Chapter 4
“I’m not completely broke; I do have some money in my bank account.”
“But, don’t you get asset division or something if you divorce? You’re the director of JT Electronics.”
“It’s fine. Anyway, he married me because of the promise he made with my dad before he died, not because he liked me.”
Cheong-yeon’s voice rapidly sank.
“…Well, whatever.”
“And… for three years, he never liked me…”
Tears suddenly welled up in Cheong-yeon’s eyes, who had been answering calmly until now. As he spoke, he felt his life was quite peculiar.
“For three years, only I liked him. Moon Do-heon didn’t even care about me… I struggled to meet his standards somehow. Anyway, there’s a world of difference between us. I didn’t know my place…”
“So why did you ask to get married? Your father was Moon Do-heon’s bodyguard, right? When there was an accident in America, if he saved Moon Do-heon and passed away, even if they just gave you a generous compensation, it would have been fine.”
“…Yeah, I guess so.”
As Kim Ji-han said, Cheong-yeon’s father had been in charge of security since Do-heon, who was ten years old, entered the JT household. He went to America for a schedule and had a traffic accident on a rainy day. Cheong-yeon’s father, who was in the same car, died while saving Do-heon.
‘Director… In Korea, in Korea… I have a son. He’s still a child who needs a lot of help. If I die, please… take care of him.’
That was the last will Cheong-yeon’s father left to Moon Do-heon. Cheong-yeon knew. Do-heon was originally going to finish this matter by just giving compensation.
But at that time, Do-heon was under pressure to marry an omega chosen by his family.
Already, there were many eyes watching within the JT Group, and he didn’t want to marry an omega who would act as a spy in a situation where his people were lacking. Impulsively, he decided to marry Yoo Cheong-yeon, the son of a bodyguard who had no connection with the political and business world and was a recessive omega. So, there was no love at all.
‘I thought that as I lived, he would like me a little… But in Moon Do-heon’s eyes… sniff, I’m just a young and stupid recessive omega. His family members all dislike me, and Moon Do-heon… sniff. He doesn’t care how I live, saying he’s settling down in the company.’
He wanted to get pregnant quickly and fulfill at least one of Do-heon’s wishes. But even that had become impossible now. Cheong-yeon was exhausted from all of this.
As Cheong-yeon sobbed, crying so hard that his pronunciation was muffled, Kim Ji-han brought a roll of tissue paper with a keen sense. Taking it and wiping his tears, Cheong-yeon looked down at what he held in his hand, sobbing.
‘Sniff… Hey… Using such cheap tissue… sniff… will damage the skin…’
‘What are you talking about now.’
‘It’s okay, it’s okay. My handkerchief… sniff, I can use it.’
Cheong-yeon, who threw away the rough tissue, took out a snow-white handkerchief from the carrier. It was clearly ironed and neatly folded by someone, as it was wrinkle-free and neatly folded.
Despite Kim Ji-han’s disapproving gaze, Cheong-yeon wiped his falling tears with a soft and clean handkerchief like a drama protagonist.
‘Ah, what nonsense…’
‘Black… sniff… I’m so miserable. Even when I was at DEX… because I was found out to be a recessive, black, I was cursed a lot. Even after getting married… sniff.’
Cheong-yeon, who became more choked up while speaking, hit the carrier with his fist.
‘You bastard. I won’t… sniff, ever associate with Moon Do-heon again…’
Cheong-yeon, who had a lot piled up, hit the carrier a few more times with a shudder. Kim Ji-han watched the scene and shook his head.
‘Sigh. I wish I could throw away a Louis Vuitton carrier and cry while wiping my tears with a Chanel handkerchief.’
‘Can I… stay here for a while? Sniff, I’ll leave as soon as I find a house.’
‘Sure, if you’re okay with it. But can you sleep without a bed?’
‘I have no choice…’
Kim Ji-han carefully observed Cheong-yeon wiping his tears with a handkerchief. He didn’t know what had happened in that house, but he had become too thin.
It was questionable whether he, who had stopped DEX activities and was barely making a living through internet broadcasting in the back room, should feel sympathy, but he looked so haggard that it was pitiful. Cheong-yeon clearly needed rest.
Kim Ji-han silently took out a blanket from the wardrobe and spread it on one side of the floor. The bed in the room was a single, so it was too narrow for two men to sleep, so Cheong-yeon had to sleep on the floor.
‘I’ll bring you some water. Calm down and wait.’
‘Okay…’
Cheong-yeon sat on the bedding that Kim Ji-han had spread and fiddled with the pillow.
‘Hey, here’s some water.’
‘Thank you. But Ji-han.’
‘What.’
‘Is there a lower pillow? Using a high one like this is really bad for my neck and shoulders. There’s something really good from a Finnish brand called Hoppen…’
‘Shut up and sleep.’
‘Uh-huh.’
It seemed that living surrounded by the highest quality for three years in Do-heon’s house had made him adapt to a luxurious life. Thinking anew that habits die hard, Cheong-yeon hugged the sagging pillow.
After drinking all the water that Kim Ji-han brought, the vitality that had been drained due to exhaustion seemed to return somewhat.
‘Ji-han.’
‘What now.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘For what.’
‘For suddenly coming and making you sleep on the floor because of me… sniff. You said you received sponsorship, and your voice sounded excited.’
‘Come on. I thought you were going to say something else.’
As Cheong-yeon carefully lay down on the blanket, Kim Ji-han also flopped down on the bed.
‘But it’s work for you.’
‘You’re apologizing for everything. I haven’t forgotten that you lent me money for my brother’s surgery last time. I’m glad I could help you like this.’
‘Is your brother doing well?’
‘Yeah. The surgery went well, and he’s healthy. Actually, I was surprised when you said you would give me the money at that time. It wasn’t a small amount…’
‘It’s not my money; it’s Moon Do-heon’s money.’
‘That guy is helpful.’
‘Yeah.’
They chuckled and made silly talk. After a moment of silence, Cheong-yeon opened his mouth with difficulty.
‘Ji-han, you know.’
‘Yeah.’
‘When did you wash the blanket cover? The texture feels weird. Originally, this should be washed with sterilization laundry every day and changed…’
‘I told you to shut up and sleep.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘……’
It was inevitable to feel uncomfortable trying to cover himself with a musty blanket that he didn’t know when it was washed, when he had always been covered with a snow-white, fluffy blanket that the employees washed every day.
But since complaining more would make the atmosphere feel like he would get hit, Cheong-yeon decided to stop here. In fact, it was ridiculous to grumble about his sleeping place in his current situation.
‘I’ll ask you one last thing.’
‘Sigh…’
‘Is it okay for it to be so noisy outside?’
Cheong-yeon pointed to the window where the sound of people talking and dogs barking could be heard.
‘Of course, it’s normal for it to be noisy outside. I don’t live alone here. Hey, even so, it’s quiet.’
‘Right? I know, I just asked.’
Cheong-yeon sniffled and covered himself with the blanket. Yeah. It’s normal for it to be noisy outside. But it felt strange.
The house where he lived with Do-heon was as quiet as a mouse. Occasionally, the sound of Do-heon’s footsteps or voice coming and going to work was all the living noise in that house. And it was so faint that he had to listen carefully to hear it.
Every day, Cheong-yeon felt a sense of loneliness as if he were alone all day and wanted to run away somewhere every night. And the next day, he would smile in front of Do-heon and pretend to be fine.
The low ceiling, the narrow room, the hard floor, the high pillow, the sound of cars outside, the faint sound of people’s conversations, the smell of a fresh air freshener, not the musty smell of the blanket. Everything was unfamiliar to Cheong-yeon.
Kim Ji-han was already asleep, snoring lightly. Listening to various natural and loud noises, Cheong-yeon also closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
Contrary to the fear that he wouldn’t be able to sleep at all, he fell into a very deep sleep that night.
*
Time passed quickly, and a week had already passed since he left the house. During that time, Cheong-yeon slept like the dead. There was almost no time he was awake except for eating and washing.
On the other hand, Kim Ji-han had a lifestyle pattern of doing live broadcasts all night and going to bed around sunrise. Even in a daze, Cheong-yeon liked that Kim Ji-han’s bright voice could be heard for a long time beyond the door.
Perhaps because he didn’t feel left alone. Since coming here, he hadn’t had a single nightmare.
People’s voices gave him such peace. When he lived with Do-heon, he was always uneasy because it was too quiet around him when he lay in the room.
Even if it wasn’t a broadcast, Kim Ji-han always had music playing. Somehow, it reminded him of his old DEX dormitory life, and there were moments when he unintentionally reminisced.
As a result, he became curious about the well-being of other members, but since some members were now doing other things or were out of contact, he gave up on contacting them.
Anyway, after lying down without moving for a week, his mind was peaceful for having divorced, but Cheong-yeon’s body, which had weakened during that time, was exhausted. Even though it was unsightly to just sleep all day without doing any housework, Kim Ji-han took care of the unexpected guest without complaint.
He also ate meals regularly, albeit poorly, and bought vitamins for recessive omegas from the drugstore.
‘Why don’t you try being a BJ too?’
As his body recovered somewhat, Kim Ji-han suggested subtly. Cheong-yeon, who was eating a chicken leg he had delivered, blinked.
‘Me?’
‘Hey. If you spill the story of marrying and divorcing Moon Do-heon, the director of JT Electronics, you’ll get ten million views.’
Kim Ji-han spoke solemnly, lowering his voice uncharacteristically.
