Vol 1 Ch 8

A flashy printed vest and a red bow tie. The waiter, reaching the end room of the hallway a few steps ahead of Yeonho, knocked politely. But all that flowed out from beyond the thick door was the sound of a karaoke machine; there was no invitation to enter.

 

The waiter raised his fist again. Yeonho, stopping him, told him to go and pushed the door open instead of knocking.

 

Walls finished in purple velvet and a huge sofa stretched out in a D-shape. Various snacks and half-empty bottles of alcohol were scattered on the marble table. In the middle of it all, singing his lungs out, was none other than Seungwon.

 

‘He’s here too. Poor working stiff…’

 

Just as his face twisted at the sight of him openly acting as a drinking buddy, just as he had said, Seungwon discovered Yeonho.

 

“You’re here?”

 

The microphone emitted a sharp screech as he greeted him with the same volume he’d been belting out. Yeonho, without further ado, found the remote and turned off the machine. As the echo that had been reverberating around the room subsided, Seungwon poured out a disgruntled voice.

 

“Ah, why? It was just the climax.”

 

Judging by what he was saying, he didn’t seem to deserve any pity at all. It looked like he’d been having a great time?

 

Yeonho was about to say something, dumbfounded.

 

“You came. You’re here earlier than I thought.”

 

From the other side of the sofa, someone greeted Yeonho once more with an unceremonious tone.

 

He hadn’t been able to make out the person’s face until now because he’d been flirting with a woman. Yeonho’s eyes quickly turned to the man at the familiar voice. And then, this time, his brow openly furrowed.

 

It was the son of Jeil Corporation, raising his glass to Yeonho as if to show off. He was the second son of the food manufacturer that mainly dealt with dairy products, and Yeonho knew him quite well.

 

“Don’t tell me he’s the one who wanted to see me?”

 

Ignoring the man, Seokjun, who was acting like he knew him, Yeonho muttered to Seungwon. With a face still flushed with anger, Seungwon nodded.

 

“Yeah. I heard you were classmates with Executive Director Yang? And in the same class for two years. I was surprised when he asked about you. If I’d known, I would have sent someone else from the set.”

 

No. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come here.

 

He chewed on his tongue at the clueless nonchalance, but the water had already been spilled. If Seungwon had met with an executive director from another company, it was obviously about a contract, and judging by the fact that he was entertaining him, the amount must be quite large.

 

I see. So that’s why he was singing so happily….

 

Yeonho, who had been chewing on his tongue, spat it out this time and reluctantly sat down in the empty seat.

 

“It’s been a while. Almost seven years since we last saw each other?”

 

As if he’d been waiting for it, Seokjun grinned and poured a new glass of alcohol, handing it over. He wanted to slap his hand away, but this is money, this is cash, he steeled himself.

 

“Yeah, I heard you went to study abroad… Executive Director?”

 

“My father was so insistent that I’m just pretending to be one. Oh, by the way, how are your sisters? Is your grandmother healthy?”

 

“Fine.”

 

“I see Seojin-noona at the forum once or twice, but how come you always skip it? You’ve completely cut off contact with the alumni association too.”

 

“…….”

 

“Oh, right. Come to think of it, do you remember Jinyoung? The class president when we were in our third year of high school. She’s getting married this time?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“But do you know who she’s marrying?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“Why, it’s Lee Minhee, who was the class president in the next class. They used to fight so much when they were in school. You never know what might happen in life, do you? It’s at the Cheongdam Wedding Hall the week after next, do you have time?”

 

“…I don’t know.”

 

“Ah, why do you keep saying ‘I don’t know’?”

 

“As you can see, I’m busy with work on location these days.”

 

“Pfft. Is that the best excuse you could come up with? You’re as aloof as ever, then and now.”

 

“…….”

 

“What, you don’t want to associate with lowly commoners like us?”

 

He’d been talking excitedly all by himself, but as if intentionally, the end of his sentence suddenly rose. The women who had been picking at the snacks paused at Seokjun’s words. They had been pushed to the back burner by the two men’s conversation, and now their eyes widened.

 

“What are you talking about? What do you mean by commoners all of a sudden?”

 

Yeonho’s eyes grew unpleasant at Seokjun’s all-too-obvious reaction, and the fact that he was clearly aiming for it. Pretending not to notice such an expression, Seokjun drawled, “Ah~,” and casually draped one arm over the back of the sofa.

 

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m a Morpher.”

 

“Oh my, really? I knew there was something different about your aura…. What’s your anima, Executive Director?”

 

The youngest-looking woman among them revealed a great deal of curiosity. Seokjun slowly stroked her shoulder with his fingertips and raised the corners of his lips once more.

 

“It’s ordinary. Just a wolf.”

 

“Wow. What’s ordinary about a wolf? That’s so cool!”

 

“It’s just a gray wolf, not a Gobi or Iberian. The Executive Director here is much more special than someone like me.”

 

“Special?”

 

“He’s a bird, of all things.”

 

At the abruptly cut-off words, Seokjun gestured towards Yeonho with his chin, and the women’s eyes all turned to Yeonho.

 

It was a well-known fact, even among the general public, that there were few avian Morphers. Above all, flying in the sky was one of humanity’s long-held desires. The women clapped their hands.

 

“Really? Are you really a bird?”

 

“I love parrots so much.”

 

It was as if they were sparrows themselves, chirping away without exception. The atmosphere that was created in an instant made Yeonho’s gaze, which had already been subdued, even colder.

 

By this point, Seungwon couldn’t help but notice that something was amiss. He looked back and forth between the two of them and hurriedly jumped in at the table.

 

“Okay, okay, it’s nice to have an alumni gathering after so long, but these glasses are empty. Executive Director, please accept a drink from me. Yeonho, you too.”

 

But his efforts were in vain. Both Seokjun’s and Yeonho’s glasses were still full. Seungwon, realizing his mistake, hesitated with the bottle in his hand. The women, not missing the opportunity, repeatedly sparkled their eyes.

 

“What’s his anima?”

 

“An eagle? Or a hawk?”

 

Those were the first things that came to mind when one thought of a bird that flew in the sky. The utterly stereotypical reaction was not even funny. However, Seokjun, smiling at the reaction that wasn’t even funny, tilted his head.

 

“Hey. You can’t compare him to those. He’s a species that’s much more helpful to humanity. Oh, right… it’s right in front of you right now?”

 

“Right in front of us…?”

 

The women, tilting their heads and repeating his words, followed Seokjun’s gaze. And before long, they found it.

 

The table was filled with various snacks. In the middle of it all was a ‘chicken’ salad.

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

The voices that had been chattering loudly stopped abruptly, and silence swept through the room all at once. After a few seconds of that.

 

“……Ah.”

 

Someone let out a short exclamation. It was closer to disappointment than admiration.

 

Well, after talking so much about eagles and hawks, it was just a chicken….

 

It was inevitable that it would be somewhat anticlimactic, even to the general public. Seokjun, pretending not to know, widened his eyes.

 

“What’s wrong with a chicken?”

 

So he really is… a chicken.

 

This was an outright confirmation. The woman who seemed to have the most experience among them hurriedly waved her hand.

 

“W, well, right. Chicken, it’s delicio……. No, it’s goo…d.”

 

“That’s what I’m saying. Even if it’s not a common wolf, it’s still a bird. Only birds and primates walk on two feet, don’t you think?”

 

Fu..Fuck. Is that even supposed to be comforting!

 

The excitement that had been there just a moment ago was nowhere to be found, and cold sweat dripped down Seungwon’s back each time Seokjun continued to speak.

 

Seokjun had happily called Yeonho, saying that he was friends with Do Yeonho from their company, that they were classmates, and that he hadn’t seen him in a long time…. Looking at it now, there was no mistake like this. Anyone could see that Seokjun was trying to mess with Yeonho.

 

‘Sorry…. Just kill me.’

 

Seungwon, biting his lips tightly, turned to Yeonho with a pale face. It was then. Yeonho, who had been expressionless all along, suddenly raised his lips.

 

And then, as if showing off his clinking glass of alcohol…

 

“Hyung, I told you to accept a drink, didn’t I?”

 

“Uh, uh?”

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

His hand, tilted to the fullest, began to empty the alcohol contained in the glass.

 

Not into his throat, but between the crotch of the swaggering Yang Seokjun.

 

“Oh my god!”

 

The women who had been next to Seokjun and had been harmed along with him screamed and leaned back. Even during that time, Yeonho poured every last drop of the remaining alcohol in the glass onto Seokjun’s pants.

 

Seokjun, who had been blankly opening his mouth at the crotch that had become soaked in an instant as if he had peed, belatedly widened his eyes.

 

“You, you bastard, what are you doing!”

 

The outburst of shouts was an added bonus. Yeonho, ignoring Seokjun, waved his hand around his nose as if to show off.

 

“Ah, now the musty smell is gone. There’s nothing like alcohol to get rid of bad smells, right?”

 

“What. What did you say?”

 

“And Seokjun-ah, you should stop barking so much. You’ve already blurted out everything about the dog fight, haven’t you?”

 

“Do Yeonho!”

 

Seokjun, his veins bulging blue, let out another shout. However, Yeonho, ignoring Seokjun, curled up the remaining lips towards Seungwon, who was out of his mind.

 

“What are you doing, aren’t you going to follow? My glass is empty now.”

 

Ah…… It’s a relief that I signed the contract first.

 

It wasn’t just wolves that were ferocious beasts. Even a rooster could be just as fierce.