“I was wondering what to call, but I guess I can call her Director.”
– That’s right. It’s Director Jang Sujin.
After boarding the elevator that had automatically arrived at the lobby level, apparently linked to the front door, Junghyun saw that the 32nd-floor button was already pressed and immediately leaned against the wall.
“What does 1201 mean? Your ex’s birthday?”
– It’s the birthday of the first dog I raised. She’s crossed the rainbow bridge now.
“Ah…”
– Your apartment password seems like your ex’s birthday too.
“No way. Why would I use a girlfriend’s birthday as a password when I don’t know when we might break up? It’s also a hassle to change passwords every time. That password is the address number of the house where I lived as a child. I’ve memorized it so many times that I’ll never forget it.”
When Junghyun retorted that his password was like the other’s first dog’s birthday, Jaehyuk agreed for once.
– Well, firsts are always special.
“It’s just an imprinting phenomenon. Something that happens in the brain.”
There’s no need to attach great meaning to something being impressive. Numbers are just numbers.
Just as he said that he used numbers he wouldn’t easily forget, nothing special, the elevator doors opened to reveal a wide corridor.
After looking around the corridor decorated like a luxury hotel hallway with gray and brown tones, he slowly exited the elevator, turned right, and saw a familiar number.
3207.
Standing in front of it, Junghyun began to wrap up his call with Jaehyuk.
“I’m at your place.”
– Good.
At his tone suggesting he was about to hang up, Junghyun quickly called him back.
“Wait a moment.”
– What is it?
“Do I need to fight and win against Director Jang?”
There was a sudden pause. After a moment, he asked again, with a genuinely confused tone.
– I don’t quite understand… what’s the intention behind your question?
“I mean exactly what I said. If she’s one of the killer whale pack, I need to decide whether to harpoon her or stay neutral.”
Since there had been no explanation about the killer whales yet, he was requesting clarification on who was friend or foe. Jaehyuk continued in a somewhat tired tone.
– …I think I told you she’s the person who raised me for 30 years?
“The clue that she raised you isn’t proof that she’s friendly.”
– …While she’s in a neutral position, she’s more friendly to me than anyone else. She raised me like her own grandson.
“Then why is she spying?”
– Why do you think Director Han Juwon sent you to that blind date?
At the implication that they had such a close relationship, Junghyun fell into thought, calculating. Soon, he nodded as if understanding.
“So she’s emotionally on my side but rationally on my enemy’s side—a double agent. Positively speaking, a mediator; negatively speaking, a bat, a turncoat.”
– That’s an incredibly accurate description, but… she cares a lot about me, so there’s no need to be hostile toward her. I wouldn’t let someone hostile to me into my home.
“How can you be sure?”
– She’s not that kind of person. I know her well.
Jaehyuk’s position was that if there was one person in this world he could trust completely, it was her, and if he couldn’t trust her, there was no one to trust.
Jaehyuk was a surprisingly naive type, despite his actions.
“You need to be more suspicious of people.”
– Don’t worry. I’m definitely suspicious of you above all others.
“But you said you trusted me 10%?”
– No, after this morning’s incident, it’s down to 1%.
“You shouldn’t trust someone you’ve barely met that much.”
When Junghyun advised that the Han family heir shouldn’t be so soft as to trust someone 1%, Jaehyuk exhaled a long sigh that was audible even through the phone.
It was a sigh mixed with irritation, slight resignation, and emptiness.
– …Why am I having this useless conversation with you on such a nice day?
“Because that’s the kind of relationship we have.”
When Junghyun asked incredulously if he had planned to talk about the weather or stocks instead, Jaehyuk couldn’t argue with that.
The conversations between the two of them would continue to be like this.
“Anyway, you’re saying she’s definitely someone you trust?”
– At least more than you.
“Isn’t that setting the bar too low?”
– In any case. I definitely trust her. What she does is simply following orders from her social position. She won’t necessarily cover for me, but she’s not the type to file reports that would harm me.
“Does she know about our relationship?”
– She doesn’t know about that.
“Then you don’t completely trust her.”
– She’s definitely the type who would report to grandfather at the first sign of something.
“So she is a double agent.”
– …Anyway, don’t fight with her. No, before that, why do you immediately think about fighting when meeting someone?
“Since I don’t have information about the killer whale pack, I have no choice but to attack whatever I see. I’m not called the chihuahua from hell for nothing.”
– What kind of third-rate B-movie title is that?
At those words, exactly the same as what he had said, Junghyun laughed.
These things matched well.
“I just found out recently that’s my nickname behind my back.”
– …
The silence felt light. It felt like he was smiling.
“You’re thinking it suits me well, aren’t you?”
– No. I was just thinking that whoever came up with that nickname, I’d like to scout them for our company.
“I’ll look into it. They’re friends from my university club. Anyway, please update the killer whale pack list as soon as possible. So I can distinguish who to bite and who not to.”
– …I’ll leave work as early as possible.
“What time?”
– …As early as I can.
“So after midnight.”
Junghyun entered the passcode at the door and stepped inside as he heard the lock open.
Hearing that sound, Jaehyuk’s tone changed.
– There might be some trouble, so I could be late.
“Well, I have a lot to do today too, so I’ll wait. I need to organize my belongings. Oh, can I drink beer?”
– No.
He immediately objected to the swift response.
“You want me to watch baseball without beer and chicken?”
– Then don’t watch.
“How is that possible? I came home right after work specifically to watch baseball.”
– That’s your problem. By the way, I’ve removed all the alcohol from the house before you arrived.
“How much do you think I would drink?”
– It’s not about the quantity.
“Fine. Then I’ll go out and buy some myself.”
That’s why he had checked the surroundings when coming from the station.
There was not only a convenience store nearby but also a liquor store. So saying he would buy and drink it himself, he passed through the entry hall that was decorated like a gallery and entered through the inner door. There, two women in maid uniforms and a woman with white hair neatly tied back in a ponytail, dressed comfortably, slightly bowed their heads in greeting.
“You’re home early.”
“We have flexible working hours. I couldn’t properly greet you this morning, could I? I’m Lee Junghyun.”
Having heard that she had a friendly relationship with Jaehyuk, Junghyun politely bowed his head in greeting.
“Let’s say the disaster alert sound served as our greeting. I’m Jang Sujin. I’ve heard a lot about you from the Director.”
“I haven’t heard much about you from hyung… anyway, nice to meet you. And these two ladies?”
“They are Lee Hyunhee and Seo Jisu. They’ll help with cleaning, organizing, and laundry three days a week.”
“Hello, pleased to meet you.”
“How would you like dinner prepared?”
“It seems hyung will come home around dawn, so please just prepare mine. Something simple is fine.”
“Do you have any allergies or foods you can’t eat?”
“I eat everything except human flesh.”
“I see. Please rest then. Would you like me to prepare some drinks?”
“No, that’s fine. I’ll organize my belongings first.”
As he said that while waving the coffee he was holding, Director Jang nodded.
“Please do.”
After the brief greeting, he was about to pass through the spacious hall to find the bedroom where he had slept last night when he remembered something.
“Excuse me, do you have any yogurt?”
* * *
“What are you doing right now?”
At a late hour, closer to morning than night, Jaehyuk, who had just returned from work, looked at Junghyun sitting on the bed with a serious face and asked that question.
It was absolutely not meant to be reproachful or sarcastic.
It was a genuinely pure question.
He really couldn’t tell what Junghyun was doing.
To that question, Junghyun, sitting on the specially made large bed with his arms crossed, answered with a serious expression.
“As you can see.”
“I’m asking because I can’t tell even by looking.”
When asked why he was sitting with several glass cups on a bed tray with a frown, Junghyun nodded as if understanding that he might not know.
Then he revealed what Jaehyuk was most curious about.
“Making semen.”
“…And if I ask why you’re doing that?”
“Because it’s necessary?”
As Junghyun shrugged as if to say “why would I make this kind of thing if it wasn’t necessary,” Jaehyuk finally remembered that Director Jang had said she would check the bedding and trash can. He also recalled Junghyun saying he would take care of it himself.
At the time, he didn’t think it was such an important issue and had casually dismissed it, thinking it would be resolved somehow, but it was indeed an important matter.
He suddenly felt extremely tired.
“So, now… you’re going to sprinkle that on the bed?”
Feeling his neck stiffen somehow, he massaged it as he sat down on the bench at the foot of the bed, putting down his bag and looking in that direction.
With an extremely serious face, Junghyun picked up two glass cups, the rightmost and leftmost of the four cups.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
