<124> Side Story. 16
Jang Tae-ho gazed silently at his teacup. The café entrance grew bustling, then Kang Il-hyeon walked in. Aside from staff, no one else was visible in the café. From a distance, Kang Il-hyeon approaching looked exactly like a male protagonist from a movie.
One thing the media never failed to mention whenever they covered him was his appearance. His handsome face was always a subject of public interest, with evaluations of his looks outweighing assessments of his professional capabilities. Kang Il-hyeon offered a simple greeting and sat across from him, while his right-hand man Park Tae-soo waited at a distance.
"Long time no see, Prosecutor."
Looking at Kang Il-hyeon greeting him with such audacity, Jang Tae-ho was exasperated.
"The person I met last night wasn't CEO Kang, I suppose?"
"My, you remember. It seems there was a misunderstanding about yesterday. It's late, but let me apologize now."
"Will that alone be enough?"
"Then?"
"Try getting on your knees and polishing my shoes. Then I'll think about it."
Kang Il-hyeon clenched his teeth and smiled ominously. This bastard. Is he planning to return exactly what he received? Fatigue washed over him. He tilted his head slightly, then looked at his opponent while forcing a smile. If it were up to his feelings, he'd eliminate him right here and now. But of all people, it had to be Lee Ja-gyeong's brother.
Ah, fuck. Why do you have to be Romeo?
"Let's save the apology for later. What's the reason you wanted to see me?"
"Where is she?"
"Who?"
"Yang Seon-woo."
"Why do you want to know?"
"I have something to verify."
Verify. Il-hyeon rolled that word around in his mouth before leaning deep into the sofa. A staff member came and handed him tea. He stared blankly at the golden rim of the teacup, then slowly spoke.
"First, let me tell you about the relationship between Yang Seon-woo and myself."
Jang Tae-ho couldn't hide his feelings. Even at a glance, he looked like someone hoping they weren't involved.
"We're nothing to each other."
Jang Tae-ho breathed a sigh of relief, and Kang Il-hyeon continued as if he'd been waiting.
"That's what you'd like to hear, but unfortunately, that's not the case. You could say we're practically married."
Il-hyeon smiled with satisfaction, and Jang Tae-ho's complexion went beyond dark to completely pale. When Administrative Officer Park mentioned rumors about them being lovers, when Kang Il-hyeon reacted intensely just from the fact that he'd visited Yang Seon-woo's home, he had thought surely not. But now....
As he wore a disappointed and despondent expression, Kang Il-hyeon's gaze turned cold.
"Hey, Prosecutor Jang."
Jang Tae-ho's gaze, which had been fixed on the teacup, shifted to Kang Il-hyeon.
"If you're going to make that face after meeting your sibling, stop right here."
Jang Tae-ho's face distorted. Kang Il-hyeon, who had been grinning shamelessly, straightened his back and leaned his upper body forward. Then he spoke in a tone that could be either a request or a warning, fixing his gaze intently.
"You can't even imagine how that kid has lived."
"......"
"So if you're going to hurt her with that kind of expression, just quit."
"......"
"Or else, fuck, I won't let it slide."
Jang Tae-ho's face stiffened. Il-hyeon, who had been clenching his teeth, adjusted his posture as if nothing had happened and smiled with ease. Just then, Park Tae-soo, who had been standing far away, approached and whispered to Kang Il-hyeon. Kang Il-hyeon stood up immediately and adjusted his clothes.
"Let's end today's conversation here. Once we find the lost cat, we'll wrap things up."
***
Ugh, forget it. Stop! Ja-gyeong, who had been standing on a large rock, threw down the fishing rod. Even after a day passed, not a single fish was caught. Should I try the other side? But people lived there, so I'd be easily spotted. Just then, a fishing boat passed by in the distance.
The island was relatively close to the mainland, which was perhaps why boats passing by could be encountered easily throughout the day. If I'd known this would happen, I should have gone further. Coming down from the rock, she boiled water on a disposable burner and opened a cup of instant noodles. Eating nothing but cup noodles for two days is getting tiresome. I want the breakfast that the landlady makes.
After pouring boiling water into the noodles, she waited for them to cook. Not having slept properly last night, drowsiness overwhelmed her. I should eat and take a nap. As she yawned and stretched, a boat passed by at very high speed in the distance. The boat looked like it might flip from the spray. Whoever that is drives really badly.
But then the boat changed direction and gradually approached this way. Ja-gyeong, who had been opening the noodle lid, felt a sense of déjà vu and stood up. She took out binoculars from the tent to check, and her face scrunched up completely. The man in the driver's seat was wearing a black suit.
That crazy bastard who appeared in a helicopter last year firing guns was now showing up in a boat. I knew he'd come looking, but in just two days... At this rate, I wonder if he implanted a tracker in my body.
She put down the binoculars and took out a shotgun from the tent, loading it with bullets. She'd brought it for hunting in case of emergency, but never thought it would be used like this. She aimed and pulled the trigger—bang—the bullet grazed past the side of the boat.
Undeterred by the warning shot, Il-hyeon waved his hand from outside the boat. She thought about running away again, but the island was small with nowhere suitable to flee. Eventually, she lowered the gun and sat in front of the noodles. As she stirred the swollen noodles with chopsticks, the motor sound grew closer, and soon after, footsteps could be heard.
"You ran away to a place like this? Why not stay somewhere nice. It's upsetting."
Slurp. Ignoring him and eating only the noodles, he snatched away both the noodles and chopsticks. When she glared at him, Il-hyeon wiped the noodle broth from the corner of Ja-gyeong's mouth with his hand and smiled.
"Your face looks familiar. It's red."
She snatched them back and ate the noodles.
"You're not going to talk to me?"
When she kept her mouth shut and only ate noodles, Il-hyeon nodded.
"Then I'll wait here until you feel like it, I suppose."
Il-hyeon took off his jacket, laid it on the sand, and lay down right there. Ah, nice. The sun is fucking hot, perfect weather to burn to death. Ja-gyeong finished the noodles, drank water, then climbed up onto the rock. It's quiet behind her. Looking back, Kang Il-hyeon was lying with his arms pillowed behind his head, eyes closed.
As she looked at the sea again, a voice came.
"Jang Tae-ho wants to see you. He said he wants to request a DNA test directly."
Ja-gyeong's hand, which had been winding the fishing line, paused.
"The test results probably won't be any different."
Ja-gyeong turned around. Il-hyeon was already approaching. He climbed onto the rock, took the fishing rod Ja-gyeong was holding, and pulled in the line. After checking the hook, he opened the bait container and took out a worm.
He skillfully threaded the worm onto the hook and returned it to Ja-gyeong. Ja-gyeong belatedly realized she had been putting the bait on incorrectly. She swung the fishing rod far out. The waves were calm. Both of them gazed blankly at where the hook had landed, saying nothing.
"First, I'm sorry."
Time passed, and it was Il-hyeon who spoke first.
"......"
"That day, what I said to you—I wasn't sincerely sorry."
Ja-gyeong, who had been watching the sea, turned to Il-hyeon. He was still looking only beyond the sea.
"I hate even a bit of your feelings flowing toward someone else. I don't want to share them. Whether it's family or anyone."
"......"
"I was afraid you'd be shaken because of your brother who suddenly appeared, afraid your heart would drift away from me, so I thought I'd rather kill you."
"......"
"I only thought about my position. I rationalized to myself that your wounds are something I can fill."
The gaze that had been fixed on the sea finally turned to look at Ja-gyeong. His eyes, which had been only sharp, now held various emotions.
"I'm sorry that I, the one who loves you, am this kind of person."
The line pulled taut.
"I won't do that again. Forgive me."
Ja-gyeong silently wound the line. The rod bent like a bow, and the fish revealed itself above the water. Surprised by its quite large size, she watched, then caught the fish and removed the hook from its mouth. It was so strong it wouldn't stop flapping.
After throwing the caught fish into the sea, Ja-gyeong brushed off her seat and stood up.
"Let's go."
Thinking she meant for him to go alone, he looked disappointed, but Ja-gyeong extended her hand.
"Let's go home."
Il-hyeon's eyes widened slightly.
"You mean it?"
"I've only eaten ramen for two days, I'm starving to death. I want to go home, wash up, and sleep comfortably."
Overwhelmed with emotion, he tried to embrace her, but Ja-gyeong stepped back a pace. Il-hyeon's eyebrows drooped downward.
"You said you forgive me."
"Still, hugging right after making up isn't right, is it?"
Il-hyeon made a disappointed face, then his eyes twinkled. Close your eyes. I have a gift for you. Ja-gyeong looked behind him. He was empty-handed when he got off. Looking suspiciously, he urged her to just close them. Ja-gyeong closed her eyes, and after a moment, Il-hyeon took her hand and guided it.
Zzzzt—at the familiar sound, her cheek twitched. What is this. The moment she wondered if he could really be doing that, the sensation touching her hand made her eyes fly open. Her hand had somehow slipped inside Kang Il-hyeon's pants. And astonishingly, what should have been there wasn't.
She hurriedly pulled her hand away from his smooth member, wearing a shocked expression.
"W-what did you do?"
"A reconciliation gift. Do you like it?"
Lost for words as she stared at him, Kang Il-hyeon frowned.
"Fuck. It burns like crazy. Let's never do this again."
Want to touch it more? As he reached for her hand, Ja-gyeong recoiled and pushed him away. Then he fastened his pants and draped his arm around Ja-gyeong's neck. And whispered by her ear. I heard that when both of them push and have sex, it feels really good. So close his lips nearly touched her ear.
You're noisy. Even after she pushed him away, he persisted clinging to her and spouting lewd talk. As she shoved his shoulder telling him to stop, his upper body tilted backward. In haste, she grabbed him, and they both slid down below the rock. Splash—they fell fully into the sea, then simultaneously poked their heads out.
Kang Il-hyeon's water-laden face sparkled under the sun. He smiled brightly, and Ja-gyeong ended up bursting into laughter too.