Chapter 16

Chapter 15.

“Let’s drink.”

It was a very simple statement. There was no need to interpret hidden meanings, nor was there anything new about it. However, as Lee Jun smelled the strong aroma of the wine in front of him, he couldn’t easily agree.

“Wait.”

Chaeheon got up without waiting for an answer. Unlike before, he went into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator door, and diligently brought something out. Left alone, Lee Jun had nothing to do but fix his gaze on Chaeheon’s back.

He was unpredictable from beginning to end. Lee Jun didn’t understand why he kept staying next to someone who disliked him, nor why he acted as if he wanted to get back together. And the reason he burrowed in like that, claiming he smelled a baby’s scent on Lee Jun… Was it just simple obsession?

Unlike before, a mix of fruits, cheese, and dessert-like items appeared on the plate. Another wine bottle was in his other hand, and Chaeheon sat down on the sofa, looking at the table.

He had two hands, so he brought one item in each, but Lee Jun’s wine glass had only been touched to his lips, the wine still full, so a new glass was needed. ‘What to do,’ Lee Jun seemed to understand what Chaeheon’s troubled glance meant.

After a moment’s consideration, Chaeheon poured new wine into his empty glass. Bubbles rapidly rose in the pink sparkling wine.

“This has a lower alcohol content.”

‘It’ll be easier to drink,’ he said, swapping glasses with Lee Jun. Unable to retract his words, Lee Jun let out a shallow sigh. With Chaeheon watching, he lifted the wine glass and, like before, touched it to his lower lip first. The aroma was quite sweet, and no strong alcohol scent rose. As he slowly tilted the glass, an ade-like wine flowed in.

“How is it?”

Lee Jun nodded slightly. It wasn’t bad. The faint alcohol taste at the end was negligible compared to the sweetness lingering in his mouth. Even at the Pasta Restaurant, if the wine offered at staff dinners had tasted like this, he might have drunk it.

“Just one glass of that, and then you can go.”

Chaeheon acted as if he had gone too far before, and Lee Jun, who was drinking wine again, just lifted his eyes in that posture. This time, his face was like a swindler’s. What did he have to gain from Lee Jun?

Lee Jun put down the wine, and Chaeheon chuckled. He picked up the glass he had been toying with, met Lee Jun’s gaze, and drank the wine.

‘Huh?’

The lip print on the transparent glass before Chaeheon put his lips to it. It was a colorless, slightly opaque mark because Lee Jun wore nothing on his lips, but it was pressed by Chaeheon’s lips and disappeared. Thinking Chaeheon couldn’t have known, Lee Jun quickly composed his expression.

He drank the wine again as if nothing had happened, and as it was alcohol, his stomach warmed up. Drinking on an empty stomach didn’t feel burdensome. In fact, with his stomach feeling light, the alcohol could properly moisten his dry throat, which was fine.

“But during the time we were apart, Senior, you seem to be the same, yet also very different.”

He had lifted his head too quickly just now, and Chaeheon’s image blurred then returned to focus.

“That might be why I wanted to keep being with you.”

Instead of saying anything, Lee Jun tilted his glass again. Before he knew it, he had finished one glass, and Chaeheon poured him the same amount again. He sipped that too, and it quickly disappeared.

With regret, he licked the leftover wine from his lips with his tongue and looked up, meeting Chaeheon’s gaze, who had been watching him.

“Want to drink more?”

“…Okay.”

“Okay?”

He had answered ‘Okay’ rather than ‘Yes,’ so what was strange? He had been asked if he wanted to drink and had answered in the affirmative. Normally, he would know that the meanings were subtly different, but now he couldn’t think of anything.

Unlike before, Chaeheon tilted the wine glass carelessly, as if reluctantly pouring. This time, he poured less than half a glass, but he didn’t seem inclined to give more.

“I didn’t expect you to cooperate this much.”

Chaeheon’s voice faded then returned. He was right. They weren’t lovers anymore, and Lee Jun still couldn’t accept Chaeheon.

Now, Chaeheon’s pheromones were mixed with the lingering aftertaste in his mouth. It felt as sweet as the wine.

After some time had passed, Chaeheon subtly brought up a topic.

“I think I might have looked different to Senior too.”

As Chaeheon subtly implied it was okay to ask now, Lee Jun answered a tempo slower than expected.

“I was certainly surprised. We don’t really know each other, do we?”

He wasn’t talking about Chaeheon’s preferences, pheromones, or favorite foods. Lee Jun only remembered someone mentioning in passing that Chaeheon was born into an upper-middle-class family; he had never asked Chaeheon himself.

His own father couldn’t endure poverty and left, so he cut off the possibility of knowing Chaeheon’s family beforehand, not wanting to be disappointed.

Lee Jun looked at his wine. His eyes were already half-glazed, seemingly unaware that he had been tricked by the wine.

Chaeheon clicked his tongue.

“You’re finally speaking your mind. What’s with ‘family circumstances’? If you had asked, Senior, I would have told you everything.”

“Because of what happened at the Club IN, you feel unfamiliar to me.”

“That’s the same for me.”

Lee Jun let out a small laugh at Chaeheon’s blunt remark. Until just now, he thought he knew Chaeheon that much, even if he didn’t know his background, but it seemed he was wrong. During their relationship, they only showed each other their good sides. If they hadn’t broken up, would Chaeheon have only shown him that side?

Lee Jun rubbed his heavy eyelids and stood up.

“I’m leaving.”

Continuing the conversation with Chaeheon would only reveal more of his true feelings. As he stood up, his vision spun, and Lee Jun paused, catching his breath. He had indulged in the sweet wine, and the intoxication had quite taken hold. It wasn’t enough to lose his mind, but his self-control was duller than usual.

“I’ll take you home.”

“It’s fine.”

Lee Jun quickly extended his hand when Chaeheon looked like he was about to stand up. He drew a line with Chaeheon just as he had with Park Geon-u. From the start, it was largely Chaeheon’s unexpected sides that had drawn him in.

“Who are we for you to take me home?”

Chaeheon’s eyes narrowed at Lee Jun’s cold reaction. To speak so annoyingly from beginning to end, that was also a personality trait. Chaeheon pushed Lee Jun’s hand aside.

“If I want to get up, I get up. Senior, you can’t interfere with that.”

Park Geon-u respected Lee Jun’s boundaries, but Chaeheon did not. He, too, created a new boundary and boldly placed it close to Lee Jun. It was a movement as if to say he would move this far.

Lee Jun turned his head, as if to ignore Chaeheon’s unreasonable attitude. If he wouldn’t listen even when spoken to, it was better to just push him away without a word. Before Chaeheon could approach, Lee Jun put on his sneakers first and opened the front door.

Wind blew into the spot where Lee Jun had been, as he left without even a glance at Chaeheon. Chaeheon, watching the front door slowly close, crossed his arms and wondered what to do. If he followed him out, Lee Jun would get angry again, but at least he could be with him.

As if knowing Chaeheon’s dilemma, his phone rang. The buzzing vibration from his pocket diverted Chaeheon’s attention. Chaeheon carelessly took out his phone, saw the name on the screen, and clicked his tongue in annoyance.

As soon as he put the phone near his ear, his lips twitched at the shrill shout of a young woman. Cutting off her rapid-fire words, which she screamed as if manners were irrelevant and regardless if the other person’s eardrum burst.

“Quiet.”

“You, right now…”

Chaeheon ended the call right there. He might cling to Lee Jun, but with others, it was out of the question. Especially loud noises were annoying to him. He should have just not answered the phone. At the vibrating ring again, Chaeheon was about to put it back in his pocket to ignore it, but then, with an annoyed look, he pressed the call button with his thumb. This time, when he properly put it to his ear, he heard the panting breath of the woman.

“Just try hanging up again.”

“Don’t call.”

Chaeheon warned her, intending to turn off his phone entirely. He was already in an uncomfortable state with many unresolved issues. Knowing that Lee Jun was heavily guarding his feelings, all he could do was suggest a drink.

Chaeheon annoyedly rubbed his forehead. What on earth had happened during the time he was separated from Lee Jun?

“I have something to say!”

At the woman’s urgent words, Chaeheon let out a silent sigh.

“Lower your voice.”

“What’s wrong with you? Father’s hounding me, asking when you’re going to bring him in.”

“It’s annoying. Why on earth do I have to do that?”

“If not you, then who? At least you’re not a widely known face.”

“I caught him at the Club IN last time and let him go. What does being a known face have to do with it?” The call came at the exact moment he was debating whether to keep Lee Jun or not, making him even more sensitive.

“You do it, Sister.”

“You want me to do it?”

“Yes. Who knows? If you catch Uncle, I might give you more power. I could even hand over the industrial shares.” His tone was like that of a child picking sides. He thought the woman was speechless in disbelief, but that wasn’t it. There was no answer, but it was clear she was tempted. Chaeheon casually ran his hand over the surface of the bed.

“Perhaps because I’m the youngest, I’m not really interested in leading things.”

“Not interested…”

“Then go ahead and make your move.” She might be annoyed that he was pushing his work onto her, but in the long run, it was a deal with no downsides for her.