* * *
The landlord, who had lived in the house for a long time, had no intention of selling it.
However, under Soohyuk’s persistent financial pressure, the landlord eventually signed the real estate contract.
It wasn’t just about the money—what really tipped the scales was the condition that the landlord could stay in the house as a tenant even after the sale.
The same offer applied to the other tenants, which made the decision easier.
News of the ownership change also reached Jingyeom.
Along with it came a notice that, unlike the other tenants who could remain, the rooftop needed to be vacated by the end of the month for renovations.
Legally speaking, Jingyeom could invoke tenant rights, but he wasn’t familiar with such matters.
Moreover, Jinwoo encouraged him to move into Soohyuk’s house, and Soohyuk himself actively persuaded him.
Though the timing felt suspiciously convenient, Jingyeom couldn’t find any evidence to prove it.
In the end, he decided to move into Soohyuk’s house without much resistance.
Sitting in a café and chatting with Soohyuk, Jingyeom grumbled with a face full of skepticism.
“Seriously, isn’t it strange? The landlord even suggested renewing the lease last time, but now suddenly he’s sold the place? Could there be some real estate speculation going on? No, that wouldn’t make sense—they wouldn’t just kick us out if that were the case.”
“The new owner said they’re using the rooftop themselves. There’s nothing you can do about it.”
“…‘Nothing you can do,’ huh? Hyung, you’re smiling right now.”
Soohyuk tried to suppress it, but his amusement must have been obvious.
Just seeing Jingyeom’s face made him smile, but today’s topic of conversation made him even happier.
Soohyuk used his fingers to pull down the corners of his mouth.
“What can I do if I’m happy? We’re finally living together. Do you know how hard it’s been to see my boyfriend’s face?”
“I told you to wait until Jinwoo leaves. It’s not long now.”
Despite Jingyeom’s grumbling tone, Soohyuk continued smiling.
Watching him with a pout, Jingyeom eventually slumped forward, resting his cheek on the table.
It really was less than a week now.
He hadn’t realized how quickly preparations for studying abroad could be completed until now.
And yet, even though it was called “studying abroad,” Jinwoo wasn’t going to school.
Instead, he’d be working at a place Soohyuk introduced, and if he felt like it, he’d take language courses and combine them with work.
Jingyeom couldn’t wrap his head around this plan.
Studying abroad?
That’s not studying abroad—it’s basically a working holiday!
Time, indifferent to Jingyeom’s reluctance, passed relentlessly.
Before he knew it, he was at the airport, facing a face he hadn’t seen in ages.
Jingyeom clung close to Soohyuk, startled.
He wasn’t scared, but seeing Wonbeom again after so long made him instinctively shrink back.
Noticing Jingyeom hiding behind him, Soohyuk smirked.
Knowing Jingyeom had chosen him over Jinwoo and Wonbeom made his chest swell with pride.
He tilted his chin toward Wonbeom as if to taunt him, but Wonbeom’s expression didn’t change.
His gaze remained fixed on Jingyeom, just as it always had.
“You look well. Seems like you’re doing fine.”
“…You too, hyung.”
“Really?”
Wonbeom stroked his chin slowly.
“I haven’t been doing great, actually. But since I was going to see you today, I cleaned myself up a bit.”
“You look exactly the same as usual. Back up, though—you’re way too close.”
As Wonbeom leaned in, Jingyeom pushed him away slightly, finally creating some distance.
Watching from afar, Jinwoo sighed as if he’d seen this scene too many times.
He grabbed Jingyeom’s arm.
“Let’s go.”
“Huh? What about you guys?”
“They’ll catch up on their own. You’re here to send me off, aren’t you?”
“…Right.”
The surprise of seeing Wonbeom had already faded, leaving Jingyeom looking sullen.
Until last night, it hadn’t felt real that Jinwoo was leaving.
Even during the drive to the airport in Soohyuk’s car, it hadn’t sunk in.
Even now, it felt like Jinwoo would just come back home with him.
“Don’t look so down already.”
“…”
“I’m not leaving forever. It’s just a few years apart.”
Jingyeom looked up at Jinwoo with teary eyes. Jinwoo had clearly changed.
He used to hate being apart for even a few days, but now he’d decided to study abroad on his own and talked about being gone for years like it was nothing.
It was a change Jingyeom should have welcomed, but it left him feeling unexpectedly bitter.
Was he the only one who felt sad about this?
Jinwoo’s expression was subdued, but he seemed far less affected than Jingyeom.
As the two brothers walked farther away, Wonbeom and Soohyuk finally began moving at a leisurely pace.
“You acted like you wouldn’t come, so why did you?”
“I thought this might be my last chance to see him.”
“You should’ve just stayed away. What if you end up with lingering regrets?”
“I’ll deal with my regrets on my own.”
“You’re so cold. This might really be the last time. Secretary Baek—no, not a secretary anymore. Baek Jinwoo’s gone, and I’m wrapping things up too.”
Wonbeom smirked faintly.
He already knew Soohyuk was preparing to leave the company as well.
Though he had wanted Soohyuk to stay, he understood.
Soohyuk had joined the company solely to help make Wonbeom chairman.
Now that the goal was achieved, it was time for Soohyuk to return to his own life.
In truth, he should have left sooner, but Wonbeom had asked him to stay a bit longer.
“Take a good look today. You won’t see me again.”
“Not even at that café with the pretty manager?”
“Don’t go there. You saw how startled Jingyeom was when he saw you earlier. Do you want to scare him every time? And I don’t like it.”
With a flick of his lips, Soohyuk strode forward and wedged himself between the two brothers.
He nudged Jinwoo aside and wrapped an arm around Jingyeom’s shoulder.
Watching the scene unfold, Wonbeom chuckled bitterly.
‘At least he looks happy. That’s what matters.’
It was true he had come to send Jinwoo off.
But it was also true he had come to see Jingyeom one last time.
He had never believed time would solve everything—not when the time they had left was so short.
He had simply wanted to see him again, even if it was just once.
“Guess I’ll head inside now.”
“Can’t you stay just a little longer?”
“I need to get inside and wait. There’s a line over there too.”
Between the immigration process and boarding, Jinwoo couldn’t afford to delay if he didn’t want to miss his flight.
“Chairman, thank you for everything. I’ll repay you someday.”
“No need. I never expected that.”
“Still.”
Wonbeom and Jinwoo exchanged their final goodbyes.
If Jinwoo returned to Korea someday, they might meet again, but until then, it was unlikely they’d keep in touch.
This time, Jinwoo turned to face Soohyuk.
His hands were still firmly holding Jingyeom’s.
“Hyung, I’m counting on you.”
“I’ll take good care of him. You can check in on us through my Stargram posts.”
“Please stop doing that. Our hyung’s hands are going to wear out.”
Soohyuk shrugged.
It was a fair point, considering his posts still consisted solely of photos of his hands, never his face.
“I’ll call you when I arrive.”
“You have to. I’ll be waiting.”
“Got it. Take care.”
Jinwoo gave Jingyeom a tight hug before letting go and slowly walking away.
Since they couldn’t go with him past the departure gates, Jingyeom stood behind the security line, eyes fixed on Jinwoo.
Soohyuk and Wonbeom stayed by his side, not leaving him alone.
When Jinwoo disappeared from view inside the terminal, Jingyeom finally broke down in tears.
He had been holding them back as much as possible, but now they flowed freely.
He pressed his hands over his eyes, letting out muffled sobs.
Even though Jinwoo wasn’t moving abroad forever, and staying in touch wouldn’t be impossible, the thought of Jinwoo no longer being by his side felt unbearably painful.
The harsh reality of not being able to see Jinwoo for years hit him like a storm.
He already missed Jinwoo terribly.
Soohyuk, prepared for this moment, pulled out a handkerchief and gently moved Jingyeom’s hands aside to dab at his tears.
“Sniff… hic!”
“Let’s go now.”
Even as people passing by stole glances or stopped to watch, Jingyeom didn’t seem to notice any of it.
The only thing he could feel was the weight of the fact that Jinwoo was truly gone.
Wonbeom, who had been staring at the spot where Jinwoo disappeared, turned his gaze to the sobbing Jingyeom.
“Would he cry like that if I left?”
He knew the answer was no, but he couldn’t help imagining it for a moment.
Watching Jingyeom being led away by Soohyuk, Wonbeom lingered for a moment before finally leaving the airport himself.
* * *
