OMLM | Chapter 14

Cha Hyuk was right on time. About 32 minutes in, a familiar car parked nearby, and Jung Woochan stepped out, phone pressed to his ear.

“…don’t come out, don’t come out, I’ll be right in.”

When Jung Woochan’s and Kang Yebon’s eyes met, Woochan’s face was cold and hardened. He ended the call and walked towards Yebon.

His gaze was so icy, it made you wonder if he was always this unguarded with his emotions.

Wasn’t just stepping out near the apartment entrance a reason to be this angry?

“Follow me.” Woochan stopped a couple of steps away from Yebon and nodded slightly.

Up close, his annoyance was palpable, making Yebon’s heart race.

“I don’t want to, we’re just going to talk—”

“Why do you act so freely after showing up unannounced? Kang Yebon, is this how you should behave?”

Woochan tried to grab Yebon’s wrist, but Yebon stepped back and glared.

“Hyung, you already know what I’m going to say.”

Woochan frowned and sighed deeply, trying to suppress something as he spoke.

“Let’s not do this here, let’s go somewhere quiet and talk. I’ll listen to everything you have to say, okay?”

His audacity was surprising; maybe he didn’t realize, but of course, Woochan had figured it out already.

Yet, seeing him act this way made Yebon question who he had liked all this time.

“You know what I want to say and still you act like this? Hyung, why are you like this? Even now, you care about what others think?”

As Yebon showed no signs of leaving the entrance of the apartment, Woochan ruffled his hair roughly.

“Ah, so let’s just talk somewhere quiet, can’t you see I’m not focused here!”

His restrained voice finally turned into a shout, which drew the attention of passersby, making Woochan’s face turn pale.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. But what good does this do here? Your image gets tarnished along with mine, Yebon. We both need to keep up appearances.”

Wow… so this was the real Jung Woochan.

The always calm and mature facade was just a shell to boost his image.

Everything Yebon had once admired was just a pretense. Now, instead of tears, Yebon felt like laughing.

“You’re really shameless. Must’ve been hard keeping that up, huh?” Woochan’s eyes filled with disgust.

“…What? Kang Yebon, what did you just say?”

“You’re a damn bastard. How can you even say anything to me in this situation? You should be apologizing, not acting all high and mighty, you bastard.”

Still, you shouldn’t swear. Yebon tried to stay rational but Woochan’s brazen attitude blew all that away.

Yebon glared at Woochan, looking like he might throw a punch any second.

“Wow, unbelievable. Were you always like this? What kind of way is this to speak to your hyung? I’m apologizing here, and you’re cursing at me. Why so vile?”

Vile…? Yebon’s face contorted completely. His eyes burned and his heart pounded as if it might burst.

After all the love he had given, was it just for this?

“The cheater shouldn’t be talking. You’re the vile one, Jung Woochan bastard! Acting like there’s no one else for you and then this? Are you even human?”

Woochan smirked and let out a mocking laugh.

“You liked it when I acted like you were the only one. You need that to feel secure, don’t you? You didn’t even notice how obvious it was. Do you have any idea how suffocated I felt trying to meet your needs?”

Yebon’s jaw clenched as he heard Woochan’s true thoughts for the first time, leaving him unable to think of any counterargument.

All those kind actions towards the old him were laced with these thoughts, overwhelming Yebon with despair beyond anger.

Even as Yebon was completely demoralized, Woochan didn’t stop but became even more assertive.

“And I wasn’t going to say this, but you really are short-sighted, Yebon. Think about it.”

Woochan tapped his head and bent down close to Yebon’s face with a condescending expression.

Is this really happening, or is Yebon too angry and imagining things?

Yebon, looking utterly miserable, tried to retreat, but Woochan gripped his shoulders tightly.

“What kind of man would seriously date another man like me? Right?”

“…What?”

“You looked so pitiful, I thought I’d be nice. How long did you think our secret relationship would last? I did indulge you, but this is unfair to me.”

The ground seemed to move beneath Yebon’s feet.

What was Jung Woochan saying to him? It wasn’t that he had cooled off; from the start, Woochan had never…

A tightness gripped his stomach as if everything inside was about to burst out. Yebon covered his mouth.

His trembling eyes were lost and wandering.

“It seems you were more serious than I thought, which makes me feel a bit more sorry. I do regret ending it this way. But I should have at least cleared things up properly.”

Humans are unpredictable. Woochan exaggerated a frown.

Woochan was as casual and cruel as discussing a trivial mistake right in front of a frozen Yebon.

“Did you never… like me?”

“That’s not true. I did entertain your terrible neediness.”

Just enough to be comforting. As soon as Woochan finished speaking, Yebon swung fiercely, but Woochan easily blocked it.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down Yebon’s face.

Rather than saying he never liked him, Woochan chose the most humiliating comment he could make.

If there was any decency left, he would never have said it.

“Crazy bastard… I won’t let this go.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“People need to know what kind of bastard you are. Someone who plays with others’ feelings shouldn’t be happy.”

Yebon looked dazed, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Woochan, who merely wore a scornful smile.

“Speak up? Try me. It’s not just me who’ll suffer, Kang Yebon. You’re just as concerned about others’ opinions.”

Speak up. Woochan whispered, pushing Yebon away. Woochan was confident Yebon wouldn’t speak up.

Woochan’s confidence was usually accurate, as Woochan was as conscious of those around him as Yebon was.

However, today he overlooked one fact. Yebon had completely lost his rationality. The suppressed emotions had finally erupted.

Yebon immediately made a call. Woochan’s face stiffened slightly.

“Who are you calling…”

“Yebon, what’s up? You called your aunt.” The voice leaked from the phone.

Woochan’s expression hardened, and he tried to snatch the phone, but Yebon held on tighter and shouted.

“Jung Woochan and I are…” Yebon’s mouth was covered, and his hand weakened. Woochan seized the opportunity to grab the phone.

“Woochan? Is that you, Woochan?” Yebon struggled, but Woochan pulled his shoulder and pinned the phone to his ear with his other hand. Sweat beaded on Woochan’s forehead.

“Yeah, I raised my voice a bit and Kang Yebon’s telling his mom it was a joke. Sorry, I’ll hang up.”

“Are you two…” Before his mom could finish, Woochan hung up. His expression twisted angrily.

“Are you crazy? What are you doing right now!”

“What! You told me to say it. Scared? You should be more ashamed of what you’ve done than our relationship. All that mature act, and I’m an idiot for liking such trash!”

“Yeah, you’re an idiot. Stop yapping and come on. It’s embarrassing on the street.”

Yebon struggled fiercely, but being smaller and weaker than Woochan, he couldn’t escape. He could only shout and resist.

As more people gathered and attention turned their way, Woochan quickened his steps.

Yebon felt the fear rising as he was being dragged away.

Suddenly, someone wrapped their arm around his chest from behind.

“He doesn’t like it.” A deeper voice than usual, a solid scent. Yebon knew who it was without looking back.

Soon a strong arm reached forward and gripped the arm that held Yebon’s wrist tightly.

“Ouch!” Woochan hadn’t even turned around before a scream escaped him due to the crushing grip, and he released Yebon’s wrist.

Finally, Woochan’s grip was released, and he turned around, frowning.

“Who the hell…” Woochan couldn’t finish his sentence as he froze in place.