– This isn’t something you should be so casual about. Those guys are pretty sharp, so be careful. Just eat with them and then part ways. Watch what you say, just in case.
“I will.”
– By the way, why aren’t you two answering your phones? Yeonwoo, Suhyuk hyung, and I have been calling since morning.
“We both put our phones on silent since last night. During the day, we were too busy surfing to check.”
In truth, there had been plenty of time to check in between, but they hadn’t done so.
When with that person, Junghyun was having too much fun to think about checking his phone, and when alone, his thoughts were too complicated to focus on it.
– I see… both of you have that kind of personality. I don’t know if that means you’re well-matched or poorly matched. When one person is careless, the other should be more attentive.
“We figured if it was really urgent, you’d call the hotel. Anyway, this wasn’t that urgent.”
– …Fair enough… Neither you nor Jaehyuk are the type who can’t handle these things. Since you’ve met up, that’s fine, but tell Jaehyuk to turn his phone’s sound back on. Everyone’s going crazy because they can’t reach him.
“Isn’t it stranger to be constantly available while on a honeymoon? Everyone knows we came here to surf, right?”
At Junghyun’s extremely reasonable point, Junyoung seemed overwhelmed and stammered.
– …Well… I guess so? Anything else?
“A couple that only stares at their phones at their honeymoon destination has problems.”
Unable to counter Junghyun’s logic, Junyoung finally gave in.
– …When you put it that way, you’re right. Anyway, as long as there’s no issue, that’s fine. I contacted you because we were worried since some of us haven’t known Jaehyuk for long.
“I’ll be careful.”
– Good. Rest well and see you next time.
“Yes.”
After ending the call with Junyoung, who was clearly a cooperative partner but somehow awkward, Junghyun stood in place and began checking his notifications.
Having not checked his phone for almost 24 hours since yesterday, he skimmed through the content, and fortunately, there wasn’t much.
One message from his uncle asking if he hadn’t been divorced yet, one from Yongwoo asking him to buy some bread on the way back, and one from Jisung asking if he was having fun. Then several messages from Junyoung saying to answer the phone, that his friends were heading there.
Thankfully, work contacts had been quiet, probably knowing he was on his honeymoon.
There was nothing urgent, so after sending a quick reply saying he was having fun, he was about to go back inside the store when he saw a male figure walking toward him from the already dark beach.
The silhouette was very familiar.
It was a physique he knew very well.
But he thought, no way, it couldn’t be… but it was.
For a moment, he laughed in disbelief.
“Fuck, that bastard…”
Feeling anger suddenly rising, Junghyun cursed at someone inside the store rather than the person approaching, and strode toward him. The other person also recognized him and stopped walking.
Seeing him in comfortable clothes as if he had just come out from his accommodation, Junghyun suddenly felt furious.
“Why did you come here, idiot?”
It was obvious who had invited him, and although he knew this wasn’t what this guy had intended, Junghyun was irritated at him for still not understanding the situation. Seojun stammered in confusion.
“Why…”
“Why? You came just because that bastard told you to?”
“Ah…”
As if finally realizing he had been fooled again, Seojun’s slow reaction prompted Junghyun to grab his wrist.
“Come here. Don’t go in there.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were here.”
“Of course you didn’t.”
If he had known, he definitely wouldn’t have come. Not only would it be uncomfortable for both of them, but he would know it could put himself in a difficult position.
That’s the kind of person he was.
“Where did you park your car?”
“I walked here.”
“In this cold?”
“I’m staying nearby. The place we always go…”
Junghyun stopped walking when he heard Seojun was staying at the lodging where their friends always stayed together. Then, in a voice much less confident, he quietly asked:
“Did you come alone?”
“Yes.”
“What about Jeonghoo?”
“Separately.”
“Why did you come here alone in this weather? You don’t even surf in winter.”
“…”
He couldn’t answer. That meant Jeonghoo had called him.
“Should I just kill that bastard today?”
As Junghyun seriously considered going in and flipping the place upside down, Seojun, who had been quietly following, grabbed his hand to stop him.
“Don’t do that. Your partner would be shocked.”
“He won’t be shocked. He knows I’m a Megalodon.”
“Still. You’ll end up with a criminal record for real.”
At the reminder that it was pure luck he didn’t have a record yet, Junghyun no longer felt like forcing the issue and changed the subject.
“Let’s go inside somewhere for now. And call Jeonghoo. Tell him you’re not feeling well and can’t come.”
“But you need to go back in.”
That’s true. He had been out too long after saying he was just taking a phone call.
Scratching his neck in the awkward situation, Junghyun finally let go of Seojun’s hand.
“Take a taxi back to your lodging since it’s a bit far. If you’re going to wait for Jeonghoo, at least go sit in a cafe or something.”
“I will.”
“You…”
He was about to ask why Seojun lived like this, about his pathetic one-sided love that had lasted over ten years, but feeling that wasn’t quite right, Junghyun took off his hood and scratched his head vigorously.
“Look, I shouldn’t be the one saying this given how far things have gone, but don’t do everything your hyung tells you to do. Don’t always just go along with it.”
“I know… but that’s hard for me.”
At Seojun’s admission that he kept falling for it even though he knew better, Junghyun couldn’t hold back anymore and voiced what he had been most curious about.
“I’ve always been dying to know, what’s so good about him? I don’t understand. What’s there to see in that guy besides his looks?”
“I wonder too.”
“…You wonder too?”
“If I could only like good people, I’d be happy, but it’s not that easy.”
“What are you lacking that makes you attracted to someone with such a terrible personality? Your family…”
He was about to ask how someone who grew up in a family full of kind, affectionate people could be so deficient as to like someone with such a broken personality, but he stopped himself.
No need to bring family into this. Besides, it was because of that very kind of person that he himself had wanted to become family.
“Anyway… try to like someone good. Someone truly warm and kind.”
“That’s why I like you.”
That statement broke him. Junghyun collapsed as if the strength had left his legs, holding his head in his hands, unable to understand whether Seojun was just innocently simpleminded or simply too kind.
“God, this is so frustrating. Even kindness has its limits. That’s why I…”
As Junghyun pulled at his hair with both hands, thinking about how he felt like a truly bad person—the thought that had been troubling him all afternoon—Seojun squatted down in front of him.
“You haven’t done anything wrong. You’re thinking strange thoughts again, aren’t you?”
“…”
“You always go so deep when you start thinking… But it’s not your fault. This was going to happen from the beginning, and you did your best for me.”
“…”
“…Okay?”
Seojun stood up first and extended his hand, suggesting it was time to stop dwelling on it. Junghyun took his hand and stood up as well.
“You should go back in. Your partner must be waiting.”
“My friends are there too. Since they’re his high school friends, I’m sure they’re having fun.”
“Still, it’s your honeymoon. You should be with your partner.”
“Well…”
That’s true. Even if it wasn’t for the contract, there were certain obligations to maintain, and since that person was respecting boundaries so well, Junghyun was determined to do his best to maintain those boundaries too.
If only to get rid of this uncomfortable feeling.
“Alright. I’ll go back in. You should quickly go somewhere too. It’s cold, this sea breeze.”
“It’s nice though, why?”
“What’s nice about it? It’s just freaking cold. Hurry up and go. I’m going too.”
As they finished saying goodbye and were about to let go of their clasped hands, Seojun held onto Junghyun’s fingertips. Surprised at the grip, Junghyun looked up to see Seojun smiling awkwardly. Then, letting go of his hand, Seojun murmured softly:
“I’m glad you look good. That’s what I wanted to say.”
“I’m always good.”
“No, you’re much better. No dark circles, and your expression looks relaxed.”
“The lack of dark circles is because work is light, and the relaxed expression is because I just ate a filling meal.”
Seojun laughed at the extremely pragmatic answer. He supposed that was true.
“Right. Despite hating to eat, you get angry when you’re hungry.”
“Does that mean you should feed me jajangmyeon and then break up with me?”
“I wanted to feed you. You always looked hungry.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely let you know if I hear from your mom.”
“I don’t need that anymore. I’m not waiting for mom.”
“I know that’s not true.”
At the consolation from Seojun, one of the only two people who knew that Junghyun had been longing for his mother his entire life since losing her hand at age ten, Junghyun made a face of extreme distaste.
“This is why you’re annoying.”
“I like you. I liked you from the first time I saw you. And I still like you.”
Once again, Junghyun found comfort in those sincere words.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
