USU Ch 2

When I accepted his offer, a moment of silence followed, as if he was surprised. Just then, the traffic light changed to green, and the people standing around poured onto the crosswalk, painted black and white like a keyboard.

I walked slowly, holding the phone closer to my ear. I was afraid I might miss what he was saying because of the noisy surroundings.

Seo Kijoon soon burst out laughing.

—Ah, that’s more like Yeo Eungyeom.

I didn’t understand why he said that was like me, but before I could ask, he continued.

—You’ll definitely like it.

He murmured lowly, like a satisfied beast growling.

A sense of defiance arose. The threesome was definitely Seo Kijoon’s suggestion, and I didn’t expect him, who had a plethora of sexual partners besides me, to suddenly become possessive.

But still, isn’t his reaction too nonchalant? It’s been years since we started sleeping together. How can he be so calm?

Annoyed, I nitpicked.

“Why are you so sure? Have you tried it before or something?”

—Yes.

I was momentarily dumbfounded by his immediate answer.

It was a good thing I couldn’t read his expression over the phone. How stupid must I have looked just now? I swallowed a sigh and wiped my face.

Right… So that’s it. With someone other than me, with his brother…

Seo Kijoon’s gentle voice cut through my thoughts like scissors.

—Anyway, good thinking.

“….”

—I’ll talk to my brother and get back to you, honey.

I had accepted half out of impulse, half out of spite, but the emptiness was all mine. My steps were slow on the way home, as if my shoes were glued to the ground. Perhaps because of the increasingly cold weather, my vision was still filled with lovers clinging to each other, their eyes full of affection.

I walked against the crowd, staring at the ground like a doll with its strings cut, and finally arrived at my studio apartment. As soon as I closed the front door, I slid down against it. My whole body ached with exhaustion, as if I had been walking for a very long time.

＊＊＊

Even though I had agreed to it, I was anxious for days, not knowing when his brother would contact me. But three days of waiting turned into a week, and a week into half a month. It had also been a while since he, who used to be between my legs every other day, had stopped coming.

Since we weren’t lovers but just sex partners, I didn’t intend to complain about him not contacting me, but after thinking about it, it made sense. I had forgotten for a moment because my mind was filled with impure thoughts, but it was the right time for him to be busy.

“I haven’t seen Kijoon oppa lately.”

“Me neither.”

“It’s his recital preparation period, right?”

That’s right. The reason he’d gone silent for half a month was because he was preparing for his solo recital. I nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I thought so.”

Min Sua looked away and dried the cups she had just washed with a dry towel.

“Will he give us invitations this time too?”

“I don’t know.”

“My younger sibling was so happy to go with me last time…”

Min Sua glanced at me as she spoke. I chuckled. It was cute how her intentions were so obvious, even though she tried to hide them.

As Min Sua said, Seo Kijoon often gave her and me invitations to his recitals, which sold out within three seconds of opening online reservations. And they were always the best R seats.

We enjoyed the concert with our respective companions after receiving the tickets. Min Sua had gone with her younger sibling before, and I had taken my nephew.

Her anxious eyes were cute, so I casually said,

“Should I ask him?”

“Yes! Thank you, sir!”

Min Sua smiled brightly and nodded vigorously.

Perfect timing. I wanted to contact Seo Kijoon anyway, so this was a good excuse. “Sua wants to go to the concert this time too, do you think you can get us tickets?” I planned to casually bring up the topic and ask if he had talked to his brother.

Striking while the iron was hot, I contacted Seo Kijoon as soon as the customers left. However, all I heard was the ringing tone again. I rubbed my face and went out the back door to smoke a cigarette next to the trash bags. I made a couple more calls while smoking, but there was still no answer.

I had expected this to some extent. He was always on edge when preparing for a recital. Perhaps his suggestion of a threesome was a reaction to his heightened sensitivity. He was very wary of revealing his inner feelings, so he might have wanted to express his desires through the stimulation of sex.

As I was putting out my cigarette with my sneaker, something came to mind. I remembered that this recital was for charity. I had been puzzled by this uncharacteristic move. Who was organizing it…? LS Corporation, was it? I couldn’t remember exactly.

‘Well, I guess I won’t be able to reach him for a while.’

He wasn’t usually so obsessed with practice. He was always free-spirited and grew up being praised for inheriting a devilish talent.

Nicknamed the “Maverick of the Keyboard,” a somewhat cheesy moniker, he preferred short bursts of intense practice over consistent daily work. I thought people in the arts, like athletes or musicians, believed in honing their skills daily, but he was different. Perhaps it was possible because he was called a genius in the first place.

If you ask me if I fell for his genius… well. I can’t completely deny it, but it must have played a part.

I brushed off the smell of cigarettes and placed my hand on the doorknob. It was frustrating, but just thinking about Seo Kijoon made time fly by. It was almost closing time.

Exactly a week later, Seo Kijoon finally contacted me.

—Honey, how did you manage to endure your itchy asshole? Did you give it to someone else in the meantime?

His voice over the phone was cheerful. He must have seen the numerous missed calls I’d made, yet he was so shameless.

I didn’t even bother to respond. Even if I told him I had been rolling around with someone else, he wouldn’t have cared, so I didn’t even laugh. I growled sarcastically.

“Yeah, fuck. I had a gangbang. Happy now?”

—Sounds like you had an orgy. You should have invited me.

“Hang up if you’re going to talk nonsense.”

—Why are you so sensitive today?

“I’ll hang up even if you called because you were bored.”

—I didn’t call because I was bored.

Seo Kijoon’s voice suddenly turned serious. Reflexively, I had a sliver of hope that he might have called because he missed my voice.

I chuckled inwardly. No way. I should stop torturing myself with hope, but I haven’t improved at all even after all this time. I’m such a slow learner.

I asked calmly,

“Then?”

—I got in touch with my brother.

My heart dropped at his casual tone. It was funny. It was me, not anyone else, who had agreed to Seo Kijoon’s proposal.

My heart, which had fallen to the floor, started beating rapidly again. I swallowed hard and tried to act nonchalant. It was a body I had never shown to any other man, or anyone other than Seo Kijoon. And now I was about to spread my legs in front of his brother.

No, maybe his brother refused.

Yes, logically, he wouldn’t be happy about a threesome with his younger brother’s fuck buddy. He must have refused. Even though he had a history, it could have been a special case. I concluded unilaterally and asked calmly,

“So?”

Still, I couldn’t help but clench my hand on my lap. As if he was very amused, Seo Kijoon replied cheerfully, his voice laced with laughter.

—He said let’s meet soon.

“…Okay.”

As expected, nothing involving Seo Kijoon ever went my way. What was I hoping for when I agreed? That something would change if there was a new stimulus in our stagnant relationship?

“When? Where… a hotel? Or…”

As I stammered, flustered, Seo Kijoon chuckled softly. If the conversation hadn’t been so vulgar, it would have sounded quite refreshing.

—Honey, calm down. Why are you getting ahead of yourself?

“What?”

—He said let’s meet, not let’s fuck.

I frowned, wondering what he meant. Just as I was about to ask, he spoke first.

—Well, it’s not like he said he wouldn’t sleep with us.

“….”

—He said let’s have dinner together first. He wants to see what kind of person you are.

It felt strange to have dinner before getting to the main point, like a job interview. It’s not like we wanted a sentimental relationship where we shared meals. Ultimately, it was just about sex. What’s the big deal?

As if he had read my bewilderment in the ensuing silence, Seo Kijoon continued,

—My brother is a very picky person.

He’s definitely not the type to make excuses for someone, but maybe because they’re brothers, he was defending him.

I didn’t even know Seo Kijoon had a brother, let alone a twin, even though we’ve been together for ten years. I suppressed the frustration and sadness welling up inside me. It was my loss if I showed it. Even if he noticed my feelings, Seo Kijoon would be too busy teasing me instead of empathizing.

No, wait. It would be a relief if it ended with teasing.

Once, one of Seo Kijoon’s partners confessed their feelings to him. They said they really liked him, they didn’t want him to sleep with anyone else, and they wondered if he felt the same way.

Just like he calls me “honey,” Seo Kijoon tends to subtly give his partners false hope, so it wasn’t unreasonable for that person to misunderstand.

The problem is that he blocked that person without a second thought. According to Seo Kijoon, that person had been showing signs of confessing for a while, and even though he clearly rejected them every time, they kept clinging to him.

How did I know about this? Because that person was a long-time partner of Seo Kijoon. I sometimes received calls from them while I was having dinner or aftercare with Seo Kijoon. When I asked him about the name that frequently appeared on his screen, Seo Kijoon told me nonchalantly.

He said he saw them more often than others because they had good sexual chemistry and a cool personality, but even so, he cut them off completely after they confessed.

Then what about me? What would happen to me? There’s no need to ask twice. I don’t even want to imagine it.

“Okay, then let me know when you set a date.”

—What about your cafe?

“I can manage that much.”

Seo Kijoon chuckled. Imagining his lips curving into a playful smile made my lower abdomen warm. I licked my dry lips for no reason. It’s been too long since I’ve slept with him.

—Because you’re the boss?

“Of course.”

I’m helping out now because I haven’t found a manager yet, but once I do, it’ll be enough to just check in once a week.

I went to a job site and told him,

“So, make a plan with your brother.”

—Okay, honey.

I imagined him from his affectionate voice. He was probably smiling slyly, his eyes crinkling like a fox. And I would look at him and think he’s incredibly handsome. I knew it.

It’s what I’ve been doing for ten years.

＊＊＊

Fortunately, a manager was finally found the day before the big day. Actually, applications had been steadily coming in, but only three people, including this one, made it to the interview stage. Two of them didn’t meet my standards.

“Hello.”

“Yes, what can I get for you?”

“Oh, no. I’m here for the interview…”

Min Sua, who was washing dishes, turned her head blatantly. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. It was a natural reaction, since this could be the person she would be working with from now on. I chuckled and looked back at the applicant.

Since they had already passed the document screening, I briefly asked about cafe operations, store management, and staff management. As expected of an experienced person, they answered fluently. I was very satisfied. I felt like I could trust this person.

Anxious not to miss this potential manager, Lee Hayeon, I asked hastily,

“Then, can you start working tomorrow?”

“Um, how about the day after tomorrow?”

“That’s fine. Then I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”

It would be great if they could start tomorrow, but when has anything ever gone my way? Anyway, tomorrow was the day I was supposed to meet Seo Kijoon and his brother, and I inevitably had to go to the cafe in the morning.

Where are you?

Arriving in front of the fine dining restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, I texted Seo Kijoon. After valet parking my car, I entered the restaurant. The nameplate at the entrance exuded tremendous pride in its Michelin three-star rating.

I’m not poor, but a meal that costs well over 300,000 won per person was a bit burdensome. Seo Kijoon’s brother was supposed to pay, since he was the one who suggested we have dinner, so I came here to be treated, but still.

He didn’t reply, so I called him, but all I heard was the ringing tone. He must have been driving. I wandered around the hall, waiting for Seo Kijoon to respond. The staff glanced at me, probably because my neat appearance attracted attention. Soon, a message arrived.

I’m nearby. Go in first and tell them my name.

He seemed to have made a reservation for a private room. It felt even more burdensome, but since I was going to be treated anyway, I decided to be shameless. As I approached the counter, a staff member with flushed cheeks greeted me politely.

“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”

“Yes, Seo Kijoon. 6 pm reservation.”

After checking the list, the staff member guided me inside.

The exterior was decorated to resemble a traditional Korean house, befitting a Korean restaurant, and the interior was the same. Wherever I looked, a neat and clean atmosphere emanated. The languid music was a blend of traditional Korean music and jazz, a modern interpretation. We walked down a long corridor, past a courtyard with a small pond.

Strictly speaking, none of this was Seo Kijoon’s style. He must have catered to his brother’s taste from start to finish.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t heard what he does.’

Suddenly, my fingertips tingled with nervousness. The muscles in my body felt taut. It was a nervousness I hadn’t felt in a long time, since I hadn’t stepped outside my small circle of acquaintances after graduating from college.

I wasn’t particularly attached to the people at the cafe, so I didn’t feel much about new employees coming and going, but the weight of meeting someone to sleep with was clearly different.

The staff member stopped in front of a door at the end of the corridor labeled “Camellia.” Camellia… the flower language is “I love you only,” isn’t it? None of the three people entering this room fit that romantic meaning.

The staff member opened the door with a smile and asked,

“Shall I prepare your meal right away?”

None of my party had arrived yet, so why so early? They only had one signature course for dinner, so there was no need to choose a menu. That’s why they were asking if they should start preparing.

I shook my head. Seo Kijoon said he was nearby, so there was no need to rush. He said he was close, but I didn’t know when he would arrive, and the food might get cold.

“No, after my party arrives…”

I stopped mid-sentence, my eyes widening and then narrowing as I spotted the man sitting inside the room. Seo Kijoon was sitting at the round table. This damn bastard was playing a prank even on a day like this.

Sighing, I retracted my words as I watched him grinning at me.

“Please start preparing.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll bring you the aperitif first.”

The door closed with a click. I sat next to Seo Kijoon, who was grinning.

“Hey, why did you say you were nearby when you were already here?”

My voice came out sharper than I intended due to my nervousness. Honestly, I was less nervous with Seo Kijoon there than waiting alone in the room, but I was still annoyed by his obvious intention to tease me.

But Seo Kijoon apologized very easily.

“Sorry.”

My eyes widened, then narrowed. I immediately reached out and touched his forehead, then my own. This shameless bastard was apologizing first. He must be sick or the person in front of me wasn’t Seo Kijoon.

“What’s wrong?”

But ironically, he asked back with a friendly smile, as if he didn’t understand the situation. Seo Kijoon gently took my hand from his forehead and lowered it.

Huh… I let out a breath in disbelief. Meanwhile, he didn’t let go of my hand, making my heart race. It was ridiculous that I was being shy about this level of contact after sleeping together countless times. Or was it because it was the kind of skinship lovers would do that made my stomach tickle?

He held my hand and pretended to be preoccupied, observing my neatly trimmed nails and the veins on the back of my hand. I let him be because I liked the way he was looking at me.

However, years of curt behavior as a defense mechanism to hide my feelings from him had accumulated, and they came out reflexively.

“What are you looking at?”

Seo Kijoon grinned without taking his eyes off my fingertips.

“Because you’re pretty.”

“….”

There was something definitely off about Seo Kijoon today. Was he really crazy? Right, he had his recital recently. He must have gone crazy because he participated in some charity event or something.

What was he up to? He would never say something like that to me normally.

Still, I didn’t snap at him because I liked the atmosphere between us right now. Did something stir within him because I suddenly changed my mind about sleeping with his brother? If so, was this proof that there was at least a slight chance for me?

My mind was in turmoil. What if Seo Kijoon really had feelings for me…?

‘What do I want to do?’

It was a hypothetical situation I had never considered before. Seo Kijoon never gave me any hope. He not only slept with other people, but he didn’t even try to hide it. But at least, he was equally cold to all his partners. If you don’t like it, leave. That was his attitude towards them.

I licked my dry lips. Seo Kijoon’s gaze, which had been fixed on my hand, suddenly landed on my lips. His dark eyes stared at me without even blinking. He wouldn’t make me bend over this table and fuck me right here, considering his social status and reputation, but for some reason, at this moment, such an absurd thought crossed my mind.

“You’re… strange today.”

Seo Kijoon chuckled as I shared my honest observation.

“Really?”

He neither denied nor confirmed it. His vague attitude felt overly suggestive rather than frustrating. It was because he was looking at me with languid eyes, as if licking me with his gaze. He even gave me a wink. My heart lurched. Has he ever looked at me like this before? I could confidently say no. At best, it was the wink he gave the audience after a satisfying recital.

His unusually well-dressed appearance also caught my eye. Most pianists wear tails at concerts, but Seo Kijoon was different. Just like his unique personality, his attire at the piano was also free-spirited. Occasionally, he wore neat tails, but he mostly wore semi-formal attire with flashy patterns and colors. He changed his outfits like a chameleon depending on his mood that day.

When he visited me at the cafe or occasionally dined with me, he usually wore comfortable casual clothes. A loose-fitting knit in spring or fall, a turtleneck covering his long neck in winter, a short-sleeved T-shirt showing off his toned triceps in summer.

But today, he was wearing a three-piece suit. At least, I had never seen him dressed like this when meeting me. The dark navy suit seemed tailored, its crisp lines creating smooth curves along his body.

I unknowingly gulped at the jacket that tapered below his waist. It was a natural reaction, since we used to sleep together almost every day. It had been almost three weeks since I last had sex with Seo Kijoon. Having not even masturbated during that time, I was getting aroused just by looking at his body lines.

Forget dinner… I wanted to drag him somewhere and have sex.

Where was Seo Kijoon’s brother? Could I excuse myself to the restroom for a moment?

As I was letting my crazy thoughts run wild, the door suddenly opened. It must have been the staff member with the aperitif. I tried to pull my hand away from Seo Kijoon’s grasp, but he tightened his grip.

I was flustered. He was a famous pianist who had swept competitions at home and abroad since he was young, so he was quite popular among the younger generation.

Whether he cared about that fact or for some other reason, he didn’t usually engage in such blatant skinship in front of others.

What was this all about? You hate this kind of thing. I tried to wriggle my shoulder and pull my hand away.

But at that moment, long, beautiful fingers came into view. The hand generously covered the back of our clasped hands. A beautiful hand with prominent bones.

Why didn’t I recognize it sooner?

I looked up. Sure enough, Seo Kijoon was standing there looking down at me. Only then did Seo Kijoon… no, the unfamiliar man with Seo Kijoon’s face let go of my hand. It was an easy release, as if my tight grip had been meaningless.

I frowned, looking back and forth between the man and Seo Kijoon.

Damn it, I’d been completely played.

Anger surged at the thought that Seo Kijoon’s brother had deceived me. Therefore, I didn’t immediately notice that Seo Kijoon was staring at my hand, the one that had been held by his brother.

“You said he was your brother.”

This wasn’t a joke. What was he doing?

“Were you twins?”

Seo Kijoon smirked and nodded.

“He is my brother. My twin brother.”

“….”

“When did you two get so close? Even in a private room, you’re already fondling hands.”

His gaze was fixed on my hand, the one that the man had been touching. I ignored his playfully thrown words. I couldn’t help it. I was furious at his brother, who was still smiling at me without an apology.

What made me even angrier was that he brazenly offered me a handshake now. Even his upright posture was annoying.

“My name is Seo Gihyun. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He was acting extremely polite, but if he truly respected me, he wouldn’t have acted like he did earlier.

I didn’t take his offered hand. Seo Kijoon shrugged and sat down in the remaining seat. Soon, the aperitif was served, and the appetizers were prepared. Pine nut porridge was served as an appetizer.

Then came the amuse-bouche, a tart with chestnuts, followed by the main courses, one after another. Throughout the meal, I kept frowning and didn’t even glance at Seo Gihyun. However, the two of them had a light conversation, excluding me. The space was small, so I couldn’t help but hear their voices.

“Father was very pleased with the recital this time. He asked if there was anything you wanted.”

Seo Kijoon scoffed at that. His face was filled with utter arrogance. It was the arrogance stemming from the confidence that it was natural for his father to like the recital and that he didn’t need any material reward because he already had everything he wanted.

“Tell him to stop bothering me. It’s been a while since they divorced, why are they still clinging to me so pathetically? Are there no other pianists in Korea besides me?”

Seo Kijoon’s bared teeth, like a predator’s, were unfamiliar to me. Seo Kijoon usually had a relaxed and easygoing disposition.

I was bothered for several reasons. I chewed on a piece of crispy fried eggplant and dry-aged Korean beef steak and thought to myself,

‘His parents are divorced.’

And it happened quite a while ago.

I was a little… no, honestly, quite shocked. I’ve known Seo Kijoon since high school. We’re sex partners, but I’m his only remaining friend. And yet, I was suddenly being bombarded with so much information today.

That Seo Kijoon has a brother, a twin brother at that, and that his parents divorced a long time ago.

If it was a long time ago, when was it exactly? Come to think of it, he never really talked about himself. We weren’t exactly the type to have deep conversations. We were usually too busy having sex.

It was the same in high school. Seo Kijoon, who for some reason entered a regular high school instead of an arts high school, always lay down on his desk, and the teachers were busy turning a blind eye to him.

So, there were subtle rumors circulating among our classmates. Common and vulgar rumors like he was the chairman’s grandson or some chaebol’s illegitimate child.

Of course, Seo Kijoon wasn’t any of those. He was just a genius with a renowned pianist for a mother.

Seo Gihyun simply laughed off Seo Kijoon’s cynical response, as if he had expected it. Actually, it seemed like their father was the one who felt regretful, and the two of them didn’t seem to have a bad relationship. Perhaps it was because they were twins.

As I was following their conversation, a word suddenly flashed through my mind.

The charity recital hosted by LS Group.

‘Could it be…?’

A tremendous hypothesis came to mind. It would take more than just some executive’s power to force a pianist like Seo Kijoon to perform in a concert he didn’t want to do. Then, could it be that Seo Kijoon and Seo Gihyun’s father was the…

“Yes, it’s all thanks to Eungyeom that I’m having this meal with you.”

My name suddenly popped up in their smooth conversation. Lost in thought, I flinched and turned to Seo Gihyun. He was looking at me with his characteristic sweet smile.

How long had he been staring at me like that? I chewed and swallowed the perilla oil pasta that had been served at some point. Perhaps because of his gaze, my Adam’s apple bobbed slowly.

“…Me?”

“Yes, if it weren’t for introducing Eungyeom, Kijoon wouldn’t have contacted me first.”

He was putting it in very refined terms, but what he actually meant was that Seo Kijoon contacted his brother for sex. It was a truly Seo Kijoon-like reason.

For dessert, a thumb-sized green tea cake, along with snowflake strawberry macarons and persimmon macarons, were served. As I was distracted by their beautiful appearance, Seo Gihyun suddenly handed me something. It was a neat rectangular business card.

“I’m really sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

With Seo Kijoon’s face, he looked so apologetic that I couldn’t help but soften. Damn it, if I forgave him this easily, he would think I was a pushover.

Instead of answering, I looked at the business card he had given me. The moment I saw his title, the hypothesis I had made earlier clicked into place like a completed puzzle.

<LS Corporation, Seo Gihyun, Managing Director>

If he held the position of Managing Director at the largest subsidiary of LS Corporation, one of the largest companies in Korea, what kind of position would his father, who put him there, hold? It was a question that didn’t require an answer. They were people in positions I, a mere cafe owner, couldn’t even imagine.

I glared at Seo Kijoon. Fuck, I just want to live a normal life. Why do I have to get involved with a chaebol family all of a sudden?

“Yeo Eungyeom.”

“Yes, yes?”

I stammered without realizing it. Seo Gihyun smirked. If I could, I would blow my brains out right now. Might as well advertise that I’m an idiot.

Then, he slowly rubbed the back of my hand. Seo Kijoon raised an eyebrow with an intrigued look.

“So, when are we having sex?”

I could feel his lustful, dark eyes staring intently at my earlobes, cheeks, and nape, as if licking them. Even though he wasn’t even touching me with his fingertips, I couldn’t move. It was difficult to even swallow under his suffocating gaze.

An incredibly handsome face, identical to Seo Kijoon’s. But why did I feel this creepy feeling, like a snake crawling over me?