Euiju was really… in a bind.
“It wasn’t particularly good. I’m not disappointed either. It’s just, like you said, there’s a bit of a difference between getting it and not getting it. You know, skin is life for celebrities and growth is important for me, so I can’t not sleep, right? If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to. I’m not disappointed about that at all.”
With his gaze avoiding toward the window, his rambling appearance was so awkward it made one wonder if he was really an actor. Euiju glanced at that appearance through the rearview mirror and let out a small hollow laugh.
They were on the way home after finishing a schedule. Although he had disliked it so much back then, his complexion had brightened as if he’d slept well thanks to the massage, and moreover, his condition looked better than ever. Thanks to his good condition, they were able to proceed without incident through Director Jo Yeongchun’s one-sided additional filming that day.
That day, the youngest Roun had been thoroughly upset because he had abandoned his family and left on his precious day off.
‘I hate you! Euiju hyung is a liar!’
Since she had been sulking at Euiju until now, several days later, he had barely managed to placate her by promising to go watch fireworks together this evening. Even though he bought her two of her favorite cheesecakes, she wouldn’t let go of her anger, so he’d had quite a hard time. But since Haeseong was making what could be called his first request, he couldn’t refuse outright.
‘This is really troublesome.’
While Euiju was staring at the red light with a serious face lost in thought, he felt a gaze from the back seat and glanced at the rearview mirror. Euiju’s eyes widened.
“…”
It was because Haeseong was glaring at Euiju terrifyingly with vicious eyes that looked like he’d destroy someone if refused.
‘…He said he wasn’t disappointed?’
“Ahem, ahem.”
Euiju unnecessarily cleared his throat and lightly scratched the back of his head. Soon, unable to withstand the pouring sharp gaze, he nodded.
“Understood. Then should I go up to Haeseong-ssi’s house together?”
“…Do as you like.”
Unlike his fierce face like a yaksha, his voice was utterly calm and indifferent. However, a proud smile like a soldier who had won victory hung on his lips. It seemed he had no idea that Euiju was watching through the rearview mirror, so it was somehow funny, but in truth, he couldn’t just laugh comfortably.
‘…What should I say again?’
What excuse should he make to Roun, who would be waiting for him with her neck stretched out at home? Having finished parking lightly, Euiju pulled up the side brake and fell into deep thought.
***
“Ah, there. Just a little more there. No, not there. Ah, really!”
“…”
“The inside of my thighs hurt, so be careful on your own.”
“…Understood.”
This was already the fifth visit for a massage. Euiju was being excessively worked by Haeseong.
Having become somewhat accustomed to massages now, Haeseong had figured out the know-how of receiving them. He was even giving orders on where and how to massage, so if this wasn’t properly enjoying it, what was it? Now he knew how to properly request the parts he wanted, and even directed the intensity one by one.
—Hyung really hate you—!
—Oppa. Why are you coming home so late these days? Can’t you come early tomorrow?
Euiju had already earned plenty of resentment from his siblings for constantly being caught by Haeseong at quitting time. He was worried about his noona who was taking care of the children alone, and his siblings who needed him weighed on his mind, so a few days ago he had once refused when Haeseong proposed he give him a massage.
—I’m sorry, but I need to go home early today. My siblings are waiting.
—Is that so? Can’t be helped, I suppose.
At the time, Haeseong had surprisingly coolly let Euiju go.
The next day. Haeseong treated Euiju, who was running around here and there because he was busy, like air and didn’t give him a single glance, yet deliberately loitered in front of Euiju.
For instance.
—My shoulders are a bit stiff. Maybe it’s because I couldn’t sleep properly.
—It feels like someone is poking between my joints with a needle, what should I do about this?
—I’m annoyed, so don’t even think about talking to me.
How sensitive he had been, wearing the thorny armor he had softened again tightly wrapped around him. Although he had coolly turned around as if nothing was wrong, wasn’t he properly showing he was sulking?
When Euiju went that evening to massage him because loitering Haeseong kept getting on his nerves.
—Do you know how much I suffered last night?
He grumbled.
—From now on, try to keep your evenings free too. I’ll talk to my aunt and get you paid overtime.
—…That’s not necessary.
—Take it even if you don’t want to. I don’t like using people for free either.
Even while massaging Haeseong’s legs, he wanted to refuse that proposal. However, seeing Haeseong’s face peacefully falling asleep while receiving the massage, he couldn’t do that.
Moreover, when he really went to the company the next day, Team Leader Kim Jaeho called Euiju aside and thrust money at him under the name of a bonus.
—Euiju-ssi. What on earth did you do? I mean, it makes sense to take care of you for helping Haeseong last time and all. But how do words to take care of Euiju-ssi come out of Haeseong’s mouth…? I really can’t understand it. Anyway, put it away. Oh, and the Director-nim will want to see you soon. It seems the Director-nim is very pleased with Euiju-ssi.
The bonus was quite generous. That night, Euiju bought food and toys that Euiyeon and the children would like on his way home from work, and handed all the remaining money to Euiyeon. No matter how late he came home, Euiju could do the housework, but it was for her who would have taken care of his siblings alone with an uncomfortable body.
That’s when he was having such an untimely worry.
“Last time… how… was it?”
“Pardon?”
Haeseong, who had been quietly receiving the massage, spoke to him, and Euiju’s head turned. Since he was lying face down, a slightly muffled voice flowed from him. He asked again because he hadn’t heard what was said properly.
However, Haeseong, who had turned his head to the other side, had no answer for a long while.
‘…What is it?’
A proper question flowed from him 10 minutes later.
“That bruise from last time. How did you get it?”
The hands of Euiju, who had been massaging his calves, froze in midair.
“…”
It was the first time. That Haeseong was asking Euiju a personal question.
Euiju, who had been staring at Haeseong’s reddened ears in a daze, squeezed more oil onto his hands and answered quietly.
“I took it instead of Jang Yeonguk-ssi.”
As soon as those words ended, strength entered Haeseong’s body all at once.
***
“Ah, listen carefully. Be careful not to wrinkle them.”
With Haeseong’s permission, Euiju, who had become Jang Yeonguk’s not-quite-manager for several days, followed him around shopping all day and was used as a porter. As if to prove he was Jin Haeseong’s friend, his skill at ordering people around was so exceptional that he entrusted all the luggage to Euiju and enjoyed his leisure leisurely.
“Let’s play a round of basketball.”
As soon as evening came, Jang Yeonguk dragged Euiju to the basketball court. He blatantly revealed his intention to torment Euiju physically through basketball like before. However, at that time it had been an environment where Euiju had no choice but to be helplessly victimized because three people attacked together all at once, and the story was different when Jang Yeonguk attacked alone.
“Ah, fuck!”
Since Euiju, who he thought would be feeble, didn’t go as planned, and he himself was being tackled and knocked down instead, Jang Yeonguk was noticeably enraged.
“Ha. This is fucking ridiculous. Did you work out or something in the meantime?”
When that situation continued for nearly two hours, he threw a tantrum while yelling loudly. Thanks to that, they ended up catching the eye of a rough crowd lingering nearby.
“Ugh, fuck. That’s fucking noisy.”
The men who swaggered over had huge builds with thick flesh and were adorned with flashy tattoos all over their bodies. They were a group that had been waiting for the basketball court to empty, and as if thinking this was their chance, they approached and started picking a fight.
“You little shit. Did you rent this place out? Chattering noisily since earlier. If you’ve done enough, do it moderately and get lost.”
“What? Do you know who I am…”
The great National Assembly member’s son wasn’t scared at all even seeing the bigger build and tattoos than himself. Rather, believing only in his own guts, he started acting pompous and belittling them.
“Fuck. Just looking at you, you’re bastards who’ll die while running deliveries. Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do!”
Furiously. Jang Yeonguk really said unspeakable harsh words and defied the group of men much bigger than him.
Euiju urgently tried to stop Jang Yeonguk, but it was natural for the group to get angry. Excited, they grabbed Jang Yeonguk by the collar and tried to swing their thick fists.
At that action, Euiju rushed between them in an instant.
Thwack—!
That’s how he ended up offering his face to the fist instead of Jang Yeonguk.
The huge man’s fist exerted greater force than an ordinary man’s fist. Euiju’s face, properly struck, turned sharply.
No matter how much he acted superior and strong, Jang Yeonguk had grown up like a flower in a greenhouse. Having never been in such a situation, Jang Yeonguk finally grasped the situation and became scared. He even fell disgracefully while trying to run away from the men approaching him.
“D-don’t come…!”
It was the most unsightly appearance a teenager with nothing but guts could show.
“You little bastard. When were you raising a fuss and defying us, and now where are you running? Huh? What does this bastard whose head isn’t even dry yet believe in…”
Then, Euiju blocked the way of the men approaching Jang Yeonguk.
