HPK 75

However, Taejung was also resolute.

“My hand hurts.”

He feigned pain and tilted his head towards Yejin. When their eyes met, Yejin was startled and her cheeks subtly blushed. Regardless of what was on the inside, his shell was excellent, so it was a reaction that a twenty-year-old girl would certainly show.

“You just accept money when an adult gives it to you.”

At his repeated urging, Yejin cautiously approached and carefully accepted the money he was offering.

“Yejin-ah!”

The surprised Wooseung urgently tried to stop her, but his arm was caught by Taejung, making it futile. Yejin held the bills preciously and her eyes sparkled at Taejung.

“Thank you, oppa.”

“Right. Your oppas are busy, so is it okay if we go first?”

“Yes!”

Yejin, saying of course it was fine, took a step back. Wooseung, still with his arm caught, was being led to the passenger seat when he said to Taejung, “Let’s just watch her get in the taxi before we go.”

“It’s okay. You guys go first!”

Yejin waved her hands, saying there was no need for that. However, Taejung, perhaps intending to listen to Wooseung, agreed and sat down on the hood of the car with a plop.

And so, they made idle small talk until the taxi arrived. Of course, Wooseung mostly just added in occasional interjections, and the conversation was mainly between Taejung and Yejin.

Before long, the taxi they had called appeared in the distance. Perhaps because it was a troublesome road to enter again, it honked from the entrance without entering the alley.

“I’m leaving.”

Yejin, holding her suitcase, turned her body and bowed politely to Taejung.

“Oppa, thank you for the allowance.”

Perhaps finding the sight of the small girl bowing exaggeratedly cute, Taejung laughed, haha. Soon, the taxi Yejin got into slowly reversed out of the alley and disappeared.

“Get in.”

Taejung opened the driver’s side door and gestured to Wooseung with his chin.

“…”

Wooseung dawdled for a moment, then let out an unnoticeable sigh and got into the passenger seat. As soon as he fastened his seatbelt, the car reversed quickly. Without several forward and backward movements, Taejung skillfully exited the alley in one go.

There was no music playing, so silence filled the car, occasionally broken by the sound of Taejung’s laughter. He thought he would naturally be scolded for his lie being found out. But Taejung, whatever he was thinking, kept chuckling, pshh, pshh, with his chin propped on his hand. He was debating whether to offer an excuse first during this lull when Taejung spoke.

“Taejung-ah?”

He said, looking intently at Wooseung. Wooseung quietly curled the hands that were resting on his thighs into fists.

“…I’m sorry.”

“For what.”

“For speaking informally…”

“Why. You can speak informally. We’re the same age.”

The smoothly curved corners of his mouth showed no signs of coming down. Wooseung looked at the strangely cheerful Taejung with suspicion. It was a relief that he wasn’t angry, but his being so pleased was also very suspicious.

After driving for a while, Wooseung saw Taejung’s fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel and slowly opened his mouth.

“…But how did you know I wasn’t in Daejeon?”

Did he hear the subway announcement? But even so, that didn’t explain how he had arrived at the house right on time.

“Why did you lie.”

“…Because I thought the President wouldn’t give me permission.”

“I wouldn’t?”

“Yes…”

“Why would I?”

It was quite a shameless thing to say. He made him explain the reason for going to Daejeon repeatedly, and even made him cancel his appointment with Hyojun, and now he was asking ‘why would I?’.

“You said no to everything I asked about. So I—.”

“You were the one who asked me first. If you could go.”

“…”

“So all I did was say no.”

“What? What does that mean…”

“It’s your fault for asking me in the first place. Why are you blaming me?”

It was sophistry. Utter nonsense. But Wooseung only moved his lips without being able to easily refute it. Come to think of it, Taejung was right. He had never asked him to seek his permission, but Wooseung, feeling guilty in advance, had asked first.

“Who am I trying to please by giving permission. Right?”

Taejung laughed lowly, rubbing his lips with the hand that was propping up his chin.

“…”

He felt like he had been played in the palm of his hand. Wooseung glanced at the side profile of Taejung, who was humming a tune, and recalled the conversation he had with Hyojun.

‘Doesn’t the President like you, hyung?’

He had asked, with his arms crossed and his chin slightly tucked in. As if asking why he didn’t know such an easy answer.

‘…You think so too, a little?’

‘A li-ttle? It’s not a little.’

Wooseung dropped his gaze and looked down at his slightly frayed pants.

‘To be honest, it was a bit strange. Like he’s keeping tabs on a lover… I don’t know much either, but it’s not usually like that.’

‘…’

‘So what do you want to do about it, hyung?’

He himself had been wrestling with the thought of what he would do with that knowledge, so he couldn’t answer readily and just mumbled. After mulling over the silence, he answered in a low voice.

‘I just… If the President is like that, I was thinking maybe things would get a little more comfortable than now…’

It wasn’t a scheme to rely on someone’s affection. He was just hoping that his rough handling would soften, even just a little.

But for some reason, Hyojun made a strange face at those words.

‘More comfortable?’

He asked as if to question if he really thought so, then uncrossed his arms and tapped the table nervously. After a short silence, he continued in a subdued voice.

‘Hyung, what kind of person the President is…’

‘…’

‘I don’t think you know yet.’

What had he answered to that? He gave up trying to recall the fading memory and unclenched his fist. As the tension released, a feeling that was either relief or emptiness slowly welled up.

“Then I won’t ask for permission anymore.”

At the quiet voice, Taejung turned to look at the passenger seat.

“Do whatever you want.”

Do whatever the fuck you want. At the added words, Wooseung turned his head to look out the window. He was sick of the sight of him.

♡

Taejung, who had gotten out of the car, took out a duffel bag from the back seat with one hand. He casually slung it over his shoulder and walked ahead.

Bzzz, as he walked behind him, the phone in his pocket vibrated slightly. He thought it might be Yejin, and since a text had come, he was planning to tell her not to spend the money she got from Taejung. However, on the screen, a text from an unexpected person was displayed.

[heard u moved to the basement? hehe gotta come visit sometime~^^]

Wooseung, without realizing it, checked on Taejung first. He was looking at his phone in front of the elevator.

[Seohyun noona]

It was a normally saved name, but in fact, she was a customer who would often choose Wooseung when he was at the main building. She came to Girin frequently, and they had happened to run into each other at church and awkwardly exchanged numbers. Since he wasn’t popular with anyone other than the young female customers, the older Seohyun was a particularly memorable customer for Wooseung.

[r u free on thurs?^^~]

Another text came right after.

His thumb hovered over the screen. Seohyun didn’t force him to drink and wasn’t the type to engage in uncomfortable physical contact. It was just a good time for both of them, and most importantly, she was a generous tipper.

In a situation where he didn’t know if Taejung would give him the 1.5 million won again or not, he wondered if it was right to refuse. He still had a mountain of debt to repay, and the responsibility of supporting his family’s livelihood was also currently entirely on Wooseung’s shoulders.

‘Who am I trying to please by giving permission. Right?’

Taejung had told him to do whatever the fuck he wanted in response to his words that he would no longer ask for permission. The deliberation didn’t last long.

[yes im free!!]

[should i make a reservation with the manager?]

As soon as he sent the text, the elevator arrived. Wooseung got on the elevator, clutching his phone tightly in his hand. Not knowing when a reply would come, he kept looking at his phone, so Taejung asked.

“Your sister?”

“What? Ah, yes. My sister…”

He subtly hid his phone and continued speaking.

“I’ll tell Yejin not to spend the money the President gave her.”

“I gave it to her to spend, so why not.”

“The amount is too large…”

“It’s not your money, so what does it matter.”

Taejung replied lightly, as if he were making a big fuss over nothing. Wooseung trailed off with a “Yes…,” and pressed his bottom lip firmly with his front teeth.

Just then, his phone vibrated lightly.

[ok~~lol]

Wooseung, who had confirmed the text on the screen, swallowed hard and then quickly deleted the messages they had just exchanged.