Chapter 42: Chapter 42.
Chapter 42.
Siwoo was waiting for Shin Kim in the lobby. He was shivering in the cold and when he saw Shin get off the elevator, he smiled and yelled, “Gosh! It’s so cold, you idiot! Why are you so late?”
Everyone in the lobby stared at Siwoo, including Yeonwoo, who was in the elevator with Shin. She asked Shin, “Shin oppa, who is that?”
“Why do you ask?”
“He is so hot! Is he an idol or something?”
Siwoo was street casted several times when he was in high school because of his looks. He was famous for it in school. Indeed, Siwoo was tall, slim, and gorgeous, but he wasn’t interested in becoming a celebrity, so he never took up the offers from the agencies. Siwoo enjoyed dressing well and loved attention from others, so it would’ve been a perfect job for him. When Shin asked why he didn’t go for it, Siwoo replied, “You know I like men. I want to be able to date freely.”
Shin replied to Yeonwoo, “I think he is too old to be an idol.”
“Is he your friend?”
“Yeah. He is the same age as me.”
“OMG, he looks so young.”
“You just insulted me, didn’t you?”
Shin grinned and waved at Yeonwoo. He then walked to Siwoo quickly, wanting to leave the lobby as soon as possible. Siwoo was making a scene and Shin didn’t want to get any unnecessary attention from his co-workers. He was also afraid his female colleagues might ask him to introduce them to Siwoo.
Shin quickly grabbed Siwoo’s wrist and pulled him towards the main entrance. He thought he heard some people whispering behind him, but Shin ignored them. He had to leave right now….
Then suddenly, Siwoo smiled and put his arm around Shin’s shoulder. Siwoo exclaimed, “Oh my! Look at you, Shin Kim, in your suit! Are you wearing a white business shirt and a tie?”
“Let’s get out of here right now.”
“Look at that coat too! Your shoulders are so broad, I’m going to get a nosebleed.”
Shin was holding his coat, and suddenly, Siwoo grabbed it from his hand and opened it. He waited.
Shin asked in confusion, “What are you doing?”
“I will help you into the coat. Turn around.”
“Stop. Don’t bother.”
But Siwoo was a very stubborn man. Shin knew they wouldn’t leave until Siwoo got his way, so Shin turned around. Siwoo carefully helped him with each sleeve. To others, it looked like Siwoo could be Shin’s boyfriend.
Shin said to him, “If you act like that here, people are going to talk. They are going to think we are together.”
“Well, maybe they aren’t wrong!”
“… You are a crazy bastard.”
“Exactly. That is why Chef Kim is totally in love with me.”
Siwoo smiled quizzically, making Shin laugh. He laughed out loud and asked, “Whatever. What do you want to eat for dinner?”
“I am so sick of Chef Kim’s food. He cooks too healthy.”
“So what do you want?”
“Bad food and alcohol. Let’s go get some Chinese food!”
Siwoo was very honest about his needs and desires. Shin suddenly thought of Woojin, which was strange because Siwoo and Woojin were completely different. It seemed that Shin couldn’t stop thinking about Woojin.
Siwoo was very quick. He asked, “You are thinking about someone, aren’t you?”
“Such a sneak.”
“Haha, are you thinking about HIM?”
“Yes.”
“Man, you are too honest, Shin Kim.”
Shin and Siwoo were very similar, and one of these similarities was their honesty. Perhaps this was why they became close.
They left through the main entrance. They just walked out of the lobby when suddenly, Shin felt two people staring at him.
“Huh?”
It was Jihoon Kang. And beside him was Woojin Choi.
Siwoo seemed to notice the tension. He whispered, “Oh?”
Jihoon glanced at Shin and asked, “You must be going home?”
Shin wondered, ‘I wasn’t sure, but I guess I was right. Woojin is really having dinner with Jihoon Kang.’
Shin thought Jihoon parked his car in the basement parking lot, but today, he must’ve parked it on the main level. Woojin must’ve been outside for a while because his cheeks were red. Shin began to feel angry. Just how long did Jihoon make Woojin stand outside?
Siwoo came up and asked adorably, “What’s happening here? Are these your co-workers, Shin?” Siwoo and Shin were about the same height, but Siwoo was much slimmer. Siwoo stood close to Shin and looked at both Jihoon and Woojin.
Jihoon continued, “I see that you have plans for dinner tonight, Mr. Kim.”
“Umm, yes. I hope you two have a good dinner as well.”
Shin smiled awkwardly. As he bowed, Siwoo held onto Shin’s hand and whispered to him prettily, “You are gonna buy me Chinese food, right?”
“Alright. I will.”
“Yay! Then I’m going to drink expensive booze too!”
Shin pulled Siwoo into a quick walk. He hated the feeling of Jihoon and Woojin’s stares on his back.
Siwoo asked Shin, “Aren’t you friends with those guys back there?”
“They are just colleagues. Co-workers.”
“Hmm… I feel like I’ve seen him before somewhere…”
They were now out of sight. Siwoo murmured and looked up at Shin who asked quickly, “Who? Which one?”
Did Siwoo know Woojin? Shin wanted to know. But Siwoo turned around and pointed at the other man.
“That guy.”
Siwoo was pointing at Jihoon Kang.
***
Jihoon said to Woojin, “What are you waiting for? Get in. It’s freezing out here.”
Jihoon opened the passenger door for Woojin and waited, but Woojin just looked where Shin was walking away.
Woojin was very upset. He didn’t know why, but he wasn’t hungry at all. A bad headache was coming on. He desperately wanted to know who that man was that was with Shin Kim.
Woojin must’ve been chewing his lips. Jihoon finally pulled Woojin’s face towards him and asked, “Does it bother you?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Woojin finally got into the car. Jihoon did the same as he asked, “What do you want to eat?”
“…”
“Woojin Choi.”
“Whatever. I don’t care.”
“Then I’m taking you to a steak place.”
Woojin remembered that man asking Shin to buy him Chinese food. Woojin took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He fingered his watch for a little while before he took out his cellphone. Perhaps Shin was going to text him?
Woojin remembered being thankful just to be near Shin, yet here he was now, feeling jealous even when they already spent the night together.
Jihoon asked, “How was your business trip? Shin apparently didn’t get me any gifts.”
“…”
“Please answer me, Assistant Manager Choi.”
“He looked good.”
“What?”
“That guy who was next to Shin.”
In fact, it was a very pretty man. Woojin never really thought much about appearances, but even to him, Siwoo looked beautiful. He was tall, but still looked very fragile because he was also very slender.
The truth was, Woojin saw the whole interaction between Shin and Siwoo in the lobby. They looked so close, especially when Siwoo helped Shin into his coat.
Jihoon mentioned, “You are frowning really badly right now.”
“I know.”
“You are better looking, so don’t worry.”
Woojin turned to Jihoon with a blank face. Jihoon was driving, but he knew Woojin was staring at him. Jihoon asked, “Why are you looking at me?”
“Why did you just say that?”
“Come on, everyone knows you are pretty.”
The car was quickly warming up. Jihoon always drove nice cars.
Nice clothes, nice food, nice person.
To Woojin, it seemed like Jihoon felt pressured to have these nice things, even though he didn’t even like them.
Jihoon said to him, “Fasten your seat belt.”
“…”
“Do you want me to do it for you?”
Woojin quickly did it himself. He felt a little strange so he looked away, but through the side mirror, he could see Jihoon Kang.
“…”
Jihoon Kang was looking at Woojin Choi with an odd expression.