SB Ch 12
by toujoursThe stage, filled with dozens of chairs and music stands, was empty. Nothing was visible. It felt as if a ghost were playing a piece.
But he knew that someone was there out of sight. Chae Beomjoon turned his gaze to the red velvet curtain.
Hadn’t he been satisfied with his performance during the rehearsal earlier? Or was he being greedy for the soloist role? The mysterious double bassist was playing the “Tales of the Magic Tree” alone. Although it wasn’t a solo piece, the interpretation was perfect.
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Compared to the harmony that grandly resonated through the concert hall, his presence was small, but the performance was never light. It captivated the listener in an instant. The eerie performance that resonated heavily with the air kept Chae Beomjoon frozen in place for a while.
Then at some point, he turned his body with a deep smile. The Magic Tree of Litvinovsky had a secret. So did that performer.
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Chae Beomjoon knew nothing about him or her. It seemed now was the moment to uncover that secret. He hurried his steps like the protagonist of a story.
When he opened the door to the box seat, he saw an empty corridor. The doors to all spaces had been opened to cure the concrete, and his performance echoed through the VIP corridor right in front.
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Deeply engrossed in the piece, Chae Beomjoon moved without losing his focus. The sound of his shoes naturally blended into the music. To unveil the performer who was playing the bow roughly as one with the music, he opened the door to the box seat on the far left and entered.
At that moment, a fast melody that made it impossible to breathe echoed. The climax of the piece. Once past this point, the performance would end. His hurried body moved towards the stage.
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He grabbed the railing with an outstretched hand. Finally, at the exact moment the piece ended, Chae Beomjoon faced the face of the mysterious performer who had pulled him up.
He stopped breathing.
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Seo Haeyoon.
That man was there.
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With an elegant demeanor, holding the double bass that had absorbed the darkness, with the bow in his hand lowered.
…He looked sad.
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“Yes?”
“Well, he was just here, but he suddenly disappeared.”
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At Hong Hyekyung’s explanation, Haeyoon furrowed his brow. So, the conclusion was this:
“The deputy director is not coming today either?”
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“Yes….”
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“…I understand.”
He had planned to visit his father briefly after today’s rehearsal. It was a promise made in a brief moment as his father kept contacting him, saying he had something to give.
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However, before the rehearsal started, Hong Hyekyung conveyed the news that the deputy director, who Haeyoon had missed last time, would be attending today’s rehearsal. Haeyoon had once inquired just in case, hoping to personally thank him for the flower basket he had received previously, and received a positive response. So, he postponed his appointment with his father and decided to meet him after the rehearsal.
But when he went to the waiting room at the scheduled time, it was not the deputy director waiting for him but Hong Hyekyung. She said the deputy director had gone to the restroom for a moment and asked him to wait a bit, but even after a long time, the person he was waiting for didn’t show up. Hong Hyekyung called with a flustered face, but he didn’t even answer.
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“It seems he has left. What should I do, sir?”
“…He must be very busy.”
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“Oh, he’s extremely, extremely busy. I think he must have had an urgent matter come up, just like last time. He wouldn’t disappear without a word otherwise.”
He had heard that the deputy director had disappeared in the middle of observing the rehearsal last time too. Is he really that busy? The fact that he had broken his promise with him twice made Haeyoon feel slightly annoyed, but the sentiment didn’t last long, perhaps due to the impact of the touching card.
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“Then, can I at least have his contact information? I really want to thank him in person.”
The heavy words the deputy director left behind wishing him to become the star of the curtain call had been a great support to Seo Haeyoon. He wanted to thank him face-to-face, but if he was really that busy, he thought of expressing his gratitude even through a phone call.
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“Contact… information?”
“Yes. I’d like to give him a call.”
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“That….”
But Hong Hyekyung hesitated with a troubled expression. Reading her discomfort, Haeyoon stretched his mouth in realization.
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Of course, if it was the deputy director, he was a high-ranking person. It wouldn’t make sense to give his contact information to an ordinary member like him. Besides, it was personal information. Haeyoon quickly waved his hand.
“No, it’s fine. I think I was being too forward.”
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“No, I’ll ask him! He’s not that difficult or anything.”
“Oh… really? Okay.”
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Fortunately, a positive response came back. Haeyoon tilted his head and turned back after greeting her.
It was a bit disappointing, but he thought there was no need to rush since there would be more opportunities in the future anyway. It wasn’t like he could meet him quickly just because he wanted to, so it was better to let go of any lingering feelings.
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Haeyoon went down to the underground parking lot and loaded the double bass into the car. As he started the engine and drove off, he called his father, who would be anxiously waiting for him. He intended to tell him that he would be able to arrive at the originally scheduled time.
─ Yes, my handsome and wonderful son. Where are you? Are you very late? If you’re busy, I can come to your place.
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Seo Jonggil had been pestering Haeyoon for days, saying he had something to give him. It seemed like there was a surprise gift. Although he had received unexpected gifts from his father several times, he wasn’t particularly nervous. Anyway, since he wasn’t planning to go home today, Haeyoon shook his head.
“I’m not going home today. But what is the gift?”
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─ Oh, come on. I can’t tell you that!
“You’re going to give it to me anyway.”
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─ Ahem, ahem! But why aren’t you going home? Do you have a date with Yewon? Or is there someone you’re meeting? Come on, tell me secretly, I won’t say anything.
Whatever it was, it seemed to be something he had a hard time getting. Seeing him hide it until the end. Anyway, the questions his father threw to change the subject were full of curiosity. His voice was eager to know if his son had a new boyfriend, if he was settling down this time.
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But the person currently by Haeyoon’s side was just a casual sex partner. Thinking it was better not to mention it and raise his father’s expectations, Haeyoon turned the conversation around just like his father.
“Who am I meeting? What about you? Why can’t you do it on the weekend? Are you going somewhere?”
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─ Yes, I’m going to play golf with Mr. Jang. You know, the guy I mentioned before, Haeyoon.
He had only asked where he was going, but Seo Jonggil started talking about his daily life again.
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Mr. Jang was a person who ran a large seafood distribution business nationwide, sharing some common ground with Seo Jonggil, who was in steel distribution.
Anyway, it seemed that Mr. Jang knew the announcer-like man who had sided with Seo Jonggil when there was a dispute in the parking lot last time.
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Mr. Jang, who had heard about the incident in the parking lot, said he would arrange a meeting with him, and Seo Jonggil, who liked him, decided to go on a 2-night, 3-day golf trip from the weekend to Monday.
Since Haeyoon would be busy during the weekdays after the trip, Seo Jonggil had been pestering him to meet on Friday, wanting to quickly give him the gift he had in hand.
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─ Anyway, today! I must see you today! I can’t wait. I’ll come to your place now….
His voice was filled with urgency, as if he couldn’t wait to see Haeyoon’s surprised reaction. Was it like this when he received the Bertoni double bass he was using now? It had been a long time, so he couldn’t remember well, but it was clear that it had been a long time since his father had shown such excitement.
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What on earth could it be? Seo Haeyoon asked with a puzzled face.
“Can’t you just leave it at home?”
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─ No way! Do you know how much this costs? I have to put it on you myself.
Put it on?
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“…Is it a watch?”
He frowned and asked back. Although he had received many watches from his father, Seo Haeyoon always kept his wrist bare because it was uncomfortable to wear while playing. For him, a watch was something he might wear once or twice a year.
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But unfortunately, that seemed to be the correct answer, as the other end of the line suddenly went silent. It’s a watch. Haeyoon stifled a laugh at the overly transparent reaction.
“Dad?”
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─ The world’s best double bassist, Seo Haeyoon. If you’re busy, make sure to eat well and let’s meet next week, okay? I’ll send you pictures from Yeosu, so please reply. Okay, bye.
It seemed he didn’t want to admit it after being caught. He must have wanted to see Haeyoon’s surprised reaction.
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“Hello?”
Anyway, with that, the call ended abruptly.
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He was on his way to meet him now…. It was absurd, but thinking about it, since he had an appointment with Chae Beomjoon later, it seemed better to meet his father next week when he had more time. Instead of calling his father back, Haeyoon changed his destination to his own home.
A few days ago, when he visited the man’s house, he learned the password. 1004*. He told him to remember that childish number that didn’t suit him at all, and the next day, as he left for work earlier than Haeyoon, he said he could drop by anytime.
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Today’s meeting place was also there. However, since there was a little time left until the appointed time, Haeyoon planned to park his car at home, pack a meal, and go to his house. He also planned to come out as a neighbor.
After putting the instrument at home, taking a light shower, and changing into comfortable clothes, he left the house. He packed rice and ribs from a Hong Kong restaurant in the basement of the building next door and headed to Chae Beomjoon’s house.
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Walking directly, it took less than 10 minutes from his house to Chae Beomjoon’s house, even including the time waiting for the traffic lights. It was really close.
“38th floor….”
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He entered the password for the common entrance that Chae Beomjoon had given him and went up to the 38th floor. 1004*. He entered the cute number and opened the door.
There was a pair of shoes in the entrance. However, since they were neatly arranged, he couldn’t tell if Chae Beomjoon had taken them out or if he had come home earlier than expected.
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If it was the latter…. Seo Haeyoon, deep in thought, put the food down next to the inner door. With a mischievous face, he tiptoed inside.
Without making a sound, he passed through the hallway and peeked around the corner. Chae Beomjoon was really at home. His hair was still wet, as if he had just come in and washed.
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Instead of the usual suit, he was wearing a soft oatmeal-colored sweater that covered his broad shoulders. His legs, visible beyond the sofa, were clad in light gray cotton pants. But what caught his eye more than the unfamiliar attire was the hair that covered the forehead he always showed.
Because it was roughly swept back, some of the bangs that had fallen down made Chae Beomjoon look much younger.
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How old is he? He looks like he’s my age. Anyway, Seo Haeyoon thought he looked quite cute with his hair down and smiled. He raised his heels and walked without making a sound.
Chae Beomjoon was sitting in an elegantly designed egg chair in front of the window. Leaning loosely, he tilted his head and rested his chin, looking out the window.
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If Haeyoon’s house focused on Seoul Forest when the window was framed, his house focused on the Han River and the bridge passing over it. It was a similar yet completely different view. Seo Haeyoon felt this and sneaked up, appearing in front of him as if jumping.
“Mister!”
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The pleasant voice broke Chae Beomjoon’s reverie. Deep in thought, he almost screamed in surprise. The large chair shook momentarily.
The man, who had looked like a statue, crumbled and took on a human form, making Haeyoon burst into laughter.
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“Tada!”
Seo Haeyoon spread his hands wide, not hiding his joy.
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“What, what, what….”
“Surprised?”
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Chae Beomjoon stammered at the bright smile. His handsome face turned red without him realizing it. He shook his eyes wildly, then placed his hand reverently on his chest and spoke.
“When, no, why, so early….”
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His wandering eyes turned to the clock on the wall. Seo Haeyoon’s gaze also followed.
He had come back instead of having dinner with his father, so he was two hours early. But instead of explaining that, Seo Haeyoon took the opportunity to tease Chae Beomjoon.
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“Surprised? Sorry. My dad said not to scare old people. You’re not having a heart attack, right?”
He playfully reached out and swept Chae Beomjoon’s wet hair back. Revealing his handsome forehead, his face, which had looked young, suddenly turned mature. Oh…. Seo Haeyoon ruffled his hair again, bringing his bangs down, and nodded.
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“You look much younger with your hair down.”
“…Why did you come so early?”
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Chae Beomjoon pretended not to hear the comment about his age and asked. Yet, his large right hand was still placed on his chest. Is his heart still beating? He seemed unexpectedly timid.
“Really surprised? Mister, you’re quite a scaredy-cat, huh?”
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He looked a bit cute. Seo Haeyoon laughed softly and reached out again. Roughly sweeping his hair, which looked particularly disheveled today, he explained.
“No, actually, I suggested meeting at 8 because I was going to meet my dad after work, but something else came up and got canceled. So I had some awkward free time and just came here. What about you? Didn’t you say you’d be off work around 7?”
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“I also…. finished work early.”
He nodded and answered, but something felt different from usual. Seo Haeyoon squinted his eyes and looked him up and down.
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He looked more exhausted than usual. Maybe it was because he had his hand on his heart, or because he was wearing comfortable clothes instead of a sharply pressed suit, or perhaps because his face was still red.
Or maybe he was hungry? After all, it was dinner time.
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“Come here.”
Thinking about it made him realize he was hungry too. Haeyoon, realizing he needed to eat as well, grabbed his hand and pulled him along. The large figure followed without resistance.
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“Have you eaten?”
“No, not yet. What about you? Did you eat anything?”
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“I haven’t eaten. I’m hungry.”
“Then I’ll cook for you. I stocked the fridge.”
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“No, I brought food. There are two portions, so let’s just eat together.”
Leaving Chae Beomjoon in the kitchen, he quickly ran to the entrance and brought back the plastic bag he had left there. Chae Beomjoon, who was about to take out water from the fridge, saw it and chuckled.
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“Did you leave it there on purpose to play a prank?”
His question finally made him look like his usual self. It seemed his startled heart had calmed down.
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Next time, I’ll scare him just a little. Haeyoon nodded, worrying about his elderly heart.
“You’re not a kid.”
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“It’s fun.”
At Haeyoon’s laughing words, Chae Beomjoon quietly looked at him and swept his hair back. He seemed to be thinking about something, then soon laughed and opened the cupboard to take out plates and utensils. He then unwrapped the food and started deboning the ribs with scissors and tongs.
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The person who had bought the food sat at the table, resting his chin, watching him. He looked relaxed, as if it was natural for someone to prepare food for him. While cutting the food, Chae Beomjoon glanced at him and suddenly spoke.
“You seem to be in a good mood today.”
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“Is it obvious?”
“Very much so.”
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The last time Haeyoon met Chae Beomjoon, he was in a really bad mood. It was because of the deputy chief, who was so annoying that it wasn’t even worth mentioning.
But today was different. Although he had been stood up by the deputy director for the second time, he had used the excuse of having an appointment with him to completely block any conversation with the deputy chief, so he didn’t have to dirty his ears.
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Except for the regret of being greedy during the ensemble, it wasn’t bad overall. Honestly, it was close to being good. It must have shown. Or maybe Chae Beomjoon was just observant.
The skillfully prepared rice and ribs were placed right in front of him. Haeyoon, who was hungry, immediately picked up his chopsticks, but Chae Beomjoon spoke.
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“I have a question.”
“Yes.”
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“Have you ever….”
The question that followed was quite unexpected. What is he talking about? Is this Mister going through menopause? Haeyoon looked at him with wide eyes.
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“Have you ever cried?”
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The question he had wanted to ask for a long time finally came out. Chae Beomjoon glanced at Haeyoon, rolling his tongue in his mouth.
He still couldn’t believe it.
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That man.
That self-centered man was the one who played that performance.
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But it was a fact. The person who stayed on the darkening stage until the end, playing like a ghost, was definitely Seo Haeyoon.
He vividly remembered the sight of him packing up his double bass. He also clearly remembered the sight of him struggling with the large instrument and disappearing. He couldn’t hide his embarrassment, standing there like a statue.
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He still didn’t know why he felt that way. Anyway, from the moment he saw Seo Haeyoon standing there, looking down at the floor with his bow lowered, Chae Beomjoon wanted to ask him. Have you ever cried?
Maybe it was because Seo Haeyoon looked strangely sad on stage. Despite being such a talented musician, he looked like someone who was sad while holding the bow.
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Anyway, it was only after Seo Haeyoon disappeared from his sight that Chae Beomjoon came to his senses. The first thing he did after that was to leave the grand theater.
He didn’t know the reason. He just wanted to escape from the overwhelming and inexplicable emotions engulfing him.
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Leaving the image of Seo Haeyoon, standing listlessly, imprinted in his mind, he left the theater and headed into the heart of the city before he could regain his composure. His phone kept ringing, showing Hong Hyekyung’s name.
‘…Hello?’
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─ Chief! Did something urgent come up? You disappeared all of a sudden….
Listening to Hong Hyekyung’s voice, which was flustered by his absence, Chae Beomjoon impulsively asked her not to tell Seo Haeyoon his name or any personal information. He didn’t want Seo Haeyoon to know he was the deputy director until he figured it out himself.
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There was only one reason.
No matter how much Seo Haeyoon acted up, if he realized that Chae Beomjoon was the person who could decide his employment, he wouldn’t dare to be so audacious anymore.
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But Chae Beomjoon liked Seo Haeyoon’s brazen and impudent demeanor. He liked the contrast he exhibited. He didn’t want to see a merely docile Seo Haeyoon.
Although Hong Hyekyung was puzzled, she complied with Chae Beomjoon’s request without much question. Chae Beomjoon thanked her and hung up the phone without giving a long explanation.
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On his way home, he couldn’t believe what he had seen and kept questioning himself, thinking he might have imagined it.
However, despite his doubts, the image of Seo Haeyoon with his arm lowered and bow in hand kept lingering before his eyes.
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It was a face he had never seen before. Not a face he had thought he would ever see on him.
It was different from the face he had seen in bed. It was nothing like crying in that way.
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So, he wanted to know. Had he ever cried with that face? How many times had it happened? Was that sadness such a familiar emotion to Seo Haeyoon that he could hide it so casually? He was curious.
It was just human curiosity.
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“Have you ever cried as an adult?”
“……”
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Seo Haeyoon seemed flustered by the serious question and kept his mouth shut. The chopsticks holding the rib returned to their place.
His large eyes moved delicately. His long eyelashes fluttered a few times. There was no trace of the performer Seo Haeyoon he had seen earlier, but Chae Beomjoon knew now. He knew how sad he could look.
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“Mister….”
Seo Haeyoon carefully observed Chae Beomjoon and finally spoke after a long while. He had quite a serious expression.
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“Lately, do you suddenly feel like crying for no reason?”
It wasn’t the answer he was expecting. What is he talking about? Unable to understand, he tilted his head, and Haeyoon continued with a serious tone.
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“Do you suddenly feel your heart pounding, or your body heating up, or your mood swinging back and forth, or something like that?”
Chae Beomjoon was a little surprised. Seo Haeyoon had pinpointed his condition precisely.
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How did he know? He had indeed felt strange today. His heart had pounded several times as if he had arrhythmia, he had broken into a cold sweat, and suddenly felt hot.
His mood had also fluctuated. Until Seo Haeyoon arrived, he couldn’t believe that he and the double bassist he had chosen were the same person, thinking he had imagined it. But as soon as he saw that pretty face, it all made sense. So that’s why his hand reacted that way.
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“Really?”
When Chae Beomjoon kept silent, Seo Haeyoon widened his eyes in surprise. What followed was embarrassing. He smiled sympathetically at Chae Beomjoon, something he had never shown before, and reached out to pat his shoulder.
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“Why are you doing this? It’s creepy.”
Though Chae Beomjoon recoiled at his uncharacteristic behavior, Seo Haeyoon was unusually magnanimous. Ignoring Beomjoon’s provoking tone, he comforted him in a gentle voice.
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“It’s okay, Mister. You’re still young. My dad was like that too, but he got better with hormone therapy. Early menopause can probably be treated.”
…What?
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“Menopause after just two times having sex sounds like a scam, but I’ll try to bear with it.”
“What nonsense is this?”
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Chae Beomjoon, who couldn’t believe his ears, frowned and jumped up from his seat upon hearing the word “menopause” twice. His handsome face turned red with anger and shame.
“What on earth are you talking about? Menopause?”
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That word simply didn’t exist in Chae Beomjoon’s vocabulary. Not in the past, not in the future, and certainly not in connection to him.
If such a thing were to happen to him at this age, he’d skip the hospital and head straight for a lab to be dissected. It was an impossibility—utterly inconceivable for someone as testosterone-filled as Chae Beomjoon!
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“It’s just that I’ve been feeling a little off… That’s it! It’s the season! Yeah, I’m just sensitive to autumn! Menopause? What a ridiculous notion!”
Yes, it was the autumn blues. Chae Beomjoon prided himself on being a man of emotion. His racing heart and sentimental thoughts could be chalked up entirely to that.
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“Don’t deny it. Your symptoms are spot on,” Seo Haeyoon said stubbornly.
Deny it? He wasn’t the one bringing this up! Baffled, Chae Beomjoon tilted his head and retorted sarcastically.
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“Are you a doctor or something? Don’t they do psychiatric evaluations these days? Before tossing out half-baked diagnoses, why don’t you deal with your paranoia first?”
“My dad had the exact same symptoms.”
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“Oh, so your father’s particularly sensitive to autumn too?”
“Look at you getting angry! Mood swings, right there! Your face is even red!”
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The more certainty Seo Haeyoon’s voice carried, the more exasperated Chae Beomjoon became. Whatever spark of sentimentality he’d felt earlier was long gone. He let out a dry laugh, raking a hand through his hair before turning to Haeyoon, prepared to argue.
“Who doesn’t get upset when they hear nonsense like ‘menopause’?”
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“Someone who’s actually far from it wouldn’t get upset.”
“Name one man who wouldn’t react to that!”
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“Me?”
“You must’ve left your dick at home, then.”
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“It’s right here. Wanna see?”
Seo Haeyoon stared at him with a deadpan expression before standing up and pulling down his pants. A smooth, hairless pink appendage came into view. Clearly, he wasn’t leaving it behind anywhere… Wait, no, this wasn’t the issue. Swallowing his shock, Chae Beomjoon refused to be outdone. Without missing a beat, he yanked at his waistband.
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“Same here. Look at this! Does this look like the dick of someone going through menopause?”
A large, rapidly hardening erection stood at attention. A direct result of having Seo Haeyoon’s on display moments ago. A man like this? Menopause? Impossible! Chae Beomjoon jutted out his pelvis in defiance, but Seo Haeyoon remained unimpressed.
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“Who knows? You could drop dead soon. Erectile dysfunction doesn’t exactly come with visible signs, Mister.”
“Why are you always so damn suspicious?”
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“It’s called being cautious.”
He’d heard that line before. It was the same day he learned firsthand what it meant to feel utterly exasperated.
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A sudden sense of foreboding washed over him, reminding him of the day he first met Seo Haeyoon. How fiercely they’d clashed to prove he wasn’t some kind of pervert. The memory tightened in his chest like a blocked airway. Enough. Actions spoke louder than words.
“Let’s just eat,” he said, waving off the argument and gritting his teeth.
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“And for the record,” he added firmly, “I’ll prove to you later that there’s nothing invisible going on here.”
It was an assertive declaration—he wasn’t about to let his pride as a man be so easily dismissed.
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Amused, Seo Haeyoon laughed like a child before settling down to eat. Chae Beomjoon also helped himself to the food, though the unfairness of it all gnawed at him until he couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Anyway, it’s not menopause. Just a little fatigue. And, like I said, it’s autumn.”
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“Got it, got it.”
“I’m not at that age yet.”
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“I said I got it.”
“Why does your tone sound so dismissive?”
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“What’s dismissive about it? Maybe it’s because you’re still holding onto lingering doubts that you feel that way, Mister.”
“….”
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What was with this stubbornness? Was this how Galileo felt when he insisted the Earth revolved around the sun? Facing this brick wall of disbelief sitting across from him, Chae Beomjoon sighed and shook his head.
Forget it. No use talking.
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As he resigned himself to silence, Seo Haeyoon, seeming to sense his frustration, suppressed a laugh and asked, his voice devoid of earlier mischief, “Are you really unwell? No other symptoms?”
“…Other symptoms?”
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That question seemed to loosen the knot in his chest just a bit. Was he actually worried about him? Could this guy even do that? Chae Beomjoon stole a glance at Haeyoon, who had been annoying just a second ago, and began mentally reviewing his condition over the past few days.
“Well, aside from what I already mentioned, nothing in particular.”
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There really wasn’t much else. Aside from today’s events, his physical condition was the same as usual. If there was anything unusual, it might be the fact that he’d been getting erections far too often over the past two days—usually triggered by thoughts of Seo Haeyoon.
When Chae Beomjoon responded, Seo Haeyoon swallowed the meat he was chewing, took a sip of water, and spread out his left hand. Then, he began listing Beomjoon’s symptoms one by one. Beomjoon’s eyes instinctively darted to the calloused hand.
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“Let’s break it down. Your face gets red?”
“My heart pounds, yeah.”
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“Your mood swings all over the place?”
“It does.”
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“And suddenly, you start asking weird, sentimental questions, like, ‘Have you ever been sad?’ Out of nowhere, you get all emotional.”
“True.”
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Boiling it down, those were the four main symptoms. As much as he hated to admit it, they were classic signs of menopause. But there was absolutely no way that was it. It simply couldn’t be.
Firmly crossing menopause off the list, Chae Beomjoon began considering what other illnesses might cause such symptoms.
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As he had mentioned earlier, the last two symptoms could be chalked up to seasonal affective tendencies. But honestly, he wasn’t the kind of person to be that sentimental, even in autumn.
And if that were the case, how was he supposed to explain the other two physical symptoms? Arrhythmia? Tachycardia? Whatever it was, it didn’t sound good.
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While he was lost in thought, Seo Haeyoon, who had been mulling things over as well, suddenly burst into laughter and spoke.
“If it’s not menopause, then it’s awfully similar to someone having a crush.”
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“…What did you just say?”
“You know, like kids get. ‘Mister, at prom, I….’”
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Seo Haeyoon’s chatter came to an abrupt halt as if he’d realized something.
Symptoms of having a crush? Chae Beomjoon, who had been shocked by the first statement, found his mind grinding to a halt as well.
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A discordant silence descended.
“…….”
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“…….”
A gaze full of suspicion met another filled with bewilderment, colliding in mid-air.
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No, that couldn’t be right.
Even as he thought that to himself, Chae Beomjoon found he couldn’t outright deny it. The truth was, every single one of his symptoms had coincidentally been triggered by Seo Haeyoon.
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When he’d first seen Haeyoon’s unfamiliar face on stage, he’d broken out in a cold sweat.
When he saw Haeyoon smile with a face he recognized, his heart had raced.
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When Haeyoon brushed his own hair back with his hand, Beomjoon’s face had turned red.
And in the brief time they’d spent together, his mood had been all over the place.
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At the center of all these changes in Chae Beomjoon was undeniably Seo Haeyoon.
But liking someone? Chae Beomjoon? A man whose veins practically coursed with testosterone, to the point where even semen could’ve replaced his blood? Liking someone?
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And that someone being Seo Haeyoon, of all people?
How did that even make sense?
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No. Absolutely not. That was impossible, and it shouldn’t be possible, under any circumstances.
“It’s not me, right…?”
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And so, when Seo Haeyoon—sharp as ever or perhaps just full of himself—posed the question, Beomjoon could only answer this way:
“It’s probably…”
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“Should I leave?”
“…menopause. I think it must be menopause. Now that I think about it, I’m definitely at that age.”
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Yes, this had to be menopause.
Chae Beomjoon’s eyes filled with a conviction that bordered on blind faith.
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