Chapter 52

Gyu-yeon, who had arrived in front of the house and was parking the car, spotted Gyu-seong standing near the entrance and his eyes flashed. He was already busy—why had the other man waited for him until this time? His hands were trembling.

Gyu-seong, who had been standing by the entrance waiting only for Gyu-yeon to come, crossed his arms and glared at the sleek foreign car. There was no one else who would drive a car like that except Gyu-yeon.

Irritably turning off the engine, Gyu-yeon got out and strode up to Gyu-seong. When Gyu-seong narrowed his eyes as if to tell him to stop making that annoying expression, Gyu-yeon let out a deep sigh.

“Why would a busy person be waiting for me here?”

“Why, of course. Yu Gyu-yeon, who is that man at your house? You never used to let anyone come into your house, and now he’s?”

“What are you talking about. There are circumstances, so hyung, just mind your own business for now,”

“Yu Gyu-yeon. Tell me straight.”

When Gyu-yeon tried to brush off the situation, Gyu-seong cut him off. The determination to get an answer today at any cost was etched in his eyes.

Would he even believe the explanation? Frustrated, Gyu-yeon brushed his hair back. Gyu-seong, standing motionless in the same spot, waited for an answer without blinking. His blade-like stance was quite resolute.

“I brought him here.”

“That is what, why on earth?”

“It’s complicated to explain the circumstances, hyung.”

“Then at least give me a shortened version.”

It was almost a fight between spear and shield. Every time Gyu-yeon raised a shield, Gyu-seong pressed with an even sharper spear, demanding answers. In the end, the shield lost.

“I like him, so we’re living together.”

“…”

“Does that count as an answer?”

“…Say it plainly—what did you say? Yu Gyu-yeon, you really like that person who’s at your house? Make sense of that.”

Gyu-seong had known Gyu-yeon for a long time and knew his personality well—more than just his personality, he knew Gyu-yeon’s little preferences. But the person in Gyu-yeon’s house didn’t match those preferences at all. And on top of that, he was a man. Even if he looked pretty, he was still a man.

When Gyu-seong looked at him as if he genuinely couldn’t understand, Gyu-yeon beat his chest in frustration. If he explained fully the story would grow long, and if he stuck to the facts no one would believe him—it was maddening.

“I brought him because of personal circumstances, there were many clashes due to misunderstandings, and while going through that my feelings formed naturally. If I go into more detail it’ll take too long.”

Gyu-seong narrowed his eyes. He was checking carefully whether Gyu-yeon was lying. From his tone and expression it didn’t seem like a lie, but it was strange. He still couldn’t understand why Gyu-yeon’s heart had connected with someone like that.

“I can’t understand this, Gyu-yeon. You moved out and suddenly this—our parents will worry too.”

“He’s my boyfriend.”

“…”

“So don’t poke around and cause something that would ruin things between us. Hyung, I’m asking you.”

Gyu-yeon had finally dropped the bomb. Saying he liked him and whatnot might be one thing, but saying they were lovers—Gyu-seong looked at him as if he were mad. His mouth hung open and froze there.

It was a plot twist you’d only see in a sensational morning drama, happening in real life. Unlike Gyu-seong’s incredulous expression, Gyu-yeon looked sincere. That made it even worse—the seriousness in his eyes was excessive.

In the end, Gyu-seong decided to step back. Of course, he wasn’t stepping back forever. Pressing his forehead, he sighed and left a warning that wasn’t really a warning.

“Since it seems sincere, I’ll let it go for now. But I won’t approve of it, and the parents will oppose it too. So just play around as usual and then stop.”

It was the most realistic advice Gyu-seong could give at the moment. Gyu-yeon didn’t like even that, but he refrained from adding anything and kept silent. When Gyu-yeon said nothing, Gyu-seong patted his shoulder twice and passed by.

“Let’s see how long this lasts. It’s absurd. Anyway, I’m leaving now.”

Muttering disbelief a couple of times, Gyu-seong drove away in his car. Gyu-yeon, belatedly coming to his senses, hurried up to the apartment. Worried about Naru being alone, his hand pressed the elevator button with anxious trembling.

Today the elevator felt unusually slow. As the floors climbed one by one, Gyu-yeon’s expression grew more and more sour.

With the gentle chime the elevator doors opened, and Gyu-yeon leapt out and hurriedly punched in the apartment code. The door opened in less than half a second; he looked down at the messy shoe rack and swallowed dryly.

There were grape pieces—the snack Gyu-yeon had bought for Naru—scattered around the shoe rack. Usually he’d pick them up one by one as he came in, but Gyu-yeon didn’t; he passed the shoe rack and went straight into the living room.

“Song Naru.”

“Gyu-yeon?”

“Are you okay? Did hyung do anything to hurt you?”

“No. He just left without saying anything.”

Naru, who had been sitting blankly thinking about something, startled at Gyu-yeon’s voice and answered.

When Naru reached out and fiddled with Gyu-yeon’s arm, he crouched down to meet her gaze. He turned her body this way and that, checking meticulously for any injuries. Even though he knew his brother wouldn’t hit people carelessly, he checked out of habit.

Naru didn’t bounce with excitement at Gyu-yeon’s gentle behavior. Normally he’d smile brightly, asking if he was worried about him, but today his mood had sunk to the basement and he looked glum. Gyu-yeon couldn’t help worrying.

“Did hyung say something harsh?”

“No. He didn’t.”

“Then why are you so down?”

“No, but why did you come home so early?”

As Gyu-yeon began to press one question after another, Naru deftly changed the subject. If he answered everything, he felt he might burst from all the painful feelings, so he tried to steer the conversation elsewhere.

Gyu-yeon wasn’t so clueless that he wouldn’t notice this. He first answered the question to reassure Naru.

“I came early because I was worried about you.”

“…”

“Why are you so down? If hyung said something, tell me.”

Hiding his typically sharp tone and wrapping himself in kindness, Gyu-yeon gently coaxed her to speak. Naru, lips twitching as if about to speak, gradually let down his guard at his attitude. Watching his read the situation brought back memories of the day they first met, and something in his chest tightened.

Naru gently set his warmed phone on the sofa and looked into Gyu-yeon’s eyes. There was a slight sheen of moisture in his pupils. It wasn’t obvious, but Gyu-yeon noticed the small change easily.

“Actually, I was a bit surprised, but I’m okay.”

“…”

“It’s just that I’m so incompetent, and that makes me upset…”

Words Naru had never said before tumbled out of his mouth. At his claim that he was upset about being incompetent, Gyu-yeon stood there like a malfunctioning person, his lips parting.

Once he had opened his mouth, Naru honestly told Gyu-yeon about the thoughts he’d had while he wasn’t there.

“I can’t confidently introduce myself to others. Apart from my name, I have nothing to say.”

“…”

“So I looked into jobs because I wanted to work, but they all say you have to have graduated school. I couldn’t go to school because of my circumstances. What am I supposed to do? How do I live in this world…?”

“…”

“I want to be someone who can stand proudly by your side too.”

Naru’s words made Gyu-yeon’s heart sink with a thud. It wasn’t shock so much as a painful sadness at his words, making it hard for him to respond.

He had only ever sheltered and protected Naru until now; he had never expected him to have thoughts like these.

Every time Naru had said he wanted to work at his Cafe, Gyu-yeon had brushed it off lightly. It hadn’t seemed sincere, so he tended to ignore it, but seeing him like this made him regret each of those actions.

What had been completely natural to Gyu-yeon was not at all so for Naru.

Naru didn’t want to go into detail, so he hadn’t pressed, but now Gyu-yeon wanted to know about his personal story. But there was something he had to do first.

“Work at my Cafe.”

“Huh?”

“This isn’t a casual offer, so think it through carefully.”

“No, because of me it’s already—”

“Hey, I’m scouting you. I’m not making a position just because of you.”

When Naru tried to refuse, Gyu-yeon firmly drew a line. He insisted he wasn’t creating a job for her; he was scouting him. Naru, not knowing what ‘scout’ meant, tilted his head and tried to infer the meaning.

Amused by his cute expression, Gyu-yeon smiled softly before quickly sobering up and explaining. He said it’s when a company brings in someone talented or exceptional. Explaining it as simply as possible, Naru’s face brightened.

On the verge of laughing along, Gyu-yeon quickly set his face serious and added more.

“But if you really work as an employee here, you’ll have to clearly separate work and personal life.”

“…”

“If you can’t do it, I might seriously scold you. You can’t call me Gyu-yeon at work; you must call me ‘boss’. If you’re okay with that, we can make a contract.”

Startled by the strict rules, Naru cautiously nodded. It was a bit disappointing that he couldn’t call Gyu-yeon by his name at work and had to act like he didn’t know him, but he could bear that.

Gyu-yeon smiled as if he’d expected this. Naru, finally having his first job, couldn’t hide his pride and fiddled with his fingers.

“Good choice. If you work here you’ll learn a lot and later it will be easier to get a job at other Cafes, so learn as much as you can.”

“Yes!”

“And I want you to tell me about yourself now.”

“Uh…?”

He thought the conversation was over, but Gyu-yeon’s words continued. Naru looked noticeably flustered and bewildered.

What kind of story did he want him to tell?

He had an idea of what he meant, but he told himself it wasn’t true and believed that. Naru wasn’t sure if Gyu-yeon would accept his past.

But Gyu-yeon was different. He was confident he’d listen without surprise to whatever Naru said. He said again with steady eyes.

“I want to hear your story. Your past. It’s about time you told me.”

“…”

“I want to know.”

Naru’s pupils trembled unsteadily.