Vol 1 Ch 27

After making a bombshell declaration to the Chairman, he didn’t hear from him for several days. Days like the calm before the storm continued, but Mok Seongha, the bomber himself, didn’t care in the slightest.

 

“Hey.”

 

When he was halfway through solving a practice test for the mock exam, Mok Seongha suddenly opened his mouth.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Don’t you think something good will happen today?”

 

He had once worked part-time at a cafe with Seo Sang-il after the college entrance exam. At that time, he learned that there were taboo words that should not be spoken in the store.

 

‘It’s so slow today.’

 

If you said such a thing, customers would pour in scarily, so you always had to be careful what you said.

 

Kim Jinkyung felt a strong sense of déjà vu from what Mok Seongha had just said.

 

Somehow, I feel like I shouldn’t say that….

 

“Somehow today….”

 

Before Mok Seongha could finish speaking, there was a knock.

 

“Young Master. The Chairman is on the phone.”

 

Mok Seongha pressed the stopwatch and got up from his seat.

 

It was exactly one week since his only grandson had declared that he liked men. Yes, it was time for a call. …I wonder what he’s going to say.

 

The letters didn’t register in his eyes. Kim Jinkyung also closed the book he was reading. Not long after, the door burst open and Mok Seongha came in.

 

“Let’s go out.”

 

“Yes? Wh-where to?”

 

“Take your book.”

 

Kim Jinkyung started stuffing not only his book but also his tutoring materials into his bag.

 

English and math textbooks, and vocabulary to memorize in between, and memorization subjects to organize to clear his head.

 

As he zipped up his bag, Mok Seongha snatched it away.

 

“Take your clothes too.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“We’re not coming back today.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

When Kim Jinkyung couldn’t readily move, Mok Seongha clicked his tongue briefly.

 

“Never mind. We can just buy clothes with money.”

 

Mok Seongha grabbed Kim Jinkyung’s arm and started dragging him away.

 

“Yes? What are you buying? Wait a minute. You have to tell me where we’re going….”

 

Secretary Kang approached Kim Jinkyung, who was struggling and being dragged away, closely.

 

“Young Master. Where are you going?”

 

“Why are you asking when you’re going to tail us anyway?”

 

“I’m going to put it in the navigation in advance.”

 

Hearing that he would be tailed, Kim Jinkyung felt a little relieved. It didn’t seem like they were going to a deserted place.

 

“Teacher, do you know where you’re being dragged to?”

 

Secretary Kang glared at Kim Jinkyung with murderous eyes. Secretary Kang never uttered the word ‘date’. He only asked where he was being dragged to, where he was dragging him to, or where he was going to flirt.

 

“I-I don’t know.”

 

The two had gone out three times in the past week. Once to an amusement park, once to the Han River park, and once to Namsan. All three times were escapes disguised as dates that took place after sunset.

 

He had never gone out when the sun was shining brightly like now, so Kim Jinkyung couldn’t guess the destination.

 

“We’re going to have sex.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Kim Jinkyung jumped up in horror. Secretary Kang glared at the two, or rather, at Kim Jinkyung, with an expression that said he had heard something he shouldn’t have.

 

“No. I think there’s been a misunderstanding….”

 

“What misunderstanding is there between people who are dating? Put on your shoes.”

 

“I’m not putting them on!”

 

When Kim Jinkyung desperately resisted, Mok Seongha sighed softly. Then he lifted Kim Jinkyung up with one arm and lightly slung him over his shoulder.

 

“Ugh. What are you doing?”

 

Secretary Kang went to the front door and neatly placed Mok Seongha’s shoes.

 

“Young Master.”

 

“Why.”

 

“Take care of yourself. Take this lunch box with you, and call me if anything happens.”

 

Because Mok Seongha didn’t eat food outside, Secretary Kang would prepare a lunch box and hand it over if he was going to be out for a long time.

 

“Okay.”

 

Secretary Kang, who had raised him in place of his parents, treated the adult man as big as a door like a child. Mok Seongha also accepted such treatment without any fuss.

 

“And Teacher.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Kim Jinkyung, hanging on Mok Seongha’s shoulder, answered, terrified.

 

“You should take care of yourself too.”

 

It was the same words, but it felt completely different.

 

You bastard. Be careful on the road at night, and be careful on the road during the day too.

 

“And if anything, even a small thing, happens to the Young Master, call me right away. Of course, it would be better if you didn’t cause any problems in the first place.”

 

Kim Jinkyung swallowed hard.

 

“Shoes.”

 

At Mok Seongha’s words, Secretary Kang sighed and handed over Kim Jinkyung’s shoes. Mok Seongha held Kim Jinkyung’s shoes in his hand and left the front door as he was.

 

***

 

“A blind date?”

 

“Look ahead and drive.”

 

Kim Jinkyung quickly straightened his posture as he gripped the steering wheel. Mok Seongha threw Kim Jinkyung into the driver’s seat of the Porsche he used for dates, put on his shoes, and sat in the passenger seat.

 

‘Hey. Delete the app.’

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘The location tracking app.’

 

‘Which one?’

 

Mok Seongha snatched Kim Jinkyung’s phone, deleted the app, and gave it back.

 

‘…Aren’t I supposed to be tracked?’

 

‘They’re going to tail us anyway, so we have to give them this much tension. Let’s go.’

 

Only after the car started did Mok Seongha explain why he had run out.

 

“He said he made an appointment and told me to go out later.”

 

“I see, he still doesn’t believe you.”

 

Kim Jinkyung muttered as he turned the steering wheel according to the navigation.

 

He didn’t think he would believe him easily. He had declared that they were dating, but the scene Mok Seongha was showing was nothing more or less than a elementary school romance. He had forbidden skinship when he signed the contract in the first place, but Mok Seongha himself hadn’t tried to make any contact beyond holding hands or putting his arm around his shoulder.

 

…Well, he thinks of the belly button as the hole to put it in between men, so of course.

 

“He said that both you and I should stop doing useless things.”

 

“Haha.”

 

Kim Jinkyung smiled bitterly.

 

The only things the two of them did when they went out on dates were listening to online lectures with earphones plugged in in deserted places, solving workbooks, and memorizing English words. Of course, they sat shoulder to shoulder or sometimes held hands, conscious of being tailed. But that was really it.

 

“So what are you going to do now?”

 

“What else? I have to do something useful.”

 

Mok Seongha replied indifferently, looking out the window.

 

“Are you going to go on a blind date?”

 

Even though he was an impossible partner, the thought of him driving him to the blind date himself made his mouth a little bitter.

 

“Are you crazy?”

 

Mok Seongha frowned in disgust.

 

Even his frowning face was handsome. Pathetic.

 

Kim Jinkyung glanced at Mok Seongha’s profile and admired him expressionlessly.

 

“I don’t think he’ll believe you no matter what you do.”

 

“That’s why I have to make him believe me from now on.”

 

Kim Jinkyung checked the destination on the navigation.

 

He felt uneasy. He thought he had deliberately put it in because of the tail.

 

“…You’re not really going to go into the hotel, are you?”

 

“I said I was going to the hotel to have sex.”

 

Kim Jinkyung, horrified, stepped on the brakes without realizing it. The car stopped abruptly with a screech. A car horn blared from behind, followed by fierce curses.

 

“You son of a bitch! Do you want to die!”

 

The driver of the car behind, who had narrowly avoided a collision, rolled down the window and shouted at the top of his lungs as he passed by.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

 

Mok Seongha chuckled as he watched Kim Jinkyung apologize diligently, even though he wouldn’t be able to hear him.

 

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you starting?”

 

“Are you crazy?”

 

Kim Jinkyung asked seriously, taking his foot off the brake.

 

“No.”

 

“It’s a breach of contract. I will never do such a thing….”

 

“I won’t.”

 

Mok Seongha replied firmly.

 

“Who said you would? We’re just going.”

 

“You clearly said earlier….”

 

“He won’t believe we’re having sex unless we both go into the hotel.”

 

“…Do you think he’ll believe us?”

 

“Even if he doesn’t believe us, his insides will be turned upside down if his only grandson goes into a hotel room alone with a man.”

 

“……”

 

Wasn’t this project originally about his grandfather’s dream of extending his life?

 

“We just need to create some suspicion.”

 

Kim Jinkyung nodded, Ah, at the added explanation.

 

“You’re so promiscuous, but there are times when you know less than me.”

 

“…Ahaha.”

 

Grasping the steering wheel, Mok Seongha’s hand tightened. A playful smile flitted across his lips.

 

“I booked a suite. Let’s have tutoring sessions all day and night.”

 

To think his life had come to booking a six-star hotel to tutor his unrequited love all night long.

 

Kim Jinkyung gave up, as there were too many things to point out that had gone wrong.

 

Well, how much worse could it get?

 

Kim Jinkyung sighed and turned the steering wheel in the direction the navigation indicated.

 

***

 

It was the worst.

 

That was all he could think as the elevator ascended at a rapid pace.

 

“There are a lot of people today.”

 

“It’s the weekend, what do you expect?”

 

Kim Jinkyung froze as he saw a couple entering the elevator while making small talk.

 

“Jinyoung Oppa, should we stop by the lounge first?”

 

“Whatever Haein wants. I’m happy as long as you’re happy.”

 

A familiar voice pierced his ears.

 

It couldn’t be, surely not, there must be more than one person with the name Jinyoung who is cheesy and affectionate in Seoul.

 

Kim Jinkyung slowly, very slowly, checked the faces of the couple standing in front of the elevator display panel, then quickly lowered his head.

 

It was the worst. It really was Go Jinyoung!

 

“I’m hungry.”

 

Mok Seongha’s voice, like his appearance, drew people’s attention. His low, cold voice echoed in the quiet elevator, and people began to glance over.

 

“I’m going to eat what I brought, what do you want to eat? Should I order room service?”

 

“…….”

 

Kim Jinkyung couldn’t answer and just stood in the corner with his head turned away.

 

“What do you want to eat?”

 

Mok Seongha grabbed Kim Jinkyung’s clothes again and asked. Then, the eyes of the people in the elevator turned to them.

 

“Why aren’t you answering?”

 

Mok Seongha grabbed Kim Jinkyung’s shoulder and turned him to face him. Kim Jinkyung resisted with all his might.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Mok Seongha frowned slightly at the incomprehensible behavior and asked.

 

“…Wow. Oppa, look over there.”

 

The woman standing in front of the display panel whispered to the man next to her in a small voice. Go Jinyoung also began to glance over.

 

“Hey. You….”

 

Mok Seongha forcibly turned Kim Jinkyung’s body to face him. He saw eyes full of fear. Eyes that looked like they would burst into tears if touched, trembled anxiously. Mok Seongha’s expression hardened.

 

“I’ve never seen that before. Men….”

 

Even whispered in a small voice, there was a limit in the enclosed space. Kim Jinkyung was trembling, looking like he was about to collapse any second.

 

“Oh…?”

 

The man who had been glancing over at them widened his eyes and tried to acknowledge him. Kim Jinkyung felt nauseous.

 

Should he have just greeted them casually from the beginning? Should he greet them now? …Should he quit school?

 

He didn’t mean to cry, but his eyes suddenly felt hot.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“……!”

 

Mok Seongha pulled Kim Jinkyung into his arms and trapped him in his embrace. He firmly held his head with his palm and pressed their bodies together without a gap.

 

He didn’t know what was happening. His whole body was hidden by Mok Seongha’s. The others in the elevator also began to whisper, looking at them.

 

“What are you looking at?”

 

His cold, fluid voice pierced sharply. Everyone gasped for breath at once.

 

“Never seen a homo before?”

 

Mok Seongha asked threateningly. People’s eyes turned away all at once.

 

Only awkward silence flowed in the elevator.

 

Kim Jinkyung closed his eyes. The man’s breath touched the area around his forehead. His whole body tingled. His heart, overflowing with hot blood, began to beat. The heat rose in the back of his head, which was gripped by the man’s large palm.

 

Their bodies were pressed tightly together. His strong arms and chest wrapped around his upper body, and his waist was barely touching. His toes tingled, and his lower body felt a strange sensation. A subtle heat gently warmed his blood vessels. His swollen heart pounded fiercely.

 

An eternity seemed to pass, and the elevator stopped at the guest room floors. People got off one by one. Finally, Go Jinyoung couple got off. Mok Seongha didn’t let go of Kim Jinkyung, holding him tightly until the doors closed.