By Zephyria Regret.
If he had to pick the word that was most unrelated to him in his life, Yeon-ho thought that this was one of them.
Not because he didn’t make mistakes, but because he didn’t start troublesome things in the first place, just in case.
Regret was bound to consume time and energy, and he had neither the sincerity nor the enthusiasm for it.
But now, Yeon-ho was fiercely and sincerely chewing over regret with all the enthusiasm and righteousness he didn’t have.
What was I doing, acting so cool, when I couldn’t even put out the fire that had fallen on my own feet?
The regret that had rushed in, not even 24 hours later, was even connected to frustration.
9:40 a.m.
Yeon-ho, who had been sitting cross-legged on the bed for over 30 minutes, naturally went back in his memory.
Yesterday, when the women had invaded, using the family’s ritual or whatever as an excuse.
Marteo, who had gone to work in the midst of it, had returned home quite late.
Yeon-ho, who had rushed to the window at the sound of the car coming in, had checked Marteo and returned to the bed as usual.
Marteo arrived and about 5 minutes. In the meantime, he always visited Yeon-ho’s room first to let him know that he had returned.
But… yesterday, that time was slower than usual.
When there was no sign of him outside the door for more than 5 minutes, Yeon-ho tilted his head and slipped out of the room and headed to the first floor. And what he witnessed was three birds surrounding Marteo.
‘Are you coming in now? You’re late from work.’
‘Have you had dinner?’
Tony had told Yeon-ho that Young Master was going to be late and had recommended an early dinner, but it turned out that the women hadn’t eaten until then.
They said they wanted to wait because they wanted to have dinner together since they had been invited (?).
Of course, Marteo cut them off, saying that he had taken care of it outside, but the women didn’t give in.
‘Then how about tea? If you don’t like that, how about tomorrow morning?’
‘Maybe you’ll be free around lunchtime? It’s been a while since I’ve been to Rome, so I’d like to look around, and it’s good to go near the company∼.’
Their eyes showed a fighting spirit that they would sit at a table even if they couldn’t get into the same bed yet.
The reason why he could understand the series of conversations was because Marteo had used English this time as well, and the women had answered in half English accordingly.
The rest was thanks to Tony, who occasionally told him from the side.
Anyway, when they even expressed their will to come to the company, Marteo made a decision.
‘Let’s have… a cup of tea.’
Until this point, Yeon-ho and Marteo hadn’t exchanged a single word. As such, he naturally thought he would be invited to join them. It was a good time to talk to him, no matter who looked at it.
But… the first thing Marteo said when he finally came to his side was….
‘Why did you come down?’
Then, he hurriedly changed his words with a ‘oops’ look…,
‘Did you… have dinner?’
This question didn’t feel very welcome either. It was like he was comparing him to the women who were obviously waiting to have dinner with him.
‘Because you said you’d be late.’
The answer naturally flowed out sullenly. Marteo seemed to know that and smiled faintly. The last wedge was after the smile had faded.
‘Then… see you later.’
…What?
It felt like someone had hit him in the back of the head. He couldn’t be more dumbfounded than this.
See you later. What, how much later?
So drinking tea with those women comes before me?
What time is it now, and see you later?
It was too embarrassing to say it out loud, and it was too embarrassing to even think about it.
The women’s expressions changed softly when Marteo looked back at them again after he was fiercely spying on what they were talking about, which was especially embarrassing.
‘Shall we go to the drawing room? Or Marteo’s room?’
Yeon-ho, who belatedly clenched his fist at the sound of someone talking again, turned his feet. Tony, who had hurriedly followed, looked at his complexion and let out a low voice.
‘Maybe… he did that because he thought you’d be uncomfortable.’
The words were like he had read his mind. But even with the meaningful words, Yeon-ho was hooked on the other part. He snorted without realizing it.
‘Who? Him?’
Tony parted his lips as if he wanted to say something more, but there was no chance as Yeon-ho continued walking away.
30 minutes later.
Yeon-ho didn’t open his mouth even at the sound of knocking on the door.
Why, what! He was too busy biting his lips tightly, afraid that an unwarranted anger would burst out.
The presence that had stayed in front of the door for a long time disappeared after quite a while.
Anyway, a foreigner who doesn’t know what three times means!
Yeon-ho, who had been staring at the door all the time, nervously dug into the bed. That’s how the night, the day, passed.
And now, the morning has dawned again.
Yeon-ho is still acting as a stone statue on the bed. It was absurd even when he went over it again.
How could he say why did you come down at that timing? Shouldn’t I be the one saying that, not those women?
Who would be happy to have tea together?
Could it be that this bastard… was just pretending to kick the women out?
Regret is followed by frustration. Frustration is followed by suspicion. At the end of the emotions that continued like a panorama, he reached a decision.
‘Just you wait. See if I go down to the first floor from today!’
It was obviously his loss, but he didn’t care about that for now.
But, it didn’t take long for this childish decision to be broken.
Just as he barely got out of bed and headed to the drawing room attached to the room, something came into his sight.
What is that? Yeon-ho, tilting his head, approached the door. Then, his brow furrowed once more.
A card that had been pushed in through the narrow gap under the door.
When he reached out and unfolded the folded paper in half, neat handwriting cut through his eyes.
I guess you fell asleep early yesterday.
I’ll be back.
ps. I’ll call you around lunchtime.
I thought he was only fluent in pronunciation, but his handwriting was much neater than mine, who is Korean. The name wasn’t written, but there was no need to ask who left it.
Yeon-ho kept looking down at the two-line memo. Then, he snorted too late.
No. What’s with this analog method when I gave you a new phone? Is texting just for show?
But unlike his grumbling, the corners of his lips were about to go up. He seemed to know why he left a memo instead of a text.
So that I wouldn’t be disturbed while sleeping….
Until a few minutes ago, there was no sign that my mood would improve, but suddenly, it felt like something stuck had gone down.
The decision to go down to the first floor was, of course, scrapped at this moment.
‘Okay, I admit it. I was a little… childish yesterday, wasn’t I?’
It felt like only a moment ago I was lazing around in bed, but now my feet felt light as if I could fly. My steps naturally led me out of the room.
But… humming, humming, halfway down the hallway towards the first floor, I bumped into someone.
Skin so white it was almost pale. Dark hair that contrasted with it. The quietest of the three I saw yesterday… It was Crow Lucia.
First, I was caught humming. Second, I wondered if I should… greet her. Yeon-ho hesitated. But in the end, it was a meaningless worry.
Our eyes met for a few seconds. She glanced up and down at Yeon-ho, then twisted her lips and brushed past him.
Yeon-ho’s eyebrows rose, and his forehead furrowed.
‘What’s that look? What’s with that face like she won something?’
Just as I thought that, a familiar voice called out.
“Yeon-ho.”
It was Tony. Yeon-ho, leaving behind the unpleasantness, closed the remaining distance to Tony, who had just come up to the second floor.
“Good arch… no, did you wake up?”
Deleting the words ‘good morning’ was an excellent choice. It almost was, but it just got ruined.
He glanced in the direction Lucia had disappeared, as if he had seen Lucia and I bump into each other, then turned his gaze back. Yeon-ho shrugged.
“Well, it seems I’m not the only one who’s awake. Are the others up too?”
“Eleonora woke up a little while ago. She hasn’t come out of her room yet, though. Angelica hasn’t said anything, so she’s probably still asleep.”
“Then… what about that person? When did that person wake up?”
“That’s…”
Tony trailed off strangely. Then he let out a small cough.
“Before six… she woke up.”
Before six?
“Could it be that…”
This time, Yeon-ho trailed off. As if understanding the unspoken question, Tony gave another awkward expression.
“Briefly, the timing was right… so she saw the young master off.”
Ah… I understood perfectly what that nonchalant smile she gave me was all about.
‘I see. A victory smile.’
While you were sleeping soundly, I was one step ahead. Actions speak louder than words, and all that.
Come to think of it, they didn’t seem particularly surprised when they saw Yeon-ho yesterday. They didn’t bother asking who I was, and until I opened my mouth, they practically ignored me.
In other words, they had already figured out what position I held in this house.
After a moment of silence, Tony cautiously checked my expression.
“Are you… alright?”
“About what?”
“…No, it’s nothing. More importantly, I was just about to go see you, Yeon-ho, so it’s good timing.”
My head tilted. Tony had taken good care of me since the first day I arrived, but he generally didn’t come to my room until I woke up and went down to the first floor myself.
“Is there something you wanted to say?”
“It’s nothing big, I was just wondering what you wanted to do for your meal since you’re awake.”
“……?”
“Um… how about eating in your room today?”
Ah… I understood the implication. At the cautious suggestion, Yeon-ho inadvertently looked back down the hallway where Lucia had disappeared. But only for a moment. Soon, I shook my head.
“Why bother? Just do it as usual.”
The note from Marteo that I had shoved into my pocket as I left the room. I could feel the rustling texture of the paper at my fingertips.
Yeah, why wouldn’t I be okay?
That’s what I thought. At least until then.
When eating with Marteo, we used the dining room, but when eating alone, it was always the tea room.
Today, too, the sky outside the window was perfectly clear. The window seat overlooking the garden was still picturesque.
Yeon-ho leisurely admired the scenery outside while the meal was being prepared, and then straightened his posture and picked up his spoon at the set dishes.
But before I could even take a bite, someone suddenly entered the room.
Tony was the first to notice the presence. Tony’s shoulders flinched as he turned around. Yeon-ho, who had stopped his hand in response to the unusual reaction, also turned his gaze. Then, a short groan was swallowed into his throat instead of food.
“Oh my… it seems someone was here first.”
A voice that was soft but didn’t feel entirely gentle. In a similar vein to the voice, the one who scanned me was Swan Eleonora, who appeared with a maid in tow.
Tony, quickly erasing his troubled expression, bowed his head.
“Did you wake up, Eleonora? Did you sleep well?”
“Meh. So-so.”
“Is there anything that’s… uncomfortable?”
“It’s not that… I guess the butler didn’t hear that I woke up? Your greeting is a little late.”
In short, it meant, ‘You knew I was awake, so why did you only send a maid?’ Tony, feigning ignorance, slightly raised the corners of his lips.
“It’s also impolite to enter a lady’s room without permission. I heard that you woke up.”
“…Is that so?”
“More importantly, what brings you here…?”
Would she come to the tea room to wash her face, or to change her clothes? It was a stupid question. But after Yeon-ho came to this house, all the employees knew that he had breakfast here.
In other words, the question disguised as words meant, ‘Yeon-ho is eating, so please leave.’ But, ah… Eleonora, who dragged out the words meaninglessly and insincerely, continued her remaining steps. Then, as if to show off, she plopped down on the sofa in one corner of the room.
“The maid said this is where the sunlight is best at this time… I was thinking of having a cup of coffee.”
Tony’s gaze moved towards the maid standing next to her. The maid was blinking her round eyes. ‘Ah, no. I didn’t say that.’ An expression filled with injustice. But even knowing that, Eleonora was still unconcerned.
“Oh, and I’d like a Robusta bean.”
To top it off, she specifically ordered Tony, not the maid.
“Um, excuse me, Eleonora…”
It was when Tony was about to step forward again.
“Why didn’t you wake me up? What time is it?!”
“I’m sorry. There were no separate instructions to wake you up…”
“So you have to be told to understand? Are you that clueless?”
This time, a small commotion was heard from outside the tea room. Unintelligible words. But the felt frustration and atmosphere were of a familiar kind.
‘Could it be……’
Yeon-ho and Tony’s foreheads twitched simultaneously. And the next moment, someone else burst into the tea room as if jumping in.
A somewhat disheveled appearance and look compared to yesterday, when she was dressed to the nines. Still, her expression was the same as expected, it was Kestrel Angelica.
Crow and Swan. And even Kestrel.
‘Why do I have to see so much rough stuff from the morning…’
The hand holding the spoon in Yeon-ho’s hand naturally tightened.
Angelica, who had been scolding the maid incessantly, paused only after making eye contact with Tony. Then, she hurriedly scanned the tea room and finally changed her expression.
“Oh my, everyone’s here? You should have called me.”
She came just fine without being called. At this moment, everyone’s thoughts were in agreement.
Like Eleonora from earlier, she glanced at Yeon-ho, waved her hand at Tony, who was about to greet her as if blocking her gaze, and then quickly moved her feet again and approached the sofa.
Eleonora finally nodded slightly at Angelica, who had come close. A gesture that was quite unpleasant for a greeting. But this kind of thing was a later problem. Angelica quickly took a seat in front of Eleonora.
“I was looking for you for a while, not knowing you were here. When did you come down?”
“A little while ago.”
“Then you haven’t heard yet, have you?”
“Heard what?”
“Lucia woke up before sunrise today, I heard.”
“……”
“My maid said she saw Mr. Marteo off alone. Did you know?”
“……”
“You didn’t know? Oh my. I guess you can’t help the characteristics of the species. How can a person be so……”
She spat out the disgruntled tone, and then swallowed her words as if belatedly conscious of Tony. Tony didn’t show any reaction. Instead, Eleonora lowered her eyes.
“If what you say is true… it certainly is.”
“R-right?”
“Yes. We all came together on the same day, but how can only one person….”
“That’s what I’m saying! Isn’t it too black-hearted?”
“How diligent.”
“…Huh?”
“…Yes?”
After a brief difference, the last words were swallowed at once. Angelica belatedly widened her eyes, and Eleonora also widened her eyes as if surprised.
“What did you just…? I naturally thought I should learn from her… Surely Angelica doesn’t think differently?”
“No, that… what I mean is….”
1 to 0. Yeon-ho could clearly see the score, even if he didn’t know the details. Also the expression that was more certain than words.
‘That unlucky bitch!’
‘Hmph. How stupid.’
In fact, even if their goals were the same, or rather, precisely because they were the same, they were enemies to each other. Of course, there seemed to be some difference in power.
Meanwhile, Angelica, who had been mumbling for a while, finally erased her embarrassment and smoothed her trembling cheeks. The snort that came out was after that.
“Ha. I guess so. I should take a lesson. I’m too innocent to be able to insidiously probe people.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“I guess I misunderstood something. It’s better to have the same blackness on the outside and inside. It’s much uglier to have only the outside white. Don’t you think?”
“…Are you saying that for me to hear?”
The light in Eleonora’s eyes, which had been relaxed, also lit up.
Until now, Yeon-ho was just an observer.
I don’t know what it is, but there are sparks flying between them, but whether she wins or she wins, it has nothing to do with me.
It would be even better if they fought and both fell down.
However, the atmosphere, which seemed ready to grab each other by the hair at any moment, didn’t last long and cooled down. It was because Eleonora, who had suppressed a sigh, raised her hand.
“Let’s stop. Just us.”
“What is it? You started it first.”
“Yes. I didn’t mean to, but if you felt bad about my attitude, I apologize.”
Angelica was definitely simple. She forgot that she was snorting at the fact that the arrogant swan had come in low and hesitated. Then, she chattered softly with a sulky face.
“Ah, no, well. I also think it was wrong to say things carelessly when no one was around.”
“Yes. Angelica is innocent, after all.”
“Are you mocking me again?”
“It’s a compliment. As Angelica said, there are a lot of insidious people in the world, right? For example… people who covet positions that don’t suit them.”
At the end of her words, Eleonora glanced at Yeon-ho. Angelica also widened her eyes and quickly turned to look at Yeon-ho.
Eleonora and Angelica. They were definitely enemies. But they had temporarily forgotten that there was an even greater enemy in this place.
The man who turned around Marteo’s heart, who was trying to kick them out.
A guest who is taken care of by the butler instead of the maid.
The enemy of my enemy is first and foremost my ally.
The two looked at each other again. Following Eleonora, who had a bright smile, Angelica’s cheekbones bulged.
“Since you say that, there’s someone I can think of too. Someone who acted like they were the owner in someone else’s house.”
“Oh my. Are there such rude people?”
“There are.”
The fight that I thought would just be an observation. It was the moment when the arrow was turned to Yeon-ho in the wrong direction.
The ominous feeling was clear even if the language didn’t work, as I’ve said many times.
Yeon-ho’s spoon, which had already stopped, fell onto the plate, and Tony’s expression hardened.
There was no subject, but it was obviously a mockery aimed at Yeon-ho. Moreover, the words did not end in a single shot, but continued.
“But, in fact, it’s not just people who don’t understand the subject, right? If you think about it, there are also animals.”
“Which…?”
“A species called a bird that can’t even fly~ My cousin, you know. She’s pregnant recently, and she doesn’t eat ‘chicken’ at all. In case a child is born who can’t fly.”
“Oh my. She must be having a hard time.”
“I guess so. The only use for ‘chicken’ is food.”
It was an extra to cover her mouth with the back of her hand and burst into laughter.
Tony, who could no longer stand by and watch, turned to face them. He was determined to say something.
But then,
“Antonio.”
Yeon-ho opened his mouth quietly. When he hesitated and turned to look at him, a languid face let out a smirk.
“Leave them be. Just let it go.”
“But……”
“I know. They’re talking about me right now. But what’s the point of getting angry at someone who’s sick?”
“…Yes? Sick, who…?”
“When you’re in the entertainment industry, you see this kind of thing often. They’re called haters. Sometimes I collect them all and sue them, but this is a kind of disease, so it’s not easy to fix it by giving them a warning once or twice…”
“Ahem. Ahem!”
“Besides, if you think about it, they’re working hard to appeal themselves right now.”
What is that again…?
“What was the scientific name again? Ah, Kestrel. In Korean, it’s Hwangjoreongi. ‘Joreong.’ It’s just like the name. It wouldn’t be easy to match like this.”
Ahem, ahem! Tony’s lips, who had coughed continuously, quickly curled inward. At first glance, it seemed like he was going to let it go as if he was being generous… No. The mockery was clearly being done by Yeon-ho.
Tony turned to look at the women without realizing it. The women, who had already stopped talking, were also looking at this side with narrowed eyes. When their eyes met, Angelica, who was impatient, took the lead.
“What are you doing?”
“……?”
“You’ve been glancing over here since a while ago. What is it? Isn’t it rude to talk in words that only you know?”
The words she spat out were in English. Yeon-ho looked surprised.
But, the words that followed, only whispering in motion, were this time in Korean again.
“Antonio. Have you ever heard of this Korean proverb? A dog covered in poop scolds a dog covered in chaff. Ah… in this case, it’s not a dog, it’s a bird. The poop is… it seems like they’re pooping with their mouths.”
A brazenly nonchalant attitude. Tony tilted his head to the side. But it was not enough to hide all the trembling corners of his lips.
‘What did he say that made them like that?’
Bewilderment spread across Angelica’s face and Eleonora’s face as well. But more than anything, what was bothering me was Yeon-ho.
In that moment, Yeon-ho, still with a nonchalant face, shifted his gaze. The language changed after that.
“Excuse me. You two were acting like I didn’t have ears, so I thought you wouldn’t have mouths either.”
Angelica’s cheeks flushed. It seemed like she had finally realized that the words she had questioned didn’t make sense.
Yeon-ho smiled brightly at Angelica, who was unable to counterattack and was stammering. Eleonora clicked her tongue inwardly at the two of them.
I felt it on the first day, but… this man was not someone Angelica could handle.
So what to do? Whether I liked it or not, I had no choice but to step in if I didn’t want to be treated as a package deal.
Eleonora, who had straightened her posture, finally opened her mouth in a calm tone.
“Were you offended by that? Then why didn’t you ask directly like Angelica?”
“……”
“It wasn’t a big conversation. We just had a little chat.”
“It’s the same for us. We just had a little chat.”
“…But you were looking at us.”
“I’d like to say that part is the same as well.”
“……”
The scoreboard that had been going back and forth between Eleonora and Angelica was now floating between the two of them. Eleonora bit her tongue in her mouth without showing it.
After such an end, she raised the corners of her lips as if she had chosen the next move.
“I heard your Anima is a ‘chicken’?”
“……”
“Actually, we hardly ever meet ‘chicken Morpheus’. It was just pure curiosity.”
“I’m curious as to ‘who’ you heard about my Anima from… but anyway, if you were so curious about me, why didn’t you two ask me directly?”
It was a retaliation using Eleonora’s words every time. Eleonora’s smile, which she had tried so hard to maintain, trembled. Her voice began to become increasingly sharp.
“How could we when you were eating?”
“Ah. I guess so. Even though you just came into the place where I was eating.”
“…I don’t think this is a private space?”
“Yes. But this house is Marteo’s private space.”
She understood the meaning right away. An expanded retort that pointed out their behavior yesterday. The smile completely disappeared from Eleonora’s face. Instead, an unhideable displeasure floated above her eyes.
“I guess Angelica was right. You can’t help the nature of the species. How could you embarrass a lady like that… Are all swans like this? I can’t believe they have the dignity of birds like us.”
This was it, he was going all out. Only then did Tony belatedly turn to Eleonora with a frown.
That’s when it happened. Yeon-ho, with an even more relaxed face than before, drew a bright smile. Then, he even winked at Eleonora, crinkling his nose.
“I feel like you two have a lot in common.”
“What?”
“Speaking of birds, I don’t consider any species with webbed feet to be birds.”
“……!”
“They can’t even catch prey with their claws. They can’t perch on a roost. Just floating in the water all day. It’s basically a cruise ship. Oh, since it’s a swan… would it be more accurate to call it a duck boat?”
Eleonora’s face stiffened terribly. Her mouth hung open, unable to find its way, just gasping for empty air.
In that instant,
“Ahem!”
Someone cleared their throat from somewhere. The culprit was none other than Angelica.
Her face, which had been red from Yeon-ho’s remark, was now covered in a completely different heat. Just like Tony earlier, it was obvious to anyone that she was desperately trying to hold back her laughter. However, she had less patience than Tony.
The moment her eyes met Eleonora’s, who was glaring at her, Angelica’s head was thrown back.
Giggles rolled out, accompanied by thumps as she pounded the sofa cushions.
“Oh my god. A duck, a duck boat~. Ohoho. Hohoho!!”
“Corsi!”
Eleonora spat out the family name instead of her given name. But the flimsy alliance was just that, flimsy.
She couldn’t hold back her laughter. Angelica didn’t like Yeon-ho either, but still… it felt so good, what could she do?
For a bird that wasn’t a bird of prey, the swan had always been arrogant, and now she was stuck in the mud like this. After cackling for a long time, Angelica finally wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingers.
“Oh, don’t be angry, Eleonora. It’s just cute, snort. It’s just cute.”
“What?”
“I, I like duck boats. Well~ it’s a little ugly how hard you have to paddle, but?”
Ha! Is this bitch for real? She was comparing her to a boat, but she was also lumping in the swan who was floating on the water and paddling her feet.
‘I’m fighting with this guy because of who! Is this the time for you to laugh?’
A stupid ally was more tiring than an enemy.
Eleonora, unable to bear it any longer, jumped up from her seat. Words that didn’t belong to anyone scattered through her clenched teeth.
“The weather seems to be getting bad suddenly. I’ll have my coffee in my room.”
Her twisted steps led straight out of the drawing room. Only then did Angelica realize her mistake and call out, “Eleonora!” but she didn’t turn around.
As if waiting for this, Tony approached Angelica.
“What will you do, Angelica? Shall I have the tea… brought over here?”
The hesitant Angelica glanced at Yeon-ho instead of Tony, who had spoken to her.
The man had crushed the swan as if it were nothing, and yet he still had a nonchalant look on his face as he picked up the spoon he had put down.
It hurt her pride to admit it, but 2-on-1 was already tough, and 1-on-1 was premature. Finally, with a belated primness, Angelica also stood up.
“It’s okay. It seems like you’re having a meal. It would be polite for me to leave.”
The swan and the Kestrel, two birds, flew away in turn, and only then did Tony move his feet again and stand next to Yeon-ho.
Yeon-ho, who was eating his soup, raised an eyebrow as he felt the gaze pouring down on him.
“Why… why are you looking at me like that?”
“Ahem. I thought the soup might be cold. Shall I warm it up again?”
Yeon-ho shrugged and swallowed the rest of his soup.
“Not really. It’s nice and cool.”
Tony’s laughter, which he had been holding back until now, burst forth.
See, young master? I knew it would be like this!
♥ ♥ ♥
He didn’t show it in front of Tony, and he finished his meal upright, but he couldn’t feel completely the same as usual.
Feeling bloated, Yeon-ho refused the after-dinner tea, saying he would drink it later, and headed for the garden.
It had only been a few days, but now summer seemed to be approaching quickly, and the air that touched his skin was hot and dry. He chose a shady spot and walked for a while until his feet stopped at one point.
‘It was right here….’
The place where he had met Marteo’s eyes, and the spot where the bug had landed on his hand.
The surrounding vegetation was much lower than that day. As he looked around at the neatly trimmed grass, the sensation that had been much itchier than the long bug on his hand returned.
The touch of the man who had grabbed his hand and asked what was wrong when he saw him horrified. He teased him for being afraid of bugs, and then the order came down the very next day….
‘Chick….’
Even the eyes that curved as he muttered.
Even though he was in the shade, his cheeks and ears became hot again.
Yeon-ho, who had touched the low bushes with his fingertips without meaning, turned back from the point where he had stopped without going any further.
Unlike that day, he was walking alone now, but even so, he felt like Marteo was standing next to him.
When he finished his walk and entered the mansion, the persistent heat subsided somewhat. Yeon-ho, who had chased away even the lingering afterimages that had been swirling around him with hand fanning, passed through the hall and went up to the second floor.
The paintings and occasional decorations were now quite familiar to him. However, the feet that had passed through the long corridor stopped again as soon as they turned the corner.
An unexpected sight. An unwelcome decoration was scattered in front of his room.
“Try knocking again.”
“I told you, I can’t hear anything?”
“Then just go in.”
“Why don’t you do it since you’re saying that?”
Three birds were bickering, glaring at each other with pouty voices. Without looking twice, it was the swan, the Kestrel, and the crow.
Even the remaining heat and sentimentality were completely washed away at this moment.
Angelica was still pressing her ear to the door, seemingly unaware of his presence.
Yeon-ho, suppressing a sigh, took the foot he had stopped.
“What are you doing?”
Angelica’s shoulders visibly jumped.
Eleonora, who had been urging her from behind, and Lucia, who had been crossing her arms, also looked quite surprised.
The first to speak was, of course, Angelica.
“W-what? Without a sound. You scared me!”
Of course, it was a rude thing to say, just like in the tea room.
“I think I was more surprised, but I guess it doesn’t show?”
“Ahem, anyway, where have you been? We’ve been waiting for a long time.”
“Did I make some kind of appointment to see you? I don’t remember that.”
The more she spoke, the more she was just making things worse, just like before.
Eleonora glared at Yeon-ho as if she was more annoyed than Yeon-ho by Angelica, who was quickly stammering. Even so, she didn’t bother to speak to Yeon-ho. It seemed like she was quite upset about what had happened in the tea room earlier.
Yeon-ho, pretending not to know, took another step and grabbed the doorknob. In that instant, Lucia, who had been standing at the very back, opened her mouth.
“Wait.”
“…….”
“Wait a minute, let’s talk for a bit. Preferably inside.”
Yeon-ho, who slowly turned around, raised his eyebrows with a frown.
“Is this a request for a 1-on-1 interview? My consultation fee is quite expensive.”
He was pointing out their attitude of ganging up on him and arbitrarily forcing a conversation. However, he had expected this level of reaction, given the atmosphere of dealing with Angelica. Lucia calmly responded.
“Well, I haven’t thought about 1-on-1 since we have the same thing to say anyway. But if you’re really that burdened, we can decide on an order.”
The implication was immediately felt.
‘Basically, if you’re scared, you’re screwed?’
He hated troublesome things, but Yeon-ho wasn’t soft enough to just let the provocation pass.
‘Right. Girls this age always stick together.’
Yeon-ho put strength into the hand that was holding the doorknob.
“It seems like it’ll be dawn by the time we decide on an order, so just come in.”
Click, Yeon-ho went ahead, and the women, keeping a distance, followed him in a line.
However, the expressions that had been different, from primness to displeasure to blankness, became the same as soon as they entered the room.
The reason was one. The atmosphere felt different in the room.
Eyes that widened and narrowed quickly scanned the room. The rooms they had been assigned were, of course, excellent without lacking anything, but… this was more than that.
Not only the size but also the wallpaper, curtains, and every single piece of furniture that was placed in detail gave the feeling that a lot of care had been put into it.
The brightly decorated flowers didn’t have a single drooping leaf, and even the room, which was divided into two areas, seemed to have a bathroom attached.
It was obviously not a simple guest room.
Whether he knew that fact or not, Yeon-ho, who had approached the sofa, only tilted his head.
“Aren’t you all going to sit down?”
He didn’t try to act coy or show a winning expression. Still, the unpleasant feeling didn’t go away easily.
Angelica, who had the least patience, opened her mouth first again as soon as she took a seat.
“Have you been using this room all along? Right from the first day you came here?”
“Why are you asking that?”
“Who told you to use this room?”
“Antonio did.”
“On the butler’s own initiative?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Of course! Anyone can see that this is a room for….”
“Corsi.”
Lucia interrupted her in the middle of her sentence. Angelica bit her lip at the silent look she was giving her. She had a look of hurt pride. It was unclear whether it was because of Yeon-ho or Lucia.
After a while, Lucia opened her mouth again.
“Let’s cut to the chase and get to the point.”
“…….”
“I think you know the real reason why we came to this house. And I know that you came here for the same reason as us.”
“…….”
“In other words, we’re rivals. But… shouldn’t there be rules to follow even in a competition?”
“That’s a long introduction for getting to the point. What exactly do you want to say?”
“Let’s be fair. As Angelica said, you came here before us, so shouldn’t you give us the remaining time to make it a fair competition?”
Yeon-ho’s eyebrows rose. Then, he tilted his head and threw out a word.
“I still don’t know what you mean?”
Angelica burst out with the anger she had been holding back.
“What do you mean! It means you should step aside from now on. You’re spending dinner and the time after that with Marteo, aren’t you?”
“Who… who told you that?”
He suspected that the maids in this house were more loose-lipped than he thought. But the answer that came out right away without any delay was unexpected.
“Don’t play dumb. I heard it directly from Marteo yesterday. That’s why you don’t have time to spend with us!”
Yeon-ho’s eyebrows, which had been raised, now gathered towards his brow.
Yesterday? Could it be… then, the conversation they had while drinking tea was…….
Unlike his eyebrows, which were gathered at the easy imagination, his lips were about to loosen to the sides.
While he was quickly regaining his composure, even Eleonora, who hadn’t said a word until now, joined in.
“Honestly, we don’t recognize you. According to the Averto’s tradition, there should originally be three candidates. But what can we do since the situation is already like this? We have no choice but to endure it for now. Instead, you should take a step back as much as we’ve conceded.”
“…….”
“I heard that your family runs a food company? I don’t know what it’s like in Korea, but I don’t think that business will be of much benefit to Marteo. And I heard that the size of your company is far below ours…. Surely, you don’t really think you’ll get along with Marteo, do you? It’ll just be a waste of useless expectations and effort.”
He felt a little grateful to Fabio. Thanks to getting a shot of prevention in advance, the words that stabbed with facts hurt less.
Yeon-ho met Eleonora’s unwavering eyes. And he scanned Lucia and Angelica in turn.
Pfft, the laughter that flowed out openly was next.
“I guess that’s what it’s like for young ladies from noble families. Your thoughts are so… delicately pretty.”
“…What?”
“I wish your head was a flower garden. I meant that I didn’t understand the meaning, not the content.”
“……?”
“Fairness, fair competition? You should only look for that when you’re taking a school exam. As you said, aren’t you all children of business families?”
“What are you talking about?”
“If this marriage is an area where companies, families, and businesses are at stake, then where are you going to use fairness? Are you going to take turns and get rations? You have to take care of the spoonful of rice that goes into your mouth yourself.”
“Hey!”
“Or, are you not confident? That if I don’t concede, you won’t be able to turn that guy’s eyes with your own charms?”
“…Who the hell! What do we have that’s worse than you? Besides, you’re a man. As far as I know, Marteo has never met a man before. He’s not gay!”
To Yeon-ho, who had rolled around with Marteo dozens of times, it was a sound that wouldn’t even elicit a real snort. Yeon-ho leaned forward.
“Then… did I make him gay?”
“Wh-what did you say?”
“He’s not gay, but he chose a man as one of the marriage candidates? It sounds like either he became gay, or I’m attractive enough to make him gay.”
With those words, a bright flower bloomed on Yeon-ho’s face. A languid, sexy smile that made people’s hearts flutter… the very smile that had captivated even Fabio.
Eleonora flinched her shoulders at the pouring sexiness. Lucia also widened her eyes in surprise and immediately bit her lip.
Of course, she knew at a glance that his beauty was not ordinary from the moment she saw Yeon-ho standing on the stairs. Maybe if she hadn’t met him in a place like this, she might have looked at him with favor at least once.
Still, she had a feeling that it was because he was a man……. The smile that had matured for a long time was definitely not a problem of gender.
Her heart was still pounding, and the more it pounded, the more her pride was pounding.
She had come in all at once with a determination that 2-on-1 wouldn’t work. Anyone could see that the result was not even breaking even. The persuasion (?) and negotiation ended in a breakup.
Soon, Lucia took a breath. Her sharp eyes turned to Yeon-ho.
“I understand what you mean. It seems like we were thinking too ‘prettily,’ as you said. The more people who have nothing in their hands, the more desperately they cling.”
…Well, I may not have anything in my hands, but I have something in my stomach?
The thought came to him childishly for a moment. The smile slowly disappeared from his face.
“It seems like we’re done talking….”
“Yes. Let’s get up now.”
Lucia, who had cut off the words, got up from her seat first. Following her, Eleonora also turned her feet with a snort! Well, maybe the aftereffects of the smile were still there, but her cheeks were slightly red.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
Lastly, Yeon-ho turned to Angelica. Unlike the two women who had left the room in turn, she was still sitting in the opposite seat.
Yeon-ho and Angelica’s eyes met in the air. She had a look on her face as if she had something to say. She released the lips she had been biting tightly.
“It’s not me.”
It was a sudden sound. Angelica clenched her fists as Yeon-ho’s brow furrowed for the first time, unable to grasp the meaning.
“Eleonora and Lucia, and you may have come here for business, but that’s not me.”
“…….”
“I’m here of my own will. Regardless of the company, the family, or anything like that. I… I’ve sincerely liked Marteo for a long time.”
“……!”
“So, don’t treat me the same as you guys. It’s unpleasant.”
A gaze that seemed to glare. She quickly left the room after finishing her words, which had become stronger as she went on.
Bang. The echo that rang through the room was harsh.
Yeon-ho didn’t move from his spot until all of the aftersounds had subsided. Quiet silence. Through that gap, realization slowly washed over him.
Why she had been acting so hastily…. Why she had been running straight ahead without patience.
It wasn’t her personality that was impatient, but her heart. A heart that was impatient and longing for someone….
Unpleasant. Her last words tangled in his ears. At the same time, he realized one more thing.
That he found Angelica much more unpleasant than Lucia, who had been arrogant, or Eleonora, who had had a sharp argument with him.
His head throbbed. The bloated feeling from earlier rose again from the bottom of his stomach.
Yeon-ho’s hand, which had been holding his eyelids, fell down. Without even realizing it, he touched his left pocket. The pocket containing Marteo’s note.
ps. I’ll call you around lunchtime.
What time is lunchtime? Is there still a long time left?
His head was the same as his churning stomach.
Then, as if he had stolen his thoughts, the phone started to ring.
“……!”
Just like Angelica, who was always hasty, Yeon-ho’s hand found his cell phone even faster.
However, it wasn’t [M] that caught his eye.
A string of numbers with no caller ID. The combination of numbers that he scanned again was somehow familiar.
Ah! A groan finally escaped Yeon-ho’s lips. Though slower than before, his hurried fingers pressed the call button.
“Hel…lo?”
Simultaneously, a string of colorful curses tore through the receiver.
“You son of a bitch! What the hell are you doing?”
Yeon-ho’s stiff face relaxed ever so slightly.
♥ ♥ ♥
Thud. Thud. Whether he was actually reading or not, Marteo, who had been flipping through documents at a rapid pace, one page every few seconds, finally took his hand off the tablet PC.
“Is this all?”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it held a hint of dissatisfaction.
Federico, who had been standing at attention in front of the desk, tilted his head slightly, causing a vertical crease to form between his handsome brows.
“For several years’ worth of data, it seems a bit lacking.”
“These are primarily the ones related to poor management. The losses incurred from last year’s contract with Etman, the risks associated with the upcoming agreement with Losing Chess in the second half of the year, and so on. Other matters have been excluded for now.”
“Specifically?”
“Well… issues involving your acquaintances, or matters of the heart… There’s nothing particularly significant or concerning. Just things that might seem unpleasant to look at.”
Marteo tapped the table a few times with his fingers. Then, a smile suddenly spread across his face.
“That’s good. Unpleasant to look at.”
“…Pardon?”
“Pick out the particularly unpleasant ones from the excluded items. Something that would be good for gossip. Organize it and throw it to ‘Lobiettivo’.”
Federico’s eyes widened. Flustered, he spoke quickly, as if seeking confirmation.
“Not the poor performance, but…?”
Marteo scoffed and pushed the tablet he had been looking at earlier even further away. It was filled with the failures of his half-brother, Fabio.
“Even a three-year-old knows that idiot is stupid. There’s no need to say it again.”
“……”
“Tell ‘Lobiettivo’ that you’re a fan who supports their journalistic spirit. Consider it a gift, and be careful to avoid any delivery accidents.”
In other words, he meant to thoroughly prevent any outside interference until the contents were delivered. Federico’s face grew even more clouded.
Lobiettivo was a gossip rag, barely qualifying as a news outlet.
“Are you… serious?”
“Does it look like I have time to joke around?”
He was right. Marteo had been buried in work for the past few days, barely having time to go to the bathroom or eat. Even today, he had been dealing with a mountain of documents since dawn, and even now, he was poring over documents related to Fabio, barely taking a breath.
Federico didn’t say anything more and bowed as if to comply. Then, a question suddenly arose.
“But… why Lobiettivo of all places? There are more reputable news outlets. Conversely, if you wanted to publicly humiliate him, wouldn’t it be better to choose a third-rate gossip rag outright…?”
“A reputable news outlet would be influenced by Averto’s connections. A third-rate rag could be bought off with money.”
Ah… Lobiettivo was right in the middle. Not a credible news outlet, but not a completely shameless rag either.
Even if a third-rate gossip rag were to resist the temptation of money and publish an article, it would probably only be about Fabio’s personal life or childishly criticizing him.
However, Lobiettivo, which was constantly looking for an opportunity to grow as a news outlet, would not stop at the information provided but would likely add its own petty evaluations. If they were lucky, they might even release information about the management failures that Marteo had deliberately avoided.
The question of whether he was leaving a way out for his brother was completely dispelled.
At that moment, Marteo spoke again.
“More importantly, what’s Lorenzo’s situation? Has a report come in?”
In fact, Fabio’s matter was secondary. The day before, Marteo had been reviewing documents about Lorenzo. Unlike Fabio’s documents, he had spent a long time carefully and thoroughly examining them.
Federico straightened his posture.
“As you said, he’s been traveling frequently lately.”
“His location? Still Turin and Genovanga?”
“Yes. And most recently, Palermo.”
“…Hmm.”
Marteo only hummed in response and started tapping the table again. His eyes, which had lowered in the meantime, were cold.
After a while, Marteo, who had been looking at his wrist, spoke casually.
“It’s already lunchtime.”
“……?”
“I understand, so go and have lunch.”
Federico’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Why suddenly, in the middle of an important conversation?
“I’m… fine.”
Federico cleared his throat. But Marteo’s face showed even more displeasure at these words.
“You may be fine, but I’m not.”
“…Yes?”
“I need to eat too.”
“Ah. Then… I’ll make a reservation at a nearby restaurant…”
“No need. I’ll take care of it myself, so just get out.”
He even waved his hand dismissively, as if chasing him away. Not knowing what was going on, he said yes and left the office without further ado.
But the scene that caught his eye just before closing the door made him stop in his tracks once more. When they were talking about Fabio and Lorenzo, his eyes had been so cold… but Marteo’s face, as he took out his phone from his pocket, had softened.
‘Who is he trying to call?’
At the same time as the question arose, Marteo noticed his presence. Federico hurriedly lowered his eyes and quickly closed the door.
Only then did silence return to the office. After a pause, Marteo checked the time on his phone.
1 PM.
The smile that had surprised Federico deepened.
He had heard from Tony that Yeon-ho’s mornings were getting earlier. He should be awake by now.
His long fingers found Yeon-ho’s new number without hesitation. However, the smile that had been spreading across his face soon crumpled into a frown.
Beep. Beep. Beep. A short, regular signal was followed by a message indicating that the line was busy.
Marteo tilted his head and hung up for now. Was he perhaps calling him? Was it just an unfortunate coincidence?
But his expectations were dashed. Even after waiting for over a minute, the phone remained silent. Marteo tapped the table again out of habit and finally called Yeon-ho again after a long time.
“……”
Still busy. The same was true after 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes.
There was no one in Italy that Yeon-ho would be talking to. The only possibilities were… a call to Korea, or a call from Korea.
Do Seo-jin was the first person who came to mind. But Do Yeon-ho wouldn’t be on the phone for so long with his sister.
‘Then…’
His train of thought stopped completely at a certain point.
With eyes that had grown infinitely dark, his hand reached out almost unconsciously towards the bottom drawer of the desk.
What came out was another cell phone. None other than Yeon-ho’s original phone. The one he had told Yeon-ho he had forgotten and left behind.
His face, frozen stiff, was reflected on the black screen.
As if trying to erase it, he pressed the power button on the side. The logo appeared, followed by a password-protected screen.
The out-of-service indicator on the top bar. Since he hadn’t enabled roaming, he couldn’t make calls. However, soon after, apps unrelated to the carrier started buzzing with notifications.
A warning-like tremor began to stir within Marteo’s chest.
‘Could the man’s message be among these countless messages?’
The reason he had lied to Yeon-ho was clear.
He wanted to cut off the connection between Yeon-ho and his ‘new sponsor,’ whose face and name he didn’t know. He didn’t want to allow anyone to approach Yeon-ho easily.
The reason he had forcibly brought Yeon-ho to Italy was also for this reason.
However, he knew that physical methods were not permanent. That there would be gaps, one way or another.
But he couldn’t help it, even knowing that.
Marteo twisted his lips, turned off the phone again, and pushed it back into the drawer as before. He closed the door with a firm thud.
As if he couldn’t bear not to lock away even a small part of Yeon-ho like this.
At the same time.
Yeon-ho was now listening to the endless stream of curses with glazed eyes.
He had been a little glad at first…
“Why haven’t you contacted me until now, huh? Did your fingers break? Or did you sell your brain?”
“……”
“I always knew you were like this, but this is too much. How hard is it to send a single message!”
The decibel level was comparable to Seo-jin’s tirade a few days ago, and the plot and direction were similar, making it all the more grueling.
‘Anyone would think he’s my lover.’
Beyond the disgusting thought, Yeon-ho, who had dropped the phone from his ear, approached the window. The person on the other end, who had been talking non-stop even in the short time, was now even shouting.
“Hello? Ah, ah! Hello? Why isn’t this bastard answering? Hey. Don’t tell me you hung up!”
Even though his gaze was directed towards the garden outside the window, he could picture the face of the person who was frustrated and indignant.
The last digits of the phone number were almost the only ones he remembered. The familiar tone and the familiar suspicion. It was Seung-won.
Yeon-ho let out a voice that was somewhere between a sigh and a laugh.
“Not yet. But I might hang up now.”
“What?”
“Korea seems to be doing well without me. Yoon Seung-won even has time to boil wild ginseng.”
“What are you talking about!”
“He must have at least two roots for himself? Judging by the strength in his voice.”
“…Huh, huh?”
He seemed to have understood. Judging by the series of rough snorts instead of words, he was beyond speechless.
Yeon-ho held the phone properly and waited for a moment. He knew he would start shouting again once he came to his senses.
But. After a long pause, what came out was unexpectedly a proper voice, not an angry one.
“Then you. Are you doing well?”
“……?”
“Are you really okay!”
Mostly frivolous and largely immature. Yoon Seung-won, who was easygoing like water in water or alcohol in alcohol for 360 days out of 365.
But the reason he sometimes considered him a reliable ‘hyung’ as his future ‘insurance’ was because of this. The sharpness that occasionally saw the other side of people was still kind.
The strength slowly drained from Yeon-ho’s shoulders as he teased Seung-won. Although he couldn’t see it, his expression was much softer than when he had first answered the phone.
“So-so.”
“So-soo?”
“By the way, how did you get this number? Did you ask my sister?”
“What else? Did I guess it with divine power! A guy who was spreading like mold in someone else’s house, who went out on a blind date, suddenly went to Italy and couldn’t even come to work. And then he doesn’t answer the phone for days. How can I not ask if he’s alive or dead?”
“You were quite late in contacting me, considering all that.”
“Don’t lie. You were on the phone with your sister for a long time too. I only got the number today! You left your phone behind. Where do you keep your mind if you leave your phone behind?”
“It’s not that I left it behind… Never mind. What’s the point of arguing about this.”
“You said it well. You’re not in a position to argue about anything right now. Explain properly first. What’s the situation that made a guy who went out on a blind date go to Italy? …Don’t tell me, the marriage talks are all settled already? Is that it?”
Seung-won’s voice was strangely anxious. Tilting his head, his gaze unconsciously turned to the sofa.
The place where the three women had been sitting until just now. Yeon-ho, who had lingered on the spot where Angelica had been, asked with a bitter smile.
“Settled? There are so many people here who want to get married besides me.”
“Huh?”
“Speaking of which, hyung… I was actually harassed a little while ago? Maybe it’s because they’re foreigners. They have no respect for elders?”
A tone similar to the one from before. The shouting was as loud as ever.
But this time, he didn’t take the phone away from his ear.
The sense of stability that came from a familiar person. Seung-won, who was about to get angry in excitement, was still a reliable person. After all, there was no one else to confide in about this except Yoon Seung-won… Thinking about it again, Seung-won had called at just the right time.
“Hyung, you know about the Samgantaek, right?”
Yeon-ho began to speak.
The ridiculous family ritual, the brothers’ pranks, the flock of birds that had flown here yesterday. The things he had experienced this morning…
As the words continued, Seung-won’s breathing gradually subsided. There were no interjections or small affirmations.
Yeon-ho, who was uncharacteristically silent, eventually stopped speaking midway.
“Are you listening?”
“……”
“Hyung?”
“……I’m listening.”
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Just… it’s unexpected. No, I should say it’s fortunate.”
Yeon-ho’s eyebrows rose at the incomprehensible response.
“Did you really not listen to what I said? What’s fortunate about it? It’s a whole new game here, you know?”
“That’s right. That’s why it’s fortunate. It seems like you’re taking your mind off things thanks to it. Actually, I… thought you would bring up that guy first.”
“That… guy?”
“Antonio. Tony, I mean.”
Yeon-ho’s eyes widened as he switched the phone to his other hand.
Why was Antonio downstairs? How did Yoon Seung-won know Antonio?
But soon his mind flashed.
Come to think of it, Yoon Seung-won still didn’t know who his blind date was.
That Antonio, the name Theon had borrowed, actually belonged to the butler.
“Hyung, that’s…”
Where should he start explaining this? Yeon-ho, who had bitten his tongue inwardly, was about to speak again. Seung-won beat him to it.
“That guy hasn’t been coming to your company lately. I even went to your house a few times just in case, but it seems like he’s not there either.”
Yeon-ho, who had been cut off, hesitated and raised his voice.
“…Why are you concerned about that, hyung?”
“You told me to tell him about work if I saw him, right?”
“It’s okay. Now…”
“Aren’t you worried?”
“He’ll be fine on his own. No, he’ll be doing great, probably.”
“…Do Yeon-ho, are you doing this on purpose? Or are you really over it?”
“What are you talking about.”
Seung-won sighed deeply this time. His voice was much more complicated than before.
“Honestly, there’s your company’s situation, and it’s a problem I can’t easily interfere with… No, I missed the timing because I didn’t know you would suddenly go all the way there… Actually, I called to tell you that I think you should just come back to Korea.”
“…What?”
“Instead of suffering in a place you don’t want to be, you should suffer in a place you do. It would be better to sell our company, that’s what I think.”
“Excuse me. Yoon Seung-won. Are you filming a one-man show by yourself right now? I haven’t understood a word you’ve been saying since earlier.”
Seung-won paused again. After a while, a bombshell exploded.
“You… you like that guy, don’t you? Your heart is all with Tony.”
It was obvious that he wasn’t referring to Antonio downstairs. If he had been sitting on the sofa, he would have jumped up. Yeon-ho, who had been staring with wide eyes and only moving his dry lips several times, raised his voice in panic far too late.
“Wh-what are you talking about all of a sudden. Yoon Seung-won… are you crazy?”
But Seung-won’s attitude didn’t change. Rather, a much more resolute voice came out one after another.
“You’re the one who’s been crazy. You haven’t been eating or sleeping properly for days. I’m saying this now, but I was seriously considering taking you to the hospital.”
“Back then, there was the company’s problem… No. I ended it unilaterally…”
“Because you felt sorry, because of responsibility?”
A scoff that felt strangely like a prick at the end of his throat. Even he thought it was a word that didn’t suit him. Yeon-ho wet his upper lip with his tongue.
“Of… course… I’m not saying that’s all there was to it. I had feelings… Yes, I did. That’s right. That’s why I sponsored him. Would I have done that with someone I didn’t like?”
“Feelings…?”
“Frankly, how easy is it not to have feelings when he looks like that? You were surprised when you first saw him too, hyung.”
“That’s right… I was surprised. To be exact, I was surprised even before I saw him.”
“…What?”
“The day you first mentioned him. When you realized you didn’t have his contact information and made the most miserable face in the world, that’s when I was surprised. So Do Yeon-ho can make this face too. So there’s something that’s too good for him too… Thinking about it, I should have noticed it back then.”
“Ha… Hyung, have you been watching romance dramas lately? What genre is this right now?”
“I wonder. What genre is this, I’m the one who’s curious.”
“Hyung!”
“Do Yeon-ho. I’ve known you for over 10 years now. I’ve seen all the guys you’ve sponsored. Do you think I can’t tell the difference between being simply attracted to his face and something else?”
“……”
“You said that day? That you would be pissed off just imagining another sponsor attaching themselves to that bastard. You were the one who laughed even when Kang Ji-won unilaterally notified us that he was contacting Grandship behind our backs and moving to another company. You said he’d grown up a lot.”
“Is that the same as this?”
“It’s different. But do you know exactly what’s different?”
“……What?”
“You’re that kind of guy. Whether you’ve been sponsored or not, whether you’ve known someone for a year or ten, you’re the kind of guy who doesn’t give a damn about people. You go to a faraway land and don’t even think about contacting your family, friends, or company. But a guy like that worries about what happens if someone gets into an accident, says they don’t know anyone in Korea, and keeps a phone on him that he won’t even answer… what genre was that, huh?”
“……”
“If you’re so hung up on Tony, why don’t you just keep seeing him? What genre was it when you got angry, saying I was telling you to make him your mistress, that it was right to end things before it got too late?”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Do Yeon-ho. Do you know the biggest difference between liking someone and loving them? Liking someone means you don’t have to give them up. Because it’s not an emotion you need to force yourself to organize. Because it’s okay to leave it as it is.”
“……”
“If what you feel for Tony is just a simple liking, then you… you’ve never liked anyone before.”
Yeon-ho’s lips finally curled inward. They curled in and wouldn’t come apart.
“Honestly, I racked my brain trying to decide whether to tell you this or not. But no matter how much I thought about it, as far as I know, there’s only one genre for this.”
Seung-won took a deep breath. Then, he drove in the final wedge.
“You like that guy. And not just like, but a lot. Enough to try desperately to give him up.”
Yeon-ho’s eyes, which had been shaking constantly, stopped at one point and froze.
He saw his reflection in the window. Wide eyes and still tightly closed lips. But the expression… wasn’t surprise.
It was… closer to being caught.
And not by Seung-won… but by himself.
At the same time, Angelica ironically flashed through his mind.
I’m not doing business, I’m different from you, he had spat out.
When you think about it, there was no reason to feel bad. What’s wrong with correcting your own feelings?
Nevertheless, the rising annoyance and the churning in his stomach… were the kind he had experienced many times before.
Even last night, when Theon had told him to go up first.
Even when he knew that Lucia had seen Theon off alone.
Even long before that, on the day he went to see Lee Chang-hoon for a photo shoot, he had felt the same emotion… jealousy.
With the clear word, he heard something collapsing inside his chest with a thud.
The fist he had been clenching without realizing it loosened powerlessly, and now the face of someone other than Angelica began to fill his mind.
It was too obvious to deny Seung-won’s words.
Because he actually knew. Because the answer had already been there for a long time.
Even though his name, position, location, and conditions had changed… both in Korea and here. Even in that moment of feeling betrayed, one thing never changed.
The fact that what occupied his heart and mind was still, one person.
Ah….
I really do like Theon… I like Marteo.
A belated and yet new realization, and on top of that, a thumping sound echoed repeatedly.
It was the sound of an emotion that had grown so much that it could no longer be contained, like a bird breaking out of its egg, completely revealing its form.