TGT 2

He reacted as if hearing this story for the first time. It seemed that his brother hadn’t told him anything. Well, it wasn’t something worth telling others anyway.

Seo Jeong-won raised his lowered gaze, briefly meeting Kwon Tae-hee’s eyes before continuing slowly.

“My parents passed away. When I was young.”

“Ah.”

“My brother and I lived with our aunt… Shortly after I graduated high school, they went on a trip and had an accident. A car accident. Due to inexperienced driving on that… winding road. Both of them died then.”

Seo Jeong-won gently frowned as he recalled the funeral. He learned so many things at that time.

The existence of debt from taking over the flower shop, and the fact that there was nothing left of his parents’ death insurance and compensation that they had taken, promising to give it to him when he became an adult.

“Even on the last day… that day too, my brother didn’t answer the phone. I actually… thought he would come.”

That there was money his brother sent monthly to an account in his name, and even that money was completely withdrawn the next day.

With no one to ask what had happened, it remained an eternal mystery.

“…Even if he didn’t want to pay respects to our aunt and uncle, I thought he would come to see me.”

Watching Seo Jeong-won speak with an innocent expression, Kwon Tae-hee was seized by an indescribable emotion.

He resembled Seo Gyu-won yet was different. This one was a more pure beauty. He had an atmosphere that strangely suited the gloomy, rainy weather well. His undisguised melancholic voice and fair face kept drawing attention.

His eyes that couldn’t quite meet others, his pure and transparent speech, his docile attitude somehow stimulated sadistic rather than protective instincts. There was also an expectation of what it would be like to make him cry.

Eventually, the thought that filled his mind was that he wanted to see that white face soaked in tears. Kwon Tae-hee hid his sinister intentions and smiled politely.

“It must have been hard for you alone.”

“…Ah. No, no, not at all.”

“In this situation, saying this might burden Jeong-won, but the truth is… Gyu-won was supposed to give me something. The engagement was just a formality to receive it, and I was in the position of paying and purchasing.”

Once again as their eyes met, Kwon Tae-hee was certain. That he wanted to possess the person before him. More precisely, he wanted to ‘play’ with him. It was an abnormal desire to break something clean and pretty that no one had touched.

“…My brother?”

“We wrote a contract, and I provided as much economic support as needed… but for some reason I don’t understand, Gyu-won changed his mind. Persuasion didn’t work well either. It’s strange to be telling Jeong-won about personal matters between us two.”

“…”

“We were both emotional at that time. It wasn’t something that should have led to breaking off the engagement, but neither of us changed our decision. After ending the relationship like that, a few days later, Gyu-won at the officetel…”

As Kwon Tae-hee explained, Seo Jeong-won’s face began to crumble moment by moment. His eyes, quickly filling with moisture, became thoroughly wet and dropped tears like beads.

He had expected it would be worth seeing, but it exceeded expectations. Perhaps this feeling was like finding an object you didn’t know you’d lost in an unexpected place. He even felt a faint sense of ecstasy.

“He had to undergo several major surgeries. Each time I was told it would be good to prepare myself mentally, but Gyu-won held on better than expected.”

“…”

“That’s why I’ve come this far too.”

Seo Jeong-won looked back at the light brown eyes focused on him before turning his head away.

“Jeong-won-ssi.”

The voice calling his name was full of regret and sympathy. He was confused, not knowing what to say or how to say it.

“I’ve waited long enough.”

The repeated message meant stopping Seo Gyu-won’s life support.

Should he agree with his opinion to remove the ventilator, or should he endure with his brother’s ventilator maintained, just as the other had said he had waited?

Seo Jeong-won’s lips parted, and a sigh-like answer flowed out.

“I… don’t really know.”

Kwon Tae-hee nodded at the pitiful answer given while rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. He patted the delicately trembling shoulders as if comforting him as he cried.

“It’s okay.”

The story he had told was merely an appeal to emotion, but it was unkind. It was ambiguous from beginning to end. He only conveyed the most provocative facts, while withholding information about what was most important—the contents of the contract.

Fortunately, Seo Jeong-won, overcome with grief, didn’t ask questions. He merely sympathized with his brother, his glass bead-like eyes trembling.

It’s fortunate that he’s young and innocent. If he had been a little smarter, he would have been suspicious instead of confused.

“What Gyu-won promised to give me is absolutely necessary for me. It might sound heartless, but I think I’ve fulfilled my moral responsibility sufficiently.”

“…”

“You’ve lived without knowing either. I didn’t call you to transfer responsibility. I’m letting you know that you don’t need to take responsibility.”

“By any chance… what did my brother say he would give you? Is it something no one else can give? Could I give it to you instead?”

Kwon Tae-hee smiled at the desperate question. He released a little pheromone to check Seo Jeong-won’s traits, but there was no response.

“Ah.”

A Beta wouldn’t be able to give it. Shallow curiosity surged endlessly like a wave.

“It’s still okay.”

Kwon Tae-hee nodded as if it didn’t matter, even though he knew he couldn’t receive from Seo Jeong-won what Seo Gyu-won had promised to give him.

“By all means, if Jeong-won could give it.”

His attitude and gestures were excessively elegant. Even the slow reach of his hand captured attention. Seo Jeong-won carefully grasped the outstretched hand that seemed to be requesting a handshake.

“Then my brother…”

“If Jeong-won keeps his promise, in return, I’ll let you maintain the ventilator for as long as you want. Of course, I’ll continue to cover the hospital expenses as I have until now. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

“…Thank you. Thank you.”

Despite the unsettling smile, Seo Jeong-won didn’t think he was making a terribly wrong choice. He was captivated by the thought that if the ventilator was maintained, his brother might someday wake up.

Though it was shameless, the priority for now was to accept his help and maintain his brother’s ventilator.

Kwon Tae-hee noticed that Seo Jeong-won’s palm had more calluses than he expected.

Looking as if he might break if pressed hard, like a small animal with soft white fur—what kind of hard work was he doing?

“When the paperwork is ready, I’ll come to where you are.”

“Ah…”

“Shall we meet again next week? Let me know when is good for you, and I’ll adjust my schedule accordingly.”

“Any time is fine with me. Just avoid weekends, please.”

Seo Jeong-won released the hand he was holding and rubbed his palm against his thigh. It was fascinating. Though beautiful, that such large and thick hands could be as soft as tender leaves that had just sprouted.

“Avoid weekends?”

“I’m a bit busy on weekends. Quite a lot of customers…”

Kwon Tae-hee slightly frowned his eyebrows. To him, “customers” meant those who sold their bodies, so he wondered if this innocent-looking person was talking in the same context.

“It’s a bit difficult. To interpret.”

“Ah, I run a flower shop. It belonged to my aunt and uncle, and somehow… I couldn’t close it down. So I’m taking care of it, and many people come to buy plants or repot them on weekends. Many people.”

“So customers visit the flower shop. I understand. I’ll contact you avoiding weekends. Shall we leave together?”

Seo Jeong-won shook his head at the question. Kwon Tae-hee stood up from his seat. He politely said he should be going now. A natural apology followed for leaving first.

“Please do take a car home. I was too distracted to ask how you get here. If I had known, I would have picked you up.”

He handed over a business card as if he had prepared it. Along with a nice smile, he added a request.

“Take care.”

“…Thank you for your concern.”

“See you again.”

Kwon Tae-hee left the lounge as soon as his business was done.

Following him out, Seo Jeong-won wondered if he might stop by Seo Gyu-won’s hospital room. But Kwon Tae-hee headed straight for the elevator without the slightest hesitation.

While engaged in a brief conversation with the man in a black suit following him, he suddenly turned around. Their eyes met in mid-air. Flustered, Seo Jeong-won bobbed his head down.

After finishing a farewell that wasn’t quite a farewell, Seo Jeong-won fell into thought as he walked toward the hospital room.

“He seems to lack nothing…”

What on earth had his brother promised to give that man?

Staring down at the business card he had received, he belatedly realized that he hadn’t asked the most important question.