IPSTDS Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Meanwhile, Seo Dowoong stared intently at Yoon Noah, who had fallen silent, lost in thought, and couldn’t answer easily.

‘Look at that. In the end, he doesn’t want me to end up with Kim Daon, but he’s pretending otherwise.’

The act was so transparent it was ridiculous—and oddly cute.

…Wait, cute?

Ever since Noah had turned cold, there were times when he seemed strangely cute.

Seo Dowoong wondered if his tastes had gone strange.

After all, when Noah had poured his heart out and expressed his love with everything he had, he found it repulsive. But now, when Noah seemed to dislike him, he found it… endearing? That didn’t make sense.

Still, he couldn’t just leave Noah alone when he rejected him. He couldn’t understand it, but he also couldn’t accept it.

Was it because Noah had loved him for so long?

Then what did he even want to do with him?

Was he acting out of character because he wanted to go back to being friends?

Or… something like lovers—

‘No, that can’t be it.’

Seo Dowoong scowled. No matter how different Noah seemed now, the thought of being lovers was absurd.

And yet, the strange emotions he felt carried a sense of déjà vu.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Noah’s face, his mind wandering.

Back in high school, when he had spoken harshly to him. Even now, he could admit he had overreacted.

He had known Noah was only hanging around Park Sangcheol for his sake, yet he ignored him for a long while.

He had told himself it was because of the pressure from his parents, because they demanded perfection from him, and Noah was a convenient target. But in truth, there had been another reason that annoyed him more.

Feelings he had long forgotten resurfaced suddenly after Noah’s words today.

‘I really hated it when Noah smiled at Park Sangcheol.’

Couldn’t he have helped in another way?

Instead of getting close to Sangcheol, couldn’t he have just beaten him down so he wouldn’t dare crawl back up again?

Noah was already a discarded son in his family. Even if he hit someone, it wouldn’t have made much difference.

So why smile like that, why act like he was seducing him? He couldn’t understand.

That anger had made him look down on Noah even more.

Of course, he never once admitted his true feelings to Noah. Back then, he was ashamed of the idea of having such feelings for a friend.

And then, after “that incident,” he found himself losing all affection for Noah.

But maybe time really was a healer—because now, the resentment and sense of betrayal he had once felt toward Noah no longer seemed to matter.

The one most at fault in “that incident” had been Park Sangcheol, and Noah had only been dragged into it. In fact, he had done it out of misguided affection…

Even so, Seo Dowoong had no intention of telling Noah now that he had been too harsh back then. The past was past.

The problem was now.

Now, when he had fallen out with Kim Daon in an unexpected way. Now, when Noah had suddenly changed and stirred up a strange curiosity in him.

What was he supposed to do about now?

“Noah.”

“…What?”

“You still haven’t answered. Do you want me to end up with Kim Daon?”

In the end, Noah shook his head.

That honest gesture made Seo Dowoong burst into laughter.

* * *

Hearing Seo Dowoong’s laugh, Nahyuk realized instantly.

‘He’s gotten the wrong idea again.’

He quickly added,

“No, what I meant was that Daon’s wasted on you. Not that I have any interest in you.”

“Alright, I understand.”

“…”

It sounded like he hadn’t understood at all.

“I said no.”

“When I’m willing to listen to you, it’s best if you just admit it.”

“You—damn it…”

The curse slipped out of Nahyuk’s mouth before he could stop himself. Startled, he realized he must have been truly frustrated to the point of swearing—something he almost never did.

If he let this continue, Seo Dowoong would only keep misunderstanding and pestering him. He might even drag him around, forgetting that he didn’t have long to live.

No, this had to be stopped. He needed to use a decisive move, something that would end this endless cycle once and for all.

And so Nahyuk said the words that could break Dowoong’s delusion.

“And for the record, I like someone else now.”

“What?”

“There’s another man I like more than you.”

“Who?”

“I have no reason to tell you that.”

It worked. The smug smile on Dowoong’s face twisted at once.

Still, it didn’t seem like he fully believed him yet. Nahyuk wondered what else he could say to convince him completely.

And then Dowoong himself solved that problem.

“…Don’t tell me it’s Lee Kangil.”

Lee Kangil. That wasn’t such a bad guess.

Besides, Nahyuk had been feeling a strange excitement toward him lately. Hadn’t Kangil also said he thought of him positively?

Without hesitation, Nahyuk agreed.

“Yeah, it’s Lee Kangil. In fact, we like each other.”

Of course, that part was a lie. He hadn’t gotten Kangil’s permission to say it.

But Kangil would surely enjoy seeing Dowoong upset. Nahyuk was certain he’d understand if he explained later.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“It’s not ridiculous.”

Even without a kiss exchanged, Nahyuk felt brimming with confidence.

If he called Kangil right now and confessed, he felt sure Kangil would answer with, “I like you too.”

‘Should I actually try calling him right now?’

He even remembered the embarrassing nickname Kangil had used for him recently. With that in mind, he pulled out his phone and dialed Kangil’s number—the one he had been calling most often these days.

The phone rang only twice.

Lee Kangil answered immediately, as though he had been waiting.

“Hello.”

His slightly husky voice, heavy with drowsiness, was sensual.

Nahyuk turned on speakerphone so that Seo Dowoong could hear.

“Kangil, I’m with Seo Dowoong right now. Call me what you did last time. He’s doubting our relationship.”

He thought Kangil, quick-witted as ever, would immediately understand.

‘Honey, you’re here?’

Just like the other day, Nahyuk had no doubt Kangil would call him the same way again.

Sure enough, Lee Kangil’s voice rang out, sharp with indignation.

–…Seo Dowoong dares to doubt us?

“…”

Anyone listening would think they had been dating for years.

Before long, Kangil’s voice softened into something sweet, almost playful.

–Honey!

The word rang out so loudly it seemed to fill the entire office. Kangil had gone above and beyond Nahyuk’s expectations.

–My honey, did you want to hear me call you that so badly? Should I spend the whole night whispering it to you? I’m already getting excited just thinking about it.

“…”

…Could he take back his gratitude already?

Nahyuk barely managed to smooth over the stiff expression on his face.

“Kangil, let’s talk later. On that exciting night you mentioned…”

Before Kangil could reply, Nahyuk hurriedly hung up.

“See? You heard him, Seo Dowoong.”

“…”

Seo Dowoong said nothing, but from the heavy atmosphere around him, it was clear he was in a foul mood.

Nahyuk no longer wanted to sit there with him.

He had come to Hansan Group headquarters only because of Chairman Yoon Taesik’s request, and Dowoong had already said he’d handle the work. That was more than enough reason to leave.

Not only did Nahyuk have no desire to comfort Dowoong, he didn’t even want to endure the suffocating air in the room.

“I’m going. You handle the company matters yourself, just like you said. After all, you’re the one who started this.”

“…”

What if Dowoong tried to stop him from leaving?

But contrary to his worries, Dowoong stayed frozen in his chair behind the desk. Nahyuk slipped out of the executive office and all but fled from the building.

Once outside, the tightness in his chest finally eased.

“Haa.”

The moment he climbed into the waiting car, Nahyuk dialed Kangil again.

As before, Kangil picked up immediately.

–Honey, why are you calling again?

That now-familiar nickname rolled off his tongue effortlessly.

“Thanks for earlier. Seo Dowoong kept spouting nonsense, so I needed an excuse.”

–Mm, so he still refuses to believe you don’t like him anymore?

“Yeah. I’ve told him I don’t, over and over, but he just won’t listen. I’ve been as firm as I can, but it’s so frustrating.”

–Well, I didn’t believe you right away either. So how could Seo Dowoong? Not that I’m taking his side. It’s just… you did love him for a very long time.

It was Nahyuk’s own decision to change his heart, but somehow Kangil seemed even more thoughtful about it than he was. For someone like him, it felt strangely sentimental.

–But what worries me more is you, honey. I don’t want you suffering over it.

“…”

Yeah, sentimental really didn’t suit Kangil.

From the other end, Kangil chuckled softly.

“How long are you going to keep calling me honey?”

–Until Seo Dowoong fully believes you.

“You sound like you’re ready to play the role of my lover right in front of him.”

–And why not? With you, I could.

“…What?”

–Besides, if I pretend to be your lover, it’ll help me sort out my own feelings too. And it might even help with that thing you suggested.

“What thing I suggested?”

–Making Seo Dowoong kneel.

Nahyuk wasn’t sure something as simple as pretending to date Kangil would ever make Seo Dowoong bow his head.

But strangely, the word “no” didn’t come to his lips.

–So, Yoon Noah. What do you think?