# Chapter 61
Despite his best efforts to jump up and down, Jaei’s frantic movements had no effect whatsoever on clearing up Doha’s misunderstanding. Doha caught Jaei mid-air as he leaped up lightly, pulling him into his arms.
To be fair, Jaei had successfully completed all the dance scenes while spending nights with Doha. However, this was only possible because Doha meticulously checked the filming schedule to adjust when they slept together, made sure not to put too much strain on Jaei’s body, and acted as Jaei’s personal palanquin, carrying him around so his feet wouldn’t touch the ground.
Probably no one would believe this, but Doha was the kind of person who not only picked out fish bones but also carefully removed chicken meat from the bone to place into Jaei’s mouth. He would let hot noodles like kalguksu, jajangmyeon, jjamppong, and ramyeon cool down before feeding them to Jaei. Washing Jaei’s hair and lathering soap on his body was also Doha’s responsibility. When doing dishes or cleaning, he would carry Jaei on his back like a baby koala. This was how Doha resolved the different energy level issues between Ryu Doha and Lee Jaei.
Thanks to Doha, who channeled his excess energy into other methods of showing love, Jaei had recently been using his hands and feet much less frequently at home. Instead, he spent time developing his brain through games and small tools to prevent dementia and activate his brain cells.
Anyway, with Doha being tall, having large hands, large feet, big eyes, and every body part being large except for his face size, and Jaei being able to showcase magnificent turns and jumps even after rolling through space and back, it was only natural that jumping up and down right now would be of absolutely no help in clearing up Doha’s misunderstanding.
Ready to become a murderer, Doha grabbed the back of Jaei’s head and his buttocks, and sorrowfully gave his final greeting.
“I guess I’m poison to Jaei after all. I wanted to deny it until the end. This time, I’ll get rid of myself directly.”
In response to Doha’s extreme decision, Jaei tightly held the foolish peach’s head to his chest and whispered softly into his ear.
“You idiot, I told you my butt is fine. I’ll let you check for yourself when we’re alone. I didn’t even let Hong Duyoung’s fingertips touch my bare skin.”
Although he had been perfectly prepared to become a murderer, Doha temporarily held back his murderous intent to avoid interfering with official duties. Only after hearing Jaei’s direct explanation did he slightly remove the murderous intent from his large eyes.
When Doha arrived at this apartment with the police after taking the elevator up, the first thing he witnessed was Hong Duyoung in a disheveled state. Doha hadn’t rushed forward and had stepped back behind the police, but being so tall, he had directly witnessed Hong Duyoung’s unseemly state over the heads of the two police officers blocking the entrance.
Of course, he also heard Hong Duyoung shouting loudly, “What crime is it to be naked and making love with my partner in my own home?” Meanwhile, Jaei had run out with his shirt buttons undone and cried miserably in his arms. It felt like his body was being split in half.
“Jaei, I was actually planning to kill Hong Duyoung and then return to the afterlife. That’s why I told you not to wait for me to be released.”
Belatedly understanding Doha’s thought process and emotional state, Jaei couldn’t bear the thought of how devastated Doha must have been, even if only for a moment. Doha, who had never thought about killing Hong Duyoung even after learning he had been murdered by him, had immediately decided to commit murder the moment he thought Jaei had been mistreated.
Jaei reached out with both hands to cup Doha’s face and squeezed his cheeks.
“I’m going to pop them.”
Doha’s face, which had looked like a cold, chilling cool-toned murder ghost, instantly transformed back into that of an adorable baby.
Having completely withdrawn his fierce and rough gaze, Doha stuck his face out more for Jaei to pop his cheeks. As his heart returned from the depths of hell back to this world, sadness welled up, but he didn’t let himself cry. This wasn’t the right time to receive Jaei’s love through tears. He only wanted to be more mature for Jaei who had protected himself by throwing in his body and heart.
Since there was no longer any need to wait behind the police with a number ticket to punch Hong Duyoung in his vital spot, Doha left the scene with Jaei and headed to the police station. He piggyback-carried the brave genius cat onto the elevator. Hearing that reporters had gathered in the underground parking lot, Jaei pulled his hat down low to hide his face.
Doha met the waiting manager and guard in the basement and, with their protection, moved Jaei to the car. During this time, he dealt directly with the reporters. Like a rookie should, he bowed politely while saying everything he needed to say.
“We’ll do interviews later as things are hectic now. Please don’t take any photos.”
Jaei, who had been on edge as Doha’s protector, fell asleep on Doha’s back at that moment as if his consciousness had been cut off.
Having given his statement about everything from start to finish, from the story of 13 years ago to everything he knew, Jaei filed a complaint against Hong Duyoung for death threats. Soon, when Doha’s mother arrived, she would sue Hong Duyoung as the bereaved family member of the unjustly deceased Ryu Doha, and the reinvestigation of Ryu Doha’s hit-and-run death case would begin.
To prevent unnecessary talk, an official statement was swiftly issued at the company level. It was a statement containing Jaei’s own testimony about what happened during Doha’s live broadcast and the police investigation.
However, despite doing everything he could, Jaei’s body kept stiffening up. This was because the worst-case scenario—where Hong Duyoung escaped all legal consequences and received no punishment—kept circling in his mind. Because of this, he continuously experienced nausea and convulsions at the police station, worrying Doha.
Doha, familiar with Jaei’s chronic esophagitis and gastritis, gave him medication. While waiting, he sat Jaei in a chair, knelt down in front of him, wrapped Jaei’s thin feet with a handkerchief, and massaged his soles and toes while saying:
“You’re going through a lot because of your boyfriend. I’m not saying you met the wrong person. You did meet the right person, but you’re suffering so much because of me. Still, keep seeing me.”
Because he was indeed the right person, and because even if this relationship had become poison for Jaei, he would make sure it became a good relationship, Doha spoke brazenly and confidently. Jaei tilted his head in response.
“Aren’t you the one suffering from having me as your boyfriend? You got unlucky with me.”
Unable to distinguish which came first, the chicken or the egg, Doha raised a question mark above his head. Jaei smiled brightly and enthusiastically patted Doha’s cheeks. No matter how he thought about it, the most unlucky thing that had happened in Doha’s life seemed to be meeting him and falling in love. But he also thought that the most wonderful thing in his life must have been meeting him.
After finishing the massage and putting down his feet, Jaei pulled Doha into his arms. Then he whispered in his ear.
“We should never have met in the first place… I thought about this more than a thousand times after you left…”
Still kneeling, Doha was pulled into Jaei’s embrace and whispered back.
“Jaei, when we were young. Remember that first day when you asked me to share a room and I refused? Do you remember what you said then?”
“I remember. I said we should compromise a little with each other. I was really clever and cute back then. No wonder you fell for me.”
He had said they shouldn’t let Ryu Doha sacrifice alone, or let Lee Jaei endure alone, but should work together with mutual consideration. The intent was that even if difficulties arose while living together in one room, they wouldn’t feel too sorry for each other because they were friends.
In truth, when Jaei was seven years old, he didn’t particularly like the seven-year-old Lee Jaei. Although he never told his parents, he often thought about wanting to be reborn, as he was just a little kid carrying the weight of the world’s worries. Jaei started to like Lee Jaei more from the age of eight. The person who made him feel this way was none other than Ryu Doha.
Doha continued while massaging Jaei’s stiff hands.
“Maybe you’re right that we shouldn’t have met, but since we did, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Ryu Doha, you’re so shameless. I really like that.”
“So hang in there a little longer, even if it’s hard.”
Doha straightened his knees and stood up. After grabbing both of Jaei’s hands and pulling him to his feet, he playfully patted Jaei’s bottom.
A message arrived from the company manager. Despite the late hour, people who had gained strength from the detailed statement that had been posted were beginning to expose Hong Duyoung one after another and expressing their intent to take legal action.
Several people whom Jaei had not been able to find also appeared. In particular, there were two more revelations that the murder and instigation of murder depicted in Hong Duyoung’s films were identical to what his associates had experienced, and all those incidents occurred after meeting Hong Duyoung. They were relatively well-known people in the film industry who clearly revealed their identities and described the incidents in detail.
Only then did Jaei’s body, which had been rigid as a stick, finally soften. Jaei, who had been controlling his emotions well at the police station, finally cried out loud like a child among people. It was the moment when Jaei truly forgave himself properly.
Despite it being his own ordeal, Doha didn’t shed a single tear as he embraced the sorrowfully crying Jaei and comforted him. With a bright smile and a joyful voice, he conveyed his gratitude and congratulations.
“Jaei, I’ll make you a Brave Cat award.”
At least for this moment, he wanted to leave everything entirely to Jaei. And now he prayed that Jaei would forget—the birthday of fourteen-year-old Lee Jaei, the death anniversary of Ryu Doha, that painful night.
