Even though it was indoors and there was no chance of getting lost, Munbeom checked Yeonwoo’s profile as he looked in the direction he had pointed, then walked past him. As soon as he took out his mobile phone, he called his secretary and told him he might not be able to come to the office today. He said even if he did come, it would likely be later, so if there was anything urgent, to contact him separately.
Secretary Kang, who would normally reply with “Understood,” was quiet. Sensing his hesitation, Munbeom briefly asked, “What?”
[Well, I don’t know why the Chairman was looking for Yeonwoo, but it’s not Yeonwoo’s fault, is it?]
“…”
[I’m truly sorry for not telling you in advance. But I couldn’t make a quick judgment. Since I don’t think the Chairman would do anything bad to Yeonwoo, I…]
“I suppose Secretary Kang still thinks it’s better to listen to the Chairman than some Executive Director nonsense.”
At that moment, a gasping “huk” sound was heard from the other end of the phone.
Secretary Kang flustered, saying that wasn’t the case, but Munbeom didn’t pay attention.
“Still, next time you should tell me before I have to ask.”
If he planned to continue staying in Korea and working, Secretary Kang would be out at this point. But since he wasn’t someone Munbeom would take responsibility for until the end, and they would eventually part ways anyway, it was right to let it go lightly.
[…I’ll keep that in mind. I’m sorry.]
Would he realize that though he’d been let off once, there wouldn’t be a second time? Hearing Secretary Kang’s subtly subdued response, Munbeom wasn’t in a good mood either.
After ending the call, Munbeom washed up briefly, changed clothes, and came out. Yeonwoo was sitting on a sofa in the spacious living room.
In a corner. With his back straight.
“…”
It seemed to overlap with how he looked when they went on their arranged meeting.
Back then, he had sat like that too, not quite comfortable. Alone.
His eyes lingered for a long time on this unremarkable sight. Before long, Munbeom stood still, watching Yeonwoo from behind, and before the silence grew deeper, Yeonwoo’s head moved. As he turned slowly, Munbeom felt a tingling in his fingertips as Yeonwoo’s face gradually came into view. After exhaling a short breath, he finally lifted the foot he had stopped.
And though there was a 10-person sofa with plenty of places to sit, he deliberately took the seat next to Yeonwoo, who had been sitting in the corner.
“Earlier, you seemed unwell. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I was just a little carsick…”
Speaking as if to brush it off, Yeonwoo closed his mouth.
Right now, Yeonwoo’s body wasn’t in what could be called a good state. More precisely, it was close to worst. But having continued like this for several days, he seemed to have gotten used to it. Or maybe having so many things to worry about, he couldn’t properly take care of his own body.
It would be terrible if he suddenly collapsed like he did at the hospital. That place was a hospital, and his father was there too, so quick action was possible, but if such a thing happened when he was alone, then…
Yeonwoo, who had been fidgeting with his cold hands for a while, opened his mouth.
“…The Chairman called me because he was worried about me.”
“…”
“He said if I were seen going around with the Director, I would have a harder time. He didn’t say anything else.”
Chairman Ho Jaejung had given advice from his perspective. Thanks to that, Yeonwoo felt like he was coming to his senses a bit. And he had learned about facts that Lee Jonghoon, that person, had not told him. Private loans. Just recalling the word made his head dizzy. Feeling his heart racing again, Yeonwoo moved his lips slightly.
“The Chairman is a good person.”
Munbeom must have brought him here because he was curious about the conversation with the Chairman.
For now, he should say something reassuring. That it was really nothing, that he hadn’t said anything disadvantageous about Munbeom.
Then suddenly, he recalled how he had repeatedly mentioned the contract in front of Chairman Ho Jaejung.
That he was meeting with Munbeom according to the contract and hadn’t told others about it. That he always kept his promises well—he had said these things because he knew what Chairman Ho Jaejung really wanted to say.
He wanted him and Munbeom to stop seeing each other.
And Yeonwoo, knowing this, still couldn’t bring himself to say he would stop.
Why? What exactly was his relationship with Munbeom?
It was a relationship where he could only meet if Munbeom sought him out first.
Yeonwoo became very tired. He wanted to stop thinking and just close his eyes and rest like this. He was sleepy. As he slowly closed his eyes and opened them again, he heard a voice calling, “Yeonwoo.” His racing heart seemed to have become a habit now. Listening to the rapid heartbeats that he couldn’t control, Yeonwoo briefly answered.
“…Yes.”
“I’m sorry about this incident.”
Surprised by the unexpected words, Yeonwoo’s shoulders flinched.
Looking up, Yeonwoo gazed at Munbeom sitting beside him. But that gaze couldn’t stay on him for long and soon moved to the side. Though he tried to pretend it was natural as he avoided eye contact, it felt very unnatural to Munbeom.
Because until now, Yeonwoo had been someone who, while pretending not to, would try to look at him even just once more. And now that same Yeonwoo was not looking at him directly and kept trying to avoid his gaze.
Detecting subtle changes that only he could notice, Munbeom deliberately suppressed a vague discomfort and spoke.
“First of all, the person Yeonwoo is seeing is me. No third party can say anything about that. Even if that person is my grandfather. Strictly speaking, it should have been me, not Yeonwoo, who was summoned by my grandfather.”
“…”
Munbeom was still kind. But Yeonwoo could no longer simply blush at his gentleness as before. Staring blankly at the earnest gaze looking at him, Yeonwoo hesitated several times before saying, “Um,” and speaking.
“…Is it a bit strange for us to meet like this?”
Perhaps because Yeonwoo’s question was unexpected? Instead of answering right away, Munbeom examined different parts of Yeonwoo’s face before slowly opening his mouth.
“It’s not typical.”
Although he said it wasn’t typical, even that was difficult for Yeonwoo.
He just wanted to continue meeting the person sitting in front of him, but somehow that seemed like the biggest greed. Yeonwoo bit his lower lip and released it. Then Munbeom suddenly asked.
“Does Yeonwoo find it uncomfortable to meet me?”
As if truly surprised, Yeonwoo’s eyes widened into circles, and he immediately shook his head.
“No, not at all, I wasn’t uncomfortable at all during the time I spent with the Director.”
“Yes, Yeonwoo wasn’t uncomfortable.”
Realizing from the indifferent yet seemingly anticipated response that Munbeom’s earlier statement had been a joke, Yeonwoo smiled. Seeing the slightly raised corner of his mouth and narrowed eyes, Munbeom brought up something that had been on his mind.
Monday, the sudden phone call from Yeonwoo. What had he said then?
“…I had an urgent matter on Monday. That’s why I acted that way.”
Seeing Yeonwoo’s raised mouth corners gradually lowering, Munbeom felt an inexplicable urgency.
“Your voice sounded a bit strange then, did something happen?”
Something happening? He couldn’t remember well what had happened. All that came to mind was that he had made the mistake of calling Munbeom.
If he had been in Munbeom’s position, he wouldn’t have brought it up first. Thinking that he was indeed kind, Yeonwoo shook his head and whispered, “No.”
“Nothing happened.”
Yeonwoo smiled more brightly than before. As if thinking Munbeom would believe his lie if he did so.
Looking at Yeonwoo smiling at him, Munbeom placed his hand on his left cheek.
“This is a bruise.”
Yeonwoo, who had been trying to keep smiling somehow to hide his lie, was startled and pulled his head back. Soon realizing that such behavior created an even more awkward situation, he pressed the back of his hand against his cheek as if to hide it.
“I bumped into something because I was clumsy.”
“I wonder, the Yeonwoo I’ve seen so far hasn’t been a clumsy person.”
Trailing off, Munbeom stared directly at Yeonwoo.
For some reason, Munbeom now looked angry. Worried that he had detected his lie, Yeonwoo completely covered his cheek with his hand and mumbled in an inaudible voice, “I really did bump into something.” At that moment, a faint smile spread across Munbeom’s lips.
“So there are things that would lay hands on such a face.”
“…”
He wondered why he had bothered to tell a lie that would be exposed immediately. Embarrassed, Yeonwoo lowered his head, and then a buzzing vibration sound was heard from somewhere. It was coming from Yeonwoo’s pocket. He didn’t know who was contacting him, but he wasn’t planning to answer. However, as the vibration stopped and then started again, Munbeom calmly said.
“Answer it.”
“…It’s probably not an urgent call anyway.”
“Answer it here, comfortably.”
The atmosphere suggested he should definitely answer the phone, even if it wasn’t comfortable.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
