CHAPTER 26
It was still early morning when Mr. Choi quietly turned the key and opened the door to Noeul’s studio. Rei was with him, following Chung-Hee’s instructions to check on Noeul before heading to the office.
Seeing Mr. Choi open the door, Rei followed him inside.
Tiptoeing, Mr. Choi stepped inside. His eyes scanned the room before settling on the large couch, and a smile spread across his face.
Noeul slept peacefully in Duri’s arms, his expression calm and content. For the first time since Mr. Choi had started caring for him, he saw Noeul sleeping deeply, without tossing or turning.
But he wasn’t alone. Mr. Choi’s smile faded. How would Rei react when he saw this? He paused at the entrance, desperately searching for an excuse to avoid the inevitable.
A male voice snapped him back to reality.
“What’s the hold-up? Are we coming in or not?”
Mr. Choi walked forward and quietly placed his belongings on the kitchen counter.
Rei frowned the moment he noticed the two men asleep on the couch.
“Mr. Choi, I have to go,” Rei said, his voice firm but touched with concern.
“Please, don’t tell Mr. Lee. They’re just sleeping. They’re clothed; they were clearly drunk and fell asleep on the couch.” Mr. Choi took a deep breath.
Rei’s expression remained unchanged.
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“Please…” Mr. Choi lowered his voice. “Every morning I hear him talking in his sleep. Sweat covers his forehead. This is the first time I’ve seen him sleep peacefully. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Rei sighed and shifted uncomfortably.
“You don’t know Mr. Lee. He’ll destroy me if I hide this. I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Mr. Choi gently caught his sleeve.
“Please…” he whispered one last time.
Rei lowered his gaze before quietly walking out.
Mr. Choi couldn’t focus on his daily tasks all morning. All he could think about was Chung-Hee’s reaction. Somehow, he had to warn Noeul to be careful.
***
Duri was the first to wake.
For several long moments, he remained perfectly still when he realized Noeul was still asleep in his arms. He was afraid even the slightest movement would wake him.
He noticed Noeul’s scent, the gentle rhythm of his breathing, the warmth of his body, quietly committing every detail to memory.
Noeul’s face remained peaceful, his breathing slow and even.
Mr. Choi was already in the room, but he said nothing, as if unwilling to wake Noeul.
Only after Ji-Woo stepped out of the bedroom did he speak.
“I’ve prepared coffee and breakfast. Please, come. There’s something we need to discuss.” He glanced toward the couch. “Try not to wake Mr. Jung.”
Carefully, Duri slipped his arm free from Noeul’s embrace and joined Mr. Choi and Ji-Woo at the table.
“What happened?” he asked, taking a sip of coffee.
“One of Mr. Lee’s bodyguards saw you sleeping together on the couch.”
Duri understood immediately. From Ji-Woo’s expression, so did he.
“Seriously?” Ji-Woo muttered. “That guy’s going to drive my brother crazy once he finds out. What do we do? Should I stay with him all day?”
“Perhaps it would be wise to stay with him for a few days,” Mr. Choi replied. “At least until Mr. Lee’s anger subsides.”
Duri stayed silent, his hands covering his mouth as he thought.
“What do you think?” Ji-Woo finally asked.
Duri exhaled slowly.
“I don’t think it’ll help. If my assessment of Mr. Lee Chung-Hee is right, he’ll hurt Noeul no matter what we do. Simply because he can. In his mind, your brother is responsible for his misery. He doesn’t need a reason.”
Mr. Choi frowned.
***
Noeul had been awake long enough to hear the end of the conversation.
“But he’s right, isn’t he?” Everyone turned toward the couch.
Noeul sat there, half-awake, rubbing his eyes.
“I was the one who hurt him first. Now I’m paying for the mistakes of the past.” He gave them a tired smile.
“Everything will be fine. Don’t waste your time worrying about me. ”
“I still think Ji-Woo should stay with you,” Duri said before anyone else could respond. His voice remained calm but firm.
“The best I can do is avoid seeing him for a few days. Mr. Choi is with me most of the day, so I’ll be fine. I don’t want you two getting caught up in his schemes.”
“I can’t leave you alone while he’s around,” Ji-Woo protested. “Your hands are still healing. You won’t be able to protect yourself.”
“Brother, you’re overthinking.” Noeul smiled faintly. “If he wants a reason to hurt me, he’ll find one no matter what I do. I don’t see why spending time with you and Duri would make any difference.”
Duri let out a quiet, ironic laugh. “How can someone as smart as you be so clueless when it comes to recognizing other people’s feelings?”
Noeul laughed. “Hey, stop insulting me, you brat!” he shot back, grinning. “Haven’t I felt bitterness and anger? That’s exactly what I think this is. So leave me alone. Life goes on. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“I really want to spend today with you,” Ji-Woo said quietly. “We could go for a walk. I can show you my art, talk about my portfolio. Maybe we can watch a movie afterward. I could even stay here tonight.”
Noeul pretended to think it over, though inside he was grateful his little brother wanted to stay close. “All right. Why not? Let’s go for a hike.”
“A hike?” three voices echoed in unison.
Ji-Woo sighed. “You’re not fully recovered. It’s dangerous, and Mr. Choi will be exhausted.”
“Then let’s take the two-kilometer trail at the nearest park. It’s an easy route.” Noeul gave him an imploring look. “Please? I’m tired of sitting in the apartment all day.”
Mr. Choi stared at him for a moment before surrendering. “As you wish, Mr. Jung. If that’s what you want, we’ll go hiking.”
Duri picked up his keys from the counter.
“Where are you going?” Ji-Woo asked.
“Home.”
“No.” Ji-Woo crossed his arms. “You’re coming with us.”
Duri looked at Noeul, as though waiting for him to object.
Noeul smiled. “Stay. You can carry the water.”
Duri’s mouth curved into a grin. “So that’s what I am to you?”
“A very useful friend.”
“Cruel.”
The nearest park was crowded with families, runners, and couples walking beneath the trees.
The path was easier than Noeul had hoped, but after days inside the apartment, even the cool air against his face felt like freedom.
Mr. Choi stayed close without making it obvious.
Duri walked beside Noeul, carrying the bag with their water and snacks, while Ji-Woo wandered ahead of them, taking photos of anything that caught his attention.
“You’re walking too fast,” Mr. Choi said after the first kilometer.
“I’m walking normally.”
“Your steps are getting shorter.”
Noeul looked down. They were. Duri slowed beside him without a word.
“I’m fine,” Noeul said.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking it loudly.”
Duri laughed. “Maybe.”
They hadn’t gone much farther when Ji-Woo stopped near the end of the trail. “What’s that?” he asked.
A small weekend market had been set up near the park entrance. Stalls lined the path, selling handmade jewelry, old books, prints, and food. Music drifted from somewhere farther inside.
Ji-Woo turned to them with a grin. “We have to look.”
“We don’t have to,” Mr. Choi said.
“We do,” Ji-Woo replied. “It would be rude not to.”
Noeul laughed. “That makes no sense.”
“It makes perfect sense.”
They spent nearly two hours there. Ji-Woo stopped at every art stall, picking up prints and asking the artists too many questions.
Duri bought them drinks while Noeul wandered slowly between the tables, looking through old postcards and handmade paintings.
At one stall, he found a small print of a fox sitting beneath a moonlit sky.
“You like that one?” Duri asked beside him.
Noeul nodded. “It reminds me of a manhwa I used to read.”
Duri picked it up before Noeul could stop him.
“Duri…”
“It’s not expensive.”
“I can buy it myself.”
“I know.” He held it out to him. “But I want to.”
Noeul looked at him for a moment before accepting it. “Thank you.”
Duri smiled. “You’re welcome.”
Ji-Woo returned a few minutes later with a bag of pastries. “I found food.”
“You always find food,” Noeul said.
“And you always complain, then eat half of it.”
Noeul laughed and took a bite of the pastry in Ji-Woo’s hand anyway.
By the time they returned to the apartment, everyone was tired.
They ordered dinner and chose a movie neither Ji-Woo nor Duri had seen.
Ji-Woo claimed the couch first, taking up far too much space.
Duri sat beside Noeul, their shoulders brushing whenever either of them moved.
Halfway through the movie, Ji-Woo fell asleep with his head against the armrest.
Duri glanced at him. “He said he wanted to stay up all night.”
“He says that every time.”
“You used to be the same.”
Noeul looked at him. “You know that?”
“Ji-Woo’s told me stories.”
Noeul smiled faintly. “Only the embarrassing ones, I’m sure.”
Duri laughed, then turned back to the movie. For a while, neither of them spoke. Noeul’s phone vibrated on the table. The sound felt too loud in the quiet room. He already knew who it was before unlocking the screen.
I’ll be there at 11. We need to talk.
Reading the message sent a chill through Noeul. He hoped the meeting would involve nothing more than a conversation.
By the time the movie ended, it was late. Duri left after making Noeul promise to call if he needed anything, while Ji-Woo stayed behind with his brother. Mr. Choi stayed later than usual, unwilling to leave with Chung-Hee expected.