“You definitely would have.”
Seunghyun said with certainty and smiled slightly. However, it didn’t feel as kind as usual. His eyes were cold, and only the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile that looked bizarre. Suhwan gulped.
“What should I do with you, hyung?”
“Ugh.”
“Hmm?”
Seunghyun raised his finger and lightly tapped Suhwan’s cheek. There was no strength in his finger, so it seemed like he was just playing around. But his steady gaze was cold. Suhwan unconsciously shrank back.
He seemed very angry. Even someone like Suhwan could guess the reason. Suhwan was equally appalled by his own drunken behavior.
How could I do such a thing even when drunk… If Seunghyun hadn’t come to pick him up, he might have done it in front of Yunhyun. Suhwan realized this belatedly and his face hardened.
Ha, really… If I drink again, I’m a dog. Worse than Jin Suhwan. A piece of trash. Suhwan’s face turned bright red.
“I really… didn’t do it on purpose.”
“…”
“I’m sorry.”
Finally, he bowed his head deeply and apologized again. That was all Suhwan could do. He could still feel the persistent gaze on his bowed head.
“I told you before, didn’t I?”
“Huh?”
Suhwan slightly raised his head at the quiet question. Then he met the brown eyes looking at him. Somehow, seeing those eyes made him unable to move.
“What did I say I’d do if you didn’t answer my calls again?”
“Uh…”
At that question, Suhwan recalled a memory from quite some time ago. Around when they first started dating, the day he was attacked by Geonyul’s pheromones. Suhwan had been at a club drinking party and couldn’t answer Seunghyun’s calls. The next day, Seunghyun said if he missed one more call…
‘He said he’d lock me up in a room.’
At the time, Suhwan thought it was a joke. He had to think that way. Imprisonment? That was something the original Jin Suhwan had done to Lee Seunghyun, the main character. But Seunghyun wouldn’t do that to him, would he?
“I don’t… really remember.”
“Liar.”
Seunghyun responded firmly to Suhwan who was pretending not to know. Sweat seeped from the hand that was tightly holding his. Suhwan swallowed nervously, anxious about what would come out of Seunghyun’s mouth next.
Ring, ring…
“…”
“…”
A sudden ringing sound split the air between the two. Suhwan’s eyes widened. He had just left work and his phone was still on silent mode. That meant this ringtone was likely from Seunghyun’s phone. Seunghyun seemed to realize this too, as his handsome face contorted.
“Looks like you have a call.”
“…”
“Seunghyun?”
Frowning, Seunghyun released Suhwan’s hand and stepped back. After taking out his phone and checking the caller, his contorted face became even fiercer.
Who could it be to make him react like that? As Suhwan wondered, Seunghyun turned around and answered the phone.
“I told you not to call…”
—Hey! I told you to come right after your exam finished!
“Haah.”
“…?”
A familiar voice blared through the phone, loud enough to fill the living room. Suhwan’s eyes widened.
It was definitely a voice he had heard somewhere before. As Suhwan tilted his head, listening to the continuing chattering voice, he opened his mouth in realization.
It was Jaehyun. With a feeling of excitement, Suhwan perked up his ears and looked at Seunghyun’s back.
“Haah. And I told you, it’s an important time, why did you chase away the postdoc to cause me this… trouble.”
—That’s how it turned out. Anyway, it’s urgent, so come quickly. Got it?
“No, just like that out of nowhere.”
Seunghyun sighed, showing clear signs of reluctance as he tried to answer. But before he could, Suhwan suddenly approached and answered Jaehyun instead.
“We’ll come right now, Professor.”
“Hyung!”
—Oh… Jin… Suhwan too?
“Yes! I won’t get in the way.”
Suhwan nodded, his eyes sparkling.
Jaehyun asking Seunghyun for help due to a shortage of hands in the lab was also in the original story. In the original, Seunghyun visited the lab with Ju Geonyul, the main character, but not now. By Seunghyun’s side was not Ju Geonyul, but himself. Here, he had to play a role no less important than the original main character. That is, to provide belief and support.
He needed to fully support Seunghyun so he could help Jaehyun successfully develop the new drug. But he couldn’t understand why Seunghyun was reluctant to go to the lab. Unlike in the original story, Seunghyun hadn’t developed any trauma.
Anyway, whatever the reason, his role was to coax Seunghyun into going to the lab. Listening to Jaehyun’s hesitant voice, Suhwan exclaimed energetically.
—Well, then… I’ll be waiting.
“Yes! See you soon, Professor.”
And he even pressed the end call button while Seunghyun was still stunned. Seunghyun looked at Suhwan, who appeared quite pleased with himself, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“What are you doing right now?”
“What?”
“I never said I’d go!”
Seunghyun shouted angrily. His exams had finally ended, and tomorrow was the weekend. He didn’t want to spend time with his lover stuck in a gloomy lab all night soaked in caffeine. But Suhwan tilted his head and muttered in a small voice.
“I’m just curious about what the lab is like.”
“…”
“Can’t I just take a quick look? I’ll be good and won’t disturb anything.”
“…”
Seunghyun’s resolve weakened at the sight of those sparkling eyes that seemed to be pleading.
Damn it. Gritting his teeth, Seunghyun ultimately had no choice but to nod.
***
While heading to Jaehyun’s lab, Seunghyun’s lips remained noticeably pouty. He probably wanted to have fun after finishing his exams, and was upset about being interrupted. But there didn’t seem to be any plans with classmates for drinks or anything. Suhwan found it a bit difficult to understand.
Of course, Suhwan wasn’t entirely happy about it either, but secretly felt relieved. He couldn’t have known what Seunghyun might have said at that moment. It would have been just a joke, surely, but if he had heard something like “don’t leave the room,” he would have been quite flustered.
Anyway, he was glad nothing like that happened. He wished he were better at handling jokes, but he often found himself at a loss. Suhwan sighed quietly to himself as he entered the building. Then he looked around the pharmacy building with curious eyes, having never been there before.
“Nothing special, right?”
“No, it’s interesting. It feels very calm.”
“It’s just that there aren’t many people around in the evening.”
Seunghyun chuckled and continued walking forward. Suhwan followed behind him, continuing to express his admiration. Though there wasn’t much difference from other buildings as Seunghyun had said, somehow the atmosphere felt different.
“Huh?”
However, as they approached the lab, unexpected people were blocking the corridor. Suhwan opened his eyes wide in surprise, while Seunghyun narrowed his. Several men who appeared to be security were standing guard with stern faces in the hallway leading to Jaehyun’s lab.
“What business do you have here?”
Moreover, as they approached, one asked in a stiff voice. Suhwan was momentarily speechless and just stared at the man with a surprised face.
“Oh? Suhwan?”
“…?”
Simultaneously, he heard someone calling his name from behind. Suhwan took his eyes off the unfamiliar man and turned around. An unexpected person was standing there.
“Assistant Manager Cha?”
“Why is Suhwan here… Ah, come to think of it.”
Yunhyun approached with a puzzled expression, then glanced at Seunghyun beside Suhwan and muttered quietly. Suhwan reflexively looked to the side at his gaze. Seunghyun’s expression had darkened upon seeing Yunhyun. Swallowing dryly, Suhwan put on an awkward smile and spoke to Yunhyun.
“What brings you here, Assistant Manager? Haven’t you gone home yet?”
Looking at Yunhyun still in his suit, Suhwan felt confused. Come to think of it, Yunhyun wasn’t around when he left work today. He thought Yunhyun had been called by the department head, but did he have something to do in this area? But he had heard that only Jaehyun’s professor’s office and lab were in this corridor. Suhwan looked at Yunhyun with a suspicious expression.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
