It was an excessive reaction, but Hyunwoo’s behavior was understandable. It would be frustrating to see a friend choosing a difficult path without saying anything.
Hajin also knew that giving up the CEO position this time could be too much. But…
〈If we sell the building now, we might suffer a big loss later. Just trust me on this one.〉
But there was no way he could easily refuse Juwon’s request, and if he gave up the CEO position this time, he would secure time to be with Yoon Juwon during his free time, creating an opportunity to keep Hahyun in check. Additionally, with the extra time, he needed to supplement information about Secretary Kim.
This was enough to make the risk worth taking.
Hajin grabbed Hyunwoo’s shoulder and spoke seriously.
“I think this is the last chance.”
“If it’s the last chance, you should seize it, why not?”
“I can reclaim management rights anytime. But timing is crucial for a person’s feelings that could change at any moment.”
It didn’t take long for Hyunwoo to conclude that all the strange behaviors Hajin had been showing lately were because of Yoon Juwon. Although he denied it, emotions usually show on one’s face. After Yoon Juwon’s memory loss, Hajin smiled more often than usual and also became depressed more frequently.
“I think my problem has always been love.”
Hyunwoo kept his mouth shut because as a secretary, he couldn’t encourage his boss’s deviation, and as a friend, he couldn’t tell him to stop when he knew he was suffering.
Misinterpreting Hyunwoo’s silence, Hajin looked at him with a desperate expression.
“Help me. All my attention is focused on that side to the point where I can’t work. Let me live a little too.”
Hyunwoo answered with a displeased expression.
“If I help you, is there a way? Your competitor is your own brother?”
“Well, I think we can prevent the disaster of losing both?”
“Hah, I don’t know. When did you ever ask for my opinion? You’ve always done whatever the hell you wanted.”
“Thanks. You know you’re all I have, right?”
Hyunwoo pushed away Hajin’s shoulder as he jokingly tried to hug him.
“I should have killed that bastard Yoon Juwon long ago.”
“Then you would have died by my hands?”
Hyunwoo immediately mocked Hajin’s words.
“Didn’t you say it wasn’t love?”
“I guess I wanted to believe that.”
Yeah, not wanting to say “congratulations on finally realizing your pathetic feelings,” Hyunwoo just cursed, “Fuck,” and turned around.
Hajin watched Hyunwoo’s retreating back with a bitter smile, noting that despite cursing, he never said he wouldn’t help.
He had denied it was love, attaching all sorts of names to this childish emotion, but in the end, it was love.
* * *
The gift box that Hahyun abruptly handed over during breakfast time contained vitamins, omega-3, and probiotics, all supposedly good for the body. I looked at them with a frown.
“What’s this?”
“What else would it be? It’s health food to take care of your health, hyung. After listening to Hajin hyung and thinking about it, I’m really worried. What if you die from not being able to exercise at home? So I’ve decided to focus only on your health from today.”
To get rid of Hahyun, who was sticking close to me and exhaling like a puppy, I had to accept it somewhat. Otherwise, my entire body might wear away under Hahyun’s hands.
“Okay. I’ll take them properly.”
“I know you’re just saying that.”
“No, I’m not. I can take them right after eating.”
“Don’t just give a lazy answer because you find it bothersome. You take probiotics before meals, vitamin C while eating, omega-3…”
“I said I got it! Come on! Let’s just eat quietly, Hahyun. And let go of my arm.”
Hahyun finally released my arm and stared at me for a while, and when I didn’t respond, he said, “That’s too much,” and started eating. I wasn’t sure if he chewed or just swallowed, but Hahyun finished his meal like lightning, brought water, and handed me the supplements.
“Take them in front of me.”
“Yeah, just put them there.”
“Take them quickly. I need to go mess up the stock transfer certificate or whatever it is today.”
My ears perked up at Hahyun’s words. Since he wouldn’t answer if I just asked, I swallowed the supplements and then asked.
“Why the stock transfer certificate? And what do you mean by ‘mess up’…?”
“I need to do something so Secretary Kim can’t receive more stock transfers before the board meeting. Otherwise, I might really become the CEO? That’s crazy… just thinking about it makes me sick.”
Hahyun made a face that looked like he was about to cry at any moment. In all my life, I’ve seen many people fighting to gain management rights, but I’ve never seen someone like Hahyun struggling so hard to avoid taking it.
“Why do you hate becoming CEO so much? It’s something one might be tempted by.”
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
At that moment, Hajin, who had come down late, sat in a chair and looked at me. I naturally turned my gaze away.
Since our relationship deepened, it had become somewhat awkward to interact with Hajin as before. If he had pushed forward relentlessly like Hahyun, I would have had no choice but to accept him, but Hajin didn’t particularly try to get closer.
It felt as if he was enjoying the awkward relationship and distance.
Hajin spoke indifferently toward me.
“It’s because of you, Yoon Juwon.”
“I’ve never told Hahyun not to be the CEO.”
“Your very existence is as good as saying don’t do it.”
Hahyun suddenly flared up and glared at Hajin.
“Hyung, speak more plainly.”
Then he smiled at me and added.
“If I become CEO, my time with you will decrease. Plus, even if I’m stuck at the company all day, I’ll only be thinking about you in my head, so what would happen to the company? It would completely collapse…”
“Hahaha.”
All I could do was laugh awkwardly. A moment later, Hajin looked at his watch and said to Hahyun.
“Seo Hahyun, shouldn’t you be leaving by now if you’re thinking about your appointment?”
“I know, I know! Ha… I’m really annoyed. When is the board meeting?”
“Not much time left.”
“Can you win?”
I was also curious about the answer to Hahyun’s question. Hajin put down his spoon, drank a glass of water, and slowly opened his mouth.
“Yeah. I can’t be certain, but I have to try, right?”
Hajin deliberately focused his gaze on me as he gave an unconvincing answer. It wasn’t like Hajin at all.
* * *
Hahyun went out, crying that he really didn’t want to leave.
I looked curiously at Hajin, who was staring at me with a serious expression. He wasn’t eating but was just occupying a seat at the table, looking spaced out, which didn’t seem like the usual Hajin. I wasn’t used to seeing him looking drained of energy when he was always confident and overflowing with self-assurance.
“Hajin-ssi.”
When I called him softly, he raised his head. When our eyes met, he sighed and lowered his head. The tension, for reasons I couldn’t understand, made it feel hard to breathe.
I was curious about what he wanted to say, but at the same time, I didn’t want to know.
“I’m going to my room to catch up on some sleep. Hahyun has been tormenting me too much. Haha.”
As I said that and tried to go upstairs, Hajin suddenly grabbed my wrist. Just as I turned around saying, “Why so suddenly,” he pulled me into his arms.
“What should I do? Juwon. I really…”
A very hoarse voice penetrated my ear.
“Why…”
I asked why, but he didn’t answer and just kept holding me. I wanted to see his expression, but I didn’t even have the chance to raise my head.
“Haah…”
“…!”
Suddenly our lips overlapped. Because I wasn’t prepared, hot breath rushed in between my parted lips. Breathing became increasingly rough. When reason was cut off and all sensation concentrated on the lips, Hajin pushed my body towards the sofa. I collapsed helplessly onto the sofa.
“Stay still…”
He stopped his actions and looked down at me. As if bound by his gaze, I couldn’t do anything. His slightly bloodshot eyes seemed to speak of his fatigue. I stopped squirming and looked at him.
I couldn’t understand why Hajin was suddenly acting so strangely. I wanted to remove him from my body and ask why he was doing this, but I felt that would excite him more. I grabbed his arm and said.
“Fine. Let’s do it. But let’s talk first.”
He, who had been pressing down on my shoulders, smirked. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were sunken, making it impossible to read his expression.
“So you need a reason. Alright. That’s fine.”
His voice sounded so lonely that I almost unconsciously reached out my hand, but I held back firmly.
Sitting beside me, he sighed and buried his face in his hands. It was clearly difficult for him, but not knowing why made it frustrating. I placed my hand on Hajin’s shoulder and asked in a worried tone.
“If something’s wrong, tell me. It’s not like everything gets solved by pushing your body onto someone. Are you starting to resemble Hahyun-ssi?”
“What? I’m becoming like Hahyun? That’s funny.”
He removed his hands from his face and looked at me with a bitter smile.
“I mean, it’s not your style to come at me without saying anything, just clinging to me.”
“Why? I’m not allowed to do that?”
“No, please don’t. If I can’t communicate with you either, Hajin-ssi, I might die from frustration.”
“Right, we should talk.”
Hajin’s face contorted. Although I wasn’t used to seeing such an expression on someone who was always confident, it also felt somehow familiar, as if I had seen it before.
When was it? Was it when he broke a glass trying to control his anger at Hahyun’s provocation and was bleeding?
Recalling that moment, my heart strangely tingled.
