By Zephyria Before he knew it, it was Friday. The last day of business for the chicken rib restaurant. As usual, Ryu Jeong, who had only dozed off for a while, got up, finished showering with sleepy eyes, and left the house. Lee Do-hyeon, who had been by his side when he fell asleep, was gone, having left for work, and what awaited Ryu Jeong, who came out without anyone to see him off, was a middle-aged driver dressed in a neat suit.
“Then, we’ll depart.”
“Yes…”
Lee Do-hyeon’s promise to assign him a personal driver as soon as possible didn’t even last a month. He said he had to be very careful in selecting one, and perhaps because of that, the driver was quite skilled.
It was uncomfortable to be addressed with formal language by the driver, who seemed to be around his father’s age, but something else was even more uncomfortable. It was the feeling of being watched. Coming out of a luxurious apartment, riding in a car driven by someone else, only to go to a part-time job. He was self-conscious, wondering if the driver found it strange.
But the driver was indeed a veteran who had managed to pass the strict interview. He didn’t bring up any potentially uncomfortable topics, except for truly necessary conversations. He was careful even with his facial expressions to avoid causing unnecessary thoughts, and he didn’t even sigh carelessly, even when faced with traffic jams.
“Then, please contact me when you’re finished. I’ll come to pick you up right away.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you…”
Today, as always, the driver, who had been waiting to match his work schedule, dropped Ryu Jeong off in an alley near the chicken rib restaurant and disappeared. He didn’t know where he went or what he did while he was working, but he would appear 10 minutes before quitting time to wait. He seemed ready to take him to the cafe just across the street, even making a U-turn, but no matter how much he said it was okay, he couldn’t be persuaded, so it had already been two days since he had been enjoying luxury that didn’t suit him.
As he stood there blankly staring at the receding sedan, he noticed people glancing at him. He was grateful for Lee Do-hyeon’s consideration, but it was uncomfortable to be aware of things he didn’t have to be aware of before. Startled, he quickly tried to move his feet when his phone vibrated in his pocket. When he checked, Lee Do-hyeon’s name was displayed.
“Hello. President.”
Are you walking?
“Yes… the driver just left.”
You haven’t gone into the restaurant yet?
“No. But I’m almost there. It’s right in front of me.”
Really? Then should I hang up?
Lee Do-hyeon asked as if he was really going to hang up. Ryu Jeong was instantly startled and gasped without realizing it. He had only told the truth because he seemed curious, but he seemed to have misunderstood that he was busy and needed to hang up.
He was about to quickly add that that wasn’t what he meant, but Lee Do-hyeon, sensing something unusual, interrupted the flow, saying it was a joke. He felt all his strength drain away, but he was relieved first.
“Ah… you surprised me.”
I joked to make you surprised, but you’re more surprised than I thought. I shouldn’t play jokes like this in the future. I’m sorry.
“No… I was amused too.”
If Lee Do-hyeon was intrigued by his reaction, that was enough. Ryu Jeong answered, pressing down on his pounding heart. He could hear Lee Do-hyeon chuckling softly over the phone.
What do you think of the driver?
“Um… I don’t really know. He just drives. But he seems to be a really good driver. The car doesn’t shake much, so it’s amazing.”
If there’s anything uncomfortable, tell me right away. I’ve said it before, but I want to take you myself, but the circumstances don’t allow it. Think of him as me, and tell me right away if there’s anything uncomfortable.
“Yes… I will. Thank you.”
Ryu Jeong smiled brightly, liking the kind voice coming from the phone he held carefully with both hands.
Today is the last day at the restaurant, right?
“Yes… they’re only doing it until lunchtime.”
Then you’ll have to answer me quickly.
“…Yes.”
At the meaningful urging, Ryu Jeong bit his lip with a troubled expression.
Lee Do-hyeon had suggested the job of a hotelier to Ryu Jeong, who had been busy looking for another job to replace his restaurant serving job, saying that he had a good idea. Ryu Jeong rolled his eyes, unable to gauge exactly what kind of job it was, and Lee Do-hyeon pointed to the work Ryu Jeong had done in French and asked if he had thought about making use of his aptitude.
Aptitude? How could his poor foreign language skills, which he had never formally learned, be an aptitude? Ryu Jeong immediately refused, saying that he had only learned a little from the sidelines when he was young, and that he wasn’t fluent enough to make a living from it.
But Lee Do-hyeon didn’t give up easily. He persistently persuaded him, emphasizing that it was a formal job, not just an unstable part-time job. If learning was necessary, he could learn from now on, and above all, he asserted that foreign languages were a strength that could be fully utilized not only in hotels but also in other places.
Ryu Jeong was silent for a while, lost in thought. Since the environment he had grown up in since he was very young was not very hopeful, he had no time to think seriously about the future. He had never thought of a dream, other than struggling to survive. The moment he heard Lee Do-hyeon’s suggestion was the first time Ryu Jeong had ever reflected on himself.
“I’ll think about it a little more… and tell you when I decide.”
In the end, what came out of Ryu Jeong’s mouth was not a refusal. Lee Do-hyeon said he understood and didn’t press him any further, as if it was okay to keep postponing the answer by asking for time.
Oh, and I think I’ll be late today.
“Ah… because of work?”
Yes. I probably won’t be back until… dawn.
Since their daily rhythms were completely opposite, the dawn hours that Lee Do-hyeon said he would be late were the hours when Ryu Jeong would be working hard. It meant that even if he came home late, Ryu Jeong wouldn’t be waiting for him. Ryu Jeong smiled faintly, feeling that Lee Do-hyeon, who reported every little thing even though he didn’t need to, was somehow cute.
Just then, a noisy group passed by. Ryu Jeong, who had hidden in the alley between the shops to avoid them, switched the phone to the other hand and asked carefully.
“Are you very busy these days…”
Lee Do-hyeon, who had not shown any signs of work until now, had been showing signs of fatigue for the past few days. He would crack his stiff neck without realizing it, and the fatigue in his dark eyes was clearly visible. He also looked like he hadn’t slept all night.
Lee Do-hyeon, who had hesitated to answer, laughed with a scattering sound. He felt a strange sense of anxiety. Ryu Jeong, feeling sorry that he couldn’t be of help, lowered his head sullenly. Perhaps he heard his troubled breathing, Lee Do-hyeon, who had been silent for a while, suddenly opened his mouth.
What should we do for fun on the weekend?
“…Weekend?”
Ryu Jeong’s eyes widened at the sudden question. He must be tired. He felt like he wasn’t resting properly when he should be, because he was worried about him. Ryu Jeong rolled his wide eyes and opened his mouth hesitantly.
“Instead of playing… you should rest…”
Hmm. Resting isn’t bad either. Then should we just stay in bed all weekend?
“…Just in bed?”
Yes. Just in bed.
His parted lips closed tightly. Ryu Jeong rubbed his flushed face with an awkward hand.
Since he started living in Lee Do-hyeon’s house, Ryu Jeong, who had learned that the bed was not just for sleeping, realized that the words “just stay in bed” did not only refer to resting. Afraid that someone else might hear him, Ryu Jeong looked around the empty alley and brought his lips close to the phone’s microphone and answered.
“I… like it.”
…Do you know what you’re saying?
Ryu Jeong nodded and quickly added an answer, realizing that he was on the phone.
“I know… what it means.”
Ah…….
A low sigh tickled his ear. And that was the end of it.
Was the call disconnected? He slightly dropped the phone he was holding to his ear to check, and the call was still going on without being disconnected. Ryu Jeong, who licked his parched lips with his tongue, brought the phone back to his ear.
I miss you.
Listening quietly to the barely audible breathing, a low voice came over the receiver. Even though he was clearly alone in the alley, he felt like he was with Lee Do-hyeon. Embarrassed, Ryu Jeong lowered his gaze to the floor and tapped the floor with his toes.
“Me too…”
Huh?
“I miss you too, President.”
Lee Do-hyeon burst out laughing at the confession covered in embarrassment. Ryu Jeong shyly laughed along, just hearing that sound made him happy.
Certainly, happy days had been continuing since he met Lee Do-hyeon. So good that he couldn’t think of anything else.