The Unbelievers Chapter 34

“So strictly speaking, my father and I aren’t the tycoons; we’re just relatives of a tycoon. The real tycoon is the hyung-nim—the Mister—we saw yesterday.”

―But what is a first cousin once removed?

“My dad’s cousin. In terms of relation, he’s my first cousin once removed. But isn’t that practically a stranger?”

He subtly sought an opinion from Choi Jungeon, who was good at studying.

―If you put it that way, I probably have a tycoon among my cousins too. They say in this country, everyone knows everyone if you go past eight degrees of relation.

“That’s exactly what I mean. For all we know, you and I might be related too.”

―I doubt that.

Choi Jungeon spoke as if seriously agonizing over it. Eunseong let out a small sigh. He curled up his body, clutching the phone, and turned over.

“…Sorry about yesterday. For lying. Did you get in trouble with your parents because of me?”

―Forget it. Nothing to be sorry about.

“Tell your father and mother that I’m sorry.”

―Fuck, regardless of that, your cousin’s company sent a ton of stuff to the house. Some expensive fish, a Korean beef set, alcohol, fruit… there are even some mushrooms that are apparently crazy expensive. My mom got all excited, took photos, and sent them to me. She said a whole truckload came. They said they were sorry for the trouble.

“…Anyway.”

Eunseong felt somewhat embarrassed by the fact that Yoo Siun had cleaned up the mess he made. He idly toyed with his hair.

―I guess it was proof that what you said yesterday wasn’t a lie. That he’s a real tycoon.

“Yeah… a real tycoon is a tycoon. Should I take a picture of the room I’m living in and send it to you? You’ll be truly shocked.”

―Pass. But why did you run away? Why did you flee? Like someone being chased by something.

Choi Jungeon seemed unable to understand what he saw yesterday. Eunseong had fled like someone evading pursuit in a movie, slipping out of school to get in a taxi, then getting out because the taxi felt dangerous, taking the subway, and then a bus.

“Something happened.”

―Are you sure nothing’s wrong? Are you really okay?

After a pause, Choi Jungeon asked seriously.

“I’m okay. Nothing’s happening.”

―Why run away if nothing’s happening? Say something that makes sense. Is he hitting you or abusing you or something?

“No, it’s not like that.”

He had raised a rational suspicion. Other than a reason like that, there was no cause to flee from a room so nice you’d want to take photos to brag about it. Especially considering the state Eunseong lived in before, the gap between then and his current life was like heaven and hell. Eunseong hadn’t just been poor; he had been exposed to the heartless violence his father exerted.

―Are you in a situation where you can’t speak properly because someone is next to you? If that’s the case, say you want to eat chicken. Say you want ‘Hot Fried’. That’s our secret code from now on. Hot Fried. If you say Hot Fried, I’ll ask those older brothers I know, like last time, and have them fix things.

A ridiculous laugh leaked out because of Choi Jungeon, who was reciting ‘Hot Fried’ with such gravity and sincerity. Suddenly, he did feel like eating Hot Fried chicken.

“I told you, no.”

―I’m worried as fuck.

“You’re the one in more danger.”

―I’ll give you that.

“Are you still in touch with those older brothers? Are you really trying to become a gangster?”

―Fuck, are you crazy? Even so, it doesn’t hurt to keep those kinds of connections. Want me to introduce you?

“Say something that makes sense.”

―Why doesn’t it make sense?

“…What about the exams? Did you ruin your exams because of me?”

―I was a little distracted, but not enough to ruin the exams.

Choi Jungeon spoke indifferently, implying he had done well.

“That’s a relief. I was worried. If you’d ruined your exams because of me, your mother would never have let me be.”

―I was a bit sad because you just left like that yesterday. But now I suddenly feel better.

A hint of laughter carried in Choi Jungeon’s voice. Eunseong kept the phone to his ear and chattered small, trivial bits of gossip with him. As he tossed and turned, he flinched. Yoo Siun was standing inside the room; he hadn’t realized when the man had entered.

“Jungeon-ah, later… let’s talk later.”

―Save my number. I’ll be in touch. Hey, and—

Choi Jungeon said something, but Eunseong had to hang up before hearing the end of it. He put the phone down and sat up in bed, moving sluggishly. He must look a mess. He awkwardly toyed with his disheveled hair and looked at him.

“I knocked, but you didn’t seem to hear.”

“…Why are you here?”

“You should eat lunch.”

“I’ll eat on my own.”

“I’ll be outside. Come out when you’re ready.”

He was about to say he didn’t want to and wouldn’t eat, but the man left before he could hear an answer.

“Who was the one in the wrong first… When I asked him to wipe some sweat because I was hurting, who was the one who reacted with such disgust? Why is he angry at me?”

Faced with his icy reaction, Eunseong forgot his own actions from yesterday and protruded his lips in a resentful pout. Even though the man looked no different than usual, his attitude was colder than before; despite being the one in the wrong, Eunseong felt hurt.

After grumbling and rustling the bedding, Eunseong got up and went into the bathroom to check the face reflected in the mirror.

“Gasp… What is this.”

The two eyelids he had cried with the entire time he was in the car being brought back by Yoo Siun were swollen like a frog’s. He felt ashamed to show such a pathetic sight to him. To reduce the swelling even a little, he splashed cold water over his face repeatedly before changing his clothes.

Walking sluggishly toward the dining room, Eunseong saw him sitting at one end of the table and headed to the opposite side. At each end of the long rectangular table, their respective meals were set.

They were separated by such a distance that, let alone touching, they wouldn’t even hear each other’s voices if they spoke softly. It was a rule that had to be kept to stay with him in this house.

I admit there are kind parts to him. He does seem to care in his own way. However, Yoo Siun always drew a clear line at the decisive moment.

He said fancy things about Eunseong being an heir or blood-related, but even though Eunseong and Yoo Siun shared the same bloodline, their ranks were fixed. If he was royalty, Eunseong was the son of a runaway prodigal. Yoo Siun was keeping a watchful eye to ensure Eunseong didn’t cross that line carelessly, and he made sure to reveal that distance at appropriate times to imprint their positions.

The dining arrangement was the same. This wasn’t eating while facing each other. It was no different from eating alone while pretending not to know each other while sitting at the same table. His fastidiousness was nothing more than an excuse. He paid no such attention to Manager Nam or the bodyguards; sometimes Yoo Siun even placed a hand on their shoulders. He was using his fastidiousness as a pretext to not tolerate Eunseong crossing that boundary at will.

When Eunseong sat down, the helper approached and poured water into his cup. The man, who had been waiting for him to come out, only then picked up his utensils. He had no appetite at all, but Eunseong picked up his spoon as well.

“…I heard you sent something to Jungeon’s house.”

“Since I committed such an impoliteness at night, I should naturally apologize.”

“If you knew I was at Jungeon’s house, you didn’t need to barge in like that at night. If you’d come in the morning, there wouldn’t have been such a commotion.”

Eunseong, with brazen impudence, claimed the fault lay with the man who barged in during the middle of the night. Yoo Siun said nothing regarding that part.

“I’ll arrange a separate house for you. I’ll soon prepare a place that is safe in terms of both security personnel and protection.”

“Pardon?”

Without rebuking Eunseong’s attitude—which wasn’t welcoming at all—Yoo Siun continued his meal and spoke coldly.

“You said you didn’t want to live together.”

“…”

“Since keeping you safe is the most important thing. Once that part is prepared, you may live separately.”

“…Is that why you asked me to eat with you? To say that?”

“Is there anything else for you and me to talk about?”

“…”

After making such a scene last night about not wanting to live with him, Eunseong was struck dumb with shock at his guarantee that he would let him live separately.

Yoo Siun, who looked at Eunseong for a moment, lowered his gaze and ate indifferently. Eunseong soon regained his senses and, pretending to be unbothered and composed, scooped some soup with his spoon. His hand trembled slightly, and the soup spilled.

His eyes, intending to calmly fulfill his duty as an adult, were cold. Eunseong, unable to take his eyes off the stern face that rarely looked back at him, barely managed to put the soup—which he could hardly taste—into his mouth with his trembling hand. Only the sound of utensils and the quiet noise of chewing and swallowing occasionally broke the silence.

“When will it be ready?”

“It’s being done now.”

“I’m asking, when will it be.”

“Two or three weeks at most. At the earliest, it will be arranged within a week.”

Inwardly, he had thought it would take a month or two, but the man flatly notified him that they would be living separately within a week.

If previously there had simply been a physical distance, it meant that from now on, even the door to his heart and his interest would be completely severed.

If he had said it would take a month, Eunseong would have gotten angry and said he’d leave immediately, but at the unexpected answer of one week, Eunseong couldn’t even argue further.

“…”

That is right. That is the correct decision. It was right to be separated as quickly as possible. I must not harbor these kinds of feelings for him. I must not feel hurt or sorrowful toward the man who promises to let me live separately when I was the one making a fuss about wanting to live apart. The dreams with impure content involving my relative, the fluttering heart—it all had to stop. I had to settle it as soon as possible. That is right.