Actually, It’s a Messy Melodrama Chapter 55

“If it’s too painful and difficult to even think about it and you absolutely don’t want to talk about that time, that’s okay too. That’s understandable. Then you can just live the rest of your life having only that level of conversation with your mother.”

“…”

“But if you want to connect more deeply with your mother emotionally, and live by truly relying on each other, you have to be honest and open up at least once. Only then can you start the next chapter.”

Haeshin was lost in thought without a word. Taejun didn’t say anything more and waited.

Taejun felt a little embarrassed for giving Haeshin such grand advice when he hadn’t even properly solved his own problems, but he didn’t regret it. If this could lessen Haeshin’s worries even a little, that was enough.

After a long while, Haeshin opened his mouth.

“I understand what you mean.”

Only then did Taejun let out a small sigh of relief. He had been a little nervous that Haeshin might think his advice was presumptuous.

Haeshin, who had been nodding and muttering, “That’s right. I get it now,” as if he’d had an epiphany, soon looked at Taejun with a mischievous expression. Taejun, anticipating what Haeshin was about to say just by looking at his face, quickly opened his mouth.

“That’s enough. Don’t say anything.”

Of course, Cha Haeshin was not one to listen meekly.

“You were just like a counselor a moment ago, sir.”

“I told you not to.”

“Do they teach things like counseling from a young age in chaebol families? Or is it the ability of a CEO of a large corporation who commands many subordinates?”

“Ha… I’m not even going to bother.”

Taejun shook his head and pressed his forehead. He had given a serious consultation, only to be met with teasing.

“Thank you so much again today, sir. I’m always receiving help from you.”

But Taejun knew all too well that Haeshin’s sincerity was contained in the subsequent thanks. Pretending to be annoyed was actually just playing along with Haeshin’s prank.

“If you know, then treat me well.”

“Yes. Of course, sir!”

Watching Haeshin answer cheerfully, Taejun laughed along with him. It was a moment that made him earnestly wish for such daily moments to continue for a long, long time.

☂️

“Hoo…”

Youngmin, having downed a full cup of what was probably his umpteenth glass of cold water, still couldn’t seem to relax, and he kept rubbing his sweaty palms on his thighs. Youngmin was currently at the meeting place with Taejun, having arrived early and was waiting for him.

“What important thing is he going to talk about to go to this extent…”

This restaurant, known for the fact that nothing that happens inside ever leaks to the outside, was famous among prominent figures in politics and business, and it wasn’t a place one could easily book just by having money. In fact, it was Youngmin’s first time coming to this restaurant as well.

If it were just to have a light meal as Taejun had said, there would have been no need to come to a place like this. Is he trying to intimidate me by showing off the power gap like this? A sneer touched Youngmin’s eyes as he looked around the reserved room.

Just then, the firmly closed door opened and an employee in a neat uniform entered.

“Mr. Han Taejun has arrived.”

Youngmin stood up from his seat. Normally, he wouldn’t act so respectfully, but the memory of having recently gotten on Taejun’s bad side made his body move on its own. No matter how much he armed himself with bravado and sneers, Jin Youngmin could not be free from the pressure Han Taejun exuded.

Soon, Taejun’s figure appeared through the open door. Youngmin forced a smile and greeted him.

“Hyung, you’re here?”

“You were here first.”

“Yeah. The traffic wasn’t bad, so I arrived early… uh…?”

However, Youngmin’s painstakingly crafted composure crumbled in an instant. A familiar face was visible behind the confidently appearing Han Taejun.

It was Cha Haeshin, whom he hadn’t seen a trace of until now.

☂️

Haeshin stopped in his tracks as soon as he entered and spotted Jin Youngmin. It was not of his own will. His body reacted on its own.

It felt as if Jin Youngmin, with a horrified expression, would rush at him and grab him by the hair at any moment. The pain of being kicked in the stomach felt as vivid as if it had just happened.

Haeshin unknowingly took a step back. It was an instinctive action to protect himself. He wanted to escape Jin Youngmin’s gaze.

Acting unfazed in front of him was what Cha Haeshin did best, but strangely, it wasn’t working today.

It must be because he had been nervous all along before coming here. The fact that he had to say he had become Han Taejun’s lover in front of Jin Youngmin brought him more fear than a sense of triumph.

“Cha Haeshin, you…!”

The moment Jin Youngmin’s voice was heard, the fear was maximized. His abuse was not just physical violence. The humiliation and shame he had received as naturally as breathing, and Youngmin’s angry voice, instantly brought out the scars etched on Haeshin’s soul.

It felt as if Youngmin would run at him, strangle him, or swing a knife and kill him at any moment.

“Cha Haeshin.”

It was then. A gentle voice reached Haeshin’s ear. Haeshin, who had been trembling with his eyes wide open, finally blinked, his eyelids fluttering.

“Are you okay?”

Taejun asked again. It was a voice that anyone could tell was filled with a special warmth. Sensation gradually returned to Haeshin’s frozen body. At the warmth he felt in his hand, Haeshin lowered his head. He saw Taejun’s large hand holding his own tightly.

Relief came before embarrassment. It suddenly felt like a huge, transparent shield had unfolded in front of him. Instead of pulling his hand away, Haeshin squeezed Taejun’s hand back. He could feel his stiff body slowly relaxing.

“Yes. I’m okay.”

Haeshin raised his gaze and smiled at Taejun. The smile might have been unnatural, but the important thing was that Haeshin had been able to smile somehow.

“What is this?”

Youngmin asked sharply at the two who walked to the table and sat down side by side across from him. Regardless, Taejun, who had leisurely pulled out a chair and escorted Haeshin, looked at the employee waiting by the door instead of answering Youngmin. The employee asked politely.

“Sir, shall I bring the meal right away?”

“Yes. Please do.”

“As you requested in advance, we will skip the course and bring everything out at once so you can eat together.”

“Yes.”

Taejun nodded. The atmosphere wasn’t going to be very good from now on, so there was no point in having people coming in and out. Only after the employee left did Taejun look at Youngmin.

“Let’s talk slowly after the food comes. You’re not in a hurry, are you?”

Though it was a simple thing to say, his tone was subtly condescending. Youngmin, unable to control his emotions, this time spoke to Haeshin.

“Cha Haeshin, no, Mr. Haeshin. You tell me, Mr. Haeshin. What is this situation right now?”

“Youngmin.”

However, it was Taejun who cut in and interrupted Youngmin again.

“I’m only going to say this once, so listen carefully. Today, it’s you and me, the two of us talking.”

Taejun pointed his finger back and forth between Youngmin and himself. It was a clear warning.

“Haeshin came with me because he wanted to show you some courtesy, so you be courteous too. Don’t talk to him as you please. I’ve made myself clear. You talk to me.”

Haeshin unknowingly turned his head to look at Taejun. Even though the warning was not directed at him, he felt an immense pressure. It made him realize anew how much Taejun had been going easy on him until now.

Sure enough, Youngmin, who had been acting as he pleased until now, shut his mouth. His expression was still full of dissatisfaction, but it was clear he was intimidated by Taejun’s unusual warning.

Haeshin clasped his hands tightly under the table. A new emotion began to stir beneath the fear and tension that had been suppressing Haeshin. His fingertips tingled with a faint sense of triumph.

In the meantime, the food, prepared in time, began to be served quickly. Youngmin sat stiffly as if bound by invisible ropes, staring blankly at Taejun who was personally taking care of Haeshin while the food was being served.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. It was as if the nightmare he had been trying to ignore, thinking ‘no way, no way,’ had become a reality and unfolded before his eyes. After the serving was finished and the door was closed, Taejun said to Haeshin.

“Eat slowly so you don’t get indigestion. You don’t have to force yourself to eat. If you’re hungry later, we can eat something else.”

“Okay, thank you. You eat a lot too, Taejun-ssi.”

Taejun smiled with satisfaction at Haeshin’s reply. He had thought Haeshin might not be able to speak properly because he seemed overly nervous, but surprisingly, Haeshin seemed to have adapted quickly.

Don’t call me ‘sir’, don’t be too formal. Taejun had requested these two things from Haeshin. It was a measure to appear like lovers rather than an employer and an employee.

Taejun-ssi.

As if that title was something so special, the moment his name was heard in his ear, it felt like electricity was flowing through his whole body.

“Youngmin, you eat a lot too.”

Taejun finally looked at Youngmin again and said. It was an attitude that seemed to grant permission to speak and move now. In this place, Taejun was kindly teaching Jin Youngmin everything from one to ten. Their distinctly different positions.

“I… I, hyung, I want to hear an explanation first.”

Youngmin, becoming stubborn, ignored the unspoken pressure to eat first. He really couldn’t understand this situation. No matter how insolent Han Taejun was, how could he show up in front of him holding Cha Haeshin’s hand?