WANL Ch 10

“It’s unusual.”

“Some people saw me from a distance, thought I was a celebrity, came closer, and then left again.”

Hyunjae said in a joking tone, as if he found it amusing. But Nanyeong, who had been unbuttoning his shirt, paused at one point.

“A celebrity… who?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they just made a mistake.”

“Right.”

Nanyeong turned away with a slightly indifferent expression.

“You take taxis, right?”

“Huh? Yes.”

Hyunjae nodded at the sudden question.

Nanyeong didn’t even like the idea of Hyunjae using public transportation. The exact reason was unclear, but it might have been a peculiar sense of possessiveness. Perhaps he didn’t want the man he had transformed into a perfect companion to be seen by the world.

“Don’t wander around crowded places.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t get excited just because people say you look like a celebrity.”

“I’ve never been excited.”

“…I’m tired. I’m going to shower.”

Nanyeong headed to the bathroom. Hyunjae silently watched his sensitive-looking back as he walked away.

Soon, the sound of running water could be heard.

Did I do something wrong?

Once, Seongwoo had advised him that if he wanted things to last longer, he shouldn’t show how desperate he was for affection. Hyunjae took that advice to heart, suppressing his emotions, and eventually became accustomed to living like that.

He had no choice but to adapt. If he crossed Nanyeong’s boundaries, he would be ruthlessly pushed away. But on the other hand, Nanyeong was incredibly generous when it came to spending money. For someone who understood that even ordinary luxuries held no meaning for Nanyeong, this bitter adjustment was necessary.

Still, this lifestyle left room for illusions.

Since Hyunjae had moved into this place, Nanyeong had been visiting the officetel almost daily. He always had dinner with Hyunjae and slept in the same bed. On weekends, he often stayed in without going outside at all. They would spend lazy 24-hour stretches eating, sleeping, and intertwining their bodies.

As a result, Hyunjae gradually got used to this routine. Although he had initially found it humiliating, he began to think this life wasn’t so bad. He got to see Nanyeong far more often than before, and unless it was one of those “bad days” Nanyeong had mentioned, he rarely raised his voice to humiliate him. As long as Hyunjae didn’t dwell on the fact that he was in a position of begging for both money and love, Nanyeong was generally kind.

Sometimes, it almost felt like they were real lovers.

After showering, Nanyeong walked straight over to Hyunjae and gently embraced him. Hyunjae pulled him close, his damp body pressing against him, and inhaled deeply.

During the long hug, Nanyeong murmured, “You know, I didn’t realize how much I liked physical affection.”

“And you were even married.”

At Hyunjae’s casual comment, Nanyeong gave a bitter laugh.

“That wasn’t a relationship with love. Even holding hands felt awkward.”

Hyunjae opened his eyes slightly wider, surprised by Nanyeong’s candidness. It was rare for him to speak so openly.

“Hyung, there’s something I’ve been curious about for a while…”

Hyunjae hesitated, debating whether to ask or not, his lips nervously moistening as he finally spoke.

“Am I your first man?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Honestly, I’m only asking now, but you were so clumsy at first.”

“…Oh. So you noticed that?”

“It would’ve been strange not to. Back then, I thought you were just pretending, but now you’ve gotten so skilled… Surely, you didn’t learn everything from me, right?”

Nanyeong rested his head against Hyunjae’s chest. Hyunjae could feel faint vibrations in his chest, as if Nanyeong was silently chuckling. Gently, he stroked Nanyeong’s head. The honesty in Nanyeong’s reaction slowly spread warmth through Hyunjae’s heart.

“Yeah. There’s no need to deny it. You were my first.”

“……”

Hyunjae slowly blinked before pulling Nanyeong into a trembling embrace. He couldn’t calm his overwhelming emotions. In Hyunjae’s arms, Nanyeong felt his chest constricted so tightly that it was hard to breathe, but he simply closed his eyes as though savoring the pleasant pressure.

Hyunjae hesitated, wondering if he could believe there was some truth in his honest words.

A member of a chaebol family, a divorcee, an immense disparity in wealth—and a ten-year age gap. Were these realistic barriers the only things keeping him from crossing the line? Could he believe that, at this moment, there was no one else for him but me?

“Hyung, you’re warm.”

“…You’re warm too.”

As he held Nanyeong close to his chest, Hyunjae was instantly swept into a wave of happiness.

The sweetness of the moment, earned as the price of volunteering to be his lover, was intoxicating. And he thought, if things continued like this, maybe the two of us could be even happier tomorrow than today. He fooled himself into believing that their connection was almost like being lovers since they were all they had for each other.

In exchange for Nanyeong’s financial support, Hyunjae allowed himself to be controlled by him.

When Nanyeong satisfied his physical desires, Hyunjae filled the void of his lacking affection.

If they could maintain this relationship only until their passion for each other waned, they might be able to quietly part ways in the distant future without leaving any scars.

Hyunjae hoped he could handle it.

But the illusion of their fleeting “pretend romance” didn’t last long.

If the only thing Nanyeong had hidden was his identity, Hyunjae might have conveniently ignored it. But that wasn’t the only secret Nanyeong kept.

The feelings Nanyeong had carefully hidden. From the moment Hyunjae began to sense the secrets buried deep within him, the cracks began to show.

Ꮺ

[Seo Nanyeong’s remarriage]

The title of an online article he stumbled upon suddenly caught Hyunjae’s attention.

Staring at it with a stony expression, Hyunjae furrowed his brows. Upon reading the article, it turned out to be no more than a rumor of remarriage—nothing official, and the source was unclear. The rumored partner was an entertainer, an actor. After staring at the face of a woman who could be considered attractive by any man for a long while, Hyunjae eventually turned off the screen.

In truth, there were countless rumors and gossip surrounding Nanyeong. If he paid attention to every single one of them, he wouldn’t have any nerves left.

Even so, Hyunjae couldn’t shake his thoughts for a while. It bothered him too much to ignore, yet asking directly felt awkward. Nanyeong disliked being questioned about personal matters, and there was no way he’d answer willingly. On the contrary, he’d probably retort coldly, “Why are you curious about that?” making Hyunjae feel embarrassed.

Whenever he indulged in the feeling of being a lover, the bitter taste in his mouth returned as he remembered he wasn’t in a position to ask him anything freely.

“Remarrying makes sense. He’s still young. He got married too early the first time.”

The next day at his golf lesson, the instructor seemed to have read the same article and chatted away as though it was an amusing topic. Hyunjae silently focused on the ball. Another person chimed in, ignoring Hyunjae’s lack of interest.

“The first marriage was practically arranged. Maybe this time he’ll marry for love?”

“Marriage isn’t necessary, is it? He’s wealthy enough to just stay single and enjoy dating.”

“Oh, please! He doesn’t have kids yet.”

As the conversation went on, Hyunjae’s mood slowly sank.

If Nanyeong really remarried, even if it was as loveless and contractual as the first marriage, could Hyunjae act unaffected?

The mere thought made his lips twitch slightly.

“People in the know already know, apparently. About who he’s seeing.”

“Really? Who?”

“That celebrity, XX…”

“Oh my, wasn’t she involved in a scandal with another actor?”

“That could just be a distraction. But from what I’ve heard, she’s already living with him…”

“I’ll be heading out now.”

Hyunjae abruptly interrupted and spoke to the instructor. The instructor, realizing he’d gone too far with personal gossip, awkwardly smiled and bid him farewell.

It was a lie. There was no way Nanyeong was seeing someone else.

Nanyeong seemed to adhere to a strict rule of meeting only one person at a time. Hyunjae firmly believed that.

Yet, there were clues that nagged at Hyunjae.

The decreasing frequency of their meetings was troubling. Initially, they only spent one or two days apart in a week, but now it was the opposite—they only saw each other once or twice. Hyunjae couldn’t tell if this was how Nanyeong usually lived and it had only become apparent after their time together increased, or if his initial fervor for Hyunjae had simply waned now that he’d “caught the fish.”

Moreover, Nanyeong was carelessly leaving behind receipts. Without any habit of asking Hyunjae to dispose of them, he often left small scraps of paper in his pockets.

Hyunjae, who spent a lot of time alone, looked up each of the places Nanyeong went to. Most of them had good atmospheres and private reservation rooms, ensuring privacy.

Places suitable for what could be called dates.

Despite sharing countless nights together in this house, Hyunjae had never once gone out for a meal with Nanyeong. He thought it was natural since they were both men, but still, just a meal wouldn’t have been too risky. This longing left Hyunjae in torment.

Another thing was that Hyunjae didn’t know where Nanyeong’s real home was. No matter how baseless the rumors were, hearing that someone might be living with him filled Hyunjae with anxiety.

“A house I’ve never even been to.”

Leaving the hotel, Hyunjae told himself he had agreed to this arrangement fully aware of its limitations from the start.

Hyunjae blamed himself for allowing emotions to infiltrate what had been a relationship based solely on physical and financial ties. He resolved to endure the pain of his one-sided affection.

He accepted the unease, doubts, and the obsession with someone who might leave him at any moment. Even when his unrequited love felt meaningless and pathetic, he still wanted to stay by his side, cherishing the scraps of affection Nanyeong occasionally offered.

If, however, Nanyeong were seriously seeing someone else, Hyunjae knew he wouldn’t have any grounds to interfere.

On the night of Nanyeong’s visit after four days apart, Hyunjae harbored suspicions. He carefully examined every inch of Nanyeong’s body, but his partner’s insides were firmly closed, untouched. As if compensating for the days they’d been apart, Nanyeong responded more openly than ever to Hyunjae’s caresses.

Nanyeong’s demands to be pushed to his limits during their encounters remained unchanged, offering Hyunjae a fragile sense of reassurance.

Yes, it must just be my petty doubts. Maybe he’s just been busy lately.

But if that’s the case…

Who could he possibly have been talking to on the phone?

“Yeah, are you free tomorrow? How about dinner together?”

“How about that place near Samseong Station… the one you like?”

“A bar works too. Or maybe Park Hyatt?”

Park Hyatt? That’s a hotel.

Still half-asleep, Hyunjae thought as he cracked open his heavy eyelids. It was the deep hours of the night, when even the world seemed asleep after their time together. A casual phone conversation at such an odd hour made Hyunjae suspicious.

As the remnants of sleep faded, Hyunjae found himself listening closely.

“Okay. I’ll head straight there after work tomorrow.”

The call ended, and the faint smell of cigarette smoke followed.

After finishing his cigarette, Nanyeong shuffled back into the bedroom in his slippers. Hearing his footsteps, Hyunjae quickly closed his eyes.

Thinking Hyunjae was asleep, Nanyeong gently climbed into bed and carefully pulled the blanket over them both before lying down.

Should I ask about that phone call?

Would he coldly shut me out again if I brought it up?

As Hyunjae wrestled with these thoughts, he felt Nanyeong shift. Then, without warning, Nanyeong embraced him from behind, their bodies pressed close.

Something about this small act of sharing warmth soothed Hyunjae. Soon, Nanyeong’s breathing slowed and steadied as he fell asleep. It took Hyunjae a while longer to drift off.

The next morning, while getting ready for work, Nanyeong spoke.

“I have dinner plans tonight.”

Lying in bed with the blanket draped loosely over his bare upper body, Hyunjae quietly watched as Nanyeong adjusted his tie. At that moment, he thought, So last night’s phone call wasn’t just a dream.

“Where are you eating?”

Park Hyatt Hotel.

“Park Hyatt… why?”

Both Nanyeong’s and Hyunjae’s inner thoughts arrived at the same answer. Hyunjae reasoned that if it were something he wanted to hide, he would’ve given a different response.

But then again, there wasn’t really a reason to hide anything. After all, Hyunjae was just a lover with no right to interfere in Nanyeong’s personal life. Perhaps that’s why he answered so straightforwardly.

“I was just curious. Will you be home late?”

Nanyeong did not respond.

Ꮺ

Recently, Hyunjae had developed a habit of stalking.

At first, he hadn’t intended to go that far. But ever since Nanyeong’s visits had noticeably decreased, Hyunjae had to find a way to fill his time.

Of course, he knew it was just a convenient excuse. However, Nanyeong’s recent behavior had been too suspicious to ignore.

It had already been three weeks since they last spent a weekend together. Even his visits during the week had drastically reduced. On the rare occasions he did come by, it seemed solely for the purpose of rushed physical intimacy.

What bothered Hyunjae most about all this was how, every time he came to the apartment, Nanyeong would lock his phone in the safe right in front of Hyunjae’s eyes. The way he did it so openly, as if to make a point, made it even more unsettling.

‘…Is there something you absolutely can’t let me see?’

Feeling a pang in his chest, Hyunjae had asked him that. But Nanyeong didn’t answer.

‘I wouldn’t look even if you didn’t do that.’

He had said it in a forlorn voice, but Nanyeong had simply smirked, as if he didn’t believe him.

‘It’s for my peace of mind.’

It was clear he didn’t trust Hyunjae.

With no justification to meddle in Nanyeong’s life, Hyunjae couldn’t press him further.

So, driven by a desire to uncover what Nanyeong wouldn’t share with him, Hyunjae began spending his idle time tracking down traces of him.

Through a newspaper article, Hyunjae learned that Nanyeong’s real home was somewhere near Hannam-dong. It wasn’t far from the apartment in Yongsan. However, there was no way his actual address would be publicly available, and Hyunjae wasn’t keen on aimlessly wandering around an unfamiliar neighborhood. In the end, he gave up on finding “Nanyeong’s real home where he might have someone else staying.”

The next place he sought out was Nanyeong’s company, which he had visited just once before.

By chance, he arrived around lunchtime, and employees wearing ID badges around their necks were pouring out of the headquarters building. Hyunjae found the scene intriguing and followed the crowd. Unlike the last time he’d seen it, the nearby restaurants were now bustling with long lines of people.

Joining one of the lines, Hyunjae eavesdropped on the conversations around him. Snippets like, “It’ll be handled by the higher-ups…” and “We’re not meeting capacity…” were vague yet oddly energizing to listen to.

“Didn’t they say the managing director was personally reviewing that?”

“Yeah, and Manager Lee is supposed to report on it.”

“That’s good. Manager Lee knows how to frame things in a way the director likes…”

At the cafeteria, Hyunjae overheard a conversation at a nearby table and realized that the “managing director” they were referring to was none other than Nanyeong. Apparently, at work, Nanyeong was surprisingly focused on his job.

Hyunjae, who knew more about Nanyeong’s private life than anyone else, had never seen him in a professional setting. Hearing about him through others gave him a fresh perspective.

Satisfied with his small discovery, Hyunjae returned home.

“What did you do today?”

It was the day he had visited the company. Coincidentally, Nanyeong dropped by the apartment and asked.

Though it was a question he always asked, Hyunjae hesitated to tell the truth this time. He figured Nanyeong wouldn’t appreciate knowing his secret lover was lurking near his workplace.

“I went to the place I used to work part-time.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. The bar where Hyunjae had worked part-time was within walking distance of the same area. Fortunately, Nanyeong didn’t press further. He probably didn’t because he wasn’t particularly interested.

The realization that this was likely the reason put Hyunjae in a sour mood.

After that, whenever he got bored, Hyunjae would head to the area near Nanyeong’s company. He didn’t expect to gain anything meaningful from it. He just couldn’t bear being left alone in the apartment.

Of course, at night, he could see Nanyeong in person. Not from a distance, but close enough to hug, touch, and kiss.

But that wasn’t something he was granted every day. Nanyeong had a real home, and coming to see Hyunjae was just a form of escapism for him.

Lately, on nights when Nanyeong didn’t come, Hyunjae felt an unbearable loneliness. When he was poor but emotionally unattached, he had been unaware of such feelings. Back when meeting Nanyeong was just a part of his routine, it was manageable. Now that waiting for him had become his entire routine, the disparity was too much to bear.

On nights when Nanyeong didn’t visit, no matter how perfectly groomed Hyunjae was from head to toe, he felt utterly worthless. Even lying in an extravagant apartment, staring at the beautiful lights of the Han River, he sometimes found himself longing for the sounds of his mother tossing and turning or snoring.

Despite knowing it was a shady hobby, Hyunjae couldn’t stop following him.

Even when reading a book, he preferred to spend time at a café near Nanyeong’s office. If lucky, he could catch a glimpse of Nanyeong entering or leaving for external meetings. Reading through news articles sometimes gave Hyunjae an idea of what Nanyeong was working on or who he was meeting. Of course, there were far more confidential schedules that remained a mystery.

That day, as usual, he was at the café when his phone vibrated on the table.

It was the phone he used solely for contacting Nanyeong.

[Can’t make it today.]

As soon as Hyunjae saw the text, his lips pressed into a tight line. Nanyeong hadn’t visited the officetel for the past week. He’d said he’d come today, but the sudden last-minute cancellation brought Hyunjae’s mood crashing down.

A whole week was too much.

[Are you busy these days?] Hyunjae replied. After a short wait, a response came.

[Have prior plans.]

A short, blunt answer. Hyunjae sighed and lowered his head. Whenever Nanyeong cut off the conversation like that, there was no way to dig deeper.

Realizing he wouldn’t be coming today either drained Hyunjae of all energy.

A while later, feeling he’d stayed in one place for too long, Hyunjae left the café. But he didn’t feel like going back early to a house where no one would be waiting. Wandering aimlessly in the area, Hyunjae eventually found himself heading toward the office again, hoping to catch sight of Nanyeong after work.

At 5:50 p.m., a slightly early time for leaving work, Hyunjae spotted Nanyeong exiting the building. He was on the phone, speaking to someone with a pleasant smile on his face.

Was something good happening?

From a distance, Hyunjae observed him. The phone he held wasn’t the same model used to contact Hyunjae, a detail that nagged at him.

That day, instead of a company car, Nanyeong got into his own vehicle.

It was the same car he had once proudly driven to show Hyunjae. A troubling thought swirled in Hyunjae’s mind.

Ꮺ

It had been three consecutive days of Nanyeong canceling plans unilaterally. By the tenth day of not seeing him, Hyunjae felt like he was about to burst. Stifling his frustration, he obediently replied, “Got it,” to the last cancellation, only for Nanyeong to hang up without a hint of apology.

Even apathy has its limits.

With a grim expression, Hyunjae began more deliberately trailing him. Leaving work slightly early again, Nanyeong got into his car, and Hyunjae quickly hailed a taxi to follow.

The car’s destination was a hotel.

The Park Hyatt. Staring up at its rectangular windows, some irregularly lit, Hyunjae lingered outside the hotel, unable to go in.

He was intensely curious about who might be inside with him.

‘Our first meeting was at a hotel too.’

The memory of their first encounter only made looking up at the windows feel more miserable.

Could he have picked up another “face he liked” on the street?

It wouldn’t be easy to find someone more easily swayed than me.

What kind of man had caught Nanyeong’s eye this time?

Hyunjae’s imagination spiraled to the point of making his stomach churn.

After a while, Hyunjae gave up and walked away, feeling as if a cold wind was blowing through his heart. He wandered the streets aimlessly for some time.

It was fully dark by the time Hyunjae received an unexpected phone call.

― You’re not home? Where are you?

The caller was none other than Nanyeong. Hyunjae was so startled that he quickly picked up.

“Hyung, are you at the officetel? I thought you said you couldn’t come today…”

― I said I might not come, not that I wouldn’t. Where are you?

“I just… went out to buy something. I’ll head back right away.”

― Alright.

Surprised by the unexpected call, Hyunjae immediately flagged down a taxi.

He felt like an idiot for letting his imagination run wild and missing the sight of Nanyeong’s car leaving the hotel.

When he arrived at the officetel, a freshly showered Nanyeong opened the door for him. Still wet-haired, he eyed Hyunjae suspiciously and asked, “Do you just wander around outside when I’m not here?”

Instead of replying, Hyunjae frantically searched Nanyeong’s expression as he welcomed him.

“I came quickly because I wanted to see you, but you weren’t here. Almost ruined my mood.”

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yeah… especially today.”

As he said this, Nanyeong touched Hyunjae’s lips.

“I really wanted to.”

“Wanted to what?”

“To hold you, touch you… kiss you.”

Nanyeong ran his fingers over Hyunjae’s lips. A faint smell of alcohol lingered in his breath.

“You’re the one who hasn’t come for ten days.”

“True. I was busy.”

Nanyeong answered carelessly. Hyunjae abruptly asked, “Doing what?”

“What’s this? Are you keeping tabs on me now?”

Nanyeong frowned and lightly hit Hyunjae’s chest. It didn’t hurt at all, yet Hyunjae felt as though something was caught in his throat. The pent-up frustration he had been holding back suddenly surged forth.

“…I was just wondering if you’ve found another victim like me.”

“Victim?” Nanyeong muttered with displeasure.

At one point, Hyunjae had thought to himself: Could he endure waiting endlessly for Nanyeong in this officetel? Clearly, he couldn’t. Especially since Nanyeong showed no consideration for someone who liked him. Things like carelessly left receipts or one-sidedly canceled plans were proof enough.

“I saw everything. You went into the hotel… The first time we slept together, it was at a hotel too, wasn’t it? Who were you meeting?”

Nanyeong didn’t respond. Instead, he sighed as if exhausted.

“Did you find a new guy?”

“Hah…”

“How many am I to you?”

“Why do you want to know? It’s not like knowing would change anything.”

“I don’t know. I guess I want to be the first among the guys you see.”

“Hah.”

Nanyeong ran a hand through his hair and laughed scornfully. Hyunjae knew that arguing with him would only hurt himself, but he couldn’t control his emotions. Even though he feared that Nanyeong might lash out at him, he couldn’t stop asking questions.

“Is there someone else?”

“I don’t understand you. What do you want?”

“Just be honest with me.”

“I didn’t come here to have a pointless argument. I just wanted to relieve some stress…”

As he spoke, Nanyeong turned away irritably. The phrase “relieve some stress” struck Hyunjae like a blow. It was clear he was being treated as nothing more than an outlet for physical desires.

“If you’re not interested, then forget it.”

“Then go find another guy.”

Nanyeong froze.

“What? Can’t do it?”

“…”

“Judging by the fact that you ended up here, I guess you got dumped, huh?”

“What?”

The look in Nanyeong’s eyes as he turned around was sharp.

“It’s obvious. The tricks you used on me wouldn’t work on everyone. There’s no one in this world as easy as me…”

Before he could finish, Nanyeong strode up to him and slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed sharply as Hyunjae’s head turned helplessly to the side.

In a voice dripping with coldness, Nanyeong said, “Don’t push your luck.”

“…”

“You want to hear it? Fine, you’re the second.”

The words were a shocking confirmation. They didn’t sound like something made up just to hurt him.

Because Nanyeong was not the type to lie. Even if he chose to remain silent, he never uttered clumsy falsehoods.

Tears silently rolled down Hyunjae’s cheeks as he lowered his head.

“From the beginning… was it always like this?”

“Yes.”

Nanyeong answered firmly.

“It’s strange that you even want to know. Did you think I’d give you some sweet-talking answer?”

Nanyeong leaned in close to Hyunjae’s ear and whispered softly.

“So you’d better just be grateful and accept your place.”

A moment later, the bedroom door slammed shut behind him.

Left alone, Hyunjae wept quietly.

Why did I even want to know that?

Even though he knew how Nanyeong hid the truth until he was exposed, why did he believe that this time, he would be honest about everything else?

Perhaps he had already suspected it.

The way Nanyeong only said “I like you” when he was drunk, speaking not to Hyunjae but to someone beyond him. How he never let his heart show, even during a loveless marriage. All of it made sense if there was someone else who was Nanyeong’s real “first.”

Hyunjae remembered the time Nanyeong once said he had the desire to give love.

But that person wasn’t him.

This reality felt like something he had brought upon himself. If he hadn’t forced his feelings, Nanyeong would never have spoken the truth.

Standing dazed in the living room for a long while, Hyunjae finally approached the bedroom door and knocked softly.

“Hyung, I’m sorry. I apologize.”

I crossed the line.

After a moment, Nanyeong responded.

Come in.

Once given permission, Hyunjae wiped his tears with his sleeve and stepped into the bedroom. Nanyeong, who had been watching him with cold eyes, made room beside him on the bed. Even the way he magnanimously forgave “the second who dared to overstep” felt heartbreaking. It was as if his outburst meant nothing to Nanyeong.

A few days later, reflecting on that day, Hyunjae expressed his feelings to Nanyeong. While he acknowledged being emotionally vulnerable, he didn’t want to grovel.

“Hyung, how far do you plan to humiliate me? I might sell my body, but you have no right to trample on my feelings.”

Surprised by Hyunjae’s earnest words, Nanyeong raised his eyebrows.

However, he wasn’t particularly displeased and, as usual, responded seriously.

“If you didn’t want something emotional from me, you wouldn’t keep getting hurt like this.”

“…”

“I told you from the start. I don’t like emotional entanglements. Relationships where we have to prioritize each other and keep promises—I can’t handle them. I’m an irresponsible person.”

He repeated the same words he had said before.

But this time, he added one more sentence.

“…Anything but the things I can’t do, I’ll give you. So you deal with your emotions yourself.”

There was a tinge of bitterness on Nanyeong’s face as he said this.

Hyunjae could tell. This wasn’t something said to hurt him.

It felt like an undeniable truth, even for Nanyeong himself.