Tossing and turning, Jakyung opened his closed eyes at the sound of music coming from outside. Checking his wristwatch, it was 10 in the morning. He sat up in bed, his body feeling heavy, and rubbed his face. The CCTV on the ceiling was still blinking as it filmed him. This might as well be a prison.
He got out of bed and went to the living room. He wondered who had put on music this early, and saw a head poking out from above the sofa. Kang Il-hyun? But the blaring EDM didn't seem like his taste.
"Who's there?"
The man sitting there turned his head sharply to look behind. He turned off the music and stood up. He was taller than expected, wearing dark sunglasses, and his atmosphere was very similar to Kang Il-hyun's. Without asking, he could tell this was the younger brother Kang Il-hyun had mentioned yesterday.
"You're up? I was debating whether to wake you since you slept so late."
Debating, yet blasting music loud enough to rupture eardrums. The words "Why didn't you just come in and shake my head then?" nearly rose to his throat. Moreover, the other person skipped any introduction and went straight to informal speech.
"Wash up and come out. There's somewhere we need to go."
"Where... to?"
"The second eldest brother said to take you to an exhibition."
Seeing his lips twist in dissatisfaction, it seemed Kang Il-hyun had forced him to do this. Before coming to Korea, he'd heard roughly this much about him. Twenty-one years old. The third wife's son, a drug addict and party animal.
True to form, his constant sniffling was quite familiar.
"And drop the formalities. We're the same age."
Kang Seok-ju sat back on the sofa without waiting for an answer, playing the loud music again. Feeling that any more conversation would irritate him, Jakyung returned to his room. He took nicotine suppressants and showered away the lingering drowsiness.
After drying off and drying his hair, he put on the clothes he'd brought. Damn CCTV meant even changing clothes had to be done in the bathroom. Fully dressed, he looked in the mirror and put on his horn-rimmed glasses. The glasses were one thing, but the neat-looking navy checkered shirt wasn't his taste no matter how he looked at it.
Shaking his head, he went to the bedroom and put on his wristwatch. He'd bought several expensive items to play the role of a young master, and the watch was one of them. When this job was over, he'd sell them all. Not a single thing suited his taste.
When he came out, Kang Seok-ju had his feet propped on the table but stood up when he saw him. They went downstairs together, but Kang Il-hyun was nowhere to be seen. According to Sangju's wife, he'd left for work at dawn because he was busy. Hearing that Jakyung didn't care much for rice, she had prepared toast and salad.
While Jakyung ate, Kang Seok-ju sat across from him, absorbed in a game on his phone. His brow above the sunglasses kept furrowing, and when things didn't go his way, curses occasionally slipped out. Jakyung observed him while drinking juice that Sangju's wife had freshly squeezed. His lips couldn't stay still, constantly chewing at nothing, making him look anxious.
"Why are you staring?"
He seemed absorbed in the game, but apparently not. Jakyung smiled vaguely with toast in his mouth. Just as he was finishing up, a sound came from the living room. Who could it be at this hour? Leaning back in his chair and tilting his head, he saw Kang Il-hyun walking in unexpectedly. Huh? Hadn't he gone to work?
"You've returned, Managing Director."
Before the words could even fall, Kang Seok-ju shoved his phone into his pocket and shot up from his seat. Sitting across from him, Jakyung noticed his nerves stretching taut. Kang Seok-ju removed his sunglasses and lowered his head, greeting Kang Il-hyun first.
"You're here, Hyung-nim..."
Kang Il-hyun didn't respond but pulled out the chair next to Jakyung and sat down. Kang Seok-ju, having finished his greeting, also sat down and gauged the atmosphere. The confident demeanor from earlier had vanished completely. Jakyung put down his toast and picked up his juice. The sudden appearance made the food feel stuck in his throat. The awkward atmosphere relaxed somewhat when Sangju's wife interjected.
"Managing Director. You're back after only 2 hours."
"I left something in the study. Just give me a cup of coffee."
Kang Il-hyun's right arm naturally draped over the chair Jakyung was sitting in. Feeling the arm touch his back, Jakyung deliberately straightened his waist to create distance. Kang Il-hyun then made eye contact and offered a greeting.
"Did you sleep well?"
Uncomfortable. He swallowed the food in his mouth and nodded.
"Yes... thanks to you..."
Kang Il-hyun's gaze now shifted to Seok-ju.
"Did you two introduce yourselves?"
Kang Seok-ju fidgeted like a puppy that needed to poop.
"Yes..."
His face without sunglasses resembled Kang Il-hyun's, but his eyes were completely different. Withdrawn and intimidated, he seemed like a student being scolded by a teacher. Additionally, though he didn't know when it had appeared, there was a prominent scar on his temple.
Sangju's wife brought coffee just then, and Il-hyun took it and stood up. His hand that had been resting on the chair moved to Jakyung's shoulder. Jakyung stiffened at the sudden contact.
"Kang Seok-ju."
Seok-ju raised his head as if burned. Yes.
"You take good care of Ian."
"Understood... Hyung-nim."
It was funny watching a twenty-one-year-old dutifully using the term "Hyung-nim." Was their relationship that difficult? Or perhaps uncomfortable. The hand on his shoulder naturally fell away. After telling them to have a pleasant day, he took his coffee and disappeared inside.
Jakyung unconsciously moved his shoulder to shake off the warmth. He let out a small sigh and met eyes with Kang Seok-ju sitting across from him. For a very brief moment, he felt a sense of kinship from the guy's face. Those eyes seemed to reflect his own feelings.
You too... hate that bastard Kang Il-hyun, don't you?
***
A child could draw better than this with their feet. Looking at the utterly incomprehensible painting, Jakyung thought to himself. It was supposed to be a human face, but it had eyes on the back of its head. What was the artist trying to say? Watch your back? If that was the intention, he wanted to buy one and hang it in his home. Trusting no one was something even children in this world knew.
He'd spent the whole day sightseeing with Kang Seok-ju. They went to Insadong to view an exhibition, bought souvenirs, and arrived at the art museum operated by Haeun Group around sunset. He'd looked at paintings all day, but as a layman, he couldn't muster any interest.
The young deputy director enthusiastically explaining in front of him was pitiful. Since he'd boasted about being an art major, he had to respond somehow... but all he could manage was nodding or spouting soulless lines like "Impressive," "Wonderful," "Amazing."
"I could draw better than this with my feet."
At the sudden voice, Jakyung turned around. Kang Seok-ju, who had gone to the bathroom, had rejoined them and was pouring out his unfiltered impressions about the painting. He went on about how a drawing from when he was seven would be better than this, and who would buy this and for what purpose. At his sharp words, the smile gradually faded from the deputy director's face.
"How much?"
Kang Seok-ju asked, and the deputy director forced a smile.
"Are you asking about the painting?"
"No, how much to sleep with you?"
"Pardon?"
"Why pretend you didn't understand. Disgusting."
The deputy director's neck and ears turned noticeably red. Just then, an employee called her away for an urgent phone call. She tried to hide her fluster and offered a polite bow before walking toward the employee. Watching her retreating figure, Kang Seok-ju openly licked his lips.
"Looks delicious, doesn't she?"
When he didn't answer, Kang Seok-ju raised his pinky finger and waved it.
"That's Kang Tae-han, you know? Know Kang Tae-han? Our eldest brother. There's a reason she landed the deputy director position here at such a young age."
"......"
"Should I ask to have a turn too?"
"......"
"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you embarrassed by this kind of talk?"
He's doing something shameful himself, yet asking if I'm embarrassed? If they were close friends, he would have smacked the back of his head until his eyes popped out. Just then, a call came in for Kang Seok-ju too. He was talking right next to him, and the voice on the other end was so loud it rang clearly. Kang Seok-ju made no attempt to lower the volume.
"You fucker, how many times do I have to say it? I said I can't go."
[Why?]
"A guest came to our house, and they told me to show them around."
[What guest? A woman?]
"Shut up, you moron. It's a man."
[Perfect. Tell him to come hang out with us. Choi Gi-tae said he's bringing something amazing today.]
Kang Seok-ju, who had been annoyed, suddenly had a spark in his eyes. His gaze now sought Jakyung. Jakyung had moved a little further away and was admiring another painting. After a moment of hesitation, he ended the call and called out to Jakyung.
"Hey... what was your name again?"
They'd been together all day, and he hadn't even memorized three syllables of his name. Unbelievable. Either drugs had rotted his brain, or he was born stupid.
"Jang Ian."
"Right, Jang Ian. Do you need to see more paintings?"
"Why...?"
"I need to meet some friends for a bit, want to come along?"
"Now?"
"Yeah. Just sit there for a little while."
"......"
"And don't tell the second brother."
"......"
Getting no response, Kang Seok-ju's expression grew anxious. As Jakyung kept his mouth shut, he seemed to think it was hopeless and took off his wristwatch, holding it out. It was easily worth an enormous sum. It was absurd, like tossing a treat to a passing dog.
"Condition for keeping your mouth shut."
Jakyung, who had been staring at the watch, nodded up and down. No reason to refuse when he was offering it. Jakyung was also getting tired of admiring paintings he had no interest in. As soon as he pocketed the watch, Kang Seok-ju bumped his shoulder and smiled, pleased.
"Let's go."