Ch 18

<18>

 

4 Months Before That Day (5)

 

“What are you doing?”

 

He snatched the phone to check, and as expected, it was Hyunjun. Hyunjun was out of breath, urging Eunho to come quickly, sounding like it was a matter of life and death. Just as Eunho was about to reply, the phone disappeared from his hand.

 

“Executive Director?”

 

“……”

 

“No… what are…”

 

Yoonjae swiftly snatched the phone, ended the call without a word, and turned it off as if to show off. For a moment, Eunho forgot that he was his superior due to his impulsive behavior and almost exploded in anger, but he calmly took a breath. Otherwise, the enraged words would have burst out.

 

“Executive Director, please give me my phone.”

 

“I’ll use the wish you promised me now.”

 

What is he talking about? Eunho frowned, not understanding what he was saying. After he put the phone in his pants pocket, he raised both hands and grabbed Eunho’s shoulders. His eyes, which drew attention, were filled with determination.

 

“I’ll keep your phone.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“That’s my wish.”

 

“Executive Director!”

 

Yoonjae conveyed that he wasn’t joking with his eyes. Isn’t it the norm to ask for something grand when it comes to a wish? Eunho wondered if he should accept cutting off someone’s means of communication, even for a few days, as a wish. Eunho pressed his throbbing temples, hesitating, unsure of what to say.

 

“Please. You promised to grant my wish.”

 

“You know if you listen. It sounds like something happened…”

 

“It’s a rut.”

 

“……Yes?”

 

Staring blankly at him, Eunho thought about it and realized that it seemed to be around Hyunjun’s rut period. Unlike other alphas, Hyunjun had a very long cycle, so his rut occurred only once a year, if at all, and he boasted that he didn’t need to take medication.

 

Even Eunho, his boyfriend, didn’t know that Hyunjun was in rut, so how did Yoonjae know that fact just by hearing his voice once? Since Hyunjun was in rut, Eunho could understand Yoonjae’s heart to some extent. As his thoughts changed, the tables turned rapidly.

 

“Why did you say you were going?”

 

“No… well.”

 

Thinking that he might get angry if he didn’t back down, Eunho bit his lip and took a step back. Reading the subdued momentum, Yoonjae hurriedly grabbed the carrier he had placed nearby.

 

“I’ll give you your phone back when we return to Seoul. Let’s go now.”

 

“There’s still plenty of time left.”

 

“If there are any tickets available to depart immediately, I’ll change them right away.”

 

The competitive spirit unique to alphas who don’t want to lose was burning. Yoonjae confidently picked up Eunho’s carrier as well and strode out of the front door.

 

The helper, who was preparing breakfast, noticed the two of them and quietly repacked the food she had prepared into containers. Only silence filled the space, which had become as cold as the Siberian plains. Suddenly realizing, Eunho hurriedly chased after him.

 

“Why are you pushing me so hard?”

 

“Let’s talk when we get to Jeju Island.”

 

Yoonjae, who grabbed Eunho as he was about to get into the driver’s seat and pushed him into the passenger seat, was calmer than expected. Eunho, who was sitting in the passenger seat in a daze and fastening his seat belt, asked Yoonjae, who was driving backward, in an anxious tone. He was frustrated with himself for being caught between Yoonjae and Hyunjun, unable to do anything.

 

“Really… your wish is to confiscate my phone?”

 

“You know I’m not joking.”

 

“No, Executive Director.”

 

Yoonjae, who deliberately ignored Eunho, who was pounding his chest as if asking to be seen and sighing deeply, clenched his jaw and bit his lower lip. He wanted to reveal everything that had happened so far, but it was obvious that it would sound like nonsense. Eunho once again suppressed his frustrating feelings and endured.

 

On the way to the airport, they moved the flight time to Jeju Island forward by two hours. Fortunately, it was a weekday and there were business class seats available, so the change was possible. When Yoonjae finished parking in the long-term parking lot and strode away, carrying both carriers, Eunho reluctantly followed him. He resented himself for wavering between Hyunjun and Yoonjae.

 

After hesitating for a while, Eunho boarded the plane in an instant and carefully asked, watching Yoonjae read the publications.

 

“According to the schedule I received from Secretary Han today, there was nothing planned.”

 

“There isn’t.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“We’re going to rest.”

 

For a moment, his mind went blank as if he had been hit in the back of the head. In the end, the reason for hurrying to board the plane from the morning was Yoonjae’s rebellious feeling due to Hyunjun’s call, rather than having a schedule. Moreover, the reason for leaving early was not for business purposes but for rest. Eunho was frozen like a stone for a while, then turned his head and fixed his gaze on the window.

 

He tried to understand Yoonjae’s actions by thinking about them over and over again, but it was not easy. In the end, Eunho himself was the start of this mess. It was a disaster to fall for Choi Yoonjae, who gave him warm attention even though he had a lover, and to have an affair. He should have ended one side quickly, but he dragged on the time sluggishly, and eventually an unwanted situation came.

 

As soon as Eunho arrived at Jeju Airport, he picked up his carrier and headed to the check-in counter without looking back. Yoonjae, who was flustered by Eunho’s sudden actions, strode over and grabbed his shoulder to stop him.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“You said we’re here to rest. If there’s no schedule, I’ll take a day off today and go back up. I’m sorry, Executive Director.”

 

Knowing that it was rude to Yoonjae, the last remaining feeling close to camaraderie made him turn to Hyunjun. He had accepted everything for over three years of dating because he didn’t want to hear anything he didn’t like, but he didn’t want to end it in a mess at the end, even if it was pathetic. Yoonjae’s angry pheromones raged and created a big wave, and Eunho’s pheromones also fluctuated.

 

“Why are you doing this?”

 

“I asked you to wait. It’ll be a month from now.”

 

“Yoo Eunho.”

 

“I’ll break up without any regrets as soon as the exam is over. If you can’t wait until then, I’ll just stay in my place.”

 

Words that didn’t go through his head popped out like popcorn. He knew he shouldn’t do this even as he spat them out, but they strangely popped out like a reaction. His mind was divided into two thoughts, whether he should go to Hyunjun or not, and they were fiercely fighting.

 

“Yoo Eunho!”

 

Yoonjae, who grabbed Eunho as he turned around, snatched the carrier as if he had made up his mind and hid it behind him. He stood tall, enduring with an expression that he had a lot to say but was holding back, then roughly loosened the tie that was choking his neck as if he was frustrated, and licked the inside of his cheek with his tongue.

 

“Why is that person more important than yourself?”

 

“Executive Director.”

 

“Why are you sacrificing yourself for that person?”

 

Eunho’s guilty expression, having the title of a sinner who had an affair, frustrated Yoonjae. Should he show all the pictures of Hyunjun cheating like crazy and say that he’s not worth it, or should he go back to Seoul and raid Hyunjun’s house again? Many thoughts confused his mind.

 

Eunho didn’t know, but Hyunjun called his newly made boyfriend as soon as he lost contact with Eunho. As soon as he turned on his phone after landing, the message from the place he had requested Hyunjun’s background check contained a report that his new boyfriend had just entered Hyunjun’s house. Still, he was a long-time lover, and he hadn’t confirmed it himself, so he was deliberately avoiding showing the worst side by stepping in as a third party. But Eunho kept pushing him, so his mind was confused. Yoonjae calmed his mind once again and carefully approached him.

 

“Is it because of guilt? Even if you don’t think about that, that friend will live well. So don’t worry about it.”

 

Don’t go, don’t go. He tried to send signals with his eyes, but Eunho’s will was too firm, so it didn’t work. Sensing Eunho’s mood that he would consider resigning if his voice was raised here, Yoonjae carefully coaxed and persuaded him. If it didn’t work, he was going to beg him not to go.

 

“What are you going to do when you go up?”

 

“I don’t think there’s any reason to report even my personal matters to the Executive Director. It may seem rude, but I hope you’ll pretend you don’t know. I’m sorry.”

 

As Eunho bowed politely and turned around, Yoonjae’s anger flared up. He couldn’t tolerate going back after almost reaching the goal, so Yoonjae blocked the way in a pleading tone.

 

“Don’t go, please.”

 

He had never begged like this even to Junseo, his ex-boyfriend. As someone who had never desperately wanted something in his life, he was pouring in tremendous effort. The thought that he had to do this much flashed through his mind for a moment, but the image of Eunho being hit by a truck and flying in the air before returning to the past flickered before his eyes, so he grabbed his heart again and didn’t give up.

 

“You said you’d break up after the exam, which means you’re coming to me.”

 

“……”

 

“Don’t give me your heart then, catch me from now on.”

 

Even Yoonjae, who was making words close to courtship, found this situation absurd. He barely lowered his twisted corners of his mouth.

 

“Am I that much worse than that friend?”

 

“No! It’s not that…”

 

When he showed his last trump card, jealousy, Eunho shook his head firmly, saying no. In fact, if Eunho had stayed still at this timing, he could have given up everything and let him do as he pleased, but fortunately, he was able to keep the last line of his pride.

 

Yoonjae, who was almost losing face, breathed a sigh of relief and looked straight at Eunho.

 

“Then don’t go.”

 

“……”

 

Was he hoping that Yoonjae would subtly hold him back? At his earnest tone, Eunho’s desire to return gradually faded.

 

Yoonjae grabbed Eunho’s hand and rubbed the back of his hand with his thumb.

 

“Stay by my side. Please.”

 

Yoonjae’s heart was not at ease looking down at Eunho, who was carrying a string of guilt.

 

“Come here.”

 

As he stroked Eunho’s back, the steps that had been hesitating for a long time slowly moved.

 

Yoonjae put Eunho in the passenger seat of the car he had reserved, went to the driver’s seat, sighed softly, and opened the car door.

 

“Can’t I drive?”

 

“Eunho drives on the days we go to meetings, and I’ll do it when we rest.”

 

Eunho, whose momentum had subsided, slowly began to read Yoonjae’s face. After changing his mind and thinking slowly from Yoonjae’s point of view, it seemed that he was the biggest victim of this incident.

 

‘Why does this person like me so much that he’s holding on?’

 

Eunho’s face flushed with shame, and he rubbed his face dry before turning his head.

 

“Executive Director.”

 

“Why are you calling me so seriously, it’s scary.”

 

He wanted to lead the atmosphere seriously, but he was already smiling softly and pleasantly.

 

“I forgot that it was working hours. I was short-sighted. I’m sorry.”

 

Despite the fact that it was an answer that he had thought about several times, Yoonjae’s lips twitched differently from the serious Eunho.

 

‘Ah, really, can’t you just go along with the atmosphere? I shouldn’t have said it.’

 

As Eunho frowned, Yoonjae, who read the cold atmosphere, looked down at Eunho as if checking the side mirror.

 

“If you’re sorry, try to erase that thought while you’re here.”

 

Yoonjae firmly believed that if he made things go wrong one by one, Eunho’s fate would change. Since a new boyfriend had already visited Hyunjun’s rut day instead of Eunho, wasn’t it possible that things were going wrong one by one?

 

The cracks start very subtly and swell over time. If Eunho’s case slowly widens by finding a subtle gap, the result will be completely different. Yoonjae pressed his stiff eyelids with his fingers and focused on driving.

 

Somehow, they arrived at the hotel, unpacked, and finished their meal, but the awkward relationship showed no signs of improving even at night. Eunho, who had given up on booking a flight ticket, emptied his mind but often moved separately without mixing words as if protesting. Eunho checked the work schedule for next week, saying that he was clearing his distractions, and sat at the table and typed as if to show off.

 

Tap tap.

 

The dry and hard typing sound crossed the space and pierced Yoonjae’s ears.

 

“I told you we didn’t come to work.”

 

“……Then I’ll check the courses worth visiting tomorrow afternoon.”

 

He wasn’t firmly angry, but it was difficult to laugh it off. Eunho, who was upset, opened the portal screen and searched for tourist courses in a semi-resigned manner.

 

Is he out of his mind, or has he gone too far? He doesn’t know why he often treats him lightly despite the clear superior-subordinate relationship. Maybe Yoonjae is feeling it too, but he understands and passes it every time, so Eunho keeps crossing the level of risk in his duties as a secretary.

 

“Let’s go outside for now.”

 

Judging from the fact that he didn’t take out the car keys, Yoonjae seemed to want a nearby walk. Eunho pressed the laptop’s shutdown button and got up from his seat.

 

“The cherry blossoms are already falling here.”

 

Cherry blossoms were in full bloom along the forest path that was neatly created in the hotel’s backyard. White petals fluttering in the gentle spring breeze brushed his shoulders and fell quickly. Eunho held out his palm, intending to catch the petals, and Yoonjae silently watched Eunho’s actions and walked with his hands behind his back.

 

“Are you feeling better?”

 

At his languid voice, Eunho turned his head and stopped quietly. There was not even a small smile on his desolate expression. In fact, Yoonjae could tell without looking at Eunho’s expression. His overflowing pheromones were close to odorless, let alone sweet.

 

“You’re still not feeling better.”

 

“……I don’t even know my own heart.”

 

The sense of betrayal that he was plotting with his lover was strangling Eunho’s neck. If Hyunjun was an ordinary office worker, he would have told him to break up right away, but it’s not easy to cut off a third-year student who is about to take the exam. It’s because he naturally hates fighting and lives in a vague way that good things are good, but he knew very well that this was also an excuse.

 

“I know your heart is complicated. But…”

 

“……”

 

“I don’t know why you’re blaming yourself so much when you’re not even married.”

 

Yoonjae encouraged Eunho. As if he was wasting time on something trivial. Every time he took out the story logically and without emotion, Eunho was shaken as well.

 

“I know you’ve been dating for a long time, but I can tell you one thing for sure.”

 

“Executive Director.”

 

“Eunho, you’re too good.”

 

“……”

 

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Ethical responsibility? That could be an unnecessary consideration.”

 

Eunho’s long sigh, as if the ground was sinking, scattered with the petals. Eunho was pathetic to himself for being in the same place like a repeat for a month. He also wondered if he should just end it without using the exam as an excuse, as Yoonjae said. Honestly, since Hyunjun became a student, he has been more of a financier than a lover.

 

There was a fairly large stone under Eunho’s feet, so he tried to push it out with his shoes, but when it didn’t work, he picked it up with his hands and threw it into the nearby bushes. It was his own consideration so that other people passing by would not trip over the stone. Eunho was always like that. He always took care of others first, even if he was a little troubled.

 

The lights of the wide electronic display board in the building opposite the hotel were reflected and the floor was shining. When he raised his head to the light, short news was flowing out between the Jeju Island promotional videos. It was the fire accident that was plastered on the first screen of the portal.

 

『Sejin Container Factory Fire Under Control for 20 Hours. Fortunately, there are no deaths』

 

Perhaps because of the dry spring weather, there were more fires these days. Just as he was about to turn his head without thinking, Yoonjae muttered to himself as if he was looking at the electronic display board.

 

“There is… the security guard.”

 

Security guard?

 

Eunho was about to ask what the meaning of the words that popped out without context was, but he turned off his attention. It wasn’t something he was supposed to hear, and it didn’t seem good to interfere with what he was muttering to himself.

 

When they walked the cherry blossom path for nearly an hour and returned to the hotel, they were very hungry. The sound of his stomach rumbling loudly in the elevator made Eunho’s face turn red. As soon as Yoonjae entered the room, he opened the menu and ordered room service. The atmosphere, which had been subdued all along, was changed by the sound of the stomach alarm.

 

『Sejin Container Factory Fire Under Control for 22 Hours. Deaths Occurred』

 

He took a shower and came out to the living room and turned on the TV without thinking, and a news article about the fire came out as breaking news. More than 100 firefighters were deployed to the fire that had not been extinguished all day, but the situation was not improving. Among the recent forest fires, this was the first fire that was not caught like this.

 

Is it because it’s a large factory? Just as Eunho was thinking, the announcer’s comment continued. Eunho was surprised and almost dropped the remote control he was holding.

 

『The deceased is identified as Mr. Jo, a security guard at the container factory. He was initially reported missing during the fire but was discovered on the second floor of the building, and his body is currently being processed…』

 

“Executive Director!”

 

Yoonjae, who had just finished showering, approached, drying his hair with a towel at Eunho’s urgent cry. Before he could ask what was wrong, Eunho’s gaze darted towards the TV, and Yoonjae’s eyes followed naturally.

 

“The container factory fire. Do you remember what you said when we were looking at the electronic billboard on the outer wall during our walk?”

 

“……”

 

“I clearly heard that it was a security guard. But…”

 

He hadn’t considered that Eunho might have heard that, and he froze like a paused video. After a moment, he slowly bit his lower lip and looked down at Eunho.

 

“Do you perhaps have precognitive abilities?”