Chapter 33.
Eejun commented, “You seem surprised.”
Woojin stood up and grabbed his chest. He felt like he couldn’t breathe again.
Eejun slid the cup of coffee on the table towards Woojin and smiled slowly, “I’m not on anyone’s side. Not yet anyway. And aunty, your mother, most likely won’t go to Korea, so…”
“…”
Woojin panted while Eejun continued, “And I have known you for a very long time… We grew up together since we were kids.”
“…”
“Now that I think about it, you and Shin Kim went to the same high sch…”
CRASH!
A glass mug cup shattered against the wall next to where Eejun was sitting. Against the white wall, black coffee dripped down like blood. Woojin’s heart began to beat so fast that it was going to split into two pieces. His shaking hand grabbed his chest. He needed warmth. Woojin needed to feel it to know that he was still alive.
Eejun said, “Wow, Woojin Choi. It must’ve been so hard for you to hide your temper this long.”
“…”
“I have to go now. Clean up and come down when you are ready.”
Woojin was still shaking even after Eejun left the hotel room. As he heard Eejun’s footsteps disappearing in the hallway, Woojin hid his face with his hands and rolled up into a fetal position on the floor.
Only very few people knew about the truth. The fact that he was the grandson of the current CEO…
And one of these few people was Eejun Bae, who started working last year. Eejun used to work in England but returned to Korea all of a sudden. Most likely it was the CEO’s doing. Eejun contacted Woojin from time to time, even during their university years, and Woojin knew it was per his grandfather’s order.
“Assistant Manager Woojin?”
Woojin had no idea how many minutes had passed. He looked up to find Shin Kim looking down at him with a worried face. Shin placed his hand on Woojin’s shoulder gently and asked, “What happened here? The room… And where is Mr. Eejun Bae? Where did he go?”
“…”
“A-are you sick?”
Woojin felt so cold. He needed warmth. Hastily, Woojin grabbed Shin’s hand and placed it over his mouth. When Woojin continued to wheeze, Shin lowered himself to Woojin’s eye level. But when Shin didn’t get closer, Woojin’s heart ached. Woojin tried to pull him closer, but Shin resisted.
“Assistant Manager Woojin.”
“…”
“How did you know that I used to be a swimmer?”
“…”
“And what illness are you suffering from?”
The last question was asked in a low but trembling voice. Woojin liked how Shin always looked straight in his eyes. No deceit or cunningness. Both little Shin and this grownup Shin had honest and direct eyes.
Unlike him who was hiding so much from the world, Shin clearly had an innocent and clean heart. Woojin remembered his face very well. Tears rolled down from his eyes and onto Shin’s hand.
For the longest time…
So desperately and secretly…
Woojin had been in love with Shin.
***
The meeting went very well. Woojin and Eejun were a good team. Woojin was calm and tactful, knowing and anticipating Eejun’s need, whether it was a certain document or dataset. Eejun, on his part, was a witty and charming presenter. Eejun was known for his social skills, which was the opposite of Woojin. After the three meetings in a row in the morning, the three men skipped lunch and went to their next one.
Introduction of their company and business and important data for their content. Shin used to think he had decent English skills, but he found it very hard to understand a lot of the conversation during the meeting. Everyone talked very fast, and Eejun carried on charismatically with pleasant jokes.
The last meeting finally ended well after dinner time.
Eejun asked the two men with a frown, “Aren’t you guys hungry?”
Woojin and Shin were still working on their reports. Their business shirts were crumpled, and their jackets were hanging on the chairs carelessly. They returned to their hotel room immediately after the last meeting. At the time both Eejun and Shin sighed tiredly, but when they arrived, Shin quickly began to help Woojin get their reports organized.
But Eejun finally had it. He covered Shin’s laptop screen with his hand to get their attention. Eejun complained loudly, “We came all the way to Germany! Do you think it makes sense that we haven’t even had a sip of local beer?!”
“…”
“We haven’t had even a bite of their sausage!”
Ignoring Eejun, Woojin held up his reports to look them over. Eejun grumbled and Shin quickly glanced at Woojin. They had been working together for the past 3 days, and although Woojin and Eejun didn’t talk much to each other, Shin could tell that they were close.
It seemed like they knew each other well, but not like Jihoon Kang did with Woojin. Woojin especially often frowned or looked annoyed whenever he saw Eejun talk to him. These were expressions Shin had never seen on Woojin’s face.
Shin’s suspicions were confirmed when out of the blue, Eejun began to talk casually to Woojin during their breaks.
“Hey, Woojin! Are you listening to me, man?”
Woojin took off his glasses and turned to Eejun Bae who looked back defiantly. Woojin sighed deeply and walked up to pull back the curtains. It was a cold night in Germany. The window looked a bit wet. Was it raining?
Shin quietly stared at Woojin’s back.
Woojin finally announced, “Let’s meet at the lobby at 7 PM.”
Eejun hoorayed and closed his laptop.
“I will see you guys in a bit!”
After Eejun left, Shin saw Woojin massaging his temples. Since they arrived in Germany, Shin saw a different and unfamiliar side of Woojin. He had to face Woojin, who pushed him away. The still-uncertain emotions were turning even more fragile.
Shin couldn’t imagine what he had to do now. What was the next step? What should he do?
He was starting to think that his interest and care for Woojin alone may not be enough.
Liking Woojin… that might not be enough.
Woojin said to him, “You may go now, Mr. Kim.”
“Oh, alright. I, I will see you later.”
Shin’s voice trembled slightly. Before leaving, he glanced at Woojin’s wrist again.
After the door closed behind him, Shin sighed deeply in the hallway. So many things happened too quickly. His head was filled with confusion.