Going to work sluggishly for two days after lazing around is ten times more terrible than going to work three days in a row. Common citizen Choi Hongdan of this era dared assert that this was an eternal truth even Confucius and Mencius would acknowledge.
Hongdan let out a deep sigh with each step up the stairs. Though he’d received lively encouragement from newlywed Mr. Yeon, he had no energy at all. The thought that he’d have to receive attention from company people for a while because of the Cha Jaewon incident was also dizzying.
“…Should I just quit?”
It seemed the time had come to take out the resignation letter that everyone supposedly always carried in their hearts.
Of course, since Noise was the biggest place in the industry where Hongdan wanted to work, he hesitated to rashly decide on a job change. But that also meant if he just looked around a bit, there were many places besides Noise where he could work. Hongdan habitually fidgeted with the outermost pocket of his bag.
Just as he was about to make some kind of resolution inwardly, a voice lower than Seonha’s yet equally familiar interrupted.
“It’s been a while.”
“…”
Sharp creases in the pants and pitch-black shoes as if they’d absorbed darkness itself. Hongdan knew someone to whom such attire suited perfectly. When he slowly raised his gaze, sure enough.
“Please get in. I’ll take you to work.”
It was Do Jaehyuk. The identity of this untimely stranger.
Honestly, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t flustered by this reunion.
Moreover, since this place was also the only refuge he’d secured after escaping from that terrible household, the fact that he, a Yeonhwa Group person, had come to an address he’d never been told couldn’t be accepted pleasantly at all. So his heart plummeted, then.
…He came to take me.
It calmly surfaced.
Looking at Jaehyuk’s unchangingly emotionless face, he just had that intuition. Hongdan stiffened his expression.
“…No. There’s no reason for me to get in Director’s car.”
He didn’t hate him, but he had no intention of dealing with him at length either. He just tried to leave quickly.
However, Jaehyuk held Hongdan back with words he absolutely couldn’t ignore.
“I have something urgent to tell you regarding the Young Master.”
“…”
“I won’t take much of your time. Just invest your commute time with me.”
***
If Hongdan’s memory wasn’t wrong, he’d only ridden in Jaehyuk’s car once. Because it had been Jaehyuk who came to pick him up when he was lying like a corpse in the hospital after the miscarriage. Back then, he’d been held in Jaehyuk’s arms and laid in the back seat. Now he’d gotten into the passenger seat with his own feet, but.
Really, now that he thought about it…
Though only a little over a year had passed, it felt endlessly unfamiliar.
Hongdan leaned his throbbing head against the car window. The cool outside temperature cooled the fever a bit. Thanks to that, he felt better than when he’d first gotten in the car.
It was Jaehyuk who broke the not-so-short silence.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Where would he be hurt? He’s still feisty enough to chew stones.”
“Kuh…”
…What?
Hongdan opened startled rabbit eyes and looked at the driver’s seat. Jaehyuk also seemed embarrassed at having burst into laughter uncharacteristically, clearing his throat a couple times before continuing. His heavily pressed lips had loosened slightly.
“No, I meant you, Hongdan.”
His face somehow felt hot, so Hongdan turned his head away completely.
“No, nowhere hurts.”
“That’s a relief. I was already reassured because you look better than before.”
“Yeah, well…”
“The Young Master too.”
“…”
…What should I say in response?
Hongdan kept his mouth firmly shut.
To deny it, the emotions of these past two days were too vivid, and to acknowledge that Seonha and he were each other’s best—he feared the future he’d have to take responsibility for because of it.
The other seemed to understand that confused inner state sufficiently. Jaehyuk slowly nodded.
“I didn’t come today to take the Young Master.”
Indeed, if it were meticulously kind him, he probably would have aimed for quitting time rather than arrival time. Then after letting them finish dinner together, a scenario where he’d bow his head and take him away would be more fitting. Hongdan replied with his gaze still fixed outside.
“Yes.”
“I have no intention of taking him in the future either.”
“Yes.”
“I also plan to do my utmost to prevent President Han from visiting you two.”
“…”
Hongdan’s lips, which had been responding earnestly, pressed together into a straight line again. At the sudden silence, Jaehyuk glanced at Hongdan.
“Hongdan?”
Because his head was turned, all he could see was a face faintly reflected in the car window. Nevertheless, Jaehyuk immediately realized his mistake.
Hongdan’s pupils were greatly dilated.
Jaehyuk knew well what that expression was a precursor to. He immediately stopped the car on the shoulder and apologized to Hongdan while rambling.
“Madam, I’m sorry. I misspoke. President Han is still abroad and I’ll probably be able to know the date of entry. Then I’ll hide you two for a while…”
“No.”
The incoherent apology was cut off by Hongdan’s brief gesture. And.
“There’s no need for that.”
He stated the conclusion he’d reached as soon as he heard the words “President Han.” His voice, fidgeting with the seatbelt and preparing to get out, was quite resolute.
“I have no intention of remarrying Seonha.”
“…”
“Much less do I intend to play at childish dating games.”
“Madam…”
“I’d also appreciate it if you’d stop calling me that now.”
Click. Finally, the seatbelt that had been holding Hongdan was released. Jaehyuk just watched Hongdan leaving his car—no, leaving Seonha. What was most regrettable was that he had no justification to hold him back further.
“You called me by my name well earlier, keep calling me that. Well, it would be best not to create situations to call me at all.”
Before pulling the handle, Hongdan briefly looked back at Jaehyuk. A bright smile hung on his lips. It was a smile that could only be seen in the early days of his married life with Seonha. For someone who’d just spoken a rejection, his face was contradictorily bright, but it couldn’t be denied that it suited him perfectly.
“No matter how much I like Seonha, I’m going to stop that stupid life now. Thank you for your concern.”
Thud. Hongdan got out of the car without hesitation. The door that hid his figure closed neatly.
***
I knew this would happen, damn it.
Was this déjà vu?
Gazes followed relentlessly everywhere he went. Just like the day news of Seonha’s accident first came. More than half drooping their eyebrows and whispering was also the same. Hongdan rather missed the venomously raised triangular eyes.
He wished they’d just treat it like it never happened.
These idiots didn’t know that what people who’d suffered injustice truly needed was precisely that kind of consideration.
“Hyuuung… They said you were sick from stress because of that bastard Cha Jaewon.”
Perhaps even this guy, whose eyes were welling with tears, didn’t know that public morality.
Still, since he wasn’t committing rudeness empty-handed, Hongdan decided to generously forgive Jaeon.
“Yeah. But I’m fine. Can’t you see I’ve gained weight?”
“Ah, what weight have you gained! You need to gain at least 10kg more.”
Ugh, my ears are going to fall off.
Hongdan tapped his ears, which had gone numb from the young man’s vigorous vocal cords. He’d probably have to endure that voice until lunchtime.
“Hey, you don’t know. How hard it is to gain 10kg on an omega.”
“Then starting today, come exercise with me. I’ll tell you all about the diet too.”
“Uhh, I already have a nutritionist at home…”
“Huh?”
Hongdan didn’t bother adding more explanation. He didn’t even know where to start, and in a situation where he’d become today’s top celebrity, revealing the fact of cohabitation with Seonha was absolutely out of the question. He turned his attention to the bright yellow paper bag in Jaeon’s hand.
“Hey, what’s that in your hand?”
“Ah, right! I came to give you this.”
Jaeon hurriedly took out what was inside. It was a clumsiness just like the guy at home. Hongdan let out a chuckle without realizing it.
“These are the most famous madeleines in our neighborhood, I waited two hours yesterday to buy them for you, hyung. You like sweet things. Relieve stress while eating and gain weight too.”
“That damn weight… Thanks, Jaeon. Did you eat one?”
“Of course. I had to check if it’s just Instagram viral or a real restaurant. I ate my fill, so hyung, eat all of these yourself, don’t give them to anyone else for no reason.”
“Okay, okay. Now go back to your team.”
“I was going to anyway. See you at lunch, hyung.”
“Yeah.”
Before leaving the office, Jaeon looked back once more. Then he wiggled his arms to the side, imitating a pot-bellied bear. It seemed like an extension of nagging he’d already heard to the point of boredom. Hongdan willingly nodded his head.
Anyway, so overdramatic.
Do alpha bastards always act like this…
“Ah.”
Without realizing it, he’d thought of Seonha again.
It was truly absurd. Just because he’d loosened a tightly tied knot a bit, emotions were surging like a bursting dam day by day. Should he give himself applause for having endured it for even a few weeks?
“It’s serious…”
Hongdan shook his head side to side and pressed his forehead. Then he smiled gently while looking at the bag placed on his desk.
“I should eat this together after dinner.”
***
“Hongdan, I’m going to shower!”
Having finished the dishes, Seonha waved his hand toward Hongdan sprawled on the sofa. Since it was a tiny house anyway, they could know what the other was doing as long as their eyes worked, but he always made these announcements like this. It looked a bit pathetic but was quite an endearing habit, so Hongdan nodded for now.
Then, the paper bag roughly placed on the sofa caught his eye. Hongdan hurriedly called Seonha.
“Ah, hey!”
“Hm?”
How cute.
With his eyes wide open and his bangs fluttering, he looked like a scene from a famous ion drink commercial. Like people who’d just started their first relationship, he wanted to gush for no reason. Hongdan subtly raised the corners of his mouth and hid his excited heart.
“I got a dessert as a gift, so brush your teeth later. Let’s eat this together.”
“Okay!”
Even his excited nodding at the suggestion was lively. Now he couldn’t tell if the guy had gone crazy or his own eyes were wrong. Honestly, it wasn’t very important either. Whichever it was, it was certain he wouldn’t return to normal for the time being. Today especially, he didn’t want to find his right mind.
‘…I didn’t come today to take the Young Master.’
Though it was a conversation short enough to count the number of sentences exchanged, Jaehyuk’s voice kept circling in his ears.
‘I have no intention of taking him in the future either.’
“Right. You wouldn’t.”
Hongdan gave a brief, bitter smile.
‘I also plan to do my utmost to prevent President Han from visiting you two.’
“You did try to stop it back then too.”
The image of Director Do with a split forehead from blocking Seonha’s mother throwing a nameplate at him on the day they first went to greet her was vivid. But Hongdan hadn’t known at the time that was only the beginning.
Bad things happened to people around him in succession, strangely enough. The servants who were somewhat friendly were invariably fired within a week, and Hyeonchan also had to quit his internship midway when his grades suddenly had problems and his graduation was delayed. On top of that, there were summons from his parents-in-law for no reason. As time passed, the mental pressure intensified, and at one point Hongdan was at the level of having a fit just from hearing her footsteps.
Then his immunity dropped and he even developed a petty allergy.
Hongdan shook his head vigorously. He didn’t have the confidence to endure that daily life again.
So he just planned to enjoy the given moment. He thought he’d have less regret that way when he was left alone later.
Drip. The resoundingly pouring water sound stopped. Hongdan immediately sat up. Then he fixed his eyes on the bathroom door. Soon, the person he’d been waiting for came out, shaking the moisture from his hair.
Seonha also seemed to notice Hongdan’s gaze and smiled brightly.
“Were you waiting for me?”
Hongdan nodded. Seeing that unchanged smile, the painful memories had scattered into the air before he knew it. Seonha was about to approach Hongdan when he discovered the bag placed beside him and turned his steps toward the kitchen.
“Ah, we said we’d eat a snack. I’ll bring forks and plates.”
“Huh? We can just eat with our hands though.”
“Your hands will get dirty. No.”
“Picky bastard.”
Seonha only smiled with his eyes even at Hongdan’s curse. Now he seemed to know the affection contained in it too.
While Seonha briefly disappeared, Hongdan turned his gaze to the bag.
His mouth happened to be bored, and he was curious about how amazing these madeleines that Jaeon had stood in line for two hours to buy were, so his hand moved on its own. Glancing at the busy kitchen, he carefully took out the contents.
“Ooh…”
Indeed.
A box that fit the bag size perfectly came out. Inside, individually wrapped madeleines shone in an appetizing golden color. Even wrapped in plastic, the savory butter scent was pungent enough to sting his nose. His mouth was gradually getting moist.
…Could I just tear it open and smell it for a bit?
He knew it was unseemly behavior, but he couldn’t resist. Hongdan was convinced that unless someone was a person who didn’t eat desserts at all, everyone would make the same choice as him before such a violent butter scent.
Rationalizing it that way, just as he was tearing open the wrapper.
“Hongdan, this is a plate I just bought today. It’s calm and pretty like you…”
Crash—!
A sharp shattering sound pierced Hongdan’s eardrums. While Hongdan was bewilderedly grasping the situation, Seonha snatched what was in his hand. The long shell-shaped madeleine was crushed in an instant.
“…What? Why are you doing that?”
“Did you eat it?”
Without answering Hongdan’s question, Seonha asked in a cold voice. His eyes were also more menacing than ever before.
At the unexpectedly intense reaction, Hongdan became slightly embarrassed and scratched the back of his head. Inwardly, he was also hurt that while Seonha had understood his running away, he couldn’t understand this one thing. Nevertheless, since he didn’t want to fight, he apologized first.
“No, I’m sorry for opening it first, but…”
But Seonha already seemed unable to hear Hongdan’s words.
“Did you eat it or not!”
It was a shout loud enough to echo through the house. With that, Hongdan’s patience, which had been barely holding on, also snapped. Hongdan scrunched up his face and stood up from his seat.
“Hey, even if I was rude, isn’t this a bit too much…!”
Then, a palm-sized piece of paper scattered carelessly over the sofa caught Hongdan’s eye.
‘Our brand makes desserts using only 100% pure honey instead of sugar. Rather than putting sweetness first, we focus on bringing out the natural texture of the ingredients.’
Honey…?
Ah.
He was worried about my allergy.
The honey allergy had appeared precisely because of stress from Seonha’s mother. Only then could Hongdan understand Seonha’s sudden behavior. When the allergic symptoms first occurred, it was none other than Seonha who’d carried him and ran directly to the emergency room…
…Huh?
“Wait a minute.”
Suddenly, a strange sense of déjà vu pierced through his head. Hongdan grabbed Seonha’s wrist. The back of Hongdan’s hand turned pale.
“Did your memory come back?”
