FHO 99

On Thursday afternoon, Haon and In-ho entered a restaurant, holding hands. The counter employee greeted them with a calm smile and asked for the name of the reservation.

“It’s under Jeong Haon.”

In-ho answered for him. Although In-ho had made the reservation, he had intentionally put it in Haon’s name, as today was a meeting with Haon’s acquaintances.

“Your party has already arrived inside. I’ll show you to your seat.”

It was a weekday lunch hour, and almost every seat was filled. However, because the tables were spaced far apart and there was plenty of open area, it wasn’t noisy.

Haon looked around the high ceiling with curiosity and marveled at the lush greenery visible through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Just then, a bright platinum blonde head at a wide window seat caught his eye.

“Tae-hwi hyung…!”

In his excitement, he almost shouted. Haon trailed off and smiled, leaning against In-ho’s arm. Tae-hwi and Ho-yeong, sitting side by side at the window seat, were looking around the restaurant with the exact same expression as Haon. Their mouths were agape, looking as if a fly might wander in.

“Oh, Haon!”

Tae-hwi, who had been glancing at a nearby table far away, spotted Haon first. Only then did Ho-yeong turn his gaze and wave his hand vigorously. Perhaps not expecting In-ho to come, Ho-yeong cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders.

“We meet again.”

As In-ho approached with a soft smile, Tae-hwi instinctively bolted upright. Ho-yeong tried to follow suit, standing up awkwardly. Before he could, In-ho gave a light nod of the eyes, signaling them to stay comfortable. He simply pulled out a chair for Haon without taking a seat himself.

“Aren’t you eating with us?”

Tae-hwi asked with a puzzled look.

“I only came to drop Haon off. Please, enjoy yourselves.”

In-ho gave a beaming smile to both Tae-hwi and Ho-yeong. Then, he lightly rubbed the back of Haon’s hand and left a parting word.

“Text me when you’re about to leave. Enjoy your meal.”

“Yes, I’ll contact you later.”

They looked like a natural couple. Tae-hwi and Ho-yeong watched the two exchange farewells intently, each sipping their lukewarm green tea with different thoughts in mind.

“Why isn’t he eating with us?”

Tae-hwi asked, looking regretfully at In-ho as he headed toward the exit. He had wanted to get a closer look at his face since he was already here, and he felt quite disappointed that he couldn’t.

“He said we should eat comfortably among ourselves.”

Haon chuckled and opened the menu left by the staff. Unlike the Western restaurants he often visited with In-ho, all the menu items here were written in Korean. Haon smiled, revealing his neat teeth with a relaxed expression.

“Order whatever you want to eat.”

Today was Haon’s treat. He wanted to treat the two of them to a proper meal for all the trouble they had gone through for him. That was why he had intentionally asked In-ho to recommend a fancy, high-quality restaurant.

“Hey, Haon. Isn’t this place too expensive? Is this price for real?”

“Hyung, I’ll just have the galbi-tang.”

Ho-yeong, who had closed the menu after reading it, nudged Tae-hwi in the ribs. Tae-hwi hurriedly said he would also have the galbi-tang. It felt as if the meat had been plated in gold; the price for a single serving of galbi was enough to make one’s eyes pop out, making it too daunting to order. Of course, it looked like it would taste delicious, but still…

“Then shall I order five servings of galbi first? Along with the soup?”

Haon efficiently ordered the menu, just as In-ho would have. Even though Tae-hwi and Ho-yeong gulped and said it was fine, he added Hanwoo beef tartare and braised short ribs to the order. He had come determined not to be surprised by the bill today. Having visited various places with In-ho, he had already developed a bit of immunity.

“Is your health okay now?”

“Yes, it’s gotten much better.”

While waiting for the food, they shared a relaxed conversation for the first time in a while. Tae-hwi sincerely regretted that Haon was quitting his job at the shop.

“The owner originally wanted to keep you on. Not as a short-term worker, but as a permanent employee.”

“Me?”

This was news to Haon. Since he had failed to show up without notice twice already, he hadn’t imagined the owner would think such a thing.

“You’re good at your job. You’re meticulous, bright, and kind to the customers.”

Flustered by the unfamiliar praise, the corners of Haon’s mouth curled up. Even while denying it, he couldn’t hide his smile.

“What do you mean ‘no’? Where else could you find a kid like you? Right, Ho-yeong?”

Without answering, Ho-yeong was silently helping the staff move the side dishes. This time, Tae-hwi nudged his ribs. The boy, who was usually talkative, was strangely quiet.

“Did that person go to work?”

Instead of answering, Ho-yeong asked another question. It seemed a bit of wariness toward In-ho still remained.

“No, he said he’d be reading a book at a nearby cafe.”

Haon answered truthfully while pushing the side dishes toward Tae-hwi and Ho-yeong. In-ho had said he would have lunch at the cafe. He had reassured Haon, telling him to take his time and have fun, as he had brought two books with him.

“I guess he doesn’t have a regular commute. Does he run a business?”

This time, Tae-hwi showed interest. It was a topic he had been curious about for a long time. Haon, who had picked up his chopsticks first, answered immediately.

“He doesn’t work separately.”

It was a clear answer that left no room for further digging. However, upon hearing this, Tae-hwi and Ho-yeong both tilted their heads. They reacted similarly at the same time.

“Huh?”

“What?”

Both had expressions demanding a more detailed explanation. After taking a sip of the refreshing dongchimi broth, Haon told them as much as he knew.

“He just has a lot of money.”

Tae-hwi straightened his head, his expression becoming serious. He started with “Haon-ah,” and then downed the dongchimi broth straight from the bowl. After quenching his thirst, the words that followed made Haon burst into loud laughter.

“Make sure you succeed all the way to marriage. Got it?”

Tae-hwi pointed toward the park beyond the glass window, encouraging him by saying it looked like weddings were held here too.

“I heard outdoor weddings are the trend these days. If you do it at this restaurant, the food would be amazing.”

Haon only smiled shyly. Marriage. That felt like such a distant story.

“One should be cautious about marriage. You have to meet the families first.”

Ho-yeong muttered, pushing a side dish bowl back toward Haon. He even spoke like an old soul, asking if marriage was child’s play.

In his eyes, In-ho wasn’t entirely trustworthy. He knew In-ho wasn’t shady or taking Haon lightly. However, he didn’t feel like In-ho was the kind of person the infinitely pure and kind Haon could date without worry.

“Just because someone is handsome and rich doesn’t mean they’re good. Their heart has to be healthy first. Date him longer and get to know his personality more.”

“Ho-yeong, that’s enough. You’re being pathetic.”

“What! I’m just saying this because I’m worried about Haon hyung.”

“The only thing we should worry about is our own lives. Just look at Haon right now.”

Tae-hwi pointed at Haon with his chopsticks while holding a thick piece of beef.

“Look at how his complexion has improved. And his clothes. He’s practically become a rich house’s young master.”

He clapped with multiple meanings as he chewed the beef. The food tasted great, and the clothes Haon wore were fantastic. It was a starkly different attire from what he used to wear. Although the brand names weren’t visible, it was obvious at a glance that they were luxury items.

His lover must have bought them for him. Just how much money does that man have?

Resting his chin on his hand, Tae-hwi briefly recalled the reward money he had received from In-ho that day. It was an amount that would allow him to take a break from his part-time job for a while. Even after giving half to Ho-yeong, it was that much.

Because In-ho had told him never to mention it to Haon, he couldn’t show that he had received a reward. He simply supported their relationship with both hands in his heart. The more he saw, the more he felt In-ho’s feelings for Haon were extraordinary. Well, that’s enough.

“Eat quickly before the meat gets cold. Ho-yeong, you eat a lot too.”

Haon’s complexion was much better than before. When he talked with In-ho, it felt as if spring had arrived on his face.

Tae-hwi, observing Haon carefully, relaxed and enjoyed the food.

“Haon-ah, you’ve become even prettier.”

Though he was a bit thin because he had been sick, he looked vibrant, perhaps because his expression was so bright. He ate well and didn’t seem to mind Ho-yeong’s words much. That was the biggest difference from before.

* * *

Because they spent so much time talking, the meal lasted over three hours. Thanks to Ho-yeong’s hearty appetite, they finished almost everything without leaving any food. Haon also didn’t put down his utensils until the very end.

Haon was praised by Tae-hwi for the fact that the amount he ate had increased quite a bit. He felt very good because he had heard many pleasant things today.

After parting with the two, Haon hummed a small tune while looking at his reflection in the shop window. His steps back to In-ho were very light. He felt as if he could float on a cloud.

Then, the cafe sign came into view, and he quickened his pace. In-ho had said he would be at the cafe located in the building opposite the restaurant.

Although In-ho had asked him to contact him when they parted, Haon intentionally didn’t notify him. He couldn’t stop smiling, wanting to surprise him. Haon had also become more playful, taking after In-ho.

As he opened the cafe door, a bell rang.

Haon looked around, scanning the spacious cafe for In-ho. The interior of the quiet cafe was sparsely populated. Since it was a place where calm jazz music flowed, the conversations of the customers were not loud.

He thought he would find In-ho immediately. But In-ho wasn’t visible; perhaps he was sitting somewhere else.

“There are also seats inside the hallway.”

The cafe employee told Haon, who was looking around the interior. Haon bowed his head in thanks and walked into the hallway.

As he passed through the white hallway adorned with large frames, the sound of voices gradually diminished. Most of the customers in the inner part of the cafe were using laptops or reading books. Many people were immersed in something.

In-ho was among them.

In-ho was sitting in the furthest corner. Seeing the familiar profile, Haon smiled brightly and approached him slowly. Seeing him sitting still, it seemed he was reading a book.

Haon walked while muffling his footsteps. The soft music covered even Haon’s faint presence.

“…….”

With three steps left, Haon, who was about to surprise In-ho, came to a sudden halt.

In-ho was not reading the book. He was simply holding it.

His gaze was directed outside the window. He was staring blankly and endlessly out the window. Even though all that could be seen outside was the empty sky.

Mr. In-ho.

Haon called him, taking In-ho’s still hand. Only then did In-ho blink, realizing that Haon had arrived beside him. Once his focus returned, he belatedly clasped Haon’s hand.

“Did you have a good time?”

Haon nodded vigorously and caressed In-ho’s hand. The touching palms felt a bit warm.