MPK Ch 12
by soapaA newbie business owner’s days are hectic and busy. So much so that I only realized it was New Year’s Eve when I saw the fireworks display from afar, in the penthouse. I shouted to Woo Baekyeon to come down and watch with me, but he aloofly refused via text message. Despite my date invitation being shot down, I couldn’t help but smile foolishly. It was because Woo Baekyeon, too busy to even come out to the living room, was diligently replying to my messages.
Really not coming down? 11:54 PM
Woo Baekyeon
Busy. Working. 11:55 PM
(Photo)
(Photo) 11:55 PM
Aren’t the fireworks pretty? 11:56 PM
Woo Baekyeon
They are. 11:56 PM
“It would be nice to watch them together.”
What kind of company makes someone work on New Year’s Eve? It’s too much. Even if I wanted to report them, the person who should be receiving the complaint is working until almost midnight.
When I was at First Guard, I heard complaints about the head office in the US contacting them during the wee hours. It’s probably something like that. Those bastards, they’ll probably be watching the ball drop at midnight their time, but they won’t let Woo Baekyeon even hear the New Year’s bell.
“Oh, right. The New Year’s bell.”
I got up from my seat by the window and hurried to the TV. Idols, who had been performing, were gathered on stage, waiting for the new year. There was only about a minute left of this year. I watched the dwindling time, reminiscing about how I was at that outdoor stage last year.
As the countdown entered the final ten seconds, the performers on stage all counted down together loudly. With each passing second, the events of the past year flashed through my mind. Getting my Name carved, getting married, living in Heaven’s Castle, starting my business.
And the changes in my relationship with Woo Baekyeon.
Woo Baekyeon
Happy New Year. 12:00 AM
Seeing the timely message, my cheeks puffed up with a smile.
lol Happy New Year to you too
Let’s have a good year this year too 12:01 AM
The smile lingered as I watched the continuing performances and award ceremonies.
As punishment for staying up late watching TV, I woke up tired on the morning of January 1st. Close to noon, I stretched and shuffled out to the living room. Mid-yawn, a tingling sensation on my lips stopped me in my tracks.
“Ugh.”
They always get chapped in winter. I touched my lip with my fingertip, and a small drop of blood appeared. I’d often busted my lip getting hit on the job, but for some reason, these small injuries felt more painful.
Pressing the chapped area, I was about to leave the room when I bumped into Woo Baekyeon coming down the stairs. Finally showing himself.
“Are you done with work?”
“…Yes. I finished last night.”
He must have been busy. His face is even paler than usual for the new year. Perhaps that’s why his lips stand out more today. They’re red and glossy, as if he’d just had tomato juice.
“Do you put on lip balm or something?”
I rubbed his lips with my finger, but there was nothing there. They were just warm and… incredibly smooth, without a single wrinkle….
“Hmm, must be natural.”
The complete opposite of my own chapped lips. Lip balm… I wouldn’t have something like that, maybe I should put on some ointment…. As I was about to walk past him, he stopped me by grabbing my shoulder.
“Jung Hankyung, doing that to someone defenseless in the morning is, common sense-wise….”
“Huh?”
“You touched your lips with your hand, then touched my lips, then touched your lips again.”
“……?”
I looked at my thumb, which had touched Woo Baekyeon’s lips, then back at Woo Baekyeon.
So he was complaining about an indirect kiss?
Laughter bubbled up inside me like a playful dolphin. Trying to suppress it only made my cheeks puff out.
“Then, princess, should we have a real one instead of a fake one before breakfast?”
“…Why is your tone suddenly so strange?”
Despite his chiding, Woo Baekyeon stayed put. I pushed him against the wall, and as his back hit the wall, I placed my hand beside his face.
Our tongues tangled without hesitation. Woo Baekyeon and I used the same toothpaste. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. I leaned into him without resistance.
This was the advantage of being similar in height. Our noses, chests, stomachs, and thighs aligned perfectly. When he writhed in pleasure, I mirrored his movements, feeling the vibrations in the same places.
Our panting breaths condensed into beads of moisture on our cheeks. I felt like there wasn’t a single spot inside my mouth that hadn’t been touched by Woo Baekyeon’s tongue. When we finally broke the kiss, breathless, I met his heated gaze.
‘Damn, he’s so beautiful.’
My heart felt like a runaway car careening down a hill. It was a symptom that had developed after our recent fight and reconciliation.
“I’m not going to work today.”
His husky voice murmured against my lips. That’s right, today, January 1st, was a holiday.
“Me neither… temporary closure….”
The New Year’s sun, reflecting off the fresh snow outside, poured into the house, dazzlingly bright. Our shirts were damp with sweat from the intense kissing and close contact.
Woo Baekyeon’s lips, glistening from the kiss, hesitated before speaking, avoiding my gaze.
“I’m… asking if you want to have sex.”
Whoa!
No, whoa, seriously, my heart wouldn’t survive the first day of the new year at this rate.
If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it, why ask so shyly? Making me shy too. Trying to cool down my burning face, I tapped Woo Baekyeon’s chest lightly.
“Princess, don’t ask me verbally. Just put your hand inside my clothes when the mood is right.”
“…Don’t say things that make me blush.”
Isn’t it more embarrassing to verbally suggest sex? Despite his words, Woo Baekyeon’s hand slipped inside my shirt, caressing my bare skin.
First thing in the morning or not, my mouth started to go dry. Waddling to the sofa like a pair of penguins, we were soon half-undressed. The pink dolphin, a year older with the new year, was still in good health.
“Woo Baekyeon, with all this energy, how did you manage to hold back after our honeymoon?”
“You were too busy.”
Woo Baekyeon leaned down and bit my neck. A shiver of arousal spread through my lower body as he nipped at the spot marked with his name.
“So you wanted to do it this whole time?”
“I was busy for about a week after we got back. After that, yes.”
Oh, so I wasn’t the only one getting excited every time we passed each other in the house.
“Ah… hngh.”
Woo Baekyeon sucked on the skin around my Name and stroked my lower back. The ticklish sensation slowly morphed into pleasure. A strange sense of frustration arose.
“I have your Name on my neck, so you bite it every time we have sex, uh. Why did you get it on the back of your hand where it’s hard to bite?”
“…I like having your name on my hand.”
“No, it’s not that I don’t like it. It’s just that it would feel better for you if you could bite it. Like this.”
I took Woo Baekyeon’s hand, which was resting beside me, and put the Name-marked area in my mouth, biting gently.
“How is it? Are you as excited as you were on our honeymoon?”
“Not to that extent, but… it feels strange.”
“Aha.”
As I rubbed the back of his hand with my finger, I felt a slight bump beneath his Name.
Did I bite too hard? Or was it a tendon? It felt like a scar.
“Jung Hankyung.”
“Huh? H-hey, wait a second.”
Woo Baekyeon lifted one of my legs and placed it on his shoulder, spreading my legs wide. I could see him putting a condom on.
After that, coherent thought became impossible.
💍
“It’s spring.”
I murmured, looking out the bus window at the rumbling grey sky. People bundled in long padded coats hurried past the bus stop, hunched against the cold. A student sitting nearby glanced at me as if I were strange.
Once I discarded the prejudice that Woo Baekyeon couldn’t possibly like me, everything started to look different. For example, his question this morning, “What hours are you working alone at the cafe?”
It was a sign that he wanted to visit the cafe. Ha.
Ah, what should I call this feeling?
I had to use that word. That is… ‘cute.’
There was nothing special about the moment a lifelong heterosexual’s identity shifted. It just ends with the thought, ‘Why is this guy, who’s the same gender as me, so pretty and cute?’
“Fucking hell, it’s so crowded.”
A passenger who just boarded the bus cursed, pushing through the crowd. Discomfort rippled through the other passengers diligently starting their day. I moved to the back of the bus.
I can’t keep thinking about things like that. I remember how much I was scolded for cursing during our previous fight. There will be no more cursing or harsh language in Jung Hankyung’s vocabulary. Our princess should only hear beautiful things. Of course, not many people would dare curse in front of the director, so I just need to watch myself….
Woo Baekyeon’s usual speech was so proper and standard that it would fit perfectly in a children’s book. His voice didn’t get much louder even when he was angry or surprised, but it became noticeably quieter when he was embarrassed. Then he would turn his head away and mumble. Like this morning, when I told him my approximate work schedule, he turned his pretty face away aloofly and mumbled, “I’ll keep that in mind.” Also, his fair skin flushed easily.
Feeling giddy and excited, smiling like an idiot at his every little action, thinking about him all day long. The magic that makes the middle of winter feel like a warm spring day.
That’s right. We’re in that ambiguous, heart-fluttering stage.
Actually, until now, I suspected that I’d fallen for Woo Baekyeon at first sight at the wedding and impulsively carved our Names. But seeing him lately made me think it might have been mutual. Woo Baekyeon also… fell for me at first sight…, ahem. My face felt hot, maybe the heater was too strong. The face in the selfie I took to check myself looked… not bad.
Lost in thoughts of romance, I arrived at the bus stop near the cafe unusually quickly. Even though Woo Baekyeon had opened up to me significantly, his domain upstairs was still closed off to me. Except for the day we fought, he hadn’t allowed me back up there.
‘I’m a little disappointed, you know. Open all the doors of your heart already.’
Well, I suppose this tension is part of the thrill.
While my heart was in full bloom like spring, the actual season was mid-winter, and my surroundings were a monochrome landscape of drab winter coats. Especially one person, concealed in a black beanie, mask, scarf, and a padded coat that hid their physique.
…This person has been following me since near Heaven’s Castle.
‘What’s this? Who would send such a clumsy tail?’
I’d become suspicious when they’d still followed me closely even after I’d moved to the back of the bus to avoid the cursing passenger. I changed course, turning into an alley between buildings instead of taking the main road.
As my pace quickened, the footsteps behind me grew louder. I could now be certain I was being followed. I stopped abruptly and turned around.
“Who are you?”
My calm question startled the person. Standing about five steps away, they shouted in a strained voice,
“I… have something… to say. I’m not… going to hurt you….”
They seemed unaware that those words made them even more suspicious.
“What is it?”
“Please… get rid of… the people… your family sent! It’s been years… they’re still watching me! I… I know I did wrong… I served my time… in prison. So now they should leave me alone…! Don’t… don’t you think so?”
Looking closely, their cheeks were hollow, their cheekbones prominent, and their eyes darted nervously. Despite their erratic behavior, their demeanor towards me was cautious. That discrepancy was strange. They’d gone as far as stalking me, so I’d have expected them to be more aggressive.
More than anything, I didn’t understand what they were talking about. As I frowned, the man’s voice suddenly became agitated.
“I-I-I won’t tell anyone! Never… I want to live a new life too…! I… I would never call myself a kidnapper. Even… even if I want to forget… when I see the people they send….”
“Kidnapper?”
Holy shit. I thought this was some scheme targeting Woo Baekyeon’s spouse, but it was related to Chae-rin and Chae-seong? So this was the guy who was in that damn van? I closed the distance between us. He tried to back away with a frightened look, but I grabbed him by the collar first.
“Gaaaaah!”
“Who are you? The victims aren’t even adults yet, and you’re talking about living a new life? You approached them knowing they came here, didn’t you? They should have sent more people after you. What are you planning, sneaking around here?”
My grip tightened, and my voice dropped. The man desperately clutched my wrist and shouted.
“Wh-what would I do! Gah, to someone who’s… a company director now…! I-I can’t do anything!”
…What?
“What director?”
Among the two children I saved from the kidnappers… there was no one who fit the description the man had just shouted. The only person around me who was called “Director” was….
The man also seemed to have noticed the contradiction.
“Aren’t you… the one who became Name partners… with young master Woo Baekyeon…?”
“…….”
Why is that name coming up in this conversation?
Kidnapping, then, Woo Baekyeon?
“Boss! What are you doing there!”
A voice called out from behind me. The owner of the friendly voice was Woo Baekyeon’s uncle, who had come by again at opening time. As he approached, he saw the man in my grip.
“Huh?”
His expression hardened. At the same time, the man I was holding gasped as if startled.
“Boss, don’t let that man go!”
“Uwaaagh!”
The man violently pushed me away with his hands and feet and ran back down the alley. As he disappeared around the corner, Woo Baekyeon’s uncle reached my side.
“Are you alright? Did he do anything to you?”
“No, I’m fine….”
“You seem shaken up.”
He brushed off my down jacket where the man had grabbed me. Honestly, there was little chance of me getting hurt. I could have chased after him and caught him, but the man’s changed expression at the last moment, and…
“I did something terrible, but you were the same, you bastard. No, being next to him makes you the worst of the lot.”
The words he spat out stopped me in my tracks. Woo Baekyeon’s uncle, who had been looking at me intently, placed a hand on my shoulder over my clothes.
“You won’t have to deal with him again. Don’t worry.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your expression looks terrible. Did he say something to you?”
“…He talked about Woo Baekyeon.”
“Aha.”
“He mentioned… kidnapping… so I thought he was talking about the kids I saved before, but then he mentioned Woo Baekyeon’s name….”
“It seems Baekyeon really hasn’t told you anything.”
A dull thud echoed in my cold fingertips. His words hit a nerve.
“That…”
“I think we should attend to the customers first, boss.”
He pointed towards the cafe. Three office workers, who had arrived for the opening, were waiting outside the closed door and had spotted me.
“You are open today, right?”
“Ah…, yes. Come in. I apologize.”
As I walked back to the counter, a heavy fog seemed to settle on my shoulders. After serving the three takeout coffees, I placed a mug in front of Woo Baekyeon’s uncle. He smiled gently as I pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down.
“It seems like you have something you want to hear.”
“Who was that man?”
“Boss, remember? I told you there were things you’d be better off not knowing. This is what I meant.”
“…….”
“A scandal from the recent past, a time when those involved are still alive.”
“Something I shouldn’t hear?”
“Not at all. There’s nothing like that related to Baekyeon.”
So I do get some privileges as his spouse….
“Even if you suddenly went crazy and decided to reveal the secrets of the Woosung family, Baekyeon’s grandfather, who dotes on his grandson, would silence the entire media, and who knows what would happen to you.”
“Ah.”
So it wasn’t about trusting me. Thanks to that, I understood the gravity of the situation even more. I ran a hand through my hair and looked back at him.
“Then, I’ll just ask one thing.”
“Okay.”
“…, was Woo Baekyeon, perhaps…”
“I know what you’re going to ask, so let me preempt you to ease your guilt.”
He smiled wryly, glancing towards the door.
“Yes. Baekyeon was kidnapped as a child.”
“…….”
“Unlike the children you saved, he was taken deep into the mountains, severely injured, and rescued three days later.”
Even though it was a story from the past, my heart sank.
“H-how old was he?”
“He was twelve.”
Perhaps it would have been better if he had been younger. Twelve years old… I vividly remember the major competitions I participated in around that age.
“So that bastard was the culprit. And he’s out of prison now? Fuck, I should have…”
“I see, so that’s why.”
I glared at him for laughing in the face of my anger, and he raised a hand.
“I mean, why Baekyeon fell for you. It’s not common to find a savior who perfectly embodies one’s trauma. He created a fantasy hero based on your heroic deed.”
“…….”
“Admiration and love have similar feelings, you know. I suspected it the moment I heard your story. Someone like Baekyeon, who dislikes people, needs that kind of incentive to decide to get married.”
“…….”
Uh, this feels… strange.
And not in a good way. I couldn’t imagine Woo Baekyeon reading the news about the media-hyped “brave baseball boy.” I was still reeling from the shock of losing my dream back then. Whatever fantasy he’d created, it wasn’t me.
“…I thought we fell in love at first sight.”
“You’re a romantic. But Baekyeon isn’t that type of person, is he?”
“…….”
I didn’t know how to express the churning feeling in my gut. I managed to squeeze out a response to his scrutinizing gaze.
“He must have suffered a lot too.”
“But there’s no need to make that face since it’s all in the past. It really is over. It’s enough that Baekyeon is doing well now, don’t you think?”
“Generally… that’s true, but I can’t speak for him.”
“So you think he should be tormented by the past forever?”
“Why would you say that? Of course not.”
“Right. The present, and the future, are what matters.”
“…….”
The kidnapping happened 15 years ago, no, 16 years ago since the new year, and the perpetrator was arrested, served their sentence, and was released. I was just upset about learning this now; it was true that it was “all in the past.”
Since I’d never seen Woo Baekyeon distressed by the past, could I really think of it that way?
“By the way, boss, Baekyeon really never said anything about this?”
“Excuse me? Ah, no. Not really.”
There was no need to mention that we hadn’t even talked about it properly.
“Really? My nephew is so cute.”
“…….”
His lighthearted demeanor, contrasting with the heavy topic, made me uncomfortable with him today. I excused myself and returned to the counter.
I habitually placed my phone on the counter, then picked it up again.
‘20XX, kidnapping.’
I typed in the two search terms and looked at the results. Quite a few articles covered the incident.
‘The child was released after 48 hours.’
‘However, evidence of severe abuse was found.’
All articles omitted the victim’s gender and other identifying information. So, despite the different wording, the content was all about “kidnapping” and “abuse.” The nature of the abuse was, of course, not disclosed.
Perhaps it was a good thing I knew now. I could avoid any potential missteps.
And it was highly likely that you knew about me before we met.
‘…Tell me.’
Your pride probably wouldn’t have allowed it, but I would have much preferred to hear it from you than from someone else. Why would you let me hear about your past from someone else, even after we started dating?
My silent accusations stemmed from guilt. I had inadvertently learned something Woo Baekyeon wanted to keep hidden.
Ah, would it have been better not to know? If I hadn’t known, I would have smiled and replied to this message.
Woo Baekyeon
Regular updates build trust. I finished my morning meeting and I’m working in my room. 10:00 AM
It was the longest “What are you doing?” ever. Despite the heaviness in my heart, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the message.
Cleaning up after the morning rush
It’s customary to send pics when you’re alone lol
Selfie!! 10:02 AM
The reply came exactly ten minutes later.
Woo Baekyeon
(Photo) 10:13 AM
‘Hey, I’m trying to decide whether to be offended, but that expression is cheating.’
The stiffly taken photo, with an awkward expression that screamed discomfort, seemed to stare right through the screen at me.
Woo Baekyeon must have been even cuter and more lovable as a child. A belated rage towards the perpetrator surged within me, tightening my chest. I let out another long sigh, I don’t know how many I’d sighed today. Woo Baekyeon’s uncle, who seemed to have been watching me, was within earshot.
I wanted to go home early today, but due to Seong-joong’s sudden family matter, I ended up working until closing time. After locking the darkened cafe, I started walking towards the familiar bus stop, then abruptly turned around and hailed a taxi.
“Heaven’s Castle apartment, please.”
“Wow, you live in a nice place.”
It was already late. Even if we had dinner and talked together, Woo Baekyeon would usually go back upstairs around this time, even if I tried to stop him. But sometimes, when our conversations went long, he’d stay for another hour or two, glancing at the stairs.
A cold winter rain began to fall as I got out of the taxi. I hurried from the Heaven’s Castle gate to the building entrance, my breath misting in the cold air. The elevator took me to the top floor. Or rather, one floor below the top. The real top floor was Woo Baekyeon’s upstairs space, accessible only by stairs.
I reached the living room, my heart pounding. As expected, there was no sign of him. I took deep breaths to calm my racing heart, then called him.
Hello.
Fortunately, his voice wasn’t laced with sleep.
“Woo Baekyeon, I’m off work.”
I know. I heard your footsteps from the entrance all the way up here. Don’t run.
“Really? You can hear that? Then how about this. Hey, Woo Baekyeon! Did you hear that?”
There’s no need to shout when we’re on the phone.
“But it’s better to hear your actual voice.”
….
“What are you doing? Come down and hang out with me.”
I can’t. I’m busy.
“Why? Then should I come up? I’ll be quiet and won’t disturb you. We can hang out after you’re done.”
….
“…….”
During the silence, the rain started to come down harder. The raindrops pattered against the large windows. Despite my lighthearted banter, I was quite nervous waiting for his answer.
…I really can’t today.
“…….”
Even though I’d anticipated this, I couldn’t bring myself to say, “Well, it can’t be helped!”
I’m sorry.
After a long pause, Woo Baekyeon apologized. His voice was low and subdued. Ah, Jung Hankyung, you idiot. Annoyance with myself surged, and I mentally smacked myself on the head. I forced a cheerful tone, knowing that the sensitive Woo Baekyeon would detect any insincerity.
“If you’re sorry, give me a kiss through the speaker.”
…What?
“Make a kissing sound into the speaker. That would make me feel better.”
Why would you ask for… something like that….
I couldn’t see his expression, but I heard a deep sigh. Then…
Kiss.
A faint sound I wouldn’t have heard if I hadn’t been listening intently.
Are… are you happy now? I’ll… I’ll see you tomorrow… for sure.
The heavy feeling that had been weighing on me like a fog dissipated like a gust of wind. A hearty laugh burst out of me.
“Okay, princess. Good night.”
Woo Baekyeon’s actions, the emotions conveyed… everything was undeniably genuine. If I asked anyone whether it was admiration or romantic feelings, a hundred out of a hundred would answer the latter. That’s how Woo Baekyeon was now.
That made the guilt of uncovering his secret even heavier. But the pounding of my heart, echoing his, wasn’t just from guilt. I, too…
…Well, even if we’d been together longer, it was a past Woo Baekyeon would have found difficult to share. A day like this was bound to come eventually. I would have to approach it carefully for a smooth resolution.
I never wanted to see that expression on his face again, the one he’d worn when I’d lashed out at him.
💍
The gloomy clouds that had covered the sky the previous day had disappeared, and today, a clear, bright winter sky stretched out before me.
Clang!
A few drops of my blood fell onto the broken mug shards in the sink. The straight cut on my fingertip throbbed.
“Sorry!”
I apologized to the startled customers who turned towards the counter at the loud noise, then rinsed the cut and pressed it with a dishcloth. It was my right index finger, the one I used the most. I wrapped it in a tissue, put on a rubber glove, and cleaned up the broken pieces. It was a shame about the mug; it had the cafe’s name on it.
I failed to see Woo Baekyeon this morning, thanks to him leaving early. It was a typical morning, just like all the mornings since we’d returned from our honeymoon. But why did it feel like I hadn’t seen him in ages?
The stinging in my finger seemed to spread to my chest.
This wouldn’t do. Prolonging this wouldn’t be good for either of us. I decided I’d see him today, even if it meant closing the cafe early.
Just as I was thinking this, my blinking phone caught my eye. Was it telepathy? The caller was Woo Baekyeon.
Why didn’t you answer the phone?
His first words were grumpy.
“Did you call? I didn’t see it, I was doing dishes.”
I’ll be there soon.
“Huh?”
A feeling came over me, and as I looked up, I saw a familiar limousine approaching the cafe. The shape of the car was very familiar.
The back door opened, and long legs stepped out. Next came the hem of a long coat that reached below the knees, leather gloves, and a face that stood out even behind a mask. Our eyes met through the cafe’s glass door. The shape of his eyes above the mask curved ever so slightly.
Woo Baekyeon entered the cafe, bringing a gust of winter wind with him, and approached the counter.
“You said…”
“…….”
“If I wanted to boost your sales, I should come and buy from you myself.”
The bridge of his nose, visible above the mask, wrinkled in amusement.
“…Wow, I’m touched.”
“Hmph.”
Woo Baekyeon replied aloofly and held out a black card, the same color as his gloves.
“Two of the most expensive drinks.”
Looking at him, I couldn’t help but smile back. The complicated thoughts that had been tangled in my mind moments before faded away like shadows in the light.
“Just two expensive drinks? That last comment sounded like a nouveau riche, you lose points for that. I’ll just give you what I make best.”
“Suit yourself.”
Even the act of swiping his card felt exciting. I recorded the most modest transaction ever on Woo Baekyeon’s card and returned it to him.
“But are you allowed to be out here? Don’t you have anything to do this evening?”
“I’m free until around 5 PM. I came prepared.”
Woo Baekyeon, who had been standing hesitantly by the counter, lowered his mask slightly with his fingertips.
“…You seemed upset yesterday. I promised to see you today….”
Ah, so it showed.
“Well, it’s because of what I heard that day. I was actually planning to go home early today to talk to you too.”
“Talk?”
“Yeah.”
“If it was important, you could have called. Did something happen?”
“No. Not to me. But I thought it would be better to talk face-to-face….”
“What is it?”
Woo Baekyeon leaned towards me, the wide lapels of his coat completely obscuring the front of the counter. His large, gloved hand covered mine. He looked every bit the tall, strong, adult man he was.
Yes, Woo Baekyeon had overcome his past trauma and grown into a fine adult. And regardless of how our feelings for each other began… things were good between us. Our last argument had taught me that we could resolve anything through calm conversation.
“It’s not something I can talk about here. My shift change is soon, so let’s talk when we get home. You’ll give me a ride, right?”
“You don’t need to ask such pointless questions.”
Woo Baekyeon replied curtly and sat down with Secretary Shin. They chose the table closest to the counter, the one his uncle often sat at.
My face stiffened at his choice of table. …Well, perhaps it was a good thing, since I needed to bring this up anyway. I placed two mugs in front of them.
“Your relative often sits there.”
Woo Baekyeon’s face immediately fell.
“He’s still coming here? Often? Secretary Shin, didn’t you relay the message properly?”
“Yes… to my knowledge, no one has shown interest in Jung Hankyung since then.”
“What, Woo Baekyeon. You said not to stop him from coming.”
“…I just told him to talk to me directly since his business would be with me. So who is it that keeps coming to see you?”
“My uncle.”
All the warmth drained from his face, as if he’d stopped breathing. Secretary Shin, turning to me, was also speechless.
“…What?”
“Jung Hankyung, who did you say it was?”
“My… uncle. He said so himself….”
Even as I answered Secretary Shin, my eyes were on Woo Baekyeon. He was more than just surprised; he was pale, as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have. Was he trembling?
“Woo Baek….”
“I-is this the person?”
Secretary Shin quickly tapped on his phone and showed me a picture. It was a younger version of Woo Baekyeon’s uncle.
“Ah, yes. That’s him.”
“Woo Jonghoon….”
Woo Baekyeon flinched at Secretary Shin’s murmur. Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Huh?”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me!”
The bones in my wrist ached from his grip. Woo Baekyeon seemed unaware of how tightly he was holding me.
“Why… why… you, again…!”
“Hey, Woo Baekyeon, are you alri….”
When faced with an overwhelmingly confusing situation, sometimes everything seems to slow down, like a slow-motion video. Woo Baekyeon’s choked voice, his wavering expression.
Amidst the commotion, why did I think I saw a flash of red light from the ‘lucky stone’ by the door?
The person entering the cafe was definitely someone who’d been here several times. But why did their appearance seem so unnatural today?
Woo Baekyeon’s head slowly turned, following my gaze towards the door. His uncle approached us with a bright smile.
“Hello, Baekyeon.”
He was the first to greet us.
“I’ve been waiting for you to come. Finally, I get to see your face!”
“…….”
“If it wasn’t for your father, this wouldn’t have happened. You must have been disappointed that I only sent gifts every year without showing my face, right? Why is he trying to interfere with our close relationship?”
“Why….”
“Have you been well, Baekyeon? I heard from the boss that you’re doing well.”
Woo Baekyeon stumbled back, unable to answer.
“Why are you here.”
Secretary Shin stepped forward in his place. I already knew their relationship wasn’t amicable, but the atmosphere was worse than I’d imagined. Or rather, the hostility was one-sided, coming from Woo Baekyeon. His uncle smiled and closed the distance between them, seemingly unfazed by Woo Baekyeon’s frozen silence.
“Why else would I come to a cafe but to enjoy a cup of coffee and relax? And to see Baekyeon’s spouse while I’m at it.”
Woo Baekyeon’s breathing became erratic. Seeing his face trembling with distress, I realized something was very wrong.
“Woo Baekyeon, what’s wrong?”
“…….”
Woo Baekyeon looked at me and gasped. His hand, still gripping my arm, trembled strangely. The bones in his hand stood out prominently.
“How did you get into Seoul? Does Grandfather know you’re here?”
His uncle was unperturbed by Secretary Shin’s hostility.
“Kang-hee, really. Do you think I still tell Father where I’m going at my age?”
“…….”
“And is there anything you can do to me now? Baekyeon, I haven’t done anything wrong in this small alley cafe. Isn’t that right, boss? I’m a pretty decent regular customer.”
His uncle’s question was suddenly directed at me. Secretary Shin raised his voice.
“Jung Hankyung, no! Don’t go near him. This man is…!”
“That hurts my feelings. You used to listen to my requests so well. Come to think of it, it’s quite unfair. Why are you still by Baekyeon’s side, Kang-hee?”
“I’ll call security. Get out of here now!”
“Are you planning to cause trouble in the cafe? Do you want to ruin the boss’s business?”
The more his uncle spoke, the more Woo Baekyeon’s strange reaction intensified. His shoulders heaved as if he was trying to cough up something he’d swallowed, and small, choked sounds escaped his throat. The usual aloofness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a reddish tinge.
Every muscle in his contorted face twitched and trembled. The most noticeable tremor was in his eyes.
“Woo Baekyeon.”
“Ah….”
Something was very wrong.
That’s when it happened.
“Baekyeon.”
“…….”
“Is your hand alright? Thinking about it now, your father was a bit harsh back then.”
His uncle had approached Woo Baekyeon closely. His breathing, which had barely calmed down, hitched, and he gasped as if his lungs were about to burst.
“Get out!!”
Suddenly, a loud shout erupted. Woo Baekyeon’s back heaved violently.
“Woo Baekyeon?”
“Get out, get out of here!!!”
Woo Baekyeon screamed and thrashed, shaking off my hand that was holding his arm. His bloodshot eyes glared at his uncle.
“You’ve become quite feisty. You used to be so shy.”
“Don’t come near me, don’t come this way! …―!”
Korean and English words tumbled out of his agitated mouth. Woo Baekyeon pushed the table and chairs at his uncle. His uncle dodged, but the furniture crashed against the wall, and the cups on the table shattered on the floor. Woo Baekyeon’s shouts and the crashing sounds echoed through the cafe.
“Get out of here! You can’t touch Jung Hankyung, don’t touch him!! Get out now!”
Not only the customers in the cafe area, but even those in the soundproof study rooms opened their doors and looked out.
“Director, Baekyeon! Come to your senses!”
Secretary Shin grabbed one of his arms, but it was no use. I jumped over the overturned table and stood in front of Woo Baekyeon.
“Hey! Woo Baekyeon!”
“Get out of the way, run, Jung Hankyung! He can’t have you!!!”
Woo Baekyeon’s face was contorted in an expression I’d never seen before. My ears rang from his shouts, a voice I couldn’t believe was his. I even started to doubt if this was real. Woo Baekyeon’s eyes followed my gaze as I looked around the chaotic scene.
“…….”
Looking back at Woo Baekyeon, the red flush had subsided, replaced by a stark paleness.
“Oh dear, you’re still throwing tantrums, Baekyeon.”
The owner of the voice approached, brushing off their clothes.
“Boss, are you alright? It looked like you were hit by a chair. Baekyeon, what is the meaning of this?”
“Y-you…”
“What about me? It was you who trashed the boss’s cafe, Baekyeon.”
“…!”
Woo Baekyeon was standing amidst the overturned furniture, his feet in spilled coffee. The people in the cafe murmured, looking at him. Confusion and despair clouded his eyes as he began to process his surroundings.
“Shouldn’t we leave the cafe for the boss’s sake, Baekyeon? Staying here will only make things worse.”
Woo Baekyeon couldn’t lift his head, his breath trembling as he exhaled. His hand, the one with my name on it, reached out and grabbed my sleeve. The situation was so chaotic that I had no idea how to fix it.
“Woo Baekyeon. Let go.”
He didn’t listen, so I pried his fingers off my sleeve. Then, I turned my back to his gaze. His eyes, desperately fixed on me, trembled violently until they were out of my sight. I thought his lips moved, forming my name.
Hiding Woo Baekyeon behind me, I extended my arm, putting distance between myself and his uncle.
“Don’t come any closer.”
I kept one arm protectively around Woo Baekyeon’s side. He made a small sound, suppressing his uneven breaths. His uncle tilted his head, still smiling.
“Hmm, am I suddenly the villain?”
“Please leave for today.”
“That’s unfair. Anyone can see I’m the victim here.”
He gestured towards the overturned table and chairs. The sofa was even dented from the impact of the table.
It was true that Woo Baekyeon was the one who had suddenly shouted and acted violently…
“I’ll hear his side of the story first. …And even if he’s in the wrong, it doesn’t matter. I’ll take his side. Because he’s family.”
“Family…”
He smiled and craned his neck, trying to look past me at Woo Baekyeon. The movement reminded me of a snake. I instinctively moved my foot to block his view.
“That’s great, Baekyeon. You finally have a family. After twenty years, huh?”
“Haah, hngh….”
As his foot stepped closer, I moved closer to Woo Baekyeon. I could feel his unsteady breathing behind me.
“Well then. I should leave today, in the spirit of celebration.”
“…….”
“It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. A big shame.”
His uncle walked backward, never taking his eyes off us. Reaching the cafe door, he waved with a wide smile and exited. Only after he was out of sight did I turn around.
“Hey, Woo Baekyeon. Are you alri…!”
I instinctively reached out to protect his head and glanced to my left. A couple, whose eyes I met, sheepishly lowered their phones.
Most of the gazes in the now-quieted cafe were directed at us.
“Come this way.”
I shielded Woo Baekyeon’s face with my hand and led him to the staff room. But he stopped abruptly at the open door.
“What’s wrong?”
Did something happen again? I checked his face and fumbled for the light switch on the wall. He started walking again as if nothing had happened.
He obediently sat on the mismatched plastic chair I led him to. His tousled brown hair was visible from the back instead of the top of his head. I sighed, looking at the innocent pantry in the corner. I couldn’t even bring myself to ask him what had happened, let alone scold him.
“Jung Hankyung.”
“Ah, uh. Yeah?”
“How… do you know him?”
“Uh… he came here as a customer?”
“You should be more selective about your customers!”
Woo Baekyeon abruptly lifted his head. But the moment our eyes met, he flinched and inhaled sharply.
“…I wasn’t yelling at you.”
He was definitely yelling at me… but he seemed so mentally distraught that I couldn’t say anything.
“I understand, so just calm down and breathe.”
Woo Baekyeon lowered his head again. His broad shoulders slumped, and his arms closed around himself defensively.
The mess outside, the startled customers… there was a mountain of things to deal with, but right now, I could only see the person in front of me. Why did he seem so fragile, like he might break at any moment?
“I’ll compensate you for the damages.”
After a moment, he spoke, still looking down.
“I know you don’t like taking money from me, but in this situation, I have to compensate you for the broken furniture and the loss of business due to the disturbance. Whatever amount you ask for, I’ll pay it, or rather, I’ll calculate it and send it to you. I’ll have my lawyer… contact you to discuss the details…”
His words and tone were the same as usual, but his voice wasn’t. His mumbled words were rushed, as if he was being chased. The tips of his dress shoes, which extended beyond the small chair, trembled slightly.
“Hey, Woo Baekyeon.”
I crouched down in front of him and met his downcast gaze.
“That was pretty impressive. I knew you were pretty, but I didn’t know you were so cool.”
Woo Baekyeon covered his face with his hands.
“…Don’t talk nonsense.”
His voice finally regained its clarity. My absurd comment seemed to have helped him calm down.
“What happened?”
“…….”
His silence erected a wall between us again. The same wall that had kept him upstairs.
But if the past few weeks had taught me anything, it was that this wall shouldn’t be forced open.
I scratched the back of my head and offered him my jacket, which I’d hung on the coat rack.
“It’s cold in this storage room. Put this on if you’re going to stay.”
“…….”
He just stared at it, so I pushed it closer, and he finally took it and placed it on his lap.
“Jung Hankyung, yell at me. Curse at me. Like last time.”
“Can you give me a heads-up on how many years I’ll be reminded of that incident? So I can brace myself….”
“That’s not what I…! …This time, you have a right to be angry.”
“I’m not particularly angry.”
“…Why?”
“Do you want me to be angry?”
“…….”
It was true that the cafe had suffered damages, and I was frustrated by Woo Baekyeon’s lack of explanation. If it had been anyone else, I might have been angry.
But how could I be angry after seeing the way he’d clutched my clothes, the expression on his face when he thought I was turning my back on him?
“Tell me what happened when you’ve calmed down a bit more. Stay here for now. I’ll check on the situation outside.”
“Jung Hankyung.”
“Yeah?”
Woo Baekyeon called my name, but then just looked up at me without saying anything.
“Never mind.”
He clutched the jacket and closed his mouth. I watched his downcast profile for a moment before stepping out.
The overturned table and chairs, and the broken cups, had already been cleaned up. There were several other secretaries in the cafe besides Secretary Shin.
Just then, a man in hiking gear strode towards the counter. He was a customer who had previously held a hiking group meeting at the cafe and had become a regular, ordering sweet potato lattes.
“Hey, boss.”
“Ah, sir. I apologize for the sudden commotion. I’m so sor….”
“Oh dear, you got caught up in something unpleasant. I should have told you when I had a bad feeling about him. Smiling so kindly and spending money so freely, that’s a classic multi-level marketing tactic.”
Huh?
“Multi-level marketing schemes are really bad news. I, I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I got caught up in one a few years ago. My wife came to the company with a golf club and threatened to kill us all if they didn’t let me go, so I barely managed to get out.”
“Oh dear… I’m sorry to hear that. Your wife is very impressive….”
“I’m fine now, but I felt bad for that young man earlier. Comfort your friend.”
“Yes, sir….”
After the customer left, Secretary Shin approached me.
“I told the customers that it was a multi-level marketing scheme targeting Baekyeon, who is a self-made success. The director didn’t fall for it, but the story is that they previously scammed his parents, so he lost control when he saw him. The reason that man frequented this cafe was to target the director’s close friend, Hankyung, by lying in wait.”
“Excuse me? Is it okay to lie like that? He’s his… relative.”
“They’re worse than strangers. Jung Hankyung’s cafe’s image is much more important.”
“…….”
“We gave the customers small gifts for the inconvenience.”
Large fruit baskets were placed on each table, and the customers were all fiddling with white envelopes.
“We included small fruit baskets and gift certificates to our department store, with a small amount on them.”
“…You don’t have to keep emphasizing the ‘small amount,’ we’re not fighting about that anymore. And I can’t say anything to him in this situation.”
“Thank you for your understanding. Is the director inside?”
“Ah, yes.”
“May I go in for a moment?”
“Please do.”
Feeling the customers’ glances on me, I took the “Closed” sign from under the counter. The customers, seeing that nothing else was happening after the commotion, started to leave one by one, and the other secretaries politely asked the remaining customers in the study zone to leave, closing the cafe early. As I pulled down the blinds, I saw the sun setting behind the large buildings outside.
After the customers were gone, the staff room door opened. Woo Baekyeon emerged, his hair and clothes now neat. He looked a little tired as he placed his hand lightly on the counter.
“Jung Hankyung, let’s talk.”
“Uh…, yeah, we should.”
“I’ll take a seat.”
Woo Baekyeon sat down on the sofa. As I sat in the chair opposite him, the secretaries naturally distanced themselves.
“How long has he been coming to the cafe?”
“A little over a month.”
“…You mentioned before that your relatives were visiting the cafe. Was he among them?”
“He came a bit later. He first visited around the time the other relatives stopped coming.”
“Did he come often?”
“Two or three times a week.”
“…….”
After a moment of thought, Woo Baekyeon asked,
“What did he tell you?”
“…Nothing memorable until now. Talk about the weather, business, sometimes your family. But yesterday….”
“It’s okay. Tell me.”
I answered without looking at Woo Baekyeon.
“That you… were kidnapped.”
“…….”
Woo Baekyeon sighed softly.
“Is that why you asked me to come down and see you yesterday?”
I nodded slowly, finding it difficult to meet his eyes.
“I see.”
“…….”
“And?”
His question was calmer than I’d expected. Reading the worry and curiosity in my eyes, Woo Baekyeon continued in a monotone.
“Yes. I was kidnapped and rescued when I was twelve. What did you hear about it?”
“I’ll just tell you everything that happened yesterday, from the beginning. Yesterday morning, someone strange followed me from Heaven’s Castle. He grabbed me and asked me to call off the surveillance your family sent, but then my… uncle showed up, and he ran away. My uncle told me that the man was the driver who kidnapped you.”
“Haah….”
Woo Baekyeon clicked his tongue. It was a self-deprecating laugh.
…Putting everything together, it wasn’t difficult to draw a conclusion.
“Woo Baekyeon, is your uncle involved in the kidnapping?”
“I don’t know.”
His answer to my carefully worded question was more dismissive than I expected.
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“Because the person identified as the culprit wasn’t Woo Jonghoon, it was someone else.”
Only Secretary Shin remained in the cafe besides us. He was sitting at a distance, quietly looking away.
“Right after I was rescued, I wasn’t in any state to give a statement, physically or mentally. After multiple surgeries and hospitalization, I heard that the culprit had confessed and was on trial.”
“…….”
“The person who went to jail wasn’t the one I saw and heard at the kidnapping scene. It was someone else.”
“…What?”
“…….”
“What… what are you talking about?”
“That’s why I said I don’t know.”
“Hey, how… how can you say something like that so calmly!”
I bit my lip hard enough to make it sting, then asked,
“So the culprit you remember is…?”
“…….”
I didn’t need to hear the answer. I felt all the blood drain from my face.
“I don’t know what kind of discussions took place between my family and the police. When I came to my senses, everything was over. Even if I had been in my right mind, what could a twelve-year-old have done? Without even my parents.”
“Woo Baekyeon, let’s report it now. They can reopen the investigation. You know, like, sometimes they catch culprits of decades-old murders because of new evidence.”
“Jung Hankyung.”
Woo Baekyeon called my name with a detached expression. How many times had he worn that look?
“Do you think I haven’t tried anything?”
“Then…?”
“While I was in the hospital, all the evidence disappeared. Now, all that’s left is my fear, a mere suspicion. And even that’s useless now because the statute of limitations has expired.”
“The statute of limitations… expired?”
“It happened sixteen years ago. Even if we find definitive evidence now, even if he confesses, it’s no use.”
“…….”
“So don’t worry about it anymore. Wasting time and energy on something that can’t be changed is pointless. I was born with too much, and if I think of it as the price I paid, it’s not unbearable.”
“Hey…”
My chest tightened, making it difficult to speak. His words seemed directed at himself rather than me.
“But be careful around him. He’s different from the other relatives. He probably doesn’t have good intentions towards you.”
The times Woo Jonghoon, not ‘uncle’, had visited the cafe flashed through my mind. He always appeared about ten minutes after I started my shift… Even on the days I’d finished preparations early, or when I’d overslept and was late. The belated realization hit me like a ton of bricks.
“You said you were badly injured. Are you okay?”
“…….”
A flicker of pain crossed his eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke.
“There are lingering effects. But they’ve gotten much better since I married you.”
His hand, the one with my name on it, clenched tightly.
“But I explained it because I thought you should know, I don’t want to dwell on the past. I was just surprised to see Woo Jonghoon so suddenly. I’m fine.”
“Hey, stop saying you’re fine. How many times have you said that already…?”
“…….”
No. He was saying that because he couldn’t bear it otherwise.
“Jung Hankyung, I have a favor to ask. Please treat me the same as before, as if you didn’t hear anything.”
“…….”
That only made me feel worse…. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed.
“…Just tell me if anything scary happens. You know, you must have known before we met at the wedding. That I’m good at catching kidnappers.”
“Did he know about what happened in high school?”
“The ‘brave baseball boy’ was on TV quite a bit. Hey, …actually, earlier… I was momentarily taken aback by the insinuation that Woo Baekyeon had married a fantasy version of me from the news, not the real me. So stupidly…. But whether you saw me on the news first or not, we’re doing well together now….”
“What?”
“Huh?”
“Aha. …So you’re saying I saw you on TV first?”
“…Ah. You didn’t?”
Well, it’s possible he didn’t… see it. Or was this also part of the scheme?
Then, Woo Baekyeon asked suspiciously,
“Jung Hankyung, do you really not remember?”
“…Huh?”
“…….”
“Huh?”
What kind of question was that?
“Have you… met me before?”
“You talked to me first.”
“…Wh-when?”
Woo Baekyeon closed his mouth, as if determined not to tell me until I guessed correctly. I racked my brain, like I was searching for a wallet that had disappeared right before I left the house.
“Woo Baekyeon, did you happen to be wearing really thick glasses, or did you have a drastic change in weight…?”
The face that seemed to have been flower-boy handsome since birth blinked its long eyelashes, telling me to stop talking nonsense.
“Because of that memory, my Name must have been carved when we met again at the wedding. That first encounter with you left quite an impression on me.”
“…Me? Ah…, can’t you give me more hints?”
“No.”
I fell into deeper thought, but Woo Baekyeon seemed to cheer up a little seeing my confusion. Judging by what he said, it was probably during high school? I used to hug anyone after winning a match back then, so maybe among them… I imagined a younger Woo Baekyeon looking up at me.
During our wedding photoshoot, he said he was short until his second year of high school, then suddenly grew taller, so he would have been looking up at me with round, brown eyes…
Oh, I think I know.
So, there was a time I saw such a pretty boy…
Just then, the cafe door opened.
“Hyung-nim, did you completely lose out on the afternoon business? There are no customers… uh…?!”
Woo Baekyeon turned to look at me after glancing at the newcomer.
“Who’s this?”
“A friend who helps me with closing.”
“A friend….”
“Hello! I-I was at your wedding. I was invited as a colleague… It’s, it’s nice to meet you!”
Woo Baekyeon blinked slowly at me. I think I understood the meaning now, something I hadn’t before. He was asking if this person was harmless. The way he only let down his guard around me stirred a strange feeling within me. When I nodded, he turned to Seong-joong.
“I’m Woo Baekyeon, Jung Hankyung’s spouse. I stopped by for a bit and ended up taking up a lot of his time. I’ll be going now.”
“Oh, you can stay longer… Or are you busy…?”
“Yes. I’ll see you next time.”
After a curt farewell, Woo Baekyeon nodded at me and said, “I’ll go ahead.” A limousine, pulled up close to the door, had its headlights on, brightly illuminating the entrance.
“Hey, I’ll go with you. I just need to grab my things.”
“There’s no need. I have to take care of the mess I made and explain things to him. I’ll send a car, so come slowly.”
I sighed through my nose, looking at the ground. My shadow, elongated by the headlights, stretched long on the ground.
I closed my eyes tightly, then opened them, grinning.
“See you at home, princess.”
“Okay.”
I saw him off playfully, as if nothing had happened. As he wished, I would pretend I didn’t know anything about what had happened today. Woo Baekyeon seemed to understand.
The brightly lit car drove away. After waving until Woo Baekyeon was out of sight, I could finally let my face fall, hardening with a mixture of guilt and anger.