PO 14

“Wow. This is crazy.”

Lee Doyoung parked the car next to a vehicle that was already there, and he bent his head slightly and looked around. He felt admiration for the size of the villa, and he tapped the steering wheel as he laughed.

“Hey. Get out.”

Just when Woojeong was about to open the passenger seat door, Lee Doyoung grabbed his arm.

“You. Be careful with your actions. Don’t forget what I told you.”

“……I will.”

After getting out of the car, Lee Doyoung took out his phone. He told him to wait until he came back from the call, and he walked toward the building. Woojeong stood close to the car, and he looked around.

The villa was very different from what Woojeong had imagined when he heard the word villa. A hanok in the shape of the Korean character ㄱ stood on land surrounded by mountains. The style of the building was completely different, but it somehow gave him a similar feeling to the Snow Reflection Residence.

The hanok, lit from above by lights, was so beautiful that he exclaimed in admiration. The line of the roof with blue tiles was graceful, and a pine tree with large branches hanging down above it looked like he was looking at a painting.

Because the parking lot was at a lower level, he couldn’t see the villa properly. Woojeong, who was craning his neck because he wanted to look in detail, discovered a stone staircase that led to the yard nearby.

Woojeong hesitated for a moment, and he moved toward the stairs. He thought he would look around the villa for only a very short time and then go back down. When he went up into the yard, Woojeong let out an exclamation without realizing it.

“Wow…….”

The yard was much larger than he thought. Several buildings stood with space left between them in a place where sunlight and wind came in well. It was a hanok with modern touch added, but it gave off a dignified atmosphere as if it had guarded that place for a very long time.

More than anything, the overwhelming thing was the night view that spread out below the yard. Under the dark mountains, faraway sparkling lights created a spectacle. It was so beautiful that he couldn’t take his eyes off it.

Woojeong took in a deep breath. Even though it wasn’t yet the season when flower buds would bloom, a faint fragrance of flowers came from somewhere. His head became clear enough that he forgot for a moment why he was here.

Woojeong, who was gazing downward as if he was possessed, took his hand out of his pocket and he held it out in the air. The cold wind brushed pleasantly through his fingers. Woojeong, who was standing alone and savoring the fresh wind, suddenly felt a human presence.

“……!”

Just as Woojeong was about to turn his head, someone came suddenly and reached out to him from behind. Woojeong almost collapsed in surprise as someone tightly hugged his waist, and before his eyes, blossoms of many colors in full bloom spread out.

The overflowing fragrance of flowers seized his nose. But the flowers that suddenly appeared before his eyes came as a visual shock rather than something beautiful. As Woojeong’s legs lost strength in that moment and he staggered, the person behind him quickly embraced and supported him.

“Ah?”

A startled voice came from behind his back. Woojeong raised his head, and his eyes met Han Jaegang’s who was supporting him.

“……Damn.”

He hurriedly stepped aside with the bouquet in his arms. This time, it seemed he wasn’t the only one surprised, because Han Jaegang smiled gently and spoke.

“It wasn’t Lee Doyoung-ssi.”

He was dressed comfortably in jeans and a knit sweater, unlike usual. The way he slightly lifted his cap to show his face and then put it back on made Woojeong think for a moment that he looked like a different person compared to before.

“Jaegang-ssi. Were you there?”

The sound of footsteps approached the place where the two people stood facing each other in confrontation. Seeing only the man’s back while approaching, Lee Doyoung discovered Woojeong beyond Han Jaegang’s shoulder and stopped abruptly. His gaze, which looked alternately at the two faces with a rigid look, shifted to the bouquet that Woojeong held in his arms.

“What’s going on?”

Han Jaegang turned toward him. Even though he looked at Lee Doyoung, who seemed to ask what situation this was, the man unnecessarily delayed and didn’t open his mouth. Only after Lee Doyoung’s brow twisted slightly did he laugh and speak.

“I thought it was Lee Doyoung-ssi. I tried to surprise him, but it was Woojeong-ssi. Your backs looked similar, so I mistook it.”

“Ah, really?”

Lee Doyoung gave an awkward laugh at the simple explanation. He said it could happen, but his eyes that were staring at Woojeong who held the bouquet that should have originally been in his own arms were cold.

“Are you okay? You must have been startled?”

“……”

“I told you to wait in the parking lot.”

His worried tone hid a blade. Instead of answering, Woojeong lowered his gaze quietly. He only stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do with the bouquet in his hands.

“Jaegang-ssi. You played too much of a trick on the kid.”

Lee Doyoung’s words were mixed with disappointment and displeasure, but Han Jaegang showed a playful smile.

“I made a mistake. Sorry.”

Han Jaegang apologized obediently, but his tone didn’t sound sorry all that. Instead, he looked relaxed and leisurely, as if he was enjoying watching the present situation. As Lee Doyoung studied his face, he quickly changed the subject.

“The villa is really wonderful. How did you think to build it as a hanok?”

“My grandfather has a good eye. Are you cold?”

“A little.”

“If we go over there and light a bonfire, it will be fine.” The man took off his ball cap by the brim, and he swept up his hair a couple of times. Woojeong had expected that he would go elsewhere, but Han Jaegang walked straight toward him. Under the bright light of the street lamp, the man’s face was completely revealed. His eyes, which looked especially black, turned toward Woojeong.

“Sorry for startling you.”

Han Jaegang offered a polite apology, and he raised the corner of his lips in a smile.

•••

The night at the villa was quiet. Han Jaegang’s acquaintances who arrived one after another put their luggage down simply in the main house and gathered in the spacious yard beside it. The structure was open in front and back, but because the main building blocked the strong wind, the yard was cozy.

Including the owner of the villa, six people sat around in the yard. The outdoor table prepared to receive guests was set using camping equipment. The mood felt like they had come far away, and satisfaction appeared on people’s faces.

Wearing heat-resistant gloves, Han Jaegang stacked firewood in the large brazier placed in the middle of the yard. He scattered twigs that would act as fire starters, and he used firelighter to ignite them with skilled hands.

“It feels like camping.”

Yoon Ijun, who was wearing a beanie, crouched next to Han Jaegang and muttered. He was the kid who, as Lee Doyoung had said, was about the same age as Woojeong. When another companion, Yoon Hyunjun, introduced the two, he said they were the same age so they should get close, but Yoon Ijun showed no particular interest in Woojeong. It seemed enough for him to mingle with his older brother’s friends with whom he was already close.

“Hey. Have you lit a lot of bonfires?”

“A few times.”

“Where? Did you go camping?”

“Yeah. Sometimes.”

“With who?”

“Alone.”

“Unexpected.”

The conversation that went back and forth was very brief. When Yoon Ijun stopped asking, Han Jaegang silently focused on lighting the fire. The small sparks that rose soon spread to the firewood. When Han Jaegang poked the firewood a little with tongs, the dried firewood burned with a pleasant crackling sound.

“I’ll just sit here and stare at the fire.”

Yoon Ijun dragged over a small chair and put it in front of the bonfire. Han Jaegang stepped aside as if to tell him to go ahead.

Because the villa stood below the mountain, the temperature rapidly dropped at night. After filling their stomachs moderately with food prepared by the servants, people put on outerwear one by one and gathered around the bonfire.

Woojeong sat next to Lee Doyoung. Even though he fastened his jumper tightly, he still felt cold, so he rubbed his arms lightly. Sitting with his back to him, Han Jaegang threw more firewood into the bonfire. Soon the flames blazed up and spread warm heat around.

“Want a drink?”

“Give it.”

Han Jaegang took off the fireproof gloves he had been wearing, threw them onto the pile of firewood, and received the beer bottle Yoon Hyeonjun handed him. He stood and drank the beer while conversing with people.

Woojeong, who had been watching the flames flare up vigorously, quietly held out his hand. It had really been a long time since he had come this far away from home. It was unfamiliar and uncomfortable, but one night spent outside the house after a long while wasn’t bad. As he looked at the flickering bonfire, he started to feel a bit drowsy.

“Really? Did that really happen?”

“Yes. That bouquet over there is it.”

Lee Doyoung pointed to one side of the spot and answered. The bouquet was lying abandoned where he pointed.

The bouquet Han Jaegang had prepared ended up neglected without reaching anyone. Woojeong couldn’t take a bouquet that wasn’t his, and Lee Doyoung had no interest in a bouquet that had already been touched by someone else’s hands.

“Crazy. If such a big guy suddenly pounces, your soul would drop. Woojeong-ssi, are you okay?”

“……Yes.”

“If it were me, I’d think I was being stabbed, and I’d faint on the spot.”

Yoon Hyunjun, who arrived last at the villa, belatedly heard about what happening between Woojeong and Han Jaegang and laughed so hard his belly button almost popped out. Sa Hunmin, who had been listening quietly, asked Lee Doyoung in a subtle voice.

“But Lee Doyoung-ssi, you must have felt upset. How could he mistake like that?”

“It was night, so it was dark.”

“This isn’t the time to cover for that guy with words like that. Say you’re upset to death quickly. That way you can catch a weakness and at least squeeze out an expensive gift.”

“Should I do that?”

Han Jaegang, who had been away for a short while, returned and cut into the conversation, interrupting Sa Hunmin’s words. Carrying several glass cups and a whiskey bottle divided between both hands, he plopped down next to Woojeong. People’s gazes gathered on him.

“Go on. Say what you want.”

“Oh, Doyoung-ssi, hurry. Didn’t you ever have something in mind? Say it quickly now.”

“It’s fine. I’ll just be generous and understand.”

“Ah, that’s boring. I’m telling you, you could’ve squeezed out something big?”

“Really don’t you have anything you want?”

Han Jaegang asked with a serious look. Pretending to think for a moment, Lee Doyoung replied, “Ah, it’s fine,” and he took his words as a joke.

“If you think of something later, say it. For now, take a drink as a sign of reconciliation.” Han Jaegang lifted the whiskey bottle. When Lee Doyoung willingly agreed, he poured liquor into an empty glass.

Between the two men exchanging glasses, Woojeong shrank as if he had unintentionally become an intruder in this place. Just as he was wondering if he should move elsewhere, a crystal glass was suddenly pushed toward his eyes.

“Woojeong-ssi you drink one too.”

At Han Jaegang’s sudden urging, Woojeong looked at Lee Doyoung. Lee Doyoung smiled and answered in his place.

“Woojeong’s fine. He’s probably never even drunk before.”

“Then today he can drink properly.”

Even though Lee Doyoung tried to stop it, Han Jaegang once more offered the glass he held to Woojeong. He looked like he had no thought of taking it back. Woojeong, feeling troubled, sent his brother a pleading look for help.

Woojeong had never drunk enough alcohol to get intoxicated before. He was afraid that if he drank such strong liquor in a place like this, he would get drunk and make a mistake. As if reading his hesitation, Han Jaegang added words.

“You won’t get drunk from one glass like this. If you do get drunk, you can just go sleep in a room.”

“That’s right. Having a drink in a place like this is fun too. Ah, is your brother giving you looks?”

“No, nothing like that. Woojeong-ah. Then just take one glass.”

“……Yeah.”

At Yoon Hyunjun’s words about whether it was because his brother was giving him looks, Lee Doyoung waved his hand. With a look that told him to quickly take it, Woojeong had no choice but to accept the glass. Han Jaegang, who poured a proper amount of liquor into the rocks glass, put a large piece of ice in it to consider Woojeong, who said it was his first time drinking strong liquor.

“Here. Cheers.”

The people who clinked glasses waited for Woojeong to drink first. Woojeong held his breath for a moment at the scent of alcohol, and like performing a penalty he gulped down the liquor. After finishing the drink, he pressed his chest with his palm. He felt vividly where the amber liquid went down his throat and where it passed. The bitter taste lingered in his mouth, and his brow creased.

“Wow, he’s a man.”

“How is it? Is it drinkable?”

“……My insides feel hot.”

At Woojeong’s stammering answer, people laughed, saying it’s always like that at first. Whiskey was incomparably stronger and harsher than the beer he sometimes drank with Seo Junho. It felt like his insides were burning hot.

Unlike Woojeong, the others emptied their glasses without a change of face. To Woojeong, who was startled by just one glass of whiskey, it was an amazing sight. Receiving a glass from Yoon Hyunjun, Han Jaegang brought up what happened a moment ago.

“Earlier I mistook because of these clothes.”

“Clothes?”

“Yes. Didn’t Lee Doyoung-ssi wear these clothes before?” Han Jaegang placed his hand on Woojeong’s arm who sat beside him. Lee Doyoung nodded his head vigorously, saying that was right. Just the fact that Han Jaegang remembered something about himself seemed to make him happy.

“That’s right. You only saw it briefly, so how do you remember that?”

“It just came to mind.”

“You sure like things that just come to mind. You remember even things as small as rat droppings. This guy’s memory is really extraordinary. He might even remember things from a past life. Isn’t that right, Hunmin?”

“Yeah. Totally a tiring personality.”

“That’s what I’m saying. It might be good for himself, but for people around him it’s tiring often. You can’t argue against him. Hunmin, do you remember that time?”

Yoon Hyunjun stepped in to tackle Han Jaegang’s words. As he dug up the past and talked with admiration and criticism, Sa Hunmin agreed without a word. They said that his memory lacked humanity, which made Han Jaegang let out a short laugh.

In the rowdy atmosphere, the only one who couldn’t laugh was Woojeong. It was because Han Jaegang’s hand still rested on his arm. Feeling troubled, Woojeong moved his arm lightly to try to remove his hand.

“Anyway, even back then the most vicious one was that bastard Han Jaegang. He stepped all over that guy with words while smiling like that, and since what he said wasn’t wrong, nobody even thought of tackling him.”

“What did I even do?”

Woojeong, who barely pulled his arm out without being noticed, flushed. In the noisy atmosphere, nobody paid attention to the two of them. On Han Jaegang’s lips that swallowed the brown liquid, a faint smile flickered and disappeared without a trace.