PIA 127

Jeong Han-joo stood blankly in the airport departure lounge. He had no luggage, only a passport, phone, and plane ticket in his hands. Being sent away into exile, he had no desire to pack anything.

“It’s almost time. We should start moving…”

The accompanying secretary, who had insisted on coming despite being told it was unnecessary, grated on his nerves. He claimed to be carrying kimchi and gochujang prepared by Han-joo’s grandmother, but the fact that they were boarding the same plane made him seem more like a watchdog than an escort.

“Just a moment, five more minutes please.”

Jeong Han-joo waved off the secretary and looked down at his phone. He read through the messages he had left for Seo Ji-hyuk once more.

[I know I’ve done a lot wrong. I’m sorry.]

[But we shouldn’t end things like this. Let’s at least talk.]

[If you’re okay with it, if you can forgive me, I want to start over.]

[Ji-hyuk. Please reply when you read this message.]

[I’m leaving the country tomorrow. My flight is at 10 AM. I’ll wait in the departure lounge.]

Calls weren’t going through and there were no replies to his messages, but the read receipts would appear shortly after he sent them. This drove Jeong Han-joo even crazier.

The departure time he had told Seo Ji-hyeok had already passed. Regretfully, he had even pretended to be sick and changed his flight ticket to buy more time, but there was still no contact from him.

Jeong Han-joo almost threw his phone in the trash but handed it to the secretary instead. A sliver of hope made him cling to his lingering attachment.

Not only his company position and the few shares he had, but even all the friends he had in Korea were now gone. When he was young and separated from his mother to be raised by his grandmother, he had rebelled and misbehaved a lot, but she had always been infinitely kind to him as the youngest. Seeing her become so cold now made him realize he must have gone quite far astray.

As he stared dejectedly towards the distant windows where light was coming in, the secretary cautiously approached. Despite being suddenly sent on an indefinite overseas trip following Han-joo, his expression was cheerful.

“Would you like to have a cigarette before we go?”

“…Usually people tell me to quit.”

“At times like these, you need one.”

Jeong Han-joo stared blankly at the cigarette pack the secretary offered.

What Jeong Hee-seo had offered him was a school brochure. Saying that he was at least good at studying, he had also handed over a plan prepared by the secretarial staff. He told Han-joo to focus on studying more and take time to reflect on himself.

He understood his brother’s and grandmother’s intentions. But instead of feeling repentant, his thoughts were filled with regrets about Ji-an and how he should have seen through Ji-hyuk’s absurd lies. The weight of “what if” pressed on him, confirming that his brother’s prescription was indeed what he needed.

As frustrating as it was.

“Let’s have one before we go in.”

There would be smoking rooms inside the gate, but how could that compare to the taste of smoking while looking at the sky before departing? Jeong Han-joo took the cigarette offered by the secretary, intending to shake off all his lingering attachments.

* * *

“You’re home already?”

Ji-an asked with surprised eyes, rubbing his arms. He had been lounging at home and rushed out when he heard a car pulling in. It was surprising because although they were supposed to meet his mother in the afternoon, there was still plenty of time left until the appointment.

“Why did you come out dressed like this? It’s cold.”

“I was sleeping.”

“You’ll catch a cold.”

Jeong Hee-seo quickly took off his coat and wrapped it around Ji-an’s shoulders, caressing his cheek.

“Ji-an. From today, I’m unemployed.”

“What?”

“I submitted a leave of absence.”

“A leave of absence? So suddenly? Until when?”

“For now, until Ppoggel is born?”

“For now?”

His hands were busy taking out various items from the car while leaving the driver’s seat door open. Ji-an watched him move in a daze. The car was packed full of gifts—celebratory presents from their colleagues for the upcoming birth of their child. Among the cards were messages congratulating Jeong Hee-seo on his leave of absence.

The trunk was full of traditional sweets and meat gifts from Myeong Hyun-sook. While Jeong Hee-seo diligently moved the items into the house, Ji-an sat in the driver’s seat as if in a trance. He adjusted the seat forward and gripped the steering wheel, inhaling the scent of Jeong Hee-seo that lingered in the car.

“Shall we go for a drive like this and then pick up your mother?”

When he looked up at the pleasant suggestion, Jeong Hee-seo was already leaning on the car door, having finished moving the luggage. In one hand, he held Ji-an’s hoodie, jacket, and sneakers. He had already made up his mind to go out. Seeing Ji-an holding the steering wheel, he wrinkled his nose.

“You look quite natural in that position.”

Seeing Ji-an’s sheepish smile made Jeong Hee-seo want to buy him a car even more.

“Let’s get your license soon, Ji-an.”

“You’re not saying that because you’re tired of picking me up and dropping me off… driving me around, are you?”

“Of course not.”

Ji-an had moved to the passenger seat by then and was watching Jeong Hee-seo buckle his seatbelt. For a fleeting moment, Ji-an thought about how nice it might be to never get his license—just to keep having Jeong Hee-seo drive him everywhere.

“Still, I prefer it when you drive.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because you look cool when you like this.”

As his heart fluttered at Ji-an’s words, Jeong Hee-seo laughed and easily accepted the compliment. He unfastened his seatbelt, leaned over, and showered him with kisses until Ji-an couldn’t take it anymore and squirmed.

“Ah, ow! Stop it already!”

When Jeong Hee-seo did things like this, Poggles would move around as if knowing something. It always made Ji-an feel like the three of them were together. Ji-an placed his hand on his belly and said with a laugh in his voice,

“Poggles, what should we do? Your dad came home unemployed and is making up for it with kisses.”

“Hey now, the baby can hear you.”

“What will you say when we meet mom? ‘Mother, I’ve become unemployed even though I have a child on the way.’ Is that what you’ll say?”

Their playful banter filled the air as they locked eyes, both brimming with mischief.

“Seo Ji-an, I didn’t know you were such a stern type. Didn’t you once say you didn’t know how to do anything and had no intention of making money?”

“Well, I had my reasons then. Originally, I’m a very responsible type. I had so many savings accounts…”

Oh… Ji-an suddenly remembered the savings accounts he had diligently contributed to in the past.

 Ji-an bit his lip mid-sentence, and Jeong Hee-seo asked curiously:

“You had savings accounts?”

“…Yes, well. Not anymore.”

Feeling suddenly empty, Ji-an took Jeong Hee-seo’s hand. Those stupid savings accounts. I’m fine even if they’ve turned to scraps of paper. As he was comforting himself, Jeong Hee-seo suddenly pressed his lips to his.

“Sud- mm, honey?”

As Ji-an’s mouth opened in surprise, Jeong Hee-seo’s t0ngue slipped inside. At first, he thought it was just playful teasing, but the movements grew increasingly intense. Without realizing it, Ji-an closed his eyes and responded, but was startled when the seat suddenly reclined.

Jeong Hee-seo looked down at Ji-an, l1cking his lips.

“Call me ‘honey’ one more time.”

“When did I ever call you—”

As Ji-an tried to protest, he was swallowed up again. Their teeth clashed and Jeong Hee-seo’s t0ngue moved more roughly than usual. He swept through Ji-an’s mouth as if devouring it, reaching deep into his throat. His pheromones poured over him like a flood.

“Mm, wa-wait…”

Struggling for breath, Ji-an tapped frantically on Jeong Hee-seo’s shoulder. Jeong Hee-seo reluctantly pulled away. Ji-an coughed softly, his face bright red. In that brief moment, the entire car was filled with Jeong Hee-seo’s pheromones.

“Why suddenly in the car when the house is right there…”

Faced with his slightly flustered expression, Jeong Hee-seo let out a pained groan. It was obvious that if he picked Ji-an up and carried him back into the house now, they’d miss their appointment time.

He opened the window to air out the car. He stole one last lingering kiss on Ji-an’s still-blushing cheek before fully retreating.

“Sometimes, I just feel like you might disappear.”

Ji-an was startled by Jeong Hee-seo’s words, which he trailed off as if mumbling. He even felt his heart stop for a moment.

“Disappear? What a strange thing to say.”

“It’s hard to explain… Sometimes I get anxious for no reason, and when I feel like this, it’s hard to bear if I don’t touch you.”

“…Why do you think you feel that way?”

Ji-an pretended not to know anything as he asked.

“Well, maybe because you appeared suddenly in my life like a gift?”

Jeong Hee-seo made an embarrassed expression. Finding it difficult to explain further, he trailed off and started the car. He intended to change the mood by driving.

But this time, Ji-an leaned over, wrapping his arms tightly around Jeong Hee-seo’s neck.

“Hyung. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t say things like that.”

“…Alright.”

Somehow, their positions seemed reversed. He had been the one to confess feeling an inexplicable anxiety, yet Ji-an was the one trembling slightly. Jeong Hee-seo raised his hand and slowly stroked his back.

“Okay, I understand. I won’t say such things.”

Jeong Hee-seo continued stroking his back until Ji-an was satisfied, quietly waiting for his trembling to subside. A heavy silence passed for a while, and finally, when he felt he had calmed down, he whispered softly:

“But could you call me ‘honey’ just one more time?”

“When did I ever…”

The surge of emotion subsided, and as Ji-an was about to retort out of habit, he called him ‘honey’ in a whisper. When Jeong Hee-seo laughed out loud, even the little anxiety that remained seemed to disappear completely.