#155

Side Story Episode 6

“But seriously, it really is impressive. The CEO is pregnant right now. I heard the body gets heavy and it’s tough around this time. Maybe it’s because it’s something we’ve never even imagined, but it looks even more amazing.”

“True. Dealing with those old fossils must be a huge stressor, too.”

Ho-jae let out a long sigh. It was actually his biggest worry lately.

Back in the States, he had often seen Jung-hyun sleeping in past 10 AM, but here, Jung-hyun woke up before 6 AM and opened his laptop immediately. It pained Ho-jae to see Jung-hyun working quietly in the dark just to avoid waking him; even when Ho-jae told him it didn’t matter and to just turn on the lights, Jung-hyun would simply say he was fine.

The only things Shin Ho-jae could do were to wake up at a time that wouldn’t burden him, pretend to do his own chores while slipping in to prepare a nutrient-rich breakfast, and run a warm bath in the tub to match Jung-hyun’s return time.

“I wish Hyung would lean on me a bit more.”

He had learned through internet articles that Jung-hyun had a very difficult time at the company in the beginning due to opposition from the board of directors. They said things had improved a lot now, but before that, Ho-jae hadn’t heard a single word about it directly from Jung-hyun.

Even if he couldn’t fully understand the complexities, he wished Jung-hyun would get irritated or vent to him when things were frustrating or hard at work. He felt that Jung-hyun was simply bottling everything up in silence.

Min-chul locked eyes with Du-min and shrugged.

“But you’re the same way, Ho Jae-shin.”

“Huh?”

“You’re also the type to bottle things up alone when you’re having a hard time.”

“Yeah. You two are actually quite alike in that regard.”

Ho-jae’s eyes widened at the unexpected comment.

“I am?”

“Yeah. Remember when you were playing in Canada and never told us once about the hard stuff? Du-min and I were actually a bit hurt by that.”

“…But back then, even if I had said something, it would have just exhausted you guys. It’s not like talking to others solves the problem.”

“See? See this? CEO Jung-hyun probably thinks the exact same thing.”

“…….”

“Why do you think we took a flight with three layovers all the way to Canada? We went to check on you in person because you kept saying you were fine.”

“…Wasn’t that a trip to celebrate Yuk Du-min’s birthday?”

“It was both. What do you take us for? Tsk.”

“Once we got to Canada and pushed you a little, only then did you admit it was hard because of those racist bastards. We felt pretty crappy when that happened.”

“Exactly.”

“It was the same with the CEO’s work recently.”

“Right. You hid that from us for a whole year. Wow. At the time, there was so much going on with the exposure broadcast and whatnot that we just let it slide, but the sense of betrayal was insane.”

A single nudge had opened the floodgates of complaints. Only after listening to the endless stream of grievances for a long while was Ho-jae finally able to ask what had been on his mind since the middle of the conversation.

“What do you guys do?”

“What?”

“Did you guys always talk openly about hard and difficult things from the start?”

At his question, Du-min and Min-chul looked at each other. Du-min was the one to answer.

“Well, we have the same job, we’re on the same team, and Cheol helped me with the YouTube stuff from the beginning, so talking about work worries just happens naturally.”

“It is a bit different between you and the CEO. Since you’ve known each other for a long time since you were kids, you’ve fought a lot, and you know how to make each other feel better.”

“When I’m absolutely pissed, Ji Min-chul subtly clings to me. I think he thinks that’ll make me stop being angry. It’s hilarious.”

“Isn’t it?”

“It worked. Just imagine this face acting cute. It’s funny.”

Du-min chuckled. Ho-jae, who had been listening intently, put down his chopsticks and asked.

“Does ‘clinging’ mean acting cute?”

“Yeah. In a cute way. You should try doing that to the CEO.”

“Hyung already tells me I’m cute often.”

As he murmured, subtly wanting to brag, Yuk Du-min ignored Shin Ho-jae’s words and continued.

“Your relationship was especially difficult from the start. You were the owner and the player… Maybe that’s why it’s harder for the CEO to show his weak side to you?”

“Right. I used the word ‘cute’ as a general term, but what I mean is, you need to be the one to open up first and show that you know how to lean on him, then the other person will follow suit.”

“Me first?”

“If the other person is standing stiffly, it’s naturally hard for someone with the CEO’s personality to come and whine about being tired first. That’s why you have to personally show him that it’s a relationship where that’s allowed.”

“……Hmm.”

It made sense. Just as Du-min said, Jung-hyun wasn’t the type to approach someone first and say he was struggling. Because Ho-jae had subconsciously known that, hadn’t he tried to break down the walls of the heart by kissing him and telling him he missed him when he was courting him?

* * *

Checking the time on his wristwatch, Jung-hyun looked up and spoke.

“Shall we wrap it up for today?”

At those words, the complexions of the employees, who had been working overtime for several days, brightened slightly. Feeling apologetic, Jung-hyun called one employee aside.

It was the employee serving as the team leader for the TF team that had been hastily assembled for Jung-hyun. Unlike the appearance he had seen on the first day, her hair was tied with a yellow rubber band and her plain, makeup-free face seemed to represent the excessive workload, bringing a bitter smile to his lips.

While he was naturally providing overtime pay and special bonuses, seeing the employees working day and night directly under him made him want to take care of them personally.

“Please use this to eat something together before you head home.”

As he pulled a personal card from his wallet, a look of hesitation crossed her face.

“No, Director… We’d rather go home than eat.”

“Ah. I see.”

Since he had never experienced being an employee, he hadn’t realized that ordinary staff members preferred going home over free food. As he tried to put the card back with an embarrassed face, someone suddenly grabbed the top of the card.

“If you truly want to buy us something, we’ll use this to buy coffee tomorrow morning.”

“Alright, then.”

He let out a small laugh at the way she gratefully accepted the card.

After leaving a farewell greeting and exiting the office, Secretary Kim, who had the car waiting, bowed to him. He was a man who had handled secretarial duties and served as the family driver since Jung-hyun’s father’s time.

“It was a timing where you could have taken a vacation after a long time, but you couldn’t even rest because of me.”

As he spoke while getting into the back seat opened for him, the man, now entering his twilight years, smiled kindly.

“It is a precious opportunity to serve Jung-hyun-nim with my own hands; I cannot easily hand that over to someone else. Ah, and this is what you requested a while ago.”

Before closing the door, Secretary Kim handed over a small paper bag. Jung-hyun’s eyes widened, and after checking the contents of the bag, the corners of his lips curled up.

“It came out early. They seemed a bit flustered, saying it was their first time receiving such an order.”

“They said the work finished faster than expected. The base materials were likely good. Are we heading straight to the hotel?”

“Hmm, hold on a moment.”

Jung-hyun took out his phone and called someone on his favorites list. The sole reason he had finished work before 11 PM was that he was thinking of the person he was calling right now.

He’s not picking up… Is he on the move? Just as he was about to press the end call button, the call connected.

— Hyung?

“Mr. Ho-jae.”

— Is something wrong? Where are you?

Imagining the surprised face asking the question, the muscles in Jung-hyun’s face relaxed. Since he had been leaving work after midnight lately and rarely made personal contacts before leaving, it seemed Ho-jae thought something had happened.

“I finished work, so I called. Are you still with your friends?”

There was a brief silence on the other end. When he asked “Mr. Ho-jae?” in confusion, a slightly grumpy voice returned.

— Ah… If I knew Hyung would finish early, I would have finished up quickly too. I’ll leave right now. It takes about an hour by taxi…

— Hey, where are you going! This guy is ridiculous! You said you’re paying for the third round!

— Move, I have to go. Hyung said he’s finished.

— The CEO? Then can’t you just tell him to come here?

— No. Our Hyung is tired.

Listening quietly to the simultaneous sounds of welcoming voices, Jung-hyun signaled Secretary Kim. The quick-witted secretary started the car without asking.

“Where are you now?”

— Huh?

“I’ll go to you.”

— No. Hyung, you’re tired. Go to the hotel and rest. I can just take a taxi.

“Give me the address, Ho-jae.”

— ……Are you really coming?

“Yes.”

Ho-jae hesitated for a long time before softly reciting an address that started with Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do. After relaying that address to Secretary Kim, Jung-hyun hung up.

Jung-hyun gazed out the window of the speeding car.

The feeling of going to pick up Shin Ho-jae after work wasn’t bad. No, perhaps it was quite good.

To think he would look forward to seeing someone so much while dragging a tired body.

Shin Ho-jae seemed worried that he would be exhausted from finishing work and traveling all the way to Suwon, but compared to the usual overtime, his body didn’t feel particularly tired.

It was because Shin Ho-jae gave him plenty of pheromones every dawn. It was far more effective than soaking in lukewarm water or getting a massage.

Moreover, Jung-hyun also wanted to see Shin Ho-jae as soon as possible. To do that, going to see him would be faster than waiting for Shin Ho-jae to arrive.

“How long will it take?”

“There is no traffic, so I believe we will arrive in about 40 minutes.”

40 minutes. Jung-hyun watched the slowly ticking second hand and wore a faint smile.

– Puck Drop