One Text, and He Came Running

He spent a sleepless night wondering what on earth Beomwoo was thinking by not replying.

He thought that since he was a very busy person and the contact was made late in the evening, a reply might come tomorrow, but seeing his aunt and uncle holding his phone in the morning, talking amongst themselves about how this couldn’t be and it was strange, it seemed there had been no contact at all so far.

While it was fortunate for him that there was no answer, since they were the type of people who would cling on without scruple if they knew Beomwoo was from a chaebol family, he couldn’t tell, as he had thought last night, what on earth Beomwoo was thinking.

And at the same time, he couldn’t put his mind at ease, thinking what kind of message they must have sent for there to be no contact.

Even as he trembled with anxiety, time ticked by, and Haejin came out for his part-time job again today.

Having tossed and turned last night and with his mind a mess, he worked as if half his soul had left his body, making frequent mistakes.

It was only after getting a talking-to from the boss that he barely managed to pull himself together and work, and before he knew it, it was closing time.

Haejin changed from his uniform into his regular clothes and went to find the boss, bowing his head to apologize.

“Boss, I’m sorry……. I’ll pull myself together and work properly from tomorrow.”

“That’s just how people are, you know. Get some good rest and see you tomorrow. I have some things to finish up here, so you go ahead.”

Fortunately, the boss didn’t seem to mind much, speaking kindly and patting him on the shoulder.

Since he wasn’t an employee who slacked off normally, he seemed to be giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Haejin said goodbye to the boss and left, feeling even more guilty.

Knowing that the boss and his coworkers were all good people made him feel even sorrier.

He still didn’t know what happened with last night’s incident…….

But what’s done is done.

He was curious why there was no reply from Beomwoo, but if they had sent something weird and that’s why he lost interest, that was actually fortunate.

He had wanted to cut ties in this life anyway.

……But really, what could they have sent to make him lose interest at once and not even reply?

He wanted to think it was none of his concern and a fortunate thing, but he couldn’t help worrying.

“……Enough. Worrying won’t change anything anyway.”

Haejin felt his mind getting complicated again, then shook his head vigorously and finally shook off the thought.

Holding onto this thought wouldn’t change anything or allow him to explain.

If he got his phone back, he could explain by saying, ‘My guardians sent that message. Please don’t misunderstand,’ but since he wanted to sever ties anyway, there was no reason to clear up the misunderstanding.

Moreover, he’d spent the whole day thinking about that man, and in doing so, had caused trouble for others; he was about to lose focus again.

He needed to pull himself together starting now.

Having barely collected his thoughts, he stepped outside the building, and as he did, a familiar silhouette appeared under the streetlight.

“Jung Haejin-ssi.”

Just like that night before, he was standing in front of the building, waiting for him.

Why is Mr. Beomwoo here…….

He was the one who had declared he would contact him but then didn’t, and who hadn’t sent a single reply even though his guardians had contacted him first from his phone.

That man suddenly appearing before his eyes left him flustered.

Even as he greeted him and approached, Haejin just stood there frozen, not knowing what to do.

Before he knew it, Beomwoo had taken large strides and was right in front of him.

“Are you ignoring me now?”

He had just been too flustered to react, but Beomwoo seemed to think he was deliberately treating him like a transparent human being.

Haejin stood frozen in shock, then at his words, he barely regained his composure and reacted belatedly.

“……Th-that’s not it. I was just surprised.”

“I did show up suddenly.”

He seemed to be in a bad mood, but when Haejin said he was surprised, he thankfully seemed understanding.

It seemed he recognized that he had come uninvited.

Seeing his sharp expression soften, his heart began pounding foolishly again.

Looking at his face would probably lead to strange thoughts again, so Haejin quickly averted his gaze and asked him his business.

“B-but what brings you here? You said…… you would contact me, but you didn’t even do that…….”

“I received a strange message.”

Message.

At that one word, his heart sank with a thud.

He had thought that might be why he came, but the fact that Beomwoo, who had been silent, came all the way here in one go because of that one message made him fear it must be shocking content.

Even though he had been to his workplace a few days ago and Haejin thought ‘It’s probably nothing,’ the ones who sent the message were his aunt and uncle.

And knowing Beomwoo was a busy man with little time made him anxious and restless.

When Haejin looked up at him with anxious eyes, Beomwoo looked down at him with a penetrating gaze and continued seriously.

“But…… no matter how I look at it, it seems like someone else sent it.”

“……”

Haejin was on edge, waiting for what he would say next.

Judging by his lack of reply last night, it seemed they had sent something strange.

So, he was conflicted—if Beomwoo asked about the message, should he explain? Or if the content was so strange it made him lose interest, should he leave it unexplained?

But…… contrary to his thoughts, Beomwoo had sensed he hadn’t sent it.

Haejin was flustered once more that he had realized that.

He thought Beomwoo didn’t know him.

Even during their years of marriage in his previous life, he thought Beomwoo didn’t know him.

But how did this man, who had only known him for a few days and whom he was meeting for only the third time now, figure it out?

And it wasn’t just that he thought someone else sent it; the fact that he came to find him directly instead of replying, perhaps fearing there might be a problem…… it felt as if he had completely seen through his entire situation, which was surprising.

Haejin looked up at him with wide eyes and asked.

“How…… did you know it wasn’t me?”

“When you push me away saying you dislike me one moment, there’s no way you’d suddenly send a message like this.”

“What…… did they send?”

“The person who sent this seems to want to have s*x with me.”

“……Wh-what?”

Beomwoo answered with a chuckle, as if joking.

No, that statement…… does it mean from his phone, they sent him a message saying they wa-wanted to have s*x?

At the unimaginable content, Haejin’s face flushed red.

He had wondered what they sent, but to think they would suddenly say they wanted to sleep with him…….

Even when they were married in his past life, he had never made any sexually suggestive remarks indicating he wanted it first.

To think they sent something like that at this point, when they barely know each other, was mortifying to death.

Fortunately, Beomwoo had sensed he didn’t send it, but the thought that he must have been flustered, thinking ‘what is this?’ the moment he received the message, was embarrassing.

Heat rose to his face, probably making him look like a red radish.

Haejin bowed his head deeply, trying to cool his face, as Beomwoo looked at him and continued.

“I’m curious why such a message was sent. As someone who’s been dragged into this, don’t you think you should tell me too?”

“……”

He was demanding an explanation of what happened, claiming he had suffered damage by receiving such an absurd message.

The Beomwoo he knew probably wouldn’t have cared…….

But considering he came all the way to his part-time workplace thinking it might not have been him, he couldn’t exactly say there was no damage at all.

However, Haejin wasn’t sure if he should tell him.

Haejin wasn’t the type to share his circumstances with people around him.

Partly because he didn’t think there was anything good to share, and partly because he was afraid that if they knew, they might use it as a weakness against him or look down on him.

This mindset had deepened over his past life.

Because in his household, there was no one he could open his heart to.

Even if he poured out his worries, someone would pass them on, and they were eager to find fault with him using that as a pretext.

He knew that in the current situation, Beomwoo was someone he needed to be more careful with, as he could gain something from him.

So when Haejin didn’t answer and kept his mouth firmly shut, Beomwoo crossed his arms and looked at him with a high-handed attitude before saying, as if he had no choice.

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll take it as you sent it.”

“……Huh?”

At his words, Haejin’s head shot up.

If he didn’t give a reason, he would judge that he had sent it?

Does that mean he should just mix bodies with him or something?

No, wait, you realized it wasn’t me and came all the way here, so what are you trying to do?

With a face mixed with panic and absurdity, Haejin twitched his lips and retorted.

“What kind of……. You know it wasn’t me!”

“I don’t know. Last time you told me you wanted to marry someone you love, but, well.”

“I hear these days there are people who get physically involved first before meeting. Aren’t you a modern person too, Haejin-ssi?”

Haejin, rarely raising his voice, didn’t faze Beomwoo in the slightest.

Going beyond thinking he had sent the message, he even brought up the reason Haejin had rejected him last time, feigning innocence by saying people these days are more open-minded, so couldn’t his mind have changed?

No……. How can he be so brazen?

It was absurd and unbelievable, but thinking about it, Beomwoo hadn’t done anything wrong in this matter.

On the contrary, he had received that message and come directly to find him, thinking something might have happened to him.

Thinking that way, it seemed like Haejin, who wasn’t saying anything to him, was the colder one.

……It’s just telling him what he already knows.

If Beomwoo had been completely unaware of his circumstances, he would have tried to avoid answering at all costs.

But Beomwoo knew what kind of treatment he received at home, and as he said himself, he had even been dragged into this affair, so hiding it seemed wrong.

Haejin rationalized with various reasons, hesitated, and then cautiously opened his mouth.

“I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you.”

“Tell me.”

“Can we talk somewhere else, not here……?”

“……”

“There are too many people here…….”

Haejin said, checking their surroundings.

He had come out alone today, but the boss might finish work and come out.

Also, since it was in front of his workplace, he might run into coworkers.

As Haejin glanced around and at Beomwoo, speaking cautiously, Beomwoo silently observed him for a moment with a calm gaze.

He stared so intently, as if Haejin surely had something to say, that Haejin began to feel burdened and think ‘what’s this?’

Then, belatedly, Beomwoo nodded.

“Let’s go.”

“……”

Beomwoo turned his body and moved his steps first, as if telling Haejin to follow.

Haejin looked at his dependable back and barely suppressed the sigh that wanted to come out.

Is this right…….

The more I try to push him away, the more entangled I seem to become.

In my past life, no matter how hard I tried to get entangled, it didn’t work, so why does it feel like the more I try to push him away, the closer he comes?

Haejin, troubled by the situation flowing contrary to his thoughts, followed him with heavy footsteps.