PA 65

Haha…

He hadn’t even started anything against his father yet, and he was going to self-destruct. Junhyuk could only let out an empty laugh.

Sanghyeon, who hadn’t given Junhyuk a second glance, peeked at the envelope, then rose slowly from his seat without even opening it and continued speaking.

“Good that you know.”

“Are you saying this is true?”

Junhyuk, who had spoken through clenched teeth in a low voice, tore the document envelope to shreds. The paper scraps fell, and the paper inside the envelope scattered across the floor. The documents were Sanghyeon’s medical records. With his gaze fixed on the torn paper, Sanghyeon spoke in a drained voice, as if reciting something.

“That’s right, as expected of Executive Director Cha’s information network.”

“Ha… why, why! Why.”

“Are you asking why I have to die so early before you can even get your revenge?”

At Sanghyeon’s words that hit the nail on the head, Junhyuk was so dumbfounded that he let out a hollow laugh. Then he threw the ceramic vase that was displayed behind the sofa onto the floor. The sound of it shattering loudly echoed through the uncannily quiet mansion.

“I’ll make Director Han Jiyun give up on my end.”

“I’m so grateful.”

Around the time Junhyuk’s ragged breathing had calmed down a bit, Sanghyeon, looking extremely tired, spoke up.

“I.”

“……”

Junhyuk’s gaze, which had been directed somewhere into the empty air, shifted to Sanghyeon.

“Did not love your mother.”

“Was there anyone who didn’t know that?”

“Perhaps that’s why. I was always awkward and lacking somewhere when it came to playing the role of a proper father to you.”

“Never mind the role of a father, that kind of…”

“Are you asking if I touched that boy even though I knew my son loved him?”

Junhyuk pretended not to notice the peculiar change in Sanghyeon’s expression and momentarily turned his head away. In fact, he had never once seen Sanghyeon become emotionally discomposed. It was ominous. Junhyuk shielded his own eyes, telling himself that Sanghyeon was only failing to maintain his poker face because he was facing death.

Ha… don’t tell me he’s serious?

This time, Junhyuk’s heart pounded for a different reason. Junhyuk had to feel not a shred of pity for the dying man. Only the resolve to not back down an inch was carved over and over again in his mind.

“Whatever the reason, don’t touch Yejun anymore. This is your last warning.”

“An ending where I’m killed by my son instead of cancer wouldn’t be so bad, I suppose.”

Sanghyeon muttered in a small voice with a cynical smile. Junhyuk pretended not to see Sanghyeon, who had leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes, and went outside.

Sanghyeon did not get up from the sofa for a long time even after Junhyuk had left. No, he couldn’t get up. After he finished thinking everything through, he slowly raised his extremely tired body and then gave an order to Secretary Song in a low voice.

“Find Song Yeongsik and bring him before me.”

☂︎

The mansion Junhyuk had prepared to live in with Yejun was big, far too big. In the rear garden of the main building, there was a small garden, and in the front yard, there was a blue swimming pool and a wide-open lawn. Just inside the high wall surrounding the mansion, tall cherry blossom trees were planted densely.

Yejun was out on the balcony connected to the bedroom, enjoying the cool night breeze. He stared at the invitation in his hand for a long time, then, as if having made up his mind, made a call to someone.

“Wooju hyung.”

— Oh, what’s this phone number? Did you happen to come to Korea?

“Yes.”

— Did you decide to attend the movie production press conference?

“It’s embarrassing, but I plan to attend.”

— Good thinking.

“Thank you.”

— By the way, Yejun, where are you staying? If you’re at a hotel…

“I’m… not at a hotel.”

— Ah…

Wooju couldn’t bring himself to continue. Yejun spoke to Wooju in a small voice, as if carefully confessing.

“I’m staying with Junhyuk.”

— …You’re okay, right?

Wooju, as if worried about Yejun, asked back after a beat. Yejun, even though he knew Wooju couldn’t see, nodded his head enthusiastically and answered shyly.

“Of course.”

— Then that’s good. When and where is the movie production press conference? Can I go too?

Wooju, setting aside his bundle of worries, began to ask Yejun this and that.

“It’s being held in two days. I’ll send you an invitation.”

— Okay.

“If you’re too busy, you don’t have to push yourself.”

— I just finished a project. So I have plenty of time.

“…Thank you.”

— By the way, if the media finds out at the movie production press conference that you, Yejun, are the writer, it’s going to be chaos, won’t it?

“Ah, no. The public has all forgotten about me now.”

— Just you wait, it’s going to be chaos.

It was at that moment. The window opened wide, and Junhyuk appeared.

“I have to hang up now. I’ll send the invitation to your agency right away tomorrow, hyung.”

— Okay, I got it.

Junhyuk, leaning against the balcony railing, wrapped his arms around the waist of Yejun, who was hurriedly ending the call. Yejun, conscious of the numerous gazes from the bodyguards and servants around the mansion, struggled to break free from Junhyuk’s embrace.

“That tickles.”

“Just a moment.”

Junhyuk buried his face in the nape of Yejun’s neck and took a deep breath.

“I like your scent, Yejun.”

“Go away, what if someone sees?”

“Were you very upset earlier?”

It seemed Junhyuk’s own feelings were more unsettled. Yejun turned around in his embrace and buried his face in his sturdy chest. Yejun, who had been held in Junhyuk’s arms for a long while, soon shook his head vigorously.

“No, our Executive Director Cha Junhyuk has to be so outstanding. I was prepared for that much.”

“…You really seem to be okay.”

Junhyuk felt a little disappointed at how incredibly cheerful Yejun seemed. But then Yejun spoke, enunciating each word as if driving a nail into Junhyuk’s heart.

“Did you think I would secretly hide and cry my eyes out, like I was filming a tragic melodrama?”

“Our Yejun is quite something.”

Yejun looked up gently at Junhyuk, who was smiling as if relieved. He looked at Junhyuk like that for a long while and then slowly began to speak.

“The reason our relationship wasn’t severed is because you held on to me. So the one who held on to me was you, Cha Junhyuk.”

“……”

“But when I think about it calmly, I, too, couldn’t let you go, Junhyuk, for the past seven years. You were always at the end of my thoughts.”

Junhyuk, as if relieved, released his arms from around Yejun and gave him a short kiss on his forehead. Yejun quickly looked around, and after confirming no one was there, he hit Junhyuk’s chest and spoke as if chiding him.

“So instead of doing this out here, how about we go inside the room?”

“Lee Yejun, you’re only safe because we’re out here. How do you know what I’ll do inside the room?”

“You must have been tired today, so hurry up and wash up.”

“Can I get my hopes up?”

“For what?”

“Sex.”

Yejun shook his head back and forth and spoke in a firm voice.

“You go sleep in another room.”

“Hey, hey! How can you say that?”

Bickering like that, the two of them went into the room.