#28
“Drink water instead of wine.”
Hyun-oh gestured toward the water glass that, unlike the wine glass, was filled to the brim. Eunsol obediently picked up the water glass and took a small sip, as if drinking wine.
Only then did Hyun-oh pick up the utensils he had set down on the table and continue with the meal. Even while eating, his gaze moved busily, checking to make sure Eunsol was eating properly.
Instead of occasionally glancing at Hyun-oh as usual, Eunsol focused on finishing the steak on his plate. Somehow, Hyun-oh’s mood seemed to have dampened.
His fingertips trembled slightly, feeling that he had been too thoughtless in drinking the wine. Now that he was fully alert, the slight intoxication from the wine had subsided, making him even more self-conscious.
“You can leave some if it’s too much.”
Hyun-oh nodded toward Eunsol’s plate, which hadn’t decreased by even half. He seemed to eat well for three or four pieces, but after that, his pace had noticeably slowed.
“…Is that okay?”
“I didn’t invite you to dinner to make you sick.”
Eunsol carefully put down his utensils. He would have liked to clean his plate completely, but his stomach was already full from the food he had eaten before.
Hyun-oh rang the bell on the table, instructing the waiting server to bring the next course.
“I’ll prepare your dessert.”
It was the last of what had seemed like a never-ending course meal. The server made a conscious effort not to make eye contact with Eunsol.
He had been intimidated by Hyun-oh’s piercing gaze the moment he entered the room.
Unlike before, Hyun-oh only withdrew his gaze from the server after confirming that Eunsol wasn’t making eye contact with him.
Eunsol’s gaze remained fixed on the table until the server bowed politely and left.
“Eat.”
“Yes.”
Though he could have started tasting the food first, Eunsol only picked up his utensils after Hyun-oh’s permission. A tricolor pudding and seasonal fruit sorbet displayed their appetizing appearance on a pristine white plate.
“It seems you like the dessert.”
“…Yes. It’s delicious.”
Unlike when eating the main course, Eunsol’s expression brightened, if only subtly. The dessert on the plate disappeared in an instant.
“Eat this too.”
“…Aren’t you going to eat it, Hyun-oh?”
“I don’t like sweet things.”
Hyun-oh rose from his seat and swapped his plate with Eunsol’s. Eunsol’s eyes widened at the sight of the dessert, which looked as pristine as it had when first served.
After giving his dessert to Eunsol, Hyun-oh picked up the espresso cup that had been served as an accompaniment. Only after confirming that Hyun-oh was drinking his coffee did Eunsol begin to empty his dessert plate as well.
The sweetness and refreshing sensation that filled his mouth helped relax his tensed shoulders.
* * *
“…How much did you say?”
Eunsol bit his lip as the server repeated the price in a friendly voice. When Hyun-oh had told Eunsol to pay for the meal today, he had been puzzled about why Hyun-oh was entrusting the payment to him when it was his money anyway.
But after hearing the price of the meal, he understood why Hyun-oh had done so.
By Eunsol’s common sense, it wasn’t a price that could be considered normal for a single meal. It wasn’t that he didn’t know the cost of a course at a high-end restaurant. But even taking that into account, the amount on the receipt far exceeded Eunsol’s expectations.
“Here you go…”
Eunsol extended the card with a trembling hand. He felt similar to when Hyun-oh had purchased all the wedding rings instead of choosing just one.
It made him realize that he and Hyun-oh lived in different worlds. Given this situation, where someone like him was married to Hyun-oh, perhaps from Hyun-oh’s perspective, Eunsol’s spending habits might seem frustrating.
“Thank you for visiting.”
Even as he turned and walked out, receiving the staff’s farewells, he felt peculiar. It was as if he was not the kind of person who deserved such treatment, but was receiving it because of Hyun-oh’s influence.
“One moment.”
They had just left the restaurant together and were heading toward the parking lot. Hyun-oh checked a message on his phone and stopped walking, his expression becoming serious.
“Go ahead. I’ll wait for you here.”
Sensing that Hyun-oh had an urgent call to make, Eunsol spoke first. At Eunsol’s words, Hyun-oh immediately pressed the call button and disappeared with the phone to his ear.
Eunsol stood to the side of the corridor, tapping the toe of his shoe on the floor. The lingering emotions made his thoughts complicated.
He wanted to be a person who could be of help to Hyun-oh. Beyond waking up early to prepare meals, seeing him off, and welcoming him home, the thought of becoming someone who could be of more practical help to him continuously circled in his mind.
“But what can I do…”
If he had been a cherished member of his family, he could have been of practical help to Hyun-oh.
Although Eunsol’s family was considerably less influential than Hyun-oh’s, there would certainly be ways they could help. After all, Eunsol’s company was still within the top 10 percent of groups in South Korea.
But Eunsol was the child his family had cast aside. The thought that if it had been someone like his older brother… if someone like him had been Hyun-oh’s partner, wouldn’t Hyun-oh have been happier? Once this thought entered his mind, it refused to leave.
The tapping of his foot against the floor gradually slowed. Eunsol raised his head, which had been lowered, to look in the direction where Hyun-oh had disappeared.
Hyun-oh was on the phone with someone, his expression serious.
Perhaps he felt Eunsol’s gaze. After their eyes met, Hyun-oh quickly removed the phone from his ear. Due to his slightly furrowed brow, his expression seemed even cooler than usual.
Watching Hyun-oh approach with long strides, Eunsol unconsciously took half a step back.
“Lee Eunsol.”
“…Yes.”
His voice came out hoarse. Eunsol carefully observed Hyun-oh’s expression, tense with the feeling that Hyun-oh might have ended his call early because of him. He was concerned that his actions might have upset Hyun-oh again.
“It seems I won’t be able to take you home after all. I’ll call Secretary Song, so please wait here.”
“Are you… going to the company?”
“Yes. I probably won’t be able to come home today.”
Fortunately, Hyun-oh’s voice was just as low as usual. Seeing no sign of reproach from him, Eunsol took a deep breath, having momentarily held it. Waiting for Hyun-oh in the spacious house had become a familiar routine by now. It was fine even if he didn’t take him home.
“You don’t need to call Secretary Song. I can go home by myself.”
He could take a taxi, or use public transportation. Before marrying Hyun-oh, even though Eunsol had been virtually confined to his family home, he occasionally had to go out.
It was mostly for errands for his brother or stepmother. Since they would send him on errands without giving him proper money, Eunsol would often walk using only a map, or take the bus or subway.
“Then let’s go down to the first floor together. I’ll hail a taxi for you.”
Though he couldn’t tell Eunsol, there was currently an emergency at the company. There had been a hitch in the most important contract of the year. His instinct told him that his half-brother’s side was probably behind it.
The secretarial staff were talents that Hyun-oh had specially recruited. Secretary Song was also in a state of chaos, trying to handle the aftermath. Even if he wanted to call a driver, since they were all stationed at headquarters, it might take longer than calling a taxi.
“I’m really fine. Don’t you have an urgent matter? Please hurry to the company.”
Eunsol, who had been giving small responses during the meal, now met Hyun-oh’s gaze confidently and spoke decisively. Because of this, Hyun-oh didn’t press him further.
Thinking about it, Eunsol was twenty years old. Though he might appear incredibly young to Hyun-oh, he was already an adult. The thought suddenly occurred to him that it might be excessive worry to be concerned about him returning home alone within the country, not abroad.
“Director.”
Just then, Manager Kim Myungjun came looking for Hyun-oh. Eunsol had never seen him with such an urgent expression before. He had always been calm when dealing with Eunsol, but now his complexion was so pale it was pitiful.
“You need to go right away.”
Upon discovering Eunsol, Manager Kim Myungjun bowed to him in greeting, then immediately approached Hyun-oh and whispered in a small voice.
Hyun-oh let out a light sigh. He had intended to spend time with Eunsol today. His temples throbbed at the incident that had occurred regardless of his will.
“Alright. Lee Eunsol, I’ll be heading to the company, so don’t wait up for me and go to bed first.”
“Yes.”
Eunsol gave Hyun-oh a faint smile as if to say not to worry. Before he could even greet Manager Kim Myungjun, Hyun-oh had turned his back.
Eunsol gazed endlessly at Hyun-oh’s rapidly receding back. Until his shadow disappeared down the far end of the corridor.
The smile that had been on his lips had stretched and then vanished without a trace. Instead of Hyun-oh’s shadow, an indelible smudge remained in Eunsol’s heart. His vision momentarily became disoriented, as if the ground he stood on had crumbled.
With no one to support his staggering body, Eunsol struggled to steady himself by pressing his hand against the wall.
He had wanted to return home with Hyun-oh. Throughout the meal, the atmosphere had been so tense that he couldn’t say what he wanted to. He had intended to express his gratitude to Hyun-oh for making time to dine with him despite his busy schedule…
Eunsol closed his eyes and took a deep breath to alleviate his melancholic feelings. Only after a considerable amount of time did he open his eyes and begin to walk.
“What? Why are you here?”
However, Eunsol’s steps toward the first floor were halted by someone blocking his path.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
