#84

Shin Ho-jae stared intently at Jung-hyun without saying a word. Jung-hyun silently bore the gaze. His trembling lips slowly parted.

“…Did you just tell me that I was someone you liked?”

His complexion was pale. It seemed incredibly difficult for him to utter each syllable.

“How could you… say something like that right after telling me you’re getting married.”

“Are you disappointed? Because I’m a bad person?”

“…….”

Shin Ho-jae’s eyes slowly dropped. His cheeks trembled beside his tightly closed mouth. He looked like someone barely holding back tears that were about to spill over at any moment. Watching that face, Jung-hyun gave a bitter smile inwardly.

It was the moment he realized the hidden reason why he hadn’t wanted to tell him this. He didn’t want to see that face.

He hadn’t wanted to say it because he didn’t want to disappoint him. But conversely, that was exactly why it was something he had to say today.

Jung-hyun lowered his gaze for a moment before looking back up.

“So, Ho-jae, please go back to where you belong. It’s not too late yet.”

“…….”

Shin Ho-jae looked at Jung-hyun with a complex expression. Various emotions were mixed within his eyes, which sparkled like stars in the night sky.

Right now, he must be angry and bewildered. He might even be thinking self-deprecatingly, What kind of person is this? How could I have felt attracted to someone like him?

But it would only be temporary. As he worked out as usual and spent time with his precious family and friends, he would soon forget a mere crush on a man like him.

And someday, he would meet a warm and bright person who suited him well and fall in love quickly. Shin Ho-jae would build a harmonious and beautiful family, just like his own.

That much, Jung-hyun could envision clearly, as if he had already seen the future.

Jung-hyun let out a faint sigh and cleared his head. He had kept him here too long with such an unpleasant conversation.

He picked up the phone he had left on the sofa table. Since he had been in the middle of calling a taxi, the app was still open.

“I’ll call a taxi for you. Take it home.”

“……No, I’ll find my own way.”

“Please take it.”

“…….”

“I’m asking you.”

Jung-hyun’s voice was quiet and dry. So much so that no emotion could be glimpsed.

Because of that, Shin Ho-jae could have pretended not to hear and ignored him, but he didn’t. Like someone who had been listening intently so as not to miss even the smallest sound, he noticed the emotion embedded in the words and stopped refusing.

While waiting for the taxi, Jung-hyun stepped out of the living room. The silence that had settled between them was burdensome, and it was difficult to look at his face as he stared blankly at one spot.

A moment later, a notification rang on the phone saying the taxi had arrived. Dry words were exchanged, stating that it was time to leave.

Jung-hyun stood a short distance from the entrance, quietly watching Shin Ho-jae put on his coat and shoes.

“I won’t see you out.”

“…….”

“Get home safely. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Ho-jae, having fully put on his shoes, stood still and looked at Jung-hyun’s face. Pitifully, his expression was frozen stiff.

Suddenly, Jung-hyun had a feeling that this would be the last time they exchanged personal greetings. They would likely see each other’s faces while coming and going from the stadium in the future, but ordinary greetings would probably be the extent of it.

“Don’t get hurt, and… don’t get sick.”

After a slight hesitation, Jung-hyun added one more sentence. Shin Ho-jae exhaled so deeply that his chest heaved, then lowered his gaze.

“…I’m leaving.”

“Alright.”

Shin Ho-jae turned around immediately. It was just as the front door opened and the cold midwinter air rushed in to hit Jung-hyun, who was standing behind him.

With his head bowed, Shin Ho-jae murmured softly.

“……Now that I’ve realized these feelings, how can I go back to the way things were?”

And before Jung-hyun could make any expression, the door closed with a thud.

“…….”

Jung-hyun opened his mouth slightly, like someone who had been struck by something. How long did he stand there? He heard the sound of the main gate opening and closing, followed by the sound of the taxi driving away.

Only then did Jung-hyun slowly turn around and walk back. He had intended to sleep a bit more after sending Shin Ho-jae away, but it didn’t seem like sleep would come.

Maybe he should handle some overdue work. A year ago, he had been in a position where he could barely manage a conditional contract due to opposition from the board, but as Jung-hyun’s position gradually solidified, the situation had changed.

He planned to make arrangements so that the Blue Wolves would be officially acquired even if they didn’t win the championship this season. To do that, there were many small tasks he needed to organize in advance.

Jung-hyun turned toward the kitchen. He took out the coffee machine, which he usually didn’t touch because it was a hassle, wiped it down roughly, and plugged in the power switch. He figured the unopened coffee beans must be somewhere; as he turned his head, his gaze caught a white mug turned upside down.

It was the cup Jung-hyun had used earlier to take his medicine. The narrow-bottomed white mug that Shin Ho-jae had taken and washed as soon as it was used.

Jung-hyun forgot to breathe and stared blankly at that snow-white cup. For a very long time.

* * *

Should he call it good timing?

While visiting his parents’ home for New Year’s greetings, Jung-hyun heard that his marriage partner had been decided.

Seeing that his mother and father’s expressions weren’t bad, it seemed the other family was decent. That was a good thing.

The first meeting with the marriage partner was set for late afternoon the following day. He found it strange that his mother wouldn’t even tell him the other person’s surname, but he let it slide, assuming she had her reasons.

He didn’t have the mental capacity to worry about every little thing. Since his last conversation with Shin Ho-jae at the end of the year, he had often spent his time blankly, like someone who had lost their soul.

Only after arriving at the appointment location did he realize it was an exhibition hall in Samseong-dong that he had visited with his mother before. Since only the first and second floors were used as exhibition spaces and the upper floors were leased as offices, it was a place where cafes and restaurants frequented by office workers were located.

He thought the location was a bit casual for a blind date between chaebol families, but that was all. Jung-hyun straightened his clothes and stepped inside the building.

Although lunch time had passed, the cafe was excessively empty. Jung-hyun took off his coat, gave it to the staff, and headed where he was guided. The place the staff pointed to with a polite gesture was the center of the cafe, where a large, straight partition wall was erected.

Rather than being installed to use the space efficiently, it was a space designed so that customers sitting at the tables could view the partition. Just as he was thinking it was strange and pulling out a chair—

Only then did Jung-hyun realize that this partition was not just a wall, but a large canvas.

“…….”

It was a painting he had seen before. This was definitely… the hospital ceiling that he had said looked like a wall.

“It’s been a while, Jung-hyun.”

Jung-hyun turned his head while still standing.

There stood Kyung Seung-hee in a suit. The dull blue shirt and brown suit with a small pattern were somewhat flashy for him to wear, but they suited a man quite well.

“Have you been well?”

Kyung Seung-hee approached the table with a smiling face. He sat in the chair first, and Jung-hyun followed, seating himself.

A moment later, a staff member brought the menu. Without turning a single page, Jung-hyun simply ordered a cup of warm tea.

“Were you surprised the location was here? I specifically asked your mother not to give you any explanation.”

“…Yes, I was surprised.”

To be precise, he was surprised by the face, not the location.

“I intentionally called you after mealtime. Last time, you had severe indigestion while eating with me. I was worried that might happen again.”

“Ah….”

“I’m sorry, but… can I say you’re cute?”

“What?”

“So that’s the face you make when you’re surprised, Jung-hyun. Your face is full of question marks right now.”

Jung-hyun shut his mouth. He didn’t particularly enjoy having his expressions read by others.

“You must be wondering why I’m here. Ask me anything. I’ll tell you everything.”

“The fact that you are here, Seung-hee, does that mean perhaps my marriage partner is….”

“Yes. I am your marriage partner.”

“…….”

His face froze.

Since he had naturally assumed his marriage partner would be a woman, it was only natural that he didn’t expect this, but….

To think that Kyung Seung-hee, the son of a current Vice Minister, was his marriage partner. The conditions were so perfect for Myeong-jeong that it almost made him laugh. His father must have put in quite a lot of effort.

“Actually, I wanted to take things more slowly and step-by-step with you. It was my dream for us to meet by chance and become a couple who promised marriage.”

“…….”

Jung-hyun stared silently at his face.

Thinking about it now, the first meeting, which had been full of incongruities, came to mind. As well as the exact meaning of his mother’s remark about ‘between men’ and the comment that ‘he said he wanted to start as friends.’

“But I felt that if I kept taking things step-by-step, some other guy would beat me to the punch.”

Kyung Seung-hee paused and wrinkled the bridge of his nose. Then, he smiled brightly again.

“So, I had no choice but to take the cliché, fast, and accurate route to arrange this meeting.”

85 – Puck Drop