Swallow Hunting - vanish into fiction

“Of course…”

For some reason, the words saying he would do it right away didn’t come out. Considering the effort Yohan had put into finding this opportunity for him, he should have bowed deeply in gratitude and treated Yohan like an elder brother, but his throat felt itchy and a sense of rejection bloomed in his heart.

“You…”

There was no way Yohan could miss Hae-jun’s hesitation. “Ha…” He let out a deep sigh and fumbled through his pockets. However, seeing that there was only one cigarette left in the pack, he cursed and shoved it back in.

“I told you, it’s not that guy.”

“Ah, it’s not that…! It’s just as I said about the conditions. I can’t take other customers until I’ve paid off the advance money, that’s why.”

“As long as you keep your mouth shut, how would that guy know whether you’re making money on the side or not?”

“If I pass and have to go to Jeju Island, what kind of excuse am I supposed to make?”

“Tell him you have a relative in Jeju and you’re the only one who can nurse them. Why can’t you lie to that man when you’re so good at lying to me, Mr. Cha Hae-jun?”

Hae-jun flinched noticeably at the name used to mock him. It was a completely different voice, but perhaps because it was the same formal address, Lee Kang-ju’s version seemed to flicker in his ears.

“No, well… anyway, okay. I’ll think about it.”

“Forget it. I’m not giving it to someone who plays hard to get.”

Yohan snorted and hopped onto his bike. Even when Hae-jun clung to him and acted charming to soothe his anger, Yohan’s firmly set lips did not change. Hae-jun rubbed his forehead against Yohan’s arm and did his best to act cute.

“You’re the only friend I have, are you really going to be like this?”

At the gloomy tone, Yohan let out a sigh so heavy it felt like the ground might cave in. He peeled off the sticker like Hae-jun and flicked him on the forehead. Only when Hae-jun exaggerated the stinging pain did Yohan’s facial muscles soften.

“Hurry up and go do your deliveries. You need to earn money.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hae-jun saluted with the side of his hand against his head. Yohan ruffled Hae-jun’s hair and left first.

Hae-jun remained alone, rubbing his messy hair. He had rattled on about conditions and such in front of Yohan, but in truth, the one weighing on his mind was Lee Kang-ju.

Realistically speaking, it was right to accept Yohan’s proposal. Since his relationship with Lee Kang-ju would end once the advance was fully repaid anyway, it was wise to prepare a way to survive afterward.

But

“What is actually wrong with me?”

He rubbed his face with both hands. He pulled his cheeks down until the flesh under his red eyes was exposed, then tapped them sharply to snap himself out of it.

Despite that, his heart remained the same. He missed Lee Kang-ju terribly.

***

Since he was late, he rode until the bike’s tires were worn down. At times like this, non-contact delivery was a blessing. He left the food at the door, took a photo to send, and then grabbed the next call as if his tail were on fire.

He was on his way out after delivering eight cups of drinks and desserts to a nearby office. Hae-jun was about to get on his bike when he paused and looked around. The building with its blue glass facade, the wide boulevard, and the tall roadside trees looked familiar.

“Ah.”

He had been here before. This was where Lee Kang-ju was.

Hae-jun grinned, gripped the bike’s handlebars, and looked up. When he first came here, his legs had been shaking with anxiety. He also saw the cafe where he had sat, prepared for death. Back then, he had been consumed by fear, imagining ridiculous things like a bag containing a corpse being carried out of the building.

The fact that Lee Kang-ju beat people up hadn’t changed, so why wasn’t he scared anymore?

Hae-jun was surprised by how much his thoughts of Lee Kang-ju had changed in such a short time as he picked up his phone. Since he had come all this way, it felt like a waste to just leave. Since he was here, he wanted to see Lee Kang-ju’s face even for a moment.

Thinking he might not see a text, he chose to call. He wondered if the man would actually answer, but unexpectedly, Lee Kang-ju picked up the phone quickly.

– Yes.

When was the last time he had called first? Hae-jun flinched at the voice that suddenly sounded in his ear, then pressed the phone tightly against his head.

“Um, I happened to be near your office while working, CEO. If you’re there now, would it be okay if I came to see you for a moment?”

The answer telling him to do so arrived a beat late. Regardless, it was permission. He was about to head straight in, but feeling embarrassed to go empty handed, he ordered a bunch of drinks and desserts from a nearby cafe. Although he had only seen a giant fish in the office before, hadn’t that been in the evening? There might be many employees during the day.

When he first stopped by, the building entrance felt like the gates to the underworld, making him tremble, but now he quickened his pace, not wanting to waste even a second. After handing a cup of warm coffee to the front desk staff, he took the elevator up. He was even happy to see the reception room that opened up before him.