The breakfast table was excessively lavish for a morning meal. While the servants busily moved about, the mother incessantly chatted and brought food. The salad, roasted vegetables, and dense bread were neatly sliced, and thick steaks were placed in succession. Siwoo sat silently in front of the table.
“It’s better to eat lightly in the morning. But since it’s been a while since our son came, I can’t help but be concerned.”
The mother spoke joyfully. Siwoo quietly smiled and nodded. Chairman Jin, sitting next to his mother, also smiled gently at his son.
“You must be tired from the morning. This person was so anxious to see you.”
“I’m sorry. I should visit more often.”
Siwoo said as he pushed a small piece of steak into his mouth.
“There’s no need to apologize. You can’t keep your grown child with you forever, can you?”
With a slightly stiff smile, Siwoo glanced at his wristwatch. It wasn’t that he was unhappy to see his mother after a long time, but his mind was directed elsewhere.
“Oh dear, I almost forgot. Honey, I’ll bring out some fruit.”
The mother gently caressed Chairman Jin’s arm and stood up. Our son loves fruit, doesn’t he? If I had known, I would have called someone to bring it. Watching his mother leave with a smile, Siwoo awkwardly smiled again. Chairman Jin raised his eyes and looked directly at Siwoo.
“There have been some troubling rumors lately.”
His relaxed voice continued.
“I hear the prosecutor is having a hard time with pheromone products containing narcotics circulating.”
“…Yes.”
Siwoo nodded slightly as he slowly cut his steak. Chairman Jin let out a short laugh. He straightened his back slowly.
“Siwoo, you seem to be interested in this too?”
The hand holding the knife paused for a moment. Taking a short breath, Siwoo quietly set down the knife and straightened his back, just like his father. The two men’s gazes collided in the air.
“Yes. It’s unpleasant.”
Chairman Jin shrugged as if it were nothing and lifted his knife. The sharp blade rose over the thick steak.
“Omegas are always a problem.”
“……”
“With fruit, there are always bugs, aren’t there?”
“……”
“The sweeter it is, the more likely it is. The more appetizing it looks.”
The sound of the knife slicing through the high-quality steak was vivid. A brief friction sound as the cutlery clashed. Juices flowed between the bloody pieces of meat.
“Such things aren’t worth eating.”
As Chairman Jin lowered the knife, a clattering sound was heard. His lips, adorned with a kind smile, opened slightly.
“There’s nothing more foolish than putting your mouth on fruit that has been eaten by bugs.”
Bringing the steak closer to his mouth, Chairman Jin smiled generously.
“Eating such things will cause trouble.”
The flesh of the prey was chewed in the mouth of the predator.
“……”
Standing in front of the delicately carved display case, Siwoo gazed at the porcelain doll placed carelessly beyond the glass. Like the items in the house, it was spotless, not a speck of dust in sight. However, just because it was clean didn’t mean it was free from the traces of time. It was slightly faded and somewhat worn. Yet, it was still beautiful. The white, smooth surface, the hair painted as black as jet, and the finely detailed features seemed to gaze up at Siwoo.
“……”
Gently opening the display case, Siwoo touched the doll’s cheek. Expecting it to be cold due to its hard mineral surface, he was surprised to find it radiated a faint warmth. It felt like a gentle warmth, as if it had absorbed sunlight. Siwoo caressed the doll’s smooth cheek. He playfully poked the doll’s small, delicate lips, wondering if its face would scrunch up like that child’s. A soft laugh escaped him at the thought. Unlike human skin, it was hard and dry, but Siwoo gently stroked the doll’s surface, smiling faintly.
“Are you really leaving already, making mom sad?”
Siwoo hurriedly withdrew his hand as if waking from a dream. Closing the display case, he turned to his mother. He affectionately embraced her shoulders as she stood there, pouting like a little girl.
“I’m sorry. I have something really important to do.”
The mother, who had been sulking, seemed to soften at her son’s warm hug and soon smiled brightly.
“Well, it can’t be helped. But you have to promise to go on a date with me next time, okay?”
She playfully said, looking at her son, who had grown much taller than her. Siwoo chuckled softly and nodded.
“Yes, I will.”
After seeing her son off, Siwoo’s mother tilted her head for a moment. She was looking at her husband’s back as he stood gazing at the display case. She couldn’t help but smile slightly at the resemblance to her son. Approaching Chairman Jin, she cheerfully spoke.
“Both Siwoo and you, what’s so special about this doll?”
“Hmm.”
Chairman Jin cleared his throat and stared intently at the white porcelain doll beyond the display case. After a while, he spoke slowly without breaking his gaze.
“Get rid of this doll.”
“…What?”
“No, it would be better to break it and dispose of it.”
She looked at her husband with wide eyes, seemingly taken aback.
“Why? You cherish this, don’t you?”
Chairman Jin gently stroked his chin as he continued.
“It’s better to cut off the sprouts of bugs before they take root, don’t you think?”
He chuckled lightly, facing her with a puzzled expression.
***
Siwoo’s footsteps were anxious as he walked down the hallway carpeted in red. His gaze checking his wristwatch mirrored his unease. Time had passed more than he expected. Glancing at the green emergency exit sign facing the large elevator, Siwoo stood in front of the door. As he swiped his card key, he heard the lock click open. Siwoo quietly opened the door.
The room was quiet. This secret room on the top floor of the JR Hotel was rarely visited even by staff. Moreover, he had requested that no one be sent for a while, so it was only natural. The reason he brought Sanho here instead of the hospital was the same. He didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention. Siwoo frowned slightly as he stepped inside.
“San….”
Passing through the large reception room, Siwoo peered into the bedroom and fell silent. Sanho was awkwardly sitting on the bed. He must have jumped up at the sound of the door opening. The wary look in his eyes crumbled the moment he recognized Siwoo. Sanho seemed to twist his body, trying to get off the bed in a hurry.
“No, just lie down.”
Siwoo smiled faintly as he approached the head of the bed. He watched as Sanho relaxed a bit and leaned back against the headboard. Sitting lightly at the head of the bed, he tilted his head to look at Sanho’s face. Though his face looked haggard, he definitely seemed to have regained some color.
“When did you wake up?”
“A little while ago.”
Siwoo’s eyebrows furrowed again at Sanho’s voice, which was much weaker than expected. Seeing Siwoo’s frowning face, Sanho quickly shook his head as if to gauge the situation.
“But, senior, where is this….”
Ah. Siwoo reluctantly smiled with a frown and replied.
“Um, this is now your home, Sanho.”
“What?”
Sanho responded in a bewildered voice, his eyes widening in surprise. Feeling a sudden lightness in his heavy heart, Siwoo chuckled softly.
“I’m not joking. It’s really your home.”
Sanho stared at Siwoo intently. His expression was quite blank. It was hard to guess what he was thinking beyond those dark pupils. Siwoo tried to gauge Sanho’s feelings, who must have woken up in an unfamiliar place, but he could only conclude that this child was strangely calm. Still, he had to explain the situation. He wasn’t sure how much to say. Siwoo sighed softly and slowly opened his mouth.
“Do you remember what happened at school yesterday?”
Sanho’s lips, which had been slightly parted, pressed tightly together. The faint expression on his face vanished in an instant. For a moment, Sanho, with a vacant look, slowly shook his head.
“No.”
In a rather firm voice, Siwoo tapped his own lips as he faced Sanho. The scar on the nape of Sanho’s neck throbbed painfully. He wore a turtleneck to avoid showing it to his parents. Sanho wouldn’t be able to see the red marks on his own neck either. How much does this child remember? Does he remember nothing at all? Soon, Siwoo raised his lips in a nonchalant manner.
“You were a bit hurt.”
“……”
“Actually, not just a bit, but a lot. That’s why I brought you here.”
“……”
“The doctor has already been here, and you received an IV. You’ve been asleep for a long time… but you’ll be okay now.”
Sanho looked around and glanced at the IV connected to his arm. Then he looked back at Siwoo. Siwoo smiled at Sanho, his eyes crinkling. His hand, which had been reaching up to pat Sanho’s head, slowly stopped in mid-air. Soon, his hand dropped down.
“So I think it would be good for you to stay here for a while.”
“For a while…?”
“You can stay for a long time if you want.”
Siwoo hesitated for a moment. Even though it was shabby, his home would be comfortable. It would sound quite strange to suggest that he stay in an unfamiliar place he had never seen before. But how could he persuade him? Someone maliciously made you inhale pheromones, so it’s dangerous? Someone tried to force themselves on you while you were out of your mind, and it was quite intentional and planned? I can’t send you back to that dangerous house, where the scent of blood is still lingering. Would it be right to tell him the truth?
Sanho looked at Siwoo with clear eyes and then nodded without saying anything. His dark pupils blinked, still unreadable.
“If you say so, I’ll do it.”
Siwoo chose silence instead of an incoherent excuse. He smiled gently at Sanho, his eyes crinkling.
“Ah.”
As if remembering something, Siwoo pulled out a palm-sized box from his pocket and handed it to Sanho. It was a box containing the latest model of a smartphone. Sanho looked back and forth between the box in his hand and Siwoo. Siwoo spoke as if to justify himself.
“I dropped your phone, and it broke.”
“…Oh.”
“I’m sorry.”
Sanho ran his hand over the phone box. Siwoo smiled and gestured with his eyes. It was a sign to open it. With somewhat clumsy hands, Sanho opened the box. Holding the sleek phone in his hand, he pressed the power button, and the screen lit up with a sparkle.
“It’s activated, so you can use it right away.”
“…Okay.”
Siwoo looked at Sanho with a slightly awkward expression. He hesitated before speaking carefully.
“I think it would be good for you to take a break from school for a while.”
Sanho looked up. Once again, a questioning gaze turned toward Siwoo. Siwoo smiled with a more awkward expression.
“You were very sick. If you tell the professor, it’ll be fine for you to take a break from school.”
“…But, the internship….”
Siwoo’s eyebrows twitched slightly. But soon, he smiled smoothly.
“That’s fine too. I’ll talk to them. Just take a week off and rest without thinking about anything.”
As Siwoo straightened up as if to get up, Sanho hurriedly grabbed Siwoo’s sleeve. Looking down at Sanho’s hand gripping him, Siwoo slowly met his gaze.
“Senior….”
Sitting back down at the head of the bed, Siwoo replied.
“Yes.”
“Can you stay with me here for a week?”
As Siwoo’s lips slowly closed, Sanho’s eyes twitched anxiously. His manner of speaking seemed quite nervous.
“Because… it’s spacious here. You’ll be going to school and work anyway. If I’m here alone, it’ll be, it’ll be boring….”
“……”
“No, it seems like it would be scary.”
As Siwoo’s lips remained closed and showed no sign of moving, Sanho opened his mouth again.
“And no one can see us. After all, it’s your company’s hotel, and no one will come.”
Sanho added in a small voice, mumbling.
“I don’t want to be alone…”
Siwoo chuckled at Sanho’s voice, which was filled with a heavy sense of defeat. With a careful touch, he gently brushed aside the hair behind Sanho’s ear and tilted his head.
“Do you want me to be your roommate for a week?”
Roommate… Sanho’s lips moved as he mimicked Siwoo’s words. He bit his lips and nodded his head. Siwoo chuckled again.
“Yeah. Be my roommate. For a week.”
Looking down, Sanho smiled shyly. The gaze directed at him and the subtly misaligned gaze were different. He didn’t remember being told that this was the JR Hotel. Nor did he recall anyone saying that no one would come. As Siwoo slowly blinked, Sanho, with his head slightly bowed, discreetly chewed on his lip. It was because he had just realized that he had made a verbal slip.
