Chapter 24
For Jeonghyeok to call at this time was quite unusual. Thinking something urgent might have happened, Yuwon was about to press the call button immediately but became conscious of Jaejoon sitting in front of him and suddenly stood up from his seat.
“Hey, wait. Let me take this call.”
Jaejoon’s gaze, who had been chewing on pork cutlet, turned toward Yuwon. Going out to take it? Though he made a puzzled face, he didn’t say anything particular.
Yuwon gripped his phone and went outside the restaurant. Only after hiding his body around the corner of the building did he press the call button. The ringing that had been going continuously stopped instantly.
“Hello.”
―What the hell are you doing?
Jeonghyeok’s voice that came through right away was somehow strange. His heavy and sharp voice sounded exactly like he was angry.
―Why aren’t you home? Where are you?
Yuwon was a little surprised. Why wasn’t he home? Did that mean he had already gotten off work?
Though he had said his work hours would be irregular for a while, Jeonghyeok usually got off work around dinner time. Still, he always cooked food first and waited, but of all days, today he came home early without contact – what bad luck.
He was a man who said he absolutely hated waiting, so he should stay home obediently and wait.
Yuwon brought the phone to his other ear and said:
“I’m at a restaurant.”
―Restaurant?
“Yes. I came out briefly to have lunch with a friend. It’s not that far from home. I can go back quickly.”
When he explained hurriedly, the other side was quiet. Soon a voice that was gentler than before came through.
―If you’re going out, shouldn’t you tell me where you went?
“I thought ajeossi might be busy.”
―Whether I’m busy or not, you don’t need to worry about that.
“……”
―Always leave a message.
“……I understand.”
The short words “you don’t need to worry” echoed in his ears for a long time. Yuwon lowered his head and quietly looked at his feet.
―Come in as quickly as possible. I’ll be waiting.
With those last words, the phone hung up abruptly. He was already used to his habit of ending calls arbitrarily without listening to responses. It was only confusing at first; now it didn’t matter.
But today, one corner of his chest ached. Why am I like this? At the inexplicable pain, Yuwon bit his jaw tightly, shoved his phone into his pocket, and went into the restaurant.
He couldn’t even eat half of the bloated udon. Jaejoon grumbled but paid for Yuwon’s portion too, saying next time when he started part-time work again, he should treat him then.
Only after coming out of the pork cutlet restaurant and confirming Jaejoon had gone far away did Yuwon start walking quickly. In less than 5 minutes, he stood in front of the front door.
The door lock password was 1234. On the day they decided to live together, Jeonghyeok had told him this ridiculously simple password. Change it if you want to change it. He had also quietly added those words while looking at Yuwon’s incredulous expression.
“Whew…”
Even though he hadn’t done anything wrong, his heart trembled for no reason. It was because Jeonghyeok’s cold voice came to mind. When he pressed the four-digit password and opened the door, the pair of dress shoes Jeonghyeok had worn out that morning were neatly placed there.
“Ajeossi.”
At his timid call, the bedroom door opened. Jeonghyeok stood there wearing only pants with his upper body undressed. Sure enough, his eyes were sharper than usual.
“You waited a long time, right? I came quickly after eating, but when the call came, the food had just arrived…”
“Have you been doing this all along?”
“What?”
Jeonghyeok, who had cut off his words, strode toward Yuwon. Looking closely, water drops were flowing from his shoulders to his chest. When he looked up, even the ends of his hair were wet. Just as he was thinking he had come out after showering, his jaw was suddenly grabbed.
“Ugh.”
“I’m asking if you’ve been leaving the house without telling me all this time.”
Though the form was a question, it was already a tone of conviction. Yuwon quickly shook his head.
“No. A friend contacted me, so I suddenly went out.”
“Which friend?”
“Yoon Jaejoon… there’s this guy I’ve been friends with since elementary school.”
The jaw held by Jeonghyeok gradually started to hurt. Just from his expression, he didn’t seem that angry, but the strength in his hand was quite strong.
“Ajeossi, it hurts…”
“Then who told you to go out without contact? I clearly said it. That I hate waiting.”
“Ah, it hurts!”
Jeonghyeok pressed down on the particularly fleshy cheek. He pretended not to know about Yuwon grabbing his wrist and pleading as he applied pressure. The protruding lips were worth seeing.
“Ah, could it be the guy you drank with that day?”
“I said it hurts, let go of this…!”
The struggling body was suddenly pushed back with a whoosh. Jeonghyeok, who had let go of Yuwon, took a step closer and asked:
“Right? The day you were blackout drunk and couldn’t tell front from back, it was that guy you drank with?”
Yuwon, holding his throbbing cheek, shouted with his brow deeply furrowed:
“I said it hurt!”
“Just answer.”
Yuwon’s crumpled face showed no sign of smoothing out. Ajeossi had been too strange since earlier. Just from his expression, he wasn’t different from usual, but his actions were very rough. The important thing was that he had no idea what was bothering him so much.
“I drank with Jaejoon and Seongcheol. They’re my closest friends.”
“Not two but three?”
When Yuwon nodded, a different light turned in the blackly sunken pupils. Even his sharp eyes seemed to soften slightly.
“Where did the other one go?”
“…Seongcheol is in the military. Jaejoon is a college student.”
“From now on, always let me know when you meet those bastards.”
Why? Yuwon swallowed the question that was about to pop out. Instead, he glared at Jeonghyeok who went to sit on the sofa. Jeonghyeok continued speaking while shaking out his still damp hair.
“I absolutely hate those clueless idiots who just pour drinks.”
“……”
“If you drink like last time without being able to think straight, you won’t even get to see alcohol from now on.”
It was as if he had read Yuwon’s mind.
Jeonghyeok turned his head to meet the clear eyes glaring at him. What did you do right to stare like that? When he sent a steady gaze, Yuwon soon averted his eyes.
He had exhausted himself all morning dealing with construction company executives. Being with inappropriately refined people made his whole body itch unbearably. He had managed to endure that time by comforting himself that once this damn redevelopment was over, there would be no more such occasions.
And when he came home, Kim Yuwon wasn’t there.
When he checked the empty bedroom and bathroom, it was just slightly irritating. He knew he went to the mart almost every day. Since it wasn’t that far from home, maybe he didn’t leave a message when he went, he thought.
But when he saw the snacks neatly placed on the dining table, his head got hot instantly.
When he belatedly opened the refrigerator, the eggs that had run out yesterday and he had grumbled about were prettily filled. He had already been to the mart.
Then where had he gone? He didn’t know where he was or who he was with or what he was doing, but the fact that he had left the house without telling him was certain. This guy who reported even small things to him chattering away, secretly without saying anything.
He had given him a card and even made him settle down at home, but apparently that wasn’t enough. Well, it was Yuwon who kept saying like a habit that he would quickly pay back the money and get a house and move out. Maybe he was going around looking for work. He might have gone for a part-time job interview.
But if it wasn’t even that.
Unpleasant imaginings instantly occupied his mind. That white face was directed toward some stranger. A bright voice captivated the other person, and they shared smiles while facing each other. It was an imagination that didn’t even make sense.
He irritably picked up his phone and made a call. As the connection tone rang several times, his insides gradually started boiling. When he heard the voice saying “hello,” his jaw tensed up. The funny thing was that as soon as he heard Yuwon’s words saying he was nearby and would come quickly, the tightly pulled nerve strings loosened in an instant.
After ending the call, he deliberately poured cold water over himself. The more his body got wet, the more the hotly raging emotions gradually calmed down.
While getting wet, Jeonghyeok let out a hollow laugh. To be anxious. To be angry because of that. It was a very ridiculous emotion. This wasn’t the kind of emotion he should feel.
Jeonghyeok raised the arm he had draped over the sofa. Then he said to Yuwon, who was standing awkwardly:
“Come here.”
“……”
To Yuwon, who for some reason wasn’t moving, Jeonghyeok said once more:
“I said come here.”
“I don’t want to.”
“What?”
A stubborn voice flowed out between his tightly closed lips.
“I said I don’t want to.”
Ha. A hollow laugh leaked from Jeonghyeok’s mouth.
Deeply furrowed brow and pointed lips. His thoroughly angry face was advertising that he was sulking. He had no idea what he had done right to deserve such a reaction.
Though he is cute.
The monologue that had suddenly jumped up to his throat went back down. Who’s cute in this kind of situation? Jeonghyeok inwardly mocked himself and lightly shook the arm he had extended toward Yuwon.
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
“……”
“Should I come to you?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
