PIA 94

[Let’s meet.]

Ji-an boldly sent a message to Seo Ji-hyuk.

[It would be odd for me to just show up at the engagement party out of nowhere, right? It seems like there’s a reason you really want me to come, so I thought it’d be better to hear you out first.]

Feeling that his initial message might have been too forward, Ji-an quickly added more words. He unconsciously furrowed his brow as he stared at the message screen, waiting for a reply. Despite his outward bravado, his hands nervously gripped the phone. While he had resolved to face things head-on, it was difficult to shake off the long-standing habits of someone who grew up being mistreated.

Soon, a reply came with a soft notification sound.

[That’s why I suggested meeting first.]

Seo Ji-hyuk was always the type to insist on addressing things head-on.

[You set the time and place, Ji-an. I’ll accommodate.]

This side of him felt different. It was puzzling.

[Alright, hyung. I’ll decide and message you again.]

The engagement party was a family event for the Jeong family. Who knew what might happen there? Skipping any preliminary reconnaissance was out of the question. Since Ji-an had decided to face things head-on, it was essential to assess the situation and plan accordingly.

“I can’t embarrass hyung-nim after all.”

The most common scene in makjang dramas was usually a “reveal.” Affairs or secret relationships might not apply in this case, and it wasn’t the time for a sudden incurable disease plot twist either.

The past where ‘Seo Ji-an’ had followed Jeong Han-joo around was still a concern. It didn’t seem like Seo Ji-hyuk would gain anything by exposing that at the engagement party to embarrass him, but Ji-an couldn’t shake the memory of Seo Ji-hyuk’s lonely expression from their three-way meeting before.

Ji-an opened the message window and called for Woo-seok.

[Let’s meet someone with me.]

[I’m not going on a blind date.]

[I don’t have anyone for you anyway. I’ll buy you something delicious.]

[OK]

It might turn into an embarrassing conversation, so taking Jeong Hee-seo along wasn’t an option. And going alone wasn’t ideal either, especially with the precious little one growing inside him. The world outside felt too dangerous. Taking Woo-seok, who knew everything about the situation, as a shield seemed like the best way to handle any unexpected scenarios.

Alright, almost perfect.

Almost… Ji-an felt a slight twinge of unease and instinctively looked for Jeong Hee-seo. He turned his gaze out the window to where Jeong Hee-seo was tending to the garden. Just then, their eyes met as Jeong Hee-seo straightened up from examining flowers. Jeong Hee-seo waved a hand, motioning him to come outside. Ji-an eagerly sprang up and ran out the front door.

Jeong Hee-seo firmly planted the end of a sturdy stake into the ground.

“Hold this end. So it doesn’t come out.”

“Like this?”

As Ji-an held the stake with both hands to secure it, Jeong Hee-seo moved five or six steps back and planted the opposite end into the ground. The long stake bent into an arch shape, supporting the side of the flowering trees standing in a row.

After confirming that the support stake was firmly planted, Jeong Hee-seo took out another one.

“We’ll plant them on both sides and tie wire between the trees. Got it?”

“Yep. I’ll hold this side.”

After repeating the process a few times, dense supports formed beside the tall flowers. Even though clouds covered the sun, their faces were soon drenched with sweat.

“If we leave them, they’ll all fall over in the wind.”

Jeong Hee-seo added apologetically. He looked sorry for calling him out to do such a trivial task. He seemed to feel bad for calling Ji-an over for such a small task. But Ji-an didn’t mind. He actually enjoyed doing something together with Jeong Hee-seo.

“I didn’t know you could do things like this, hyung-nim. It’s amazing.”

“I learned by watching grandmother do it. There’s hardly a place in the house that grandmother’s hands haven’t touched…”

Jeong Hee-seo trailed off. Ji-an nodded as he watched him take out wire and tie the empty spaces. He knew that bringing up ‘Myeong Hyeon-sook’ always darkened Hee-seo’s mood, which is why he often stopped talking about her.

Making traditional Korean sweets for her grandchildren to taste and personally tending to the garden trees gave insight into her character. It seemed that the ‘in-law conflict content’ shown in the drama might have come from Myeong Hyun-sook knowing all too well that ‘Seo Ji-an’ was hurting her beloved grandson, Jeong Hee-seo.

Following Jeong Hee-young, Ji-an became convinced that Myeong Hyun-sook might not be the intimidating figure he had vaguely feared. Part of his initial hesitation had come from feeling confined by the yearlong ‘grace period.’

Before, Ji-an had thought he had altered the course of events, leading to the ‘characters’ changing. But now, it didn’t seem like that was the only factor. Perhaps it was because he wasn’t ‘Seo Ji-an’ that their responses were changing.

Maybe he had been making wrong judgments out of fear of the possession situation.

“She seems… she seems like a very kind person.”

Jeong Hee-seo looked back at Ji-an as he was tying the wire.

“I mean your Grandmother. I had only heard rumors and thought she was scary.”

Ji-an felt a little embarrassed to admit that he had been narrow-minded. Though there were apparently reasons to be afraid, Jeong Hee-seo didn’t know them. When he glanced up, Jeong Jeong Hee-seo just smiled without giving any further reaction.

At moments like this, Ji-an wondered how Jeong Hee-seo understood him, but he wasn’t too worried. Even if Jeong Hee-seo thought he was a lunatic, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that, despite everything, Jeong Hee-seo still liked him.

After finishing the support for the flowering plants, Jeong Hee-seo headed to the shed in one corner of the garden to put covers over the shorter flowers. His pace quickened a bit as the wind was picking up. Ji-an helped carry the thick vinyl sheets and tools to support them.

“I think it’s starting to rain?”

“You’re right, it’s earlier than expected. Let’s hurry.”

They drove in the stakes and unrolled the vinyl sheets. Ji-an felt a raindrop or two on his cheek. Feeling a bit urgent, he grabbed one end and lifted it.

“Whoa—!”

Suddenly a gust of wind caught the vinyl, making it billow up into the sky. Raindrops splattered onto Ji-an’s face, making him close his eyes instinctively. As he tried to catch the airborne plastic, Jeong Hee-seo rushed toward him to help.

When Ji-an opened his eyes again, Jeong Hee-seo was right in front of him. He had thought the moist floral scent was coming from the garden, but… Ji-an’s gaze slowly moved upward.

His heart stopped for a moment.

“You should have held it tightly.”

As if by magic, the wind stopped, and the vinyl he had caught fluttered down over the two of them. Ji-an stood frozen like a dumbstruck fool, just watching it all happen. His eyelids blinked slowly as if in slow motion. Jian thought he caught a glimpse of Jeong Hee-seo smiling—

Their lips brushed against each other and then parted. At that moment, his heart started pounding fiercely again.

It felt like playing freeze tag as a kid, and just when he thought he had evaded the tagger, Jeong Hee-seo had suddenly come up and tapped him—The surroundings that had been still suddenly became chaotic and moved all at once. The vinyl flapped noisily in the wind. The two of them, awkwardly wrapped in the huge vinyl sheet, burst out laughing at the same time.

Ji-an looked up at the sky where clouds were stubbornly gathering. A strong wind was blowing. A typhoon was coming.

* * *

“Typhoon Miya, the 8th of the season, is expected to deviate from its predicted path and make landfall on the southern coast of Gyeongnam this weekend. From next week, the entire country will likely fall under the influence of the storm…”

The TV volume was high.

The sparkling cufflinks and the scarf around his neck were flashy. Ji-an looked at his face in the mirror and suddenly thought,

‘Ah, even this outfit looks pretty nice when worn like this.’

It wasn’t that ‘Seo Ji-an’s’ taste was strange, but that he hadn’t known how to wear the clothes properly.

The person in the mirror looked a bit tired. The slightly hollowed cheeks gave off a sharper impression, making it seem as though he was glaring at himself. He furrowed his brow deeply and whispered at his reflection.

“Seo Ji-an, do you want to keep living there?”

‘Gasp!’

Ji-an gasped and covered his mouth in shock. It was him—the voice.

Ji-an looked around. Only then did he sense something strange. No matter how much he waved his arms, he couldn’t see himself. When he tried to reach out to touch him, there was no extending hand, no sensation of touch. Only his will existed. In other words, he was now like air. A soul, so to speak.

Then is this the real world where he originally lived? Was he dreaming?

As if answering his question, the figure in the mirror smirked. Even though it was Ji-an’s face, it was clear that the presence was someone else.

“Jeong Hee-seo must have woken up.”

He muttered, barely audibly, with a somewhat bitter-looking smile.

“Take care. I’ll be back soon.”

It was the same as that night—when Ji-an had tried to eat cake but dropped it. Anger surged through him as Ji-an lunged to grab the figure by the collar, but his hands passed through empty air.

Without hesitation, the figure turned and sat down on the sofa in front of the TV. Ji-an, invisible in the reflection, clenched his fists in frustration and tugged at his hair in vain, glaring at the figure as he followed it.

On the coffee table was a bottle of amber liquid. The large bottle was less than half full, and there was no ice in the glass.

‘Whiskey? You drink whiskey too?’

His body was weak to alcohol! Despite Ji-an watching with surprised eyes, he showed no sign of concern as he repeatedly downed the strong drink straight.

‘My liver!’

Although he had decided not to return, he still felt instinctively worried. Ji-an glared and shouted, but he didn’t seem to hear him.

After drinking enough to make his face flush, he got up and staggered towards the bedroom. Ji-an was pulled along as if he had become his shadow. Ji-an wanted to look around the house to see what he was doing, but he couldn’t move freely, as if stuck to his tail.

The room was dim. Ji-an clicked his tongue as he watched him collapse onto the bed. Using someone else’s body so recklessly, he thought, muttering complaints he couldn’t hear. As he turned around, Ji-an suddenly froze. Goosebumps ran through his nonexistent body.

‘This crazy bastard.’

…The wall was covered with photos of Seo Ji-hyuk.