Chapter 63
Jeonghyeok left Seoul and drove for quite a while on winding, curved roads. Following the navigation voice announcing that he would arrive at his destination shortly, he slowed down and saw a sign reading “Forest Village” on the right side.
True to its name, it was a residential complex built at the foot of a mountain thick with green foliage. Located not too far from Seoul but appropriately secluded, it was a popular place for celebrities’ second homes.
As he gradually slowed down upon reaching the meeting place, a real estate agent who had arrived first approached with quick steps. Every time she moved, her thick permed bob hair swayed like waves.
“Hello, boss. You must have had a hard time coming such a long way.”
The agent approached with a welcoming smile and greeted him with a nasal tone. When Jeonghyeok briefly nodded toward her and silently took the first step, the sound of footsteps following behind was hurried.
When the agent took out a card key from her pocket and tapped it, the gate opened with a click. The spacious yard was immediately visible above the stone steps that followed. Small trees lined up on both sides over the green grass. The house had been empty for a long time, as there were overgrown weeds scattered here and there.
“This way, please.”
Jeonghyeok followed the agent across the yard and entered the house. He carefully looked around from the first floor to the third floor, examined the garage in the basement, and then came back up to the living room on the first floor. He was looking at the deck connected to the yard when the agent approached from the side and spoke to him.
“This used to be the villa of a famous chairman whose name everyone would recognize. He used it very lavishly. Look at this – the marble is still shining.”
Although it was obviously a sales pitch, Jeonghyeok quietly nodded. Then she pushed up her thin-framed glasses and continued.
“The chairman passed away the year before last, and after that, it was left empty for quite a while before finally being put on the market. But considering how much care he took of it while he was alive, it’s still this neat, isn’t it?”
The agent rambled on about unnecessary stories like how the inheritance issues were complicated and how the children had fierce disputes over shares, but seeing Jeonghyeok’s taciturn demeanor, she soon changed the subject.
“How about it? Does our boss like this house?”
A premium residential complex with only twenty houses built in a place with good mountains and water. Since it was aimed at the upper class from the planning stage, both the interior and exterior of the house were perfect without fault, and the private atmosphere was so excellent that it was secretly used as a meeting place for top stars.
However, since it was such an expensive place, there were countless cases where people came to look around with interest but gave up after hearing the price.
“Yes. I like it.”
“Oh my. Then shall we proceed with the contract right away?”
She asked as if testing the waters, but didn’t expect a positive answer from the man. He likes it but will think about it, or maybe he’ll ask to be contacted if the price drops a bit. She probably expected that kind of response.
“Yes. I’ll buy it.”
However, at the clear answer without a moment’s hesitation, the agent unconsciously raised her voice.
“Really, are you serious?”
At Jeonghyeok’s expression that seemed to ask why she was surprised when she was the one who asked, the agent turned on her phone and started looking for the contact information of the seller’s agent. Successfully brokering such a high-end house was something that might happen once a year, if at all, so she was internally celebrating.
She was putting strength into her slightly trembling fingers and touching the screen when Jeonghyeok suddenly asked an unexpected question.
“By any chance, do buses run around here? Looking on the way here, I don’t think there would be any subway stations.”
Oh no. The agent hid her troubled expression and forced a smile.
“Uh… boss. Since this place is in such a location with good air, it’s inevitably a bit far from public transportation. About 40 minutes? No, if you walk for just 30 minutes, there’s a bus stop. For such a remote place, that’s pretty good.”
To get to the bus stop in 30 minutes, you’d have to run at full speed without stopping. She couldn’t bring herself to mention that there was only one bus with intervals of over two hours.
Her conscience stung a little, but it was only as much as an ant’s tear. If she could sell this house, she was prepared to tell even bigger lies. With the commission she’d receive, she couldn’t let this big catch slip away.
“It would be difficult to move around without a car.”
But at Jeonghyeok’s words that seemed to nail it down, the agent grew increasingly anxious. Why would a man rich enough to buy such a house care about public transportation? It was absurd, but she knew that persuading the man was her job.
“Boss, the concept here is healing. It’s a complex deliberately built in a place without public transportation. That way it’s quiet day and night. If it really bothers you, shall I look for similar houses near Seoul?”
“No.”
At the firm answer, her mouth snapped shut. The agent awkwardly smiled while fiddling with her phone. Today was another bust. Just as her pale face was colored with disappointment, Jeonghyeok slightly raised the corners of his mouth and continued.
“I think you misunderstood. I meant that I liked it.”
“What?”
“How should we proceed with the contract?”
So he wasn’t confirming that there was public transportation, but confirming that there wasn’t? Moreover, talking about the contract right away – the agent couldn’t hide her joy and answered with a bright smile.
“Oh, boss. I’ll organize everything and let you know. Just a moment. Let me make one phone call.”
“Please do.”
Jeonghyeok briefly watched the agent who excitedly moved away. Then he shifted his gaze to the yard visible through the veranda window. As he quietly stared at the irregularly sprouting green grass, Yuwon’s words about wanting to raise a cat suddenly came to mind.
Since there’s a yard, wouldn’t it be nice to raise a big dog too? Since you felt lonely even in the not-so-spacious officetel, a pet to attach your heart to might be essential here.
I don’t need anything but you. Just as he was swallowing the bitter smile that suddenly arose, he felt his phone vibrate briefly.
Jeonghyeok took out his phone and checked the content on the screen. It was a message from Yuwon.
[I’m done now]
It seemed to end a little earlier than usual. He was about to send a reply saying that he would also arrive home if he waited about an hour, when another message came in succession.
[But Minhyeon wants to eat tteokbokki, so I’ll eat lunch outside today]
At the unexpected content, Jeonghyeok’s expression immediately crumpled. Tteokbokki of all things – he didn’t like the menu from the start. He was displeased because it seemed like the kind of food that would definitely have childhood memories of those two embedded in it.
Still, thanks to Yuwon’s sincerity in dutifully sending even the location of the snack bar, he was able to hold back the curses that had risen to his chin.
Jeonghyeok clicked on the link to the snack bar that Yuwon had sent. Only after checking the location in detail on the map did he send a reply to Yuwon telling him to eat well.
***
The snack bar he visited after several years hadn’t changed at all. As always, the two people who ordered two servings of basic flavor instant tteokbokki sat down at a window seat.
Minhyeon placed chopsticks in front of Yuwon and said:
“It’s really been a long time since we’ve been here. This is the first time I’ve come since I graduated middle school.”
“That makes sense. You transferred quite far away.”
“Did hyung come here even when you were in high school?”
“I came occasionally.”
The middle school and high school Yuwon graduated from were attached like one school. So even after entering high school, he often came here to eat tteokbokki. Back then, he had friends who hung out together. After school, they’d gather in groups to eat tteokbokki to their heart’s content and go to PC cafes to play games. They spent time ordinarily like that.
I wonder if everyone is doing well. Thinking of friends he hadn’t asked about in a long time, Yuwon put the pickled radish that was served as a basic side dish in his mouth.
The seasoned pickled radish with plenty of sesame seeds had an excellent crunchy texture. As he was wondering whether to try making it at home, Minhyeon, who had been just fiddling with his chopsticks, opened his mouth with difficulty.
“But hyung, I have something I’m curious about.”
“What?”
“The person who dropped you off this morning… that’s the person you’re living with, right?”
His tone was careful, but his clearly shining eyes were full of stubborn curiosity that demanded an answer.
Right, why didn’t he ask? He should have noticed when he suddenly suggested coming out for lunch.
Yuwon poked at the pickled radish with his chopsticks and trailed off.
“Uh, well…”
“What kind of work does he do to drive such a nice car? How old is he?”
If he answered honestly, wouldn’t Minhyeon be so surprised he’d fall backward? With a worried heart, Yuwon made up an ambiguous answer that was neither truth nor lie.
“He just works at a company. He’s older than me.”
“He’s not a con artist or something, is he?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m worried. Since hyung is so kind, I’m afraid you might get deceived by some strange person.”
Even as he let out an absurd laugh, Minhyeon made a warning that wasn’t really a warning with a serious face.
“You should always be careful of people who show off their money. Got it?”
“Yeah, okay. I got it, I got it.”
Minhyeon glared at Yuwon who was answering half-heartedly. But Yuwon, who was distracted by the pickled radish, didn’t look at him at all.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
