Side Story 3. Free flight (2)
"Director, I parked my car over there."
"Oh, really?"
Even when Tae-un pointed to the public parking lot two blocks away, the Director still walked alongside him. When Tae-un looked at him with puzzled eyes, he raised the corners of his mouth gently.
"Ah, I'm not asking for a ride. I just want to walk together for a bit."
"I can drive you if you'd like."
"If that were the case, I wouldn't have sent away my secretarial staff. Flying is the fastest. It's refreshing too. Especially on a night like this..."
Clouds covered the night sky, with only a small piece of the moon visible. It was such a dark night that even if someone were flying, they wouldn't be easily spotted if wearing black clothes.
The streetlights cast unusually deep oval shapes of vermilion on the ground. Over them stretched the shadows of a man with a back bulging like a turtle's shell, and another person.
"Are you going back to the dormitory by car?"
"Yes. I plan to stop by a mart on the way to buy some hangover remedies."
Thinking about the next day, Tae-un felt his stomach churn once again.
Suddenly, the breathing from behind seemed to grow a little louder. The weight of the person who was living more diligently than anyone else even after saving the world still felt light.
He wanted to tightly squeeze Soram's buttocks he was carrying to convey this frustration, but that was impossible with the Director beside him.
"It's fortunate that Soram has you by his side, Tae-un."
"...Thank you for your kind words."
"I'm not just saying that, I truly think so as someone who has watched Soram for a long time."
Even if 'by his side' didn't include the real meaning of Tae-un and Soram's relationship, it was still a gratifying statement. After all, Director Park Jae-seon was someone who held a much more special meaning to Soram than his blood relatives...
"So, when are you going to tell me about the two of you?"
Tae-un's steps came to an abrupt halt. After a pause long enough to take a breath, he was able to move his feet again.
"You knew?"
"I told you. I'm someone who has watched Soram for a long time. But for some reason, I feel like that kid Soram would never open his mouth to me even if he died."
"..."
Tae-un chose his words in his mouth more carefully than when he was doing his assignment earlier. Although this was someone who would accept whatever he said without misunderstanding, he wanted to find the words that would best express their relationship.
"We're doing our best for each other. Even if we can't be certain we're doing well, we're confident we'll be together for life."
"That's enough. There's no reason you have to be like others. You... Hm? Is Soram awake?"
"Aheu..."
"He's probably just opened his eyes. Don't mind him. Even if you speak now, he won't remember anything tomorrow."
"You know well."
"I've experienced it many times."
True to his words, Soram made strange noises, tossed about, then buried his nodding head back into Tae-un's shoulder.
As the drunken rambling subsided, only the sound of footsteps remained in the silence. Tae-un opened his mouth, full of tension.
"Thank you, Director."
"Hm? For what?"
"For looking upon us favorably."
Hearing the same words as before, this time he burst into laughter. Tae-un maintained his usual stoic expression, but his hands, sweaty beneath Soram's thighs, fidgeted.
"Well. I feel relieved, like I'm passing on a troublemaker. Now that you've officially acknowledged it in front of me, you'll have to clean up after his incidents from now on. Good luck with that."
"It's not hardship for me. ...Probably."
"Are you sure?"
While saying it wasn't hardship was a bit of a lie... becoming the person who would naturally step up when something happened to Soram, who would be in charge of cleaning up after Soram's incidents in the future, was Tae-un's goal. Instead of showing this feeling outwardly, he settled for firmly gripping Soram's thigh and then releasing it.
He felt a bit embarrassed as Park Jae-seon's smiling face seemed to see right through his inner thoughts. This was probably because he was in front of the person who had been occupying the position of Soram's protector that Tae-un was aiming for until now.
"We'll live well, taking good care of each other without causing you any worr-ack...!"
"Tae-un?"
"Hey, Jin Soram!"
Soram's open mouth stuck to the back of Tae-un's head as he bent his waist. After the first time, Tae-un suppressed his screams, but his previously calm face was now greatly distorted.
"Phu, phu."
Soon, Soram raised his head, pushed out his lips, and spat out something as if complaining. What came out were a few strands of jet-black hair.
"Don't pinch me!"
Soram, who had shouted loudly, then rested his head on Tae-un's back and fell asleep as if nothing had happened.
Tae-un, who had tightly closed his lips then opened them, said:
"...Can I report this as workplace harassment right now?"
"Haha. It's not during work hours. And I can't resolve lover's quarrels."
"..."
The back of his head still stung. It felt like Soram's even teeth were imprinted on his scalp.
Fortunately, the parking lot came into view, and the car he had deliberately parked in front quickly caught his eye. Tae-un opened the back seat door and turned Soram around to hold him.
"Jin Soram, head. It's going to hit. Be careful."
Soram squirmed as if uncomfortable, but when his back touched the seat, he went limp again. Only after securely laying Soram down could Tae-un straighten his deeply bent waist. But seeing the neck bent with the back of the head pressed against the opposite door, he went back in and placed a small cushion under his head.
Park Jae-seon, still wearing a pleased smile, watched this scene.
"Tae-un."
"Yes."
"It's okay to cause some trouble."
"...Pardon?"
"I mean it's fine to cause one or two big incidents since I'm in a position where I can cover for you better than before."
Tae-un blinked, not understanding, with his hands behind his back.
"I just wanted to tell you that you don't have to be too careful. Since Soram tends to be reckless, you seem to be overly cautious in contrast."
Park Jae-seon glanced at Soram inside the window, still smiling.
"A secret romance might be fun too, but if there's anything to celebrate, make sure to invite me."
At first, Tae-un still didn't know what he meant. Then, when he realized, a short 'Ah.' escaped his lips, and soon his face flushed.
"I will certainly do so."
His waist bowed deeply, then straightened again.
"And as for incidents... I'll save them up and cause one big one."
"I don't know what that means, but it doesn't sound bad either. Drive safely."
Park Jae-seon took a step backward. A foothold that appeared in mid-air lifted his body upward. He receded into the dim sky of Seoul where stars were barely visible.
Tae-un turned around and leaned on the car door and hood. He looked at the person sleeping inside the car for a moment.
"Jin Soram."
I can't tell you about the conversation I had with the Director today when you're sober.
"...Did I just get the Director's approval?"
It was a secret because he knew how uncool the expression he was making right now must be.
Park Jae-seon had gone, and it was late enough that there were no watching eyes. There might be CCTV installed, but it wouldn't be able to see inside the car. If he just stayed to take care of the disheveled drunk inside the car and came out...
Before finishing all these calculations, his body was already leaning into the car. He approached the deeply sleeping face, supporting himself on the backrest with his hand.
His lips touched the snow-white cheek.
Next, he swallowed the slightly parted, wet lips. There was still a faint smell of alcohol here.
"I love you."
Park Jae-seon was the only person who was like family to Soram. While he was a special person to Soram, he also cared for Soram very much.
Why did it feel so overwhelming that such a person had learned about their relationship and accepted it with satisfaction?
It felt like he had received recognition and permission from someone very close to Soram. That he was qualified to stay by his side.
The little bit of alcohol he had stolen, just a breath's worth, was very strong. It felt like his heart wouldn't calm down all night.
***
"Hey, stop it already..."
He couldn't tell if the food was going into his mouth or his nose. It was frustrating enough to be paying for sins he couldn't remember, but Han Tae-un was being especially petty today.
"You pulled out and ate a chunk of my hair while I was carrying you yesterday."
"Ah, I got it already."
Then he had spouted nonsense about Soram carrying him too, and had been sticking to his back all morning. As a result, Soram ended up eating even the pollack soup Tae-un had made while sitting on his lap as he sat cross-legged. ...He wondered why he had set the meal at the living room table for a change.
This seems more like I'm being held than me carrying you. Such a sensible observation wouldn't have worked, or they wouldn't have been in this situation from the morning.
Han Tae-un played with his hands, stroking Soram's hair or rubbing the back of his neck, while holding Soram, to an extent that didn't interfere with the meal. If there had been a sexual intention, he would have responded, but somehow it felt purely innocent. Should he say it was like a boy in pajamas with his attachment teddy bear...
Moreover, why was this guy so strangely excited? He didn't know what it was, but it was frustrating. If he was going to be excited, they should be excited together, but to think he had created something fun for himself alone during a night Soram couldn't remember. He had been asking casually what had happened, but the only answer he got was "Nothing happened."
Soram, who had quickly emptied the large bowl of soup with rice, removed the two arms that had been heavily pressing on his shoulders.
"I have to go teach."
"I know. I'll take you."
"What about your work?"
"Day off."
"Huh. When did you apply without the chief's approval?"
"Directly from the Director."
"...Alright then, let's wash up."
Only then could he finally escape from the hard chest.
