* * *
“Ah… I’ve got to go. Bye.”
He immediately ended the call, startled.
“Hyung, when did you get here?”
“Just now.”
“I went to the room to find you, but you weren’t there. The lady woke up, so I explained things briefly and came down to look for you. Then I got a call, so…”
Judging by his evasive gaze, it was clear he wouldn’t say who the call was with.
“Fine. You can go now.”
“What about you, hyung?”
“I’m leaving too. Our directions are different anyway. I just didn’t want to leave without saying anything.”
If it hadn’t been for the incident at the wine bar, he would have just left like he did last time, leaving a text message.
“Hyung, let’s go together. You look really tired; I’ll take you home.”
“No, it’s late anyway.”
It was already past ten at night. And besides…
‘…This packet.’
Thinking about the suppressants he had reluctantly taken with him made him sigh.
If it were up to him, he’d throw it into the nearest trash can.
“Then at least let me walk you to the bus stop.”
“Fine, let’s go.”
Junhee led the way out, with Siwon trailing behind.
They exited through the side door, cutting across the outdoor parking lot.
Siwon kept glancing around nervously.
“What’s wrong? Looking for something?”
“No, nothing. Why would I be looking for something?”
His flustered response was suspicious.
“Then stop fidgeting. It’s annoying.”
“…Okay.”
Siwon fell quiet, following him like a puppy with its tail between its legs.
Just as they were about to leave the parking lot, a car screeched to a halt in front of them.
The blinding headlights made Junhee squint.
The car didn’t move but remained parked, its lights fixed on them, making Junhee uneasy.
“What’s with this car?”
“Hyung! I’ll go first! I’ll call you later!”
Siwon suddenly bolted.
Siwon abruptly bolted away like a fugitive caught by the police.
“……”
Suppressing the irritation that surged from the baffling situation, Junhee noticed a familiar, audacious car rolling up slowly beside him.
The driver’s side window slid down, revealing a face he knew all too well.
“Junhee, long time no see.”
It was Moon Doyoung, his once long hair now cropped short.
The yellow light on the traffic signal blinked intermittently.
Junhee couldn’t refuse Moon Doyoung’s offer to give him a ride, primarily because his earlier words still lingered in his mind.
“Moon Doyoung said he wanted to quit the membership all of a sudden,” the director had mentioned.
Junhee had been delaying reaching out to him under various pretexts, despite initially promising to contact his first.
As he mulled over how to broach the topic, Doyoung broke the silence beside him.
“Junhee, how have you been?”
“…Fine. You cut your hair.”
“Yeah, it’s getting warmer. This is the first time I’ve had it this short since my school days. Not bad, right?”
“It suits you well.”
“I know, but compliments never get old, do they?”
Doyoung seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood, contrary to the concerns Junhee had harbored about his rumored hysteria.
“I heard from the director that you’re quitting the membership.”
“Yep. I made a promise to you, remember? I’m someone who keeps promises. What, did you think I’d cling on longer?”
“…No. I thought it might have been because of what happened that day. I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for. I can be a bit insufferable sometimes, can’t I?”
Doyoung laughed lightly, leaving Junhee bewildered.
…Did he eat something bad?
For the first time, Junhee genuinely worried if something was wrong with her.
“I also heard you’ve switched teams, Junhee. Honestly, someone like me can’t work with anyone but someone as competent as you. Without you, I don’t see the point in adjusting to another manager.”
Though Junhee didn’t know who was feeding his information, it was clear he had his sources.
And somehow, his overall demeanor felt different—more composed, less prickly.
‘Is it because of his haircut? Or maybe he’s just more at ease now?’
After a brief silence, Junhee cautiously asked, “Are you… dating someone?”
“What?”
Doyoung burst into laughter, giving him a sidelong glance before adjusting his grip on the steering wheel.
“Ah, is it that obvious? Is it written all over my face?”
“It’s just… you seem a bit more mellow.”
Junhee’s instincts were spot on.
It wasn’t hard to guess, especially after realizing that Siwon had been hiding something from him—and that the person Siwon referred to as ‘hyung’ was actually Doyoung.
“It’s not dating, per se. I’m the one chasing after them.”
“…You? Chasing after someone?”
“Yeah, even at my age. It’s ridiculous, right? But they’re cute. It’s been ages since I’ve felt this drawn to someone. Honestly, it’s better than wasting time on pointless matchmaking.”
Junhee’s gaze lingered on the earrings that glimmered near Doyoung’s cropped hair.
“And drop the whole ‘member’ thing. I quit, and I’m not coming back. Just call me comfortably. You can even use informal speech.”
“Using informal speech feels more awkward…”
“You’re surprisingly blunt when it comes to these things, you know?”
Humming cheerfully, Doyoung seemed to have shed his baggage and started anew.
He acted as if he had cut off the past—like his long hair—and was moving forward with a lighter heart.
Perhaps that was for the best.
It wasn’t as if Ki Taeryu had ever considered his as a viable option.
As cruel as it sounded, the term ‘commodity’ fit perfectly.
Ki Taeryu wanted something—or someone—that wasn’t Moon Doyoung.
“By the way, Junhee.”
“Yes?”
“You and him… are you close?”
“……”
Even without clarification, it was clear he was referring to Yoonjae.
“You know, don’t get too close. He’s not exactly the saint he seems to be.”
Junhee kept his gaze down, offering no response.
“I mean, I’m a handful, sure, but I’m not two-faced. Yoonjae, though, he hasn’t changed since college—still cunning.”
Junhee let Doyoung’s words slide in one ear and out the other, focusing instead on the scenery outside the window.
“There was even talk back in school. Yoonjae’s roommate, who used to stick to him like glue, suddenly took a leave of absence… But anyway, what’s the point of bringing it up now?”
Doyoung flipped on the hazard lights and pulled over to the side of the quiet road.
“Is this where you wanted to stop? Should I drive a bit further?”
“No, this is fine. Thank you for the ride.”
“Let’s grab a meal sometime, Junhee. Maybe with Siwon, too. Who knows, by then, he might even be my partner.”
Whether or not he succeeded, his determined demeanor seemed far better than his previous indecisiveness.
Everyone grows in their own way, it seems.
Junhee stepped out, offering one last polite farewell.
“Take care.”
As his car sped off, a white hand popped out of the window, fingers waving lightly.
Looking at him, Junhee couldn’t bring himself to hate him.
‘Siwon might have a rough time, though.’
But that was Siwon’s burden to bear.
Junhee decided to cheer him on from afar.
Ultimately, he found himself here.
It was a ten-minute walk from where Doyoung had dropped him off.
Standing before the towering hotel, Junhee took out his phone.
The call connected in less than three seconds.
“Hello.”
“…I’m sorry for calling so late.”
“It’s fine. What is it, Yoo Junhee?”
Yeo Daeyun’s voice was curt yet softer than expected.
Junhee resisted the urge to thank him for answering and instead got straight to the point, knowing it would minimize inconvenience.
“I have the medication you asked Dr. Kim to prepare for the director. I’m outside the hotel. If it’s alright, could you have Secretary Yeo retrieve it for him?”
“…Ah.”
The curt response left Junhee unsure whether it was affirmative or negative.
Judging by how the person on the other end wasn’t asking who “Dr.. Kim” was or what kind of “medicine” it was, it seemed Yeo Daeyun already knew everything.
“Well, it’s not like the almighty Ki Taeryu would just put anyone in charge as his secretary-general.”
Without pushing further, Junhee switched his phone to the other ear and waited for a reply, his gaze fixed on the glass doors of the lobby, so pristine they seemed to sparkle.
Finally, a response came through.
— I’m currently on a business trip quite far away. I’m terribly sorry, but could you deliver it to the room directly?
“Then perhaps I could entrust it to someone else…”
— If the director finds out, it will be a huge problem.
Whether it became a problem or not, nothing could be a bigger issue for Junhee right now than meeting Ki Taeryu in person.
He had gone to great lengths to avoid encounters, ignoring calls and dodging contact.
Although he could rattle off dozens of reasons why he couldn’t deliver it himself, he settled on one that seemed most likely to work.
“To enter the director’s room, wouldn’t I need a security key?”
— I’ll make sure the hotel staff has it ready for you.
“In that case, I’ll leave it with the staff so the director can pick it up himself…”
— The director isn’t currently at the hotel either.
Ki Taeryu isn’t at the hotel right now?
* * *
