“Cha Jaehyun.”
“….”
“Cha Jaehyun!”
“Yes.”
“Where is your mind? Focus.”
October. During study time with the Executive Director, I unconsciously looked at the calendar and fell into thought. I know it, but time flows very quickly. Cha Jaehyun hasn’t even shown his nose in my dreams since that time.
“One week.”
“Pardon?”
“Read through all of it in one week.”
The Chairman’s words about visiting the main house once a week to study and play with Cha Taeha weren’t empty words. Study time with Cha Taehan—it’s a development I never imagined.
When I first entered the Executive Director’s study, the road ahead seemed bleak. As soon as I entered, he threw a massive stack of documents in front of me. The front of the documents had titles like performance analysis reports. Looking at the volume, it definitely wasn’t something that could be done in a short period. Rather than saying I’d do it and getting scolded for not meeting the deadline, I judged it would be better to confess in advance that I didn’t think I could do it.
“It seems difficult to review everything you’ve given me in one week. Please give me a bit more time.”
“Originally it was three days, but I’m giving you seven because I was worried you’d whine like you are now. No more than that.”
“….”
In the end, until now I’ve been swamped with the massive assignments Cha Taehan gives and meeting him once a week. It felt like death going through an exam period without rest for three whole months, but I couldn’t say I couldn’t do it. Because his hard training was a great help. When would I ever have the opportunity to access and analyze such detailed internal data of a company of this scale?
Also, from Cha Taehan’s perspective, it was novel that he gave a one-on-one opportunity to someone he so detested, so I didn’t want to disappoint him. I thought it would be a complete success if Cha Taehan changed his evaluation of Cha Jaehyun.
“You seem comfortable during this time? Don’t let your guard down.”
“I apologize. I’ll be careful.”
“Let’s end it here for today.”
‘Ah…. Crazy.’
While I let my guard down, the Executive Director threw another massive stack of papers in front of me. This is really too much. Does Cha Taehan work like this every day?
“…I’ve worked hard all this time, so can’t I have about a week of rest?”
“Don’t try to climb up. Are you saying you want to slack off?”
“Absolutely not. I really need rest time. Please.”
“You really exaggerate a lot. …Just this once.”
“Thank you.”
“…It’s gradually fading.”
As soon as I got the rest time, he frowned, but it worked anyway. Cha Taehan smiled slightly and brushed back my bangs. Saying it’s faded a lot, he must be talking about seeing the scar.
The thought that came to me while spending time with Cha Taehan is that conversation is important. When I first saw Cha Taehan, the murderous intent toward Cha Jaehyun was so openly felt that it was very uncomfortable, and I was reluctant to even face him. But now, although the feeling of fear remains, it’s not uncomfortable enough to face him.
‘This isn’t bad.’
Coming out of the study, I see the emptily vacant living room. To think the day would come when I’d get used to this large and cold-looking main house. Indeed, humans are animals of adaptation.
* * *
“I didn’t think you’d come. …Thanks.”
“The drama ratings are good. It’s ending soon, so I came to watch.”
I visited Seo Hanryul’s filming set after a long time. After Seo Hanryul opened up his inner feelings, I considered cutting off contact and going into hiding, but it seemed too cruel. I made plans to occasionally accompany his schedule, thinking that if I showed a firm attitude, he might come to his senses.
It’s hard to improve a ruined relationship, but I was confident I could try, yet I don’t know how to coldly reject someone who likes me. All I could do was maintain a businesslike attitude and occasionally see his face to help him carry out his schedule well.
Fortunately, since that time, Seo Hanryul hasn’t directly expressed his inner feelings again. Also, except for occasionally meeting, he doesn’t contact me or ask about my life.
But when we met, the story was different. Just by looking at his eyes, I could tell he had affection for Cha Jaehyun. After noticing it, all the small actions caught my eye, but I pretended not to know. What I can do for him is maintain this level of relationship and then quietly return.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I’m not thinking about anything. You know. I live without much thought.”
“That’s a lie again. I’m going to film.”
“Alright, film well.”
The time I spend alone lost in thought only increases. Seo Hanryul keenly notices this and always asks me what I’m thinking about.
Watching his back as he heads to the filming location reminds me of old thoughts. What would have happened if I hadn’t given in to that ridiculous threat in America and endured? If I’d known he was such a softhearted bastard, I should have ignored it. And I wouldn’t have met Lee Dojun either.
‘Time has already….’
“Open up.”
Quite a bit of time must have passed while I was briefly lost in thought. Seo Hanryul knocks on the window from outside.
“Finished already?”
“Already? An hour has passed.”
“···.”
“How was I?”
How could I properly see someone else’s acting from a car parked quite far from the filming location? Whether he’s self-centered, immature, or just saying anything—laughter came out at his stupid question.
“Can I see your face from here?”
“Wasn’t I cool?”
“Your build is as big as a mountain, so don’t say things like that. It’s not like you ate something wrong.”
“When you’re nice to me, you ask what I ate wrong. So you must be nice to others when you eat something wrong. Then I should feed you something weird. Then you’ll be nice to me too.”
“Get lost.”
In a moment of carelessness, he pushes his face in front of me, taps my cheek, and makes an incomprehensible smile. It’s a smile that makes even the person watching feel strange, so I strongly pushed his shoulder away.
“We’re both getting older day by day, so let’s be more mature now.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. When you suddenly push your face in, anyone would….”
“Let’s speak more nicely.”
“….”
It’s too much to continue being alone with this bastard in a cramped car. He’s not just expressing it with his mouth—he’s showing with his whole body that he likes Cha Jaehyun.
“Ha, forget it. Rest well by yourself.”
“Where are you going?”
If I keep staying in a cramped space with that fox-like bastard, something will happen. Leaving him in the car, I came out with a sigh.
‘This will end soon too.’
My heart is troubled. Has the real Cha Jaehyun come to his senses? He shouldn’t do weird things to Seo Hanryul again. If that softhearted bastard sees Cha Jaehyun wavering back and forth, it’s obvious he’ll be hurt.
It’s not something to worry about, but I couldn’t help worrying. As someone who stayed by his side for a long time, I know Seo Hanryul is more tender-hearted than he seems.
“Ha…. It’s an unnecessary worry.”
It’s none of my business. I’m worried because of his immature behavior.
“Cha Jaehyun-ssi, it’s been a while. What’s so hard for you again?”
I went to a secluded place and was looking at the sky that had turned completely dark when a man’s voice broke the quiet peace.
Lee Dojun.
Lee Dojun came.
‘Don’t you have anything to do?’
The reason he came all the way here is obvious. He probably came to torment me because he’s bored.
“What is it?”
“We meet after a long time and you’re making me feel awkward.”
“Don’t call my name. It’s annoying.”
“My lifesaver is making me quite anxious.”
Right. Lifesaver. A nice-sounding hollow word that’s quite laughable coming from Lee Dojun’s mouth. After being discharged from the hospital, Lee Dojun didn’t engage in shameless behavior like calling me to his house every weekend to torment me, as if trying to treat me as his lifesaver.
Yes, he was quiet for a while. However, one thing that bothered me was that he didn’t give clear statements like he’d stop the threats or delete all the photos. It was an unstable peace that could break at any time.
But the peaceful period lasted quite longer than expected, and I stayed quiet thinking that if I endured quietly like this, I could return. Lee Dojun was being quiet on his end, so there was no need for me to step forward first or act rashly.
It also meant telling Cha Jaehyun to come back and get his act together, and I intended to pass on the bomb called Lee Dojun and leave. In the end, that bastard appeared before my eyes again.
