11
Jo Junghyun blinked, soon realized it was a joke, and awkwardly bit his lip. Would this be a good time to ask about the loan now that it had been mentioned?
He swallowed once before speaking.
“Um, by any chance, my parents…”
“Ah. Jo Junghyun-ssi doesn’t know. They vanished without a trace, and we’re actively searching for them.”
Ji Seunghyeok’s straightforward answer was so deflating after Jo Junghyun had worked up the courage to ask. He drank some water while keeping his gaze fixed on Jo Junghyun’s face. That piercing, sharp gaze felt like it conveyed more than hundreds of words could.
Ji Seunghyeok was clearly drawing a line.
As if to say, this is not your business to interfere with.
Jo Junghyun had forgotten because Ji Seunghyeok had been treating him so well. Right now, their relationship was entirely one-sided, with Ji Seunghyeok being generous. If he withdrew his kindness, that would be the end—their relationship was nothing more than that.
It felt as uncomfortable as having a stone placed and pressed on top of him.
Clack. The sound of the glass being placed on the table seemed very loud.
“I’d like to take you shopping for clothes tomorrow, but work makes it difficult right now, so please bear with it for a few days even though it’s inconvenient. In the meantime, feel free to take any clothes from the dressing room.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
It was as if the part where Jo Junghyun had brought up his parents had been cut out with scissors and the conversation pasted back together. Though Ji Seunghyeok didn’t say it explicitly, it was clear that he wanted to drop the subject. Jo Junghyun nodded as he listened to Ji Seunghyeok speaking casually.
Jo Junghyun was grinding his chopsticks with his teeth, but when he felt Ji Seunghyeok’s gaze, he moved his previously still hand.
He had been enjoying the lunchbox well enough, but now he could no longer taste anything.
As he stared at his chopsticks, picking up and putting down side dishes once, then twice, Ji Seunghyeok spoke to him.
“What do you like?”
Lost in thought, Jo Junghyun looked up and responded a beat late.
He couldn’t gauge why Ji Seunghyeok was suddenly asking such a question. But rather than wasting time trying to guess, it seemed better to answer quickly.
“What do I like? Hmm, uh… my parents.”
After speaking, he felt awkward as he recalled his earlier conversation with Ji Seunghyeok. That wasn’t his intention, but it seemed like he was trying to appeal to Ji Seunghyeok. Jo Junghyun hastily added:
“Um, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
Ji Seunghyeok slowly closed and opened his eyes, then urged him to continue. Whether Ji Seunghyeok intended it or not, he acted like a tiger with prey in sight. Jo Junghyun thought the reason for that atmosphere was Ji Seunghyeok’s eyes.
With those same eyes, Ji Seunghyeok looked at Jo Junghyun, who was struggling to choose his words, his mouth barely moving. It might have been his imagination, but he felt cold sweat running down his spine.
“Tell me.”
Ji Seunghyeok spoke with such clear pronunciation that it seemed like he might have received special training. Jo Junghyun carefully placed his chopsticks on the table with both hands.
“Because they raised me… and, uh, they took care of me without any discomfort. And… um.”
“I think you’re confusing what you like with what you’re grateful for. I asked what you like.”
“I-I really do like my parents…”
Jo Junghyun’s voice faded. A thick silence settled between them for a moment. Just as his shoulders began to feel heavy, Ji Seunghyeok asked another question.
“What are you thinking about?”
“What? You just asked what I like. There’s so much. I was thinking about what to say first.”
At Jo Junghyun’s words, Ji Seunghyeok laughed this time. After briefly responding with “I see,” he continued:
“Is there anything you dislike?”
He wasn’t asking what Jo Junghyun disliked, but if there was anything he disliked—as if it was a given that there wouldn’t be. Jo Junghyun pursed his lips.
“Things I dislike? Of course there are.”
“Really? Like what?”
The man asked back, seemingly very surprised.
“Being sick and ginger.”
Jo Junghyun answered as if it required no second thought.
“…”
“…Um?”
Thinking Ji Seunghyeok might not have heard him despite speaking at a normal volume, Jo Junghyun cautiously called out to him.
Ji Seunghyeok looked at Jo Junghyun carefully with his mouth closed. His eyes narrowed.
“Ah, I see. You dislike being sick and ginger. Why?”
This time, Jo Junghyun closed his mouth. Blinking, he asked with bewilderment:
“Are there people who like being sick?”
Jo Junghyun paused, faltering, and checked Ji Seunghyeok’s expression.
“Um… do you like being sick?”
Ji Seunghyeok laughed silently.
“No. I don’t have that kind of preference.”
“Right? Everyone usually dislikes being sick.”
Getting Ji Seunghyeok’s agreement, Jo Junghyun’s tension eased a little. With the corners of his mouth raised, he continued with a question:
“Then, what about ginger?”
“Um… ginger tastes bad. Do you think ginger tastes good?”
When he asked for agreement again, Ji Seunghyeok finally laughed out loud.
I guess that’s not it, thought Jo Junghyun.
He closed his mouth, feeling awkward.
“No, I’m not laughing at you. It’s just such a clear answer. You’re right. Ginger doesn’t taste good.”
Ji Seunghyeok shook his head, looking at Jo Junghyun with a smile still lingering on his face.
Though Jo Junghyun couldn’t tell exactly what meaning was behind it, he could at least tell it wasn’t negative.
“May I ask you something too?”
“Go ahead.”
Permission granted.
“Well, what does CEO-nim dislike?”
“What I dislike? Well, unlike Jo Junghyun-ssi, it would be faster for me to list what I like.”
Ji Seunghyeok said this, then rested his chin on his thumbs with his fingers interlaced, his face expressionless. He stared quietly at Jo Junghyun in that position.
Ji Seunghyeok had an extremely fastidious expression, like someone inspecting the sanitary conditions of a restaurant during a surprise visit. It was even amazing how he could not blink even once.
He was like a predatory bird eyeing its prey.
With no noise, the silence felt even more pronounced.
Is there something I should say?
Jo Junghyun, who had been quietly rubbing his index fingernail with his other index finger, opened his mouth.
“Since you’re sure about what you like, I guess you don’t have to think too much when choosing things.”
After saying this, he realized it could be misunderstood. He unconsciously extended one hand, waving it dismissively, and continued:
“Ah, I don’t mean that in a bad way. I mean, that’s good for you.”
Worried that Ji Seunghyeok might consider it a nonsensical excuse, he checked his reaction. Then at some point, as if cutting the thread of tension, Ji Seunghyeok laughed.
At the same time, Jo Junghyun realized he had been holding his breath.
“Junghyun-ssi really is someone who only sees the good side.”
Jo Junghyun wondered if this situation was like insulting someone to their face. Of course, what Ji Seunghyeok had said was a compliment in itself, but he couldn’t understand why such words had suddenly come up.
“It’s a good talent.”
“…Is it?”
“Yes.”
Ji Seunghyeok’s long, rough fingers tapped on the table.
“It might differ from person to person, but at least I really like it.”
Not just like, but really like.
It probably didn’t have any special meaning, but those words kept echoing in his ears. His eyes, which had been looking at Ji Seunghyeok, rolled downward. His wandering gaze settled on the lunchbox.
Jo Junghyun began counting how many grains of rice were left in the lunchbox.
It might have been his imagination, but his earlobes felt hot.
* * *
Jo Junghyun, who had been sleeping soundly, woke up frowning at the sound of a bell.
It was still dark outside. Completely puzzled about what was happening, he came out to the living room, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and saw Ji Seunghyeok standing in front of the intercom with a displeased look.
A young man’s smiling face filled the high-quality screen.
“Ji Seunghyeok-ssi. Please open the door. Huh? I’m telling you, I’ve come for a special delivery.”
“What kind of prank is this?”
“Hey now. It’s not a prank. It’s a service that comes to you. Don’t make it sound so unpleasant.”
To Jo Junghyun, the voice was chilling to hear, but the other person persistently said what he wanted to say. His face still wore a pleasant smile.
“I brought it specially, so let me in, will you? CEO Ji knows how popular I am, yet you’re acting like this.”
Ji Seunghyeok frowned, sighed, and pressed the button.
“You were probably sleeping soundly. Sorry to wake you.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Ji Seunghyeok stared at Jo Junghyun for a moment.
“…Ah.”
Ji Seunghyeok’s palm covered Jo Junghyun’s exposed nape as if enveloping it. The sudden contact left Jo Junghyun unable to react properly.
“It’s cold in the early morning. Is that why I noticed your neck is exposed?”
“Oh. …Ah. It’s fine.”
“There should be a turtleneck inside. Wait.”
Ji Seunghyeok barely seemed to hear Jo Junghyun saying it was fine. With his generously sized hand, he lightly rubbed Jo Junghyun’s nape once before heading to the dressing room. His dry palm was so warm it could have been mistaken for a heat pack.
When the warmth suddenly disappeared, it left a feeling of emptiness. Jo Junghyun pulled his shoulders together and covered the part Ji Seunghyeok had touched with his own hand.
“Take this. Do you want to change into it now?”
When Jo Junghyun heard Ji Seunghyeok’s voice, he removed his hand from his nape and awkwardly touched his forearm.
“Ah, you didn’t have to. Thank you.”
Jo Junghyun, having received the shirt, was about to go back to his room. Ji Seunghyeok stopped him. He pointed toward his own room, the master bedroom, and told Jo Junghyun to change there.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
