Honestly, it was comfortable being alone. There was no one nagging, and he didn’t need to worry about anyone else’s mood—there was no freedom more complete than this.
“……”
Yet the house that had become empty felt newly lonely. Even more so at night. He’d obtained the conditions for the independent life he’d wanted so much, but Yu-shin was human too, so he became a little lonely.
“Was the bed… always this big?”
The bed he’d been using since the main house couldn’t feel different now. Yu-shin unnecessarily swept the empty space with his hand. Having become accustomed to sleeping together, even when using the bed alone, he ended up lying only on one side.
“…How can there not be a single contact?”
Yu-shin brought over one mandarin duck figurine and placed it beside him. Though not an elaborate form, the wooden bird painted with expensive dyes showed off its luster even in the dim bedroom.
“Did you break your finger or something? You know you haven’t even replied to me?”
Hugging a pillow and lying on his side, he scolded the mandarin duck figurine. He knew it was a childish thing to do. It might look like a crazy person.
“You could just come home to sleep. I’m not used to sleeping alone anymore.”
His inner feelings flowed out in a stream. Speaking them aloud made the loneliness feel even deeper.
“When will you be done being busy?”
The wooden carving that had taken Jun-wan’s place was taciturn like someone and never replied. Yu-shin tapped the flat bird’s beak with his index finger.
“I’m going to sleep. Sleep well too, Jun-wan.”
Yu-shin pulled the blanket up to the tip of his nose. Though covered by a fluffy bed and thick blanket, he strangely felt cold.
It was the first night the bed he monopolized felt lonely.
He woke up to the loud ringing of the phone. Yu-shin groped around and stretched his arm to pick up his phone.
“Mmm… Hello.”
He answered the phone without even opening his eyes. His forehead was buried in the pillow. What time is it even… It felt like the crack of dawn, but the sunlight bursting through beyond the canopy curtain was bright. It was already well past 10 o’clock.
—Were you sleeping until now?
At that moment, a clear voice flowed through his ear. Yu-shin, who had been thoroughly lazy under the blanket, suddenly sat up straight at that voice.
“Jun-wan?”
—I have a favor to ask. Can you go into my study for a moment?
He only stated his business. His voice was rushed like someone who didn’t have time to explain.
Yu-shin awakened his dazed mind and hurriedly left the bedroom. Going down the stairs, he reached the study quickly.
—Open the second drawer of the desk. There should be an opaque plastic container inside. Do you see it?
“Yes.”
—There should be a USB with a black background and red border. Only that one is labeled.
Jun-wan’s desk drawer was perfectly organized, so finding things was a piece of cake. He found the USB without difficulty.
“I found it.”
—Can you send it by courier? I’ll text you the address.
“…Is there nothing else you need besides the USB?”
—If possible, I’d like you to send a few changes of clothes as well.
Jun-wan answered obediently. As if there was no other business, silence continued beyond the speaker.
Yu-shin leaned against the hard chair and pushed back his messy bangs. He’d woken up long ago. Is it because I’m hearing his voice after a while? It felt regrettable to end the call like this.
“…You’re very busy, right?”
—Yes.
The indifferent short answer sounded deliberately cold. Calls with this indifferent man were always like this. Yu-shin’s lips relaxed. Far from feeling disappointed, the fact that he was consistent made him feel strangely good. He continued the call while looking around the study that was as neat as Jun-wan’s personality.
Warm heat rose from the phone. Even though they had nothing more to talk about, they were both enduring the silence.
“Jun-wan.”
—Yes.
When are you coming? Did you eat breakfast? Where are you sleeping? There were mountains of things he wanted to ask, but they just circled around in his mouth. Yu-shin unnecessarily rubbed around his eyes and put different words on the tip of his tongue.
“Is the courier urgent?”
—Just send it before 12 o’clock. I’ll tell them in advance, so you can leave it at the reception desk. Please.
The other side of the speaker became somewhat noisy. He seemed to be moving somewhere. A voice calling for Jun-wan was heard, and he hurriedly hung up without any other greetings.
Yu-shin put down the warm phone on the desk. He fiddled with the USB while lost in thought for a moment. Since he had something to do for once, his lowered eyes quietly sparkled.
An hour later, Chief Manager Min came to the house. As soon as she arrived, she ventilated first, then walked around the quiet house looking for Yu-shin.
The homeowner was holed up in the dressing room. With his arms crossed, looking at the hangers, he seemed rather serious.
“Young master, what are you doing?”
“Packing clothes.”
She didn’t need to ask whose they were. Shirts, dress pants, and ties were pulled out haphazardly. Chief Manager Min crouched in front of the carrier and neatly folded the clothes Yu-shin had taken out.
A sigh poured from above. Yu-shin, looking into someone else’s closet, still had a troubled expression.
“Jun-wan. Doesn’t he have too few clothes?”
The size of his closet compared to mine is striking. Placing them side by side in one space made the difference stand out.
“They’re all just suits.”
“All office workers are like that. And men generally don’t care much about clothes.”
Even so, Yu-shin’s clothes overflowed. Seasonal clothes that couldn’t be hung because there was no space were piled up in storage.
“…I should buy some for Jun-wan when I go shopping soon.”
Yu-shin had carefully observed Jun-wan’s measurements. While searching through the achromatic clothes, he also took out some underwear and socks from the drawer.
Chief Manager Min watched Yu-shin’s behavior quietly with a somewhat dazed face.
“This is the first time I’ve seen the young master take care of someone like this.”
Yu-shin’s lips curved gently. He agreed with Chief Manager Min’s words.
“I’m trying to provide support too.”
No matter how much of a show window couple they were, they had to fulfill basic duties. It wasn’t even a difficult request, and rather, it was a fresh experience, so Yu-shin’s mood was nothing but delightful.
***
Day 8 of emergency duty—as high-intensity work continued day after day, the researchers’ appearances were terrible. Those with nosebleeds appeared one after another, and groaning could be heard everywhere. It wouldn’t be strange if someone collapsed and was carried to the emergency room.
Jun-wan had also been holed up in the lab for five hours. His high level of concentration was unmatched.
It was an experiment he’d already done once. The data had been lost, but the workflow related to the experiment was all stored in his head. To derive the same results, he devoted himself wholeheartedly, even skipping meals.
The automatic door opened and a junior rushed into the lab. The junior rolled his eyes and stood next to Jun-wan. Park Jun-wan during an experiment wasn’t an easy person to approach. The junior swallowed several times.
“Um… Sunbae. Someone came to see you. They said they have something to deliver.”
“Tell them to leave it.”
Jun-wan answered briefly. Even his posture looking into the electron microscope had no disorder.
The junior was burning with anxiety. Normally, he would have followed without question, but his feet wouldn’t move readily.
“Should I really tell them to leave?”
“Kim Seong-a, don’t you see I’m analyzing right now?”
A cold reply came back. Jun-wan was turning the microscope dial even at this moment. Because it needed to be adjusted delicately in micro units, he couldn’t lose concentration.
The junior hesitated and eventually left the lab. And a few minutes later, Choi Seon-jong came in.
Choi Seon-jong also held an important position no less than Jun-wan, the project leader. He’d stayed up all night repeatedly for three days without sleeping, so his face was covered with grime. He yawned until his mouth split while leaning crookedly against the printer.
“Jun-wan, aren’t you hungry?”
“……”
“That little shit. Now he doesn’t even pretend to listen.”
Is ignoring me a one or two-day thing? Choi Seon-jong cracked his stiff neck this way and that while waiting for the printout. Seon-jong’s face looked very displeased, as if the life sustained by coffee and energy drinks was tedious.
“Heartless bastard. At least see the face of someone who came all the way here before sending them back. I was embarrassed.”
“Why should I see a delivery person’s face?”
“What are you talking about? Is Kim Yu-shin doing delivery work?”
Jun-wan’s head snapped up. Choi Seon-jong, standing by the printer, also looked at Jun-wan with a bewildered face. Their talking at cross purposes was absurd.
“Kim Yu-shin?”
“Yeah, you asked him to bring you something, right? Wow, the real thing is no joke. I completely woke up. Seong-a just told me… Hey! Where are you going! What about leaving the sample like that!”
