Hayeop was crestfallen. Young Master’s words had pierced his heart like daggers.
"I don’t care for brats who look as childish as you."
"If nothing else, I prefer the glamorous type."
"And among those, naturally, I prefer women."
Even after arriving at the nightclub for work, his spirits remained damp and heavy. He changed clothes in the locker room with a gloomy expression.
"Hey, Hayeop."
He was tying his bow tie when Taehee slipped inside and beckoned him out. A moment later, a sweet smell wafted toward him.
"Yeah?"
"Hungry?"
Taehee gently shook the bag. A rich, savory aroma drifted from it. They sneaked beneath the nightclub stairs together, and Taehee peeled back the foil.
"That looks delicious."
Inside was fried chicken coated in a sweet, glossy sauce. They crouched beneath the stairs, where the nightclub music thudded overhead, and tore into the drumsticks.
"It’s so good…."
Hayeop meticulously picked every last scrap of meat from the bone.
"Here. There’s still some here too. It tastes good with the skin."
Taehee had left a little meat behind, so Hayeop told him to eat everything clinging to the bone. Taehee obediently gnawed it clean and did not forget to compliment him.
"You’re really thrifty and meticulous, Hayeop."
"Am I? Maybe I’m just shabby."
"No, you’re clever."
"Me? …Am I? No one’s ever told me that before."
"I’m telling you, I’m right."
Kindhearted Taehee ate everything neatly as instructed, then used a metal spoon to open the bottle of cola. Pop. The satisfying sound rang out. A little fizz spilled over, and Hayeop quickly slurped it off the back of his hand.
"My family’s place is actually famous for its spicy chicken."
Taehee poured the cola into a paper cup with a bubbling gurgle.
"But you can’t eat spicy food."
"Mm."
Taehee’s family owned a chicken restaurant, and apparently it was extremely popular. Even so, he had taken this part-time job because he wanted to have his tattoo removed. He wasn’t some spoiled rich kid, but he certainly looked like trouble.
He was fairly big, dressed like a delinquent, and had a tattoo.
At first, Hayeop had found him a little frightening and quietly avoided him. But Taehee only looked that way. He seemed kind. As it turned out, the tattoo was his ex-girlfriend’s name.
"But we’ve broken up now. I mean it."
He had explained several times that this was why he always kept it covered with an arm sleeve. Taehee never bullied Hayeop and always looked after him thoughtfully. Even now, he opened the cola himself, poured it into a paper cup, and handed it to Hayeop. Ahh. Hayeop’s throat bobbed. The sharp fizz tasted incredible.
"It’s delicious…."
After dipping pieces of meat into the sauce and eating them one by one, Hayeop felt his mood brighten completely.
"I was starving. Thanks."
"Didn’t you have lunch?"
"I did, but I ate in a really uncomfortable situation. Did you get a lot of tips today?"
"Yeah, a few."
Taehee pulled the money from his pocket and showed him. He was smooth with people, good at joking around and playing the tambourine, and could even do impressions. He had all sorts of talents, whereas Hayeop was painfully shy. It was a serious problem.
"I wish I could get lots of tips too."
"Want to go to a karaoke room together? I’ll teach you how to sing. I can teach you the tambourine too."
"It won’t help. I was born tone-deaf."
"Really?"
Hayeop promptly began cleaning up. His pale hands were deft and quick as he crumpled the foil, gathered every bone, and threw it all into the regular trash. With his snow-white skin, high nose, and vivid red lips, he looked as though someone had painted makeup onto his face.
He should just make a living off that face….
Taehee smacked his lips. He had planned to remove the tattoo, but come to think of it, his ex-girlfriend and Hayeop had the same initials. HY. Hayoung and Hayeop. If he dated Hayeop, maybe he wouldn’t need to remove it after all.
Startled by the thought that had flashed through his mind, Taehee jerked his head from side to side.
What the hell am I thinking? He’s a man.
"Hey, new guy!"
At that moment, the door behind them opened. A voice calling Hayeop cut through the raucous music.
"Someone’s asking for you. Go to Room Fourteen."
"Me?"
A cold sense of foreboding washed over Hayeop. He asked if it was some kind of trouble, but the waiter told him it wasn’t. Anyone rich enough to book a VIP room on a Friday night had to be loaded. Who on earth could it be?
"All right…."
Suppressing his unease, Hayeop cautiously entered the room. Quite a few people were sitting inside. The man in the seat of honor greeted him with a loud "Hey!"
"Oh, hello…."
The man grinning at him beneath tightly braided hair, his skin deeply tanned, was Yangcheol.
"Come over here."
At the summons, Hayeop scurried over and sat down. Yangcheol’s huge build had frightened him when they first met, but after running into him several times, Hayeop had grown somewhat accustomed to him. His manner and speech were unbearably flippant, but he also seemed like a decent man.
"Hey, everyone."
Yangcheol slung a thick arm around Hayeop’s shoulders.
"Do you know who this is?"
"Who?"
Everyone’s attention immediately swung toward Hayeop. Shy as he was, he felt a little dizzy. The women with Yangcheol tilted their heads, saying they had no idea. Every one of them watched with glittering eyes, eager to hear the answer.
"A new face? He’s cute."
"That young chick looks fresh enough to slice up and eat raw."
"My, keep talking like that and you’ll get yourself arrested."
"Shhh. Ladies, cut the side chatter. You’re too loud."
Yangcheol quieted his companions and gathered everyone’s attention.
"This boy is…."
"Quit dragging it out and tell us already."
At their urging, Yangcheol grinned.
"Jung Yoonwon."
"What? How is he Jung Yoonwon…?"
As dissatisfied voices erupted around him, Yangcheol shouted,
"He’s Jung Yoonwon’s younger cousin!"
Oh no.
Hayeop’s vision seemed to go dark. Young Master had tossed out that lie without a thought, and now Hayeop was hearing it repeated here.
"N-no, I’m not…."
He quickly tried to deny it, but the thick arm tightened around him, silently ordering him to stay still. Yangcheol leaned close and whispered into his ear.
"Come on. I’m helping you out so you can work in peace."
Everyone around them was already too excited to hear Hayeop anyway. They murmured among themselves, staring at him as though he were some fascinating curiosity.
"Oh my, this boy is Yoonwon’s cousin?"
"You really can’t hide good blood! They don’t look alike, but he’s handsome too."
This was driving him mad. The false rumor spread from one person to another like wildfire. Even if he tried to explain now, no one seemed inclined to believe him. Hayeop sat there dumbfounded and dazed when one of the women suddenly slipped a tip into his pocket.
"Here, sweetheart. Buy yourself something tasty."
"Look at this girl, making the first move."
The others began competing to stuff tips into Hayeop’s pockets. Still bewildered, Hayeop accepted them politely with both hands and thanked everyone. Yangcheol secretly winked at him.
"See? What did I tell you?"
By then, revealing the truth was no longer an option for Hayeop.
He had already tasted how sweet fame could be.
It was nearly dawn before he finally finished work. He had accepted a few drinks and was pleasantly tipsy. Since he could barely keep his head straight, Taehee offered to walk him home and supported him along the way. No matter how much Hayeop protested, Taehee kept following.
"Hayeop."
"Mmm," Hayeop replied vaguely.
"You know you owned that nightclub tonight, right?"
"Did I?"
Hayeop grinned foolishly and mashed his plump cheek against Taehee’s shoulder.
When Taehee silently looked down at him, Hayeop gave him a sweet little smile and murmured, "Sorry. I’m just dizzy."
"You know something?"
"What?"
"You and my ex-girlfriend have the same initials."
"Really?"
"…They say tattoo removal is incredibly expensive."
"I see."
Hayeop appreciated being walked home, but Taehee seemed to be talking far too much. His head already hurt badly enough.
"Should I just leave it?"
"Mm-hmm. Do whatever you want…."
His head buzzed. Taehee kept talking and talking, while Hayeop nodded along because he couldn’t be bothered to listen.
Yes, yes. Everything you say is right. Do whatever you want.
"But are you really related to that Jung Yoonwon?"
"……What?"
At the sound of Jung Yoonwon’s full name, Hayeop instantly sobered. It felt as though someone had seized his mushy brain and squeezed it back into shape. His entire body snapped to attention.
"Taehee, I can go the rest of the way alone."
When had they come this far? Hayeop abruptly straightened his back. At this rate, Taehee might follow him all the way to Young Master’s house. They had to part here.
"Goodbye. Get home safely."
"Oh. Uh, sure."
Hayeop waved farewell. Taehee stared at him in confusion, but Hayeop was already staggering away.
"Ugh, my head is splitting."
Everyone would be asleep at this hour. The dim light of dawn was only beginning to creep across the sky, so Hayeop deliberately moved with great care. His shoulders felt heavy, and his calves stung.
The back door stood slightly ajar. His mother had left it open for him. Hayeop rose onto his toes and slipped inside, only to find a large figure standing directly in front of him.
"…Gah!"
He was so startled that his heart nearly stopped.
The man standing motionless in the darkness, hidden like a ghost, was none other than Young Master.