PO 13

Only three family members gathered at dinner. Kang Eonju, who sat at the table last, was still in her pajamas. Her face was pale without makeup, her hangover was heavy.

“Please enjoy your meal.”

With his eyes lowered, Woojeong spoke politely. Though it was his first meal of the day, which he ate only at dinner time, he had no appetite. He knew if he said he didn’t feel like eating, he would only hear harsh words. Woojeong scooped a little rice into his mouth and chewed slowly.

After pushing away the salad she usually lived on at every meal, she received a Korean table, and she glared at Woojeong with displeasure. She must have seen the long scratch on his white cheek, but naturally there was no word of concern.

Lee Iljun, who lifted his spoon first, was no different in his indifference toward Woojeong. Even when Woojeong had appeared with far worse injuries when he was much younger, he hadn’t asked what had happened, but simply left his seat.

“Where’s Doyoung?”

“He went out to meet Executive Director Han.”

“How’s it going these days?”

“It still seems uncertain. Even after bringing him home and feeding him a meal, he keeps being lukewarm. It’s irritating.”

“Tell him not to be hasty and to wait a bit longer.”

“What’s with this waiting. You think if Doyoung gets along with Executive Director Han, it’ll be a big help to your career? You want to sell off our Doyoung for that?”

“How can you talk like that.”

“So you’re not denying it?”

Kang Eonju’s voice turned curt, and Lee Iljun’s reply showed his discomfort.

Woojeong, who sat at the same table with the two, only held his spoon. There was no way food could go down in such an atmosphere. He was so nervous at the thought that a serious marital fight might break out that he didn’t even feel the pain of the wound in his mouth.

“Aunt Kwak. Bring some cold water.”

When Kang Eonju raised her hand to call for Madam Kwak, the sound of footsteps came from the direction of the entrance. Soon, with the sound of dragging steps, Lee Doyoung walked into the dining room.

He had said he finally arranged a meeting with Han Jaegang and had dressed with care to go out, but not even an hour had passed before he returned, and Kang Eonju jumped up in shock.

“Why are you back so soon? Didn’t you meet Executive Director Han?”

With his brows furrowed, Doyoung ignored his mother’s words and looked at Woojeong instead as he opened his mouth. His voice filled with irritation.

“Hey. Lee Woojeong. Hurry and get ready to go out.”

At Doyoung’s sudden order to prepare for an outing without any explanation, Woojeong only sat there blankly. Doyoung urged him, “Ah, hurry.”

“Where are we going?”

It was a natural question but Doyoung got furious, saying it wasn’t his business. Kang Eonju grabbed him and pulled him into the living room.

“You said you went to meet Executive Director Han, so why did you just come back?”

“You think I came back because I wanted to?”

Doyoung let out a laugh that sounded incredulous. It was impossible to tell whether things were going well or not.

When Madam Jang heard the news that Han Jaegang had met Doyoung a second time, she made a fuss since it was the first time he had ever done so, it was a sign things would go well this time.

So Lee Doyoung also placed great expectations on this meeting. Since Han Jaegang had come home and even greeted his parents, he expected Han Jaegang’s attitude would change from before.

<I have a decent villa not far from here. Since I finally have some time, I thought it would be nice to get some fresh air for a while. Would you like to come along, Lee Doyoung?>

When he first heard Han Jaegang’s suggestion, he felt like flying. He even grew excited, wondering if they might be going on a short trip, just the two of them. But the one phrase Han Jaegang added doused his mood completely.

<I thought it would feel a little lonely with only two of us, so I invited a few more friends.… ah, would you like to bring your younger brother? I thought you said you wanted to spend time with him.>

This was merely an invitation to tag along on a trip with others, but from Lee Doyoung’s perspective, it was a proposal difficult to refuse. He grew resentful at the thought that Han Jaegang seemed to avoid being alone with him.

“He said to come to his villa. He said to go get some fresh air.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“Just the two of you?”

“Mother. Didn’t you hear what I just said? I’m taking Woojeong.”

“Why would you take him to such a place?”

“Ha, I don’t know. He said he invited friends, but he told me to bring Woojeong too. Hey. Be ready in five minutes and come to my room.”

Lee Doyoung shouted and went upstairs. Left alone at the table after even Lee Iljun had finished his meal and risen, Woojeong set down his spoon. He worried suddenly about what this new matter was.

Woojeong washed quickly, then opened the wardrobe. He chose plain clothes, changed into them, and put on a hooded jumper. Wondering whether he should bring anything else, he finally only slipped his phone into his jumper pocket.

“Hyung.”

When he stepped into the wide-open room, Lee Doyoung, who lay on the bed, furrowed his brows.

“What kind of shabby clothes are those?”

“Clothes?”

“Is that all you have?”

“Does it look strange?”

Woojeong stopped and looked down at himself. His jeans and gray sweater seemed ordinary. But Lee Doyoung jumped from the bed and led the way into the dressing room, shouting at Woojeong to follow quickly.

He pulled out several outfits from the hanger and held them up against Woojeong. After choosing the most neutral and inconspicuous one, he handed it to him.

“Hey. Change into this.”

Woojeong considered going back to his own room, but he decided instead to change right there quickly. He changed into a light oatmeal-colored training set and pulled down the sleeves. Though it wasn’t his clothing, since it was loose it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Meanwhile Lee Doyoung returned with an outer garment. He held out the khaki jumper in his right hand.

“Try it on.”

As he looked Woojeong up and down with folded arms and a crooked stance, he shook his head.

“No matter what you wear, you look shabby. Take that off and put this on.”

This time it was a light-colored jumper. When Woojeong put it on and pulled the hood of the training set outside, Lee Doyoung nodded that he should wear that.

Lee Doyoung carried a suitcase into Woojeong’s room. Woojeong’s small wardrobe was filled mostly with Lee Doyoung’s clothes. He picked out a few, then pressed his nose to the fabric. He threw into the suitcase the ones that carried Woojeong’s scent.

“He said he’s too busy to have time to meet, so why does Executive Director Han keep calling others along?”

“I don’t know either. Maybe he just really likes being around people.”

“Who’s coming? One night? Where are you going?”

At some point Kang Eonju was standing at the doorway with her arms crossed. Only after hearing the two speak did Woojeong realize where they were going. Kang Eonju, displeased that Woojeong was being taken to such a gathering, scolded him.

“You don’t say a word. Just stay quiet. Don’t babble uselessly and make mistakes.”

“Yes.”

“Do we only need to pack this? Should I bring along some snacks too?”

“Forget it. He said not to prepare anything.”

Lee Doyoung answered irritably. Woojeong took the suitcase he shoved over after zipping it shut.

“Hurry up and come out.”

The unplanned short trip began that way.

•••

Lee Doyoung kept checking his watch as he confirmed the remaining distance. Fortunately the travel time wasn’t too long. After about an hour and a half on the road, the scenery outside the window began to change little by little.

“Say that the cut on your face came from a fall.”

“…Yeah.”

“Of all times, why did Mother have to lay her hands on you now.”

Clicking his tongue, Lee Doyoung turned the wheel. Woojeong, who sat in the passenger seat, quietly touched the wound on his cheek. The injury wasn’t serious, but what weighed on him was that the last time too he had covered it up by saying he got hurt from a fall.

“Don’t go talking to just anyone, and only give vague replies when asked. Not that anyone’s going to show much interest in you anyway.”

“Yeah.”

“They said someone your age is coming, but don’t try to act like equals by calling them a friend or anything. Adjust yourself well. Everyone there is from families people would be shocked to hear about. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

Woojeong answered every time to Lee Doyoung’s repeated instructions. Even without being warned, he had no thought of mingling with anyone there. Just the fact that he had been dragged suddenly into spending a day with strangers already made his chest feel tight.

At the end of the quiet road the view brightened, and the phone announced they had arrived at the destination. As their car slowly entered the parking lot, they heard the sound of tires crunching on small gravel.