Chapter 56
“Ah, Igeon hyung!”
When he came down to the first-floor lobby, Han Jae-woo approached Igeon with a bright smile. All eyes in the lobby focused on them, but Jae-woo, seemingly accustomed to it, paid no attention and grabbed Igeon while smiling cheerfully.
“Are you very busy by any chance?”
“No, this is all I had scheduled for today.”
He had thought he would start working immediately from today, but it was just employment approval.
“Then can we talk for a moment?”
“Are you okay on time?”
“Yes.”
Igeon was about to say, “Aren’t you supposed to be working as a director?” but it seemed too meddlesome, so he dropped it and followed Jae-woo. Their destination was a nostalgic place. It was the café across from the NI building that he was visiting after 9 years. Seeing the café standing just as it had been was somehow strange. It felt like going back to when he was 19. He had wanted to visit once, but he couldn’t because he didn’t want to go near where NI was. When they opened the café door and entered, the interior was also exactly as it had been then. It was still crowded. There was quite a line, so Igeon looked at Jae-woo, wondering if they’d have to waste time just to get a cup of coffee, and Jae-woo pointed upstairs. They climbed the stairs to the third floor, where there was a small room.
“Was there a private room here?”
When Igeon muttered this, Jae-woo sat down in a chair in the room and smiled.
“Igeon hyung, you worked part-time here, right?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“Taekyung hyung told me. I probably know more about Igeon hyung than you think? Of course, Taekyung hyung told me everything.”
“Why is that guy going around telling others about me?”
“Boasting?”
“Boasting? What’s there to boast about?”
“Boasting that he’s close to you?”
“What? Being friends with me isn’t anything special. At that time, I wasn’t even on the senior national team. I hadn’t won a gold medal yet.”
“No. For Taekyung hyung, just your existence was something to boast about. You should have seen Taekyung hyung when he couldn’t sleep because he became your roommate, saying he was going to live in the same space with you.”
“You’re lying, right?”
“It’s true.”
And I can’t ask the person in that tall building across the way about this. Igeon sighed. Meanwhile, an employee came in, brought coffee, and quietly left the room. The coffee was an iced Americano.
“Ah, I forgot to order. I just came up here out of habit.”
“But why did they bring an Americano?”
“Oh, whenever our family comes here, we all follow our younger father and drink only Americanos. The manager and staff all know. It’s nice.”
Oh, I see. Igeon recalled meeting Han Taekyung when he worked part-time here. Back then, he was also buying coffee for his family. Who would have thought that catching a pervert would lead to such a long relationship, or perhaps a bad relationship? Han Taekyung probably didn’t know either.
“So, did you have something to talk about?”
“Ah, yes. Taekyung hyung… did he remember you? I was curious about that. I couldn’t bring myself to ask.”
“No, he didn’t remember me.”
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s not something you should apologize for. It’s a bit disappointing, but when I think about it, Han Taekyung becoming like that, forgetting me, it’s not his fault. It’s all because of those cockroach-like bastards.”
“…Thank you for saying that. You really are a good person.”
Jae-woo asked Igeon to please take good care of Taekyung hyung, and Igeon also said he would. After getting a free cup of coffee, he went out and walked a bit. Looking at the sky, the Han River… thinking about Han Taekyung while viewing the passing years. These days, he really thinks about Han Taekyung all the time. He didn’t think about him this much even when they were together… Igeon smiled wryly and recalled what he had just said to Jae-woo.
That’s right. Han Taekyung is not at fault. All of this is because of those bastards. So let’s think with an easy mind. Just focus on the job.
â—†
“Huh?”
“Seo Igeon.”
At 7 AM, as the NI doors were about to open, security guards first arrived to patrol the company. In Igeon’s case, remembering what the secretary had told him yesterday about someone waiting to explain things on his first day, he waited in front of the back door where the building’s security guards entered. And as soon as it was 7 o’clock, a car stopped in front, and a familiar and welcome face appeared. It was Instructor Kim.
“Instructor Kim?”
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it’s really been a long time.”
He greeted Instructor Kim with a bewildered face. It made sense, as it had been 9 years since he had last heard from Instructor Kim. He had vaguely thought that Instructor Kim might be with Han Taekyung, and sure enough, meeting him here was strange.
“Wow. Even though it’s been years since you retired, your body is still in good shape. That’s right. Congratulations on your gold medal. I really cheered when you scored that last point.”
“You were… watching?”
At Igeon’s words, Instructor Kim smiled and patted his shoulder.
“I watched it all. Taekyung couldn’t watch, but I did. Haha.”
“Where have you been all this time?”
“It’s a long story. Didn’t anyone give you a summary of the situation?”
“Uh… if it’s related to Taekyung, Jae-woo told me.”
“That Jae-woo summarizes well. Then you probably know roughly what’s going on. I went to Germany with Taekyung. As his bodyguard and guardian. On the day of the accident, I wasn’t with him so I avoided the accident… but it was the worst. I’ve been with Taekyung ever since.”
“Ah… I see.”
Although much of the middle content was omitted, with just a few words from Instructor Kim, Igeon could infer the situation. Everyone had been going through difficult times.
“And now that Taekyung has come to Korea, he has established a security company under NI, and I am the representative there, and one of Taekyung’s dedicated security team. I am your superior.”
“Ah! I look forward to working with you!”
“Yes. I look forward to working with you too. You probably have a lot of work ahead of you.”
After opening the door with fingerprint recognition, Instructor Kim explained how the doors were connected for security purposes. He also explained in detail where the emergency exits were and what hidden passages existed in case of a terrorist attack in the building. He also mentioned that the hidden passages sometimes change depending on the situation, but he would explain more once Igeon became more familiar with everything. It was actually fortunate. There was so much to learn that Igeon’s head was spinning, and as soon as lunch time came, he staggered to the café to buy coffee.
“Huh? Athlete Seo Igeon?”
While waiting to receive the ordered Americano, someone recognized Igeon and called out his name loudly. Thanks to that, everyone in the café looked at Seo Igeon. Ah, great.
“You’re Athlete Seo Igeon, right?”
“Yes, hello.”
“Wow! I’m a fan!!”
“You’re Seo Igeon??”
“I’m a fan too!”
As soon as they confirmed it was Seo Igeon, more people greeted him warmly. People sitting down, people waiting to order, they all flocked to Igeon. Ah, this is causing trouble for the café. But he couldn’t just shout at these people to go back to their seats, and he couldn’t escape because of the people pushing in and the onlookers.
“Photo, let’s take a photo together!”
“Please sign this!!”
He was gradually becoming one with the wall. Additionally, among the increasingly pressing crowd, the mixed pheromones of omegas who were attracted to Igeon made the situation awkward. He couldn’t help thinking that something bad would happen if he stayed like this. He needed to think quickly. Quickly.
“Since this is causing trouble for the store, I’ll go outside and—”
“What are you all doing?”
A large hand suddenly appeared in front of Igeon, blocking those approaching. At that familiar yet strange voice, he turned his head to see Han Taekyung, who had swiftly approached, frowning.
“What are you doing? We need to leave.”
In the momentary hesitation of the crowd due to the sudden appearance of a stranger, a space opened up. Taking advantage of that gap, Han Taekyung said they should leave, and Igeon nodded, thanked the people who had recognized him, and quickly exited the café. The traffic light at the crosswalk changed at just the right moment, and he followed Han Taekyung, who was walking with long strides. He’s wearing a coat. The 19-year-old Han Taekyung also wore a coat, and thinking back, it suited him really well, and it still suits the current Han Taekyung.
As soon as they entered the NI headquarters, everyone recognized Han Taekyung and greeted him, and several executives approached to say something to him, but Han Taekyung put up a wall, saying he would talk to them all later. Then the private elevator door opened. What should I do? I haven’t even learned everything from Instructor Kim yet, and I haven’t been officially appointed, can I get on this elevator? While he was deliberating, his eyes met Han Taekyung’s. He nodded slightly. He was saying to get in. Igeon quickly got on the elevator, and the door closed.
In the elevator with just the two of them, in an awkward atmosphere where even their breathing couldn’t be heard, Han Taekyung opened his mouth.
“I wonder who is protecting whom.”
At his pointed words, spoken in an incredulous tone as if sneering, Igeon thought, “I’m screwed.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
