F Side Story 9

Yeonho stared silently at Park Jihyun’s face on the screen and tried to steady his breath. Had he not gone abroad with Siwoo after all? Yeonho struggled to decide how to interpret and respond to Park Jihyun’s appearance.

For now, he felt a small sense of relief knowing the man wasn’t currently with Siwoo. At the same time, he grew tense, unsure of what the man had come to say without Siwoo present.

Yeonho decided he would respond according to how Park Jihyun behaved. Taking his time, he walked slowly to the door and opened it. Park Jihyun, dressed for travel, reached his arm through the gap the moment the door opened and used his body to block it from closing.

The scent of his cologne immediately put Yeonho on edge. He worked to dull his sharpened senses and met him with a calm, composed smile.

“I heard from Kim Siwoo. I thought you were leaving for the overseas business trip together today.”

“Yes. Kim Siwoo left earlier with CEO Cha Gyeongshin. I’m flying out tonight with our client. I just stopped by because there was something I wanted to tell you before heading to the airport.”

“…Come in.”

Yeonho had secretly hoped the business trip had been canceled altogether, but that was not the case. He couldn’t exactly demand that the man not go. He had no intention of interfering with his mother’s work out of personal feelings.

Once again, the thought factory started churning, and mechanical screeches echoed inside his head. He tried to calm his mind with nonsense thoughts like “I’m a fossil, a jellyfish, a spoon worm,” then sat on the sofa and served Park Jihyun some tea.

Taking a sip of the warm tea, Yeonho watched the man sitting stiffly across from him. He seemed nervous too. Yeonho spoke gently.

“Please, feel free to say whatever you came to say.”

Of course he would be tense. For him, this was a critical moment in executing his mission. Yeonho didn’t hate Park Jihyun. He hated Siwoo’s parents.

He wished the man would stop trembling and just go ahead and be shameless about it. That would have been easier to deal with.

After a few deep breaths, Park Jihyun bit his lip and began.

“The truth is, I’ve known Kim Siwoo since college in the US. We went to the same school.”

Yeonho set his teacup down and smiled faintly. He had decided to hear everything Park Jihyun wanted to say. Looking him straight in the eye, Yeonho said in a calm voice,

“Go on. I’m listening.”

“I slept with Kim Siwoo. It was just one night, but…”

For a moment, it felt like all the blood had drained from his body. Still, Yeonho didn’t let his collapse show. He already knew it was a lie. Sitting perfectly still, he gathered the blood that had fallen away and patched up the mess inside.

Park Jihyun’s voice trembled as he continued.

“After that, I had a secret crush on him. I watched him from close by for a long time. But he didn’t remember me. I guess it’s because he had so many one-night stands back then.”

And that’s when Yeonho understood. The trembling fingers, the weak voice, the dry lips, it was all an act. Had they recruited someone with acting as a hobby?

Of course he didn’t believe it. This wasn’t a fight between him and Park Jihyun. This was all orchestrated by Siwoo’s parents, who wanted to take him away. Their goal was to create physical distance between them, wait until Yeonho became emotionally unstable, and then crack their relationship.

He couldn’t let himself fall into their trap. If he lost focus, he would lose Siwoo. And if he sent Siwoo back to those people, they would both be miserable.

It seemed Siwoo’s parents believed he had lived a wild, promiscuous life during his time in the US. That’s why they probably thought Yeonho himself might believe such a story. But unfortunately for them, Siwoo wasn’t that kind of person, so there was no reason for him to be fooled.

Maybe they didn’t take Yeonho and Siwoo’s relationship seriously at all. Maybe that’s why they thought they could cook up something this ridiculous.

Yeonho smiled gently and nodded, not a flicker of distress on his face.

“I’m curious, too. Where exactly did you and Kim Siwoo meet, and how did it happen?”

In response, Park Jihyun named a bar. It was one of the places Siwoo had mentioned visiting during his study abroad. Yeonho had even been to that very bar. Not long ago, on a trip to the US with Siwoo, he’d been taken there.

Back then, Siwoo had explained how his reputation had been shaped by little things like walking someone home or seeing them off in front of the bar after drinking. That vague image had led many acquaintances to assume he casually slept with people he found attractive.

In other words, it was all lies. Kim Siwoo wasn’t that kind of person. Yeonho had no proof, but Siwoo’s own stories of loneliness and longing were all he needed. Yeonho believed everything he said. Because he loved him.

“Haha… huhuh…”

Suddenly, Yeonho let out a soft, amused laugh. Park Jihyun seemed startled. Whether his surprise was genuine or part of the act, Yeonho couldn’t tell.

Covering his mouth with one hand, Yeonho crossed his legs, leaned in toward Park Jihyun, and asked with a curious smile,

“Did he use his fingers from behind to loosen you up?”

“What?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Park Jihyun faltered. In front of him, Yeonho propped his chin on one hand and asked with a gleam in his eye.

“How long did he spend on foreplay before putting it in? You can be honest. I’m just curious how he treats other people, that’s all. Just tell me exactly how it happened.”

Park Jihyun rolled his eyes, chewing on his lip. Eventually, he looked Yeonho straight in the eye and answered.

“He did use his fingers, but the foreplay didn’t last long.”

“I see. When we’re together, he takes his time. He licks and sucks me until I’m swollen and soft inside, drags it out while teasing every inch of my body. I was curious if he does that for other people too.”

“He seemed in a hurry. Like he couldn’t wait to get it in.”

Park Jihyun rushed to add that part, sensing Yeonho’s growing intensity. Yeonho absentmindedly scratched at his middle finger with his thumbnail, thinking about how Siwoo always delayed penetration by focusing on foreplay.

“Did he use a condom?”

“He did the first time. Not after that.”

“So it happened more than once.”

“All night long.”

For a split second, Yeonho felt a surge of fury, hot and violent, but aside from a twitch of his brow, he kept it hidden.

“How long did it take him to finish?”

Park Jihyun, now gaining confidence, seemed emboldened by Yeonho’s questioning.

“Not that long. He said I was too much for him. That just looking at me made him want to come.”

Yeonho felt as though molten lava had poured into his chest. Still, he watched Park Jihyun carefully, noting the hesitation before each word, the way he crafted his answers. It confirmed everything was a lie. Reclining against the backrest, Yeonho blinked slowly and asked,

“So what exactly do you plan to do now? Siwoo has a boyfriend. That’s me. And yet you came here to say all this. Why?”

“I want to take him from you.”

“And why are you saying this now?”

“I just didn’t want you to be shocked when he comes back changed after the trip. Consider this fair warning. I’m giving you time to prepare. A courtesy.”

“Siwoo can’t live without me. Even if what you’re saying really happened, back then I wasn’t by his side.”

“Which is exactly why this could work. You’re not going to be with him on this trip. And when Siwoo drinks, he can be broken down. I just never got another chance, until now.”

No. You don’t know Siwoo. He never lets himself get drunk enough to be swayed by someone else’s will.

Yeonho swallowed the words instead of saying them out loud. Maybe Siwoo’s parents believed this pathetic, ridiculous plan could succeed. It made sense, if they saw their son as someone who would sleep with anyone.

Yeonho found himself pitying Siwoo. Even now, he felt like he was burning alive, yet how many times had Siwoo endured this kind of pain, quietly loving him through it all? How often had he felt like he was being burned at the stake?

Softened by that thought, Yeonho looked at Park Jihyun and said,

“Mr. Park… I…”

“…”

“I believe in Kim Siwoo. And it wouldn’t matter even if he betrayed that trust. Because in our relationship, his feelings aren’t what define us. I love him. That’s enough. If he betrays me, that doesn’t mean my love stops. I have no reason to quit.”

It was the kind of love he’d learned from Siwoo. Yeonho had learned from him and loved him back in exactly the same way. Smiling shyly, he stood up to end the conversation and extended his hand.

“Please make sure the resort investment goes smoothly. I hope it’s a success. Business is business, after all.”

Park Jihyun checked the time, stood, and shook hands with Yeonho without protest. As he was about to leave, Yeonho leaned his head out the door and called out.

“Oh, one more thing. How much are Siwoo’s parents paying you for this? If you promise to back off quietly, I can offer more.”

In that instant, something flashed in Park Jihyun’s eyes. Was it surprise that his backers had been exposed? Or wounded pride? Either way, he didn’t deny their involvement. He simply glared at Yeonho and muttered,

“While you’re alone without your mother or boyfriend, take care of yourself. I’m saying this for your sake. Make the wise choice.”

“What, are Siwoo’s parents planning to have me killed or something?”

“Don’t twist my words. I don’t even know them.”

“Have a safe trip.”

Yeonho shut the door and gasped for air. His eyes narrowed in anger as he looked around the empty apartment.

The only two people he trusted in this world, Kim Siwoo and his mother, weren’t here to protect him. It was only now that Yeonho truly felt the weight of that reality.