TWELVE 52

It was the noise made by Gi Seoin as he roughly set down his knife. I looked at Gi Seoin. Not a single trace of a smile remained on his face.

“By what standard do you decide who suits whom?”

It was Gi Seoin’s question, and Jeon Juseok brightened up, perhaps thinking the guy was identifying with him.

“Isn’t this a capitalist society? It’s this, this.”

Jeon Juseok made a circle by touching the tips of his thumb and index finger together and flicked it.

Seeing that, Gi Seoin spoke.

“That’s a story that would also apply between you and me, Mr. Juseok.”

“Yes?”

“What kind of car do you own?”

Jeon Juseok looked quite flustered.

“Wh-what does the car I drive have to do with anything? All of a sudden.”

“I want to know if you and I are the kind of people who suit each other. Since you mentioned you have a hobby in cars, I thought asking by car model would be easy to understand.”

“Ah…, ha ha ha!”

I could feel that the man was forcing a laugh.

“Mr. Seoin, you really are a funny person.”

Jeon Juseok, who had been favorable toward Gi Seoin the whole time, was now conversely showing his thorns. I decided to stay quiet, thinking it wouldn’t be so bad to watch the man get backed into a corner, even if it was childish.

In the end, it was not revealed who drove what car. It was because Jeon Juseok intentionally changed the subject. He had retreated cowardly once he found himself at a disadvantage. If he had expected Gi Seoin to drive an inexpensive car, he would have pushed until the end.

The same situation repeated afterward. When Jeon Juseok used me as a scapegoat to boast about himself, Gi Seoin would ask, “So just how great are you?” in elegant language. I witnessed Jeon Juseok’s face change colors several times. I wondered if this was okay, but honestly, it was quite a fun sight.

Before I knew it, the food was gone, and only Jeon Juseok’s glass was being filled incessantly. I looked for an opportunity to slowly get up from my seat.

“I’m going to the restroom for a second.”

I stood up using the restroom as an excuse, thinking an atmosphere to naturally break up would be created once I left the spot.

Jeon Juseok, whose intoxication had risen firmly, had such a loud voice that it followed me even while I was going to the restroom. Perhaps he was trying to build up the pride that had crumbled while dealing with Gi Seoin, as it was nothing but self-boasting.

Tiresome. At this rate, it seemed Gi Seoin wouldn’t say he would meet Jeon Juseok next time either.

I looked into the mirror while washing my hands. Even though I had tried to pay attention before leaving the house, it was a sight I really hated to look at. Is it because I looked at it after seeing Gi Seoin… ?

‘He’s my brother, but Seungkyung is, well, he doesn’t suit Mr. Seoin.’

It was correct. Speaking objectively, in terms of both appearance and substance, Gi Seoin and I were not a matching pair. It was a fact I knew so well that I wanted to ignore it.

However, hearing it from a third party’s mouth made it feel exceptionally painful. It was as if I had been living in a world of just the two of us with Gi Seoin lately, only to be dragged out into reality and given a finishing blow.

“So what? What about it… ?”

The words burst out in a low voice from my indignant heart. A person who happened to enter the restroom glanced at me. Feeling ashamed of myself, I came out as if running away.

As I approached the table, Gi Seoin, who spotted me, stood up.

“I decided to leave once you came.”

“Is that so?”

It was welcome news, at least. I looked around to find Jeon Juseok.

“Where is hyung?”

“He went out for a moment because the designated driver couldn’t find this place.”

“Huh?”

Immediately, an ominous feeling struck the back of my head.

This was a restaurant right on the main street of a busy area in Seoul. It made no sense that a designated driver, who usually finds every little alleyway well, would wander around this neighborhood.

“Wait a minute.”

I called Jeon Juseok. He didn’t answer. It was the same for the second time.

“Hyung… did he pay?”

“No.”

“I guess he ran away.”

“Really?”

Gi Seoin had a calm face as if he had expected it. Nevertheless, I felt as if I had committed a wrong.

“I thought it would be like this… . I’m sorry. I’ll pay.”

It was a gathering Jeon Juseok had made, and although it was a terrible fact, the man was family with me, so it was right for me to take responsibility.

I went to the counter to pay, but the moment I tried to take out my wallet, Gi Seoin blocked my way.

“Please use this.”

He held out his card to the employee. I pushed him slightly.

“Hey, I said I’ll do it.”

“It’s because I want to buy. I’ll pay with this card.”

The employee watched our reactions and then took Gi Seoin’s card. The meal cost came out to about 300,000 won. It might be pocket change to Gi Seoin, but it was by no means a small amount for a single meal.

“I’ll send you the money for the meal.”

When I spoke softly after returning to the car, Gi Seoin glanced at me and blurted out.

“Don’t do that.”

“It’s right that I pay. I’ll get it from hyung later or something.”

“He didn’t look like the type of person who would give it.”

I was speechless at the too-accurate evaluation of Jeon Juseok. That’s right. He wasn’t the type to give it. I knew it, but I just threw the words out because I didn’t want to be more indebted to Gi Seoin.

“Anyway, I… .”

“Seungkyung.”

Gi Seoin cut me off.

“Don’t worry about it anymore.”

“How can I not? Do you know how much I’ve already been indebted to you like this?”

“It’s all because I was stubborn. Forget it.”

“If I could forget it, I would have already done so long ago… .”

My head throbbed.

Jeon Juseok, are you even human?

I felt like calling him right now and pouring out a bucketful of curses.

The excuse the man would make later was obvious. He would say he did it because he was drunk. Surely, he would call again around the time he wanted free alcohol, saying he would pay back the debt he owed today, and then do something similar.

Tricked once, but tricked twice? It didn’t matter if I suffered alone, but it was troublesome if even Gi Seoin got caught up in it. I made up my mind to make sure the man and Gi Seoin would never meet again.

“The meal was quite good. Let’s go again, just the two of us.”

Perhaps trying to cheer me up, Gi Seoin spoke in a sweet tone. I couldn’t even force a smile, so I just nodded my head.

“Let’s do that… . Next time, I’ll buy. Let it be that way.”

“Okay.”

Since it was such a close distance, we arrived at Gi Seoin’s apartment in no time. After finishing the parking, the guy turned his body toward me and looked straight at me.

“Seungkyung.”

He softly stroked my shoulder.

“Are you in a bad mood?”

“I’m just, a bit sorry toward you.”

“I’m really fine, so don’t worry about it. I liked being with you. That person was, also, fun.”

“Fun?”

A hollow laugh burst out in disbelief.

“What was fun? He’s a human with no manners who only said disappointing things.”

“It’s funny.”

Gi Seoin curled his lips.

“The way he struggles desperately.”

For a split second, his smile was so cynical that I was startled. Right, he used to make that kind of expression toward others who weren’t me. I had forgotten because we had only met the two of us since dropping out of high school.

“Anyway, I’m going to make sure there’s no meeting him next time.”

The guy said it was fun, but I clearly put my foot down.

“Okay.”

Replying with a nuance of ‘Well, do as you like’ and nodding his chin, Gi Seoin unfastened my seatbelt.

“Good work. Let’s go up.”

∞ ∞ ∞

After staring at my mobile phone for a long while, I raised my head because the guy happened to approach my side.

“Seoin. I’m going to go out for a bit in the evening.”

Gi Seoin immediately furrowed his brows.

“Where?”

It’s troublesome if he reacts like that already… . First, I told him.

“They’re having a staff dinner at Benwood and told me to come.”

“Can’t you just not go?”

“I suddenly ended up being hospitalized, so I couldn’t even say goodbye properly. I’ll be back.”

“Your injuries haven’t even fully healed yet. But what kind of staff dinner are you going to.”

I knew he would tell me not to go, but Gi Seoin opposed it more strongly than I expected. I swallowed a rising sigh.

“My ankle is almost all healed. It’s not like I’m going there to work. It’s fine.”

“No, but still…”

“I want to go.”

It was true that he was genuinely worried about my body, but more than anything, Gi Seoin was holding onto me because he hoped I wouldn’t meet other people. It was a situation I had experienced often even when my limbs were fine and we didn’t live together. Thanks to that, I followed the guy’s will unless it was an absolutely necessary appointment. It was to avoid a fight with him.

However, this time I intended not to bend my opinion. I missed the Benwood people. Even if I couldn’t work again, I wanted to meet them in person to convey my gratitude and apologies.

“I’ll be back.”

“… Do you really have to go?”

“Yes. Since I’ve also caused trouble, it’s only polite to go and show my face at least once.”

“Ha… .”

It’s been a while since I saw Gi Seoin sighing so openly like that.

“When will you be back?”

“I’ll come back as soon as possible, but… .”

We decided to gather at Benwood at 7:00. Once we start talking, time will fly, so an hour or two was hopelessly insufficient. I stated a time as generously as possible, yet one that wouldn’t irritate Gi Seoin.

“I can’t drink, so I’ll leave at a reasonable point. Around 11:00?”

However, Gi Seoin looked quite displeased.

“Come out at 10:00. I’ll come pick you up.”

“I’ll come out at 11:00. It’s only an hour difference anyway.”

The guy’s lips parted, and after a moment of silence, he answered.

“Come out when I call.”

“Yes, okay.”

I smiled as broadly as I could, thinking I should leave after cheering him up so that my own heart would be at ease.

“Can our Seoin stay home alone?”

“No. I can’t stay alone.”

Look at him.

“Wh-y. Our Seoin is all grown up, so he can stay alone.”

I hung onto his arm and checked his expression. His brow, which was usually smooth without a single wrinkle, was still crumpled up.

“I don’t even go out much anyway. Just this once, okay?”

Gi Seoin, who was clearly showing his sulking and keeping his gaze elsewhere, glanced down at me.

“Fine, so please be careful.”

“Seriously, your worrying. Is someone going to kidnap me or something?”

“Yes, I’m acting like this because I feel like someone might kidnap you.”

“That’s a sickness, you, a sickness.”

I reached out my arm and pinched Gi Seoin’s cheek without hurting him. Wow, his cheek is so soft. Is he really a baby?

“Anyway, Seoin, stay alone well even without your hyung. Don’t open the door if a stranger comes.”

Lastly, I patted his butt. His cheeks are soft, but his butt is firm. What kind of harmony is this? Gi Seoin was a truly mysterious human being in many ways.

His face is an angel, and his inside is a bit twisted. While acting like the ultimate adult, he also hides a child-like side. I can’t quite figure him out, and it’s really hard to match him.

But what can I do? I have to consider it my karma.

A blessing and a karma at the same time.

Right. Gi Seoin was that kind of existence to me.