Bad Relationship

“Personality…”

I had expected this kind of personality, but he’s more domineering than I thought. Plus, he doesn’t communicate properly.

But anyway, since I’m in the urgent situation, I had no choice but to quickly move forward and call Yongwoo again.

Fortunately, this call connected right away.

— Yeah. Are you at the airport?

“No, I was dragged to my father’s. He burned my passport.”

— Wow, unbelievable. That’s your father for you. It’s a yongho-ssangbak.”

“It’s yongho-sangbak (dragon and tiger fighting), you idiot.”

— I know, you jerk. So are you finally getting married?

“Would I?”

— Right. Marrying you would be such a waste for our dad.

“Who’s ‘our dad’?”

— If we’re talking about the owner of our Hanju Elephants, he’s our dad.

Seeing Yongwoo’s forceful attitude like he would break into the family registry if needed, Junghyun decided to stop the pointless argument.

“Let’s leave your family’s dog pedigree aside… You know the contact information for that lawyer hyung, right?”

— Lawyer hyung? Oh, our dad’s friend?

“Yes.”

— Of course I know. But why?

“Contact that hyung and ask him to tell your dad to call me.”

— You met for the first time, kissed, and even announced your marriage, but you didn’t get his contact info?

When Junghyun pointed out that the sequence was all wrong, he immediately corrected Yongwoo’s misunderstanding.

“I didn’t get his contact info, but I know it. But he’s ignoring my messages. And I didn’t kiss him.”

When he made the same excuse he’d given his uncle, Yongwoo retorted in surprise.

— You didn’t? It definitely looked like you did from that angle!

“It just appeared that way on camera. Anyway, tell that hyung to contact me within the hour. Otherwise, I’ll tell the reporters I know that I’m currently pregnant with my ex’s child.”

— Uh… you’d actually do it, I think… Is that okay?

“If dialogue doesn’t work, I have to use strong medicine. If they’re going to act like that, I have no choice but to respond in kind. So, tell him to contact me quickly. He knows what my job is, so he’ll contact me soon. One hour from now.”

— Wow, you’re ruthless. I definitely shouldn’t become your enemy.

“I always do my best. No matter who I’m dealing with.”

— You only put in your best effort for things like this. Anyway, I just need to pass that message along, right?

“Yes.”

— Okay. I’ll contact him right away. Hey, this is getting more and more interesting! And hey, is there any chance you could ask dad to buy a pitcher for our team next season?

“He’s not the team owner.”

I left out the “yet,” but Yongwoo, who claims he was born shouting “Eli Eli” and has been a third-generation Hanju Elephants fan, calling himself a “Hanju spoon,” surely knows Hanju Group’s share structure.

— Not yet, right? But he will be someday, won’t he? So he’s like our new dad? Oh wait, if you marry our new dad, would that make you our stepmom?

“We need to prevent such a tragedy, so hurry up and make that call.”

— Understood. I’ll contact him right away. Give our new dad my regards, stepmom.

Junghyun just laughed at Yongwoo’s ridiculous way of speaking, which showed his excessive sociability.

“You crazy bastard.”

— That’s rich coming from you. Anyway, I’ll tell Junyoung hyung exactly what you said. Wait.

As Yongwoo, the only one excited in this situation, hung up, Junghyun shook his head in disgust.

This guy is definitely not in his right mind either.

He always tells me to go to the hospital for a diagnosis, but if I go, he should come along too.

It was almost time for the taxi to arrive at the convenience store I’d designated.

As I opened the app again to check the taxi’s current location, I heard the loud exhaust sound of a car.

The speed seemed a bit dangerous for a car driving down an alley, so I moved closer to the wall as I walked. Then I saw the already fast car accelerating toward me.

It felt ominous.

Usually on such narrow streets, cars don’t go that fast, and even if they do, they instinctively slow down when they see people.

But that car was actually accelerating as it approached. And it was coming right toward me.

As if deliberately trying to hit me.

The car’s intent was so obvious that I finally recognized whose car it was.

“He’s not in his right mind either.”

True to his words, the car came racing into the quiet alley and stopped with a screeching sound just in front of him, making Junghyun grimace in disgust.

Though it was obvious who it was, he looked anyway, and soon saw a very familiar face getting out as the car door opened.

It was Lee Jeonghoo.

The eldest son who looked exactly like that man, perfect face but garbage otherwise.

“I’m reporting you for reckless driving.”

I warned him that the speed limit in this alley was 20, but Jeonghoo wasn’t listening to me at all.

Not surprising. He’s always been the type who never listens to others.

“What are you up to?”

“Is that an ontological question? Or a genuine query about my biological species?”

When I responded sarcastically to his aggressive tone, he approached and grabbed my arm.

“Stop playing with words. How did you end up on a blind date with Cha Jaehyuk? And now marriage?”

“Go ask your friend about that. Let go. Unless you want another beating.”

As I tried to push away his arm that was grabbing mine, wondering if he really had no ability to learn from the past, he gripped my wrist even more firmly.

“What the hell did you do? How did the word ‘marriage’ come out of Jaehyuk’s mouth?”

“Why do you think I had to do something?”

“Because you’d do anything to mess with me.”

“That’s also your excessive self-consciousness. Sorry, but I’m not that interested in you.”

“Don’t make me laugh. You, who only drinks beer and soju, went to a whiskey bar? And of all places, my regular spot?”

“I just went to a bar that Seojun would never go to after our breakup, and it happened to be your regular place. That’s quite a coincidence. I’d be suspicious too. But why would Seojun never go to your regular bar?”

Jeonghoo’s grip on Junghyun’s wrist loosened as he heard Junghyun’s tone, which clearly suggested he knew everything and was being sarcastic. Then he laughed.

As if in despair.

“So that’s what it was. You’re getting revenge because of Seojun?”

“You must have done something to deserve revenge?”

“You should have never clung pathetically to someone who said he didn’t like you from the start.”

“So I guess you’re never going to confess to Cha Jaehyuk? Or wait, did you already confess and get rejected? You’re not his type, are you?”

When I deliberately scratched at his most painful spot with all my might, he grabbed my collar again. As he forcefully gripped my shirt collar, I immediately warned him.

“Think carefully before you act. I could kill you with my bare hands.”

At this threat, which was not a joke, he finally released his grip. He didn’t want to die, it seemed.

“Don’t be childish. None of this will change anything. Instead of wasting your energy on this, go cling to Seojun’s pants and beg him. I don’t need him anymore.”

This unexpected statement gave me a strange thought.

It was clearly different from what I had heard.

“Weren’t you officially dating?”

“I don’t remember that. He must have misunderstood again.”

Seeing Junghyun’s agitation for the first time, Jeonghoo smirked, thinking he had won.

Looking pleased at Junghyun’s distress, Junghyun massaged his neck, which had suddenly become stiff.

Today, unexpected situations kept happening one after another.

I thought things couldn’t get worse, but there’s always a deeper bottom below the bottom.

“They say people don’t change… You’re still trash. And I thought you’d come to your senses.”

“You’re one to talk.”

As they exchanged sharp words several times, a ringtone started coming from the phone in Junghyun’s hand.

Looking at the screen, the caller’s name appeared.

‘Wild Ginseng.’

Jeonghoo’s eyes began to waver at the number that appeared below the name Junghyun had saved. Seeing his obvious agitation, Junghyun immediately pressed the answer button.

Then he began the conversation while maintaining eye contact with Jeonghoo.

“Yes.”

— You said to call?

“Yes.”

— So, what’s your business?

“As I said in my message. We have a lot to talk about.”

— I’ve already expressed my intention.

“But you haven’t heard my answer.”

— Does that matter?

“It should. You’re worried about what I might do.”

Since Jeonghoo was in front of me, I spoke vaguely, implying that the threat about the article was still valid, and he laughed.

— Why do you think I can’t block that article?

NOTES: 

Yongho-sangbak (龍虎相搏) – Korean idiom meaning “dragon and tiger fighting,” suggesting a fierce confrontation