<43>
Jang Yeonhu is strange. From Han Jaekyung’s perspective, he hasn’t been normal since he appeared with some other guy claiming to be his boyfriend, but lately it’s been worse.
“Hey, Jaekyung. Are you sure you haven’t heard anything? Yeonhu would at least see your face.”
“Come on. Attorney Han just arrived, give him a moment to breathe before asking.”
“Well, I’m asking because I’m frustrated. Frustrated.”
Jaekyung just waved his hand saying it was fine, with an awkward smile on his face. It would have been better if they had talked like Madam Yu and the Vice Chairman. It was harder to endure Chairman Noh, who, like a final boss, maintained a heavy expression without moving his lips.
In truth, since that incident in the chairman’s office, Jaekyung’s phone and email inbox had been flooded. Although the frequency of direct contact from Yeonhu’s family, including the chairman, wasn’t that high, their attendants had been whining and calling for “Attorney, Attorney.”
Their persistent attitude, suggesting they would even kneel and grab his pant leg if necessary, finally made Jaekyung surrender and visit the family home in Yongsan District.
“He must have changed his number too. It says the number doesn’t exist. Jaekyung, how could Yeonhu do this to his aunt? I wonder if that heartless boy knows his mother’s 60th birthday is this year.”
“Child, that’s enough.”
“Father… But he’s already used up all his sick leave and is now in unauthorized absence. If controversy arises later when he’s up for executive promotion…”
“What executive position for someone who left because he didn’t like it? Enough. That boy is no longer part of our family. What an embarrassing display with a guest present. Let’s eat.”
“Yes… But where is the first madam?”
“Don’t even mention it. As soon as she heard about Yeonhu’s forehead being cracked, she immediately wrapped her head and collapsed in bed.”
Both the vice chairman, who kept clearing his throat unnecessarily, and Madam Yu, who seemed to have more to say, kept an eye on the chairman as they picked up their spoons. Haaa… I’m definitely going to get indigestion. Jaekyung inwardly sighed, trying to remember if he had digestive medicine at home. The dinner would likely go on for a while, and by the time he went home, all pharmacies would be closed.
“Jaekyung. Eat this, this. The chairman specially put this on the table because you enjoy it.”
“…Thank you.”
The raw sea squirt with its strong fishy smell was actually a food that Yeonhu, not Jaekyung, couldn’t get enough of, but given the atmosphere, he couldn’t refuse. Jaekyung smiled brightly as he picked up the sea squirt from the plate extended toward him.
Dipping it generously in chili sauce and putting it in his mouth, the fishy smell that couldn’t be masked even by the seasoning filled his nose. The mushy texture was also the worst. Jaekyung swallowed the food without chewing much, then quickly rinsed his mouth with water.
Madam Yu, who had been staring at Jaekyung’s eating amount after putting down her chopsticks, let out a big sigh and muttered softly.
“Our Yeonhu also loves fresh sea squirt so much…”
“That’s true. That boy certainly inherited my taste in food.”
Where did the person who just said that ungrateful grandson is no longer part of our family go? The chairman looked at Jaekyung with narrowed eyes while picking up a piece of prepared sea squirt for himself. His wishes were all too clear.
“If there’s any left, please give it to me. I’ll stop by Yeonhu’s place on my way home today.”
“Oh my, will you? You don’t have to go that far…”
“It’s fine. I got a delicious meal, so this is nothing.”
“You really do speak so prettily. Alright, wait a moment.”
Madam Yu jumped up in the middle of her meal and ran to the kitchen. “Madam! Where’s the sea squirt I set aside for Yeonhu?” Her following voice was quite cheerful.
“So… How is that boy’s forehead?”
“Father, you’ve already received a full report from Dr. Park.”
“Still, I want to know if there are any aftereffects, or if there will be scars. Aren’t you worried as his father?”
“Of course I’m worried about my only son. But I’m just concerned about burdening Attorney Han…”
Ah. This was a subtle signal from the higher-ups to never show discomfort, no matter how burdensome. The secretive communication method of never explicitly revealing one’s true thoughts was already ingrained in him, but facing it again after a long time was subtly draining.
In the end, Jaekyung, who had probably barely taken a proper spoonful, gave up any lingering attachment to the meal and put down his spoon completely. It would be better to return on an empty stomach than to force down food in an uncomfortable setting and get indigestion.
“The day’s test results were all fine, and after observing him for a few days, there were no other symptoms like dizziness or nausea. I was worried about scarring too, but it healed cleanly. Don’t worry, Chairman.”
“Hmm… That’s fortunate to hear. And with that boyfriend of his, is it still the same?”
“Yes. You know Yeonhu’s stubbornness.”
“Oh my, what a headache. I thought he would live well, suppressing his temperament with you by his side, but now he’s all grown up and causing such a commotion. I’m embarrassed to face CEO Kim of Sindong Pharmaceuticals.”
“…What are you planning to do?”
Due to that day’s incident, it became publicly known to employees that Yeonhu was the chairman’s grandson. With his continued unauthorized absence, rumors in the financial sector about uncertain succession plans had started to circulate.
The chairman wouldn’t give up on Yeonhu, his only grandson of the second generation, but if this discord continued, shareholders wouldn’t stay quiet. Something definitive was needed. Since Jaekyung also wanted Yeonhu to inherit the group without any issues, he wanted to clearly understand the chairman’s intentions and then persuade Yeonhu if possible.
“For now, Yeonhu should have had enough experience with the practical atmosphere, so it’s best to let him retire as is.”
“That’s right, Father. We should send him abroad until the rumors die down. Right now he might be blinded by this momentary fling, but just leave them be—how long could a relationship between two men last?”
“It only took exactly 100 days to break up with Attorney Han who you supposedly couldn’t live without.” At the vice chairman’s nonchalant comment, Jaekyung’s heart sank for the umpteenth time. The chairman turned his gaze toward Jaekyung with indifference and spoke.
“Right, how long did it take for Attorney Han and Yeonhu to break up?”
“…”
“Hey, Attorney Han.”
“Uh… I’m sorry. It was so long ago that I don’t remember well.”
“See, see. Yeonhu made such a fuss saying he couldn’t live without Jaekyung… But with time, everything becomes a thing of the past. Tsk tsk, he’s still young. Very, very young.”
You made it that way. If it weren’t for you all, I wouldn’t have so easily… Facing these two composed people, Jaekyung had to grit his teeth to prevent ineffective outcries from slipping out. It was a miserable dinner.
* * *
Ding-dong.
-Who is it?
“It’s me, open the door.”
Having skillfully avoided the polite insistence to stay for fruit, Jaekyung was standing in front of Yeonhu’s officetel. In his hands was sea squirt wrapped in ice packs.
“You could have just come in. The password is still the same.”
“No thanks. Why would I enter someone else’s home? Choi Eunseong isn’t here, right?”
“There you go again. You sometimes call Eunseong rudely. He might be your subordinate at work, but he’s also your only friend’s boyfriend, so show some respect.”
“I feel like crap, so cut the bullshit. If we’re talking about respect, you should be losing to me today. Got it?”
With no room to care about cumbersome things like respect, Jaekyung found Yeonhu’s sanctimonious talk extremely annoying. He almost threw the container of sea squirt into Yeonhu’s arms.
After tearing off the ice packs attached to the container and checking the contents, Yeonhu asked with a puzzled expression.
“Huh? Why sea squirt? You don’t even like sea squirt.”
“Doesn’t this container look familiar?”
“It does… It’s definitely from our house.”
“Yeah, it’s from your house. I just got summoned in your place and went through what felt like two hours of mental torture, so stop being annoying and just eat your sea squirt.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? The chairman says he’s just going to let you retire. You’re going to be unemployed, how nice, huh? I’m so jealous!”
“You didn’t eat properly. Wait a moment. I’ll order jjamppong for you. Extra spicy.”
…This bastard knows me too well. After working all day, going straight there without eating dinner, my irritation was razor-sharp, but the mention of spicy jjamppong took the edge off.
Jaekyung took some cold water from the refrigerator, gulped it down, and sprawled comfortably on the sofa with his legs stretched out. The unfamiliar interior that was so shocking when he first saw it had somehow become familiar after visiting several times.
“Should I order sweet and sour pork too?”
“…With beef.”
“Got it. You like the sauce a bit tangy, right?”
“Yeah.”
The power of time was both frightening and amazing. He still felt a desperate loss when looking at the Yeonhu he had lost, and jealousy still bubbled up for his remaining love. Was it because they had spent so much time together, or because of his poor social life where he had no proper acquaintances besides Yeonhu?
As they say, old friends are good friends—he felt most at ease when he was with Yeonhu. Especially after Moon Yeonu became busy adapting to his new job.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
