AMF | Chapter 2.3

Thump, thump, thump.

― Alright, I’ll come over.

The silence was broken by Kang Yieon. He added in a lower voice.

― I’m curious to see how your mind has changed.

Eunho put down the phone and took a deep breath. His once churning stomach now felt hot, as if he had swallowed a heated stone.

‘Eunho.’

‘Sunbae.’

Faces pretending to be kind and gentle appeared in his mind. Normally, he would have smiled softly, thinking of them. He would have felt a strong bond, affection, and gratitude.

But as Eunho thought of the two people whose masks had been removed, there was no hint of a smile on his face. Only his pale eyes glinted quietly.

.☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖

Before long, Eunho spotted Yieon. As soon as he saw him, he tugged on his arm. Yieon’s thick eyebrows twitched, perhaps surprised by the sudden touch.

“Follow me, quickly.”

Eunho whispered softly and walked briskly towards his office. He entered a space where no one was around. Entering his personal office, filled with his belongings, made him feel somewhat alive.

As soon as Yieon entered, Eunho closed the door. The suddenly invited guest looked around with interest. While he was admiring the office, Eunho leaned against his desk.

“We probably have questions for each other, right?”

The gaze that had been surveying the surroundings turned to Eunho. It was filled with interest. Clearly, he was curious about Eunho’s change of heart. He watched for a few seconds before raising the corners of his mouth.

“Seems like it. Will you answer if I ask?”

“If you answer my questions too.”

“Of course.”

Yieon added casually.

“I can answer anything for you, Eunho.”

His demeanor was quite different from when he was dealing with Dohoon. Eunho nodded slowly.

“You ask first, Yieon.”

“Who was the person with Lee Dohoon?”

“Ryu Minjun, my junior from university. He’s also an artist. I’ve been supporting him because he’s talented.”

“Ah. Is he the one Dohoon was cheating with?”

At those words, Eunho’s expression darkened. The two people who had been passionately entangled on the villa terrace during the party. It wasn’t just his fiancé, Lee Dohoon, who had shocked Eunho. The person moaning in Dohoon’s arms was a familiar face to Eunho.

The person revealed under the moonlight was Ryu Minjun. The junior who always followed him around, calling him sunbae. The kid with an extraordinary love and potential for art. Someone Eunho cherished and wanted to help blossom like a fully bloomed rose.

Minjun was giggling in Dohoon’s arms. His hair was tousled, and his cheeks were flushed red.

“Sigh.”

Recalling that scene, Eunho sighed. A bluish-gray shadow had formed under his eyes. Just remembering the past wrapped him in a melancholic feeling. After a brief silence, Eunho slowly opened his lips.

“Yes, they were cheating. How did you know?”

“I heard when you were drunk. You said your fiancé was entangled with your junior. That both of them were deceiving you and doing such things.”

“You told him in detail…”

“When I saw you looking at those two earlier, your eyes were cold. I realized immediately that he was the one.”

Kang Yieon walked over and sat on a single sofa. His face was calm, as if it had nothing to do with him.

“Well, it’s understandable you couldn’t hide your expression. Your fiancé and cherished junior were fooling around. I’m surprised you didn’t hit them earlier. You have a lot of patience.”

“…Were my eyes that cold? Do you think they noticed?”

Yieon shook his head with a smile.

“Not at all. They seemed clueless.”

“They must think I’m a fool. They don’t even consider that I might know.”

His murmuring voice was sharp. It was a cold and cutting tone, unlike the usually calm Eunho. The unfamiliar whisper made Eunho’s eyes twitch. After a moment, he moved away from the desk and approached Yieon.

“Now I’ll ask what I’m curious about.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Tell me everything you haven’t told me.”

“Everything?”

“How you know Dohoon, and why you’re helping me with revenge. Tell me everything. I feel like you approached me with more than just curiosity.”

Yieon tilted his chin up, looking at Eunho. His eyes, now showing the whites, sparkled.

“It’s strange for someone busy with business to suddenly come to Korea. It’s strange to offer help for revenge to someone you barely know. And suggesting we pretend to be in a relationship for that revenge is strange. I feel like you’re hiding something more.”

“Ah, it’s because of Dohoon that you think that. He did ask unnecessary questions.”

“…”

“Alright, I’ll tell you everything.”

Yieon spoke softly and leaned back on the sofa. Unlike Eunho, who was standing stiffly, he was full of ease.

“Dohoon and I have known each other for a long time. Our families know each other, and we went to middle and high school together. I wasn’t interested in him, but Dohoon was different. He had a strong inferiority complex towards me.”

“Inferiority complex?”

“It was because I was better than him in many ways. Looks, education, family, business skills. Everything else too.”

Yieon casually stated his superiority, brushing the sofa’s armrest. There was no sign of arrogance or smugness in him.

“Dohoon never mentioned you.”

“Why would he talk about someone he dislikes?”

“…Dohoon really cared that much about you?”

“Instead of going his own way, he was always obsessed with me. It’s a pity, really.”

“…”

“If you don’t believe me, test Dohoon. You’ll quickly see how much he dislikes me.”

Eunho recalled Dohoon’s face freezing as soon as he saw Kang Yieon. The look of hatred he had never seen before. Fierce, rough, and unable to contain his anger. Like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away.

“The reason I came to Korea was because my grandfather called me. But it wasn’t just because he missed his grandson.”

Eunho’s eyes widened at Yieon’s next words. He tapped the armrest with his fingers for a moment.

Tap, tap, tap.

“I need funds to expand my company. And my grandfather has that money. A lot of it, much more than I do.”

“And?”

“I asked my grandfather to provide the funds. But he’s a businessman to the core. He never does anything that would cause a loss. Even if the person asking is his beloved youngest grandson. He only checks if the investment is worth it. Even after I said it was a valuable deal multiple times, he kept doubting. Then he proposed this deal.”

Yieon grabbed the armrest. He stood up and quietly added.

“Bring someone you love. Then he’ll provide the investment funds.”

When he said ‘love,’ a cold smile crept in. He seemed to feel a sense of rejection just by saying the word. His thick eyebrows twitched, and the right side of his lips curled up further.

“Love?”

“Yes, love. That word holds my grandfather’s desire. In a family built on arranged marriages, he wouldn’t expect romantic feelings. He probably means to bring someone who would benefit the family.”

Eunho understood his words. His engagement to Dohoon wasn’t his choice either. It was because his father had asked, not as a request but as a plea, for the sake of the company.

“You must have felt bad. I understand that feeling. I was quite taken aback when I was told to get engaged to someone I didn’t know.”

“Yes, it feels bad. But what can I do? I desperately need my grandfather, Chairman Kang’s money.”

Kang Yieon quickly regained his composure, as if he had never laughed coldly. His tone was soft, even showing a hint of amusement. Eunho couldn’t understand his emotions at all. Was it fun to make such deals with his grandfather?

“But… why did you suggest pretending to be in a relationship with me?”

“I told you. If I bring someone I love, I’ll get the money.”

“No way…”

“Yes, Eunho. You’re thinking correctly.”

In the silence, only Yieon’s voice echoed.

“I said I looked into you. You have a decent family and aren’t a bad face to have as a fiancé. I know you’re capable too. Most importantly.”

His soft whisper caressed Eunho’s ear. The tone was so sweet it made his hair stand on end.

“I have what you want most. In that sense, we can be great contract partners.”

“What I want most?”

“The person Dohoon hates the most is me. He already found me annoying, and now that I’ve returned, he’s even more irritated.”

“…”

“Leave Dohoon and come to me. Make him feel betrayed. Show him that he’s not the only one who can choose someone else.”

It’s confusing. It feels like I understand Kang Yie’s intentions, yet I don’t. The man standing before me feels like a dense fog.

Eunho didn’t know how to respond, so he closed his eyes tightly. His breathing seemed too loud for the small room. Strangely, standing in front of Kang Yieon made him feel intimidated. Was this how Dohoon felt? Did he hate him because he felt overwhelmed?

Eunho opened his eyes again and rubbed his arm. For some reason, goosebumps had risen on his skin. The feeling of being constantly swayed by the other person wasn’t pleasant. So Eunho spoke as firmly as he could.

“Isn’t this getting too big? What if I can’t back out in time and end up getting married? I don’t want to enter an arranged marriage with you just for revenge.”

Speaking resolutely, Yieon burst into laughter.

“When did I say we should get married? Even if things don’t go well and we end up engaged, it’s just a formality. Just pretend to date me.”

Yieon spoke gently, as if coaxing.

“Act like we’re madly in love, like we’re the perfect couple. Deceive my grandfather, Chairman Kang.”

“And after that?”

“I’ll handle the rest. I’ll make sure you don’t end up marrying me, so don’t worry. I hate being tied down to one person too.”

Yieon extended his hand. It was a large hand, like that of a volleyball player. His long, white fingers waved softly up and down.

“Take my hand, Seo Eunho. Let’s make a contract.”

The watch he wore gleamed under the light. It was the same watch he wore at the bar. I remembered staring at the watch and then turning my gaze to his face. And then, under the influence of the man’s unique aura and the alcohol, I started saying anything.

“You want revenge, I want ambition. Let’s each grab the desires we want.”

His gentle voice settled in my ears. Eunho swallowed dryly. His heart began to pound again.

Thump, thump, thump.