115.
#Ui-hyeon’s Visit
For several days, Dawoon didn’t move an inch from the house. He spent his time reading books he brought from Hayun’s study. He did nothing but read to the point where Haram wondered if he wasn’t bored, asking if his brother didn’t even watch TV.
He didn’t feel as stifled as he had expected. It was thanks to his nature of not enjoying going out much in the first place.
He had turned off his phone completely. Thinking that there must be other things installed besides the location tracking feature, he didn’t want to use it. If everything he did would be discovered by Hayun anyway, it was better not to do anything at all.
Each day was truly silent. Almost none of the staff spoke to Dawoon. He didn’t know if Hayun had warned them or if it was because Dawoon’s own mood was so low. Only occasionally would the butler approach to inform him it was mealtime and ask if he needed anything.
The preparations for studying abroad and Hayun’s transfer to the London branch were proceeding smoothly. It became even easier when Dawoon agreed to study abroad too. Dawoon paid more attention to the school Haram would attend than his own graduate school. He carefully checked the information on the school Hayun had chosen and talked about various things with Haram in advance.
“Will you really be okay?”
He explained that Haram would have to enter the dormitory and checked his willingness several times.
“I’ll be fine. I’m becoming an upper grader now.”
Regardless of age, due to his fast learning progress, it was decided that Haram would transfer to a higher grade than usual when he went to England. Perhaps excited about advancing to a higher grade, Haram didn’t seem to mind having to enter the dormitory.
“It’s not like I can’t come out at all, and I can come see you guys on weekends, right? That’s good enough.”
The child was more mature than Dawoon’s concerns. Only then did he realize that the child was more mature than others his age. Haram’s homeroom teacher also praised him endlessly, saying that Haram would adapt well if he went and that he was an outstanding student.
It seemed he had only acted like a naive child in front of Dawoon. The thought that he was similar to Jeong Hayun made Dawoon unable to smile. In an unexpected way, he realized again that Haram was truly a blood-related brother to Hayun.
Haram was more enthusiastic about preparing for studying abroad than Dawoon. Although he was already capable of everyday conversation in English, he increased his English conversation class hours, saying it might be different to attend school classes, and he seemed to be looking into British culture in his spare time.
“Are you happy about going to England?”
Seeing him excited, Dawoon asked, and Haram nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
“It’s living in a new place with new people. Don’t you think it’ll be fun?”
Haram’s eyes sparkled. His curiosity was clearly greater than his fear of the new environment.
Regardless of the reason for the prepared study abroad, it was fortunate that Haram was enjoying it. It somewhat eased Dawoon’s guilt and regret towards him.
“Huh?”
Haram, who was sitting next to Dawoon reading an English book, looked out the window and tilted his head. Feeling that it was somewhat noisy outside, Dawoon also turned his head towards the window.
“Isn’t that Ui-hyeon hyung?”
Haram pointed to one side. As Haram said, Ui-hyeon could be seen arguing with the security guards at the entrance.
“I think I should go back to my room.”
Dawoon closed the book he was reading and told Haram. Haram asked if he couldn’t stay too, but when Dawoon shook his head, he pouted but obediently went back.
As he came down to the first floor, he saw the butler standing in front of the entrance. Dawoon ignored him and went straight to open the front door. As the door opened, Ui-hyeon, who was scuffling with the security guards, spotted Dawoon and his expression brightened.
“Jeong Dawoon! I told you to ask him. He’s really my friend!”
Ui-hyeon shouted at the security guards, happy to see Dawoon.
“Let him go. He really is my friend.”
Even at Dawoon’s words, the security guards hesitated, exchanging glances with each other.
“Hyung probably told you to keep me from going out, not to stop people from coming in, right?”
At his calm and neat voice, the security guards finally let go of Ui-hyeon.
“What? Are you really under house arrest?”
Ui-hyeon frowned immediately. Dawoon smiled faintly at him and looked back at the security guards.
“We’re just going to talk inside for a moment. If you’re worried, call hyung and report it.”
After making it clear that it was okay to report to Hayun, he grabbed Ui-hyeon’s arm and pulled him to come inside.
The butler waiting inside the mansion recognized Ui-hyeon and bowed his head deeply. Flustered by the polite greeting from someone who looked much older than him, Ui-hyeon reflexively bowed to his waist. A slight smile could be seen on the butler’s face at this sight.
“I’ll prepare something simple for you to eat. Will you go to the reception room? Or should I prepare it in the young master’s room?”
“Please bring it to my room.”
After the butler bowed lightly and turned around, Ui-hyeon let out a big sigh.
“I really can’t get used to this. This is why I didn’t want to come to your house.”
Dawoon chuckled as he watched Ui-hyeon shaking his head.
“Let’s go up.”
When Dawoon suggested going to the room, Ui-hyeon hurried his steps even more. He said he was uncomfortable meeting other staff and wanted to go in quickly.
As soon as Ui-hyeon entered the room, he plopped down on the bed.
“Why do I feel suffocated every time I come here? Even though the house is big.”
It wasn’t a problem with the space but a psychological issue, yet it was interesting to hear such words from Ui-hyeon who was only visiting for the second time.
“Move out, move out. Oh, you said you’re going to study abroad. Is that a natural move out?”
“Hyung and Haram are going together.”
“Huh?”
Ui-hyeon’s eyes widened, asking what that meant.
“That’s how it turned out.”
“What exactly turned out that way? Why do you have so many secrets?”
Even as he heard Ui-hyeon’s exasperated voice, Dawoon didn’t make any particular response.
“I never thought you’d really be confined.”
Ui-hyeon muttered as he looked around Dawoon’s room. Dawoon didn’t say anything.
“So?”
Ui-hyeon stared straight at Dawoon.
“Why is your phone turned off? What am I supposed to think when someone who’s about to go study abroad cuts off all contact? Are you trying to cut ties?”
Dawoon smiled faintly and weakly at the accusatory questions.
***
“I heard Ui-hyeon came by?”
Hayun, who had come home from work, asked casually. Dawoon just nodded and focused on the computer monitor, guessing that someone, whether the butler or the security guards, must have reported to Hayun. Hayun approached and saw the game screen on the monitor, letting out a short breath.
“Why are you suddenly playing games?”
“Just. Because I’m bored.”
“What did Ui-hyeon come for?”
He could feel Hayun subtly guarding against even Ui-hyeon.
“Just. I guess he was worried because he couldn’t reach me since my phone was off.”
“Useless.”
Even a friend’s concern was useless to Hayun. Dawoon swallowed a bitter smile and responded “I know” while controlling his game character.
“Is that all?”
“What else should there be?”
Hayun’s eyes didn’t leave Dawoon’s face, as if searching for something. Dawoon also lifted his head and calmly met his gaze, as if he had nothing to hide.
“Really?”
Hayun answered, turning his head.
“Did you lend him a book?”
Dawoon flinched at the follow-up question, thinking the topic had changed. He didn’t answer, but his gaze naturally turned to the desk. He had sent Ui-hyeon home with one of the books he had been reading.
“How do you know? Did you install surveillance cameras or something?”
“What surveillance cameras? The security guard said he saw him leaving with something.”
“Ah.”
He nodded, saying he understood.
“I didn’t lend it, I just gave it to him. Ui-hyeon was interested in the book I was reading.”
“That guy doesn’t like reading books.”
While it was true that Ui-hyeon preferred physical activities to reading, it was a bit creepy that Hayun knew even Ui-hyeon’s hobbies. It was scary to think about how much he knew about Dawoon’s surroundings.
“Turn on your phone. Don’t make people worry unnecessarily.”
He seemed quite displeased that Ui-hyeon had come all the way here because Dawoon didn’t respond to contact in time. At his final added words, Dawoon looked at his turned-off phone.
“I don’t want to. It’s bothersome.”
Hayun’s eyebrow twitched at the answer that it was bothersome.
“I’m not going to contact anyone once I leave Korea anyway. So you can just cancel the service.”
“I’ll get you a new one when we arrive in England.”
“Whatever.”
He didn’t add any particular objection to whatever Hayun said. Thanks to this, the conversation ended shortly.
“Is it fun?”
Hayun, who had been looking at the character on the screen, asked.
“It’s okay. Good for passing time.”
Hayun didn’t add anything else to the indifferent answer.
A moment later, when Hayun left the room, Dawoon rolled his eyes to look at the fire sprinkler on the ceiling. Soon after, as if nothing had happened, he turned off the computer and sat on the bed, picking up the book he had thrown aside.
A few days ago, he had accidentally discovered something shining inside the sprinkler when light hit it. He instinctively realized it was a surveillance camera. After being shocked for a moment at the fact that there was a surveillance camera in his room, he didn’t even groan when he realized how thoroughly Hayun was controlling him and his surroundings. At the same time, his heart froze even colder.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
