Formless Chapter 44

The words he uttered after sinking into thought were always frightening, so Heewoon bit his lip. Suddenly, Gangwoo turned his head and looked at Heewoon.

“Then, should I just take this one?”

His eyes were slightly smiling with the light tone. So, Heewoon did not know how to react. Even though he furiously racked his brain, the appropriate response did not come, so he simply opened his mouth.

“Then what about your original job…”

Heewoon was startled after unconsciously asking. He really didn’t want to know what Seo Gangwoo did. Hadn’t he always kept his mouth tightly shut whenever that topic came up?

“I’m learning the ropes under my grandfather.”

Gangwoo answered casually.

Heewoon thought it was a great relief that the answer was ordinary. Thus, the dark curiosity that had briefly outweighed his fear was quickly forgotten.

Heewoon touched the sharp edge of the business card and thought. Seo Gangwoo had mentioned before that he would likely also be learning the business from his father.

Seeing Seo Gangwoo’s mansion, his usual spending, and the money he handed over nonchalantly, one could easily infer that his family was not ordinary. It was not surprising that he was the son of some corporation’s executive. Now, he simply knew a bit more detailed information.

“It might be a bit bothersome since I have two hyungs….”

He has two hyungs.

Gangwoo noticed Heewoon staring intently at him and smiled with narrowed eyes. He said playfully,

“Should I just kill them all?”

Heewoon’s eyes widened. Gangwoo burst out laughing, looking at Heewoon like that. He lightly ruffled Heewoon’s hair.

“Just kidding.”

Gangwoo murmured with a voice full of laughter. Goosebumps rose all over Heewoon’s body. How could he speak so casually about killing his own hyungs?

Heewoon realized anew whom he had been leisurely eating breakfast next to just now. He had been worrying about trivial things like how to make an omelet while sitting next to such a terrifying person.

Gangwoo, seeing Heewoon’s slightly pale face, whispered gently,

“I’m giving this business card to sunbae for the first time.”

“…First time?”

Heewoon’s gaze went to the business card. He blinked once. Simultaneously, the fear that had surfaced all over his face slowly subsided.

“Who else knows that this is your father’s company?”

Heewoon’s gaze was fixed intently on the business card. Gangwoo tilted his head slightly.

“Who are you referring to? The media doesn’t know.”

“…Then no one from school knows either.”

Heewoon muttered softly. Gangwoo observed Heewoon’s unblinking eyes and the fingers tightly clutching the business card. Gangwoo, who subtly raised the corner of his mouth, said sweetly,

“Of course. No one knows but sunbae.”

Gangwoo pulled Heewoon into his embrace and kissed him.

🧸

“I’m leaving now—.”

“Yes, go and come back.”

Heewoon glanced at his mother in front of the TV. The doctor had said that walking around frequently was good for recovery, so his mother had often gone out shortly after being discharged. Since more than a month had passed, she should have fully recovered.

Yet, somehow his mother looked more listless.

Heewoon watched his mother a little longer. When their eyes met, his mother smiled, so Heewoon smiled back and quietly closed the sliding door and left.

Sometimes Heewoon felt a prick in his chest. When he greeted her as if he were naturally going for tutoring, when his mother told him he worked hard, when the balance in his bank account grew, but he couldn’t tell his mother.

Even so, there was nothing he could do.

Heewoon took a deep breath and wrapped his scarf tightly. It was very cold at night. He hurried through the alley and headed to the bookstore across the street. He planned to study a little before his TOEIC class started.

At the bookstore, Heewoon meticulously examined the workbooks. Thinking a thin book would be better to finish in a week, he selected a suitable workbook, paid, and left.

“Ah, it’s cold….”

Heewoon pulled up his scarf to cover his cold ears. He should go to a cafe and spend some time. He pulled out his phone to check the time and saw a message from Seo Gangwoo. It had arrived five minutes ago.

[Where are you?]

Hous…

Home cofe

His hands were freezing cold even after being out of his pocket for just a moment, causing him to keep typing errors. So, Heewoon called Gangwoo.

“Gangwoo.”

His breath scattered white in front of his eyes. After a brief silence, a voice was heard.

—…Yes, sunbae.

It was very affectionate.

“I’m going to the cafe in front of my house.”

—I’m almost there now. Could you wait there for just a moment?

“Hnng.”

—Don’t hang up.

“…Yes.”

His hands were so cold. It would be nice if he would just arrive and ask, but Seo Gangwoo kept asking trivial things again. What he was doing, whether he had eaten dinner, what he had done yesterday.

—I see sunbae.

Heewoon brightened at the words.

“Yes, I’ll get in!”

When Gangwoo’s car stopped in front of him, Heewoon quickly got in. A sigh escaped him because he finally felt alive in the warm air.

“Did you miss me that much?”

Gangwoo was smiling. Heewoon tried not to frown and simply mumbled, “Just.”

“You can call me if you miss me.”

“…Yes.”

Gangwoo reached out and cupped Heewoon’s cheek. It’s really cold. He murmured, cupped Heewoon’s cheeks with both hands, and gently rubbed them. He rubbed his bright red ears, covering them with his hands, and then, as if something suddenly came to mind, he exclaimed, “Ah.”

“Stand up for a moment.”

“Like this?”

As Heewoon bent his neck and half-stood up awkwardly, Gangwoo hugged his waist. The hand that entered under the padding jacket, which slightly covered the top of his buttocks, suddenly plunged into his pants without any warning.

“Ah!”

Heewoon was startled and grabbed Gangwoo’s shoulder. Gangwoo calmly fondled Heewoon’s buttocks. Hmm…. After rumbling in his throat, he slowly pulled his hand out of Heewoon’s underwear, and Heewoon quickly sat down in the chair. He pressed his butt tightly against the seat, afraid the hand would plunge in again.

“It was cold. Are you upset today too?”

Gangwoo tilted his head and asked.

Heewoon thought for a moment, then remembered what he had said before, and blushed. When he shook his head, Gangwoo let out a small laugh.

“Tell me if you get upset.”

I’ll warm you up. Heewoon generally nodded his head, looking at the eyes curved seductively, and fastened his seatbelt. It was a ploy to avoid his gaze.

“You don’t have to wear the belt. I just came to see your face for a moment.”

“Ah.”

Heewoon lowered his head to unfasten the belt again, but Gangwoo’s hand came under his chin and lifted it. Gangwoo stared at Heewoon’s face for a long time.

Heewoon also looked at Gangwoo’s face. He looked a little tired. Was work life very busy? Since his colleagues didn’t know who Seo Gangwoo was, they might be heavily assigning tasks to him as a newcomer.

A while ago, Heewoon heard the news in the group chat for his peers that Hyukjin was immigrating with his family. At the sudden news, his peers grumbled about how he could just leave without even showing his face once, and then they started speculating. Judging by the hasty departure, he must have been heavily in debt, or Hyukjin was more seriously injured than expected and is going to the US for surgery, or I heard the immigration was originally scheduled, and so on. A few rumors with unclear sources were quickly created.

Heewoon guessed that Hyukjin’s immigration was also related to Gangwoo and was certain that his guess was closest to the truth.

In other words, his company colleagues might also be treating Seo Gangwoo without knowing any better and then suddenly find themselves having to immigrate one day.

Gangwoo slowly stroked Heewoon’s cheek, and when their eyes met with Heewoon staring blankly at him, he laughed lightly. He said something a little mischievous,

“Why aren’t you following me around these days?”

It was a very bewildering thing for Heewoon to hear. He was also a little worried that Gangwoo might ask him to follow him. Gangwoo, who was intently watching Heewoon’s face where his thoughts were clearly visible, said as if granting a favor,

“If you want to follow me around later, you can.”

“…Yes.”

Would that ever happen? Heewoon thought about it. It was impossible.

…Probably.

Seo Gangwoo dropped him off in front of the cafe and left. He seemed truly busy. Heewoon opened the cafe door and looked at the cake box in his hand.

‘It’s Christmas Eve.’

Gangwoo had taken it out from the back seat and given it to him when he got out of the car. Winter had always been just cold and scary, so he hadn’t celebrated Christmas or New Year’s much for the past few years.

The cafe was empty, as if everyone had gone downtown. Heewoon ordered a warm latte, sat down, and studied. Occasionally, his gaze drifted to the cake box.

He studied for about three hours before leaving the cafe. The cake in his hand felt especially heavy, making his steps careful.

“I’m home.”

“What’s with the cake?”

His mother’s eyes widened.

“It’s Christmas.”

He used to celebrate it occasionally until high school. That is, when all four family members were present.

They had even set up a Christmas tree once. His hyung used to grumble about why they were doing such an embarrassing thing and rush out, but back then, the family was still whole.

Heewoon and his mother sat across from each other and took out the cake. The floor was warm, and the cake decorated with reindeer-shaped chocolates was pretty.

“The cake is so pretty, I don’t know how to cut it.”

His mother stared intently at the cake with the knife in her hand. His mother’s lips moved slowly.

“It reminds me of the old days. Your father really liked celebrating anniversaries.”

His mother’s eyes didn’t blink. Heewoon suddenly wondered. Did his mother often cry when he wasn’t around?

Heewoon had cried a lot since getting involved with Seo Gangwoo. Tears often burst out easily in front of him even at the slightest fear, which might be because he always wanted to cry.

Then, did his mother also always want to cry like him?

These days, there were quite a few times when he didn’t want to cry, but did his mother still always want to cry?

“Ahem. Oh, did I catch a cold? Why is my throat so dry?”

His mother turned her head away from Heewoon and cleared her throat. Moisture glistened in her eyes. She slowly got up and spoke in a bright voice,

“I didn’t bring anything to drink. Heewoon, what do you want to drink?”

“I want milk.”