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“You still have feelings for him. That’s why you were so desperate to interfere with our relationship. That money envelope you handed over then, was it really from Yeonhu’s mother? Or was it just your own money?”
Disgusting… How could someone be so… Choi Eunseong glared at Jaekyung while grinding his teeth. Though his eyes were filled with malice, Jaekyung remained unfazed. Since they had agreed to meet at a café, he had been prepared for a coffee shower in the worst case, or at least one slap to the face. So mere pointed words and hostile glances were a bargain compared to the deception he was about to sell to Eunseong.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. But think about it from my perspective, Choi Eunseong. Jang Yeonhu and I… we’ve been friends since we were seven, like one body for over twenty years. During our ignorant adolescence, we briefly lost our minds and dated. Just about a hundred days.”
“…So?”
“If I had any desire to continue dating him, we had ten years between our breakup and your appearance—plenty of time to have gotten back together.”
Eunseong was painfully aware of how diligent and loyal a friend Jang Yeonhu had been to Han Jaekyung. He had been shocked when he first saw the messenger chat between the two.
It hurt his pride, but… if Han Jaekyung had wanted to date Yeonhu, he would never have had the chance to form a connection with Yeonhu in the first place.
Eunseong unknowingly gulped down the poison in Jaekyung’s whispered words.
“I understand why you’re upset and suspicious given the awkward situation. But just wait quietly for a few weeks. Yeonhu will return to you. He’s someone who even drove a stake through his parents’ and grandparents’ hearts to be with you.”
This wasn’t just about his plan to go abroad. Eunseong seemed unaware, but Jaekyung had confirmed with his own eyes and ears Yeonhu’s insane plan.
Before Yeonhu’s discharge, Jaekyung had visited Dr. Park Eunhye separately to get confirmation. Since she was the only one who always took charge of Yeonhu’s condition whenever he was hospitalized, the plan was for Dr. Park to pretend he had sustained serious injuries, making the appropriate calculations. The intention was to take advantage of the adults’ weakened hearts to gain acceptance for both Yeonhu’s sexual orientation and Eunseong’s existence.
In return, Yeonhu had agreed to be responsible for about half the construction costs of the pediatric ward after being promoted to director of the group. If things hadn’t turned out this way, he would have taken up the director position by the second half of next year at the latest, so it wouldn’t have been a losing deal from the hospital management’s perspective.
Jaekyung couldn’t share this outrageous story that left him dumbfounded even just hearing about it. Considering the feelings that had made Yeonhu want to keep Eunseong by his side so badly that he would go to such lengths, this matter should never be revealed to anyone else. Given Chairman Noh’s notoriously stubborn temperament, if he learned the full details, he would somehow drag his impudent grandson’s life in the direction he desired—whether by force or by breaking the law. By any means necessary, truly.
“It’s just a few weeks. With all the years you two will spend together, can’t you wait just a few weeks?”
Jaekyung spoke while clicking his tongue as if scolding him. Eunseong, who had been full of anger, was now listening attentively like an obedient student.
“But there’s one problem…”
“W-what is it…? Nothing’s happened to him, right? Huh?”
“Jang Yeonhu…”
Han Jaekyung deliberately paused. Unable to bear the suspense, Eunseong almost clung to Jaekyung, shouting, “Attorney!”
“Yeonhu still doesn’t know that we broke up.”
“What? Then surely—”
“I really tried to tell him the truth, but the doctors and Yeonhu’s family strongly opposed it, worried that something might go wrong…”
“That’s absurd!”
“I’m sorry, Choi Eunseong. But calm down and think about it. If I had ulterior motives, would I honestly share this news? Especially with you, who wouldn’t receive any news about Yeonhu if I didn’t relay it.”
He craftily persuaded the innocent Eunseong with a cunning voice. If Yeonhu, once his memory returned, were to criticize him, he planned to escape with the shallow excuse that “your precious boyfriend also understood and allowed it—it couldn’t be helped.”
“Don’t worry. Yeonhu will return to you soon.”
“…”
So until then, no more and no less, just until then.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes…”
Han Jaekyung wanted to desire the eighteen-year-old Yeonhu. He wanted to monopolize him completely.
* * *
Unlike when they first met, the shoulders that had shrunk with deflated spirit slowly disappeared down the road. Jaekyung, standing at the building entrance, waited until Choi Eunseong’s figure heading to the subway completely vanished, then lingered for a few minutes before moving on.
“Wah!”
“!!!”
It was just as he was about to enter the underground parking lot. An unknown presence grabbed Jaekyung’s arm with a loud shout. Jaekyung was so startled that he couldn’t even open his mouth and nearly collapsed as his legs gave out. The only reason his backside didn’t hit the ground was thanks to the strong grip on his arm.
“I’ve been following you for a while. Why didn’t you notice?”
“Ha, ha, ha… J-Jang Yeonhu… You scared me.”
“I’ve never managed to surprise you at home, but I finally succeeded once. I’m glad I came.”
“You talk nonsense in so many different ways. Ah, my heart is still pounding.”
Yeonhu giggled as he helped Jaekyung up with a forceful pull. Jaekyung shot a glare at Yeonhu’s playful demeanor while straightening his clothes.
“You look pretty even without fixing yourself up.”
“Who doesn’t know that? Anyway, how did you get out? Did you get permission from your family?”
“Tsk… am I a child? Having to get permission just to go out.”
“Someone who hasn’t even graduated high school is a child, what else?”
“That’s funny. I’m over thirty, you know? And even in high school, I went out as I pleased.”
“You weren’t a patient then, but you are now. The adults are worried. Jokes aside, did you really come out without permission?”
Yeonhu casually took Jaekyung’s briefcase while shaking his head.
“Of course I got permission. Father even provided a driver.”
“What driver… oh. You can’t drive right now.”
“Yes, yes. Unfortunately, that’s how it is.”
It felt strange and amusing that Yeonhu, who had obtained his license as soon as he turned nineteen because he hated having to be driven around, couldn’t drive in this situation.
Yeonhu pouted, complaining that if he was going to lose his memory anyway, it would have been better to retain memories up to age nineteen or twenty. From Han Jaekyung’s perspective, who was gaining unfair advantages from unexpected circumstances, it wasn’t something he would think about, but still, he found it remarkable how carefree Yeonhu was despite having lost his memory.
“Let’s go. Where did you park?”
“Didn’t you say the driver came with you?”
“I sent him ahead, saying I’d eat dinner with you and then go home. Let’s date, have a date.”
It seemed like barely ten minutes had passed since he had gently persuaded the unsuspecting Choi Eunseong to leave, and now here he was, going on a date with Yeonhu. Tonight’s dreams might be troubled. Jaekyung decided to take Yeonhu to where he had parked without bothering to refuse.
Yeonhu, who had been bouncing with excitement about having their first proper date outside rather than just seeing each other at school or home, suddenly froze with a severe expression when they reached Jaekyung’s car.
“What… is this?”
“What do you mean, what? It’s my car. Get in quickly.”
“Wait, Han Jaekyung. You drive a car like this? Did I only buy you a home but not a car?”
Ha, it seems the young master’s attitude is rearing its head again without dying. Though it couldn’t compare to the luxury foreign car they had left behind along with Yeonhu’s officetel, the domestic brand mid-size SUV was more than adequate for its limited use of commuting just once a week.
Despite having hastily finalized the contract at a car dealership near his residence for the quickest available model, Jaekyung felt oddly offended by Yeonhu’s choice of words, “a car like this.”
“Whether I pull a handcart or drive a cultivator…”
“Others? How are we others to each other? I told you to fix that nasty way of talking.”
If the thirty-year-old Yeonhu who had been a friend was a faithful pushover who never questioned Han Jaekyung’s words, the eighteen-year-old Yeonhu who was still in the position of a boyfriend was a born young master who took issue with anything he didn’t like. Though both treated him well like the tongue in one’s mouth, the latter was subtly more exhausting…
“Han Jaekyung, say something. Do you know how hurt I feel every time you act like that?”
It was starting to be painful to listen to. Fortunately, Jaekyung knew the secret to shutting Yeonhu’s mouth at any time. Looking around, he confirmed they were alone in the parking lot.
Jaekyung grabbed the collar of the still-chattering Yeonhu, who seemed to have lingering feelings of hurt, and pulled him sharply toward himself.
“…!”
The sensation of those babbling lips was soft enough to crumple. The kiss that separated with a smack was brief but effective. Judging by how Yeonhu, with eyes wide open, immediately closed his mouth. He smiled and said:
“You said we should date. How long are you going to just talk?”
Yeonhu might not know, but this was… Han Jaekyung’s first date with Yeonhu too.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
