* * *
The words “throw it away” almost spilled out of his mouth, but the bread wasn’t at fault.
In the end, he swallowed his sigh and forced a casual tone.
“I just bought a few while I was on a business trip because they looked good. You should eat some too, mom. Don’t give them all to the kids—you like the ones with red bean paste, don’t you?”
- Oh my, you remembered that? But, no, I didn’t call to talk about the bread… Oh, Bodam!
Suddenly, the director’s voice faded, and another voice took over.
- Hyung! Is that really Jooni hyung?!
“Yeah, it’s me, Bodam. Are you enjoying the bread?”
- Hyung, the bread is sooo good. When are you coming again?
“I’ll come see you once I finish my work. Be good and listen to mom, okay?”
- Will it be in ten nights? Or… twenty?
Bodam always needed a specific promise to feel reassured.
Like most children in orphanages, Bodam was overly sensitive about promises.
“I’ll come before ten nights.”
- Okay!
Only then did the director come back on the line.
- Junhee, it’s not just the bread. What are those expensive things you sent? Did something happen to you?
“What are you talking about?”
Junhee’s brow furrowed in unease.
- You know, those things… What do they call them? Tablets, or something. Those expensive gadgets. There weren’t just one or two of them. The kids got all excited when they saw them, and I barely managed to put them away.
“Tablets? I never sent anything like that…”
Junhee’s gaze fell on the plastic brace wrapped around his wrist.
“Mom, who brought them to you?”
- Well, they were people I’ve never seen before… They were just wearing suits, and they left right after mentioning your name. I didn’t even think to ask more. Something’s wrong, isn’t it? Those things look like they cost at least a million won each.
“…I’ll look into it and get back to you. Please don’t open anything and just store them somewhere safe.”
- Alright. But Junhee, are you sure you’re okay? You’re not sick or anything, are you?
“I’m fine, mom. Don’t worry about me. You should take care of your own health. Are you still taking the vitamins I sent you?”
- Of course, I take them every day. You know I wouldn’t miss them, since you gave them to me.
Her comforting voice soothed his heavy heart.
She was the only person who had ever melted away the resentment he’d harbored toward his birth parents.
Hanbit Orphanage was Junhee’s only sanctuary, and the director was his only protector.
Having been kicked out of that place overnight, it felt like he had lost both his home and family.
There had been a time when he considered doing something drastic, but now, that wasn’t even a thought.
‘Junhee, Junhee! Can we just talk for a second? Please, Junhee…!’
The person who abandoned him was nothing like the director.
“Mom, I can’t talk for long since I’m at work.”
- Right, right. What was I thinking? I know how busy you are, but I couldn’t help worrying. Don’t skip meals, don’t drink too much, and always keep your feet warm when you sleep.
“…Mom, do you still think I’m a kid?”
- What are you talking about? Of course you’re a kid! No matter how old you get, you’ll always be a baby to me, even if you turn sixty.
“Alright, I’ll take care of myself, so don’t overdo it either. And go to the hospital if you’re feeling unwell.”
- I will. I have to stay healthy if I want to be around for you and the others for a long time.
Even after the call ended, Junhee stared at the phone for a while.
He couldn’t figure out why he had gone out of his way to deliver the bread to both the office and the orphanage.
Junhee hadn’t asked for it. He certainly hadn’t begged for any pity.
It wasn’t like he was the type to be overflowing with kindness and unable to just walk away.
So why?
Why had he done it, and why was he meddling now, with Kang Heesung’s business and everything else?
‘Is this a threat?’
Maybe it was a way of saying, “I know where all your people are, so don’t think about running.”
That last guess seemed the most plausible.
“Ha… What a crazy bastard.”
Junhee’s life had become exhausting again, entangled with someone he should never have gotten involved with.
That’s enough whining for now.
Slap! He lightly patted his cheek.
He stopped his right hand just in time, almost hitting his casted arm.
Junhee opened the door of the meeting room and returned to his desk.
“Assistant Yoo, is something wrong? You don’t look too good.”
Jiyeon quickly approached him, as if she’d been waiting for a chance.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Anyway, thanks for the bread! It was so delicious. Oh, and I saved a piece just for you. Eat it while you work, okay? Fighting!”
Jiyeon placed a plate of sliced bread and a fork on his desk before hurrying back to her seat.
If they knew he was an Omega, would his team still treat him so kindly?
After all these years of hiding it, would they accept him, knowing he had deceived them all this time, possibly even taking someone else’s place?
‘No way.’
Junhee discreetly pulled out his spare phone after making sure no one was around.
Like his tangled emotions, today the icon looked more knotted and jumbled than usual.
He tapped it. Nothing happened.
Suddenly, a sinking feeling washed over him.
His hand trembled as he tapped it again.
Twice.
Three times.
Was it finally broken?
Would it disappear forever?
If he could never use it again, there’d be no way to… not even Ki Taeryu… no one…
‼Update match_with_v.1.12 now‼
For optimal use, please update to the latest version.
The notification calmed his racing heart just a little.
Feeling his heart pounding wildly, he clicked the confirm button.
After a moment, the icon’s color shifted.
Previously almost gray, it now had a faint reddish tint.
Updating… 3%
3%, 5%, 10%…
As the numbers slowly climbed, he swallowed nervously.
He didn’t take his eyes off it, anxiously waiting until it finally hit 100%.
When the update was complete, the number next to it also ticked up one.
Junhee quickly tapped on the icon.
‼Ver.1.13 Update Info‼
- The app icon has been updated.
- A password setup feature for privacy protection has been added.
- A “strong recommendation” feature will activate once a week.
- UI improvements have been made.
- Other bug fixes.
‘…What?’
Junhee blinked rapidly.
Never before had he received such detailed and friendly update information.
And what’s this about “strong recommendation”?
What on earth is that?
He didn’t know, but one thing was clear—something significant had changed.
His hands trembled slightly as he clumsily closed the update window.
Bzzz-bzzz
Startled by the sudden vibration, he accidentally tossed his phone.
Luckily, it hit a binder on the edge of the desk and didn’t fall to the floor.
After calming his surprised heart, he answered the call.
“…Hello.”
- Hyung! Who have you been talking to for so long? Your line was busy forever.
Siwon’s voice, full of frustration, practically shouted through the speaker.
A cynical tone slipped out of Junhee.
“What’s it to you? Why, did you call about the bread I sent? Yeah, that was from me. Just enjoy it if you’ve received it…”
- Bread? What bread?
“…You didn’t get any?”
That’s strange.
He had delivered it to both the office and the orphanage, so he assumed Siwon would’ve received some too.
After all, wasn’t Siwon also acquainted with Ki Taeryu?
- What are you talking about? Do you want bread? Should I buy some for you?
“No, it’s nothing. So why did you call? It’s not like you to call at this hour.”
Lately, it seemed like a lot of people were looking for Junhee.
- Wow… I knew it. You forgot again, didn’t you? How could you? I’ve been waiting all day for this…
“What? What’s today?”
Though he’d been overwhelmed recently, he’d marked all important dates in his schedule, so there’s no way he could’ve…
- We were supposed to have meat together.
“Ah…”
He had completely forgotten.
They had made the plan over the weekend.
He remembered now that when Siwon had called again two days ago, Junhee had been on a business trip and promised to have dinner together when he returned.
“Sorry, Siwon. I’ve just been so busy lately. How about the day after tomorrow instead?”
Siwon took a long time to respond.
* * *
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