Chapter 67: Chapter 67.
It was 4 AM in the morning. Although it was Woojin who gave Jihoon Siwoo’s number, Woojin was still surprised that the two had gotten this close so fast. The phone was ignored, but it continued to vibrate again and again.
Suddenly, Siwoo looked at Woojin with a pale face. He asked Woojin, “Please answer it for me.”
“…”
“Just this once. Please.”
Siwoo’s voice was trembling. Woojin didn’t understand why Siwoo had an odd expression on his face. He also couldn’t understand why he should answer Siwoo’s phone, but in the end, he picked it up.
Woojin pressed the talk button, and when he placed it next to his ear, a rough panting voice answered him, “Siwoo Jung.”
There was no doubt that it was Jihoon Kang’s voice. He continued, “I told you to come to me tonight. This is the second time you fooled me.”
“…”
Jihoon’s voice was angry and cold. This side of him… Woojin had forgotten about it until now.
Jihoon swore, “You are the one who seduced me, then you just left me! You bastard.”
“…”
“I’m gonna fuck you so…”
When Woojin frowned in shock, Siwoo grabbed the phone and turned it off. They looked at each other, and Siwoo finally whispered, “Thank you.”
After a big sigh, Woojin asked, “…Are you dating Jihoon Kang?”
“No.”
“Then why…”
“I thought about having sex with him that night when we met, but I got scared so I ran away.”
“…”
“His obsession is… disturbing. He has been like this all week.”
Siwoo took a deep breath and stood up.
Woojin asked, “But why are you telling me this?”
“Why do you think?”
“…”
“Do you know Jihoon Kang very well?”
Woojin assumed that Siwoo didn’t know that Jihoon was his cousin. Woojin knew that although Shin and Siwoo were good friends, Shin made sure he never crossed the line with Siwoo. Secretly, Woojin felt happy about it, as if he had won an invisible game. And feeling smug about it made Woojin also feel guilty; he began to worry if he was being obsessive over Shin.
What if he hurt Shin somehow with his fixation?
What if his obsession came from the family illness?
Siwoo asked, “Woojin?”
“Oh, sorry.”
Siwoo had been calling his name, but Woojin was too deep in his own thoughts. When he finally looked up, Siwoo’s face looked almost blue against the light. Siwoo was so beautiful and Woojin wondered why Shin chose him instead.
Woojin replied, “Jihoon Kang is a co-worker.”
“I see.”
“I heard from Shin that you were dating someone.”
Shin told Woojin that Siwoo was in a relationship with a chef, but it seemed that they had broken up recently. Siwoo’s face turned sad and Woojin realized that Siwoo was about to cry.
“We… broke up.”
“…”
“Because he lied to me.”
“…”
“I guess not really a lie, but… he refused to answer my question.”
Woojin frowned; his heart could feel Siwoo’s pain. Siwoo still seemed drunk. He kept looking up at the ceiling, then down at the floor.
Siwoo continued, “Maybe I wanted revenge… Or maybe I wanted the answer somehow…”
“…”
“Why did I meet Jihoon Kang?”
“…”
“I regret it.”
“Then you can just stop meeting him.”
“I know, and that’s what I want… But…”
“…”
“My curiosity won’t let me. I need to know what was so important that he couldn’t tell me. It was obviously something that was more important than me.”
Woojin realized that Siwoo’s ex must’ve had something to do with Jihoon Kang. Woojin reached out to touch Siwoo’s shoulder.
Siwoo smiled faintly and added, “Greed is a funny thing.”
“…”
“There were times when just being with him was enough… I was so happy to be with him…”
Woojin could completely relate; he felt like that exactly right now. Siwoo looked down at Woojin’s hand for a long time before touching his forehead as if he had a headache. Siwoo looked flushed as if he had a fever. He no longer looked like he was about to cry, but the sadness refused to leave his face. Woojin remained quiet, just being there for him. After a long silence, Siwoo asked quietly, “Jihoon Kang… He isn’t just your co-worker, is he?”
“…Pardon?”
Siwoo grabbed Woojin’s hand tightly. Siwoo’s hands were cold and Woojin could feel them shaking.
Siwoo continued, “He has your photos.”
“…”
“When you were very young.”
“… Oh… umm…”
When Woojin tried to explain, Siwoo stopped him and added, “And when you were in junior high.”
“…”
“He also has many photos that were taken in other countries.”
“…”
“And even very recent ones.”
“…What did you say?”
“In some photos, you were with Shin.”
With Shin?
Woojin’s head turned blank.
***
Jihoon looked at Woojin at work and asked, “Why are you wearing the same outfit as yesterday?”
Woojin was already in his seat as Jihoon hung his coat. When Woojin looked up, Jihoon smiled gently. They both had unusually dark eyes.
Proof that they were related.
“I forgot to do the laundry.”
“You are wearing the same coat too.”
“…”
“And the same tie too. I know that you would never buy two of the same ties.”
Jihoon grabbed Woojin’s shirt and squeezed. Rough large fingers… Jihoon resembled his father greatly. Most people could never tell that they were cousins because they didn’t look alike at all. Jihoon looked neat and manly.
Woojin replied, “None of your business.”
“There is one thing that IS my business.”
Jihoon sat down in his seat, which was next to Woojin’s. He immediately began to work, uploading some files and checking the report that was written by Yeonwoo.
Then suddenly, he turned to Woojin and asked, “You are eating lunch with me today, right?”
“…”
“I have something we need to talk about.”
“I don’t.”
“It’s about what you said to me about a month ago.”
Woojin took his glasses off and turned towards Jihoon. Their black eyes met with tension. Jihoon said to him, “I have been very patient for the past month. I waited just as you asked.”
“…So?”
“I’m pretty sure the deadline you set is coming up very soon.”
They did plan on having lunch together. When Woojin left with Shin this morning to work, Shin sighed and whispered how he wished it was the weekend. Siwoo ended up going back to his own place very early in the morning, so Woojin and Shin got to spend some time together. They showered and ate breakfast together. The whole time, Shin refused to let Woojin’s hand go.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, strong legs….
Jihoon asked Woojin, “Didn’t you say you were going to date him only for a month?”
“…”
“You made a deal with me at the time. If I let you date him for a month….”
“Stop.”
Woojin frowned while Jihoon grinned at him. Slowly, Jihoon returned to his computer.
Just then, Woojin saw Shin walking in the hallway. Shin was wearing a dark grey turtleneck, which Woojin had picked out that morning. As he got dressed, Shin whispered to him, “I will see you soon.”
Woojin remembered their amazing morning, but he was quickly brought back to reality. Turning to Jihoon, Woojin said very quietly, “Sure. Let’s eat lunch together. I have something I need to tell you too.”
When Shin nodded, Woojin suddenly felt nauseous. He looked down as his heart broke into a million pieces.
What he felt right now… It was called despair.