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By the time they finished their late dinner, it was already past midnight. Nibbling on cherries Yeonhu had washed, Jaekyung was timing his moment. Since it seemed the family had decided to wait and see for a while, expecting the two to break up eventually, wouldn’t it be better to let him know?
“If you have something to say, just say it comfortably. Don’t just watch for the right moment, it’s not like you.”
“…Was it that obvious?”
“Yeah. Only someone who usually reads the room would do that. Han Jaekyung, it doesn’t suit you at all.”
“It’s nothing major, but when I went there today… it seems they’ll wait until you two break up. They said young people can be like that sometimes, and the Chairman is still healthy… They said you could fool around for a few more years without issue.”
“Hmm, it’s not surprising, just as I expected. As long as Eunseong doesn’t get hurt any further, I’m fine with it. By the way, I had something to ask of you. Perfect timing that you came.”
“A favor? From me?”
“Yes. Just a moment. I had some notes somewhere…”
Yeonhu left Jaekyung sitting at the table and rummaged around the apartment for a while. If it was something Jaekyung could do, it would be even easier for Yeonhu to handle. Because of this, Jaekyung couldn’t imagine what kind of favor Yeonhu could possibly need from him.
“Took me a while to find it. Here.”
“What is this…”
As Jaekyung flipped through the stack of papers Yeonhu handed him, each title was extraordinary. Stock transfer power of attorney, real estate agent authorization… He couldn’t understand what this meant.
Despite appearances, he was an attorney who mainly handled financial cases. He wasn’t unfamiliar with the content or legal effectiveness of those documents. The issue was Yeonhu’s intention in handing over these ominous documents specifically at this moment.
“You’re not… No, that can’t be right?”
It couldn’t be. With what feelings had Han Jaekyung given up his future with young Yeonhu?
He couldn’t take away the family Yeonhu had, which he himself never had, those kind parents he had so desperately envied.
Not daring, not wanting to take away that shining position with his lowly status.
“No, it can’t be. This… it can’t be, Yeonhu.”
It wasn’t simply about needing Yeonhu’s background of having plenty of money and being able to provide whatever he wanted.
That child, whose chest was full of drafts that couldn’t be blocked by the affection of an uncle who could only be seen when finally falling asleep after a busy day, wanted the Yeonhu he loved most in the world to receive his family’s love… to live such a blessed life.
Having never experienced it himself, he knew how desperately yearned for and miraculous such a thing was.
He wasn’t certain whether Yeonhu, who said he could give up everything for him, could still be happy after abandoning his entire family, whether he could still smile as brightly and carefree as he did now. He wasn’t sure if Yeonhu could endure well for even a few months, no, a few years.
But what Han Jaekyung and Jang Yeonhu had willingly bet on was “a lifetime,” wasn’t it?
“A lifetime.”
Han Jaekyung lacked confidence, and also thought it shouldn’t happen.
“I’ve filled out all the parts I need to. If I move directly, Grandfather will notice right away. Sorry to ask this of you.”
“Jang Yeonhu!”
“…Please do it as soon as possible. I’ll leave as soon as you finish arranging my domestic assets. I’ll buy the plane ticket at the airport on the day of departure, so don’t feel burdened.”
After hearing this much, he’d have to surrender his attorney’s license if he still couldn’t catch on. Yeonhu was determined to abandon everything for that boy he’d only been dating for a few months and flee abroad.
Jaekyung nervously threw down the stack of documents Yeonhu had prepared and asked:
“Do you love him?”
The sound of the well-organized papers scattering haphazardly was disruptive.
“I’m asking you. Do you love him so desperately you can’t live without him? Do you love him as much as you loved me, that much?”
“…”
After a long silence, Yeonhu eventually mumbled in a small voice, “…I like him.” Hearing that voice, Han Jaekyung felt heat rising to his eyes.
A romantic feeling so insufficient and fragile that he couldn’t even nod immediately when asked if he loved Eunseong. Jaekyung could neither understand nor respect Yeonhu’s choice to throw away his entire determined future for such a thing.
As a friend? Well, not this time. As his first love at nineteen, who had to be the first to declare their breakup while forcibly swallowing tears despite his heart being torn apart and feeling like he would die from the pain, Han Jaekyung clenched his fist and raised his voice.
“Get a grip. Who is he to you? You don’t even love him. Fine, someday you might come to love him. But not now. Just enough to date. Enough to feel happy and joyful when you’re together. That’s just how much you like him, isn’t it?”
“I can’t say that’s not true.”
“Jang Yeonhu, you lived perfectly fine after breaking up with me, who said I couldn’t live without you. You lived perfectly well without me, whom you said you loved to the point of madness. So why are you suddenly like this? What is this Choi Eunseong to make you go this far?”
After silently listening to Han Jaekyung’s shouting, unable to hide his excitement, Yeonhu burst into laughter.
“Haha… That’s funny.”
“What’s so funny? Is this a situation to laugh?”
“Jaekyung. Do you really think I’ve been living well all this time? Do you really think I lived perfectly fine after you said we should break up?”
The roles were reversed. This time, it was Han Jaekyung who lost his words.
“I don’t know how it was for you… But looking at you chattering about going on dates with other people, seeing you draw a line saying we’re just friends after doing everything with me… There wasn’t a single day that wasn’t hell for me.”
“That’s…!”
“You’re right. I’m not yet loving Choi Eunseong with all my might. Even if I come to love him, I probably won’t be able to love him as much as I loved you. But, but you know.”
When I’m with him, life feels a little less like hell. I think about you… a little less.
Yeonhu spoke with a voice as dry and brittle as a parched leaf. Though they had carefully avoided this conversation for fear of making each other uncomfortable, it was a topic they needed to address at least once.
“So I can’t lose this person. I don’t want to lose him.”
“…”
“That’s how it is for me, Jaekyung. That’s all there is to it.”
In front of Yeonhu, who said life had been like hell because of him, what more could Han Jaekyung say? But Jaekyung couldn’t weakly give up on Yeonhu like this either. He searched through his devastated mind and barely managed to find something to say.
“Still… you don’t have to go this far, clearing everything and leaving. The Chairman and Madam… they’ll worry a lot. And you’ll have days of regret someday too. Can’t you just wait a little? Ask them to understand, to accept it. They’re giving you time, aren’t they? It’s not like they’re making a fuss demanding you break up right now.”
Yeonhu shook his head immediately without even considering it. His stubborn attitude suggested it was already too late to turn back.
“That’s only applicable to problems where compromise is possible.”
“What can’t be compromised now?”
“Let’s be honest since it’s just us. I like men.”
Since the only people Yeonhu had ever harbored romantic feelings for were Han Jaekyung and Choi Eunseong, saying he liked men was a given. But why was he suddenly bringing this up? Jaekyung tilted his head at his incongruous declaration, and Yeonhu chuckled once more.
So far, only Yeonhu and Moon Yeonu had been officially bound by embarrassing words like “let’s date,” but Jaekyung had countless potential romantic partners whom he’d met occasionally through introductions or private connections. Jaekyung’s romantic boundaries weren’t limited by gender.
It wasn’t even an issue for Jaekyung to worry about. Jaekyung always just needed someone who would adore him and shower him with abundant love, in place of Yeonhu, who would forever have to be wrapped up in the word “friend.”
Whatever the external conditions, whatever the personality, as long as they loved him, it really didn’t matter who it was. After all, no one could ever be Jang Yeonhu.
“Right, I knew you wouldn’t understand. I… am gay. So I can’t marry a woman.”
“Ah…”
“Is this something the Chairman can accept? Is this a matter for compromise? Even if I break up with Eunseong and fall in love with someone else, it will still be a man. I can’t keep causing this commotion every time.”
I just want to live happily. Without hiding the person I love… proudly. Yeonhu’s soft voice was filled with upright conviction.
From his proud attitude, Jaekyung had to realize once again that he had buttoned things up completely wrong from the beginning.
“Help me, Jaekyung. You’re the only person I can truly trust. You know. Everyone else is just a shell. Fake people who only chase after Grandfather’s or Father’s halo.”
Suddenly, Jaekyung wanted to scream, Why don’t you think I’m one of those fakes? Even though Han Jaekyung was the most malicious and pathetic among all the potential fakes around Yeonhu.
“I trust you. Please help me.”
Jang Yeonhu trusted Han Jaekyung completely without an ounce of doubt. Those kind eyes shining with righteous belief. Therefore, Jaekyung, standing before him, could only ever be the weaker one.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
