GGAS 14

***

After moving his residence to the hotel, Kim Gwanggong still visited home every weekend. That was because Chairwoman Kim asked him to come by once or twice a week, saying there were matters he needed to consult him about. For Kim Gwanggong, who felt regret at not being able to hear confidential information now that he was away, there was no reason to refuse the suggestion. Even if it meant he had to see Kim Abang once or twice a week… compared to the past when he saw him all week long, once or twice was nothing.

And on weekends when he was home, he and Kim Abang watched a romance movie together, one per week. Surprisingly, though he didn’t want to admit it openly, it was helpful to Kim Gwanggong’s work and social life. So today too, with the feeling of clearing away one troublesome homework assignment, he headed toward the living room with the TV. When he came out, the TV screen was frozen with the title of today’s movie displayed.

“Love Began with Stationery”

“Love Began with Stationery? I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean.”

Kim Gwanggong said as he set down the draft proposal he had just brought.

“Mm, it’s because the main characters start off only exchanging letters, building up love that way, and later they finally meet for real, so that’s why it’s titled like that~.”

It was wrong. What Kim Abang explained was the plot of “Love Begins with Stationery.” The film queued up in Chairwoman Kim’s living room was a completely different story, and not even a romantic comedy but a noir.

To briefly explain the plot of this film, it was as follows. The protagonist was the head of an underworld gang, a man who was clever and possessed very delicate beauty. The story began on the day he, feeling disgust for his own life, decided to commit suicide.

After resolving to die in a place where no one knew him, before leaving this world he left something like a farewell letter to four different men: a loyal subordinate who followed him, a police officer who had opposed him, the boss of a rival gang he had fought bloody battles with, and the psychiatrist who was the only one he had confided in. The four men shared two common traits. First, they had all been classmates or upperclassmen/lowerclassmen with the protagonist in high school. Second, each of them had, in fact, one-sidedly loved or harbored feelings for the protagonist since their school days. In the end, the moment they received the farewell letters, they went mad and they began to pursue the protagonist.

Thus, while the film started off with fresh, high-teen style scenes showing the characters’ school days, as it progressed it abandoned moral restraint altogether and reached a level of explicitness that was embarrassing even for adults to watch. If one had purchased the DVD, one could have checked the 19+ label stuck on the back. But Kim Abang, too excited at having found a nostalgic DVD title after a long time, failed to notice the 19+ label and brought the film home. And more than that, Kim Abang believed that the movie he had borrowed was indeed a popular high-teen romance.

“They say it’s a super popular high-teen romance these days~.”

Kim Abang said as he searched under each sofa cushion for the remote.

“High-teen romance?”

Kim Gwanggong echoed as if he didn’t believe it. Then Kim Abang turned his head toward him and smiled brightly.

“If you don’t like fictional, there’s nonfiction too.”

“…Nonfiction?”

“Yeah! Containing our real high-teen days~.”

Kim Abang suddenly pulled out an old videotape from somewhere.

“The second-year middle school retreat recording!”

Kim Gwanggong’s expression stiffened coldly.

“That still exists?”

“Of course~.”

“I definitely destroyed all of those.”

“Uh-uh, I secretly saved one because I was worried you’d get cursed at.”

“Why would I get cursed at?”

“When people say book-burning, they usually get cursed, right~. Like, they get recorded in history as bad people.”

Kim Abang said that and clenched his fist.

“But as long as I keep my eyes wide open, I can’t let my younger brother be branded as a bad person!”

“I don’t care.”

At Kim Gwanggong’s words, Kim Abang put his hands on his hips and made a rather dignified face.

“Kim Gwanggong! You need to cherish yourself!”

Kim Gwanggong thought the first step in cherishing himself was keeping conversations with Kim Abang as short as possible. He picked up the remote, which had been sitting right in the middle of the table after Kim Abang failed to find it even after flipping seven cushions, then leaned back on the sofa. He gave Kim Abang a glance, signaling him to sit too. Kim Abang picked up one of the cushions he had thrown aside, hugged it like a stuffed toy, and flopped onto the sofa.

“Shall I put the video in?”

Kim Abang asked.

“No, let’s watch the movie.”

“It would be fun to watch the retreat again though?”

“Movies have rental periods. The retreat tape can wait until later.”

Of course, Kim Gwanggong had no intention of watching the retreat tape later. To be exact, he planned to secretly snatch it from Kim Abang and burn it. But since Kim Abang deeply loved his younger brother, he believed Kim Gwanggong’s words as they were and was easily persuaded.

“Alright, then let’s do that!”

When Kim Gwanggong pressed play, the movie properly began with the subtitle “10 years ago~.”

And within only 20 minutes of the movie playing, Kim Gwanggong jumped up from his seat.

“I told you to use the bathroom beforehand~.”

Kim Abang said without taking his eyes off the movie. On screen, the protagonist, sick with a cold, had gone to the nurse’s office. Under the influence of medicine, he mistook the boy lying on the next bed for his younger brother and gave him a kiss on the forehead, but he had no memory of it afterward. Just as the boy on the next bed, realizing the protagonist had no memory of the kiss, was about to express his bewilderment, the TV screen suddenly turned off. When Kim Abang looked around in surprise, he saw Kim Gwanggong putting down the remote and putting on his coat.

“What, you turned it off? We were watching in the middle of it, how could you!”

Kim Abang shouted.

“Things like that have a bad influence on society.”

Kim Gwanggong said irritably. Recently, he had been doing everything he could not to recall the incident of having his first kiss stolen by Eun Sanho, but seeing a scene like that in the movie made it hard to control his emotions.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Things like that manipulate the public’s subconscious and cause trouble.”

“The public’s… what?”

“They create an unhealthy trend that says it’s fine to do skinship without consent and then conveniently erase the memory afterward. That’s exactly what those video media do.”

“Mm…”

Kim Abang furrowed his brows.

“So… you mean you’re not going to watch that film…?”

“I won’t.”

Kim Gwanggong spoke firmly, then even picked up his bag and went to the front door. Kim Abang, holding a bag of potato chips, scurried after him.

“Then are you not going to eat potato chips either? I bought two bags just to eat with you.”

“I’m not eating.”

“They’re good though…”

“I’m not eating.”

“Tsk, you never eat. Are you a robot?”

Kim Abang stuck out his lips.

“Think whatever you want.”

Kim Gwanggong replied half-heartedly as he opened the inner front door. Kim Abang, who thought he would only get another short “no” in response, widened his eyes.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Really really?”

“Yeah.”

“Really really really?”

“Yeah.”

Kim Gwanggong answered perfunctorily while taking shoes out of the shoe cabinet. But for some reason, Kim Abang looked delighted and hopped in place.

“Awesome! Hi, Gongsby~”

“…What?”

Kim Gwanggong stared at him in disbelief. But Kim Abang didn’t care and smiled brightly.

“Gongsby! If you go, who am I supposed to watch a movie with!”

“……”

“Hi, Gongsby~?”

“……”

When Kim Gwanggong only furrowed his brow without answering, Kim Abang put on a worried face and stood on tiptoe. Then he tapped Kim Gwanggong’s forehead with his small fist.

“Gongsby~. Are you broken by any chance?”

“Don’t tap my forehead.”

“Oops, you answered! Then it looks like you’re normal? Yes! Hi, Gongsby~. Tell me who I’ll watch the movie with!”

“……”

“Hi, Gongsby~. Hi, Gongsby?”

“…Call CEO Seo or something.”

Kim Gwanggong thought becoming like an AI speaker was ridiculous, but he picked a name from those that came to mind and gave an answer.

“Gongsby, did you just say CEO Seo?”

Kim Abang tilted his head and asked.

“CEO Seo, that’s Taerim-ssi, right? How do you even know Taerim-ssi?”

That was because during dinner the night before, every time Kim Gwanggong picked up a side dish, Kim Abang kept commenting nonstop with things like, “Oops, that’s Taerim-ssi’s favorite~” or “Ah, that’s what Taerim-ssi said was too salty~.”

“Isn’t it harder not to know?”

Kim Gwanggong said with a furrowed brow.

“Why would it be hard not to know… Ah, Gongsby is artificial intelligence that knows everything!”

Kim Abang snapped his fingers and nodded eagerly as if he understood. Seeing how his round eyes sparkled brightly, he was clearly immersed in the roleplay.

“Smart Gongsby, then can I ask you something?”

“No.”

Realizing that Kim Abang was laying bait to try boosting his mood, Kim Gwanggong gave the briefest possible reply. Then he put on his shoes with elegance but speed and turned the doorknob. But the crackling sound stopped him. Kim Gwanggong turned back.

“Gongshby? Wha’? (Gongsby? What’s wrong?)”

Kim Abang asked while munching potato chips. Even though he had only taken one bite, crumbs were stuck all around his mouth. At this rate they would soon spill all over the floor.

“Haa…”

“Mmm, wan’ some? Sh’ I give you (Do you want some? Should I give you?)”

“…If you’re going to eat potato chips, eat them at the table. Don’t scatter crumbs everywhere.”

Kim Gwanggong gave the advice reluctantly. That was because the last time Kim Abang had eaten just like that, scattering crumbs everywhere, some had stuck to his precious Bunny Bunny socks, which forced Kim Gwanggong to go shopping for socks.

“Ah, righ’! Thangs, Gongsby!(Ah, that’s right! Thank you, Gongsby!)”

Kim Abang exclaimed in surprise, hugged the potato chip bag tightly, and ran back inside. Watching the round back of his head disappear quickly, Kim Gwanggong sighed and left the house. For about a week, he was bound to be called by that nickname.

Following Gongsby’s advice, Kim Abang sat at the table, eating potato chips, and called Seo Taerim. Receiving a sudden phone call on a peaceful weekend morning to come watch a movie left Seo Taerim a little flustered. But since they also needed to review the contract relationship agreement together, he obediently accepted Kim Abang’s suggestion. And just ten minutes after hanging up, Seo Taerim, dressed a little more casually than usual and holding a gift set of drinks, was standing in front of Chairwoman Kim’s gate.

Dding-dong~.

When the bell rang, Kim Abang dashed out of the front door and ran to the gate. He flung the door open, and there stood the tall and handsome Seo Taerim.

“Taerim-ssi!”

“Good morning, Kim Abang-ssi.”

“Wow, I guess you and I really connect! I was just thinking it’s such a good morning today too!”

“Ha, ha, ha.”

Because it was Saturday morning and his social settings weren’t fully in place yet, Seo Taerim laughed awkwardly like he was reading from a Korean textbook. Kim Abang chuckled along with him and swung the gate wide open.

“Come on in!”

Following Kim Abang’s lead, Seo Taerim walked across the quaint stone path through the garden and entered the house.

“You can wear those slippers!”

“Yes.”

“Oh, but you brought juice!”

“Yes. But I was in a rush, so this was all I could get…”

Seo Taerim trailed off apologetically, embarrassed by the modest gift.

“It’s fine! I love juice~”

Kim Abang giggled as he accepted it.

“Actually, I have the perfect snacks for this! I’ll bring them out, so why don’t you sit down first?”

“Then excuse me.”

Seo Taerim spoke politely and sat down on the living room sofa.

“Great! Then I’ll start the movie for you, so you can watch alone while I get the snacks ready!”

Kim Abang started the movie and trotted off to the kitchen. Left alone, Seo Taerim leaned back a little more comfortably on the sofa and began focusing on the film.

…..?

About ten minutes in, Seo Taerim grew anxious.

“…Kim Abang-ssi?”

He called out.

“Yes?”

Kim Abang’s voice answered from the kitchen.

“The movie…”

Seo Taerim pressed and released his fist against his closed lips, unable to find the right words.

‘This is… too… too… obscene.’

It was true. From the point where Kim Gwanggong had stopped watching and Seo Taerim had started, the movie’s level had escalated sharply.

“What about the movie? Is there a problem?”

Kim Abang asked.

“Well…”

“Is it not playing? I can’t check right now because I’m taking out the snacks.”

“No, it’s playing. It’s playing, but…”

The problem was that it was playing all too well. Seo Taerim stared at the screen with a troubled expression. Two tall men were passionately kissing, their bare skin on full display.

“And?”

“Is this… um… is this your taste, Kim Abang-ssi?”

“Yes~. Isn’t it fun? That kind of vibe is trending these days.”

“…This is trending?”

Seo Taerim kept staring at the screen with the same troubled look. On screen, the two men were continuing the activity they had just been engaged in.

…Wait. Was it really just two?

Seo Taerim felt dizzy for a moment.

“I… I don’t think I can follow that trend.”

He tried to speak calmly, but his gaze was already wandering, searching for a safe place to land, tracing the carpet patterns on the floor.

“Aw, don’t give up! If you try, Taerim-ssi, you’ll be able to catch up soon~!”

“Try…?”

Try what exactly? Stunned, Seo Taerim decided at least to lower the volume. He picked up the remote on the table and pressed the volume-down button firmly. But just as he pressed it two or three times, he sensed movement behind him. Seo Taerim froze in alarm.

‘What if he sees me lowering the volume and thinks I don’t like the movie he picked?’

Of course, no one would think that just from lowering the volume, but as if guilty with nothing to hide, Seo Taerim hurried to excuse himself.

“Uh, Kim Abang-ssi, it’s not that I dislike this…”

Seo Taerim turned his head and then stopped mid-motion. The one who had made the sound was not Kim Abang. It was an unfamiliar middle-aged man, standing at the entrance with an awkward expression. Startled, Seo Taerim blinked and stood up hesitantly.

“……”

“……”

An awkward silence fell between the two men. But the silence was soon broken by the embarrassing sounds coming from the TV. Hearing it made Seo Taerim freeze even more, while the middle-aged man calmly set his grocery bag down on the floor. Then he alternated his gaze between the explicit scene on the TV and Seo Taerim.

“As far as I know, this is my house…”

The middle-aged man, that is, Lee Jaein, spoke as he slowly stepped into the living room. He looked all around, letting his eyes settle briefly on the sparkling chandelier.

“That chandelier, I picked it last week for our house.”

His gaze moved from the chandelier to the seven cushions scattered across the floor.

“And those cushions on the floor, I made them myself.”

After confirming the patterns, he shifted his gaze to the TV.

“And that TV, my wife bought it.”

Just as the embarrassing sounds threatened to spill out from the TV again, Kim Abang came into the living room carrying a snack tray.

“Oh? Dad! You’re here?”

Kim Abang greeted him brightly, and Lee Jaein tilted his head slightly with a hum.

“That one… is my son.”

After glancing at Kim Abang for a moment, Lee Jaein slowly turned back to Seo Taerim.

“But you…”

He looked past Seo Taerim at the flesh-colored video playing in the background, then back at Seo Taerim again.

“…who are you?”

Seo Taerim was still flustered, but he at least had the presence of mind to answer.

“I am…”

But the rest of his words were drowned out by the embarrassing moans from the TV, and his reply ended up sounding like, “I am hnng.”

“Mm.”

Lee Jaein let out an awkward hum.

“…..”

Seo Taerim just wanted to die on the spot. And just as he was about to look for a mouse hole and bore through the wall of Kim Abang’s house to hide, the movie sound suddenly cut off. In the abrupt silence, Seo Taerim reflexively turned his head. On the TV screen, the mute icon had appeared. And standing in front of it was Kim Abang, balancing a tray in one hand like a trick and setting the remote down on the table with the other. When his eyes met Seo Taerim’s, Kim Abang furrowed his brows into a curve and looked worried.

“Taerim-ssi, if you listen to the TV when it’s too loud, it’s bad for your ears. Hearing is precious, you know. If you use it up carelessly, you’ll suffer later. I heard it from the grandma at the tofu shop.”

Kim Abang began talking about how the tofu shop grandma was furious because of her faulty hearing aid, while trotting across the living room with his characteristic quick little steps. Thanks to the bouncing, the hot chocolate sloshed and spilled all over the tray, but Kim Abang didn’t care about such trivial things and stopped neatly in front of Seo Taerim. Then he looked up at him with round eyes full of concern.

“So from now on, make it a habit to listen with the volume lower. Got it?”

“Ah, yes.”

Seo Taerim, his ears still burning red, stammered as he answered, unlike his usual self. In his head, his life’s greatest mistake–“I am hnng”–was playing on repeat like a medley, leaving him broken down. But instead of asking the obviously rattled Seo Taerim if he was okay, Kim Abang suddenly shoved the tray with two mugs of hot chocolate at him.

“Taerim-ssi, upstairs there’s a door with a yellow sign on it. That’s my room. Take this and go up first.”

Kim Abang spoke kindly. Seo Taerim, caught off guard, accepted the tray and looked down at it. The tray was flooded with spilled hot chocolate, and the mugs were only half full.

‘Why is he suddenly giving me dirty dishes?’

Already flustered, Seo Taerim felt even more bewildered.

“I’ll bring the cookies and follow you up. It’ll only take five minutes.”

Kim Abang said that, then scrunched his face up tightly, squeezed his eyes shut, and opened them again. Seo Taerim guessed it was supposed to be a wink.

“Hurry.”

For some reason, Kim Abang whispered it a little suggestively and pushed Seo Taerim’s back. Seo Taerim didn’t really know what was going on, but he was just glad he could escape the situation for now.

“Y-yes…”

He headed toward the stairs a little clumsily, and because of that the hot chocolate on the tray sloshed over, soaking the carpet and stair floor with its sweet scent. Neither Kim Abang nor Seo Taerim seemed to notice, but Lee Jaein, the owner of the carpet, fixed his gaze on the brown-stained rug and wore a faint smile.

‘Our Abang… he really did bring someone just like himself…’

Lee Jaein thought. And he made up his mind that since he’d only end up throwing out carpets again for the same reason, from now on he simply wouldn’t lay them down at all.