Speak of The Devil

“Seems like you don’t wear contact lenses often.”“My eyes get dry and I don’t like them. Why? Do you prefer me without glasses?”“No. I like you with glasses too.”Sigh… nonchalantly making hot remarks was quite a skill. Well, would Jung Yiyeon ever disapprove of whatever I did? I didn’t know how long that pout would last, but it could be described as quite a powerful pout.“You won’t need glasses when you take off your cast, Jung Yiyeon.”“What does my cast have to do with it?”“You don’t need them for watching movies, but I wear them because of driving. Especially at night, the glare can be dangerous.”Despite offering a decent salary, I couldn’t keep hiring a driver for our dates. My conscience wouldn’t allow it. So, usually after arriving at a restaurant, I’d send the driver away and take over driving myself. Hence, glasses had become essential for our recent dates.“Ah. So, you mean once my arm heals, I won’t need glasses for driving?”“That’s correct.”“So, to keep seeing you with glasses, I should delay taking it off as long as possible?”As absurd as it sounded, silly and unreasonable conversations were part of how lovers communicated. When I dated other people in the past, I often got tired of such childish conversations, but for some reason, I kept engaging in them with Jung Yiyeon.“Can you stand the itchiness and discomfort?”He chuckled coolly.But wasn’t Jung Yiyeon also smiling smugly?“Just ask to have it redone after removing it.”“Huh…?”Wait, was that possible?“I’ve been doing that already. Otherwise, it gets itchy and smelly, and what do you expect me to do for weeks?”Wait, so when people around me wore casts, they sometimes inserted chopsticks to scratch and poured powder to mask the smell. Was it really possible to remove and redo casts so easily?I had always thought that once the procedure was done, the fracture would be treated until the cast was removed.“The doctor does that for you?”“Yeah, they do. Though they might curse behind my back.”“But does it stick well?”“They keep taking X-rays, but the progress isn’t bad.”It seemed like Jung Yiyeon was doing something ridiculous, but he was quite enthusiastic about it. Come to think of it, despite wearing the cast for a long time, I couldn’t detect any peculiar smell from him. The reason was apparently because of the repeat procedures. It was a bizarre idea.Just then, as the theater darkened, the conversation with Jung Yiyeon came to a halt. Putting aside the absurd feeling, I turned my gaze towards the screen.Suddenly, Jung Yiyeon grabbed my hand in the darkness. Mischievously, he fiddled with my fingers, scratching and tickling them.It had been years since I held hands with a lover and watched a movie together. Somehow, my stomach felt a bit ticklish. I entrusted my hand to Jung Yiyeon’s playful touch, and he continued to fiddle with it throughout the movie.The movie started amidst the ticklish sensation.It was a refreshing action movie about a battle between a sudden appearance of marine aliens and humanity. Although the plot was somewhat absurd, with no characters that deeply resonated, the action scenes were exhilarating. There was joy in watching everything being smashed without a single serious character. The occasional insertion of humor when the scenes got too serious also matched my taste.It was regrettable that we couldn’t eat the popcorn served as a welcome snack in the special theater. But my stomach was too full. Such movies are best enjoyed with popcorn and cola in hand, crunching and sipping away.With loud music and sound effects pounding in my ears, the movie relentlessly rushed towards its climax, ending with a satisfying action-packed conclusion. Amidst the cheers of the audience, the movie concluded with a passionate kiss between the charismatic female colleague who operated robots together and her.It was a movie that divided opinions due to its absurd storyline, disregarded coherence, and unrealistic development, so it couldn’t be said to have a good rating, but I found it quite satisfying.As the ending credits began to roll, the lights in the theater brightened. People started leaving, and I discreetly withdrew my hand from Jung Yiyeon’s grasp. Holding hands for two hours, I had to acknowledge Jung Yiyeon’s perseverance.But Jung Yiyeon remained motionless.When I withdrew my hand and noticed that Jung Yiyeon didn’t even flinch, I looked at him. Jung Yiyeon, who was completely lying on the bed, seemed to be lost in sleep.It was an utterly bizarre sight. The movie had been filled with roaring and booming noises for two hours straight. So even after it ended, the lingering effects of those sound effects remained in my ears. It was unbelievable that someone could fall asleep amidst such noise.It was only then that I realized how tired Jung Yiyeon must have been. Of course, I knew his workload was always heavy, but lately, I thought he had reduced his work hours a bit since we started spending evenings together and having dinner.Moreover, he might not be in good physical condition, not just because of his injured arm, but perhaps also because of a fractured collarbone.Feeling somewhat guilty, I couldn’t bring myself to wake Jung Yiyeon up. The theater was now empty, and soon the staff would come in for cleaning. Yet, I didn’t want to disturb Jung Yiyeon’s sweet slumber.“Um….”Luckily, Jung Yiyeon woke up first.“…What, is it over?”“Just now. If you’re awake, let’s get up.”“…Uh.”Jung Yiyeon got up from the sofa and splashed some water on his face. I also got up from the sofa and stretched. As the staff began cleaning from the back, Jung Yiyeon and I immediately left the theater.Since we came out quite late, people had already left in droves, so we could easily take the elevator down. I took the driver’s seat once we reached the parking lot. After confirming that Jung Yiyeon was sitting in the passenger seat, I gently stepped on the accelerator.“You seem really tired.”“Oh, um….”Seeing him hesitate, I chuckled a bit.But Jung Yiyeon’s reaction seemed a bit more hardened than I had accepted. He closed his mouth, and an awkward silence filled the car. Even halfway to Jung Yiyeon’s house, he remained silent.“Why are you suddenly like this?”I couldn’t help but ask, trying to break the tension.“If you’re tired, just sleep more. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”“Nah, I’ve slept enough.”“But why do you look so stiff? You’re not saying anything.”Jung Yiyeon remained silent for a moment.Then, he let out a deep sigh and muttered in a subdued voice, “Ruining the date, it’s the worst.”I exclaimed, “What?”With an expression of incredulity, I glanced at him, and Jung Yiyeon added as if justifying himself, “I wanted to watch the movie together and talk about it afterward. But I can’t remember anything since I got excited about the robot development in the beginning.”If he fell asleep from that point on, it meant he hadn’t seen even ten minutes of the movie. I thought he was focusing on the movie when he stopped fiddling with my hand, but it turned out he had actually fallen asleep long before that.“Never mind. Well, it’s not like it was a movie worth discussing. It’s just about smashing everything and humans winning in the end, so…”“Still, it’s a bit disappointing and embarrassing.”If he keeps digging himself into a hole like this, no matter what comforting words I offer, he probably won’t take them in. Instead, I changed the subject to help Jung Yiyeon out of the swamp of self-blame.“Do you have a lot of work? The acquisition of the Busan hotel should be in its final stages by now.”“I decided to try managing a duty-free shop, so my workload has increased a bit. While I’m at it, I’m thinking of taking over the department store and distribution as well.”A nobleman who used to run hotels, resorts, and golf courses is now extending his reach to department stores and large discount marts. Despite already being buried in work before, I wonder how much more work he intends to take on. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his ambition.“I thought you lost your shares and couldn’t manage the hotel, but now you’re getting even busier?”“I didn’t hand over everything. I just made myself a useful tool for Jung Sangyeon to use as he pleases. Who wouldn’t want to use a sharp knife wherever they can?”With the reassurance that he hadn’t given away all his shares, I felt relieved. It was fortunate that he hadn’t lost his position as the hotel’s CEO. But considering his intention to snatch away the department store business that someone else is already managing, it seemed like he was not just staying in management but diving in even deeper.Through Jung Yiyeon’s words, I could infer that he had boarded the same ship as Jung Sangyeon, the Executive Director, which was filled only with unpleasant memories for me. Did he really have to go to such lengths? It might have been better to just stay unemployed. The fact that he was thinking of expanding his workload despite already being busy made me sigh a bit.So, I felt a bit stubborn again. “But, Jung Yiyeon, those stocks you own are astronomical, aren’t they?”“Oh… are they?”“I would have been surprised enough to accept them, given the size of your fortune.”Jung Yiyeon couldn’t even close his mouth at the blunt remark.“If you had that much wealth, even I would have accepted it, despite being surprised.”A sense of triumph surged within me at the incredulous expression on his face. I won. Jung Yiyeon, who had brazenly talked about his cast earlier, would surely have laughed at this victory as well.Of course, what I just said was far from sincere. The idea of owning stocks worth astronomical amounts felt unreal to me. Even hearing about being given a realistic house and shop didn’t make me willing to sell myself for money. While earning money wasn’t easy, I hadn’t been so desperate for money that the prospect of significant wealth was particularly regrettable.Of course… I might have wavered a bit if he had offered, but assuming such a scenario seemed meaningless.“Anyway, even if you had given them to me, wouldn’t I have failed to manage them? How tough are the people in the Jung family? They must have squeezed blood out of me until I handed them over.”It was a joke, but did it have to be taken so seriously? I was at a loss for words because I couldn’t believe how earnestly he was responding.Seeing how he reacted to my silence, Jung Yiyeon said, “Instead, I’ll give you something else.”Huh? “No, they’re already all yours. Since you’ve got me.”He’s good at saying what sounds pleasant, isn’t he? I inwardly clicked my tongue. But I couldn’t help but smile wryly. Not because I enjoyed it. Just because it was a bit ridiculous and amusing. And my heart was itching for no reason, making me laugh. That’s all it was.“Are you going to sleep tonight?”Around the time we almost reached home, Jung Yiyeon asked, “Are you going to sleep?”I hesitated for a moment before answering. While I had slept over a few times before, I didn’t particularly want to do so on a weekday. Jung Yiyeon had to go to work in the morning, so it felt awkward for me to oversleep alone. Also, waking up alone in his empty bedroom felt a bit strange, so I tended to avoid sleeping over at his place.Jung Yiyeon always acted as if that were a source of discontent. He did the same yesterday. I went to Jung Yiyeon’s house, but I had to leave early because he had to accompany his parents to a ceremony at Bong-ahn-dang. He was quite disappointed. Only when I mentioned that I had plans with my brother was he willing to let me go.“Is your body feeling a bit stiff? Mine is.”Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Jung Yiyeon tempted me. Ah, I see. I understood very well that this was his intention when he fed me a Chinese course meal and insisted I eat plenty of buldak (spicy chicken) sauce.As the traffic light turned red in front of his house, I squinted and examined him.“What about your ribs?”“They’re all healed now. It’s been four weeks since the diagnosis came out, right? And haven’t I already proven that I’m fine several times?”Of course, that was true. We hadn’t even waited for ten days after he got injured to resume our activities. Even after that, we spent nights together every three or four days. Last weekend, we even spent two whole days together…But I wasn’t ready to let it go so easily.“Who was the one asking to be nursed because they were in pain?”“Who? Who said that?”Jung Yiyeon shamelessly dodged the question. Then, his eyes sparkled for a moment.“No, actually, I think I might be in pain. I need nursing care all night.”In the end, I burst into laughter. I laughed because I couldn’t believe it. I laughed at his audacity. There was no choice but to raise the white flag in the face of such boldness.As the signal changed, I drove the car into the underground parking lot. As I parked in the designated spot, a satisfied smile crept onto Jung Yiyeon’s lips.“Shall we have some wine? I bought a few bottles of your favorite white wine.”“I’ll be the only one drinking, so the sick Jung Yiyeon can just watch.”“Yes, yes. I’ll do as Lee Nan suggested.”Even though we hadn’t even left the parking lot, Jung Yiyeon snuggled up beside me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I couldn’t push away a man who seemed to be so fond of me, as if he were about to fly away, just because he wanted to spend the night.As soon as we got home, I took a shower. When I emerged from the bathroom wearing a fluffy robe, Jung Yiyeon was still showering. With only one arm usable, it seemed to take him longer. When I asked if he needed help, I heard a reply that he had already finished.While waiting for Jung Yiyeon, I took out some cheese from the fridge and retrieved a bottle of wine from the cellar, setting up a spread on the living room table. I poured a glass of water for Jung Yiyeon and filled the glasses with wine.Eventually, Jung Yiyeon emerged from the bathroom, also dressed in a robe like me. Water dripped from his hair that hadn’t been properly dried.“Sit down.”As I sat on the couch, I gestured to the seat beside me. Jung Yiyeon sat down, and I took the towel from his hand, drying his hair. It wasn’t like I was trying to do a good job, but since his arm was in a cast partly due to my brother’s fault, I felt like I should help a little. So, after doing this a few times, I got used to it.“I’ll dry your hair for you once the cast is off.”When I dried his hair, Jung Yiyeon’s voice became particularly soft. It seemed like he really enjoyed what I was doing. His voice was almost like a lullaby, making me feel sleepy.After roughly drying his hair, I dropped the wet towel on the floor, planning to clean it up later. Feeling a bit thirsty, I reached for a wine glass. It would have been better if it had been chilled in an ice bucket, but I didn’t put in that much effort.“Is it good?”“It’s great.”“Give me a sip too.”He was still talking nonsense about taking sips even though the cast hadn’t been removed yet. I chuckled coldly at Jung Yiyeon.“You should drink water.”“You’re being too much.”Jung Yiyeon grumbled, but he didn’t push further. He was a man who could sense that I wouldn’t allow him to do anything until I allowed it, knowing that I had already figured out that his ribs were broken.But he still had the audacity to tease me. Smack! He surprised me by planting a kiss on my lips. For a brief moment, his tongue grazed my lips.“Sweet.”It wasn’t just the wine that was sweet; it was my lips too. Jung Yiyeon chuckled playfully and smacked another kiss on me, this time letting his tongue linger in my mouth a little longer.By now, it’s kind of cute. Why do I keep losing to Jung Yiyeon like this? With a bewildered feeling, I handed him the glass.I knew it wasn’t good for my body, but I believed that a few sips of wine wouldn’t kill me. After all, I had a history of catching a cold in college and still drinking plenty of alcohol with cold medicine.“Lee Nan.”After satisfyingly taking a sip, Jung Yiyeon suddenly changed the mood.“Are you going to keep calling me Jung Yiyeon?”I was a little taken aback by the sudden issue with titles. What else would I call Jung Yiyeon if not Jung Yiyeon? Suddenly, I remembered that he was five years older than me.Now, he’s not my secretary, so I can’t call him sir… But calling him by his last name alone feels a bit inappropriate.“Yiyeon?”That’s a bit awkward.“Something more familiar.”Ah, I think I know what he’s thinking. He wanted to hear the sound of “hyung.” Of course, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to call older men I meet in society “hyung.” It’s not like I’ve never called a man “hyung” before…But why am I reluctant to do what Jung Yiyeon wants?“Yiyeon-ah.”Seeing Jung Yiyeon’s dumbfounded face, I couldn’t help but feel amused again. To hide my laughter, I snatched the wine glass from Jung Yiyeon’s hand and took a sip.“You’re naughty.”Even his grumbling sounded cute.However, there was no time to savor the sense of victory. Jung Yiyeon abruptly reached out his arm and pulled me into his embrace. As I sat on the sofa, my back touched his chest.Conscious of his broken ribs, my body tensed for a moment. Yet Jung Yiyeon, holding me tightly, kissed me around my neck and ears. When I turned my head slightly, his lips stuck to mine.Ticklish yet peculiar kisses followed.With only one arm to use, he was surprisingly diligent. While embracing and kissing me, his arm kept trying to slip under my gown. In an instant, he was adept at making people feel peculiar.Smack, smack. After kissing me several times, Jung Yiyeon whispered in my ear.“Let’s live together.”This was another unexpected statement.“Hyungnim is moving out soon. You can come to my place too.”When he said that he would move in if hyungnim left, it seemed like he wasn’t just joking. Living together. The sudden cohabitation proposal made my head a little complicated.As I quietly pondered, Jung Yiyeon continued to kiss my neck.“Or should we move to a new house? Create a honeymoon atmosphere for us.”Because my partner has a lot of money, he often makes such absurd remarks. It’s mind-boggling. But clearly…“When I retire, let’s immigrate to the United States and get married.”…it sounded good to hear.But wait, thinking about retirement? Does Jung Yiyeon mean to stay with me until then? I was a little shocked. I’ve never thought about such distant future plans…“Don’t you like it?”Jung Yiyeon pouted and pressed his face against my shoulder, asking with a coquettish tone.It’s not that I dislike it, but… I don’t know, I just don’t want to live with those kinds of thoughts. Isn’t life about not knowing what will happen next? Maybe if we just live day by day, we might continue to be together. I’ve never once thought that someone would be with me forever in my life.It was ambiguous what to answer. So, I just answered honestly.“Yes, legally getting involved is a bit…”“……”Ah, it might have been a bit shocking. Jung Yiyeon stiffened.I had made a clear resolution not to play tricks, so why was I feeling so joyful? Without hiding the laughter that welled up, I placed my hand on Jung Yiyeon’s arm, which was wrapped around my waist, and comforted him.“I’ll see what Jung Yiyeon wants to do from now on.”It was the best answer I could give. It would have been easy to throw down the gauntlet, but I didn’t want to do that. Jung Yiyeon might be quite dissatisfied with this decision.Still, it was true that I felt good. It was somewhat touching to know that Jung Yiyeon was considering being with me even in his future. Unexpectedly, I wanted to say something.“I went to the ancestral hall with my brother today.”“The ancestral hall?”“Nowadays, they call it a memorial park or an ancestral hall.”It felt a bit awkward to talk about something that I hadn’t talked about much with others. Why did I want to talk about it today, when I usually avoided it? It was a spontaneous feeling.“Today is my parents’ memorial day.”“Ah……”“They both passed away on the same day, at the same time, due to an accident.”“…I see.”Jung Yiyeon didn’t say anything else. He just tightened his arms around me.I tried not to say anything to avoid the atmosphere becoming like this. But it was already spilled water.Well, it’s not as bad as I thought. After confessing, I felt quite good being embraced by the warmth. Just being tightly embraced filled the crack inside me.When will Jung Yiyeon’s cast be removed? It would be nice if he could hug me tighter with both arms. Absentmindedly, I patted the arms that were holding me.“It’s okay. It happened a long time ago, so it’s fine.”It really is okay. It wasn’t something that required particularly fresh consolation, as I had already received plenty. I couldn’t help but smile slightly.“Let’s go inside now.”“I want to stay like this a little longer.”Jung Yiyeon held me a little tighter. While the simple skinship felt good to me too, it was time to go to sleep. Especially since Jung Yiyeon, who had even dozed off at the cinema, needed to sleep properly for work tomorrow.Turning around, I kissed Jung Yiyeon’s lips and got up.“Yiyeon-ah, let’s go to bed.”As if he heard an absurd statement, Jung Yiyeon’s face blankly froze. I smiled confidently, then turned and went into the bedroom without hesitation.