BHB 111

“Even if I had lived quietly, they would have found some reason to kick me out.”

“…There’s no way to avoid it?”

Yeowon had a rough idea of how much Lee Taegang was treated like a bomb in that household. But he didn’t know more than that. Not only did Lee Taegang not particularly talk about it, but he had also made efforts, knowingly or unknowingly, to keep him from getting entangled with that family. That was probably why he hadn’t mentioned the gatherings with the upper-class family heirs.

But seeing that they had even assigned Choi Youngdoo, who had only ever wanted to bring Lee Taegang down, as surveillance, it seemed he was more of a thorn in the family’s side than he had thought. Yeowon sighed and furrowed his brow.

“Well, since you caused more trouble, there’s a limit to how much they’ll tolerate you.”

Lee Taegang continued indifferently, with a faint smile. That “trouble” was clearly the school festival incident. Yeowon pressed his eyes in frustration, realizing it had inevitably reached their ears.

“Why did you…”

In the end, this was what he had feared. What he had been constantly worried about had clearly happened. Yeowon looked at him with sharp, exasperated eyes. Why, why couldn’t he control himself and get so excited? When he knew better than anyone what kind of people his family were.

Yeowon bit his lip roughly and calmed his quickening breath. He suppressed his heaving chest and clenched his molars, 

“You should have been more careful.”

“……”

“There was no need to go that far!”

There was no need to act like a madman surrounded by all those people. Even if he was angry, he should have controlled himself to that extent. Even Yeowon, who wasn’t the brightest, knew this obvious fact, so how could Lee Taegang, who was called a genius, not know?

“How could I hold back?” Taegang asked back as if he couldn’t understand his reaction. “You know the reason I went along with that bastard’s games was because of you.”

“……”

“And then he confesses?” Lee Taegang inhaled his cigarette violently, letting out a low, humorless laugh. “Who does he think he is, daring to do that?”

A cold glint flashed sharply through the darkness. It carried a deadly aura that showed he absolutely could not tolerate that.

“…At times like that, you really seem like a psychopath.” Yeowon clearly expressed his lamenting tone.

“…It was hard keeping it hidden.”

As if he no longer intended to hide it, Taegang responded with a brazen face. When he revealed such emotions without filtering, Yeowon felt discomfort surge within him. His obsession with him and his twisted feelings approached him in a strange way. Yeowon pressed his lips shut again. This made him newly realize how they had fought because of him and how awkward it actually was that they were facing each other like this now. He turned his body, openly expressing his discomfort.

And once more, a long silence divided the two of them. Lee Taegang threw his finished cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it with his foot. Just as the burdensome air was about to stagnate, he spoke first, “…But you’re right, I should have done that.”

He continued with a tone that seemed to seep in like passing air, “I should have just said it once.”

“……”

“If it had been you, you would have met me at least once, even if just out of pity.”

A despairing sigh filled with regret flowed out together. At that moment, he suddenly recalled his own words that he had spitefully thrown at him that day. Lee Taegang had carefully stored away the words he had pierced him with in his anger. He had clearly been hurt that day. But despite that, he was accepting it. As if he had expected it all. As if self-deprecatingly saying this outcome was inevitable.

Yeowon avoided his gaze with a face full of dismay, as if struck in a vital point.

“…It’s because you have too much unnecessary affection.”

Lee Taegang’s hand approached as if it might touch him, but Yeowon unconsciously turned his head to avoid it. It was uncomfortable. That version of Lee Taegang was still unfamiliar, and the days when he had deceived him still remained within him, not disappearing.

His hand stopped in midair, and a brief silence seeped into the alley. Feeling a tightening in his chest that made it hard to breathe, Yeowon hurriedly changed the subject to leave.

“…Since everything’s fine, I’ll go first.”

Yeowon coldly turned his body as if he had finished his business. He had almost surrendered to that touch. The fact that he had almost been swept away by a touch that felt affectionate approached him like a chill.

It was at that moment. At the entrance of the alley where people were passing by, a familiar face appeared as if he had been waiting. The man, whose eyes flashed fiercely with a vile smile, was none other than Choi Youngdoo.

“I knew it. I wasn’t mistaken.” With a triumphant smile, he walked in with heavy steps. 

Yeowon, his face full of dismay, took one step back for every step he took forward. He retreated slowly, considering for a moment. Whether to just flee or confront him. But one by one, lackeys began to appear behind Choi Youngdoo.

“Shit.” Yeowon chewed on a curse and racked his brain again. 

But even using his stupid head, he couldn’t come up with much of a plan. Above all, Lee Taegang, who shouldn’t be discovered by him, was behind him. He might be fine, but if Lee Taegang was dragged away by them, who knows what would happen to him. They were the kind of people who could put him on a plane and send him to some unknown remote place, and still have more in store.

“Hey, it’s been a really long time?” Choi Youngdoo smiled broadly as if he had found his prey. 

Yeowon wrinkled his nose bridge at the disgusting smile that seemed like it might smell.

“I thought it was strange. That you weren’t showing up. Always following Lee Taegang like his shadow.”

“…What? Did you miss me?” Yeowon twitched one side of his cheek as he retorted.

“Fucking of course. Do you know how much I’ve been looking for you?”

“That’s not my problem.”

“You’re still as disrespectful as ever.”

Choi Youngdoo ground his teeth and charged forward as if about to attack in earnest, but Lee Taegang unhesitatingly stepped between them and grabbed a fistful of Choi Youngdoo’s hair as he approached.

“Ugh!” With his hair firmly caught, Choi Youngdoo grabbed Lee Taegang’s arm and glared up with angry eyes. “Come on, you’ll ruin my style. Why don’t you let go?”

“…Just go away.”

“Hey, I can’t do that. I’m doing a job I’m getting paid for. I have to take you with me.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Just take me alone.” Lee Taegang replied in an indifferent voice. 

He was saying he would follow quietly without putting up resistance. At his cooperative attitude, Choi Youngdoo frowned suspiciously, then glanced with fierce eyes at Yeowon, who was standing behind Lee Taegang, looking flustered. Being someone with many personal scores to settle, he wanted to deal with Yeowon somehow but seemed likely to lose him to Lee Taegang’s intervention again. But he was currently working—formally employed by Lee Taegang’s father.

“…Alright then.”

“……”

“Why did you even run away in the first place?” Choi Youngdoo acted submissively, as if accepting the proposal. 

Feeling the fear that Lee Taegang might slam his head against the wall while gripping his hair, he carefully released himself from Lee Taegang’s grasp while cautiously observing him. Though he was acting as Lee Taegang’s surveillance, the guy was unpredictable. When violent, he was more brutal than himself, and in terms of skill, Lee Taegang was a step above, so he had to be appropriately cautious.

Lee Taegang walked ahead without replying. Somewhat relieved by his docile attitude, Choi Youngdoo glared once at Han Yeowon, who was standing blankly. It was a warning look that said they would meet again later, but Yeowon’s gaze wasn’t directed at Choi Youngdoo. It was fixed on Lee Taegang’s back as he left the alley entrance, surrounded by the lackeys.

“…Shit, really.”

He roughly ran his hand through his hair, cursing as if in agony. Then, messing up his hair wildly, he hesitated several times in his steps. As they disappeared from the alley, Yeowon chewed on curses over and over. Hesitating again and again until the situation felt painful, Yeowon finally took a deep breath and stepped forward forcefully.

Running toward the group that had quickly moved away, he kicked one of the surrounding lackeys in the back and snatched Lee Taegang’s arm, which had been moving compliantly. His previously calm eyes shook with surprise.

“…Run.” Then he muttered under his breath and ran blindly. 

“Hey, catch them!!” The startled shouts of the group who had suddenly lost Lee Taegang rang out loudly, but Yeowon ran without looking back. 

Gripping Lee Taegang’s arm desperately with his hand, he ran as if his life depended on it. Though he didn’t look back, the guy caught in his hand was doing the same. Part of why he only looked forward without daring to see what face he was making.

Soon, clearing away distracting thoughts, Yeowon continued without stopping, even though his breath reached his chin and his heart was pounding as if his blood vessels might burst from the urgency.

For a very brief moment, he had intended to ignore Lee Taegang and go back. But then.

…It couldn’t be that easy.

Seeing Lee Taegang’s back as he complied and moved away in a manner unlike him, a fearful premonition swept over him that he shouldn’t just let him go like this. As that premonition seeped into his bones, his body moved on its own. Since his stupid self had always acted faster than his thoughts, he ultimately had no choice but to do this. Running until he was out of breath, that was how he justified himself.