RACA 8

Eunsol still couldn’t properly meet his eyes, and he showed a polite attitude that said if Jaebeom had more to say, then he should go ahead and say it.

Maybe that amused him again, because Pyo Jaebeom let out a small puff of air from his lips.

“Aren’t you going to ask?”

“Yes?”

“Are you not curious about what I’m going to say?”

Of course he wanted to know why Jaebeom was speaking as if he had some hidden scheme.

“What is it?”

He blurted it out without thinking, and then Eunsol stopped moving. It was because he clearly saw Pyo Jaebeom’s sexy eyes turned into crescent because of his smile.

‘Why is he smiling in a way that makes my heart tremble again?’

A person should choose the right time and place. He shouldn’t be charming people like that whenever he wants.

‘Well, that’s why they call him a guarantee of ten million viewers.’

Whether it was a movie or a drama, or even when he appeared in commercials or sometimes in variety shows, Pyo Jaebeom was someone who always drew attention by radiating every kind of charm.

Eunsol unconsciously praised actor Pyo Jaebeom again like a storm, and he focused on lips that looked soft but weren’t soft at all.

“What else? I have to do it all the time.”

The question mark he had left floating in his head as ‘What?’ turned into three giant exclamation marks the moment he noticed Pyo Jaebeom’s gaze change.

Crash.

The chair slid back and made a loud noise. But Eunsol didn’t even have the presence of mind to check it. His body stiffened as if he would run away right away.

“Why are you suddenly surprised like that?”

“N, no, no. No, I mean…”

His words rolled around without even forming proper sentences. But Eunsol’s tangled thoughts couldn’t be unraveled.

“Sit. You haven’t even finished eating yet, so why are you getting up first?”

His leisurely words couldn’t made Eunsol feel relaxed. But Pyo Jaebeom resumed his meal again as his business was finished.

He stared at him for about thirty seconds. Since Jaebeom didn’t even glance his way, only then did Eunsol set up the fallen chair and sit down again.

He picked up his spoon and scooped bean sprout rice, and he continued sneaking side glances at Pyo Jaebeom, but Jaebeom didn’t say anything.

‘This makes me even more nervous!’

He could at least say something. There are so many ways to pressure a person. As always, while grumbling inwardly, Eunsol busily carried food to his mouth.

He thought the best plan now was to empty it as fast as possible and run away. Of course, even if he did that, there wasn’t any safe place.

“Lee Eunsol.”

Just as he barely finished the meal and gulped down a glass of water, Pyo Jaebeom called again. Now Eunsol straightened his back reflexively, put down the cup quickly, and answered.

“Yes!”

Seeing him look like he was standing at attention, Pyo Jaebeom laughed again. The more he looked, the more he wondered where such a person had come from.

“You’re like Jongjong-i.”

The name already suggested what kind of being it was, Eunsol’s lips twitched. No doubt it was a pet dog.

“What? Do you dislike it?”

“No…”

Even though he said no, his face showed all his sulky mood, and that made Pyo Jaebeom laugh again.

“Want me to show you a picture? It’s really cute.”

Eunsol had to put all his strength into not sending him a look that said, ‘What kind of guy is this?’

‘He’s supposed to be a mob boss. He has no weight, no weight. Well, from his clothes, he dresses stylishly like someone going to a fashion show.’

He grumbled instead, but when a phone suddenly appeared in front of him, his eyes followed the screen on their own. There was a cat with its eyes narrowed so much the pupils couldn’t be seen.

“Jongjong-i… was a cat?”

“What?”

“No…”

Eunsol couldn’t bring himself to say that he had expected a fluffy mutt with brown and black fur mixed together.

The only resemblance was that both had thick fur, and just by looking, he could feel that the cat in the picture was a rare breed.

‘How did it end up with the wrong owner and get such a name…’  ¹

Eunsol clicked his tongue, turned his head away, and lifted himself from the chair.

“Well, if you’re done eating, I’ll clear this.”

Eunsol quickly grabbed both the bowl he had eaten from and Jaebeom’s, and he hurried to the sink so Jaebeom wouldn’t stop him.

Even while he turned on the water and washed the dishes, he was so conscious of the one behind him that he almost turned to look back, but he barely resisted the urge.

‘Go. Leave now. Hurry and go.’

He desperately hoped that when he turned around, Jaebeom would be gone, like yesterday. Maybe someone in the universe heard his desperate plea. Fortunately, when he finished washing the dishes, Pyo Jaebeom and his men were gone.

“Phew…”

Eunsol let out a long breath and squatted on the floor. He stared at the floor, then suddenly stood up.

“Nothing’s going to be solved just by sitting like this!”

It seemed better to think more while digesting first. He left the kitchen quickly. He was about to go back to his room, but his steps turned toward the living room because he couldn’t help but wonder.

‘He wouldn’t still be in the house, right?’

He came suddenly while working. So he had hope that Jaebeom had gone back to work. He sneaked into the wide space and poked his head out at the corner.

Fortunately, there wasn’t any sign of anyone.

“There’s no one.”

“Who?”

Just as he was about to feel relieved, he heard a low voice from behind.

“Argh!”

Eunsol flinched and jumped as he felt someone breathing down his neck. He grabbed his tingling ear and turned back.

Pyo Jaebeom was grinning, he probably found it amusing. He crossed his arms and his shoulders shook with laughter, and that sight was so annoying.

“No one who?”

“N, no, th, the und, underlying?”

“Oh really?”

Why was he picking a fight again? Eunsol pouted his lips and then quickly pulled them back in. He didn’t know why his lips kept moving on their own.

“You sure know how to use some creative titles.”

It would be nice if only he could smack that back just once. If not the back, then he at least wanted to pinch those twisted lips.

He wished for it desperately, but Eunsol’s head stayed lowered toward the floor. He knew Pyo Jaebeom wasn’t asking because he didn’t know.

‘Why didn’t you leave? Why?!’

If you’re the head of a financial institution, aren’t you supposed to be busy?

“Sit.”

CEO Pyo Jaebeom, who seemed not so busy despite holding a high position, pointed toward the sofa.

“Should I, um, maybe bring some tea?”

Eunsol rubbed the soles of his feet against each other and hesitated. But when he saw Pyo Jaebeom tilt his head and faint wrinkles appear on the bridge of his nose, he moved quickly.

“So, what is it you need…”

Eunsol sat half-perched on the sofa and asked directly. But Pyo Jaebeom gave him only a long stare instead of words.

The light-filled living room made the look feel even heavier. Again Eunsol didn’t dare turn toward him, and he started inspecting the ceiling and furniture.

“Lee Eunsol.”

“Yes?”

He slanted a look at Pyo Jaebeom, who called his name like he was addressing a pet. Pyo Jaebeom sat with his left leg crossed.

Whatever he did, the man looked like a magazine spread, and just that pose made him look like he was shooting for an apartment advertisement.

And his tone was unbearably sly.

‘If I had watched this in a drama, I would’ve praised it as the perfect life character.’

How did I end up sitting here, enduring such an uncomfortable time?

But that thought didn’t last. It was because Pyo Jaebeom suddenly gave an order.

“Take it off.”

“Yes?”

Th, th, that man right now! What is he saying in broad daylight?!

Eunsol instinctively stumbled back. He crossed his arms over his chest to cover himself. Then he suddenly felt something off and lowered his head.

“Oh…”

Why was he still wearing this? The kitchen latex gloves that prided themselves on being tight were wrapping his hands like a shield.

He quickly pulled them off and sneaked a look at Pyo Jaebeom. The smirk looked obviously like he was making fun of him.

“Now I see you’ve got a bold personality. Huh? You haven’t even finished your work, but you wanted to climb into bed already?”

“No!”

What climb? That man was saying something outrageous. Eunsol shook his head while clutching the gloves. And he discreetly took one more step back. He didn’t forget to watch Pyo Jaebeom’s reaction either. His plan was to slip into his room, shut himself in, and stay out of Pyo Jaebeom’s sight.

“Th, th, then I’ll just, um, take this, to the kitchen…”

“Sit.”

That one word ended his clumsy escape attempt. Still holding the gloves, Eunsol dragged his feet back to the sofa. Pyo Jaebeom continued staring at him without turning away once, and it was oppressive.

“A- Aren’t you busy.”

It really looked like he had come in the middle of work, shouldn’t he be leaving right away? He put that meaning into his words, but Pyo Jaebeom didn’t fall for the shallow ploy.

“I’ve got time to talk. Sit down. This is the third time I’ve said it?”

When he pressured him counting any thought of defiance vanished. Eunsol quickly put his butt on the edge of the sofa.

1. Jongjong isn’t a dictionary word with a fixed meaning. It’s a onomatopoeic kind of pet name in Korean. It mimics the sound or image of something small, quick, and cute, like the pitter-patter of little steps. ↩︎