By Zephyria 
“……There are so many things I wanted to say, so many things that come to mind right now.”
Each time Seo Baek-han ran a hand through his hair, the long shadow cast over the pool swayed as if dancing. In the breeze, the spotlight fell upon the row of baby angel statues in the garden opposite. The sight was quite exquisite, as if the inanimate objects had momentarily taken on a sullen expression.
“I was worried I might hurt you again. I’m still a bit like that, you know. Even though I said I’d change.”
“So,” Seo Baek-han took a deep breath. No, perhaps he even held his breath for a moment. The voice that followed the brief silence was so mixed with low breaths that it was difficult to understand unless one listened intently.
“From now on, I’ll stop calculating things and just honestly confess what remains unchanged.”
I liked you, I like you, and I’m sorry.
Seo Baek-han brought up a confession he never expected, despite his spiteful declaration that he was here to ruin Liam’s lavishly decorated pool party.
If that was truly his intention, he had succeeded spectacularly. All my resolutions to escape this place immediately or to get seriously angry at Liam had vanished. My mind was instantly filled with nothing but Seo Baek-han’s brief confession. Whether in a positive or negative direction.
“That’s a statement that won’t be a mistake, no matter how many times it’s repeated.”
Seo Baek-han let out a laugh, as if to say that reciting an immutable truth, like the Earth being round or the sun rising in the east, was not a wrong act.
“……Don’t you know that throwing your feelings around so carelessly can also be distressing to others?”
“I know, why wouldn’t I.”
Seo Baek-han quipped, saying it was embarrassing to admit but that he, having received countless confessions, couldn’t possibly not know.
“But Tae-hyun, you never knew until now.”
“Knew what.”
“That I like you.”
Amidst the foreign language flowing like music, Seo Baek-han spoke slowly and deliberately in Korean, a language only the two of them could understand.
“I just don’t want only my harsh words to remain in your heart. That’s why I’m confessing.”
He thought perhaps a sincere confession and an apology might be slightly better than bringing up children or other family members and talking about divorce.
“I like you a lot… Tae-hyun.”
“……”
“I know your feelings ended long ago. Our timing is truly–”
It was the moment Seo Baek-han was about to repeat what Joo Tae-hyun had told him in the lab hallway not long ago: that their timing was bad.
“You goddamn cockroaches!”
A thick voice, like chewing on metal, filled the pool area. The chatter of the revelers instantly ceased, and all eyes turned to one spot.
Startled by the sudden Korean, especially the profanity, Seo Baek-han quickly shielded Joo Tae-hyun behind him.
What is this all of a sudden… Who is that person? I know there are very few Koreans among the party guests. Seo Baek-han wasn’t invited, so it must be aimed at me. And in that state… it doesn’t seem to be just from the alcohol.
With possibilities swirling chaotically in his mind, Seo Baek-han also seemed to be calculating various scenarios.
“……It feels like we’ve experienced a similar situation before, doesn’t it?”
Was he trying to ease the tension? Seo Baek-han’s tone was light, like a joke, but he couldn’t hide the underlying anger and worry. It was as if, rarely, he… seemed extremely anxious. Did he have any inkling of what was happening?
“Whatever it is, just stay behind Hyung. It’ll be nothing.”
As he said this, Seo Baek-han squeezed Joo Tae-hyun’s wrist firmly before letting go. The cold touch of his skin allowed Joo Tae-hyun to regain a sliver of composure.
He said a similar situation.
As Joo Tae-hyun tried to calmly assess the situation, a name suddenly flashed in his mind like lightning.
“Hyung, wait a moment. That person……”
While slightly smaller than Seo Baek-han, Joo Tae-hyun was also tall and well-built, so he could clearly see the situation unfolding before him even while hidden behind him.
“……Isn’t that Kim Seung-jun?”
The man who suddenly emerged from behind a neatly trimmed small tree was, if Joo Tae-hyun’s memory served him correctly, Kim Seung-jun.
He had bloodshot eyes, as if he were wearing colored lenses, and was wearing a tattered shirt.
“Either way, someone inside must have helped him get this far. If so, the traitor must also be prepared for various scenarios. He must have calculated all possibilities before opening the door for Kim Seung-jun.”
So it would be resolved quickly, and nothing would happen. Perhaps worried that Joo Tae-hyun might be startled, Seo Baek-han continued to offer hopeful speculations.
“So there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Hyung, no matter what–”
“It’s okay.”
Even if Seo Baek-han’s guesses were true, it was obvious that his actions of trying to hide Joo Tae-hyun would provoke Kim Seung-jun. Even with 99 contingency plans, what if Kim Seung-jun pulled out an unexpected 100th move?
Seo Baek-han knew this, which was why he kept trying to hide me. Trying to buy time by using himself as a shield.
“Look at this. I was right, wasn’t I? Joo Tae-hyun, you bastard, you said you were pregnant, but fuck. Look, your belly isn’t even swollen.”
Murmurs from the crowd drifted through the party venue like ominous background music. With interesting gossip about to be broadcast live right before their eyes, no one would miss this opportunity. Many were adjusting their phones as if to take pictures.
At that moment, as if to mock the current situation, a soft spotlight turned on. The orchestra, which had briefly paused its performance due to the uninvited guest’s intrusion, hastily began playing a new song. With the screeching and creaking of the string instruments, the party atmosphere became even more eerie.
“Thank you for waiting. Some of you may already know, but today I… Oh, Tae-hyun?”
Next, Liam appeared, descending the stone steps right next to the garden. His hair was neatly slicked back, and he was even dressed in a tuxedo. He held a bouquet of roses and lowered his eyes demurely, then, realizing the current silence wasn’t for him, he belatedly lifted his head.
“What the hell is this beggar?”
Liam’s surprised profanity echoed through the silent pool area, resounding loudly.
I shouldn’t provoke a madman like that, but there was no time to stop Liam. Seo Baek-han lightly touched his forehead, as if it had become a headache.
Liam’s insult circled the party venue like a round of applause, and everyone’s curious gaze once again turned to the “beggar.”
Perhaps the crude remarks and the zoo-monkey treatment from the crowd acted as a fuse. Kim Seung-jun, who had seemed momentarily stunned, soon let out a chuckle and pulled something from his pocket.
“Kyaaak!”
“Crazy, who is that guy!”
“……It was a gun.”
“Last time it was a knife, this time it’s a gun.”
Even Joo Tae-hyun, who had lived abroad for a long time, flinched, but Seo Baek-han said calmly, without changing his expression. When he first encountered Kim Seung-jun, he seemed to have a lot on his mind, but now he appeared frighteningly calm. It felt as if nothing else mattered to him, as if only he himself was important, no matter what happened next.
“Hyung, now is not the time……”
“What can you do, Kim Seung-jun.”
There wasn’t even time to grab Seo Baek-han. He spoke provocatively, as if to draw Kim Seung-jun’s attention to himself. He subtly positioned himself behind the pool cover to keep Joo Tae-hyun out of Kim Seung-jun’s line of sight.
“It seems like even your precious American law won’t protect you now.”
Kim Seung-jun trembled as if a great taboo had been touched. What if he missed? While everyone held their breath, fearing Kim Seung-jun might accidentally pull the trigger, Seo Baek-han approached him without batting an eye.
“Fuck, don’t come any closer! I told you not to!”
“This guy is really funny. You’re the one who barged into someone else’s party uninvited, aren’t you?”
“You think I can’t shoot? I have nothing to lose now.”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
Seo Baek-han raised both hands to shoulder height. Joo Tae-hyun’s insides burned with anxiety at his nonchalant attitude. What if he actually shot?
“Hyung–”
“I’m curious too. Which country’s sentencing will be heavier.”
As Joo Tae-hyun took a step forward to stop Seo Baek-han, Seo Baek-han spoke louder, as if for Kim Seung-jun to hear, drawing his attention.
“Tae, Tae-hyun, do you know him? Is that person Korean too?”
As I tried to stop Seo Baek-han from provoking Kim Seung-jun further, Liam, who had crept closer, grabbed Joo Tae-hyun’s forearm.
“Provoking a madman won’t do any good, let’s hide quickly.”
While Seo Baek-han monopolized Kim Seung-jun’s gaze, others also began to hide in the cabanas or flee behind trees. The sound of bodyguards, who had been contacted, rushing over could be heard. Judging by the faint sound of sirens in the distance, a report had also been filed immediately.
In that case… I just need to hold on a little longer.
Joo Tae-hyun bit his lower lip without realizing it. Yes, even though I haven’t fixed that bad habit Seo Baek-han kept pointing out, why should I obediently listen to him in this situation?
I don’t know where Kim Seung-jun suddenly appeared from and pointed a gun, but it would be better to distract him together than for Seo Baek-han to go alone. Then the bodyguards and police will arrive…
Shaking Liam off, Joo Tae-hyun cautiously took a step forward. Liam, startled, called out “Tae-hyun!” but just stamped his feet in place.
There was no plan. No strategy. He just intended to draw attention, without provoking Kim Seung-jun too much, in case he made a mistake.
“…Kim Seung-jun, I told you to shoot.”
However, Seo Baek-han seemed to see exactly what I was thinking just by me taking one step, and didn’t give me a chance to step in.
“What are you doing. Well, you’re probably high on drugs and not in your right mind, so do you even have the strength to pull the trigger?”
“You son of a bitch!”
“That’s how guys like you always are. Just all talk and no action.”
As he strode forward, closing the distance to Kim Seung-jun, the man trembled violently as if having a seizure.
“Fuck, don’t come any closer! I told you not to!”
At that moment, Kim Seung-jun’s trembling finger firmly pulled the trigger.