TWB 59

Chief Oh stretched, rubbed her dim eyes, and let out a sigh. Lunchtime was fast approaching. She pondered what to eat, but nothing particularly came to mind. Absentmindedly, she glanced toward where Kang Hee-shin’s desk was located. Kang Hee-shin had been under house arrest for several days, and she had not contacted him unless it was regarding work. He was likely distressed enough as it was, and she didn’t want to add to it.

Meanwhile, the administrative officer next to her, Baek Young-mi, called out to Chief Oh.

“Aren’t you going to lunch?”

“I’ve lost my appetite.”

“Have you tried calling the prosecutor?”

“We only exchanged one text.”

Public opinion was boiling over, and reporters were camped out in front of the Prosecutors’ Office again today. People holding placards had even begun protesting at the main gate. He’s not a prosecutor, he’s a criminal; The prosecutor is above the law; Punish the prosecutor who deceived the people and reveal the truth, and so on… Looking at those rather provocative words, she felt it was actually a relief that Kang Hee-shin wasn’t coming into work.

While she was softly sighing, someone knocked [stolen content]unauthorized copyon the door. She wondered if a reporter had made [stolen content]it this far. When she looked, Park Tae-min poked his head in.

“Prosecutor Park. What brings you here?”

“Chief. Did you hear the news? I heard President Park of Oasis died.”

Startled, Chief Oh stood up from her seat. “What?” If it was President Park of Oasis, he was someone she had known for a long time. He had been around since the moment she first stepped foot in the Prosecutors’ Office. Back then, he was nothing more than a common thug.

After serving time in prison, that man had suddenly transformed into a businessman a few years later, backed by some unknown influence. He built a five-story building on the most expensive prime real estate in Gangnam and opened a club. It was called a club, but it was a place where hostesses were employed and secret deals were made. And not long ago, one of the hosts working there had committed suicide. Kang Hee-shin had been chasing that case.

“How did it happen?”

“I heard he was completely crushed by a 5-ton truck while heading home in the early morning. They say the body was unrecognizable.”

As expected, Park Tae-min was the fastest with rumors. The driver’s blood alcohol concentration was at a level that warranted license revocation, and he was rambling even after hitting someone. The funny thing was that the driver also had a criminal record for assault and attempted murder.

Hearing that felt unsettling. Of all times, it had to be now…

“Oh, how is Prosecutor Kang? Can you get a hold of him?”

Park Tae-min belatedly asked after Kang Hee-shin.

“I haven’t been able to speak with him over the phone either. He said he’d keep his phone off for the time being.”

“Does that bastard even have a place to go?”

“Wouldn’t he have gone to his family home? He has a Hyung and a younger sibling there.”

Park Tae-min started to say something but then shut his mouth.

“If he has nowhere to go, tell him to stay at my place. I can just lean on my Noona. I’ll text you the passcode.”

“Oh my. I’d be grateful if you did. It’s been weighing on my mind as well.”

Park Tae-min gave a quick bow and disappeared, and Chief Oh, feeling troubled, searched for news articles. Sure enough, not a single line about President Park of Oasis appeared. She called Kim Hae-sung’s friend, who had secretly photographed the ledger, but the phone was off, perhaps because it was too early.

“Prosecutor Park is such a tsundere. They bicker every day, but he secretly looks out for him.”

As Administrative Officer Baek Young-mi said, Park Tae-min looked after Kang Hee-shin even while picking on him. He had been doing it more lately, and Chief Oh felt a slight sense of unease about it. It felt as if he were a person with some ulterior motive…

All sorts of people existed within the Prosecutors’ Office. People who acted friendly only to stab you in the back, or those who used others for a purpose—of course, that was true of any organization. However, this was a place that dealt with the law, and betrayal did not end as a simple internal conflict.

“You never know what’s inside a person.”

“Chief Oh, you don’t like Prosecutor Park, do you?”

“It’s not that I dislike him, we just don’t get along. His greed is excessive.”

“Isn’t Prosecutor Kang also quite greedy?”

“Our prosecutor is different.”

“How so?”

“It’s more like… the feeling that he’s clinging to life desperately. It’s heartbreaking to watch.”

“What’s the difference?”

“He is. There is such a thing.”

Listening to this, Officer Baek smiled and shook her head.

“Prosecutor Kang must have been your child in a past life, Chief.”

“Maybe so.”

Chief Oh chuckled. Then she stood up and grabbed her coat. Instead of going to lunch, she decided she should visit the police station in charge of President Park’s death. She needed to grasp the situation, even roughly. Only then could she properly explain it to Kang Hee-shin when he returned.

“Sigh. Not a single day is ever quiet.”

“Young Master, what shall we do about your meal?”

“Just prepare it for now.”

After the staff member in charge of food withdrew, Tatsuki let out a low sigh. As he slowly climbed the stairs to the second floor, he heard French. The second floor, with the blinds fully drawn, was dark, and Im Gyeong was leaning against one side of the sofa, watching a movie.

It was that movie he had loved for a long time and cried every time he watched. But today, his expression was neither tearful nor moved. His eyes were on the movie, but he looked like someone whose mind was elsewhere… Tatsuki cleared his throat, but Im Gyeong didn’t look back, staring straight ahead.

“Young Master. You must eat.”

“I have no appetite.”

“Are you aware that you haven’t eaten anything since yesterday?”

He hadn’t even drunk tea today. He had skipped something he had done like a lifelong homework assignment for no apparent reason. It had been like this since he visited Kang Hee-shin’s residence two days ago. On the surface, he seemed no different than usual, but inside, something was undergoing a change.

“I am concerned your health will suffer.”

“I won’t die from skipping a meal or two.”

“I must know why you are fasting. Is it because of Mr. Kang Hee-shin?”

The composed Im Gyeong stubbornly shut his lips at the mention of the name Kang Hee-shin. His gaze grew sharper, and his jaw tightened.

Then, he closed his eyes firmly. It was a silent warning to stop talking. Tatsuki didn’t want to imagine it, but if Im Gyeong’s mother in Japan found out about this situation, there would be an absolute uproar. If she saw her son skipping meals over a man, not a woman, she might find Kang Hee-shin and cut off his fingers. He hoped such a thing would never happen.

Just as he was about to turn away, Tatsuki received a phone call.

“Yes, Ms. Yoon Se-na.”

At the mention of Yoon Se-na’s name, Im Gyeong opened his eyes. Tatsuki could feel that his entire attention was focused on the phone. Tatsuki, listening in silence, nodded.

“I will ask, but please do not expect much. He is very tired. Yes, I understand. Goodbye.”

Even after the call ended, Im Gyeong did not ask. While he looked like a calm wave on the surface, Tatsuki knew a typhoon was raging inside him. The longing for Kang Hee-shin and the conviction that he must be crushed were likely clashing countless times.

“Ms. Yoon Se-na has invited you to her family home. She says she has something important to discuss and insists that you attend.”

“Something important?”

“She said you’ll find out when you arrive. She mentioned it’s something you would find interesting.”

The movie had reached its final act, and a scene appeared where the male lead clung to the woman who had left him, weeping. The scene Im Gyeong Read on Read BL Novelsalways cried at. stolen contentThe funny thing was that Im Gyeong had never cried or clung to anyone while dating.

He was always the one to get bored first, and he was ruthless when breaking up. Moreover, the cruel words he poured out with that pretty face to those who clung to him were enough to make anyone listening shudder. Yet, his eyes would always turn red whenever he watched that movie. Truly ironic.

“I’ll tell her you can’t—”

While speaking, Im Gyeong stood up.

“Tell her I’ll go.”

“Will you be alright?”

“I’ll eat dinner there.”

Then, Im Gyeong entered the bathroom, leaned against the sink, and glared at his own face in the mirror. What could Yoon Se-na want to say? Could it be news about Kang Hee-shin? Why am I so curious about that man? What would I even do if I met him? Apologize? Even if I did apologize, it wouldn’t be sincere. Not only was I not sorry, but I had no intention of taking back what I’d done.

“Fuck…”

After thinking for a while, he threw off his shirt to wash. He turned on the cold water and drenched himself from the head down to clear his mind, erasing the man who kept digging into his thoughts. It was nothing. He had used him, and since he was no longer valuable, it was right to discard him. The lingering feeling was likely just due to an unfulfilled hunger.

Sexual desire.

That was something that could be resolved through anyone else.