IPSTDS Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Nahyuk felt truly wronged. He resented Seo Dowoong for turning his effort to help Daon into nothing.

He also worried that this might lead to a misunderstanding between him and Kim Daon. Before things could get worse, Nahyuk knew he had to clear it up quickly.

“What misunderstanding? You planned the accident and chickened out halfway through, didn’t you?”

The contempt in Seo Dowoong’s voice carried absolute certainty. He was convinced Nahyuk had tried to kill Kim Daon.

Over Seo Dowoong’s face, stained with irritation, Nahyuk saw a flicker of the boy he’d seen in his dream—the one who had looked up at Yoon Noah with eyes that seemed to seduce.

Where had that version of Seo Dowoong disappeared to?

Nahyuk felt a twinge of regret. Whether he liked or disliked Seo Dowoong wasn’t the point—he just wanted to see that past version of him again.

And then, Seo Dowoong’s gaze dropped.

He had noticed Nahyuk’s hand awkwardly overlapped with Kim Daon’s and scowled even deeper.

“If you’ve got a mouth, answer me.”

Sensing the growing tension, Kim Daon stepped in to stop him.

“Dowoong, that’s enough. You’ve misunderstood. And sunbae’s a patient. He only just woke up.”

“Misunderstood? You almost died, and you’re calling it a misunderstanding?”

“If it hadn’t been for Noah sunbae, I really might’ve died.”

“Hah… No, think about it—if there hadn’t been an accident in the first place, there’d have been no danger. Don’t you think the premise is off?”

“Seo Dowoong.”

Kim Daon’s voice was low as he called out, and there was something unfamiliar in his expression.

What surprised Nahyuk more was the fact that Daon was getting angry—for him.

Neither of them said anything further, only holding each other’s gaze as the tension between them thickened.

‘Daon stepped in, but in the end, I’m the one who has to finish this.’

Seo Dowoong wasn’t going to back off unless Nahyuk confronted him directly.

Nahyuk replayed Seo Dowoong’s words in his head—the accusations, the refusal to even listen to his explanation, the baseless assumption that he was the villain.

He could understand that Seo Dowoong might have mistaken him, given all the things the real Yoon Noah had done.

But did he really need to speak with such cruelty? The more Nahyuk thought about it, the more unjust and angry he felt.

If this were the real Yoon Noah, who loved Seo Dowoong, he might’ve endured the blame—but Nahyuk wasn’t him. He didn’t love Seo Dowoong, and this whole situation was only making him feel exhausted.

“Daon, it’s fine. Let it go.”

“Sunbae…”

Nahyuk gave Daon a small nod and turned to face Seo Dowoong.

“So what, Dowoong? Let’s say I really was the one who caused the accident—then what changes?”

“What?”

“You gonna throw me in jail? Make sure I never show my face around you two again?”

“…”

“You’re an important guy. A top executive in a big company. Go ahead—investigate it thoroughly. If you find any proof that I was involved, turn me in. Then, just like you want, I won’t be able to come near you again.”

“You think I can’t do that—?”

Nahyuk cut him off and spoke first.

“But if no evidence comes out—if you find nothing—then you kneel and apologize.”

“…”

“Say you’re sorry for the misunderstanding. That you won’t assume things about me again. Can you do that? You’re so confident I did it—so don’t reject this deal.”

A faint, bitter smile appeared on Nahyuk’s lips.

He barely held back the urge to say, “I only got involved with you for the drug.”

Seo Dowoong, who hadn’t expected Nahyuk to fight back, looked stunned at first. But soon, he pulled himself together.

“Yoon Noah, you sure love betting.”

“There’ve been a lot of chances to bet lately.”

“Fine. Just like you said. I was never taught mercy, so be ready.”

“Dowoong… I’m already looking forward to the day you apologize.”

“You…”

Seo Dowoong couldn’t finish his sentence and let out a dry breath.

“Dowoong, just step outside for now.”

At that moment, Kim Daon dragged Seo Dowoong—who was still glaring daggers at Nahyuk—out of the hospital room. Even as he was being pulled away, Seo Dowoong didn’t stop throwing Nahyuk looks filled with contempt.

Once they were gone, peace finally returned to the room.

‘Yoon Noah… I don’t think I’ll ever fall in love with Seo Dowoong.’

Nahyuk thought to himself, almost like a whisper. He felt drained, as if the confrontation had sapped all his strength.

He desperately wished to recover quickly—just to escape from all this turmoil.

“But being dragged around like this isn’t going to solve anything.”

In that case, the key was Lee Kangil—the one who held the cure to his illness.

If he could stop being dragged around by Kangil and turn the tables on him, everything might be resolved.

So, how could he take control of that strange man?

If there was a way to win Kangil’s heart…

Then suddenly, something Kangil had once said came to mind:

‘But I’ll admit it. I’ve been turned on by you a few times.’

‘It wasn’t because I liked you—it was because you were sexy. Got it?’

Kangil was straight, but he had still kissed Nahyuk a few times, driven by desire.

Couldn’t he use that to win him over?

And besides, Kangil seemed to have a strange competitiveness toward Seo Dowoong. Part of why he approached Nahyuk at all seemed rooted in that rivalry.

They say, “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you’ll never lose.”

To win over Kangil, he first needed to understand why he wanted to beat Seo Dowoong.

---

Meanwhile, after leaving the hospital room, Kim Daon dragged Seo Dowoong all the way to the parking lot. Seo Dowoong didn’t say a word until Daon finally came to a stop.

They had reached a secluded corner of the empty lot when Daon turned around.

“Dowoong, what’s wrong with you?”

“You really don’t know?”

“I don’t.”

“It’s because I was worried. When I heard you were in an accident, I—god…”

Seo Dowoong let out a long sigh, his face stiffening. His clenched fists trembled slightly, as if he was barely holding something back.

Seeing that, Kim Daon sighed as well, almost as if it were contagious.

In the past, back when he only had warm feelings toward Seo Dowoong, he might’ve found comfort in the fact that Seo Dowoong worried about him.

But now, after seeing him immediately blame Yoon Noah without asking for details, Seo Dowoong just seemed rash.

“Thanks for worrying. But I don’t think the accident was Noah sunbae’s doing.”

Right before Seo Dowoong showed up, Yoon Noah had tried to tell him who was really behind it. He seemed like someone who knew something important.

“So you’re choosing to believe Noah over me?”

“You know that’s not what I’m saying.”

“Really? Because it sure sounds to me like you don’t believe a word I said.”

How could someone be this difficult? Whenever it came to Yoon Noah, Seo Dowoong seemed incapable of staying rational.

Daon knew Seo Dowoong wasn’t the type to despise someone for no reason. There had to be a reason behind it. But Seo Dowoong wasn’t the kind of person who’d talk if you asked directly.

Whether he tried speaking gently or angrily, Seo Dowoong just didn’t listen—so Daon no longer had anything to say.

“Seo Dowoong. Just go.”

“If you send me away like this, you’re going to regret it later.”

“I don’t care about later. I focus on what’s happening right now. And right now, you’re being absolutely hopeless. Like a brat who doesn’t listen to anyone.”

His frustration hit a breaking point, and his words came out rougher than usual. Already angry, Seo Dowoong shouted his name.

“Kim Daon…!”

From the distance, people turned and began glancing in their direction. Daon figured it was time to end the conversation.

“I don’t want to fight anymore, so just go. Be careful on the road. I’ll contact you later.”

With that, Kim Daon turned around. He could hear Seo Dowoong grumbling behind him, but he ignored it completely.

Stung with pride, Seo Dowoong didn’t try to stop him either.

It was the first time they’d had such a serious argument since entering this vaguely defined relationship—neither fully lovers, nor entirely just friends.

Seo Dowoong didn’t have the softest way with words, but he never got angry without reason, nor did he act irrationally. That’s why they hadn’t fought before.

But now, for the first time, Daon had the uneasy feeling that this kind of conflict would happen again. Even if Yoon Noah wasn’t involved, there would be times when they simply couldn’t see eye to eye.

For the first time, Kim Daon found Seo Dowoong hard to handle.

Even if they reconciled and things got better, it felt like they’d just end up fighting again before long—over something similar.

His steps, as he headed back toward Yoon Noah’s hospital room, felt heavier than ever.

---

Nahyuk stared quietly at Kim Daon’s face as he returned to the hospital room alone.

The boy’s expression was dark, like storm clouds had gathered. Just like someone who’d had a serious fight with Seo Dowoong.

Nahyuk felt sorry for Kim Daon, who had ended up arguing with Seo Dowoong just because he chose to take his side.

“Daon-ah, I’m sorry. You got into a fight with Seo Dowoong because of me…”

“No, that fight had nothing to do with you, sunbae.”

What a kind kid. You’d think he’d resent him at least once.

“Did Seo Dowoong leave?”

“Yeah, he stormed off. I’ll apologize on his behalf. He’s not usually like that—I don’t know why he’s so worked up when it comes to you.”

“I must really disgust him. That’s why he hates me so much.”

Being hated by someone wasn’t new, so Nahyuk didn’t take it to heart.

In his original world, he’d been hated by many—his family included. He knew all too well the feeling of being looked down on, surrounded by cold indifference.

He was used to being hated.

‘So that’s why I didn’t feel hurt even after becoming Yoon Noah.’

Even as Yoon Noah, the one hated by everyone, he hadn’t felt pain—because he was already numb to being hated.

Even when he heard hurtful words, he didn’t realize they were meant to wound him.

Nahyuk gave a bitter smile.

Because he’d lived a life full of rejection, the desire to be loved was all the more desperate.

“Daon-ah. Don’t worry too much. Seo Dowoong’s going to end up apologizing anyway because of that bet.”

“Make sure you get a proper apology.”

“I will.”

Only then did Kim Daon finally smile faintly.

“There’s something you were going to say before—before Seo Dowoong interrupted. Did you mean that you know who caused the accident?”