Love for Love’s Sake - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

In the midst of a headache, my phone rang repeatedly. What a noisy day it was.

[Ahn Sia] : Big brother, I need to talk to you

[Ahn Sia] : Urgent~

[Ahn Sia] : ㅜㅜ

[Ahn Sia] : Big brother!

[Ahn Sia] : Why are you ignoring me!!!!

[Ahn Sia] : Oho!! The boss is calling!!!

[Ahn Sia] : Who are you with!!

[Ahn Sia] : Hurry, reply, reply!

* * *

“Why are you consulting me about love? You probably have more experience than me.”

I had thought there was something urgent because of the insistent nagging. After finishing the lunchbox delivery, which I couldn’t finish early because of Cheon Sangwon, I came to the studio and lost my energy when I heard that she wanted advice.

“They say that experts usually look for answers from beginners. It’s either Confucius or Mencius, anyway.”

“What nonsense. Do I just wear this for the shoot?”

“Yes. Gyeonghun, say something to big brother too.”

“M-Myeongha, stand a bit more to the right; it’ll look better.”

“No, not that. Oh…Big brother Myeongha totally suits the bad boy look.”

“What bad boy look?”

“A style that looks like you would draw a heart on a motorcycle in the schoolyard.”

What was that? I put on the rider’s jacket Ahn Sia had painstakingly picked out for me. I asked her doubtfully if it was suitable, considering the season was getting warmer. However, she said it would be fine since she had only ordered a small inventory as an experiment.

When talking about work, she didn’t seem like an 18-year-old. Perhaps she had a purpose. She seemed to know how to handle love well, so why was she asking me?

“Big brother is very popular with women.”

“Very popular?”

“To be honest, I don’t think you would be very popular. You’re too unapproachable like an iron wall.”

“Is that an insult?”

“Well, this, in relationships you need to give some room, but big brother is too rigid. Even if you say you like someone, they might leave.”

I couldn’t help but think of Cha Yeowoon. It would be ideal if he could become distant and leave due to my rigidness.

“Do you not have anyone? Someone on your mind lately?”

“You told me to focus during the shoots. Why are you so talkative today?”

Ahn Sia had lured me in with double pay, made me stand in front of the camera, and diligently taught me how to model. In the midst of changing poses as directed by Ahn Gyeonghun, she continued to talk.

I didn’t know why she was acting this way, but it wasn’t like her usual self.

“There aren’t many clothes today. When the boss tells you to speak, you have to answer. Big brother, have you ever been in a relationship? Perhaps never?”

“I have.”

“When? With who? Not recently? In middle school?”

It was when I was 27. I barely resisted the urge to grab Ahn Sia’s dainty nose that was swaying in front of me.

[ Entering Love Supremacy Zone. ]

The sudden notification caught my attention. Why was Cha Yeowoon here?

However, there was no time to be surprised. A large figure was already standing by the entrance.

Cha Yeowoon appeared uneasy as he glanced into the studio, eventually fixing his gaze on me. Then, he stood there awkwardly.

“Cha Yeowoon? What are you doing here?”

“Ta-da. Today’s special guest. Athlete Cha Yeowoon.”

Ahn Sia spread her arms and cheerfully introduced the guest.

I thought Cha Yeowoon would greet me, but instead, he continued to stare at me blankly. His eyes were unfocused.

[ Calculating Cha Yeowoon’s favorability. ]

[ Favorability: 28 ]

Just as I was wondering if he was sick, a message appeared. What the hell was this?

“Do you also like the bad boy look?”

“Yes…?”

“Never mind. Forget it. Aren’t you training today?”

“I finished early. Uh, hello. Senior, brother Gyeonghun.”

A moment ago, Cha Yeowoon was practically staring at me as if captivated, but now he avoided my gaze and took a seat in a corner chair.

“Why did you call Yeowoon?”

“He said he wanted to watch.”

Cha Yeowoon? For the shoot? Was it arrogance to think that it wasn’t for the shoot but because he wanted to see me?

As I changed into different clothes and came out, Cha Yeowoon’s gaze became even more intense. It seemed like the groundless self-satisfaction wasn’t unwarranted.

“Does big brother have time tomorrow? Let’s have a company get-together.”

“What company get-together? If we’re going, let’s do it today. Are we going to have a company get-together on a non-work day?”

“Let’s hang out! Company get-together is just an excuse.”

“I have plans tomorrow. Can’t do it.”

“What plans? With who?”

“With Cheon Sangwon…Anyway, I can’t.”

Tomorrow, I had agreed to go to the veterinarian with Cheon Sangwon.

I couldn’t talk about Seulgi because he had asked me to keep it a secret. As the only person who knew, even if I died, I couldn’t tell others. Was he ashamed?

Why would he care if others talked about it? And it wasn’t even his dog that was sick.

“Dog Sangwon? Why is big brother hanging out with Dog Sangwon?”

“What are you two doing?”

Ahn Sia and Cha Yeowoon asked alternately. It was uncomfortable.

“Something like that. You don’t need to know.”

“It’s totally suspicious. You told me before that you don’t like Cheon Sangwon, so why are you hanging out with him? If that’s the case, invite him too. We can all hang out together.”

“I’m not meeting him to hang out.”

“You’re not meeting him to hang out?”

“Something like that. Just have a company get-together without me.”

“What do you mean without big brother?!”

“When have we ever hung out? Why have you been acting like this?”

“Did you two become close? You and Cheon Sangwon.”

“Not at all.”

Except for finding out the name of his family dog, there hadn’t been any significant change in perception. Cheon Sangwon was still a dirty guy to me.

However, I couldn’t heartlessly refuse a forlorn request to take a sick dog to the veterinarian.

This was the price of being nosy. Why did I pass that road? Why couldn’t I have minded my own business?

“If you come to work, then work. Can’t you see Gyeonghun holding the camera?”

“Then just this! Big brother. What do you think of me?”

Why did Ahn Sia have so much to say? Any other time, she would be the one to set the atmosphere for work first, but today she just wouldn’t stay quiet.

“What now? You’re you, so whatever.”

“As a romantic partner?”

“Charming, seductive, beautiful, sexy, and cute. I really want to date you.”

“Big brother, are you really going to do this?”

“I answered your question, why the fuss? Let’s get some work done.”

“What do you mean fuss? I’m the boss.”

“That’s right. You’re the boss, so why aren’t you working?”

“If you had to date one of us, who would it be?”

Ahn Sia fired off the question without taking a breath. Behind her, Cha Yeonwoo seemed visibly tense.

I finally understood what was happening.

It seemed Cha Yeowoon had said something to Ahn Sia. I didn’t think he would confide in others about his relationship. I wondered if she was just that amazing or if he had grown.

“I choose Gyeonghun.”

“What?! Why?!”

Ahn Sia shouted as soon as I answered. She seemed really serious.

“Do you know how many confessions I get in a week?! Why is it my big brother and not me?”

“Only Gyeonghun works hard here.”

Did they think it was a serious answer? It seemed like I was the only person who didn’t take it seriously.

“Cha Yeowoon. Why are you still standing there? Is your leg not hurting? Sit down.”

Ever since the question was asked, Cha Yeowoon had just been standing there. Almost like a stone statue.

“Big brother Myeongha, I have to tell you in advance, but my big brother has a boyfriend. Abroad.”

“I know. I got dumped.”

“Sia, M-Myeongha was joking.”

“It was a joke?”

Cha Yeonwoo asked me.

“Senior, it was a joke?”

Twice.

“Was I serious? He has a lover abroad.”

“Among the three of us…”

“Cha Yeonwoon, wait a moment.”

Ahn Sia dragged Cha Yeonwoo to the back.

I could hear a conversation in the distance about how it was unattractive to persist. It was something that should be said in a lower voice. The way the two were acting was cute.

Whether he persisted or not wasn’t the problem, Cha Yeowoon and I.

“Let’s work, Gyeonghun.”

“Y-Yes!”

Despite the somewhat ominous atmosphere that seemed to resemble relationship counseling between Cha Yeonwoo and Ahn Sia, I ignored it. And usually, premonitions like these tend to materialize.

* * *

“Seulgi.”

In a veterinarian room, Seulgi, lying down, whimpered.

The cute as an angel, Seulgi, was the pomeranian that belonged to Cheon Sangwon’s grandfather. Despite the uncanny resemblance to its owner, it was undeniably much cuter.

“The doctor said the surgery went well.”

“When can he leave? Tomorrow?”

“They’ll observe today and probably discharge him tomorrow or the day after.”

Cheon Sangwon said in an uncharacteristically sullen tone. Even his usually well-groomed hair, fixed with wax every day, was disheveled today.

We had gone to the veterinarian after school. Seulgi’s surgery was completed yesterday, and since his parents were abroad on a business trip and he didn’t want to go with his friends, I couldn’t refuse.

I guess he didn’t want to be seen crying over a dog ​​in front of his peers. I didn’t know why it was okay in front of me. Anyway, it was heart-wrenching watching Seulgi look at Cheon Sangwon with moist eyes as if communicating with him.

“The surgery went well. That’s a relief.”

After leaving the veterinarian, I had to walk slowly, matching Cheon Sangwon’s pace as he trudged along. It was as if he had lost his mind.

“Well…do you want to eat something? For a change of mood.”

“…”

“Waffles, perhaps. Let’s have waffles.”

“Brother.”

Cheon Sangwon called me. I should have turned around, but a message window popped up first, diverting my attention.

[ Entering Love Supremacy Zone. ]

Cha Yeonwoo was nearby.

It could be because the school was nearby, but I felt a strange sense of deja vu. There was a similar incident last time too. It was when I was choosing track and field shoes.

“Take care of me like Cha Yeowoon.”

I realized what I heard a moment too late.

“Are you a child?”

“A child who wants to be brother’s lover.”

Until this moment, it was just word games. Regardless, I didn’t want to just laugh it off.

Cheon Sangwon kept his lips pursed. He fidgeted, unsure of where to put his hands as he wiped them on his jeans.

“We can’t.”

Before he could ask why, I struck first.

“Because you’re not Cha Yeonwoon.”

Cheon Sangwon’s flushed face stiffened.

“If I were as pitiful as Cha Yeonwoon, would you accept me too?”

“Think before you speak. And, I’m not doing it out of pity.”

The reason why I wanted Cha Yeowoon to be happy wasn’t because he was in a miserable situation. It wasn’t sympathy.

Cha Yeowoon was someone who tried to move forward even in painful situations. He was similar to me. At the age of 29, I felt lost. I was lonely, so much so.

So I cheered for him, who was better than me. And like him, I thought it would be wonderful if I could honestly like someone. I hoped his feelings would be reciprocated, and hoped he wouldn’t feel lonely.

Despite having been abandoned like myself, I admired his heart, capable of giving his all to someone.

It was a heart that shone brightly.

I really liked that side of Cha Yeowoon.

Cheon Sangwon stepped toward me.

My arm was caught and pulled. The sole of my shoes scraped against the pavement. In the momentary stagger, our upper bodies came close to each other.

His lips brushed against my chin. As I grasped his intention, a sense of astonishment and bewilderment struck me simultaneously.