Chapter 332

Start (13)

***

There was a reason behind Jin Hyuk’s ironclad defense.

A special reason he couldn’t tell anyone.

Could any other woman catch Son Jin-hyeok’s attention and spark his interest? It was a common curiosity among his friends. That guy treats celebrities like they’re nothing.

Jin Hyuk answered with his actions.

Who would dare to covet the feelings he had held onto for so long? No one.

The steel fortress, melting like magic, gently spread its wings and embraced only Hong Soo-jung.

And several months later.

“My friends think you’re fascinating.”

“Why? Because I’m famous?”

“That too, but they’re amazed at how well you treat me.”

Despite the age difference and having known each other since childhood, Jin Hyuk’s constant kindness made him seem like an alien. Even without wealth and fame, he stood out compared to other men his age.

“You don’t boss me around like an adult; you adjust to me.”

“Soo-jung, you’re an adult now too. I sometimes think we might have been separated from each other in another star system.”

So, he decided to love her without regrets, doing whatever Hong Soo-jung wanted. He didn’t force anything or try to take her somewhere. He wanted to be like a babbling brook, always by her side.

“Wow! Another star? That’s a cool expression. So, we met when we were young. Let’s not part again.”

Plagiarism, hehe-.

Hong Soo-jung, who marveled and was moved by even the smallest things, was no different from when she was a child, making it feel like they were playing childhood games together.

Her heart was just as earnest and desperate.

She didn’t show any eccentric behaviors like cramming lectures into three days a week or wandering around Yeouido with a scarf and sunglasses, but whenever Jin Hyuk was in Seoul, she made sure to meet him at least once a day.

The meeting of Son Jin-hyeok and Hong Soo-jung was so natural that it didn’t even become a topic of conversation.

If it had been broadcast, it might have had lower ratings than a morning educational program.

Parents, friends, and even Jin Hyuk’s fans all reacted with, “We knew they’d end up like this.”

Thanks to that, there was no need to meet secretly, and they simply built small, insignificant memories together. They watched movies, went to see the sunrise at the East Sea, and sat side by side to watch the sunset at the West Sea.

On weekends, they attended performances and snacked on tteokbokki and fish cakes sold on the streets. Wiping off the tteokbokki sauce that splattered on each other’s clothes and scolding each other for being clumsy, then laughing like fools, was no different from any ordinary couple. It was the everyday life Jin Hyuk and Hong Soo-jung had longed for.

“Honestly, my peers seem immature, and the seniors who are reservists don’t seem very mature either, but they act like they’ve achieved enlightenment. Compared to you, they’re just kids. That’s why I often meet with friends I’ve known since childhood. They see me for who I am.”

“Definitely, the friends I met in college seem a bit intimidated by me. So, it’s not fun.”

“Having high standards is the problem. Every time I see other people, I end up comparing them to you.”

“Playing mind games to boost my value is childish. If I like someone, I like them; if I don’t, it’s over. Why push and pull? Is that fun? That’s just kids’ play. I should shine through my own efforts. That’s Hong Soo-jung.”

What is this guy talking about, who used to subtly play hard to get?

Still, Jin Hyuk nodded diligently, as he had learned from Yook Seong-chan.

Right, right. Everything Soo-jung says is correct. Ee-ee-.

Chatter chatter-.

At Yeouido Park, where cherry blossoms were in full bloom, Hong Soo-jung was the most excited and radiant person.

Her glowing complexion couldn’t be hidden by a baseball cap, and her figure, no longer that of a child due to long-term exercise, couldn’t be concealed by a cardigan and a loose dress.

Her shining eyes were filled with only one man.

“Ahem! Did you use all the gifts I gave you?”

Hong Soo-jung, walking arm in arm with Jin Hyuk, coughed and asked, glancing sideways.

The gift she gave him on his first day at work.

Unable to find a suitable answer, Jin Hyuk swallowed hard.

“No. I didn’t understand what it meant······.”

“What do you mean? Coach Seo Pil-gu said it’s a must-have for athletes?”

Hong Soo-jung had asked Seo Pil-gu, the athletics coach at the Saein Sports Foundation, what the most essential item was for athletes who frequently compete. Thinking of Jin Hyuk, an athlete, she ended up asking that question.

With a serious expression, Seo Pil-gu told her that condoms were the most important, regardless of gender. To a middle school girl at the time.

Hearing this, Jin Hyuk puffed his cheeks and held back his words.

‘No matter how much the world changes and becomes liberal, there’s no sane person left.’

Regardless of the truthfulness of the answer, apart from her resemblance to her mother, the fact that she acted on it straight away confirmed she was Yoo Se-ra’s daughter. How could you give condoms as a gift to someone on their first day at work? To the average person, he might look like an athlete from a different field.

“I’m not that kind of person.”

“What kind of person are you talking about?”

“Someone who can’t control themselves and is swayed by desire?”

Right. Except when working and exercising, he’s more like a nun than a nun, a quiet prison brother. No, more like a robot. Following Hong Soo-jung’s nodding head, her long hair flowed softly.

“Then did you throw away the gift I gave you?”

This time, Hong Soo-jung looked up at him with sleepy eyes.

As if the lighting was prepared just for Hong Soo-jung, not the cherry blossoms, her eyes shone like red jewels under the light.

“I didn’t throw it away.”

“Whyyy-? If you’re not going to use it, you could have given it to someone else.”

While others’ curiosity wanes over time, Hong Soo-jung’s determination to delve into something she finds interesting remained strong.

What should I say in such a situation?

Jin Hyuk pondered, trying to find an appropriate answer while gauging Hong Soo-jung’s reaction.

It’s just a stretchy, transparent rubber, right? I didn’t think of using it in any strange way.

Yook Seong-chan also played with condoms he found in the bedroom drawer during middle school, filling them with water and throwing them around.

Yeom Byeong-taek brought a condom he found at a coffee shop to school and blew it up like a balloon to play with.

Ah, my thoughts are getting too long.

‘I couldn’t throw it away because it was a gift. It’s even more precious because it was from you, Soo-jung. That’s why I couldn’t throw it away or give it to anyone.’

Ugh- yes, this is a normal yet cool answer.

Finally thinking normally, Jin Hyuk smiled brighter than ever.

“I’ll only use it with you.”

Wow, you crazy guy.

This is too straightforward.

*

Although it ended up being a blatant expression, Hong Soo-jung knew Jin Hyuk’s traits.

He wasn’t the only one around who would come up with unexpected answers when his thoughts deepened and lengthened.

“Sometimes, you remind me of my mom.”

Phew-, good thing she’s not mad.

Adjusting her baseball cap, Hong Soo-jung walked ahead, skipping with her hands behind her back.

Son Jin-hyeok, consider yourself lucky you passed the test. If you had used it, you’d be dead······. She muttered.

Her light steps looked quite splendid.

Jin Hyuk wanted to pick her up and spin around like in the movies but held back.

He focused all his heart on hurrying his steps, fearing the fluttering angel might get lost in the crowd or suddenly disappear.

***

No matter how calm and considerate one may seem on the outside, the human heart is complex. And it’s simple, easily excited and easily hurt. Efforts to hide one’s weaknesses can lead to growth but also mistakes.

Jin Hyuk, being human, tried to appear composed but often made mistakes because he wasn’t truly so.

In early May, during an overseas athletics competition, he made a texting mistake.

After finishing the competition and returning to the hotel, he checked his phone to find several messages.

While drowsy and struggling to keep his eyes open, he replied to each message from family and friends. As someone who vowed to cherish and care for his loved ones, it was a necessary effort.

Jin Seon-kyu: 「Want to grab a drink?」

└ 「You know I don’t drink.」

Why is this guy texting me from the next room?

Grandpa Cheon Gil-ryong: 「Walker has fallen. Johnny Walker」

└ 「I’ll buy some next time I come down.」

It’s amazing how healthy he is despite drinking so much.

Dad: 「Hey, it’s Jeong Won. Dad didn’t buy me a phone, so I’m using his.」

Dad: 「Hey, Mom left the house. She packed kimbap and left.」

Dad: 「Mom went to her aunt’s to play. That’s why she left.」

└ 「I’ll buy you a phone.」

Wow, I thought you had a fight with Dad and ran away, you brat.

And it’s ‘대요’, not ‘데요’.

It was the day after the final race, so he was more tired than the day before.

Indeed, taking care of a team is mentally and physically several times more exhausting than individual events.

Yoo Jin: 「Oppa! Congratulations on being champion!」

Yoo Jin: 「Today is Tteok’s birthday! Did you congratulate her?」

└ 「Yes. I gave her a gift before leaving. We sang her a birthday song before the match.」

Jin Hyuk, who had never missed a family member or Hong Soo-jung’s birthday since they were kids.

Tap tap tap-.

Despite the fatigue, he replied to all the messages with nimble fingers.

It’s early morning in Korea, so they’ll check when they wake up.

Yawn-.

A loud yawn escaped from Jang Gun-i’s mouth.

Ruby: 「Congratulations on the relay race win! I have to get up early tomorrow, so I’ll sleep first ^_^」

└ 「I’m going to sleep too. Soo-jung, once again······.」

When he woke up in the morning and checked his phone, he almost threw it.

「I’m going to sleep too. Soo-jung, once again happy birthㅇday.」

Oh Jesus······.

“Ahhhhh-!”

He grabbed his head, but it was too late.

It was already past noon in Korea, and Hong Soo-jung would have checked her messages as soon as she woke up.

Thud thud thud-.

“What! What! What’s going on!”

Jin Seon-kyu, startled by the scream, came to the door in his underwear.

But it wasn’t Jin Seon-kyu’s pink underwear that comforted Jin Hyuk, but Hong Soo-jung’s understanding.

Ruby: 「Lol, what’s the rush? You must do everything like running, huh?」

Jin Hyuk’s blunders weren’t a one-time thing, and each time, Hong Soo-jung showed the kindness of a goddess.

‘If it weren’t for you, who would understand me?’

That’s why he cherished and did his best even more.

Someone who complements his shortcomings, filling the holes in his heart with warm love.

Ruby: 「You seemed perfect before, which made it hard, but now that you have flaws, I like you even more. You’re not hateful.」

The subtle fragrance that flows unintentionally seems to be like that. Like her mother, the consistent trust in her eyes, the clear voice and scent that soothe the tired soul, completely intoxicated him, making it inevitable for him to fall deeply.

Ruby: 「You arrive at 2 AM, right?」

└ 「Yes, master.」

Jin Hyuk became a willing slave.

Ruby: 「Lol, I’ll come to the airport to pick you up.」

Hong Soo-jung wasn’t of a different status than Jin Hyuk.

In a class society, it’s normal for slaves of the same status to get together.

*

Is it because you resemble the person you love? Is that why Jin Hyuk’s mental age was pulled down by Hong Soo-jung’s charm? Or was it just time?

His peers no longer seemed immature.

‘I think Chairman Hong mentioned something like that.’

That the gap between body and mind would resolve in about five years.

It must have been possible because he was someone who keenly observed inner changes.

Anyway, it’s a welcome change.

Whether it’s due to hormonal adjustments or because of Hong Soo-jung.

“May is green- we are growing-.”

He hummed tunes more often.

It’s appropriate to say he became immature.

While Jin Hyuk became more immature, Hong Soo-jung seemed to mature more each day.

The third Monday of May.

Insisting they must have dinner together no matter what, he rushed to Hong Soo-jung’s neighborhood.

“Ta-da-.”

“Huh? What’s with the roses? What’s with the perfume?”

Secretly looking forward to today, Hong Soo-jung put on an awkward act. Pretending to be surprised makes the gift-giver happier.

“Today is Coming of Age Day. I know you don’t like picking flowers, but it’s a special day, so I bought them.”

“Hmph-. They’re pretty. Thank you.”

Jin Hyuk didn’t show any reluctance when seeing Hong Soo-jung off at her doorstep. He didn’t want the person seeing him off to feel sorry, but if anyone saw, it might have seemed like bravado or a show. Still, Hong Soo-jung didn’t scold him.

“It’s late. Go in.”

Whenever Jin Hyuk acted clueless, it was brave Hong Soo-jung who played the fixer.

“Are you just going to leave? I think there’s one gift missing-?”

Ah, a kiss.

Heh heh-. Scratching the back of his head and smiling like a fool, Jin Hyuk was drawn like a magnet.

‘Hehe-, good thing I had soft ice cream for dessert.’

It was soft and sweet.

The ice cream, I mean.

*

There are people who come into your life like fate, unplanned, and days that arrive as if planned. Like gifts.

Unlike in dramas or movies, there were no moments of running under a shared jacket in the rain, no seduction with ramen, no getting stranded on an island. Jin Hyuk’s romance was entirely unremarkable until a major event occurred when Hong Soo-jung had her first vacation.

Buzz buzz buzz-.

While enjoying the thrill of overtime, his phone vibrated along.

Like Jang Gun-i catching a moth, he swiftly grabbed his phone.

“Hey! Soo-jung! Are you enjoying your trip? Is America bearable?”

– I’m in Yeouido.

“Yeouido? Why are you back already?”

Just a week ago, he had seen Hong Soo-jung off at the airport as she went to visit relatives in LA for her vacation. She was supposed to stay for another week.

– Eee-, I missed you, so I came back secretly.

Secretly, my foot.

With SSS agents all over the place.

Wow. But what’s this?

Thump thump thump!

‘Why is my heart beating so hard?’

Snap- the thread of reason snapped.

Not that he fainted.

“Where are you? I’ll come down.”

– The underground parking lot, level 3.

He tossed the documents he was reviewing and rushed out.

Isn’t this the command of hormones?