“If he wasn’t adopted, do you think he could have made it this far? I gave him the company, house, and land. If he took and ate it all, shouldn’t he at least do his duty?”
“…….”
“In your eyes, he looks like an innocent victim, right? Don’t be fooled, that bastard is the one playing around with my life in his hands. After our parents died, as if he’d been waiting, that bastard pulled out all the shares. Who knows, maybe Jang Miro killed our parents too.”
There was nothing to say to such absurd logic. Eunchan let out a hollow laugh while suspecting something was wrong with Jang Heewoo’s head.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“I’ve seen a lot of kids like you. Pathetic bastards who fall for Jang Miro and do everything he tells them. Stay out of our family affairs and just do me this favor. I’ll pay you generously.”
“Bastards who do everything he tells them?”
Come to think of it, Jang Heewoo had said before that Miro uses people. What kind of work has he been entrusting to whom?
“I’m tired. Leave now.”
He had many questions, but Jang Heewoo waved his hand, signaling him to leave, as if he had no energy to answer anymore. Eunchan made a sour face and turned around to check the woman’s face embedded in the promotional materials again.
“I might not be able to find her.”
“Make sure you find her.”
Eunchan heard Jang Heewoo’s request in one ear and let it out the other before opening the hospital room door. And he faced Miro, who was crouching right next to the door.
“Aren’t your legs numb?”
“Yeah, it’s okay. L-let’s go quickly.”
Miro, who grabbed Eunchan’s hand, hurriedly led him toward himself. He looked somehow anxious and restless. Eunchan followed Miro down to the parking lot. Eunchan, who was almost pushed into the back seat, soon hugged Miro as he burrowed into his embrace.
“Heewoo is really a b-bad younger brother. Eunchan s-shouldn’t be fooled.”
“I know. That he’s a bad person.”
Miro seemed afraid that Eunchan would take his younger brother’s side. Eunchan stroked Miro’s hair while recalling Jang Heewoo’s words.
‘I’ve seen a lot of kids like you.’
He’d never met Miro’s secretary or company employees. At most, there was only the person who delivered clothes to the hospital room. Even for driving, Miro drove the car himself without a chauffeur. What kind of work has Miro been having people do? Even before requesting the errand center, had he entrusted requests to other places?
“What did Heewoo say?”
“Nothing much. Just to persuade Miro-ssi.”
“Does Eunchan want me to g-give blood to Hee-Heewoo?”
When he should be grateful for what he’d been given all this time, he was even getting angry demanding more, which was irritating. If even I, an outsider, am angry, how much more must he be?
Eunchan shook his head and answered absolutely not to give it.
“Don’t give it.”
“Yeah.”
Absolutely don’t do that. Eunchan whispered in Miro’s ear and caressed his back. What Miro needed was probably warm affection, not the company or money. As if responding to this, Miro hugged Eunchan tightly. As if he wouldn’t let him go from his embrace.
After that meeting, Jang Heewoo didn’t contact him anymore. Eunchan tried to find Jang Heewoo’s belongings by going back and forth between the 2nd and 3rd floors here and there, but thanks to Miro who didn’t leave his side for even a moment, he couldn’t easily search the rooms.
Hyungsik was issued an entry pass for the residential complex. Since there were many rooms, it would be nice to just stay at Miro’s house together sometimes, but the homeowner didn’t allow even the slightest gap. Although it wasn’t seasonal business, there were no incoming requests, as if it was the off-season. While resting, Hyungsik would walk around Miro’s house from time to time as exercise, checking if there were any suspicious people.
It was peaceful without incident. During autumn, Miro completed Eunchan’s vest and sweater. Eunchan, who had no work, would often doze off while watching movies wearing the clothes Miro knitted. When he suddenly woke from drowsiness, sometimes a doll wearing the same clothes would be placed in the seat next to him.
Then one day, he suddenly received contact from Choi Hanul, whom he’d forgotten about.
[I want to meet once. Is your time okay today?]
It was a simple text, but somehow he felt earnest emotion in the gentle request. Eunchan readily sent a reply to Choi Hanul. Fortunately, it was a nice day. Miro, who had been busy every day with knitting and taking care of Eunchan, was preparing to go out, saying he had work.
“Miro-ssi.”
“Yeah.”
As soon as he called his name, Miro came running right away. Eunchan carefully brought up the topic while fiddling with the rabbit doll Miro had entrusted to him.
“A younger brother I know wants to meet, so I’ll go see him briefly.”
He even added a promise that they wouldn’t eat together or drink alcohol.
“Which y-younger brother do you know?”
“Hyungsik’s friend?”
“Is Hyungsik coming too?”
“Uh, yes.”
Thinking Miro would prefer three meeting rather than two, Eunchan included Hyungsik in the meeting. As if that was the right answer, Miro reluctantly nodded his head.
“But you h-have to come back quickly.”
“Okay.”
Looking up at Miro in his neat attire, Eunchan newly felt again that Miro was pretty.
“You’re going to work but why are you dressing up so much?”
“Am I p-pretty?”
At Eunchan’s praise, Miro blushed and was pleased.
“Yes. Are you going to the company?”
“Mm. I’ll just have a meeting and come back.”
“What company did you say it was?”
Eunchan asked while arranging Miro’s clothes.
“JN…….”
It was a company name he’d heard somewhere. Eunchan searched his memory for a moment and soon recalled Jang Heewoo’s company name.
“I’ve heard of it. Jang Heewoo-ssi works there too. Is it an art company?”
“No, it’s pharmaceuticals. I’ll c-come back quickly, so Eunchan has to c-come back quickly too.”
Miro lowered his head and kissed Eunchan’s cheek lightly.
“Yes. I will.”
There wasn’t a long story to tell anyway. He just wanted to roughly find out if Choi Hanul was doing well and what happened with Kim Wooseok. Miro smiled brightly as if responding to Eunchan’s promise.
At the promised cafe, Eunchan drank cold lemonade while waiting for Choi Hanul. In the meantime, he’d been searching for information about Choi Hanul here and there, but fortunately, there were no notable articles yet.
Revenge, huh. Eunchan didn’t really understand Choi Hanul’s feelings. He didn’t have an opponent worth betting his life and time on for revenge, and he didn’t like that method either. Why bet my perfectly fine life? In that time, it was better to eat something delicious and sleep. What was more precious than anything was his own life.
“Hello, hyung. Can I call you hyung?”
“Yes, sure. Hello.”
While chewing on the straw, Choi Hanul arrived. Wearing a hat, glasses, and even a mask, he sat across from Eunchan and let out a breath.
“Did you run here?”
“Yes, a bit. I’ll go order coffee.”
“Stay seated. What would you like?”
Looking somewhat tired, Eunchan stood up out of consideration. He didn’t want to skimp on a few pennies for coffee for a client who even deposited money to the boss to stay with him at the bar. Since he started living with Miro, he also had financial leeway.
“Iced Americano. Thank you.”
Eunchan nodded and headed to the counter. After ordering coffee and a cake for himself to eat, he took out his buzzing cell phone.
[Eunchan. What are you doing?]
Right on time, the coffee and cake he ordered came out quickly. Eunchan took a picture of the cake placed on the tray and sent it to Miro. Since cake wasn’t a meal, it wasn’t breaking his promise with Miro. Eunchan, who returned to his seat with the tray, held out the coffee to Choi Hanul.
“Thank you.”
“What happened with Kim Wooseok?”
He didn’t have the talent to beat around the bush. Since Eunchan didn’t want to drag out time for no reason, he threw out the question right away. Choi Hanul, leaving behind Eunchan who asked directly, took off his mask and took a sip of Americano.
“……Actually, that’s why I contacted you.”
“Did something happen?”
It was obviously not good news. Looking at Choi Hanul’s serious face, Eunchan also furrowed his brow.
“Well, we did get close……. We’re definitely going well. Ah, I don’t even know what I’m doing right now either.”
As if he’d newly gained enlightenment, Choi Hanul began to reflect with a sigh.
“It’s fortunate you realized it now.”
Eunchan answered in a carefree tone and took a big bite of cake. The soft cream and bread went well together, and the strawberries that crunched were very sweet.
“I’m thinking there’s no need to continue with revenge.”
“That’s right.”
Looking at Choi Hanul who only said correct things, Eunchan wiped the whipped cream on his lips with a tissue. Choi Hanul, who had just debuted, was in a very busy state. When he first saw the team name, he’d thought what kind of group is this, but surprisingly, people’s reaction was explosive.
I don’t need to worry anymore. He’d been concerned because the young bastard was betting his life on strange revenge, but now it seemed okay to stop worrying.
“I feel a bit relieved that you think so too, hyung. I was actually conflicted about whether this was right. It’s nice to date Wooseok too…….”
“……What?”
At the absurd sound he heard for a moment, Eunchan dropped his fork and asked back. Dating who? Not going through with revenge?
“I decided to date Wooseok. I’m not going to get revenge either. Since Wooseok recognizes me now, I don’t really feel the need to do it.”
“What kind of bullshit is this?”
“What?”
