RB 132

After Eunho quit his night shift at the convenience store, his sleep schedule slowly returned to normal. He resumed his work at the meat restaurant and was currently helping with the pre-opening preparations.

“Did you buy a new phone?”

The kitchen auntie asked while they sat around a circular table, trimming young summer radishes. Eunho turned his gaze toward the device on the table. It was a budget model, nothing expensive, but it gleamed with the shine of a brand-new item.

“Yes…”

Eunho replied with a hint of bashfulness. He didn’t want to show it off, but leaving it out like that made it look as though he wanted people to notice.

“Good for you. It must have been inconvenient without one.”

“A little… yes.”

“Give me your number, too.”

The phone passed naturally between them. The owner also took the opportunity to save Eunho’s new number. Contact information slowly filled the device, which had been activated only a short while ago. The list included the couple who ran the restaurant, the landlord, and Choi Yeorok.

Yeorok’s number was the very first one Eunho had saved. He could effortlessly remember the eleven digits. However, Eunho had never reached out first. He lacked the courage, or perhaps he simply didn’t have a reason. His hand still hesitated to make the call.

A week had already passed since Yeorok spent the night at his place. Their relationship remained in a lukewarm state. It felt like more than a grudge, but it was not quite a full forgiveness. An “awkward reconciliation” seemed like the most fitting description.

For now, they were both taking time to sort out their own thoughts. Eunho certainly was, though he could not speak for Yeorok. Eunho was the type of person who needed to think and deliberate before he made any decision. He was certain that Yeorok understood this and was waiting for him.

An old television in the corner of the shop played the afternoon news. A bold headline occupied the screen: [Blue House Luncheon, Heads of Major Groups in Attendance].

The faces of elderly chairmen appeared one by one. When Yeorok appeared, the camera flashes were so intense that his face seemed to glow white. Even amidst the blinding light, his expression was unchanged. He maintained nothing but his characteristic, restrained smile.

The owner, who had been fiddling with radish leaves, tilted his head as he watched the news.

“A face like that… it can’t be common.”

“Who is it?”

“They say he’s the chairman of Haegang.”

“A chairman? That young?”

“I guess so.”

The couple exchanged comments while they watched the broadcast. Eunho slowly raised his eyes to the screen. On the news, Choi Yeorok looked like someone from a different world. He exuded an overwhelming aura that made it impossible to approach him.

“He looks so much like that man who caused a scene here before. Don’t you think so, Eunho?”

The owner asked for Eunho’s opinion, still feeling confused. Eunho couldn’t answer. He mumbled that he wasn’t sure and focused entirely on the radishes.

Just then, the shop door opened. It was unexpected, as customers rarely visited during the afternoon.

“Welco…”

The owner started to stand up but froze mid-sentence. The first customer of the day looked exactly like the face they had just seen on the news.

Yeorok was impeccable today. He looked as if he had stepped directly out of the television screen. His black suit perfectly fit his body, and his unrealistic features were fully visible beneath his meticulously swept-back hair. Even the air around him seemed to have a different texture.

The man, who radiated class, bowed politely to the owner.

“Hello.”

He slowly raised his head and looked at Eunho. When the latter blinked in his frozen state, a small smile appeared on Yeorok’s otherwise dry face.

“I am not here for a meal. I came to meet someone.”

The owner’s mouth hung open. His thoughts slipped out before he could filter them.

“Choi Yeorok?”

“Yes.”

Yeorok answered. He smiled as if he did not care what he was called. His eyes never left Eunho. It was obvious who he had come to see.

A heavy silence enveloped the restaurant. The owner looked back and forth between Eunho and Yeorok in disbelief. He could hardly trust his own eyes.

Eunho set down the dull knife and the radishes before he stood up. Unlike the stunned owner, he was calm as he wiped his dirt-stained hands on his apron.

“Boss, I need to talk to him for a moment…”

“Oh, right. Go ahead.”

The owner snapped out of his daze and moved quickly. He wiped down a table he had already cleaned and offered them a place to sit comfortably.

Eunho could not ignore the gesture, so he moved to the seat. Yeorok followed and sat down. Meanwhile, the owner brought out two cups of instant coffee. He stole glances at Yeorok as he walked away, still amazed by the situation.

“They aren’t pointing fingers this time.”

“They just saw you on the news.”

Yeorok laughed, his eyes curved softly as he looked ahead. His gaze traveled along Eunho’s hands, shoulders, and neckline before it finally landed on his face. Yeorok watched him for a long time.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes.”

“You look better.”

“…….”

Eunho stared at him. Yeorok looked radiant. It was nearly embarrassing to see such a man sitting in a typical meat restaurant under the bright lights.

Eunho sighed, but he could not avoid the conversation. He moistened his dry lips with his tongue and slowly spoke.

“How is… your wound?”

“It is healing well. I want to rest more, but there is much work to do.”

Instead of gauze, his hair now covered the spot where he had been injured. To a casual observer, he looked as though he had never been hurt. He appeared as flawless and calm as ever.

However, even Yeorok could not hide his nerves in front of Eunho. He tried his best to act fine, but his breath trembled slightly.

“I wanted to wait until you contacted me first… but I could not restrain myself.”

“…….”

“Can you tell me how much longer I must wait?”

Yeorok carefully brought up the main point. His desire to see Eunho was the immediate issue, but he came here to resolve something more fundamental.

“It has only been a week.”

“I suppose so.”

A hollow laugh escaped Yeorok’s lips. He knew how pathetic he must look. But he could not help it. The past week felt like an eternity to him.

“I am sorry for rushing you.”

His apology was sincere. Eunho looked down. He noticed that Yeorok’s hand, which held a white paper cup, shook ever so slightly.

Eunho gently pulled that hand toward himself. The unsightly scar marred the smooth back of his hand. He softly traced it with his thumb.

“Aren’t you going to get rid of the scar?”

“No.”

“It will remind you of everything every time you see it.”

“I expect it will.”

“…Then do not forget for as long as you live. You should keep looking at it, reflecting on it, and feeling the pain.”

Yeorok nodded in silence. He was already doing exactly that.

He curled his fingers and took hold of Eunho’s hand. His palm was damp with sweat from the tension. Despite his dignified exterior, a hidden vulnerability lay beneath the surface. Only Eunho could feel it.

“I will go back.”

Eunho quietly shared his decision. He then squeezed Yeorok’s sweaty hand.

This was not an easy decision for him to make. His heart had already leaned toward this conclusion. Perhaps he only needed a final push. The sight of Yeorok’s nervous hand filled that last remaining gap.

Eunho could not abandon Choi Yeorok in the end. Even when life felt so difficult that he wanted to give up on everything, his love for the man remained persistent. He would keep hold of it, even if it took the form of a complicated love-hate relationship.

He had no guarantee that staying by Yeorok’s side would bring him happiness. However, he felt it would be better to be miserable together than apart. Even if this choice proved to be a mistake, he wanted to accept the consequences.

Yeorok smiled faintly.

“Thank you.”

“…….”

“I want to hug you right now… but I cannot do that here.”

Instead, he tightened his grip on Eunho’s hand. He could feel the emotion in his touch without Yeorok saying anything.

Eunho nodded and stood up first, letting go of the hand.

“I finish at 11:00 PM today. I assume you already know that.”

His expression remained calm, but the tips of his ears turned red.

“I know.”

“I also… got a phone. I will send you a text message later.”

The corners of Yeorok’s eyes softened even further. He simply adored how Eunho said everything he needed to say despite his awkwardness. Perhaps he still wanted to hug the younger man, as he repeatedly clenched and opened his empty hand before he finally stood up.

As the conversation reached its end, the owner cleared his throat from a distance. He moved around, sweeping and wiping as if he had not been eavesdropping the entire time.

Eunho walked over to him and called out.

“Oh, yes. Are you two finished talking?”

“Yes.”

The owner’s eyes had been fixed on Yeorok for a while. His expression betrayed an intense curiosity about the relationship between the two men.

Yeorok approached and bowed politely.

“I was very rude the last time I was here. I apologize.”

“Oh, no. Not at all. Please, don’t mention it. I also…”

The owner bowed in return. When he straightened up, his face was still full of questions.

“Um… but what exactly is your relationship with our Eunho?”

“He is my nephew.”

“Ah, I see. A nephew…. Wait, a nephew?”

“He left home for a while after we had a fight. I was very worried, so I want to thank you for treating him like a son.”

“I’ll just see him out.”

Eunho hurried to grab Yeorok’s arm and pulled him away. The tall man allowed himself to be led out without a word of protest.

Once the door closed, the owner and his wife huddled together to gossip.

“See? I told you he looked like a young master from a wealthy family.”

“He isn’t just from any wealthy family!”

The owner realized why the name on the bank account was Choi Yoonho. He figured Eunho must be using an alias. Everything finally clicked into place.

The couple peeked out the window to watch the two of them. Eunho stood outside, pointing a finger at Yeorok while he scolded him. The man he was lecturing was the same Choi Yeorok from Haegang Group who appeared on the news. They guessed he could only act so boldly because they were family.

Yeorok looked down at Eunho with a constant smile, as if he deeply cherished his “nephew”. The way he brushed the hair from Eunho’s forehead was full of affection.

A moment later, Eunho finished the send-off and stepped back inside. As soon as the door opened, the couple clumsily looked away, pretending they weren’t interested.

Eunho returned to his tasks as usual. He lifted a large basin of trimmed radishes and carried it into the kitchen.

“Ha… I don’t know if I can keep asking him to do this.”

The owner muttered to himself while he stole a glance toward the kitchen. An imaginary halo seemed to shine behind the diligent part-timer. The thought of those precious hands scrubbing a greasy grill made the owner feel a sudden dizzy spell.