Gentle Giant 10

Gentle Giant Chapter 10

“H-Hello?”

A husky voice flowed through the phone. Juho unconsciously leaned his ear closer and called Dain’s name.

“Dain hyung?”

“Juho…?”

“Yes. It’s me, Juho. Hyung, is something wrong? So suddenly…”

And with those words as a signal, Dain’s wailing began.

As if he couldn’t even hear Juho’s voice, Dain poured out his tears for a while before sniffling and offering him an apology.

Honestly, Juho was in a good mood just from hearing Dain’s voice, whether it was crying or shouting, but his mouth dutifully comforted Dain.

“It’s okay, hyung. Don’t worry about me. But are you alright? What happened?”

“Actually… I, sob, had something really, uh… unfair happen to me… whimper, but I’m okay now. Hearing your voice, sniffle, I’m okay.”

At Dain’s words, spoken through tears, saying he had something upsetting—no, unfair—happen to him, strength entered Juho’s fists.

What bastards were they…? If an adult like Jung Dain was crying like this, it couldn’t be something ordinary.

Unlike his inner thoughts spewing all sorts of curses, Juho’s lips continued the conversation with Dain while feigning calm.

“Is that so? Hyung must have been really upset.”

“Y-yeah… today, today was a lot.”

Fuck, he said he was really upset. A vein bulged on Juho’s forehead.

“Hmm, how unfair must it have been for our hyung to cry like this. Should I go there and scold those people? Beat them up real good.”

“Scold them… beat, beat them up…? Pfft. Juho, you, you’re in New York right now.”

He never knew he had the ability to blurt out the phrase “beat them up real good.”

While wanting to smack himself for saying those words, Dain’s laughter hit his ears precisely. So he was able to safely hang up the phone without actually hitting himself.

“Fuck. How embarrassing.”

Juho squeezed his eyes shut and covered his mouth with his hand.

He knew that more than a few people would be shocked if they saw the state he was in right now. He himself got goosebumps after blurting out those words. However, the corners of his mouth that had slightly risen at the end of his cursing couldn’t be hidden even with his hand.

***

This was the Dain that Juho had observed:

First. He was sincere. Very sincere.

Not only did he arrive 30 minutes before class started to preview, but after class ended, he would always review at the library before going home.

That sincerity was the same at the convenience store where he worked part-time during vacation—he would arrive before his shift and clean without being asked. And if even one customer was in the convenience store, he would never look at his phone no matter how much Juho contacted him. It was disappointing.

Second. He was kind. Incredibly kind.

He replied sincerely to every message. He never once sent halfhearted replies like “yeah” or “ok.”

And since he was the same way with other people, there was a time when he accidentally sent Juho a message meant for his younger brother, and even to his own sibling he sent messages dripping with kindness. It was disappointing.

Third. He was very shy. Shy like a new bride.

He was embarrassed to make eye contact with other people and only wore non-flashy black clothes. And when Juho called him on places like the bus, he would hurriedly hang up, saying it was embarrassing for other people to hear the phone conversation. It was disappointing.

Fourth. He had a good voice. A voice so good it could rival a voice actor’s.

Usually his husky, quietly resonating voice was nice, but when he talked about things he liked (mostly food), it became somewhat clear and bright, and that clear, bright voice was attractive.

However, despite having such a good voice, Jung Dain had never once let him hear any aegyo-tinged sounds. It was disappointing.

Lastly, he was cute. Fucking cute. Crazy, so cute he wanted to break down walls.

Just from seeing the letters that made up his messages, just from hearing his voice through the phone, Juho had expected Jung Dain to be cute.

But the moment he saw the photo Dain sent. At the cuteness that exceeded his expectations, Juho’s nose tingled and he quickly pinched it shut. Fuck. He was cute enough to make his nose bleed.

Tousled but cozy-looking gray hair covering his forehead. Below that, amber eyes sparkling brilliantly under the fluorescent lights. Thin lips resembling the pale pink strawberry milk color he had tasted as a child. Finally, the round nose tip at the end of his straight nose bridge.

Juho understood then what it meant to want to eat something up because it was so cute.

With such a cute face, Dain had told him that he only had him as a friend. He was fucking happy. He absolutely couldn’t stay still.

That’s why. That’s why he decided to go to Korea.

***

“You’re going to Korea?”

An office with a panoramic view of New York. And a woman with such an overwhelming presence that she wouldn’t be overshadowed even against that background. She sat on the sofa with a displeased expression, her age impossible to guess.

“Yes.”

“I wondered what brought you all the way here… You just came to tell me you’re going to Korea?”

“I still thought I should let you know.”

Even at the woman’s reproachful words, Juho showed no particular reaction. At his attitude, the woman shook her head slightly as if she had expected this, then nodded.

“Fine. It’s good to cool your head a bit before you start working in earnest. I understand.”

“No, it’s not just briefly. Um… about 6 months? That’s what I’m thinking for now.”

“What?!”

The woman’s eyes widened at the unexpected words from Juho’s mouth.

“Six months. I’m not sure about longer than that either.”

“No, Juho. What are you saying? It’s not a brief trip but 6 months?!”

“Yes. That’s why I came to let you know.”

“Ha, Lee Juho.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

Even at the woman’s angry voice, Juho’s face remained as calm as before. Conversely, the face of the woman looking at that calm expression—Lee Juho’s mother and chairwoman of ‘Scarlett’, Lina Scarlett—was crumpling.

“What’s the reason you need to stay in Korea for as long as 6 months?”

“Well, to try exchange student life at a Korean university, and there’s something I need to confirm.”

“Wait. Exchange student? You’re going back to university??”

“Yes. I thought I’d try it once.”

At Juho’s answer, Lina exhaled and shook her head.

“And what did you say… ah, right. Confirm? What are you confirming? Can’t you send someone?”

“No. I need to see it myself.”

“Wh-what do you need to see… You… don’t tell me you’re in contact with your father?!”

At his mother’s high-pitched cry, Juho’s eyebrows briefly furrowed then smoothed.

This is why he didn’t want to have a private meeting with his mother.

Juho clicked his tongue briefly inwardly.

“I haven’t contacted father in over 5 years.”

“Then what reason do you have to go to Korea!”

“You don’t need to know that, mother.”

“Sigh, anyway, no. You can’t stay there that long.”

Lina pressed her throbbing temples.

When her youngest son, who usually had no interest in the family business, said he would come to the company, outwardly she just answered that she understood, but inwardly, how happy she had been. She thought her youngest was finally taking interest in business.

Her youngest son Juho had possessed better leadership and situational judgment than his older brothers since childhood. His academic progress had long surpassed others his age.

On top of that, his drive to achieve was twice as high as others, so he earned his MBA early for his age. Just a few days ago, in fact.

But suddenly Korea? She absolutely could not allow it.

“I didn’t come here to get permission from you, mother.”

Juho said with a slight smile. Even after hearing his mother’s firm refusal, he didn’t waver in the slightest.

Those were his exact feelings. He hadn’t come to get permission. Since he might be away from home for quite a while, he had come to inform her of that fact.

He was already well past twenty—who needed whose permission? He could only laugh at his mother’s attitude of still thinking of him as a child in her palm.

“Juho. Do you know how important this time is…? Hm?”

“Has there ever been a time that wasn’t important for me? Well, wasn’t it important from the moment I was born into this family?”

“That’s…! Yes, exactly as you say. As long as you were born in this house, you’re more important than anyone. Plus, your growth has been unstable lately. You’re especially special compared to your other brothers… You know what I mean, right?”

“I wonder.”

Lina tried speaking more soothingly this time, but that didn’t work on Juho either.

The sunlight pouring through the window that took up an entire wall of the office was warm, but the air between the two people receiving that sunlight was sharply frozen.

Juho soon checked the time and stood up. Staying here would only lead to more useless words.

And by now, it was about time for the convenience store where Dain worked part-time to get a bit quiet. He had to hurry and send a message so he wouldn’t miss this precious time.

“Juho!”

Lina, who called out desperately to him as he stood up without hesitation, finally raised both hands.

“Fine. Alright, 6 months. I’ll note that you’re spending that much time in Korea. But in return, you’ll listen to one request from me.”

“Me? Why?”

At Juho’s genuinely curious-sounding question, Lina bit her lips hard. Even though he was her son, there was nothing she could control about him.

However, Lina forcibly suppressed her rising anger and opened her mouth in a calm voice. Sending him off on a bad note would only make her burst inside. So she had to present something she could gain while moderately not going against his mood.

“You’re a member of this family too, aren’t you? And now you’re strictly speaking not a student anymore, so you should do your part as a member of society. Plus, my request isn’t difficult for you.”

At Lina’s words that flowed smoothly as if prepared, Juho showed a slightly displeased expression but soon nodded.

Refusing here would obviously mean she’d bother him the entire time he was in Korea, so he thought it would be easier to just accept it moderately.

When Juho turned around and sat back down, the two quickly confirmed each other’s conditions and soon ended their conversation.

The large, heavy door proportional to the size of the office opened silently. Soon Juho’s large body also exited through the door without sound.

Lina’s face was full of worry as she watched her son’s retreating figure.

With an MBA already earned… no matter that it’s 6 months, what could be the reason for going back to a Korean university?

Lina was certain it was related to the strange behaviors Juho had been showing lately. No matter that Juho had agreed to her request, she couldn’t just sit idle for 6 months.

***

It had been a long flight. No matter that he came first class, being cramped in an airplane was the same as anyone else.

Juho, who stretched his body that had been cramped for a long time, sent a message to Dain as soon as the plane touched the ground.

[10:43 AM│Hyung! I just arrived! But it’ll probably take a while to get through immigration and get my luggage and come out. ㅠㅠㅠ]

[Dain hyung: You arrived safely??? It’s okay, come out slowly and carefully. I arrived at the airport too!│10:44 AM]

Juho’s mood improved at the reply that came immediately after sending, and he didn’t hide his rising smile.

But that smile didn’t last long either. Juho hardened his face as soon as he got off the plane.

Even though he was among the first to disembark, it took quite a while to finish immigration and get his luggage.

He had expected it to take long, but it bothered him that he had kept Dain waiting longer than expected.

Usually, Juho made people around him tense due to his overwhelming height, build, and presence even in America where average height was relatively tall. With him being at Incheon Airport where there were relatively many Korean people, the glances and outright observational gazes felt twice as intense as in America.

On top of that, Juho didn’t bother hiding his annoyance. As he approached the departure gate, people’s curiosity about his menacing expression and matching build reached its peak.

However, none of the people stealing glances at Juho dared to approach him. Juho also kept his attention off the murmuring people around him and only thought of Dain who would be waiting for him.

And finally, they met.

Jung Dain, who made him anxious, impatient, petty, stupid, and ultimately made him smile. His cute cat.

Juho walked toward Dain, who stood holding his phone, staring at him blankly.

“I missed you. Dain hyung.”