As Ho Munbeom began his work, he suddenly recalled how Yeonwoo was always respectful and careful around him.
Ho Munbeom was a man accustomed to people bowing before him. Therefore, he hadn’t fully recognized the subtle differences in how Yeonwoo treated him. As he had said, since he wasn’t Yeonwoo’s boss, the title “nim” seemed excessive.
Yet for Yeonwoo to naturally call him “Beom-nim”…
“Perhaps it’s because of the age difference after all.”
A deep wrinkle formed between his brows as he muttered to himself.
It was just a passing thought, but strangely, it left him in an unpleasant mood.
***
After getting out of Lee Jonghoon’s car, Yeonwoo took a taxi home. As soon as he arrived, he showered, turned on the heating, and fell into a deep sleep in his warm room. Perhaps because of this, his body felt remarkably refreshed.
Feeling hungry, Yeonwoo grabbed his wallet and went to the market across from the supermarket, buying more side dishes and food than he usually ate. Returning home, he cooked a full pot of rice and ate substantial lunch and dinner meals. Then he suffered severe indigestion.
When he regained his senses after groaning in pain, it was already Friday.
Still lying under the blanket, unable to get up, Yeonwoo noticed an irritating vibration sound. At first, he thought it might be Lee Jonghoon. Was he calling to vent his anger because Yeonwoo hadn’t contacted him out of resentment? Deliberately, he avoided the call, knowing it might cause him trouble later.
Blankly staring at the ceiling, Yeonwoo slowly turned his head. The continuous vibration of his phone bothered him, and with a groan, he rolled over. As he picked up the phone that had been outside the blanket, his eyes widened at the number.
“…Huh?”
At first, he thought he’d seen wrong. As soon as he confirmed it was Ho Munbeom, Yeonwoo hurriedly pressed the call button and sat up. Suddenly, the room spun. After squeezing his eyes shut and opening them again, he couldn’t recall how he managed the conversation. But by the end of the not-so-brief call, a weekend appointment with Ho Munbeom had been set.
Time, which passes quickly when you’re sick, slowed down from Friday lunchtime, and two hours before departure, the clock hands seemed not to move at all.
Since he would be staying overnight again, he packed his bag like before. The first time, he hadn’t known what to bring, but this time, it felt somewhat more familiar. Inevitably, as he kept adding this and that, his luggage grew and the bag became plump.
Yeonwoo sat with his back against the wall, his bag beside him. He alternated between looking at the old clock on the wall and picking up his phone. Still finding time passing excruciatingly slowly, he tried searching the internet. Before he realized it, his fingers were typing Ho Munbeom’s name.
“…”
Even before meeting Ho Munbeom for their arranged date, Yeonwoo had occasionally searched his name. Back then, he never thought they would become entangled like this.
Feeling a slight churning in his stomach, Yeonwoo patted his chest with his palm.
After ending the call with Ho Munbeom that day, Yeonwoo had made porridge to eat. He also tried using a face pack given by a former supermarket colleague. Though his appearance was a mess from being sick for a full day, he wanted to look as presentable as possible. Thanks to these efforts, his condition seemed slightly better than yesterday.
While looking at his phone and habitually rubbing his lower abdomen, Yeonwoo paused.
Among today’s articles, a line about the union of the Ho Moon Group’s crown prince and a media company caught his eye.
[Today, we received news that the relationship between Jung Munyoung, the only son of the Tongwon Group, and Ho Munbeom, the future head of the Ho Moon Group, appears significant. A person known to be close to both of them suggested that the weekly arranged meetings have stopped because their relationship has become serious…]
After reading the article intently, Yeonwoo checked the attached photos.
Two excellent photographs were displayed side by side. While Ho Munbeom was familiar, Jung Munyoung was not unfamiliar either. His distinct features were remarkably beautiful. Just looking at his confident eyes, staring straight ahead, Yeonwoo felt they were very different people. He seemed like an Omega more suited to Ho Munbeom.
“…”
Being such a famous Alpha, articles about Ho Munbeom appeared several times a month. But his feelings now were quite different from before. Feeling a pang in his stomach, Yeonwoo wondered if he should take medicine. But though he continued touching his stomach, his eyes remained fixed on Ho Munbeom’s photo attached to the article.
Leaving home 30 minutes before the agreed time of 4 o’clock, Yeonwoo quickened his pace.
When working at the supermarket, he used to go to the public parking lot behind the subway. He had thought it was a safe place to avoid people’s gazes, but his photo had been taken. Unless someone had deliberately followed him, such photos couldn’t have been taken.
He desperately wanted to find out who had taken such pictures. But at the same time, he didn’t want to say another word to such people.
Somewhere unknown to him, he existed as they arbitrarily speculated and portrayed him. It’s not easy to change the minds of people who have already formed prejudices.
He didn’t want to waste time on people who had no intention of listening, no matter what he said. That’s why he had decided to quit. Nevertheless, he was concerned about what the supermarket people might be saying.
Walking quickly with a hardened face, Yeonwoo spotted a large SUV parked on the left side of the sidewalk as soon as he exited the alley.
Even to Yeonwoo, who didn’t know much about cars, it looked expensive and good. Strangely drawn to it, he glanced at it several times, but as he was about to hurry along, not wanting to be late, a small honk sounded from behind.
“…”
Though doubtful, he turned around with a glimmer of hope, and the car moved as if it had been waiting. As it slowly approached and stopped beside him, Yeonwoo hesitated.
What if he acknowledged it and it turned out to be someone else?
His hesitation soon ended as the passenger window lowered, revealing the face of the man sitting in the driver’s seat.
“I’m not suspicious, so get in.”
Leaning toward the passenger side, Ho Munbeom had his bangs down like when Yeonwoo had seen him in Gangwon Province. This softened his impression considerably. After staring blankly at him for a moment, Yeonwoo quickly placed his hand on the passenger door. Inside the heavy but smoothly opening car door, Yeonwoo sat perched on the edge of the seat and removed the backpack he’d been carrying.
“We were supposed to meet at a different place…”
Concerned about having his photo taken, Yeonwoo had changed the meeting place entirely. When asked by text message where would be good, he had indicated an expensive apartment complex about 10 minutes away by bus. There was a walking path next to the apartments, and he remembered that there weren’t many cars or people at this time. But he hadn’t expected to be picked up right at home. Especially not by Ho Munbeom himself.
“Since we’re going to meet anyway, near your home is better. Is it uncomfortable for me to come here?”
“No, it’s not.”
It was just that there had been something to be cautious about, but he couldn’t say it honestly.
The photos had been taken near the supermarket, and since he had quit now, it should be fine. And he had immediately gotten into the car. And…
Looking at Ho Munbeom who was watching him, Yeonwoo fiddled with the bag on his lap. Then Ho Munbeom picked up the bag and placed it in the back seat. Following the movement of the quite heavy bag being easily moved, Yeonwoo’s eyes rolled, and he leaned back in his seat, placing his hand on the seatbelt.
He had thought he’d become accustomed to fastening seatbelts during his few car rides, but apparently not. Unable to latch it properly and repeatedly missing, he lowered his head wondering what was wrong. Then a large hand reached out, grasped Yeonwoo’s hand, and lowered it.
What hadn’t worked when Yeonwoo tried alone was solved with one touch from Ho Munbeom.
Though surprised, Yeonwoo tried not to show it and was about to say thank you when he realized the man’s face was too close. With one arm resting on the center console between the driver’s and passenger’s seats, Ho Munbeom looked intently at Yeonwoo and spoke first, saying “Yeonwoo.”
“You seem thinner. Are you eating properly?”
“…Yes, I’ve been eating well, but I got indigestion yesterday. I must have cleaned too enthusiastically.”
The cleaning was also an excuse made up to explain why he had answered the phone late. Although one might wonder how enthusiastic cleaning could cause indigestion, Yeonwoo closed his mouth as if he had nothing more to say. Then, as he averted his gaze first, Ho Munbeom also straightened his posture toward the driver’s seat. Soon, he started the engine and drove the car smoothly.
Though no destination was mentioned, the navigation system pointed to Paju.
Previously it was Gangwon Province, and now Paju? He’s traveled quite a bit in the past few days. Though he was fine with it, he wasn’t sure about Ho Munbeom. The man was already busy, and now because of him…
Suddenly, the article he had seen before leaving came to mind. Naturally recalling the beautiful Omega from an incredibly prestigious family, Yeonwoo tightened his clasped hands.
He must have business in Paju and was taking him along as well. It wouldn’t be that he was specifically making time to visit that place because of Yeonwoo. Telling himself not to think unnecessary thoughts, Yeonwoo lightly shook his head, but paused as he raised it. While the car was stopped at a red light, Ho Munbeom was looking at him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
