Yoon Taehee was such a secretive guy that it seemed like there was meaning behind all of his words and actions. But this time, it appeared he really had just stopped by because he was hungry.
At some point, he stopped talking. Even though Lim Hyomoon tried to engage him in various conversations, he only quietly responded with phrases like "Yes, that's right" or "Indeed."
"I've been called, so I'll head out first. Take your time finishing your meal."
After hastily finishing his meal, Yoon Taehee left after saying his goodbye. He pulled out a few napkins to wipe his mouth, tossed them into the trash can under the table, and then walked out of the restaurant.
Only then did it feel like a weight had been lifted. It hadn't been this uncomfortable before, but the tension was suddenly gone.
Jaegyeom relaxed and finished the rest of his tonkatsu.
After finishing their meal, the two headed to the counter. As they were customers, Lim Hyomoon took out his wallet to pay. At that moment, the staff gave an awkward smile and whispered something to him. His eyes widened in surprise.
"What? The chief already paid?"
Lim Hyomoon and Jaegyeom exchanged glances.
"How much did he pay?"
The staff held up two fingers, making a 'V' shape.
"200,000 won?!"
Lim Hyomoon gasped and covered his mouth in shock. The tonkatsu set was only 10,000 won per person... According to the staff, Yoon Taehee had signed a cheque, handed it over, said a short
"Thank you for the meal," and left without taking any change.
"..."
Upon hearing this, Jaegyeom had a slightly uncomfortable expression. Lim Hyomoon, feeling overwhelmed, said he couldn't accept it and asked Jaegyeom to return the excess money, deducting the original meal price. However, he flatly refused his request.
"Even if you return it, he won't take it."
Money is spent by those who have it. He paid because he wanted to, so why...
"Seven-seven, then, make sure to tell the chief that we enjoyed the meal, okay?"
Lim Hyomoon repeated his request several times.
"I got it."
***
Arriving at the Naryecheong lobby, Jaegyeom parted ways with Lim Hyomoon and went to the office of Team 1.
"Oh? You're here early, Jaegyeom."
After greeting his teammates, Jaegyeom took off his suit jacket and draped it over his chair. Then, he removed his shoes and pulled out the cat-printed slippers he had placed under his desk a few days ago, switching into them. He tidied up his desk for no particular reason and pulled out his toothbrush set. The slippers and toothbrush set were items he had brought recently.
The members of Team 1 had a habit of rushing to the bathroom to brush their teeth after returning to the office from lunch. So, Jaegyeom had brought his own set and started brushing after meals as well. Since he had arrived early today, he figured it would be okay to brush his teeth now and headed to the bathroom.
The men's bathroom on the same floor as the office was empty.
Standing in front of the sink, he looked at himself in the mirror as he brushed his teeth. Just as he was finishing up and rinsing his mouth, the door in the mirror opened, and Yoon Taehee quietly entered.
Startled, Jaegyeom coughed, accidentally choking a little. He couldn't understand why the other man seemed to be popping up everywhere today, east and west, appearing out of nowhere.
Yoon Taehee rolled up his sleeves, slung his tie over his shoulder, and washed his hands.
"Did you enjoy your meal?"
He asked casually as he passed by.
"...Yeah."
After finishing brushing, Jaegyeom flicked the remaining water off his toothbrush. At that moment, a hand suddenly reached toward his head. Startled, Jaegyeom instinctively flinched and hunched his shoulders.
"..."
Yoon Taehee hesitated for a moment but then casually stretched his arm to grab a paper towel. Without saying anything else, he turned around and opened the door.
"Hey."
Jaegyeom called after Yoon Taehee, who was about to leave. The latter turned his head and looked at Jaegyeom. Their eyes met in the mirror. Jaegyeom quickly averted his gaze, wiping the water off his hands on his shirt and speaking in a calm tone.
"Lim Hyomoon asked me to thank you."
Yoon Tahee, who had paused at the door, lowered his arm and put his hands in his pockets. He lightly tapped the tip of his shoe against the floor as if to some rhythm. After a moment of looking down at his feet, choosing his words, he quietly spoke.
"I thought you hated exorcists to the point of shaking with anger, but I guess not?"
Jaegyeom turned his head to look at Yoon Taehee. This time, they met each other's gaze directly, not through the mirror.
"You came out early to watch a movie with him and have lunch together. That's unexpected."
Yoon Taehee smiled and approached Jaegyeom.
"Why? No matter how I think about it, doesn't it seem like just one pawn isn't enough?"
The spacious and quiet bathroom remained silent. Jaegyeom looked up at the other person without a word. Standing just a step away from him, Yoon Taehee whispered softly.
"So, are you trying to get Lim Hyomoon involved too?"
Jaegyeom, who had remained silent the whole time, responded with a blank expression.
"Don't make a fuss over hanging out once or twice. Besides, you're the one who told me to adapt to life at headquarters in the first place."
"I told you to adapt to life at headquarters, but I never said to sneak around behind my back."
Yoon Taehee was the kindest person Jaegyeom had ever met. It was frustrating, but what was even more absurd was that he, despite being so kind, was also the best at knowing how to use words to deliver the most painful insults.
"So what are you trying to say?"
Jaegyeom's eyes turned cold.
"I didn't expect you to be so obedient when I said not to trust anyone."
"Do I have to report to you about everything, where I go and who l meet?"
"It's funny how something that was so hard for some is so easy for others. You really know how to ruin someone's mood."
Yoon Taehee reached out a finger and lifted Jaegyeom's chin. It was an arrogant and rude gesture. Forced to lift his chin, Jaegyeom looked down at Yoon Taehee. The expression on Jaegyeom's face, which had remained blank, finally cracked.
"...I told you not to overstep."
Jaegyeom swatted his hand away as he spoke.
"If you have something to say, stop being so sarcastic and say it straight."
"I'm telling you to learn to separate work and personal matters."
"You just mind your own business. I'm already doing that."
He looked into his eyes and spoke in a flat tone.
"If I couldn't separate work from personal matters, you'd be done for right now."
"..."
Yoon Taehee silently stared at Jaegyeom, then tilted his head and kissed him. The unexpected sensation of lips against his startled Jaegyeom, and he instinctively pulled his head back. But Yoon Taehee followed, pressing him against the wall. When their lips finally parted, the sound echoed clearly and unabashedly.
"..."
Their noses almost touched as their eyes met.
"Hit me."
It was a brazen provocation, and Jaegyeom shut his eyes tightly.
That's right, this kiss—it's like a slap to his face. It was Yoon Taehee's way of hurting and humiliating him, just another move in their fight.
Just like he would slap Yoon Taehee's face, this is his way of doing it.
Suddenly, Jaegyeom remembered a strategist's words from a movie he had seen. "Winning a hundred battles is not as good as winning without a fight."
"No. I won't hit you."
Yoon Taehee hesitated for a moment.
"Like you said, this is nothing special."
With those words, Jaegyeom let out a long, deep breath. He didn't want him to notice the slight tremor mixed in with his exhale.
"Do you think you're something to me?"
Jaegyeom slowly lifted his gaze.
"Don't fool yourself. You're nothing to me."
No response. Jaegyeom recalled what Lim Hyomoon had told him and hoped that he seemed indifferent to Yoon Taehee, just as Yoon Taehee seemed indifferent to him.
"You said it yourself. As long as we do our jobs, everything will be fine. You're right. I'll recover the wooden plaque and return your name to you. You get what you want, and I'll get what I want. We both know what we want."
His sharp gaze pierced the other man like a spear.
"So from now on, I don't care what you do."
With that, Jaegyeom opened the door and walked out.
He didn't slap Yoon Taehee.
"..."
Time seemed to stop. A heavy silence descended. Yoon Taehee, still standing there, slowly raised his hand after a long pause. He brushed his cheek slowly.
He then turned on the faucet.
The sound of water pouring from the faucet echoed loudly. As he placed his hands under the running water, one stream of water split into countless others, endlessly flowing down. He lifted his head. His eyes met his own reflection in the mirror.
Suddenly, he realized he was back in the same spot as before. He had thought he had left that place behind, but when he came to his senses, he found himself standing there again. This was a dead-end road. A massive wall blocked his way forward, and it was a path he couldn't take. If he wanted to move forward, he couldn't return to this place again.
For the past ten years, Yoon Taehee had never lost his sense of direction. His goals were always clear, and the answers had always been predetermined. He knew what he needed to do and what he was capable of. That hadn't changed now. He still knew exactly where he needed to go.
Yet, he was lost.