KBR Ch 5

In a situation like this, the “real” Won Daeyeong would probably make a crude remark like this: “I didn’t know the guy who brags everywhere about being the youngest managing director had a hobby of sucking up to dudes.” When Won Daeyeong’s mocking laughter flickered in his mind, Managing Director Yoon cleared his throat with a “ahem, ahem.”

“Hmm… And, I know it might be crossing a line to ask Seolwoo-ssi something like this…”

“…”

“But it’s something I can’t just let slide, so I’m asking cautiously.”

The managing director slipped his hand into his pocket. It looked like he was about to pull something out.

Judging it as a move to lay the groundwork for some kind of confession ambush, Choi Seolwoo swiftly turned his back. He was already planning to confess his true feelings to Won Daeyeong when he returned to the country, and he didn’t want to deal with any more unnecessary hassle.

“Let’s talk about it next time. I don’t have time right now.”

“Sorry, it’ll just take a moment.”

You’d think he’d get the hint by now, but Managing Director Yoon strode after Seolwoo. When Seolwoo glared back to say something, Yoon thrust something in front of him.

It was a phone screen displaying an online news article.

“Is this true?”

Choi Seolwoo, openly showing his annoyance, skimmed the article and blinked a couple of times.

<Track and Field Gold Medalist Won Daeyeong ❤ ‘Assembly’ Ha Yeongseo, Pink Romance Vibes Spotted>

A new sports star and former girl group member couple in the making?

Ha Yeongseo visits the national team dorm ahead of the Asian Games…

I told you so.

“If you wish for it desperately, it’ll come true”? Just nonsense from people trying to sell books and make money.

* * *

The digital billboards in the subway were plastered with Won Daeyeong’s photos. Athletic hero. World-class. Some places featured group shots of the four relay team members with the phrase “Team KOREA,” but the main focus was unmistakably Won Daeyeong.

The office was no different. It was buzzing with talk about the gold medalist who had briefly elevated track and field to a popular sport.

“Everyone’s freaking out because a medal came from track and field. Did you see? He’s good-looking. I’d buy it if he dated a celebrity. Ha Yeongseo’s famous for being born with a silver spoon too. Rich families, talented people dating each other, and here I am, still single.”

Afraid that admitting their close relationship would unleash a barrage of questions, Seolwoo deliberately kept quiet. The news outlets churned out profitable articles at lightning speed.

<Won Daeyeong—Ha Yeongseo Both Deny Dating Rumors>

<Claim They’re Just ‘Close Friends’>

It seemed Won Daeyeong’s sports management company had responded swiftly. Still, since it was a fact that a female celebrity had visited Won Daeyeong at the national team dorm, the comment sections were overwhelmingly convinced they were strategically denying it.

When Seolwoo had asked Won Daeyeong about the truth yesterday, this was the response he got:

[<400m Track Prince Won Daeyeong ❤ ‘Assembly’ Ha Yeongseo, Pink Romance Vibes Spotted> …See full link]

[What’s this about?]

[None of us knew anything] 6:35 PM

HeavenlyDaeyeongHyungnim: [Ah. I’ll explain when I get there] 6:38 PM

“Heavenly Daeyeong Hyungnim” was a contact name forced upon Seolwoo after losing a bet last year. He swears it wasn’t his free will.

A news update on a portal site announced that the national team, fresh from the Asian Games, had just returned to the country. Reporters swarming the airport had produced video news and short-form content of the arrival, sharing it online.

<National Team Arrival Live!>

<Korean Track Quartet’s ‘Triumphant Return’ — Greeting Fans with Bright Smiles>

The moment the airport exit gate opened, the relay team was bombarded with camera flashes, and they all seemed a bit awkward. But out of the four, only one—Won Daeyeong—looked completely at ease. Even with the dating rumors swirling, he didn’t seem the least bit worried.

Maybe it really was just a speculative article. Whatever, I don’t know. I’m too busy working. Choi Seolwoo tried to push him out of his mind and focus on his monitor.

The intern who’d joined the tax department with Choi Seolwoo had studied abroad at an English-speaking school and spoke business English at a native level. He seemed to find it odd that Seolwoo—a pure domestic grad with no overseas extracurricular experience—had landed a job at one of the Big 4 accounting firms right after university. They were still in a subtle power struggle, which was draining no small amount of energy.

Choi Seolwoo had been hired full-time and was determined to become a high earner. He had zero intention of looking weak in front of a competitor. With the need to prove his skills through work results, he had no time to waste on dating rumors right now.

After ignoring Won Daeyeong’s messages since yesterday, the guy started pestering him for a reply as soon as he left the airport. There were already two missed calls.

HeavenlyDaeyeongHyungnim: [Did you forget to check your blood pressure and heart rate?] 11:37 PM

—— Thursday, Month 0, Day 0 ——

HeavenlyDaeyeongHyungnim: [Choi Seolwoo, answer] 1:13 PM

HeavenlyDaeyeongHyungnim: [Seolwoo-ya]

HeavenlyDaeyeongHyungnim: [Should I come to your office to get an answer?] 1:42 PM

[Oh, nothing much, just thought nothing was up;; sorry for bothering] 3:21 PM

HeavenlyDaeyeongHyungnim: [Bouncing me after so long]

HeavenlyDaeyeongHyungnim: [Choi Seolwoo, you on your period or something?]

HeavenlyDaeyeongHyungnim: [A promise is a promise]

HeavenlyDaeyeongHyungnim: [Send me your health check] 3:25 PM

At some point, Choi Seolwoo started finding Won Daeyeong overwhelming. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it began, but it had been a while. He first noticed a jolt of something from Won Daeyeong around their first year of high school. That was also when Won Daeyeong started appearing in his wet dreams and masturbation fantasies.

Back then, the stupid act of reproduction felt different when tied to Won Daeyeong. How should he put it? It had a heavy, dangerously erotic vibe.

At the time, he thought it was because of Won Daeyeong’s physical and personality traits, perfectly optimized for seducing females through sex or courtship. That guy’s sex appeal was so strong it affected him.

But as those feelings persisted into recent times—when certain tones of Won Daeyeong’s voice and his scent made Seolwoo’s lower body throb and heat up—he realized.

Oh, fuck. It’s too late.

He’d come too far to break the habit of thinking about Won Daeyeong.

He’d even resolved to confess his feelings to ease the unrelenting torment, but it was never easy. Especially since Won Daeyeong was the type to hate being linked to gay or bromance stuff. This was the same Won Daeyeong who’d figured out that a senior from the essay club had been secretly leaving convenience store gift cards and chocolates at Seolwoo’s library seat and warned him, “Choi Seolwoo’s not into that, so watch it.”

As Seolwoo sighed and rubbed his eyes, his phone rang. It was Ha Yeongseo’s number.

Glancing around, Choi Seolwoo stepped into the break room. He loosened his tie, took a deep breath, and answered.

“Yeah.”

— Seolwoo-ya, you busy? Are you working late again today?

“Maybe. Why?”

— Could you help me pick out a gold medal gift for Daeyeong oppa? I’ll match your schedule. You know his taste best… But if you’re busy, it’s fine! Really, it’s okay.

After mulling over his response, Seolwoo couldn’t resist his curiosity. He glanced at the office and replied.

“I can get out by eight.”

As promised, a black van honked near the company. Ha Yeongseo was dressed casually in a cap, mask, and sneakers. The van carrying Choi Seolwoo started cruising slowly through Seoul’s downtown.

Ha Yeongseo took off her mask, sat across from Seolwoo, grabbed him, and vented in her bold, clear voice.

“I was so stressed, I just went all out. I begged my manager oppa to let me splurge.”

There were already three shopping bags in the car. One even had an underwear brand logo. Seolwoo imagined her standing in front of Won Daeyeong, saying, “The gold medal gift… is me! Ta-da!” while wearing daring lingerie. The fact that she casually showed him the underwear shopping bag proved how much she trusted Seolwoo as a friend.

“Thanks for coming. Isn’t corporate life tough? I’m glad I got you health supplements as a job gift last time we met.”

The special juice was actually something Seolwoo had to avoid, so he’d given it all to his mom, but he thanked her anyway.

Worried he might be tired, Yeongseo had prepared all sorts of vitamin drinks and snacks. When he waved it off and asked her to just show him gift options, she quickly handed over her phone. The page she had open was an online mall exclusive for department store VIPs.

Won Daeyeong, Ha Yeongseo, and a few other high school friends all came from families where this lifestyle was normal. Won Daeyeong occasionally bragged, “My family’s loaded.” Seolwoo had heard his grandfather owned a ton of real estate in Seoul and Gyeonggi. Recently, Won Daeyeong’s mom had bought a fancy house with a garden straight out of a movie.

Thanks to the perfect con Seolwoo and Won Daeyeong had pulled off together, none of them had a clue about Seolwoo’s real financial situation.

To them, Seolwoo wasn’t the friend living in a rented villa with a single mom who worked as a moving packer.

The Choi Seolwoo they knew had a high-earning dad working abroad, a mom living comfortably as a full-time housewife thanks to his hefty income. Since they all assumed Seolwoo’s finances were similar to theirs, showing him the VIP mall wasn’t meant to mess with him at all.

Their spending habits were all too familiar to Seolwoo. Without a word, he scrolled down and asked,

“I’m fine, chilling every evening to shake off stress. What about you? Is it because of the article?”

Probing about the dating rumors, Ha Yeongseo spilled the truth in her straightforward way.

“It’s annoying. I felt so bad for not being there properly during his rehab, so I just dropped by briefly to give the team some snacks and supplements. Someone must’ve snapped a pic.”

She gritted her teeth, clearly stressed out by her agency. Either way, hearing that the article wasn’t true lifted a huge weight off Choi Seolwoo’s chest.

“Why don’t you, the celebrity, tell Won Daeyeong to come pick it up instead of going yourself? Does that jerk make girls run around for him?”

“He said he didn’t have time. Guess they can’t leave the dorm during the competition.”

“Oh.”

Even as he answered, Seolwoo tilted his head internally. Won Daeyeong had left the dorm before heading overseas to buy Seolwoo that suit, hadn’t he? And he’d stopped by to check on Seolwoo in person after he started his internship, too, hadn’t he?