Chapter 27: Don’t Overstep

“Are you okay? It looked like you were hurt.”

In front of the bathroom sink, Go Ha-jin casually spoke to the man who was wetting a handkerchief and wiping his clothes. He washed his hands as if pretending not to care much, avoiding eye contact.

“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry.”

“Right. You do look fine.”

Go Ha-jin let out a quiet scoff. At a glance, the man looked perfectly okay. As if the fragile expression he had worn in the hall earlier, like he might collapse at any moment, had been a lie. Aside from his disheveled clothes, he seemed completely normal.

“…How do you know Director Lee Ah-seong and Director Chae Woo-seok?”

He hadn’t expected that question.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Yes. You came together, didn’t you? And you followed me in here on purpose just now, didn’t you?”

“Ah… guess it was obvious.”

With that single question, Go Ha-jin’s mind began racing. The commotion outside had definitely been intentional on this man’s part. He found himself genuinely impressed by how perceptive he was.

He had assumed, based on appearances alone, that the man was a timid pushover who couldn’t even properly state his own opinion. Apparently not.

“…Why should I tell you? If you’re that curious, why don’t you ask them? From what I can see, it’s not like you’re strangers.”

Go Ha-jin lightly tapped the man’s shoulder, the one Chae Woo-seok had draped his jacket over. He hadn’t meant to sound so sharp. Following the man into the restroom had been impulsive.

He’d just been curious, what kind of man could draw such opposite reactions from Chae Woo-seok and Lee Ah-seong? Of course, he’d had a bad feeling. But after exchanging only a few words, his mood had sunk lower than he expected.

“Guess we’re not that close, huh?”

Given how recklessly Chae Woo-seok played around, it didn’t matter how many people he’d seen. It wasn’t a marriage based on love anyway, so what did it matter? Still, seeing it with his own eyes didn’t feel pleasant. It was a hard emotion to put into words.

“I suppose I asked an unnecessary question….”

“No, it’s not-”

“…I’m sorry. Please pass this jacket on to him.”

For a moment, Go Ha-jin felt like the villain. The man’s face had grown weak again, as if he carried the weight of the world, apologizing to him.

The attitude didn’t feel like an act, and the negativity swelling inside Go Ha-jin dissipated. Before he could say anything else, the man disappeared, still wearing his ruined clothes.

“…What a mess.”

It had been an unsettling encounter.

****

“I think you owe me an explanation.”

“Yeah. I suppose I do.”

They changed locations. There weren’t many people around, but it felt like everyone was staring, recognizing Chae Woo-seok. They couldn’t keep sitting in such an open space.

Even on the way back to their shared hideout-slash-home, they barely spoke. As if organizing their thoughts, they each stared into the distance. Only after entering the house did they finally speak, and in distinctly crooked tones.

“You’re the one who needs to explain. Why did you take that jacket?”

“Take? What do you mean take? He gave it to me.”

“He? Watch your mouth.”

Chae Woo-seok had already been in a bad mood since earlier. Now he was at his peak, radiating a violent aura as if he might tear Go Ha-jin’s mouth apart. Over just that one man. The emotions Ha-jin had barely managed to suppress began stirring again.

“Then explain properly. Your father just left like that, what was I supposed to do?”

After Chae Woo-seok shielded the mysterious man in the lounge, Lee Ah-seong had moved. He approached unusually quickly, grabbed the man’s shoulder, and whispered something in his ear. From the outside, it looked like concern.

But Chae Woo-seok forcibly separated them. Lee Ah-seong returned to his seat, gathered his belongings, and left without even saying goodbye. Judging from his expression, one might have believed he was going to kill someone.

Go Ha-jin hadn’t heard a word of their exchange. He could only speculate. His brief restroom encounter with the man had only deepened his confusion. And Chae Woo-seok hadn’t explained their relationship at all.

“Do I really have to explain something like that to you? Just answer what I ask. Don’t overstep.”

That was what it meant. Who did he think he was to ask questions? Once he understood, the storm in Go Ha-jin’s chest suddenly calmed, like cold water dumped over him.

“Ah. Right. I forgot. Thanks for reminding me. He asked me to pass this to you. I’ve done my part, so I’ll head in.”

He shoved the jacket against Chae Woo-seok’s chest and walked down the hall toward his room.

“Wait. We’re not done talking.”

“Oh, are you curious what he said? He asked what kind of relationship we have. Don’t worry, I didn’t say we’re getting married. If you want to call it off, it’s not too late. I don’t care.”

Ignoring Chae Woo-seok’s voice behind him, he entered his room. The enclosed space helped him calm down.

“Ha… I should’ve just gone outside instead…”

It was the room where a painting he liked had once hung. Chae Woo-seok had sold it for cash. Now the space was cluttered with other things.

At least Chae Woo-seok hadn’t broken the door down. Just in case, Ha-jin locked it anyway and began opening the luxury gift boxes covering the floor, betrothal gifts sent from Chae Woo-seok’s house, extravagantly packaged.

“Nothing relieves stress like luxury goods.”

With each box he opened, his mood lifted slightly.

****

“Could you both look this way and… smile?”

Fifteen years as a photographer. He had swept prestigious photo awards at home and abroad. Celebrities lined up to book him. He had never cared for wedding shoots, until recently, when he was offered an absurd sum.

The client was SHS Group. They demanded strict confidentiality, which he understood. A wedding shoot for someone like that wouldn’t hurt his career.

“Can’t you hear him? Smile.”

But had he known it would feel this tense, he would never have accepted. Chae Woo-seok’s murderous aura made him want to throw down the camera and flee. But the penalty fee was several times the contract amount.

“Just take it quickly. Who’s even going to look at this? Or edit in a smile later. You can do that, right?”

As if not hearing Chae Woo-seok, Go Ha-jin addressed the photographer. Woo-seok’s anger flared, but he held it in.

“Then for the last shot… Director, place your hand on Mr. Go’s waist and bring your faces close, like you’re about to kiss.”

Both of them froze.

Chae Woo-seok thought it wasn’t such a bad idea. If he wrapped an arm around Ha-jin’s waist and leaned close, Ha-jin’s face would surely turn red. At least he could enjoy that.

“Well? Are we doing it or not? Let’s hurry. I’m tired.”

At Ha-jin’s grumbling voice, Woo-seok moved. He placed a hand on Ha-jin’s waist and stepped closer deliberately, pressing his thigh between Ha-jin’s legs. He knew Ha-jin was sensitive to touch.

Though slim, there was firmness under his palm. His pale skin made him imagine what lay beneath the clothes. A fleeting image of Ha-jin bare crossed his mind, then their eyes met.

“…What.”

“You asked me to look at you.”

This was strange. Normally, Ha-jin’s face would be bright red, eyes darting, words stumbling. But he looked calm, expressionless, staring straight back.

Unacceptable.

Woo-seok pulled him closer, nearly close enough to swallow his lips. Their breaths mingled, heat rising between them. Even the faint artificial pheromone scent in the air tempted him to close the distance entirely.

“S-stop it! Have you lost your mind?!”

Only then did the familiar Ha-jin appear, face flushed deep red against his white shirt.

“Now you’re finally looking at me properly.”

“Let go of my waist first.”

“No.”

He didn’t understand himself, but seeing Ha-jin like this brought relief. He was the same as always.

“And… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that before.”

“…Forget it. I don’t care.”

The expression wasn’t mechanical anymore, it was alive. That didn’t feel bad.

“That person earlier…”

He hadn’t wanted to bring it up, but he did.

“…is actually my brother-in-law.”

Unaware that those words would send even greater ripples through Go Ha-jin’s heart.