RB 33

“Sim Eunho?”

The question came the moment he stepped into the second-floor private study.

Yeorok was sitting on the edge of a dark walnut desk, tilting his head back. The yellowish light of the study shined on the straight line of his nape.

“He is studying in his room. Our Eunho is a model student.”

Seo Taehwa poured tea with practiced ease. The conversation sounded like that of a married couple raising a child. His shoulders shook slightly as he stifled laughter.

His tea-pouring skill was exceptional. Choi Yeorok also enjoyed the tea he prepared. Taehwa carefully steeped the tea in a teapot and poured the brew into a thin bone china teacup. When he offered it like a tribute, Yeorok took it without suspicion.

“I took a picture earlier, want to see?”

Taehwa stood in front of him and pulled out his phone. In the photo, Sim Eunho was frowning in concentration, the shot must had been taken secretly while he studied.

Yeorok looked at the image on the screen and scoffed. His clothes looked close to pajamas, and drops of water still clung to the ends of his hair, showing he had just showered, but the watch Yeorok had given him was on his wrist without fail. It must have pleased him a lot.

“The watch is pretty. How did you pick something like that? You really have an eye for these things.”

Taehwa slid over and sat on the desk beside him. As they looked at the photo together, his head leaned toward Yeorok’s shoulder.

“Don’t we get anything? You didn’t go all the way to the Paris flagship store just to buy a watch for Eunho, right?”

Yeorok lowered the hand holding the phone. His expression was completely different from when he had been looking at the picture. His face was cold and stripped of any smile.

“If you want something, buy it yourself. That’s what the card I gave you is for.”

“Wow… that stings.”

Taehwa wrinkled his nose and forced a smile. He crossed his ankles and leaned back, his posture relaxed, but all his focus was on the man next to him.

“But Eunho really is something. I never thought you’d care this much.”

“……”

“When the work is done, you’ll give me proper compensation, right? Don’t forget all I’ve done.”

He spoke lightly on purpose and tapped Yeorok’s leg with his foot. Then, as if he was joking, he brushed his ankle against him.

Yeorok lowered his eyes. Without changing expression, he said coldly.

“Taehwa, aren’t you crossing the line?”

“……”

“I kept you by my side on the condition you don’t show it.”

Taehwa’s face stiffened instantly. He jumped to his feet as if he sat on hot coals. His face was flushed red all the way to his earlobes.

“I didn’t… it was just a joke.”

“You’ve done well so far. I need you. I’d rather you don’t make me cast you out.”

The gentle tone made his chest sting. If only the words had been harsher.

He had tried to hide it as Yeorok told him to, but Yeorok noticed even the smallest slip. Having his long unrequited feelings pointed out filled him with unbearable shame.

“Hey, it’s just a habit. You know I hang on anyone.”

Taehwa ran his hand roughly through his bangs. He blew air through his lips to clear his head. His heart was still a mess, but he forced a mischievous smile.

“And besides, you’re talking about the past. I stopped liking you a long time ago.”

It was a lie. There was no expiration date on a one-sided love.

“There are plenty of people who like me. Why would I cling to you? You’re too full of yourself.”

Taehwa really was popular. He could always find someone to suit his taste. But none of them filled his heart like Choi Yeorok.

Choi Yeorok was a man with extraordinary charm that pulled people in. Regardless of gender, anyone could fall for him, whether the reason was affection or loyalty. A man too splendid for his own good, his presence bewitched people like magic.

The problem was that he never held anyone in his heart. Love was an emotion that did not exist for Choi Yeorok.

That was why Taehwa considered himself lucky. As long as he played the role of friend well, he could stay by Yeorok’s side for life. Just being a trusted person within Yeorok’s circle was enough for him.

Taehwa worked hard not to forget his position. He had been hiding his feelings for decades, and by now he was skilled at it.

When he finally lifted his gaze after calming his flushed face, Yeorok had already lost interest in the conversation and was drinking his tea with an indifferent expression. Seeing his smooth, refined face made the heart Taehwa had just calmed stir again. His mouth went dry.

Choi Yeorok built walls yet trapped people so they could not leave. The torment was Taehwa’s burden to bear.

He rubbed his heated nape and spoke casually.

“I’m staying out tomorrow. I have plans.”

Whenever his unreturned love began to crush him, he sometimes went outside and strayed. His decades-long one-sided love left him hollow.

“You don’t need to report things like that.”

“I said it because Eunho will be left alone at home.”

Even knowing full well why he was staying out, Yeorok’s expression did not change. He simply had no interest. Whether his friend went out and rolled around in filth or his nephew took drugs, he never cared.

Seo Taehwa was checked once more and could only laugh in defeat. In the window his reflection looked as pitiful as a dog caught in the rain.

***

Eunho was left alone in the annex.

Seo Taehwa had gone out since the evening saying he had plans. The only sound filling the wide room was Choi Yoonho’s voice flowing from the television.

He had stared at the video so long that his eyes ached. Eunho pressed down on his eyelids with the rounded knuckles of his palm. The light massage was something he had learned from Seo Taehwa.

Chhhzzzt–

At that moment static noises came from the desk. Since Seo Taehwa had gone out, there was no reason for the talkie walkie to sound. Curious, Eunho lowered his hand and blinked his bloodshot eyes.

Chkk–chhzzzt–

The noisy static came again. As soon as he picked up the talkie walkir, he heard a familiar voice.

–Sim Eunho-ssi.

“Ah! Uh!”

Eunho threw the radio away and sat down on the floor. He was so startled it felt like his heart would leap out of his throat.

–Sim Eunho-ssi, can’t you hear me?

Through the faint noise the voice came clear again. The even, low tone was unmistakably Choi Yeorok.

Eunho swallowed and grabbed the talkie walkir. He forced down his shaking chest and pressed the button with his thumb.

“Yes, Chairman. I can… hear you well.”

–Bring the radio and come to the mansion.

“Now?”

–Yes, now.

Eunho unconsciously lowered his head. The hands of his wristwatch were overlapping. It was already midnight on Wednesday.

‎

It was his first time stepping into the mansion alone, and the tension was overwhelming. Even after he passed through the entrance there was no one to greet him, so he looked around restlessly. He had no choice but to lift the talkie walkie to his mouth.

“Um… where should I go?”

–Come up to the third floor.

Eunho stepped onto the stairs as instructed. Choi Yeorok sometimes gave him directions through the talkie walkie, his only line of communication.

–Turn left and you’ll find another fork. Come through the hall with the flower vase.

The mansion was easy to get lost in, especially for someone like Eunho who didn’t know the layout. Choi Yeorok willingly guided him. It would have been simpler to come meet him himself, but he didn’t.

Before long, as Yeorok directed, Eunho arrived at a certain door. He knocked politely and turned the knob.

The sight before his eyes was unbelievable. From floor to a ceiling high above, the room was covered wall to wall with books. Surrounded by bookshelves on every side, it felt like being locked inside a barrier of books.

“The sound quality is better than I expected.”

Yeorok lightly shook the talkie walkie. His eyes curved faintly, showing he enjoyed the little game.

“…Hello.”

Eunho bowed his head. Only then did he properly look at Choi Yeorok. He had always seen him neatly dressed, but now his shirt sleeves were rolled up and his tie was undone, an unusual sight.

“I already drank too much today. I didn’t want to drink more, so I called you here instead.”

Yeorok set the talkie walkie on the shelf and walked over slowly. Even though he said he had been drinking, up close Eunho could neither smell alcohol nor see any signs of intoxication. Only his loosened clothing stood out.

So even this person had times when he looked relaxed… Eunho answered with a nod.

“Look around. If there’s a book you want to see, take it.”

With his permission, Eunho looked around the room slowly. How could such a library exist inside a house? The luxurious interior and the mountain of books overwhelmed him. He tilted his head back as he followed the endless shelves. He gasped.

“Wow…”

The domed ceiling was finished with glass. Beyond it the black sky and starlight looked like a giant ceiling painting.

How do you take out the books that high up? How many volumes are there altogether? Eunho held such trivial questions while peeking at the shelves. There were so many books that he didn’t dare to pull one down. Just scanning the designs on the spines and the titles printed there was enjoyable enough.

“So you really do like it.”

Yeorok murmured quietly to himself. Eunho’s wide-eyed look, as though seeing another world, felt refreshing to him.

While Eunho was absorbed in looking around, Yeorok pulled out a tablet PC and dove into the work he had put off. Each spent their time separately.

Shuffling sideways step by step, Eunho stopped at a display shelf. DVDs were arranged like framed pictures, which drew his interest.

So it wasn’t only books here…

Eunho scanned the DVDs and picked one that caught his eye. On the cover was a movie poster and the title printed in large letters. A copywriter’s line of the most intriguing part of the plot was enough to spark curiosity.

He crouched down and began pulling out DVDs at random. His eyes, heavy with fatigue, now sparkled with excitement.

“Do you like movies?”

The sudden voice made Eunho flinch. When he lifted his head, Yeorok was already close, leaning his head slightly against the shelf as he looked down at him.