* * *
“Are you not going in today either?”
In response to Hyunwoo’s question, Hajin silently nodded.
“Have you made a decision?”
“Not yet.”
The implication was whether to go to the prosecutor’s office and make a deal with Prosecutor Lee. There was an abundance of evidence regarding crimes committed by Secretary Kim: tax evasion, embezzlement, slush funds, accepting bribes from National Assembly members, stock price manipulation, sexual entertainment, and more.
Hajin’s only concern was whether an ambitious person like Prosecutor Lee would be willing to make a deal that involved catching a small fish like Secretary Kim while letting a big fish like himself go.
Sometimes they allocated blame based on the importance of the individual rather than the magnitude of the crime, so it was uncertain which side the prosecutor would take.
Since Yoon Juwon’s safety was at stake, Hajin couldn’t overlook even the smallest risk. His head felt like it might explode from considering all the various possibilities.
‘At times like this, Yoon Juwon is the remedy…’
Thinking he might at least hear Juwon’s voice, Hajin clicked on the wiretapping app he had secretly installed on Juwon’s phone. He had set it up to automatically alert him whenever voices were detected, and just then, a new alert appeared.
Having apparently returned from work, Hahyun’s voice was heard first.
– I overheard Secretary Kim talking with the prosecutor. He said there will be a summons from the prosecution soon.
– Already?
Hajin could almost picture Juwon trembling with a shocked expression at Hahyun’s words.
– Yes. But hyung, are you okay? Your face is pale.
– I’m fine. Just a bit tired.
– I don’t think so…
There was a hint of cynicism in Hahyun’s voice.
‘This kid, what’s wrong with Yoon Juwon worrying about me a little…’
– You’re worried about Hajin hyung, aren’t you?
Juwon must have closed his mouth. After a moment of silence, voices were heard again.
– Yes, I’m worried. Why? Is that wrong?
– It upsets me that you seem to only think about Hajin hyung…
Though he was whining like a child, it was an honest answer. Hajin swallowed and leaned in, curious whether Juwon would accept Hahyun or not. He heard Juwon sigh.
– Hajin-ssi is in a tougher situation, that’s why.
– Fuck, I’m also being investigated by the prosecution…
Before Hahyun could finish, there was a slapping sound. Hajin flinched in surprise.
‘What was that? Did he slap him?’
– *Sob*… Why did you hit me? That hurt.
– Hahyun, please grow up. Being born with a silver spoon makes everything seem easy and like a game to you? Becoming a CEO who leads a company, and being investigated by the prosecution when things go wrong—is that a joke? You shouldn’t say things like that, even as a joke. Seeing my hands trembling with worry, how can you…
With each word Juwon spat out as if vomiting, Hajin felt a pang of conscience.
– If you do that one more time, I won’t stop at your back. And… stop crying! What have you done right to be crying?
Hahyun’s sniffling abruptly stopped. Juwon’s firm demeanor was unfamiliar. It was behavior he rarely showed in front of Hajin.
Human greed truly is endless. Even knowing that Juwon was being stern and resolute out of concern for him, Hajin felt jealous that Juwon only showed this side of himself to Hahyun.
– You really don’t know anything, hyung.
– What?
– Hajin hyung will have made all the preparations. Didn’t I tell you? He’s not the type to be pushed around so easily. Do you think he’d be defeated by someone like Secretary Kim?
– It’s not Secretary Kim, it’s the prosecution we’re talking about.
– Prosecution or whatever! He won’t lose, I’m telling you. Hah… this is so frustrating.
There was a thumping sound. It seemed Hahyun was beating his own chest.
– Fine, let’s assume as you say that Hajin-ssi is smart and has made all the preparations. Then why doesn’t he expose everything now instead of waiting until later?
It was a reasonable doubt, typical of Juwon, and also what Hajin had intended. But Hahyun wasn’t fooled.
– Because he’s trying to evoke sympathy from you, that’s why. The fox is playing his tricks. He’s feeling insecure because you’ve been treating me well lately.
Another slapping sound was heard.
– You think everyone thinks the same way you do. That’s what you would think, not Hajin-ssi.
– You trust Hajin hyung too much… I’ve clearly told you about his dark intentions. Don’t blame me if you regret it later.
– That won’t happen.
Hahyun’s crying grew louder. Then Juwon, weakened by emotion, would probably hug and comfort Hahyun, and Hahyun, seizing the opportunity…
The situation seemed to unfold in Hajin’s mind without even seeing it. Unable to let Hyunwoo hear the couple’s subsequent affectionate interaction, Hajin closed the app. Notifications kept coming in, suggesting the argument between the two hadn’t ended yet.
It was a device Hajin had installed in case Secretary Kim or the police raided the house when Juwon was alone. Cameras installed throughout the house couldn’t prepare for the possibility of Juwon being captured, so this was necessary.
But the wiretapping was being used differently from what was planned.
Like now, it was used to monitor what Hahyun and Juwon were saying, or to ease his longing by listening to Juwon’s breathing when he missed him.
“Our CEO is quite creepy.”
Hyunwoo, who had been furiously typing on his keyboard across from Hajin, turned around.
“It’s not like that.”
“Yeah, right. You think no one knows you installed it for surveillance? Anyway, what are you going to do? It seems Hahyun knows your true intentions…”
His tone wasn’t sarcastic but genuinely concerned.
“It’s okay because Juwon doesn’t believe him.”
“Do you think you can keep deceiving him until the end? What if Juwon finds out first later on?”
“Are you saying I should confess now that everything was deliberately staged?”
“Better than making him feel betrayed by not telling him.”
Hajin laughed bitterly.
“If I do that, the company will be the least of our worries. I’ll kidnap Yoon Juwon and escape to an island.”
Hyunwoo frowned. Knowing that Hajin’s threat was genuine, he couldn’t ignore it.
“You said Juwon has changed a lot. Tell him you did it because you wanted to be loved. No, tell him you had to deceive everyone to gather evidence to take down Secretary Kim conclusively, and apologize. That’s the right thing to do.”
“I’ll handle it my way. Tell Prosecutor Lee to send the summons.”
“When?”
“The sooner the better. Today would be ideal, but that’s probably unrealistic, so tomorrow?”
“Is that possible?”
“In a situation where everything is staged, what can’t be done?”
Hyunwoo muttered “fuck, fuck” in a small voice as he texted Prosecutor Lee.
‘He needs to get burned badly once to come to his senses.’
Whatever happens, for Hyunwoo, the most important thing was for Hajin to reclaim his CEO position as soon as possible, so rushing wasn’t entirely bad. He was just worried about his friend who often lost his rationality when it came to matters concerning Yoon Juwon.
* * *
It was clear that I had tender feelings for Hahyun too. But Hahyun kept misunderstanding, thinking I only cared about Hajin.
“You don’t even see that I’m struggling? Because you only pity Hajin hyung.”
“Do you want me to keep repeating the same thing? The current situation is harder for Hajin-ssi, so I have no choice but to act this way.”
“If I become more miserable than I am now, will you pity me too?”
The same argument had been going on for hours, with only the words changing slightly. I sighed, tired of this situation. Slapping his back and getting fiercely angry had no effect.
When I didn’t say anything, Hahyun tightly gripped my hand and trembled.
“It’s so frustrating. If I could, I’d rip open Seo Hajin’s chest and show you his true nature.”
“Fine, I get it. Let’s say Hajin-ssi planned everything.”
Exhausted, I just agreed with him.
“Don’t lie.”
“…”
“I know you’ll still worry about him secretly even though you say you doubt him.”
“Then, fuck! What do you want me to do?! You don’t like it this way, you don’t like it that way… I’m already dying here!”
I had been trying to soothe him, but talking with Hahyun always made me too frustrated to contain my anger.
I knew what he wanted from me.
Stop worrying about Hajin. Genuinely believe that Hajin was playing tricks to evoke sympathy. It wasn’t hard to pretend to comply with these crazy demands, but the problem was that my insincerity was obvious.
Hahyun spoke quietly with his head bowed low.
“Don’t be angry.”
“…”
“I won’t say anything even if you worry about Hajin hyung. So please don’t hate me.”
His sniffling voice softened my heart. It had been hours of repeated quarreling since he came home from work, ate dinner, and showered. It seemed he still had tears to shed even after crying until his eyes were swollen.
I stared at him silently, still not appeased by his appearance. He bit his lips tightly and didn’t even wipe away his flowing tears. There were multiple tear tracks over his reddened cheeks.
And to think I’m the one who wants to cry right now…
