By Zephyria 
“Young master.”
At my question, Choi Jae-kyung approached and pulled me up.
“You did not come here today. Do you understand?”
“…Why?”
“There is no need to invite unnecessary misunderstandings. The hospital director might find it strange that you followed him here. You might even undergo unnecessary investigation if the case is handed over to the police.”
Police, investigation. Only then did it truly sink in that the smaller one was dead. I looked down at the smaller one’s peacefully lying face.
He wasn’t someone who should have died so peacefully. He wasn’t someone who deserved to die like that.
Why did I stall? If he was going to die anyway, I should have moved sooner. Why did I hesitate? In the end, am I relieved that it turned out this way? Am I thinking it’s a bit of a relief that he died without my hand being involved?
As a tear fell, Choi Jae-kyung, misunderstanding something, pulled me into his arms.
“It’s alright. Young master, it’s okay. Please don’t cry.”
“Why… why did he die. He shouldn’t have died…”
“Young master, you must not go home. Contact the person who came to pick you up last time. You were with that person. Do you understand?”
I shook my head at the mention of Kwon Yi-kang from Choi Jae-kyung’s mouth. I didn’t want to involve Kwon Yi-kang in something like this. Looking down at me as I shook my head, Choi Jae-kyung asked, “Why?”
“Is he not a trustworthy person?”
“I can’t drag him into this.”
“You have done nothing wrong. Nothing will happen. I guarantee it. Just… just ask him to say you were together. There will be no harm to you or to him. Please give me your phone.”
I stubbornly shook my head, and Choi Jae-kyung eventually used force to take the phone from my pocket and call Kwon Yi-kang.
Among the people in the address book, the only names Choi Jae-kyung didn’t know were Kwon Yi-kang and the English teacher, and since the recent call history made it obvious who the lover was, it wouldn’t have been a difficult problem.
Since it was dawn, the call didn’t connect easily. Just as I tried to snatch the phone from Choi Jae-kyung’s hand while he waited anxiously, Choi Jae-kyung spoke.
“I apologize for contacting you in the early hours. You might have met him once before. About a month ago. You came to pick up the young master, do you remember? …Yes. Yes, that’s correct. I would like you to come here now. …Yes, it’s that place from then. As quickly as possible. If you have a car that doesn’t stand out, one you don’t usually drive, I ask that you bring that. The young master is fine. However… no. I just want you to come first. I will explain everything once you arrive.”
“Don’t come!”
I lunged at the phone Choi Jae-kyung was holding and shouted.
Don’t come. This is not a place for you to come. Don’t come.
Despite my shout, Choi Jae-kyung said a few more words and hung up. Putting the phone I tried to snatch into his own pocket, Choi Jae-kyung calmly met my glaring gaze.
“I’m sorry, young master. But I cannot leave you here.”
“…I didn’t kill him anyway. He just killed himself. There’s no need to drag Kwon Yi-kang into this.”
“What is important to me is you, young master.”
“You’re not even my driver. You have nothing to do with me.”
“You are… a kind person. Therefore, it is not good for you to be embroiled in such a thing.”
Actually, I wanted to do this. I was the one who should have killed the smaller one, but before I knew it, I had become the fragile younger brother mourning the death of a sibling. My tears were from a sense of injustice, but Choi Jae-kyung was misunderstanding my sorrow as he pleased.
“Did you enter anywhere else other than the room where you slept?”
When I shook my head weakly, he replied, “I understand.”
“Wait quietly until that person arrives. It would be best for you to rest on the bed. Do not touch anything, and leave no traces.”
“I want to… stay here.”
“No, staying here is not good. Please follow me.”
Somewhat forcefully holding me, Choi Jae-kyung led me back into the original room and sat me on the bed. He knelt before me and spoke again as if to confirm.
“Once you leave here with that person, I will contact Chief Bae. It won’t take long to assess the situation and clean up this place, but you will likely be contacted around this afternoon.”
“Is it… morning now?”
“It is still dawn. You left home yesterday and went straight to that person. If anyone asks, say you were at his house the whole time. When news of the second young master is delivered… you must act as if it’s the first time you’ve heard it. Do you understand?”
“I’ll just stay here. Tell Kwon Yi-kang not to come. Driver Choi has to stay anyway.”
At my words, Choi Jae-kyung shook his head firmly. He had a face that wouldn’t listen to whatever I said. He was saying that no matter what happened, he would get me out of here, and that I was a person who had not been in this place.
“The second young master is my responsibility. But you… are someone unrelated to this place. You have never been here. Not today, nor before. Please keep this in mind.”
Gripping my hand as I sat blankly, Choi Jae-kyung called out, “Young master!” Only when I barely nodded did he finally release my hand.
“There is nothing to worry about. The hospital director will not want this matter to grow.”
I wasn’t worried. I didn’t care if it was discovered that I was here. What I was thinking about was the smaller one’s death. Why did it have to be today, why did it have to be now? Why… had I only hesitated until now?
Regret, self-reproach, and resentment pressed down on me so hard it was difficult to breathe.
Choi Jae-kyung simply watched me with a heavy face as I sat on the bed, shedding tears. I didn’t know how I appeared in his eyes, but he also didn’t know my inner thoughts. That’s why he had such pitiful eyes.
As time passed while I repeated cycles of crying for a long while, spacing out, and then crying sorrowfully again, the phone in my pocket rang loudly. Choi Jae-kyung checked the caller and answered.
“I’ll be out now. Please stay without touching anything until I open the door.”
It seemed Kwon Yi-kang had arrived. After ending the call briefly, Choi Jae-kyung helped me up. I tried not to move, but I was forced to leave the room by Choi Jae-kyung’s strong lead.
As soon as he opened the door at the entrance, Kwon Yi-kang stepped inside. Seeing me standing almost embraced by Choi Jae-kyung, he pulled me into his arms, supporting my body, and only then turned his gaze toward Choi Jae-kyung.
“Thank you for coming. Could you stay with the young master for about a day? From yesterday evening, around eight o’clock would be appropriate. I would like you to act as if you have been together since then.”
“…Why?”
Staring at Choi Jae-kyung, Kwon Yi-kang uttered a single word in a cold tone.
Why.
It was a question where I couldn’t tell if he was asking for the reason, or asking why he should do such a thing.
“I assume you wouldn’t want the young master to be in a difficult position.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I am asking a favor.”
Kwon Yi-kang, who had been standing still, slowly examined my silent face and tilted his head.
“You’ve cried. It seems something did happen.”
“Would you please take the young master with you now?”
“That might be a bit difficult.”
Supporting my bottom with his hand, Kwon Yi-kang lifted me up and strode across the living room.
“Stop it.”
“Do you like taking the long way? My lover’s condition isn’t great, so I want to go the easy way.”
“No further than this.”
“That’s not for you to decide. What do you prefer? A power struggle? A fight for authority? Or maybe money? I’m confident in all three, so just say the word.”
Choi Jae-kyung’s face creased as he blocked Kwon Yi-kang’s path. Though I tightened my grip around Kwon Yi-kang’s neck as if telling him not to, he simply patted my backside lightly, as if soothing me.
“Let’s keep it simple. Which one is it?”
“You should remain silent.”
“Gladly, as long as it’s not something that causes trouble for my lover.”
“If word leaks out, you won’t like the outcome. Of course, this is advice, not a threat.”
“What a cute way to give advice. Don’t make me ask a second time. Which one is it?”
Choi Jae-kyung glanced at the time and then headed toward the room where the little one was. Blocking Kwon Yi-kang’s hand as he tried to open the door, Choi Jae-kyung opened it himself and stepped back to reveal the scene inside.
“I will contact the house after confirming that the young master has departed. It’s unlikely that things will escalate, but if anyone does call, please tell them as I mentioned earlier—that you have been together since last night.”
Kwon Yi-kang rubbed his furrowed brow. Ah, fuck. I think he muttered a low curse.
“Are you the only one who knows Soo-kyung came here?”
“It seems he came without telling his family. The broker must have seen him upon arrival.”
“Where is that bastard?”
“He left here around eleven.”
“And you don’t intend to tell the house?”
“There is no need for you to be entangled in unnecessary matters.”
Kwon Yi-kang let out a low laugh at Choi Jae-kyung’s response. The chest I was leaning against heaved slightly.
“I like this guy. Reliable, seems to have a tight lip, knows how to read a situation, and has good judgment. The fact that he cuts things off in the middle based on his own judgment is a problem, but right now, I really like that judgment.”