The Unbelievers

Chapter 45

“What?”

“You seemed close when I saw you before. I overheard you talking on speakerphone. I didn’t mean to listen.”

“Ah…”

Choi Jung-eon would occasionally call when he got bored while studying. Eunseong, who had put him on speakerphone while gaming, responded halfheartedly to what he was saying.

“It’s natural to like someone.”

“…But he’s a guy?”

“I don’t have that kind of prejudice.”

“I don’t like him.”

He didn’t know what Siwoon was trying to say, but he didn’t like the intention.

“Didn’t you two like each other?”

“Why would I like him? He’s not my type… and he swears so much.”

Eunseong got unnecessarily angry at his chopsticks. He didn’t understand why Siwoon was suddenly bringing up Jung-eon. Moreover, he disliked that Siwoon misunderstood that he liked Jung-eon.

“I heard he’s good at studying.”

“I don’t like people who swear at me. Jung-eon swears every time he opens his mouth. And he even hit me before. The day I first met you, ahjussi. We’re on better terms now because we go to different schools. He does whatever he wants, so you never know what he might do.”

Eunseong wanted to tattle about what Jung-eon had almost done to him, but he didn’t go that far because he couldn’t predict what Siwoon would do if he heard such a story.

“…You don’t?”

“I don’t.”

The person Eunseong liked was someone else. He felt his temper rising because that very person was mentioning a completely unrelated person and asking if he liked them.

“I’ve made you angry again.”

“Ahjussi, you’re really… so stupid.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“I don’t even like Jung-eon… you’re really being stupid.”

Eunseong held his spoon upside down and stabbed it into his rice bowl repeatedly. Since Siwoon didn’t ask anything more and quietly ate his meal, Eunseong also closed his mouth and finished dinner.

After dinner and some time for digestion, they decided to go out for a run.

Siwoon, wearing a black short-sleeved T-shirt, training pants, and a cap pulled down low, came out to the living room first to wait for Eunseong. Eunseong, who had been preparing in advance, quickly opened the door when he heard movement outside. He was also dressed in all-black workout clothes, following Siwoon’s style.

“You don’t have to wear all black.”

“Your outfit looked comfortable, so…”

“I just wear this because I can’t be bothered to choose. You should probably dress more diversely.”

“I’m also too lazy to choose clothes.”

“Shall we go then?”

After tying his shoelaces tightly, Eunseong followed him out. Outside, two bodyguards who usually accompanied Siwoon on his runs were waiting, doing warm-up exercises like jumping jacks.

“Let’s go slowly,” Siwoon said to the bodyguards as he started running first, with Eunseong following behind. The two bodyguards lightly followed behind them.

It was a pace that Eunseong could feel was intentionally slow for his sake. It was a speed that Eunseong could easily keep up with. As they ran down the hill they usually drove on, a path leading into the forest came into view. The park was refreshingly cool with summer weather after the rainy season had ended.

Siwoon led the way with familiarity. Even though they had only been running lightly for about ten minutes, Eunseong was already out of breath. Despite Siwoon’s steady pace ahead, Eunseong kept falling behind.

Siwoon occasionally looked back to check on Eunseong’s condition. The fact that he had made it this far meant his stamina wasn’t completely depleted. Siwoon was the type who exercised at least five times a week, running over 10 kilometers and doing strength training. He had to do this to maintain his work performance. He had to handle tough jobs and be ready to protect his own life in emergencies. Now he was also responsible for Eunseong’s safety.

Siwoon slowed down to match Eunseong’s gradually decreasing pace.

“Huff, huff, actually, I, hah, hah, used to, hah, be good at, huff, running.”

“Hah, want to take a break?”

“We’ve only, hah, been running for, huff, ten minutes.”

“Relax your shoulders and neck, and swing your arms lightly.”

While Siwoon was starting to warm up and feel hot, Eunseong’s forehead and nape were already getting damp with sweat.

Eunseong insisted he could go on, that he could run more, and picked up his pace. Siwoon kept pace beside him, running together. Even though it was tough, he kept running and running. As he continued, his legs, which had felt heavy as if someone was pulling him back, became lighter, and he found more strength to pound his feet on the ground.

“Hah, hah, whew, you’re running better than I expected.”

“Huff, huff, me? Of course, I’m good at running.”

How long had they been running?

Siwoon stopped jogging. Eunseong also came to a halt, breathing heavily. Sweat poured down Eunseong’s face as he bent over, hands on his knees, taking deep breaths.

“Hah, hah, my heart, feels like it’s going to, hah, burst.”

As if feeling his racing heartbeat, Eunseong put his hand on his chest, trying to regulate his breathing. Suddenly, he staggered and leaned his forehead against Siwoon’s shoulder.

Siwoon, who had been brushing back his disheveled hair, stiffened in surprise. Unable to stand straight on his own, Eunseong rubbed his cheek and forehead against Siwoon’s chest, leaning his weight on him to catch his breath. Without such an excuse, Eunseong would never have been able to touch him.

“Hah, hah, hah… This is really tough. Running is, hah, much harder than I thought. Huff, huff. I should have, hah, exercised more, hah, regularly.”

“…”

Siwoon stood still like a pillar, allowing Eunseong to lean on him. Eunseong, who had been wiping his sweaty face against Siwoon’s chest, grabbed his arm. Siwoon’s arm was also slick with sweat.

The sticky feeling of skin contact should have been unpleasant, but it wasn’t. Holding onto his arm, Eunseong wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

“I underestimated running, hah, I’m dying here.”

“…”

Eunseong knew Siwoon was uncomfortable. Knowing this, he still pretended not to notice and continued leaning on him. He made his legs tremble as if he would collapse if he didn’t hold onto Siwoon.

Even though it was an inappropriate emotion, something that shouldn’t be happening, Eunseong used Siwoon’s forearm as support and continued to breathe heavily, his breath not calming down.

“Hah, hah, what about you? How far do you usually run? How far have we run now?”

“Let’s see. About 5 kilometers.”

“How far do you usually run?”

“A little over 10 kilometers, I guess.”

“So if we go back from here, it’ll be about 10 kilometers, right?”

“…”

The arm, warm and sweaty, slowly moved away. Unable to bear the discomfort any longer, Siwoon had gently pulled his arm away so as not to embarrass Eunseong. Eunseong looked up at Siwoon with an awkward expression.

“Shall we run again? Can you manage?”

“Huh? Yes… yes. I can run.”

Eunseong sensed that Siwoon was strangely avoiding his eyes. Although Siwoon had tried to distance himself before, this was the first time he had shown such obvious discomfort, and Eunseong’s cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

Siwoon started running first, making it impossible for Eunseong to cling to him. This time, he clearly kept his distance, maintaining a gap. Eunseong felt a chill run down his back. The sweat that had risen was blown away by the wind, and the heat that had enveloped his body disappeared.

They ran back the way they came, only breathing heavily without exchanging a single word. When climbing the hill, Siwoon went ahead, leaving behind Eunseong who had noticeably slowed down and couldn’t keep up. Eunseong, who ran to the end with the bodyguards, entered the house alone, panting.

Siwoon was nowhere to be seen in the living room, presumably having gone to shower. Eunseong also went to his room. Leaning against the door, he slumped to the floor, exhaling explosive breaths. His breathing wouldn’t calm down.

∞ ∞ ∞

Siwoon, drinking his brewed coffee, lifted his wrist to check the time. Even though it was vacation, Eunseong, who always showed his face in the morning without fail, still hadn’t gotten up.

He was reflecting on Eunseong’s behavior from yesterday.

It’s impossible. It’s an impossible thing.

“…”

It can’t be. He shook his head.

It was as Director Nam had said. What he had felt wasn’t just his imagination after all.

Eunseong was acting as if he liked him. During last night’s run, Eunseong had shown expressions and behaviors that one would only show to someone they were fond of. When talking about Choi Jung-eon, he had firmly denied their relationship, as if asking why Siwoon couldn’t understand his feelings. While saying he didn’t like that guy, Eunseong had intensely watched Siwoon’s reactions.

The act of running away from home saying he disliked him, not being able to hide his hurt feelings when Siwoon tried to distance himself… Even obsessing over and numbering every instance their skin had touched.

Things like the clear breaths he exhaled while leaning his flushed face against Siwoon’s chest and rubbing against it…

He rejected the thought that was forming in his mind. He shook his head again.

He was hoping until the end that it was just his misunderstanding.

Siwoon anxiously checked the time again. On the island table, an apple and a glass of milk were waiting for their owner. As the time to leave approached, he cleared away his empty coffee cup. After hesitating, he went to Eunseong’s room and knocked on the door.