CI 4.7

One might think he had been very bored waiting, but the traces looked more like signs of anxiety rather than boredom. Considering what could have made him so anxious while waiting for Son Yeo-il, who had just gone into the cafe right in front of him, it seemed his chronic condition had flared up again.

Again, again. Look at this, he couldn’t even wait that long without getting jealous. What is this, he’s not a puppy with separation anxiety, is he?

Won Hee-yeon was always admirably mature at other times, but there was one aspect that could be called a character flaw. Whenever Son Yeo-il appeared to be close with someone else, he would lose his sense of judgment as if his eyes had rolled back.

For a while, he had been mean like Cinderella’s stepmother to Hong-shik, Kim Gyu-sang, and Oh Jae-deok, his “younger brothers,” just because they had exchanged contact information with Son Yeo-il. Then, for the past few days, he had been on edge about today’s appointment.

Originally, when Park Min-jung said she “used to live in Yongju City but doesn’t know the good restaurants,” Son Yeo-il had thought of going to the Saebangyi Jjigae restaurant with her, but Won Hee-yeon threw a fit, saying he couldn’t go there without him, so they changed the location to a brunch cafe.

Usually, people would be okay with a stew restaurant, but not a brunch cafe. He really has unusual standards.

It was jealousy that clearly crossed the line, but he couldn’t point out every situation. Since Yongju City was so small that they hardly ever ran into strangers, it usually didn’t show, but in terms of jealousy, Son Yeo-il might actually be worse.

During their Hawaii trip, Son Yeo-il’s expression would freeze whenever someone looked at or spoke to Won Hee-yeon, and later he even got upset and fought over something trivial. Of course, thanks to Won Hee-yeon’s coaxing and soothing, they made up in less than an hour.

Thinking they were well-matched, even the paper cups and candy sticks that Won Hee-yeon had chewed like a dog looked cute. Son Yeo-il smiled brightly and gently tapped both of Won Hee-yeon’s cheeks with his hands.

“I had a good talk with my friend. It was fun, but I kept thinking about you the whole time.”

If Park Min-jung had given him the chance, Son Yeo-il would still be there, bragging about Won Hee-yeon. At Son Yeo-il’s words, Won Hee-yeon grinned happily. Son Yeo-il looked back at him with eyes containing exactly the same amount of joy.

His fond gaze touched his lover’s handsome eyebrows, then his slightly flushed cheeks, then his broad, flat chest, and then…huh?

“Why are you like this? I didn’t say anything sexy just now.”

Having inadvertently scanned Won Hee-yeon’s crotch, Son Yeo-il was startled and turned his head to the side. He wasn’t a teenage boy, and they hadn’t just started dating, but Won Hee-yeon still expressed his excitement through changes in his erectile tissue whenever Son Yeo-il said anything.

“No, you stimulated me first.”

“I did?”

“Oh my. You’re going to cause big trouble. Hmm? Turning people on at all times of the day. Our Son Yeo-il is a dangerous element, that’s what. Tsk. I was planning to go somewhere else for dinner before heading home, but that won’t work now. We need to go straight home.”

Won Hee-yeon muttered busily as he started the car. The veins on the back of his hand gripping the steering wheel were bulging, and his breath was fierce. Faced with this ominous momentum, Son Yeo-il tilted his head to one side and asked.

“Um…you know today is our day off, right?”

Because things had heated up even more after they started living together, to the point where daily life was becoming difficult, Won Hee-yeon and Son Yeo-il had agreed not to exceed three times a week.

They had already done it on Tuesday and Thursday of last week, and especially on Saturday, yesterday, they had been so intensely at it that his pelvis felt twisted, so it looked like they had already reached the limit for this week. Today was clearly supposed to be a rest day, but Won Hee-yeon shamelessly asserted, “No. We only did it twice this week.”

“What?”

“Wednesday was National Foundation Day. Since Grandfather Dangun founded the country then, we should count the week as starting from that day.”

Ah, here we go again. Ever since they established that rule, whenever the count became unfavorable to him, Won Hee-yeon would change his words, saying “This week starts from Monday,” or “This week starts from Sunday.”

On September 1st, he had insisted, “Even though it’s Friday, it’s the 1st, so the week starts today,” and now he was making excuses about Grandfather Dangun. While Son Yeo-il was too dumbfounded to respond, Won Hee-yeon busily headed home and added one more thing.

“You’re not refuting now. If you don’t refute, it’s considered accepted. That’s the rule.”

Surprisingly, that was indeed a basic principle of civil procedure law. At this point, it was hard to tell who the lawyer was. Son Yeo-il just chuckled and decided to go along with his lover’s unreasonable claim.

“Sigh. Fine. But you have to be gentle.”

“Yes, yes. Somehow, even your sighs are arousing, goodness me.”

Though he said he understood, seeing that Son Yeo-il was willing to comply, Won Hee-yeon became even more excited. With tomorrow being Monday, Son Yeo-il was genuinely afraid he might end up bedridden all week long next week.

“You’ll really be gentle, right? It’s two days in a row.”

“I want to be gentle too, but it’s your fault.”

“What did I do? Is it because I didn’t kiss you before going to the appointment? I couldn’t help it, I was in a hurry because I might be late.”

“Sigh…darling. What am I going to do if you keep being like this?”

Won Hee-yeon sighed deeply and firmly grasped Son Yeo-il’s hand with one of his.

“How can we ever start calmly in bed, even once if you don’t restrain yourself? Acting so cute all the time, you must know what trouble it’s going to cause.”

“What? But I…”

“Yes, I know. What can we do when our Yeo-il is so pretty even when standing still? If being pretty is a crime, my darling deserves life without parole.”

His mouth spouted shameless, cheesy words while below the waist he remained firmly erect. It was amazing how he could be so consistently perverted yet so consistently adoring of Son Yeo-il. The biggest problem was that it seemed like this aspect of him would never change, and even more so, he didn’t dislike it.

It’s not a problem. Rather than a problem, it’s…

Won Hee-yeon was the greatest fortune that had happened to Son Yeo-il. Even though he complained sometimes, Son Yeo-il loved every moment when Won Hee-yeon tormented him, annoyed him, adored him, and embraced him.

“Fine, just focus on driving. It’s a green light now.”

“Oh my, wonderful. The green light is coming on hot and heavy. Right?”

In the end, Son Yeo-il could only laugh as if it were ridiculous. It was a beautiful autumn day. The sky was clear, and the air was cool yet warm. Whether the week started on Monday or Wednesday, if the two of them were together, it was certain that every day would be a good day.

< The End >

Chapter 10: Lucky Hee-yeon (Side Story 1)

Winters in Seoul were exceptionally cold. Though the temperature was similar to his hometown, whether due to the tall, densely packed buildings or the rudeness of the people, Seoul’s air was dry and desolate, seeping into one’s bones.

Today too, Won Hee-yeon returned home after finishing difficult work. No, it was questionable whether this place, which didn’t bring peace of mind even upon returning, could be called home. Won Hee-yeon, cracking his stiff neck back and forth, settled in the smoking area of the officetel parking lot. With his mouth feeling pasty and fishy, he desperately craved a cigarette.

“Whew…”

Taking a deep drag of the bitter smoke, he gazed indifferently at the alley scenery. Having grown up in a small provincial city, mostly hanging around with meddlesome middle-aged men, Won Hee-yeon couldn’t quite get used to this heartless city.

The officetel where Won Hee-yeon lived was sleek on the outside but devoid of light except during midday. Right next to it was a room salon where foreign cars came and went every night, and in the basement of the officetel was a beauty salon where the women working at the room salon got ready every evening.

In short, it was a neighborhood quite fitting for a thug like Won Hee-yeon. Here, he felt he could forget things like guilt, like a pile of dung atop other excrement, and decay into rottenness.

“Meow.”

Ah, that one’s here again. Won Hee-yeon, about to sink into bitter contemplation, clicked his tongue. Without moving much, just rolling his eyes, he saw a yellow-haired kitten, like a piece of straw, peeking out from behind a pillar, showing only half its face while looking at him.

It was a subtle look that said it wanted to come closer but didn’t want to let down its guard. Finding this tiny life form that was acting so difficult quite endearing, Won Hee-yeon giggled and took something out of his pocket.

“You little thing, what are you sitting there staring at? Come here. Today it’s tuna flavored, your favorite.”

He opened a can with a pop and placed it near his foot, but the creature, though tempted by the food with rolling eyes, couldn’t quite approach. Feeling sorry for the way it pawed anxiously at the ground, he stopped teasing and moved the can a few steps away, and only then did it start eating.

This small life form and Won Hee-yeon had been sharing time like this for nearly a month. Not every day, but on days when their timing matched, while Won Hee-yeon smoked a cigarette, that cat would eat the canned food he provided.

That bewitching cat, when they first met, looked so pitifully skinny and trembling that he eventually bought it some crab sticks from the convenience store. From their second encounter, it started staring at him with an expectant expression.

Completely won over by compassion, Won Hee-yeon scraped his meager resources to buy lots of cat food. It felt like he was giving away money extorted from others to a furry creature, but somehow he couldn’t resist the urge.

Watching it bury its small head into the can, making chomping sounds as it ate, he would feel an indescribable tickling beneath his solar plexus, and thoughts would suddenly emerge, Someday, when I can live as I please, I won’t live like this.

For Won Hee-yeon at that time, ‘living as one pleases’ was a term even more vague than a daydream. Orphaned from birth and raised in facilities, Won Hee-yeon had always lived a life more concerned with avoiding the worst outcomes than choosing the better path.

With a massive build and fierce-looking eyes that seemed vicious whenever he frowned even slightly, since his school days, Won Hee-yeon had received invitations to join gangs as naturally as breathing. It was the perfect environment to go astray, but Won Hee-yeon stubbornly refused to mingle with such children.

Because the environment was bad, he knew all too well how things ended for people who took the crooked path. Won Hee-yeon didn’t want to be like that. He wanted to study, function as a proper person, and live diligently.

What good did that do? I ended up like this anyway.

If there was a turning point, it was the part-time job he took to save money for college. The restaurant owner, where he had worked since leaving the facility, providing room and board, turned out to be deeply in debt to loan sharks. As rumors spread about gangsters coming to collect debts, the restaurant soon went bankrupt. Absurdly, the gangsters who ruined Won Hee-yeon’s workplace inexplicably took a liking to him.

<You have the exact appearance for this line of work. With nowhere to go, stop resisting and follow along gratefully when called.>

To the gang member’s suggestion that he learn menial tasks under him, Won Hee-yeon couldn’t bring himself to retort, “Stop talking nonsense. I’m saving money to go to college.” At that time, Won Hee-yeon had no money and nowhere to go.

Eventually, as a low-ranking gang member, Won Hee-yeon’s profession soon after became a frowning matter, and it involved cursing, beating others, and intimidating them. While he had struggled immensely to keep away from violence, life only seemed to get more tangled—but after joining the organization, things started flowing smoothly.

It made him wonder if he was fated to live as a gangster. Being strong, quick-witted, good at flattering others, yet capable of being terrifyingly merciless when needed, it could be considered his calling. Quickly noticed by the higher-ups, Won Hee-yeon was called to Seoul to take on important responsibilities.

Being suited for gangster work, it’s not something to be proud of.

Even while laughing along with the bosses’ praise, Won Hee-yeon’s insides were burning black. Questions occasionally arose. Whether this kind of life was truly successful. Whether it was okay to live with dirty words constantly in his mouth, and a body mottled with tattoos.

The only certainty was that this wasn’t how Won Hee-yeon had wanted to live. The dreams he had while still a child were now fading, and he couldn’t even tell exactly what he wanted now, but it certainly wasn’t this life.

“Meooow.”

The yellow cat, having quickly devoured an entire can, still didn’t leave Won Hee-yeon’s side. While staring at him with its eyes, it gently rubbed itself against the cold asphalt pillar. Won Hee-yeon stubbed out his cigarette and squatted down.

As their gazes drew closer, the cat narrowed its eyes and meowed even louder. He carefully extended his left hand, having stuffed his right hand in his pocket, fearing it might smell of cigarettes or blood, and patted the creature’s spine.

Its short fur was soft, and its skin slightly warm. Despite all the canned food, it was still so thin that its spine was sticking out from its fur. Though cute, being this small raised doubts about its ability to survive the winter safely.

As he stroked it with concern, this cat, despite having looked up at him pleadingly, stiffened in surprise when his touch actually landed. The way it wiggled its bottom and stepped backward seemed ominous, and then—

“Ouch! Oh my, you little rascal.”

The little creature opened its tiny mouth and bit Won Hee-yeon’s finger with all its might. Startled, he quickly pulled his hand away as it darted off and hid behind the pillar again.

With a head no bigger than a walnut, the bite barely left a mark without drawing blood. Though ungrateful, he couldn’t blame it. Won Hee-yeon had been bitten before, just days ago and previously, when he couldn’t resist the urge to pet it.

“Right. I crossed the line again, didn’t I? My head must be made of stone.”

As if understanding his self-reproach, the cat didn’t run far but peeked out from behind the pillar, showing just one eye.

He felt both endeared and saddened, wanting to pet it again. No, he even thought about taking it home, bathing it properly, feeding it better food, and letting it live in luxury without having to be wary of anyone.

Foolish thoughts. Who am I to think such things?

Won Hee-yeon quickly corrected himself. Even for such a small creature, he wasn’t in a position to take in another life. He was at the mercy of his superiors, doing whatever difficult tasks they assigned.

Perhaps after this winter, it wouldn’t be the cat that would have to leave this place, but Won Hee-yeon himself. He couldn’t even be certain if he’d be alive tomorrow or wandering around somewhere else.

Yes, this is how it should be. It over there, me over here.

After staring at the yellow cat that wouldn’t leave from behind the pillar, Won Hee-yeon shoved his left hand into his pocket and turned away. Recalling the subtle, warm, fluffy sensation left on his palm, he promised himself again that if the day ever came when he could live as he pleased, he truly wouldn’t live like this.

Perhaps because life at the bottom made him intuitive, Won Hee-yeon indeed had to leave suddenly for China before the winter ended, ordered by his middle boss to expand their business.

After leaving the neighborhood, entrusting the mountain of canned food he’d bought to a neighbor he barely knew, Won Hee-yeon would think of that brazen yellow cat every time he smoked.

It must be doing well. Smart and good-looking, surely finding food on its own? Probably scared off the bad ones with a bite. Must be living large. Might even have kittens by now. That’s how it should be…

Several winters passed like that. Won Hee-yeon’s life, which he thought could end any day, rolled on surprisingly well despite its challenges. Working odd jobs at casinos between China and Korea, he accumulated money and became acquainted with wealthy locals.

As the business grew, Won Hee-yeon’s situation improved, but conflicts within the organization never ceased. Sensing the increasingly hostile atmosphere, he hid in China and called some of his younger associates there. Soon after, the organization collapsed due to internal strife.

When he returned to Korea, Won Hee-yeon settled in his hometown to completely escape the organization’s shadow. He continued managing backdoor money from Chinese casinos for a few years, but when his wealth became overwhelming, he distributed shares to his associates and stepped away from that business too.

His real estate business, started as a pastime, grew increasingly profitable, and now he could introduce himself as a businessman without awkwardness.

Eventually, Won Hee-yeon came to live in a respectable house, eating what he wanted and buying what he desired. One night, smoking in his large garden, spacious enough for several cats or dogs to play in, he suddenly thought, Perhaps now is the time I can finally live as I please.

“Phew…”

Through the thick cigarette smoke, various thoughts crossed his mind. He remembered the yellow cat’s frightened eyes, and his younger self who worked desperately to avoid crooked paths.

Though Won Hee-yeon lacked nothing now, his current life seemed quite different from what he had dreamed of when he vowed never to live like he once had. He felt an inexplicable emptiness overcome him right then and there.

I must have enough to live comfortably now, to be having such thoughts.

Though he tried to laugh it off as a concern of the well-fed, the bitter feeling remained. Was the problem, as his friend Hong-shik had jokingly suggested when he moved in, that he lived alone in such a spacious house without a partner? Was he suddenly feeling lonely?

Won Hee-yeon had lost interest in dating and love long ago. The more he acquired, the more people approached him—men and women alike—with transparent ulterior motives. After several unpleasant experiences, he concluded that being alone was more peaceful.

Should I get a cat?

Seeing such a random thought arise, he figured it was better to get moving. After putting out his cigarette, Won Hee-yeon left the house in workout clothes. After running for about an hour without stopping, he suddenly felt thirsty.

Though he didn’t usually drink after exercising, that day he felt drawn, as if enchanted, into an unfamiliar neighborhood pub. Thinking about it later, Won Hee-yeon firmly believed it was fate.

He had planned to quietly have a beer and return home, but coincidentally, the tiny establishment was quite noisy. Though there weren’t many customers, two thuggish men were causing a disturbance.

“Hey, he’s ignoring us. What’s your problem?”

“Don’t you know who we are? You’re not from around here, are you? Damn, I can’t believe I’m being disrespected by some outsider. Stone Man’s crew has lost all respect.”

Stone Man’s crew? What’s that? Won Hee-yeon frowned deeply while waiting for his beer. One of the things he had focused on before settling in this region was clearing out the larger and smaller gangster groups. Yet such uncouth people were still roaming around.

“Are your ears blocked? If you started trouble, you should apologize.”

“Don’t want to talk? Huh? It seems like you need a beating to come to your senses.”

He considered ignoring these worthless men and leaving, but at a glance, it appeared the two were unfairly picking on one person sitting at a table.

The target was an unfamiliar face. Even from over the shoulder, his small frame and pale skin were noticeable. Won Hee-yeon found himself standing up and approaching them without thinking.

“What a nuisance. Stone Man’s crew? What kind of dog bone name is that?”

As typical of men pretending to be tough, the loudmouths quickly became respectful when Won Hee-yeon appeared, then promptly ran away with their tails between their legs.

He felt somewhat embarrassed for unintentionally playing the role of justice defender. Intending to say “There’s no need to thank me, just go home,” he looked at the man he had just helped, but he seemed completely drunk and was reaching for his beer glass again.

“My goodness, you’re completely wasted. Pull yourself together. Is this any way to be?”

Won Hee-yeon quickly snatched the beer glass, fearing something bad might happen. Instead of thanking him, the man glared daggers at him with round eyes as if asking why he had taken his drink. Up close, his skin was so pale it almost looked transparent, with his cheeks flushed pink from alcohol. His large eyes were clear, but somehow appeared cold, perhaps due to the shadow cast by his dense eyelashes.

At that moment, Won Hee-yeon felt as if time had slowed down. Having lived through many hardships, he could pride himself on having seen not just the ugly but also more beautiful things than most people.

Even so, this man’s face made his heart sink. It wasn’t just conventionally pretty—rather, it was the delicate lines of his face with their heavy shadows that seemed to captivate him.

Whenever anyone had asked about his ideal type, Won Hee-yeon had always answered he didn’t have one. He never expected to discover his preference only in his mid-thirties. Apparently, a face exactly like his was his ideal type.

“What’s this? It’s disconcerting to see someone so pretty.”

Won Hee-yeon mumbled while rubbing his face. The words had slipped out without any intention to flirt. Though he dated regardless of gender, and though the other person being a man wasn’t an issue for him, Won Hee-yeon had just moments ago resolved that “being alone is better.”

But at Won Hee-yeon’s words, the man grimaced as if he’d encountered a pervert. It was an ungrateful response, like the yellow cat from long ago, but Won Hee-yeon didn’t mind. Rather, he enjoyed seeing his doll-like, indifferent, cold face suddenly flush and wrinkle with displeasure. He was almost tempted to say something unpleasant again just to see that expression once more.

“Don’t worry about it, just go. Please…?”

“No, you’re currently—”

“Whatever I do…it’s none of your business. Yeah, none of your business. Go. Really, just go.”

Perhaps uncomfortable with Won Hee-yeon’s suggestive stare, the man moved his previously pursed lips and spoke. Though his pronunciation was slurred from alcohol and he kept repeating himself, his voice was fundamentally calm and clear, and his manner of speaking polite.

Looking closer, his clothes and shoes, though worn, were clean and tidy, and his hands were pale and delicate. He seemed far from the type who would drink alone in such a place, which made him even more intriguing.

“I don’t want to.”

Won Hee-yeon responded mischievously, preparing to sit in the chair across from him. The man glared at Won Hee-yeon, then, apparently deciding it was hopeless, tried to leave. However, as soon as he got up to his feet, the alcohol seemed to hit him all at once, and he hesitated with a bewildered expression.

“Huh? Uh…”

“Oh my. You’re going to fall at this rate.”

“No, I’m not. Uh, uhhh…”

“Are you walking or dancing right now?”

“Leave me, uh, leave me alone, I said.”

Whether it was stubbornness or drunken rambling, the man forced his stumbling body to the counter to pay for his drinks. Won Hee-yeon followed him with hands awkwardly extended forward, afraid he might fall.

Though he felt he was doing something strange in the middle of the night, as the man finished paying and left the establishment, he tripped on the doorframe and staggered badly. Having anticipated this, Won Hee-yeon quickly caught him.

Though he was tall, he hadn’t fully realized how small his frame was. His body fit entirely in one of his arms. He was so thin that he could feel his slender bones beneath his skin, making him wonder what types of food he actually ate.

His small body, warm from alcohol, felt oddly fascinating. There was absolutely no reason for his heart to flutter while supporting a drunk person, but Won Hee-yeon felt embarrassed by his own unusual agitation and admonished him further.

“What did I tell you? Hm? Just sit down for now. You’ll crack that tiny forehead of yours at this rate.”

Won Hee-yeon urgently seated the man on the edge of a nearby flowerbed. He waved his hands as if telling him to let go, but couldn’t properly resist and moved as Won Hee-yeon guided him. Even sitting, he looked precarious, yet he stubbornly insisted, “I’m fine, fine, so please go.”

“Tsk. I’m doing this because you obviously aren’t fine.”

“What’s it to you? Leave me alone. Leave me alone, I said.”

Seemingly irritated that Won Hee-yeon wouldn’t listen, he pushed out his lower lip and pouted. If another man had acted this way, he might have wanted to smack the back of his head, but with this man, it was fine. Even the way he blinked repeatedly, trying to shake off his intoxication, was endearing.

Won Hee-yeon was knowledgeable about neighborhood affairs but wasn’t the type to meddle unnecessarily with strangers. Yet unable to bring himself to leave this man, he stood firmly in place and asked, “I can’t leave you like this. Why is a young man like you drinking so much? What if something serious happens?”

The man found Won Hee-yeon’s concern amusing and let out a small, hollow laugh.

“Why ask? You’re not, mm, not even curious…”

“I am curious, that’s why I’m asking.”

“Really curious? You’re asking the reason why I’m drinking? Ha…It’s because the world is shit.”

Incredible. The man said “shit” with complete seriousness, but his manner of cursing couldn’t have been more awkward. Just his style of swearing made it clear he was someone who had lived properly without ever doing anything wayward. Yet strangely, even his awkward cursing sounded pleasing.

Just curse one more time. While Won Hee-yeon was thinking of a sentence that would easily get him mistaken for a pervert, the man suddenly seemed overcome with emotion, his eyes reddening as his shoulders began to shake.

Oh no, surely this man wasn’t about to cry?

“I’m curious too, umm, I have something I’m curious about.”

“Yes, yes. Ask away. But, um…you’re not crying, are you?”

At Won Hee-yeon’s cautious question, the man seemed even more overcome with sorrow. Though his lips remained tightly closed, his inner turmoil was completely visible. He responded as if making a complaint, “I’m not crying. I’m just asking, okay? I’m not crying, but…is the world always this shitty?”

As he spoke those words, the man finally began to shed tears. Now with a crying man on his hands, Won Hee-yeon was more flustered than he had been in years.