Actually, It’s a Messy Melodrama Chapter 99

“Why are you frozen like that? I said it’s okay.”

“That, I…”

“I rushed it. Sorry.”

The apology also came from Taejun’s lips first. Haeshin’s eyes shook violently. He couldn’t understand why Taejun was apologizing when he hadn’t forced anything.

“I should have approached you more slowly…”

“No…”

“I just liked it so much that I lost my mind for a moment.”

“Don’t say it like that.”

Haeshin finally spoke, his brows drooping low. It looked as though tears might well up in his eyes at any moment.

“Why do you say it like that? You didn’t do a single thing wrong, Mr. President.”

“Still, I was too…”

“I felt good about everything you did for me. And when I was startled, you backed off without forcing me.”

Haeshin knew what true cruelty was—the kind that wouldn’t stop the violence even when one cried and begged and pleaded.

Because I love you. Because I’m helping you. Because I saved you. So you should just shut up and spread your legs whenever I want. He knew the wickedness that said those things with such confidence all too well.

Therefore, Han Taejun shouldn’t apologize to Cha Haeshin for this. There was no need for an apology. Because nowhere in the act Taejun just performed was there such ruthlessness. Haeshin was simply startled for a moment; the stimulation Taejun gave had been nothing but pleasant. Haeshin didn’t want to accept Taejun’s apology.

“And you’ll keep waiting for me until I’m more okay, right?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

At Haeshin’s following words, Taejun nodded, a bright smile spreading across his sleek lips. Haeshin was right. Taejun could wait as long as it took.

It didn’t matter if Haeshin couldn’t define love, or couldn’t confess it, or if he could never fully accept his touch forever.

Because Cha Haeshin’s mere existence was Han Taejun’s salvation.

As long as he was alive and by his side, Taejun was prepared to walk any path willingly.

☂️

“Ah, and Jungho. Here.”

Taejun caught Secretary Choi as he was about to leave the office after finishing his report. Secretary Choi approached Taejun again and took the object he was handing over. It was a worn-out, old-model phone.

“That’s the one Cha Haeshin used to use.”

“Should I dispose of it?”

“No. From now on, only Jin Youngmin will be contacting that phone.”

Secretary Choi wore a puzzled expression. Even after hearing the explanation, it was difficult to grasp Taejun’s intention. Taejun leaned his chin on his hand, looking at Secretary Choi as he continued.

“That bastard is planning to obsessively stalk Cha Haeshin from now on.”

“Stalking…?”

“Yeah. And I want to collect proper evidence of it.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Secretary Choi realize why Taejun had handed him the phone. Since any future contact from Jin Youngmin would serve as evidence of stalking, it needed to be collected, but Taejun didn’t want Haeshin to see it himself.

Secretary Choi gripped the phone Taejun had given him. He felt a strange sensation, sensing Taejun’s heart—how he wanted to deal with Jin Youngmin while keeping Cha Haeshin in the dark as much as possible.

He highly valued Taejun not only as a representative of the group but also as a person, but even Secretary Choi hadn’t known Taejun could be someone capable of being kind to others in such a delicate manner.

“Does it matter what method is used, as long as no harm comes to Mr. Cha Haeshin?”

At the question from Secretary Choi, who had correctly grasped the intent, Taejun gave a satisfied smirk.

“Yeah. Anything is fine.”

“Understood. I will report back once preparations are complete.”

“Right. Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Taejun leaned deep into his chair, watching the back of the incredibly reliable Secretary Choi.

Because Cha Haeshin was such a kind person, things had become more complicated. To be blunt, if Haeshin had asked him to bury Jin Youngmin somewhere without anyone knowing, it might have been much safer and less troublesome.

But Haeshin hadn’t done that. Because Haeshin was the kind of person who wouldn’t make a choice like that, Taejun liked him even more. The fact that the reason wasn’t simply due to concepts like justice or morality, but rather a desire to protect Taejun’s soul, made him even more lovable.

Even if he were to die and wake up several times over, Han Taejun would never become as brave a person as Cha Haeshin. Taejun sincerely revered Haeshin.

“So, it has to end here.”

In the office where he was now alone after Secretary Choi left, Taejun muttered, the smile having vanished from his lips.

There is no next round. A situation where Cha Haeshin dies because of a piece of trash like Jin Youngmin must never happen again. Cha Haeshin’s curse and his own hell had to end here, without fail.

Just as Taejun was glaring into the air with a determined expression, the phone on his desk vibrated loudly. Taejun flinched slightly in a rather undignified manner before checking the message that had arrived.

[Mr. President, what time should I be ready by?]

Taejun’s expression softened as if it had never been solemn. A gentle smile soon played on his lips. Cha Haeshin was the only person who could make Taejun smile with a single message.

Instead of writing a reply, Taejun pressed the call button. He much preferred hearing his voice. Haeshin answered the phone immediately.

—Mr. President! Are you not busy?

“Yeah, I’m not busy.”

—I guess being the head of a major corporation is a more leisurely position than I thought.

“You didn’t know that until now? That’s why I’ve been chasing you around.”

Light laughter broke out between them as they joked. Taejun continued, feeling a longing that had become as natural as breathing.

“I’ll come pick you up around five, so keep that in mind.”

—I really don’t have to go shopping or anything…

Haeshin muttered somewhat sheepishly. That’s right. Today was the day for the shopping trip Taejun had prepared in advance.

“Even if you’re okay with it, I’m not.”

The old wallet where Haeshin had cherished Taejun’s business card, the completely worn-out sneakers, the flat padding jacket that didn’t look like it could block a bit of the midwinter cold.

Those things still remained as a sense of debt in Taejun’s heart. Literally, even if Cha Haeshin was okay, Taejun wasn’t okay in the slightest. From now on, Taejun would make sure only good things remained for Cha Haeshin. He intended to erase every trace of his unhappy past.

—Well, if you say you’re buying, Mr. President, I have no reason to refuse. I’m originally quite good at receiving things like that, you know.

“Right. That’s more like the Cha Haeshin I know. I’ll call you when I leave.”

—Okay! Then… see you later.

Haeshin hung up the phone quickly after leaving a shy greeting. It seemed he felt bashful despite the words not being particularly special. It was a phenomenon happening to both of them lately.

Things they would have said without a second thought before now made them feel shy for some reason. Because it felt exactly like the emotions of early-stage dating that people often talk about, Taejun held the disconnected phone and grinned like an idiot.

Turning his head to look out the window, he saw the brilliant sky was beautiful. The heavy emotions that had sunk while thinking of Jin Youngmin had already floated up like clouds.

Taejun liked himself for not being excessively solemn. It was an attitude toward life he had learned from watching Cha Haeshin.

Haeshin had endured a life far more horrific than his own, yet he hadn’t fallen into the swamp of pessimism. Even in a dark tunnel with no end in sight, he laughed cheerfully, moved forward bravely, and never gave up on being happy.

Furthermore, Cha Haeshin wanted Han Taejun to live a daily life as well. Not a struggle solely for survival, but a happy and ordinary life. So, Taejun smiled as he thought of his date with Cha Haeshin today.

Imagining how flustered Haeshin would be, thinking it was just ordinary shopping, made his heart flutter naturally. Taejun sat back at his desk, gauging how much time was left until he met Haeshin.

It seemed that time would pass infinitely slowly today.

☂️

“Uh, what is this…”

While a flustered Haeshin was being led by Taejun’s hand, fumbling for words, the staff member who had bowed politely toward them spoke in a kind tone.

“We have prepared a variety of styles as the President mentioned beforehand. Would you like to look around first? Or should I start with an explanation?”

“No, I, well…”

Haeshin gave the staff member a quick, awkward bow and a smile, then pulled Taejun toward him and whispered in a low voice.

“What is all this?”

“What do you mean, what is it? We decided to go shopping.”

“No, shopping is shopping, but… all of this…”

The surrounding scenery was reflected in Haeshin’s confused and shaking eyes. A vast space that looked like a room prepared solely for Han Taejun and Cha Haeshin was filled with various clothes, shoes, bags, and more.

Haeshin had never seen anything like this. When Taejun said they should go shopping together, Haeshin’s heart raced just at the thought of walking around a department store with him.

When Jin Youngmin bought things for Haeshin, he rarely took him along to choose for himself. Usually, he would buy something he liked and present it to Haeshin as a gift.

At least when they were preparing for the wedding, they had gone around together to look at items, but even then, Haeshin had very little decision-making power. At the time, he thought Youngmin was being considerate and preparing everything himself because Haeshin didn’t know much, but looking back, it was closer to a display of controlling tendencies.

So, Haeshin was also worried that he might make a mistake. He wondered what he would do if he said something inappropriate or acted in a way that was a nuisance without realizing it, thus bringing shame to Taejun’s face.

But to think he could see and choose products while sitting down like this, without even walking through the department store.

Since Haeshin, who rarely lost his composure in any situation, was acting like a person who had lost his soul, Taejun, feeling somewhat proud, answered triumphantly.

“Why, do you not like it? Did you want to just walk around and look?”

“No, no…! It’s not that, it’s just that something like this… is a first for me…”

Haeshin looked around again and hunched his shoulders. To be honest, the feeling of nervousness was greater than the feeling of liking it. It seemed that’s how a person has to react when they encounter a situation that far exceeds their expectations.