PO 9

The newly refurbished dining room looked far more radiant than before. On Lee Iljun’s left, who sat at the head of the table, sat Kang Eonju and Woojeong, and across from them sat Han Jaegang and Lee Doyoung.

“There isn’t much, but please eat plenty.”

“I’ll eat well.”

Kang Eonju had invited a famous culinary researcher for tonight’s dinner. Not only the food but also the tableware and even the plating bore the touch of an expert. The culinary researcher finished the preparations by using the flowers that Han Jaegang had brought to adorn the table beautifully.

“When you go abroad for several days you start to crave Korean food, right? So I asked my mother to prepare it the way we normally eat at home. My mother’s cooking skill is really excellent.”

“Oh, what skill are you talking about?”

When Lee Doyoung praised his mother’s flavor that he had never even tasted, Kang Eonju waved her hand as if she was embarrassed. She at that moment received a serving spoon from the culinary researcher who had just brought out the dish. Her hand, as she transferred the seafood dish grilled with unique seasoning onto a side plate, was quite clumsy, but fortunately she did not lose her graceful smile.

“I prepared it with care, but I don’t know if it will suit your taste.” Lee Doyoung received the plate from her and set it down before Han Jaegang, who sat next to him. Since he had sat at the table, he hadn’t been able to put even a single spoon of rice in his own mouth because he was carefully looking after the guest beside him.

“It’s delicious. Thanks to it, I think my travel fatigue is easing.” Han Jaegang, using chopsticks in the proper way, picked up a suitable portion of food and put it in his mouth, and then he moved his jaw quietly. There was not a single clatter of dishes or sound of spoons being put down.

The table manners that he must have been rigorously taught since childhood were flawless. He didn’t seemed to have any particular aversion to food, and he showed courtesy by at least tasting whatever Lee Doyoung recommended.

“Lee Doyoung, you should eat too.”

Han Jaegang stopped Lee Doyoung, who tried to take care of him like a baby eating baby food, and he continued his meal.

“Our Doyoung is still young so he is a bit immature.”

“No. He is rather mature and grown-up.”

“Oh my. I’m so relieved that you see him that way.”

“After he graduates from school and begins working, he will fulfill his role well. His grandfather sometimes brings him along to teach him work, and each time he feels pleased, saying that Doyoung has a knack for it.”

The atmosphere at the table was warm and pleasant. Throughout the meal, Kang Eonju led the conversation, and from time to time Lee Iljun added a few words. Lee Iljun called someone to bring out a fine wine that he had prepared in advance.

“Since this is a good gathering, I prepared a bottle of wine. Have a glass.”

“I’m sorry. Since I brought a car, I’ll only accept the gesture.” Refused when he suggested a drink, Lee Iljun couldn’t hide his disappointment. Even when he suggested he would call a driver to wait, Han Jaegang was firm. In the end, Lee Iljun had no choice but to follow his will.

Han Jaegang placed his hand lightly on the coaster and received the glass. The attendant who moved quietly around the table took the bottle and filled everyone’s glasses.

“Even if you don’t drink, a toast is fine, right?”

“Of course.”

At Lee Iljun’s suggestion, Woojeong awkwardly lifted his glass. The red liquid wavered inside the clear glass raised in the air. Woojeong clinked glasses, and he only pretended to touch the rim to his lips before setting it down quietly.

He lifted his head without thinking and his eyes met Han Jaegang’s as he lowered his own glass. Han Jaegang seemed to look at Woojeong for a brief moment, and then he turned his gaze away indifferently.

Woojeong couldn’t eat his meal properly. He felt as if he was eating with a time bomb at his side that could explode at any moment, and he couldn’t taste the food at all.

While he sighed inwardly, the adults’ conversation resumed. Politics and economy and recent social issues came up one after another as topics, but there was almost nothing in them that could interest Woojeong.

Lee Iljun, who emptied several glasses of wine while conversing with Han Jaegang, began to show a flush on his face.

“Some time ago I met Chairman Han at a gathering of businessmen. His eyes were still bright and his energy was full. His figure remained vigorous, and I thought he looked fine, but now that I see you, Executive Director Han, you resemble your grandfather very much.”

“The elders say that I am the spitting image of my grandfather when he was young. I see that resemblance myself.”

“So that must be why the Chairman cherishes you so much, Executive Director Han. Haha.”

Woojeong, who sat like an isolated island and ate quietly, slowed his movement with his chopsticks. The table was full of appetizing dishes, but his chopsticks never went beyond his personal setting.

“How many years apart are you from your younger brother?”

“Oh. Woojeong is five years younger than me.”

“Then is he a university student now?”

When Woojeong’s name came up in the conversation, he raised his head in surprise. Every gaze at the table turned toward him. The question was nothing much, but while Woojeong fumbled in embarrassment, Kang Eonju interjected and answered in his place.

“Our Woojeong has been frail, so he spent a long time in the hospital. University is fine, but health comes first, so we postponed his entrance a little. He will have to prepare step by step and then go.” Kang Eonju patted Woojeong’s back with a tender face that was rarely seen. Woojeong straightened his back at the unfamiliar touch, and he also forced an awkward smile.

“So his health has been poor.”

“But he has become much better these days. I can’t say how thankful I am that he doesn’t need to be hospitalized anymore. Unlike his older brother, who was born with a strong constitution and grew up without a single illness, Woojeong was so frail that I worried endlessly all this time….”

“It is fortunate that his health has improved. Lee Woojeong, what do you do when you meet friends of your age? What are young people interested in these days?”

“He has lived much of his life in the hospital, so he doesn’t really have friends. He spends all day at home reading books and listening to music. I am still cautious about letting him go around alone, and he also likes being at home very much.”

“…He must be the youngest who receives much love at home.”

“Yes?”

Han Jaegang tossed the napkin he had used to wipe his mouth onto the table. He signaled that he had finished his meal, and he looked back and forth between the mother and son seated opposite him, and then he added an indifferent remark.

“In my family home, if you can’t answer a question properly, you are rebuked immediately. It looks good to see family taking care of each other well.”

“That is only because our Woojeong is very shy and not good with words….” Kang Eonju read in Han Jaegang’s words a nuance that asked why she coddled him so much when he wasn’t even a child anymore, and she hurriedly made excuses.

Since coming to the house, Han Jaegang had been unfailingly courteous, but strangely he always had a side that made others nervous . Even his kind tone seemed cold, and even when he smiled, he didn’t look as if he was simply in a good mood.

Han Jaegang laughed and eased the rigid atmosphere by saying that youngest children were always like that. Then he spoke again to Woojeong.

“You are at that age where people get bored if they only stay at home.” Han Jaegang looked around as if seeking agreement. Kang Eonju, smiling and nodding, quickly signaled Woojeong, who hesitated, to answer. Woojeong set down his chopsticks and placed his hands together on his lap.

“I usually like being at home, so it is fine.”

“Since his health has improved, I should take him out often. He is my only sibling, and I cannot say how sorry I felt when he stayed in the hospital all the time. Like you said, Executive Director Han, he is at his best age. I am thinking of taking a trip somewhere soon, so is there a place you could recommend?”

Lee Doyoung naturally entered the conversation and drew Han Jaegang’s attention toward himself. At the sight of Han Jaegang lost in thought, Lee Doyoung had to struggle not to laugh. He still couldn’t believe that Han Jaegang had accepted his invitation and was here at his house like this.

“Which do you prefer? Mountains? Or sea?”

“I like everything.”

“Someone who says he likes everything is always more picky.”

People with a background similar to Han Jaegang generally married early. They built a household in advance and sought stability, and then they focused on their work.

Han Jaegang’s marriage was rather late. Until then, there had never been rumors that he was seeing anyone in particular, and it was only recently that he began to go on arranged dates.

But by luck, Lee Doyoung had the chance to meet him. At the arranged date that he attended with his heart steeled with high expectation, Lee Doyoung came face to face with the real Han Jaegang whom he had only seen in photographs.

At that moment, he understood with his whole body the meaning of falling in love at first sight. With flawless looks, a powerful family background, courteous conduct, and a grave low-pitched voice, Han Jaegang seemed like a perfect alpha.

“Then a place where you can experience both mountains and sea will be good.” When Lee Doyoung went to the arranged date, he thought that even if it went awry, he couldn’t help it. The gap in conditions was too wide, so even to be given the chance to meet him once was a stroke of luck. But once he met Han Jaegang, his thinking changed completely.

He was someone too desirable. The desire to hold him no matter what means it took filled Lee Doyoung’s mind. So when Han Jaegang was the one who first asked for another meeting, Lee Doyoung felt as though he was dreaming.

“I have a villa in Gangneung, so I will invite you when I find a date.”

“Really? Can I go?”

“Why would there be any reason you can’t? But it is a desolate place with nothing to enjoy, so you might find it boring.”

“It is better if it is quiet. It feels like resting.”

“Oh my, our Doyoung will like that.”

Since then, when they began to meet, Han Jaegang was always too busy. It was hard to even set a date, and even when one was finally set, it was often postponed, so seeing his face became like picking stars from the sky.

Lee Doyoung thought that if things kept being pushed back like this, they might end completely. To Han Jaegang, who was about to leave for an overseas business trip, Lee Doyoung proposed that after returning, they should have dinner at his house.

He pretended not to know that visiting the home of someone met through an arranged date never carried a light meaning, and he pushed him with the words that he must miss Korean food.

It was surprising, Han Jaegang said he would make time and accepted the invitation without hesitation.

“I don’t know if the meal was satisfactory.”

“Your skill in cooking is excellent, so I ate with great enjoyment.”

“Oh my. That is fortunate. Hoho.”

The fact that Han Jaegang showed kindness to his family was clearly a good sign. It was certain that the way he engaged in sincere conversation with his parents and even paid attention to Woojeong, who sat without presence at one side of the table, was an action of consideration toward him. Lee Doyoung placed his hand over Han Jaegang’s on the table and spoke.

“Jaegang-ssi, since the meal is finished, will you look around my room?”

•••

Woojeong, who was finally freed from the dinner that felt endlessly long, went straight to his room. As soon as he closed the door, he threw himself face down on the bed. Even though he closed his eyes and took deep breaths, his startled heart didn’t calm easily.

So the person that Lee Doyoung said he would bring was him. When he recalled the moment he first met the man at the entrance, he felt his heart grow cold.

He had thought that perhaps the man Lee Doyoung was seeing and the man of Snow Reflection Residence might know each other, but he had never imagined that the two would be the same person.

“……”

Even when he saw Woojeong, the man greeted him calmly without any sign of surprise. Since he was someone who could uncover anything if he put his mind to it, it was no wonder even if he had already known.

Woojeong rose from the bed and walked to the window. What little fortune there was lay in the fact that the man hadn’t spoken about their affair before the family.

While he looked out at the dark backyard with a troubled mind, he suddenly heard movement outside the door.

The sound passed Lee Doyoung’s room and continued drawing closer.

Woojeong pressed himself against the wall as though the several footsteps were a threat against him. The murmuring voices stopped precisely before his door.