The Unbelievers

Chapter 76

Director Nam unlocked the front door and entered. He input the wrong passcode twice, as it changed monthly according to a set rule. Even though getting here required passing through tight security, the entrance itself was also strictly managed. Every time Director Nam visited Yoo Siwoon’s mansion, he thought it felt like a military base.

Inside, the strong scent of coffee wafted through the air. It was well past Yoo Siwoon’s usual wake-up time. Director Nam had deliberately arrived 30 minutes late out of consideration for the two.

As expected, Yoo Siwoon, looking much the same as yesterday, was drinking coffee while checking something on his tablet PC. The tattoos he had openly displayed while Eunseong was away were now meticulously covered. Concerned about the negative impact on Eunseong’s emotional education, Yoo Siwoon had covered his tattoos every morning throughout the summer, despite the heat and discomfort. Seeing his thoroughly concealed tattoos made it feel real that Eunseong had returned home.

“Did you sleep well, CEO?”

“You’re here.”

Yoo Siwoon replied casually without taking his eyes off the tablet. Director Nam came in and brewed coffee for himself. He used a capsule machine out of convenience, while Yoo Siwoon always ground beans himself for drip coffee, claiming the flavor was different despite the hassle.

“I assume Eunseong is still sleeping? Was everything alright yesterday?”

“I was considering how to scold him, but it got too late, so I just put him to bed.”

“The one who should be scolded is you, CEO, not Eunseong. Have you forgotten what you said that made the child run away from home?”

“Ah, right. That was my fault.”

Despite Director Nam’s pointed remark, Yoo Siwoon continued speaking in an indifferent tone without taking his eyes off the tablet, apparently reading something important. Director Nam poured steamed milk into his espresso and stood facing Yoo Siwoon at the island table. Next to Director Nam sat a glass of milk and an apple.

“You need to be careful not to let this happen again. You could have spoken to him more kindly.”

“…”

“These days, kids call it something like ‘stringing along,’ I hear. It’s an unavoidable issue, so please at least pretend until Eunseong goes abroad to study.”

“Pretend what?”

Yoo Siwoon finally looked up and stared at Director Nam. Director Nam read the sharp assertion in his gaze but pretended not to notice. He had to say what needed to be said.

“I mean, try to humor him a bit.”

“How do I humor him?”

“Tell him, ‘I was flustered then and misspoke. I’m sorry. It’s not that I dislike you, but given our age difference and family relationship, I have to be careful. If your feelings haven’t changed when you’re a bit older, we can talk about it again then.'”

“…”

Director Nam believed that Yoo Siwoon had no romantic feelings for Eunseong whatsoever. Yoo Siwoon had also consistently claimed that he would never have such feelings for Eunseong. However, yesterday, Yoo Siwoon had done something contrary to his claims, something he shouldn’t have done.

He had laid Eunseong on the sofa and kissed his small, plump lips until they were swollen and red. He had sucked and licked them so much that he could now trace the shape of Eunseong’s even teeth and the slightly protruding left canine with his lips and tongue.

“We’ve found evidence of tax evasion, embezzlement, and stock price manipulation by the executives, and there’s plenty of circumstantial evidence for the unsolved murder case. With a bit more preparation, we can send them all to prison. Until then.”

“You mean I should pretend until then?”

“…Yes. At least pretend until then.”

Director Nam was serious. He was offering sincere advice, made possible by his unique relationship with Yoo Siwoon.

As Yoo Siwoon stared at him silently, Director Nam took a sip of his warm latte, enduring the gaze. Growing uncomfortable under the prolonged silent protest, Director Nam shifted his eyes before looking back at Yoo Siwoon.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No. You’re absolutely right.”

“Then why are you staring at me like that?”

“Because you’re entirely correct.”

“Well, putting everything else aside, he’s fourteen years younger than you. He’s barely twenty.”

“…”

Yoo Siwoon had made a move on his second cousin, who was fourteen years younger and whom he firmly believed to be blood-related. Unaware of Yoo Siwoon’s actions, Director Nam continued his sincere advice.

“Even if not for work, please treat him kindly.”

“Did I not treat him kindly before?”

“You told him it would make you human trash, didn’t you? That’s not how you respond to a confession.”

“…”

Yoo Siwoon had done something last night that was no different from being human trash. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Director Nam, who must have agonized before giving this advice, about what had happened with Eunseong last night.

Yoo Siwoon humbly accepted all of Director Nam’s words and remained silent as if reflecting. He simply listened to Director Nam’s nagging, which went on and on, while drinking his coffee with an attitude of serious contemplation.

During this time, Eunseong, who had woken up, entered the kitchen. Yoo Siwoon was startled to see Eunseong wearing his black sweatshirt. He had taken it off somewhere on the sofa last night, and now Eunseong appeared wearing the oversized top that hung off his shoulders so much it looked more like a sack than clothing, paired with pajama pants. Eunseong hesitated when he saw Director Nam.

“You’re up now? Did you sleep well after worrying the adults so much?”

“…Good morning.”

“We need to settle this here today. I think we need to get a written promise from you that you won’t run away again.”

Unlike the night before when he had been relieved just to have Eunseong back, Director Nam immediately scolded the still sleepy-looking Eunseong in a much stricter tone.

Yoo Siwoon’s eyes watched them meaningfully. He was worried that Director Nam might notice Eunseong wearing his top, and also concerned that he might find Eunseong’s unusually sensual and swollen lips strange.

Eunseong hesitantly turned his eyes to Yoo Siwoon. Their gazes met in mid-air.

He couldn’t remember when he had fallen asleep after kissing all night. Eunseong had dozed off on the sofa while still holding Yoo Siwoon’s tongue in his mouth.

It had been an incredibly long day. After the exhausted Eunseong fell asleep, Yoo Siwoon moved him to the bed and stayed by his side until dawn. Though he had stayed up all night, he had never experienced such sweet fatigue in his life. It was a time when he acutely realized with his whole body that he had longed for this for a long time, that he had been denying his feelings for Eunseong.

Eunseong’s eyes, filled with impatience to confirm that last night wasn’t a dream but reality, fixed anxiously on Yoo Siwoon.

Yoo Siwoon, who had been quietly observing the restless Eunseong, smiled slightly behind his coffee cup. Seeing his smile, Eunseong felt a sense of relief wash over him like a collapsing chest. Last night wasn’t a dream. He was smiling not just with his lips but with his eyes as well.

It was a smile hinting at the night they shared, known only to them. A gentle gaze and smile saying that he remembered what happened yesterday, that he hadn’t forgotten, that he had greatly enjoyed that time.

Eunseong also tried to suppress a smile that was subtly emerging, following Yoo Siwoon’s lead.

“Is what I’m saying funny? Do you know how much manpower and money was invested in trying to find you, and you’re laughing now?”

“What?”

“Who am I talking to right now? Am I just talking to myself?”

Director Nam frowned at the two exchanging knowing glances and smiles. He was speaking seriously, but no one was listening.

“No, I was listening. I’m sorry.”

“Eunseong, you have no idea how dangerous what you did was.”

Director Nam felt frustrated both verbally and physically by Eunseong, who seemed to have no grasp of the gravity of the situation.

Yoo Siwoon, who had expected to add a word of warning, left the role of the bad cop to Director Nam. He pretended to be oblivious, even wearing a faint smile as he enjoyed the aroma of his coffee. Eunseong wasn’t much different. Despite being scolded harshly, he was letting it go in one ear and out the other, trying to hold back a smile like someone with a screw loose.

“I’m sorry.”

“This isn’t something that can be resolved just by saying you’re sorry. We were lucky to find you this time, but next time… well, there might not even be a next time.”

Remembering what had happened when Eunseong disappeared, Director Nam grew frightened. Yoo Siwoon, who had been listening silently for fear that Director Nam might inadvertently mention the deceased Seo Jeong-gi, spoke up.

“That’s enough. I spoke to him clearly last night.”

“Clearly, you say.”

Director Nam retorted, as if to say, “I’m sure you did.”

“I spoke to him sternly.”

“So sternly that he’s grinning like this is all a joke? Eunseong doesn’t seem to have any sense of the gravity or seriousness of the situation.”

“…”

“I apologize. I overstepped my bounds.”

Director Nam, who had been arguing with Yoo Siwoon, realized he had crossed a line and quickly bowed his head to apologize.

The atmosphere froze in an instant. Eunseong glanced at Yoo Siwoon. He didn’t seem particularly angry.

“No, you’re right. I should have been stricter, but I wasn’t. Please scold Eunseong in my place. Eunseong, apologize to Director Nam too. He was very worried about you.”

Yoo Siwoon spoke to Eunseong in a somewhat lowered tone. Eunseong apologized to Director Nam again in a small voice.

“…I’m sorry.”