ACTSV chapter 42

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Soohyuk stared at Jingyeom’s tired face.

Though he didn’t look healthy, he seemed to have been eating better recently, as his complexion had improved.

Despite this, Soohyuk hadn’t expected him to suggest going their separate ways right after meeting.

Jingyeom seemed to have forgotten he came because he couldn’t reach him.

“I’ll give you a ride.”

“No, it’s fine. The bus stop is close.”

“Let’s talk on the way. We haven’t seen each other in a while, isn’t it a bit cold to just part ways?”

Reluctantly, Jingyeom got into the passenger seat of Soohyuk’s car again.

This time, the GPS destination was accurate.

“I brush my teeth well too.”

“What?”

“Three times a day. Without fail.”

Why mention brushing teeth out of the blue?

Jingyeom didn’t know how to respond, so he hesitated before speaking.

“Good… job?”

“What?”

Soohyuk suddenly burst into laughter.

It was a refreshing laugh that could make anyone around him smile.

Jingyeom was surprised to see him laugh like that.

A person who usually only smiled now laughed out loud. It felt odd, like seeing a new side of him.

But Jingyeom hadn’t intended to make him laugh with the compliment.

Maybe it wasn’t right, but whatever.

Jingyeom started to laugh too, though not out loud, but his cheeks lifted with a wide smile.

Then, with a comment full of humor, Soohyuk’s expression hardened and he scrunched his nose.

“Toothpaste. I could have bought it for you.”

“They don’t sell it!”

He really was just like a friend, teasing and joking.

He tried to forget about it, but Soohyuk’s reminder brought it back to his mind.

He muttered to himself, still slightly annoyed.

Then a question popped into his mind.

“…Did Director Tak start a multi-level marketing scheme?”

Jingyeom asked cautiously, lowering his voice, having been fuming moments ago.

Soohyuk’s laughter gradually subsided.

“Why do you ask?”

Soohyuk asked in a flat tone.

If he hadn’t gone to Cheongoh’s office, he wouldn’t have known anything about it.

None of the three had any obligation to tell him about it. Still, he felt left out.

Such interesting things to experience… multi-level marketing, of all things.

When Soohyuk clicked his tongue in disappointment, Jingyeom misunderstood.

“He did? He finally did it? I told him not to…!”

It seemed Director Tak had fallen into the MLM scheme.

Jingyeom vividly remembered seeing 50 million won deposited right then and there.

Jingyeom’s imagination ran wild, whispering to himself, “This is bad… This isn’t right…”

At a red light, Soohyuk bent his finger and flicked Jingyeom’s cheek.

“Stop thinking about Director Tak when you’re with me, okay?”

“But it’s not an MLM scheme, right? We’re friends. You should have stopped him. Don’t tell me… you’re involved too?”

“What do you think of me?”

“I didn’t think Director Tak would fall for it either!”

Soohyuk seriously wondered.

Could it be that Jingyeom’s brain had fewer wrinkles?

What kind of thinking would make him believe that he and Wonbeom would fall for an MLM scheme?

‘Well… he doesn’t remember, so he knows nothing about us.’

Maybe Jingyeom’s reaction was natural given the circumstances.

Through Cheongoh, Soohyuk had a brief idea of what had happened when the three went together.

‘We deposited it immediately. So it must have seemed that way.’

But he didn’t like being lumped in with those who weren’t there.

Soohyuk, smiling sweetly, shifted his bent finger sideways and pinched Jingyeom’s cheek softly with his thumb.

When Jingyeom blinked quickly, Soohyuk pulled his cheek sideways.

As it stretched, his lips followed suit.

“…Ow?”

“Are you young…?”

There was no visible baby fat, but the skin was soft and pliable.

When the light changed, Soohyuk let go and grabbed the wheel again.

Jingyeom, who had no idea why his cheek was pinched, rubbed the stinging spot with his palm.

It wasn’t a gentle pinch; it left a lingering sensation.

Soohyuk wasn’t just giving him a ride home.

He retrieved the many shopping bags from the trunk, one of the reasons he came today.

He hadn’t touched them since they were forcibly returned.

“These…”

“Didn’t you think about my feelings when I got them back through Secretary Baek?”

“But they’re too expensive. I feel uncomfortable accepting them.”

“You accepted them well before.”

“I told you to take them back, but you just left!”

Jingyeom didn’t know why he kept making excuses today, but this time he genuinely felt wronged.

He had locked the door and barely opened the window to return them.

“When someone gives you something, just say ‘thank you’ and accept it.”

“They’re too expensive…”

“If these are the only things that catch my eye, what can I do? You should raise your standards a bit.”

What did that mean?

Jingyeom looked up in disbelief, and Soohyuk chuckled.

“Why, should I look up for you?”

“I’m not accepting them.”

“Why? Did Secretary Baek tell you not to?”

“I feel burdened by this. I have nothing to offer in return.”

Jingyeom, who believed in reciprocating gifts of equal value, did not want to accept expensive items.

Of course, he could always happily accept gifts given with genuine consideration.

However, this only applied when the gifts were within reasonable limits.

The shopping bags in Soohyuk’s hands were far too burdensome.

“If it makes you that uncomfortable, just accept this one.”

Soohyuk put the other shopping bags back into the trunk and held out one.

The brand name on the shopping bag was from the store where Jingyeom had promised to buy Jinwoo a suit later.

This meant that the contents of the shopping bag were likely a beige suit.

“This doesn’t fit me. It’s been too long to exchange it now.”

“It’s still expensive.”

“Maybe to you, but not to me. Can’t you just wear it considering the effort I put in to bring it back? I won’t ask you to take the other things.”

“Really?”

Receiving the suit was still quite burdensome.

More than anything, Jinwoo probably wouldn’t like that Soohyuk had brought back the item Jingyeom had returned.

As Jingyeom hesitated, Soohyuk forced the bag into his hands.

“I’m not busy anymore, so I have plenty of time. Can I come to the cafe every day?”

“You’re not busy? Jinwoo has been so busy he’s working overtime every day…”

“We do different things. I was busy too, which is why I couldn’t…”

Soohyuk hurriedly stopped speaking, knowing that continuing would only upset Jingyeom.

“Anyway, wear it the next time you meet me. No, I’ll come to pick you up. Wear it then.”

“When?”

“Whenever. Contact me if you want to see me.”

“…”

“You’re so cold. Can’t you at least pretend to agree?”

Soohyuk tugged at Jingyeom’s cheek again.

It was funny how he’d never pinched anyone else’s cheek like this, even when they were chubbier.

Yet he felt compelled to touch Jingyeom’s cheeks repeatedly.

“Get going. Your legs are shaking. Want me to carry you up the stairs?”

“No, thanks!”

Jingyeom pushed away Soohyuk’s large hand from his cheek.

He wanted to shove it off forcefully but held back since Soohyuk was his senior.

Still, he didn’t forget to bow his head in thanks before going upstairs.

“Thank you for bringing me home. I don’t know when you’ll contact me, but I’ll keep the suit safe until then!”

The sound of Jingyeom’s footsteps as he went up was different from usual, filled with energy.

However, out of consideration for the neighbors, he climbed the stone stairs energetically but tread carefully on the metal stairs leading to his rooftop room.

Soohyuk found the sight amusing and endearing, a subtle smile spreading on his face.

Once Jingyeom got home, he promptly informed Jinwoo of the suit and the whole situation with a photo.

Photo

4:53 PM

I didn’t ask for it, he just gave it to me!

Jinwoo: Him? Director Sun?

4:53 PM

Emoji drawing an “OK” with hand

4:54 PM

Me: He came to the cafe today!

Before Jingyeom could send more messages, Jinwoo called him, and he quickly answered.

“Can you talk now?”

— Yeah, it’s fine. Director Sun came to the cafe?

“I asked how he knew where I worked, and he said he had his sources. By the way, I never blocked his number, but it was blocked.”

— …Really?

Jingyeom wanted to mention that Soohyuk knew about the multi-level marketing scheme but stopped when he sensed Jinwoo’s voice had lowered.

He worried that something might have happened at the office, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

“Are you working late again today?”

— No, I’m done being busy. You said you wanted buchujeon (Chive pancakes), right? I’ll bring some on my way home.

After hanging up, Jinwoo stared at his phone, now reflecting his face in black.

“He found his way here after all.”

On the day he had gone to the department store with Soohyuk, Jinwoo had blocked both Soohyuk and Director Tak’s numbers while Jingyeom was asleep, ensuring there was no way for them to contact him.

Since the multi-level marketing incident, Director Tak had been busy with company affairs and had been quiet, and Director Sun had been overseas on a business trip, giving Jinwoo some peace of mind.

But it seemed he had come straight to find them as soon as he returned.

Jinwoo gritted his teeth, his jawline becoming more defined.

After staring at his phone for a while, he muttered to himself.

“What kind of nonsense is this…”

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