TIN 14

I am here because Joo Do-hwa needs a stand-in. Even knowing that, I’d made the mistake of asking a question rooted in a deeper curiosity. The important thing wasn’t why he was looking for him but how I was supposed to imitate him. My question had been misdirected.

“Are you curious about how I feel about that person?”

Joo Do-hwa softened his voice with an exceptionally benevolent expression. His tone was as gentle as could be, but his eyes weren’t the same. His amber eyes seemed to pierce through me, as if seeing right through me.

“That’s for you to figure out.”

The weight of his gaze made me wonder: Was this a warning not to cross a line? Or was it a reaction to some subtle discomfort he couldn’t quite place? Either way, it didn’t feel like a positive response.

So just as I was about to say something, Joo Do-hwa let out a deflating sigh.

“I don’t know. Maybe I really did want an older brother.”

I instinctively realized that Joo Do-hwa is trying to be lenient with me. Instead of questioning my impertinence, he’s just letting me think whatever I want.

“Maybe once I have this, the interest will fade as well.”

It was the same thing Joo Do-hwa had said before – that the interest fades once you possess something.

“So, hyung, do your best. Until my interest fades.”

With that, Joo Do-hwa averted his gaze from me. He listlessly picked up the chopsticks he had dropped and casually poked at the food.

“…”

Should I tell him? That the person he’s looking for is me.

The reason I haven’t said anything so far is simple. First, the timing was awkward. Second, I thought he didn’t remember me. Third, I thought there was no need to bring it up since he clearly didn’t recognize me.

But if Joo Do-hwa remembers those six months, and is still looking for that person, even to the point of suspecting him of theft, then maybe I should clear things up.

I didn’t steal anything, and I had my reasons for running back then. Maybe I should at least explain that.

“Hey, you know…”

As I tentatively began, he looked at me without any particular reaction. His blatantly indifferent gaze indicated that he had lost interest in the questions I might ask. No, perhaps he’s signaling that he won’t even entertain my nonsense this time.

“In the past—”

“Director.”

But I couldn’t bring up the story related to him, because someone had just entered the dining room. The woman, dressed in a suit like Henry, strode up to Joo Do-hwa and whispered something in his ear.

“Excuse me for a moment…”

The woman murmured something in a low voice, close to Joo Do-hwa’s ear. The distance was too great for me to hear even a single word. Instead, I noticed that Joo Do-hwa briefly glanced at me while listening.

He kept his gaze fixed on me, moving his lips slowly.

“Bring them.”

“…Pardon?”

The woman hesitated for a moment upon hearing the command. Joo Do-hwa gently pushed her, as if to say he wouldn’t repeat himself.

“Bring them here.”

“…”

It wasn’t just the woman who reacted to his words. Henry, who had been standing still like a statue, also furrowed his brow and looked at Joo Do-hwa. Of course, there was no one who could argue with his order, so the woman bowed to Joo Do-hwa in acknowledgement.

“I’ll bring them right away.”

Even after the woman left, there was no further conversation between Joo Do-hwa and me. With the flow interrupted, I couldn’t find a proper excuse to bring up the topic.

“In the past, so what about it?”

Seemingly aware of my hesitation, Joo Do-hwa took a sip of water and asked me. His eyes were full of amusement, but it didn’t feel like he was truly smiling. It was almost as if continuing the previous conversation would be awkward.

“No, it’s nothing…”

An instinctive sense of unease crept up my spine. For some reason, I felt a chill, and the words I was about to say earlier wouldn’t come out.

“I’ve brought the guests, Director.”

Before I could gather the courage to speak, the woman from earlier returned, now accompanied by two men. One was a middle-aged man wearing glasses, and the other was a much younger man. He looked quite youthful, appearing to be just of legal age or even younger.

“It’s been a while, Director Joo! I’m glad you happen to be home.”

The first to speak was the middle-aged man wearing glasses. He approached the table with a great deal of fuss. As he drew closer, a pungent smell wafted, seemingly from some kind of cannabis.

“Well, I apologize for the unexpected visit.”

As the middle-aged man turned his gaze towards me, I kept my head down, focused on the food. After all, he was an unrelated person, and I had no intention of interjecting into their conversation.

The middle-aged man soon redirected his attention to Joo Do-hwa.

“How have you been doing? I’ve tried contacting you many times, but our Director Joo must have been very busy, as you didn’t respond. I understand, of course, but I have an urgent matter, which is why I’ve come to see you in person.”

Even without knowing the full context, I could easily guess the nature of their relationship. If he had been ignored this much, he should have given up, but the fact that he came all the way here was quite remarkable. A quick glance revealed that his face was full of delight.

“Ah… who are you again?”

Unfortunately, Joo Do-hwa did not reciprocate his enthusiasm. He simply rolled his eyes and openly scrutinized the middle-aged man from head to toe. He didn’t get up from his seat, nor did he invite the man to sit down. He just wore a bored expression, as if he had no interest.

This was just like when we were younger. Back then, Joo Do-hwa would completely ignore people he had no interest in, treating them as invisible. If someone tried to engage with him, he would glare at them with a cold stare.

“Haha, you’re still the same. But those kinds of jokes don’t work on me anymore, you know.”

Surprisingly, the middle-aged man maintained his poker face even in the face of such demeaning treatment. Judging by his nonchalant demeanor, this must not have been the first time he’s been in this situation.

Of course, when Joo Do-hwa continued to remain silent, the man seemed slightly flustered.

“Ahem, well… Didn’t we bring you a new product from our company last time?”

Even with this subtle appeal, Joo Do-hwa showed no particular reaction. It seemed the gift he had provided was not enough to capture Joo Do-hwa’s interest. As Joo Do-hwa turned his head without a word, the middle-aged man added a bit anxiously.

“At that time, we prepared one for you and one for your partner, in case you wanted to try them. Did you not receive them? If that’s the case, I can bring them again right away…”

“Ah.”

An exclamation escaped Joo Do-hwa’s lips. The middle-aged man’s eyes immediately lit up at this reaction, seemingly hopeful. However, his expression was quickly shattered by Joo Do-hwa’s follow-up.

“The Viagra?”

“Via…gra…”

The middle-aged man trailed off, his words faltering. It was clear that he was offended by Joo Do-hwa’s dismissive term for whatever he had given him.

Joo Do-hwa now smiled, as if he had just realized something.

“I know about it. Didn’t take it, though.”

He didn’t say he received it, but rather that he ‘knows’ about it. This makes me wonder if he had actually taken it, or if he had simply discarded it.

“I-I see. I’m relieved you’re aware of it…”

Seemingly having a similar thought, the middle-aged man’s lips trembled. His sunken cheeks made him look almost pitiable. But the man was more shameless than I realized.

“As I explained before, this is a product our company has prepared with great ambition. The effects are amazing, so please do try it… Ah! If you’re hesitant to take it yourself, you can even try it on your partner. This, this is a drvg that can melt even a Beta in no time.”

The tiny bit of sympathy I had felt immediately vanished. ‘Try it on your partner’ – what a despicable thing to say. And the way he deliberately glanced at me while emphasizing ‘Beta’ was simply infuriating.

“On top of having no side effects, the effects will wear off in just one night…”

Is this guy the CEO of a pharmaceutical company? Even outwardly legal businesses often engage in illegal activities under the table – pharmaceutical companies distributing morphine, farms growing opium poppies and cannabis, hospitals selling organs, and the like.

I finally lifted my head that had been lowered and looked at the middle-aged man. As I made direct eye contact, he also reflexively turned his gaze towards me.

The moment he confirmed my face, a familiar address escaped his lips.

“…Bada?”

“…?”

I blinked my eyes. Through the transparent lenses, I could see the man’s face change to one of shock. With his mouth agape, he stammered, trying to speak.

“Why are you…?”

How does this person know me? However, my ponderings were cut short as someone tapped the table.

“Hyung.”

Turning that way, I found Joo Do-hwa gazing at me intently. Despite his previously bored expression, there was now a curious gleam in his eyes. He blinked slowly and asked in a gentle tone.

“Do you know each other?”