“What are you staring at like that?”
“……The clothes look good on you.”
“I thought you only had ambition for positions, but you have material desires too. It’s custom-made, so I won’t do things like take it off and give it to you.”
Jung Kyungwoo frowned, misunderstanding it as a vulgar request. Seeing his lips twist as well, he seemed to be inwardly disgusted.
“Please don’t misunderstand. That wasn’t what I meant. I just… it suits you well.”
At the questioning look asking what kind of trick this was, Jaeha became awkward instead. Since his interest in Jung Kyungwoo wasn’t based on entirely upright grounds, the other’s quiet interrogation wasn’t entirely wrong either.
“It’s a pure compliment.”
“A pure intention. I’ll believe you this once.”
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Jung Kyungwoo’s face looked flushed as he said that.
Could it really be this awkward between two people who until recently had been trying to see each other’s blood? The damn world never turned out as planned, and there was always today different from yesterday, and a maddening future waiting. Still, Jung Kyungwoo would probably agree that this was indeed a strange change.
Lacking confidence to overcome the odd atmosphere with just a few glasses of soju, Jaeha gulped down the wine.
He knew it was unsophisticated to drink it like beer, but he couldn’t very well request, ‘Can I get a glass for mixing soju and beer here!’
Perhaps Jung Kyungwoo also sensed the strangely turning table situation, as he too drank the remaining wine. In doing so, both their hands simultaneously reached for the wine bottle.
It was a table for exactly two people, so everything was within easy reach. Moreover, Jaeha had exceptionally long limbs. It was natural for their hands to overlap on top of the wine bottle.
Oops.
Inside, he thought it was a mistake. But it would also be strange to withdraw his hand in shock as if electricity had passed between two men.
“Excuse me.”
Jaeha withdrew his hand as naturally as possible while obediently apologizing.
As if that was a signal, Jung Kyungwoo, who had flinched, withdrew his hand somewhat roughly. In the process, their crossed fingers and nails bumped slightly.
To show his dislike so openly. His gaze naturally went to him. Jung Kyungwoo, who had been directly facing this way with consistently arrogant eyes, looked away first.
“Prosecutor Seo should pour first.”
His hand that had touched was already withdrawn to the edge of the table. His neatly trimmed nails lightly scratched the white cloth covering the table.
He knew the feeling of those nails scratching the hem of the dress shirt wrapping his chest. For a moment, the area around his pectoral muscles tingled.
‘They say he’s the idol of the business world. He does have a talent for enchanting people.’
Jaeha inwardly scoffed. He had heard that celebrities, regardless of gender, make people tremble.
Jung Kyungwoo was a business world star in his own right. He was famous not only for his drama-like origins but also for his appearance.
He was actually less famous precisely because he was a direct descendant of a chaebol family. If he had been a collateral branch member removed from the succession structure, he would have already received hundreds of love calls from the entertainment industry.
Before filling his own glass, Jaeha filled Jung Kyungwoo’s glass first. The other observed Jaeha with a strange gaze.
“This is a glass from me.”
Saying so, he raised his glass. After hesitating briefly, Jung Kyungwoo eventually raised his glass as well. The clear sound of glass rang out again.
Jaeha looked at Jung Kyungwoo as he tilted his glass. He was purely curious about what he looked like drinking. Perhaps taking it as a challenge, Jung Kyungwoo met his gaze without backing down.
The process of the smooth neck rising between the blade-like shirt collar swallowing the wine was clearly visible. His Adam’s apple didn’t protrude as fiercely as Jaeha’s, but was as graceful as if drawn by a calligrapher in one stroke.
‘He really would have turned the country upside down if he had become an actor or idol.’
He put the half-drunk wine glass on the table. Meanwhile, Jung Kyungwoo had completely emptied quite a large amount and then put down his empty glass almost throwing it on the table.
Wiping his lips with a white napkin, he said with a completely distorted expression, seemingly uncomfortable about something.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Standing up abruptly, he disappeared somewhere behind the dense leaves of the plants. Meanwhile, a staff member approached.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Not really. Oh, where’s the restroom?”
“Over there.”
The staff member pointed exactly in the direction where Jung Kyungwoo had disappeared. He thought about waiting, but thinking it wasn’t something to be so conscious about, Jaeha also stood up from his seat.
Entering the restroom entrance decorated with marble, he spotted a back figure leaning against the wall in front of a sink finished in gold. It was Jung Kyungwoo. He was panting as if short of breath.
“Are you alright?”
A look of dismay rose on Jung Kyungwoo’s face, startled by Jaeha’s appearance.
“I’m fine.”
Jung Kyungwoo, who refused the extended hand, tried to straighten his body. However, before even reaching the sink one step ahead, he swayed. Jaeha supported his chest with one hand.
“Fuck.”
A curse burst from the other’s neat lips. When he was rejected with such disgust despite trying to help, Jaeha didn’t feel good either.
“I don’t know what drug it is… I believe it’s not narcotics, but. In any case, doing that will kill you someday.”
“Drugs?”
Jung Kyungwoo laughed. He snorted while trying to shake off Jaeha’s hand.
“Drugs, you say. Well, if someone who doesn’t know sees it, it might look that way. But it has nothing to do with that, so don’t imagine things unnecessarily.”
“Then why are you like this?”
“It’s my business, so mind your own. And don’t casually drop formalities.”
At another time, the complaint about dropping formalities might have sounded cute. But not now.
“I’m also in the same boat, so I have to worry about you. How would I know if it’s a rotten ship that will sink in an instant due to drug corruption when I’ve barely caught it?”
“If I say it’s not, then it’s not. And whether it’s a rotten ship or whatever, it’s not for you to worry about. Even if drugs blow up, you think we can’t stop it?”
“Taeryoung will stop it. But it’s true you’ll fall out of the Chairman’s favor.”
“Where are you spouting bullshit? Prosecutor Seo Jaeha. You seem to think you’ve beaten me just because I transferred you to the Special Division as you said.”
Saying so, Jung Kyungwoo pushed Jaeha’s chest with his forearm.
“Stop your delusions. Someone like you is just a replaceable part. When I’m treating you well, don’t act out and know your place and station.”
“Is that really so? I think you’re the one who needs to know their place and station, not me.”
Jaeha took out his mobile phone. Then, while keeping his gaze fixed on Jung Kyungwoo, he unlocked it with just hand movements. Glancing at the screen that lit up brightly, he played a video he had filmed that day.
In the video that had almost no sound despite not being on mute, the entire body of a man wearing only thin underwear continued endlessly.
“……?!”
Jung Kyungwoo’s gaze fixed on the small screen. His already pale complexion turned white as if it had been dipped in bleach.
“This… this is?”
“Look carefully. Who the protagonist is.”
The video that had carefully scanned the entire body to secure detailed evidence looked at first glance like a voyeur’s collection.
“Myeongbu Hotel, Room 416.”
As he drove in the wedge, Jung Kyungwoo’s pupils, looking like a corpse beyond just drained of blood, shook. The red tongue positioned inside his parted lips convulsed.
“How did you get this?”
“When someone collapses right in front of me, I can’t just leave.”
“You back then?”
Jung Kyungwoo’s neat face, which had paused as if realizing something, distorted mercilessly. The panting appearance disappeared completely and suddenly, strength surging from somewhere, he grabbed Jaeha’s collar with powerful force.
“You bastard, you want to die?”
Murderous intent flashed from his light-colored eyes. Jaeha, whose necktie and jacket were grabbed at once, had to bend his upper body close following the grip. The hand holding the mobile phone also moved closer to Jung Kyungwoo.
“Hand it over.”
The hand that had been gripping the suit aimed for the mobile phone.
“That won’t do.”
Even with his collar grabbed, there was an overwhelming reach difference. When it would be insufficient even with both hands, it was impossible for Jung Kyungwoo, who held Jaeha’s collar, to snatch the mobile phone Jaeha held high up with just one arm.
“Calm down, Executive Director Jung Kyungwoo.”
“You son of a bitch!”
The excited Jung Kyungwoo shouted loudly. Struggling, he tried to strike Jaeha’s shin with his shoe.
Like a boxing player, Jaeha hugged the rampaging opponent to restrain him while pushing him close against the wall.
Thud.
It rang loudly as they collided, as if there was a partition wall behind the marble.
“Customer? Are you alright?”
A staff member asked from outside.
“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”
Jaeha answered, but the staff member didn’t leave and stuck his face inside the restroom.
“If you need any help.”
“Get lost.”
Jung Kyungwoo, who didn’t let go of the collar until the end, ordered while glaring at Jaeha.
“My apologies.”
The staff member hurried away.
“Chaebol power is nice. They didn’t listen even when a prosecutor spoke.”
“Who would know you’re a prosecutor when you’re a pervert blackmailing with hidden camera footage?”
“Hidden camera?”
Thinking about it, it wasn’t wrong. But it wasn’t like he was caught off guard either.
“Maybe it was a mistake not to arrest you as a criminal caught in the act at the scene according to principle.”
“……”
At those words, Jung Kyungwoo ground his teeth with the momentum of wanting to kill Jaeha right now if he could.
“You think I’ll leave you alone?”
“If it’s exposed, you’ll kill me, but you won’t die alone. If a video of the Taeryoung heir doing drugs in broad daylight and rolling around naked in an old hotel spreads all over various forums……”
Jaeha brought his lips to Jung Kyungwoo’s ear, who was fuming.
“What would happen?”
Breath carrying the scent of wine leaked out from between his lips asking softly. Then the neat earlobe flinched.
“Crazy… son of a bitch.”
Facing the distorted face, destructive exhilaration slowly raised its head from deep within his insides. Jaeha hadn’t realized he could feel such perverted pleasure.
The heat emanating from the two tightly pressed bodies merged. The pleasure mixed with rough anger and disgust had already excited Jaeha.
The other was also becoming increasingly excited. His white face gradually turned pale and then haggard. The strength drained from the grip holding Jaeha’s collar. Meanwhile, his breathing became rougher.
“Hey?”
“Heo-eok! Heo-eok! Heo-eok!”
When he slowly separated the body he had been pushing, Jung Kyungwoo’s upper body tilted forward smoothly.
“Huk! Heo-eok! Heo-eok!”
As if unable to breathe, he tried to tear off his own necktie and shirt with trembling hands.
“Get a grip.”
Startled, Jaeha supported him as he went limp. When he supported his back, Jung Kyungwoo’s upper body fell backward. His breath, going limp like a water-soaked doll, gradually became thinner while his eyes simultaneously closed smoothly.
