"Hold on a second. Are you seriously telling me that you'd willingly taken on the role of a stay-at-home boyfriend just because she wanted it?" Kim Han-sol's eyes widened in disbelief as he paused mid-bite, his croissant forgotten.
They were both sitting in a cozy corner of a quaint cafeteria, occupying a window seat that provided a pleasant view of Seoul's busy streets.
Surprisingly, the cafeteria was not as crowded as one would expect, allowing for a more private conversation.
Yoo Jin-ho's gaze shifted away, a hint of flickering shame tainting his intense brown eyes.
The weight of his recent break-up with Sung Su-min had left him with nothing more than a cutting remark to his masculinity. She had made him feel worthless, saying he was only good for one thing: a good fuck. But damn, did it hurt his pride even more when he got rejected last night.
Could he have sank any lower? He couldn't shake off the feeling of inadequacy which left him with a bitter taste in the mouth.
He still felt salty about it.
Sensing his friend's distress, Han-sol expressed his thoughts on the matter, "I never took you for the stay-at-home type, Jin-ho. How did you end up in this situation?"
"Yeah, well... I know it sounds crazy, but after everything she's gone through because of me, it felt like the least I could do." His response came absentmindedly, his voice tinged with resignation.
"Honestly Jin-ho, you're being too hard on yourself. None of that was your fault, man. You can't keep blaming yourself forever. How long are you going to let it haunt you?"
Yoo Jin-ho sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on the outside view.
"I... I don't know. It's just... we're finally over now. It's no use thinking about it." His words trailed off, heavy with some unspoken depth.
"Well, I'm sure it'll get better eventually! You and I both know that you breaking up with Su-min is a temporary thing!"
"Not this time, unfortunately!"
"Hah? Why not?"
Taking a deep breath, Yoo Jin-ho stated in an indifferent tone, "She's been fucking Yo-han!"
"What?!" Han-sol exclaimed, his face contorted in disbelief. "No way! Yo-han would never—"
"It's the truth! I saw it firsthand!" Yoo Jin-ho rubbed his tired eyes before taking a sip of his coffee. "We ended things last night because I overheard her confessing to Yo-han."
"Damn, that's rough! How are you holding up?"
Jin-ho shrugged, a distant look in his eyes. "As you can see, last night I..."
His voice trailed off as memories from the previous night flooded his mind. The encounter with the enigmatic stranger, their brief but meaningful conversation, and the unexpected kindness she had shown him. It was a stark contrast to his days with Sung Su-min's.
And now, upon reflection, he couldn't help but wonder if the stranger had been the only person to genuinely show him kindness in such a long time, without expecting anything in return.
"I actually met this really kind lady who was willing to help me out a little bit! But here's the thing—I'm broke as hell! I need to figure something out, fast!"
Han-sol's eyes briskly narrowed, a hint of alarm in his voice as a distressing thought entered his mind. "Hold up, you're not seriously considering going back to the organization, are you?"
Jin-ho locked eyes with his friend, his face clouded with seriousness. "Nope! Absolutely not!"
Han-sol exhaled in relief, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Phew! You had me worried there for a moment!"
"I'm not as reckless anymore, ya know! Not when my actions have the potential to wreak havoc on other people's lives."
"Well, would you look at that?"
Jin-ho furrowed his brows, slightly perplexed. "What? What are you talking about?"
Han-sol grinned mischievously, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Our Jin-ho is all grown up! Can't believe it!"
"Hah? Why does it feel like you're mocking me?"
"I assure you, I'm not!" Han-sol shrugged nonchalantly, picking up his croissant and dipping it into the foam of his latte before taking a bite.
The action reminded Jin-ho of his own forgotten food in front of him. He quickly grabbed his toast and took a bite, savoring the flavors that had momentarily slipped his mind.
"But was it because of Sung Su-min?" Han-sol's voice broke the silence.
"W-what?"
Han-sol leaned in, his curiosity evident in his eyes. "Did you give up everything for her? Was it all because of her?"
Yoo Jin-ho took a moment to collect his thoughts before admitting honestly, "It wasn't because of her."
Confusion etched across Han-sol's face as he asked, "Not because of her? That's new!"
Jin-ho hesitated for a moment before clarifying, "It's complicated. Let's just say I had to… because of someone else."
Han-sol's eyebrow shot up in surprise, unable to fathom the idea. Yoo Jin-ho, leaving behind a life of wealth and privileges all for the sake of another person? Who could that 'someone' be?
The notion sparked a flurry of thoughts in Han-sol's mind. Maybe, just maybe, that person held a special significance to his friend. A strange thought cross his mind. Perhaps…
"Someone else? I doubt Jung-woo would've been the reason for such a decision."
Yoo Jin-ho waved off the thought with a dismissive gesture. "There's no point dwelling on it now. It's all in the past."
He preferred to keep that episode of his life hidden, not out of hatred or inability to share, but for reasons of privacy and something deeper.
Han-sol's eyes softened with sympathy. "Must have been tough for you. But hey, if you ever need help, you can always go back to your uncle, right?"
Yoo Jin-ho shook his head, his expression resolute. "I'd rather starve than rely on that tainted wealth."
"Seriously?" Han-sol was dumbstruck, a funny expression plastered to his face. "You expect me to believe you've turned into a saint overnight?"
Yoo Jin-ho chuckled at that. "No way. I'm far from it."
Han-sol let out a tired sigh, his hand gently massaging the bridge of his nose. He watched as Yoo Jin-ho took a sip of his coffee, his gaze distant and lost in thought.
After a moment, Han-sol suggested, "Hey, what if you crash at my place for a while? It might give you some time to figure things out."
"Nah! I can't do that. I don't want to impose on you, and my pride has been crushed enough times already."
"Hah?" Han-sol couldn't believe his ears, frustration evident on his face. He stared at Yoo Jin-ho with narrowed eyes. "Set aside your pride and accept my offer, buddy! I'm only suggesting to help a friend. So shut the hell up and make a wise choice! Take the offer, at least until you find a job and can afford your own place!"
"You're being oddly generous! What's in there for you, huh?" Yoo Jin-ho squinted suspiciously at his friend.
Kim Han-sol chuckled, finishing the last sip of his latte before responding with teasing sarcasm, "Oh, don't you worry! You'll have plenty of chances to pay me back, alright!"
Yoo Jin-ho quirked an eyebrow skeptically. "And how exactly? I have no intention of getting involved in anything shady, especially not like how we ended up in high school!"
Yoo Jin-ho's mind flashed back to those days, when he, Yo-han, Han-sol, and two other comrades formed an unbreakable team, standing up against bullies. Yo-han and Han-sol, with their soft and slightly feminine features were oftentimes the targets of relentless bullying.
He couldn't remember how many times he had gotten involved in trouble because of those two troublemakers. Just thinking about doing it all over again made him cringed.
He took a bite of his toast, trying to distract himself from the unsettling memories.
"Nah! You could pitch in with babysitting!" Han-sol's remark snapped Yoo Jin-ho out of his reverie, causing him to frown with the toast still in his mouth.
"Help with w-what?" Yoo Jin-ho stammered. He had zero experience with children, so why was Han-sol bringing this up? "Wait, you ain't planning to have me babysit kids, right? You know they're my worse nightmare!"
"Absolutely not, man!" Han-sol dismissed the assumption with a shake of his head, letting out a sigh. "I have the sweetest niece. Was just saying that if you ever felt burdened by my help, you could return the favor by dropping her off at school on days when I'm too exhausted."
"Host life's been taking a toll on you, heh?"
"Yeah!" Han-sol mused, his expression turning contemplative. "I've been working at Wine-Mystic for a few years now. Used to be their top performer, making waves and stealing hearts. But this week... it's been a tough one for me."
"Can't even imagine what you've been through!"
"It does get better later on! I swear!"
Yoo Jin-ho was about to inquire further when a sudden vibrating phone shattered the atmosphere, drawing their attention.
Realizing it was Han-sol's phone, he watched as his friend hurriedly answered the call. Their proximity allowed Jin-ho to unintentionally overhear the conversation that unfolded, and his heart nearly skipped a beat at the shocking news that echoed through the phone:
"Han-sol? Where were you, man? I've been trying to reach you all morning!"
"Ah! Sorry about that! I had a few things to take care of. What's up?"
"It's Hyun-seo! He... he passed away last night! I've been desperately trying to tell you!"