“What’s the matter? Got glue on your lips? Looks like your lover put honey on them.”
“That’s just it. The kid is so sweet and pretty that I can’t even tease him properly. I wanted to torment him a bit more, but I can’t. I think I need to resolve things to some extent.”
“Has the little fox finally become human?”
I could almost see Hyunwoo’s disgusted expression. Maybe that’s why words I wouldn’t normally say came out on their own.
“I was trying to monopolize him by getting his sympathy, but…”
“Yoon Juwon doesn’t think you’re pitiful? How amusing.”
“No, he’s actually suffering more than I expected.”
“Isn’t that mission accomplished then? Should I throw you a celebration party?”
“Stop being sarcastic and give me a sincere answer. Do you think one person can give the same affection to two people simultaneously?”
After hesitating for a moment, Hyunwoo finally answered.
“Well, I’ve never experienced that myself. If a person has to love only one person their entire life, wouldn’t it be too cruel when they break up?”
“No, fuck! Not that—I mean at the same time.”
Having only had eyes for Yoon Juwon my whole life, I couldn’t understand Hyunwoo’s words. That’s why I yelled first. I heard a sigh from the other end.
“Everyone has their own way of loving. Use that good brain of yours and think about it. To other people, wouldn’t you and Hahyun look more insane than Juwon who likes both of you at the same time? You crazy bastards.”
Thinking about it carefully, that seemed possible. But that didn’t mean I could understand Juwon’s heart loving two people simultaneously.
“This is fucking awful.”
“Isn’t love always fucking awful? I think that’s what you said when Yoon Juwon first betrayed you.”
“Fuck.”
“Still, you’ve made a good decision. You have to be moderate. What if Juwon finds out you deliberately deceived him? Imagine how great that betrayal would feel. If you’ve decided to stop your scheme, Juwon must have been really worried…”
“I didn’t say I was stopping. I just meant I’d ease up a bit.”
“The price seems too high just for trying to get more dating time.”
Hajin knew this part perfectly well. But the reason he needed more time now was fundamentally to thoroughly destroy Secretary Kim, and because of the promise with Director Seo Sanghyun to thoroughly investigate Chairman Seo’s death. Once promised, he’d have to at least pretend to do it.
“I don’t know. Anyway, hang up and gather everyone. You come now.”
Hyunwoo, who had been a kind friend until now, completely changed his tone.
“No, CEO, why only me today when other employees are coming tomorrow? This is employee discrimination…”
“Shut up and let’s go drink.”
“You’re paying.”
Hajin hung up. He showered and changed clothes, planning to go straight to work tomorrow.
It was time to prepare to slowly tighten the noose around Secretary Kim’s neck.
* * *
I woke up again at 9 AM the next day. Half-asleep, I thought it was 9 PM and was about to go back to sleep, but then noticed the brightness outside and checked the clock again.
No matter how exhausted I was, sleeping for over 12 hours…
Even more ridiculous was that despite sleeping so long, I could barely move a finger. I couldn’t do anything. Since I had nothing to do anyway, I stretched while debating whether to sleep more.
“Huh?”
The handcuffs that had been heavily wrapped around my wrist were gone. I tilted my head in confusion.
Seo Hahyun wouldn’t have just come by to kindly remove my handcuffs and then leave, would he?
I turned on my phone to check if there were any messages. Since I hadn’t checked since yesterday, a tremendous number of texts had piled up. Most of them were from Seo Hahyun.
[Hyung… ㅠㅠ]
[You’re not mad, are you?]
[I know Hajin hyung would have freed you.]
[I’m sorry. Please contact me.]
[Hyung, hyung, I think I’ve been kidnapped.]
If he put handcuffs on me, he should accept not receiving replies! What a liar!
I skimmed through them, too annoyed to read carefully. Most of the content was about how he was tightly held by Secretary Kim and couldn’t return home, which was driving him crazy.
And mixed in were messages like these:
[Don’t talk too much with your internet friend.]
[Don’t do weird things with Hajin hyung either.]
[Damn… I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to quit everything.]
Followed by a string of pleas to save him.
This guy, a company CEO, is just texting all day?
Exasperated, I pressed the call button. Since it was past working hours and if he was at home, he would obviously be sticking by my side, so there was no need to go looking for him.
“Hyung! You’re awake?”
“Yeah, I’ve been sleeping continuously since yesterday.”
“Yes, I know.”
His voice sounded dejected, but it was strange that he didn’t ask more. Normally, he should have demanded to know why I was sleeping alone with Hajin…
“Did you stop by the house and leave?”
“Yes, when I came by, Hajin hyung wasn’t there either. Well, he must be busy right now.”
Hajin must have left before Hahyun arrived. Only then did I understand why Hahyun was so calm.
“Is something wrong…”
“Huh? Hyung, these people are calling me. Since I barely slept yesterday, I should be able to leave earlier today, so please wait a little bit.”
The call abruptly ended.
I immediately checked my messages to see if Hajin had contacted me. There was no communication, confirming Hahyun’s statement that he must be busy.
* * *
I lay on the sofa and stared at my phone all day. When the brothers were out, I would occasionally write, but these days I didn’t even feel like writing.
Hajin’s behavior yesterday, acting as if something unusual had happened, overlapped with Hahyun’s meaningful comment about him being busy now, intensifying my anxiety.
“He could at least leave a message…”
I sent 2 calls and 3 texts, but no reply came.
“Surely, he’s not being detained right away…”
After imagining negative futures, I shook my head.
“Don’t think bad thoughts. Hajin isn’t an ordinary fox; surely he won’t just sit there and take it.”
No, wait. He’s actually kind of soft and has foolish sides. So if Hahyun whines a little, he’ll pretend not to notice and give in to everything.
The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became.
I kept repeating while looking at my face reflected in the phone screen.
“Please, contact me. Contact me. Contact…”
After repeating the same words about ten times, I heard the door lock open. Excited, I jumped up and went to the entrance. However, the one who appeared wasn’t Hajin but Hahyun.
“Hyuuung! I missed you!”
Dressed neatly in a suit with his hair combed back, Hahyun rushed to embrace me. Due to his unmanageable size, my body was pushed backward.
“You’re back.”
Though I tried not to be disappointed, I couldn’t help feeling somewhat regretful. After rubbing his body against mine for a while, Hahyun held my face and looked into my eyes.
“They’re truly terrible people. Beyond imagination.”
Fatigue was evident in Hahyun’s expression and voice.
“Terrible people?”
Was he talking about Hajin’s opposition?
Actually, as soon as I saw Hahyun, I wanted to ask about Hajin, but I held back fearing he would get angry. So I welcomed the topic he suddenly brought up.
“Secretary Kim’s people. The way they grind people down—I thought I’d die wanting to go home.”
“Yeah, you worked hard.”
Hahyun narrowed his eyes and looked at me. Apparently, my disappointment had unintentionally shown on my face.
“Are you hungry? Change your clothes first and come back.”
As I walked to the kitchen to avoid suspicion, he persistently followed me.
“What is it?”
“What’s what?”
“I know that expression just now was extremely suspicious.”
Knowing that he was sensitive to every minor change in behavior, I had made him anxious again. I wanted to lie and deny it, but fearing it would raise more suspicion, I diverted the conversation tactfully.
“I didn’t see you yesterday either, and today you came home late too. It seems like it’ll continue like this for a while, so I felt disappointed.”
Hahyun drooped his shoulders and pouted.
“Don’t lie. You’re worried about Hajin hyung, right?”
“…”
“If you’re curious, just ask. Why are you lying?”
Inwardly swallowing the words ‘because you’ll cry,’ I calmly said:
“It would be a lie to say I’m not worried at all, but I also felt bad seeing how hard you’re working.”
Hahyun kissed my lips and then rubbed his cheeks against my hands. He slid his red lips across my fingertips, palm, and wrist, then smiled as if he were happy. I wondered how a single touch could make him so pleased.
“I’m telling you this because you’re too kind, hyung.”
“Hmm.”
“I overheard Secretary Kim talking to a prosecutor.”
As expected, had they escalated the matter? My heart felt like it dropped.
“He said there would be a summons from the prosecution soon.”
My hand, held by Hahyun, trembled. Hahyun, trying to calm me, gripped my hand firmly and embraced my shoulders. Still, it wasn’t easy to regain composure.
