BHB 96

There were so many people inside the club that it hardly seemed like a pre-opening. Yeowon heard many famous people had come, but since he wasn’t interested in that world, he couldn’t recognize who was who. Still, everyone’s clothes and groomed appearances clearly showed they were high-class.

Whenever Yeowon got lost looking for the bathroom, the few people who approached him were all beautiful and had the refined air of children from wealthy families. What was funny was that it wasn’t just women who pretended to bump into him to flirt. The person in front of him now was a man with a delicate face but a larger build than a woman’s, somewhat similar to Jeon Chaemin’s style—petite and pretty. The way he grabbed his arm under the pretext of supporting him when Yeowon staggered, asking if Yeowon was okay, showed he had plenty of experience with this move.

“You seem quite drunk.”

Even under the dim lighting, his fine skin was clearly visible.

“Did you come alone?” The man whispered quietly while discreetly pressing close to him. 

Yeowon had wondered if he might be attracted to men now after having sex with Taegang, but looking at this man, it seemed that wasn’t the case. It was disgusting. A man acting seductively, twisting his body while trying to hit on him, it all looked repulsively sleazy.

“… Get lost.”

Yeowon pushed him away irritably and headed toward the bathroom sign he’d finally found.

“Damn it, Taegang’s not answering his phone again?”

Yeowon’s steps faltered at the complaint from one of the men coming out of the bathroom.

“He always acts like he’s something special. This bastard.”

“He needs to maintain appearances. He’ll probably become the most successful among us soon.”

“Successful? He’s just someone who got kicked out of his family.”

“Still, my dad told me to stay on good terms with him.”

Listening to their conversation, Yeowon instinctively realized these guys were members of that group Taegang met with periodically. A gathering where the children of connected parents met regularly to build relationships and business connections. They were Taegang’s other acquaintances Yeowon  hadn’t known about until now.

“Try calling him one more time.”

“He’s not answering, damn it. And girls are easier to attract when he’s around.”

“But he doesn’t seem interested in women.”

“That’s just it. He’s been strange lately. Even when he shows up, he just ruins the mood, damn it.”

One member seemed particularly upset with Taegang, venting his frustration even though the subject wasn’t present. Yeowon could understand the feeling. Taegang was selective about people, and in front of those he didn’t like, he could be unimaginably rude.

“Is that rumor true, then?”

“What?”

“That he has a man.”

“What?”

“A man. You know.”

One of the members crudely suggested, wiggling his finger. Yeowon found himself unintentionally drawn to their conversation.

“No way. Seriously?”

“Who knows. But there’s been a famous kid for a while now. Someone Taegang keeps around.”

“Really? Do you know his name?”

“Supposedly the son of some nouveau riche. What was his name again…”

Yeowon’s focus on their words caused him to miss what was in front of him. Yeowon was tense, wondering if his name would come up next, when he bumped into something solid, making him frown. 

Yeowon instinctively cursed, “Ah, shi—”

Yeowon looked up with fierce eyes, annoyed at whoever wasn’t watching where they were going, when an unexpected figure came into view. It was Baek Seungha, dressed in a black suit with his hair styled with wax. Since he’d never seen him dressed up like this, he looked unfamiliar, and Yeowon blinked several times before recognizing him.

“Hyung?”

“Han Yeowon?”

While they were surprised to recognize each other, the group he’d been eavesdropping on quickly moved away. Yeowon should have listened to what they were going to say. 

As Yeowon looked at their retreating backs with regret, Baek Seungha asked, not hiding his pleasure at this unexpected meeting, “What brings you here?”

He seemed happy about their unexpected encounter. A slight flush appeared on his otherwise expressionless face, noticeable even to someone as socially unaware as Yeowon. But unlike him, Yeowonwasn’t at all pleased to see him. Just as he had much to discuss with Taegang, he also had many things to talk about with Baek Seungha.

“…Visiting a friend. What about you?”

“Well, as you can see.”

Seeing him in a suit with an earpiece at a place like this, Yeowon could roughly guess what he was doing.

“You work here too?”

“Just today. The pay is good.” Baek Seungha continued speaking casually, but a bitter smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.

“…Myungjoo. Do you know Kim Myungjoo?”

Not knowing what to say, Yeowon scratched the back of his neck and changed the subject. It was even more embarrassing to talk about money in front of someone who was always working to earn it. He had never thought Taegang would have used money to threaten him. He never imagined Taegang was that kind of person, and Yeowon thought he had no reason to do such a thing.

The person who had made him search for a year turned out to be Lee Taegang himself. Besides, it was bitter for him that the senior he had thought was great and considered magnificent had been crushed by mere money, and that he had been crushed.

“Oh, I know.”

“I heard he’s managing this place now… I just came to congratulate him.”

Not knowing what words to use to bring up that matter in front of him, he pretended not to know and changed the subject.

“That’s impressive. He’s still young.”

“…Yes, indeed.”

Yeowon showed an awkward expression that didn’t suit him, acting stiffly as he felt an unfamiliarity he had never experienced before. 

Seeing his demeanor that clearly conveyed discomfort to anyone watching, Baek Seungha just let out a deflated laugh as if finding it amusing. “What crime did you commit?”

“…Pardon?”

“Why can’t you even make eye contact?”

Knowing full well why he was being awkward, Baek Seungha continued politely. He tossed the words playfully, as if telling him not to feel uncomfortable.

“…It’s not like that.”

Although Yeowon understood his feelings, he couldn’t match the atmosphere with a smile. He had apologetic feelings because of Lee Taegang, but conversely, he also had complaints about Baek Seungha, so Yeowon continued to avoid eye contact with a disgruntled face, strongly rubbing only his innocent nape.

“Yesterday… nothing happened?”

Unlike him who wanted to avoid it, Baek Seungha seemed to have no intention of avoiding it, asking even more directly. But this place was too chaotic to have a conversation that wasn’t lightweight. Even during these few exchanges, they had bumped into passing people several times, and their voices were sometimes drowned out by the music.

Once again, as someone carelessly bumped Yeowon’s shoulder as they passed by, just as he was about to curse, he saw Kim Myungjoo and Jin Youngchae walking in a straight line toward them. Feeling that it would get noisy if they all met here, Yeowon grabbed Baek Seungha’s arm and pulled him away without thinking. He hid behind the restroom, avoiding the gaze of those guys heading to the bathroom. Since it was an open area without doors, the loud chattering of those guys could be heard clearly.

“Hey, you bastard, did it get bigger?”

As Kim Myungjoo, standing side by side in front of the urinal, glanced at Jin Youngchae and asked with a surprised face, Jin Youngchae looked down at Kim Myungjoo with a contemptuous expression.

“You fucking idiot, it was always big.”

“Bullshit! You’ve grown a bit and now you’re showing off?”

“Who’s the little dick showing off just because he made some money?”

In the middle of their childish high school-like conversation, Kim Myungjoo asked while pulling up his pants, “By the way, where did that Han Yeowon go again?”

“Don’t know. Maybe he went to smoke?”

“He could smoke at the table too.”

“Maybe he went to the bathroom.”

“Keep an eye on him. Today I need to keep him with me until closing time.”

“Ah, why?”

“Why? I just want to have a drink together with everyone after a long time.”

“Even if I try to keep him, would he stay? He’ll do whatever the hell he wants.”

“Ah, to keep that guy, we need Lee Taegang. That guy is never reachable.”

Kim Myungjoo, grumbling continuously, roughly wiped his hands with paper towels and left with Jin Youngchae, moving farther away. Even as they disappeared, they continued chattering loudly enough to echo throughout the hallway.

After confirming that the sound of their conversation was fading away, Yeowon finally turned his head back to its original position from where he had been peeking around the wall. Only then did he realize that he had left Baek Seungha standing right in front of him and hesitated. He had apparently been too focused on Kim Myungjoo and Jin Youngchae’s appearance.

“Ah… well, I was afraid it would get noisy if we ran into those guys.”

When he offered an awkward excuse, worried it might seem like he wanted to hide Baek Seungha’s existence, Baek slowly nodded as if he understood.

“I know. Those guys are noisy.”

Once again, a brief silence fell. Yeowon, as if having something he wanted to say, hesitated with his still uncomfortable face before difficulty opening his mouth.