#130
Idam looked at the picture book Taemin had left. The cute characters and warm colors made his heart feel warm. His cheeks were puffed up like balloons because he had stuffed his mouth full of cookies and bread that Taemin had prepared and left. He was surprised that his appetite was still intact despite the chaotic events of the day.
Amidst this, his phone vibrated. Idam put the rest of the conch-shaped bread in his mouth and looked at his phone.
“Oh?”
A call was coming in from a familiar number. It was Hayun. It seemed he was calling back after seeing the missed call record.
For a moment, Idam felt happy, but then he answered the phone with tense eyes.
“Hayun. It’s me.”
[What? Is it really Idam?]
“Yeah.”
[I saw a call record from an unfamiliar number and wondered who it was. I never dreamed it would be you, Idam.]
Taemin had changed the number when he replaced the phone with a new one.
“Yeah. The phone changed, so that’s why.”
[Hah…]
Hayun took a breath and then started speaking like a machine gun.
[For the past three months, I’ve been answering every spam and scam call in case you might contact me! You! Where have you been all this time? Do you know how worried I was?]
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
Idam’s shoulders naturally shrank at Hayun’s piercing voice.
[Why did you suddenly disappear like that?]
“I did it because I was worried you might be in danger.”
[What? What do you mean?]
“Well, if you stay with me, you’ll keep being chased by the CEO. I didn’t know what might happen to you, so…”
[You idiot! Why did you make such unnecessary consideration? Being apart from you was more painful for me.]
“I’m sorry…”
[You can stop apologizing. Where have you been all this time?]
“I was in Cheongdo.”
[Cheongdo? Why suddenly there?]
“I went down to help out at a cafe run by someone I know.”
[Really? I never knew you had connections in Cheongdo.]
“Well… One of the CEO’s employees is the same age as us, and we somehow became close. That’s how I got help.”
[So you not only suffered because of Ji Taemin but also made a friend. That’s a relief. So where are you now?]
“I’m in Seoul. I met CEO Ji.”
[So he finally found you.]
Hayun continued speaking as if dumbfounded.
[Ji Taemin. He kept coming around even after you disappeared. I was frustrated because I didn’t know anything about you, and Ji Taemin kept suspecting me. It got to the point where the bodyguards he hired were monitoring my every move.]
Idam had run away leaving Hayun behind because he was afraid such a situation might unfold. But it was his mistake. Thinking about how Hayun must have suffered during his absence made his heart heavy.
“Nothing bad happened, right?”
[At first, I was annoyed and irritated. But one day, one of the bodyguards asked to borrow a lighter, and I started talking to him. That’s how I learned some new facts. You know Han Jongcheol, right?]
“Yeah…”
He was the orphanage classmate who had kidnapped him just before going to Jihwado.
[They say he died from a head injury. And Kwon Gicheol was surrounded and became a ‘log’, apparently.]
“What, really? But what’s a ‘log’?”
“It means a corpse with the organs removed. In other words, he was sold for organ trafficking.”
“Huh? D-Does the CEO do such things?”
[It seems so.]
Shocked, Idam’s body froze for a moment.
[Ji Taemin hid this fact and used the excuse of tracking you to try to keep you confined on that island.]
“Ah…”
So it was like that after all. Taemin was an even scarier person than imagined and a liar. But why? Rather than fear and disappointment, his heart pounded at the thought that it was a lie told because Taemin wanted to keep him on that island and possess him.
[Once, an armed robber broke into the rooftop room.]
“What, really?”
[I was frustrated, thinking why would a robber show up when I’m completely broke.]
“So… So? You weren’t hurt?”
[No. Ji Taemin happened to come to monitor me and caught the robber, so nothing serious happened.]
“What, really?”
[Wow, Ji Taemin was stronger than I thought. He subdued the robber like he was a paper doll. On top of that, he said the rooftop room was dangerous and found me a new place to live.]
“So where are you now?”
[I’m staying in an officetel in Gangnam. I told him it was too luxurious and that I was fine, but Ji Taemin didn’t listen at all. But I couldn’t keep staying in the rooftop room, and I had nowhere else to go, so I just moved in. Well, I guess he did it to keep an eye on me since I’m the only connection to find you…]
“Ah…”
While Idam was gone, Taemin had been protecting Hayun. Of course, Hayun was Idam’s only friend, but Idam hadn’t contacted Hayun even once in three months. So Taemin could have just been briefly kind and then stopped, but seeing that he had maintained it all this time, it seemed like genuine kindness rather than a show to gain Idam’s favor. Idam’s heart felt hot and fluttered again at Taemin’s consideration.
[He said he’d find me a proper job too, but I refused because it felt uncomfortable. Anyway, that guy has been like a zombie for three months trying to find you.]
“…”
[It’s a relief that he finally found you. Actually, to me, Ji Taemin had such a bad image that I thought he was the worst of the worst alphas. But seeing him go crazy trying to find you for the past three months, my thoughts have changed a bit. He even apologized to me.]
“What? Really?”
[Yeah. I guess he felt really bad about kidnapping me and handing me over to Heo Jitae.]
Idam’s heart filled with thoughts of Taemin and grew hot at Hayun’s words.
[So did Ji Taemin go to Cheongdo himself to find you?]
“Yeah…”
[He must really like you. I heard Ji Taemin has an enormous number of ongoing businesses. The fact that he put all that aside and went down to Cheongdo to find you shows he really likes you.]
Following Sujeong, now Hayun was saying the same thing. It even felt like the world was teaching Idam not to doubt Taemin anymore.
[And he must have been more concerned because you’re pregnant.]
“What? How do you know I’m pregnant?”
[Ji Taemin told me last time. Congratulations. You’re becoming a father first, Yeo Idam.]
Come to think of it, Hayun’s dream was also to get married early. It felt strange that Idam would be the one to do so first.
[Let’s meet later. We’ll talk more then.]
“Okay. Alright.”
Hayun seemed to have some urgent business and ended the call. Idam’s mind was filled with thoughts of Taemin. His heart felt like it might burst.
‘Think about what you want to eat until I come back. Okay?’
Taemin’s voice from earlier echoed in his mind. As he felt the urge to receive Taemin’s care, he also craved jokbal (pigs’ feet). So he sent Taemin a message.
* * *
“How is it? Delicious?”
Taemin looked at Idam with an affectionate smile.
“Yes, yes. It’s really delicious.”
Idam’s cheeks were puffed up, stuffed full of jokbal.
The table was filled with regular jokbal, spicy jokbal, rice balls, noodles, and various wrapping vegetables. Exactly 20 minutes after sending the message earlier, Taemin had appeared carrying jokbal. Idam was surprised by his speed, faster than lightning, but he was touched once again, feeling that Taemin cared for him that much.
So Idam was even more determined to eat this jokbal diligently. But something had been bothering him for a while.
“Um… Why aren’t you eating, CEO?”
“Ah… I…”
Taemin couldn’t finish his words and just fiddled with his chopsticks.
Come to think of it, even during lunch today, Taemin had barely touched his food. It seemed like he was being considerate so that Idam could eat more.
Taemin had lost weight compared to before. Even so, he still had a better build than the average alpha. He didn’t look like he was about to collapse, but Idam was concerned. He felt he should feed him.
Idam laid out lettuce and perilla leaves, placed jokbal on top, added plenty of green chili peppers and garlic, finished with ssamjang (dipping sauce), and held out the wrapped package.
“Eat this.”
“You want me to eat it?”
“Yes. Please eat, CEO.”
Taemin hesitated for a moment but then accepted it. He showed elegant chewing movements for a moment before quickly swallowing. But Idam wasn’t sure if he was imagining it, but there seemed to be moisture at the corners of Taemin’s eyes. It couldn’t be that he was moved by just a jokbal wrap.
“How is it?”
“It’s delicious.”
“The spicy jokbal here is really good too.”
This time, Idam fed him a wrap with spicy jokbal. Taemin ate it well. It seemed he had indeed been holding back so that Idam could eat more. There was no need for that…
Touched, Idam diligently made more wraps. Soon, not only the jokbal but also the noodles and rice balls were gone. After finishing the meal, the two moved to the terrace to enjoy dessert.
Idam ate strawberry ice cream while Taemin drank hot Americano. A gentle breeze blew. Perhaps because the heat had lingered late this year, the autumn wind wasn’t too cold. Rather, it was just right.
Looking at the scenery spread out before them, a green cross could be seen in the distance. On closer inspection, it was a hospital building. Idam was suddenly reminded of Rickdi, groaning with a knife in his back.
“Do you know how Rickdi is doing now?”
“According to grandfather, he had surgery. So I’m planning to see him when he’s recovered somewhat.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m curious about the story of Rickdi’s mother, and I want to have an honest conversation with him.”
“Ah, where is that hospital?”
“It’s in Gangnam. It’s a place where grandfather has a doctor acquaintance from when he was forming a new drug development team. He should be hospitalized there.”
Idam gently put down the spoon he was using to eat ice cream.
“Um, could I go with you?”
“You, Idam?”
“Yes… I also have some things I’m curious about…”
“Will you be okay? Won’t you be scared?”
His question considered the ordeal Idam had gone through today. Idam gripped the table for a moment before raising his head.
“Honestly, I’m scared. But I’m curious about what happened to his mother, and I want to receive an apology too.”
“We’re not going right away, so think about it for a few days before deciding.”
“Okay…”
“And if you do go, you must accompany me. Something dangerous might happen.”
“Okay. I will.”
Anyway, with his leg like this, he couldn’t go alone, and even if he was fine, he didn’t want to. He wanted to be with Taemin. But he was still cautious about revealing these feelings to Taemin, so he kept them hidden.
“By the way, quite a few stars are visible in the sky today.”
Idam followed Taemin’s gaze to the sky. Seoul’s sky was always pitch black, but here, being in a remote area, there were scattered stars. It looked as if specks of light had been sprinkled across the sky.
“It’s beautiful.”
“My honey is more beautiful.”
“No…”
At Taemin’s sudden compliment, Idam’s cheeks turned red. Meanwhile, Taemin had moved close to Idam’s side. His sweet pheromones came along. Taemin gently bit Idam’s lower lip and started sucking. Intoxicated by the sensation, Idam closed his eyes and moaned. As their lips began to mingle more, Taemin pulled away. Surprised by the sudden stop, Idam’s eyes opened wide. Taemin was licking his lips.
“I never knew strawberry ice cream could be this delicious.”
Because the kiss had started while Idam was eating ice cream, a sweet taste lingered in his mouth. Taemin looked at the strawberry ice cream.
“I usually don’t like sweet things, but I want to eat it.”
“Then, should I bring more ice cream?”
“No, I want to eat this.”
“But I was eating from it…”
“It’s meaningless if it’s not this ice cream. Will you feed it to me with your mouth, Idam?”
“What? With my… mouth? Really?”
Idam asked again, unable to believe such an indecent suggestion. Taemin nodded and repeated the same words.
“No… That’s too…”
“Why not? Aren’t we a married couple now? This is how married couples eat ice cream.”
Taemin picked up the spoon and pushed some ice cream into Idam’s mouth. Immediately, his lips covered Idam’s.
“Mmph…”
The kiss that started again became even more intense. Idam was bewildered, but he loved this moment of being in Taemin’s arms. Should he accept Taemin now? Should they get married? But…
The image of Taemin’s grandfather, who wouldn’t allow it, flickered before his eyes, making it difficult.
Also, he questioned whether he was worthy of being by Taemin’s side.
Why did he keep lacking confidence? Why was he only afraid? How foolish.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
