Stranger

Goo Jeongnam pretended to organize his tools and stole glances at the man. While Kim Jiho changed the engine oil, the man leaned back in his chair and stared at him with unrelenting intensity. He didn’t take a sip of the coffee Kim Jiho had held out to him. Kim Jiho would glance at the man every now and then, but he didn’t seem to notice the stares directed at him. Goo Jeongnam wondered how Kim Jiho didn’t notice it.

What is their relationship?

An afterthought occurred to Goo Jeongnam. The man looked older than Kim Jiho, so they couldn’t be friends. Prosecutor Yeon. A prosecutor? Could he really be a prosecutor?

Goo Jeongnam suddenly felt like he was going crazy with curiosity. He couldn’t believe that Kim Jiho, who had never acted close to the boss, was now acting so affable.

By the time his curiosity had grown, Kim Jiho had finally finished changing the oil. He checked his watch.

“It’s done. I’ll change first.”

“Yeah, good job.”

Kim Jiho smiled, turned around, then walked over to Goo Jeongnam. As soon as he faced Goo Jeongnam, the smile instantly disappeared from his face.

“Excuse me, I’m about to leave for the day.”

“Huh? Yeah, sure.”

Usually, Goo Jeongnam would have nagged, telling him how could the youngest try to go home on time, but the man was looking at them. He could feel the man’s eyes watching him. It was a different gaze from when he was looking at Kim Jiho. Goo Jeongnam even felt wronged. He wondered why the man was looking at him like that.

“Yeah, sure. Go home. Good job today.”

“Thank you.”

Kim Jiho entered the office inside. Goo Jeongnam glanced at the man, who was still watching him, then headed to the locker room, following Kim Jiho.

Goo Jeongnam asked as he saw Kim Jiho, who was changing his clothes.

“Who’s that person? Is he someone you know?”

Kim Jiho eyed Goo Jeongnam and then quickly changed his clothes. Why is this bastard not answering? Goo Jeongnam was about to ask again when Kim Jiho had finished changing and finally opened his mouth.

“He’s my family.”

Kim Jiho bowed his head and walked past him with an indifferent look and left the locker room. Goo Jeongnam stood there, blinking in disbelief.

Family? My family? It was an odd way to refer to someone. Goo Jeongnam tilted his head. Beyond the door, he heard a car drive away.

.

.

. 

“Was that him?”

The Benz pulled out of the shop. Yeon Woojeong turned on the air conditioner. Kim Jiho put his hand on the air vent and looked back at Yeon Woojeong.

“I can tell he’s an evil superior at a glance.”

“Yeah, he is.”

“Hmm. Did he harass you again today?”

“Yeah. Whatever. He always picks a fight.”

Kim Jiho said in a flat, disinterested voice, and Yeon Woojeong chuckled.

On the days when they got off work early, it was their routine to talk about the day’s events, Yeon Woojeong with a beer and Kim Jiho with a different drink at each time. Once every two weeks or so, the topic of Goo Jeongnam would come up.

Initially, when Kim Jiho had just started working, he would ask in frustration, “There’s someone who doesn’t like me, What did I do wrong?” However, he was no longer bothered. He knew he couldn’t get along with everyone, but since it was his first social life, he tried to do his best, but he gave up since the other person didn’t cooperate.

“Want me to scold him?”

Kim Jiho laughed at the subtle question.

“Because there’s no one who has no dust on them at all?”

“Why? Are you tempted?”

“Forget it.”

Do you think I am a kid? There was laughter in the grumbling voice. Yeon Woojeong rolled his eyes and checked Kim Jiho’s expression.

“I’m managing fine on my own.”

Yeon Woojeong smirked. Kim Jiho’s expression looked delighted as if he was giving Goo Jeongnam a good annoyance in his imagination.

“What would you like for dinner? Do we have anything at home?”

“There’s nothing. We have to do groceries first.”

“Erm, that’s a bother. How about we eat outside?”

“That works.”

Kim Jiho’s gaze lingered at Yeon Woojeong’s face for quite a long time. While the car stopped at the light, Yeon Woojeong looked back at Kim Jiho. Kim Jiho reached out his hand and placed it on Yeon Woojeong’s forehead.

“Mr. Yeon, you have a fever.”

“Really? Are you sure it’s not because your hands are cold?”

“It’s not.”

Kim Jiho turned off the air conditioner. His hand slid down to Yeon Woojeong’s nape.

“It’s a fever.”

“Is that so?”

“I told you to sleep with the air conditioner off.”

“I turned it off.”

“You left it on for too long.”

“Uh-huh. Nagging again.”

Kim Jiho squinted his eyes. Yeon Woojeong laughed and leaned down to kiss his hand. As he did that, Kim Jiho’s face softened.

“Let’s stop by the pharmacy.”

“Okay.”

“Are you tired today?”

“No. You know, I’m always like this around this time of the year. But it should be less severe this time.”

“Yes. You’ll get well quickly if you take your meds early.”

“I mean, we’ve found out the trick last year.”

“What trick?”

“Sweating it out cured me.”

Kim Jiho crumpled his face at the casual remark.

“You collapsed that day, and now you’re saying that?”

“There’s a difference between collapsing and sleeping like a log.”

Kim Jiho sighed. Last year, when Yeon Woojeong had a fever, he had coaxed Kim Jiho, who was nursing him earnestly, to have sex with him. His body had been more sensitive because of the fever, and though Kim Jiho had initially tried to restrain himself, the sex had gotten pretty rough. When they were done, Yeon Woojeong had fallen asleep very soundly, which had surprised Kim Jiho.

Yeon Woojeong reached out and gently stroked Kim Jiho’s cheek. Kim Jiho squeezed Yeon Woojeong’s comforting hand.

Their conversation paused for a moment, but it was a comfortable silence. Yeon Woojeong drove with one hand on the steering wheel and one hand in Kim Jiho’s. The car glided smoothly down the road.

“Uh? Mr. Yeon, look over there.”

Kim Jiho pointed outside the window. There was a poster on the wall.

“Isn’t that the one we saw back then?”

“Oh, you’re right.”

“It seems like they’re still open.”

“Do you want to go there again?”

“Again?”

“Yeah. Don’t you think it’ll be fun?”

Kim Jiho recalled that day. The works he hadn’t particularly liked. Yet it was a time he had liked because Yeon Woojeong had liked the works. It had been followed by a meal at a restaurant with a cool breeze blowing and soft light illuminating the surroundings. Back then, his heart had been heavy with worries, making him unable to fully enjoy it.

Kim Jiho wondered if he would look at it anew if he went back. He was sure this time he would be able to enjoy his time with Yeon Woojeong fully. 

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Kim Jiho opened Yeon Woojeong’s palm and planted his lips there. The wound had long since healed, and Yeon Woojeong’s palm was free of any marks. Every time Kim Jiho kissed his palm, Yeon Woojeong thought back to Kim Jiho’s promise. The eternity of a heart that was so heavy, yet without the slightest hesitation.

The light changed, and the car drove away. The tape on the corner of the poster fell in the breeze. The poster fluttered along, bearing the words written on it.

[Encore Exhibition

happily

ever

after]