MW 29

It hadn’t even been a week since he started working at Hidden, so Yijae hadn’t had a reason to go up to the 5th floor. He would occasionally go to serve if they were very busy, but he mostly helped in the kitchen or with cleaning up.

At Yijae’s question, Jeongseok, who wiped the sweat trickling down his neck, looked at the watch on his wrist and answered.

“The boss’s maternal grandfather is the chairman of the Joseong Group, you know. Maybe that’s why so many chaebol heirs come to the shop.”

As expected, the boss was a chaebol too. You couldn’t just be well-off to build a building and run a shop in a place where land prices were this high.

“It’s already been 10 minutes. I should get going. Keep up the good work, maknae.”

“Yes, be careful on your way up.”

Yijae watched him head back towards the VIP-only area as he finished filling the trash bag and tied it tightly. When he stepped outside with his hands full of garbage bags, his eyes fell on the parking lot, which was now filled with nothing but expensive foreign cars. Their lives were so different from his; it was simply fascinating.

“Ah……”

Feeling something land on his head, Yijae looked up. Rain was starting to fall again, one drop at a time. He quickened his pace, stacked the trash to one side, and went back inside the building.

“Phew, good thing I didn’t get too wet.”

He couldn’t let the clothes he’d borrowed get wet again. Yijae gently brushed the raindrops from his hair.

It was too late today, and tomorrow was his day off, so he figured he could wash them cleanly and return them then.

Just as Yijae was about to head back into the shop to change his clothes, he turned his head at the feeling of someone grabbing him from behind.

“What’s your name?”

“Pardon?”

“Judging by the uniform, you seem to work here. What floor? Do you take customers downstairs too?”

A man who had spotted Yijae walking alone in the hallway casually grabbed his wrist and leaned in close. Yijae tried to push him away, repulsed by the strong smell of alcohol and the sticky gaze, but the man’s grip was too strong.

Frowning, Yijae had no choice but to press the button on the watch on his wrist. Not long after, he heard Taehoon’s voice calling him from a distance.

“Maknae!”

“Ugh, Taehoon hyung……”

“Ah, customer, you seem very drunk. Have you called for a driver? Haha……”

Taehoon, who appeared in an instant, pried the man’s hand off Yijae’s wrist and, with a friendly face, led him outside. Supporting the man who was swaying and about to fall, Taehoon handed him over to someone who appeared to be a driver, then dusted off his hands and came back.

“Hyung, are you okay?”

Although he had asked for help with something he couldn’t handle, Yijae had been worried something might happen. He quickly approached Taehoon and asked.

“It’s not the first or second time I’ve seen a guy like that. The place has been getting popular by word of mouth lately, so all sorts of riff-raff are coming in, and the quality has gone down.”

“I’m sorry. You must be busy……”

“Hey, I get paid to do this stuff. Anyway, you’re just too pretty for your own good.”

He playfully rubbed Yijae’s head and put an arm around his shoulder as they got on the elevator.

“We’re having a staff dinner on the last week, you’re coming too, right?”

“Ah, I’m not sure.”

“Everyone’s making a fuss about it being the maknae’s welcome party. The main character can’t be missing. You have to come. Let’s max out the boss’s card then.”

Emphasizing again that he must come, Taehoon was called away again and quickly disappeared. Yijae watched him go, waving, and felt grateful that he could work here with so many good people.

With a natural smile on his face, Yijae slowly entered the locker room. He changed his clothes, packed his bag, and turned on his phone.

[Missed Calls 0, Messages 1]

Unlike the last time he checked, there was one message.

<Hanseong University Business Administration Department General Assembly Date Change Notice>

Date & Venue: March 18, 20xx, 6:30 PM, Tiger Pub
Participation Fee: 20,000 won
We apologize for the postponement of the General Assembly from its original date.

Hanseong University Business Administration Department Student Council –

“Haa……”

A faint breath escaped Yijae’s lips as he hurriedly moved his hand to tap the screen.

He thought they had said the date and venue were being changed because the previously booked pub had closed down, but it seemed they had rescheduled it. Yijae took in the newly announced message and quietly muttered to himself.

“What was I even expecting……”

After acting the way he did, it was only natural for him to be fed up with him. And he was the one who had let go of that hand first. Yijae didn’t know why he kept waiting for a message from Jaeha.

⁺₊❆₊⋆

Having moved out of his family home and into his own officetel, Jaeha rubbed his throbbing head.

“Hoo……”

After letting Yijae go like that yesterday, he had thought and worried for days. Was Yijae not in need of his help, and was he just forcing it on him? What did he truly want? Or maybe…….

Rrrr…….

Jaeha lifted his head at the ringing that roused him from his thoughts.

“Hello.”

—Young master, this is Secretary Choi. I’m calling to confirm if you will be attending tomorrow morning’s scheduled event as planned.

Ah, it was already that time. Jaeha rubbed his tired eyes and replied.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll head to the main house on time.”

—Yes, and regarding the matter you previously instructed me about, Mr. Seo Yijae.

Jaeha, who had gotten out of bed and was about to head to the shower, stopped in his tracks.

He knew it was wrong to look into Yijae without his permission, so he had waited silently for him to confide in him first.

But after seeing the video of him being silently assaulted by Gu Dohae without a hint of resistance, he could no longer stand by.

Right then, Jaeha had instructed Secretary Choi to find out everything related to Yijae, down to the most trivial details.

—Mr. Seo Yijae’s biological father passed away 5 years ago, but his biological mother is alive. However, she was in a drunk driving accident and has been unconscious for 5 years. She is currently being treated at Sejin Hospital.

Jaeha’s eyes glinted in the darkness as he connected the dots between Sejin Hospital and the phrase “unconscious for 5 years.”

Having figured out the reason why Yijae had to reject him and remain tied to Gu Dohae and his family, Jaeha opened his mouth.

“I don’t think I will be able to attend the meal tomorrow. I will contact the main house separately.”

⁺₊❆₊⋆

It was a rare day off, but Yijae, who had a class first thing in the morning, forced his heavy body up. He headed to the bathroom, stood in front of the sink, and looked at his reflection in the mirror.

The bruises remaining on his neck and body were creating a medley of colors. The marks, which had been so red that they looked grotesque even to him, were now gradually fading.

‘They say time is the best medicine……’

He hoped that by the time all these marks disappeared, the feelings left in his heart would vanish as well. Yijae wished for it.

“Boo!”

“Heuk!”

Yijae clutched his wildly pounding heart and turned his head.

“Yijae, hi?”

“Hello, nuna.”

The person who had startled him was none other than the teaching assistant, Seoyoung. Looking at Yijae’s deathly pale face, she became more flustered than him at the severity of his reaction and said.

“Gasp, did I scare you that much? Look how pale you are. I’m sorry. Are you okay, Yijae?”

“I-I’m okay.”

The TA, apologizing again and again, insisted on buying him a coffee and dragged Yijae to a cafe.

“You know about today, right?”

“Pardon?”

She, who had added three extra shots to her Americano, let out a groan of admiration as if she could finally live, then turned her head.

“It’s our department’s general assembly today. You didn’t know? It should have been announced?”