Chapter 57: Locked Inside

Bzzzz.

Thank goodness—truly.

Before my jawbone could shatter, his hand finally fell away.

Jaeyul pulled out his vibrating phone, frowning as he irritably ran a hand through his hair.

“Ha… I should head back in.”

“Oh—r-right.

Yeah! Go on, hurry!”

It was obviously a call from the Center.

The anti-hacking phones issued to agents were familiar to me too.

“There’s so much I want to say… guess it’ll have to wait.”

It must have been urgent.

Jaeyul’s steps toward the entrance were quick.

“…Y-Yeah.

It’s not like today’s the only chance.

Then I’ll head out too….”

Naturally, I prepared to leave with him.

If he was going back to the Center, there was no reason for me to stay here.

At the entrance, as Jaeyul slipped on his shoes, I followed suit and was just about to put my foot into mine when—

“What are you doing, hyung?”

“…What?

I’m going home too…?”

“What are you talking about.

Your home is here now.

There was a gate break nearby just now, so it’s dangerous to be wandering outside.

I’ll be back early—rest at home.

You must be tired.”

With only that said, Jaeyul closed the front door behind him and left.

Click, clack, clatter!

The moment the door shut, a series of loud mechanical sounds echoed from the entrance.

This sudden turn of events was… bewildering.

This is my home…?

Just moments ago, I hadn’t been able to argue against his half-threatening words.

But how could I possibly live here.

It wasn’t that I disliked Jaeyul—but we’d been apart for four years.

Four whole years.

There was no way we could just live together again as if nothing had happened.

“Haah… guess he was really lonely….”

Yeah.

That must be why he said something like that.

He must’ve been terribly lonely during the time he spent alone….

But still—no means no.

I had a place arranged in Gangwon Province.

It would be best to go back there first and think about what to do next.

Making a living off illegal guiding didn’t seem feasible anymore anyway.

Later, once I’d sorted out my feelings, I’d properly greet Jaeyul again.

With those thoughts, I headed for the door—

Clank, clank.

“What—what the hell?!”

No matter how much I rattled it, the front door wouldn’t open.

“Please place your palm on the sensor.”

Following the voice prompt, I placed my hand on the sensor glowing blue—

“Unregistered biometric information.”

“Unregistered biometric information.”

“Unregistered biometric information.”

The same error message repeated over and over.

Of course it did.

I’d never registered my vein data here.

Why the hell do you even need vein authentication just to leave the house?!

Looks like I’m… trapped in here.

“…This is insane.

Absolutely insane….”

What kind of life had Sun Jaeyul been living?

What sort of threat was he under, to install such vicious security just to exit his own home…?

Even the front door itself was a problem.

This wasn’t a normal door.

It was coated with an ultra-high-strength new material only available through gates.

A security door that even most espers couldn’t break through.

Because of its outrageous cost, it was usually only used in banks or government facilities.

In simple terms—there was no way I could smash my way out with my pitiful abilities.

Still, I didn’t give up.

For some reason… I didn’t want to face Jaeyul again right now.

I wanted to end this unexpected reunion here,整理 my thoughts, and meet him again properly.

…And honestly, he was kind of scary.

I’d been struggling with the door for quite a while when—

“Yap! Grrr! Yap!”

I was attacked.

Something suddenly lunged at my leg and launched a fierce assault.

A lump of silvery fur viciously tugged at my pant leg with its teeth, growling as it vented its anger.

“…Poppy…!”

I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten about him…!

Overjoyed, I scooped Poppy up into my arms.

“Yap! Yap-yap!”

Even so, he didn’t seem appeased, baring his tiny teeth as he snapped irritably.

Haah… ridiculous little bastard….

At least Poppy hadn’t changed in four years.

Still a puppy.

Still… adorable.

I hugged the little guy tightly.

“I’m sorry.

I’m really sorry….”

The small warmth blooming in my arms felt unbelievably good.

Unbelievably comforting.

This little guy must’ve stayed by Jaeyul’s side.

Watched over him, helped him grow up as intact as he did.

“…Nngh….”

He wasn’t just some monster to dismiss lightly.

When things were hard, he was comfort.

When things were happy, he shared in the joy.

A real family.

In every way, a precious being no less than a person.

Only after holding him for a long time did Poppy finally calm down.

Even then, he grumbled as if he wasn’t completely satisfied.

“Yap!”

“Okay, okay.

I won’t just disappear like that again.

Even if I can’t see you every day, I’ll come often.

Or I’ll talk to Jaeyul so I can go back and forth between our places.

That okay?”

“Yap, yap!”

“Meat…?

I didn’t bring any….

Ah! Isn’t there some at home?

I’ll grill it nicely for you, it’s been a while.

Let’s go!”

…Strange.

For some reason, I felt like I could understand what Poppy was saying.

He was just barking, but the meaning came through clearly.

Or maybe I was just interpreting things however I wanted.

Scratch, scratch.

Poppy confidently led the way, scratching at the refrigerator with his short front paw as if that’s where his meat was kept.

“Look at the size of this fridge….

There’s only two of you—why is it so huge…?”

Just like the unnecessarily large house, the fridge was massive too.

It looked like something you’d find in a restaurant.

I opened it—and gasped, checking the freezer too.

“What the hell.

Why is there nothing but this kind of food…?”

“…Pfff….”

Poppy sighed and shook his head, looking like he had a whole story he couldn’t tell.

A quick scan of the fridge and kitchen painted a clear picture.

“How does someone…

live with nothing but alcohol in the house…?”

A wine cellar filled with various bottles.

A cabinet just as large, packed with liquor.

Beer and soju occupying most of the fridge.

And in the remaining space—some beef and chicken that clearly belonged to Poppy.

There wasn’t a single thing you could call real food.

Not even kimchi.

Not a single vegetable.

The freezer was the same.

Aside from meat for Poppy, there were no other ingredients.

“…What on earth are you living on….”

I looked around the kitchen again.

Now that I paid attention, the place felt strangely artificial.

Like a model apartment.

Clean.

Luxurious.

A well-designed kitchen with plenty of space to cook and store things.

Yet almost everything looked unused.

Only a coffee machine and a single mug sat in the drying rack.

Plates, bowls, forks, spoons—everything looked practically brand new.

“Wait here, Poppy.”

I quickly checked the rest of the house.

Four rooms.

Two bathrooms.

A laundry room.

By the time I was done, a sigh slipped out.

“Poppy… what does Jaeyul even do in this house?”

“…Yaaang… ngh….”

Poppy’s tail drooped low.

He must’ve thought I was scolding him for not taking good care of Jaeyul.

“Haah… what even is this…

What’s the point of a nice house like this….”

Something surged up from deep in my chest as I walked through the place.

It hurt.

It wasn’t just the kitchen—nothing showed signs of being lived in.

The washing machine and dryer too.

Clean machines left unused, while laundry piled up in a basket in the dressing room.

Clothes from the dry cleaner sat unopened in stacks.

He didn’t cook.

At home, he probably only slept.

The house had everything—but nowhere could I feel a human presence.

That warmth Jaeyul had so much of…

was nowhere to be found.

Just an empty, hollow space.

Looking at the house again, it didn’t feel nice at all anymore.

It was nothing but a lonely, vacant shell.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep……

Ah—looks like he’s finally back.

The time now is… seven.

Early, or late—hard to say.

But more importantly… how many digits is that door code?!

Only after a ridiculously long sequence of numbers were entered did three layers of security disengage, one after another, and the door open.

“Sun Jaeyul.”

I was leaning against the wall by the shoe cabinet, arms crossed.

“Hyung…?”

He clearly hadn’t expected this.

Jaeyul froze, staring at me with a rare look of surprise.

“…Why do you have Poppy on your head?”

…I was trying to look angry, but the little furball clinging to me ruined it.

Like he’d developed separation anxiety, he refused to leave my head and shoulders.

“Quiet.

Follow me.”

Ignoring his question, I grabbed Jaeyul by the wrist and dragged him outside.

I worried he might misunderstand and refuse to come—but he followed more obediently than expected.

Probably confidence.

The belief that no matter what I tried, he could stop me if he was there.

Which, honestly, was true.

“W-What are you doing?!

Hyung—wait!”

“Hurry up, will you?”

I deliberately sharpened my voice.

No matter how guilty I felt toward him, or how much stronger he was than me, it didn’t matter.

This was one moment I couldn’t afford to lose ground.

Guilt was guilt—but when something made me angry, I wouldn’t swallow it down.

“Car keys.”

I dragged him into the elevator and headed straight for the underground parking lot.

“…Here….”

Avoiding my gaze, Jaeyul handed over his keys without resistance.

…Damn brat.

Even drives a nice car.

How much did this thing cost?

Beep-beep.

At the click of the remote, the sleek SUV lit up its eyes.

I climbed into the driver’s seat first.

“Poppy, go to the back.”

“Whiiine….”

“Tsk!

Now.”

But my anger didn’t work on Poppy.

He climbed down onto my thigh and settled there comfortably.

…Haah.

Well, even if something happened, he wasn’t a real puppy, so it wouldn’t be dangerous.

“You’re not going to the back?”

The moment Jaeyul spoke, Poppy flew to the back seat like the wind.

…Looks like Poppy was still only scared of Jaeyul.

After making sure both of them were properly seated, I started the engine.

The steering wheel felt strangely unfamiliar after so long.

Still, I’d driven around plenty in the past—this should be fine.

“But hyung.”

“Be quiet, Sun Jaeyul.

I’m in a really bad mood right now.”

I warned him in a stern voice as I prepared to depart.

Adjusted the seat height.

Checked the side mirrors.

Just as I moved my foot toward the accelerator—

“…Hyung.

Do you even have a license?”

A license?

…Wait.

Do I… have one right now…?

…Nope.