Soohyun bit his lip. There was nothing wrong with Jang Seokhyeon’s words. Soohyun had always been concerned about that part too. The reason Soohyun couldn’t go out often was partly due to health reasons, but the bigger reason was Seojun.
“If that happens…”
“If that happens?”
A smile bloomed on Jang Seokhyeon’s face again. It was a face as if he had won.
“…I’ll just leave. Since I don’t have any relationship with that Choi Seojun person anyway. I just temporarily switched to live-in because I lost the place I was living. I was planning to leave once I saved up money. And even if I leave there, I will never come back to you.”
“Hoo… Soohyun-ah, really?”
Soohyun’s sigh was deep. It’s not like there are only one or two people who use the home care service center… Considering what Seojun had built up, Soohyun thought this would be enough to settle the matter. Also, except for the story about his relationship with Seojun, everything was true. He had suddenly been kicked out of the rooftop room, and Seojun, who knew him, had suggested switching to live-in.
“Yes. Really. After what happened with you.”
“…”
“If it’s an alpha… I’m really sick and tired of them.”
“So you’re saying, Soohyun. You don’t care what happens to Choi Seojun?”
At Seokhyeon’s question, Soohyun was silent for a moment, then parted his lips very slowly. This was the last part.
“Yes, I don’t… care.”
Unlike last time, this time Soohyun got up from his seat before Jang Seokhyeon. Seokhyeon’s fierce gaze resembled a beast that seemed like it would bite and shake his nape, but Soohyun didn’t tremble. To be precise, he hid his trembling hands well.
‘It’s okay. It’s okay, this should do it.’
If he could make him believe that the card he had was actually useless, and that even if he used it, he would never go to him, wouldn’t both Seojun and himself be safe? Today’s event was a kind of gamble for Soohyun.
It was a small revenge toward him who knew himself as quite an important figure, and who couldn’t rest easy unless things went his way, and it was also Soohyun’s own small rebellion that he could no longer shake him as he pleased.
‘Even if that photo is released… I’ll just make it all my fault. Nothing will happen to hurt that person.’
If Seojun would suffer because of him, Soohyun was willing to take responsibility. That he was greedy for money, that he coveted what he had, that he intentionally approached him and seduced him. It would be okay to add one more piece of filth to a life that was already a swamp.
One, two, three,
Soohyun walked slowly to Seojun’s house. What food should he make for him today? What affectionate words should he say to him who would return smiling as always? As long as he loved him right now, this moment was precious, and just as he thought of him, Soohyun also wanted to do something for him.
Although he didn’t have much.
* * *
‘Our Soohyun… has changed a lot.’
Even after Soohyun left, Seokhyeon remained in his seat, staring at where Soohyun had left. His pitiful eyes full of fear were also quite lovely… Unlike the Soohyun he knew before, today he was very confident and unwavering. Although he trembled very weakly in his hands and feet, it wasn’t as much as when they reunited at Seojun’s house.
‘You’re not in a deep relationship with Choi Seojun? How cute…’
Seokhyeon was dying of ridiculousness at Soohyun telling him lies so confidently in front of him. I’ve watched you longer than anyone else. How could I not know whether your gaze is true or false?
Because you once looked at me with those eyes too.
“Fuck…”
Thinking of Soohyun who said he wouldn’t come back to him even if his relationship with Seojun was exposed, Seokhyeon nervously flicked his fingers. That Choi Seojun guy must be completely fallen for Soohyun. How could he perfectly isolate Soohyun? So that he would have no choice but to come back to him. Seokhyeon counted on his fingers and thought of several moves.
“For now… shall I keep it simple?”
Seokhyeon took out his cell phone from his pocket and pressed the call button.
“It’s me. That thing I mentioned before. Proceed with it. Don’t release everything. About half? Pick the ones with only Choi Seojun.”
Seokhyeon decided to check the relationship between Soohyun and Seojun once more. Because, as Soohyun said, it might be only Seojun’s one-sided feelings. If even a small crack appeared in Seojun’s career, he became curious about what reaction the two would show.
“Right. Because I have plenty of time, Soohyun-ah.”
After finishing the call, Seokhyeon checked his face reflected in the glass window.
“As expected… the one who suits you is someone like me. Right?”
A passerby outside the window who made eye contact with Seokhyeon smiled shyly.
* * *
‘Huh…? That person is?’
Jinwoo, who came out for a meeting, encountered an unexpected person. To be precise, he didn’t encounter them but discovered them. Although it had only been a few months, because of his particularly noticeable appearance, Jinwoo recognized that the person inside the store was ‘Lee Soohyun.’
‘But the person he’s meeting…?’
The person sitting across from Soohyun was someone Jinwoo also knew well. It was Director Jang Seokhyeon of H Pharmaceuticals, who had recently been spending time with Seojun as an investor in the movie Seojun was about to film.
‘Why is Lee Soohyun-ssi meeting Director Jang?’
Because the two were people who couldn’t possibly have any connection no matter how much he thought about it, Jinwoo tilted his head. Thinking he might have seen the wrong person, he approached the window and checked the two people’s faces. It was definitely Soohyun and Seokhyeon.
‘That’s strange… Were they originally acquainted? I should ask Seojun about it later.’
Thinking that Seojun, who knew both Seokhyeon and Soohyun, might know something, Jinwoo recorded the place and time where the two were meeting in his notebook, as was his habit. Jinwoo, who always had to keep track of the actor’s schedule, would jot down something whenever there was something to remember, and although he thought the two’s meeting might not be a big deal, it strangely bothered him.
“Oops, I’m late. Let’s hurry!”
Realizing there wasn’t much time left until the appointment, Jinwoo hurried his steps.
* * *
Trrr-Trrrr-
“Mm, mmm…”
Trrrr-Trrrr-
Seojun fumbled around the bedside. It must be the sound from his cell phone. It was just past 6 AM; who would be calling? Seojun embraced the soundly sleeping Soohyun beside him and pressed the call button.
“Hel…lo?”
—Seojun-ah! What are you doing? Are you sleeping?
“Uh… hyung…, of course I’m sleeping right now. It’s this early.”
—There’s big trouble. Check the site I sent you right now! Quickly!
“Huh?”
At Jinwoo’s voice filled with urgency, Seojun collected himself and checked the message.
—Seojun-ah, what is this? What happened?
—The company is in chaos right now! Who is this person?
With an ominous feeling at the few lines of messages Jinwoo left, Seojun touched the link. Squinting his eyes still drowsy from sleep, Seojun checked the article posted on the main page of Company D, notorious for digging into celebrities’ private lives.
‘Film actor Choi Seojun’s secret rendezvous’
‘Is Choi Seojun’s secret partner an omega?’
“…!!”
Seojun’s eyes widened as he looked at the photos posted in the article. There were pictures from when he went to play in P City with Soohyun. The scenes of him kissing Soohyun and embracing him were too clear.
‘This doesn’t… make sense. What… the hell is this?!’
Although Soohyun’s face didn’t show, his own face in the photo was clear enough that it was difficult to deny.
“Seojun-ssi? What’s… wrong?”
Soohyun asked Seojun with a drowsy face. Seojun quickly put down his cell phone and said it was nothing while patting his back. He didn’t want to give Soohyun, who had just begun to open his heart, unnecessary worries.
“It’s nothing. The company urgently contacted me. Soohyun-ssi should rest more. I think I need to go out now.”
Despite Seojun’s dissuasion, Soohyun got up. Going to the company at such an early hour. With an ominous feeling that it must not be an ordinary matter, Soohyun urgently grabbed Seojun’s hand as he was trying to get out of bed.
“Seojun-ssi, is something wrong? What’s the matter?”
For a moment, Soohyun recalled the conversation he had with Seokhyeon yesterday. Could that vicious man have already done something? Soohyun’s hand trembled without him knowing.
“No. Soohyun-ssi, you don’t need to worry. Really. I’ll be back soon. I’ll call you, so stay home. Okay?”
“Seojun-ssi…”
Seojun washed his face roughly and went into the bathroom. Soohyun quietly went out, brought in his cell phone, and typed Seojun’s name in the search bar.
“Oh, my God…”
Soohyun’s pupils shook greatly as he saw the scandal articles about Seojun poured out by various media. Covering his mouth, he touched the top article with trembling hands.
“How could this…”
