Bad Relationship 120

Forcing a smile as he lifted his gaze in the darkness, he saw a familiar face.

A gaunt face that was a bit thinner than a month ago, with dark circles under the eyes, and his first thought was “as expected.”

The person who couldn’t be found no matter how hard they searched had suddenly returned to Korea ten days ago, the conveniently timed contract termination papers, and even the guide that no one knew about.

He had secretly wondered about the timing that seemed orchestrated.

He had just pretended not to know because he wanted to believe what was convenient for him.

No, maybe he just wanted to see him.

His heart, which had been calm enough when seeing his mother to make him wonder if he was a cold-blooded person without blood or tears, began to beat again.

Happy, excited, overwhelmed, and also sorry – complex emotions that couldn’t be defined with a single word were swirling inside his heart.

In that moment, he realized.

He had thought he could forget easily since it hadn’t bothered him as much as expected, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

It appeared he had missed this person more than he thought.

It would be a lie to say he had never thought of him even once, but although it hadn’t been that desperate, he was happy to face him now. And glad to see him.

Feeling somewhat awkward at his own shamelessness, he smiled and greeted him standing tall in the darkness.

“It’s been a while, hyung.”

* * *

A dry and cool wind was blowing over the street where darkness had settled.

Standing tall in that spot while receiving the spring breeze that gently swayed his hair, Jaehyuk silently looked down at Junghyun sitting in front of him.

For the past month, he had imagined countless times what it would be like to meet this guy again.

Would he be happy? Or would he be angry?

Or would he surprisingly feel nothing at all?

At that moment, he had been angry because he felt miserable and sad, but emotions eventually cool down, so he thought that after about a month, he wouldn’t feel anything even when seeing this guy.

He wasn’t particularly an emotionally intense person, and the time he had spent with Junghyun wasn’t that long.

After all, all emotions are worn down by time.

So he thought he’d be fine. Even imagining the maximum emotion, it would probably just be a bit of anger.

No, maybe he’d want to hit him once, but since he couldn’t lay a hand on someone who wasn’t even comparable to him in terms of build, he expected he’d just be a little angry and that would be it.

Until exactly one minute ago, that is.

But as expected, ideals and reality were different.

The moment his eyes met Junghyun’s, there was only one thought.

This bastard, should I just kill him?

“……You’re shameless.”

He didn’t bother saying “still,” but Junghyun seemed to understand that word and smiled.

“That’s my charm. But what brings you all the way here?”

“Right? Why did I come here?”

“I don’t know. That’s your business, hyung.”

As always, Junghyun was brazen.

Just like the day they first met.

Suddenly, a thought slipped out of his mouth.

“Can I hit you once?”

“I understand the sentiment, but it would be better if you didn’t. It could be disadvantageous in the divorce proceedings.”

At the words that sounded like a cat worrying about a mouse, Jaehyuk narrowed his eyes and smiled.

It seemed Junghyun still didn’t grasp the situation.

“You don’t seem to be in a position to worry about me right now?”

“It’s not worry for you, hyung, it’s worry for me. I’d naturally dodge, but even if it just grazed me unluckily, the damage would be significant due to the difference in our builds. Moreover, if the Hanju heir threw punches at a frail Omega partner on the roadside during rush hour, every internet forum would be plastered with posts starting tonight, not even tomorrow morning. With Hanju boycotts.”

“Don’t worry. I have the ability to block that much.”

“It’s hard to completely block SNS. Plus, these days there’s something called archives.”

So don’t do that, Junghyun’s advice mixed with concern made Jaehyuk change his words.

“Alright, then let me change the question. What if I just killed you right now?”

“I don’t recommend that either. You’d be the one regretting it in the end, hyung.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I’m hungry. If you have something to say, let’s talk while eating.”

Ignoring Jaehyuk’s question, Junghyun picked up his bag and stood up from the bench, slowly looking around.

That attitude was too natural.

Except for his slightly longer hair and thinner clothing, it was an attitude that showed no sense of the passage of a month’s time at all.

So he wondered if this guy had gone crazy.

Suggesting they eat in this situation.

Junghyun had always been an enigmatic existence, but right now his mind couldn’t keep up at all.

“You……”

He was about to ask if he had gotten into an accident on the way and hurt his head, but Junghyun was faster.

“Buy me jajangmyeon.”

* * *

Inside the unusually quiet Chinese restaurant.

Unlike the dark street, sitting under particularly bright lighting, Jaehyuk was glaring at Junghyun sitting across from him.

After dragging him to the Chinese restaurant by force, saying he was hungry, Junghyun was choosing from the menu with an earnest face he’d never seen before.

At the unexpectedly serious face of the guy who had made decisions with a “shall we play a game of pool?” expression even when getting married, Jaehyuk also fell into serious contemplation.

How many years would he get if he killed this guy?

If he hired a good lawyer, he could probably end it with probation by claiming temporary insanity leading to impulsive murder.

No, it wouldn’t be a claim but the truth.

Due to momentary anger and passion, he was currently in a state where normal thinking was impossible.

Of course, he’d have to give up his position as Hanju heir, but that wasn’t his concern right now.

Just as he was concretely planning his future, thinking he should start by getting a list of former prosecutors specializing in criminal law after the meal, Junghyun suddenly spoke.

“The dongpo pork is… already sold out, so that won’t work. So let’s order sweet and sour pork. I’ll have jajangmyeon. What would you like to eat, hyung?”

At Junghyun’s question that was not just bold but shameless, Jaehyuk became genuinely curious.

“Just to be sure… you didn’t get in an accident on the way here and suddenly lose a month’s worth of memory, did you?”

“……Are you asking if I have amnesia?”

“Yes.”

“That’s such a stale plot device that even dramas don’t use it anymore these days.”

That meant no.

While it was fortunate that wasn’t the case, he became even more confused instead.

If it wasn’t amnesia, how could he have that face as if they had met this morning and were seeing each other again in the evening? It was completely incomprehensible by Jaehyuk’s common sense.

What kind of brain structure does this bastard have? Just as he was getting flustered, Junghyun asked as if urging him.

“Jajangmyeon? Jjamppong? Or fried rice? They say the yusanseul rice here is delicious.”

Jaehyuk stared at Junghyun, who was now even recommending menu items, as if he was amazed.

With a face that said “can food even go down your throat right now?”

“Or have you already eaten?”

At the question that came back again, Jaehyuk crossed his arms and frowned.

This time it was a face that said “would I have eaten at this hour” or “would food go down my throat right now?”

Fortunately, Junghyun read that expression well this time too.

“……You haven’t. Then shall we order yusanseul rice? You should eat something too, hyung.”

“Forget it. I threw up this morning too.”

At those words, Junghyun’s hand flipping through the menu paused.

But it was only for a moment, and Junghyun continued flipping through the menu and spoke casually.

“Everyone has gastritis to some degree these days.”

“……”

“You should get an endoscopy. For a robust man like you, hyung, throwing up is likely a psychological problem.”

“……”

“Then shall we order crab meat nurungji soup?”

Looking at Junghyun who raised his gaze while saying that, Jaehyuk stared at him as if to say “go ahead and babble more.”

His face was expressionless, but his eyes were fierce.

Even under the eerily cold gaze, Junghyun shrugged his shoulders with an indifferent face. At that attitude as if asking what the problem was, Jaehyuk finally came to a conclusion.

He probably wouldn’t need to hire a former prosecutor.

If he killed Junghyun now, even a judge would probably recognize it as self-defense.

No, there was no need to even go as far as self-defense.

This could be considered natural death.

“If you’re not thinking about it, I’ll order as I please. Let’s eat first and then talk. You don’t look good, hyung.”

“……You look good.”

“Because I rested well.”

“How fortunate. That you rested well.”

“It’s a luxury after quitting.”

At the confession that while he was drying up inside, the person himself had enjoyed luxuries, Jaehyuk felt intense murderous intent again.

And he resolved.

He really should kill him.