On one hand, he was also startled with fear. In the dream, it said Siyeon was a dangerous person. But with just Heegang alone, things had become this chaotic.
Since Siyeon now knew he wasn’t Narae, what else might happen……
If even he learned the truth and left him.
That fear momentarily faded with Siyeon’s next words.
“I’m just, I’m just glad hyung is safe.”
Those words contained deeper sincerity than anything else. Enough for Wonyoung to feel it too.
“And never again, don’t pull crazy shit like this.”
“……Yeah.”
I hope at least you don’t get hurt.
Lost in thought, Wonyoung belatedly recalled something and asked.
“Is Junseok-ssi okay?”
“Yeah, he wasn’t badly hurt. He’s healthy enough to make a fuss about sister-in-law this and that, anyway saying we have to rescue hyung.”
“……Haha.”
Wonyoung ended up laughing a little. His eyes stung for no reason.
“Siyeon, you know what?”
“What?”
“……My name. It’s actually Wonyoung. Heo Wonyoung.”
Then Siyeon, who murmured “Ah,” smiled and said.
“Then you’re Wonyoung-hyung.”
“……”
“Wonyoung-hyung.”
That calling somehow made him choke up, so instead of answering, Wonyoung quietly rested his head on Siyeon’s shoulder.
For the first time, he thought he should end this game.
* * *
‘Ah, I left my umbrella behind.’
Having just finished his part-time job and exited the store, Wonyoung sighed at the pouring rain.
But then someone held an umbrella over him. When he raised his head, a tall, handsome man stood there receiving everyone’s attention.
“Taerim-ssi?”
“Why haven’t you been buying the 7,000 won galbi lunch box lately?”
“……”
Wonyoung let out a small laugh. At that sight, Taerim’s lips also curved up faintly.
“Let’s go, to dinner.”
“What? Suddenly?”
“When have I ever done anything after giving notice?”
“……You’re quite good at self-objectification……”
“What did you say?”
“Ah, nothing.”
Wonyoung feigned innocence and walked ahead, then got grabbed by the back of his neck by Taerim.
“Not that way.”
“……”
Damn directionally-challenged Narae. Wonyoung grumbled like that, but it was originally Wonyoung’s fault for going ahead without even knowing the destination.
The place the two arrived at under the large umbrella like that was Taerim’s officetel.
“Here…… it’s been a while.”
As Wonyoung looked up at the building intently, Taerim pulled him along.
“I’m thinking of cooking the beef steak you like. Let’s go up.”
Wonyoung obediently followed Taerim into the unit where he lived. It was still a clean and classy space.
“There’s a…… scent?”
When Wonyoung opened his mouth like that, having suddenly caught a subtle fragrance like wood and grass, Taerim said.
“I thought about it. Even if I can’t smell it, I thought maybe someone would be happy smelling the scent.”
“……”
Wonyoung’s face reddened a little.
[Who is that someone? (。・ω・。)?]
[Could that be me? ☆￣(＞。☆)]
Getting cocky, again.
Wonyoung summoned the System.
“Eek! Again?!”
“Bite down hard.”
Bang! Bang! Crash!
Wonyoung magnificently smashed the choices and tossed the System aside.
“Go away, enough.”
“Hiiing……”
“Tsk.”
These days the System was truly speechless with grievances. Not only had it failed to erase Heegang’s memory or Siyeon’s memory, the game was still unstable as well. So Wonyoung took advantage of the System whenever he had time.
The System, used as a hammer again today, disappeared whimpering and sniffling.
Eventually when time started moving again, Wonyoung spoke instead of choosing an option.
“……The scent is nice.”
At those words, hearts popped up from Taerim, who turned his head slightly. Now Taerim’s affection was at 689. Wonyoung checked the affection where Taerim couldn’t see. Now, just a little more.
“Shall I help?”
When he approached Taerim, who was wearing an apron, and asked, he readily agreed.
“I’d appreciate that.”
“But as you know, I’m not good at cooking.”
“Then come here and cook the garnish. I’ll do the main dish.”
“Um…… okay.”
Right, even I can grill vegetables. Wonyoung confidently stood in front of the frying pan.
Fortunately, the vegetables had all been prepared so they just needed to be cooked.
Wonyoung placed asparagus, carrots, cherry tomatoes, etc. on the pan. Properly speaking, garnish should be grilled until nicely browned, with a slightly burnt appearance……
“It’s on fire, Rae-ssi.”
“Aack!”
“Wait, that’s wine……”
Startled and trying to pour water, Wonyoung poured wine on the burning pan. Whoosh, flames shot up.
“Aaaaaack!”
Sizzle, Taerim hurriedly poured water and fortunately the fire went out. Of course, all the vegetables looked like drowned rats.
“……”
“That was a magnificent fire show.”
“Don’t tease me.”
Wonyoung shot back sullenly, then prepared again and carefully placed vegetables on the pan. Fortunately, they didn’t burn this time. Though they were a bit undercooked. Wonyoung held out a carrot to Taerim, telling him to taste it. The affection went up a bit more.
“It’s edible.”
Taerim said while crunching on the carrot Wonyoung offered. Wonyoung was grateful this chaebol prince had strong teeth.
“The steak seems about done too. You said well-done, right?”
“Yeah…… well.”
He didn’t know why, but apparently Abangsu couldn’t eat raw things. Though he ate sashimi just fine, it was absurd.
As Wonyoung grumbled inwardly, Taerim, who had plated the steak and garnish, suggested.
“Let’s eat outside today.”
“Outside?”
The place Taerim pointed to with his chin was the living room balcony. A table was already set there.
“Hasn’t the weather warmed up quite a bit? I put out a heater, so eating while viewing the night scenery should be nice. Here, there’s a blanket too. Well, if you’re cold we can go inside.”
“……Sounds good.”
It seemed like he’d already prepared everything, so there was no reason to refuse. No, today he would agree to whatever Taerim said.
Wonyoung wrapped himself in the blanket and came out to the balcony through the living room window. The sparkling buildings and river were elegant.
“Are you cold?”
“No, it’s just right.”
“Then let’s sit.”
Taerim, who pulled out a chair for Wonyoung, told him to wait a moment and went into the living room then came back out. Elegant classical music flowed from the turntable in the living room.
“This really feels like a restaurant now. It’s nice being rich.”
“Now you’re just saying whatever.”
“I don’t need to look good. I quit being a spy too.”
Wonyoung knew that Taerim liked this bold side of him more. He knew it, and was using it. Then Taerim propped his chin and asked, “Hmm.”
“Do you really not need to look good?”
“……What?”
At Wonyoung’s question back, Taerim smiled slyly instead of explaining. He was so charming that that man seemed to shine more than the buildings and river below.
“There might be…… a need to……”
At Wonyoung’s ambiguous answer with reddened ears, Taerim chuckled and switched his own plate with the cut meat to Wonyoung’s plate. He was a man whose ingrained manners showed.
So probably, he would surely be a good lover to anyone.
“I’ll eat well.”
The meat was somehow tender and delicious despite being well-done. Should he say he could feel a deep flavor different from raw meat? So Wonyoung was dumbfounded.
Now even good at cooking on top of everything? When he can’t even smell? Kyung Taerim was truly over-spec’d.
Setting aside being wonderful, as a fellow elite(?), he was a person who made him jealous.
“How is it?”
As if reading Wonyoung’s mind completely, Taerim asked like that. Wonyoung’s pride was hurt but he answered honestly.
“It’s delicious……”
“But why are your cheeks puffed up like that again?”
“……It’s a cavity.”
Wonyoung answered bluntly. Taerim laughed again at who knows what. Then hearts rose up again.
Wonyoung quickly checked the affection window.
Kyung Taerim
701/999
‘……It’s over 700.’
Wonyoung looked at Taerim. When their eyes met, Taerim looked back at him as if asking what’s wrong.
He came all the way here to say this. To say this…… from the beginning, until now.
Now he just had to end it. End it.
End it with this man.
An eternity of hesitation passed like a moment. Eventually Wonyoung’s lips opened.
“Shall we date?”
It was impulsive, but calculated words. His heart beat uncontrollably. Taerim widened his eyes slightly, then slowly put down his fork and knife. Each of those actions wore on Wonyoung.
Finally, the words Taerim brought out were an answer Wonyoung had never expected at all.
“Shall we dance a waltz?”
“What?”
“I’ll answer after that.”
Taerim said that, then stood up and held out his hand to Wonyoung. Just then, Tchaikovsky’s waltz was flowing from the turntable.
He has to dance to get an answer.
……Could this even be a final farewell?
Wonyoung thought self-deprecatingly but still took Taerim’s hand. There was no reason to refuse…… no, he didn’t want to refuse.
Like that, Wonyoung and Taerim held hands and faced each other.
Fortunately, the balcony was wide enough for two men to dance.
“But I don’t know how to dance.”
“Being confident is enough. Just follow me.”
Taerim led Wonyoung with elegant movements. It would have been much more wonderful if Wonyoung hadn’t been half-dragged along by him while continuously stepping on his feet.
“Oh, I’m sorry……”
“Is this the eighth time?”
“……”
Looking at Taerim smiling mischievously, Wonyoung made a displeased expression. Then suddenly, his heart ached thinking whether even this smile would be the end.
But the next moment, Taerim turned sharply and Wonyoung was drawn into his embrace. And Taerim wrapped both arms around him so Wonyoung couldn’t escape from his embrace.
“What are you doing……”
“Just because.”
“……”
As Wonyoung quietly stayed in his embrace thinking even this would soon end, Taerim spoke as if remembering.
“Oh right, you asked to date. I’m sorry but no.”
“What did you say?”
For a moment Wonyoung’s mind went blank. He’s refusing? Then what about the ending? Can this be happening?
“That’s the first time I’ve received such a meaningless confession. Do I look that easy to you, Rae-ssi?”
Taerim was smiling shamelessly. He should be angry at that sight. He was trying to reach an ending.
And yet why…… why did he strangely feel relieved?
Wonyoung felt just a little bit like laughing. It was a sensation of a strange warmth spreading from his chest.
Eventually Taerim put away his laughter and opened his mouth seriously.
“I want you to love me. I want you to desire me desperately. I hope your throat burns, your heart melts with longing, and your chest tightens.”
“……”
“Until that happens, I don’t want to accept your confession.”
“……It wasn’t meaningless.”
It wasn’t meaningless. This was for everyone’s sake. This game needed to end already. But……
‘Does this give me a little reprieve? Should I…… be happy? Should I be sad?’
Taerim’s voice reached the ears of the self-deprecating Wonyoung.
“There’s still plenty of time. I don’t know what’s making you anxious, but you will come to love me. So wait a little longer.”
“……What tremendous confidence.”
Wonyoung, who let out a small laugh without realizing it, suddenly asked.
“But why haven’t you asked anything all day?”
“Asked what?”
“I kept avoiding Taerim-ssi, didn’t contact you, suddenly appeared but you didn’t say anything strange…… I acted like there was a funeral all day.”
“Do you want me to ask?”
“……”
He didn’t. He hoped he wouldn’t ask anything more. At least just Taerim.
“Did something difficult happen, Rae-ssi?”
But what on earth could it be? The moment Taerim asked like that, tears poured from Wonyoung’s eyes.
“Ugh……”
The tears were uncontrollable. Wonyoung didn’t know if he’d originally been such a crybaby, or if he’d become a crybaby because of Narae. Until now there had been no occasions to form deep relationships with anyone, or to be happy or sad because of them.
Wonyoung no longer knew what to do. Even the rational thinking he’d been so proud of was useless in front of emotions between people.
He didn’t want to part with anyone. But as time passed, things just kept going wrong. Both himself and the three men.
As long as he was Heo Wonyoung, he would only hurt those precious to him. That made Wonyoung so sad and frustrated.
Taerim silently patted the back of the sobbing Wonyoung. As if to cry as much as he wanted, offering his embrace.
Wonyoung cried out loud like that for a long time.
Hoping even one thorn embedded in his heart would be pulled out.
