“So our Seonwoo is going to be on TV soon, right? Your aunt will make sure to watch.”
Seonwoo, who had been quietly setting down his empty fork on the table, lifted his head.
It was teatime after dinner had ended. Fragrant tea and fresh fruit were neatly arranged on the table, but the center of conversation was entirely fixed on Seonwoo, who had visited his grandfather’s house after a long time.
The conversation that had started with the project he was overseeing at the company and the atmosphere within the office eventually moved on to the romance program he had appeared on. It was an unwelcome topic, but Seonwoo responded amiably.
“I probably won’t appear much.”
“Even if you’re on for just one second, you’ll stand out. Whose grandson are you?”
At her chattiness, his grandfather Cha Hoedo set down his teacup. Along with a clinking sound, a heavy voice flowed from his mouth.
“Seonghee-ya.”
“Isn’t that right, Father?”
However, Cha Seonghee was not easily swayed. Watching Seonghee, who was smiling brightly at him, Seonwoo raised the corners of his mouth.
Cha Seonghee was the younger sister of his father, Chairman Cha Gihyeon. Unlike Seonwoo, who had studied abroad from a young age because he disliked media exposure, she was the typical second-generation chaebol that people generally imagined.
She didn’t mind the attention poured on her, and she didn’t hide the things she did to solidify her position. Outside, she was said to be cold-hearted, but she was the type to cherish her nephew.
“Hmm…”
After a few throat-clearing sounds that silenced Seonghee, Cha Hoedo asked Seonwoo.
“That’s the one Director Lee Cheoljun’s daughter is doing, right?”
He must have already received a report from Secretary Kang, but the reason he was pretending not to know and asking like this was obvious. He wanted to hear the story from his own mouth.
Although he wasn’t directly involved in corporate affairs now, the real power of Hanje was still his grandfather Cha Hoedo. However, unlike the public image of having a fiery temper, he was someone who was particularly caring toward his grandson.
Tilting his head, Seonwoo answered with a faint smile.
“Yes, so we agreed to minimize my screen time as much as possible and adjust things well so there won’t be any criticism.”
“Director Kang is attached to you, so he’ll handle it well, but still…”
Despite the sincere answer, Cha Hoedo furrowed his brow as if he was still concerned. Watching the wrinkles on his forehead become more pronounced, Seonghee, who was beside him, picked up a piece of fruit with her fork and brought it to him.
“It’s Seonwoo doing it, so what are you worried about?”
She spoke in an affectionate tone as if it were needless worry, but the tension in her grandfather’s brow showed no sign of easing. Seonwoo, who had been nodding silently, turned his gaze to the phone call that came at that moment.
[Lee Hajin]
The name that appeared on the screen was familiar. It was the very person who had just been mentioned. It was quite curious how she knew they were talking about her and called at this exact moment.
In any case, it was good timing since he had been wanting to excuse himself. Taking his eyes off his phone, Seonwoo smiled politely at his grandfather.
“I think I need to leave first. I got an urgent call.”
As he spoke, he slowly rose from his seat. At the sight of Seonwoo like this, Cha Seonghee jerked her upper body and opened her mouth faster than her grandfather. A voice tinged with regret settled near his ear.
“Already? We’re seeing each other after a long time today, so stay a little longer.”
“I’ll come visit again when Mother returns.”
When Seonwoo mentioned his mother, who was traveling, she nodded as if she had no choice.
After a sincere greeting, Cha Seonwoo, who had left the mansion, took out his phone again. On the screen where the call had already ended, there was a missed call from Hajin. He called back without hesitation.
The ringtone didn’t last long before it was cut off. As soon as she answered the phone, Seonwoo asked in a low voice.
“Did something happen to Haeyoung?”
– The person who called isn’t Haeyoung, it’s me though?
“Right… I know, Hajin-ah. You called.”
It was a kind voice, but there wasn’t a shred of sincerity in it. Hajin, who noticed the hollow affection, let out a deflated snort.
Of course, Cha Seonwoo was originally like this. Everyone easily fell for his slick and gentle exterior, but when you looked inside, he was dry and cold.
Was it because she had witnessed him being with Haeyoung for several years? She had seen from childhood that he didn’t easily give his heart to others, so she should be used to it by now, but she was newly dumbfounded. However, this wasn’t what was important.
After a moment of silence, Hajin on the other end of the line slowly opened her mouth.
– Seonwoo-ya, you agreed to something ridiculous. But anyway, that’s why I called.
Seonwoo, who had been silently listening to the contextless words, tilted his head obliquely.
– Not as an ex-lover, but as a close hyung, you can pick up a drunk kid, right?
Not as an ex-lover, but as a close hyung… He, who had paused, raised his gaze that had been cast downward at the following words. There was only one person who could come from her mouth.
Instead of other unnecessary words, he asked as he began walking.
“Where? I’ll go right now.”
– I sent you the location on chat.
To Seonwoo, who asked as if it were natural, Hajin answered concisely. When he pulled the phone from his ear to check, as expected, she had already sent him her location.
After scanning the place with his eyes, Seonwoo hung up the phone and got in the car.
***
The location Hajin had sent was a place Seonwoo already knew. It was because it was a place the three of them used to go to often during their university days. He didn’t prefer noisy places full of food smells and crowded with people in cramped spaces, but it was different if Haeyoung was there.
As he entered, opening the rattling sliding door, he scanned the inside of the restaurant with his eyes.
“Cha Seonwoo, over here!”
A familiar voice reached Seonwoo’s ears. When he turned his head toward where he was called from, he could see Hajin raising her arm high among the noisy and crowded tables.
Seonwoo’s expression subtly sank. As he approached Hajin, his gaze was fixed on one spot. A black figure hunched over the table where she was sitting. He could tell who it was just by looking at the hunched back and the round head visible above the black clothes.
“Did you two drink together?”
He asked, gesturing at the liquor bottles placed on the table.
“Uh, um. But I only had about one bottle.”
“……”
“I tried to stop him. I did try to stop him, right?”
Hajin, who had been reading Seonwoo’s mood, picked up her outerwear and stood up. He didn’t particularly try to stop her as she hurriedly left, saying she was leaving it to him. Seonwoo, who had been standing still looking down at Haeyoung, soon quietly pulled out the chair next to him and sat down.
It caught his eye that he had come out wearing only a loose black hooded zip-up even though it wasn’t cold. When he himself wore thin clothes, Haeyoung would fuss over him with a crooked face, making sure to pack outerwear, scarves, and all sorts of things, yet he himself often forgot about the cold.
Seonwoo brought his hand to the clean skin revealed above the black hooded zip-up. When he brushed over the visible eye area, moist dampness stuck to his fingertips. Even with the eyelashes trembling as if annoyed, he couldn’t easily pull his hand away.
“Haeyoung-ah.”
He wasn’t asleep, as Yoon Haeyoung turned his head at the voice calling him. The side of his face that had been hidden by his arm came fully into view. Even though only half was showing, his face, his eyes, everything was red.
“…You drank a lot.”
A murmur flowed from Seonwoo’s mouth. It was a small voice, but Haeyoung frowned at the familiar and gentle tone. His half-closed eyelids lifted and his wet gaze turned toward Seonwoo.
“Uh.”
A dazed sound popped out from between Haeyoung’s lips. As if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, he, who had been lying down the whole time, suddenly lifted his upper body. He rubbed his eyes and then stared intently at him, and laughter finally burst from Seonwoo’s mouth.
Seonwoo, who had laughed without realizing it, covered his mouth with the back of his hand. However, the trace of laughter caught in his curved eyes couldn’t be hidden at all. The strength gradually left Haeyoung’s eyes as he faced him.
“I’m really completely drunk. Why am I seeing someone like Cha Seonwoo?”
Someone like Cha Seonwoo. Seonwoo, who quietly mulled over the words Haeyoung had spat out, smiled with curved eyes. He really did seem to be drunk, unlike himself. His words were flowing without restraint.
“It’s not ‘like,’ it’s really Seonwoo.”
“…Why? Why is it real?”
Haha. A low laugh leaked from Seonwoo’s mouth.
“Hajin contacted me. She said you’re drunk, so come pick you up.”
Haeyoung still blinked with a dazed face. He deliberately didn’t bring up the part about coming as a close hyung. Cha Seonwoo lowered the hand that had been covering his mouth and propped his chin up just like that.
The nights we shared together are too long for us to be like that, Haeyoung-ah.
The words he couldn’t spit out lingered in his mouth. Of all things, Yoon Haeyoung had nailed it down by saying let’s stay like close friends, preventing him from clinging.
He was both saddened by him not choosing him, and curious about how long this would go on. If this was what Haeyoung wanted, he was willing enough to accommodate him. Even though he must know it was nothing but deception, the fact that he was making an effort to keep up appearances was also proof that he wanted to be by his side.
It was also true that he wondered why he was trying to go about it this way. You like me too, and I like you, so what’s so difficult about this? Seonwoo’s eyes, which had been unconsciously looking at Haeyoung, narrowed thinly.
Then, the eyes that had been dazed from the alcohol the whole time smoothly closed. Seeing the relaxed smile on Haeyoung’s face, Seonwoo’s eyes widened slightly.
“Seonwoo hyung…”
His chest felt tight at the way he called him while murmuring. An impulse to press his lips on the shallow dimple rose up. Cha Seonwoo had to clench the hand he had placed on his knee.
However, after calling him, Haeyoung pressed his lips shut again. Seeing the slightly gaunt jawline that clearly showed traces of pain made him feel like his insides were turning over.
Yoon Haeyoung smiled, then bit his lips, then slowly drooped his eyebrows as if collapsing. From his weakly open mouth, a voice stained with sorrow tumbled out.
“Hyung, I’m not a beggar.”
What? A spark flew in his vision that had momentarily gone distant. Seonwoo immediately straightened his upper body that had been leaning toward him. And he urgently opened his mouth, raising his stiffly rigid neck as if it would break.
“I’ve never thought that.”
“Then why did you give money to my dad?”
“……”
“Why would hyung? Why do you keep, why…”
The words he was hesitating over ultimately couldn’t continue and were cut off. Haeyoung bit down on his lower lip as if chewing it. His head dropped forward weakly as if he didn’t want to show his face.
Seonwoo, who had reflexively reached out toward him, discovered moisture seeping from his fingertips. It felt like his heart had dropped to the floor with a thud.
“…I was wrong. Don’t cry, okay?”
Seonwoo, who held Haeyoung’s cheek, carefully lifted his head. Perhaps because of the alcohol, his face was flushed, and the body temperature touching his palm was hot.
Even at the moment of breaking up, and even at the moment he said the words about remaining as close friends, from the eyes that had been smiling, tears dripped down. In the vision that became blurred along with it, Cha Seonwoo held his hand.
“I did it because I didn’t want you to have a hard time. I’m sorry. I won’t do that. I won’t do it anymore, Haeyoung-ah.”
Following Haeyoung, who persistently avoided his gaze, Seonwoo spoke soothingly. A voice soaked in anxiety called his name. Until the tears stopped, continuously.
