SLC 19

“What?”

Before Kim Jinkyung could ask where they were going, Mok Seongha grabbed his hand and started running.

“Excuse me, customers!”

The voice of an employee urgently calling from behind reached them.

I am sorry. I am sorry. This is all because of this guy.

Kim Jinkyung ran while apologizing as best as he could inwardly. The sprint that he thought would stop soon did not end even after a long while passed.

“Excuse me. Just a moment. Where… are we going?”

“Escape.”

“So where are we escaping to….”

At that moment, Mok Seongha embraced Kim Jinkyung, changed direction, and hid inside a building. Kim Jinkyung nearly screamed in surprise, but Mok Seongha covered his mouth. Shortly after, footsteps chasing the two people followed one after another. Mok Seongha looked outside the door and smiled.

When Kim Jinkyung tapped the back of the hand covering his mouth, Mok Seongha released his hand.

“Are you telling me you shook off the bodyguards just now?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Was not all this behavior a date to show to Secretary Kang?

“Do you think Secretary Kang needs to see us dating?”

“Yes.”

Mok Seongha had accurately understood the intent of the questioner. It was a moment when the Korean studies he had taught felt a bit rewarding.

“When do you think a person’s suspicion deepens the most?”

“Well.”

“When something that seemed obvious suddenly deviates from expectation and jumps to another place.”

Mok Seongha took off the hat he was wearing. Kim Jinkyung unwittingly had his gaze stolen by the suddenly revealed contours of the man’s face.

“Let’s go to get suspected.”

Mok Seongha pulled Kim Jinkyung along.

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“When did you think of escaping?”

“A while ago.”

Mok Seongha answered while looking down outside the cable car.

The man sometimes acted like a child, yet at times he showed unexpected aspects that one could not imagine. After shaking off the bodyguards, he first turned off Kim Jinkyung’s phone. He said it was to block location tracking.

“But can location tracking be done just by knowing the number?”

“It is possible, but. Since you have the app installed, there is no need to go that far.”

“What? What app?”

“Location tracking app.”

Kim Jinkyung, who had no memory of installing such an app, was horrified and tried to turn on the phone to check.

“You can’t. If you turn on the power, we will be caught immediately.”

“…We will be caught anyway.”

“We need to make them suffer a bit and then get caught. That way, we get suspected.”

Kim Jinkyung’s head throbbed. The one to hear nagging from Secretary Kang would be himself. Of course, it would be silent nagging.

…He was already feeling scared.

“But when did you install the app on my phone?”

“When you were sleeping.”

Mok Seongha answered without any hesitation or shame.

“So when during my sleep?”

“The next day after you missed tutoring without answering my call because you were having sex with a man last time.”

“No, I said I only slept…….I will delete it later.”

“Do as you wish.”

Mok Seongha replied as though it was no big deal.

…He will install it again.

Kim Jinkyung sighed and turned his gaze outside the cable car. The people visible below felt dizzyingly distant.

“Do people ride this when dating?”

Mok Seongha suddenly asked.

“Well. They might ride it.”

At Kim Jinkyung’s answer, Mok Seongha tilted his head.

“You have not ridden it?”

“We just walked around.”

When coming to an amusement park for a picnic, the only memory was wandering here and there and riding rides mindlessly.

“You didn’t even ride the cable car, so what did you do? You have poor taste, only broke bastards?”

Hearing such words from the handsome rich bastard who was his type made his stomach turn, but Kim Jinkyung tried hard not to show it.

“What did you do while walking around, then?”

“I just walked around.”

“Why would you only walk around? Then why even go on a date?”

“…….”

“You didn’t even hold hands with those guys?”

…There was no guy to hold hands with.

Kim Jinkyung swallowed the words he could not say and pointed to Mok Seongha’s pocket.

“Memorize your vocabulary.”

“I memorized all. Everything written here.”

Mok Seongha said while showing the vocabulary book.

It probably wasn’t just empty words. His memorization ability was remarkably astonishing. Perhaps because there was so little in his head, the speed at which he absorbed new knowledge was incredible.

“Then did you not bring anything else?”

“If I carry a book on a date, he will suspect something.”

“But bring something next time. No, I will prepare it.”

Mok Seongha stared at Kim Jinkyung.

“…What’s wrong?”

“You really are like a teacher.”

“What does being really like a teacher mean?”

“You treat me like you’re handling a kid.”

Mok Seongha snorted. Kim Jinkyung’s gaze drifted and lingered on his masculine profile.

The words “really like a teacher” pricked at his conscience.

…A teacher shouldn’t be like this.

“Anyway, when do you think we will get caught?”

Kim Jinkyung murmured while looking at the lights visible below the cable car.

“We will get caught soon. Because they will track our location with the chip implanted in my body.”

Mok Seongha tapped the back of his neck with his fingers.

“What? Really?”

When Kim Jinkyung panicked, Mok Seongha lowered his head and pushed it toward him.

“Look. There is a surgery scar.”

“Where? I don’t see it. Just a moment….. …Here?”

Kim Jinkyung asked while gently pressing the area that looked like a scar with his fingertip. At that moment, Mok Seongha burst into laughter.

“Ahahahaha.”

“…….”

“Hey. You really should watch out for your organs. You might get everything stolen.”

“Was that a joke?”

“Of course. I am not some pet animal to have a chip implanted. Hahaha.”

Mok Seongha laughed and straightened his body. Kim Jinkyung’s cheeks turned red.

“You really fall for things easily.”

Mok Seongha teased while looking at him. A playful glint filled the man’s eyes.

“…I can’t just start by doubting what people say.”

“From now on, start by doubting. Don’t trust anyone.”

Mok Seongha looked at Kim Jinkyung with his chin propped. It felt as though his skin tightened at the cold tone. His mouth dried up.

“…You can laugh like that too. I am surprised.”

Kim Jinkyung deliberately lowered his gaze and changed the subject.

“So I’m supposed to live without laughing?”

“You don’t laugh out loud usually.”

“There’s nothing to laugh out loud about.”

Mok Seongha replied indifferently while looking down at the tree decorated with light bulbs. His deep-set eyes stood out whenever the light brushed past.

Kim Jinkyung’d heart ached.

It might not be the exact expression, but it did. Kim Jinkyung often felt strangely soft-hearted toward him. He was someone who would live enjoying wealth in a palace-like mansion Kim Jinkyung couldn’t even imagine, yet he just felt sorry for him.

“You can make them from now on.”

Kim Jinkyung continued.

“Make friends, … and even if not necessarily marriage, you can meet good people.”

Though there would be no place for himself there, it was his wish that the man be happy.

“Friends?”

A twisted smile appeared on Mok Seongha’s lips.

“Who would see that and want to be my friend? It’d be lucky if I don’t get shot.”

“Who would shoot someone for that. They might be startled at first, but…”

While speaking, Kim Jinkyung felt a sense of déjà vu and closed his mouth. Had he not had a similar conversation before?

“…Have you been shot before?”

Instead of answering, Mok Seongha flipped up his upper garment.

“Look for it. A gunshot wound.”

“……”

“It should be around here.”

Mok Seongha pulled his clothes aside and pointed near his back. Kim Jinkyung said “That’s enough” and lowered his clothes for him. Then Mok Seongha laughed out loud again.

“Hahahaha.”

His heart felt restless.

There is an English idiom, “have butterflies in one’s stomach.” Taken literally, it means swallowing butterflies, and it’s used when someone feels fluttery or nauseous with nervous excitement. When Kim Jinkyung first read that expression in a novel, he couldn’t understand it. Imagining butterflies flying around inside a stomach was too disgusting, and it gave him chills.

“Hahahaha.”

When Mok Seongha laughed, it felt like flowers blooming. It was as if he could hear a field of flowers rustling. Standing in that field, Kim Jinkyung thought he might end up swallowing one or two butterflies without realizing it.

His stomach churned and it tickled.

“…Should I do it for you? Be your friend.”

It was the first time in his life he had ever told someone he would be their friend. The regret hit him the moment the words left his mouth.

“I don’t want to.”

Mok Seongha rejected it flatly.

I shouldn’t have said it. Why did I say something so embarrassing?

“You’re my teacher. Why would I be friends with my teacher?”

The most polite brute of all said that. Kim Jinkyung laughed awkwardly and looked away, saying, “That’s true.”

“And for now, we’re dating.”

Mok Seongha smiled and pointed back and forth between himself and Kim Jinkyung.

No. That’s a dead cat. No matter how beautiful his golden jewel like eyes are or how glossy his fur looks, that cat isn’t coming back to life.

Kim Jinkyung continued repeating Schrödinger’s dead cat to himself and stared out the window.

The cable car moved slowly along the rope.

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“You’re back.”

Kim Jinkyung flinched at Secretary Kang’s heavy greeting as he waited by the entrance. Secretary Kang’s cold gaze swept over the two of them.

“…What is that?”

“A headband.”

The man answered in the coldest voice imaginable.

“Then why would the young master be wearing something like that…”

“Couples all wear things like this.”

When they got off the cable car, a couple wearing animal ear headbands passed in front of Mok Seongha, and he had asked what that was.

‘Couple headbands.’

Kim Jinkyung had answered without thinking. If he had known he would be wearing one five minutes later, he never would have answered that way.

“You bought something like that and dared to put it on the young master’s head?”

“I didn’t buy it.”

Kim Jinkyung’s chest burned with injustice.

“So you turned your phone off and disappeared just to buy something like that?”

They had bought the headband, taken photos, and eaten ice cream while walking around, and then been spotted by the bodyguards. It hadn’t even been two hours since they disappeared.

“Why? Is it weird?”

A man as tall as a door, wearing pink animal ears with flowers, asked.

“You look very cute.”

Secretary Kang snapped a photo with his phone and continued.

“But disappearing with your phone off is absolutely not allowed.”

“Why not? I’m cute.”

Mok Seongha shamelessly lifted his chin as he asked.

Out of everything, Mok Seongha chose the animal ears with flowers. Kim Jinkyung chose nothing, because he didn’t want to wear any. That was the problem. Mok Seongha casually paid for another identical one and forcibly put it on Kim Jinkyung’s head.

‘How is it?’

The moment Kim Jinkyung saw Mok Seongha ask that while looking in the mirror with the flashy headband on, only one thought crossed his mind.

…Is he insane?

Even now, it was the same.

“Why isn’t it allowed?”

Mok Seongha asked again, pushing the pink animal ears forward without the slightest embarrassment.

…He’s insane. Completely insane… But why does it suit him so well?

Kim Jinkyung sighed and looked away. Then his gaze met Secretary Kang’s.

“You should know better than to behave like this. If something were to happen…”

Secretary Kang trailed off and glared at Kim Jinkyung. It was an accusation asking what the hell he had been doing.

“It was me who said we should go.”

Mok Seongha cut in again.

“Teacher just did what I told him to do. I’m the one who turned the phone off.”

“…Ha.”

Secretary Kang sighed.

“I wanted to try a real date. Sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“Yes, you won’t… what?”

Secretary Kang’s eyebrow twitched.

“I’m going to sleep. I’m tired. If there’s anything to report to the Chairman, handle it.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Mok Seongha walked past Secretary Kang without hesitation.

“…Good night.”

Kim Jinkyung bowed awkwardly to Secretary Kang. When Secretary Kang gave him a murderous look, Mok Seongha wrapped an arm around Kim Jinkyung’s shoulders and dragged him into his room.

The door closed. Kim Jinkyung immediately took off the headband and pried Mok Seongha’s arm away.

“How long do we have to sleep together?”

“Until Secretary Kang believes it.”

“…He might bury me before he believes it.”

Kim Jinkyung remembered Secretary Kang’s voice from before, kindly explaining that he could at least choose the sea where he’d be drowned.

“So what? We’re not sharing a bed.”

After making a bombshell declaration that no one would believe, Mok Seongha dragged Kim Jinkyung into his bedroom. Kim Jinkyung had jumped in protest at first, but after seeing Mok Seongha’s bedroom, he closed his mouth.

Mok Seongha’s bedroom, or more precisely the space where he slept, was at a level where calling it a “room” felt almost disrespectful.

The place where the two of them studied was a study attached to the bedroom.

The place where Mok Seongha exercised was a gym attached to the bedroom.

And attached to the bedroom were three bathrooms, two dressing rooms, a living room, a small swimming pool, a terrace, and a music listening room. Across the hallway, everything on the right side was space referred to as Mok Seongha’s “bedroom.” That bedroom was also connected to the second floor.

“…But it’s still a bedroom.”

The space was enormous, but there was only one entrance. And almost no one was allowed inside. The number of times medical staff had entered after Mok Seongha once smashed a mirror with his bare hands and ended up covered in blood could be counted on one hand.

“If we don’t even share a bedroom, they’ll suspect something.”

Kim Jinkyung sighed.

“I’m going to wash.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

Mok Seongha went into the bathroom he used. Kim Jinkyung went to the one on the opposite side across the living room and showered. After drying his hair and changing into pajamas, he came out and started organizing an assignment due this week. Mok Seongha approached, drying his hair with a towel.

“What are you doing?”

“Organizing an assignment.”

“You did that yesterday too.”

“Yesterday was just a draft. I need to flesh it out now.”

Mok Seongha flopped onto the bed, then rolled over.

“Is it fun?”

“What is?”

“Studying.”

Kim Jinkyung took his hands off the laptop keyboard and looked at Mok Seongha. He didn’t seem to be joking.

“Who studies because it’s fun?”

“But why do you do it then? It’s not like your only grandfather is terminally ill.”

“…I’m not particularly good at anything else.”

That was the truth.

He had no talent for sports, and art or creative fields were the same. Being diligent and having a fairly good head were everything he had.

“You’re really annoying, teacher.”

Lying on the bed, Mok Seongha lifted the corner of his mouth as he looked at Kim Jinkyung. The one who was annoying was the other guy. He was annoyingly handsome. Kim Jinkyung turned his gaze back to the laptop.

“What time are you going until?”

“About two hours. You should sleep first.”

“I’ll read a book too.”

Mok Seongha took out a concept book stacked beside the bed and opened it. The two of them spent time without much conversation.

When Kim Jinkyung was about halfway through the assignment, the clock caught his eye.

…An exam taker shouldn’t sleep too late.

“Should we turn the lights off now?”

“Are you done?”

“Yes.”

There was still more to organize, but he answered that way anyway. He could wake up a bit earlier tomorrow and go to the library.

“Okay.”

As if he’d been waiting, Mok Seongha closed his book and lay down. Kim Jinkyung also closed his laptop. Then he lay down with his head on the pillow placed on the floor beneath the bed.

After the lights went out, rhythmic breathing followed.

“Hey.”

“……”

“Are you asleep?”

“Yes.”

“How do you answer if you’re asleep?”

In the darkness, golden light flashed. It was the effect caused by the tapetum lucidum, the reflective layer behind the retinas of animals active in the dark. The first time Kim Jinkyung had met those eyes in a dark room, his heart had nearly stopped. Mok Seongha revealed in the bedroom a habit he kept hidden outside.

…You get used to it after seeing it often.

“You’re not asleep, right?”

Instead of answering, Kim Jinkyung turned his body the other way.

“I have something to ask.”

“……”

Don’t ask. Don’t ask.

Kim Jinkyung closed his eyes and silently repeated the words.

“Why did you ask me to be friends earlier?”

Kim Jinkyung opened his eyes. He hadn’t expected that topic.

“Because you felt sorry for me?”

“No.”

Kim Jinkyung sat up.

“See. You weren’t asleep.”

“……”

“Do you feel sorry for me?”

Mok Seongha asked again. Kim Jinkyung thought for a moment. It was true that he felt sorry when he looked at him. But if that was asked as simple pity, then no.

On the subway or on the street, he often encountered people begging for sympathy. If Kim Jinkyung had cash, he handed it over without hesitation. Then he turned away and didn’t think about them again.

Mok Seongha was different.

He saw the man lying on his side, looking down at him. Even while asking if he was pitiful, there wasn’t the slightest trace of self consciousness. He was the type who would kick someone away if they pitied him. Even knowing he might get kicked, Kim Jinkyung found himself looking back.

“My heart… goes out to you.”

Kim Jinkyung confessed honestly.

“Weren’t you scared of me?”

“…I am scared.”

Even now, he was scared. Separate from liking men, fear was there. It was an instinctive fear of a predator etched into his genes.

“But your heart goes out to me?”

The man sounded mocking. Kim Jinkyung sighed and muttered, “I guess so.”

Someone like me dared to feel this way about someone like you.

“If we’re friends, what would we even do?”

“Who becomes friends to do something specific? You just… hang out.”

“What do you do when you hang out?”

“……”

He wasn’t particularly talented at having fun. Kim Jinkyung thought back on the time he’d spent with friends and fell silent.