Perhaps because it was a roughly-made old model, it took a long time to boot up. Kang Siwon quietly stared at the screen where the loading indicator was spinning round and round.
Was this the right thing to do? Probably not. He had barely escaped the Baeksa Faction’s clutches, and he might end up caught in another trap. However, he wanted to at least hear who was making what kind of proposal.
He thoroughly examined the phone that had finally turned on. No suspicious apps were installed. There was nothing strange about the battery usage either.
[noname] Contact me if you need help
After staring at the problematic message for a while, Kang Siwon let out a deep sigh and moved his fingers.
[Me] Who are you?
[noname] Let’s meet and talk. Tell me when and where is possible.
An answer came back immediately. While he was thinking about what to reply, messages arrived in succession.
[noname] As soon as possible.
Even if they demanded that, even Kang Siwon himself didn’t know when and where he would have time. It was no exaggeration to say he was stuck with Ray Jun all day long. Occasionally Ray Jun went out for unknown business, but even then Kang Siwon was trapped inside the penthouse, so it was impossible to meet someone alone. Those circumstances hadn’t changed now that they had come to Singapore.
At that moment, another message came.
[noname] I know you joined Sovereign with a forged identity. If you don’t decide on a meeting place first, we’ll be meeting at the police station. Xie Wei.
It was a clear threat. Ha, Kang Siwon let out an incredulous breath.
“How on earth did the Baeksa Faction create a forged identity……”
This was already the second time it was discovered. Ridiculously, perhaps because it wasn’t the first time, the shock wasn’t as great this time. It was also because the other party had called him ‘Xie Wei’ instead of ‘Kang Siwon.’
If they had perfectly grasped his identity, they would have called him by his real name to reveal they were holding the information. However, calling him by his alias meant they only knew up to the fact that he had forged his identity.
Nevertheless, finding out this much information meant they had a fairly decent information network. They must also possess capital. However, the key question was whether that money was dirty money or not. He had only just gotten away from the Baeksa Faction, so he couldn’t afford to get involved with a second Baeksa Faction.
After much deliberation, Kang Siwon sent a reply.
[Me] I’m willing to meet and talk, but I can’t guarantee when it’ll be possible.
[noname] Send a message when you’re available. I’ll make contact within 5 minutes.
This was a bit creepy. Guaranteeing to appear within 5 minutes—wasn’t that saying they would be watching nearby?
The anxiety that this might indeed be the wrong choice strongly assailed him. However, Kang Siwon truly didn’t want to live being hurt by someone he once liked. If there was any breakthrough, even if it wasn’t a perfect solution, he wanted to grab onto it.
[Me] Got it.
As soon as he sent the reply, Kang Siwon pressed and held the power button. The phone turned off and the screen turned pitch black.
* * *
Although there were two bedrooms in the guest room, Ray Jun insisted on using the same bed. Since they had lived that way in the penthouse, he understood that much.
The problem was that as soon as he lay down, he would pull Kang Siwon into his arms like a pillow. Even when pushed away because it was hot, he would only lower the air conditioning temperature and cling even more tenaciously. In the end, Kang Siwon had no choice but to fall asleep trapped in that uncomfortable embrace.
“……”
The next day, Kang Siwon got up with a stiff body. Unlike him, Ray Jun only looked refreshed. They had both suffered through the shopping marathon after getting on the plane yesterday, so he couldn’t understand why only Ray Jun looked so lively, which was annoying. He even thought that maybe that guy had sucked out his life force.
“You’re up?”
“……Yeah.”
“Siwon, today I……”
He couldn’t figure out what he was trying to say with such a serious face while pausing. Worried that the phone might have been discovered, Kang Siwon swallowed dry saliva. Even though he knew it wouldn’t be easily discovered since he had wrapped it in clothes and hidden it in the deepest part of his suitcase.
“I have to go meet Mother. Can you stay alone?”
Making his tension seem pointless, Ray Jun’s business was nothing much. Kang Siwon replied as if incredulous.
“Am I a child?”
“I’ve checked that you’re not a child, so I know well. Still, I’m strangely anxious today.”
At the muttering that sounded like a monologue, Kang Siwon felt slightly creeped out. Why on earth was his intuition so good? He was anxious that his schemes might really be discovered like this, but Kang Siwon tried to show a nonchalant demeanor.
“It’s needless worry.”
“Hmm…… Well, you’ll just be at the hotel anyway, so what could happen?”
“Just at the hotel. Me?”
“Yeah. Why? Do you want to go out?”
The eyes that looked more transparent in the morning sunlight gleamed. How could his past self have looked at those eyes and admired them as pretty? Looking at them now, there was no one crazier than him.
“……Yeah. It’s a waste to come all the way to Singapore and just stay at the hotel. I…… heard there’s a famous garden, and I want to go see it.”
Even to his own ears it was an unconvincing excuse, so his voice trailed off. But unexpectedly, Ray Jun tilted his head and responded.
“You want to see the garden?”
“Yeah.”
Kang Siwon, instinctively sensing an opportunity, hastily added.
“And to get some fresh air.”
Ray Jun had an expression as if thinking about something. Soon he raised the corners of his mouth and said.
“Try begging a bit more.”
“What…… Should I kneel and beg?”
“No, not that. Something sexier.”
Of course, even kneeling would probably be sexy, Ray Jun whispered mischievously. His face flushed hot at that blatant yet despicable demand.
“Forget it. If you don’t want to let me go, just say you don’t want to. Don’t demand impossible things!”
“It’s not impossible. I’d let you go if you just masturbated in front of me.”
“……What?”
Setting aside how shockingly vulgar that demand was, was that really considered sexy? Honestly, it seemed like it would only be defiling Ray Jun’s eyes.
“Don’t want to?”
“……It’s not like I want to.”
Of course he wasn’t pleased either. But since it wasn’t like he was giving his body, he slyly thought that this much might be doable.
“If you don’t want to make a deal, never mind.”
“No, wa, wait a minute.”
Was this the right thing to do? The question he had recalled dozens of times since last night reared its head again. He knew that message might not be worth risking danger for, and he might face bigger trouble because of it. However, Kang Siwon’s vision had narrowed due to becoming anxious to escape from this place.
“……I’ll do it.”
“Hm?”
“I said I’ll do it…… Th, that thing.”
“Really?”
Ray Jun’s lips twisted into a smile. The thought that he had made a mistake after all hit him in the back of the head, but it was too late to back down now. Kang Siwon nodded deeply.
Above all, if his relationship with him took the form of a ‘transaction,’ then he wasn’t being unilaterally exploited. Ridiculously, this way felt less humiliating.
“Good.”
Ray Jun’s eyes sparkled as if satisfied.
“But you have to go with Gemma.”
“You didn’t say that before. Even alone, I……”
“You said you wanted to see the garden. It’s the same whether you see it alone or with two people, isn’t it?”
“……”
“Or is there a reason you must be alone?”
Even though he must know the desire to breathe alone, he tightened the leash. Kang Siwon swallowed a sigh and answered.
“……That’s not it, but.”
“If you go with Gemma, you’ll be comfortable too. She’ll drive, knows the way well, and even if a complicated problem arises, she’ll handle it on the spot. It’s a bit much to go around alone in an unfamiliar foreign country.”
Since Ray Jun had decided anyway, there was no room for persuasion. Kang Siwon nodded silently. Ray Jun smiled with satisfaction and wrapped up the conversation.
“Then have a good time. You can wear the pretty clothes we bought yesterday. It would be fun if I went with you too…… Can’t be helped. Take lots of pictures instead.”
“I don’t have a phone.”
“Ah, that’s right. Then ask Gemma to take them.”
“Forget it.”
“Don’t forget the promise.”
“Perverted bastard……”
He muttered loud enough to be heard clearly, but Ray Jun didn’t care at all.
* * *
“You look too awkward right now! Rather, put your hands in your pockets, and turn your head slightly to the right. That’s it!”
Standing in front of a large banyan tree, Kang Siwon struck an awkward pose. In front of him, Gemma held her phone and pressed the shutter repeatedly. He knew she was a secretary, but she was passionate enough to believe her if she said she was a photographer by profession.
“……Are you done taking pictures?”
“I think it would be good to take some in front of the bougainvillea too. Let’s go!”
Watching Gemma walk ahead toward the colorful flowers, Kang Siwon exhaled.
It was comfortable to go around with Gemma, as Ray Jun had guaranteed. Gemma, who continued conversations with good social skills, was like a guide. However, her enthusiasm for photos felt overwhelming. Whatever instructions she had received from Ray Jun, it was like a pictorial shoot even though he wasn’t a model.
“Smile a bit more! Brightly!”
The corners of Kang Siwon’s mouth trembled as he forced a smile. It was embarrassing to keep posing in front of someone he had only known for two days.
“Um…… Can we stop taking pictures now?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. Siwon-ssi is so handsome that it’s fun to take pictures.”
It was clearly because of Ray Jun’s instructions, but she made good excuses. In any case, he was relieved the barrage of shutters was over.
