“Won’t another good relationship appear? I haven’t married yet so I don’t really know.”
“That should be the case. I sincerely hope so.”
“Yes….”
Although very occasionally, Seojun felt a sharp gaze when he was with Seokhyeon. When he felt an intense gaze piercing the top of his head and raised his head, there was Seokhyeon smiling. Today too, before the question ‘why?’ could fully form, Seokhyeon made an unexpected suggestion.
“It’s sudden, but if it’s okay, how about stopping by my house for a moment?”
“What? Director-nim… your house?”
“Yes. I just received a good wine as a gift. It’s a French vintage wine. I thought Seojun-ssi would like it too.”
Seojun’s eyes widened at the word ‘vintage.’ Although he didn’t know very much about wine, Seojun enjoyed wine at home or sometimes outside. Perhaps because he had been distanced from wine for a while because of Soohyun, who couldn’t drink alcohol, Seokhyeon’s suggestion was very appealing.
“Vintage… If Director-nim received it as a gift, it must be quite precious.”
“It’s precious, so I’m inviting you. Delicious things aren’t tasty if you eat them alone. I can quickly prepare simple snacks and a meal. How about it?”
Seojun, who had only made a golf appointment with Seokhyeon, hadn’t thought at all that he would end up going to his house, but he got excited at the fact that the wine he received as a gift was Romanée-Conti.
“Actually, I don’t know much about wine. But it’s said to have received the best score among Romanée-Conti from the 2000s.”
“Wow….”
“Do you happen to like wine?”
“Yes, I don’t know much either but… I like it.”
“Good. Then let’s go right away.”
Seojun got into the car Seokhyeon was driving. To think the day would come when he’d ride in a car driven by an investor. He said he was a fan…. So is that why he’s being so nice? The first impression of him wasn’t bad either, but the more time Seojun spent with Seokhyeon, the more he thought he was a really nice person.
“It’s here.”
“Wow… okay.”
It seemed like the house in the drama he had appeared in before looked like this too. Seojun, visiting a place where a ‘real chaebol’ lived for the first time, exclaimed in admiration as soon as he entered.
“Director-nim. The house is really nice.”
“Living alone, it’s just spacious. I’d like to move, but it’s not easy. Anyway, please come in.”
Although the house Seojun lived in was also quite nice, it couldn’t compare to Seokhyeon’s house. A chandelier that looked luxurious at a glance hung from the open ceiling that appeared to be two stories high. Even each picture hanging on the wall was extraordinary.
“There’s a small bar. I prepared it over there, so let’s go.”
Following Seokhyeon, a space appeared as if a high-end bar had been moved as is. You can have something like this in a private house… Seojun was busy looking around, turning his head this way and that.
“You have… a space like this in your home. It’s amazing. It’s so cool.”
“It’s nothing much. I just have the appearance.”
Seokhyeon began opening the wine bottle he took out from the wine cellar. After skillfully opening it, he naturally opened the cork stopper and transferred it to the decanter. The fragrant scent of the wine meeting oxygen for the first time in over ten years filled the bar.
“The aroma is really excellent.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Seokhyeon’s hand movements were as natural as flowing water. He poured the decanted wine into a crystal glass and offered it to Seojun. Finger foods and cheese were placed on the bar.
“Please try it.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
He slightly lifted the glass he had gently swirled on the floor and took a sip into his mouth. The acidity, aroma, and body—it was an excellent wine.
“…It’s really good.”
“It’s nice not to drink alone this time.”
Seokhyeon, who sat next to Seojun, tilted his wine glass with a very calm face.
“…I thought it would be comfortable to be alone again, but it seems that wasn’t the case.”
“What?”
“I told you it was an unwanted marriage.”
Seokhyeon began his story in a tone devoid of emotion.
“Perhaps his son, who went around causing accidents, seemed quite pathetic. I couldn’t be united with the person I loved. Still, I tried to make it work somehow, but… since the other party also had no feelings, it wasn’t easy.”
“I see.”
Is this like the tragedy of a chaebol child? Even a man who has everything makes such a lonely face. Seojun felt sorry for him, who somehow looked lonely.
“Around the time I was Choi Seojun-ssi’s current age, there was someone I loved very much.”
“Ah… yes….”
“This kind of story probably isn’t very interesting.”
“Not at all. It’s not like that at all. Because everyone can… have that experience at least once.”
“What about Choi Seojun-ssi?”
“Me?”
Seokhyeon, who had been placing his finger on the rim of the wine glass and spinning it around, turned his head. His eyes looking at Seojun were earnest.
“Yes. Love.”
“Love….”
Seojun momentarily thought of Soohyun. From when he first met him until this morning. Just thinking of the name ‘Lee Soohyun’ made his heart pound greatly. Had there ever been anyone in his life who made him flutter this much?
“I should have held onto that person five years ago. I regret it so much.”
“Five years… ago?”
“Yes. I made a bit of a mistake. So in the end, things didn’t work out with that person. But I think I can meet them again.”
Five years ago. Soohyun said he lost his alpha eight years ago. And he said he had gotten sick in body and mind from the things that happened after that. When people get older, do they inevitably have to live carrying at least one unavoidable wound?
“This time I absolutely won’t let go. So, I’m saying.”
“Yes?”
Seokhyeon’s voice, which had been serious throughout the conversation, brightened again.
“I hope Seojun-ssi’s movie does well too. Since it’s your first work after the success of your last movie. If Seojun-ssi does well, that’s good for me too, isn’t it?”
“Of course. I’m going to work hard.”
“Choi Seojun-ssi… is someone who lacks nothing. You’ll definitely be able to do well.”
“You’re too kind.”
Seokhyeon offered Seojun wine.
“I really enjoyed today. Choi Seojun-ssi.”
“I’m also grateful you took the time. I keep receiving help like this every time. Next time, I’d like to treat you.”
Seojun said with a smile. From today’s golf to the wine, Seokhyeon had paid for everything, so Seojun felt indebted to him.
“If you say that much, it’s an honor. Next time, I hope I can enjoy good wine at Choi Seojun-ssi’s house.”
“What? Yes. I understand.”
“Good. Very good. I’ll look forward to it.”
Seokhyeon got up from the bar chair. Seojun also followed him up and offered a handshake.
“See you next time. Choi Seojun-ssi.”
“See you next time. Director-nim.”
Seojun also responded with a similar smile toward Seokhyeon, who looked the happiest during today’s meeting.
* * *
“Seojun-ssi, you’re late.”
“Yeah. Sorry. I went all the way to Director-nim’s house.”
When Seojun returned home, it was past 11 PM. Having delicious wine after a long time and talking about this and that, three hours had passed in a flash, and Seojun was not a little surprised too.
“Director-… nim?”
“Yes. The person investing in the movie this time. A very young person who’s very nice.”
“I see.”
At the word director, Soohyun’s heart fell to his feet with a ‘thud.’ The face of the terrible person he had tried hard to forget came to mind.
“It’s late. Let’s sleep quickly. I’m going to sleep hugging Soohyun-ssi tightly.”
“…Wash up and come out.”
Seojun and Soohyun lay side by side as usual. He who had been hugging Soohyun’s body and lightly kissing his nape gently pulled his body and pressed their lips together.
“Seojun-ssi….”
“Today, I strangely missed Soohyun-ssi so much.”
“Seojun-ssi always says that.”
Seojun said that was true and scratched his head.
“Soohyun-ssi… won’t know how much I like you.”
