Bad Relationship 102

After quickly devouring his jajangmyeon, Junghyun immediately moved on to the dongpo pork.

Unlike Junghyun, who seemed to have a hearty appetite despite their uncomfortable conversation, Juwon put his chopsticks down right away.

He had no desire to eat.

“What are you really trying to do?”

“Nothing special. I’m just trying to detach myself before getting more attached, since I’d feel empty if something that’s been there suddenly disappears.”

“Then, just don’t break up.”

“I think we’ll end up breaking up eventually.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t imagine a future where I’m happy.”

Junghyun hesitated as he picked up some dongpo pork and casually tossed out that response.

Though he’d said it without much thought, it seemed to be the right answer.

Now he understood why he’d been feeling anxious and afraid.

Perhaps what scared him was the possibility of a happy future.

Because he knew it would eventually shatter.

Neither emotions nor relationships last forever. Everything eventually comes to an end.

Knowing how great the emptiness, loneliness, and void that follows that end would be, he was trying to escape before it happened.

He realized that now.

Though realizing it didn’t mean anything…

Seeing Junghyun lost in thought, having finally understood the root of his fear, Juwon let out a brief sigh.

“I should never have let you leave back then…”

As Juwon blamed himself for thinking wrongly, Junghyun started moving his hands again.

“No, that was the right thing to do. If I’d stayed, I would have killed Lee Jeonghoo.”

“…”

“There are people in this world who are absolutely incompatible, and simply existing in the same space becomes toxic for each other. That applies whether they’re family or strangers. Even parent-child relationships can consume each other’s lives, so if you can avoid it, you should. Give me the documents.”

Having finished his meal hurriedly, Junghyun reached out his hand as if trying to change the subject. Juwon took some papers from his bag on the adjacent chair and handed them over.

“I prepared them because you asked, but are you really going to do this?”

“Yes.”

“What about your passport?”

“I need to apply for it.”

“When?”

“Soon. I’ve been busy lately, and it’s not easy to move around with a secretary attached to me.”

Taking the documents and a pen from Juwon, Junghyun quickly began signing the marked sections.

Watching him, Juwon suddenly asked:

“Secretary? For you?”

“Yes. Hyung assigned a secretary and a driver to me, so things are a bit tight. I’ll try to figure something out today.”

After finishing his signatures on the last page, explaining that was why he was moving around so busily, Junghyun handed the documents back to Juwon.

“All done. You can submit them as is.”

Although Juwon accepted them, he was too preoccupied to focus on the documents.

“Hey, the documents aren’t the issue right now. You know that person is…”

“I know. A watchdog. That person is also quite perceptive.”

“And you’re still going around with them?”

“I thought it would reassure hyung.”

“That’s deception, you know.”

“I know. But I want to do what hyung wants while we’re together. I tried to refuse, but it didn’t work.”

As Junghyun leisurely muttered this while drinking water, Juwon pressed his forehead as if he suddenly had a headache.

His expression seemed to ask how he should deal with this guy.

“Don’t look at me like that. I thought about it carefully before deciding.”

“You’re not just taking the easy way out because you can’t be bothered?”

“…To some extent?”

Just as Junghyun jokingly admitted he couldn’t completely deny it, a ringing sound was heard.

It was Junghyun’s phone.

“Who is it?”

“…Hyung Jaehyuk.”

“He calls even during lunch?”

“Yes.”

“He’s thorough. Answer it.”

Saying he needed to eat first, Juwon started poking at the now-cold food on his plate with his chopsticks. Watching him, Junghyun served him fresh food while pressing the answer button.

“Hello.”

— Still eating?

“Yes. The old man eats slowly.”

— Did he hear that I called?

“Yes. He said he absolutely doesn’t want to meet you, so don’t just barge in. He said it would make him uncomfortable and he doesn’t like it.”

At this excessively honest statement, Juwon mouthed angrily, asking how he could say such a thing. But Junghyun paid no attention.

“He’s extremely shy, so we’ll have to save the introductions for later. Right now he’s wheezing because of a cold, so maybe when the weather gets warmer.”

As Juwon, who was about to get angry at being described as wheezing, choked and coughed while drinking water, Jaehyuk laughed.

— A cold?

“No. He coughs whenever he gets a little excited. He has weak bronchial tubes.”

— Then I’ll have to greet him later. I’m scheduled to meet with Director Lee Wonjun on Friday.

This surprised Junghyun. Meeting the old man was one thing, but meeting his father was unexpected.

Or rather than unexpected…

“Hyung, you’re getting a bit scary now?”

— I’m just paying my respects.

That implied there was nothing to fear if one had nothing to hide, but once again Junghyun pretended not to understand and changed the subject.

“You should be prepared to get annoyed when you meet my father.”

— I’ve met him a few times before, so don’t worry. We communicate better than you might think.

“Well… that might be true for you.”

— So, when are you planning to return to the office?

“Um… I have some business to attend to, so a bit later.”

— What business?

“I have a meeting after lunch.”

— Then I’ll call a car for you.

“I took the company car. I had documents that needed Yoonho hyung’s confirmation, so I brought him some porridge, had lunch, and planned to head back after the meeting.”

— Is Yoonho okay?

“He’s fine. Not dead, unfortunately.”

When Junghyun mischievously answered, Jaehyuk immediately retorted:

— I only fed him enough to keep him from dying.

“That’s a shame. You could have just killed him off.”

— Next time I’ll make sure he dies. I was going to stop by since I’m near the office, but I guess not. Instead, I’ll leave work early today.

“Call me when you’re done.”

— Alright. Have a good meal and drive carefully. Give my regards to Director Han Juwon.

“If I pass on your regards, the old man might get indigestion.”

— I definitely need to have a meal with him sometime.

Hearing the tone that suggested curiosity about someone so shy, Junghyun immediately pointed this out:

“This is why people say you have a bad personality.”

— Who says that?

“The old man says just hearing your voice makes him shudder because you seem to have such a nasty personality.”

— Indeed, he’s very perceptive.

“I told you he’s similar to me.”

— I’ll have to be careful from now on.

“So don’t suddenly visit his home or anything. You might end up being carried away.”

Juwon threw a paper napkin at him, asking who would be carried away, but Junghyun lightly brushed it aside.

— Is he that bad?

“Yes. He has quite a temper but his body is too weak, so he collapses easily. Don’t make him uncomfortable. He can’t even eat properly right now.”

— I’ll keep that in mind too. Well, finish your meal and come back.

“Have you eaten lunch, hyung?”

— Yes. I had someone to meet.

“You’re busy.”

— Since hyung is leaving earlier than expected, I’m filling in his position.

“…You mean Suhyuk hyung-nim?”

— Yes.

“I thought it would take a month, but it’s happening faster than expected.”

— No need to drag things out.

“…That’s true. Well, get back to work. I’m about to leave too.”

— Send me a message when you get to the office.

“I will.”

Unlike two hours before, Junghyun ended the call with an unnaturally calm and collected demeanor, then put down his phone.

Noting Junghyun’s natural conversation and relaxed attitude, Juwon remarked bluntly:

“Anyone listening to that conversation would think you’re a happy couple.”

“I told you we get along well. If you’re not going to eat more, let’s go. I have somewhere to stop by.”

“The meeting?”

“Yes.”

“Are you busy these days?”

“No, it’s fine. But I have some things to do today.”

“Alright, let’s go. I don’t have an appetite anyway.”

Saying that his meals were small to begin with, but now he wasn’t in the mood to eat, Juwon got up first. As he quickly put on his coat, Junghyun also stood up, put on his outerwear, and they left the restaurant.

Unlike the crowded restaurant, the corridor was surprisingly quiet.

Walking through the slightly cool and quiet space toward the elevator, Junghyun pressed the down button and glanced briefly at Juwon.

He had felt this since they first met, but Juwon didn’t look particularly healthy. Yet he didn’t look terribly ill either.

So, he would probably be fine. He was someone who took good care of himself.

Noticing that strange gaze, Juwon, who had been looking at the elevator doors, turned to Junghyun with a puzzled expression.

“What?”

“Nothing, just… thought you’d live at least ten more years.”

“Are you cursing me? I’ll live at least 50 more years.”

Just as Juwon clicked his tongue, asking what the average life expectancy was these days, the elevator doors opened. Stepping into the empty space, similar to the corridor, Junghyun answered leisurely:

“Right. You should live 50 more years. If you need nursing care when you get older, contact me. I’ll take care of you.”

“As if.”

Boarding the elevator while saying how someone with Junghyun’s temperament could possibly do such a thing, Juwon pressed the button for basement level 3. Junghyun pressed the button for basement level 4 and leaned against the wall.

Then he naturally continued the conversation.

“Anyway, my dream is to be a solitary elderly person, so I’ll nurse you until you die. You raised me halfway, so I should repay that much.”