At the gaze that clung to him like observing prey, Seungyeon reluctantly greeted him.
“Hel… lo.”
Strangely, whenever he stood in front of this man, he felt like he was being interrogated. Was it because of the intimidating atmosphere, or was it that due to his professional nature of tormenting people, it showed through unconsciously? Even though he’d done nothing wrong, he felt like he should apologize and bow his head. Whatever it was, it was certain that this man occupied joint 1st place with Yoon Taerim in the ‘people I never want to see again ranking.’
“Did you come to see Sehee-ssi? She probably hasn’t left work yet.”
Go Won checked his wristwatch. Since he had no particular desire to converse further, Seungyeon replied as vaguely as possible.
“Yes, well…”
With good timing, the employee who had disappeared appeared with a shopping bag. Seungyeon brightened and scurried over to quickly receive the shopping bag.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
Without even waiting for an answer, he hurriedly moved toward the entrance. Following Seungyeon who was running away without looking back, Go Won moved slowly. Snatching the shopping bag from Seungyeon’s hand, he gestured toward the door with his chin.
“I’ll take you home.”
“What? No, I can go by myself. It’s okay-.”
“Don’t refuse. My mood’s already bad.”
“But…”
If your mood’s bad, just go on your way, why pick a fight with an innocent person? Seungyeon, who pushed down the words that rose to his throat, pushed the door open and headed outside. Even until he passed through the small garden and reached the front gate, Go Won was leisurely following behind him. Won’t someone take this guy away? Or maybe he’ll trip over a rock while walking…
In the uncomfortable silence, they arrived in front of the front gate. A black sedan was waiting in front of the door. A man who appeared to be Go Won’s subordinate greeted them politely and opened the back seat door. Go Won, who stopped in front of the open door, looked back at Seungyeon.
“Get in.”
At the natural command, Seungyeon frowned. He really was a man who was rude as naturally as breathing. If it were up to him, he wanted to say ‘I don’t want to’ and run away, but in front of Go Won’s sharp gaze, the maximum rebellion Seungyeon could muster was showing his displeasure through his expression.
He muttered “Ha, really!” and obediently got in the car. He pressed his body as far to the end of the seat as possible and straightened his back like someone ready to get out at any moment. As soon as Go Won, who boarded after him, closed the car door, the car started with the engine sound.
“You don’t need to be so wary. I have no intention of harming Sehee-ssi’s younger brother.”
Go Won handed over the shopping bag. For someone who proposed to accompany him, he didn’t seem very interested in Seungyeon. Leaning his back against the seat, he opened his mouth in an indifferent tone.
“Don’t come into that house if you can help it. There’s nothing good for Sehee-ssi if you get involved.”
Seungyeon’s eyes widened at the unexpected advice. Go Won turned his head toward him. The streetlight passing by outside the car window reflected in his black eyes and glinted finely.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
At the overbearing question, he quickly shook his head.
Seungyeon also knew that Go Won had feelings for Baek Sehee. It was a setting that came up repeatedly in the original work, and from beginning to end, Go Won was on Baek Sehee’s side.
Thinking about it that way, he felt like a slightly less bad guy. Maybe even putting him in the car saying he’d take him home was meddling for Baek Sehee’s sake. If Seungyeon caused trouble while hanging around that house, the damage would be transferred to Baek Sehee. Hadn’t things gotten greatly tangled in reality too because Baek Seungyeon picked up someone else’s belongings there?
‘Come to think of it, I didn’t see the watch earlier…’
If it followed the original, Seungyeon should have taken the watch. However, because Go Won intervened in the middle, he left that house without even seeing it. Of course, since he was agonizing over whether or not to take the watch, even if he had discovered it, he didn’t know what would have happened.
‘Is it okay like this?’
The status window saying a penalty had been assigned hadn’t appeared yet. Seungyeon looked anxiously at the empty air. Could it be that not taking the watch didn’t affect the penalty?
“Seems like you like alcohol?”
At the question that popped out suddenly, Seungyeon snapped to attention. Go Won, who had been watching at some point, was looking at him while leaning back leisurely. Go Won, who had taken off his leather gloves, carelessly placed the gloves on the seat.
“I smell alcohol.”
“Ah… I just had a few sips before coming here…”
It wasn’t even a lot, he’d only drunk a couple of glasses so he didn’t even get tipsy. But how did he smell that?
Seungyeon glanced around and raised his sleeve to sniff it. Even when he diligently pressed his nose to it, he didn’t feel anything particular. Because he was self-conscious for no reason, he hesitated over whether he should open the window. He asked Go Won hesitantly.
“Does it smell a lot?”
Should I use this excuse to say I’ll get out here? Since he gave me a hint first, wouldn’t it be a fairly valid reason to get off? Hoping for an answer to his question, he didn’t avoid his gaze. Go Won silently observed such a Seungyeon for a long while.
“Not a lot. Just…”
He stopped speaking and suddenly brought his body close without warning. In the moment when a flustered Seungyeon flinched, Go Won’s nose touched Seungyeon’s neckline precariously. Tension surged at the distance where he could even feel his breath.
“When I get this close, I can feel it to this extent? Seems like you drank expensive wine?”
He met his gaze by only rolling his eyes and burst into a chuckle.
“At least your taste in alcohol isn’t cheap.”
Tap tap, he patted Seungyeon’s shoulder and slowly pulled his body back. As if nothing had happened, he crossed his legs and soon fiddled with his phone with a languid expression.
In the uncomfortable silence, only the sound of Seungyeon’s heart pounding crazily circulated secretly inside the car.
***
“Let go of this!”
Jung Sanho yelled angrily. Even though they’d had a total of three fights—once in the car, once in the parking lot, and once upon arrival—there was no sign of exhaustion.
For Yoon Taerim, whose hair was disheveled messily, whose top had gone somewhere, and whose shirt was missing several buttons, it was just absurd. He closed his eyes tightly and steadied his breathing.
After twists and turns, wasn’t it something that he’d safely brought him this far? He couldn’t very well take Jung Sanho to his main house, so he dragged him to his own place, but he wasn’t sure if this was really the right thing to do. Judging from Jung Sanho’s expression, brimming with poison, that guy was already finished preparing to cause a huge incident.
“What do you mean let go! Shut your mouth before I call the police!”
“Call the police! I welcome it too! Who are you to drag me here? Huh? Are you crazy?”
“You’re the crazy one! Why are you really acting like this!”
While getting angry, Yoon Taerim thoroughly locked the door first. If that crazy Jung Sanho ran away like this, when would he catch him again? No matter how much he loved his younger cousin, this was too much even for him.
Yoon Taerim crossed his arms while pushing down the curses that surged up. He glared straight at the huffing Jung Sanho.
“You tell me straight. Are you doing this because you really like Baek Seungyeon, or is it just rebelliousness? If you’re doing this because you want to do it more since I told you not to, just end it here. Sanho, you’re not a kid anymore. If you’re twenty, shouldn’t you be able to take care of yourself?”
“Ha! When have I ever not taken care of myself? I’ve fucking lived my whole life doing well on my own!”
“Don’t curse, let’s talk it out. I really don’t want to fight with you anymore, Sanho.”
Yoon Taerim let out a sigh while sweeping back his hair. Right now they were both too hostile to each other, and their emotions were heightened. In this state, there was no way communication would work.
“First, calm down. Let your mind settle and let’s talk again tomorrow morning. You should come to your senses too-.”
“I’m perfectly sane. What I said earlier was sincere too. That I’ll be the second, me! Whether you talk tomorrow morning or not, my thoughts won’t change. If you want to think it’s rebelliousness, do that. Whatever it is, I need Baek Seungyeon.”
“So why exactly! Why is Baek Seungyeon so important to you like that!”
Because he was gritting his teeth, his voice came out cracking. Even in the face of his hyung’s sharp attitude, Jung Sanho was consistent.
“Just! Just because I like it! You too, Father too, everyone else dates around, so why do I have to have a reason? Are you showing off to me now just because you’re dating Baek Seungyeon first? I’m saying I’ll meet him by mutual consent too! I’ll respect you dating him. I’m saying I’ll respect it!”
He couldn’t tell where to start pointing things out. Yoon Taerim clutched his throbbing head. To the stubborn Jung Sanho who wouldn’t even listen to others, it was obvious that telling him it wouldn’t work anymore wouldn’t have any effect.
Being forceful would only intensify the resentment. While pushing down his surging temper, Yoon Taerim eventually pulled out the last method.
“Okay, fine. So you’re saying you like Baek Seungyeon even if you die soon? Whether he’s hyung’s lover or not, whether Baek Seungyeon two-times or three-times, you’re saying you can handle even that?”
“Yeah.”
The answer popped out without even taking a breath. So you’re really going to be like this, huh?
“Jung Sanho, can you take responsibility for those words? If Baek Seungyeon and I fuck in front of you? Can you accept even that?”
Jung Sanho hesitated for a moment. However, as if he soon steadied his mind, shameless words continued.
“Do it together. We can just do it together.”
