Midnight Interview

With a light-hearted joke to lighten the mood, Jungyoon burst into laughter. The heavy feeling in his heart eased considerably. Finally, he managed to open up.“Thank you, Hyung.”— What are you thankful for? For ordering a sandwich?“Just, for everything.”— Alright. Let’s meet soon.The short call ended. Jungyoon put down his phone and rested his head on the desk for a moment. He truly wanted to write well, for Jaehyuk, who had sacrificed so much for him.ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁Jungyoon stared blankly at the room number in front of him. 2401.Being the second time, he felt less nervous. He reached out and pressed the doorbell. Ding dong— the clear sound of the bell echoed.This time, although the door opened slowly, he wasn’t anxious. He waited patiently, and soon the door clicked open. Yoon Taerim’s face appeared between the opening doors. His gaze unconsciously drifted to the man’s chest. Today, his attire was neat.“Come in.”Jungyoon quickly lifted his head at the low voice that resonated in his ears. Yoon Taerim, with a calm expression, leaned against the door frame and tilted his chin slightly.“Excuse me.”Gathering his thoughts, Jungyoon entered the room. He changed into slippers and glanced around. It was strangely quiet. As he walked further into the corridor, he found an empty reception room.The secretary and lawyer he had seen last time were nowhere to be found. The only person filling the large space was Yoon Taerim.Seo Jungyoon, looking around, asked to confirm.“Aren’t the others here?”Yoon Taerim let out a soft, breezy laugh.“It’s twelve o’clock. They’re human too; they can’t work late every day.”He then took a seat on the reception room sofa. Without turning his head, he spoke casually.“Sit wherever you feel comfortable.”Following the instruction-like suggestion, Seo Jungyoon slowly moved. After looking around, he sat diagonally across from Yoon Taerim, who was seated in the middle of the long sofa, in a single-seater sofa.Yoon Taerim began organizing the scattered documents into a pile. It seemed he had been working until Jungyoon arrived. To ease the awkward atmosphere, Jungyoon spoke first.“You seem busy.”“It’s just as usual. There’s always work piling up.”He spoke indifferently. Despite his casual tone, every gesture exuded precision, making everything Yoon Taerim did seem important. Even organizing documents.“Since there’s no one else to listen today, let’s do it here.”“Yes.”Jungyoon nodded. He too found the open reception room more comfortable than being confined in a small study.After neatly arranging the documents on the table, Yoon Taerim turned his shoulders. His gaze met Seo Jungyoon’s, who still felt awkward.“I read the manuscript you sent.”“Oh, yes. You did.”Jungyoon had reviewed the essay once more last night before sending the final version to the person in charge. He hadn’t expected Yoon Taerim to have read it already. It felt like having homework inspected. A warm flush rose to Jungyoon’s cheeks.“You gave quite a generous evaluation.”“It was an honest review.”At his words, a faint smile tugged at Yoon Taerim’s lips. The faint smile on his otherwise stern face seemed to add a bit of warmth.With long legs crossed, his posture exuded leisure. Leaning on his chin, with his torso inclined, Yoon Taerim looked at Seo Jungyoon as if recalling something. Suddenly, his smile deepened.“I heard you almost finished the Cheongsanju by yourself during dinner.”“It wasn’t much.”“And you drank all the leftover champagne on the rooftop.”“That was… too good to waste.”Seo Jungyoon, who had been responding fairly steadily, pursed his lips at the moment. How did he know? Could it be that such details were reported?It was embarrassing how he knew even the minor details. Yoon Taerim’s words made it sound like he had come to drink rather than work, but it was the truth, so there was no room to refute.However, Yoon Taerim didn’t seem to mind much. He stood up and walked somewhere. He went to the dining room bar table where they had conversed before after just a few steps.“Honestly, you don’t seem to have a particular preference for alcohol.”Standing in front of the black wooden shelf, he casually looked at the lined-up wine bottles. Seo Jungyoon watched Yoon Taerim’s side profile blankly. Seen from the front, his side profile was utterly indifferent.“Is wine okay?”Last time, he had politely declined the offer. But today, it felt difficult to refuse. Given the personal conversation, Seo Jungyoon too needed some courage. Courage can easily be borrowed from the power of alcohol.“Yes, it’s fine.”“Good.”Yoon Taerim eventually picked out a wine he liked. Holding the heavy bottle with one hand, he grabbed an opener and two round glass cups with the other hand and returned to his seat. He took the central spot on the sofa again.Dark red wine swirled into the glass placed on the table. Jungyoon carefully lifted the wine glass in front of him. Yoon Taerim was already taking a sip from his glass.“Are your preparations for writing going well?”“Yes, I’ve roughly set the direction.”“I see.”“Are you curious?”Dark eyes turned to Seo Jungyoon. Yoon Taerim’s long eyes stared intently at Jungyoon.“You made me curious just now, Author Seo.”“It’s about a doppelganger. It’s about a man who, after hitting rock bottom, discovers a high-society man who looks exactly like him and decides to steal his life.”Yoon Taerim’s thick eyebrows arched. The man, now more relaxed, listened and drank his wine as if to say, “Go on.”Seo Jungyoon spread his fingers wide, holding the wine glass as if supporting its bowl. The heavy weight and the rich aroma rose. The wine resembled someone closely.“It starts with the protagonist meeting someone who looks like him while working as a chauffeur. Seeing an entrepreneur with a similar face and build, he’s initially shocked but soon becomes envious. The wealth, honor, and status enjoyed by the other person. He wonders what it would be like to make all of that his own. No matter how hard he works, his life remains in the gutter, while the other shines brilliantly. He wants to take it away from him. So, he meticulously plans and…”“He will kill him.”“Yes.”“I have a question.”Yoon Taerim, speaking leisurely, poured more wine into his empty glass. He then completely turned towards Seo Jungyoon. Swirling his wine glass, he asked.“How old are the characters?”Seo Jungyoon quietly took a sip of wine. He too, looking at Yoon Taerim, began to speak.“The protagonist is in their late twenties, and the businessman is in his mid-thirties.”“A businessman in his mid-thirties with wealth, honor, and status.”The voice, muttering like a soliloquy, was low, almost as if it were seeping into the ground.“Is it not strange because of how I feel?”Jungyoon paused to choose his words. Although he had anticipated it, Yoon Taerim was quick to catch on. They had agreed during the initial discussions of the interview not to model the character after Yoon Taerim.“It wasn’t with you in mind…”Jungyoon found himself making excuses before shaking his head. He exhaled a long breath and then gave an honest response.“But maybe it influenced me a little.”Silence followed. Yoon Taerim, now devoid of any smile, looked somewhat cold. He wasn’t one to smile often, but he had shown a softer side when dealing with Seo Jungyoon in the past.While quietly waiting for his response:“If you portray me attractively, I’ll allow it to that extent.”An unexpected permission was granted. Jungyoon’s shoulders, tense with anticipation of Yoon Taerim’s objection, relaxed. He had thought there was a high chance Yoon Taerim would oppose. Only then did he feel relieved.“Thank you.”“I’m curious. Tell me more. How do you steal someone’s life?”To the following question, Seo Jungyoon began to spill out the details he had planned. The protagonist obsessively reads every news article and small newspaper piece, studying, with their obsession spreading like wildfire, unearthing the person’s private life without fear. They mimic everything, from how they dress, eat, speak, to small habits.“Is that businessman married?”Yoon Taerim, who had been listening with interest, suddenly asked.“Even if he’s single, with that kind of wealth, he’d at least have a lover.”“…”“Wouldn’t the truth come out if they have sex? It’s only a matter of time, right? Unless they look exactly alike down there.”Even saying a sexual term, it didn’t sound vulgar. Yoon Taerim’s tone was as monotonous as ever, devoid of any vulgar intent.Jungyoon swallowed the remaining wine in his mouth. He answered nonchalantly as well.“It could be similar down there too.”“Alright, let’s call it artistic license. Then how about the act itself?”“…”“Mr. Seo, if you had been intimate with someone several times and one day they kissed differently or touched you differently, wouldn’t you think something was off?”“Is there… something special about the way?”Jungyoon asked back. Aren’t people’s actions all quite similar? That was his limited experience.But seeing Yoon Taerim couldn’t help but laugh, Jungyoon realized how naive his question was.Jungyoon hid his reddened face with his palm, adding an excuse.“There’s no need to laugh like that. I’m not well-versed in that area.”“Yes, it seems so.”“Mr. Yoon seems very interested in sexual matters.”“It’s less interest and more concern. Because you mentioned using me as a reference.”“I’ll study hard so there’s no need for concern.”Materials to study, whether videos or books, were abundant. There was no need to gain knowledge solely through experience. One could make up for lacking experience through learning.“Study, huh.”Yoon Taerim murmured lowly, tilting his wine glass, swallowing the lingering laughter with the wine.The wine was nearly empty. With a pleasant buzz, the conversation flowed freely. Jungyoon could even ask about Yoon Taerim’s marriage plans, elaborating on the previous topic.“I don’t have plans right now, but I suppose I’ll marry someone chosen by my family.”Despite the personal question, Yoon Taerim answered cheerfully. It was no secret that high society families intermarry for mutual benefit.“You’ll probably marry a daughter from a family of similar standing, whether in politics or business, I’m not sure.”“As expected.”“Have you heard of a prenuptial agreement?”Seo Jungyoon shook his head.“It includes things like how many children to have, how many times a month to have sex, and even agreeing to overlook each other’s lovers.”“Sounds like a business transaction.”“Marriage is a business. Even without love, the relationship lasts a lifetime.”Seo Jungyoon suddenly looked down at Yoon Taerim’s long, straight fingers, which bore no rings.“Mr. Yoon, are you… seeing someone now?”“I dated when I was younger. After I matured… even that seemed like a waste of time, so I stopped. It’s been years.”He must be lonely, Jungyoon thought suddenly, but realizing how foolish that thought was, he let out a small laugh. This was Yoon Taerim, after all.The quick-witted man could not have missed that. Yoon Taerim, narrowing his sharp eyes, looked at Seo Jungyoon sitting diagonally from him with a meaningful gaze.“What’s so funny?”“I just had a nonsensical worry for a moment.”“Mr. Seo, do you know you use a way of speaking that makes people curious?”If Seo Jungyoon’s way of speaking piqued curiosity, Yoon Taerim had a presence that compelled confessions. Under the unspoken pressure, Jungyoon had no choice but to reveal his earlier thought.“I thought you might be lonely since it’s been a while since you dated… but then I realized that if it’s you, you could have anyone you like by your side anytime.”“My tastes are quite particular.”Jungyoon agreed with that as well. That man would certainly not settle for just any woman. He would prefer someone dignified, elegant, and unique.Taste.The word suddenly stuck in Jungyoon’s mind, tickling his curiosity down to his fingertips. Jungyoon quietly set down his pen.“I have a favor to ask.”With courage, he spoke, and Yoon Taerim quietly raised his eyes. It was just when his glass had emptied.The dressing room attached to the presidential suite was quite sizable. Could this really be called a dressing room? The overwhelming space and the array of clothes inside felt like being in a professional store.Diffusers placed between the wardrobes emitted a subtle fragrance, similar to Yoon Taerim’s cologne.Seo Jungyoon began looking around at the neatly hung suits.All the suits on the hangers were in monochrome, but one could tell at a glance that the textures were different. Although he had permission, he hesitated to touch them easily, his eyes darting around incessantly.“You must have been really curious.”Yoon Taerim, leaning against the window, watched Seo Jungyoon’s exploration with his arms crossed. He too seemed to find Seo Jungyoon’s curious exploration of the dressing room interesting.Jungyoon stood in front of a rack, looking up at a sleek suit jacket. He responded, admiring the fabric’s quality with a look of awe.“People’s financial status shows in what they wear.”“I agree with that to some extent.”“Are all these clothes custom-made?”“There aren’t any that fit, so custom is the only option.”“I think I’m getting a sense of your taste.”Even without being flashy, the clothes themselves exuded elegance. It was a reminder of his wealth. A man who casually fills his wardrobe with high-end suits, which most people couldn’t even dream of owning, regarded it as perfectly normal.Soft indirect lighting from the ceiling illuminated the clothes. As he walked slowly, taking in the surroundings, Jungyoon felt as though he was wandering through an art gallery.While circling the dressing room, Jungyoon noticed a particularly unique display case. Inside a glass case that reached his navel, watches were neatly displayed in a row.He had never seen so many watches. As he looked at them curiously, he felt Yoon Taerim approaching. In a calm, steady voice, he provided an explanation.“I don’t care much for luxury brands, but I do enjoy collecting watches.”“You’ve been collecting for a long time.”“About fifteen years.”Seo Jungyoon nodded. From vintage pieces aged with time to diamond-encrusted watches, they were all expensive items that couldn’t be easily acquired, even with money.As he gazed at the display case, Yoon Taerim spoke up.“Feel free to try them on.”“No, that’s alright.”Despite Jungyoon’s refusal, Yoon Taerim was already opening the glass case. From the tightly packed collection, he selected a metal watch, adorned with jewels, and handed it casually to Jungyoon.Unable to ignore the watch presented to him, Jungyoon received it politely. He handled the watch with extra care, worried it might get scratched.The weight on his wrist was substantial. Jungyoon awkwardly supported his left hand, where he had fastened the watch.“It’s heavy.”“It doesn’t suit your wrist, Author Seo.”The watch was too big for Seo Jungyoon’s wrist. The strap, sized for Yoon Taerim’s wrist, was loose, and the watch dial nearly covered his slender wrist.More importantly, he lacked the audacity to possess such a high-end item. Jungyoon hurriedly removed the watch and returned it to its owner.“I guess it’s fortunate I don’t have a desire for watches.”“There will be one that suits you, Author Seo.”“I don’t like anything clinging to my body.”“…….”With no response, the air grew heavy. Jungyoon rubbed his bare wrist awkwardly.To break the uncomfortable silence, he lifted his head. Yoon Taerim’s gaze, which had been directed downward, followed suit.“May I open the other drawers?”Yoon Taerim nodded with his eyes. Seo Jungyoon turned and approached the sectioned drawers.Opening the top drawer revealed an array of ties, too many to count. Unlike the generally neutral-toned suits, the silk ties came in various colors and patterns.The next drawer also contained ties, the one below had gloves, and sparkling tie pins were neatly arranged as if waiting for selection.Following a set sequence, Jungyoon opened the drawers until he stared blankly at the bottom drawer. What is this? Black cloths neatly folded into squares were inside a wooden box. He realized they were underwear and quickly closed the drawer.“Oh! I-I’m sorry.”At the loud clatter, Yoon Taerim stared intently at Jungyoon. After briefly glancing at Jungyoon’s flushed face, his gaze shifted to the bottom drawer.“I didn’t see anything.”“If you didn’t see anything, why are you apologizing?”“I saw a little, just a little.”“If you’re that startled by seeing men’s underwear, you look more suspicious.”His indifferent response made Jungyoon even more embarrassed. He fanned his flushed face to cool down. It wasn’t the underwear itself that surprised him but the guilt of intruding on Yoon Taerim’s personal space.After composing himself, Jungyoon straightened his back. His red face had returned to its usual, clear complexion.“I think I should leave now.”“Let’s do that.”Yoon Taerim responded coolly. He gestured with his open palm, indicating for Jungyoon to go first.Fleeing as he walked out, Jungyoon heard a faint laugh behind him. He clenched his fists and quickened his pace.“Thank you for your time today.”“See you next time.”Unlike the bowing Seo Jungyoon, Yoon Taerim only gave a distant nod. It was a simple farewell, just like last time.This time, he didn’t offer to see him off. Fortunately, Jungyoon preferred a clean goodbye.After leaving the room, Jungyoon let out a small sigh. The sudden release of tension made his body feel heavy and tired.He pulled his phone out of his bag. A tap on the screen brought up the current time.Two in the morning.Despite feeling long, only two hours had passed.ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁After getting into a taxi, Jungyoon headed to Jaehyuk’s house. Although the taxi driver seemed slightly annoyed at the short five-minute distance, there was no choice.Visiting Jaehyuk’s house late at night wasn’t for any particular reason but to lift his spirits. Though he still couldn’t understand Jaehyuk’s wariness towards Yoon Taerim, having experienced jealousy himself, he could somewhat sympathize with Jaehyuk’s feelings.Considering the late hour, Jungyoon intentionally went without notice. Entering the dark living room after pressing the password on the door lock, he assumed Jaehyuk would be asleep.Unexpectedly, a sudden groan came from the small room used as a study.As soon as the front door closed, the groaning stopped. There was a commotion in the room.Opening the door, Jungyoon found Jaehyuk hastily closing his laptop. He turned his head abruptly, wearing a strange expression, neither crying nor laughing.“Jungyoon.”“Hyung, what are you doing up?”“Why did you come without notice?”Without a word, Jungyoon observed Jaehyuk. Wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and underwear, the waistband of his briefs was half flipped up, as if he had hastily pulled them up.Being a man himself, Jungyoon could infer what Jaehyuk had been doing. He only felt sorry for catching him in the act.Jaehyuk was literally blushing red. Because the sound was turned up so loud, he noticed the door lock clicking open a bit late. He avoided the worst scenario, but he hadn’t completely hidden it either.Jungyoon approached the stuttering man who couldn’t speak. “What’s this, porn?” he asked casually, leaning on the desk.Opening the laptop, a paused screen appeared. With a tap on the Enter key, the moaning sound from earlier played again.— Haang, Haat! Ah, uhhng!The woman on the screen was lying down with her legs widely spread.“Is this position even possible?” Jungyoon was amazed. Having only experienced missionary and doggy style, this position where both partners lay down facing the ceiling seemed quite intriguing.“So, Hyung likes this kind of thing.”“…Can you please turn it off?”“What’s the harm? I can watch too.”In fact, this was Seo Jungyoon’s first time watching porn. He had masturbated before but never with the aid of such videos. If anything, he relied more on his imagination.“Is there more?”“Hey, hey! Seo Jungyoon!”Despite Jaehyuk’s shocked reaction, Jungyoon clicked the back button. Among the flashy pop-up ads, dozens of titles appeared.Stimulating thumbnails with suggestive titles and various keywords next to them.“There are… quite a variety.”“I need to use the bathroom.”Unable to bear it, Jaehyuk fled from the room. From the adjacent bathroom came the sound of water running.Thirty minutes later, when Jaehyuk came back from a cold shower, Jungyoon was still watching the videos, now even having pulled up a chair to sit at the desk with his chin resting on his hands.“Seo Jungyoon, aren’t you going to sleep? It’s already three.”“Hyung, you go to bed first.”Click, his fingers moved confidently on the mouse. Jungyoon’s eyes didn’t leave the screen.Like a teenage boy discovering sex for the first time, he was absorbed in watching the videos, but there was no trace of excitement on his face. It was more like he was reading an interesting academic paper out of curiosity rather than sexual desire.A few hours later, with work looming ahead, Jaehyuk sighed in resignation.“Then, I’ll go to bed.”“Yeah, good night.”Jungyoon waved his hand without looking back. The sound had been muted, leaving only the flesh-colored images moving on the screen.Three hours passed, and as dawn broke, Jungyoon finally headed to bed. The bed was warm from Jaehyuk’s body heat.Jaehyuk had completely fallen asleep, having forgotten his earlier embarrassment.The familiar warmth, Jaehyuk’s scent, and everything around was comforting, yet after watching such stimulating videos, Jungyoon’s mind felt strangely chaotic. Jungyoon, lying on his side, slowly closed his eyes, watching Jaehyuk’s chest rise and fall rhythmically.The bedroom was dim. Even with his eyes covered, he could sense it was a hotel room. There was the distinctive scent of Royal Peak.Jungyoon exhaled a hot breath. His sight was blocked, and his hands were tightly bound. What was this? The material binding his wrists felt smooth, perhaps like a tie.The mattress dipped, and a heavy weight pressed down on Jungyoon. A large hand slipped under his shirt, touching his bare skin. “Jungyoon-ah,” a voice like a hallucination called his name.It was clearly Jaehyuk’s voice, but why did it feel so foreign? Jungyoon twisted his wrists again, shaking his head. The soft tie still held his wrists tight.“Ah!”A different touch, soft and wet, brushed against his body. It wandered from his chest down lower. It nibbled his side, dampening his navel which was like a gully.Unable to bear the tickling, Jungyoon’s hips bucked. As soon as his buttocks lifted, a large hand swiftly pulled his pants down to his thighs.“Did you study a lot?”A voice with a laugh came from below his navel. Jungyoon’s body shivered.“…Hyung, please untie me.”The darkness was unsettling. Was this really Jaehyuk? Jungyoon swallowed the saliva in his mouth, flailing his legs. But the face between his thighs didn’t retreat.“Ugh, mm!”Jungyoon groaned like he was in pain. Where his arousal was embraced, it was even hotter and wetter.With the relentless caresses, his white toes curled and stretched on the mattress. Overwhelmed by the ecstasy leading to climax, Jungyoon couldn’t hold back any longer and released his desire. And then…His eyes snapped open.The dark background vanished like a lie, and all around was bright light. Jungyoon buried his face in the pillow with a sigh.“What kind of dream was that…”His underwear was wet. Jungyoon bit his lower lip, sliding his hand into his pants. On the tips of his index and middle fingers, there was clear, sticky fluid. Crazy Seo Jungyoon, ending up having a wet dream after watching porn all night.Although he was wide awake, he couldn’t easily get out of bed. He just managed to sit up, ruffling his messy hair.At least Jaehyuk had gone to work. Since it was past noon, the sun was high outside. The bright sunlight reaching the bed made Jungyoon feel even more embarrassed.After ruminating over the chaotic dream several times, Seo Jungyoon suddenly remembered his afternoon schedule and hurried out of bed.His steps towards the bathroom attached to the bedroom were noticeably unsteady.Fortunately, he made it to his 1 PM appointment without being late.Before leaving home, he tidied the bed, checking several times for any remaining signs, but the uneasy feeling lingered. Perhaps it was because he had worn Jaehyuk’s underwear without permission.“Author, shall we proceed like this?”“Yes, please do.”They were having the final discussion about the new book release. Seo Jungyoon scanned the final sample in front of him one more time. The pages flipped smoothly. The matte book cover had a promotional slogan from the recent selection wrapped around it.Another book was about to be born. Since it had been over half a year since finishing the manuscript, he didn’t feel particularly sentimental. Rather, he felt relieved since the finalization process had taken longer than expected.The editor gathered the scattered documents into one pile, tapping them on the table. Her curious gaze then turned to Jungyoon’s face.Seo Jungyoon was usually calm and quiet, but today he seemed unusually silent. He was quite assertive with his opinions when it came to work, but today, he clearly seemed unfocused.“Author, are you not feeling well today?”“I’m okay. Maybe because I didn’t sleep well.”“What time did you go to sleep last night?”“Around six?”The editor knew that meant six in the morning. Aware of Seo Jungyoon’s erratic sleep pattern, she had deliberately scheduled the appointment for the afternoon.“Oh my, you’ll ruin your health like that. You might not feel it now because you’re young, but it’ll catch up with you later. Your skin will start looking dry first.”The editor, who was nagging while citing her own experience, suddenly stopped talking.It was hard to talk about skin concerns when Jungyoon’s skin was flawlessly smooth. Somehow, this man in his late twenties didn’t even have visible pores, let alone beard marks.“What do you put on your face?” she had once asked. Jungyoon had smiled shyly and mentioned the product name. A set of three for ten thousand won.The editor then realized, ah, those who are naturally gifted can’t be caught up with.“Anyway, what I’m saying is… If you want to live healthily, you need to form good habits from the start. You know you’ve lost a lot of weight recently, right?”Jungyoon massaged his thin forearm that was revealed below his sleeve. Has he lost weight? He felt like he was always like this.However, meeting the editor’s sharp gaze, he added an excuse.“Everyone does in the summer, right?”“Be honest, how much do you weigh? Are you at least 60 kilos?”Some of the publishing staff around widened their eyes. The look in their eyes said they wouldn’t let him off if he was under 60kg.“Of course, I am. I haven’t checked my weight in a while, so I’m not sure exactly.”“This won’t do, author. While you’re here, have dinner with us. We’ll treat you to something nice.”The editor thumped the table. She declared they’d celebrate the book release by having a feast, be it beef or whatever, and would pull out all the stops. The employees beside her cheered, and a faint smile spread across Jungyoon’s lips.After the dinner, which had the atmosphere of a festival, the publishing team returned to the office to tackle their backlog of work.Seeing how worried they looked, Jungyoon, who had seen them off, caught a passing taxi and headed home.When he got home, it was past 9 PM. He sent Jaehyuk a brief text message, changed into comfortable clothes, made a cup of coffee, and headed to his second-floor studio.Sitting at his desk, Jungyoon took a sip of coffee before starting to work. He had some tasks left to finish.Publishing a book takes a lot of effort. Although he was tired, thinking about the editorial team working late into the night made his typing speed up.After sending the email, two hours had flown by. Jungyoon leaned his head back, rubbing his tired eyelids. Feeling full made him sleepy. The editor had fed him well for a reason.Just then, his phone on the desk vibrated. Thinking it might be Jaehyuk, he checked it, but it was a spam message.“Really, what a diligent life. This effort should be directed elsewhere.”Jungyoon frowned and blocked the message. While he was at it, he checked the chat window; the message he sent to Jaehyuk was still unread.He heard Jaehyuk was having a company dinner today. Was he busy drinking? He dismissed it lightly and tossed the phone back onto the desk.After stretching lightly, he grabbed the mouse again. He opened a Word document for synopsis organization and picked up the bag he had placed next to the desk drawer.Rummaging through, Jungyoon suddenly opened the bag wide. His diary! The diary was missing.“Ah, I left it there!”He remembered writing in the diary while deeply engrossed in watching videos last night. In his haste, he had forgotten the diary and only brought the bag.“Completely lost my mind, forgetting something like that.”Jungyoon tilted his head back, clutching his hair. That diary was full of private notes about Yoon Taerim.His chair rolled to the corner of the room. There was no time for lamenting; he had to retrieve it before Jaehyuk saw it.The rain was pouring down like mad. Even though the rainy season was over, the downpour was so heavy it obscured vision.He ran from the taxi to his office, but he was already soaked. His phone screen was covered in water, and drops fell from his hair and chin.Upon entering the house, the empty air greeted Jungyoon. Fortunately, Jaehyuk hadn’t returned yet. He quickly went into the study and grabbed the solitary diary on the desk. Only then, with the diary in his arms, did he feel relieved.Where he stood, a puddle had formed. The rain was still heavy against the window. It seemed difficult to catch a taxi in this weather, so he decided to wait for the rain to lessen.He found an unused shopping bag, put in his diary, phone, and wallet, and placed it on the dining table. Wherever he walked, water dripped from his clothes, leaving traces. Jungyoon decided to take a shower.He went to the bathroom attached to the bedroom, took a refreshing shower, put on Jaehyuk’s clothes and underwear from the wardrobe, and threw his wet clothes into the dryer. The dryer, humming away, indicated it would take forty minutes to finish.After roughly drying his hair with a towel, he lay down on the bed. Maybe because he had been out with people or because the editor had fed him well, he was sleepier than usual. Jungyoon buried his still-damp head into the pillow. His irregular breathing soon became steady.How much time had passed? Jungyoon woke to the sound of movement. The bedroom was still dark, and it was still raining outside.Shaking off sleep, Jungyoon rubbed his eyes, full of drowsiness. From outside the firmly closed door, he heard someone’s voice. High-pitched moans, gasps as if someone was about to pass out.Jaehyuk must be watching porn again.“…Why does he like that so much?”Jungyoon, without properly combing his messy hair, stepped barefoot onto the floor of the bedroom.His steps were silent like a sloth’s. The thought of seeing Jaehyuk’s foolish face again made him chuckle. He was about to open the door without hesitation and step into the living room when…“…”At the sight before him, Jungyoon froze, still holding the doorknob.There were two people entwined.The scene of two people having sex was incomparable to video; it was much more vivid and obscene.Both were clumsily dressed, their important parts exposed, making the clothes they wore meaningless.Though the living room was dim, it wasn’t so dark that he couldn’t recognize faces. It was the new employee working with Jaehyuk. Her face, which he had only seen once, had lost its usual liveliness and was now slack.Her H-line skirt was rolled up to her waist. She had pushed her tiny underwear aside, exposing her private parts, and Jaehyuk’s member was going in and out between those narrow spaces. Jaehyuk was wearing a suit jacket but had stripped off his lower half.“Ugh, good? Huh? Do you like it?”“Haang, ah, good, ah!”“Fuck, ugh, you’re so fucking delicious.”The new employee, lying on the sofa, trembled, wrapping her legs around Jaehyuk’s waist. Jaehyuk, leaning forward, was gripping her breasts hard, sucking on her nipples. His thrusts were as wild as his moans.Jungyoon was completely stunned at the sight. Had he not been holding onto the doorknob, he might not have been able to stand.The distance between the sofa where the act was taking place and where Jungyoon stood was just six steps. The heavy smell of alcohol mixed with an unpleasant scent of sex filled his nose with each breath, making him nauseous.Jaehyuk, lost in his senses, was in ecstasy. The familiar moans were not surprising. He was so absorbed in the act that it was hard to tell if he was drunk on alcohol or lust.If he kept watching, he might faint. Jungyoon closed his eyes tightly, then opened them and slowly released the doorknob.Forcing his stiffened legs to move, he walked to the dining table. His pale fingers picked up the shopping bag handle.The new employee noticed the rustling sound first. She, who had been moaning incessantly, let out a shrill scream upon seeing Jungyoon standing there.Jaehyuk, equally startled, turned around abruptly. Upon seeing Jungyoon, he recoiled in shock.“Hey, Jungyoon!”“…….”Jaehyuk’s tongue was clearer than expected, even though he was so drunk that he didn’t notice his own shoes by the door. Jungyoon turned around, swallowing the nausea rising in his throat.“Jungyoon! Jungyoon!”Jaehyuk, who was about to run out, realized that his lower body was exposed and hastily picked up his underwear and pants. He didn’t even manage to put them on properly and tripped clumsily. It was a pitiful sight.Jungyoon, who had slipped on his wet shoes, didn’t care and opened the door. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed as he hurriedly walked away.He pressed the elevator call button several times. From his toes to his scalp, he felt cold, but his lower eyelids were burning hot, as if they were scalded.Crying was the last thing he wanted to do. He gritted his teeth so hard they nearly ground together as he glared at the slowly rising numbers on the display.Just as Jungyoon stepped into the elevator, the sound of the front door opening came from the hallway. Jaehyuk ran out, belatedly.“Seo Jungyoon!”The man, with his disheveled appearance, hurriedly tried to stop the elevator doors from closing, but the heavy doors shut mercilessly. Seeing Jungyoon leave without even making eye contact, Jaehyuk felt his spirit leave him.There was no time to wait. Jaehyuk rushed down the emergency stairs next to the elevator. Outside the building, it was still pouring rain. He could see Jungyoon’s figure walking through the heavy rain.Jaehyuk ran and grabbed Jungyoon’s arm. The slender body staggered and then was forcibly turned around.“I… I made a mistake. I was drunk.”“…….”“Jungyoon, it was a mistake. Please.”Having been caught in the act, he couldn’t make any other excuses. He could only plead, almost ready to kneel.The rain beating down on them was incredibly painful. It pelted his face so hard that it was difficult to keep his eyes open. Jaehyuk cried and begged, but the heavy rain masked his tears.There were no passersby or vehicles on the dark, early morning street. Only the sound of the rain continued endlessly.The silence was even more frightening. Jaehyuk clenched his trembling fingers tightly.“Jungyoon, please. Say something… anything.”“…….”Jungyoon slowly lowered his head. Jaehyuk was barefoot on the paving blocks. He hadn’t had time to put on his shoes. Seeing his shirt buttoned haphazardly reminded him once again of what Jaehyuk had done.Though Jaehyuk had been by his side for eight years, just seeing his face now made Jungyoon shudder with anger.His wet eyelashes felt heavy as he slowly raised his eyes. Jungyoon shook off Jaehyuk’s hand that was gripping his wrist. Jaehyuk fell back weakly like a kite with its string cut.Jungyoon’s face, seen up close, was as cold as a winter’s day.That chill reached Jaehyuk too. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Jaehyuk’s lips trembled.“Seo Jungyoon.”“Let’s never see each other again.”“…What?”“Let’s end it.”“…….”“I’ll never see you again, Hyung.”At the sharp breakup announcement, Jaehyuk’s face crumbled.“End it?”Jaehyuk shook his head. He couldn’t accept it, vehemently rejecting Jungyoon’s declaration.“How can you say that? How can we break up? No. No way.”“Look at what you’ve done!”Unable to contain his anger, Jungyoon shouted. His voice, piercing through the heavy rain, sounded like a scream.“Do you think I can forgive this? Do you think you could?”“I lost my mind for a moment. I was too drunk. I still love you, Jungyoon.”Jaehyuk fell to his knees. He begged desperately, saying they couldn’t break up, that he wouldn’t move a step if Jungyoon didn’t forgive him, pleading like a madman.“Huu, Jungyoon, I made a mistake. I truly, hic, beg you. Just forgive me this once. I’ll never do it again!”“…Let go.”No amount of tearful pleading could change Jungyoon’s mind. He mercilessly pushed away Jaehyuk, who was clinging to his pant leg.“Don’t beg. Be shameless instead. Don’t burden me with guilt.”“Jungyoon!”“I really hope… I never see you again.”The rain-soaked shopping bag easily tore apart. Jungyoon picked up the diary and belongings that had fallen on the ground. The tattered shopping bag lay in front of the sobbing Jaehyuk. Pressed under his palm, Jungyoon couldn’t retrieve it.Leaving Jaehyuk behind in tears, Jungyoon headed towards the main road. There was no chance of finding a taxi. He walked aimlessly, afraid Jaehyuk might follow.He didn’t know where he was going. The diary he clutched was soaked and useless. Why did he bother coming to get it?Reaching a deserted bus stop, Jungyoon sat on an empty bench to escape the rain. Soaking wet from head to toe, he looked like a mess. He chuckled bitterly at his own pathetic state.Just then, a taxi with a passenger stopped in front of the bus stop. Grateful for the lucky find, Jungyoon slowly got up and got into the taxi like a relief.“…Buam-dong, please.”The elderly taxi driver glanced back frequently through the rearview mirror at the passenger drenched in rainwater. He seemed displeased about his car seats getting dirty.But he said nothing and started driving. Despite the bad weather, the taxi moved slowly.Incongruously upbeat trot music played on the early morning radio. The yawning taxi driver, seemingly sleepy, turned up the volume. He tapped the steering wheel with his fingers in time with the lively rhythm, humming faintly.Listening to the sounds, Jungyoon covered his face. Finally, the belated tears began to flow.