At the End of That Memory Chapter 20

My room was a small space close to the entrance. They said it was renovated as soon as I was left, and that it was now a place for employees to stay. There was also a small toilet inside, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea for them to use it.

I spent my time in the drawing room in silence until dinner time. My father didn’t come out of the study, and my mother didn’t come down from the second floor either. They probably wouldn’t have come down to where I was unless the house caught fire.

I sat there for two hours. It started raining outside the window. The sky where the sun had disappeared was covered with dark clouds, and a drizzle poured down in the dark space.

‘I’m not asking you to steal it, I’m just saying let’s see to it quickly.’

I stared at the rainy scenery endlessly. I reflected on what my father said and weighed what I should do and what I should not do.

‘You are the hero of our company, Sejin.’

I didn’t want to be a hero, I just wanted to be a son. My father, who was unable to grant even that simple wish, expected something grand like this. Without even asking what I wanted or anything like that. My father claimed my duties instead of giving me my rights.

‘…If Kwon Yido finds out, he will definitely break off our engagement.’

I tried to muster up the courage to say it, but it didn’t work on my father. He just patted my shoulder as if asking me something obvious.

‘Breaking your engagement? You have never been married.’

Yes, it was true. We weren’t married, we just made an unconditional promise.

‘You have to think carefully. Do you think this marriage will be successful if you don’t bring this?’

‘…’

‘No, he will abandon you.’

The floor continued to eat me. As if I had fallen into a deep pool, I was sinking slowly, starting from my ankles. My father’s hand on his shoulder felt heavy like a weight was hanging from it.

‘The only one you can trust is your family.’

I wanted to ask. Was I included in that family? Was there a place for a son who didn’t become a hero?

‘What can you do after being abandoned like that, since you are no longer the Director?’

I have always lived by solving situations right in front of me. It meant I did not worry about the distant future and lived by resolving conflicts right away. But this time, I kept guessing what could happen later. My mind, which was shaking like a buoy on the sea, was about to turn over without any sense of purpose.

‘You just have to do well. Even if that guy throws you out, don’t you have a place to come back to?’

Was there really a place for me to return to? Even if I was abandoned by Kwon Yido or if my engagement was broken off, wouldn’t my father be disappointed in me? Wouldn’t he throw me away without any hum and haw since I was done and dusted with everything?

‘You know who raised you until now, right?’

‘…Of course.’

Why wouldn’t I know that? If it weren’t for my father, there wouldn’t have been anyone to pick up something like me.

‘Yes, great that you understand. You’re my son, so of course you should be wise.’

It was a feeling that cannot be expressed in words. I wasn’t upset or in pain, but I felt nauseous like I was going to vomit. If I made a mistake, something that was suppressed might burst out.

‘Let’s say you have someone you love.’

Kwon Yido should have asked me too. So what would you do if you stole something from someone you love? If I had, I would have been able to make a wiser decision.

How long has it been? By the time the light rain had turned into a drizzle, my rumbling stomach had barely calmed down. Minjae, who had been out, returned home.

He entered the house without thinking and froze when he saw me coming out to meet him. I thought the way he was dressed up from head to toe reflected our mother’s personality.

“You’re here? You came in early.”

“…You, you!”

Minjae opened his mouth wide as if he was going to point at me. I guess I never dreamed that he would be the one with the shocked face. It seemed that my father was indifferent and didn’t tell Minjae and Seoyoung that I was there.

“Why are you at home…”

As Minjae came closer, he smelled a faint aroma. His expression was stern, but a strange look immediately appeared in his eyes. He immediately asked a question with an expectant look on his face.

“Did you break off the engagement?”

“…”

Surely, if the engagement had been broken off, I wouldn’t have been able to come into this house. No, it would probably happen soon.

“I came here for dinner because our father called me.”

In my words, the hope disappeared from Minjae’s face. If he couldn’t fake his facial expressions like this, then what on earth was he going to do once he entered the society? Of course, it was not Minjae who would be in trouble, but his subordinates.

“You dyed your hair.”

I noticed that Minjae’s hair had changed to a darker color and the corners of his mouth slowly raised. More so, a deep pinkish color? The arrogant impression changed to a rather gentle one. Still, he was pretty, just like our mother.

“It suits you.”

“…”

Minjae quickly turned his head at the lightly given compliment. He covered his mouth with one hand and cleared his throat. Seeing his ears turn red wasn’t a very pleasant feeling.

“… What are those clothes? This is my first time seeing it.”

He carefully examined the suit I was wearing with alert eyes. As a guy who was very interested in clothes, I guess he realized right away that it wasn’t mine. It was an impressive talent.

“It’s not a ready-to-wear fit…”

Even so, I felt it while wearing the clothes. The maroon suit with a light sprite pattern could hardly be considered readymade, as all the parts were tailored to my body shape. The length was generous, but the waist was not that big.

“I got it as a gift.”

“Gift? From who… … .”

Minjae, who had been asking with a frown, closed his mouth with a frown on his face. It seemed like he quickly remembered who gave me the suit. I didn’t necessarily agree and just shrugged my shoulders.

Instead of going up to the room, Minjae followed me into the living room. When I told him to wash his hands first, he lost his temper and asked if he was a child. I said it half-jokingly, but even though he grumbled, he politely went to the bathroom.

“…”

“….”

Of course, even though we were in the same space, there was no conversation between us. It was bothersome to ask him what he was up to, and I didn’t have enough stamina to discuss other topics.

“Jung Sejin.”

Minjae was the one who couldn’t stand the silence. Minjae lifted his crossed legs and asked a question with a somewhat hesitant feeling.

“… Is that kid being nice to you?”

Ah, this topic was a bit difficult.

“I heard Kwon Yido has a really shitty personality. There were rumors in the industry, and I’m sure you heard it too.”

“Ha…”

I sighed softly and slightly frowned. As Minjae said, I was well aware of the rumors about Kwon Yido. Well, the actual experience of Kwon Yido was very different from the rumors.

“He’s not bullying you, is he?”

“He’s nice. He is very polite.”

“… That bastard is polite to you?”

Minjae’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe it. I thought it was surprising that people ignored the words of him being nice to me but focused on how he used formal speech instead.

“He used honorifics while talking with me even at the engagement ceremony.”

“I guess that’s because there were adults.”

I didn’t know which adult Minjae was talking about, but that probably wasn’t the reason. He wouldn’t have talked to my father like that if he had treated him like an adult in the first place.

“He’s really nice. You don’t know how kindly he speaks to me.”

“Crazy.”

Kwon Yido always told me that I was kind, but it was Kwon Yido who was really kind. He naturally used formal speech and treated me as an equal. Except for the occasional overbearing attitude which was just innate. As someone who had always stayed at the top, it would be worse for him not to be like that.

“…So are you satisfied? With your marriage?”

Minjae uncrossed his legs with a nervous look on his face. Looking at the way his legs were shaking, he seemed quite nervous. He looked just like our mother, but his habits when he was anxious were similar to our father’s.

“Hey, I asked you if you’re satisfied.”

Strictly speaking, it was an engagement, not a marriage. Even then, it was unclear whether we had a day as a married couple. But instead of pointing out that fact, I decided to change the topic appropriately.

“But after all, my brother is the only one who worries about me.”

“…”

Minjae’s face hardened. His expression suddenly became cold, as if he had been covered in dirt. Her tightly closed lips were twisted at an angle, and the bridge of his nose was slightly wrinkled.

“Fuck, you are speaking like a big brother.”

With those words, he got up and left the living room. It was an angry stomp no matter who saw it, but I didn’t bother to chase Minjae like that.

* * *

I had planned to stay overnight, but I left the house as soon as I finished eating. My father urged me to leave quickly, and only Minjae chewed his lip with a complicated expression on his face. Still, the reason I couldn’t hold on to it was probably because the conversation I had during the day remained as antic embers.

Chief Kim took charge of driving instead of the driver who had already left work. He said he came to pick me up when I came, so he could escort me when I leave. I didn’t bother to refuse and readily got into the car driven by Chief Kim.

“Oh, please go to my apartment, not Kwon Yido’s house.”

“…Are you talking about where you used to live?”

Chief Kim, who was trying to start the car, stopped with his hand on the gear. He turned his head and looked at my face. He seemed confused as to whether he understood correctly.

“If you don’t know the location, I will drive.”

“…”

I said it as if it were a joke, and he started the car without saying anything. Perhaps his driving skills were top-notch because he was my father’s driver. I thought Chief Kim was better than the original driver.

“It’s a good thing I had someone clean it.”

Before moving into Kwon Yido’s house, I did not dispose of the apartment where I lived. It wasn’t because I was sad to leave it, it was because I was confident that I would come back soon. Wouldn’t it be a bit difficult to sit down on the floor?

“Director.”

“I am no longer the Director.”

I finally told Chief Kim what I had been putting off for a while. He changed how he called me every time I was promoted, but there was no sign of him doing so after I became unemployed. He glanced at me in the rearview mirror.

My title was immediately corrected.

“Young master.”

“…Please speak.”

There was a sound of wind being inhaled. Being a young master, it was an itchy and awkward title whenever I heard it from time to time. It was a title Lee Taeseong would never use.

“May I ask why you are going to the apartment?”

Chief Kim asked with a very worried feeling. He seemed to think that the reason I was going to the apartment was because I didn’t want to go to Kwon Yido. It was so funny that I started laughing without realizing it.

“Do you think Kwon Yido is bullying me?”

I heard that Deacon Moon’s impression had improved, but why did Minjae and Chief Kim doubt Kwon Yido? Even the indifferent Seoyoung looked at me with pity as I left the house. Was I so bad at managing my facial expressions, or were these people overly worried?

“No, actually…You look well.”

Also, Chief Kim, who couldn’t lie, obediently confessed the truth. He also said since I hadn’t been looking for sleeping pills lately, he was worried.

“…I have a lot of sleeping pills left.”

“…”

“I don’t have it these days.”

Outside the window, the rain began to fall again. Raindrops flowing down the window left long traces. Chief Kim activated the wipers and asked vaguely.

“Are you just leaving the apartment there so you can stop by often?”

“Well, there’s that too…”

I thought it would be perfect if it rained a bit. I guess I shouldn’t think that because I was wearing such high-end clothes.

“I have to have a place to go back to.”

Inadvertently, my inner thoughts came out. Chief Kim kept his mouth shut without any response. He might not have anything to say, but the fact that he didn’t try to console me too much was the reason I felt comfortable with him.

After that, Chief Kim didn’t ask me any questions until I went home. I just told him to get some sleep if he was tired. I couldn’t really sleep, but I just leaned my head against the window and quietly closed my eyes.

“We’re here.”

It was still raining outside the window when I opened my eyes after Chief Kim’s words. It was because Chief Kim, who was aware of my liking for rain, noticed and parked his car in the outside parking lot. He got out of the car first, then opened the umbrella and backseat door.

“You are merciless. It’s not okay to get wet from the rain but okay to look at it?”

“If it rains on you, you will catch a cold.”

I tried to subtly say it, but Chief Kim was firm. Even though he was the one who was being drenched in the rain.

“Chief Kim is going to catch a cold.”

I got out of the car and took the umbrella that Chief Kim was holding. I thought they were probably going to cover the entrance, but I didn’t feel like I wanted to be escorted that far. He frowned as I placed an umbrella on him and gestured to the driver’s seat.

“Please go in. Thank you for your hard work.”

“…I’ll take my leave.”

It was useful to read the atmosphere properly, as predicted. I believe he knew I wouldn’t back down even if we got into a needless fight. I carefully turned towards the entrance after watching him step into the driver’s seat.

Finally, I came back here. Just like when I was working as the Director, everything that had happened so far felt like a dream. The relaxation that had bloomed in my heart was slowly fading away without me even noticing it.

If I was going to return anyway, I wish I had never left in the first place. I shouldn’t have dreamed of being able to settle down somewhere else with a complacent mindset.

Every time I took a step, I could smell the rain. The smell of damp earth, fresh grass, moist air, and the gentle smell of wood.

“…”

Suddenly, I stopped walking. It was night and under a dark sky, someone was standing in front of the entrance to the building. A person holding an umbrella in one hand and looking at the watch on his left wrist.

“… Kwon Yido?”

The sound was so quiet that it was drowned out by the rain, yet he raised his head instinctively. The glance I encountered from afar seemed to slowly grasp my ankles. Instead of stopping like a rooted tree, I began heading in that direction this time.

“…”

“…”

It felt like I was dreaming. Every time I took a step, my heartbeat to the sound of the rain. I looked at him blankly and only managed to open my mouth when I was only about three steps away.

“…Why…”

“…”

“Why are you here?”

Kwon Yido looked at me quietly with unwavering eyes. Even in the dark, his appearance was clearly imprinted in my mind, from the delicately drawn eyes to the sharp bridge of the nose and tightly closed lips. Slowly closing and opening his eyes, he answered softly.

“Just by chance.”

The rain was falling lightly, hitting the umbrella. They say that when coincidences repeat, it becomes inevitable.Isn’t this person’s coincidence too inevitable? Can we really call something that was created intentionally a coincidence?

“I was passing by.”

It was nonsense. I wondered why this person would pass by the apartment where I lived. There was no reason why he would be standing in the rain alone with an umbrella.

“I was wondering when Jung Sejin would come back.”

“…”

Funny enough, the moment I heard those words, I thought I was back. Not at the family home where I had lived my whole life, nor at the apartment that was my sanctuary, but simply at the words of Kwon Yido.

“It’s a little late.”

The friendly greeting contained regret that could not be said. Kwon Yido’s words were filled with the longing that even the family members I had seen all day did not show.

“…Do you like being drenched in the rain?”

He asked impulsively and lowered the hand holding the umbrella. The umbrella fell and turned over on the floor filled with rainwater. As I took a step closer to him, Kwon Yido tilted the umbrella towards me.

“From now on…I think I’ll come to like it.”

Should I just say that the timing was right? Or should I say that I understood the hint?

My eyelids slowly closed. The view was completely blocked, and Kwon Yido’s breathing came closer. A fragrant pheromone wafted into my nose, which was filled with the smell of rain.

His lips delicately touched mine. The lips folded under the umbrella were shaking, and I couldn’t identify who they belonged to. We didn’t leave under the umbrella for a long time when the rain stopped.