Actually, It’s a Messy Melodrama Chapter 91

At the same time, Taejun found Haeshin’s reaction incredibly lovely. This was Cha Haeshin, a man so obsessed with survival that he had gone as far as to abruptly drop to his knees before someone who was highly unlikely to help him.

The fact that such a person had rejected a method helpful for his survival in a single breath, simply because he hated pretending to push Han Taejun away, made Taejun’s heart swell uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry.”

The moment Taejun apologized again, Haeshin wrapped his arms around Taejun’s waist and buried his head in his shoulder. Taejun’s body stiffened.

“…Still, thank you.”

“For what.”

“For thinking of me to that extent. It’s something that could have left a flaw on Mr. President’s name.”

If rumors were to spread that Han Taejun was using his power to stalk a bar host, Taejun’s name would naturally take a hit, and by extension, the name of Myungjin could be damaged as well.

Jin Youngmin was a man petty enough to use such a tactic, and there was no way Taejun hadn’t anticipated that situation. Nevertheless, Taejun had been willing to get dragged through the mud for one thing and one thing only: Cha Haeshin’s safety.

“But I’d like Mr. President to remember this when making any choices in the future.”

As if overcome with emotion, Haeshin squeezed Taejun with all his might before letting go and pulling back to meet Taejun’s eyes.

“I want to protect Mr. President, too. I don’t just want the regressions to stop; I’m going to protect Mr. President’s emotions, his daily life, and the entirety of his life.”

Haeshin still thought the relationship between Taejun and himself was strange. Even though it couldn’t be defined by any word, they held each other without hesitation like this and shared their wildly beating heartbeats.

Haeshin still thought that this feeling might be a special one—valid only on a “deserted island”—and he knew it might end the moment they left this time and space.

“Whether Mr. President protects me or not… Mr. President is very precious to me now, too.”

However, Haeshin was not a person who gave up just because it was a hopeless fight. He was even less the type of person to hesitate because he feared the future.

He couldn’t be certain of anything right now—whether the feelings he and Han Taejun shared were truly love or not, or how it would ultimately turn out. But it didn’t matter.

Whether it was love or not, whether the end was a tragic thriller or a happy melodrama.

The important thing was the fact that at this moment, Han Taejun had already become an incredibly precious person to Haeshin, and Haeshin was ready to do anything to protect that person.

☂️

“Ah….”

While waiting in a hospital chair during his mother’s examination, Haeshin checked his vibrating phone screen and furrowed his brows. It was Jin Youngmin.

Fortunately, Jin Youngmin hadn’t contacted him often since they met at the convenience store last time. It seemed Haeshin’s excuse had worked.

Haeshin knew very well what thoughts he had while waiting for him now. He knew it was time for Haeshin to break down.

Poor Cha Haeshin, who was already standing in a dead end. In a life where it was a struggle just to pay off private loans, how much further would his life fall into the abyss if his mother was even sick?

He could vividly picture Jin Youngmin’s face, likely waiting for Haeshin’s downfall with a joyful heart. And he would probably reach out a kind hand, pretending that Haeshin’s pain was his own and acting as if he wanted to help Haeshin without any conditions.

Haeshin suppressed the rising urge to vomit and stared at the screen where Jin Youngmin’s name was displayed. He desperately wanted to just block him then and there.

However, Haeshin soon took a deep breath. While stretching his neck, which had momentarily stiffened, he saw Ingyu’s face positioned among the bustling crowd in the distance.

Haeshin barely managed to stop a laugh from popping out. Today, Haeshin had traveled to the hospital with his mother by taxi. He was worried his mother might be startled if her son suddenly appeared accompanied by a driver.

Haeshin, who wasn’t yet used to the presence of a bodyguard, had almost forgotten about Ingyu since taking the taxi, but Ingyu was still faithfully performing his duty.

His heart calmed down in an instant. It wasn’t because of Ingyu, but thanks to the heart of Taejun, who had attached Ingyu to his side. With a much more relaxed face, Haeshin called Youngmin back, who had hung up in the meantime.

—Mr. Haeshin.

“Hello, Manager. I’m sorry. The call ended just as I was about to pick up.”

—Not at all. Are you busy right now?

As expected, a sense of anticipation could be felt in Youngmin’s voice as he asked while pretending to be worried. It was a voice wondering what kind of misfortune had pushed Cha Haeshin a little closer to the edge of the cliff today. Haeshin knew him well enough now to recognize all the emotions Jin Youngmin kept tightly hidden.

“I’m not busy, but… I’m at the hospital right now.”

—The hospital?

“Yes. Well… I came for my mother’s examination. So I was a bit distracted.”

—Ah….

Jin Youngmin’s voice trembled slightly. When he didn’t know better, he would have mistaken that trembling for worry, but now Haeshin knew it was a reaction stemming from anticipation. There was nothing left to be disappointed by in a person like Jin Youngmin, but it was simply amazing that he could speak of love while harboring such vivid malice.

—Do… do you have to wait long? Should I go there?

“No. You have to work; I shouldn’t take up your time with something like this.”

—Why would you say that? It’s hurtful. Your business is important to me, Mr. Haeshin. If I had known earlier about your mother’s examination, I would have made sure she could have it done at a better place.

It was a lie. If Youngmin truly had any intention of helping, he would have already thought of a plan when they spoke at the convenience store last time.

But Jin Youngmin didn’t. The reason was obvious. It was more beneficial to Youngmin for the illness to progress even a little bit more.

“I’m grateful for the sentiment alone. The examination is almost over anyway… and I think my mother might be startled.”

—Ah, that’s true. Still, if you need any help, please be sure to tell me.

“Yes, Manager. Thank you.”

—Everything will turn out well, so don’t worry too much. Okay?

“…I suppose so?”

Haeshin answered with a heavy voice, like someone who had fallen into a pit of despair. So that Jin Youngmin could feel more at ease. So that he could let go of Haeshin with a bit more leisure.

—Of course. More than anything, I’m here, so don’t worry about anything, Mr. Haeshin.

“Thank you. I’ll contact you again.”

Haeshin ended the call carefully, making sure to answer with care until the very end. At the same time, a message arrived.

[Are you alright? Please let me know if there is a problem]

It was Ingyu. It seemed he had watched Haeshin talking on the phone with a dark expression. Haeshin let out a chuckle and moved his fingers busily over the screen.

[It was a call from Manager Jin Youngmin, but there are no problems. Thank you]

[Understood. I have a taxi waiting in front of the hospital, so you can go out and board it immediately after the examination is over]

[Thank you]

After sending the last message, Haeshin leaned his back against the chair and stared blankly at the hospital hallway where people were coming and going.

Today, Haeshin planned to return with his mother not to the shantytown, but to the house Taejun had provided. And instead of returning alone without giving his mother a proper explanation, he would spend the night at that house and tell her as much as possible.

He was even willing to reveal Taejun’s existence if necessary. So that his mother wouldn’t be afraid of formless kindness. He wouldn’t be able to tell her everything, like the story of the regressions, but he thought if he told her the facts he could share as clearly as possible, his mother might be able to ease her anxious heart at least a little.

Countless failures were no different from countless practices. If he didn’t commit the same mistakes again, the heart-wrenching pain Haeshin experienced in the previous cycles could be said to have been worth that much.

Haeshin closed his eyes and waited for the examination to end, pondering what words and what sentences he should use to explain this situation to his mother.

☂️

“You know, Grandfather.”

“What is it you want that you’re calling me so stealthily like a little kitten?”

Taejun’s grandfather, Chairman Han Sangwoo, looked away from the chessboard he had been staring at while contemplating where to move a piece, and looked at the blood relative who was the apple of his eye.

Taejun opened his mouth, instantly wearing the face of a pampered young grandson.

“Hypothetically.”

“Yes, hypothetically.”

“If I said I was going to meet someone who was completely beneath your standards, what would you think?”

At the question that clearly didn’t seem ‘hypothetical’ at all, the Chairman’s eyes narrowed.

“Don’t think about testing this old man. Are you seeing someone?”

“No. I’m not exactly seeing them yet, but there’s someone I want to see.”

At Taejun’s answer, Chairman Han Sangwoo’s heart honestly felt like it dropped, but he struggled to maintain his expression. Even while asking if he was seeing someone, he hadn’t quite expected an answer saying he was.

That was because, throughout his life, Taejun had rarely shown interest in meeting anyone.

When the Chairman would tentatively ask if it wasn’t about time to think about marriage, Taejun would slyly say he’d just meet whoever his grandfather picked when the time came, but whenever he was actually introduced to someone, he would make excuses and never meet them at all.