TTD 132

Wang Han approached with a sleepy face and looked at the shirt Ja-kyung was holding.

“Isn’t that what you wore yesterday? You said you bought it at the market.”

“That one’s over there. I snatched this from some Asian guy who was trying to buy it.”

“You bought the same shirt again?”

“Yeah. You could call them couple shirts.”

At the mention of couple shirts, Wang Lun, who was far away, pretended to vomit in disgust. Regardless, Ja-kyung was happy imagining Kang Il-hyun wearing this. Though it probably wouldn’t be easy to get him to wear it. His wardrobe was filled with monochrome colors, and even when he wore casual clothes instead of suits, he were monochrome, and even his sportswear was black.

“CEO Kang is handsome, so he’ll look good in anything.”

At Wang Han’s words, Ja-kyung nodded without disagreeing. He looks good with clothes on and even better without them, but he didn’t mention that part. Lun might actually vomit this time.

Afterward, the three put his heads together to discuss whether to order room service or go out to eat. When he finally decided to go out, Ja-kyung took sunscreen from his luggage bag and applied it to his face.

Seeing this, Wang Lun sneered.

“My God, Wei. You even put on sunscreen? You put it on yesterday too, right? You must be the only person who puts on sunscreen before going to kill someone. Brother, you tell him. A real man should let his skin tan under the strong sun to look good. Right?”

When he looked for agreement, Wang Han was also slathering on sunscreen.

“Stop talking nonsense and put some on. You’ll look older if you get spots.”

“……”

Wang Lun, who had been holding out, seemed to waver at the mention of looking older and quickly squeezed some of Han’s sunscreen to rub on his face. He ended up applying too much and looking like a ghost, and Ja-kyung didn’t miss the chance to take a photo.

Before leaving the room, the three didn’t forget to place guns by the entrance, preparing for possible ambush situations. After slipping even a small piece of paper in the door crack, the three hurried to his usual restaurant.

***

Everyone has puberty. The timing of it varied for each person, and Lee Ja-kyung, who had been well-behaved throughout childhood, started hanging out with bad friends around age fifteen. He smoked, drank, and even lost his virginity to the Chinese sister living next door.

Wei! Wei!

That day was the same. When he spotted Wang Han charging over like an angry buffalo from afar, the friends around him read the situation and scattered away quietly. Behind him, Wang Lun appeared slouching along, and because he had recently shaved his head completely bald, his fierce appearance was even more striking, and Ja-kyung’s friends were afraid of him.

“Wei, I’m going!”

“See you tomorrow! Don’t say anything to your brother!”

Ja-kyung, trying to escape in the opposite direction, had his nape caught by Lun who came running. Struggling to break free was useless. He dragged Ja-kyung to Han and offered him up like a sacrifice.

“Let go! I said let go!”

“I wondered where you went after skipping class, and here you are fooling around with delinquents? What are you trying to become?”

When thrown to the ground, Ja-kyung got up dusting off his pants and glared at Lun with an annoyed expression. Han sighed deeply from distress. This was because after sending him to school to study, he had been going astray lately.

“Wei. From now on, you’re banned from going out.”

Ja-kyung was about to argue with an incredulous expression but stopped. He knew why Han was angry and why he wanted to send them to school.

“I don’t want to go to school. Can’t I work following you brothers?”

Wei. When Han looked at him with a stern expression, Ja-kyung flinched and shut his mouth. Whenever he brought up work, Han would get angry unlike his usual self. Then Lun subtly took his side from behind.

“Come on, just let him try. Who knows? He might have talent.”

“Shut up, Lun. I’m warning you, don’t put ideas in the kid’s head.”

“To be honest, this kid is so smart that it’s a shame to let him rot away at school. You know that too brother.”

Ja-kyung arrogantly lifted his chin and nodded, but Han pretended not to hear. Then, in a fit of anger, he walked ahead. The sun was setting, painting the opposite side red, and Ja-kyung followed behind with a displeased expression.

Wang Han thought Ja-kyung was acting out of rebellion, but it wasn’t entirely true. A few years ago, Han’s father, the one who brought Ja-kyung to China, fell ill and died without receiving treatment.

Afterward, Han became the head of the household, and from then on, Ja-kyung developed a desire for money. He learned that with money, you could do what you want, get treatment at hospitals when sick, and protect the people you love.

Wang Han didn’t want to bear the burden alone, but he absolutely refused to accept Ja-kyung’s wishes. Feeling somewhat resentful, Ja-kyung quickly ran and jumped on Han’s back, causing him to stagger sideways before regaining balance.

Though he said Ja-kyung were too big now to be carried, Wang Han didn’t put him down the entire way home. his house came into view in the distance, and in front of it sat hunched Grandmother Wang in an old chair. She waved her wrinkled hands to welcome the three, the scene as warm as something from a fairy tale.

[Please check one last time for any belongings you may have forgotten before disembarking.]

Ja-kyung, who had been dozing off, woke up to the voice coming from the speaker. After a long yawn and putting on his sunglasses, the plane that had been running down the runway gradually came to a stop.

As he gathered his belongings and stepped outside, he spotted Kang Il-hyun standing among the crowd, holding a sign with Ja-kyung’s name and a bouquet of red roses. Remembering his first meeting made him smile. As he pretended not to see and walked past, he heard footsteps approaching from behind.

“Do you have a lover? Would you like to have coffee with me if you have time?”

Stopping and lifting his sunglasses, he saw Kang Il-hyun extending the bouquet.

“I find your face to be my type.”

Then his gaze traveled downward.

“Though certainly not the shirt.”

Looking down at the colorful shirt, Ja-kyung laughed.

“That’s too bad. I’m looking for someone who’ll like my taste in shirts too.”

After handing over the flowers, Kang Il-hyun came to stand beside him.

“Why did you come alone?”

“My brothers said they’ll stay and play for a few more days.”

“Must have found some women he like.”

How did he know? Whether Kang Il-hyun had guessed or had them followed, Ja-kyung felt no guilt as he placed a hand on his chest.

“How about you?”

At the subtle probing, Ja-kyung snorted. If there had been even a hint of such behavior, he might really end up taxidermied this time. No matter how unafraid of death he claimed to be, Ja-kyung didn’t want to be a trophy. He wanted to die gracefully if he had to.

“Why would I look elsewhere when I have you, CEO?”

Pleased with the answer, Il-hyun smiled contentedly. Seriously, he was so transparent. The two shared stories about what had happened while moving to the car, and surprisingly, Park Tae-soo was nowhere to be seen. Ja-kyung couldn’t hide his joy at hearing he had come alone.

“Oh, then can I drive?”

Receiving the keys, Ja-kyung excitedly headed for the driver’s seat. He admired the sleek car, running his hand along the front before sitting down and starting the engine. When he made a fuss about how different even the engine sound was, Kang Il-hyun turned his body to stare at him.

“You look happier than when you met me?”

His tone was slightly hurt, so Ja-kyung lowered the corners of his mouth.

“Of course meeting you makes me happier. It’s been a week since we’ve seen each other.”

“Eight days, to be exact.”

“Right, eight days.”

“Did you miss me?”

“Of course.”

“Then might I ask for a kiss?”

Ah, Ja-kyung understood why he had been acting like a sulking child. Looking outside, thankfully there were no passersby in sight. When he beckoned him over, Kang Il-hyun leaned in.

Their lips met briefly with a peck, but Kang Il-hyun’s hand caught the back of Ja-kyung’s head. Then his mouth opened and his t0ngue slid in like a snake. When Ja-kyung pushed his shoulder away, feeling short of breath, his eyes darkened.

“We should get home quickly.”

“If it’s about going fast, I’m confident, so leave it to me.”

“I know. You cum quickly when having s3x with me too.”

Just when things were going well. Ja-kyung rolled his eyes like a flatfish, and Kang Il-hyun found it cute, pinching his cheek and gesturing for him to start driving. Ja-kyung increased speed toward home. He shared unfinished stories along the way, and by the time he arrived, the sun had set and evening had grown dim.

Passing through the spacious yard and entering the front door, footsteps were heard and Mrs. Housekeeper came to welcome them first.

“You’re back?”

She hugged Ja-kyung tightly with a bright smile and asked if he had been sick anywhere, if he had eaten properly. She worried that he looked thinner even though it had only been a few days, and whenever she did this, Ja-kyung was reminded of the late Grandmother Wang and felt emotional.