He returned to the company and handled work again. While occasionally loosening his stiff shoulders and neck, he realized he’d been neglecting exercise lately. It was hard to make time to go to the fitness center. Most of his spare time was invested in excessive work, and the rest……
‘Is it Seo Jaeha?’
The price of spending a night with him in Jeju Island was very high. For several days, his poor condition disrupted his work. Conversely, the emotional satisfaction was quite great. Still, it wasn’t desirable for it to interfere with work. A week had already flown by in the meantime.
‘It must be afternoon work hours.’
He’d never called without a particular reason. There was still time until the next appointment. He stared at the mobile phone on his desk, then turned his eyes back to the approval documents.
Drrrrrrr.
Along with vibration, full-color graphics appeared on the black screen. The caller displayed in default font was ‘Seo Jaeha.’
‘They say a gentleman can’t do things like this.’
The corners of his mouth rose slightly.
“Yes.”
—Are you busy?
“Yeah.”
—I’ll call later then.
“Say it now.”
He answered while signing the corner of a document with his pen.
—Do you have time?
“Today?”
—Today would be best.
“Well. Depending on the matter, I might have spare time.”
Kyungwoo, who lightly tossed the pen, stretched his bent back straight and leaned against the chair. The luxury leather chair creaked as it supported his weight. As his toes moved, the chair turned slightly backward.
—A matter, huh. It’s a bit awkward to talk about over the phone during work hours. It’s quite adult-rated.
The lukewarm voice had a bit of laughter in it. The tip of his luxury handmade shoes tapped the office floor. Kyungwoo didn’t realize his smile had deepened.
“Businessmen don’t move without prior information.”
—Before mobilizing public power, please consider the circumstances of this tight-fisted civil servant too.
“How wicked, our Prosecutor Seo.”
—Would I be the only one, Executive Director Jung? Once in a while, grease up your ‘wicked prosecutor’ puppy, won’t you?
“If you put it that way. I’ll contact you later and come to your side.”
—I’ll wait.
That common expression became the line of the century when it came through Seo Jaeha’s mouth. Thinking that he himself was funny for thinking such things, Kyungwoo ended the call in a good mood.
After finishing urgent work, he left work. As he crossed the lobby, Dohyun was waiting with the car at the company entrance.
He placed his briefcase in the back seat and closed the car door.
“Leave work first today. I’ll take the car.”
“Ah, yes.”
Without much comment, Dohyun held out the smart key.
“See you tomorrow morning.”
“Yes. Please get home safely.”
Dohyun, who quickly wiped away her unusually awkward attitude, greeted him energetically. Kyungwoo, who got into the driver’s seat, raised his hand to show it, then started off.
He didn’t like driving. It was because of panic shocks that came like seizures from time to time. When he was in the western United States, the drivers were relatively relaxed and there wasn’t much traffic, so there wasn’t much hindrance to driving, but here was different.
There had been several minor contact accidents because of violent drivers who raced through the city center as if competing with honking at the drop of a hat. Before a major accident occurred, he handed over the steering wheel to Dohyun, whom he’d hired after seeing her security guard resume at just the right time.
Since meeting Dohyun, the times he’d driven himself could be counted on one hand. Dohyun was with him most of the time unless there was urgent business late at night. Today’s situation would seem quite unexpected to Dohyun.
Of course, it was new to him too.
Although it was a car he’d ridden in for several years, holding the steering wheel was still awkward. Thanks to Dohyun’s meticulous management, the wheel’s feel was good.
Not welcoming the outside noise, he unconsciously pressed the radio button. Noisy talking continued. When he pressed it a few more times, New York-style jazz came on.
While crossing the huge river that cut through the city center, he saw the twilight emitted by the setting sun. Beyond the huge bridges overlapping at regular intervals, a red ball of fire cast golden joy.
Silver trains passing by with clanking sounds. City buses with strong colors. Shiny passenger cars. Everything was dyed the same color.
‘It’s pretty.’
He thought it was beautiful for the first time. He fully understood the feelings of the residents of this city who took pride in their night view. To Kyungwoo’s internal folder toward the city that had been filled only with terrible memories, tiresome daily life, and cold dining tables, one more item called romantic twilight was added. And also the item called Seo Jaeha, which had been long until now and would be longer in the future.
He picked up Jaeha at the alley entrance one block away from the Central District Prosecutors’ Office. Jaeha, who sat in the passenger seat, opened his mouth while fastening his seatbelt.
“What happened to Choi Dohyun, and why are you holding the steering wheel yourself?”
“I don’t like bringing a driver secretary for personal matters. I drove before too.”
He felt a gaze asking when.
“By the riverside.”
“Ah, that time.”
Jaeha, recalling that time when they were trying to kill each other, turned his gaze out the window as if awkward. Thick night was already falling on the city where twilight had passed. Then suddenly, Jaeha threw his gaze back at Kyungwoo as if pleased.
“I cursed because you disappeared after I came out of the convenience store with painkillers.”
“Why painkillers?”
“Because you said it hurt.”
“Do you remember who made it that way while playing the gentleman?”
“No, if you think about it.”
“If you think about it?”
When he shot back sharply, Jaeha seemed at a loss for words and stroked his lips with his hand. Vitality was further added to the lips that were sleekly shaped without excess.
He thought he should have kissed him first before starting. It was ambiguous to catch that timing in the middle of the road. It would be good to be caught at a long signal. Unluckily today, the signal luck was too good.
“How is it these days?”
“What?”
He couldn’t catch the intention of the question at all.
“I don’t think I’ve seen seizure symptoms since then.”
“Hmm.”
It was an unexpected observation. Come to think of it, there hadn’t been any sudden heart palpitations or hyperventilation symptoms recently. The medicine Joan prescribed wasn’t taken in advance but when symptoms appeared, so a lot of medicine remained as well.
“I’m doing okay. But why are you suddenly talking about that?”
“In case you collapse again because of me.”
“How very grateful.”
He snorted half in ridicule, half in admiration. He thought it was light nonsense, but Jaeha came out unexpectedly seriously.
“I’m not joking. From now on, if you’re not feeling well, tell me right away.”
“If you don’t rampage like a beast, it won’t happen.”
“That’s……”
Jaeha, who trailed off, suddenly became quiet. He, who had been looking at the passing roadside, quietly concluded the sentence with “That’s right.”
“You’re sentimental today. Why are you being like this, making it hard to adapt?”
“There are times like this. From now on, I’ll prioritize your condition, so tell me if there are any lacking parts.”
“This is getting scary.”
Kyungwoo, who stopped at a signal, threw a glance at Jaeha.
‘Why is he being so sticky? Unsettlingly so.’
The cool energy that had been attached to his spine since morning was supposed to end with the meeting at Hwaryeon, but it wasn’t.
“It’s hard to keep in step, so take it easy. Stop the disgusting act and be like usual.”
“Cold bastard.”
With that, Jaeha wrinkled his eyes. He looked a little hurt. The bastard’s condition was strange today.
“If my rhythm is difficult, then you can beat the drum and play the janggu yourself.”
The sarcastic tone was finally like Seo Jaeha.
“Then shall we start with a meal today? I skipped lunch roughly, so I’m hungry.”
“Do as you please.”
“Burgers are okay, right?”
At the question, Jaeha showed no particular objection. A franchise company he’d often eaten at in America had recently opened stores domestically. Through drive-in service, he ordered two sets of burgers he frequently ate for takeout.
“But why burgers all of a sudden?”
“It’s my soul food.”
“Soul food?”
“Food that relieves mental stress. My luck has been rough since this afternoon.”
“Ah, if you compare it to an ordinary office worker, it’s like soju and gopchang.”
He received two cups and a paper bag from which appetizing burger and fry smells wafted up, and passed them to Jaeha in the next seat.
“Beer would be nice, but I ordered drinks since I don’t know who’ll drive afterward.”
“It’s fine. But are we going to eat here? Or somewhere else?”
“Do you have a place to recommend?”
Jaeha, who thought for a moment, said, “If we go east a bit, there’s a drive-in theater. Let’s go there,” and bent down to operate the car navigation.
The navigation pointed to near a sports park where large gymnasiums lined up.
“I didn’t know there was something like this here.”
“Surprisingly many people don’t know. It’s a good date course, but I wonder why they don’t know.”
Before tackling the expression “date,” another question popped out first.
“I suppose you’ve dated here a lot?”
“I’m an office worker who can’t go far. I used it often because I could go anytime as long as I had a car.”
With that, Jaeha added, “It’s also good for maintaining privacy while watching a movie.” It seemed odd why privacy should be maintained while watching a movie, but the answer came naturally.
Dark night. Inside a soundproof car. Car speakers firing movie sound effects. Without a security alarm, a perfectly fine car would shake as if there was an earthquake.
When he imagined Seo Jaeha getting heated with an unknown partner, the back of his neck stiffened. In an instant, ignoring the navigation’s guidance, Kyungwoo headed to a nearby hotel.
“Where are you suddenly going?”
“I changed my mind. Let’s take care of other business before eating.”
Jaeha, who discovered the famous hotel chain name shining with indirect lighting in the distance, stroked his lips with his hand again. This time he was trying to suppress spreading laughter.
“You’re capricious, Executive Director Jung.”
“Didn’t I say today you’d dance to my rhythm? Follow along quietly.”
“Did I have a choice?”
With that, Jaeha slightly spread his two hands that weren’t holding anything. From the beginning, Kyungwoo was the one holding the steering wheel today.
Kyungwoo intended to fully enjoy that advantage.
