“…”
With a heavy heart, Yeonwoo slumped his shoulders. Feeling a throbbing pain in one side of his chest, he placed his hand there and rubbed it a couple of times. As the pain seemed to gradually fade with his touch, Yeonwoo shifted his gaze to the beautiful teacup and the plate of fruit in front of him.
Come to think of it, he couldn’t remember eating anything at all.
Lee Jonghoon hadn’t sent Seongho’s contact information. But judging by the lack of other communication, it seemed that Seongho hadn’t told Jonghoon about the stolen checks either. That reckless, stupid person. He probably just got excited about the checks and somehow already exchanged them for cash and spent it all.
…If only I had known this would happen, I would have opened a bank account and deposited them there.
But before coming to Seoul, Jonghoon’s so-called lawyer had taken all of Yeonwoo’s seal, a copy of his ID card, and even the bank account he had opened as a student. Then he tossed Yeonwoo a newly opened account, saying to use it for living expenses.
There was a time when Yeonwoo had opened a new account when he started working at the mart because he didn’t want to mix it with his part-time job money. And that very day, he received a call from Jonghoon.
“Why did you open a bank account? What are you planning to do?”
More than the accusatory questioning, Yeonwoo was surprised that Jonghoon immediately knew he had opened an account. Though startled, Yeonwoo didn’t show it and said he was going to work part-time at a mart because he felt cooped up staying at home. Naturally, the response wasn’t pleasant.
He asked why Yeonwoo would do that when he was already providing living expenses. Instead, he scolded him to walk around department stores and observe how people dress and behave. He said something about how country folks like Yeonwoo need to scrub off their rustic traits first.
When Yeonwoo mentioned that if he worked part-time, he would earn money so perhaps his living expenses could be reduced a bit, he unknowingly let out a long sigh. Some people might work part-time jobs because they’re genuinely bored, but Yeonwoo chose it because his living expenses weren’t enough. He wasn’t sure how Jonghoon interpreted that sigh, but he got angry again before hanging up.
Fortunately, the living expenses weren’t reduced, but Yeonwoo developed a discomfort with opening new accounts. Though it seemed unlikely, he felt like Jonghoon would somehow find out even if he just deposited money into an account. That’s why he had been keeping the checks as they were.
If Seongho were to appear again, Yeonwoo didn’t think he could bear it any longer. He might not be able to do anything to Seongho, but this wasn’t right. That money was received from that person. Money received after mixing bodies with him on the night of their first blind date…
“…Should I call it payment for sex?”
Muttering to himself, Yeonwoo looked up in surprise.
He was worried someone might have heard, but fortunately, no one was around. Still reminding himself to be careful, Yeonwoo gnawed on his lower lip and adjusted his posture.
Being constantly tense seemed to be making his body ache. Thinking he should try to relax a bit, Yeonwoo moved around, but suddenly stopped when something caught his eye.
In a cabinet situated on one side of the living room were several photo frames. Behind them was a fairly large frame containing what looked like a kindergarten graduation photo of a child, most likely Munbeom.
“…”
Yeonwoo’s eyes moved from side to side as he stared blankly at the frames.
Since no one was around anyway, maybe he could take a closer look. With that thought, Yeonwoo stood up, walked past the wide tea table, and stood in front of the living room cabinet. Not wanting to be misunderstood, he clasped his hands together and bent over to look at the photos displayed inside.
There were various people of different ages, but one immediately caught Yeonwoo’s eye. It was Ho Munbeom.
Munbeom in the photos was young. There were pictures of him as a baby, the kindergarten graduation photo he had noticed earlier, elementary school entrance and graduation ceremonies, and photos in school uniform, among others.
It was fascinating how his current face was still recognizable despite being so young. Yeonwoo found it curious how he could easily pick out Munbeom among all these diverse photos. But there was something even more curious.
“…So he did have a childhood after all.”
No matter who Ho Munbeom was, he couldn’t have been an adult from birth. Still, the fact that he had a period of being a child was fascinating. His personality seemed unchanged though, as every photo showed him with a serious expression gazing straight ahead. Looking at the dignified child, Yeonwoo found himself smiling without realizing it.
Completely absorbed in the photos, Yeonwoo thought:
If he were to meet that person again, would he take a photo together?
Once they broke up, there would be nothing left, so he wanted to leave some trace. Evidence that his time with Munbeom wasn’t just a fantasy or a dream, but reality.
That much would be okay, wouldn’t it?
Wearing a bitter expression, Yeonwoo let out a sigh, which had become more frequent lately, and then heard someone clicking their tongue next to him.
“What’s with all the sighing from such a young man?”
“…!”
Yeonwoo’s shoulders jerked up in surprise. Hurriedly turning to the side, he saw Ho Jaejung standing there with his hands behind his back.
“Ah, hello?”
Quickly turning toward Ho Jaejung, Yeonwoo bowed so deeply his head almost touched the ground. Even after greeting him, he couldn’t look at him directly and seemed confused about where to place his gaze. Ho Jaejung, watching him intently, narrowed his eyes.
“What? Surprised by the sudden appearance of an old man?”
“…No, not at all.”
Even if he was startled, he couldn’t honestly say so.
Despite Yeonwoo’s earnest denials, Ho Jaejung didn’t seem to believe him. After observing Yeonwoo for a while, he pointed his chin toward the displayed frames.
“My grandson is quite something, isn’t he?”
“…”
“The others weren’t much to look at, but this one was different. I didn’t like his mother’s behavior at all, so I thought whatever she gave birth to wouldn’t be satisfactory. But that day, I felt unusually anxious and uneasy from the morning. So I followed him to where he was born. I stayed by her side throughout the four hours of labor until the baby was born.”
Ho Jaejung’s eyes softened as if recalling that day’s memory.
“As soon as he was born, his cry was so loud. I thought the hospital would collapse that day. And for a newborn, he looked pretty decent. With each passing day, his face shone brighter. Just looking at him made me happy, I wanted to keep looking at him, and I felt like he was the apple of my eye.”
“…”
“I thought I loved him with all my heart, but it seems this guy doesn’t think so. Even though this old man is about to die, if it’s not to his liking, it’s a no even if I’m on my deathbed. Quite vexing. If it were any of the others, I would have chased them out naked long ago. I don’t want to be petty, but shouldn’t one show some tail-wagging and act cute to make me want to give them more? Well, this one has always taken care of his own bowl since he was young. That’s why it’s even more vexing.”
Despite repeatedly saying it was vexing, the old man’s lips held a proud smile as he looked at the young Munbeom in the photo. It wasn’t hard to understand. Thinking that he would be the same if he were in Jaejung’s position, Yeonwoo turned his gaze back to the photos in the frames.
Seeing the young Munbeom with an indifferent expression in the middle school graduation photo, Yeonwoo’s heart raced. Like a habit.
“Here I am, bragging about my grandson after bringing in a guest. Do you think this old man has gone senile?”
“…No, not at all.”
Yeonwoo’s response was delayed as he was engrossed in Munbeom’s photo. He started shaking his head and hand but stopped. After hesitating whether to speak or not, he cautiously began.
“I think I would do the same if I were in your position, sir.”
Who wouldn’t want to grab someone and boast about Ho Munbeom as their grandson?
So handsome and impressive. Plus, he’s kind and gentle, drives well, swims like a professional, and also…
It seemed like he could list Munbeom’s merits endlessly. Watching Yeonwoo’s brightening expression and flushed cheeks, which appeared unknowingly, Ho Jaejung bluntly asked.
“How many times have you slept with our kid?”
“…”
Yeonwoo’s slightly raised cheeks gradually returned to their original position.
Then, with a stiff neck, he turned to look at Ho Jaejung with a pale face. Despite Yeonwoo looking genuinely shocked, Ho Jaejung spoke calmly.
“I hear these days it’s a big fuss if you ask something like this, claiming it’s sexual harassment or whatnot, but I’m his grandfather, aren’t I? And am I an ordinary person? I’m the head of the Ho Moon Group. Our Beomi will inherit that. Is the Ho Moon Group an ordinary family? No, it’s not. I have no choice but to be careful and cautious about letting people in and out.”
“…Yes, yes, that’s right.”
Even in his confused state, Yeonwoo couldn’t argue with what Ho Jaejung was saying. It was the truth. Having no choice but to acknowledge it, Yeonwoo mumbled, “That’s right,” in a shrinking voice.
At that response, Ho Jaejung’s expression softened very slightly as he turned his head.
“—That’s just the superficial reason.”
Yeonwoo, who had been quietly listening to Ho Jaejung, looked up.
“…What?”
His tense face turned pale, wondering if there was something more.
Seeing Yeonwoo shrinking his already small shoulders, with his spirit crushed as if he were a criminal, unable to even raise his head, Ho Jaejung asked in a lower voice than before.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
