In front of Jung Sanho, who was like a runaway locomotive, Seungyeon was at a loss for words.
‘That guy’s really gone insane.’
He seemed thoroughly insane. Seeing him go on about the main wife, he definitely wasn’t in a normal state.
Yoon Taerim’s face was wrapped in shock just as much as Seungyeon’s. Well, if a cherished younger cousin suddenly started going on about main wives and seconds, wouldn’t anyone be horrified if they were human?
“Jung Sanho! What the hell is wrong with you?”
At Yoon Taerim’s question, Seungyeon also silently looked at Jung Sanho. He was genuinely curious about why he was really acting like that. What on earth was the reason he couldn’t give up on him to the point of volunteering to be a second?
Was it such a great relationship that he’d cling to it while throwing away even his pride? What aspect of Baek Seungyeon made Jung Sanho so desperate like that? He hadn’t even seen his face in person, and how special could conversations shared over the internet have been for the kid to act like someone possessed by a ghost?
“It’s not ‘why,’ I’m making a rational and groundbreaking proposal right now. I’m not saying anything about you two dating, so date as you please! But I’m not planning to break up either!”
“No, ha… Forget it, let’s not talk. First, you follow me. Seungyeon-ssi, please leave first. I’ll contact you again.”
Forgetting even the lover act, Yoon Taerim issued an order to leave in a cold tone. Grabbing the scruff of Jung Sanho’s neck as he struggled saying he didn’t want to, he forcibly dragged Jung Sanho away. Amid the swearing and shouting, the door slammed shut and soon only Seungyeon was left in the emergency stairwell.
His mind grew complicated in the silence that came after the storm passed. Seungyeon, who had leaned his back against the wall, slid down and crouched.
“I’m going crazy, really…”
***
Seungyeon, who escaped the hotel as if fleeing, hurriedly boarded the subway. While heading to his older sister’s house, he accessed the site where he first got to know Jung Sanho with the feeling of grasping at straws.
He meticulously reviewed the conversations they’d had there from beginning to end. Looking at the conversation process they’d shared almost every single day, he couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Baek Seungyeon really put in a lot of effort too.”
Whether Jung Sanho treated him rudely or acted cold, Baek Seungyeon didn’t shrink back or retreat, and steadily and consistently poured out kind words. He greeted him every morning, shared trivial topics, and didn’t carelessly brush off whatever story Jung Sanho told, whatever it was.
[Me: It’s cold today so wear padding instead of a coat. Listen well in class!] [Me: How was your day today?] [Me: I heard it really helps to say you’re okay even when you’re not. So you’ll be okay too]
At least those words didn’t feel fake. Was that why? Jung Sanho’s responses, which started as short answers, also became longer and more honest over time.
From the moment he crossed the boundary once, Jung Sanho also revealed his inner feelings without reserve. That was really pitiful. Jung Sanho’s loneliness could be felt intact in his worries and words.
[shhh: They’re not interested in each other. Father and my hyungs probably don’t know what department I’m in] [shhh: They might not even know how old I am] [Me: ?? How could they not know that? They stick candles on the cake when they celebrate birthdays. No matter what, there aren’t so many candles that they’d confuse your age] [shhh: I’ve never been celebrated by my family for my birthday]
And in the conversation that continued a few days later, Baek Seungyeon sent Jung Sanho a cake gift certificate along with this comment.
[Me: Today isn’t your birthday but I just thought of you. Tell me your real birthday later]
The flow of the conversation was all like that. Looking at the trivial kindness, the friendliness that felt like something special, he seemed to understand why Jung Sanho was so obsessed with Baek Seungyeon.
Originally, it’s easier to endure if you don’t know anything at all. But if you know and let it slip away, nothing torments a person more than that. If you’re living lonely without even knowing you’re lonely, and someone suddenly appears and shares their warmth, it’s natural not to want to lose that.
“But volunteering to be a second is a bit…”
Ah, I don’t know. Seungyeon, who turned off his phone, pressed his eyes firmly.
No matter how much he racked his brain about how to untangle Jung Sanho’s obsession, no particular answer came to mind. Now that Yoon Taerim’s prediction that he’d be shocked and fall away if he acted loose and pretended to date had all missed the mark, he couldn’t even gauge what kind of conversation those two were having now.
“Yoon Taerim probably didn’t know either. That he’d go on about the main wife there…”
Seungyeon looked out the train window with gloomy eyes. At the scenery passing by quickly outside the window, he swallowed a sigh. Hearing the announcement that they’d arrived at the destination just in time, he quickly got up from his seat.
At the edge of an upscale residential area that came out only after getting off at the subway station and walking and walking for a long time, there was Baek Sehee’s house. To be precise, it was the main house of Tae Muhyuk who married Baek Sehee, and it was also the most main stage in the original drama.
He didn’t know why they all stubbornly lived there together when they had so much money and didn’t branch out, but anyway, in that damn household lived not only Tae Muhyuk’s father and mother but also Tae Muhyuk’s brother Tae Mujin and his wife. Since everyone was busy, there were many cases when the house was empty, but even so, why they kept their grown son and his wife crammed by their side was difficult for Seungyeon to understand with his common sense.
“Anyway, rich bastards are worse.”
Compared to that magnificent household, both Baek Sehee and her background were insignificant. Actually, that’s why Tae Muhyuk chose her. The fact was, the less power you had, the better it was to use and discard you.
That’s why he went around so shamelessly while committing adultery behind her back. Leaving all the dangerous work to Baek Sehee, while he himself stuck to his second…
Seungyeon, who thought that far, suddenly pinched his cheek hard. At the talk of a second, Jung Sanho’s face reflexively came to mind. Tears welled up from his stinging cheek.
“Really, let’s get a grip.”
Thinking of Jung Sanho here would only make his mind hazy. He couldn’t do that when he needed to stay sharp. As if shaking off the evil spirit dwelling in his head, Seungyeon repeatedly tapped his forehead. Only after doing that for a while did he call Baek Sehee on his phone.
“Hello? Noona, I’m in front of your house right now.”
─ Oh my, already? What should I do? Seungyeon, I’m still at the company. Even if I leave now, it’ll take 30 minutes…!
“No, then. You don’t need to come in a hurry. I just need to pick up the stuff, right? Then I’ll take it myself. Should I talk to the person working there?”
─ Yes, I already told them so they’ll pack it for you! At this time, the adults won’t be there so feel free to stop by. Thanks for running the errand, Seungyeon.
“Come on, it’s not even much to be thankful for. I owe you so much, noona, you think I can’t even do that much?”
At Seungyeon’s scolding, a small laugh was heard from beyond the phone.
─ Mom said you seemed to have matured, and it looks like it’s true. Now there won’t be any worries, right?
“Of course. I’ve been reborn as a new person now.”
While exchanging jokes, the front gate that had been like an iron fortress opened wide with a mechanical sound. An employee in uniform approached from inside. Seungyeon greeted Baek Sehee on the other end of the phone.
“Noona, the employee is coming. I’ll contact you again when I get home after picking up the stuff.”
─ Okay, thanks. Seungyeon!
As soon as he hung up the phone, the employee approached, bowing their head. As if knowing Seungyeon even though he’d never introduced his name, natural guidance followed.
“Please come in, Baek Seungyeon-nim.”
“Hello.”
At the polite greeting, Seungyeon awkwardly bowed his head. Only after following her for a while could he enter the house.
Rather than a place where people lived, it was somehow desolate like a hotel lobby or museum. To him looking around, the employee suggested he sit on the sofa.
“Please wait a moment.”
“Ah, yes.”
As soon as Seungyeon, who greeted awkwardly, sat down, the employee served him a cup of tea. Enchanted by the lukewarm warmth and fragrant smell, Seungyeon took a few sips. And while holding the flower scent, he glanced around.
It was his first time coming here, but at least to Seungyeon it was a familiar place. It was a place that appeared day and night in the original drama. It was exactly twice as luxurious as what he’d seen on screen.
“The screen couldn’t capture it all…”
It seemed it wasn’t only people whose real thing was better. The sofa was also soft with an amazing texture. While unconsciously fiddling with the cushion, the stairs leading upstairs became noisy.
With heavy footsteps, a tall silhouette revealed itself. Seungyeon, who recognized Baek Sehee’s husband Tae Muhyuk, jumped up from the sofa. Tae Muhyuk, who hadn’t noticed Seungyeon’s presence, looked back with an irritated face.
“Stop it. Just because it’s you doesn’t mean I’ll let it slide forever.”
With an ominous warning, Tae Muhyuk passed through the living room and disappeared toward the entrance. At the sound of the door closing with a ‘bang!’, Seungyeon instinctively held his breath.
Flustered and just reading the situation, he felt a presence in front of him. The man who had been following Tae Muhyuk discovered Seungyeon and slowly stopped walking.
With neatly swept-back hair and dressed in a black suit, even the black leather gloves covering the backs of his hands suited the man as if they were made for him. Go Won looked Seungyeon up and down and tilted his head diagonally.
“We meet here again.”
