“I’m telling you, I won’t run away. Haven’t you been suspicious enough? Even if I suggested running away, as if Yoon Juwon would actually follow me!”
At Hajin’s words, Hahyun pressed his lips tightly shut. In the past, Juwon might have been very likely to do so, but these days, Hahyun could confidently say otherwise. Lately, whenever Juwon saw Hahyun, he habitually said he absolutely couldn’t live without him, which made Hahyun feel good.
“Fine. Don’t make any mistakes.”
“Trust me. When have I ever disappointed… Oh, I have.”
Hajin paused, recalling when he was caught being intimate with Yoon Juwon, and smiled awkwardly, making Hahyun pout.
“Fuck, don’t bring that up. It makes my blood boil just thinking about it.”
“Alright. Let’s stop now and go. Time to pick up the CEO position that rolled to me like a vine.”
* * *
Director Seo Sanghyun presided over the board meeting. All directors present had heard Chairman Seo’s will recording that Hajin had recently released and seen Secretary Kim’s video.
Perhaps because of this, the process of conducting the meeting and voting went exactly as expected, making one wonder if it was even necessary. No one was antagonistic, nor did anyone raise their voice to argue.
Not long after the board meeting began, voting took place on the most important agenda item, Seo Hajin’s return as CEO, and Sanghyun announced the results in a calm voice.
“With 10 votes in favor and 0 against, I announce that Director Seo Hajin has been re-elected as CEO. With this, the board meeting is adjourned.”
The directors left the room after giving Hajin brief congratulations.
Despite knowing the outcome, Hahyun, who had been anxious about possible variables, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It felt refreshing, like having a long-aching tooth finally pulled out.
“Hyung, congratulations! I’m going home now.”
Hahyun was about to leave the room, eager to return home, when he saw Sojeong following behind. He quickly turned back and added to Hajin:
“Hyung, our Assistant Manager Kang is a capable talent, so please give her a good position.”
At Hahyun’s words, Sojeong bowed her head toward Hajin, unable to hide her embarrassment. Hajin nodded as if to say he understood.
* * *
I received text messages from both brothers simultaneously. The news was that the board meeting had proceeded as expected. Things were going so well that I felt uneasy, but I consoled myself that it was just an unnecessary worry.
After replying to Hajin, I checked Hahyun’s message and pressed my forehead due to an oncoming headache.
[Hyung, finally freedom. Now I’ll never let you go! I’m on my way now, so I’ll arrive soon.]
[Okay, come safely.]
My fingers trembled as they touched the screen. Even now, I felt awkward being with Hajin when Hahyun was around, but what if Hahyun never left the house at all? The thought alone gave me goosebumps. I immediately called Hajin.
“You just congratulated me, why call now? Want to hear my voice?”
“No, that’s not it…”
While wondering how to ask, I realized Hahyun might arrive soon, so I got straight to the point.
“Hajin-ssi, about Hahyun. Is he not going to commute to work at all?”
“Well, that’s up to Hahyun, isn’t it? For now, he’ll have the title of outside director, but whether to change that to inside director is his choice. But would he really want to commute?”
This was shocking news to me. Either being insensitive or pretending not to know, Hajin asked me something obvious.
“Why? Would you like Hahyun to commute to work?”
“Do you even need to ask? Even now…”
I started to speak but closed my mouth. Though Hahyun’s obsession was tiring, I didn’t dislike him, so I didn’t want to criticize him.
“Are you exhausted?”
“A little.”
After pondering briefly at my words, Hajin casually remarked:
“It can only be you.”
“What?”
“The one who can persuade Hahyun. Would he commute just because I forced him to? Didn’t he initially refuse the CEO position but took it because of you?”
“Ah…”
Only then did my confused thoughts clear. From the beginning, Hahyun had commuted not because the company was in crisis, but because I had said one of them needed to be in the CEO position for me to continue giving him my heart.
“I’ll try talking to him. Oh, I guess you’ll be busy for a while? Still, please come home regularly. Don’t stay out overnight…”
My voice trailed off as I felt embarrassed nagging him. I heard a pleased laugh from the other end. Just as I hung up and put down my phone, I heard the door lock being quickly disengaged. From the hurried sound, it seemed to be Hahyun. As expected, his voice soon followed.
“Hyung! I’m home. I missed you. Did you miss me too? What did you do while I was gone?”
As soon as Hahyun made eye contact with me on the sofa, he rushed over and hugged me like someone who hadn’t seen me in ages. His heart was pounding against mine. I stroked his back to calm his excitement and then spoke seriously.
“Wash up, change your clothes, and come back.”
Hahyun’s lips jutted out, looking disappointed.
“I was going to cook for you and then wash up. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Oh, let’s order in today. I have something important to talk about before we eat.”
“…Okay.”
Though Hahyun tilted his head, not knowing what I was about to say, he obediently went into the dressing room. It was a bit of a shame to take off the navy suit he had dressed up in for the board meeting, but when I needed to be firm, being a little less handsome would be better for my sanity.
A moment later, Hahyun came out after washing up, emitting the scent of shampoo as he approached me. Whether deliberately or not, water was dripping from his hair. I dried his hair with a towel.
“I’m so glad everything worked out as planned. Do you know what I did all day? I sat with paper in front of me, thinking about what to do with you at home. Hyung, you’re going to be incredibly busy from tomorrow.”
“Sigh…”
I sighed without realizing it. How should I speak to the excited Hahyun to minimize his hurt?
Hahyun turned his head to look at me.
“Why are you sighing? Don’t you like it?”
Silently, I pulled Hahyun’s arm and sat him on the sofa.
“How could I not like it? I enjoy spending time with you too.”
“Then why are you sighing? It makes me think strange things every time you do that.”
Since the mood had already turned this way, I decided to slowly broach the subject.
“I’ve been having some concerns.”
“Eek! What concerns? Tell me. I’ll solve them for you.”
“I don’t think you’ll listen.”
When I narrowed my eyes and said that, Hahyun flared up.
“Don’t you trust me? If you have concerns, of course I’ll solve them for you. Tell me, what is it?”
When I still didn’t answer, Hahyun began to sink into his delusions with an expression like he might cry soon.
“Hyung, you’re not telling me because you’re planning to tell Hajin hyung later, right? I know everything. Because I’m childish and unreliable, you’ll tell mature Hajin hyung, and after he solves it, the two of you will run away…”
Here we go again.
I raised my hand high, glaring at Hahyun. He closed his eyes tightly without trying to avoid it. Seeing that, I couldn’t bring myself to hit him.
“That’s not it. If I tell you my concern, I think you’ll dislike it. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Hahyun made a tearful face and spoke in a shrinking voice.
“What is it? Rather than you hiding something from me, I’d rather hear it and be hurt.”
He looked like he was about to cry, so I quickly placed my hand on his thigh. Hahyun seemed to forget about crying as he flinched.
“Then listen without getting hurt. Hahyun, I’m starting to find it a bit difficult just staying at home. I feel somewhat depressed… For the past few days, both Hajin-ssi and you have been busy, so I’ve been able to spend productive days reading books and writing on my own.”
Hahyun rolled his eyes as if he didn’t understand what I meant.
“I mean I need time to myself. So I’d like you to commute to work like Hajin-ssi.”
His wavering eyes stared at me quietly. As if forcibly suppressing his anger, he swallowed and continued calmly.
“Hyung, what do you mean? If you need time alone, I can give you a few hours a day, can’t I? What does that have to do with me commuting? If you’re not planning to cheat or run away, my presence doesn’t prevent you from doing productive things on your own.”
Hahyun spoke his mind intelligently without crying until the end, regardless of the content of his words. Compared to before, he seemed much improved, making me proud of him even in this situation.
“It’s not because I’m thinking of cheating or running away. Hahyun, are you confident you can be in the same space with me and not pay attention to me?”
Hahyun hung his head low.
“You might as well tell me not to breathe.”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
Another sigh escaped. I had thought he wouldn’t understand, but the bigger problem was that my resolve was weakening. However, this was an issue that needed to be addressed for a healthy relationship.
I held Hahyun’s cheek and lifted his face. His eyes were red. I pressed my lips to his forehead like stamping a seal.
“I like you, Hahyun.”
At this sudden confession, Hahyun’s eyes widened, then narrowed again.
“But I don’t think love is about accepting everything unconditionally.”
