CI 3.15

Trying not to act awkward, Son Yeo-il opened the bar door and entered. The atmosphere inside was calmer than expected, and the interior itself looked like an upscale cocktail bar.

However, the spacious area filled exclusively with men created an inherent sense of incongruity. Moreover, the men who came here were all dressed up like peacocks with fluffed feathers.

One fortunate point was that in this place, Son Yeo-il’s printed shirt didn’t stand out much. Originally worried that he might look like a clown, Son Yeo-il finally straightened his shoulders with relief, seeing that he fit right in.

Following their pre-arranged route, Son Yeo-il sat at a counter seat somewhat far from the entrance and ordered a beer. Rolling his eyes to survey the atmosphere, he saw many people rubbing shoulders or hands, though not as intimate as the men in the corridor, and even more people exchanging flirtatious glances.

Everyone’s going wild. Ah, there’s Hee-yeon.

Amidst the chaotic scene, Son Yeo-il spotted Won Hee-yeon, who had entered the bar slightly before him. Won Hee-yeon was receiving a non-alcoholic cocktail at the counter and moving toward the standing tables in the back of the establishment.

The way he walked with large strides while sucking his colorful cocktail through a straw was strangely eye-catching. It wasn’t just because he was Son Yeo-il’s lover—among the peacocks busy showing off their feathers, Won Hee-yeon was like a solitary white swan.

Having downed his cocktail in just a few steps, Won Hee-yeon settled at an empty table and shook his empty glass around as if to say, ‘What’s this? I’ve finished it already?’ Just as a smile was about to form at how cute he looked, two men approached Won Hee-yeon and started talking to him.

Huh? Who are those people? Did they just touch Hee-yeon’s shoulder?

Son Yeo-il unconsciously opened his beer bottle with rougher hands and gulped it down. Although they had planned to naturally ask about Koo Dae-hyun if they ended up mixing with other patrons, Son Yeo-il found it quite unpleasant that Won Hee-yeon wasn’t shooing those men away and was even exchanging a few words with them.

As Won Hee-yeon maintained a sullen expression throughout the conversation, the men who had approached him eventually backed away, smacking their lips together as if giving up.

Though Son Yeo-il felt momentary relief, he knew that the ordeal was far from over. Before the song playing in the bar even changed, another man approached Won Hee-yeon and began pestering him.

While Son Yeo-il was repeatedly thinking, I should focus on my work instead of just staring at Hee-yeon,’No, but those men…,’ Ignore it. I decided not to be jealous and to have a mature relationship, No, but fuck that bastard, someone approached Son Yeo-il as well and struck up a conversation.

“Did you come alone?”

“Shh.”

Mission or not, Son Yeo-il raised his index finger to his lips and uttered a decisive single syllable without even bothering to glance at the person speaking to him. His gaze remained fixed on Won Hee-yeon.

While Son Yeo-il drove away three or four men using similar methods, Won Hee-yeon also exchanged words with several men. It might have been his mood, but Won Hee-yeon seemed quite familiar with this kind of place, and there appeared to be some faces he already knew among those he was talking with.

Just as Son Yeo-il was ordering another bottle of beer to cool his boiling insides, a message notification from Won Hee-yeon appeared. Son Yeo-il opened the screen with narrowed eyes, intending to reply, ‘Are you enjoying yourself? I’m asking if you’re having fun.’ But then.

[Honey, pull up your mask.] 

The message from Won Hee-yeon was a signal that Koo Dae-hyun had made an appearance at the establishment. Son Yeo-il quickly pulled up the mask hanging on his chin to cover his nose while glancing sideways at the entrance. The still slick-faced Koo Dae-hyun was entering the bar. Beside him was the man from the captured photos that Oh Yu-na had shown him previously.

Is that the right person? It seems like it. 

The man in the lewd chat photos that Son Yeo-il had seen was half-naked and making a seductive expression, so it was unclear whether that man and this one were the same person. In fact, such details didn’t really matter. The important fact was that the moment Koo Dae-hyun entered the bar, a photo opportunity arose.

Next to the bar’s entrance, the name ‘Sixnine’ was written in neon signs, and Koo Dae-hyun happened to be sticking closely to his partner right in that area. With one arm wrapped around the back of the waist, firmly gripping just above the buttocks, it certainly didn’t look like ordinary skinship between same-sex friends.

Son Yeo-il didn’t miss the moment and quickly turned on a silent camera app, then immediately took photographs of the two of them. By unexpected luck, he was able to capture usable photos more quickly than expected.

Is this enough? If I stay here longer, could I take more definitive photos? 

Perhaps having been an insider in this scene, several men jumped out to greet Koo Dae-hyun when he appeared. After stopping near the entrance to exchange greetings with them for a while, Koo Dae-hyun, unfortunately, chose to settle at a bar table right near Son Yeo-il.

Son Yeo-il slightly furrowed his brow. If only Koo Dae-hyun would go to a dark table in the back of the establishment and rub lips with his partner, but the current spot was too bright and conspicuous for any strange behavior.

It didn’t seem very likely that the situation would change if he continued to just wait around. He was debating whether to retreat or wait longer in case something happened.

Wait. What’s that now? 

Son Yeo-il’s brow furrowed more as he checked where Won Hee-yeon was. Just then, another man was approaching Won Hee-yeon. Won Hee-yeon seemed to be responding halfheartedly while checking his phone screen.

Whatever was said, the man who had approached burst into laughter, throwing his head back. Then he went so far as to rest his chin on his hands and lean his face close to Won Hee-yeon.

No, that’s going too far! 

His insides boiled with rage again. Forget about getting more definitive photos—he felt they shouldn’t stay any longer in such a place of loose morals. Son Yeo-il turned his gaze to check the exit route. To get out, he would have to pass right behind Koo Dae-hyun, who was sitting at the bar table, but it seemed possible to slip out without any problems.

The atmosphere was chaotic anyway, and with his hat, mask, and unfamiliar glasses, he thought Koo Dae-hyun, who had his back turned to the bartender, wouldn’t recognize him.

[Hee-yeon, I’m leaving.] 

Son Yeo-il sent a message to Won Hee-yeon and then stood up from his seat. Thinking he should wait in Won Hee-yeon’s car parked nearby, he quickly walked away.

However, even a dung beetle has its rolling skills, and it seemed Koo Dae-hyun had the extraordinary talent of recognizing even the slightest trace of his ex-boyfriend. The moment Son Yeo-il brushed past his back, Koo Dae-hyun started and immediately turned toward Son Yeo-il, asking, “Excuse me.” 

He could have just walked out pretending not to hear anything, but Son Yeo-il hesitated. Just hearing that voice made his heart sink, so it couldn’t be helped. He heard Koo Dae-hyun’s companion asking, “Honey, what’s wrong?” followed by Koo Dae-hyun’s question.

“Do you know me? Could you take off your hat for a moment?” 

Though he wanted to feign ignorance, the moment he answered, his voice would give him away. Realizing that leaving naturally was no longer an option, Son Yeo-il pulled his hat down further  over his face and began to walk quickly.

The moment he left the establishment, Son Yeo-il moved almost at a running pace. However, the dimly lit corridor to the building entrance was as long as a maze, and Son Yeo-il had only climbed a couple of steps on the staircase at the end of the corridor when Koo Dae-hyun caught up with him.

“Hey!” 

Whether it was a habit of grabbing people’s wrists or not, Koo Dae-hyun grabbed Son Yeo-il’s arm again. About to shake him off and run again, Son Yeo-il took a moment to catch his breath, thinking that a chase would only repeat itself.

Is there any reason to run away? Being gay and going to a gay bar isn’t wrong. I can pretend I just came here to hang out, not because of him. But then, would the photos I just took become unusable as evidence? If he comes at me looking for a mud fight, it could harm my client. And also, my story… 

Quick-thinking Son Yeo-il envisioned variables and crises several moves ahead and became preemptively frightened. As the silence lengthened, Koo Dae-hyun’s suspicion seemed to grow, and he firmly gripped Son Yeo-il’s wrist, asking, “I said take off your hat just once. Why are you pretending not to hear?” 

“Honey. What’s wrong with you, really?” 

“Just wait a moment. This person seems familiar.” 

While Koo Dae-hyun’s partner, who had followed along, was arguing with him, another voice cut in.

“Are you filming a movie? Why are you grabbing the wrist of someone who’s just passing by?” 

Won Hee-yeon stood at a slight distance from Koo Dae-hyun with both hands thrust into his jacket pockets. Though his tone was joking, Son Yeo-il could feel that he was furious to the tips of his hair.

Just as when they had encountered each other last time, he clearly wanted to rush at Koo Dae-hyun and remove the hand that was holding Son Yeo-il, but he seemed to be restraining himself lest Koo Dae-hyun recognize his identity. Because if he did, even the obtuse Koo Dae-hyun would be certain that the person he had grabbed was Son Yeo-il.

“W-Who are you to interfere…Sir?”

 Intimidated by Won Hee-yeon’s demeanor, Koo Dae-hyun started to speak informally but then added a small “Sir” at the end. Koo Dae-hyun’s partner, caught up in this unexpected situation, kept glancing at Won Hee-yeon while pulling on Koo Dae-hyun’s other arm.

“Honey. Let’s just go back inside. You might be mistaken. When you’re rolling around in this scene, one guy looks like another.” 

“Just let go of this. I’m doing this because it doesn’t seem like a mistake.” 

“Let’s just go. Can’t you see that man’s angry? Why are you trying to pick a fight with someone you can’t win against?”

At the urging of his quick-witted partner, the comment seemed to have hit him where it hurt and Koo Dae-hyun instantly became enraged.

“What? Someone I can’t win against? This is ridiculous. Ha, do you know that person?” 

“Rather than knowing…no, actually, he’s been looking familiar. Excuse me. Have we met before? Do you come to this establishment often?”

Ever since earlier, Koo Dae-hyun’s partner, who couldn’t take his eyes off Won Hee-yeon, finally struck up a conversation. Though perceptive but not inappropriate, his tone was flirtatious as if trying to flirt even in this type of situation.

Koo Dae-hyun became even more irritated. Despite having abandoned his own partner to follow Son Yeo-il around, he seemed twisted with jealousy seeing his partner trying to hit on someone else.

“Hey, what are you doing?” 

“What? You said you know him. I’m just trying to confirm.” 

“Do you have to do that here? On the day we’re meeting?” 

“Are you really in a position to say that?”

As Koo Dae-hyun and his partner started raising their voices at each other, the situation increasingly went off track. In Son Yeo-il’s mind, who was watching this mess unfold, a misaligned question arose.

Has that person really met Won Hee-yeon before?

Just as he was about to indulge in untimely imaginative flights, Son Yeo-il felt Won Hee-yeon’s gaze on him. Her winking eye signal was sending this message: ‘Escape now.’

Following this appropriate advice, Son Yeo-il forcefully shook off Koo Dae-hyun’s hand and ran up the stairs. Behind him, he heard Koo Dae-hyun’s voice calling “Hey!” trying to chase after him, and his partner angrily shouting, “Yeah, go ahead! I’ll do whatever I want too!”

Perhaps thinking that if he left, his partner would immediately latch onto Won Hee-yeon, Koo Dae-hyun hesitated in confusion and decided to let Son Yeo-il go.

Thanks to that, Son Yeo-il quickly escaped the building and caught a taxi. The taxi smoothly left the entertainment district and headed toward the hotel he had reserved. Checking the photos on his phone, he found explicit scenes clearly captured, sufficient to use as evidence.