Chapter 96: Chapter 96.
Chapter 96.
It was the first time ever for Woojin to appear in the business department around lunch time, so some of the workers whispered among themselves in surprise. Woojin was well known for keeping to himself.
A few of the business team members approached Woojin to greet him in a friendly manner. Woojin ignored them, only nodding slightly, and touched Eejun’s shoulder. Eejun turned around and looked up. His glasses shined against the bright light.
Woojin asked, “Do you want to have lunch with me?”
“Oh, my queen! What brings you here? You haven’t even been answering my texts lately.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“With what?”
“Family stuff.”
“Hmm… are there any family related stuff that I don’t know about?”
“Yes, since you aren’t part of my family.”
Woojin ignored how Eejun’s eyes narrowed for a second. Now that he thought about it, Woojin could see why he felt uncomfortable around Eejun. Even though Eejun most likely knew everything about Woojin and Jihoon, he always tried to keep his distance from them. Myunghoon Bae was the same way.
Myunghoon Bae. Woojin remembered his snake-like eyes. When Woojin was younger, he couldn’t see the resemblance between Myunghoon and Eejun, but now, Woojin saw the same coldness in Eejun’s eyes. Woojin tightened his coat as goosebumps covered his body.
Eejun asked, “What are you going to buy me for lunch?”
“Whatever you want.”
“I want steak.”
Looking at Eejun’s face, Woojin remembered Joowan, whom he met recently. Woojin wasn’t surprised when Joowan mentioned Eejun’s name. It was expected. Myunghoon Bae was deeply involved with Hana Pharmaceuticals, and soon, the connection between Joowan Kim and Eejun Bae was going to become clearer. But the problem was the lies Myunghoon Bae had been telling Woojin’s family all this time.
Genetic illness… Family sickness…
Woojin learned from Joowan that there was no such thing in his family. It never existed, which meant that no one was working on a medication to cure this imaginary illness. Everything Woojin was told about it… They were all lies.
His aunt was to return to Korea next month. Jihoon talked to his mother on the phone and it was the first time he wasn’t frowning when he was talking to her. It seemed that everything was returning to their rightful places.
Woojin replied, “Alright. Let’s go eat steak.”
“Wait, I change my mind. I want to eat something else.”
Eejun stood up as he smiled and grabbed his coat from a hanger. It was a handmade coat. Light mustard made from luxurious material. It was beautiful and delicate.
It was the kind of clothes that got dirtied and stained easily. Eejun always enjoyed wearing light-colored outfits.
Woojin touched Eejun’s coat and said to him, “It looks so warm.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it looks just like you.”
“Really?”
“Something that can be stained very easily.”
Woojin stared at Eejun quietly. When he blinked a few times, his long eyelashes created a dark shadow on his eyes. Eejun clenched his fists for a second, and Woojin noticed it but pretended ignorance.
They began to walk towards the elevator. Eejun said to Woojin, “I want to eat rice porridge for lunch.”
“Ok. Let’s go to our usual place.”
They got into the elevator together. Eejun pushed the basement parking lot button and smiled at Woojin. Eejun’s lips trembled subtly, and Woojin wondered if it was just a coincidence. As the elevator went down slowly, Woojin felt like he was falling.
It seemed like it was finally the time to undo this twisted knot.
***
Siwoo grumbled as Jihoon walked into his hospital room, “I told you not to come here at lunch time.” He grabbed the glasses from the side table. Jihoon was holding two large paper bags.
Except for a broken leg, Siwoo was unhurt. The doctor told him he could go home immediately, but for some reason, Jihoon insisted Siwoo stay in the hospital for a few days. Jihoon also insisted that he would sleep in the hospital with Siwoo.
Siwoo sighed in frustration.
Jihoon asked, “What did you want to eat?”
“What did you bring me?”
“Salad, sushi, and oden nabe.”
“… I am going to get fat because of you.”
“Those are your favorites, right?”
Jihoon was a very detailed man. Because Siwoo could be the same way, calculating and clever, there were times when he disliked Jihoon. Based on Siwoo’s observation, Jihoon didn’t want people to know how sensitive he was. This was why he acted overly outgoing sometimes. In truth, Jihoon detested socializing. He felt awkward inside and being with most people felt stressful to him.
Jihoon didn’t hesitate to say no when he didn’t want something, but he secretly worried if he hurt the person’s feeling. All these things about Jihoon made Siwoo nervous sometimes, wondering how he should treat Jihoon. It was partly because Jihoon was just like him in some way, but very different in other ways. Jihoon was a difficult person to deal with, but ironically, this was also why Siwoo fell in love with him.
Siwoo said to him, “Sometimes, you act like a stalker.”
“You don’t like me obsessing over you?”
Siwoo became breathless when Jihoon looked straight into his eyes. This was really bad… Siwoo was falling for Jihoon too deeply. At first, he decided to date Jihoon simply because of his looks. A very long time ago, there was a time when Siwoo secretly admired Jihoon. Siwoo wasn’t sure if he would remember the very first time they met. At the time, Jihoon was much rougher and more promiscuous. It was around the time when Siwoo became an adult and was learning about himself.
Jihoon saw Siwoo reminiscing, so he asked, “Who are you thinking about? You are making googly eyes.”
“You are so corny.”
“Yes. I admit it. It’s true.”
“…”
“Let’s eat.”
Even when they first met, Jihoon wasn’t an overtly kind guy. But he had that lonely look in him, and that was why he caught Siwoo’s eyes then.
Siwoo sat up carefully as Jihoon brought out the small folding table. Siwoo mentioned, “By the way, you seem so good at this. Taking care of a patient. It’s surprising because you don’t look like someone who would be good at something like this.”
“My mom was in the hospital for a long time. That’s why.”
“… What?”
Siwoo’s eyes widened while Jihoon took out a bowl of salad from the paper bag.
“Is your mother sick?”
“…”
“Do you not want me to ask?”
“I don’t think you would want to hear about it.”
Siwoo hated the smile Jihoon gave him. It looked so sad, making Siwoo’s heart ache. He wanted to reach out to touch Jihoon, but Siwoo stopped himself.
Jihoon sat down on the side of the table and stroked Siwoo’s hair. He murmured, “You are like a pet.”
“… You should shut up.”
“You resemble the dog I used to have.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“He was white and cute.”
Jihoon pushed back Siwoo’s hair and kissed his forehead. Today, Jihoon smelled of mint. When Siwoo frowned and rubbed his forehead, Jihoon smiled. Feeling even more annoyed, Siwoo pouted.
Suddenly, Jihoon pulled him by his wrist and kissed him hard. Their lips parted at the same time and Jihoon licked Siwoo’s lips. He forced Siwoo to open wider and their tongues dueled each other. It was a short kiss, but it was deep and sticky.
Jihoon touched Siwoo’s lips afterward and murmured, “… It’s a good thing we got a private room.”
“I don’t have health insurance, so I am going to be burdened with a huge hospital bill.”
“Don’t worry. This hospital belongs to our company.”