Formless Chapter 78

A moment later, Gangwoo, dressed in a suit, came out of the dressing room, putting on his wristwatch. Heewoon glanced at Gangwoo and then turned his gaze to a book. Judging by the time, he must have a lunch appointment. It would likely be a formal occasion.

“Will you be back late?”

Heewoon had, at some point, put down his book and was looking at Gangwoo with his chin on the backrest of the sofa. Gangwoo approached and kissed Heewoon’s forehead.

“Should I come early?”

“…Do as you please.”

Gangwoo chuckled at the words said with slightly averted eyes.

“I’ll come as early as possible.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t cry missing me. Wait quietly.”

Gangwoo ruffled Heewoon’s hair, checked his watch, and went outside. It seemed he was pressed for time. Right. He’s busy, so it can’t be helped. Up until then, Heewoon thought that.

That thought was shattered the very next day.

Monday. When Heewoon opened his eyes, the spot next to him was empty. It was a morning similar to the past few days. Waking up to an empty spot next to him, and feeling a little chilly when seeing the empty space.

Don’t gangster groups usually operate at night? Heewoon grumbled to himself.

“You woke up early.”

Just then, Gangwoo entered the room, and Heewoon’s eyes widened.

“I thought you went out to work.”

“Ah. I went for a workout.”

Indeed, he was in workout clothes.

“Then you’re going to work now, right.”

“I’m resting today.”

He must be resting today since he worked on the weekend. Heewoon nodded. And he was just looking at Gangwoo for no reason. There was nothing in his gaze or on his face. Really.

But Gangwoo stared intently at Heewoon’s face and let out a laugh. He approached and thoroughly ruffled Heewoon’s hair. His hair, which covered the sides of his ears from not having gone to the hair salon for a long time, tickled his cheeks.

“Are you going to keep doing this?”

The smile on Gangwoo’s face, with furrowed brows, was refreshing.

“What did I…”

Heewoon stammered, scratching his cheek. He didn’t know if the ticklish feeling on his cheek was because of his hair, or because of Gangwoo’s gaze, which seemed to be looking at something very lovable.

“Should I quit working and be unemployed?”

Gangwoo tilted his head and asked in a playful tone. The hand carelessly placed on his head fiddled with his hair. The familiar body odor, mixed with the smell of sweat, somehow made the area below his chest tingle.

“I’m hungry.”

Heewoon said, thinking that this flickering sensation below his chest was definitely hunger.

That day, Gangwoo truly did not work at home for a long time. He walked Lexy, watched a movie with Heewoon, and had an early dinner. Afterward, he did receive a work call while sitting close on the sofa and drinking wine, but that hardly counted as working.

Heewoon thought Gangwoo should rest on weekends. He must have been so tired that he slept in yesterday. It’s all work to make a living, but he should have some time to rest.

“I’ll be right back from the bathroom.”

“Okay.”

Gangwoo, who had been embracing Heewoon’s shoulder, stood up and walked away. As the warmth they had shared disappeared, his right arm quickly grew cold. Heewoon rubbed his arm and turned his gaze to the TV.

That was when it happened.

The sofa vibrated. Heewoon checked his own phone, but it wasn’t his. Then it was Seo Gangwoo’s. Heewoon merely cast an indifferent glance at the spot where Gangwoo had been sitting.

But.

[Jiyoung♥ Is it okay to talk?]

A message prominently popped up on the black screen, clearly imprinted in his eyes.

“…”

Heewoon only glared at Gangwoo’s phone without touching it. ‘Jiyoung’ was clearly a woman’s name, and there was a heart next to the name. At the end of the message, there was also a smiling emoji. The current time was around 7 PM.

Heewoon placed the wine glass he was holding on the table. He suddenly felt sober.

“What is it?”

“You have a KakaoTalk message.”

What fueled his suspicion was Seo Gangwoo’s attitude. Seo Gangwoo picked up his phone, checked the message, furrowed his brows slightly, then glanced at Heewoon.

As if he was uncharacteristically trying to read the mood.

“I’ll go take this call.”

And as if to avoid the situation, he took his phone and went into the study.

He had merely pushed the door casually, so it didn’t close completely, leaving a slight gap. It was a sufficient gap to hear the call if one went close. From the living room to the study, it was too far to even know if Gangwoo was on the phone or not. Heewoon twisted his fingers, glanced at the door gap, and then suddenly stood up.

He quietly and carefully approached the study, suppressing his steps. The servants looked at him strangely but did not speak. They usually don’t speak unless it’s necessary.

As he listened, he heard Gangwoo’s voice. He couldn’t hear it clearly, as if Gangwoo was sitting further inside, so Heewoon took another step closer and put his ear to the door crack. Only then could he hear the voice.

“…Can we be alone?”

Alone? That woman and Seo Gangwoo? Heewoon frowned.

“Yes. I will do that.”

The nuance sounded exactly like setting up an appointment.

Heewoon pondered for a moment. A woman’s name with a heart, an expression of reading the mood, avoiding the room when taking a call. He had been coming home late every day, and yesterday, a Sunday, he went out. And it was exactly lunchtime. He remembered how much attention Seo Gangwoo, wearing a thin summer suit, drew.

Subsequently, a single word echoed in his mind.

‘Cheating.’

“Understood. Yes.”

It was a bit strange how polite his tone was for someone talking to a cheating partner. But thinking about it again, it annoyed him a little that Seo Gangwoo used such a polite tone with her. Especially when he used honorifics with him that were worse than not using them at all. He had cursed at him more than once or twice.

“Yes—”

It seemed the call was almost over, so Heewoon went to the stairs. Just as he reached the top of the stairs, Gangwoo came out of the study, and Heewoon quickly slipped into his room.

Covered by the blanket, Heewoon lay there, glaring at the ceiling. He might not be in a position to accuse Seo Gangwoo of cheating or not, but he had, at least, told his mother that they were lovers. Even if they weren’t actually in a romantic relationship, still. Still, isn’t this too much?

He became uncontrollably angry at the thought that Gangwoo had been coming home late recently because of a cheating partner. He had kept him cooped up in the house, made him unable to do anything without him. And yet, he was going around meeting other people.

“Why are you here?”

Gangwoo asked as he entered the room.

“Because I’m tired.”

He was angry, but he couldn’t express it, simply answering obediently. Heewoon gripped the blanket tightly.

“Suddenly?”

“Yes.”

“It’s been a while since I had time, are you already going to sleep?”

Perhaps he hadn’t had time because he was busy meeting another woman. When that thought struck him, a surge of anger welled up.

“Yes. I’m going to sleep, so get out!”

Heewoon snapped and pulled the blanket over his head. Immediately, his heart pounded. He had just yelled at Seo Gangwoo. And told him to get out. Strictly speaking, it was Seo Gangwoo’s room.

But realizing that he was supposed to be angry in this situation, yet he was cowering, made his blood boil again.

“…What?”

“…”

Heewoon steadied his rapid breathing under the blanket.

“Are you crazy?”

Heewoon bit his lip hard. He thought Gangwoo might hit him really hard, so he felt he should get out from under the blanket and beg him right away.

A bitter sigh escaped.

He didn’t know. Everything was just too annoying. He remembered himself constantly being alone at home, and he recalled Gangwoo rushing in late at night. Come to think of it, lately it had been almost nothing but sex. He was kept at home for sex, while Gangwoo went to nice places with that woman?

“If you don’t want to get beaten, come out right now.”

“…”

Gangwoo’s voice was chilling. Heewoon bit his lip hard. He tightened his grip on the blanket. An ominous voice was heard.

“He must really be crazy.”

And the blanket was suddenly pulled back. He had held on quite tightly, but the blanket slipped away, strongly brushing his fingers.

Gangwoo’s expression, after pulling back the blanket, became subtle. Heewoon just lay there, breathing heavily, looking at the ceiling.

“Why are you crying?”

Gangwoo asked, looking down at Heewoon, whose eyes were thoroughly wet. Perhaps out of exasperation, much of the chilling aura in his voice had receded.

Heewoon bit his lip tightly and said nothing. Gangwoo snorted irritably.

“If you don’t answer again, sunbae, you’re really going to get hit.”

Why are you crying. When Gangwoo asked as if it were his last chance, Heewoon opened his mouth. A wet breath escaped first, then words came out.

“…I don’t know. I suddenly feel so annoyed.”

“You’re not in puberty, why are you suddenly annoyed?”

Gangwoo retorted dryly and sat on the bed.

It shouldn’t matter whether Seo Gangwoo was cheating or doing anything else. It was strange that he felt so upset, as if they were actual lovers and genuinely liked each other. He couldn’t blame it on the alcohol, as a few glasses of wine wouldn’t get him drunk.

Gangwoo, who had been staring down at Heewoon’s face, reached out his hand. And instead of hitting him, he wiped away his tears with his palm.

Heewoon did not push that hand away. Seeing Gangwoo’s face, with slightly furrowed brows, warm tears streamed down his eyes again before he could even try to hold them back.

“I’m crying because I’m suddenly annoyed.”

Gangwoo mumbled, wiping Heewoon’s tears again. Heewoon avoided Gangwoo’s eyes. Looking at Heewoon like that, Gangwoo slowly said.

“Then do I have to be understanding?”

“…”

“Hmm? Tell me.”

The back of Gangwoo’s hand gently touched Heewoon’s cheek. At that moment, Heewoon faced reality. And he said.

“…Heugh, yes.”

“…”

“Be understanding…”

Heewoon clutched Gangwoo’s hand, which was on his cheek, and sniffled. He looked up at Gangwoo cautiously, as if nervous.

Gangwoo furrowed his brows and let out a scoff. Heewoon flinched, gripping Gangwoo’s hand a little tighter.

Gangwoo sighed and said.

“Because you were a bit cute, like a child.”

He pushed Heewoon aside and lay down on the bed. Heewoon felt relieved. At least he didn’t get hit, which was a relief. He would have to rethink today’s events later.

“Stop rolling your eyes and just go to sleep.”