TSG 104

“Do you have any idea what it might be?”

Although he didn’t know what content was on the USB Ha Jin-seong had handed to his secretary, he suspected it was related to SR.

In response to Ha Min-hyuk’s question, Shin Tae-oh nodded.

“Se-hyun did come across something.”

Because of that, he had gone on a business trip to Ulsan to sort out the situation. Somehow, it seemed too quiet for bait thrown by Ha Jin-seong.

“I’m starting to see a picture.”

The corruption case had already been dealt with internally. Those guys were now quietly going in and out of the prosecutor’s office, so even if an article came out, they could quell it by saying legal procedures were already underway. But Ha Jin-seong could use this as leverage.

It seemed he was trying to declare that the consortium couldn’t be maintained, citing image damage and trust issues. Shin Tae-oh acted as if he found it amusing.

“Do you think he’ll use Ha Jin-wong?”

Ha Min-hyuk asked, unable to bear Shin Tae-oh’s lack of concern.

“I’m considering whether to let go of Ha Jin-seong’s hand or to drag things out.”

Letting go meant turning their backs on each other.

The partnership relationship falling apart wasn’t what Ha Min-hyuk had hoped for. But there was nothing he could do.

“I hope you make a decision that’s good for everyone.”

Having finished his business, Ha Min-hyuk stood up but couldn’t easily leave. He had said all he needed to say, but his heavy feet suggested his heart wasn’t settled.

“I’m sorry.”

He was the one who had first approached Shin Tae-oh and proposed the consortium. Despite the losses outweighing the gains, Shin Tae-oh had willingly joined hands. He had been confident they could do well going forward, but his choice had ruined everything.

“I thought it would be an opportunity to sort things out.”
He thought that Ha Jin-seong’s abilities were sufficient to handle the project, so there wouldn’t be any business issues. He just thought it might be a chance to untangle the complicated relationships between them. Not knowing it was his own misunderstanding.

“I’ll repay this debt someday.”

At Ha Min-hyuk’s pledge, Shin Tae-oh stared intently at his face. He seemed to be trying to gauge his sincerity.

“It’s not a debt, it’s a favor.”

Shin Tae-oh replied, having read that Ha Min-hyuk’s genuine regret. Only then did Ha Min-hyuk turn away with a somewhat lighter expression.

After he left, Shin Tae-oh, now alone, ordered a fresh coffee. He savored the warm, steaming coffee one sip at a time.

“The atmosphere isn’t great.”

He should be drinking this while listening to the sound of rain in a car filled with the rich scent of coffee.

If what Ha Min-hyuk said was true, the article could be published at any time, but Shin Tae-oh was relaxed. He even sat with his legs crossed, looking out the window before picking up his phone to call Se-hyun.

“Were you waiting for my call?”

Before the phone could even ring, Se-hyun’s voice came through, making Shin Tae-oh chuckle.

“I didn’t call to joke around. Mostly I wanted to hear your voice, and next is… Ha Jin-seong.”

Listening to Se-hyun’s breathing, Shin Tae-oh leisurely got up from his seat.

“Should I handle it? Or…”

You, Se-hyun?

⍣⍣⍣

Reading the article about SR Construction’s corruption, Se-hyun let out a long sigh. Even if he had seen the article before Shin Tae-oh’s contact, he could guess who was behind it.

Seeing the contents of the report he had left behind after rejecting Ha Jin-seong’s proposal now published in the news left him feeling uneasy. While the Ulsan corruption case was something they had already prepared for and could quickly deal with, the consortium now stood on the brink of collapse.

The first to blame were those who had committed the corruption. After that, it was Se-hyun’s fault for underestimating Ha Jin-seong. He had thought he could memorize part of the report and handle it, but it had backfired completely.

What he had done had turned into a conflict not even present in the original work. Although he couldn’t immediately think of how to resolve it…

-I’ll wait for you.

Shin Tae-oh’s gentle voice, reassuring him, moved Se-hyun. He knew how much strength it gave to have someone supporting his back. Using that strength as a foundation, Se-hyun began to move.

Se-hyun entered the cafe with his phone in his pocket.

“Seeing you here… is this a coincidence? Or… did you come looking for me?”

Ha Jin-seong, who was sipping his coffee, muttered to himself as he looked up at Se-hyun standing in front of him.

“Both.”

As he sat down, the café owner personally brought over a cup of coffee. Se-hyun gave a silent nod of thanks before wrapping both hands around the mug.

It was beyond warming his hands – it was hot. It wasn’t just because of the heating. It was evidence that winter was retreating and spring was coming.

“When I called the company, they said you weren’t at your desk, so I thought about where you might be. I wasn’t certain you’d be here, but I found you.”

“Looks like you did.”

Ha Jin-seong smiled mischievously as he looked out the window. On a rainy late afternoon with no passersby, he tapped the table in rhythm with the sound of raindrops hitting the window frame.

“The article must have already been published. Why did you come? Nothing will change by you coming here.”

“I know.”

Se-hyun acted as though it was a matter that didn’t concern him at all.

“You’re not even thinking of trying to stop it. Why? Did you leave that company?”

Ha Jin-seong rested his chin on his hand and asked playfully.

“Are you hoping I’ll take you back even now? To keep the consortium going?”

“…”

“If you want, I can make you my secretary.”

Though Ha Jin-seong was speaking excitedly, Se-hyun didn’t bother to respond. He just kept looking at Ha Jin-seong’s face.

Eventually, even Ha Jin-seong fell silent, and the only sounds between them were the occasional conversations between customers and the cafe owner.

Se-hyun didn’t miss how the smile on Ha Jin-seong’s lips slowly faded. Until he came to meet Ha Jin-seong, Se-hyun didn’t know how to resolve this situation.

Wandering around like this felt reckless, and if it hadn’t been for Shin Tae-oh, he might have stopped halfway.

Facing Ha Jin-seong now, he knew what needed to be resolved between them.

“You…”

After a long silence, Se-hyun began.

“You’re not very good at acting.”

“What?”

“Unless you’re genuinely excited, there’s no need to force an act that doesn’t suit you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Ha Jin-seong turned his head, showing his displeasure. Se-hyun smiled, noticing Ha Jin-seong’s embarrassment at having his true feelings exposed.

“Have you forgotten that there’s someone around me who’s genuinely excited?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve come all this way to bring up Shin Tae-oh?”

Although Ha Jin-seong openly showed his dislike, Se-hyun calmly admitted it.

“That’s right. Having spent time around someone like him, it’s easy to see through your forced act.”

“Your love for Shin Tae-oh is overflowing.”

“Yes, I do love him. Just thinking about him makes me smile, and there’s a place deep inside that feels a tickle I can’t quite reach. I never knew loving someone could feel this good, or that it could shake me up so much.”

“What an impressive first love.”

At Ha Jin-seong’s sarcasm, Se-hyun smiled and took a sip of coffee.

“Thank you for acknowledging it’s my first love.”

“You said it yourself, what are you thanking me for?”

“I’m also thankful that you liked me.”

“You have… a lot to be thankful for.”

Ha Jin-seong forced out his voice, realizing the meaning midway.

“I learned this time how heavy the feeling of liking someone can be. I also realized how amazing it is to have those feelings for me. That’s why I’m saying this.”

“Instead of trying to change my mind, you’re just saying useless things.”

Though he muttered as if it wasn’t even funny, Ha Jin-seong’s initial calmness disappeared, revealing his emotional turmoil.

“The candy I offered to avoid that situation, the business card I gave suggesting to meet other people… You showed me how heavy those meanings can be for that person.”

“You…”

“I came to apologize for pretending not to know and turning a blind eye.”

“Don’t.”

“I’m sorry.”

Although Ha Jin-seong tried to cut him off quickly, Se-hyun stubbornly continued his intentions.

“This is what I have to say today.”

Perhaps this is what Shin Tae-oh had in mind? He wasn’t waiting for Se-hyun to push forward with the consortium, but meaning for him to resolve unfinished conversations with Ha Jin-seong…

“You’re selfish to the end. How many times do you have to reject me before you’re satisfied?”

Ha Jin-seong gritted his teeth and looked at Se-hyun with resentment.

“Yes, I deliberately released the article. I’m breaking the consortium because of you too. I wanted to corner you for choosing to go to Shin Tae-oh.”

Ha Jin-seong’s eyes sharpened, and his clenched jaw muscles bulged threateningly towards Se-hyun.

“You were my first too.”

Ha Jin-seong’s eyes burned fiercely, as if disappointment had piled up and turned into resentment.

“If you knew my secret, you should have run away in fear. How can you approach as if you understand everything and then run away like this?”

“I’m not running away.”

“Really? Then give me a chance. Come work by my side and give me the same chance you gave Shin Tae-oh.”

The air around them grew heavy along with Ha Jin-seong’s sharp emotions. It was clear that his pheromones, though scentless, were enveloping Se-hyun.

“Isn’t this unfair?”

“From the beginning…”

Se-hyun struggled to breathe and stopped mid-sentence. The pheromone intensity seemed to be quite high.

“It was never fair. I love the CEO. How could there be another chance?”

Since he had jumped into the center of the original work for Shin Tae-oh’s sake, there was no room to create a place for Ha Jin-seong from the start.

“But how about something else?”

“I’m not in the mood to make deals…”

As Ha Jin-seong spoke, unable to calm himself, Se-hyun reached out his hand.

“Let’s be friends.”

Ha Jin-seong looked down with blank eyes as if he had heard something ridiculous, and Se-hyun waved his hand as if asking him to grab it quickly.

“Be my friend.”

“You selfish jerk… You expect me to suppress my feelings for you and just watch from the sidelines?”

“Someone will come along to comfort your heart.”

Though that person wouldn’t be Se-hyun.

“Do you realize how selfish you are?”

“So, what’s your answer?”

As Se-hyun pressed for an answer, Ha Jin-seong clicked his tongue in frustration.

“Friends can become lovers, you know. What will you do about Shin Tae-oh when that happens?”

“I’ll figure it out. For now, you’re agreeing to be friends, right? Ah, I speak informally to my friends, is that okay?”

As Se-hyun subtly switched to informal speech, Ha Jin-seong glared at him fiercely.

“Not yet, I see. Ah, this is just me talking to myself. Instead, if we become friends, I’ll put up with all that nasty temper of yours.”

“Nasty… what?”

“And this is a secret.”

Se-hyun leaned forward as if worried others might hear. Despite Ha Jin-seong’s contemptuous look that seemed to ask what he was doing, Se-hyun lowered his voice regardless.

“I don’t have any friends. You’re my first.”

Ha Jin-seong hesitated as if dumbfounded, then finally let out a laugh.

“Since you rejected me, I’m going to torment you for a long time. And then you’ll fall for me.”

“Go ahead.”

“You know how persistent I am, right?”

“If this were a novel, you’d probably be the final villain, Director. Because you’d torment the protagonist to the end.”

As Se-hyun calmly said that he was the worst person, Ha Jin-seong was about to cause a scene, forgetting they were in a cafe.

“You shouldn’t do that in a public place.”

Se-hyun’s attempt to stop him only excited Ha Jin-seong more.

⍣⍣⍣

The article was settled, citing legal procedures, and the consortium remained intact.