“—Is it about Kim Junseong?”
“You knew about it?”
—Assemblyman Hwang called. He raised his voice, asking why I’d introduce someone like that and put him in a difficult position.
With that, Kyungrok muttered quietly, “That bastard.” She probably hoped Kyungwoo hadn’t heard. Assemblyman Hwang was a National Assembly member that Taeryoung had raised by providing political funds.
—I told him to go by the law. It’d be troublesome if things blow up badly later, so it’s better for him to snap out of it this time.
Small cases bring bigger cases. To hide big matters, it’s better to resolve small matters honestly. The problem was that while Kyungrok and Kyungwoo viewed Kim Junseong as a trivial small case, Professor Kim didn’t see it that way.
“I suppose you haven’t reached an agreement with Professor Kim?”
—Ignore what that person says. From the beginning, it was that person’s fault for creating a position for such a stupid… naive kid, calling him a nephew. Out of all the other perfectly fine nephews, why care about a guy like that?
“I heard Kim Junseong is the eldest son of the younger generation?”
—There’s a separate eldest daughter. I thought the younger brother would be decent too since the older sister is smart, but that was my mistake.
Kyungwoo said nothing. He felt quite complicated emotions. Perhaps it was the same from Kyungrok’s position.
—Sorry for bothering you with my family affairs. You must be working late. Good work.
“Not really.”
After Kyungrok said they should have a meal together later and said goodbye, she hung up. They weren’t close enough to share detailed inner thoughts, but still, they were in a relationship that had rubbed shoulders closely for a long time.
‘This matter won’t pass smoothly.’
He became quite curious about what kind of punishment Kyungrok would hand down to Professor Kim, who kept causing problems.
Would she pull out the divorce card? It still felt a bit early. But there was nothing bad about preparing. Kyungwoo called Choi Dohyun on his mobile phone.
—Yes, Executive Director-nim.
“About that middle school student I mentioned before.”
—Yes.
“Tell them not to arbitrarily delete the social media account and leave it alone.”
Choi Dohyun was silent, as if his words were unexpected.
—Would that be alright?
Normally he would have considered her habit of raising objections impudent, but for this matter, it was enough to warrant such a response.
“No need to instigate it, just leave it naturally.”
—What should we do about the other family members?
“Handle that side as usual. We need to keep breathing room alive.”
—Understood.
“Dohyun-ssi will be alone this week, will you be okay?”
—No problem. I’ll contact you right away after the discussion is over.
“If any variables come up in the middle, contact me right away. Don’t forget the cake and flowers I ordered.”
—Yes. Don’t worry.
After hearing the reliable answer, Kyungwoo hung up.
“Phew.”
With a long sigh, Kyungwoo leaned his weary body against the large leather chair.
*
After a short flight of about forty minutes, they landed. Jeju Airport was crowded then as it is now. Outside the airport building, it was also bustling with people who had come to spend the weekend. Sunlight was shining but clouds were gathering in the distance.
“The weather isn’t too great.”
It was his first time in Jeju Island since he’d had a huge fight in the car with his last lover and broken up. Since Kyungwoo had told him not to prepare anything, he’d just come with a single small bag containing toiletries and a change of clothes. Just as he was about to contact him, a call came first, as if by magic.
“Where are you?”
—Behind you.
At the end of that long line of vehicles, Jung Kyungwoo could be seen in sunglasses and casual attire. He looked young enough to be believed if someone said he was a college student. Next to him was a German-made SUV. From the license plate that wasn’t an ‘ㅎ’ plate, it seemed to be company or privately owned.
“You waited in person?”
He thought Kyungwoo would send someone. Jaeha loaded his luggage into the back seat. Then, as he naturally headed to the passenger seat, Kyungwoo, who blocked his way, shook his head.
“Driver’s seat.”
“Me?”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, well.”
It was rare for a man to hand over the steering wheel to another person. Some cherished their cars and gave them special meaning as symbols of ego.
“Company car?”
He asked as he got into the driver’s seat. It was simple curiosity.
“No. My car.”
He was even more confused. In any case, since there was no problem whatsoever in taking the wheel, Jaeha started the car.
“Where should I go?”
“It should be entered in the navigation.”
Looking at the navigation’s favorites, a few hotels and what appeared to be restaurant names came up.
“To the first hotel.”
It was still morning, not even noon yet. But if that’s what he wanted, there was no need to refuse. Since it was a holiday, should they order room service today? He struggled to be careful about the side so as not to show that he liked this guy who didn’t have a speck of cuteness.
Around three hours later.
Jaeha had to work hard to hide not pleasure but irritation. Sitting in the hotel’s elaborately designed interior cafe, Jaeha glared at the sweet strawberry cake that wouldn’t even go down in one bite and finally threw down his fork with a thunk.
“What’s the purpose of coming to Jeju Island?”
“Site inspection.”
“To build a hotel?”
“It’s still the exploration stage.”
“What are you building again when it’s saturated on this small piece of land?”
“Budget stays haven’t been franchised yet. Even if we don’t start right away, it’s worth looking around.”
“When did you not pursue premium?”
Jaeha couldn’t hide his irritation. No wonder it was strange from the moment Kyungwoo said in the car that there was no need to bring out the luggage. They stopped by hotels to tour mid-to-low-priced rooms, ordered and ate the most popular menu items at restaurants, then immediately moved to cafes to have cake and coffee. They were already repeating this for the third time.
“How’s the taste of this?”
“It’s greasy and sweet, and I have no room for more.”
“Hmm. We’ll need more plain menu items to suit men’s tastes.”
“That’s a prejudice. Men like sweet things too. Office workers enjoy sweet things regardless of gender or age.”
“True. You used to go for instant mix coffee too.”
Between the two of them, instant mix coffee was somehow a word that was difficult to bring up readily. The tone of the other party deliberately mentioning it wasn’t so kind. As if he’d been patient enough, Kyungwoo straightened his back just like Jaeha.
“I didn’t know you disliked free hotel tours. Why are you annoyed this time?”
“You dragged me to your workplace.”
With that, Jaeha stared at Kyungwoo with disapproving eyes.
“I thought I heard you were free.”
“No matter how free I am, this isn’t right. Conversely, would you like it if I dragged you around on search and seizures? All the way across the sea to Jeju Island?”
Only then did Kyungwoo nod as if he understood Jaeha’s mood.
“Fine. Let’s stop the tour here.”
“Here? How many hotels did you plan?”
“There are still three more left, but you don’t need to worry. Other employees can go see them.”
“No, then from the beginning you could have had employees do it…”
Starting to lose his temper, Jaeha stopped speaking. The moment he saw Kyungwoo sitting in front of him, staring at him intently, he somehow felt like he knew why he’d done this. But the reason Kyungwoo put forward was completely different.
“Hearing about it and seeing it directly are different things. I needed someone to drive anyway. It was a reasonably decent schedule. I didn’t know you’d hate it this much.”
“From next time, explain specifically. If you’d told me in advance, I wouldn’t have had pointless expectations.”
“What expectations?”
At those words, Jaeha became a mute who had eaten honey again. No matter what, in an open space with many people passing by around them, how could he say that because he thought he might try something with him, he’d spent all night exploring various videos and completed an in-depth investigation?
Kyungwoo kept waiting for an answer. A different topic was needed.
“But why don’t you drive? Is it because you’re such a great executive director that you can’t dare hold the steering wheel yourself?”
“I don’t like driving.”
“So you’re going to use me as a driver?”
“If you don’t like it, should I call someone else even now?”
With that, Kyungwoo took out his mobile phone. Jaeha sneakily pulled the car keys that had been placed on the table closer. A faint smile appeared on the other’s lips.
“Since I’ve accommodated your circumstances until now, now match my circumstances. Okay?”
With that, Jaeha stood up from his seat. Kyungwoo frowned slightly, then followed Jaeha out without saying anything.
As soon as they got in the car, he immediately entered the accommodation address. It was near the beach, quite far from where they were now. When Jaeha glanced sideways, Kyungwoo added, “It’s a detached house, so you don’t need to worry about useless things.”
“I was wondering if the bed was big because of your height. I didn’t think as far as sight lines and soundproofing.”
Since the other party wasn’t completely without such thoughts either, he felt pretty good.
“I like quiet places. And both beds will be spacious.”
“Both? Why bother. One is enough.”
A silent gaze poked at Jaeha’s right cheek repeatedly. Tension filled the car along with the silence.
Jaeha, who had been driving along the cool coastal road, stopped the car in front of a convenience store. It was a little past a famous beach, so there weren’t many people.
When he suddenly stopped the car, Kyungwoo threw a glance at Jaeha.
“I forgot something important. I’ll be in the car, so I was hoping you could buy it for me instead.”
He was quite curious how the great Taeryoung Executive Director would react to being asked to run an errand.
Kyungwoo unfastened his seatbelt as if it were nothing. The action was so natural that Jaeha, who had been watching, was actually the one who was inwardly flustered. Kyungwoo, who had just opened the car door, asked as he got out.
“What?”
“You know my size, right? I don’t particularly favor any brand, so pick what you like. Think about what two people will use and get plenty.”
The other party’s brow and eyes, which had been unable to understand what he was talking about, furrowed and then gradually changed to an expression of shock. He, who had already gotten out of the car, glared at Jaeha as if he would kill him.
“But avoid scented ones. They’re disgusting.”
Bang.
With a loud crash, the massive vehicle body shook. A chilling coldness, like medicine taking effect, emanated from the back of Kyungwoo, who had slammed the door shut with enough force to break it. Just like that, he walked straight toward the convenience store.
“It’s rewarding to provoke him.”
Jaeha, leaning against the steering wheel, chuckled.
Jaeha favored imported products. As he looked for the right size, he naturally settled on North American brands. Right after becoming aware of his desire to sleep with Kyungwoo, he’d immediately ordered a large box, and when leaving for here, he’d packed plenty. The reason he’d deliberately stopped the car in front of the convenience store was for trivial amusement.
“What will you buy, Executive Director Jung Kyungwoo?”
Jaeha watched with pleasure the back of the man who had just entered the convenience store.
