The next day.
Contrary to his worries, Yeonwoo ended up sleeping straight through the entire day in that shabby room.
The day before yesterday, he hadn’t slept at all after the emergency room visit in the early morning. And yesterday, he’d been up until dawn appeasing Chahyun and rolling around with him—so he was severely sleep-deprived.
At some point, he must’ve gotten up to go to the bathroom, or maybe gone out to a convenience store out of sheer hunger, but he couldn’t remember clearly. He’d filled his stomach with convenience store food and then collapsed back into sleep.
“How many hours did I sleep?”
Yeonwoo muttered to himself, his voice hoarse and heavy.
Once he was more or less awake, he washed up and stepped outside. The shower facilities were so poor, it made him seriously consider changing lodgings as soon as possible.
Yeonwoo went out to a busy neighborhood a little ways from where he was staying and turned on his phone, which he’d kept powered off. The flood of accumulated notifications all came in at once.
The largest portion of those—unsurprisingly—came from Baek Chahyun.
He ignored all the missed calls and texts from him and first checked the message from the part-timer at Neo Belle.
He had sent a message yesterday right after fleeing the apartment, saying that he might be unreachable for a few days. He was curious if anything had happened since then.
[Boss! Moonki and I closed up today]
[(Photo)] [(Photo)]
[Kitchen and hall all cleaned!]
[Please get some rest!!]
Even back when he was locked in the apartment, Yeonwoo had already made it known he wouldn’t be coming into work for a while, so the café was running just fine on its own.
As he walked through the busy alley, Yeonwoo ducked into a large café, ordered a drink, and took a seat.
Okay. Time to think about what comes next.
First, he needed to find a way to get rid of the officetel. It was technically something Chahyun had given him, and now that they were over, going back to live there felt wrong. He didn’t know when Chahyun might show up again. It was best not to set foot there until Chahyun’s rut cycle was over.
And the café… that too, even if not immediately, would have to be dealt with eventually. The café, from the location to its opening, had been practically a full investment from Chahyun. To keep working there meant having to keep facing him.
Would Chahyun really let him keep working there after marrying someone else? Yeonwoo would be uncomfortable, but there was also a good chance Chahyun wouldn’t leave him alone.
Worst case, he might get dragged back and confined again. Either way, nothing good would come of it.
One small saving grace was that, compared to others his age, Yeonwoo wasn’t exactly broke. He wasn’t rich, but living with Chahyun had come with its benefits.
He’d been given the officetel and a car, and the café rent was absurdly low. During the café’s opening, they’d fought a lot over whether or not he should pay any rent at all—eventually agreeing to a figure that was still far below market value. It was basically free.
In truth, he hadn’t even really paid living expenses. He’d always used Chahyun’s card.
Thanks to that, the money he’d been quietly saving up was enough to lay low for a while and prepare to look for another job or do something else.
Once enough time passed, Chahyun would eventually lose interest in him too. The way he’d been acting over the past few days—obsessively, irrationally—was probably because his rut was approaching right as Yeonwoo asked to break up. Bad timing.
“That person.”
“Who?”
“The woman you’re going to marry. What’s her name?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I’m curious.”
“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know her.”
“What about kids?”
“Dunno. Don’t really care.”
Once the rut passed, and the wedding prep started in earnest, he’d be too busy to come looking for Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo was sure of it.
Because Chahyun didn’t want to marry him. That was the extent of his feelings.
If Chahyun loved him even a fraction as much as Yeonwoo loved him, then marrying someone else never would’ve been an option.
Which meant, sooner or later, Chahyun would forget about him.
If—after all that—his rut cycle ended, and time passed, and Chahyun still refused to let go… then maybe Yeonwoo could ask Chahyun’s mother for help.
After all, she was someone who wanted him to leave Chahyun. If he went to her saying he’d walk away without taking a penny, and if she found out just how unhinged her son had become, she’d at least pretend to intervene.
Yeonwoo reached into his pocket and checked to make sure the business card she’d given him was still there.
Just need to hang on for a little while longer.
***
After having lunch outside, Yeonwoo started looking around on foot for someplace better to stay than his current lodging. But anywhere with decent facilities demanded identification, making it tough.
He had nothing to show for all the walking he’d done. On the way back to his room, he pressed his fingers hard into his aching shoulders. Maybe it was the mattress—too sunken, probably messing up his back.
As he entered the building, the owner who’d been watching TV at the counter called out to him.
“Hey, you. Come here for a sec.”
“Uh? Is something wrong?”
“What’s your name?”
“…Why do you need that all of a sudden?”
Yeonwoo glanced at the owner’s expression. He scratched his neck, acting like it was no big deal.
“Some goshiwon in the next neighborhood got robbed today, so.”
“Ah.”
“Just asking to be safe. You know we’re supposed to check this stuff when you check in, right? Show me your ID if you have it.”
“I, uh… left it at work.”
Yeonwoo swallowed dry and lied.
“You’ve got a job?”
“Yes. I’ll bring it tomorrow.”
“Alright, then. What’s your name?”
Something felt off.
The man was acting casual, but his attitude toward Yeonwoo was clearly different from yesterday.
Yeonwoo could sense it—he was in danger.
He had to get out of here, now.
“Kim Junyoung.”
“Okay, Mr. Kim Junyoung. Bring your ID tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“Young people these days… always forgetting their stuff.”
With the conversation over, Yeonwoo kept his cool as he walked back into his room.
But the second the door was shut, he started packing again. Not that there was much to pack—just a few changes of clothes, a bundle of cash and cards, and his ID.
He slung the bag over his shoulder, pulled his cap low again just like when he first arrived, and headed down the hallway. He planned to act like he was just stepping out for a meal.
But then—he saw a familiar back at the counter.
“Fuck.”
It was Baek Chahyun.
How the hell did he find this place so fast? The curse slipped out on its own.
“He says his name’s Kim Junyoung? Maybe you’ve got the wrong guy.”
Yeonwoo froze and began slowly backing away, trying not to make a sound. But Chahyun, with his animal-like instincts, suddenly snapped his head around.
……
He didn’t know how, but Yeonwoo managed to hide himself just in time behind a corner.
Luckily, Chahyun didn’t see him and kept talking to the owner.
In that moment, Yeonwoo bolted in the opposite direction.
One stroke of luck—this building had a back exit. If you went through the door to the roof, there was a narrow stairwell leading down.
Yeonwoo quietly opened the door and gripped the rusted railing, hurrying down the narrow stairs. Normally, he would’ve been scared of slipping, but right now he felt nothing—just a desperate urge to get out of here.
Then—bang! The rusted door slammed open behind him.
Startled, Yeonwoo flinched and looked back over his shoulder.
“Fuck.”
Chahyun had noticed and was chasing him.
He didn’t see Yeonwoo yet—he was looking up toward the rooftop.
Yeonwoo used that moment to dash the rest of the way to the ground floor.
“Hong Yeonwoo! You’re not coming back here?!”
Chahyun finally spotted him and shouted from above. Unlike Yeonwoo, he bounded down the stairs in long strides, three or four at a time.
Yeonwoo ran like mad down the alley.
Even though he’d only spent a day here, the streets had become familiar. He ran toward the busiest direction he could find—easier to get lost in a crowd.
“Hey, what the—?”
“Sorry!”
He didn’t even realize he’d made it to the heart of the city until he collided with someone. Yeonwoo quickly bowed his head and apologized as he caught his breath.
The alleys, now starting to light up with signs for the evening rush, were packed with people out for dinner. It was the perfect place to blend in.
He’d hide out in the crowd for a while, then duck into the first café he saw.
As the relief of getting away from Chahyun began to set in, Yeonwoo’s footsteps slowed.
That’s when he felt the vibration in his pocket. He’d only just now registered the calls that had been coming in nonstop.
Of course—it was Chahyun.