The server bowed with a nod and withdrew without interrupting the conversation. Chahyun let out a “Ha” exclamation as if Yiyoung had said something shameless and demanded.
“Then explain it to me. How did we end up dating?”
If he said they probably fell for each other at first sight, based on his guess, it wasn’t an atmosphere where Chahyun would even snort in derision.
Even Yiyoung himself now doubted that fact. Though they were clearly the same person, it was puzzling how their first impressions could be this different.
Yiyoung glossed over it appropriately.
“Well. Starting one day, Chahyun-ssi started visiting the bar often. As we kept running into each other coming and going…”
“Was it because of money?”
Chahyun cut off Yiyoung’s words and asked point-blank. Yiyoung, whose face had already been stiff, slowly frowned and asked back.
“…What did you say?”
Then Chahyun, as if Yiyoung simply hadn’t heard him properly, added a kind explanation step by step.
“I asked if you approached me because you needed money. Because then it would make sense.”
He had heard similar words in the hospital room. That Yiyoung might be pretending to be his lover trying to extort something from him. Now he was asking if he had intentionally approached him with his eye on money.
In the hospital room, he had only been shocked, but now he was angry.
Yiyoung tried not to get excited and softened his voice.
“No. I didn’t even know Chahyun-ssi was from Moongang Group. Because you didn’t tell me.”
“Good answer.”
Chahyun advised with eyes that didn’t trust Yiyoung one bit. Then he added in a tone that ordinary people would only use when having a very rational negotiation.
“I’m not trying to blame you. Since I went along with it too, if it was because of money, I’m asking to compensate you. You must have put effort into me too. Looking at your current appearance, it seems like you haven’t received anything from me yet, as you say.”
Chahyun looked over Yiyoung’s ‘appearance’ with the same disappointed eyes he had shown in the hospital room. Then he showed displeasure as if cleaning up an accident someone else had caused.
“If you make a fuss later saying it’s unfair, it’ll put me in a difficult position.”
Having heard this much, there was nothing more to say.
He had never seen such an ill-mannered person in his entire life. Hyeyoung’s words that twenty-year-old Chahyun was arrogant and had a prince complex were exactly right. And this wasn’t simply immature actions and words. It was a problem with his way of thinking itself. It was simply amazing that he could pretend to be so flawlessly considerate and affectionate.
‘Was that really all a fabricated appearance?’
When dating, just as everyone does a little, Yiyoung had also tried to show only the side Chahyun would like. But that didn’t mean he lied or acted in ways he didn’t mean.
But Chahyun had been acting as a completely different person throughout his time with Yiyoung.
‘He just doesn’t need to do that anymore.’
Because he no longer liked him. For him, it might be a natural change.
Yiyoung answered honestly while frowning at Chahyun.
“I just dated you because I liked you, Chahyun-ssi.”
Whatever his true nature that he only now learned about, it was a fact that he had liked him while they were dating. However, the Chahyun before his eyes was making him regret it.
Chahyun snorted expressionlessly as if Yiyoung’s words weren’t even funny.
“Then you can break up with me without any compensation?”
It seemed he had been planning to hand over a bundle of money if he just said he’d break up quietly.
Since he was acting so hatefully, Yiyoung felt like demanding about 100 million won. Even for just a moment, he wanted to create a crack in the flawless, accomplished face of Moon Chahyun. If he said the only reason for meeting him was money, perhaps Chahyun would understand a little of the empty feeling Yiyoung was experiencing now.
‘…But somehow it seems like he’d readily agree to give it.’
That’s how desperate Chahyun seemed to be to get rid of Yiyoung. If he received money and confirmed that fact, it would really feel like he’d had a cheap relationship. Worth exactly 100 million won.
Chahyun asked again in a probing tone.
“Right? If you didn’t meet me because you really wanted something.”
“Yes.”
After answering firmly, Yiyoung pressed his lips tightly shut.
Apart from being angry, he was hurt. He hadn’t known he would become someone Chahyun wanted to break up with so badly he’d even hand him money. Yiyoung’s eyes inevitably reddened.
Looking down, he saw wine that would barely fill one glass even if he emptied out his entire monthly salary.
It was too expensive to just throw away like this. It was also a situation where he desperately needed the influence of alcohol. As he unconsciously reached for the glass, this thought suddenly occurred to him.
‘Do I have to pay for the alcohol if I drink it? He probably won’t ask, but.’
Then he suddenly realized that this was exactly why he couldn’t date Moon Chahyun.
Even in this situation, Yiyoung was in a position where he worried about the price of alcohol. The man who was Moon Chahyun ordered such alcohol without even looking at the menu and didn’t touch it. The two people were fundamentally different.
When his thoughts reached this point, Yiyoung lifted the glass and downed the wine in one gulp.
He really did feel it was a waste of the alcohol, but on the other hand, he also drank it to show Chahyun. It was an action meaning he understood Chahyun’s intention well and agreed.
When he put down the glass he’d emptied in one shot on the table, he saw Chahyun looking dumbfounded.
“I can’t just throw away such expensive alcohol.”
“…”
Seeing him immediately stiffen his expression, Chahyun seemed to have understood Yiyoung’s gesture.
It was probably poverty hard to imagine even in his common sense. But Yiyoung couldn’t help that even that shabby side was part of him. He never had any intention of hiding it from the start. He just hoped it wouldn’t be exposed at an unwanted moment like this.
‘If he asks for the alcohol fee, I’ll pay it. What else can I do but starve for a month?’
Even though he thought that, Yiyoung covered his mouth at the feeling of good alcohol settling. After forcibly swallowing down the nausea, he hurriedly got up from his seat.
“If there’s nothing more to say, I’m leaving.”
If he dragged out the time any longer, it was obvious he’d burst into tears. The people around were already glancing over with curious eyes, and if he cried on top of that, it would be too embarrassing.
For some reason, Chahyun stared at Yiyoung and muttered.
“…This is strange.”
Without even thinking to ask what was strange, Yiyoung turned around sharply. This was the first time he wanted to part from Chahyun and go home as quickly as even a minute or second would allow.
***
Yiyoung buried his face in the corner of the elevator because he didn’t want to show Chahyun his crying face. Never before had he resented his timid personality as much as at this moment.
In truth, he felt like shouting at Chahyun.
Though there was the tremendous circumstance of memory loss, it was a situation where Yiyoung had been unilaterally dumped anyway. Moreover, he had been falsely accused of approaching Chahyun for his money. He had been dragged here to be shown his shabby appearance and told to leave on his own in disgrace, and had been intimidated throughout according to Chahyun’s intention.
Even in this situation, all Yiyoung could do to protect his pride was hold back tears. Even if he raised his voice and got angry, Chahyun didn’t seem like he would bat an eye. It would be fortunate if he didn’t just react saying he was making a fuss in various ways.
If he had a slightly bolder personality, he would have gotten angry and vented regardless of whether he looked ridiculous, but he absolutely couldn’t muster such guts.
‘Pathetic.’
As he was soaking in self-loathing like this, Chahyun muttered continuing words from behind him.
“I don’t understand why you’re not demanding anything. Even when I’m offering to give it first.”
Then he asked Yiyoung as if genuinely curious.
“Is it because of pride?”
Yiyoung’s throat stung because of the tears. Perhaps taking his lack of response as affirmation since his voice would obviously come out trembling, Chahyun added seriously.
“If that’s the case, just take it. I won’t think you’re materialistic just because of that. I’m not going to think highly of you just because you refuse either.”
“Forget it, stop talking about that.”
Then he heard Chahyun sigh. For some reason, he pictured Chahyun’s face mouthing the word ‘idiot’ with just his lips. It was because he felt like an idiot himself.
As soon as the elevator reached the lobby floor and the door opened, Yiyoung practically burst out. Immediately after, as he quickly crossed the lobby as if running away, for some reason Chahyun let out a flustered exclamation saying “Huh?” Yiyoung didn’t care and hurried his steps.
He could see Chahyun’s flashy car parked at the hotel entrance. As he tried to pass the car, Chahyun, who had somehow closely chased after him, grabbed Yiyoung’s elbow.
“I’ll take you home.”
Yiyoung turned his head to the opposite side from Chahyun and struggled to shake off his hand.
“It’s fine. The bus is more comfortable.”
“Why go the uncomfortable way when I’m saying I’ll take you?”
Does he not know why he’s asking? It was stranger that the man who had just dumped him was insisting on taking him home.
If he got in Chahyun’s car now, it was obvious he’d sniffle the whole way home. Then it felt like even the handful of pride remaining would scatter into fragments and become dust.
