FF Chapter 16

He had never thought he’d have to speak to this person again. Even when his mother had called to tell him she was coming back to Korea, and when she casually mentioned that he shouldn’t be surprised if they ran into each other, Ji Yeonwoo hadn’t given it much thought.

Professionally or socially, there was absolutely no overlap between Hyunjun and Ji Yeonwoo. By simple logic, if they never contacted each other, they could have lived their entire lives without ever crossing paths again.

So, why was this person, who hadn’t contacted him in two years, reaching out now?

No matter how much Ji Yeonwoo thought about it, he couldn’t understand. To make things even stranger, the call hadn’t come from Hyunjun’s phone, which Ji Yeonwoo had blocked. The Hyunjun he remembered wasn’t the type to care enough about small things to change numbers and save new ones. Had he changed, just like Ji Yeonwoo had, over the past two years?

Even if that guess was correct, it was still hard to accept.

“When he was so willing to throw me away before, why now…?”

No matter the reason, Hyunjun was someone who should never have contacted Ji Yeonwoo first. At the very least, if he had any sense of decency, he shouldn’t have.

Ji Yeonwoo could still vividly remember how things had ended with Hyunjun.

It had been raining heavily that day, and after Ji Yeonwoo had received the devastating diagnosis of pheromone deficiency, Hyunjun had shown up in front of him, holding a bouquet of marigolds. That image was so deeply etched into his mind that it would haunt his dreams whenever it rained.

‘I hope you suffer and feel miserable. Do you know? You’re the most beautiful when you cry. Now you’ll cry a lot thinking about me, Yeonwoo.’

The person who had said such cruel, nonsensical words had made no effort to help Ji Yeonwoo with his lost pheromones. Instead, he had chosen to abandon him.

In the aftermath of that one-sided breakup, Ji Yeonwoo had spent countless sleepless nights, shedding more tears than he had in the four years they’d been together.

Life had seemed like a joke. Looking back, it felt like the only thing keeping him going had been sheer stubbornness. He didn’t want to be seen as a failure—someone who had married and divorced young, a life full of bad choices.

Maybe if he just tried harder, things would improve. Maybe if he just held on, the pain would dull over time.

But in the end, the life he’d fought to preserve had ended in utter misery.

All the effort he’d put into surviving had evaporated like a bubble with a single word or action.

“How… how did I manage to hold on…?”

After spending one entire day crying, Ji Yeonwoo finally steeled his resolve. He regretted falling for Hyunjun’s calculated kindness, but he had learned that no amount of tears would change anything.

The first thing Ji Yeonwoo did after pulling himself together was to get a medical report. Even that wasn’t easy. His doctor knew the entire story behind his pheromone deficiency, but unfortunately, the doctor was deeply connected to Hyunjun’s family.

At first, the doctor wouldn’t even meet with him. Ji Yeonwoo had to beg, pleading with tears, appealing to his emotions. In the end, he finally received a medical report, though it wasn’t quite what he had hoped for.

“Acquired Pheromone Deficiency Due to Unspecified Substances.”

The report didn’t specify what had been taken, how much, or how it had caused the condition. Still, Ji Yeonwoo decided it was better than doing nothing. He took the report to Hyunjun’s family and laid everything bare.

The family, who had initially planned to brush him off with a settlement for a mutual divorce, were shocked when they saw the medical report.

At first, Ji Yeonwoo hadn’t wanted to take any money from them, but he knew he needed at least enough to live on if he didn’t want to depend on his parents.

With the settlement money he had fought so hard to obtain, he rented a house, opened a flower shop, and donated the rest to an orphanage.

At twenty-six, it wasn’t easy to be financially or socially independent, but he worked hard, driven by the desire to rid himself of what felt like a debt. He didn’t want to be tied to that money for the rest of his life.

That’s why he worked tirelessly, never taking a day off from his shop, no matter how physically or emotionally exhausted he was. His determination to pay off that money was the reason.

In the process of focusing on his goal, the memories and the pain gradually dulled. Though he still had nightmares when it rained, over time, they became as bearable as an occasional cold.

Since then, life had become an endless cycle of simple, mundane routines.

Today had been the same.

Contacting Choi Muhyeok and waiting for his response made Ji Yeonwoo feel happier than anything.

Now that he had Choi Muhyeok, his days felt a bit more special, and he couldn’t let today end in such a hollow way.

Clenching his fists, Ji Yeonwoo picked up his phone. The call had already ended, and instead, a message had been left by the number that had called him.

— Answer this phone next time. Unless you don’t want to see my face.

“…Ha…”

A disbelieving laugh escaped his lips. The fact that Hyunjun was threatening him this way clearly meant he knew that Ji Yeonwoo had no desire to see him.

But there was no reason to listen to him anymore. The sudden call had startled Ji Yeonwoo, but that was all. He and Hyunjun were strangers now, with no connection between them.

Ignoring Hyunjun’s words, Ji Yeonwoo blocked the number and deleted the message. The phone’s cracked screen made it difficult to press anything, and it took a long time to complete each action.

As he struggled with the phone, still not having dried his hair, it vibrated in his hands again. Startled by the small buzz, Ji Yeonwoo glanced nervously at the screen, still shaken by the earlier tension.

Finally, the phone’s display flickered and showed the caller’s name.

[Managing Director Choi Muhyeok]

Seeing that name on the screen, Ji Yeonwoo’s heart raced. Worried the call might disconnect, he quickly tapped the screen, his throat tightening with emotion. His fingers trembled slightly as they hovered over the touchpad.

“Please don’t let the call end.”

The phone had already been ringing for a long time, and Ji Yeonwoo desperately wanted to answer, but the broken screen made it difficult to operate. Frustrated and teary-eyed, Ji Yeonwoo looked at the screen, sniffling and swallowing tears.

“Uh, hello, Managing Director,” Ji Yeonwoo finally managed to answer after fumbling with the screen for a while and hurriedly brought the phone to his ear.

“Managing Director, have you left work?”

[ ……. ]

No voice came from the other side. Was the speaker broken too? But since Ji Yeonwoo had heard Hyunjun’s voice earlier after dropping the phone, it didn’t seem to be the case.

Ji Yeonwoo switched the phone to the other ear.

“Managing Director, can you hear me?”

[Is something wrong?]

After a long wait, a voice came through, but it was much more subdued than usual. Was it just Ji Yeonwoo’s imagination? The deep, tense tone sounded unusually sharp, as if something was bothering him.

Hearing Choi Muhyeok speak as if he knew something, Ji Yeonwoo felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew that dragging this out wouldn’t be good. He also knew that sooner or later, he would have to reveal this vulnerable truth to Choi Muhyeok, a fact that might be Ji Yeonwoo’s greatest weakness and shame.

But how? How was he supposed to explain it?

No matter how much Ji Yeonwoo thought about it, he couldn’t figure out how to tell him. He couldn’t just blurt out, “I got a call from my ex-husband out of the blue after two years.”

In the end, after hesitating over and over, Ji Yeonwoo opened his mouth, intending to say that nothing had happened, but—

[ Your voice sounds hoarse. ]

Before he could speak, Choi Muhyeok’s voice interrupted, and the knot in Ji Yeonwoo’s throat tightened. Just from the call alone, the fact that Choi Muhyeok had noticed such a small change felt like a hidden comfort.

[ Or did I wake you up from a nap? ]

“No, no, I just got out of the shower, maybe that’s why,” Ji Yeonwoo replied, knowing full well it was a poor excuse. What does being fresh out of the shower have to do with having a hoarse voice?

Feeling embarrassed, Ji Yeonwoo quickly tried to change the topic.

“Did you finish all your work?”

[ Not completely, but I have some free time now. ]

“Oh, I see.”

[ I still have to go back later. ]

“So, you’re on your way home, I guess.”

Ji Yeonwoo’s voice gradually lowered as the conversation continued. Based on the way things were going, it seemed unlikely that they’d meet today, and that realization caused his mood to sink.

A low, quiet breath of laughter came from the other side of the phone. Ji Yeonwoo pouted slightly. Hearing him chuckle without giving a clear response felt a bit irritating, as if he were mocking the small hope that maybe he would come by after work.

“Why are you laughing?”

[ Did you hear that? ]

“Even with a broken phone, I can still hear you, you know?”

[ Hmm? Is your phone broken? ]

Surprised by Choi Muhyeok’s question, Ji Yeonwoo blinked.

“…Huh?”

[ You just said it. That your phone was broken. ]

“Uh… Did I say that?”

Ji Yeonwoo stammered in confusion. Silence fell between them. Then, from the other side, he heard a faint hiss as Choi Muhyeok inhaled through his teeth.

[ You’re acting strange today. Rambling on…. ]

“…….”

[ Something really did happen, didn’t it? ]

Ji Yeonwoo instinctively gasped and closed his mouth. He hadn’t even realized he was speaking. If he let slip one more word, he might end up spilling everything.

[ Can you step out for a moment? ]

“Right now?”

[ Yes, now. ]

“Wait, are you… are you on your way here?”

Startled, Ji Yeonwoo instinctively glanced towards the balcony. His heart, which he had been trying to keep in check, suddenly began pounding uncontrollably.

On a day like today, when both his body and mind felt heavy, seeing Choi Muhyeok would have given him the strength he needed. But all day long, Ji Yeonwoo had tried not to show how much he wanted to see him, especially since Choi seemed busier than usual today.

But now, the thought that he might actually see Choi Muhyeok made it impossible to hide the excitement bubbling up inside.

[ What floor is your apartment again? The 6th floor, right? ]

Huh? Ji Yeonwoo blinked, eyes widening as he stared at the balcony.

[ Is that the place with the lights on? ]

Wait… already?

Still holding the phone to his ear, Ji Yeonwoo quickly walked towards the balcony. Sliding the heavy glass door open, he poked his head out over the railing.

His apartment was on the 6th floor, and though it was dark outside, he could see the flashing emergency lights of a car below.

Standing in front of the car’s hood, looking up at him, was Choi Muhyeok, his silhouette faintly illuminated by the car’s lights.

“Is it really you, Managing Director?”

[ If it’s okay, come down for a moment. I want to see your face. ]

Ji Yeonwoo’s face gradually lit up with a smile.

“Just a moment. I’ll be right down.”

There were so many things he wanted to ask, like when he had arrived and if he had been waiting long, but he decided to set those questions aside for now.

[ Dress warmly before you come out. It’s cold outside. ]

“Yes. Just wait a moment. I’ll be down in 5 minutes. No, 3 minutes.”

Ji Yeonwoo quickly ended the call and went back into his room. He threw open the closet door and scanned the clothes hanging inside. He had just finished showering and had forgotten he was still in pajamas.

Even in his hurry, he managed to change into a white angora knit sweater and gray checkered pants.

Standing in front of the mirror at the entrance, Ji Yeonwoo ran his fingers through his still-wet hair and slipped his arms into a cardigan while putting on his shoes.

Rushing out the front door, Ji Yeonwoo took a deep breath. His breath came out as white puffs in the cold air.

“He should be around here somewhere.”

Ji Yeonwoo muttered as he frantically looked around for Choi Muhyeok. Though he had seen him from the balcony, Choi Muhyeok was nowhere to be found when he got downstairs.

A sense of unease crept in. He had said he would be ready as quickly as possible, but what if something urgent had come up in the meantime? If he had known this would happen, he would have just thrown on a jumper instead of changing clothes, and he regretted it now.

Scanning the area left and right, Ji Yeonwoo turned in the direction he thought Choi Muhyeok would be, based on his memory of the view from the balcony.

At that moment, he heard a distinct metallic click from behind him. He halted in his tracks.

It was the sound of a Zippo lighter being opened. Ji Yeonwoo knew that sound well, having heard it many times before.

He quickly turned around in the direction of the metallic sound.

From the spot that had been empty moments ago, a faint light revealed a familiar figure.

The man was sitting on the hood of a car with the engine turned off. Even from his silhouette, Ji Yeonwoo could gauge his solid build. He was lighting a cigarette, and as he shielded the flame with his hand and tilted his head, Ji Yeonwoo saw his profile illuminated by the soft light. The contours of his sharp jaw and distinct facial features briefly appeared before disappearing into the dim light.

Staring at the scene as if mesmerized, Ji Yeonwoo moved towards where Choi Muhyeok was. With each step, his heart beat faster.

Sensing Ji Yeonwoo’s approach, Choi Muhyeok put out his cigarette and stood up.

“Managing Director.”

Ji Yeonwoo, hurrying over, embraced Choi Muhyeok around the waist before he could say anything.

“……!”

Was he not expecting such a move? Choi Muhyeok’s body tensed up, as if frozen. With his face buried in Choi Muhyeok’s chest, Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t see his expression, but he could feel his surprise through his entire body.

“Ji Yeonwoo.”

Choi Muhyeok tried to pull away, grabbing Ji Yeonwoo’s shoulders. Ji Yeonwoo lightly shook off Choi Muhyeok’s hands and hugged him more tightly.

Choi Muhyeok, initially caught off guard by the embrace, settled back onto the car hood.

“Just for a moment. Let’s stay like this for a little while, okay?”

Ji Yeonwoo, rubbing his face against Choi Muhyeok’s chest, spoke. Though he didn’t want to seem childish just because he was younger, his body responded uncontrollably after going through difficult times.

A soft laugh was heard from above his head.

“Have you turned into someone else? You’re acting so needy.”

“I’m just happy to see you, happy to see you.”

“Wasn’t it enough that I called?”

“No, it’s just that I thought I wouldn’t see you today.”

As he spoke, Ji Yeonwoo tightened his grip around Choi Muhyeok. In response, Choi Muhyeok stretched out his arms and hugged Ji Yeonwoo’s back. He enclosed Ji Yeonwoo between his legs and gently stroked his cold back. Ji Yeonwoo closed his eyes, leaning against Choi Muhyeok’s solid chest.

Choi Muhyeok didn’t ask any questions, simply continuing to hold Ji Yeonwoo. Though he was quick to sense things over the phone and often perceptive, he didn’t inquire about Ji Yeonwoo’s evident unease but just kept comforting him in silence.

This was actually a very unfavorable situation for Ji Yeonwoo. If Choi Muhyeok had asked even one question about what had happened or why he was so anxious, Ji Yeonwoo would have had no choice but to reveal everything. But Choi Muhyeok, seemingly aware of Ji Yeonwoo’s discomfort, continued to comfort him without asking any questions.

Ji Yeonwoo felt a mix of gratitude and an uncontrollable thrill.

Choi Muhyeok, still holding Ji Yeonwoo, tilted his head and buried his face in the nape of Ji Yeonwoo’s neck. Pressing his lips gently against the soft skin revealed through the angora sweater, Choi Muhyeok inhaled deeply. The tickling sensation against Ji Yeonwoo’s skin made him flinch and shrink his shoulders.

“Did you shower?”

Choi Muhyeok held Ji Yeonwoo’s shoulders and pulled him slightly away.

“You smell nice.”

Choi Muhyeok, who had enclosed Ji Yeonwoo with his legs, lightly brushed his still damp hair.

“You didn’t dry your hair?”

Ji Yeonwoo suddenly realized that he had come out without doing anything after showering. He hadn’t applied lotion or dried his hair; he had just changed clothes and left. The realization made him feel a sudden rush of heat to his face.

“I had just finished showering when you called.”

“Ah, were you planning to go to bed?”