JADE 6

It’s nice enough to have lunch together, but he even showed his willingness to come to my neighborhood. The appointment was set more readily than I expected, and as we talked, I even found out Kwon Joowan’s neighborhood, which made me hum a little tune.

Me: I’ll go there. Would this place be okay?
Me: (link)

As it happened, a diet food restaurant I occasionally visited was in that neighborhood. As soon as he got the okay sign, Jin Sejun booked the restaurant, walked around with a little dance in his step, spread on his basic skincare products, and quickly fixed his hair.

‘Whether it’s his workplace or his neighborhood, it’s not too far from here, is it?’

Just like that, it was a distance where they could meet easily anytime. It was also close to the ‘Miracle of Moses’ Plastic Surgery clinic, so it seemed like they could grab a drink together after work someday. When we meet again, how should I start the conversation?

“I missed you.”

Crazy bastard. Let’s not be too clingy.

“You live nearby.”

Isn’t this one okay? But he hated how his own tone of voice revealed his excitement when he said it.

“I usually don’t even look at places like this, but I made a reservation thinking of you, Mr. Joowan. Good job, right?”

It wasn’t cool to put something down while suddenly trying to take credit for it. Right, let’s not talk nonsense and just talk about the weather…

He thought that as he left the house, and the day had cleared up completely, as if the gloomy weather for the past several days had been a lie.

This is a good start. A very, very good start!

But as soon as he left the parking garage and parked at the restaurant building, about half of his excitement turned into nervousness. It was the first time Jin Sejun had ever been nervous, especially before meeting someone.

When he arrived at the restaurant, it was five minutes before the appointed time. He wanted to show himself in a coat at first, but the heating was so strong that he was debating whether to take it off or not.

“Director.”

“You look handsome today, too.”

“Pardon? Ah… haha. Why would you say something like that all of a sudden?”

Is he crazy? What did I just say? Jin Sejun’s mind went blank for a moment. He had resolved to just talk about the nice weather, but his mouth had betrayed his brain.

No matter how much an omega was his type, he had never hit on them so bluntly right after meeting them. Of course, when messaging those kinds of accounts, it was a sort of etiquette, but he had never acted so foolishly in person.

No, it’s not like a person can’t give a compliment. He was trying to boost his self-esteem, as someone advising him to reconsider the surgery. It was Jin Sejun who had pleaded with him to meet for a month before deciding on the surgery.

Of course, Kwon Joowan, dressed in a padded jacket and sweatpants instead of the semi-casual attire from their first meeting, was indeed very handsome.

Jin Sejun reassured himself with that thought and handed over the menu.

“To think I’m having something this healthy for lunch on a holiday, all thanks to you, Mr. Joowan. It makes me feel like I’m living diligently, too.”

“Ah, I had a feeling, but were you being considerate of me?”

“You said you were trying to lose weight.”

“Wow… thank you. Director, you’re very thoughtful and considerate.”

“What kind of work do you do that you speak so beautifully?”

“Haha…”

Did I speak too presumptuously to someone older? But it’s not like he’s ten years older; they say there’s no need to check the compatibility for a four-year age gap. A mere two-year difference could be considered being peers.

Even after the food came out, Jin Sejun chattered on endlessly.

“You seem to live a very ascetic life, Mr. Joowan.”

“Ascetic?”

“It seems like you’d always be out playing somewhere, but you work out from dawn and even restrict your diet.”

“It would have been fine, since I sometimes eat a normal meal for lunch.”

“No, I wanted to eat something like this too, it’s been a while.”

“Thanks to you, Director, I’ll have to run less this evening.”

He diets like he’s in a girl group. Jin Sejun swallowed a mouthful of brown rice topped with a poached egg and asked slyly.

“Are you perhaps a model? At first, I thought you were a personal trainer.”

“Ah, no. How could I be a model?”

If you’re not a model, then who is…? Jin Sejun tilted his head and threw out another guess.

“Then boxing? They’re always on a diet there, too. Judo doesn’t seem right.”

“…”

“No, no matter how I look at it, you don’t have the face for martial arts.”

Kwon Joowan, who was chewing on a piece of grilled chicken breast, chuckled and replied.

“Is that so? Because I don’t look like I can fight?”

“It’s not so much that—”

A little? It wasn’t that he looked weak, but he seemed like he would hate fighting with others. Honestly, a perfectly handsome guy comes rushing in for a consultation just because someone nitpicked his hairline and immediately sets a date for surgery—how tough could he look?

Jin Sejun glanced at him, then tapped his rice bowl with his spoon. Clink.

“I’m asking what you do. It’s unfair that you know everything about what I do, Mr. Joowan. I’m curious. Give me a hint, at least.”

At Jin Sejun’s whining, the corners of Kwon Joowan’s eyes folded beautifully. His smiling eyes were so elegant. While Jin Sejun was foolishly admiring his face, Kwon Joowan, who had taken his last spoonful, answered.

“I teach children.”

“A Taekwondo master?”

“It’s something similar.”

“What on earth is similar to a Taekwondo master… not telling me makes me even more curious. Ah, never mind. It’s fine. You’ll have to eat with me many more times until I can guess naturally or you tell me in passing.”

“Haha… should we?”

That would be great. Jin Sejun stood up a beat faster and paid the bill.

“Why are you so quick? You came all this way, so I was going to pay.”

“I asked you to come out, so I should pay. If it really bothers you, buy me a cup of coffee.”

“Okay, there’s a place that does flannel drip coffee nearby.”

“Do you like coffee, Mr. Joowan?”

“Yes, but I don’t know much about it.”

If he truly didn’t know much, he wouldn’t care whether it was brewed with a flannel filter or a dish sponge. Once he had his rose-tinted glasses on, even being picky about coffee seemed charming.

“By any chance, how far is it? I brought my car…”

“Oh, it’s in the building right next door.”

As expected, the cafe Kwon Joowan took him to had a great atmosphere and delicious coffee, so Jin Sejun’s mood hit its peak. It must have been the first time in nearly ten years that he had felt this pleased since his nephew had clearly pronounced the word ‘uncle’.

“The coffee here is really delicious.”

“Really?”

Kwon Joowan smiled as if he had been complimented on coffee he had brewed himself. His first impression was a bit melancholic, but seeing him today, he looked sophisticated, and when he smiled, there was also an artless quality to it.

Feeling himself gradually relax, Jin Sejun asked.

“What are you doing this afternoon?”

“A little training…”

“What kind of training?”

“Physical conditioning.”

“He’s not falling for it. I thought he’d just blurt it out…”

If he was too persistent, this could be their last meeting. With that thought, Jin Sejun mumbled off in the middle of his sentence and quickly changed the subject.

“I can give you a ride if you’re busy.”

“It’s okay, it’s extremely close. I have to go for a jog anyway.”

He drove a fairly expensive car for someone his age, so there was also an intention to look cool, but Kwon Joowan smoothly evaded it. Jin Sejun hid his disappointment and replied.

“A jog? Right, the walking trails around here are well-maintained. Jogging seems like it would be less boring.”

Should I ask him to go together? In the first place, it was Kwon Joowan who had acted cute, saying it would be nice to work out together. But it was a bit much to be so clingy when this was just their first time meeting outside the clinic.

“Which way are you heading? I was going to take a short walk after my meal before leaving, too.”

“I was planning to see you to your car before I left.”

A silly laugh escaped him for a moment. It was funny that two men, both built like doors, were trying to see each other off. As he was wondering what to do, Kwon Joowan made the first move.

“Then could you give me a ride to just up ahead?”

“Of course.”

It was exactly what he had wanted. A smile bloomed across Jin Sejun’s face as he led Kwon Joowan to the passenger side and opened the door for him.

Kwon Joowan, who seemed to hesitate a little, sat down obediently, and Jin Sejun, while he was at it, considered buckling the seatbelt for him but decided against it.

Don’t overdo it, don’t overdo it… As he was thinking that and getting into the driver’s seat, he felt a gaze on him. Jin Sejun was about to pretend not to notice and lift his foot from the brake with composure.

Kwon Joowan’s outstretched hand grabbed the steering wheel.

“You’re not wearing your glasses today. You look so different, I was surprised.”

“Ah… I came without them to look handsome for you, Mr. Joowan, haha.”

“They suit you when you wear them, too.”

They look better on me? Just as Jin Sejun, wondering what that meant, was about to ask, Kwon Joowan’s hand slid along the steering wheel and brushed ever so slightly against the side of Jin Sejun’s pinky finger.

“I don’t know if it’s okay to ask you something like this, Director.”

“Yes?”

When the two of them met, it was mostly Jin Sejun who asked the questions, so he wondered what great thing he was about to ask, setting the mood like this. In the dim underground parking garage, Kwon Joowan’s eyes seemed to glisten.

Was it because he was too nervous? For a moment, Jin Sejun felt that Kwon Joowan was being domineering. Shaking off the ridiculous thought, Jin Sejun put on a relaxed smile.

“What is it? What are you curious about?”

“…Why are you going this far?”

“Hmm?”

Did I seem too starved for human connection? In the instant he felt awkward, while Jin Sejun was contemplating how to answer, Kwon Joowan continued.

“I thought you would usually put effort into persuading people who say they don’t want the surgery, so it was a bit puzzling that it was the opposite.”

“Aah~.”

That’s something he could be curious about. Jin Sejun wondered how to sugarcoat it, but decided to just be honest.

“If you were an alpha, Mr. Joowan, that omega friend of yours wouldn’t have told you to get a hair transplant.”

“Pardon?”

“Why would she nitpick when she has such a tall and handsome alpha next to her, instead of trying to make a move on him?”

“…”

“I told you, you don’t need any more transplants, Mr. Joowan, and even if we forced it, there isn’t much to transplant. It’s not like I’ll starve if I lose you as a client.”

“Ah…”

“Honestly, there’s nothing more deceptive than a handsome person not knowing he’s handsome, so I wanted to tell you, even if I had to brainwash you.”

“Ah, ah…”

“And I… I don’t have any beta friends, either…”

Though he didn’t have any alpha or omega friends either. When he lifted his head, he saw Kwon Joowan’s expression had turned strange in an instant, and a silly laugh escaped him.

Jin Sejun took Kwon Joowan’s hand that was on the steering wheel, placed it down, and started the car.

‘His hand is so cold.’

When the car paused in front of the boom barrier, Jin Sejun opened his mouth.

“It just occurred to me that you might find it strange that some alpha keeps sticking to you. Does saying I don’t have beta friends sound a bit weird? Do I sound like a beta collector?”

“No, it’s just that you’re being so nice to me, I…”

“Is it burdensome? I’m happy to have made a neighborhood friend. I’ve really been living just working, you know.”

“It’s not that…”

After hesitating for a moment, Kwon Joowan continued cautiously.

“I thought you were in a cult, Director.”

“Pardon? Ahahaha!”

While Jin Sejun burst out laughing for a moment, the car behind them honked lightly. Wiping away tears, Jin Sejun drove completely out of the parking garage.

“I’m an atheist… Ah, that’s hilarious. But aren’t you used to it, Mr. Joowan? People wanting to be friends with you?”

“Um…”

Why are you being like this when we both know? Is he worried he’ll look arrogant if he agrees?

Jin Sejun pretended to check his driving view to observe Kwon Joowan’s face. Then, seeing a car going straight, he deliberately came to a slightly rough stop.

As an added bonus, like giving medicine after causing the illness, he extended his arm and pressed against Kwon Joowan’s chest, which had lunged forward.

“I’m doing this because I want to be friends with you, Mr. Joowan.”

“Um… Thank you.”

Kwon Joowan grabbed the seatbelt stretched across his chest, then rubbed his own cheek with his palm. Then, he finally looked out the window.

The man was so eloquent, but in moments like this, he seemed shy. Jin Sejun thought that since he worked with people, he was quite an expert at sizing them up, but it seemed his area of expertise was only hair.

“See you next time.”

The drive after that was just enough to be tantalizing, but it was good enough because Kwon Joowan had said they should see each other again. He was tempted to tail him in his car, but he had enough self-awareness to know it was a crazy idea, so he stopped.

And that evening, for the first time in a very long while, there was activity on the ‘Beta’ account.