By Zephyria 
Men are like dogs, they want to chase after you if you run away
From Monday after the weekend, breaking news about Professor Seok poured out on TV. Under the title of ‘The Fall of Seok Chang-ho, the Pride of Cannes,’ a large amount of news was generated about how he had extorted his students.
A flood of calls poured in for Hae-jun as well. With so many calls, Hae-jun turned his phone to silent mode. He couldn’t turn off the power because there was a call he was waiting for. But the person he was waiting for never contacted him.
Senior Yang came to visit four days after he left the Safe House. He was holding beer and squid in his hands.
Senior Yang didn’t ask Hae-jun anything. He didn’t even mention the embarrassing incident that happened on the last day they met. It was as if it never happened. He was a really good senior.
“What do you want to eat for dinner?”
Senior Yang asked, rummaging through the refrigerator. Hae-jun stared at the TV and answered blankly.
“I don’t know. Anything.”
“How about cold udon? Cold udon.”
“Yeah, that’s good.”
“You don’t like cold buckwheat noodles?”
“Yeah, that’s good.”
“Cold noodles?”
“Yeah, that’s good.”
“How about frozen pork cutlet? Freshly taken out of the freezer. Nice and cool.”
“Yeah, that’s good.”
“Hey, Park Hae-jun.”
Senior Yang grabbed Hae-jun’s head and lifted it up. Hae-jun blinked a beat late.
“When are you really going to come to your senses?”
“……? What did I do?”
“It’s a problem because you haven’t done anything. You’ve been spacing out for three weeks now, not even pretending to listen when someone talks to you, and saying ‘yes’ no matter what.”
Senior Yang was trying to point out that he was spacing out, but Hae-jun was surprised by the word ‘three weeks.’ Has it already been that long since I left that house?
“Stop watching TV so much. The same thing comes out every day.”
Senior Yang turned off the TV. Today, the news was still talking about Professor Seok Chang-ho’s corruption. Whenever interest was about to wane, a new piece of bait popped up. Professor Seok’s case was still a hot potato.
When the fact that Seok Chang-ho had stolen his student’s screenplay and made it into a movie was first revealed, the film industry sided with Professor Seok. Professor Seok repeatedly said that he had already apologized to the victimized student, waiting for the matter to subside.
However, a new victim appeared, and another appeared without even having time to subside, and then it was revealed that even his representative work that sent him to Cannes was his student’s work, causing another uproar.
The day before yesterday, a famous director posted a message on his blog revealing that he was also a victim.
The director said that he had passed on the pain to his juniors because he had not been brave enough to speak out earlier, and conveyed his willingness to do anything to punish Professor Seok, even though it was late, in a calm tone.
In a situation where that alone was a headache, a sex-related scandal broke out today. Again, there were more than one or two victims. Interviews followed about how young and talented women had their dreams trampled on by Professor Seok. People from all walks of life criticized Professor Seok.
“What are you going to do now? Are you going to return to school?”
The topic of conversation had changed while he was spacing out. Hae-jun asked back, “Huh?” Senior Yang asked back in a frustrated tone.
“Are you going to return to school? Professor Seok’s case has been resolved, so isn’t it okay to return to school now?”
“Ah. I should. I should return to school.”
Hae-jun’s voice was lukewarm as he answered. It was something he had wanted so much, but he had no interest in it. Professor Seok. Returning to school. It all felt like it had nothing to do with him.
“First of all, the scholarship is gone, so I’m going to try to earn tuition for the next semester while thinking about it.”
“Okay. You should get your diploma since you’ve already entered. Okay, let’s eat cold udon today.”
Senior Yang put a pot on the gas stove. Hae-jun flopped down on his back. Why am I so lethargic? I think I used to live diligently in my own way. I couldn’t think of anything. I wasn’t interested in anything.
No, there was one thing I was interested in. Lee A-gon. If he let go of the flow of consciousness, his head was filled with Lee A-gon.
In fact, he had gone to the Safe House where Lee A-gon lived a few days ago. Since Lee A-gon didn’t have a cell phone yet, the only way to contact him was to go and meet him in person.
He naturally thought he would be allowed in, but he was blocked from the entrance. The security guards blocked Hae-jun’s path.
When he said he lived here, they replied that he didn’t anymore. They already knew that Hae-jun had been kicked out.
“Then please contact the 10th floor. If you tell him I’ve come to see him, he’ll come out.”
“He moved out.”
“Yes?”
“The person who lived on the 10th floor moved out. At the end of last month.”
This can’t be. Hae-jun was stunned. Lee A-gon moved? If that was true, then he really wouldn’t be able to see him anymore.
When Hae-jun, unable to believe the guard’s words, stood his ground, the security team eventually appeared. Having no choice, Hae-jun had to return home.
Could that really be the end of their parting?
It couldn’t be. How much he liked me, could it really have ended just like that?
No, it’s not possible. He’ll contact me soon. He might even come to my place. It was like that before, wasn’t it? He came looking for me.
Yes, Lee A-gon will look for me. He definitely will.
“Aren’t you going to do it?”
Suddenly, Senior Yang’s voice was heard. Hae-jun asked, “What?” Senior Yang sighed and chided him.
“You weren’t listening to me again, were you? Are you really not going to do the interview? The interview regarding Professor Seok.”
Among the calls Hae-jun received, there were also requests from media outlets for an interview. This was because he was Professor Seok’s most recent victim.
“I’m not interested. It’s bothersome.”
All interest had vanished. As if his previous efforts were a lie, he felt no curiosity. Naturally, he had no desire to do an interview.
There was something more important. Lee A-gon. How could he be with him like before? Lee A-gon. Between his love and hate for me, is there more love or more hate? Lee A-gon. Please listen to my explanation. It was definitely an obligation at first, but later, my feelings for you grew stronger. Lee A-gon. Lee A-gon.
Lee A-gon. Lee A-gon. Lee A-gon. Lee A-gon. Lee A-gon.
“I have to meet him.”
“Meet who?”
Senior Yang asked, having heard Hae-jun’s mumble. Hae-jun vaguely brushed it off.
“Someone. There is someone like that.”
There was someone he absolutely had to meet. He found himself wanting to see him more and more. Returning to school or whatever else felt impossible; he wouldn’t be able to focus on anything like this.
∞ ∞ ∞
[Secretary Yang, did your number change?]
[I have something to discuss.]
[Please contact me.]
[Please call me.]
[Secretary, please answer the phone.]
Scrolling up through the messages he had sent, Hae-jun scowled. The missed calls exceeded twenty. Except for the first time, Secretary Yang had consistently not answered his calls.
[I have something to say about Lee A-gon. Please contact me.]
After sending one last message, Hae-jun looked up and immediately made eye contact with an employee of Umyung E&S. Hae-jun and the employee exchanged another awkward greeting. It was three in the afternoon. He had been here since seven that morning.
Umyung E&S’s building was divided into the old and new buildings. The new building housed a shopping mall, broadcasting station, and art hall, so one had to go there to see celebrities. The old building was located a bit further from the new one, and those who effectively led Umyung worked in the old building.
Unlike the flashy and bustling new building, the old building was merely a gray building where tired office workers came and went, just like any other workplace. And there, Hae-jun had been lingering since seven in the morning.
“You won’t see any celebrities even if you stay here.”
A cleaning lady, pushing her mop, spoke to Hae-jun. Hae-jun nodded awkwardly, “Ah, yes.”
“This isn’t a place where celebrities come and go, so if you want to see celebrities, go to the new building. Okay?”
“Ah, it’s fine. Thank you.”
The lady tutted and walked away. Hae-jun smiled sheepishly. He wasn’t there to see a celebrity; he was there to meet Secretary Yang. He was determined not to move from his spot until he met Secretary Yang.
Around closing time, Hae-jun was kicked out of the building. He held his ground outside the entrance until eleven at night, then returned home, only to reappear again at seven the next morning. However, Hae-jun did not meet Secretary Yang that day either. The next day was the same.
It was on the fourth day that Hae-jun finally managed to meet Secretary Yang.
A group of people was moving with the sound of footsteps. At the front was a tall woman dressed in a pantsuit, and Secretary Yang was slightly bowing towards her, politely saying something.
“Secretary Yang!”
Hae-jun had neither dozed off nor browsed his phone for the past four days. He was afraid of missing Secretary Yang in that short time. As the person he had waited for so long finally appeared, Hae-jun called out to Secretary Yang, involuntarily like a shout. Secretary Yang looked at Hae-jun in surprise.
“Secretary! Secretary Yang…!”
Not only had he not dozed off or browsed his phone for four days, but Hae-jun, who hadn’t even drunk water for fear of missing him while going to the restroom, looked pitifully gaunt. As he staggered forward, a bodyguard stopped him.
“Ah, no. Secretary Yang.”
Secretary Yang walked past Hae-jun as if he hadn’t seen him. As Hae-jun struggled, the bodyguard dragged him. In the end, Hae-jun was unceremoniously thrown out of the entrance.