PM Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Seeing Heeseong grinning widely as if eating ice cream had lifted his mood was satisfying, but the fact that they had eaten it together was oddly displeasing.

Daesik forcibly pressed down the irritation rising inside him. Still, it was a relief that Heeseong seemed to be feeling much better.

“……”

All of a sudden, realizing that he was even taking care of Heeseong’s mood made Daesik let out a quiet scoff. What was he even doing? Clicking his tongue inwardly, he opened his mouth.

“Looks like Manager Ji taught you well.”

“Yes! He helped me a lot with the work too, and he explained everything really thoroughly…! That’s why I memorized it so quickly!”

Heeseong’s cheeks flushed pink, clearly proud that he had learned it right away. As his pale face grew rosy, it looked like flower petals had been sprinkled over a smooth white rice cake.

It was cute to look at, but the moment Daesik thought about Kyunghoon having seen that face too, his expression hardened again. It bothered him intensely.

Still, Kyunghoon was at least quick on the uptake and sharp, so he wasn’t a bad choice. It couldn’t be helped. Daesik decided to explain things clearly to Kyunghoon and leave it to him for the time being. Someone as capable as Kyunghoon would understand right away once told.

In truth, there was no reason for him to care about who Heeseong ate ice cream with or what he did. There was no reason to dislike it either. And yet, even though there was absolutely no reason, it still sat poorly with him, to the point that he couldn’t even understand himself.

Even so, he had no intention of letting it go. Though he couldn’t fully justify it to himself, Daesik didn’t change his mind.

“Get up.”

Daesik gently took hold of Heeseong’s arm.

“We’re going to eat dinner.”

Heeseong was tempted by Daesik’s words, but he hesitated. He was already grateful and sorry for everything Daesik had done for him so far, and on top of that, he was planning to do something terrible. He couldn’t just happily accept it.

As Heeseong fidgeted, unsure of what to do, Daesik slowly tilted his head. He had thought Heeseong was acting like that because he was scared, but now it seemed like that wasn’t quite it.

He had looked fine when he was with Kyunghoon, but the moment Daesik showed up, he started glancing sideways and reading the room again, like someone who had done something wrong.

Hmm.

After looking down at Heeseong for a moment, Daesik shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“I was thinking of buying you ice cream after we eat. If you don’t want it, then forget it.”

“Uh… ah, no, I don’t dislike it!”

At the word ice cream, Heeseong’s eyes widened as he hurriedly shook his head. His stomach chose that moment to growl, and hearing about sweet ice cream while it churned made all his worries fly far away. As if he had never been 고민 at all, Heeseong swallowed hard.

The sweet melon flavor of the ice cream he had just eaten still lingered thickly on his tongue. Even so, the thought of eating more made his heart flutter with excitement.

“Then that’s good.”

Completely won over by food and ice cream, Heeseong trotted after Daesik. The hesitation he had shown just moments ago was long gone.

* * *

Heeseong came back to his senses only after they arrived at Taebaekgwan. More precisely, it was after he had eaten his fill of the sushi Daesik bought for him. Of course, to Daesik’s eyes, it still looked far from enough.

Anyway, once his stomach was full and his mind finally caught up, Heeseong gasped in surprise.

Then he harshly scolded himself. Not only had he eaten a full meal, he’d even gotten ice cream too.

His chest ached sharply. It felt just like doing something bad and pretending not to know about it afterward.

I think I’m really terrible. I’m going to do something like that, and yet I ate everything Daesik bought me.

Watching Heeseong’s expression change from moment to moment, Daesik let out a snort of laughter. With a head no bigger than a fist, what was he thinking so much about?

He had been happily stuffing himself like a squirrel that had found an acorn, then once he was somewhat full, he flinched like a startled sparrow. It was ridiculous beyond words.

Next, he twitched as if he had suddenly gotten scared, not knowing what to do, before sinking into a gloomy mood again. He looked downcast like a drooping puppy, yet still kept sneaking glances this way, which was absurd. What on earth was going through his head?

Just then, the ice cream arrived in a small bowl. Immediately, Heeseong’s eyes lit up again. Daesik covered his mouth with his hand to hide his smile as he watched him.

“I got vanilla. Is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s delicious. Thank you!”

Heeseong bowed his head deeply, his cheeks faintly flushed. He seemed to be in a good mood because of the ice cream.

“Alright. Eat up.”

“You should eat too, sir.”

When Daesik gestured lightly as he spoke, Heeseong answered right away, as if he had been waiting for it. Finding that amusing, Daesik slowly nodded.

“Okay.”

Heeseong ate the ice cream carefully, as if it were some kind of nectar. He scooped small portions with his spoon and licked them, his cherry-like lips moving as he chewed, drawing the eye. Just watching him made Daesik feel thirsty, and he narrowed his eyes slightly. Gazing at Heeseong as he ate ice cream like candy, Daesik spoke.

“What kind of ice cream did you eat earlier?”

“Melon-flavored ice cream.”

The image of Heeseong licking a popsicle bar came vividly to mind. Daesik had been smiling softly, but at the thought, his eyebrows shot up.

“…It must’ve been good.”

That meant he had eaten it together with someone. Ji Kyunghoon.

Suddenly, his mood turned foul, like something filthy had stuck to him. He had thought it wouldn’t matter since Kyunghoon was a beta, but that wouldn’t do.

“Yes, hehe… thank you!”

Heeseong smiled bashfully and bowed his head again. His flushed cheeks looked trivial and cute.

Tilting his head slowly, Daesik murmured as if whispering.

“Manager Ji doesn’t like ice cream.”

“Huh, wh-what…! Really?!”

At Daesik’s words, Heeseong’s eyes grew so wide they looked like they might pop out. How could that be? He hadn’t known and had asked him to eat together anyway. So he had eaten with him just for Heeseong’s sake.

He suddenly felt sorry toward Manager Ji.

With the corners of his mouth gently lifted, Daesik took a sip of water and nodded slowly.

“Yeah. From now on, don’t eat it with him.”

“…Okay.”

Watching Heeseong nod with a serious look, Daesik let out a small laugh and casually added,

“From now on, eat it only with me.”

“With you… sir? Do you like ice cream?”

Daesik grinned.

“Yeah. A lot. So eat it with me.”

“Uh…”

When Heeseong didn’t answer right away, Daesik raised one eyebrow sharply.

“Why. You don’t like it?”

“No, not at all!”

“I don’t like eating alone. So eat with me. Got it?”

It was unexpected. Daesik didn’t seem like the kind of person who would get lonely. So he doesn’t like eating alone. Me neither.

Heeseong loved food, but if he had to choose, he preferred eating together. Eating alone always made his nose sting faintly, filling him with a sense of loneliness.

Finding this strange point in common made Heeseong’s chest tremble again. Knowing Daesik felt the same way made him feel a sense of kinship, but also even more guilty.

Contrary to how he looked, Daesik had a good personality, a generous heart, and was someone who felt lonely just like him. And yet he was supposed to do something awful to a man who had done nothing wrong.

Heeseong’s heart hurt so badly that he felt like tears were about to spill over.

Overcome with emotion, Heeseong bit down on his lip to hold back his tears and nodded repeatedly.

Seeing Heeseong’s eyes grow moist, Daesik furrowed his brows slightly. He had only suggested eating ice cream together, so why did he look like that? What was he thinking now?

Was he moved because Daesik said he’d keep buying him ice cream? Or because he said they should eat together? Or did he think of his brother?

He couldn’t understand what that goldfish-brained kid was thinking at all.

“Why are you making that face?”

“…Because I’m grateful. Thank you for thinking of me…”

Unable to be honest, Heeseong mumbled vaguely instead. Keeping up lies that didn’t suit him at all was agony.

At his answer, Daesik let out a hollow laugh. It was ridiculous that Heeseong was so moved just because he said they’d eat together. Still, seeing Heeseong look at him with shining eyes didn’t feel all that bad.

Chuckling lightly, Daesik tilted his head and said,

“Just eat it all. If you leave any, that’s one hit per scoop.”

“Yes….”

Heeseong nodded with reddened cheeks. He might not be very perceptive, but this time he understood that Daesik was joking. Smiling softly, Heeseong scraped up every last bit of ice cream.

His face as he ate looked as bright as a flower in full bloom.

Quietly watching him, Daesik lifted the corner of his mouth.