Be My Baby - Vol.2 Chapter 6 Part 2
“Hey! What’s going on with Lee Seonwoo?”
Seyoon, who had been working late due to a busy schedule, pressed his forehead at Eunsoo’s voice that rang out the moment he answered the phone. He had been reassured thinking he had blocked Seonwoo’s number, but there was the unexpected variable of Eunsoo. Thinking something must have finally happened, Seyoon sighed with a tired face and responded.
“Why? What now?”
“Don’t joke around. There’s no way you don’t know!”
The sharp voice sounded fierce, as if it would devour someone if they were face to face. Seyoon calmly replied, pretending to know nothing.
“How would I know? I’m not Seonwoo’s guardian.”
“There’s no way Seonwoo wouldn’t have told you! What’s going on? Why is he at my brother’s house?”
At Eunsoo’s excited voice, as if he had caught his husband’s mistress, Seyoon fell into thought for a moment. He definitely heard before losing contact that Seonwoo was at Eungyo hyung’s house. But the fact that he was still there meant that the custody dispute was still ongoing. Although he seemed to understand the situation, he decided to pretend not to know for Eunsoo. It would be troublesome if he acted like he knew.
“I don’t know. I haven’t been in touch with Seonwoo for quite a while.”
“Why aren’t you in touch?”
“It’s bothersome.”
“So why is it bothersome? You know something, don’t you?”
As expected, it’s Kang Eunsoo. Having known each other for so long, he knew well that he wouldn’t cut off contact with Seonwoo unless necessary, and if he did, it would be after Seonwoo had caused a major incident. But saying that would definitely lead to more trouble, so he decided to continue feigning ignorance.
“I understand what you’re thinking, but I don’t know. I decided to cut off contact with that guy until he completely stops drinking after his accident last month. I’m scared of your brother too.”
After giving such a plausible excuse, saying he really decided not to contact Seonwoo until he fixes his drinking habit this time, Eunsoo’s voice finally lowered a bit.
“Really?”
“Yeah. You probably didn’t see it, but when I ran into your brother at the bar, my legs went weak. Your brother said if Seonwoo causes trouble one more time, he won’t let us off either, so we’re all laying low.”
This time, he definitely bought it. Feeling Eunsoo’s breath becoming calmer, Seyoon felt relieved as Eunsoo continued.
“Then call him now and ask. Why exactly is that guy at my brother’s house, and why is my brother saying not to hit his head?”
At the suspicious voice coming through the phone, Seyoon slightly frowned. He could understand Seonwoo being at that house, but he couldn’t quite grasp what he meant by hitting or not hitting.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Earlier, when Seonwoo and I were in front of the company, brother only took Seonwoo with him. He said not to hit Seonwoo or drag him around.”
“…Eungyo hyung did?”
“Yeah.”
For a moment, Seyoon closed his mouth. After hearing the situation, he could roughly understand why this brother complex bundle was angry… but the reason was quite peculiar. In fact, things had been a bit strange since the Daegwallyeong incident, but this was even more so.
“Call Seonwoo right now and ask what’s going on. What happened between him and our brother?”
“Why don’t you… just do it yourself?”
“He’s not answering my calls.”
“Ah… I guess so.”
Realizing it was natural for Seonwoo not to answer his calls, knowing how Kang Eunsoo can go berserk, Seyoon nodded in understanding.
“Call him quickly.”
At the irritable voice that seemed about to flare up again after just calming down, Seyoon clicked his tongue softly. Usually pretending to be elegant, graceful, and cold, but once angered, he always throws a fit like this. Why are all his so-called friends like this? Sometimes he just wants to cut off all ties with them.
“Hey, stop it. It’s your brother’s business. Why are you trying to interfere so much?”
“My brother is acting strange.”
“How so?”
“Someone who’s extremely picky about where he sleeps is staying at a hotel saying he’s tired after putting Seonwoo in his house. He told me not to hit Seonwoo. On top of that, when I saw Seonwoo loitering on the first floor and asked if brother would come down, he said brother drinks coffee at Mila every day. Our brother doesn’t have time for places like that!”
At Eunsoo’s voice growing louder with excitement, Seyoon frowned as if finding it strange.
“I think Seonwoo is right about that?”
“…What?”
“No matter how clueless Seonwoo is, he wouldn’t just hang out at Mila every day off for no reason. He goes because he sees your brother every time.”
“…What did you say?”
“He told me a few times. That your brother really likes the coffee at that cafe. That he sees him every time he goes. For the past 7 years.”
“…For 7 years?”
“Yeah.”
After Seyoon answered seriously, saying he didn’t tell his on purpose because he might make a fuss, Eunsoo fell silent. Although he couldn’t see his face, sensing the unspoken cry of disbelief in that silence, Seyoon realized something was off. Certainly, this was strange. He had noticed something was a bit suspicious, but talking with Eunsoo now, it was beyond just strange.
“What…? What’s going on here?”
At Eunsoo’s dumbfounded voice, Seyoon suggested the easiest way.
“Ask your brother. Ask him what’s going on.”
“Brother told me not to interfere.”
“Then don’t.”
“How can I not care?”
“Just leave it alone. It’s Eungyo hyung’s life, he’ll handle it himself.”
“But…”
“Okay, let’s end it here. You stop now, and I’ll stop too. I don’t want to get involved in Seonwoo’s business anymore either. Why do you think I even blocked his number?”
After honestly explaining with a voice that clearly showed how annoyed he was, Eunsoo exhaled as if in disbelief.
“You even blocked his number?”
“I’m telling you, I’m not his guardian. I’m busy trying to make a living too.”
Although he was originally cold-hearted, he had been diligently looking after Seonwoo’s affairs until now. But when Seyoon firmly said he didn’t want to do it anymore, Eunsoo paused for a moment. Then, after a while, he asked again as if to confirm.
“…You really don’t know anything?”
“Not at all.”
“Can I trust you?”
“Trust me. I’m busy living my own life. And you should ease up too. Eungyo hyung isn’t some incompetent person, he handles his own affairs precisely. Why are you interfering so much? Just leave him be to handle things himself.”
“It’s easy to say, but is it that simple?”
“It’s an issue between your brother and Seonwoo. Just leave it. They’ll figure it out themselves.”
When Seyoon replied indifferently, telling his not to meddle in others’ affairs anymore, Eunsoo snapped back, sounding upset.
“Fine. I’ll find out myself. You really don’t know anything for sure, right?”
“I told you, I don’t know.”
“Hang up.”
After the curt voice, sounding really upset, the call abruptly ended.
Seyoon put down his phone and fell into thought for a moment.
And he began to recall past events one by one.
Seonwoo’s obsession with Kang Eungyo began 10 years ago. After seeing Eungyo hyung who came to school during the sports festival in high school, he persistently, very tenaciously followed him around every day, taking abuse. After graduating high school and starting to drink, he would repeatedly call or text whenever he drank. And every time, despite receiving harsh scolding and mistreatment from Eungyo hyung, Seonwoo never gave up.
At first, he thought the kid was just fearless because his mind was so pure, and recently he thought that confession had become a habit and obsession, but now it seemed a bit strange. So while Seonwoo was just being Seonwoo, Eungyo hyung’s behavior pattern was a bit odd.
All this time, every time Seonwoo would drink and cause trouble, Eungyo hyung would threaten to cut off his tongue or fingers, but in the end, when Seonwoo would come looking for him or call again, he would forgive him as if he had no choice. Even when he said he’d cut off his tongue, he just flicked his lips and let it go.
Other times, he’d just flick his forehead a few times and forgive him. There were even times when he’d contact Seonwoo first if he didn’t see him, buying him meals.
Of course, it was to scold and warn him to be careful in the future, but… that was very unlike Eungyo hyung.
Yes, that was definitely strange.
For someone who hated interacting with people so much it seemed like misanthropy, he was too lenient with Seonwoo’s pestering.
Moreover, for someone notorious for always keeping his word, he had hardly ever kept his word when it came to Seonwoo. In fact, looking at it that way, that hyung was largely responsible for Seonwoo’s bad habits. Scolding him every day but always forgiving him in the end, no wonder Seonwoo couldn’t give up and kept causing trouble when he drank.
In a way, pretending to scold but always forgiving was worse than just coddling him. And if he really hated Seonwoo calling, he could have blocked his number or changed his own number, so why…
As he thought that far, Seyoon froze with a chilling feeling. Somehow, it felt like he had realized something he shouldn’t have known.
“I hate complicated things…”
Since Eunsoo knew too, soon that household would find out, and then things might get bigger. But…
“They’ll figure it out.”
It’s someone else’s business anyway.
He had done his best to this extent. Now the rest is up to Seonwoo to handle.
He is just that guy’s friend, not his father.
With this, Seonwoo should taste the bitterness of life and realize how tough the world is. So, this is for Seonwoo’s own good. It’s absolutely not because he finds it bothersome and doesn’t want to get involved.
Justifying himself like that, Seyoon picked up his phone and searched for Eunsoo’s number. Then he calmly added Kang Eunsoo to the block list, following Lee Seonwoo and Seonjung hyung.
The sound of clattering could be heard. Suddenly waking up from a deep sleep due to that noise, Seonwoo stretched out his body and then abruptly sat up. Looking around hurriedly, he saw that the sun was already high in the sky. Feeling the sunlight penetrating deep into the study, he quickly got up and left the study to find the housekeeper tidying up the living room.
“Good morning?”
Seeing the housekeeper, he bowed his head slightly in greeting, and he smiled and returned the greeting.
“You woke up late today, Doctor.”
“Yes, a bit…”
Always awake before the housekeeper arrived, he checked the time in wonder and saw it was almost noon. Although he had been sleeping more lately, this was the first time he had slept in so late. Feeling confused, he scratched his head as the housekeeper, who had finished tidying the table and sofa, headed towards the kitchen and spoke.
“You’ll have a meal, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve prepared a delicious seafood stew. It’ll be ready in 10 minutes, so come and eat.”
“Yes…”
Responding like that, Seonwoo let out a small sigh.
After four days, hyung had come home, but he couldn’t even see his face properly or prepare breakfast for him. Feeling depressed at the thought, he hung his head and trudged to the bedroom to wash up. Blaming himself for his problematic appetite and sleep, he first went to the bathroom to wash his face, then shuffled back to the bedroom and checked his phone left on the table. There were a few messages. Checking them, he found messages from the research institute and friends asking how he was doing. Reading through the usual daily messages one by one, he suddenly paused at the last message. It was a message from hyung.
“I’ve orderedssanghwatang(herbal tea) at Yoon’s pharmacy. You easily catch colds during seasonal changes, so make sure to pick it up and drink it. And since you’re pregnant, don’t sleep with your belly exposed. Also, I’m leaving for volunteer work in Africa from now. I won’t be able to answer calls.”
“What? What volunteer work?”
Surprised by the brief message, he hurriedly pressed the call button. And after waiting for a moment, instead of a ringtone, an unexpected voice came through.
“The number you have dialed is currently unavailable for outgoing and incoming calls.”
At those words, he checked the time the message was sent and saw it was last night. No wonder he acted strangely when I went to the hospital yesterday, he must have done this to shake me off.
“How petty.”
Even if he cut off the phone, the hospital and house remained, so he deliberately disconnected his phone and left for overseas volunteer work.
“What kind of brother does this? He should at least do the ultrasound before leaving!”
Grumbling about where he would get an ultrasound from tomorrow, Seonwoo put his phone back on the table and let out a long sigh. In truth, he had been sensing that this should come to an end soon. To be honest, he wasn’t very dissatisfied with the current state, but after seeing hyung yesterday, he felt that it couldn’t go on any longer.
First, half because of the feeling of having driven the homeowner out of his own house, and half because he was making him too tired. In 10 years of following him around, he had exhausted hyung in countless ways, but it was the first time he had seen him so worn out, and he felt sorry. He really felt very sorry.
“But I still want to raise the child myself…”
Still unable to let go of his lingering attachment, Seonwoo muttered softly and then got up to head to the dining room. When his mind is complicated, he needs to eat first.
“I feel like I’m becoming a pervert.”
In the afternoon, after returning home for the first time in four days but unable to sleep even a wink and rushing to work at dawn, Eungyo urgently sought out a counselor, feeling self-loathing for ejaculating again while facing the sleeping guy. He continued with a rather serious face in front of the counselor.
“I can understand getting aroused even when seeing through a telescope because I at least saw his face, but now I feel like I might get an erection just from receiving a text. And yesterday…”
Unable to bring himself to say that he had sexually abused the sleeping guy last night, he closed his mouth without finishing the sentence. The counselor looked at Eungyo as if urging him to continue. At that gaze, Eungyo calmly changed the subject.
“I’m certain that my impulsiveness and violence were definitely controlled when I was modified, but recently I can’t control my sexual urges at all. In this case, should I sue the doctor who did the pre-modification plastic surgery?”
As that person was about to become his father-in-law, it was a bit awkward, but this was definitely a problem. Just as Eungyo was about to call a lawyer, the counselor who had been sitting quietly in front spoke for the first time.
“Even with pre-modification plastic surgery, it’s just arranging your parents’ genes in order of superiority. No matter how much impulse control is done, there are inevitably aspects that can’t be helped as long as you’re human, and for humans, environment and education are just as important as innate genetic traits. So, rather than that, it might be better to focus on more fundamental issues. What specific desires are you feeling?”
At those words, Eungyo thought for a moment and then calmly, with an incredibly nonchalant face, began to explain what came to mind.
“To be specific… I want to put it in that guy’s mouth. And because his cheeks are so chubby, I want to rub against them, and when I see his sullen face, I want to make him cry more. Furthermore, I want to ejaculate on that guy’s thighs. His lower belly would be good too, and his face would be even better.”
Saying the body was slender and prettier than expected, Eungyo nodded slowly as if savoring the scene, and the counselor looked at Eungyo for a moment before asking again.
“So, you’re having these thoughts only about a specific person, right?”
“Yes. I don’t even see other people as humans anymore.”
“…”
“Is there a treatment?”
“Before that, I need to confirm something clearly… Do you feel any discomfort in your daily life due to sudden sexual urges?”
“I suppose so. I can’t sleep properly, and I feel like I might get an erection just from seeing that guy’s text.”
“What about when you don’t have contact from the other person or don’t see their face?”
At the counselor’s serious question, Eungyo thought for a moment and then slowly nodded.
“It’s fine then. The main problem is when sleeping… Because I can’t sleep properly, I become irritable due to lack of sleep and feel tired during the day. My concentration at work also decreases.”
“But… I’m asking just in case, what is your relationship with this ‘person’?”
At the counselor’s question, emphasizing ‘person’ as if suspecting it might be a dog, object, or even an adulterous relationship, Eungyo replied with a slightly displeased tone.
“He’s definitely a person, seven years younger than me, and pregnant with my child. Furthermore, he’s not married. There’s no blood relation either.”
After blocking all the unfavorable relationships the counselor might imagine, Eungyo looked at him as if to say, “Now what’s the problem?” The counselor frowned as if finding it strange.
“…Then, it seems like you could just do it? Even during pregnancy, sexual relations are possible…”
“…Is it possible?”
“Of course. There’s no problem at all in the early stages, and even after the belly shows, it’s fine in the cowgirl position.”
At the counselor’s quite specific advice, Eungyo nodded with satisfaction. He had heard it was okay from what he had roughly looked up, but his lingering concerns were completely dispelled by the counselor’s words. It was definitely okay. But…
“However… there’s a bit of a problem.”
“What kind of problem?”
When Eungyo closed his mouth, unable to say it was because of his pride, the counselor looked at him quizzically. Suddenly called in as a VIP, even using lunch time for counseling, the person who had been rattling off embarrassing and absurd things with a cold face was now stopping at an ambiguous point. The counselor stared intently at Eungyo, who sighed.
“Never mind. That part can’t be helped.”
“If there’s no ethical problem with the relationship, it would be healthier to have relations… Are you perhaps in unrequited love?”
At the counselor’s careful question, wondering if he might have forcibly taken and impregnated someone he was in unrequited love with and couldn’t touch them now, Eungyo’s face instantly hardened.
“It’s not me, that guy is in unrequited love with me.”
As Eungyo added with a scary face that he absolutely, definitely was not in unrequited love, the counselor shrugged.
“Then it seems there’s even less of a problem. If he’s pregnant, it means you’ve already had relations, and if he’s in unrequited love, all problems would be solved if you just accept his feelings.”
“That’s the problem. Because that guy is saying he’ll give up on me on his own.”
“You could just tell him not to give up.”
At those words, Eungyo fell silent. Of course, there was such a simple solution, but it was too long a history to come to such an easy conclusion. For 10 years, that guy had persistently caused trouble, and he had persistently rejected him. Because of that, it was clearly visible that there was no possibility of things working out with him in that guy’s mind. His frequent talk of lawsuits and trials was a clear example of this. In other words, after going straight ahead for so long, the steering wheel had become stiff, making it difficult to change direction.
“That’s… something I’ll have to think about.”
“Well, if you can’t do anything right away, for now, it would be good to relieve your body’s urges through intense exercise. There are drug treatments too, but… since it’s not an urge towards unspecified individuals and you’re not unable to do other work all day due to sexual urges, drug treatment doesn’t seem necessary.”
At that conclusion, which he could have reached himself, Eungyo looked at the counselor with a slightly frowning face. He had spent money and time to find a professional counselor for a more specific and realistic solution, but he wasn’t very helpful either, which displeased him. With a face full of doubt, as if saying “Are you really a counselor?”, Eungyo looked at him, and the counselor smiled awkwardly.
“There’s no special prescription for cases like this. You’re not originally a person with strong sexual desire, you don’t get erections for just anyone, the object of your sexual desire isn’t an animal or object instead of a person, and you’re not having excessive delusions. It’s just that you like that person, so no psychiatric or psychological diagnosis is necessary. Just do it.”
Whoever he asked, a hundred out of a hundred would have the same reaction: ‘Just do it!’ If that’s the case, then that method is the only one left, Eungyo sighed. At that small sigh, the counselor smiled bitterly.
“I’m really telling you honestly. It’s the same no matter who you consult about this. From our conversation so far, it seems like you’re having a hard time confessing honestly, but that’s nothing. Originally, the one who likes more loses.”
At the counselor’s words, advising him to throw away his pride and confess first, as if giving advice, Eungyo became serious.
“I’ll say it again, but that guy is the one who likes me.”
As Eungyo repeated once more that it wasn’t him, but that guy who was in unrequited love with him, the counselor brushed it off with a laugh.
“Yes, I’m sure that’s the case.”
The counselor’s tone, as if saying “Think whatever you want,” was quite grating to his ears, but having no particular rebuttal, Eungyo decided to stop wasting any more useless time.
“I understand. Then, I’ll be leaving now.”
Unable to even say thank you out of politeness, Eungyo left only a polite farewell and exited the counselor’s office. He called his secretary waiting on the first floor and then went outside the building. And just as he got into the car that arrived precisely on time and straightened his posture, his phone in his jacket pocket started ringing. As he took out his phone from his pocket in the slowly moving car, an unexpected name appeared on the screen. Suddenly, he had a very ominous feeling. He was quite concerned about Eunsoo meeting Seonwoo yesterday. He hesitated whether to answer or not, but knowing he wouldn’t give up even if he didn’t answer, he pressed the call button.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Is it that hard to hear your voice?”
At the disappointed words from his mother, whose voice was still young, the greatest beneficiary of modern medicine, Eungyo first gave a polite answer.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit busy.”
“Too busy to even stop by home?”
“You’re not at home anyway, Mother.”
As he retorted to the person who was busy traversing not just the country but the whole world, attending fashion shows, exhibitions, and bazaars almost every other day, a hearty laugh rang out from the other end of the line. Seeming a bit embarrassed by his own words, he tried to gloss over it with laughter, so he went straight to the point.
“But why the sudden call?”
“Why? Can’t I call my son?”
“No. It’s very unlike you, Mother.”
“I’m calling because you don’t. Even that rascal Eun-ho at least calls to check in, but there’s no call from you at all. You’ll regret it if I die, you know?”
“I’m not worried about that. I think you’ll live longer than me, Mother.”
Thanks to the terrifying cell regeneration treatment he received once a year, which felt like stripping out all the nerves in her body, his mother’s time was flowing backwards. The cell regeneration treatment, which roughly makes the body two years younger each time, she had been receiving once a year for nearly 20 years since her forties, so her physical age was probably close to her 20s now. Recently, when going around with his mother, Eungyo received more questions asking if she was his younger sister rather than his older sister, so he could confidently say that his mother would live longer than him. And probably about twice as long as his father.
“Well, even I think so… But… Don’t you have anything to tell me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Eunsoo was saying something strange yesterday? About someone living at your house?”
As expected, it’s Kang Eunsoo. After scolding him a bit yesterday, he couldn’t even wait and ran to mom to whine. Feeling a bit irritated that he was showing his true colors as the youngest, he thought.
“It’s just that I’m keeping someone there due to some business.”
“Is that all?”
“…”
“Hmm? A guy who won’t even let family stay at his house for a day is letting someone stay for over a week, and it’s just because of some business?”
Indeed, his mother knew him too well. That’s what he disliked right now.
“There’s a reason for it. I’ll explain clearly when things are settled later.”
“What is there to settle?”
“Something’s a bit complicated.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t want to say because I think you’ll be too happy if I tell you, Mother.”
“What? What exactly is it? Why are you making me curious?”
“Later. I’ll tell you when it’s certain. And it’s a secret from Father.”
“Why?”
“Because there might be some problems if Father knows.”
“Ah, what on earth is it?”
As soon as the topic of his father came up, his mother’s voice suddenly rose. At that voice, which went beyond simple interest or curiosity and seemed properly excited, he couldn’t help but sigh. This is why he and his siblings are so averse to marriage. How could they want to get married after seeing their parents always so eager to devour each other, no matter how much they loved each other? This is why the home environment is so important in shaping a person’s values.
“I’ll explain in detail when things are sorted out. You might be a bit displeased at first, but it’s something you’ll be extremely happy about once you hear everything, so please wait in a good mood.”
“Is it something that will make your father eat crow?”
“Father might faint and grab the back of his neck.”
“Yes!”
At the loud exclamation and the gesture of clenching his fist that he could clearly imagine, Eungyo quickly tried to restrain his mother.
“Maintain your dignity wherever you are.”
“Don’t worry. I’m at home. I’ll wait, so sort things out quickly and report back. If this drags on, I might go investigate myself.”
“I understand.”
“Well then, I’m hanging up. I love you, son.”
“You only love me at times like this.”
After ending the call with his mother, Eungyo pressed his throbbing forehead. If it had reached his mother’s ears, he couldn’t drag this out any longer. No matter how much he told his to pretend not to know, given his mother’s personality, he would surely start hinting to his father, and then his father, with his keen instincts, might start pressuring him. Of course, even if that happened, it would only raise his father’s blood pressure, but still, it wasn’t good to have things revealed in that way. Above all, given his father’s personality, there’s no knowing what kind of action he might take, so he needs to finish all preparations perfectly and strike first. If possible, he should avoid a confrontation between his father and that stubborn guy.
So, first… Thinking that far, Eungyo frowned while pressing his head that was throbbing from lack of sleep. His mother and father aren’t the problem right now. First, for the sake of his own mental and physical health, he needs to quickly resolve this ambiguous situation. Wondering how to elicit the desired answer from that stubborn guy, Eungyo began again the contemplation he had been repeating for several days.
As the drowsy day passed and it was nearing the end of work hours, Eungyo checked the time and fell into intense contemplation. Should he go home or to the hotel? But the answer was already decided. Today, he really didn’t have confidence to lie down quietly in the same house as that guy. Yesterday, he had barely managed with solo masturbation while the guy was sleeping, but today he felt he would go all the way. He was certain he would. Being aware that he was faithfully following the developmental process of sex offenders, he had first done it on the guy’s exposed thighs, yesterday he had rubbed against the guy’s perineum while hugging him, so today he was sure he would go beyond that. Having already done it twice without getting caught, the third time would be no problem. Until recently, he had firmly believed he would never make such mistakes, but now he couldn’t trust himself because of what he had already done. And above all, when it came to that guy, his self-control seemed to completely lose its power, so it’s better not to be reckless anymore. He had already crossed the ethical line sufficiently. He can’t cross the legal line. Resolving not to do anything he could never be proud of later, just as he decided to go to the hotel today, there was a knock on the door and then it opened immediately. Then his brother trudged in with a bag.
“Aren’t you going home?”
At Eunhyeok’s question as he slowly approached the desk, Eungyo replied leisurely while turning off his computer.
“I should.”
At that calm answer, Eunhyeok, who had come right up to the desk, spoke in a subtle tone.
“You need to resolve this quickly.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Didn’t you get a call from Mother?”
At the mention of ‘Mother’, Eungyo sighed, seeming to understand roughly what was going on. It seems Mother had called his brother too to try to get some information.
“Did he call you too?”
“Yeah. He asked if I knew why you’re staying at a hotel alone while keeping Seonwoo at your house, and if I knew anything about it.”
“…So?”
“I played dumb for now, saying I didn’t know anything. But now that Mother has noticed, you need to be careful. You know our mother’s personality.”
Of course, he knows well. That’s why he’s worried.
“I told his there’s some business going on. I said to wait a bit, so she’ll probably wait.”
As Eungyo responded that it was a good thing for Mother, Eunhyeok clicked his tongue.
“Do you know Mother and still say that? This case is so bizarre that he probably won’t catch on easily, but with Mother’s intuition, she’ll sense something’s off if he observes for just a week. Settle this quickly. Before the problem gets bigger.”
“I should.”
At Eungyo’s voice, which sounded quite deflated unlike his usual self, Eunhyeok looked at him worriedly.
“Why do you look so drained? Your eyes are sunken too. You’ve been in bad condition lately… Are you not feeling well?”
“I can’t sleep.”
“Because of sexual frustration?”
“Yeah.”
“…That’s rare…”
As Eunhyeok frowned as if seeing something truly rare, Eungyo waved his hand as if everything was bothersome and picked up his bag. And just as he was about to put his phone from the desk into his jacket, with impeccable timing, the phone started ringing. Looking down at the phone at that particularly loud and frivolous sound, the name ‘Lee Seonwoo’ appeared on the screen. For a moment, he hesitated whether to answer or not, and Eunhyeok, who had glanced at the screen, nodded.
“Answer it.”
At that gesture as if saying ‘Why aren’t you answering?’, he reluctantly pressed the call button.
“Yes.”
“Um, it’s Seonwoo…”
“I know. What is it?”
Feeling his lower body becoming tense just from hearing the voice, he unintentionally answered in a curt tone, and the guy hesitated for a moment. Sensing an atmosphere as if he was too scared to speak first, Eungyo asked again in a slightly softer voice.
“What’s the matter?”
“Um, what time do you finish today?”
“Why?”
“I was wondering if you’re coming home.”
At that voice, which seemed to subtly hope for his return home, his heart wavered a bit, but remembering last night’s events, he quickly shook off that hesitation.
“I can’t come home today. I’m busy.”
“I see…”
“Have you had dinner?”
“Not yet.”
“Eat soon and go to sleep. I can’t come home today.”
“Um…”
“Say it.”
“Are you not coming home because of me?”
At those words, Eungyo fell silent. Unable to readily say no or yes, he avoided answering, and after a moment, Seonwoo let out a small sigh.
“…I’m sorry…”
“I’m not staying away because of you. I’m busy right now.”
“…”
“Eat dinner and rest. You seem to be sleeping a lot lately, so eat well and rest well.”
“…Okay.”
“Well then.”
Before he could hang up on that whimpering voice that sounded like a scolded puppy, he quickly ended the call to avoid his heart wavering again. Just yesterday, his heart had wavered at the guy’s sullen face and he had returned home, only to experience firsthand how such recklessness could lead to a miserable end. So today, he couldn’t go back. First, he needed to get some sleep. What he needed most right now was a good night’s rest.
“Stop being so cold. You’ll drive him away like that. Those kinds of guys will take off their shoes and run at the slightest harshness.”
At Eunhyeok’s words that instantly pierced his heart, Eungyo snapped back curtly.
“As if that guy would dare.”
“He has a precedent, you know.”
“Even if he runs, he’ll only get as far as Daegwallyeong.”
“Still, the act of running away itself is important, isn’t it? Don’t be too hard on the kid. Your curt way of speaking is really scary. People say they’re afraid to talk to you because you’re so cold.”
Eungyo was certainly aware of this. He was originally not very expressive, but his sharp tone and expression when even slightly annoyed made even fairly tough people shut their mouths in fear. He couldn’t imagine how scary he must seem to that clueless guy. But no matter what, he couldn’t manage to speak or look kindly. Sighing as he realized his irritability was making it even worse, Eungyo put his phone in his jacket and picked up his bag to leave. Then, as if he didn’t want to continue the conversation on that topic, he changed the subject.
“Do you have any sleeping pills or sleep aids?”
“Sleeping pills? Who takes those unless they’re a patient?”
As Eunhyeok asked back as if wondering why the sudden mention of sleeping pills while walking alongside Eungyo, Eungyo replied while continuing to walk silently.
“I need them.”
“Why? Can’t you sleep that badly?”
“I didn’t sleep at all yesterday.”
“Why?”
“…That guy wouldn’t let go.”
As Eungyo answered honestly while opening the door and leaving the office, Eunhyeok, following behind, responded lightly.
“Oh my, poor thing…”
While the words themselves sounded sympathetic, there was a subtle hint of amusement in his voice. Eungyo glanced at his brother and frowned slightly.
“I hope it’s just my imagination that you seem to be laughing?”
“Yes. It’s your imagination.”
Eunhyeok’s eyes were clearly laughing as he said this. And his lips were definitely curved up too.
“…You definitely seem to be laughing now.”
As Eungyo glared fiercely at Eunhyeok, as if scolding him for laughing when his younger brother was in such a dire situation, Eunhyeok awkwardly smiled and patted Eungyo’s shoulder.
“Let’s go. I won’t get you sleeping pills, but I’ll buy you some sleep aids. Want me to drive you to the hotel?”
“…”
“You must be too tired to drive. I’ll take you. Or do you want to come sleep at my apartment?”
“It’s fine.”
“You’re having a hard time.”
“Could you wipe that smile off your face when you say that?”
As Eungyo, who had crossed the corridor and stood in front of the elevator, scolded his still-smiling brother, Eunhyeok finally apologized.
“Sorry. Want to have dinner together?”
“It’s fine. I’m going to sleep.”
“If you ask at the front desk, they should be able to bring you some sleep aids. And just in case, instead of medication, why don’t you try swimming at the sports center or working out your body with squash? It might be better to just be physically tired.”
While Eunhyeok added what seemed like plausible advice, to Eungyo it was useless nonsense. The counselor had said the same thing, but right now he was too tired to even move his body. So as he got into the elevator that had just opened, he replied coldly.
“I’m already sufficiently tired.”
“I see, then.”
Getting into the elevator with him, Eunhyeok just smiled as if there was nothing he could do. Meanwhile, the elevator doors slowly closed and it began to move towards the underground parking lot. And so, another exhausting day was coming to an end.
***
