OMLM | Chapter 40

Yebon stood rigidly, only managing to look up at Kim Hyunwoo with suspicion.

Hyunwoo then waved his hand, which had been left hanging in the air, right in front of Yebon’s face, as if he would never lower it unless it was shaken.

Reluctantly, knowing that Hyunwoo was probably one of Cha Hyuk’s subordinates, Yebon decided it wouldn’t do any good to be prickly. It could end up reflecting poorly on him with Cha Hyuk, especially since Cha Hyuk would likely trust his subordinate over Yebon if things went south.

He had no choice but to shake it.

“…Yes, nice to meet you. I’m Kang Yebon.” He tried to pull his hand back immediately but couldn’t.

Even as Yebon tried awkwardly to shake his hand free, Hyunwoo’s grip only tightened, the painful pressure making Yebon’s fingers throb.

“What are you doing? Let go.”

“So, how old are you?”

“I’m twenty-one, so please let go. It hurts.” Hyunwoo twitched the corner of his mouth in an annoying manner before finally releasing his grip.

Yebon’s fingers, now free, were pitifully red. Rubbing his sore hand, Yebon glared at Hyunwoo.

“Twenty-one? You’re practically a baby. Can I speak informally?” Despite Yebon’s hostile gaze, Hyunwoo nonchalantly flicked Yebon’s cheek. That was the last straw for Yebon.

“Are you crazy? What’s with you since earlier!”

As soon as he finished his sentence, Hyunwoo’s expression hardened more fiercely than it had in front of the taxi driver.

It was no longer just a face lacking manners; it looked like it could really become something serious if provoked.

The kind of dread that was completely different from what Yebon felt around Cha Hyuk sealed his lips, but strangely, no apologies came out — something that would have been easy before.

“A piece of shit, really.” Hyunwoo’s hand shot up.

This is it, I’m really going to get hit.

Yebon braced himself, squeezing his eyes shut, but no pain came.

When he opened his eyes again, Hyunwoo was furrowing his brow, muttering curses to himself, trying to hold back his anger.

“…Just say if you don’t like it, no need to get snappy. Anyway, sorry.”

The sincerity of an apology delivered with such an irritated expression was questionable.

Yebon couldn’t understand the sudden shift in attitude, but it was a relief nonetheless. He guessed that Hyunwoo was not the type to stop at just one punch.

“Come with me.” Hyunwoo then turned and started walking toward the bar.

‘Should I really follow him into a bar that looks empty? Should I run now?’

Yebon eyed Hyunwoo’s back. He seemed far too dangerous to be alone with in a confined space.

Was the promise of seeing Cha Hyuk even true?

But then, why would he bother luring him out with lies?

Noticing that Yebon hadn’t moved, Hyunwoo spun around sharply.

“Ah, really! Kang Yebon! I won’t do anything, I promise.”

“…”

“Little guy with such a temper. I said I’m sorry!”

Yebon’s gaze remained unyielding, filled with intense wariness.

Seeing no sign of movement from Yebon, it was Hyunwoo who finally raised the white flag.

Cursing under his breath, he said, “Then just wait there, don’t go anywhere.”

Yebon nodded slightly. It was a lie. He planned to head to the main road and catch a taxi as soon as Hyunwoo was out of sight.

“If you really run away, I’ll tell Cha Hyuk to stop messing with a brat like you, for real. You know what would happen then, right?”

…That petty bastard. Yebon’s plan had to change.

He had no choice but to wait for Hyunwoo.

Though he didn’t know the exact nature of the relationship between Cha Hyuk and Hyunwoo, gangsters in movies always valued loyalty.

He wanted to distance himself from Cha Hyuk, but not to be despised.

About five minutes later, Hyunwoo returned with a brown paper bag in his hand, gesturing for Yebon to come over.

After a moment’s hesitation, Yebon decided there seemed to be no immediate danger and approached.

“What’s that?”

“Here.”

It seemed Hyunwoo had a habit of speaking curtly.

He shook the paper bag, then abruptly dropped it against Yebon’s chest, forcing him to catch it. It was heavier than expected, pulling his arm down.

Peeking inside, Yebon saw a square disposable container typically used for food deliveries.

The bag felt warm, suggesting it contained food, likely something in a white container.

“Is this porridge?”

“Yeah. Hurry up, we need to leave.”

Hyunwoo activated a dark grey car parked nearby.

From the porridge in his hands, Yebon could guess they were headed to Cha Hyuk’s house.

This must have been what he meant by being able to meet Cha Hyuk.

As Hyunwoo climbed into the driver’s seat, he frowned.

“Do I need to open the car door for you? Hurry up, I want to go and come back before sunset.”

Yebon shot Hyunwoo a look but reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat.

As he buckled up, he grimaced—the car was thick with the smell of stale cigarettes.

The cup holder, instead of holding a drink, was filled with cigarette butts.

As the car started, Yebon cracked the window open, only for it to be immediately rolled back up by Hyunwoo.

“Aren’t you the only one in this car?”

“It smells too strongly of cigarettes!”

“What, you’re a man and you whine about cigarette smoke?”

Yebon opened his mouth in disbelief but lacked the energy to argue, realizing that fighting back would only hurt him more.

“So, the favor you asked was to carry this porridge and go with you?”

“Yeah.”

What a strange request.

It would have been much better if he had just given the porridge and told him Cha Hyuk’s address.

Better than riding in a car reeking of cigarette smoke with this rude man.

“Why not just give the porridge and ask me to deliver it to Cha Hyuk hyung? Why come together?”

“Do you and Cha Hyuk go way back?” Yebon’s lips twitched.

“…Just moderately close. Why?”

“I heard you’re in the same class, but can you get close just by attending classes?”

Was he implying something else? There was an unpleasant sneer in Hyunwoo’s voice.

Yebon knew Cha Hyuk wasn’t the type to share much about himself. At least, the Cha Hyuk he knew wasn’t.

The things Hyunwoo had heard were probably just random bits of information, but the creeping anxiety was hard to shake off.

Yebon clutched the paper bag tightly to his chest and turned his face completely toward the window, just in case Hyunwoo might see his face.

“…It’s possible to get close. It’s not that strange.”

“That’s what normal people might say, but hyung isn’t the type to approach easily. Or maybe kids these days just don’t have any fear?”

Yebon wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t find the words.

After all, he had been intimidated by Cha Hyuk at first, and so had Seunggu.

“Even so, he’s not exactly warm-hearted, and I can’t see what you two would have in common. The only thing that comes to mind is—”

Their conversation was cut short as the car stopped at a red light.

A suffocating silence filled the car.

Yebon stubbornly kept his gaze outside the window, but all his senses were tuned to the side.

A laugh disguised as a cough echoed in the car, filled with a distasteful mirth that made Yebon stiffen completely.

“Why so tense? Someone might think I’m kidnapping you.”

Hyunwoo reached out and lightly tapped Yebon’s shoulder.

“What, what are you doing?” The young face that turned around was filled with unmistakable fear.

“Just messing with you because you seemed too scared. Seems like you’re hiding something.”

The way he was looked at made Yebon shudder, and he hunched closer to the door.

“The light’s green!” A honk from behind jolted his thoughts.

Despite objectively having nothing substantial between them, Yebon felt as if his unguarded heart was about to be exposed. His heart beat ominously.