By Zephyria I had only hoped to hear about Jae-yi’s experiences with Se-han when they were young, or even a light secret.
But the aftermath? What kind of secret does he know….
“Sunbae, can we meet for a moment? I’m on my way to where you are now… Ah!”
I was so focused on the call that I was startled when someone snatched my phone.
“Sung Se-han…!”
Sung Se-han was standing behind me, without a sound. Perhaps because there wasn’t enough light, or because I happened to be standing with my back to the streetlight, Sung Se-han’s dark face felt so unfamiliar.
“Tae-kyung.”
His husky voice was quietly subdued. His brown eyes, backlit, flickered with anger.
“You should talk to me. What are you going to do meeting Jae-yi Sunbae, huh?”
He ended the call without permission, and still, he wasn’t satisfied, as he clenched his teeth.
“You, fuck. Why don’t you listen to me.”
It’s my fault for trying to dig up Sung Se-han’s secrets without his consent. It’s definitely my fault, but I still felt upset at Sung Se-han for being angry at me.
It’s funny and embarrassing, but I’m really upset.
“Give me my phone.”
Sung Se-han was checking the call history without permission. Then he turned off the phone and put it in his slacks pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“Tae-kyung, let’s go to the car and talk.”
Sung Se-han, who had softened his voice, held out his hand to me. Did he think I could take the hand he was offering with his face muscles stiff from holding back his anger?
I took a step back, and Sung Se-han strode forward and grabbed my arm.
“Ouch, hey. Wait a minute….”
I quickly looked around to see if anyone was passing by. People were constantly going in and out of the mart entrance in the distance.
“Sung Se-han, let go and talk.”
I didn’t even try to pull out of his tight grip. I only thought that I shouldn’t make a scene here and attract attention.
“I said let go and talk.”
Even though I spoke politely, Sung Se-han didn’t loosen his grip. I never know what to do when he’s being so forceful.
“Tae-kyung, don’t even think about meeting Jae-yi Sunbae or anyone else. I told you to spend that time on me, didn’t I? Do I look like I’m joking?”
Sung Se-han, that damn bastard, doesn’t seem to care about his surroundings. I was so annoyed that I kept looking around that I glared at him.
“That’s my business! Who are you to tell me what to do? Why are you angry at me?”
I glared at him with all my might, and Sung Se-han tilted his head and came closer. I could clearly see the laughter filling his fierce brown eyes.
“Seeing this makes all the stray thoughts disappear. Anyway, Lee Tae-kyung’s face is a weapon.”
This guy, who looks like he lives in his own world, is this what you call lip service? I hardened my facial muscles so that my mouth wouldn’t relax.
“Tae-kyung, people who are usually quiet like me are scarier when they get angry. So, you better listen to me from now on.”
“I really, didn’t I tell you to stop talking nonsense?”
Honestly, I was a little scared to see Sung Se-han suddenly grinning. I had no idea what this crazy bastard was going to do.
“Okay. I’ll tell you one secret.”
Huh…? Suddenly? I couldn’t believe that Sung Se-han was speaking so readily, so I gave him a suspicious look.
“Y-you’re going to tell me…?”
“How can I win against Lee Tae-kyung?”
I’m glad he’s going to tell me a secret, but. He’s not letting go of my arm and keeps massaging it like he’s giving me a massage, so my attention is all focused on that.
“I’ll tell you a secret that no one else knows but me.”
“Oh…? Really?”
I looked up at Sung Se-han with expectant eyes.
His sharp jawline looked even more prominent in the light. The same was true of his clear eyes and high nose.
I was mesmerized by how beautiful Sung Se-han was, and he gave me a sly smile.
Had Sung Se-han’s eyes ever looked so warm and kind?
“At the hotel last time, after you left.”
Huh? At the hotel…?
“I came while calling your name.”
I couldn’t understand right away, so I tilted my head. Calling my name…?
“What do you mean, you came….”
The moment I realized what he meant, a sigh escaped my lips.
“Ha…!”
I covered my face with one hand and lowered my head. I couldn’t lift my face at all.
“You crazy bastard…!”
I couldn’t stand it, so I grabbed him by the collar.
“How can you say that now, huh! Are you really crazy?”
“What am I supposed to do if you get angry even if I tell you honestly?”
Sung Se-han grabbed my hand that was holding his collar.
“Don’t worry, no one knows.”
“Of course! You crazy bastard!”
I shook off Sung Se-han’s hand and kicked the ground. Seeing the stone rolling away made me even more angry.
“I’m the crazy one for trying to have a serious conversation with you! Who can I blame!”
A place where the streetlight doesn’t reach. The reason I was rushing to a dark place was to hide my expression.
Apart from being furious, my heart was pounding uncontrollably. My face was so hot that I tried to cool it down with my hands, but even my hands were hot.
What did that bastard just say?
So, Sung Se-han came while calling my name….
“Tae-kyung.”
I was the crazy one.
“Lee Tae-kyung, wait.”
Just hearing Sung Se-han’s husky voice made my heart drop, and I couldn’t think of anything. All that filled my head was the sound of footsteps following me.
“Are you curious if I’m an orphan or not?”
Thud. My feet stopped with the sound of my heart dropping. Sung Se-han, who had followed me from behind, also stopped walking.
Ah, damn it.
Sung Se-han is not an orphan.
Because he has an Auntie who treats him like her own son. And a Grandmother (Maternal) who loves him so much.
I hoped that Se-han wouldn’t think of himself as an orphan, no matter what happened to him when he was young.
In the end, I made him say it himself.
Without further delay, I turned around to face Sung Se-han.
“Se-han.”
Sung Se-han looked down at me with his hands in his slacks pockets. His sturdy body, which stood out even on the dark road, was blocking the way.
If Sung Se-han doesn’t back down, I probably won’t be able to escape him for the rest of my life. I suddenly had that thought.
“I’m really sorry for forcing you to say something against your will.”
I clenched my fists tightly and stared into Sung Se-han’s brown eyes. I felt like I would be able to make a firm decision if I looked into his eyes.
“I really didn’t want to do that, but I had no choice because of that shitty mission.”
I don’t know what kind of penalty I’ll get for saying this, but I’ll probably be able to handle it all.
“I can’t tell you now, but later when I….”
If I can make my inferiority complex zero, and Sung Se-han is out of danger of the accident, I’ll be able to tell you everything.
What I feel about you….
“Tae-kyung.”
Sung Se-han’s fingers brushed back my hair that had been ruffled by the wind.
“I was as good as an orphan until I met my Grandmother (Maternal).”
His tone was light, as if he were talking about everyday life.
I was so taken aback by Sung Se-han’s sudden confession that I couldn’t do anything but stare with wide eyes.
“I was a non-existent person to my mother and my mother’s side of the family.”
It wasn’t hard to understand the meaning hidden in his words. Sung Se-han was confessing to me that he was a person who shouldn’t have existed.
“Se-han…!”
“It’s better for you not to know my secret. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
I waited for Sung Se-han’s next words, dazed.
“But, there was something I wanted to tell you.”
Sung Se-han, who leaned his face towards me, whispered in a low voice.
“I found out recently too.”
I wiggled my toes and brought my ear close to Sung Se-han’s lips.
“I had a father.”
“What?”
I was so surprised that I grabbed Sung Se-han’s shoulders with both hands.
“Really? A father? Really?”
The ordinary word ‘father’ that came out of Sung Se-han’s mouth suddenly felt foreign. Perhaps it was because I had assumed that such a word would never come out of his mouth.
“Did you meet him? When? When did you meet him? Se-han! Then….”
“Lee Tae-kyung.”
Sung Se-han patted me on the shoulder as if to calm me down.
“I’ll introduce you soon. It’s a secret, just for you.”
Just for me.
My heart was beating so fast that I couldn’t breathe. I opened my mouth wide and barely spat out a word.
“Se-han, congratulations.”
Sung Se-han met his father. I could confidently say that there was no greater gift than this on the day of his debut.
“That’s really great!”
[Bbam-para-bbam! Bbam-bbam! Lee Tae-kyung’s re-debut congratulatory surprise event has been successfully executed!]
[Congratulations! Congratulations!]
I couldn’t hold back any longer and hugged Sung Se-han as joy burst out in many ways.
“I really didn’t know such a good thing would happen!”
I had never shown it, but I knew. I knew that Sung Se-han wanted to meet his father. I also knew that he had always been holding back for the sake of his Auntie, who was trying to hide his parents.
But he finally met his father, could there be anything happier than this?
“Thank you for telling me! Se-han!”
Once I touched him, I realized how much I had missed his scent. I hugged Sung Se-han tightly with both arms and rubbed my face against his firm chest to my heart’s content.
“Se-han, I today… Ugh.”
Sung Se-han suddenly hugged me so tightly that a groan burst out of me.