Chapter 16: Confessions and Confrontations

“What… what are you saying right now?”

“I said I’ll stay here until Joo Hyunjin leaves.”

“That makes no sense at all!”

Hyunwoo couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted.

At that moment, Hyunjin, carrying a plate in each hand, froze and widened his eyes in surprise.

“Hyung, what’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just….”

Hyunwoo looked at Hyunjin as he placed the plates down in front of him and felt awkward.

Hyunjin didn’t seem pleased that Seunghyuk had suddenly come either.

It was understandable; they weren’t officially dating yet, so starting a cohabitation out of nowhere would feel overwhelming.

Seunghyuk, noticing Hyunwoo hesitating, spoke up.

“I’ll be staying here for the time being too.”

“What? You?”

“Yeah.”

“Why you?”

Hyunjin asked in disbelief.

Seunghyuk’s gaze turned to Hyunwoo.

“Of course, because I’m worried about you, Hyunwoo.”

“…….”

That statement left too much unsaid.

‘It’s not that he’s worried about me. He’s worried I might do something bad to Hyunjin, you idiot.’

Hyunwoo muttered under his breath and sighed deeply.

“Why are you worried about me?”

“Obviously, I’m worried. Because we….”

“Hey, wait a minute!”

Hyunwoo’s instincts screamed a warning.

Seunghyuk was about to say something even more explosive than a bomb.

Hyunwoo hurriedly shouted to stop him, but Seunghyuk ignored him and continued.

“…Because we’ll soon be married.”

“Ha….”

Hyunwoo held his throbbing head and let out a short sigh.

Why do they always say things that ruin the mood?

As expected, Hyunjin looked shocked.

“Hyung, you said you wouldn’t marry Lee Seunghyuk!”

“No, it’s not like that….”

“Did you lie to me?”

“…….”

Hyunjin’s reaction was intense, and Hyunwoo broke into a cold sweat.

He had denied it before, yet Seunghyuk had recklessly dropped the bomb.

Hyunwoo grit his teeth and said firmly.

“I won’t. I really won’t. He’s just talking nonsense.”

“You proposed to me, and I didn’t refuse.”

“Can you be quiet for once!”

Hyunwoo yelled.

The protagonist, who was useless in every way, irritated him to no end.

Was Seunghyuk a demon instead of a protagonist?

Hyunwoo glared at him and ground his teeth in frustration.

“Hyung, lie… liar…”

“I’m not lying… ha….”

His head hurt again.

Hyunwoo had gotten caught between the protagonist and the protagonist’s love interest, suffering needlessly.

Buzz, buzz.

“……!”

At that moment, Hyunwoo’s phone on the table began vibrating.

It was a call from Sungyoon.

Relieved, Hyunwoo quickly grabbed his phone and stood up.

“I’ll take this call.”

“…….”

Ignoring the piercing looks from behind, Hyunwoo hurried to another room.

Right now, escaping this suffocating space was far more important.

“Hmm, hello?”

Hyunwoo cleared his throat and answered.

Sungyoon’s voice came from the receiver.

• I apologize for calling while you’re resting, young master.

“No, it’s fine.”

Actually, he felt lucky the call came at this moment.

He wanted to pour out his thanks to Sungyoon, who knew nothing of the situation, but forced himself to speak calmly.

“What’s the reason for the call?”

• Well… I thought you should be informed first.

“What is it?”

Sungyoon spoke in a serious tone, and Hyunwoo tilted his head in curiosity.

After a brief pause, Sungyoon continued.

• It’s regarding Kim Minjae.

“…What about him?”

Was he filing a complaint against Seunghyuk?

Hyunwoo assumed the big law firm’s lawyers would crush him and he wouldn’t be able to speak, but…

What Sungyoon said next was something Hyunwoo hadn’t expected.

• During the recent questioning, Kim Minjae showed unusual behavior and withdrawal-like reactions, prompting the prosecution to conduct a drug test.

“…A drug test?”

• Yes. The result was positive. Kim Minjae has been consistently using drugs for the past six months.

“Ha… that guy really goes overboard.”

Considering his previous stalking behavior and sudden attacks on innocent people, it made sense.

He must have been under the influence of drugs.

“So he’ll get harsher punishment?”

• Yes, likely. The prosecution also plans to investigate the source of the drugs thoroughly.

“The source?”

• Korea University isn’t an ordinary school. Since the suspect and Hyunjin are classmates, there may be others influenced or involved. I wanted to inform you.

“Hmm….”

Hyunwoo thought carefully.

In the original story, after the protagonist had the stalker caught, he never appeared again.

Even the story’s author admitted they ended that episode quickly because handling it was troublesome.

The stalker incident only served as a catalyst to strengthen Seunghyuk and Hyunjin’s bond.

Before Hyunwoo’s regression, another side character had dealt with the stalker, but it didn’t change the story significantly.

Back then, Hyunwoo didn’t pay much attention after sending the side character to Hyunjin.

But the stalker used drugs?

And since he was Hyunjin and Seunghyuk’s classmate, maybe someone else at school supplied or used drugs with him.

“Thanks for letting me know. I’ll keep a close watch.”

• Yes, young master. I’ll contact you again if I learn more.

“Okay.”

Hyunwoo stood still for a moment, biting his lower lip.

Drugs, huh.

Before the regression, there had been a major drug incident at a club frequented by celebrities and chaebols.

Many people were implicated, and investigations ensued.

That club had high-profile patrons, so other incidents surfaced too, causing widespread scrutiny.

Fortunately, Hyunwoo never went there, so he wasn’t involved.

But many around him got caught up in the fallout, affecting business.

‘It shouldn’t be related, right?’

Hyunwoo shook his head, thinking he was overanalyzing.

Meanwhile, the spacious dining room was enveloped in silence.

It was supposed to be a warm, casual meal space, but tension had made the atmosphere icy.

Hyunjin bit his lip, glaring at Seunghyuk.

“You… do you really like Hyunwoo hyung?”

“…….”

Seunghyuk lifted his gaze and looked at him intently.

He was a college classmate and one of Hyunjin’s closest friends.

But after nearly four years, Seunghyuk’s expression felt strangely unfamiliar.

Especially those cold, deep brown eyes.

They seemed to see right through him, making him feel inexplicably uneasy.

“If I didn’t like him, we couldn’t get married.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

That was no way for someone to look at the person they loved.

Hyunjin shouted indignantly.

He recalled Seunghyuk’s expression when looking at Hyunwoo—it was not like someone looking at a loved one.

And those eyes… they were cold, gloomy, and utterly devoid of affection.

“You… you said you hated hyung. So why suddenly….”

“Well, I was late to realize it.”

“Late…?”

“…….”

Hyunjin tilted his head.

They’d known each other as classmates for a long time, but Seunghyuk had only recently met Hyunwoo.

Hyunwoo had started getting closer to him again, so Seunghyuk was finally introduced as a friend.

Hyunjin regretted introducing them—he hadn’t anticipated Hyunwoo’s interest in Seunghyuk.

He clenched his fists at the wave of regret.

“Hyung… Hyunwoo hyung told me he wouldn’t marry you.”

“…….”

Hyunjin clung to that one statement, muttering.

Seunghyuk looked at him with an indifferent expression.

“No, hyung will marry me.”

“Wh….”

“Because I’ll make it happen.”

“……!”

Startled, Hyunjin widened his eyes at the possessive declaration.

Seunghyuk didn’t seem to be lying, making it even more confusing.

“No, no, hyung….”

“Hyunwoo hyung will change his mind soon too.”

“No!”

Bang.

Hyunjin slammed both hands on the table and stood up.

Seunghyuk remained calm, observing him.

“So stop interfering between hyung and me.”

“You….”

“If you don’t want Hyunwoo hyung to see your feelings, it’s better to stay quiet.”

“……!”

The cold warning left Hyunjin staring, wide-eyed.