“Then I’m not telling,” Jaekyung said—completely defying Jiheon’s expectations.
“What? Why not?” Jiheon blurted out.
“The contract says you have no right to mess with my privacy unless it directly affects my career,” he said, shooting at Jiheon as if to say, You guys wrote that clause. Did you already forget?
“Well, yes, but...” Jiheon mumbled, embarrassed.
He wanted to say something back, but didn’t have the words. After a moment’s hesitation, Jiheon asked.
“What if it’s a personal question?”
“Well, why would you ask me something like that—personally?”
Son of a—
“You just don’t want to tell me,” Jiheon said with a stunned laugh. Then he added more lightly, turning the wheel.
“Hey, I’m not forcing you to tell me anything. There’s really no need.”
Jaekyung clammed up as if he’d been waiting for Jiheon to say exactly that. He stared out the window for a while. The silence dragged on before he finally mumbled.
“We’re not like that.”
Jiheon blinked, confused, and shot Jaekyung a questioning look. Then it clicked—he was talking about Cha Sunghyun.
“Oh. You mean you’re not dating him?”
“No,” Jaekyung said tersely. Then unnecessarily—at least to Jiheon—he added, “Not in the least.”
Jiheon was somewhat confused. He had never seen Jaekyung deny something so forcefully. The Jaekyung he knew would rather stay silent than explain himself to anyone.
And yet, Jaekyung had actually gone so far as to say not in the least. The effect on Jiheon was the opposite—it only made him wonder if they really were dating.
Maybe they weren’t technically dating, but there was something between them, all the same. Maybe they were less than lovers, more than friends... or just sex partners? But then there was that look on your face when you talked to him on the phone. Is it unrequited love—on Jaekyung’s side?
Jiheon’s thoughts were spiraling.
“Hyung.”
Jaekyung’s voice cut through his thoughts.
Jiheon tensed, waiting for the next words.
“Are you dating anyone?”
See, I knew it.
Jiheon chuckled to himself. Whenever Jaekyung called him “Hyung,” some unpredictable question was always bound to follow. And in most cases, the topic was anything but welcome for Jiheon.
Though, to be fair, given the circumstances, it wasn’t exactly unexpected.
“No.”
Jiheon chose to be frank.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not,” Jiheon said, laughing.
“But you said you were dating someone before.”
“Back in college, sure. But not anymore.”
Jiheon shook his head as he spoke.
“And there’s no one you’ve got your eye on?”
“Nope.”
“Boring.”
“Totally,” Jiheon returned, still smiling.
The light turned red, and Jiheon eased the car to a stop. A wave of people flooded the crosswalk at once. He watched them crisscrossing in front of the car.
“I don’t think I’ve ever genuinely been in love,” he said. “Even back in college. I only dated people who liked me first. If they asked me out, I said yes.”
The relationships had never lasted long. There was always a gap no one could close. Jiheon had learned through those experiences that he simply wasn’t cut out for dating.
“It’s a dull sort of life I lead,” Jiheon muttered, watching the crowd.
“Dull is better,” Jaekyung said right beside him.
Jiheon turned to look at him, but Jaekyung was still staring ahead, just like Jiheon had been.
“Dull and boring beats the pain of loving someone,” he added, voice quiet.
That sounded exactly like something Jaekyung would say. Jiheon thought this was far more natural than for Jaekyung to wax eloquent about the benefits of love. That’s Gwon Jaekyung for you.
But Jiheon had been turning over thoughts about his own love life—and now, he couldn’t help but wonder.
Is he in love with someone? Someone who doesn’t love him back?
That thought made him see the moment he’d witnessed earlier in a different light. What he said to the other guy—about not understanding how he feels every day... Was that about emotional pain?
And that smile.
It wasn’t a happy one. It was sardonic—aimed squarely at himself. Jiheon had thought it seemed mature, like the kind of brooding you’d expect from someone who had everything. But maybe the protests had been real.
Jiheon thought about saying something comforting—but held back. He didn’t know enough to say anything meaningful. Jaekyung’s mood had clearly soured, and trying to change the subject wouldn’t help. He would simply respond with sarcasm anyway. While Jiheon was still thinking of what to say, the moment slipped past.
But once they reached Gangnam, they did manage to talk a little, just some casual conversation about where to drop Jaekyung off.
“He says to meet him at the Index Bar. Do you know where that is?” Jaekyung asked.
“Yeah. It’s near the department store. Over there.”
Jiheon mentioned they might hit a bit by the traffic, but Jaekyung didn’t seem to mind.
“He’ll wait, I suppose.”
“I’ll try to get there quickly,” Jiheon said.
It wasn’t as easy as he’d made it sound. Rush hour was setting in, and the streets were packed with cars and people. It took them a full twenty minutes to reach their destination after entering Gangnam.
“Wait, didn’t you have physical therapy today?” Jiheon asked, suddenly remembering, as he pulled up in front of the building.
“I sent a message earlier to cancel,” Jaekyung said.
So this was impromptu? Not something he’d planned ahead? Jiheon wondered.
“It’s not like I need it. Nothing hurts. It’s just recommended, so I take it. Skipping a session isn’t a big deal,” Jaekyung said, grabbing his cap off the dashboard.
“All right. Are you… going to drink?” Jiheon asked.
Jaekyung froze mid-motion, staring at Jiheon like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.
“Really? You’re going to go there?”
“It’s fine if you drink. Just don’t overdo it. You only did weights today because you weren’t feeling great, right? You need to train properly tomorrow.”
“That isn’t the reason I missed training today.”
“What?”
Jiheon was about to ask why—when someone knocked on the passenger-side window. Jiheon instantly looked around. At the window stood an absurdly handsome man, waving through the glass. It was Cha Sunghyun.
“Darn it.”
Jaekyung clicked his tongue and rolled down the window.
“What are you doing out here? You should have waited inside.”
“I couldn’t wait to see you!”
Sunghyun said, laughing. He had the calm, polished look of an intellectual, but his tone was unexpectedly playful—almost cute. Still, with a face like that, no one really cared how he sounded.
“Cut it out,” Jaekyung muttered, already getting out of the car. He didn’t sound like someone talking to a crush. If anything, he seemed even grumpier than usual.
Is he embarrassed? Because I’m here? Maybe that’s why he won’t show how he really feels. Sunghyun slapped Jaekyung on the arm.
“Oh, come on. You’re in a real cynical mood today. Is it because your manager is watching?”
Maybe I’m right, Jiheon thought.
“I guess I should disappear right quick, then,” Jiheon joked, feeling slightly bad.
“Why do you say that? I find it cute,” Sunghyun said with a laugh.
“Come on, since you’re here, why don’t you join us for a meal?”
“Don’t be absurd,” Jaekyung snapped. His tone was so sharp, it almost stung.
Fine, don’t worry—I wouldn’t come even if you begged, Jiheon thought as he started the engine.
“I’d love to, but I need to head back to the office.”
“Really? That’s too bad,” Sunghyun drawled, his disappointment sounding almost too real to be a joke.
Jaekyung grabbed his arm as if to stop him. Sunghyun gave Jaekyung an amused look, then waved at Jiheon.
“Well, then, take care. Next time, no excuses. You’re eating with us.”