“No, no! It’s just, I keep feeling like someone is watching me these days… I thought it might be you.”
“What if it is me?”
Kangwoo grabbed Heewoon’s chin. It was slightly painful, so Heewoon grimaced and said.
“Then I don’t have to worry about it. But if it’s not you, it’s a bit scary and…”
The corners of Kangwoo’s lips curled up as he stared at Heewoon’s face. He removed his hand from Heewoon’s chin, and then lightly stroked his cheek.
“What to do now. Sunbae, you must be scared.”
“Huh?”
Heewoon opened his eyes wide. Did those words mean Kangwoo didn’t have someone to follow him?
“These days, rather than you, I’m watching the people around you”
“Around me…?”
Why was Kangwoo watching the people around him? If it’s people around him, then was it his mother? But his mother was always staying at home. And did that mean Kangwoo was not watching him?
Kangwoo smiled as if he found Heewoon’s restlessness interesting. Frowning seriously, Kangwoo said.
“If you’re scared, then I’ll have to embrace you.”
Kangwoo held Heewoon so tightly around his waist that it was hard to breathe. He kissed the top of Heewoon’s head repeatedly, and Heewoon, with his cheek crushed against Kangwoo’s solid chest, rolled his eyes in confusion.
“I thought you were watching me all the time…”
Kangwoo slightly loosened his grip in response to the muttered words. He looked down at Heewoon.
“You’re right.”
Kangwoo wrapped his arm around Heewoon’s cheek and tilted his head. Heewoon looked at him blankly, not understanding what Kangwoo was agreeing to.
“Sunbae, I used to assign people to watch you, even up to check what you eat… Then one day, I just felt that it was foul.”
His slow words were gentle.
“I can’t even see that every day either.”
But those guys look at you all day. Kangwoo’s eyes, which were moving slightly, softly captured various parts of Heewoon’s face as he spoke slowly. So I got rid of all the eyes that were watching you, Sunbae. Kangwoo added, stroking Heewoon’s cheek.
“Since this was a tough decision for me, you should cooperate a bit too, Sunbae.”
“Cooperate?”
“Tell me everything you do, and always call me when you go somewhere.”
He said in an affectionate tone.
“Yeah.”
It was only then that Heewoon could understand why Kangwoo had been questioning him every little thing every day. If the people Kangwoo had assigned were not observing him as closely as before, then the glances Heewoon had been feeling these days were…
So, was that black van really from the loan sharks?
Kangwoo, who had been observing Heewoon’s face for a moment, chuckled and pulled Heewoon’s shoulders closer. His hand brushed Heewoon’s nape as he slowly stroked his neck.
“When you’re scared, make sure to call me. I’ll embrace you like I’m doing right now.”
With that affectionate voice, Heewoon nodded. The shoulder that his cheek touched was stiff. The scent under Heewoon’s nose was like the one coming from his own body. Heewoon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The tension that had been building in his body gradually eased.
***
Heewoon decided to take Kangwoo not watching him as a positive sign. Being constantly monitored felt suffocating. It was strange that he felt anxious. Heewoon continued to remind himself that he was only listening to Kangwoo because he was being threatened.
While he thought this, Heewoon kept glancing around. Today, he didn’t see the black van. Maybe the car wasn’t the loan sharks…
They might have started the surveillance because his older brother was supposed to have returned already. It was evident that they were waiting for money. What if his brother didn’t come back? It would be weirder if his older brother kept his promise to return in three years, after easily leaving his mother and Heewoon to run away.
The mounting anxiety subsided as Heewoon’s phone vibrated in his pocket. When he checked the name displayed on the screen, he felt strangely relieved.
“Hello-”
– Are you meeting people?
A soft voice inquired.
“No, I’m still on my way to the meeting place.”
– What did you say you’re having again?
“Pork belly.”
– It’s Woo Heewoon’s favorite then.
Yeah. Heewoon replied, and a faint laugh could be heard.
– I’m on my way to the airport.
Heewoon knew that Kangwoo was going on a business trip to Guangzhou, so he replied, “Ah, I see.”
– Is that all?
“Huh? Uh… Take care, Kangwoo.”
Heewoon was a bit flustered, but Seo Kangwoo seemed to like what he said. Then he asked.
– When will you be going back?
“I’m planning to catch the last train. I won’t be drinking anyway.”
– Good boy.
His voice contained a hint of laughter. When Heewoon hesitated, Kangwoo told him that they’ll be meeting tomorrow night and hung up. After glancing at the call history with [Seo Kangwoo], Heewoon shivered.
“…It’s cold.”
He stuffed his frozen hands into his pockets.
Yesterday, he had taken the TOEIC test, and it seemed like he did well. He probably wouldn’t need to attend the academy next month. He was on his way to meet the study group for a meal.
[Where?]
Heewoon received a message from Jihwan just in time. He replied that he was almost there and hurried his steps. All six study group members were supposed to meet at the designated location.
Jihwan was standing outside the barbecue restaurant smoking a cigarette. Heewoon waved at him, and Jihwan stubbed out his cigarette and greeted him.
“It’s cold, let’s go inside.”
“Has everyone else arrived?”
“Yeonji is having dinner at her parents’ house today, so she might be a bit late.”
Heewoon nodded and then stared at Jihwan.
“Why, dude?”
“When did you start using casual speech with her?”
“Since last week.”
Jihwan spoke awkwardly and briskly walked ahead. So they were in a dating phase. Heewoon checked their group chat to be sure. In the group chat, Yeonjo only mentioned that she would be late but didn’t explain the reason. Besides, Jihwan now addressed Yeonji more comfortably.
“Anyone want some soju mixed with beer?”
“I’ll have soju.”
“I’ll have soju mixed with beer!”
People filled their glasses while the meat sizzled. The leader’s eyes, who was setting the tone, turned to Heewoon. Heewoon laughed awkwardly and said.
“I’ll have a cola. Because… I’m taking some medication.”
“Come on, one glass of beer won’t hurt, right?”
Several more attempts to persuade him came from the leader and others. But when Heewoon firmly shook his head, they gave up and stepped back.
The atmosphere gradually loosened, and some people’s faces became flushed.
“Are you drunk already? Kid, when I was your age, I drank ten bottles.”
Sitting next to Heewoon, the leader said to Jihwan. The leader was 31 years old this year, and he said he attended an institute for TOEIC to get a job again. But after a few drinks, it seemed like he couldn’t stop clinging to Jihwan, probably because he wanted to speak more comfortably.
“Hey, what’s the use of travelling around the world? You’re now studying for TOEIC again with us here.”
“Yeeees. Have a drink, hyung-nim.”
Jihwan and the leader sat facing each other, having soju.
“The leader gets kind of old-fashioned when he’s drunk.”
“Normally, he’s fine, but alcohol makes him like this.”
The other two girls whispered to Heewoon. Heewoon nodded awkwardly.
“Well, I suppose. Maybe he’s always hiding it when he’s sober, who knows.”
“But Heewoon-ssi, can’t you even have a glass of beer?”
It’s too bad. One of the girls sighed and ordered a beer. Heewoon watched as she clinked two chopsticks together and made a cheerful sound when the foam almost overflowed, and then she drank, exclaiming with satisfaction.
Heewoon didn’t want his gaze to leave his glass. It seemed like he hadn’t really drunk proper alcohol ever since the year-end gathering. When he ate with Seo Kangwoo, he occasionally had a bit of alcohol, but that was just an accompaniment. Besides, they usually drank spirits or wine, so he didn’t get the sensation of drinking alcohol.
Suddenly, Heewoon felt a bit down. He couldn’t drink outside, and whenever he went somewhere, he had to check in all the time…. The restrictions were steadily increasing. Right, Kangwoo said if he had sex with someone other than him, his genitals would be cut.
“I’m going to the bathroom for a bit.”
While heading to the restroom, Heewoon took out his phone and opened the messaging app.
Kangwoo, can I have a little alcohol…
He typed the message but then deleted it. Anyway, Seo Kangwoo should be on the plane now, so he wouldn’t be able to read the message. Heewoon sighed deeply.
Just then, a message from Jihwan arrived.
“This dude is a real weirdo. Save meㅠㅠㅠㅠ”
“……”
Seeing all of this, it might be a good thing that he wasn’t drinking alcohol. Heewoon sent a dancing emoticon to cheer Jihwan up.
“Oh, Heewoon’s here. We’ll head out now.”
“We’re going to a pub. Are you coming, Heewoon?”
“Oh… I don’t like singing, and I can’t drink…”
As Heewoon declined and shook hands, Jihwan rushed over to him..
“You don’t have to sing! We’re just going for a drink. Wait, but you can have soda.”
Right? Jihwan asked, seeking agreement from the two girls. The girls nodded and agreed, while the leader was smoking outside.
Heewoon hesitated, and Jihwan gestured toward his phone as if to tell him to check it.
[Please save me.]
[Just go home then.]
Heewoon replied.
[But Yeonji hasn’t arrived yet!]
“Ah…”
Heewoon nodded slightly as Jihwan asked if he was going to go with them. Heewoon didn’t understand why Jihwan was so insistent on taking him along. But as they walked to the pub, he found out.
“You can’t have a social life if you keep avoiding drinking like this, huh? You know, I’m saying this because I’m genuinely concerned about you.”
This was because the leader had attached himself to Heewoon. It seemed like the leader wanted to provide advice as a senior in life.
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