By Zephyria 
“Wow, not with mileage, but buying a first-class ticket with my own money for the first time.”
If Joo Tae-hyun’s memory served him right, Cheon Seung-pil had repeated that phrase every minute. Word for word.
“Your money? I bought it with my money.”
“If you want to get technical, it’s not even your money. It’s your parents’ money.”
Cheon Seung-pil playfully raised his hand as if to strike, then took off his hat and mask, looking uncomfortable.
“You take yours off too. There’s hardly anyone here now.”
Despite covering his face so thoroughly, fearing a crowd, the airport was almost empty. Was it because it was a weekday and late? Either way, it was a relief.
Joo Tae-hyun hesitated for a moment before carefully pulling his mask down to his chin. Even the staff inside the lounge were nowhere to be seen, but one could never be too sure.
“But no one came to see us off? I thought at least my Hyung or sister would come, even if my parents couldn’t.”
“I stopped them.”
He had to bear his own discomfort, as it was his choice, but he didn’t want his family to become a spectacle for others.
Despite the sudden decision to leave the country and his firm refusal of a send-off, his family wasn’t upset. Rather, they said they had wanted to suggest it first but hesitated, worried about his state of mind, and actively pushed Joo Tae-hyun’s back.
Of course, the Yoonra Foundation, as well as his parents, would have people following him to ensure Joo Tae-hyun’s comfort. But on the surface, this journey was his alone.
“By the way, how do you have so much luggage? You haven’t been in Korea that long.”
“Shut up. Consider it a blessing I kept it to three suitcases.”
Cheon Seung-pil, who was suddenly going back to the States with Joo Tae-hyun, grumbled unhappily.
He had checked in three suitcases that were over the size and weight limit, and even his carry-on was packed to the brim. As for Joo Tae-hyun, who had only packed a few changes of clothes, he couldn’t understand the life of a maximalist.
Still, grateful that Cheon Seung-pil had changed his schedule on his parents’ request, Joo Tae-hyun didn’t say anything more.
At first, he was annoyed at the thought of a long flight with such a loudmouth, but once they were actually traveling together, it wasn’t so bad. Thanks to Cheon Seung-pil’s endless nonsense, he could avoid thinking about anything.
That’s right, anything at all.
“But Joo Tae-hyun, since we’re landing in New York anyway, can’t we hang out there for a bit before going? It’s tough to go straight to D.C. How about the Hamptons? Or Cancun? Oh, the Bahamas would be good too! It’s a resort for old folks, but…”
“You go play. I need to go straight to the lab.”
“Lab? What kind of research… Hey, wait a minute.”
Cheon Seung-pil tilted his head, looking puzzled, then his mouth dropped open in shock.
“Crazy. You’re going back to school? Like, right away?”
Isn’t that obvious? Joo Tae-hyun couldn’t understand why Cheon Seung-pil was treating him like a madman.
His only titles had been Seo Baek-han’s spouse and a graduate student at Pyongyang University. Now, he had given even those up.
So, he wanted to get something, anything, as soon as possible. That way, he wouldn’t be ashamed in front of his family.
Fortunately, he wasn’t too old, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to return to his old graduate program. If the lab wouldn’t take him… well, what would he do? Should he get an MBA, even though he had no interest in it?
Come to think of it, he hadn’t accomplished anything properly so far.
Well, that was only natural. Ever since he met Seo Baek-han at Changgyeong Palace, his only goal and ideal had been him.
He had done his best by Seo Baek-han’s side, and his secretaries had always praised his conduct, but that was it.
Still, he had done his best in his role, so he had no regrets. He wasn’t about to start blaming himself now. He just wanted to live his life with himself at the center, instead of someone else.
However, he couldn’t get a grip on things because everything he held was ambiguous.
A mediocre education and a mediocre career that he was embarrassed to even put on a resume…
He really wanted to live well. He didn’t know what to do.
“…I need to do something. How long am I going to live like this?”
“Joo Tae-hyun. Are you dissing me right now?”
Cheon Seung-pil, who had suddenly opened his suitcase and was rummaging through his luggage, narrowed his eyes and glared at Joo Tae-hyun quite fiercely. The sight was so funny that Joo Tae-hyun laughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes.
“Damn it. Yeah, laugh, laugh. Still, at least I got into college!”
“Yeah, who said you didn’t?”
“Yes, yes, how wonderful for you. To be good at the studies you love.”
Afraid that Cheon Seung-pil would really get sulky, Joo Tae-hyun suppressed his laughter and said soothingly.
“…Actually, I just want to do something. But I don’t know what to do, and since I used to study, I thought that would be the easiest thing to do.”
“…”
“Otherwise, if I just stay still… I think I’ll keep thinking about it.”
He had just said something to appease Cheon Seung-pil, but before he knew it, a sentimental complaint had slipped out.
He hadn’t intended to be pathetic, and he was a little embarrassed, but it was only after he said the words that he realized his own state.
“It just… keeps floating around in my head.”
He hadn’t slept a wink since he turned away from Seo Baek-han yesterday. With a dreamy mind, as if he were dreaming, Joo Tae-hyun thought of him whenever he had a chance.
It wasn’t lingering attachment. It wasn’t regret, and it wasn’t even anger that made his hands tremble.
It was just… he just thought of him. He couldn’t help it, and he just watched the memories piled up flowing somewhere.
He had thought that he could only catch a glimpse of his fragmentary appearance. He thought he had nothing in his hands. But when he looked back like this, there were quite a few aspects of Seo Baek-han that only he knew. For example, Seo Baek-han’s face, which became sharper and harder as he went from his 20s to his 30s, his voice, which became subtly lower after work than in the morning, and the unique expression he made when he went downstairs in the morning and slightly frowned instead of saying hello. And even Seo Baek-han’s unique scent, which he could no longer smell.
“Aish. Hey, if you say that, what am I supposed to be…”
Cheon Seung-pil, who had suddenly become depressed, lightly scolded him, saying that it was good for him to be noisy, and he raged, asking what he thought he was.
“No, wait. I’m tired of the East Coast, should I go to the West Coast? Should I take a road trip?”
“Stop talking nonsense and start preparing for your transfer again.”
“Hey. I’m the kind of person who gets hives just hearing the word ‘transfer’. See this? Goosebumps on my arm?”
It was when Cheon Seung-pil was waving his perfectly fine arm in front of him and causing a ruckus that the entrance to the lounge, where it was usually difficult to even feel a presence, became slightly bustling.
“Wow. What is it? Did reporters come or something?”
“…Why would reporters come here?”
Even so, Joo Tae-hyun picked up his mask, following Cheon Seung-pil, who was putting on his hat.
“It’s weird. There aren’t many people on the New York flight at this hour.”
Joo Tae-hyun retorted indifferently that there were always a lot of people on the New York flight, but he was just as uneasy. He didn’t think it was reporters. No, it would be better if it were reporters. He could stop them by citing lounge regulations and invasion of privacy.
But if a regular passenger came up to him and started talking to him or taking pictures, how would he stop them?
“I hope you have a pleasant time.”
The footsteps entering the lounge were for one person. Cheon Seung-pil also seemed a little relieved and lowered his mask slightly below his nose.
“It must be a passenger. That’s a relief.”
However, Joo Tae-hyun couldn’t agree with him.
The sound of a silk robe rustling. The footsteps moving at regular intervals.
Even without pheromone, someone’s characteristics, which were already deeply ingrained in his ears, made Joo Tae-hyun unable to move.
“H-huh! Ba, Baek…!”
Cheon Seung-pil, who was squatting down and trying to open another suitcase, was so surprised that he fell on his butt.
“Baek-han Hyung? Why are you here… Don’t tell me you’re going to America too?”
Joo Tae-hyun stared blankly at the man walking towards him, his eyes only on him.
His unique gait and upright posture were the same as ever, but his forehead was wet with sweat, and his bangs were slightly disheveled, and sweat was beaded on his chin and neck.
“I’m not trying to chase you.”
Before Joo Tae-hyun could say anything, Seo Baek-han took the lead. He didn’t even seem to have the composure to call him Tae-hyun, as usual.
“I’m not trying to drag you out either.”
“…”
“Just give me a little time before you go.”
Just a little while.
Seo Baek-han reached out as if to grab Joo Tae-hyun’s arm, but he didn’t grab him recklessly. Rather, he seemed embarrassed by his own uncharacteristic behavior.
“…Let’s talk outside.”
Joo Tae-hyun put his hands behind his back and distanced himself from him so that Seo Baek-han wouldn’t touch him at all.
“Ah, no! I’ll go out! I wanted to look around the duty-free shop! Then Hyung, have a good time with Tae-hyun?”
Cheon Seung-pil made an absurd excuse and stormed out. He was so quick that there was no time to stop him.
“You don’t ask anything.”
“About what?”
“How I found out about your schedule, things like that.”
Does that matter now? When he didn’t answer and remained silent, Seo Baek-han glanced into the distance and swept back his wet hair.
Once, twice, three times… Just when he was getting a little frustrated with how many times he was going to repeat the same action, Seo Baek-han finally opened his mouth.
“I’m really not going to get on the plane, so relax your expression.”
Of course. Joo Tae-hyun knew better than anyone that Seo Baek-han wasn’t the kind of person who would chase him all the way to America. The position of Director of the Royal Hospital, an executive of 〈Guardian Lion〉… there were countless other name tags hanging on his chest.
Rather, it was amazing that a man who hated this kind of gossip had bought a first-class ticket and wasted it just for him.
“Because I have to do everything I can here to wash away all the disgrace attached to your name.”
However, the reason Seo Baek-han gave was completely different from what Joo Tae-hyun had expected.
“…So, Tae-hyun.”
Seo Baek-han took a quick breath like someone who had swallowed something hot and paused for a moment. In his eyes, which finally met his properly, were tangled unfamiliar, turbid emotions.
“Please reconsider the divorce.”