RFL Ch 8

Even on the bed, damp from their long lovemaking, Kim Sooin slept soundly. His face, with his mouth slightly open and his eyes gently closed, was unguarded. Thanks to this, Jaeyi had the opportunity to achieve his original goal. Carefully slipping out of bed, he stood in the middle of the kitchen.

There weren’t many ingredients. The refrigerator was so empty it looked like Sooin was about to move, and the cupboards were the same. Aside from pasta and garlic, there was only some stale bread and curry nearing its expiration date. There wasn’t even any rice, the soul of a Korean’s diet.

Does he usually starve? Jaeyi frowned and returned to the room. If he made his first meal for Sooin with these meager ingredients, he would definitely be teased relentlessly.

His irritated steps stopped abruptly in front of the open bedroom door. Beyond the door, Kim Sooin was lying on his side, as if looking at Jaeyi. His face, which Jaeyi immediately met, was fast asleep. Wearing a peaceful expression rarely seen.

Jaeyi quietly quieted his footsteps. As if forgetting his initial intention to wake Sooin up and question him, he approached the bed very carefully. As he knelt down on the floor, mesmerized, he noticed a faint trace of pheromones. The scent, reminiscent of the sea and grasslands, reflexively brought back the excitement of last night.

“Mmm…”

As if reading his impure thoughts, Kim Sooin groaned softly. His voice was heavy with sleep, but his sleeping face looked peaceful. His gentle, childlike breathing drove away Jaeyi’s bad thoughts.

“You’re sleeping well today.”

His straight eyebrows, which always seemed tense, were relaxed. His long eyes were gently closed, and judging by his occasionally smacking lips, he seemed to be in a deep sleep. The complete opposite of when he fell asleep in the car last time.

That day, Kim Sooin seemed to be having a nightmare. He gasped for breath like someone crying and mumbled something heartbreaking in his sleep.

“Don’t go.”

Back then, too, Jaeyi couldn’t bring himself to wake him, just like today. Even though he knew Sooin was having a bad dream, he couldn’t even bring himself to reach out.

“Don’t leave me alone.”

Kim Sooin seemed desperate not to be separated from someone in his dream. He seemed to want to stay in that dream, even though he was in pain. He might have been resented if Jaeyi woke him up carelessly.

“Are you not dreaming about that person today?”

Jaeyi rested his chin on his arm, which was on the mattress. Perhaps due to the close proximity and noise, cracks appeared on Kim Sooin’s peaceful face. He frowned slightly and mumbled something again.

Was it another plea not to leave, like last time? Jaeyi tilted his head closer and listened carefully.

“…Stop…”

Kim Sooin begged in a hoarse voice.

“I can’t… anymore, Jaeyi…”

The end of his cracked voice was almost a breath. It was a strangely erotic voice.

Jaeyi was momentarily speechless. He opened his lips slightly in surprise, then buried his flushed face in his arm.

“Weirdo.”

Muttering that, Jaeyi simply stood up. He gave up on waking Sooin up to ask for the Wi-Fi password or questioning him about where he kept other ingredients. He seemed to be having a pretty good dream today.

But despite his generosity, Kim Sooin woke up soon after. It was right when Jaeyi started boiling water. A loud alarm rang.

The noisy default ringtone turned off after three seconds. For someone who always lived a busy life, waking up in the morning seemed like an instinct. As if his body moved before his mind could catch up, he stumbled out into the living room. Leaning against the wall, wrapped in a messy blanket, he mumbled,

“Wow, you’re actually doing it. Cooking.”

Kim Sooin chuckled and closed his eyes. Jaeyi belatedly scolded his half-asleep face,

“Why are there no ingredients? Are you trying to starve to death?”

“I don’t have much time to eat at home. If I buy groceries, they just rot… It’s a waste.”

“You don’t even have rice. This is serious.”

“That’s even more of a waste for someone living alone. I just microwave instant rice when I need it.”

A second alarm rang from within the blanket wrapped around Sooin, who was answering coherently while rubbing his sleepy eyes. This time, the button was pressed before the loud first note could even ring. Groaning softly, Sooin let go of the blanket.

His naked body was revealed as the heavy fabric fell to the floor. Red marks, like a painting of last night, were scattered across his toned body.

“Can I go shower, Hyung?”

“Yeah.”

Jaeyi deliberately gave a short reply and looked away. He fiddled with the pasta as if counting it, even though he could do it with his eyes closed. Kim Sooin chuckled.

“You’re being shy after doing all that yourself.”

“I’m not shy.”

“Your ears are red.”

Jaeyi, startled, touched his ears. The temperature didn’t feel much different from usual. As he looked back with a doubtful expression, Kim Sooin chuckled playfully.

“I was lying.”

Kim Sooin whispered and disappeared into the bathroom. Jaeyi, belatedly realizing he had been tricked, threw a piece of garlic. The garlic hit the door with a thud and fell.

“Hyung, you’re such a liar.”

Laughter flowed out from inside the bathroom at his loud remark.

“Okay, I’m sorry, Hyung.”

Frustratingly, the gentle, soothing voice was similar to an old memory. Even though his personality had completely changed.

❤︎₊ ⊹

The hotel was a high-rise building standing tall in the heart of Seoul.

A wide-open plaza and broad roads encircled the hotel. Thanks to this, the view was unobstructed, allowing one to see everything from the distant mountains to various landmarks, but it wasn’t impressive enough to hold a child’s attention for hours.

It was the top floor, the most luxurious in the hotel. But to nine-year-old Jaeyi, it was just a boring prison. His father was absent all day, and when they were together, he was too busy yelling at someone on the phone. Meals were always room service.

Jaeyi sat in the empty living room of the suite and looked out the huge window. He listlessly followed the movements of the cars flowing in and out like tides.

The traffic lights changed dozens of times, and it seemed like hours had passed. He still had to wait four more hours for his father to return. Realizing that, he suddenly felt wronged. He had done well on his recent exams, yet he was being punished for no reason.

Jaeyi jumped up, grabbed his key card, and boldly took his emergency funds before leaving the room.

However, there wasn’t much a child could do at a hotel. He just walked around the plaza in front of the building, browsed the convenience store, and bought some things that looked interesting. Then, with nowhere else to go, he wandered around the hotel before eventually returning to the lobby.

After circling the spacious lobby once again, Jaeyi headed to the cafe. He didn’t want to go back to his room yet, and he felt a little thirsty.

Despite his brave venture, the unfamiliar scenery made Jaeyi hesitate. The hotel lobby felt like a space exclusively for adults, and he felt out of place.

But then he saw a table in the open cafe. A student, who seemed only a few years older than him, was sitting there. Emboldened, Jaeyi ordered shaved ice with milk and sat next to him.

The student in uniform was studying at the hotel lobby cafe. His ankles were exposed, probably because he had recently grown taller, and he looked cold. Jaeyi alternately glanced at his white ankles and his own dangling feet.

“Are you lost?”

Was it because Jaeyi stared too much? The eyes that had been fixed on the book turned to him. His distinct eyes gave him a handsome impression.

“Should I help you find your parents?”

He rubbed his forehead as if to smooth out the sharp look he had while studying and smiled kindly. Jaeyi could understand all the words, but it was difficult to speak. He didn’t want to sound awkward in front of him.

Around the time Jaeyi hesitated, the shaved ice arrived. The student stared at the tray the employee had left.

“Do you have money? If not, Hyung will pay for it.”

Hyung. Come to think of it, he had heard that in Korea, you call men older than you “Hyung.” Feeling awkward at the friendly title, Jaeyi took out his money. When he showed all the green bills from his pocket, Hyung’s eyes widened, and he sat closer.

“You shouldn’t show all your money like this where there are a lot of people. Here, put it away safely.”

He thought he was going to have all his money snatched away by the sudden grab. But the large hand neatly folded the bills and put them deep inside Jaeyi’s pocket. A pleasant scent emanated from Hyung as he looked around. He wanted to keep smelling the cool and calming scent, like a rainy dawn.

“So, you’re not lost?”

Hyung, after safely storing his money, asked with a smile. Jaeyi carefully replied, “No,” trying not to sound awkward. Hyung said that was a relief and turned his attention back to his book.

Maybe I should have said I was lost.

Feeling somewhat regretful, Jaeyi hesitated. The hesitant nine-year-old grabbed Hyung’s shirt sleeve.

“It’s a lot.”

He gestured towards the shaved ice, and Hyung seemed to consider it. But soon, he put away his book and moved his seat closer.

The shaved ice was indeed a large portion, and there were plenty of stories to share while they finished it. Of course, it was mostly Hyung talking one-sidedly.

Until then, the only Korean Jaeyi knew were the few words his mother had taught him and the lines from the dramas she watched. His father never used Korean and only used it like a code when he wanted to keep secrets from Jaeyi. Because of this, Jaeyi’s replies were limited.

“My parents work here.”

“Okay.”

“Hmm… Today, I’m waiting for them because we have somewhere to go after they get off work.”

“Okay.”

At the continued short answers, Hyung seemed to be running out of things to say. Hmm, the lengthening hum and the signs of the finished shaved ice weren’t good. Jaeyi fidgeted his feet nervously.

What should I do? I want to talk more… Thinking he needed to say something, Jaeyi quickly spoke,

“My parents are getting divorced.”

It was a hasty remark, said out of desperation to keep the conversation going. He thought he had matched the topic since Hyung kept talking about family, but the reaction he received was strange.

“…Huh?”

Hyung, who asked back with a slightly darkened expression, was silent. Watching him bite his lip and blink without speaking, Jaeyi thought, “I messed up.”

Then Hyung cleared the tray. It seemed the conversation wasn’t interesting after all. Jaeyi felt gloomy, resenting Hyung for wanting to leave. Hyung’s shadow moved busily in front of Jaeyi’s lowered head.

Hyung, who had put the tray away somewhere, seemed to be packing his bag. The sound of books and pens being put away, followed by the zipping sound, could be heard. His movements were hurried, as if he wanted to leave quickly. Feeling even sadder, Jaeyi bit his lip.

“Want to go play for a bit? Around here.”

Suddenly, a hand was extended in front of him. Jaeyi, who had been staring at his knees, was startled and looked up.

“Hyung has to stay here until evening anyway.”

Hyung didn’t leave alone. He didn’t disappear somewhere like his mother, who suddenly went to Korea, or his father, who left him alone every day. Jaeyi hurriedly grabbed his hand.

“Okay.”

“Hyung’s name is Sooin, Kim Sooin.”

“Sooin Hyung.”

“You can call me Sooin Hyung.”

Where did the “Hyung” suddenly come from? Jaeyi couldn’t understand, but he just nodded. At his puzzled expression, Sooin burst out laughing. His white, soft cheeks puffed up.

“Yeah, Sooin Hyung.”

Jaeyi repeated Sooin Hyung’s name several times in his mind. He thought the name, similar to “Swan,” suited him quite well.

That day, they spent time in the alleyways behind the hotel. Unlike the scenery near the main entrance, which felt boring, the alleyways were a whole new world. There was an arcade with dozens of game machines, karaoke rooms where you could see inside from the outside, and shops with flashy lights. They strolled along the streets, looking around a bakery and briefly stopping by a bookstore.

During that time, Hyung asked occasional questions. Starting with a simple question about whether Jaeyi was staying at the Beckham Hotel, he delved into very personal questions. What kind of people his parents were, what their jobs were, and how often they ate together. Those conversations weren’t very pleasant. Talking about his parents wasn’t a fun topic for Jaeyi.

“Tell me about Hyung.”

He found it much more interesting to listen to Sooin. When Jaeyi stubbornly pulled on his hand, Hyung smiled. Smiling as if he had no choice, he shared various stories. While listening, Jaeyi learned that he had a younger sister and currently had a crush on a student at the same school.

Strangely, his good mood plummeted at that moment. Frowning deeply, Jaeyi blurted out curtly,

“I don’t believe in love.”

He wanted to let go of Sooin’s hand, which he had been holding. Jaeyi dropped his arm and walked ahead alone.

“My parents are separating too. Everyone’s the same.”

His words became increasingly sullen. If he acted like this, Hyung might leave soon. Regretting his own grumbling, Jaeyi turned around hesitantly. Sooin, who had quickly caught up, smiled and took his hand again.

“Really? I believe in it. I think it’s destiny.”

“……”

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll marry the person I like now.”

He could feel Hyung swinging their joined hands, as if excited by the thought. Jaeyi frowned irritably. He didn’t like it when Hyung, who was much bigger than him, said such childish things. The way back to the hotel wasn’t as fun as before.

I shouldn’t have been sulky.

It felt like he had hastened their parting by walking ahead in a huff. He could already see the hotel. As Jaeyi became quiet again, Sooin led him somewhere. It was the arcade they had seen when they first came out.

“It’s fate that we met like this, so Hyung will get you a gift.”

Hyung smiled, standing amidst the flashy machines. Jaeyi’s mood brightened instantly, even before receiving the gift.

The stuffed toy came out after dozens of attempts. After inserting coins countless times and changing his target five times, something finally tumbled down with a thud.

“It’s a good thing I got it before we parted.”

Despite all the trouble, Sooin smiled cheerfully. Hyung’s large hand handed him the white, round stuffed toy. The small toy, about the size of Jaeyi’s fist, was softer and squishier than the others. It was a texture he had never felt before.

“Here’s your gift. I think it’s a chapssal-tteok.”

It seemed like a difficult name to remember. Jaeyi held the white stuffed toy in both hands and kneaded it. Honestly, thinking of it as a parting gift made him feel more regretful, but he had already taken up too much of Hyung’s time. He couldn’t ask for more time together after having just met today.

Having completely given up, Jaeyi bowed his head with his hands clasped together.

“Thank you.”

Sooin laughed as if something was funny. Then he squeezed Jaeyi’s hand.

“If you’re bored tomorrow, should Hyung come again?”

His face, lowered to match Jaeyi’s small height, was close. Jaeyi blinked rapidly. A “yes” sign had already gone up in his heart, but his mouth wouldn’t open easily.

“You don’t want to?”

“……”

As he hesitated, Hyung’s hand started to slip away. Startled, Jaeyi quickly grabbed his hand again.

“I do.”

At his hasty reply, Hyung smiled again. “See, you have to be honest to get what you want.” He said, making a playful expression as if wanting to tease him more. Even that looked good. He was a strange person. For the first time in his life, he looked forward to tomorrow.

But Jaeyi couldn’t keep his promise with Hyung.

His father returned unusually early that day. Surprised by the empty hotel room, his father turned the entire hotel upside down. Even his mother, who had reluctantly returned with him after much persuasion, was frantic when she learned of Jaeyi’s absence. Hundreds of people were in a state of emergency, searching for the missing Jaeyi.

Amidst the chaos, his father hurriedly booked a flight for early the next morning. It seemed he wanted to return before his mother, whose heart he had barely won back, changed her mind. So, Jaeyi couldn’t bring himself to ask to stay one more day. It was a rare opportunity for his parents to reconcile, and it wasn’t a request he could make after causing them so much trouble by running away.

Jaeyi, held in his crying mother’s arms with relief, just fiddled with the white stuffed toy. He had already forgotten the difficult name of the toy, but he felt like he would remember Hyung’s name for a long time.

After returning to Canada, Jaeyi began studying Korean in earnest. He often thought of Hyung’s kindness in comforting him, a child he had just met, and he wanted to know more about Korea.

He placed the stuffed toy he received as a gift on his desk. Until his awkward Korean became quite natural, the stuffed toy served as his practice partner. Even though it became stained and its seams ripped several times, he didn’t throw it away.

It was like a token. He felt like something would be protected if he kept it. Things like love or destiny, which Hyung believed in.

But unfortunately, illusions are meant to be shattered. His parents eventually separated, and his father only turned into a monster in front of Jaeyi. Still, Jaeyi thought he could endure it.

Of course, he knew it was unfair to be locked in the basement or starved just because his grades dropped. Still, he wanted to believe the excuse, “I want you to succeed because I love you.” It was easier to be fooled by the rare kindness, and as he grew taller, he wasn’t as afraid of his father anymore.

Jaeyi presented as a dominant alpha at the age of sixteen. From then on, his physical condition changed dramatically. He grew taller quickly, and muscles started building up on his previously thin frame. He could feel the power he could wield increasing. Thanks to this, he started receiving scout offers from the ice hockey team he played for as a hobby.

He was quite serious about his love for ice hockey. He liked the burning coldness that surged as he glided across the ice and collided with bodies.

It wasn’t something he wanted to pursue professionally. It was the only outlet he wanted to keep separate from the rest of his life, where he had to achieve good results and prove himself in everything.

[Are you really going to join a professional team?]

“I should at least train. It’s not like I can go just because I want to.”

So, his insistence on participating in the professional team training was purely because of his father. It was a kind of protest, showing that he wouldn’t live his life according to his father’s wishes.

[Answer me in English! You insolent child.]

His father trembled with rage. His shaking eyes were filled with fury, and his clenched fists were red. He looked ready to throw a punch.

But Jaeyi’s father was a man who never picked a fight he couldn’t win. After suppressing his anger for a long time and letting out a long sigh, he slowly put his arm around Jaeyi’s shoulder.

[You will be the future successor of Baekro Group. You’re different from those sports players who fight and break their front teeth.]

His grip on Jaeyi’s shoulder was tight. Still, Jaeyi easily shrugged him off and left his seat. He put the hockey stick his father had kicked a few minutes ago back in the locker and packed his things. Standing expressionlessly at the door, Jaeyi replied,

“Have you forgotten? You were the one who told me to learn hockey in the first place.”

[That was so you wouldn’t be ignored at school…!]

His words were cut short as Jaeyi flung the door open. A cold draft rushed in from outside, and boisterous laughter separated the two. Several teammates, who had agreed to ride together to the training center, were just a few steps away.

Realizing the source of the noise, his father slowly closed his mouth. His contorted face began to calm down.

Jaeyi smiled briefly and held the door open. Holding his father’s weakness of always having to be a good person in front of others, he added,

“And you’re not even part of Baekro Group anymore.”

He deliberately chose the words that would provoke his father the most, and the effect was evident. His father’s face, which had calmed down like a mask, flushed red again. His cheeks trembled, revealing his uncontainable rage.

“You’ll definitely regret this again. You’ll say you should have listened to me then.”

His father’s Korean, which Jaeyi rarely heard, was ominous. Ignoring the low, chilling voice, Jaeyi walked out the door. His father, who quickly followed, grabbed the closing door. Then, through the gap, he waved to Jaeyi’s teammates.

[Well then, take care.]

He acted like a caring father and gripped Jaeyi’s shoulder. The force of his hand, kneading as if encouraging, was excessively strong. The touch, more like a curse than support, fueled Jaeyi’s rebellious spirit. A strong desire to join a professional team welled up inside him.

But at the age of twenty, Jaeyi gave up ice hockey.

It was because of the hockey stick swung by a teammate he had trained with for two years. That day, Jaeyi suffered a major knee injury. Unable to play during the most crucial period, he naturally lost his chance to join a professional team.

Of course, it took a long time, but his knee fully recovered. Even though he missed his chance to join a professional team, he could have continued playing ice hockey.

“I’m sorry, I was really blinded by money. I shouldn’t have… done that.”

But ice hockey was no longer Jaeyi’s outlet. When he learned that the person who had ordered his knee to be shattered was his father, Jaeyi decided to go to Korea.

His father was a man who shuddered at the mere mention of Korea and hotels. He denied and abhorred his origins and forbade his son from having anything to do with them. The day Jaeyi was first caught secretly studying Korean, he was locked in the basement for three hours.

Jaeyi, as if to spite him, enrolled in the Department of Hotel Management at Korea University. And then he deliberately acted indifferently. It was a kind of revenge.

He skipped classes as if showing off to the watcher his father had assigned to him. On the rare days he attended, he arrived fashionably late and skipped all his assignments. He lived a life completely opposite to his life in Canada, where he had always maintained top grades and participated in extracurricular activities. The only events Jaeyi attended here were drinking parties.

Since he was a freshman who often skipped classes, most of the people at the drinking parties were strangers. Curious glances and questions followed him wherever he went, and there was always one strange person who kept provoking him. It wasn’t an atmosphere he particularly wanted to be a part of.

Nevertheless, Jaeyi frequently participated. Even though he sat there apathetically, he made an effort to attend, and the more pathetic the drinking party seemed, the more likely he was to show up. It was a gift for the watcher who reported his every move to his father.

Today, as usual, he saw a familiar figure behind a utility pole. The man, glancing inside the bar, typed something on his phone. Beneath his lowered head, hair peeked out from under his black hat. It was quite a flashy, bright pink.

Shouldn’t you use someone inconspicuous if you’re going to tail someone? He chuckled in disbelief. It was closer to a short sigh than laughter, but someone noticed even that.

“What’s so funny, Jaeyi?”

At this point, it felt like he had watchers both inside and outside the bar. Jaeyi slowly turned his head. His gaze, which had been directed outside, moved to the front of the table. The guy who kept provoking him came into view.

“Why are you enjoying yourself alone? Let Hyung laugh with you.”

The man sitting in the seat of honor offered him a glass, smiling. He seemed to be suggesting a toast. But Jaeyi didn’t take the glass.

“Why?”

“…Huh?”

“Do you want to enjoy yourself with me?”

He wasn’t sure if the phrase had a different meaning in Korean, but the question sounded strange to Jaeyi. Is he a pervert? As he tilted his head and frowned slightly, the man opened his lips. A deflated sound like “Eh” escaped his mouth. A brief silence fell over the table.

“Oh, right. Jaeyi, you’re the one from Canada, right? Maple country!”

Suddenly, someone stood up. Shouting loudly, breaking the quiet atmosphere, he mixed drinks. At the same time, the surroundings began to get noisy.

“I traveled there last year, and it was really great. I wanted to live there.”

“Ah, I’m jealous. How much did it cost?”

The conversation, which started with an unknown Sunbae’s travel story, grew bigger. As people chimed in from here and there, the pervert quickly forgot about Jaeyi.

“Come to think of it, that Jeong Min-soo went to study abroad, but his English is still terrible.”

The pervert’s eyes lit up as he found a new target. Jaeyi shook his head slightly and looked out the window again.

The watcher was still there. The man standing behind a visible pillar outside the bar kept wiping away sweat. He seemed to be sensitive to heat, as his shirt was half-soaked.

Is he going to collapse? Jaeyi thought indifferently and lifted his glass. Should he leave after finishing this? He was getting bored anyway…

“Ah, but what’s Kim Sooin really doing these days?”

The air suddenly changed. His languid, bored eyes snapped open. Jaeyi immediately turned his head.

“Didn’t he go abroad to study?”

“I also heard that Sooin transferred to a foreign university.”

“Really? Then that bastard must be seducing a lot of foreigners.”

“I think I also heard that he works at a cafe somewhere.”

“Hey, knowing Kim Sooin, he might have gotten married and settled down without anyone knowing.”

The possibility that the Kim Sooin they were talking about was that Kim Sooin wasn’t that high. Knowing this, Jaeyi narrowed his eyes. His hand, lifting the glass, stopped involuntarily, and the speed at which the cold alcohol went down his throat slowed. His insides burned as the soju went down, more than usual. It was strange.

“He’s a sly one. You know, hard to read. Two-faced and fake as hell.”

The drunken pervert picked up his chopsticks and jabbed at the air as if pointing at something. Then the people around him, who had been joining in on the Kim Sooin conversation, started discussing amongst themselves.

“Hey, honestly, there are few people as kind as Sooin Sunbae.”

“Right. He’s handsome, but he’s also too kind. He’s an angel. Always smiling.”

“What’s so kind about him? He’s just being seductive. That guy’s crazy about women.”

“Hmm… he takes good care of his male Hoobaes too. He bought me a lot of meals.”

“Don’t you know? He doesn’t care about that stuff. Gender, secondary gender. He fucks everyone. Just between us, honestly, he’s a real slut.”

“Hey, Sunbae! That’s too much!”

“Right, you shouldn’t say things like that…”

“But honestly, I also thought that Hyung was… a little creepy, not quite an angel. He’s always smiling, but it feels like he’s looking down on you.”

The people who knew Kim Sooin all had different things to say. The conflicting evaluations, as if they were talking about different people, couldn’t be clues.

Even if the opinions had been consistent, it would have been difficult to draw a conclusion. After all, Jaeyi didn’t know that Hyung very well either. They had only met for a day when they were young. Memories become embellished and blurred, making it even harder to judge.

At least everyone seemed to agree that he was handsome… But he somehow hoped that the Kim Sooin they were talking about wasn’t that Hyung. There was no particular reason.

“Right? These guys are so naive. He’s not nice at all. He’s always two-timing, seeing three or four people at the same time!”

He just, really just hoped it wasn’t him.

❤︎₊ ⊹

As time passed, the watcher still followed him. It was funny, but Jaeyi felt that his tailing skills were improving.

His flashy pink hair had turned black at some point, and there were even days when Jaeyi couldn’t sense him at all. It seemed his skills were indeed improving.

But with the arrival of winter, it was all back to square one. Perhaps he had caught a cold, but the watcher had been coughing all day for the past few days. It was hard to ignore him because of the constant coughing.

Today was no different. The coughing echoed loudly through the hotel’s underground parking lot. It was loud enough that he couldn’t ignore it.

When Jaeyi looked back with an indifferent gaze, the black hat quickly turned as well. The hair that had been black for a while was blue today. Looking at the strands of hair sticking out from under the hat, Jaeyi shook his head. He’s trying everything… He muttered and opened the emergency exit door. It would be difficult for the watcher to follow him up the stairs because of his coughing.

Usually, Jaeyi was lenient with the watcher. But today, he decided to lose him. It was the day he had a lunch appointment with his mother.

Beckham Seoul, where he had come to meet his busy mother, was in the midst of Christmas events. Starlight decorations twinkled from the lobby to the restaurant entrance and the outside garden.

It was probably all his mother’s taste. Jaeyi smiled faintly, looking around at the high ceiling.

His mother, Baek Sujin, was the only daughter of the third generation of the Baekro Group, which owned Hotel Beckham. If she had used her status, she could have been the owner, not just a manager.

But she hadn’t done that. She wasn’t interested in the department store or card business that her siblings had yielded to her. She boldly declared that she wanted to live her life doing something she was passionate about, something more than just making money.

She worked harder than anyone else. She never took her studies, studying abroad, or job preparation lightly. She strived to avoid rumors that she got her position because of her background. Thanks to that, Baek Sujin started as an ordinary employee and quickly rose to the position of manager. It was a very rare case, even considering her family background.

At the time, most general managers of large hotels in Korea were foreign professional managers. They all majored in business administration at prestigious universities and were scouted after managing renowned corporate teams. So, someone like Baek Sujin was a unicorn.

A hotel owner’s daughter who started her career as an ordinary employee and became a general manager. Her existence itself was excellent marketing.

As expected, she became a prominent figure in the industry. Numerous media outlets requested interviews, and a short documentary was even made about her.

Unfortunately, her fame didn’t last long. When everyone predicted a smooth path for her, she suddenly quit her job. All because of love. Because of that one hollow, meaningless emotion, she abandoned everything and left for Canada.

She wasn’t happy during the years she spent away from work. Jaeyi knew that better than anyone. That’s why he chose to live with his father instead of his mother.

“What a coincidence!”

Baek Sujin, in her hotel uniform, was radiant. Her expression, much brighter and livelier than the face he had only seen on screen for years, was a welcome sight. Jaeyi hugged her lightly and entered the restaurant.

The reserved private room was located after turning several corners from the dark green arched entrance. It seemed like even if he hadn’t lost the watcher through the emergency exit, he wouldn’t have been able to follow them here. Jaeyi chuckled and entered the room first.

“I already chose the course menu when I made the reservation. They’ll set it up right away.”

The staff member who took his coat poured him water. Jaeyi simply nodded and looked around. His excited mother started talking passionately, her eyes sparkling whenever the topic turned to work. It was fascinating how her eyes changed when she talked about work.

“Isn’t the atmosphere nice here? The concept is good too. Classic design with a fusion menu. They advertise it as a restaurant that caters to all generations, so even reservations for family meetings have a waiting list.”

Indeed, unlike the modern fusion dishes on the menu, the interior was antique. The walls, framed with heavy wooden moldings, were lined with old-fashioned furniture, and the wallpaper, filled with classic patterns, felt heavy. With the addition of antique-looking decorations and small chandeliers, it felt like time had stood still.

“Was it hard to make a reservation?”

“Thank you.”

“Hahaha!”

Baek Sujin threw her head back and laughed, though Jaeyi didn’t know what was so funny. He silently drank the water the staff member had poured. The staff member soon excused himself, saying he would bring the menu, and her laughter subsided. Silence gradually returned. Their eyes naturally met.

Baek Sujin looked hesitant. Her previously excited face was gone, replaced with a worried expression. Jaeyi narrowed his eyes, dreading what she might say.

“Um… Jaeyi.”

“Yes.”

“Have you… not been in touch lately?”

Speak of the devil. The expression, which had felt strange when he learned it, now resonated deeply. Jaeyi simply stared at Baek Sujin without answering.

“I was talking to your father the other day, and he asked about you.”

“……”

“Did you two have a big fight before you came to Korea? Did something happen?”

She smiled gently, her expression laced with concern. Her face, still affectionate towards his father, silenced Jaeyi. His expression naturally hardened.

“I don’t know the details, but… your father said he wants to clear up the misunderstanding. He said he’ll come to Korea soon.”

“To Korea?”

“Yes, he said let’s have a meal together, the three of us, after such a long time…”

Her face, asking for Jaeyi’s opinion, was still cautious. But her words were laced with anticipation. Her clear eyes were already picturing a long-awaited family reunion. Jaeyi took a short breath inwardly.

The man who abhorred Korea said he would come here. He used the excuse of wanting to clear up a misunderstanding, but he hadn’t even called Jaeyi directly, only sending a watcher. It was a highly contradictory action. Whenever he acted like this, he always had another motive.

Even though he knew this, he couldn’t refuse outright. Baek Sujin’s blinking eyes held a desperate gleam. It was a look that weakened his resolve.

His slightly parted lips closed into a straight line. After rolling the unspeakable truth around in his mouth for a while, Jaeyi spoke again.

“I’ll think about it.”

It was a situation he would have to face eventually. It was the price he had to pay if he wanted to keep that incident a secret forever.

After his slow reply, his mother’s face brightened noticeably. It seemed she had really been looking forward to reuniting with his father, despite pretending not to. Her still youthful and lively appearance left a bitter taste in his mouth, and the meal ended quickly.

“Jaeyi, you barely ate anything today. Let’s stop by and get some bread. Okay?”

As soon as they left the restaurant, Baek Sujin pulled on Jaeyi’s arm, which was linked with hers. It was a force strong enough to make his large frame bend in surprise.

“It’s okay. I’m really full.”

His half-bent posture, his arm linked with hers despite their significant height difference, was comical. But no matter how much his back bent, Jaeyi didn’t pull his arm away. Baek Sujin, practically dragging her large son along, looked quite happy. Jaeyi chuckled softly.

But his laughter didn’t last long. It was the moment a familiar cough reached his ears. His lips stiffened.

Jaeyi looked at the watcher with cold eyes. He was sitting inside the bakery and cafe. At the outermost table, connected to the lobby. His eyes, flustered by the sudden cough, darted around, trying to avoid Jaeyi’s gaze.

“Is he your friend, Jaeyi?”

Baek Sujin, unable to pull her son any further as he stopped abruptly, whispered in his ear. Her voice, still laced with laughter, was low, but Jaeyi couldn’t smile back.

“It’s strange. He’s not a guest, but I remember him because I see him often. I thought his parents might be employees.”

It wasn’t that the watcher’s tailing skills had improved to the point where she couldn’t sense him. He had actually just left his post. Not to follow Jaeyi, but to watch his mother.

“…Sorry, but I’ll have to go first. I have a lot to talk about with my friend.”

His gritted teeth ground together. After barely managing a calm voice, Jaeyi walked with large strides. He grabbed the watcher’s shoulder as the man hurriedly tried to leave. The startled man looked up at Jaeyi.

“Let’s go.”

Jaeyi led him as naturally and leisurely as possible. He exchanged a glance with his mother, who was standing at a distance. Then he slowly turned and moved as if escorting the watcher. He could feel the man’s body trembling in his grip.

“Wh-where… why…?”

The man, who had been silently dragged along, finally asked. At his stammering question, Jaeyi replied with an indifferent question of his own.

“Where’s the bastard who told you to do this?”

❤︎₊ ⊹

Choi Jooyoung was basking in the sunlight in his Yeoksam-dong office. He was experiencing firsthand how comfortable the sofa his beloved Noona had bought him recently was.

It was a truly peaceful afternoon. The warm sunlight on his eyes and the feel of the high-quality leather against his skin were both comforting. He would have been perfectly happy if it weren’t for the frustrating voice coming from the phone.

— No, thanks. I don’t have time for that kind of introduction.

“Ah, so you crazy, no… Hey, Sooin.”

Jooyoung, who had been relaxing with his eyes closed, sat up straight. The phone, placed on speakerphone on the table, buzzed. Jooyoung glared at the rectangular screen as if it were his enemy.

“You’re the one who doesn’t have time because of work. If you meet my Noona’s friend, you won’t need any part-time jobs.”

— Jooyoung, I have no intention of having sex for allowance.

“You little shit! Who said anything about selling your body? Well, what’s wrong with selling it a little? Don’t I know how easy you are?”

— Thanks for the compliment. Anyway, no thanks to the introduction. Just send me any good job offers that come in.

So, it was a blind date arranged to offer Sooin the job he wanted. But Kim Sooin was always firm. He wouldn’t hesitate to refuse even manual labor, loading and unloading, or waste disposal jobs, yet he rejected this kind of offer before even hearing it out. It was incomprehensible, especially since he wasn’t exactly a saint when it came to sex.

If it were the past, Jooyoung himself would have abhorred such an offer more than Kim Sooin. Back then, Jooyoung hated everyone who took the easy way out in life. He despised those privileged people who looked down on his poverty and made those who worked hard seem like fools. That’s why he also hated Kim Sooin.

His youthful arrogance subsided after becoming friends with Kim Sooin. As he realized that others, just like him, had their own hidden stories and circumstances, Jooyoung started to hate the world a little less. Thanks to that, he was also able to meet the woman he loved. She was rich enough to set up his private investigation office in a high-rise building in Yeoksam-dong.

If he had met her back when he was full of pride, would he have been able to love her? Jooyoung thought not. So, he considered Sooin to be a big part of his newfound life.

“You’re not even that pretty, you bastard.”

Jooyoung roared, saying the opposite of what he thought. At his exasperated sigh, Kim Sooin chuckled softly. Jooyoung narrowed his eyes and muttered,

“What are you laughing at? You don’t even know how to play the game.”

— Yeah, I love you too.

I guess I should take back the part about him not knowing how to play the game. Jooyoung was disgusted.

“Ah, so annoying. You bastard.”

— Watch your language, honey. I’m hanging up.

The call ended as abruptly as it had begun. “Hey, Kim Sooin!” He tried to call him back, but the call was mercilessly ended. Staring blankly at the bright home screen, Jooyoung slowly stood up. They had only talked about the blind date and hadn’t even gotten to the main topic, the lawyer. His Noona said she would introduce him to someone she knew…

He thought about calling back but stopped. Sooin seemed to be on his way to work, so he probably wouldn’t answer. Clicking his tongue and scratching his head, Jooyoung stretched. He was yawning languidly and muttering to himself out of habit when,

“Well, I can do it tomorroooow!”

His eyes met those of a large man, who he didn’t know how long had been standing there. Jooyoung screamed and held up his phone like a weapon. Then something black popped out from beside the man.

“Aaack!”

Doubly startled, Jooyoung collapsed onto the sofa. As he clutched his pounding heart and looked, the person, dressed in black from head to toe, muttered,

“B-b-boss! It’s me…”

He could see a glimpse of blue hair beneath the lowered head.

The person who appeared with his employee, Shin Jongro, was Song Jaeyi. Not only was his appearance unusual, but he was also the target of a recent client who had paid him a large sum of money, so he couldn’t not recognize him.

After looking back and forth between the two men standing side by side for a while, Jooyoung finally grasped the situation after a few minutes. We’re fucked. He smiled, unable to break the habit Kim Sooin always pointed out.

Exactly thirty minutes. Jooyoung had a meeting with the target in his office, which still smelled of fresh paint. The conversation wasn’t long, and his request was simple. It wasn’t difficult, nor was it coercive. Yet, it was enough to be considered a threat.

He was a man accustomed to looking down on others. He was the type who knew how to make a bet but didn’t know how to lose. It was best not to go against such people.

Jooyoung, who had obediently sent him away, took a deep breath. The air filling his lungs to the point of tightness slowly escaped. Hooo, at his sigh, the employee sitting across from him lowered his head. Blue sweat dripped down his neck from his blue hair. To Jooyoung, it felt like it was flowing from his own eyes.

“I knew this day would come…”

He shouldn’t have hired that kid out of pity in the first place. Jooyoung closed his eyes, pressing his throbbing head.

It was a year ago when his employee, Shin Jongro, suddenly visited his office. The young man, who introduced himself as a twenty-two-year-old college student, suddenly declared, “I’ll do anything.” He was incredibly timid, unable to even make eye contact, yet his aspirations were bold.