On Thursday afternoon, Haon and Inho, holding hands, entered a restaurant. The staff member at the counter greeted them with a calm smile and asked for the reservation name.
“I made a reservation under Jung Haon,” Inho replied on his behalf. He had made the reservation himself but deliberately used Haon’s name, as today was a meeting with Haon’s acquaintances.
“Your companions have arrived ahead of you. I will show you to your table.”
It was lunchtime on a weekday, but almost all the seats were taken. However, the tables were spaced wide apart, and there was plenty of room, so it wasn’t noisy.
Haon looked up at the high ceiling with curious eyes, then admired the lush green plants beyond the large glass window. Just then, bright platinum blonde hair at a spacious window seat caught his eye.
“Tae-hwi hyung…!”
He almost shouted out of sheer delight. Haon trailed off, leaning on Inho’s arm and smiling. Tae-hwi and Hoyoung, sitting side by side at the window seat, were looking around the restaurant with the exact same expression as him. Their mouths were wide open, as if a fly could enter.
“Oh, Haon-ah!”
Tae-hwi, who had been glancing at the next table a little further away, noticed Haon first. Only then did Hoyoung turn his gaze and wave his hand enthusiastically. Hoyoung, perhaps not expecting Inho to come, cleared his throat with a ‘ahem’ and straightened his shoulders.
“We meet again.”
As Inho approached with a gentle smile, Tae-hwi unconsciously stood up abruptly. Hoyoung also tried to get up awkwardly. Before he could, Inho lightly gestured for them to stay comfortable. He only pulled out Haon’s chair and did not sit down himself.
“Aren’t you eating with us?”
Tae-hwi asked with a puzzled expression.
“I only came to drop off Haon-ssi. Enjoy yourselves.”
Inho looked at both Tae-hwi and Hoyoung and gave a sweet eye-smile. Then, he lightly stroked the back of Haon’s hand before saying his goodbyes.
“Text me when you’re leaving. Enjoy your meal.”
“Yes, I’ll contact you later.”
They looked like a natural couple. Tae-hwi and Hoyoung watched them exchange greetings intently, each sipping their lukewarm green tea with different thoughts in mind.
“Why isn’t he eating with us?”
Tae-hwi asked, looking wistfully at Inho heading towards the entrance. He had wanted to see his face more closely since he was here, so he felt quite disappointed.
“He said we should eat comfortably among ourselves,” Haon said with a soft smile, opening the menu that the staff had left. Unlike the Western-style restaurants he often went to with Inho, the menu was written entirely in Korean. Haon smiled, revealing his even teeth with a relaxed expression.
“Order everything you want.”
Today was Haon’s treat. He wanted to properly thank the two who had suffered because of him. That’s why he had deliberately asked Inho to recommend a nice and good restaurant.
“Hey, Haon-ah. Isn’t this place too expensive? Is this the right price?”
“Hyung, I’ll have the galbitang,” Hoyoung said, closing the menu after reading it and nudging Tae-hwi’s side. Tae-hwi also quickly said he would have the galbitang. One serving of ribs was priced so exorbitantly, as if they were coated in gold, that he couldn’t bring himself to order it. Of course, it looked delicious though…
“Then shall we order five servings of ribs first? Along with the soup?”
Haon, just like Inho would, expertly ordered the dishes. Even as Tae-hwi and Hoyoung swallowed hard and said it was alright, he additionally ordered Korean beef tartare and braised short ribs. He had come prepared not to be surprised by whatever the bill might be today. Having gone to various places with Inho, he had already developed some immunity.
“Is your body feeling better now?”
“Yes, it’s much better.”
While waiting for the food, they had a leisurely conversation for the first time in a while. Tae-hwi genuinely regretted Haon quitting his job at the store.
“The owner originally wanted to keep you on permanently, not just as a temporary worker.”
“Me?”
This was news to Haon. It was already the second time he hadn’t shown up for work without notice, so he never imagined the owner would have thought that way.
“You’re good at your job. Meticulous, cheerful, and kind to customers.”
Haon’s lips stretched into a wide smile at the unfamiliar praise. Even as he denied it, he couldn’t hide his laughter.
“What do you mean ‘no’? Where else would you find someone like you? Right, Hoyoung-ah?”
Hoyoung, without answering, was silently helping the staff carry the side dishes. This time, Tae-hwi nudged his side. The usually talkative guy was quiet for some reason.
“Did that person go to work?”
Instead of answering, Hoyoung asked a different question. He seemed to still harbor some wariness towards Inho.
“No, he said he’d be reading a book at a cafe nearby,” Haon answered truthfully, pushing the side dishes towards Tae-hwi and Hoyoung. Inho had said he would have lunch at the cafe. He had even packed two books, telling Haon to relax and enjoy his time.
“It seems he doesn’t go to work separately. Does he run a business?”
This time, Tae-hwi showed interest. It was a topic he had been curious about for a long time. Haon, who had picked up his chopsticks first, answered immediately.
“He doesn’t work separately.”
It was a clear and concise answer that left no room for further probing. However, upon hearing this, Tae-hwi and Hoyoung tilted their heads to the side. They both showed a similar reaction at the same time.
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Both of them had expressions that asked for a more detailed explanation. Haon, after taking a sip of the refreshing radish water kimchi soup, said as much as he knew.
“He just has a lot of money.”
Tae-hwi, having straightened his head, now had a serious expression. He started with, “Haon-ah,” and then gulped down the radish water kimchi soup from the bowl. After wetting his throat, Haon burst into laughter at the words that followed.
“Make sure you succeed in getting married, definitely. Got it?”
Tae-hwi pointed to the park beyond the glass window, suggesting that they seemed to hold wedding ceremonies there.
“Outdoor weddings are trendy these days. If you have it at this restaurant, the food will be amazing.”
Haon only smiled awkwardly. Marriage. It felt like a story from so far away.
“Marriage should be taken seriously. You have to meet each other’s families too,” Hoyoung mumbled, pushing the side dish bowl back towards Haon. He even said something old-fashioned like marriage wasn’t child’s play.
In his eyes, Inho didn’t seem entirely trustworthy. He knew that Inho wasn’t shady or didn’t take Haon lightly. However, it didn’t seem like Inho was the kind of person Haon, who was endlessly innocent and kind, should be dating without reservations.
“It’s not all good just because someone is handsome and rich. Their heart needs to be healthy first. Get to know his personality better while dating longer.”
“Hoyoung-ah, enough. You’re being pathetic.”
“What! I’m just saying this because I’m worried about Haon hyung.”
“The thing we should worry about is our own lives. Look at Haon right now.”
Tae-hwi picked up a thick piece of beef and pointed at Haon with his chopsticks.
“Look how much better his face looks. And what about his clothes? He’s become a young master from a wealthy family.”
He chewed the beef and clapped with various meanings. The food tasted great, and the clothes Haon was wearing were fantastic. It was a distinctly different style from the clothes he used to wear. Although the brand name wasn’t visible, it looked like designer wear at first glance.
His boyfriend must have bought them for him. Just how much money does that person have?
Tae-hwi, resting his chin on his hand, briefly recalled the reward money he had received from Inho that day. It was an amount that would allow him to take a break from his part-time job for a while. Even after giving half to Hoyoung, it was still a considerable sum.
Because Inho had told him never to mention it to Haon, he couldn’t show any signs of having received the money. He could only wholeheartedly support their relationship. The more he saw, the more it seemed Inho’s feelings for Haon were extraordinary. Well, that’s good enough.
“Eat quickly before the meat gets cold. Hoyoung-ah, you eat a lot too.”
Haon’s complexion was much better than before. When he talked about Inho, it seemed like spring had come to his face.
Tae-hwi, having carefully observed such a Haon, enjoyed his meal without reservation.
“Haon-ah, you’ve become even prettier.”
He had lost a little weight because he was sick, but perhaps because his expression was bright, he looked full of life. He also ate well and didn’t seem to pay much attention to Hoyoung’s words. That was the biggest difference from before.
***
They ate for almost three hours while talking. Thanks to Hoyoung’s hearty appetite, they finished almost all the food without leaving any leftovers. Haon also didn’t put down his spoon until the very end.
Haon received praise from Tae-hwi for his noticeably increased eating habits. He felt very happy today, having heard many pleasant things.
Having parted ways with the two, Haon hummed a little tune as he looked at his reflection in the shop window. His steps back to Inho felt incredibly light. It was as if he could float on clouds like this.
Then, the cafe sign came into view, and he quickened his pace. Inho had said he would be at a cafe located in the building across from the restaurant.
Inho had asked him to contact him when he was leaving, but he deliberately went without telling him. He couldn’t stop smiling at the thought of surprising him. Haon had become more playful, just like Inho.
The bell rang as he opened the cafe door.
Haon, looking around, scanned the spacious cafe, searching for Inho. The quiet atmosphere inside the cafe was peaceful. Soft jazz music flowed through the air, so the customers’ conversations weren’t loud either.
He had expected to find Inho right away. He couldn’t see Inho; perhaps he was sitting somewhere else.
“There are seats further inside the hallway,” a cafe employee said to Haon, who was looking around the interior of the shop. Haon bowed his head in thanks and walked into the hallway.
As he passed through the white hallway with large frames hanging on the walls, the sound of voices gradually decreased. Most of the customers inside the cafe were working on their laptops or reading books. Many people were engrossed in something.
Among them was Inho.
Inho was sitting in the most secluded corner. Haon smiled brightly at the familiar profile and slowly approached him. Seeing him sitting still, he seemed to be reading a book.
Haon walked silently. The soft music even masked Haon’s faint footsteps.
Having three steps left before surprising Inho, Haon suddenly stopped.
Inho wasn’t reading a book. He was just holding it.
His gaze was directed out the window. He was blankly staring at the window. Even though all that could be seen outside was the empty sky.
“Inho-ssi.”
Haon called out to Inho, who was still, taking his hand. Only then did Inho, realizing Haon was beside him, blink his eyes. His focus returned, and he belatedly clasped Haon’s hand.
“Did you have a good time?”
Haon nodded his head vigorously and caressed Inho’s hand. The palms touching felt a little warm.
