07
“Thank you for your hard work driving. You can go home now.”
Jo Junghyun found it a bit surprising that Ji Seunghyeok would exchange even these brief pleasantries. He hadn’t expected him to thank the driver for his work. He remembered that when riding in his parents’ car before, such courtesies were never exchanged.
After getting out of the car, Ji Seunghyeok stood holding the door open while discussing tomorrow’s schedule with the driver. Jo Junghyun belatedly realized that he was waiting for him to get out and quickly moved.
“Let’s go up.”
“What? Ah, …I.”
Having come this far, his feet wouldn’t move at the thought of actually entering Ji Seunghyeok’s home. A sudden worry struck him that he might demand an absurd amount as payment for letting him stay the night. After all, hadn’t he almost gone to a strange interview today because he acted without thinking things through?
Thinking about it, Ji Seunghyeok had absolutely no reason to show him kindness without expecting something in return. Weren’t they less than strangers?
But then again, it was also Ji Seunghyeok who had saved him from going to work at such a place. Looking at it that way, couldn’t it be considered an act of kindness?
Dizzy from his swirling, uncertain thoughts, Jo Junghyun bit his lower lip.
“What are you worrying about so much? I won’t eat you, so don’t worry and come.”
“Ea— No, that’s not it.”
Ji Seunghyeok smirked as he watched Jo Junghyun shake his head at the silly joke.
“Maybe I should make you a promise to believe me. Should we link pinkies? Or I can even stamp a seal on it.”
Ji Seunghyeok extended his hand with his pinky finger out toward Jo Junghyun, as if it wasn’t a joke. Things were starting to feel strange. Jo Junghyun quickly shook his head.
“No, it’s fine.”
What else could he do?
It was Jo Junghyun himself who had said he had nowhere to go from the beginning, and who had accepted the offer. With Ji Seunghyeok going this far, it was impossible to hesitate any longer. Jo Junghyun took a deep breath.
“Let’s go.”
He took a step forward but was puzzled when there was no response from Ji Seunghyeok. When he turned to look, he met Ji Seunghyeok’s gaze. He had narrowed eyes and an expression like he was watching something amusing. Jo Junghyun wondered why he had such an expression and how long he had been looking at him that way. He couldn’t ask, though.
Ji Seunghyeok nodded while continuing to stare at Jo Junghyun.
“Follow me.”
Coming to his senses at the sound of Ji Seunghyeok’s voice, who was somehow already several steps ahead despite having been right beside him, Jo Junghyun quickened his pace.
The elevator they boarded seemed to operate with a key card.
Jo Junghyun quietly stared straight ahead as he watched long fingers press the button for the top floor. The two men’s reflections were visible in the well-polished elevator doors.
The man was a head taller than Jo Junghyun. With broad shoulders and a large build, he looked like he would be seen as the leader of any group wherever he went.
Ding. With a cheerful sound, the elevator doors opened as they reached their destination.
“Come in.”
Was it his imagination? Somehow the voice seemed to have become a bit gentler.
Jo Junghyun carefully nodded and replied with a soft, “Yes.”
After exiting the elevator, a single front door came into view. Just like his office, it seemed he occupied the entire floor. Jo Junghyun diligently followed Ji Seunghyeok as he opened the front door and went inside. Turning past a small bench directly in front, they entered a spacious living room furnished with pieces that looked like they had been taken straight from an interior design magazine. Ji Seunghyeok took off his coat and suit jacket and casually placed them on the sofa.
The reality of being in Ji Seunghyeok’s home finally sank in.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just realized you really brought me to your home… I thought you might take me to some other place… No, it’s nothing.”
Jo Junghyun could feel Ji Seunghyeok’s sharp gaze on his cheek. He closed his mouth completely, then rolled his eyes.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing again? It’s fine.”
Ji Seunghyeok answered as if it were nothing, but Jo Junghyun couldn’t relax. How could he? He couldn’t explain why Ji Seunghyeok had brought him to his home.
Come to think of it, in movies, there were scenes where ill-tempered wealthy people would buy people to beat them like punching bags. Since there had actually been news about wealthy individuals assaulting others and throwing checks at them as settlement money, it wasn’t entirely far-fetched.
The thought even crossed his mind that he might have been brought here because Ji Seunghyeok needed a stress-relief punching bag. And it didn’t seem that implausible.
“Are you going to hit me?”
Ji Seunghyeok didn’t immediately answer the trembling question. He just narrowed his eyes and stared at Jo Junghyun.
“Me? Hit you?”
“…You can hit me if you want.”
Jo Junghyun spoke with resolute determination. Ji Seunghyeok let out a hollow laugh as he approached Jo Junghyun, who barely restrained himself from taking a step back.
“Why would I announce it before hitting someone? I would just hit them.”
Jo Junghyun internally screamed as he clenched his fists tightly. His gaze naturally went to Ji Seunghyeok’s hands. His hands were quite large, and they would surely be even larger if he made a fist. Getting hit once would probably hurt a lot, and he couldn’t help feeling afraid.
“Um… Mr. CEO. I have a request. Could you please… let me know before you hit me?”
“Is hitting you the only option?”
At this obvious question, Jo Junghyun was at a loss for words. As he was about to mumble some awkward words, Ji Seunghyeok said:
“And where would I hit you? You’re so thin, if I hit you once, I think your bones would break.”
Hearing that made him feel strangely rebellious.
Hadn’t Ji Seunghyeok calmly given him a forehead flick before?
“That’s not necessarily true…”
“Do you want to be hit that badly?”
Ji Seunghyeok asked Jo Junghyun, who had muttered in a small voice.
“If you have that kind of preference, I can hit you.”
Ji Seunghyeok undid his cufflinks and rolled up his shirtsleeves. Even just his forearm showed unusual muscles and protruding veins. Seeing this, Jo Junghyun broke into a cold sweat and shook his head vigorously.
“No, no, no. I don’t have that kind of thing.”
“Then go in and rest.”
As Ji Seunghyeok turned his body and made the suggestion, Jo Junghyun fidgeted with his fingers.
“Um… do you have anything you want me to do now?”
The man looked back at Jo Junghyun, who was asking cautiously while shifting nervously.
“What do you think I would ask you to do?”
“Any-anything. I’ll do whatever you tell me to.”
“Whatever I say? What kind of meaning do you think that carries when you say it like that?”
Ji Seunghyeok’s eyes curved slightly as he looked at Jo Junghyun.
“What? I mean, I’m saying you can tell me to do anything… Like cleaning or… something like that.”
Jo Junghyun mumbled.
“Do you think I brought you here to ask you to do such things?”
It was less of an accusatory tone and more like he found it amusing.
The question “Then why did you bring me here?” rose to the tip of his tongue. But surprisingly, Ji Seunghyeok seemed to see right through what Jo Junghyun had swallowed.
“You had nowhere to go, right? If you had, you wouldn’t have been staying at the office or blindly gone to that kind of interview place. Am I wrong? Did I interfere unnecessarily?”
With Ji Seunghyeok putting it that way, Jo Junghyun had nothing to say.
So now, Ji Seunghyeok was clearly saying that his actions were simply born out of goodwill.
Because of the prejudice he had formed since their first meeting, he couldn’t accept the kindness at face value. Putting himself in Ji Seunghyeok’s shoes, it would seem unfair. He realized he should apologize.
“No, it’s not interference. I’m sorr—”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. Since you seem to understand now, let’s stop talking about it.”
Ji Seunghyeok spoke definitively, with a gentle but firm tone. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Jo Junghyun was watching for cues when Ji Seunghyeok softly called his name.
“Take a shower first.”
Ji Seunghyeok suggested in a much gentler voice.
“What? Is that okay?”
Jo Junghyun brightened. After all, he wasn’t well-off enough to go to saunas or bathhouses every day, so during his stay at the office, he could count on one hand the number of times he had properly bathed. So there was no reason to decline the offer to shower.
At Jo Junghyun’s bright question, Ji Seunghyeok’s eyes darkened and sparkled.
“Of course.”
As Jo Junghyeok cheerfully accepted and began walking toward the door across from him, which Ji Seunghyeok had kindly indicated was the bathroom, he stopped in his tracks.
Excited at the thought of a refreshing shower, Jo Junghyun hesitated and glanced back at Ji Seunghyeok repeatedly.
“What’s wrong? …Ah.”
A soft exclamation came from Ji Seunghyeok’s mouth as he noticed Jo Junghyun’s hesitation.
“I forgot to prepare clothes for you to change into. They might be a bit big, but is that okay?”
“Ah, yes!”
Jo Junghyun was extremely grateful that Ji Seunghyeok had suggested it first, as he didn’t want to mention the embarrassing topic himself. To Jo Junghyun, who was nodding so vigorously it almost made a buzzing sound, Ji Seunghyeok said:
“I’ll leave them in front of the bathroom, so go in and take your shower.”
Jo Junghyun twitched his cheeks and replied, “Yes,” but the sound came out quite loud. Not having intended to speak so loudly, Jo Junghyun covered his mouth. Confirming that Ji Seunghyeok was looking at him, Jo Junghyun bit his lips and apologized in a small voice.
Instead of answering, Ji Seunghyeok waved his hand, telling him to go inside.
Opening the door Ji Seunghyeok had pointed out, he found a small powder room. The bathroom seemed to be deeper inside. After undressing, Jo Junghyun neatly folded his clothes and placed them on one side before entering the bathroom.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
