I ended up sending him a text message after all.
[Hajin-ssi, I got that call again yesterday. The one with the restricted number.]
As soon as I sent the message, my phone rang. Even after seeing his name on the screen, I couldn’t press the call button right away and just stared at it.
Thinking about how cold he was yesterday, it wouldn’t have been strange at all if he didn’t even reply to my message, but I felt relieved that he responded so quickly.
“Hajin-ssi?”
When I connected the call and hesitantly called his name, Hajin’s voice, as gentle and soft as always, flowed through.
– Yeah, you seem surprised. Don’t worry too much. I’m looking into it. It’s probably nothing.
Hearing his voice, my rapidly beating heart began to find its normal rhythm. I took a deep breath and swallowed a bitter smile. It was pathetic how I immediately softened at his words despite how he had treated me yesterday, but I couldn’t help it.
– Juwon, were you very surprised? Why aren’t you saying anything?
“No, I just thought I should tell you about the suspicious call.”
I had so many things I wanted to ask, so many things I wanted to say. I wanted to tell him that I was scared, and I wanted to ask if he would be late today, and if so, how late. However, that damn pride of mine made my words come out coldly. After a moment of silence, Hajin spoke as if he had peeked into my mind.
– I won’t be late today, so wait for me.
“…”
While I felt relieved at his words that he’d come quickly, I also wanted to snap at him and ask why he wasn’t going to meet Jeon Hyesu today. So I just kept my mouth shut.
Then Hajin’s voice, tinged with laughter, came through.
– I can’t tell if you’re surprised, angry, or sulking.
And I couldn’t tell if he was rubbing salt in my wounds or not.
But suddenly, I heard something that made me doubt my ears.
– You slept with Hahyun yesterday, so it’s my turn today, right?
I wondered if I had heard correctly about taking turns. Did he just talk about sleeping together?
– Why aren’t you answering? I asked if the schedule got pushed back by a day.
While I was thinking I must have misheard, he asked again as if to confirm. I was dumbfounded by Hajin’s shamelessness. How could he so casually say he wanted to sleep with me after being caught in a scandal with another woman? I remained in a daze for a moment, and the more I thought about it, the more heated I became, so I snapped back.
“Hahyun-ssi drank with me yesterday and got drunk quickly. Does he have a hangover today?”
I expected a sharp reaction, but Hajin said something completely different from what I anticipated.
– Hahyun got drunk?
At his surprised voice, I couldn’t answer right away. Was Hahyun getting drunk such a shocking thing?
– Are you sure he was drunk?
“Yes, we had a drink yesterday, and he got drunk after just two glasses.”
– Haa… What am I going to do with you?
“…”
– You don’t understand what I’m saying? You got played again.
“No, what do you mean played…”
– Seo Hahyun has a high alcohol tolerance. He doesn’t usually get drunk even when he drinks with me. And you’re saying he got drunk after two glasses? He was pretending to be drunk.
…Seo Hahyun has a high alcohol tolerance?
I felt a shock like being hit on the head with a stone. Yesterday, Hahyun had reddened cheeks, rubbed his innocent face against my body, and clung to me with slurred speech saying he liked hyung so much. Outwardly, I pretended I didn’t like it, but I found him cute. And now I’m told it was all an act?
Until now, Hahyun might have said crazy things and gotten scolded by me, but he had never lied. He believed that it was better to speak honestly and apologize than to lie and be disliked. And now he had deceived me. I trembled with the sense of betrayal.
– It’s so obvious. Why has someone who used to be number one in playing tricks become so naive?
“I’m not being naive. I just misunderstood because his face was a bit flushed. It’s not like anything happened.”
– Well, that’s good then.
Somehow, his answer seemed sarcastic. His attitude angered me, and a snide remark automatically slipped out.
“Of course it’s good. At least Hahyun-ssi doesn’t have another partner.”
– I have to go to work. Make sure to eat, and exercise a bit if you’re bored.
His response was so calm it made my pointed remark seem meaningless. Heat rushed to my face at the thought that I was the only one getting fired up.
“Okay.”
After hanging up, I felt sick at the realization that I had been played again. Hajin and Hahyun were both equally crazy. Even if I thought it was my fault for giving my sincere feelings to these crazy men, rather than blaming them, the sick feeling wouldn’t subside.
Both Hajin, who without explaining the scandal implied I had Hahyun, and Hahyun, who pretended to be drunk to sleep with me, had the same shocking impact on me.
Do these brothers have any sincerity at all? Are their words of liking me sincere? Or are they just excuses to trap me?
Everything I had seen, heard, and believed became jumbled all at once. But the real problem was that even after seeing the brothers’ true faces, I was looking for reasons why they had to act that way, taking their side.
Without my realizing it, these two men had taken up too much space in my heart.
* * *
After lying in bed until the afternoon, I forced myself up and ate. Even while eating, messages kept coming from Hahyun.
[The bulgogi must be cold by now. Is it still edible?]
[Should I come over and make it again for you?]
[Hyung, are you sleeping again? I’ve been assigned work so I can’t come over.]
[Hyung, please respond.]
[I’m coming over now.]
My phone kept ringing, but I didn’t reply.
“If you’re going to come, then come! I’m not the one who’s anxious.”
After roughly putting the empty bowl in the sink and sitting on the sofa, I immediately heard the door opening.
I thought it would be Hahyun since he had threatened to come, but the person standing at the door was Hajin. I was about to greet him reflexively, but remembering yesterday’s events, I closed my mouth and hardened my expression. Looking at me, he furrowed his brow and ran his hand through his hair.
“You should at least greet someone when you see them.”
“You’re early today.”
He must have noticed that it was a reluctant greeting. I had hoped he would come closer and say something, but Hajin just glanced at me, went upstairs without a word, changed into comfortable clothes, and came back down. Although I tried not to be conscious of him, I couldn’t help but follow him with my eyes whenever he moved.
When Hajin came back down, he smirked at me and then sat leaning against the opposite sofa. He observed me for a while. I didn’t take my eyes off him either. His slow gaze thoroughly scanned my face. A strange atmosphere circled around us.
Words I wanted to ask but had held back rose to my throat and then retreated. As if sensing my feelings, Hajin slowly moved his Adam’s apple and opened his mouth.
“So what is our Juwon curious about? You seem to have a lot of questions for me.”
Maybe it was because of overexertion yesterday, or perhaps nervousness, but strangely, my hands were trembling. I pressed down my trembling hand with the other and contemplated how to start the conversation. In a voice as devoid of emotion as possible, I asked him.
“Don’t you have anything you want to tell me first?”
At my words, the corner of Hajin’s mouth curved up crookedly.
“Tell you what? Ah… the scandal? Didn’t I explain it all yesterday? I said I was the one who created the scandal.”
I was utterly dumbfounded. It wasn’t to hear such words that I had been trying to find reasons from Hajin’s perspective until just now. Realizing that all the time I had spent agonizing was in vain, I was left speechless.
“If that’s all, then I have nothing to say either.”
Hajin, who always found everything I didn’t say and answered it, was acting as if he didn’t need to know my feelings, and the unfamiliarity of it made me stand up abruptly. Just as I was turning to go upstairs, a large hand firmly grabbed my wrist.
“Seriously, who told you to be so cute?”
“I don’t want to talk right now, so please let go.”
“Hahaha.”
Hajin suddenly started laughing loudly. This crazy man… Is this the time to laugh? I was so taken aback that I didn’t even think to shake him off.
Hajin pulled my wrist strongly and sat me on his knee. The pain I felt from below made me scream “Argh!” involuntarily. Because of that, I couldn’t avoid it. He wrapped his arm firmly around my waist.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t intentional, but your sensitive reaction to my scandal was so good… I couldn’t resist.”
“…!”
“If you saw the article, you would know. That Jeon Hyesu’s father, Chairman Jeon Taesung, is an influential person involved in all aspects of cultural content business. Our company is also under his influence. So I had no choice.”
After hearing this, I was even more confused. Was he saying he was going to have an arranged marriage or something? Whether it was a scandal for a strategic marriage or a genuine scandal, that wasn’t what was important. The problem was that he acted as if he would continue our relationship without saying anything to me despite having someone else.
I wanted to ask in a nonchalant voice like Hajin’s, but my words came out a bit harsh.
“So? Were you planning to have an arranged marriage?”
“No, of course not…”
“Of course. You said you were the one who created the scandal, right?”
As I turned my head, Hajin crashed his lips against mine as if he had been waiting. I bit his lip with all my strength. Despite biting his tender flesh, Hajin just grinned as if he enjoyed it.
Is he really crazy?
