“How do you do? My identify is Woojin Choi.”

“I’m Joowan Kim.”

Woojin was shocked by the place Joowan picked for them to satisfy. It was a quiet café outdoors the town; inside, there was just one barista. When Woojin first walked in, he was slightly confused. The café was enormous with a big backyard hooked up to it, but it surely was utterly empty inside. It was positioned barely outdoors the town heart, however not thus far that it will be this empty. The café was additionally surrounded by many well-known lodges and eating places.

This might solely imply one factor: Joowan should’ve rented the entire place for this assembly.

Joowan requested, “I believe I’ll drink the flat white. What would you want?”

“Black tea please.”

Earlier than the barista left with the order, he rolled up his sleeves and Woojin seen an uncommon tattoo on his wrist.

Having fun with the stunning aroma of black tea, Woojin studied Joowan’s tattoo rigorously. Nonchalantly, Joowan rolled up his sleeve much more and confirmed it to him. Now that Woojin noticed it nearer, it appeared acquainted.

Joowan requested, “You recognize this emblem, proper?”

“… Hana Prescription drugs?”

“Sure.”

It was one of many pharmaceutical firms Woojin’s firm invested in. It was concerned in researching genetic problems and Woojin knew the corporate studied his circle of relatives’s household sickness. He remembered the brand from his father’s capsule bottles.

Joowan mentioned to him, “Legal professional Myunghoon Bae is also an investor of this firm. Do you know that?”

“… No, I didn’t.”

“I’ve recognized Eejun Bae since we had been youngsters. I’m the youngest of my household, so I by no means attended the key firm conferences.”

The CEO of Hana Prescription drugs had three sons. Woojin met two of them up to now, and he vaguely remembered being informed that the third son lived overseas.

“You’re the youngest?”

“Sure. I believe you may need seen my older brothers.”

“I used to attend these firm conferences every year once I was youthful, so sure. However I can’t keep in mind them.”

“I’ll allow them to know.”

Joowan had a very clean face. He acted like he was uninterested and that he was simply answering out of politeness. Woojin turned curious, “Why did you ask me to satisfy you?”

“Why do you assume?”

Joowan gestured to the barista, who introduced him a big envelope. The tattoo on the barista’s wrist was additionally the brand of the Hana Prescription drugs. Joowan opened the envelope and took out the photographs. He unfold them on the desk and so they had been of Woojin at completely different ages. Every photograph had dates and his age written on them.

Woojin checked out them indifferently and with out curiosity.

“Mr. Woojin, you could or might not know me.”

“…”

“However I’ve been watching you for a very long time.”

“…”

“In fact, it wasn’t as a result of I wished to.”

“Does that matter?”

“I suppose not. I should be my father’s son in any case. I’ve very thick pores and skin similar to him.”

Woojin realized not too long ago that Hana Prescription drugs actively bought and bought data. Woojin slowly appeared by way of the photographs till he noticed one which appeared brown and outdated. It was a photograph of himself strolling into the primary entrance of his highschool. And behind him, Shin Kim was strolling into the varsity too.

“I’ll hold this, Mr. Kim.”

Woojin picked up the photograph and Joowan nodded.

“Mr. Choi, Legal professional Myunghoon Bae has been concerned on this for a really very long time.”

“…”

“This example with Jihoon Kang and your self.”

Joowan spat out Jihoon’s identify prefer it was poison, and Woojin didn’t miss it. Joowan continued, “And your father Wootaek Choi and Jihoon Kang’s mom Dayoung Choi… They had been each concerned too.”

***

Shin Kim was planning on staying late at his dad and mom’ house, however after dinner, he all of a sudden missed Woojin. Pondering of returning to his own residence the place he lived with Woojin made him really feel comfortable. Shin felt that he now had a brand new household of his personal.

When he stood as much as depart, Minji checked out him in disappointment. Shin mentioned to her, “Sis, you need to discover somebody you like and kind a household of your individual too.”

“Oh, are you saying you discovered one for your self?”

When Shin flinched in shock, Minji smiled. Her smile was large and real. When she smiled, her eyes slanted down, making her look a lot youthful, nearly like a toddler. Shin liked her smile. In fact, when she nagged him, she became the satan.

“Inform Woojin hello.”

“I’ll.”

After saying goodbye to his mom, Shin walked out. He was about to stroll to his automotive when his telephone beeped. It was a textual content message from Woojin. It appeared that his assembly was over. When Shin referred to as him, Woojin answered rapidly.

“Whats up?”

Gradual and relaxed voice. Woojin did every part in a peaceful method, however there have been hidden particulars to him that only some folks on the earth knew. Shin liked these particulars, and most of all, it was a indisputable fact that he was certainly one of these very choose folks.

Shin smiled broadly and requested, “The place are you?”

“Close to your house.”

“What?”

“You informed me your dad and mom’ handle earlier than, keep in mind? I can truly see you proper now.”

When Shin appeared round, he noticed Woojin leaning in opposition to the wall within the faraway nook. Woojin was carrying a coat and a shawl Shin bought him to put on this morning. When Woojin noticed Shin, he hung up and waved at him.

Originally of their relationship, Shin by no means anticipated he would get to see Woojin like this. Shin murmured to himself, “I used to be afraid he would all the time stay doll-like…”

After they first met, and for a very long time after, Woojin solely had one expression on his face: clean. Earlier than, when Shin wakened in the midst of the evening, he secretly watched Woojin sleep. He additionally generally put his finger beneath Woojin’s nostril to ensure he was respiration.

However these days, Shin realized how expressive Woojin turned. His lover now knew the best way to frown, sigh, and pout. It was such an enormous change.

“How lengthy have you ever been ready, Woojin?”

It was chilly outdoors, and Shin might see his personal breath. Woojin smiled and appeared up at Shin.

“I used to be simply passing by. I didn’t imply to attend for you.”

“Are you positive?”

“Actually. I wasn’t ready right here for lengthy. I swear. I used to be simply strolling by once you simply got here out.”

One other massive change in Woojin was that he now spoke what he felt and thought. It appeared that this specific change occurred after his session with Minji began. Woojin informed Shin just a few occasions that his massive sister should be a really proficient physician.

Shin coated Woojin’s chilly cheeks and mentioned to him, “My sister misses you.”

“I’ll see her on Monday.”

“I’m so jealous.”

“However we see one another every single day.”

When Woojin appeared down shyly, Shin couldn’t assist however hug him tightly. They walked in the direction of the parking zone and looking out down at him, Shin seen Woojin appeared slightly drained.

“Can I ask you what you talked about with Joowan?”

“Yeah.”

Woojin nodded and grabbed Shin’s wrist rightly. Woojin did appear very drained. Shin requested, “Did you eat dinner but?”

“No.”

“I’ll make you one thing yummy once we get house.”

Woojin smiled and his cheeks dimpled adorably. He smiled incessantly now, and Shin’s coronary heart thumped each time he noticed his lover comfortable.

It started to snow slightly. The snowflakes appeared like tiny stars beneath the streetlight. They walked in calm silence when all of a sudden, Woojin mentioned to Shin, “It should’ve been a for much longer time than I believed.”

“What’s?”

“What occurred in my previous. What I skilled…”

“…”

“As a result of I realized in the present day that I used to be now not offended.”

“…”

“This stuff occurred so way back that when he was speaking about it, I felt like I used to be listening to a narrative. Or one thing that occurred to another person and never me.”

“…Woojin…”

“Shin… He informed me that neither my father nor Jihoon’s mom had been ever sick.”