DP Episode 102

Deep Pivot, Episode 102

“Since we’re becoming family… I thought you might have gone on a blind date or something.”

After several failed attempts to serve due to Yeon-woo’s tears, the staff finally managed to deliver the first course and step away. Still with a red nose, Yeon-woo was now chatting away about all the thoughts that went through his head in the car.

“Why would someone in a relationship go on a blind date? Did I not give you enough confidence?”

“No, I didn’t doubt you, Lieutenant. I was just worried it might be some kind of arranged marriage your parents had set up before they passed away….”

“You must watch a lot of dramas, Yeon-woo.”

Seo-joon’s joke brought a smile to Yeon-woo’s tear-streaked face. Yeon-woo seemed happier about being bound to Seo-joon as family than troubled about suddenly cutting ties with his biological father.

Seo-joon was relieved since he had worried about how to answer questions about Cha Kyung-soo.

“Actually, I want to wear the ring on my right hand instead.”

“Why? Aren’t these kinds of rings traditionally worn on the left hand? They’re said to be connected to the heart.”

“Just because.”

Yeon-woo swung their clasped hands.

“When we eat, I always hold your left hand. It would be nice to see the ring then.”

Meanings are what you make of them. If Cha Yeon-woo prefers his right hand, then the right hand it is. Not wanting to spoil his young lover’s joy, Seo-joon chuckled and turned to face him.

“Give me your hand.”

He removed the ring from Yeon-woo’s left hand and placed it on his right. Interlocking their fingers, their rings clinked softly against each other.

“So, this is what you wanted?”

“Yes, I love it. I can feel it every time the rings touch.”

Clink, clink. Yeon-woo purposely knocked the rings together a few more times, smiling contentedly. Seo-joon couldn’t help but smile along with him, meeting those bright, round eyes. As long as you’re happy….

“But shouldn’t we explain this clearly to Jung-woo too?”

“I talked with Jung-woo over lunch earlier. I needed to get his consent first.”

Seo-joon’s adoption of the two was merely a legal formality. When explaining the situation to Jung-woo, he avoided the term “adoptive parents” and instead used “guardian.”

He had to explain that Cha Kyung-soo would no longer be their father, but Jung-woo seemed to have never really considered Cha Kyung-soo as a father in the first place.

Throughout the conversation with Seo-joon, Jung-woo referred to Cha Kyung-soo simply as the “scary man” or “the guy who keeps hitting my brother.”

“….”

Seo-joon stretched out the hand not holding Yeon-woo’s and ran his fingers through Yeon-woo’s hair, cradling the back of his head before planting a gentle kiss. Yeon-woo’s eyes widened, his cheeks puffed out from the salmon he’d just taken a bite of.

“…Isn’t there CCTV here?”

“They probably all know we’re a couple. You cried your eyes out when I gave you the ring. Everyone’s going to talk about the engaged gay couple, so we can’t come here again.”

His silly grin was irresistibly adorable.

…Such a kind and lovely person.

Just looking at him makes me afraid he’ll wear out.

The thought of the violence that must have been inflicted on him over the years cuts deep. The silence stretched as their gazes remained locked, and Yeon-woo looked down.

“Is it weird if I say I’m so happy right now?”

“What’s weird about that?”

Yeon-woo fidgeted with their intertwined hands. His thumb traced Seo-joon’s ring before hesitantly asking,

“…Is it really wrong to say I’m even happier not to see my father anymore?”

Seo-joon gently stroked his cheek.

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Sometimes, even familial bonds need to be severed. Just because someone is family doesn’t mean you have to endure everything. Seo-joon believed everyone should have the right to distance themselves from violence.

“You’ve done nothing wrong, Yeon-woo. This was just a measure I took on my own.”

“….”

“Cha Kyung-soo will start a new life on his own, thanks to you. You’ve done your duty well enough.”

He wanted to give his lover only beautiful things, like in a fairy tale. For someone who’s only ever known the worst of life, he wanted Yeon-woo to see and hear only the good, dazzling things.

He wished Yeon-woo would never know how much was invested in removing the parasite called Cha Kyung-soo from his life or how miserably that parasite would deteriorate.

✽✽✽

3 a.m.

Seo-joon quietly opened his eyes in the dark and checked the time. It was probably afternoon in that other place right now.

“….”

He slowly lifted his upper body and leaned over to check on Yeon-woo. He kissed Yeon-woo’s closed eyelids, and felt the arms wrapped around his waist tighten just slightly.

His steady breathing was utterly endearing. Seo-joon watched his sleeping lover for a long while, brushed away stray hairs, and pulled the blanket up to cover him.

The chill of dawn swept over Seo-joon as soon as he left the bed. Grabbing a cardigan he’d thrown to the side, he slipped it on and sat on the living room couch, pulling his tablet onto his lap.

First, he activated the security app, switching on all features—caller ID restriction, location tracking prevention, and call recording prevention. Then, he opened the video call app.

―[(202) XXX-XXXX]

While the signal was going through, he connected his Bluetooth earphones and turned on the lamp beside the couch. The dim light cast a soft glow over Seo-joon’s face on the screen.

After a few rings, the other screen lit up.

Shuffle, shuffle. Footsteps and murmurs of people could be heard. Occasionally, glimpses of the background revealed a military cafeteria during the day. The screen went dark for a few seconds, perhaps covered by a hand, then brightened again.

Finally, a blonde Caucasian man’s face filled the frame.

―[Hi.]

He seemed rather excited, peering closely into the camera with wide eyes as if to observe Seo-joon.

―[Wow! You’re so handsome! You’re the best-looking Asian I’ve ever seen!]

“…That’s the rudest greeting I’ve ever received.”

That was Seo-joon and Eric’s first conversation.

―[Oh, did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean to offend you, my friend. I was just surprised….]

The cheerful man appeared to be a fairly typical Caucasian. He seemed like someone who grew up in a well-off family in the suburbs, lived in a nice country house, played hockey in boarding school, and stylishly declined partner requests from girls during prom season.

With a hint of cheekiness, the man clasped his hands together in an apologetic gesture.

―[I truly apologize. I don’t want to ruin my historic first meeting with a fellow like you through a stupid mistake.]

Seo-joon looked at him skeptically. The term “fellow” rubbed him the wrong way, but it wasn’t entirely negative. If this man was indeed a No-Named, then this meeting was also significant for Seo-joon.

―[Have you ever talked to any other No-Named?]

“This is my first time. If you’re really No-Named.”

Eric grinned slightly at Seo-joon’s words.

―[How can I prove I’m No-Named?]

Seo-joon sighed and leaned back.

“Do you think I made this video call just to evaluate someone’s appearance?”

―[Ah, yes. Smart guy.]

Eric grinned, extending his hand forward. Tendrils stretched across the screen, momentarily turning it black before retreating to reveal his smiling face.

“That’s it? I’m only inclined to believe about 10%.”

―[Only 10%? You’re quite the skeptic.]

When Seo-joon remained unresponsive, Eric’s voice rose like an impatient child.

―[Show me yours too!]

“No.”

Eric tilted his head, clearly surprised by the rejection.

“Why should I?”

It was you who insisted on having a conversation. Maintaining his neutral expression, Seo-joon continued.

“What reason is there for me to prove my identity to you just to keep talking?”

―[Wow, that’s harsh… Do you know how much I struggled to speak with you without the deputy director noticing?]

Feigning disappointment, Eric began venting.

―[That fucking lunatic insists on using a phone just like mine! That goddamn old translation device operates like garbage, is heavily encrypted with shit security, and the deputy director keeps coming and going while you refuse to cooperate, leaving me no time—]

Eric peppered his rant about the deputy director with a variety of colorful insults and profanities. But since Seo-joon had never met this deputy director from IGTS, he couldn’t share Eric’s intense disdain.

Just as Seo-joon wondered how much longer he had to listen to this whining, Eric thankfully ended his tirade and waited eagerly for Seo-joon’s response.

“So, what’s your point?”

Even then, there wasn’t much Seo-joon could offer. He had no obligation to humor Eric’s mood.

Seeing that Seo-joon had completely ignored his rant, Eric shrugged. He seemed unfazed by Seo-joon’s reaction. With a sly smile, he asked,

―[How are you feeling lately?]

Seo-joon frowned. This guy…

“Stop wasting time with nonsense and get to the point.”

There was no way he’d gone through this much trouble to reach out just for casual pleasantries. Seo-joon was in no mood to waste time on idle chit-chat.

―[Nonsense? This is the point. I really reached out because I wanted to know.]

Seo-joon let out a wry laugh.

“You went through all this just because you wanted to know how I’m feeling? Well, thanks to you, I feel pretty shitty right now.”

A shadow fell over Eric’s face, and he regarded Seo-joon seriously.

―[You know. The recent events involving us… I’m talking about the possibilities that have opened up since Sergei Onopko’s rampage.]

‘I drove Seryozha to rampage.’

‘Seryozha wanted it.’

Cha Yeon-woo had pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, but suddenly, the voice returned.

―[I genuinely want to hear other No-Named stories.]

‘The No-Named of South Korea, Ji Seo-joon.’

―[I want to know what they think about our existence.]

‘Soon, the entire world will tell you to die.’

Even recalling that chilling baritone voice and the gaunt face it belonged to was unsettling.

―[What does it feel like to be an alien crash-landed on Earth?]