JD 21

When he was told to come down once he was ready, Hakyung slung on his backpack and waited for Muheon on the first floor. About five minutes later, the man appeared—with Gi Sang-oh and Park Geowong following behind him.

“Oh, hello!”

Hakyung gave them a polite bow. He thought it was just going to be the two of them, but it seemed the hyungs were coming along as well. Just as he expected, Park Geowong and Gi Sang-oh climbed into the driver’s and passenger seats.

That left Hakyung to sit next to the president. Awkwardly, he opened the backseat door and climbed in. Muheon was already seated. It hadn’t been a big deal when they went shopping together before, but now that he was more aware of his feelings, it all felt strange.

Just the thought of sitting right next to him for over an hour had his heart racing. What if their thighs touched? Or what if, by chance, their hands brushed?

It was all just his own imagination, but his face still burned. Suppressing the urge to stomp his feet, Hakyung discreetly fanned his cheeks with his hands.

While he sat there in his own little flustered whirlwind, Muheon glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, then lowered his gaze to the tablet in his hands. He looked genuinely excited to be heading to a new place.

“Is this your first time in Incheon, Hakyung?”

“Yes, Mr. Geowong! It’s my first time! Do you really see a lot of planes there?”

Hakyung leaned forward between the seats at Geowong’s slow question. Muheon’s brow knit slightly. Sitting like that was dangerous—and it left too much empty space next to him. He debated whether to pull Hakyung back by the arm, but the others continued chatting.

At the unexpected question, Geowong and Sang-oh chuckled quietly. Geowong, in particular, was reminded of his youngest back in the west and responded with sincere care.

“But the noise is really loud… it can hurt your ears.”

“Oh, right! Sometimes when planes fly over my house, the sound is so loud it scares me!”

“Sounds like you’ve got sensitive ears. Don’t worry, though—you’ll be fine.”

For someone usually so reserved, it was impressive how naturally Geowong was talking. Muheon, pretending not to listen, couldn’t help the faint smile that tugged at the corners of his lips.

Hakyung, who had been chatting animatedly with the front seats, suddenly turned toward Muheon.

“Boss, have you flown a lot?”

“I’ve flown more than you, at least.”

“Well, yeah! I’ve never been on a plane, after all!”

Hakyung grumbled, pretending to be annoyed at being called rustic, but he was now firmly seated back in his seat. That little bit of distance closed between them somehow made Muheon feel like the empty space beside him had finally been filled.

Muheon was just starting to lean back in satisfaction when Hakyung, mid-rant about planes, suddenly slumped forward.

“What the hell.”

Muheon quickly sat upright and caught Hakyung’s face in his hands. He could hear soft breathing by his ear. His forehead wasn’t hot, and there was no cold sweat—his expression was peaceful. Muheon relaxed.

Sang-oh glanced in the rearview mirror and said,

“If he’s not showing any signs of being sick, he might just be one of those people who gets motion sickness and falls asleep right away. That could be it?”

“Ah, I see.”

That’s when Muheon realized Hakyung had probably fallen asleep from motion sickness. Leave it to this backwater river dolphin to get car sick so dramatically.

“I nearly had a heart attack.”

Muheon frowned at his own muttered comment. It felt strange, even though he was the one who said it. With a short sigh, he gently guided Hakyung’s small head onto his thigh. He was worried that, with the car moving, the boy’s head might loll around and snap forward.

From the rearview mirror, Sang-oh quietly observed Muheon’s careful handling of Hakyung and finally spoke.

“Mr. Muheon, you really don’t have to go that far. Should we switch seats?”

“No need.”

“But your leg might get sore…”

“How heavy can this little melon-sized head be? Just drive.”

Muheon waved his hand, signaling Sang-oh to stop talking. Taking the hint, Sang-oh refocused on the road.

Sitting beside him, Geowong had been silently watching the interaction unfold. Now, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Come to think of it, that Hakyung kid asked me something odd the other day.”

Both Muheon and Sang-oh raised their eyebrows. Muheon was displeased to hear that Hakyung had directed a question to Park Geowong instead of him, while Sang-oh was simply curious if Geowong had answered properly.

A silence hung in the air. Geowong took an absurdly long pause before continuing—one that highlighted just how unusual it was for someone as impatient as Hakyung to have a proper conversation with him.

“Mr. Muheon, were you ever married?” Hakyung had asked… I wonder why he was curious about that?”

“Hm?”

Gi Sang-oh tilted his head in confusion. Of all things, why would he be curious about marriage?

Muheon, too, found himself intrigued by Hakyung’s intentions. It could be just a passing curiosity, or it might be interest in him. Maybe he hoped it was the latter, but he wasn’t sure.

He reached out, gently brushing Hakyung’s hair that had slipped out from under his hat. Hakyung’s small lips twitched at his touch, but he didn’t wake up until they reached Incheon.

***

“Wow…!”

Hakyung’s eyes went wide as he looked around the hotel lobby. He had no idea such a grand, impressive hotel existed in their country! He immediately thought about showing it to his grandmother, and his hands started moving quickly.

Click, click. The sound of the camera shutter was loud. It wouldn’t feel out of place among the other tourists on a group tour.

Muheon, quietly watching Hakyung from behind, moved closer to him.

“Is this the kind of loud and flashy place you like, Hakyung?”

At the quiet, whispering voice that came from behind, Hakyung jumped in surprise. Muheon found it endearing, the way Hakyung would always be startled, and a small laugh escaped his lips.

Hakyung held the ear that Muheon had whispered into, trying to calm his breath. Every time Muheon did this, it startled him, and his heart raced as if it couldn’t survive long like this.

Muheon, unaware of the effect his voice had, continued to speak in that smooth tone. Meanwhile, Hakyung’s mind, unable to express his feelings, darkened with frustration.

“Hm? Why aren’t you answering?”

“Uh? I actually like dark, black, shiny things.”

“That’s unique.”

Hakyung’s strange taste made Muheon frown slightly. The kid was lively and bouncy for his age, but his preferences were a bit strange.

Muheon shook his head, muttering about how today’s kids were hard to figure out, and then pulled Hakyung closer, wrapping his arm around his shoulder. He couldn’t allow them to mix in with real tourists like that.

Just then, some hotel staff who recognized Muheon rushed toward him.

“Welcome!”

The staff bowed 90 degrees as they greeted him, and the previously busy lobby fell into a stunned silence. Hakyung, who had been about to speak to Muheon, shut his mouth, distracted by the staff’s unusual appearance.

The staff, who looked as intimidating as Gi Sang-oh and Park Geowong, were dressed in black suits. They looked like they might be up to no good.

Hakyung instinctively stepped back, hiding behind Muheon’s back. The scene would have been dangerous if anyone saw a timid person like Hakyung staring wide-eyed at it.

“Thank you for coming. We’ll escort you right away.”

“Mm.”

“Your companions can join us as well.”

Before Muheon could say anything, the hotel staff kindly took care of Hakyung as well. Hakyung, feeling awkward, thanked them, and Geowong and Sang-oh, who had disappeared earlier, quietly returned and followed behind Muheon.

As they walked quickly behind the intimidating staff, Hakyung couldn’t help but feel like he was finally going to understand what Muheon did for a living. His throat tightened as he wondered if this job had anything to do with him being sold off.

He squeezed Muheon’s jacket, hoping his fears weren’t true.

Despite feeling like he couldn’t breathe from the tension, what Hakyung saw in front of him was something he hadn’t imagined at all.

In a large meeting room, everyone but Muheon and Hakyung was laughing and chatting happily. There were beautiful patterned teacups and, of course, cookies and breads arranged on a three-tier tray—an absolutely perfect tea time.

Even Geowong and Gi Sang-oh seemed to blend in, enjoying the atmosphere.

Is this for real? Hakyung tilted his head. What he had expected was a bloody, chaotic brawl, but instead, it was a refined tea time. It was surprisingly wholesome, but still hard for him to adjust to.

As Hakyung’s eyes darted around the unfamiliar, awkward environment, Muheon leaned down to meet his gaze.

“Is there nothing to eat? Should I ask for some food?”

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me, just take care of your business.”

“If you want something to eat, just let me know.”

“Okay.”

Feeling pleased by Muheon’s considerate attention, Hakyung couldn’t help but smile. And right in front of him, someone was closely observing his every move.