Listening to Kang-woo ramble on about the enjoyable dinner he’d had with Young-wan, Seok-ho gradually began to feel irritated.
It had been a while since they’d talked, yet Kim Kang-woo kept going on about a third party. Seok-ho didn’t like it.
Then a question suddenly crossed his mind.
Why was he feeling such petty irritation?
Perhaps it was the wine, but his thoughts moved more sluggishly than usual. While Seok-ho was briefly lost in contemplation, Kang-woo—after a slight pause—continued speaking.
— Thank you. I heard from Young-wan hyung that you asked him to hang out with me before you left.
To be precise, Seok-ho hadn’t exactly asked him to hang out with Kang-woo, but he didn’t bother correcting it.
— And yesterday Jung-yeon noona came too.
The next topic wasn’t particularly welcome.
His earlier call with Kwon Jung-yeon had ended awkwardly, and it had left him uneasy—and as expected, she didn’t disappoint. Seok-ho suppressed the groan that almost escaped.
“What did you do?”
— We went shopping at a department store together. Then we had dinner.
The more he listened, the more his head began to throb.
How many times did he have to say it directly for that woman to admit that wandering around a department store was something only she found enjoyable?
— It was fun.
But hearing Kang-woo’s added comment immediately swallowed the words Seok-ho had been about to say criticizing Jung-yeon.
“…It was fun?”
— Yes. She treated me to good food. Oh, and she gave me clothes as a gift. I said it was okay, but she insisted…
Kang-woo’s voice sounded cautious, as if gauging Seok-ho’s reaction.
Seok-ho frowned.
No doubt about it—she must have forced the gifts into Kim Kang-woo’s arms even while he was refusing. She had always done the same thing to Seok-ho as well.
The scene was easy to imagine.
He didn’t want to blame Kim Kang-woo. A timid and considerate teenager would have had a hard time refusing that stubborn and strong-willed woman.
At least Kang-woo said he had enjoyed himself. Whether that was sincere or just something he said to be polite, he couldn’t tell.
“You did well.”
Seok-ho murmured softly.
Kang-woo, who had been worried he might get scolded, felt relieved.
He knew that Seok-ho didn’t particularly like him spending time with Jung-yeon. Seok-ho quickly added another remark.
“But next time she contacts you, don’t go hang out with her.”
— Yes. Okay. From now on I’ll ask for your permission first before hanging out.
The obedient response was satisfying.
Seok-ho closed his eyes again. Perhaps the alcohol was circulating through his blood—his eyelids felt heavier and heavier.
“….”
— ….
A natural silence settled between them.
Seok-ho didn’t find it uncomfortable, and it seemed the other person didn’t either.
He focused on the faint sound of breathing coming through the receiver.
It was then that Kim Kang-woo broke the silence with a question.
— Hyung… did you drink?
Seok-ho opened his closed eyes. He had been hit right on the mark.
How did he know? He hadn’t mentioned alcohol at all. Did it show in his voice?
“Mmm.”
Instead of answering directly, Seok-ho made an ambiguous sound in his throat.
Sharp as he was, Kim Kang-woo seemed to understand it as confirmation.
— Did you drink a lot?
“Why? Do I sound completely drunk to you?”
— No. Not really. I’m just worried. Even if you were drunk, I’m in Korea right now, so there’s nothing I could do for you.
That was funny.
If he had been in Korea instead of the U.S., it almost sounded like Kang-woo was saying that even if Seok-ho collapsed drunk, he’d take responsibility and handle everything until the end.
Even though he was smaller and much younger.
“Don’t worry. I hold my liquor well.”
— Then that’s a relief.
He had said it half jokingly, but the reply was so serious that it made him laugh. The corners of Seok-ho’s lips slowly lifted.
He should probably go to bed soon.
For some reason, just listening to Kim Kang-woo’s gentle voice made the alcohol rush over him all at once.
Besides, he had two demanding tattoo sessions scheduled today as well. When he traveled abroad, he usually accepted multiple reservations at once to match the visit schedule, so there was rarely any time to rest leisurely.
“I’m hanging up.”
— Huh? Already? …Oh right. It’s early morning in the U.S. right now.
The disappointment in Kang-woo’s muttered voice was unmistakable.
“Disappointed?”
— Of course. It’s not easy to talk on the phone.
The question had slipped out of Seok-ho’s mouth without thinking, yet the answer came back honestly.
For a brief moment, something in his chest tingled as if brushed by a light breeze.
It was only a fleeting feeling.
Maybe it was because he’d been drinking—his mind probably wasn’t functioning properly. There was no need to dig into that feeling right now.
Seok-ho deliberately shifted his thoughts elsewhere.
“We’ll talk again next time.”
— Okay.
Kim Kang-woo replied simply.
Now he could really hang up.
He was about to pull the phone away from his ear when a voice stopped him.
— Hyung.
“What?”
— Good night.
Seok-ho let out a quiet snort of laughter.
Whenever he saw Kang-woo treating him so politely, he sometimes felt like some elderly man. Of course, compared to that young brat, he was quite a bit older.
“Yeah.”
You sleep well too rose up to his throat, but he remembered the time difference and stopped himself.
“I’ll call you when I wake up.”
— Okay.
After hearing the calm reply, he ended the call.
The screen displaying the call duration went dark.
Seok-ho stared at the black screen for a moment before placing the phone on the bedside table.
His slowly blinking eyelids soon closed.
Despite having struggled with insomnia for several days, he fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.
