A hard slap landed on Youn-Jae’s face, the sting radiating through his skin as his brother barged into the apartment unannounced. So much for a peaceful Sunday morning, Youn-Jae thought, as he waited for Ji-Won to arrive for their planned. The Vice Chairman’s anger was palpable—he had discovered that Youn-Jae had halted the construction and renovation of a building, and now his fury was unleashed like an erupting volcano, threatening to consume Youn-Jae whole.
Secretary Choi stood to the side, his hands raised in a futile attempt to calm the Vice Chairman, but the older brother was beyond reasoning. Youn-Jae, gritting his teeth, clenched his fists by his sides. He had never fought back physically against his brother, always opting to counter with biting words instead, but it took every ounce of his self-control not to retaliate now.
“Are you done, Hyung?!” Youn-Jae snapped, his voice laced with defiance as he met his brother’s furious gaze. “It’s just a few months! What’s wrong with that?”
Seo-Joon’s eyes narrowed, his face contorted with rage. “I thought you weren’t stupid when it came to business decisions. So, what the hell got into your brain?” His hands shot out, gripping Youn-Jae’s shirt, pulling him close enough for Youn-Jae to feel the heat of his brother’s anger.
“Hyung, why can’t you just let me handle this? I promise I’ll take good care of it,” Youn-Jae said, his tone steady but tinged with frustration. He attempted to pull away, but Seo-Joon’s grip only tightened, the fabric of Youn-Jae’s shirt stretching under the strain.
“I don’t care what you’re up to this time,” Seo-Joon growled, his voice dropping to a menacing hiss. “I am warning you! This is not Germany, and I am not Father that you can easily fool.”
Youn-Jae’s jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with defiance, but he remained silent. Secretary Choi shifted uneasily, glancing between the two brothers as the tension in the room thickened like a storm cloud, threatening to break at any moment.
Unable to bear the escalating tension any longer, Secretary Choi stepped between them, raising his hands in a placating gesture. “Vice Chairman, please calm down,” he urged, his voice steady but urgent. “Remember, you have an appointment today with one of our investors.”
Seo-Joon took a deep breath, his anger simmering down slightly as he glanced at his watch. Reluctantly, he stepped back, putting some distance between himself and Youn-Jae. He straightened his suit jacket, attempting to regain his composure.
“The company here is not under your jurisdiction,” Seo-Joon said coldly, his eyes narrowing at Youn-Jae with a final glare. “If I were you, I’d just go back to Germany.” With that, Seo-Joon turned on his heel, leaving the apartment with Secretary Choi following closely behind. The door slammed shut behind them, echoing loudly in the suddenly quiet room.
Youn-Jae stood still for a moment, his jaw clenched, and fists balled at his sides, the sound of the door slam lingering in the air like an unresolved tension.
After Youn-Jae finally managed to calm down, he made his way to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. The tranquility was short-lived, as the doorbell rang just as he was about to take a sip. He sighed heavily, setting the glass down, and walked over to answer the door. When Youn-Jae opened the door, he found Ji-Won standing there, looking a bit flustered and clearly grappling with the awkwardness of the moment. The tension radiating from Youn-Jae was unmistakable, and Ji-Won quickly sensed that something was amiss. A wave of guilt washed over him as he worried, he might have kept Youn-Jae waiting or that he had somehow failed to meet his expectations from the day before.
“Why did you take so long?” Youn-Jae's voice was edged with frustration, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized Ji-Won.
“I’m really sorry, Sir,” Ji-Won stammered, his face showing genuine remorse. “I had to let the convenience store know that I wouldn’t be coming in today.”
Youn-Jae waved dismissively, his patience clearly running out. “Whatever. Just let me get ready.”
As he brushed past Ji-Won, the latter sensed something was off and noticed the red mark on Youn-Jae's face. “Sir, are you okay? You look exhausted.”
Youn-Jae snapped his hand away, frustration spilling over. “Just sit there and behave. I didn’t ask for your curiosity.”
Ji-Won stepped back, a mix of hurt and concern flickering across his features before he sank into a nearby chair.
***
“Is he really planning to buy out every store?” Ji-Won muttered to himself, struggling under the weight of several paper bags filled with Youn-Jae’s shopping haul. His shoulders were slightly hunched, and he could feel the soreness in his arms from carrying all the items.
Youn-Jae glanced back with a nonchalant expression, barely acknowledging Ji-Won’s discomfort. “Let’s go and grab something to eat,” he said, his tone indifferent as he continued walking ahead, clearly unfazed by the burden he had imposed on Ji-Won.
Ji-Won sighed in relief, setting the bags down with a sense of finality as he followed Youn-Jae into a nearby café. “Thank God, finally time to rest,” he said, stretching his tired legs and wincing slightly. “My feet are killing me from walking all over the stores.”
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They settled into a cozy corner of the café. Youn-Jae took a seat with an air of casual ease, focusing intently on his cup of coffee, savoring the moment of calm. His fingers traced the rim of the mug, and he took a slow sip, visibly relaxed.
Ji-Won, on the other hand, was more engrossed in his slice of fruitcake, his eyes brightening with each bite. He was finally able to relax and enjoy the simple pleasure of a well-earned treat, his earlier fatigue momentarily forgotten as he savored the sweetness of the cake.
Youn-Jae, with a hint of curiosity, leaned slightly forward and asked, his voice soft and genuine, “Did you enjoy the cake?”
“Yes, Sir,” Ji-Won replied, his face lighting up with a bright, sincere smile.
Youn-Jae’s breath caught for a moment at the unexpected warmth of Ji-Won’s smile. He felt a flush creeping up his cheeks, and he turned his head away quickly, trying to hide his reaction. Despite his attempt to appear nonchalant, his ears betrayed him by turning a deep shade of red.
He fiddled with his coffee cup, struggling to regain his composure as he stole a few covert glances back at Ji-Won.
“Are you done? Let’s go,” Youn-Jae said abruptly, his tone shifting back to its usual authoritative edge as he stood up, a frown settling on his face.
Ji-Won quickly scrambled to his feet, his cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment. “Oh, yes, Sir, just a moment,” he said, hurrying to wipe his lips with a tissue. He bent down to gather the scattered paper bags on the floor, his movements slightly frantic.
As he worked, Ji-Won muttered under his breath, frustration evident in his voice. “Don’t tell me he’s not even finished with his shopping yet.”
***
As Ji-Won settled into Youn-Jae’s car, he couldn't shake the feeling that their shopping spree was far from over. “Are we heading home, Sir?” he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty, glancing sideways at Youn-Jae.
Youn-Jae, engrossed in his phone and scrolling through the map, replied without looking up, “No, we’re going somewhere else.” There was a spark of excitement in his tone, but Ji-Won could sense an undercurrent of mystery.
“Where are we going, Sir?” Ji-Won pressed, curiosity mingling with a flutter of apprehension in his stomach.
“Gangwon-do. My friend has a villa there. He’s American and said it’s about an hour and a half from Seoul,” Youn-Jae explained, his hands deftly gripping the steering wheel, eyes focused on the road ahead. “But I’m not familiar with the route, so I need to rely on the map.”
Ji-Won’s heart raced at the mention of a villa. “Are we staying overnight there, Sir?” His voice trembled slightly, panic creeping into his tone. “I don’t have any clothes with me, and I need to let my uncle know! You should’ve given me a heads-up!”
Youn-Jae shot him a smirk, raising an eyebrow as he glanced over. “What do you think all those clothes we just bought are for?” His playful tone contrasted sharply with Ji-Won’s rising anxiety.
The weight of Ji-Won’s responsibilities loomed large in his mind. “Uncle will probably kill me.” “I’ve never done this before. Staying overnight... it’s already happened once when he was drunk. Ahhh, I’m so sorry, Uncle” His thoughts spiraled into a whirlwind of guilt and unease.
As they drove further away from the city, the scenery shifted, buildings giving way to open landscapes dotted with trees. “Relax, Won. Are you scared of me?” Youn-Jae teased, a playful grin lighting up his face.
Ji-Won’s cheeks flushed as he stammered, “Ahhhh, no, no, Sir. I’m just a bit surprised.” He could feel the heat rising in his face, caught off guard by Youn-Jae’s lightheartedness.
An hour later, Youn-Jae gently nudged Ji-Won awake. “Won, Won—wake up, we’re here,” he whispered teasingly, amusement dancing in his voice.
Startled, Ji-Won jolted awake, eyes wide with surprise. “Whaaaa, Sir, I’m so sorry! I’m sorry!” he blurted out, still disoriented.
Youn-Jae chuckled, shaking his head in amusement as he surveyed the villa’s surroundings. “Not bad,” he murmured, approval lacing his tone. “Alright, let’s head to the villa.”
“This is amazing!” Ji-Won exclaimed, his voice bubbling with genuine awe. His eyes sparkled as he took in the view, a bright smile spreading across his face. But as he finished speaking, shyness crept in, his cheeks tinged with pink.
“So, do you find it worth it, Won?” Youn-Jae asked, a teasing lilt in his voice as he watched Ji-Won’s reaction, a satisfied grin playing on his lips.
Ji-Won nodded enthusiastically, his gaze sweeping over the elegant villa and the expansive sea visible through the large glass door. “Yes, Sir,” he replied, admiration thick in his voice. “It’s absolutely breathtaking.”
Youn-Jae smirked, relishing Ji-Won’s response. “There are three rooms upstairs. Feel free to choose one for yourself,” he said, tossing the car keys onto the side table in the living room with a casual flick of his wrist.
Ji-Won quickly gathered the numerous shopping bags, glancing up at Youn-Jae with a hint of urgency. “Sir, where should I put these?”
“Put them in the last room upstairs, and just get some clothes for yourself,” Youn-Jae instructed, his tone matter-of-fact.
Without hesitation, Ji-Won hurried up the stairs, eager to follow the directions.
Meanwhile, Youn-Jae strolled over to the expansive glass door on the terrace and slid it open, inviting a refreshing breeze that brushed against his face and tousled his hair. He kicked off his shoes, savoring the sensation of the soft sand beneath his bare feet as he ventured toward the shimmering sea. The gentle waves lapped rhythmically at the shore, and he stood captivated, soaking in the tranquil beauty that surrounded him.
“I promised him I’d bring him to the beach when I got back…” Youn-Jae murmured, his voice laced with a bittersweet regret. “But it took me eighteen years, and I still haven’t fulfilled that promise. I wonder if he even remembers... if we ever meet again.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, he released the pent-up pain and longing he felt for Ji-Won into the breeze. Just then, a voice broke through his reverie.
Youn-Jae glanced up, and for a moment, his guard lowered as he locked eyes with Ji-Won. He was struck by the beauty of Ji-Won’s brown eyes, shimmering like rich, molten chocolate in the fading light. Time seemed to freeze as Youn-Jae found himself lost in their depths, feeling an inexplicable pull toward him, a magnetic connection that momentarily softened the tension in his chest.
The gentle crashing of the waves behind him whispered secrets, urging him to draw nearer, as if the universe itself conspired to bridge the distance between them. In that instant, everything else faded away, leaving only the warmth of Ji-Won’s presence
Am I lost in the whispers of the waves, or is it your presence that calls me closer, tempting me to reach for the warmth concealed beneath the cold sea? In these quiet moments, have I discovered a love that runs deeper than the ocean and shines brighter than the sun? The love I’ve yearned for all this time—am I right to feel this way about you?
The story doesn't end here......