NFS 2.9

After their reunion, Seo Ahn-jae had always been the first to make contact. This time it was the opposite. Throughout Friday, Joo Seung-ha tried desperately to reach him, but couldn’t get through. He called the company too, but only received responses that Seo Ahn-jae was absent. He sent multiple text messages, but there was no reply from the other man.

Left with no other choice, he went to Seo Ahn-jae’s house after work. The lights were off, and until dawn, Seo Ahn-jae’s window remained pitch black. Finally giving up at 1 a.m. and returning to his goshiwon^[1], Joo Seung-ha had to pull over his car midway, unable to handle these complicated feelings.

When he didn’t want to meet, the other man would call constantly, but now that Joo Seung-ha was desperate to talk, he couldn’t be reached at all. To Joo Seung-ha, this could only appear as intentional behavior from Seo Ahn-jae. But he truly couldn’t understand it.

Why was he doing this? Simply to torment him? To make him feel like he was being bought with money? But the amount was too ridiculous to be mere revenge. And it couldn’t be pure philanthropy to help Joo Seung-ha either.

“Haa, shit.”

Joo Seung-ha rested his arms on the steering wheel, buried his face, and kept cursing “Shit, shit” under his breath. He couldn’t live with such a huge debt. Anger at the unwanted debt mixed with confusion over Seo Ahn-jae’s inexplicable behavior. Just when he thought he’d escaped the past, he felt shackled again with chains. Only now, startled by the cold feel of these shackles, did he realize how big and heavy they were. And the person who could give Joo Seung-ha all the answers still hadn’t contacted him the next day.

Joo Seung-ha suddenly thought of that place because of Dallae Mom’s message.

‘The XX Investment employee I mentioned before called yesterday. Said they need to reconfirm the rejection of sponsorship. Said they’ll submit a definite report.’

That private equity fund where Seo Ahn-jae was co-representative. Joo Seung-ha got the contact information from Dallae Mom and called there, then realized his mistake. It’s Saturday…There wouldn’t be anyone at the office…

[Yes, this is the secretary’s office.]

As it turned out, there was someone there. Joo Seung-ha found himself asking back, “Is this XX Investment?”

The other party replied kindly:

[If you’d like to reach XX Investment, I can give you their main number, but please call during weekdays.]

Suddenly remembering the employee had said secretary’s office, Joo Seung-ha asked directly, “Is CEO Seo Ahn-jae there?”

[Could you first tell me your name and business?]

“This is Joo Seung-ha. As for my business…”

Joo Seung-ha hesitated briefly before giving a different reason from his real purpose.

“I’m from Irae Shelter. I have something to discuss directly with the CEO regarding sponsorship.”

[He’s not in right now. I’ve taken a memo and will pass it along.]

The employee gave a firm response and hung up. Joo Seung-ha recalled how he couldn’t even enter Seo Ahn-jae’s company building yesterday, and now couldn’t even get through on the phone, making him realize anew just how different their positions were. Why wouldn’t he answer after throwing such a large sum of money at him? Did he want to see Joo Seung-ha desperate to contact him? Even if that was what Seo Ahn-jae wanted, Joo Seung-ha had no other choice but to keep trying to reach him. He couldn’t just leave such a huge burden unaddressed.

“Who was that?”

Hyo-joon asked, looking at the employee who was tilting their head to the side after hanging up. There was an important meeting with investors tonight. If Seo Ahn-jae’s job was to use his brain and move money around, Hyo-joon’s role was to keep the recruited investors happy and tied down.

This seemed like his true calling, honestly, perfectly suited to someone who had lived like a rogue. Though it was Saturday, he had specially come to the office to handle some approval work Seo Ahn-jae had complained about, as he was quite looking forward to today’s meeting.

“Ah, it was a call from the shelter that CEO Seo said to sponsor.”

“Shelter? What shelter?”

“An animal shelter for abandoned dogs.”

Hyo-joon frowned at this unfamiliar information. Helping dogs? What an unsuitable…Suddenly, something occurred to him. Seo Ahn-jae’s scary sister had liked dogs. Did that bastard do something wrong to his sister? Just as he was about to dismiss it as something insignificant, the employee’s words caught his attention.

“Yes, they definitely rejected it, but the person who called, Mr. Joo Seung-ha, said he wants to discuss it again.”

“Who?”

Hyo-joon whirled around. He considered himself talented at meeting people and socializing because of his memory. He never forgot a name he’d heard or a face he’d seen once. Hyo-joon’s lips curved into a wide smile.

“Did you just say Joo Seung-ha?”

***

Joo Seung-ha still couldn’t understand why he had come here.

[Ah, Ahn-jae’s not answering? Geez, that guy. He can be cold like that sometimes. But I’ll arrange a meeting. There’s a gathering tonight where Ahn-jae will be, so come there. Just come and talk briefly. I’ll send you an invitation. Make sure to come.]

The man who casually called Seo Ahn-jae by his first name introduced himself as another representative and invited Joo Seung-ha to a gathering. Of course, he hadn’t planned to go, but then the man added:

‘[You probably won’t be able to see Ahn-jae anywhere else. I know him well.]

Though unsure what exactly he knew, Joo Seung-ha decided to go after considering the man’s confident words. But it seemed like this might be a place where only the country’s most expensive cars gathered—luxury foreign cars were lined up outside the four-story social club that had been rented out entirely. Joo Seung-ha considered parking his old used car elsewhere and walking in, but seeing the rain starting to pour again ever since that morning, he mustered the courage to drive in.

Though he deliberately came 30 minutes late, fortunately, there was still parking available. But after entering through thorough checks of his mobile invitation and ID, he realized his car wasn’t the problem. His jeans and t-shirt stood out in a bad way.

“Mr. Joo Seung-ha, please wear this blue flower.”

The employee who guided him at the entrance held out a small blue rose designed to be worn on the chest.

“What is this?”

“It’s a corsage for guests.”

But why a corsage…

“You cannot enter without it.”

Joo Seung-ha pinned the flower to his chest and entered, thinking it was strange. Once inside, he felt even more strongly that he shouldn’t be here. There were many noticeably beautiful women and handsome men, all well-dressed and groomed. Among them were even celebrities Joo Seung-ha recognized. So celebrities come to rich people’s parties too, he thought, while moving toward a corner when he noticed something odd.

While some people wore flowers like him, many didn’t. But those wearing flowers were all young and beautiful people. Meanwhile, those casually chatting with them or openly looking them up and down with smiles were people who somehow looked wealthy. Joo Seung-ha felt an ominous feeling from that and wondered if he should leave now. That was when someone called him.

“Mr. Joo Seung-ha?”

Turning around, he saw a man in his early to mid-thirties looking at him with curious eyes. Joo Seung-ha disliked him immediately because of his gaze. A smiling look, as if appraising merchandise. He wasn’t wearing a flower either.

“I’m Park Hyo-joon. We spoke this morning?”

Joo Seung-ha hesitated before taking his offered hand. But when he did, Park Hyo-joon gripped it tightly. Joo Seung-ha tried to pull away in surprise, but the man kept holding on with a smile.

“Wow, better than expected.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just…everything.”

Joo Seung-ha pulled his hand away forcefully with a serious expression on his face. Park Hyo-joon just smirked as if finding the whole thing cute.

“Ooh, you’re strong.”

“Where is CEO Seo Ahn-jae?”

“Ah, he’ll be here soon. Have you eaten? There’s food over there, so enjoy yourself while waiting. Don’t worry about it, Seo Ahn-jae will definitely come. I made him promise several times to attend this gathering no matter what.”

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

Joo Seung-ha held back from asking if he had told Seo Ahn-jae that he would be coming here. Since Seo Ahn-jae was avoiding him, he wouldn’t have agreed to come if told that. So he just asked the first question that came to mind.

“When did you speak with him?”

At that moment, Park Hyo-joon’s eyes shifted slightly. He showed a brief moment of confusion before smiling again.

“Earlier. Don’t worry. He’ll definitely come.”

After saying he’d be right back, he disappeared, and Joo Seung-ha looked around while suppressing a sigh. He felt uncomfortable, like being stuck among a different species. Just as he was turning to move further into a corner, someone blocked his path. It was a man in his late twenties.

“That concept is cute.”

“What?” When Joo Seung-ha asked back, the man smiled and moved very close to him. As Joo Seung-ha stepped back in surprise, the man grabbed his arm to prevent him from retreating.

“Oh, what’s this? Why so surprised? Is that part of the concept too?”

“Hey, let go. What are you talking about?”

Despite Joo Seung-ha’s anger, the man looked him up and down with greedy eyes, from face to neckline, and licked his lips.

“Have you found a partner?”

“What partner?”

The man laughed loudly at Joo Seung-ha’s question.

“Wow, you’re really cute. Okay, I see you’re going with the ‘I don’t know anything’ strategy, but let me tell you. You’re wearing a blue flower, right? You know what that means? It means ‘please, someone fuck me.'”

Joo Seung-ha was so shocked, as if someone had suddenly doused him with cold water, that he couldn’t think about escaping from the man. What the hell is this? Just then, the man leaned his face toward Joo Seung-ha and whispered, “Hey, want to leave now?”

A chill ran up and down Joo Seung-ha’s spine. He stepped back and tried to remove his arm from the man’s grip.

“Look, you seem to be misunderstanding something, but I don’t do that kind of thing.”

Along with his words, Joo Seung-ha lifted his arm forcefully, but the man gripped even harder.

“Fuck, you said you don’t have a partner? Then, come with me…”

The man’s words were cut off by a hand that suddenly came between them. A large hand easily removed the man’s grip from his wrist and pushed him away. The man staggered back like a reed and furrowed his brow.

“Shit, what…?”

But his curse was cut short when he saw who had intervened. Instead, the name of the other person came out of his frozen face in surprise.

“Ah, CEO Seo Ahn-jae…”

“Get lost.”

The man flinched, seeming to sense threatening energy from Seo Ahn-jae’s tall frame. Seo Ahn-jae took a step toward the man. His low voice resonated menacingly like a beast’s growl before an attack.

“He’s mine.”

At Seo Ahn-jae’s words, the man jumped in surprise, apologized “S-Sorry,” and quickly turned away, almost running. Once the man disappeared, Seo Ahn-jae finally turned to Joo Seung-ha. Wearing a dark blue dress shirt, his hair was somewhat disheveled. Furthermore, his sleeves were carelessly rolled up and his clothes were wrinkled. Though Joo Seung-ha had waited so long to meet Seo Ahn-jae, no words came out of his mouth right then. He felt breathless under that downward gaze. Seo Ahn-jae let out a low, fierce voice between them, “Fuck, why are you here?”

“Ahn-jae Sunbae.” The name he needed to say wouldn’t properly leave his mouth. He was too focused on keeping up with the pace as he was dragged outside with his hand held tightly. After all, he hadn’t expected Seo Ahn-jae to appear and save him, especially after discovering the true nature of this gathering. The word ‘save’ drew out an inevitable unpleasantness.

“Senior!”

Just as Joo Seung-ha finally called out to him, Seo Ahn-jae forcefully pushed open the door while pulling Joo Seung-ha’s hand even harder. In an instant, they moved from the interior filled with pleasant music, bright lights, and cool air to a world of damp darkness and rain sounds.

“Senior, let go!”

Joo Seung-ha shouted again, but Seo Ahn-jae ignored his resistance and continued pulling him into the rain. The raindrops, heavier now than when Joo Seung-ha had arrived, immediately fell with a pattering sound onto his head and shoulders.

Joo Seung-ha resisted, trying to pull his hand free. Though he usually avoided even a single drop of rain, he stopped now despite being soaked through and through. But his resistance didn’t last long. Even as Joo Seung-ha tried to free his arm, Seo Ahn-jae pulled him even harder, forcibly dragging him to where his car was parked outside.

Perhaps due to the rain, there weren’t many cars in the spacious outdoor parking lot. Though there were street lights, the falling rain narrowed visibility, and the surroundings were engulfed in darkness. The thick raindrops fell endlessly like a barrier isolating them from the world. Despite the short distance, Joo Seung-ha’s breathing had become labored, as if he had gotten out of breath from trying to break free several times.

“Damn it, let go!”

When Joo Seung-ha finally raised his voice, Seo Ahn-jae turned to look at him only after stopping in front of the car. Then he pulled Joo Seung-ha even harder toward himself.

“Fuck, do you even know what kind of place this is?!”

Seo Ahn-jae’s voice rose too. He was breathing as heavily as Joo Seung-ha, forcibly swallowing his anger.

“Do you moan well when you’re being fucked, so you don’t care who fucks you? Are you crazy to get fucked by all those bastards in there?!”

Seo Ahn-jae’s words brought a surge of indignant emotion that made Joo Seung-ha want to cry. He turned his head to look back at the building he’d just left, trying to swallow this feeling. The place that had been full of glamour and voices now felt distant, like something from years ago.

“I didn’t know it was this kind of place. But they said I could meet you here…Haa, why didn’t you answer my calls?”

Seo Ahn-jae took a deep breath as if suppressing his anger.

“Why couldn’t you wait a few days?”

“Don’t tell me you really ignored my calls on purpose to mess with me?”

“Joo Seung-ha.”

Seo Ahn-jae called his name lowly, exhaling as if suppressing something, and whispered, “Did it never occur to you that I might have had reasons for not being able to contact you?”

Though the words came out through tightly gritted teeth, what lay beneath wasn’t anger but deep hurt. So Joo Seung-ha could only look up at him without responding. Though he had to blink several times because of the rain, he couldn’t lower his gaze. Seo Ahn-jae stared back at him, then reached out and opened the passenger door with a click.

“Get in.”

At the sound of his cold voice, Joo Seung-ha shook his head firmly in the rain.

“I brought my car. I’ll follow you…”

“No. Get in right now.”

He pulled Joo Seung-ha’s arm. Joo Seung-ha jerked his arm back, but Seo Ahn-jae’s hand wouldn’t let go until the end.

“I have things to say to you too. I won’t run away…”

“I said get in, you bastard.”