Chapter 190
“The Council of Elders’ enforcers are all under detention and investigation, so there’s nothing to worry about. We’ll also pay more attention to security.”
“No.”
“No? What do you mean, no? Is it that you don’t want security, or…”
“I’m not moving. I’m not going anywhere.”
“…”
“I won’t do what ahjussi says.”
Eunseong’s expression and tone hardened with anger. He was speaking this way because he couldn’t see Yoo Siwoon’s tired face in the hospital room. If he had seen Yoo Siwoon’s expression, he wouldn’t have been able to refuse so simply.
“The CEO is already not feeling well, is there really a need for this?”
“He’s scared something might happen if we stay together.”
“…”
“Nothing like that will happen. Tell him to protect me himself. Don’t leave it to others.”
“I don’t think you should say things like that.”
“…”
These were words that would shake Yoo Siwoon, who had just barely put his feelings in order. After making such a fuss, rejecting him and saying he hated him, now telling him to protect him, to stay with him—there could be no crueler words for Yoo Siwoon. Director Nam realized that Eunseong understood Yoo Siwoon’s heart even less than he did.
“You said you haven’t found a way to forgive the CEO yet.”
“I’m looking for it. I’m constantly thinking about it.”
“Don’t say such things. If the CEO knows you said that… he’ll think you’ve already forgiven him.”
Eunseong had no way to explain his feelings—that he couldn’t leave him before finding a way to convince himself, and he also couldn’t offset the debt he felt toward his deceased parents. Eunseong wouldn’t be able to bear the current of uncomfortable emotions, and might end up stabbing Yoo Siwoon like a knife every time they surfaced.
Director Nam’s concern for Eunseong was genuine, but he couldn’t help leaning more toward Yoo Siwoon. He didn’t want Yoo Siwoon to be hurt anymore.
“He asks that you don’t come here. You standing here like this… he finds it uncomfortable.”
“…”
Eunseong’s breathing became uneven as he swallowed a sudden surge of sadness.
“You must be tired too. Go home and get some rest. Collect your thoughts.”
Director Nam signaled a security guard, instructing him to take Eunseong away rather than having him stay here like this.
∞ ∞ ∞
Two weeks later, Yoo Siwoon was discharged from the hospital. Director Nam kept checking on his condition in the back seat as he drove. Yoo Siwoon had his eyes closed, slightly furrowing one eyebrow as if something was bothering him.
“Are you in pain?”
Yoo Siwoon’s eyes opened slowly at Director Nam’s question.
“No.”
Every time the car moved and vibrations were felt, a sharp, throbbing pain compressed the wound area, but Yoo Siwoon shook his head, saying it was nothing.
Driving as carefully as possible, they arrived home at a slow pace. The exterior of the residence was calm, as repairs had been completed during his absence, making it impossible to guess what had happened.
“Shall I help support you?”
“No, the crutch is enough.”
Yoo Siwoon gestured to decline as Director Nam hurriedly approached. Though he said there was no need to go to such trouble, Yoo Siwoon slightly frowned, apparently finding even the simple act of getting out of the car uncomfortable.
He was holding a crutch in his right hand. Yoo Siwoon limped on one leg. He would have to hobble without the help of the crutch. The enforcer’s sharp knife had severed Yoo Siwoon’s femoral artery and cut through his nerves. After a delicate and lengthy surgery to reconnect each severed nerve, he needed rehabilitation without certainty of whether he would be able to walk properly.
Director Nam walked carefully beside him, ready to support him if necessary.
Eunseong, who had returned home during his hospitalization, was also in the living room. His eyes met Yoo Siwoon’s as he made his way inside with difficulty.
His once-handsome face had become gaunt. No, he had been in that state all along, but Eunseong had been avoiding looking at him. He had been like this all along, acting as if he were the one more hurt despite having deceived, lied to, and used Eunseong.
“…You were at home?”
His voice was as gaunt as his face. It was a dry voice without a trace of moisture.
“Where else would I be?”
“I heard you registered for a college prep academy.”
“Today’s not the day I go.”
“I see.”
Despite reuniting after two weeks of a near-death experience, their conversation was unbearably cold. It was as if they had gone back to the beginning. The situation was no different from when Eunseong first entered this house. The expression, the tone, the short conversation barely strung together with a few words.
The only difference from then was the look in their eyes as they gazed at each other. Even in that fleeting moment, Eunseong could read the longing that swirled in Yoo Siwoon’s eyes.
A sense of crisis precariously enveloped them both—that morning might have been the last opportunity to see and touch him alive—but both pretended not to know.
“Eunseong, could you bring the CEO’s luggage from the car?”
Director Nam asked him to bring the luggage if he was just going to stand there awkwardly.
As Eunseong went outside, Yoo Siwoon passed through the living room and entered the bedroom with slow steps. Sitting on the bed, he had to exhale a long breath, finding the distance unexpectedly long when he had never felt it that way before.
To Director Nam, who was looking at him with worried eyes as he struggled with even this short distance, he said:
“This house is unnecessarily large.”
“Are you finally noticing how big this house is?”
“It’s very large.”
“Shall I brew you some coffee?”
“Do you know how?”
“After hanging around for so long, I should at least be able to do that much.”
“I’ve been suffering without coffee, so I look forward to your skills.”
Director Nam left the bedroom. Yoo Siwoon leaned back against the headboard and exhaled a tired breath. Shortly after, the person who entered his bedroom was not Director Nam but Eunseong. He was carrying Yoo Siwoon’s Boston bag.
“Where should I put this?”
“You can put it in the dressing room.”
“…”
Yoo Siwoon answered Eunseong, who had entered with a sullen expression and asked sullenly. Eunseong took the Boston bag into the dressing room, dropped it down anywhere, and came back out.
Keeping his distance and not looking directly at him, Eunseong asked with his gaze diagonally fixed on some random spot:
“…Should I bring you water or coffee?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“…”
Though he clearly knew that Yoo Siwoon would try to die without him, his attitude was businesslike, as if dealing with a complete stranger. With nothing more to say, Eunseong lingered for a moment before turning around.
He met Director Nam in front of his bedroom. He was bringing coffee on a tray. The aroma of Yoo Siwoon’s favorite coffee beans spread gently.
“Is ahjussi allowed to have caffeine? He’s a patient, after all.”
“Not having it would be worse for his body right now. Stress also produces hormones. It’s better for him to drink it. Suppressing desires can lead to illness.”
“…”
Director Nam’s words sounded meaningful, as if Eunseong was the source of his stress.
In any case, with Director Nam there, Eunseong had nothing to do. By Yoo Siwoon’s side was a secretary who read and understood his mind better than Yoo Siwoon himself, acting like a tongue in his mouth, doing everything he wanted without him having to say it. Director Nam would also take care of him a hundred times better than Eunseong could.
Eunseong looked at the coffee emitting its fragrant smell for a moment before stepping aside. Director Nam passed by Eunseong and entered the bedroom.
As soon as he put the tray down on the side table, Yoo Siwoon picked up the coffee cup. After checking the coffee smell and the clear brown liquid, Yoo Siwoon looked at Director Nam.
“This is excellent for someone who’s just been around for a while.”
“I tried to imitate you, CEO.”
“I’ll enjoy it.”
Yoo Siwoon took a sip of coffee. The slow motion of swallowing the coffee down his throat continued. After savoring one sip, he shared his impression.
“Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs… I stayed away from them all because I didn’t want to get addicted to anything in this kind of household.”
“Women too.”
“…Yes, women too. But it seems I was already addicted to coffee.”
Yoo Siwoon added that it felt like all the worries that had been troubling him were clearing away.
“I’m glad it’s to your liking. I’ll go organize your luggage now.”
With a slight smile at his satisfied reaction, Director Nam entered the dressing room. The Boston bag that Eunseong had brought was sitting on the floor. He separated the laundry and personal items, put the bag back in its place, and finished organizing. By the time he came out, Yoo Siwoon was still drinking his coffee.
“Are you satisfied with the house repairs?”
The entire glass of the study that had been shattered, the broken bookshelves, and everything that had been in disarray had been neatly organized. There was not a single trace of that day’s incident left, making it hard to believe there had been such a commotion.
Yoo Siwoon’s gaze turned toward the inside of the study where he had collapsed. There was no particular emotion on his face, as if he had realized something and found enlightenment through the death that had penetrated his entire body.
“Whether I like it or not, there’s nothing to be done.”
“The enforcers were searched, but you should check the study to see if anything is missing.”
It was a hint to check the gun, but Yoo Siwoon didn’t seem particularly interested.
“Later. I’ll look into it slowly.”
Director Nam, who was about to turn around after briefly checking on Yoo Siwoon’s condition, stopped and said, “Ah.” He rummaged through his pocket and pulled something out. It was a thick gold ring found in the dashboard.
“I’ll leave this here.”
He placed the ring on the table with a dispassionate hand. Yoo Siwoon’s eyes filled with reminiscence as he looked at the ring.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
