Chapter 34

Since they slept together, Gyu-yeon’s attitude had been somewhat different. He tried to look away when he saw Naru, but he was also worried and meddled in little things, acting cold while still taking care of everything. Even someone like Gyu-yeon couldn’t escape the commonly called denial period after falling for someone.

Naru became more of a bulldozer than before. When Gyu-yeon tried to push him away, he would barrelingly thrust himself forward so he couldn’t refuse. Gyu-yeon could not shake off this Naru. Everything was unfolding exactly as Naru had imagined.

“Stop clinging to me so much.”

“No.”

“Stop switching between informal and formal speech.”

“I won’t.”

He was nothing but a contrarian. Sitting on the terrace sipping coffee, Gyu-yeon pushed away Naru, who was staring intently at his profile. His cheek squashed from being pushed, Naru paid no mind and picked up a cookie to eat.

He’s something else. Truly something.

Today was a weekend when Gyu-yeon didn’t go to the Cafe, so things were leisurely. Naru took advantage of this and clung like a rice cake. He sat beside him instead of across at breakfast, and even tried to go in with him when he went to shower, only to be coldly chased out.

Gyu-yeon, who had planned to enjoy a rare day off leisurely, couldn’t do anything because of Naru’s distracting antics.

“Just for a moment, please back off.”

“Why, do you dislike me?”

It was an innocent question, but there was a strange madness mixed into it. It was astonishing how boldly forward he’d become compared to his earlier coyness. Gyu-yeon shook his head. It didn’t mean yes, and it didn’t mean no.

Stuck to Naru even on the terrace, Gyu-yeon neatly gave up his leisurely holiday. In this state, he felt he couldn’t even dream of having time alone.

Vrrr. Vrrr. Vrrr.

Of all times, his phone vibrated during the chaotic moment. Naru picked up the phone on the table and handed it to Gyu-yeon. Gyu-yeon, looking at the screen with an uninterested expression, looked puzzled.

[Gyu-seong hyung]

A call had come from his older brother Gyu-seong this morning. He’s obsessive about the company, so he’d surely be at work even on weekends; Gyu-yeon wondered why he’d call out of the blue.

“Oh, hyung.”

-You should attend the second son of Sungho Pharmaceutical’s wedding today.

“What is this sudden call for. Hyung, I’m busy.”

-Don’t talk nonsense, I know you take weekends off. Get ready by one and come to the place I sent.

A stiff voice came through as soon as he picked up. Faint keyboard sounds suggested he was very busy even on weekends. Gyu-seong got straight to the point without preamble.

Today was the wedding of the second son of Sungho Pharmaceutical. Originally Gyu-seong and their parents were supposed to attend together, but due to the secretary’s mistake Gyu-seong suddenly had to rush off to the U.S.

Gyu-yeon’s second older brother Gyu-min worked at an overseas branch and couldn’t come to Korea. So Gyu-yeon had to attend in his place. A tiresome task popped up on his sweet holiday.

“Hyung, I’m really busy.”

-I’m busier. Do as I say.

“Sigh, really…”

-If you go this time I’ll buy you another car.

“What, another car? No thanks, hang up.”

After hanging up, Gyu-yeon sent Gyu-seong a message. He said he didn’t want the car, but paradoxically sent the model he wanted.

Naru had been secretly eavesdropping on the call. From the tone, it seemed he was going out somewhere. Determined to follow him anywhere, Naru grabbed Gyu-yeon’s arm imploringly.

“I’m going out for a bit, so stay at home.”

“Where are you going?”

“To a wedding.”

“Oh, that thing that Gyu-yeon and I might have?”

What on earth is he saying now.

Gyu-yeon’s bewildered look met Naru. He uttered embarrassing words without changing expression, and now he found him remarkable. Cutting off the nonsense naturally, Gyu-yeon moved to the dressing room to pick clothes. Naru trotted in after him.

Gyu-yeon, who usually wore casual clothes, took out a black suit for the first time in a while. It was eleven in the morning. If he hurried, he should arrive at the wedding just on time.

Naru followed Gyu-yeon to choose an outfit. He naturally assumed he would be taken along. But contrary to his expectation, Gyu-yeon told him to put the clothes back.

“You can’t come anyway. I’m going with my parents, and without an invitation you can’t enter.”

“So I really have to stay home alone?”

“Yes. Don’t cause any trouble.”

Giving a perfunctory answer, Gyu-yeon chased Naru out of the dressing room. Sent away with a sulky face, Naru despaired at not being able to follow.

The wedding she saw on TV was very beautiful. The sight of the bride and groom walking hand in hand across a wide, luxurious venue, and the extravagant buffet lined with foods Naru had never seen, all felt unfamiliar to him.

“Song Naru, come here.”

“Huh?”

Turning at Gyu-yeon’s call, Naru covered his eyes. His suit dazzled him so he couldn’t meet his gaze. Gyu-yeon, who always looked good in clothes, looked especially fitting in a suit. The fit made him look like a model.

Covering his eyes and approaching, Naru peeked at Gyu-yeon’s body. Up close he looked even more handsome. Gyu-yeon, who had been looking at him oddly, realized belatedly why he was acting like that and let out an awkward laugh.

“Well, handsome, huh?”

“Could you keep wearing this all the time?”

“No, I won’t. It’s uncomfortable.”

“Then at least today, after the wedding, could you stay home wearing it just a little longer…?”

Naru trailed off and blushed. It was cute that he reacted so strongly to just one suit. Gyu-yeon pretended reluctance but nodded. Thrilled by his consenting nod, Naru boldly extended his pinky finger.

“Promise. Show me when you come back.”

“Alright, I promise. You, don’t get into trouble.”

“Will you bring something tasty when you come back?”

“I can’t bring anything. Instead, when I return I’ll make whatever you want to eat.”

The mood turned warm. Naru waved with a bright face. Their entwined pinkies wavered, sealing their private promise.

Leaving early saying he had to go to the hair salon, Gyu-yeon stood at the entrance and looked at Naru. He seemed a bit worried about leaving him alone. Naru, who had proudly secured the promise, waved and said he’d be fine.

“Well then, I’m off.”

“Okay! I’ll be waiting.”

Why did that farewell feel so tender today? Feeling odd, Gyu-yeon left the house and glanced back at the closed front door.

After leaving home, Gyu-yeon ran around frantically. He went to the hair salon for a blow-dry, entered the address Gyu-seong had sent, and drove to the wedding hall. He had to time it right to enter with his parents.

Since it was a grand wedding, reporters crowded the entrance. All sorts of conglomerate Chairmen and powerful executives attended, and even the second- and third-generation heirs people were most curious about showed up, so it drew a lot of attention.

Parking the car in the back and meeting his parents, Gyu-yeon openly showed he didn’t want to go in. His father and mother greeted him with kindly faces.

“How long has it been, my son.”

“How’ve you been, kid. Since leaving home your complexion has really improved.”

People expected the YK Electronics Chairman and his wife to be harsh toward their children, but reality was the opposite. The youngest son, Gyu-yeon, was raised with abundant love. Even now he was being doted on excessively.

His mother hugged Gyu-yeon as soon as they met and took his hand, urging him to go in. Gyu-yeon grumbled but acted affectionate. Compared to the blunt Gyu-seong and Gyu-min, Gyu-yeon was more affectionate.

In front of the hotel where the wedding was held, reporters packed in and flashed their cameras. Gyu-yeon and his parents confidently walked through them. Upholding the dignity of the YK family, Gyu-yeon entered the hotel and immediately frowned.

“Gyu-yeon, even if there are no reporters here you should still manage your expression, okay?”

“My mother worries a lot.”

“Heh, this one. Living outside has made you even craftier.”

“Crafty nothing. Dad, I’ll just do the greetings and then slip out right away.”

Anyway, this wedding was practically an event for companies to socialize. Or a chance for Sangho Pharmaceutical to flaunt its corporate connections. In any case, it wasn’t a gathering assembled purely to congratulate.

Gyu-yeon laid the groundwork by saying he’d just do the greetings and slip out. It seemed he spent thirty minutes circulating and repeating greetings. Playing the competent and kind youngest son of the YK family, Gyu-yeon smiled around until his mouth twitched and he was allowed to leave.

“Wow, damn. My mouth hurts from forced smiling.”

After the ceremony, he fiddled with the corners of his mouth and furrowed his brow. Just as he was planning to look for an opportunity and go home, someone slapped Gyu-yeon hard on the shoulder.

Smack!

“Yu Gyu-yeon!”

“Ah, what, Choi Yu-jin?”

The one who cheerfully patted his shoulder was Yu-jin, who was usually close with Gyu-yeon. Yu-jin was the eldest daughter of U&R, a cosmetics manufacturer that ran several famous brands.

Having gone abroad to launch her own brand, she became established and frequently traveled to Korea, always making a point to see Gyu-yeon when she visited. They’d been close since childhood, so even infrequent meetings didn’t feel awkward.

“This is boring, boring. Want to go eat?”

“Why are you dragging me along?”

“Hey, I’m being ostracized. I grabbed Park Yeon-hee’s hair last time and got ostracized.”

“Tsk, with that temperament.”

Yu-jin’s temperament was as fierce as Gyu-yeon’s. Because she was particularly successful, she faced jealousy within the group and recently got into a brawl at friend Park Yeon-hee’s birthday party and was dropped. Since then, Gyu-yeon was the only friend she had left.

Leading Gyu-yeon toward the banquet hall, Yujin handed him a plate. Her look telling him to take something even if he didn’t want to was oppressive. Gyu-yeon sighed, took some tempting food, and returned.

Yu-jin proudly took a seat next to Park Yeon-hee’s clique. Appalled by her behavior, Gyu-yeon quietly tried to turn away but was caught.

“Aha, where are you going, Yu Gyu-yeon.”

“Can you even eat among those you fought?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I didn’t do anything wrong. They gossiped about me first.”

Yu-jin, elegantly slicing steak and putting it in her mouth, gave an annoying smile. Gyu-yeon shook his head and ate some salad.

Clap!

While savoring the meat and moving her jaw vigorously, Yu-jin clapped as if an idea had struck. Gyu-yeon looked at her with annoyance, wondering what it was this time.

“Come to think of it, you were targeted too. A rich kid spread bad rumors about you.”

“Ah, I don’t know.”

“Oh my, you’re crazy. Yu Gyu-yeon. They say speak of the tiger and he appears, look over there.”

“What are you talking about?”

Yu-jin deliberately brought up a fact Gyu-yeon had been trying to forget. Gyu-yeon began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. That rich kid was now at his house and had even caused things to become awkward while living there.

Gyu-yeon just wanted to bury that incident. He’d pretty much given up on an apology and didn’t want to bring it up now. But Yu-jin kept bringing up absurd talk.

She pointed somewhere, saying the ‘rich kid’ who badmouthed Gyu-yeon was over there. It was nonsense. Naru should definitely be at home. There was no way he would be here.

“Stop the nonsense and slice the meat.”

“Nonsense? I was at that party too and saw the rich kid’s face. It’s him.”

“What…”

Gyu-yeon thought Yu-jin was talking nonsense. Surely, Song Naru couldn’t possibly be here.

But Yu-jin was pointing with a convinced gesture. Following the tip of her finger with a worried expression, Gyu-yeon’s face immediately stiffened.