Actually, It’s a Messy Melodrama Chapter 21

Taejun seemed to feel a bit embarrassed himself, as the sound of him clearing his throat, ahem ahem, could be heard. Haeshin quickly continued speaking so as not to make him more embarrassed.

“You looked curious about what we were talking about, so I just…… pretended that you threatened me and were mean to me.”

—Is that so?

“Yes. I’m quite sharp when it comes to these things, and for some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t mention that you and I are on good terms.”

—That’s absurd. Who’s on good terms?

“You and me.”

—You and me?

“You gave me your contact number, came all the way to my house to experience the life of a commoner, and even told me to be careful…… With all this, weren’t we on good terms?”

He hadn’t intended to act so familiar, but the words just flowed out of him. Strangely, whenever Haeshin was with Han Taejun, he felt an inexplicable sense of comfort.

There was silence again from the other side of the phone. Yet, he didn’t feel anxious. Haeshin let the silence be and climbed the stairs. Haeshin’s gradually quickening breaths filled the dawn.

—You spout nonsense so confidently.

Taejun finally spoke after a long pause. His voice didn’t sound particularly angry.

“I’m sorryyy.”

—Good grief.

When Haeshin replied with good-natured charm, a sound of bewilderment could be heard. As expected, he didn’t seem displeased. By then, Haeshin had reached the top of the stairs and let out a long breath, whoo. Han Taejun spoke.

—Did you arrive in front of your house?

This time, it was Haeshin who was at a loss for words. An indescribable feeling washed over him in that moment, resonating somewhere deep in his heart.

Not many people know that there is life in this narrow and dirty shantytown, that there are people who dream of happiness without giving up. But the fact that a man who stood in the world most opposite to Haeshin’s knew of this place, of these stairs that naturally made one breathless, felt strange.

“……Yes. I’m here.”

—Alright. Get inside safely, and know that I’ll be coming tomorrow.

“Huh? You’re coming tomorrow?”

—Why, you can’t refuse Jin Youngmin, but you can refuse me?

“Wow, you sure hold a grudge, sir.”

—What?

“It’s nothing. If you’re coming, I’d be honored. I’ll serve you properly!”

—Honestly, making a fuss is a habit for you, isn’t it.

“That’s how I make a living.”

—Can’t let a single word go……! Ugh, whatever. I’m hanging up.

“Yes! See you tomorrow, then. Take care!”

The call ended with his cheerful goodbye. Putting the phone in his pocket, Haeshin realized he was smiling and tilted his head, then burst out laughing.

“Ah, this is so much fun!”

His voice was so cheerful it bordered on madness. It had been so long since he had conversed so freely with someone other than Jin Youngmin. In the past few regressions, he had always returned to a point after he had married Youngmin.

Han Taejun was a person Haeshin did not know well. It had been so long since there had been someone so unpredictable, who made him look forward to the future, that every moment was fun. Besides, for now, he was free from Jin Youngmin’s violence. That alone made every day so fun for Haeshin that he could hardly bear it.

Haeshin knew it too. That he wasn’t in his right mind. To adapt to a life like this, there was no choice but to go mad. Who could possibly endure the countless repetitions of violence and death with a sane mind? Becoming a madman was, in a way, a form of self-defense.

Haeshin hummed a tune as he opened the barely-there gate and went inside his house. For once, today was a day that made him look forward to tomorrow.

☂️

Haeshin, who had finished his part-time job at the convenience store as usual, felt a sense of déjà vu upon seeing a luxury sedan parked right in front of him, blocking his way. As he got closer, he could see Han Taejun sitting in the driver’s seat through the half-open window.

“Wow, you drove here yourself?”

“Why. Did you think I couldn’t drive? Get in, quick.”

“It’s not that, but……”

Haeshin muttered as if fascinated and quickly got into the passenger seat. Haeshin didn’t know much about cars, but he could tell at a glance that this car was much better than Jin Youngmin’s. Impressed, Haeshin fastened his seatbelt, turned to look at Taejun, and spoke.

“By the way, how do you know things like where I work?”

“What?”

“The department head, too…… You found me so easily even though I didn’t tell you.”

Caught by the unexpected question, Taejun was at a loss for words. To say that finding out that much was nothing was practically the same as admitting, “I did a background check on you.” Whether it was a background check or a foreground check, he wasn’t one to care what Cha Haeshin thought, but for some reason, the words didn’t come out easily.

“I wasn’t trying to question you.”

It was Haeshin who spoke up in place of the silent Taejun. When Taejun turned his head, their eyes met and Haeshin smiled brightly, heee. Feeling like he’d been sucker-punched, Taejun scoffed, hmph, and answered curtly as he started the car.

“What are you going to do if you do question me.”

“Exactly.”

He’d meant it as a jab, but Cha Haeshin seemed completely unfazed. If anything, he even looked gleeful. Strangely, whenever he met Cha Haeshin, he always seemed to get the short end of the stick, which put him in a bad mood.

Regardless, Haeshin, who was looking around the inside of the car, suddenly glanced at the scenery outside the window and spoke urgently.

“Huh? Sir, the way to the shop is that way……!”

By the time Haeshin said that, Taejun’s car had already passed the road leading to the shop. Haeshin, who had been looking outside with a panicked expression, whipped his head around to look at Han Taejun. He had a calm expression.

“We’re not going to the shop.”

“Then where are we……”

“I don’t like going to bars. We’re going somewhere else we can talk.”

“But I have to work……?”

“I’ve already spoken to the shop, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“Ah……”

Though he spoke curtly, Taejun subtly checked Haeshin’s expression. It only just occurred to him that not asking for his consent beforehand might have hurt his pride. In the ensuing silence, just as Taejun swallowed a dry gulp, Haeshin spoke.

“Then this means I can legally skip work???

“……Huh?”

“Until when can I stay out? I hope I can stay out for a while if possible.”

To his relief, Cha Haeshin looked delighted, contrary to his worries. He really was an unpredictable person. Taejun let out a brief chuckle before quickly schooling his expression and speaking.

“You haven’t eaten, have you?”

“Don’t tell me you’re buying me a meal too?”

“We’re going to a place I reserved, so even if it’s not to your taste, just eat some of it.”

“I eat everything well! Thank you!”

Haeshin bowed from his seat. The truly strange thing was that Taejun felt an inexplicable sense of pride at the sight. Taejun managed his expression to keep from smiling foolishly again and drove the car smoothly.

☂️

“This is amazing. It’s my first time in a place like this.”

Haeshin, who had been quietly watching the waiter who took his cleanly-emptied appetizer plate walk away, finally turned to Taejun and spoke in a whisper.

“Your first time?”

“Yes. So this is the course meal I’ve only heard about.”

“Eat a lot. If there’s anything else you want to eat, let me know.”

“Really? I’m not good at refusing things like this.”

“Go ahead.”

Taejun answered casually. But inside, Taejun was not so calm. It was because of Cha Haeshin.

From the moment they first entered the restaurant, Haeshin had seemed unfamiliar with such a space. Considering Haeshin’s life, it was perfectly natural. The strange thing, however, was that Cha Haeshin’s behavior, acting as if it were his first time in a high-end restaurant, felt oddly like an act.

Taejun felt a sense of déjà vu. In the last regression, when he had intruded on Jin Youngmin and Cha Haeshin’s meal, he had felt something similar to what he was feeling now from the Cha Haeshin who had looked intimidated and pitiful in front of him.

The feeling of someone playing a well-scripted character. A subtle awkwardness so natural that others wouldn’t notice, something that only Han Taejun, who was repeating an infinite number of regressions, could sense. He was sensing that from Cha Haeshin now.

That wasn’t to say that Haeshin’s behavior felt fake. That’s what made it even more puzzling and confusing.

“Sir……?”

Just then, Haeshin carefully called out to Taejun. It seemed he had been momentarily lost in thought.

“What is it. Go on.”

“Well…… I was wondering what you wanted to talk about. You probably didn’t come all this way just to buy me a meal.”

He was right. He hadn’t come all this way just to buy Cha Haeshin a meal. But if asked whether he had come with something specific to say, that was also a bit ambiguous.

Honestly, Taejun had wanted to see with his own eyes if Cha Haeshin was okay after meeting Jin Youngmin. It was a rather impulsive desire.

“When you met Jin Youngmin yesterday, was there anything strange?”

“Umm, just that he seemed a bit more on edge than usual? And……”

Haeshin trailed off for a moment, then continued in a more cautious tone.

“I don’t know how you’ll take this, but…… the way he talked about you didn’t give me a good feeling.”

“Hmm……”

“Yes. I could be mistaken, of course. It’s not like he said anything bad about you, but…… you know that feeling you get, that feeling.”

Taejun nodded. He had trampled on Youngmin’s pride and warned him last time, so it was unlikely he would have good feelings. Or perhaps it was simply because Taejun had met Cha Haeshin.

“That’s not a big deal. What about to you?”

As it was an unexpected question, Haeshin’s eyes widened.

“Me?”

“Yes. Did he act violently towards you or…… was there anything like that?”

Even for Han Taejun, this question had to be asked cautiously. Cha Haeshin didn’t know how terribly violent Jin Youngmin had been to him, but Han Taejun did.

“Vio…lent?”

At that moment, Taejun felt that sense of incongruity again. He had seen Cha Haeshin, who had been acting nonchalantly the whole time, flinch for a split second. It wasn’t a reaction of surprise at the content of the question. Taejun had clearly read terror in Haeshin’s eyes.