Utterly pathetic. To think he’d gone to sell watches and come back after just having sex in a car. Looking at his state, the phrase “there is no paradise where you flee” suddenly came to mind.
Hui-myeong was truly happy to meet Geum-gang again. So when he suddenly kissed him, his heart fluttered a little too.
But he never imagined they’d go all the way to penetrative sex. The old Geum-gang was someone whose speech was rough and blunt but his heart was kind. Though it was coercive, violent sex had been Hui-myeong’s daily life from his first experience until now, so it wasn’t new or scary. However, regret remained that if it was a relationship with someone he really liked, he wished it had been in a better place.
Hui-myeong let out a long sigh and turned on the shower. As hot water poured down with a whoosh, the numerous events that had happened during today felt like a dream. From the morning, having sex while being hit by Do-ha, going to his wedding venue and being harassed by Kang Yeong-mu, going back to find Geum-gang to mooch jajangmyeon and even having sex.
‘Contact me when your cock’s horny.’
He knew those words were mocking and condescending toward him. But Hui-myeong guessed that wasn’t 100 percent sincere.
Asking for money as payment for sex was out of spite. But he never expected he’d actually give it so readily. Nevertheless, his heart felt reassured for now. Though it wasn’t a large sum, he could take taxis as much as he wanted.
‘Why did he give so much?’
Maybe he still likes me? It was a far-fetched hope, but he wanted to cling to hope.
Hui-myeong still liked Geum-gang. More precisely, he couldn’t forget him. Not his blood relative mother, not Do-ha who’d been with him for 10 years—Hui-myeong hadn’t chosen either. But Geum-gang alone was the only person Hui-myeong had chosen himself. How many times had he dreamed of Geum-gang without Do-ha knowing?
‘Please still like me.’
While having pitiful thoughts, the number Geum-gang had written suddenly came to mind.
“Ah!”
He urgently opened his palm, but since it had already gotten wet, the last two digits were erased. Hui-myeong hastily turned off the shower and rushed outside. He had to copy it somewhere before it erased more, but in this moment the phone rang.
“Aah! Ah…!”
Just as he was frantically going around the house looking for his phone, the bell stopped. It was definitely Do-ha. There’d be trouble if he didn’t answer the phone. If he lost credibility from the first day, the next week would obviously become very exhausting.
‘He should still be on the plane.’
While calculating the time and about to pick up the phone, the doorbell suddenly rang.
‘Who is it?’
Not only was there no one who would visit, but this place had such strict security that unregistered people were blocked from the entrance. Moreover, since Hui-myeong was alone in the house, there was no one who would visit at this hour of night.
Hui-myeong hastily put on a bathrobe while checking the monitor. Though the face wasn’t clearly visible, judging by the build, it was Section Chief Kim.
‘What?’
He felt bad as if a nuisance had come on a quiet night. While grumbling inwardly, before Hui-myeong could even approach the door, the door lock was released and Section Chief Kim barged in.
“Why?”
Startled, Hui-myeong wrapped his body tightly with the bathrobe and asked bluntly. As soon as Section Chief Kim saw Hui-myeong, he exhaled lowly and continued his call.
“He’s at home. It seems he was taking a shower. Yes, I’ll transfer you.”
Section Chief Kim handed the phone to Hui-myeong. Obviously it was Do-ha. Since Hui-myeong didn’t answer the phone, he must have instructed Section Chief Kim to check.
“Yeah. Why?”
—Why didn’t you answer the phone?
“I was taking a bath.”
—Did you fucking bathe for two hours?
He’d called for two hours. Since he’d entered the bathroom as soon as he came home, he hadn’t even checked the bell sound, let alone the missed call list.
“Sorry. I was tired and fell asleep in the tub. You tormented me until this morning.”
—Haa… First send Section Chief Kim away and call me.
“Okay.”
After answering briefly, Hui-myeong handed the phone to Section Chief Kim. Without exchanging more than a few words with Do-ha, he hung up, greeted Hui-myeong, and disappeared.
Hui-myeong brought his phone while dripping water from his hair.
『69 Missed Calls』
“Crazy bastard.”
As soon as he saw the text on the screen, Hui-myeong cursed.
Tiresome Do-ha. But if he didn’t call right away, it was obvious he’d pour out curses. Having no choice, Hui-myeong calmed his mind and pressed the call button.
‘At least I didn’t get caught.’
Incongruously with the curse he’d just made, the name ‘Beloved Do-ha’ appeared on the screen. He didn’t know if this trembling was also love, but. Before the ringtone could sound a few times, he answered the phone.
“I’m sorry. I was bathing without even looking at my phone, naturally thinking you’d be on the plane. I was so tired I completely fell asleep.”
As naturally as possible. Since he did this often, it wasn’t that difficult.
—I’m in Shanghai right now. The schedule changed so I’ll go via here.
Do-ha’s voice heard through the receiver was still cold. Though he didn’t seem to be in a very good mood, seeing he didn’t ask anymore, he seemed to believe Hui-myeong’s excuse. Thinking of what he’d done all last night, it wouldn’t be strange to have fallen asleep in the bath. Not just his body but he was also very mentally exhausted.
“I see. Wasn’t the flight tiring?”
—It’s Shanghai, so it only took two hours.
Right. What would be tiring about taking business class for just two hours? But when he worried like this, Do-ha’s mood cleared up faster. He was relieved that he was overseas at least. If contact hadn’t been made when he was at Incheon Airport, he might have rushed over immediately and grabbed Hui-myeong’s hair and slammed him down.
“You left too many marks this morning. It seems like they’ll last quite a while.”
Hui-myeong said while touching his neck where red marks remained. It was the spot where Do-ha’s lips and Geum-gang’s lips had overlapped in succession.
—Did you think I’d leave you pristinely white when I’m away for a whole week?
Hui-myeong smiled bitterly. Leaving a kiss mark in the most visible place was a kind of brand. It was to prevent him from comfortably going out. He could go out with patches on, but that would also draw people’s attention. Thanks to that, his vulgarity was also exposed to Geum-gang, so it was effective.
“I don’t feel well. My bottom is all swollen, and I think I have a fever. Can I skip exercise tomorrow?”
—Don’t go, stay home.
At Hui-myeong saying he’d stay home, Do-ha answered in a somewhat relieved tone.
—Yeong-mu or the other guys didn’t talk nonsense again, did they?
“No. I went straight home so I didn’t run into the other guys.”
—I won’t be going to Mad Hat for a while. There’s nothing to gain from meeting those bastards.
“Okay. Actually, I didn’t like that place either.”
—Stay proper. Don’t get caught going around frivolously.
“I will. Have a safe trip. I’ll be fine. I miss you, Do-ha-ya.”
At Hui-myeong’s words, his faint laughter could be heard over the phone. Simple bastard. To think his mood clears with just this much.
—I’m boarding the plane now. I love you, Jung Hui-myeong.
It was an affectionate voice as if he’d completely forgotten about slapping him twice on the cheek. When he pours out this much love, why is hitting so easy? But treating him better after hitting was his long-standing habit. It could be his way of making up for it, or a way to relieve guilt. If they’d been in Korea together, he probably would have taken him to a department store and spent tens of millions of won.
“I love you, Do-ha-ya.”
Hui-myeong made the habitual confession and hung up. Just as he was letting out a sigh of relief, the erased phone number on his palm suddenly came to mind.
“Ah!”
Fortunately, this time only the 010 at the front had faded. Hui-myeong hurriedly wrote down the remaining six digits excluding 010 in his phone’s memo. It was so that even if Do-ha saw it, it wouldn’t look like a phone number. He held his palm up to a bright light, but there was no trace of the two erased digits.
What were the last two digits?
He closed his eyes and tried to recall the moment Geum-gang had written it down.
When writing the last two digits, it seemed like he was drawing a round circle. Then it was either 6 or 0. Even that wasn’t certain, and he couldn’t remember the last digit at all.
Let’s try gradually.
Hui-myeong crouched down under the sofa while wearing his shower gown.
Until this morning, he’d definitely wanted to leave Korea by any means necessary. But after meeting Geum-gang, that desire disappeared. If he could see Geum-gang, staying in Korea wasn’t a bad choice either.
Running away when I’m just this level of person.
