Be My Baby - Vol.2 Chapter 6 Part 5
Arriving in front of the villa after checking the exact address, Eungyo first looked for lights on the second floor. But the lights were already off. Feeling urgent, he first got out of the car and rang the doorbell, but like his phone, the intercom didn’t connect no matter how many times he pressed it. If he had pressed it this much, even if Seonwoo didn’t wake up, Seonjung should have, but with the continued silence, Eungyo tried calling Seonjung’s phone again and hung up at the repeated message. As the situation became increasingly unclear, he rushed to the security office and knocked on the window. The man inside opened the window and looked at Eungyo.
“What’s the matter?”
“Has Lee Seonjung from Building 102, Room 203 not come home?”
“Oh, Doctor Lee left for volunteer work yesterday. He filed for long-term absence before leaving.”
“…Volunteer work?”
“Yes. He said he was going to Africa for three months.”
Three months in Africa… Finding the situation hard to believe, Eungyo slightly frowned. Going to Africa out of the blue when he has a pregnant younger brother… Finding it difficult to understand with his common sense, he frowned and asked again.
“When exactly did he leave yesterday?”
As it was already past midnight, when he asked for the exact time, the man checked something on a screen next to him and slowly nodded as he explained.
“Ah, so… it was the day before yesterday. He left in the afternoon the day before yesterday.”
The day before yesterday would be the day Seonwoo went to the hospital, so they must have talked… As he was thinking this, he suddenly remembered that he hadn’t really spoken with Seonwoo much. He had been avoiding talking to him much whenever he saw him, trying to avoid him.
“Then, has anyone come to Doctor Lee’s house today?”
“No. No one has come. Since he filed for long-term absence, we’d be notified immediately if that door opened, but there’s been no notification.”
Then he definitely didn’t come here. He had thought maybe, just maybe, but his thoughts were flowing in an increasingly bad direction. He absolutely wouldn’t, but he started to worry if something had happened, or if suddenly something came up where he couldn’t contact anyone. No, that’s not it. There’s absolutely no way. If that had happened, he would have been contacted by now. Not just anyone, but if something had happened to Dr. Lee Seonwoo, it wouldn’t be this quiet. As he was trying to reassure himself, suddenly another thought occurred to him. His title might be doctor, but to someone who doesn’t know him, he looks like an ordinary college student, nothing more or less, so if he had an accident with nothing on him…
As he thought that far, Eungyo suddenly felt dizzy and froze in place for a moment before shaking his head. No. It can’t be. Researchers at the National Genetic Engineering Center are required to register their genetic code with the country, and that guy had been registered since he was young, so even if he had a major accident, he could be found quickly. If he was at a hospital or police station or anywhere, they would have been contacted. As he tried to reassure himself again, Eungyo realized a very big problem with that part just a moment later. Thinking about it, there’s no way he would be contacted if something happened to that guy. Even if there was an accident, they would contact his immediate family, so the chances of him being contacted were zero, as he had no relation to that guy. Currently, that guy’s only domestic contact is Seonjung, but if even Seonjung is not in the country… then next is…
“…Thank you. Take care.”
Judging that he no longer had time to linger here, Eungyo turned away from the security office and returned to his car, trying Seonwoo’s phone again. When this call wasn’t answered either, he connected to the home security system again, just in case. But still, nothing was detected on the house’s heat sensors. Even after turning all the cameras in the house again just in case, the house was completely empty. At this point, something was definitely wrong. If he left the house and didn’t go to Seonjung’s house or the dormitory, something must have happened. T
he possibility of kidnapping can’t be ruled out either. Although the scout war had ended with all research data and results released freely, if, just if by any chance, a terrorist group threatened or kidnapped that guy to make biochemical weapons… As ominous thoughts filled his mind, Eungyo quickly shook his head to dispel them. No matter how lacking, he’s not someone who would be kidnapped so easily. Yes, he must have gone out for some reason. Something that made him leave in such a hurry that he didn’t even lock the door properly and couldn’t return… Wondering if he might have had a traffic accident after going out briefly nearby, he was about to call the police when he suddenly stopped. Even if he contacted the police to report a person suddenly disappearing, only family can make such reports.
In other cases, it’s only possible if you’ve filed for domestic partnership… but he doesn’t fall into any of those categories. Even if he said the person carrying his child, who would believe a man got pregnant? If he made the report, there’s a high chance he’d just be seen as a crazy person. Then what’s left is… Just as he was about to pick up his phone to find the phone number of that guy’s grandfather’s house, as if on cue, his phone rang. Startled by the sudden ringtone, he looked at the screen hoping it might be him, but an unknown number was displayed. Though it was a completely unfamiliar number, he quickly answered just in case.
“Yes, this is Kang Eungyo.”
“Ah… Hello? This is Jeon Seyoon.”
“…Jeon Seyoon?”
“Yes. Eunsoo’s friend.”
At that name, he had a hunch. Remembering this guy was like Seonwoo’s guardian, he thought something must have happened to that guy and quickly asked back.
“Did something happen to Seonwoo?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if something happened to that stubborn guy? Or is he hurt?”
As his thoughts turned to this guy’s occupation being a lawyer, his heart sank, wondering if a really big accident had happened. Startled, he shouted loudly, and after stammering for a moment, the guy finally continued.
“…No. He didn’t cause any trouble and he’s not hurt. Seonwoo is sleeping at my apartment right now.”
At Seyoon’s calm, matter-of-fact answer, Eungyo fell silent for a moment. Then, without even breathing, he sat still for a while before asking again.
“…You say he’s sleeping right now?”
“Yes.”
The moment he heard that brief and firm answer, all his worries from just before melted away like snow. And in their place, fierce anger settled.
“Send me the address right now.”
***
Looking down at the soundly sleeping Seonwoo, Seyoon was sincerely praying for his friend’s peaceful afterlife, thinking, “The grim reaper is coming, but this guy is sleeping so well.” Although he didn’t know exactly what had happened, judging by Eungyo’s voice during their phone call just now, he could only think, “This guy is dead today.” As an occasional witness whenever Seonwoo caused trouble, Seyoon had seen Eungyo get angry countless times, but this was the first time he had gotten this angry. Especially in the final “Send me the address,” there was even a hint of killing intent.
“What a carefree guy…”
Wondering if this guy had no sixth sense or survival instinct at all, Seyoon looked down at Seonwoo sleeping soundly with his mouth open, and then hurriedly went to the intercom when the doorbell suddenly rang and opened the building entrance. Then he went to stand in front of the front door, straining his ears to listen for sounds from outside. Feeling like he might end up eating memorial service food with this guy next year if he left him outside, he pressed his ear to the door and waited. After a moment, he heard the “ding-” sound of the elevator stopping. At that sound, Seyoon quickly opened the door and stepped out to see Eungyo, who had just gotten off the elevator, glance in his direction and naturally enter the house.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
Before he could even finish saying that, Eungyo had already entered the hallway. Seeing his expression and atmosphere that seemed really angry this time, Seyoon leaned closely against the wall, looking nervous. As Eungyo, who had taken off his shoes and entered the living room, suddenly stopped and frowned slightly at Seonwoo sleeping sprawled on the sofa, Seyoon swallowed hard at that terrifying expression. After looking at Seonwoo for a moment, Eungyo asked:
“Why is that guy sleeping at your house right now?”
“Eunsoo came in the afternoon, and he said he ran away blindly because he was scared. You might not know, but this guy, when he’s scared, first ignores it blindly, and then if the pressure gets strong, he just runs away first.”
Just like that Daegwallyeong incident, Seyoon added as explanation, and Eungyo asked again.
“…Why is he afraid of Eunsoo?”
“As you know, Seonwoo likes you, and Eunsoo has terminal brother complex. He was really bothered by Seonwoo liking you. So if he found out he’s even pregnant, he thought he might kill him, so he ran away first.”
“…”
“Well, that’s why he came out, but he had nowhere to go, so after wandering around, he came to our house asking for taxi fare. So I gave him taxi fare, fed him, and let him sleep.”
As Seyoon kept making excuses, saying he didn’t ask this guy to come, didn’t bring him, and just helped him out of a difficult situation and even fed and put to sleep the guy who suddenly barged in, Eungyo glanced at Seyoon with cold eyes and started walking again. Overwhelmed by that terrifying aura of someone extremely angry, Seyoon took a step back and stuck close to the wall as Eungyo approached the sofa and stood firmly in front of the sleeping Seonwoo. Feeling the somehow very murderous atmosphere, Seyoon spoke softly, afraid he might hit him.
“Um, hyung… even so, he’s pregnant…”
Just as he was about to request that he be gentle because of that, Eungyo’s low voice sounded first.
“Lee Seonwoo.”
At that soft voice from Eungyo, who had been emanating such a chilling aura that even the usually slick Seyoon was scared, Seyoon first rubbed his ears, wondering if he had heard wrong. The person who seemed like he would throw him off the balcony if he didn’t wake up when he passed by was now whispering in a strangely weak and affectionate voice in front of Seonwoo. At that voice and atmosphere so incongruous with him, Seyoon even shook his head wondering if something was wrong with his ears, but a moment later, an even softer voice sounded.
“Lee Seonwoo, wake up.”
“…”
“Lee Seonwoo?”
At his voice, so soft and affectionate, Seyoon stood stiffly in place as if he had goosebumps. Wondering if he was trying to wake him up or put him to sleep forever with that kind voice, thinking his head must be messed up, Seyoon stuck close to the wall. After a moment, Eungyo standing in front of Seonwoo sighed. Then, as if he had no choice, he picked up the sleeping Seonwoo in his arms. Frozen in place, unable to believe his senses at the bizarre phenomenon unfolding before his eyes, Seyoon watched as Eungyo, carrying the sleeping Seonwoo, crossed the living room to the entrance and put on his shoes. Then he looked at Seyoon with a still cold gaze, as if still angry.
“Follow me out.”
“…Are you talking to me?”
“Yes. Open the door.”
That meant open the door, come out and press the elevator button, and even open the car door. Unlike Seonwoo, the quick-witted Seyoon quickly understood this and hurriedly opened the front door, ran to the elevator, pressed the button for the elevator stopped on the 15th floor, then immediately pressed the 1st floor button and waited for Eungyo to enter. And a moment later, he ended up standing next to Eungyo in the cramped elevator without even making a sound. Those few seconds felt like an eternity, and he couldn’t even breathe properly as he waited. Finally, the elevator doors opened on the first floor. As Eungyo got off first through the opened doors, Seyoon quickly overtook him and ran to the building’s front door, astutely standing by the passenger side. And a moment later, when Eungyo came to the passenger side and the lock automatically released, he opened the passenger door. Then after waiting for a moment, Eungyo standing in front of the door nodded to Seyoon.
“The seat.”
“Pardon?”
“Recline the seat.”
“Ah… Yes…”
At those words to recline the seat so the sleeping Seonwoo could lie comfortably, Seyoon quickly pressed the button on the right side of the passenger seat to recline it, then stepped back. Eungyo carefully laid Seonwoo on the passenger seat. Then he closed the car door as quietly as possible and looked at Seyoon standing next to him.
“From now on, if this guy suddenly appears or causes trouble somewhere, contact me immediately.”
“…Pardon?”
“Don’t put up with everything this guy does, just call me right away. So I don’t have to wander around searching in the middle of the night.”
“…Why?”
At the sincere question that came out unconsciously, Seyoon gasped, and Eungyo frowned and snapped back.
“Do I have to explain every little thing to you?”
Of course not. Even if this person offered, he would decline. He absolutely doesn’t want to know any more deeply.
“No, I’ll do as you say… Whatever happens, as soon as this guy appears, I’ll contact you without fail.”
“Unlike that stubborn guy, it’s good that you understand. Well then.”
With that savage greeting, as expressionless and blunt as ever, Eungyo went around the hood to the driver’s seat. Seyoon watched him go and stepped back as the car started. And after a moment, he stood with a blank face watching the car leave the dark complex. It seemed his ominous premonition was coming true. At that moment, a certain saying flashed through his mind.
“The persistent ones succeed, huh…”
***
