What kind of seasoning did he use, and how?
Looking at Wonyoung, whose soul had left him, Heegang didn’t explain further and stroked his head.
“Then I’ll be going. You go home. I’ll contact you if I find that gangster or anything.”
“……Okay. But don’t forget to be careful.”
“Yeah.”
And so, parting with Heegang with a somewhat anxious heart, Wonyoung headed straight to Siyeon’s house. Soon, as he got off the elevator, he ran toward the unit number Heegang had told him as soon as he saw the front door.
Bang bang bang!
“Siyeon-ah! Ki Siyeon! Are you in there? It’s me, Rae! Narae!”
Wonyoung knocked on the officetel door and desperately called for Siyeon, but there was no answer from inside.
‘He’s not here either?’
Should I call Heegang first? As Wonyoung was contemplating, an unexpected figure appeared.
“Who are you?”
Flashy tattoos, a heavy build, a shining bald head. At the appearance of a man who clearly seemed deeply immersed in organized crime, Wonyoung froze.
“U-uh, well…… Isn’t this Siyeon’s house…….”
“Are you looking for Siyeon-hyungnim?”
Siyeon is hyung? To you? While quietly shocked inside at the unbelievable fact, Wonyoung readily answered.
“Yes, I can’t get in touch with Siyeon. Nothing’s wrong, right? He’s okay, right?”
“Hmm, well…… If he’s not home, he’s probably at the club. I’ll guide you for now. Let’s go.”
“What?”
Wonyoung hesitated in confusion. Natural suspicion arose at the unexpected kindness. Perhaps the man noticed that suspicion too, as he said awkwardly.
“Well…… You’re really pretty.”
“Huh?”
“I thought you must be hyungnim’s ‘this.'”
He said that while wiggling his pinky finger. Wonyoung gaped. His face grew hot.
“W-we’re not like that, we’re friends!”
“Hey, I know everything. Hyungnim has been so happy lately. He’s never mentioned it once in case it would trouble sister-in-law, but as a close associate, I know there’s someone precious to hyungnim.”
Sister-in-law…….
As Wonyoung quietly held his head, the bald subordinate sighed and complained.
“But lately he’s been…… not in good shape. I was just worrying about what to do. There’s nothing I can do for hyungnim…….”
He made a sad expression, then suddenly bent his waist 90 degrees and bowed deeply.
“So please help our hyungnim, sister-in-law!”
“…….”
Of course, he wasn’t the sister-in-law, but this subordinate’s feelings seemed sincere. Above all, Wonyoung, whose priority was worry for Siyeon, had no time to hesitate further.
“Alright, let’s go quickly.”
Wonyoung, who had briefly thought about contacting Heegang, shook his head. He’d already received enough help, and he judged he couldn’t make Heegang follow Taerim’s precedent of suffering between him and Siyeon before.
The bald subordinate bowed his head with a relieved expression at Wonyoung’s consent.
“Thank you so much, sister-in-law!”
“……Yes…….”
And so, having unintentionally become the sister-in-law, Wonyoung followed his subordinate to find Siyeon. Before long, the place they arrived at was an entertainment district lined with bars. It was clearly a place where gangsters would be in control.
“Here, this way.”
Among them, the subordinate who led Wonyoung to a club with a large sign said that and went down the stairs leading underground. Fortunately, perhaps because it was broad daylight, there were no customers, but Wonyoung, who had never been to such a place in his life, naturally shrank.
Soon, someone who seemed to be a club employee recognized the subordinate and acknowledged him.
“Ah, you’re here.”
“Is Siyeon-hyungnim here?”
“Yes, in the inner room…….”
The subordinate who nodded moved his steps again. Wonyoung also nervously followed behind him with quick steps.
Soon, the subordinate who arrived in front of a room door knocked on it.
“Hyungnim, it’s me, Junseok.”
There was no answer from inside, but he didn’t mind and said ‘I’m coming in’ before opening the door. As soon as the door opened, Wonyoung frowned at the terrible smell of alcohol that wafted out.
“Hyungnim. I brought hangover remedy and some things to eat.”
The subordinate said while taking out various items from the bag he’d brought and placing them on the table. On the table, countless alcohol bottles were lined up—too many to count.
Wonyoung hesitantly stepped into the dim room vibrating with the smell of alcohol.
And he was shocked when he discovered Siyeon sitting sprawled on the long sofa, drunk, and approached.
“……Siyeon-ah?”
“Rae, hyung……?”
Siyeon’s pretty face was a complete mess. He was badly injured as if he’d been in a fight somewhere, his usually neat hair was disheveled, and above all, a terrible smell of alcohol emanated from him.
“Siyeon-ah!”
“How is hyung here…….”
Siyeon, who also looked greatly surprised upon seeing Wonyoung, soon directed a fierce gaze toward his subordinate.
“What the hell, you bastard. Are you crazy? Why did you bring hyung all the way here!”
“I-I’m sorry!”
“Siyeon-ah, it’s a misunderstanding. I said I’d come.”
Wonyoung, flustered by Siyeon’s cold reaction, tried to stop him, but Siyeon swatted away Wonyoung’s hand.
“Leave.”
“…….”
“I said leave.”
Wonyoung’s heart was scratched by the cold appearance Siyeon had never shown him before. However, that didn’t mean he had even the slightest intention of giving up.
“What’s wrong with you? What happened? Suddenly cutting off contact, not appearing. Do you even know how worried I was?”
“Who asked you to worry? I don’t need that, and I’m not worthy of it either.”
“Why? What’s making you like this? Can’t I help? I’ll do something, even just cook rice for you. So don’t be here like this…….”
“Get lost, please!”
Wonyoung, who had been trying to pull Siyeon’s hand, was pushed back by strong force. The back of his hand that Siyeon hit hurt.
“Hyungnim!”
The subordinate who rushed over at the serious situation stood blocking Wonyoung’s path. Wonyoung stood stupidly for a moment.
“Hyungnim, why are you even doing this to sister-in-law……!”
[Siyeon’s appearance, which you’re seeing for the first time, is too scary. Rae’s status has become ‘Fear.’ Trembling makes it hard to speak easily.]
[Status: Scared o(><；)oo]
In truth, Wonyoung wasn’t scared of Siyeon. This damn complicated and twisted emotion couldn’t possibly be just fear. Worry, hurt, betrayal, and doubt.
Why?
‘Why is Ki Siyeon like this?’
While he too has a hurt expression. No, while he has an even more deeply hurt expression, why?
“Siyeon, Siyeon-ah.”
Wonyoung wanted to go to Siyeon, but his body in fear status wouldn’t listen. That appearance looked even more frightened to others’ eyes.
“Hyungnim, I’ll escort sister-in-law out first. I’m sorry for doing something unnecessary.”
“N-no, I…….”
“Now isn’t the time.”
Siyeon wasn’t looking at him anymore. He just turned his body as if uninterested and was pouring alcohol into a new glass.
“Let’s go. If you touch hyungnim at a time like this, bloodshed is inevitable.”
“But…….”
“Hurry. If sister-in-law gets hurt, hyungnim will regret it more later.”
Led by the subordinate’s persuasion and force, Wonyoung stumbled out of the room. Walking through the dim corridor, he was lost in dazed thought.
Is leaving like this the right thing to do?
Is this the way to hurt Ki Siyeon the least?
A phrase from not so long ago flashed through the mind of hesitating Wonyoung.
―But right now, I don’t want to believe you.
He had been so distressed by Taerim’s words that he collapsed. Then what should I have done? How could I have not disappointed Kyung Taerim? He had regretted it.
‘Not this time.’
Humans are animals that grow. Even if Narae didn’t, Heo Wonyoung did.
Wonyoung turned around right there and headed back to the room where Siyeon was. When Wonyoung suddenly barged in, Siyeon’s flustered gaze soon became sharp.
“I’m pretty sure I told you to get lost. Just because I follow along calling you hyung, hyung, do you really think you’re my older brother?”
Look, you’re stabbing yourself while stabbing me.
Wonyoung didn’t look away this time from Siyeon’s painfully contorted expression.
[You feel fear toward Siyeon. Your status has become ‘Extreme Fear.’]
[Your feet won’t easily move.]
[Status: Too scared ε=ε=ε=┏(゜ロ゜;)┛]
Wonyoung had a motto. Though it had long been useless, today seemed like a day to recall that motto.
Go, Heo Wonyoung.
‘Reason! Overcomes! Emotion!’
[Due to ‘Extreme Fear’ status, your feet won’t easily move.]
[Due to ‘Extreme Fear’ status, your feet won’t easily move.]
[Due to ‘Extreme Fear’ status, your feet won’t easily move.]
Warning windows appeared blocking his vision to the point that each time Wonyoung took a step. Wonyoung waved his arms to dismiss the warning windows while shouting his motto internally.
“S-Siyeon-ah.”
At Wonyoung’s unintentionally trembling voice, Siyeon turned his gaze away even more and said coldly.
“Don’t come. If you come, I’ll get angry. More severely than before.”
“…….”
[You feel fear toward Siyeon. Your status has become ‘Very Extreme Fear.’]
‘No, I’m not scared at all! Narae! Hey!’
Cowardly and timid Narae. But he wasn’t Narae. He knew that what Siyeon liked was Narae, but what was needed now was rational Heo Wonyoung.
And the one who cherished Siyeon like this wasn’t Narae, but Heo Wonyoung.
Someone with pain similar to his own. A person who is actually more delicate and kind than anyone. A person who worries about foolish Narae more than anyone in the world.
“Siyeon-ah. Ki Siyeon.”
“I said don’t come! Hyung, I’m……!”
Wonyoung extended his willfully trembling fingertips. His complexion became paler than ever, but his hand drew close enough to reach Siyeon.
