ACTSV chapter 11

In the background of the two men was the blue sky. Being summer, it was still bright at five o’clock.

Yesterday, the sky was cloudy, but today it was filled with fluffy white clouds. The three men standing together against the soft white clouds looked like a painting.

Since it was the rooftop, there was no shade, and the hot summer sun was shining down on them.

The three men in suits were slightly frowning.

Soohyuk waved at Jingyeom, who was looking at him.

“Seeing you again today.”

“Hello.”

Jingyeom slightly bowed his head. Then, naturally, he looked at Wonbeom, but flinched and hid behind Jinwoo.

Wonbeom frowned at Jingyeom’s behavior, who immediately cowered and hid upon seeing him.

Although he had done nothing, Jingyeom had been scared since yesterday. It was understandable yesterday, but seeing him act the same today was perplexing.

Although it wasn’t the first time others were afraid of him, it felt strange for Baek Jingyeom, who wasn’t like that before, to react this way.

I was annoyed that she hid behind Jinwoo as soon as she saw me, even though she greeted Soohyuk with a bright smile. It bothered me even more that I felt this way.

Jinwoo straightened his back to completely hide Jingyeom. Only the white hand holding the jacket’s waistband and the legs underneath showed that Jingyeom was there.

Wonbeom spoke in an exasperated tone.

“He’s lost his memory, so why is he scared of me?”

The answer came from Soohyuk.

“Because you look scary. Wouldn’t you be scared if someone frowned as soon as they saw you?”

Since what Soohyuk said was true, Wonbeom nodded briefly in understanding.

Indeed, everyone shrank back when they stood in front of him. It was unusual for Jinwoo to not be intimidated or scared.

When Wonbeom’s gaze changed, Jinwoo instinctively reached back and grabbed Jingyeom. He could feel Jingyeom’s thin arm in his hand. It seemed like Jingyeom had become more fearful since losing his memory.

Before delving into his thoughts, he needed to get rid of the two men first.

Soohyuk, who had come just before closing time, said he wanted to see if Jingyeom was okay. He acted as if he genuinely cared, but it didn’t seem sincere.

Not wanting to bring any trouble with him, he was about to refuse and leave when Wonbeom, who had just come out of the office, also expressed his intention to accompany him.

He cut them off sharply, regardless of their curiosity, but had to shut his mouth at Wonbeom’s next words.

[Can’t I see the patient I’m sponsoring? I won’t be reassured as a sponsor unless I confirm he’s okay.]

He really didn’t like it, but he had no choice but to bring them along because of that sponsorship.

“Now that you’ve seen him, shall we go?”

“You’ve been eager to get rid of us since yesterday.”

Wonbeom, who had been looking at Jingyeom with an expressionless face, shifted his gaze to Jinwoo.

Baek Jinwoo’s personality was not warm. He was only gentle with Baek Jingyeom. To others, he was cold and harsh.

Jinwoo’s demeanor did not discriminate. No matter how high-ranking, unwelcome guests at home did not get pleasant words from him.

Jinwoo asked in a sarcastic tone.

“Should I offer you some cold water?”

“That’d be nice.”

“…You’re really going to drink it?”

“Yes. I like cold water.”

Wonbeom finished speaking and stood by the door, gesturing for Jinwoo to open it.

Jinwoo, not expecting him to actually ask for water, hesitated. Then Soohyuk also came in and stood by the door. With two tall men next to the door, the house felt smaller.

Jingyeom, who had been eavesdropping with his ears wide open from behind Jinwoo, looked at the two men and tugged at Jinwoo’s clothes.

“There isn’t any water at home, though.”

“Ah… Hyung doesn’t like cold things, so it’s always kept outside. Didn’t you see it on the shelf next to the bathroom door?”

Jingyeom nodded, and Jinwoo frowned.

“Did you eat anything after I left?”

“…No.”

Not eating wasn’t a fault, but it felt like he was being scolded.

Jingyeom pursed his lips and gradually lowered his head. He was about to go out to buy some… Jinwoo sighed briefly at his mumbling and looked at the two men.

“I’ll get you some cold water next time.”

“If you haven’t had dinner, join us.”

“…No, thank you.”

Wonbeom thought it wasn’t a bad suggestion. But the refusal came back sharply. His gaze then turned to Jingyeom.

“He looks hungry.”

Everyone pretended not to notice, but Jingyeom’s stomach had rumbled several times already.

Jingyeom, embarrassed by his growling stomach since yesterday, buried his face in Jinwoo’s back.

‘…So embarrassing.’

Jinwoo had also heard it and planned to send them off quickly to prepare dinner.

“Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to eat separately?”

“I’ll buy you some meat. You like meat, don’t you?”

The one who reacted to Wonbeom’s words was Jingyeom. He lifted his face quickly and looked at Wonbeom with sparkling eyes.

Wonbeom’s right eye twitched at the immediate reaction. Soohyuk, watching from the side, unintentionally let out a faint laugh.

Jingyeom, not caring about the expressions of the others, was fixated on the word ‘meat’ from Wonbeom’s mouth, asking if he would really buy it for him.

Yesterday and today, whenever Jingyeom met his eyes, he would turn his head away immediately. Now, he was looking at him with dewy eyes, making Wonbeom raise one corner of his mouth.

He had intended to persuade Jinwoo, but something unexpected came up. Still, it wasn’t bad if they came along.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

Since Wonbeom didn’t have a car, Soohyuk drove, with Wonbeom in the passenger seat and Jinwoo and the meat-excited Jingyeom in the back.

During the drive, only the sound of the radio filled the car. No one spoke first.

In such an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere, they arrived at a sky lounge restaurant.

It wasn’t quite dinner time, so it wasn’t crowded, but most of the tables were reserved.

Although they didn’t have a reservation, the manager who recognized Soohyuk skillfully guided them in.

Jingyeom, thinking they would go to a BBQ place, stuck close to Jinwoo in the restaurant.

Jinwoo guided Jingyeom, who clung to him, and followed behind.

After being shown to a private room inside, Jingyeom sat down with a determined look and spread out the menu.

‘It’s so expensive…’

In a BBQ place, spending 20,000 won per person is already considered expensive, but here, it was several times that amount.

Unable to choose, he glanced around, noticing that Wonbeom and Soohyuk didn’t even look at the menu.

Jinwoo, having been dragged here by Wonbeom a few times, simply watched Jingyeom looking at the menu.

Suddenly receiving the attention of all three, Jingyeom carefully put down the menu.

He wanted to eat meat, but he didn’t want something this expensive. The whole atmosphere was unfamiliar. He had momentarily forgotten that those two were company executives and conglomerates.

Having money didn’t mean they wouldn’t eat pork belly, but coming to such an expensive place to eat meat…

“What would you like to eat?”

Soohyuk asked gently. When Jingyeom didn’t answer, he asked again.

“Is there nothing you want to eat? You seemed very eager earlier.”

“…What will you have, ahjussi?”

“…What?”

Soohyuk, thinking he misheard, asked again.

“What’s your order?”

“No, before that.”

“Did you call me ahjussi?”

“…Do I look like an ahjussi to you? This face?”

Soohyuk, speaking with slightly trembling lips, looked genuinely flustered.

Wonbeom turned his head to the other side, but his slightly raised mouth corner was still visible.

Jinwoo also pressed his lips together, trying to suppress his laughter.

Only Jingyeom didn’t understand the situation. Having read “Gray,” he knew the ages of the main characters. He thought “Ahjussi” was an appropriate term given their age difference.

“Then what should I call you?”

“…Why would you use ‘ahjussi’ when there’s a perfectly good word like ‘hyung’?”

“But the age difference between us…”

Soohyuk maintained his composure as much as possible, but he let out a helpless laugh at Jingyeom’s matter-of-fact response.

It had been a while since Wonbeom had seen Soohyuk, usually so composed, looking so flustered.

For a guy who was always surrounded by flattering words, it was surprising to see Jingyeom land such a blow.

Soohyuk, who usually remained unfazed by harsher words, reacting like this was new. He hadn’t believed the amnesia story, but he was starting to, little by little.

“What’s wrong with our age difference? Eight years isn’t that much.”

“Not that much? It’s quite a lot. When I was born, you were already in elementary school.”

“…Well, when you put it like that, there is a difference…”

“When you became an adult, I was still in elementary school.”

Jingyeom said this with pure innocence, but to Soohyuk, it was a finishing blow. The impact was felt by Wonbeom too.

He hadn’t been too conscious of the age difference with Jinwoo until now, but suddenly he felt like he was hit in the back of the head.

Suddenly, the two men had become “ahjussi” and clamped their mouths shut.

The manager came in to take their order, breaking the awkward silence.

Soohyuk, having composed himself, ordered the chef’s recommended course. Since the menu was the same, it was nice to try something new with the recommendation.

After the manager left, the room fell silent again.

Despite the awkward atmosphere, Jingyeom rolled his eyes, looking at the three alternately.

Soohyuk, sitting across from him, Wonbeom, staring at Jinwoo beside him, and Jinwoo, slightly turned towards him.

It was a very different atmosphere from the hospital.