Dirty Switch

Next Sunyday
I mean Sunday night
Even if layover its okey
Im soryy
Sorry

…What the hell is that supposed to mean?
He was originally supposed to leave next Sunday, but is he saying he’ll delay the flight?
As Seo Baekhan tried to decode the cipher-like message Joo Taehyun had sent, it belatedly occurred to him that Joo Taehyun had also enrolled early. He didn’t know the exact timing, but it seemed like it was around the period when one would normally be preparing to graduate… So it would be the busiest time.

There may be differences between schools, but in the U.S., winter break usually isn’t that long. And with so many globally prominent silver-spoon elites around that even DH Group’s prestige would seem dull, he’d need to stay diligent in his academic life.
It is about the time he should be returning and focusing on research projects.
Baekhan decided not to ask if Taehyun could adjust his schedule. If that was the reason, he had no intention of pushing his own convenience over it.

“Sorry. I had something urgent come up—no, I mean, it suddenly…”
As he turned around, Joo Taehyun took a step forward. The problem was that Baekhan had been closer than he’d expected. The blank look on Joo Taehyun’s face suggested he hadn’t fully grasped the situation yet. In his flustered state, the two of them ended up much closer than expected—so close that Taehyun’s vision seemed to blur from the loss of focus.
Frozen in place for a moment, blinking, Joo Taehyun suddenly hopped backward.

“I, I had to reply to something urgent, I’m, sorry.”
Did it not occur to him that someone that close might’ve glanced at his message? Or does it just not matter to him?
Either way, Joo Taehyun pressed a flushed cheek with his palm as he tried to hide his phone again, fumbling awkwardly because he hadn’t even properly turned off the screen.

Though it lasted only a second, one part of the message caught Baekhan’s eye: something from the secretary about “adjusting flights due to Christmas.”
Ah… Christmas.
So that’s why he’d been all giddy and restless earlier. I had to go and suggest meeting at a museum on Christmas Day of all times.

“Right. You said next Sunday, didn’t you? I’m fine with that time.”
Only after hurriedly shoving his phone deep into his pocket did Joo Taehyun finally put on his usual blank expression as if nothing had happened. Seeing how poorly he hid his excitement and good mood, Baekhan thought, He really is still a kid, and yet, the way he swiftly composed himself again made Baekhan think, He didn’t grow up under Chairman Joo Ilwook for nothing.
Still… guys like Joo Taehyun, the type [N O V E L I G H T] who make trouble quietly, are the scariest.

The poor secretary must’ve had a hell of a time babysitting this spoiled heir.
“Joo Taehyun. Your phone.”
“…Huh?”
“I think it’s ringing.”

“Oh. Ah…”
As Baekhan jerked his chin toward Taehyun’s left pocket, which was vibrating, the younger man blinked quickly.
Was he going to just turn the phone off? His hand fumbled anxiously around the inside of his pocket, but Baekhan pretended not to notice. He had no desire to tease the kid now and risk sending the conversation off in some unexpected direction—or worse, dragging it out unnecessarily.

He gave Taehyun a moment to finish dealing with the pocket chaos, then stepped forward.
“Let’s really get up now. You and me both.”
“Ah. Yes.”

As if he suddenly became self-conscious about his fidgeting hands, Taehyun awkwardly clasped them behind his back and quietly followed Baekhan. His steps made hardly a sound, which, despite his size, Baekhan found pleasing.
“…Um, hyung.”
“Mm.”

“So, uh… should I be preparing anything in particular for next Sunday?”
“Hmm. An academic plan?”
“An academic plan?”

It didn’t seem like he’d asked expecting a real answer. Taehyun looked a bit startled. But after seeing the message he’d sent to his secretary earlier, Baekhan had been thinking about this already.
“I’m just curious what your plans are from here on.”
“I’m graduating soon. I entered early.”

“I know that. But aren’t you going to grad school? You’re too young to jump straight into work.”
“T-That’s the plan, I guess.”
“Good. Then bring me a proper version of that plan. Are you going to continue in your major, or are you applying to business school or law school? Planning to stay in the U.S.? Thinking about going to another country? Or none of that—do you have some other plan?”

Taehyun stayed quiet for a moment, then nodded. He’d managed to bring over corporate documents full of sensitive information without issue, but hadn’t even considered putting together something this basic.
“Obviously, I mean something that’s not just your wish list—bring something agreed upon with your family elders.”
“I will. Um… hyung, would it be… inconvenient for you if the person you’re marrying stays abroad?”

“I don’t know. It’s not ideal, but having them drop everything and come back for me would be worse.”
As soon as Baekhan said that, a faint brightness crossed Joo Taehyun’s face. He seemed genuinely determined to finish what he’d started abroad, and Baekhan decided to give the kid a few points for that attitude.
Honestly, even if he transferred to a domestic university because of the marriage, it wouldn’t be a problem. No matter who he married, their academic background or plans weren’t going to impact Baekhan’s career in any meaningful way.

It was just personal preference. He’d prefer someone with their own ambitions and a clear sense of purpose—someone who knew exactly why they were going the way they were.
“What about you? Don’t you have anything you’re curious about?”
A sudden whim, maybe. As they left the lounge and stepped into a long gallery-like corridor, Baekhan casually tossed the question to Taehyun.

Since the kid clearly wanted to talk to him somehow, it felt like tossing him a little reward.
Taehyun stammered, “Huh? M-Me? Asking hyung?”
As if he’d gone limp without realizing, the hands behind his back dropped to his thighs—only to shoot back up straight as a sharp vibration came from his phone again.

Taehyun, huh… turns out he’s fun to mess with.
“Well. Maybe not this document, but…”
Holding the phone Taehyun had handed him in one hand, Baekhan gave it a slight shake and smiled.

“I can answer to a reasonable degree.”
“Ah… y-yes…!”
He nodded so fast that the faint whoosh of air made it hard to tell if the sound was from the phone vibrating or his head bobbing.

Joo Taehyun didn’t exactly have a cute face, but seeing him like this kind of made him feel like a big dog.
One of those loyal mutts that can’t do cutesy tricks but only ever looks at its master, totally content being tied up in the yard rather than pampered indoors—kind of dumb, kind of stubborn, the kind you just want to mess with for fun.
“I’ll do that. Thank—uh, thank you, hyung.”

“Sure.”
What was it Taehyun had asked earlier?
Do you not like me anymore, hyung?

Yeah, right. Baekhan snorted inwardly.
It was painfully obvious that Taehyun still liked him to death. He’d tried so hard to hold back earlier, but now it seemed like he just couldn’t anymore.
Just a few exchanges and the guy was already buzzing with excitement. It was almost amusing now. And from what he’d said earlier, he was apparently seeing someone too. Even so, he still looked this thrilled to talk to me?

The longer someone loves in secret, the more their pride builds.
Even knowing it’s one-sided, they start resenting the other person for not responding the way they hoped.
They feel pathetic for not being able to let go.

They feel pity for themselves—for that charred, burnt-to-the-bottom love that’s been simmering too long.
But Joo Taehyun—he just beamed when Baekhan asked even a trivial question. No trace of wounded pride. Just a straightforward, almost innocent kind of sincerity. Maybe it was because he’d always been loved, raised like a cherished little lord.
“But… hyung, don’t you have anything?”

Like he’d made some great resolve on his own, Taehyun subtly stepped closer to Baekhan. Still, he couldn’t quite walk beside him—just kept a half step behind.
“What don’t I have?”
“Not the academic plan. I mean… anything else you’re curious about, about me…”

“Hmm.”
Right then, the elevator panel lit up. Taehyun’s gaze flicked longingly toward Baekhan’s hand as it pressed the button, then quickly shifted away. Baekhan pretended not to notice and straightened the hem of his coat.
“Something I’m curious about… Ah. Who’s your current partner?”

“…Huh? P-Partner?”
“You’re on the Switch, right? So, you’ve got a boyfriend, or a sex partner, or something—don’t you?”