you find Haram?”
“I’ll give him whatever he wants.”
Tae-yi answered without hesitation.
“What? Are you insane?!”
Ji-seok leapt to his feet, yelling loud enough to shake the walls. He wasn’t some damn Santa Claus—how could he just do whatever the bastard said?! But Tae-yi, still leaning back on the sofa with his eyes closed, remained calm, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.
“Fucking insane…”
Ji-seok started muttering curses again. Fool. Spineless bastard. Blinded by love and tossing his pride in the trash. The insults kept escalating. Now it wasn’t even about saving Haram from Kang Tae-jin—it had become a matter of personal curiosity. He had to find this so-called “rat” for himself now.
What kind of creature was this Da Haram, that had Kang Tae-yi so utterly immobilized?
When Tae-yi said he’d give Tae-jin anything he wanted, he wasn’t just talking about pride. He was ready to give up everything he’d built.
Ji-seok had never given a damn about Beastfolk, especially ones as “low-tier” as a Sky Squirrel. But now, his curiosity about Haram was flaring up like wildfire. Determined, Ji-seok sprang to his feet and stormed out of the study.
***
Still staring up at the dark night sky, Haram let out a quiet sigh. He wanted to get out of the forest or mountain—anywhere else—as soon as possible, but there was no end in sight. He’d flown nonstop, yet the trees still stretched endlessly in every direction. Had he picked the wrong path?
Still, there were no signs of anyone nearby. No sounds, no movement. It seemed like no one was chasing him anymore. Either he’d shaken them off—or they’d gotten lost in the woods just like him.
“Jjjik…”
His throat was dry, and his stomach ached with hunger. He should’ve eaten the rest of that almond after all. Regret gnawed at him.
Padding across the forest floor on all fours, Haram suddenly caught a fragrant scent at the tip of his nose and turned his head.
At the base of a tree, a cluster of brown mushrooms had sprouted. Curious, Haram approached and sniffed them carefully, trying to determine what they were.
