By Zephyria He reacted as if he were hearing this for the first time. Hyung must not have said anything. Well, it wasn’t something to tell others.
Seo Jeong-won raised his downcast gaze, met Kwon Tae-hee’s eyes for a moment, and slowly continued.
“My parents passed away. When I was young.”
“Ah.”
“Hyung and I lived at our aunt’s house… Not long after I graduated high school, they went on a trip and had an accident. A car accident. Due to careless driving on that… winding road. They both passed away then.”
Seo Jeong-won frowned slightly, recalling the funeral. There were so many things he learned then.
The existence of the debt incurred from inheriting the flower shop, and the fact that the remaining balance of his parents’ death insurance and compensation, which they had taken saying they would give it to him when he became an adult, was gone.
“Even on the last day… Hyung didn’t answer the phone that day either. I actually… thought he would come.”
The fact that Hyung had been sending money to an account in his name every month, and that even that money had been withdrawn in full the next day.
There was no one to ask what happened, so it remained a mystery forever.
“…Even though I didn’t want to greet my aunt and uncle, I thought he would come to see me.”
Kwon Tae-hee watched Seo Jeong-won tell his story with an innocent expression and was overcome with an unknown emotion.
He resembled Seo Gyu-won, yet he was different. This one was a more delicate beauty. He had an atmosphere that went particularly well with the gloomy, rainy weather. His melancholic voice and beautiful face, which couldn’t be hidden, kept drawing his attention.
His inability to make eye contact, his tone that revealed his pureness, and his docile attitude somehow stimulated his sadistic instincts more than his lustful ones. The anticipation of what it would be like to make him cry.
The thought that filled his head was that he wanted to see that white face soaked with tears. Kwon Tae-hee hid his dark intentions and gave a polite smile.
“It must have been hard for you alone.”
“…Ah. No, it’s not.”
“Saying this in this situation might put a burden on Jeong-won, but the truth is… Gyu-won was supposed to give me something. The engagement was just a formality to get it, and I was in a position to pay the price and buy it.”
The moment their eyes met again, Kwon Tae-hee was sure. He wanted to have the person in front of him. To be exact, he wanted to ‘play’ with him. It was an abnormal desire to ruin something clean and pretty that no one had touched.
“…Hyung?”
“I even wrote a contract and provided as much financial support as he needed… I don’t know why, but Gyu-won changed his mind. I couldn’t persuade him either. It’s strange for me to tell you about the personal things that happened between us.”
“…”
“We were both emotional back then. It wasn’t something that should have led to breaking off the engagement, but neither of us changed our minds. We ended our relationship like that, and a few days later, Gyu-won was in his officetel…”
As Kwon Tae-hee explained, Seo Jeong-won’s face began to crumble. His eyes, which were soon filled with tears, were soaked and shed tears like beads.
He had expected it to be worth seeing, but it was beyond his expectations. Was this how it felt to find something you didn’t even know you had lost in an unexpected place? He even felt a faint sense of joy.
“He had to have several major surgeries. Each time, I was told that it was good to prepare myself, but Gyu-won endured it better than I thought.”
“…”
“That’s why I’ve come this far.”
Seo Jeong-won looked back at the dark brown eyes facing him and turned his head away.
“Jeong-won.”
His voice calling his name was full of apology and pity. He was confused, not knowing what to say or how to say it.
“I’ve waited long enough.”
The repeated words meant that he would stop Seo Gyu-won’s life-sustaining treatment.
He had to agree with his opinion to remove the respirator, or should he endure while maintaining Hyung’s respirator, just as he had waited?
Seo Jeong-won’s lips parted, and a sigh-like answer flowed out.
“I… I don’t know.”
Kwon Tae-hee nodded at the pitiful answer he gave while rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. He patted his softly trembling shoulders as if to comfort him.
“It’s okay.”
The story he told was just an appeal to emotions, and it was unkind. It was ambiguous from beginning to end. He only conveyed the sensational facts, but he was careful not to say what the most important contract was about.
Fortunately, Seo Jeong-won was lost in sadness and didn’t wonder. He just pitied Hyung and shook his glass-like eyes.
It’s a relief that he’s young and innocent. If he were a little smarter, he would have been suspicious instead of confused.
“I really need what Gyu-won promised to give me. It may sound heartless, but I think I’ve taken enough moral responsibility.”
“…”
“Jeong-won didn’t know about it either. I didn’t call you to shift responsibility. I’m telling you that you don’t have to take responsibility.”
“Perhaps… what did Hyung say he would give you? Is it something that no one else can give? Can’t I give it to you?”
Kwon Tae-hee smiled at the earnest question. He released a little Pheromone to check Seo Jeong-won’s traits, but there was no reaction.
“Ah.”
A Beta wouldn’t be able to give it. A shallow curiosity washed over him endlessly like a wave.
“It’s still okay.”
Kwon Tae-hee knew that he couldn’t get what Seo Gyu-won had promised from Seo Jeong-won, but he nodded as if it didn’t matter.
“As long as Jeong-won can give it to me.”
His attitude and gestures were excessively elegant. Even the act of slowly reaching out his hand caught his attention. Seo Jeong-won carefully took the hand that was offered as if asking for a handshake.
“Then Hyung…”
“If Jeong-won keeps his promise, I’ll let you keep the respirator on for as long as you want in return. Of course, I’ll pay for the hospital bills as I’ve been doing so far. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
“…Thank you. Thank you.”
Seo Jeong-won didn’t think that he had made a big mistake even with the smile that felt strange. He was caught up in the thought that he might wake up someday if he kept the respirator on.
It was shameless, but for now, it was a priority to get his help to keep Hyung’s respirator on.
Kwon Tae-hee confirmed that Seo Jeong-won’s palms had more calluses than he thought.
He looked like a small animal with soft white fur that would break if you pressed down on it, but what kind of hard work did he do?
“I’ll go to where Jeong-won is when the documents are ready.”
“Ah…”
“Shall we meet again sometime next week? If you let me know when it’s okay, I’ll adjust my schedule.”
“I’m okay anytime. Just avoid the weekends.”
Seo Jeong-won, who had let go of his hand, rubbed his palms on his thighs. It was amazing. Even though it was pretty, it was amazing that such a big and thick hand was as soft as a tender leaf that had just sprouted.
“Avoid the weekends?”
“I’m a little busy on the weekends. There are quite a few customers…”
Kwon Tae-hee frowned slightly. To him, customers meant those who sold their bodies, so was what this innocent-looking person was saying in the same context?
“It’s a little difficult. To interpret.”
“Ah, I run a flower shop. My aunt and uncle used to do it, but somehow… I couldn’t organize it. So I’m in charge of it, and a lot of people come to buy repotting or flowers on the weekends. A lot.”
“Customers come to the flower shop. I understand. I’ll contact you avoiding the weekends. Shall we go out together?”
Seo Jeong-won shook his head at the question. Kwon Tae-hee got up from his seat. He politely greeted that he should go back now. He naturally followed up with an apology for leaving first.
“Make sure you take a car. I was so flustered that I couldn’t even ask how to get here. If I had known, I would have picked you up.”
He handed over his business card as if he had prepared it. A nice smile was added with a request.
“Go carefully.”
“…Thank you for your concern.”
“See you again.Kwon Tae-hee left the break room as soon as his business was over.
Seo Jeong-won, who followed him out, wondered if he would stop by Seo Gyu-won’s hospital room. But Kwon Tae-hee headed to the elevator without hesitation.
He was having a short conversation with the man in the black suit who was following him, when he suddenly turned around. Their eyes met in the air. Seo Jeong-won, flustered, bowed his head awkwardly.
After finishing the send-off that wasn’t really a send-off, Seo Jeong-won walked towards the hospital room and was lost in thought.
“He doesn’t seem to lack anything…”
What on earth did Hyung promise to give that man?
He stared blankly at the business card he had received from him, and belatedly realized that he hadn’t asked the most important thing.