* * *
At first, there wasn’t anything particularly uncomfortable.
It was awkward during meals, embarrassing when washing, and my whole body would turn bright red when changing clothes, but these were things I had experienced occasionally even after sleeping together, so it was fine.
“I think I need to take care of some work… With your hand like that, will you be okay alone?”
“Of course. It’s not like both my hands and feet are tied, and you’ll just be in the next room, so what’s the problem?”
“Then rest.”
As soon as Hajin closed the door and left, my quiet phone started ringing. The caller ID was restricted. I pressed the call button with my uncomfortable hand and switched to speaker.
“Yoon Juwon.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
I pressed the record button as I answered. Such a simple action, but it was more difficult with the handcuffs on.
“The case might escalate from a police investigation to a prosecution investigation. It will be soon, so be prepared.”
“…What?”
I wanted to react calmly, but having heard that Hajin was in a difficult situation in various ways, I was more surprised than necessary. My heart sank at the thought that if Secretary Kim escalated the matter, Hajin would be in more danger.
“Why are you so surprised? Is there a problem?”
“No. It’s just that you mentioned the prosecution. As you know, I’m under suspicion right now.”
“Haha, this is amusing.”
“Excuse me? What do you find amusing?”
“You killed Chairman Seo, Mr. Yoon Juwon.”
Secretary Kim’s voice had changed dramatically.
“…”
“Yet you say you’re under suspicion. You should speak properly.”
“On what basis are you saying this?”
There was no answer. I hesitated momentarily at the thought that Secretary Kim might know something when he said I had killed Chairman Seo, but judging by the lack of response, he didn’t seem to know anything specific.
I listened with bated breath. After a long while, Secretary Kim spoke.
“Then you’re saying you don’t need help. We have enough materials to ensure CEO Seo Hajin won’t be able to recover.”
So what Secretary Kim was saying was that Hajin was in such great danger that there was no need to use me as a card.
If that’s the case, why call me? From what I heard from Hajin, Secretary Kim had planned to involve both of us and turn us over to the police from the beginning.
“Then why did you call me?”
“Just in case. Isn’t it advantageous to have as many weaknesses as possible?”
“I understand. So you’re telling me to either run away or live imprisoned here for the rest of my life, whatever I choose.”
“If you don’t want to be arrested on murder charges, you should make a good decision, right?”
He seemed to be hoping I would plead with him. I had already made my assessment of how today’s conversation might be used later. So it might be good to pretend to beg once.
“Since things have come to this, how about reporting Seo Hajin as a kidnapper so he can never recover?”
Laughter came through the phone again. He seemed satisfied with my response.
“I’ll think about it.”
The call ended.
What on earth was Hajin planning? If Secretary Kim didn’t need to use the Yoon Juwon card, it seemed like Hajin wasn’t facing ordinary charges…
Anxiety began to creep in.
* * *
“Well done. Our Juwon is smart.”
After listening to the entire recording, Hajin stroked my head and smiled. I glared at him, who remained calm despite hearing Secretary Kim’s words.
“Is that all?”
“What more do you need?”
Hajin asked me without batting an eye. What was he thinking?
How could he be so nonchalant after hearing Secretary Kim say he would escalate the matter… Wasn’t he anxious? Surely he hadn’t given up altogether?
If Hajin were to be arrested over this, my safety couldn’t be guaranteed either.
“I’m sorry.”
Hajin’s eyebrows rose. He seemed surprised by my sudden apology. Actually, I didn’t know this would be the first thing to come out of my mouth either. Given the situation, I should be asking how he planned to protect me rather than apologizing… But my mouth kept moving on its own.
“It’s all because I told you not to sell the land, and things turned out this way. I didn’t do it intentionally. So… who asked you to listen to me unconditionally?”
“You told me to just listen without asking questions.”
“…”
I had nothing to say, even with ten mouths. It was true that because of me, he couldn’t buy up enough stock that would have been more than sufficient to prevent accidents. When I bowed my head silently, he came closer and lifted my cheek.
“That’s the second time.”
“What is?”
“That Yoon Juwon has seriously asked me for something… The first time was when you were very young and asked me to watch you walk like a model, and the second time was when you told me not to sell the land.”
Hearing him say he had no choice because it was my request, while looking at me with pity, made me want to cry.
I wasn’t sure if I felt this way because he pitied me or because I was worried about my own safety.
To keep from crying, I clenched my teeth and looked up at him.
“If it was your request, how could I refuse?”
I shook off his hand and muttered as if to myself.
“Anyone watching would think you listen to me really well. After doing everything I told you not to do…”
“When did I ever?”
Thinking about it carefully, I had nothing to say since Hajin hadn’t really disobeyed anything. He smiled knowingly and said:
“Ah… I see. Not following that shitty skinship stage chart, doing things quickly when you told me to go slow?”
I glared at him at those words, and he patted my buttocks as if soothing a child.
“Okay. I’ll try to be more careful from now on.”
“…No, wait! That’s not what’s important right now.”
“Then what is important?”
“We need to deal with Secretary Kim. What if you lose everything and go to prison?”
“Right… visit me often.”
Haah… An endless sigh escaped. Was he deliberately trying to kill me with guilt? Or did he have a plan but wasn’t telling me?
I felt suffocated by the frustration of not being able to communicate with Hajin, who usually acted as a translator between Hahyun and me.
I looked at him suspiciously and asked.
“Are you doing this on purpose? Because you don’t want to tell me?”
Hajin sighed as if he was also frustrated. Seeing this increased my worry.
“Don’t tell me you really have no way out?”
“…”
“Please speak clearly. I’m going crazy with frustration.”
He moved away from me and flopped down on the bed. I wanted to grab him, but couldn’t reach out because of the handcuffs. I immediately jumped onto the bed and sat next to Hajin. I hit his chest with my bound hands.
“Did you… embezzle?”
Hajin silently shook his head.
“Then how did the evidence of embezzlement come out?”
“I was caught in Secretary Kim’s scheme. He made it look like I did what he did.”
“I don’t understand. There would be witnesses…”
After saying this much, I realized that someone like Secretary Kim might have bribed people in advance.
“Haah…”
Hajin pulled my waist and drew me into his embrace. I tried to resist by tensing my body, but it was useless.
“It’s okay. Surely nothing will happen? We’ll find a way.”
“Without any plan…”
“With Yoon Juwon worrying about me, how could I possibly go to prison?”
“You call that a response!”
Saying he’ll handle everything, telling me to just trust him, and then showing this kind of attitude… I’m really disappointed in you, Seo Hajin.
To escape the irritating Hajin, I hit his shoulder and kicked his thigh with my foot.
“Oof! You were apologizing earlier, but now you’re getting angry at me.”
He silently took my hits for a while, then suddenly changed position and climbed on top of me. When I raised my hands in surprise, he grabbed my arms with a mischievous smile.
“Seeing you tied up… reminds me of the old days.”
What old days is he talking about…
“When you were tied up like this, you used to thrash around and hit me just like now…”
Hajin’s eyes flickered sadly as if tracing memories. The person Hajin was recalling now was not the current me, but the Yoon Juwon of the past. Seeing that made me feel a cold wind in my chest.
“Was that your taste? Then I’ll continue hitting you from now on.”
I tried making a joke out of spite, but my mood only sank further due to anxiety about the bleak situation and jealousy of the past Yoon Juwon.
Whether he knew my feelings or not, Hajin smiled and said:
“No, I like the present you more than the you of that time. So don’t be rough.”
* * *
If it weren’t for that last comment, this situation wouldn’t have happened. My hands were tied and the circumstances weren’t good, so my desire wasn’t built up enough to be rolling around embracing him.
But because of Seo Hajin, who said he liked the present me more with his characteristic blue eyes shining, my reason snapped.
I frantically kissed him, trapping his face between my arms.
“Haah…”
I detached our lips to breathe. Hajin grabbed my chin and sucked on my wet lips. A sweet taste spread in my mouth. Hajin tilted his head slightly, pressed down on my lips as if crushing them, made a soft sound, and pulled away. Then he grabbed my arms and climbed on top, instantly reversing our positions.
“I wanted to create a special memory anyway, so this works out well.”
“…”
I was about to say that he had stepped down from the CEO position and would have plenty of time in the future, so today wasn’t necessary, but I kept my mouth shut. Since I had initiated it today, it would be ridiculous to back out now.
Hajin looked at my wrists and grinned.
“That Hahyun kid… I wonder how jealous he would be if he knew he made things hotter between us.”
“Keep it a secret. Don’t unnecessarily provoke him.”
“Hmm? Are you that concerned about Hahyun? I thought you were just reluctantly accommodating him, but it seems that’s not entirely the case.”
“…”
Because I had unnecessarily brought up Hahyun, my body, which had been slightly heated, began to cool down.
“Hm? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
