“It’s gotten very late. I’ll see you again next time.”
“Yes, Director-nim. Please be careful going home.”
Seojun and President Kim bowed to Seokhyeon.
“Seojun-ah, you did well today.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“With Director Jang. He’s a really nice person. Though he has some picky aspects. As expected, Choi Seojun. Worthy of being a ten-million-viewer actor.”
“What…. Director Jang seems like a really nice person.”
Seojun recalled his conversation with Seokhyeon throughout the ride home in the president’s car. Divorced. Could the mistake he mentioned be referring to an ex-lover after all?
“Soohyun-ssi. I’m home.”
“Seojun-ssi. You’re late.”
Even though it was almost midnight, he was happy to see Soohyun, who hadn’t slept and waited for him. As soon as Seojun entered the house, he hugged Soohyun and took a big breath in.
“You… drank.”
“Yes. I met an investor.”
“You must be tired. Wash up and sleep.”
“Can’t Soohyun-ssi help me a little?”
At Seojun’s whining, Soohyun let out a shallow sigh and led him to the bedroom, saying okay. Seojun smiled pleasantly and hugged Soohyun’s waist.
“I really like you so much. Soohyun-ssi.”
Instead of answering, Soohyun very lightly patted Seojun’s butt.
“Wash up and come out.”
Seojun grabbed the arm of Soohyun, who was trying to leave after pushing him into the bathroom.
“I’m too drunk to do it. Soohyun-ssi, help me.”
Watching his face smiling with even the corners of his eyes folding, Soohyun let out another shallow sigh.
“Okay.”
* * *
“Choi Seojun… nothing special.”
After finishing the meeting with Seojun and President Kim, Seokhyeon’s face turned and cooled coldly. The first man who got entangled with Soohyun, who couldn’t even leave the house for five years, was Choi Seojun. Seokhyeon trembled with his clenched fists.
“Director-nim, shall I take you home?”
“…Okay.”
He didn’t think from the beginning that the brat Kim Chaeho would be his match. Because of that, Seokhyeon didn’t pay much attention even though he knew Soohyun had been close with him all this time. Seokhyeon had watched for the past five years as Soohyun lived curled up in a shabby rooftop room.
“Lee Soohyun… Lee Soohyun… Lee Soohyun….”
Five years had passed, yet the beautiful face that drove him crazy remained the same, and his heart that had briefly calmed down boiled up again. The face that looked deathly dry wasn’t bad either, but the face with an appropriate amount of flesh and a faint smile made Seokhyeon’s frozen heart beat again.
“Secretary Lee, is there any change regarding Lee Soohyun?”
“…There’s nothing significantly different since the last report. Except for when he goes shopping, he seems to hardly go outside.”
“…I see.”
Seokhyeon’s face crumpled viciously. It was better when Soohyun was living in the rooftop room. That place was at least easy to monitor. He had once thought about enticing the rooftop room owners and buying the entire building, but if he did something like that, it seemed like Soohyun would hide tightly in a place no one knew.
‘Lee Soohyun-ssi has started going outside.’
‘What? For what reason? Isn’t he going to the hospital?’
Except for going to the hospital with Kim Chaeho, Soohyun, who almost never went outside, started going out alone a few months ago. At first he thought he was going to the hospital, but the place Soohyun arrived at after walking for nearly two hours was surprisingly the ‘Omega Home Care Service Center.’
‘Omega Home Care Service Center?’
‘That’s correct.’
‘Lee Soohyun is working at such a place? This is driving me crazy.’
Even though five years had passed, Seokhyeon still remembered everything about Soohyun. There was nothing about him that wasn’t beautiful. His affectionate smile and calm voice, and even his pretty body without a single irritating spot.
There was only one thing Soohyun lacked.
Pheromones.
It was also what Seokhyeon craved so much.
“Fuck… Choi Seojun….”
Seokhyeon had hovered around Soohyun for five years waiting for him. For him to come out into the world on his own, so that when he reached out his hand again, he would take it. He was thinking of pleading that everything back then was a mistake, that they could start over again.
“Director-nim. We’ve arrived.”
“Okay. Good work.”
Getting out of the car, Seokhyeon opened the envelope of documents he received from his secretary in the elevator going up to his home. Inside were many photos of when Soohyun and Seojun went to P City. Watching a movie at a drive-in theater, hugging each other and kissing….
The tendons on Seokhyeon’s neck bulged as he gripped the photos.
“Fuck!!! Lee Soohyun!! Choi Seojun!!”
He should have just locked him up then. The marriage that was only in name anyway, if it was for Soohyun, he might have been able to sort it out sooner. Seokhyeon burned inside thinking about Soohyun, who had slipped out of his hands while he was off guard.
“How dare you, Choi Seojun, someone like you…. Soohyun… my Soohyun….”
Seokhyeon recalled when he first met Soohyun five years ago. That appearance standing in front of the POS machine with an indifferent face, wearing a black apron on a plain face without a speck of makeup, still vividly lingered.
“Why only you… why won’t only you go according to my will?”
Coming into his home, Seokhyeon took out the photo album of Soohyun he had collected and organized all this time, and slowly flipped through it. From five years ago to the most recent—that is, up to the images of Soohyun after he started living at Seojun’s house.
In each surprisingly clear photo, Soohyun’s expression was printed. Sometimes depressed, sometimes crying. Most of the photos until now were like that. However, in Soohyun’s face from the past few months hung a pretty smile he wouldn’t want to show anyone.
“This… when you’re this pretty…. Soohyun-ah.”
Seokhyeon called his name in a creepily affectionate way.
* * *
“Seojun-ssi. Get up now.”
“Just a little more….”
Having washed and put to bed Seojun, who had gotten drunk last night, Soohyun shook him as he couldn’t quite get up.
“If you don’t have to go out today, sleep more.”
“No…. I have to go out…. I have to prepare for the movie too… eunng….”
“A movie?”
“A movie. I decided to do a new one.”
Soohyun realized anew that Seojun was an actor.
“So… I need to build up my body again too… Anyway, there are some things I need to prepare.”
“…I made bean sprout soup.”
“Hehe….”
Seojun covered himself with the blanket and started laughing like an idiot. Soohyun held the edge of the blanket and then opened his eyes wide.
“Really… I need to get up quickly.”
Seojun, who quickly got up, pulled Soohyun’s waist into an embrace.
“I met an investor yesterday.”
“Ah, you said you would.”
“He said this. That it’s better to date when you’re even one year younger.”
“……”
“I’m glad I was honest. I’m so happy I think my head might go crazy.”
Seojun looked at Soohyun and grinned foolishly. Although he had never actively expressed it, after noticing that Soohyun also had some feelings for him, he had been laughing like an idiot more often.
“Today I’ll work out. And set up a training schedule and come back. I’ll come early.”
“Okay….”
“Should we have a date at home? You had fun dancing last time. Or should we watch a movie?”
Does he know he has a habit of his mouth twitching when he’s thinking about something? Seojun waited for his answer while observing the finely trembling mouth.
“Waltz. I want to learn more.”
“Okay. Then I’ll teach you again later.”
Before heading to the bathroom, Seojun blew a kiss on Soohyun’s lips. His surprise kisses were always happening, so Soohyun wasn’t flustered at all and turned around to head to the kitchen.
* * *
“Director-nim, this is Lee Soohyun-ssi’s medical records you talked about last time.”
“Good. Good work.”
Seokhyeon sat at his desk and began examining the contents of the envelope the secretary brought. It was a document meticulously recording Soohyun’s diagnosis, prescribed medication, and even counseling records.
