CHAPTER 14
Min-Jun couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Cade in the house.
He rushed through his daily tasks, changed his clothes and headed straight home without going to Aidan’s room at the end of his shift as he usually would.
It’s still not too late to think with my head.
He told Elena he was going home, making sure he didn’t see Aidan anywhere nearby.
“You already finished?” Elena asked, surprised.
“I managed to finish early today, but I’m not feeling very well,” he added with a nervous smile.
“You should have told me. I would have let you go home.”
“It’s fine.”
“Rest well, then. See you on Tuesday,” Elena said and followed him to the front door.
They said their goodbyes and Min-Jun left. As he walked through the garden, his thoughts were with Aidan.
This is for the best. I’ll avoid him as much as possible from now on. He might get bored and move on.
He opened the main gate and closed it behind himself, looking at the house once more. His heart ached, but Min-Jun knew he was making the right decision.
***
About half of an hour passed when Aidan entered Elena’s work room.
“Did you see Min-Jun? I couldn’t find him in the house.”
“He left already. He finished a little early.” Elena looked up at him above the rim of her glasses.
Surprise mixed with disappointment painted Aidan’s features, but it lasted only for a split second.
Elena raised her eyebrows and asked, “Did you need something?”
“I needed a cup of tea,” Aidan said and looked away. “But since I’m already downstairs, I’ll make it myself.”
Elena looked at him for a while then added, “Sure,” and continued writing.
With that, Aidan left her room and walked towards the kitchen.
He went home early? And he didn’t even come to my room?
Aidan ran his hand through his hair. Even though his intention wasn’t to drink tea, he made it anyway, and only when he took the cup in his hand did he realize this.
What am I doing? This was only an excuse for Elena. Damn, that boy is messing with my head.
***
On Tuesday Elena informed Aidan that Min-Jun called in sick and wouldn’t be coming all week. It felt like a punch to his gut. Aidan drummed his fingers on the table when he ended the call. He wasn’t sure what to do with himself.
He ran his hands over his face and groaned. He planned to confront Min-Jun about the last time, but now he had to wait instead.
I will endure it. I have to. He is sick and I will wait.
Instead of continuing with his work, Aidan stared into the empty wall.
What’s happening to me? I’ve never been like this. It’s stupid. And annoying.
He got up and grabbed the package with cigarettes and went out on the balcony.
***
Min-Jun needed more time to think, and he knew he had to distance himself from that man. It was about time to decide what to do next, and he didn’t want to rush his decision, so he decided to take a couple of days off.
Aidan probably wouldn’t even miss me. He has his fuckbuddies to spend his days with and have fun. He doesn’t need me. I need to accept that. I was just a toy for him. And it needs to stop.
Min-Jun dedicated himself to studying, focusing on himself and his friends, and getting enough rest. He tried his best not to think about Aidan and to leave as little room in his mind for him as possible.
He decided to call one of his friends for a beer, to keep his mind occupied, but it was hard to choose which one.
Eun, his ex-colleague, always ended up drunk and he always complained about how all the girls he had crushed on rejected him.
While his other friend, Ha-Joon, usually came to play video games with him beside drinking beer.
At the end Min-Jun decided to go out with Ha-Joon. There was a fair in town that day, so he thought it might be a good opportunity.
It was Saturday evening, and they were walking from the stand to stand pushing through the crowd.
As they stopped in front of a stand full of handcrafted masks, Min-Jun felt a hand on his upper arm.
His head flung to the side only to see a smug face.
He froze in dread when he realized who it was.
That annoying customer, who made him quit his job, was standing now inches from him.
“Long time no see,” the man spoke up and Min-Jun wished he could run. Ha-Joon also turned and gave the stranger a questioning look.
“Let’s go, Ha-Joon,” Min-Jun said, but the man didn’t let them pass. The crowd surrounded them and that wasn’t helping either.
“Where do you think you’re going?” The man looked at him with a mischievous look.
Min-Jun shot him a glare, but dread crept up on him. The guy was taller and obviously stronger than him, and now this close his size was even more noticeable.
“Leave him alone.” Ha-Joon stepped forward.
“Oh, you have a boyfriend.” The customer laughed and looked Ha-Joon up and down. “But he looks useless.”
Ha-Joon's body built was like Min-Jun's; he was only a little bit taller, and he looked braver.
Min-Jun grabbed his friend by the sleeve and tried to bypass the guy from the other side.
“Don’t ignore me!” The man grabbed Min-Jun’s upper arm and pulled him back to him.
“Leave me alone!” Min-Jun pushed him away, but the guy grabbed his wrist. Some passersby turned to see what it was about, but no one intervened. Everyone just backed away. There were fewer people around them at that point, and as more people went around, they all kept their distance.
Ha-Joon tried to get Min-Jun out of the man’s grip, but the larger man shoved him to the side.
“Hey! Let him go,” Ha-Joon shouted and balled his fists when he regained balance. He approached the man from the back and jumped on him. Legs wrapped around the man’s waist, one hand on his neck, the other hand beating his head. The man loosened his grip on Min-Jun while trying to shake him off.
“Go, Min-Jun!” Ha-Joon yelled, still holding tight.
“No! I can’t leave you!” Min-Jun protested and looked around wishing someone would help them.
“Just go!”
The man squeezed Ha-Joon’s arm and pulled him down. Ha-Joon clenched his fist, ready to punch, but the guy was faster. He blocked his fist and punched him instead. Ha-Joon lost his balance, fled to the concrete with his hand pressed to his cheek.
Min-Jun ran to his friend and crouched beside him.
“Are you okay?” he asked worriedly while expecting the guy to grab him.
When no one approached them, Min-Jun turned around only to see that someone had stopped their attacker.
Min-Jun was grateful that some passersby finally decided to help them after all.
But then he noticed who it was; his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
Min-Jun's mouth hung open, and he muttered to himself, “Aidan…?”
Aidan punched the guy in the face, flinging his head to the side.
But that wasn’t enough to discourage the big man; he swung his fist in Aidan’s direction again, but Aidan caught the fist and threw him to the ground.
The man groaned in pain and rolled onto his side glaring up at Aidan with hatred. Aidan stared back, ready to fight.
“Next time someone tells you to stop, you should know it’s enough,” Aidan said and adjusted his coat and ran a hand through his hair.
The man pushed himself off the concrete floor and glared.
Min-Jun noticed his mouth was split and bleeding.
With one last look at Min-Jun and his friend, the man left.
Aidan also watched his retreating figure then turned to Min-Jun and Ha-Joon.
He hung his hands on his hips and still breathing heavily asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Ha-Joon replied, but Min-Jun just looked back at Aidan without a word. They stared at each other for a while and Ha-Joon looked from one to another in confusion.
“Having some fun, Min-Jun?” Aidan spoke again, looking him straight in the eye before glancing at Ha-Joon. Min-Jun could sense the hint of irritation in his voice, and he knew it was directed at him.
“Um... I... yeah,” Min-Jun stuttered, not sure what to say. “And what are you doing here?”
“I was following a suspect. But I lost him.” Aidan looked and gestured around.
“Yeah, well... I’m sorry about that. And thanks for the help,” Min-Jun spoke quickly, and looked elsewhere but at Aidan.
Aidan stuffed his hands in his pockets and added more coolly, “I’m glad to see you feel better. Elena said you’re sick.”
Min-Jun swallowed thickly. “Y-yeah. I still don’t feel the best, but I was tired of lying inside all day.”
“Of course. I bet your boyfriend was very helpful in your recovery.” Aidan looked at Ha-Joon again, who was still looking at him with a puzzled look.
“Yeah, he was,” Min-Jun said, only to annoy Aidan, hoping it would work.
Glancing at him, he noticed Aidan clenched his jaw and looked away. “Have a nice rest of the evening then. I won’t bother you any longer.” With this, Aidan turned and left. Min-Jun looked after him until he was lost in the crowd.
“What was that?” Ha-Joon asked in Korean.
“Nothing. Just my boss.”
“Your boss?” Ha-Joon laughed. “That’s not your boss. He looked like a jealous ex to me.”
Min-Jun shot him a glare, and Ha-Joon grinned.
“So, am I officially your boyfriend now?”
Min-Jun smacked him on the back of the head lightly. “Shut up!”
***
Aidan got into his car and squeezed the steering wheel in annoyance.
Three days ago, he saw Min-Jun walking to school, and he didn’t seem the least bit sick. Aidan was convinced it was all just an excuse, so he didn’t have to come to work, and most probably, to avoid him. And now... Now he saw him at the fair with his little...
He has a boyfriend. I should have known. Why did I think he might be genuinely into me? Wait, why do I care? I don’t care, but...
Aidan wondered if Min-Jun would dare to come to work or if he plans to quit. He sighed and started the engine.
He can do whatever he wants. I don’t give a fuck.
***