SB Ch 5

Their conversation, though quiet, drew the attention of most people who were tidying up their instruments and music sheets. However, when the sub-principal looked around awkwardly, fearing eye contact, they lowered their heads. None of them seemed willing to help Seo Haeyoon, likely wanting to avoid getting involved.

Feeling a subtle sense of discord, Seo Haeyoon stretched his lips into a smile. If this was the “hierarchy” Ahn Yewon had spoken about, he had no intention of letting it slide. For Haeyoon, it was nothing more than workplace bullying. He bowed his head belatedly before the sub-principal could make another unpleasant remark.

“Thank you for your efforts, teacher. Also, I was not with the New York Philharmonic, but the Newrick City Symphony Orchestra. I lack the skills to vie for the sub-principal position, so you don’t have to worry.”

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He hated admitting his lack of skill, but it was the only way to deliver a blow to the sub-principal. It would be a great embarrassment for him to consider a much younger player as a rival.

As intended, Haeyoon’s words caused the sub-principal’s face to turn red. Embarrassed at having his intentions exposed, he waved his hand.

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“No, it’s not particularly like that…”

Despite his explanation, the sub-principal’s eyes were insincere. He soon clenched his jaw and turned around, his tone suggesting they would meet again.

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“…Well, anyway, good job today. See you the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

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The members didn’t attend daily from 9 to 6 like office workers. The orchestra had scheduled a few group practices each week, and those weren’t very long.

However, like freelancers, having less or no time tied to the company meant lower salaries and many personal responsibilities. Outside of group practices, orchestra members usually practiced individually at home, school, or designated practice rooms. For Haeyoon, who often clashed with other members, this was fortunate.

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After the sub-principal left, Haeyoon slowly packed up. This was the stage he would stand on for some time. He waited for everyone to leave so he could take a moment to look out at the audience from the center.

As he was finishing up and about to sit, he heard footsteps approaching. Another person? Feeling a sense of foreboding, he looked up to see the concertmaster. Park Yeon-woong, who had been introduced earlier, was the concertmaster of Suseon Orchestra.

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“I heard you graduated from Manhattan School of Music? I’m an alumnus too.”

The concertmaster, who looked to be in his forties, spoke as soon as he approached Haeyoon.

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“Yes, teacher. That’s right…”

Thinking he was trying to establish a connection through their shared alma mater, Haeyoon nodded. But the concertmaster cut him off and issued a warning.

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“Let’s not tarnish the name of our school.”

“…”

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What? But by the time he looked up, the fast-walking concertmaster had already disappeared off the stage. Haeyoon bit his lip, feeling his spirits sink.

Hearing about the assistant director, Haeyoon had thought this orchestra might become his lifelong home. Realizing that was a delusion and false hope didn’t take long. Grasping his well-used bow, he let out a short sigh, predicting that the same old issues would arise here.

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However, he couldn’t let this insult and obstruction deter him on the first day. Haeyoon was someone deeply passionate about the orchestra.

The person paying your salaries hired me, so what do I care about your opinions? If you don’t like it, you leave. With such a brazen mindset, Haeyoon stood up.

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The stage was now empty. Placing his double bass against a chair, he climbed the central conductor’s podium and looked back at the audience seats. The view of the hall was clear.

“……”

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The concert hall at Suseon Grand Theater was even smaller than the Newrick concert hall, the smallest stage Haeyoon had ever stood on. It was a classical theater with an organ installed on one side and consisted only of the main floor and box seats on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

So, places like this still exist…. It had a slightly different charm while being similar to old theaters seen in Europe and elsewhere. Thinking about performing here regularly made Haeyoon feel complicated. Looking around the hall with fresh eyes, he checked the time and gathered his instrument.

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“…Team Leader?”

But when he returned to the private waiting room he had been guided to, it wasn’t the assistant director he was supposed to meet, but Office Manager Hong Hyekyung.

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“Teacher, the assistant director had to leave suddenly during practice due to an urgent matter. I came to inform you in case you were waiting!”

“Oh…. Yes, I understand. Thank you.”

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Although he knew nothing about the assistant director’s gender, age, or background, the disappointment surged because the assistant director had praised his performance. Nodding gloomily, Haeyoon thanked Hong Hyekyung, who laughed and motioned inside the waiting room.

“If you go inside, there’s a gift for you. Make sure to take it! You did well today. Don’t take it too much to heart since it’s your first day. See you the day after tomorrow, teacher.”

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“Thank you. You did well too.”

Fortunately, Hong Hyekyung was a kind person. Having even one or two people like her made enduring life in the orchestra much easier. Seo Haeyoon sincerely thanked her and entered the waiting room.

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As she said, there was a gift on the round table in the center of the room. The subtle fragrance filling the room eased his tension. Seo Haeyoon approached the flower basket with calm steps.

Fresh jasmine, tulips, and roses, all in white, filled the basket. Among the elegant white flowers was a green card with gold trim.

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The handwriting was soft yet firm, like a tulip bending gracefully. The phrase “star of the curtain call” was a term he had never heard before, making Haeyoon smile involuntarily.

Could it be from the assistant director? Did they write the card themselves? Regardless, it seemed there was at least one person in the orchestra who appreciated his performance. With a flushed face, Seo Haeyoon hugged the flower basket. It was a delightful gift.

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🔮🌙

“Oh my, has the legendary double bassist Seo Haeyoon arrived?”

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As soon as he entered the room the staff guided him to, an outburst of excitement greeted him.

In the modern Korean-style room stood a handsome middle-aged man. He was about the same height as Seo Haeyoon, with a neatly wrinkled face. Despite his elegant appearance, he was grinning foolishly. This was Seo Haeyoon’s father, Seo Jonggil, the head of Seo Steel Distribution, which had recently become a mid-sized company.

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“Please, have a seat, son.”

“Please, be quiet….”

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Embarrassed by his father’s overly attentive behavior, Seo Haeyoon greeted the staff and quickly closed the door. That was the signal. Once they were alone, Seo Jonggil came around the table and hugged Haeyoon, being even more affectionate than before.

“Who did you take after to be so handsome? Who is this handsome man? Huh? Overflowing with musical talent, playing so well, tall, but why are you so skinny? Are you sick? Did some bastard make my son suffer? Anyway, whose perfect son is this? Seo Jonggil’s son, right.”

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“Ah, stop it! What are you doing?”

Even though Haeyoon pushed his father away in disgust as he tried to kiss his cheek, Seo Jonggil wasn’t hurt.

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Having met a young wife late in life and having a son in his old age, he wanted to make his only son the happiest person in the world. Sadly, Seo Haeyoon’s mother passed away before he turned ten, and shortly after her death, Haeyoon decided to study abroad. He wanted to follow in his mother’s footsteps, who was a promising double bassist.

Seo Jonggil couldn’t break his young son’s strong will. After pleading and begging, he finally agreed to send someone trustworthy with him.

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The guilt of sending Seo Haeyoon to a foreign land alone was immense. Seo Jonggil knew that his son had turned to the double bass because he couldn’t fill the void left by his wife.

So, every time he met his grown son, his heart ached. No matter how much Haeyoon complained or acted out, he only felt endless guilt and love.

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Seeing Haeyoon frown, Seo Jonggil immediately stepped back. He pulled out a chair for him to sit.

“Alright, you must be hungry. Sit down. You need to eat. How was practice? Today was your first practice, right? As a gift for your first practice…”

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Listening to him talk, it felt like he was conversing with a ten-year-old. Seo Jonggil always treated Haeyoon like a child.

“These are grilled octopus legs. You can dip them in the soy sauce on the side, but they’re delicious on their own too.”

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“Oh, my son will love this. My son grew up eating only organic ten-legged octopus from New York, so he has a refined palate.”

“How can an octopus have ten legs?”

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Even as the staff brought out the course dishes, Seo Jonggil’s chatter never ceased. He tipped the servers generously, boasting about his handsome son who graduated from the Manhattan School of Music and performed here and there.

Seo Haeyoon, accustomed to his father’s antics, let most of his words go in one ear and out the other, focusing instead on the fusion Korean cuisine he hadn’t had in a while. It was delicious.

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“So, I said I’d move the car later, but that rude guy started cursing and said he’d move it for me since I’m an old driver. So I got mad and told him, ‘Who are you calling an old man?’ And then he…”

After an hour of boasting about Seo Haeyoon, Seo Jonggil finally started talking about himself. Every few months when they met, he would summarize what had happened to him while Haeyoon was away.

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“Then this guy, who looked like a handsome news anchor, walked in and said, ‘Sir, please calm down!’ trying to stop me!”

The gist of the story was that there was a parking dispute at the church, and someone treated Seo Jonggil like an old man. He was very upset about it.

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“I mean, I can still bench 300 pounds, right? Old driver? When I go out, people still call me middle-aged! Isn’t that right, Haeyoon? Huh? Does your dad look like an old man? No, right?”

Honestly, it was his father’s fault for double parking and setting the handbrake, but Haeyoon didn’t say a word about it, maintaining the stance of a dutiful son.

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Watching his father fume and curse, Haeyoon worried that he might collapse, nearing seventy. So, chewing on a honey-soaked chestnut, he spoke to his father.

“Old man? To me, you still look 43. If we went to a club together, people would think you’re my boyfriend.”

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“What…?”

Seo Jonggil’s eyes widened at Haeyoon’s unfiltered comment. His face turned red as he slammed his spoon down on the table and shook his head, shouting.

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“Son, how can you say that?”

“Why, is 43 too old?”

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“No! Saying people would think we’re a couple! What does that mean!”

“……”

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Was it too casual? Haeyoon flinched, watching his father’s reaction. But Seo Jonggil firmly stated that such a thing was impossible.

“Who would think we’re a couple when we don’t match at all? They’d think I’m your bodyguard because you’re so handsome. Right?”

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Instead of scolding him, Seo Jonggil took it a step further. Haeyoon couldn’t help but laugh, surprised by his father’s response. Seeing his son laugh like a child, Seo Jonggil smiled contentedly, feeling accomplished. It was a cozy family meal, even if it was just the two of them.

🔮🌙

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“Eat up.”

As the meal progressed and the fire under the hot pot went out, Seo Jonggil, who had been watching Haeyoon eat slowly, suddenly brought up a sensitive topic.

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“By the way, Haeyoon, how are things with Dani? Aren’t you guys a long-distance couple now?”

The last time Seo Jonggil visited New York, he met Haeyoon’s ninth partner. Seo Jonggil, who didn’t care about gender, just wanted Haeyoon to find someone he loved and settle down. He always showed great interest in Haeyoon’s partners, often hinting at moving in together if the relationship lasted over a month.

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When he visited New York last time, he even asked about international marriage, showing his expectations. But if he knew what happened, he’d probably want to kill the guy….

Watching his father, who acted all dignified outside but was overly affectionate and dramatic in front of him, Haeyoon shook his head. There was no need to hide it.

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“Daniel? We broke up.”

The words Seo Jonggil hated most came out of his son’s mouth for the ninth time. Broke up? Seo Jonggil slammed the table, spilling plum wine everywhere, and shouted.

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“What? Broke up? You weren’t dumped, right?”

If Haeyoon said he was dumped, his father would fly to America and shoot Daniel. That extreme reaction was somewhat comforting. Haeyoon shook his head lightly and replied.

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“Of course not. I broke up with him. He got another woman pregnant.”

“…What?”

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That was the reason Haeyoon decided to return to Korea. It seemed he had a knack for picking partners who betrayed him.

After going through similar situations about nine times, I became sick of everything. I couldn’t stand the orchestra that kept pushing me out, nor the people who called me honey, sugar, and cupcake to my face while fooling around with others behind my back. I wanted to escape from everything surrounding me. That’s why I came back. Although it’s my hometown, it felt more unfamiliar than anywhere else after being away for 20 years.

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“Dani, that bastard was seeing a woman…? What a son of a bitch!”

Even Seo Haeyoon found it hard to believe, and Seo Jonggil was furious upon hearing it. Though he didn’t say it, Seo Jonggil had liked Dani, who was four years younger and taller than his son. He even thought Dani could be a good son-in-law.

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But that guy got another woman pregnant while dating his son? When they met by chance, he had even threatened him in broken English, saying, “I’m pretty sure, daddy. Maybe you meet another person, I cut your penis and shoot your head.” That bastard…

“I knew that bastard would do something like this!”

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Seo Jonggil started thinking about how much it would cost to hire a hitman in the U.S., which made him quiet down a bit.

Watching this, Seo Haeyoon felt a strange sensation. Unlike in the U.S., here he had a father who would defend him even if he committed murder and Ahn Yewon who cared for him. There was even someone in the new orchestra who wanted him to be the star of the curtain call.

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Was this why they kept asking him to come back to Korea? He finally understood his father and Ahn Yewon’s feelings. Seo Haeyoon smiled, feeling more generous.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to think about it anymore either.”

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“But, Haeyoon!”

“Oh, Yewon suggested we have dinner together next time.”

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Seeing his father frown in frustration, he changed the subject. Mentioning Ahn Yewon, Haeyoon added a comment to calm his father.

“Yewon said she wished she had a dad like you.”

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“What?”

Seo Jonggil, who loved being called “dad,” was over the moon hearing that Haeyoon’s best friend wanted him as her father. He smiled contentedly, feeling proud of his son, and took another sip of his drink. Seeing this, Haeyoon felt a warmth in his heart. It was a feeling he rarely experienced in the U.S.

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Before, even in such situations, he only found solace in sex, which alleviated the fundamental loneliness of being human, and in Ahn Yewon’s curses. But a month after returning to Korea, Seo Haeyoon felt for the first time that coming back was the right decision.

🔮🌙

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“Use dad’s card to buy Yewon something nice, okay? Don’t drink too much, it’s bad for your health. Call me if anything happens. Even if you call at 4 AM, I’ll answer.”

“Got it. Take care. Please take good care of him.”

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Seo Jonggil, heavily drunk, waved from the back seat of the sedan. Seo Haeyoon waved back and bowed to the secretary who was taking care of his father. After seeing his father off, he returned to his parked car.

A large SUV, five meters long, was parked in one corner of the parking lot. It was a Lamborghini SUV ordered by Seo Jonggil to entice Seo Haeyoon, who had no intention of returning to Korea. The back seat was removed and fitted with an instrument rack.

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Since he came straight to the restaurant after practice, his 2.8 billion won double bass was currently on the rack. Seo Haeyoon checked the rearview mirror to ensure his instrument was safe and pressed the accelerator. The bright yellow car smoothly moved onto the road.

“Ahn Yewon, where are you? At the office?”

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Ahn Yewon, who worked at an advertising company, was a capable copywriter and busy all year round. Even in the U.S., she managed some work-life balance, but in Korea, it seemed impossible. Whenever he called her at night, she was always at the office.

─ Yeah, I just finished a meeting and am heading down. Did you leave?

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It was no different this time. It was past 8 PM, and she was still at work. Does this country have no labor laws? Seo Haeyoon clicked his tongue and replied.

“Then I’ll come to you. Let’s park and drink somewhere nearby. I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”

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─ Ugh, I don’t want to stay here a second longer…. I’ll just walk around the park in front of the office. Call me when you get here.

“Got it.”

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─ Okay, see you soon.

Seo Haeyoon met Ahn Yewon in his early twenties. They met at a queer bar when he went there with his second partner after becoming an adult. They got along well in many ways, sharing similar personalities and tastes. Ahn Yewon was the only friend Seo Haeyoon cherished besides his double bass. And Ahn Yewon cherished Haeyoon just as much.

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Seo Haeyoon drove to the public parking lot near Ahn Yewon’s office and parked. Instead of calling her, he headed to a small park next to her office and looked around. It didn’t take long to spot Yewon, cycling on one of the shared exercise machines while on the phone. As he quietly approached, he overheard her talking to her partner.

“Of course, I’m always thinking about you.”

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Her tone was so sweet it could have had hearts attached to the end of each word. Gross. He made a quiet gagging sound, which caused Ahn Yewon to snap her head around. Seeing Seo Haeyoon pretending to vomit in disgust, she frowned and asked, “What?” before casually telling the person on the other end that he’d arrived.

“Seo Haeyoon’s here. Yeah, yeah, I’ll hang up. See you tomorrow, love. Muah.”

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Yewon’s girlfriend, Park Hayeon, was a graduate student three years younger than them. Petite, sharp-eyed, and bold, she was the reason Yewon had returned to Korea. They’d been dating for over four years, and it seemed Yewon was even more smitten with her as time went on.

After ending the call and getting up, Yewon was met with a click of Haeyoon’s tongue.

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“Have some dignity, Yewon.”

“What? Since when does dignity exist between partners? My love says they love it when I act cute.”

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“Well, I can’t stand it when you do.”

“Aw, is that so?”

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She responded with an exaggeratedly cute retort, playfully punching his shoulder. Muttering a curse, Yewon then began walking ahead, leaving Haeyoon to follow her, grinning.

Soon, they arrived at a small wine bar near her office. It wasn’t a large place, but its excellent Italian cuisine made it a popular spot.

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“Hey, boss, I’m here!”

“Welcome! You can take that table over there.”

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Yewon, being a regular, was able to skip the wait and sit at a reserved spot. As soon as they ordered a few dishes, warm bread arrived. While aggressively tearing into the olive oil-dipped bread, Yewon got straight to the point.

“Start talking.”

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“About what?”

“The guys you hooked up with at the social club. Do you know their names?”

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After Haeyoon had rattled off his bizarre list of ideal types the previous day, Yewon’s plan to set him up with Park Hayeon’s friend was scrapped. A good-looking 22-year-old Adam wasn’t exactly easy to come by. Instead, she decided to encourage Haeyoon to find someone decent for casual fun. Even if it didn’t lead to a relationship, he needed some stability, and Yewon was determined to help. That meant she needed to know who he’d been with so far.

“Most of them? No.”

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“…”

Haeyoon’s nonchalant reply left Yewon momentarily speechless.

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While Yewon enjoyed life but was fairly conservative about sex, Haeyoon was far more liberal. To him, all that mattered for sex was a big penis and a handsome face. Names were optional.

In the U.S., it was common to introduce yourself before striking up a conversation, so he usually ended up knowing his partners’ names. But in Korea, things were different. Questions like, “Are you alone?” “How old are you?” and “Wanna leave together?” were standard, but names rarely came up. Perhaps it was the taboo surrounding homosexuality, or maybe it was just him—but Haeyoon never asked, either. As a result, he’d essentially been engaging in blind hookups.

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“Are you even human?!”

For Yewon, this was unthinkable. Shaking her head in disbelief, she clicked her tongue. Knowing the name of the guy who’d turned out to have only a finger-sized member wouldn’t have changed anything, so Haeyoon simply shrugged.

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Exasperated, Yewon sighed. Pulling a tablet out of her bag, she began jotting down names while chewing on a piece of bread.

“Let me list the ones I know.”

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“Sure.”

The idea of making a list seemed smart. If Yewon determined that the club had no decent guys left, it could save Haeyoon from wasting his time. No more wandering aimlessly, meeting weirdos.

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“Kim… What was it? Kim Junghyun, I think? Tall, weak-eyed, pale-skinned, and kind of annoying when he talks.”

Weak-eyed…? As Haeyoon thought back, the description vaguely fit. A guy who’d felt like opening a fortune cookie with “disaster” inside. He nodded.

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“I know him. Six centimeters.”

“What the hell? Don’t tell me you’re talking about that! I don’t need TMI. Stop it. What about this guy? Lee Wonyong. Looks like a pro-Japanese collaborator, about your height, with intense eyes.”

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“Yeah, I know him. He’s awful too.”

Despite being in a relationship, Ahn Yewon frequently visited the social club to meet her lesbian friends, so she knew most of the members’ names and faces. Her knack for describing people so accurately made it easy to match names with faces.

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The two spent a while compiling the list. Thirty minutes later, as she was eating her ragu pasta, Ahn Yewon tossed her tablet pencil aside and widened her eyes in disbelief. She downed the glass of wine beside her in one gulp, wiped her lips roughly, and asked incredulously:

“Are you on some kind of conquest?”

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“What?”

“You’ve slept with nearly everyone worth mentioning! You’ve been busy, huh?”

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In truth, Seo Haeyoon had only frequented the club for about a month since returning to Korea and had hooked up with fewer than ten guys. Still, the fact that she claimed he’d gone through almost all of them left him feeling disappointed. Were there really so few attractive men in Korea? Feeling let down, he hesitantly glanced at the tablet and asked:

“Really? Should I just stop going then?”

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Every name on the list displayed on the screen was marked with an X. A few unmarked ones were accompanied by notes like “engaged” or “already set a wedding date,” which essentially disqualified them too.

Cheongdam-dong was out of the question. Maybe he should try a club near Korea University—he’d heard there were smart and good-looking guys there. As Seo Haeyoon pondered, Ahn Yewon smirked and said:

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“There is one guy left, though…”

“Who?”

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Someone’s left? Curious, Seo Haeyoon asked, and Ahn Yewon hesitated, her expression turning uneasy. Then, glancing up at him, she asked:

“That guy from before—how was he? The one who helped you?”

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The question briefly furrowed Seo Haeyoon’s brows before he straightened out, recalling a memory he’d almost forgotten. That striking face, tilting slightly as he lit a cigarette…

How was that Mister?

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Frankly, he had nothing to complain about looks-wise. His face exuded a subtle maturity, smooth and handsomely neat. Before any misunderstandings arose, Seo Haeyoon had been extremely attracted to him sexually.

The guy’s hand, brushing his pocket for a cigarette, had felt big enough to leave a strong impression anywhere it touched. Everything about him—from his solid build to the confident way he moved—was enticing.

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But if asked whether he wanted to have sex with that guy…

“No way!”

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Absolutely not.

Seo Haeyoon remembered waking up in the hotel that man had brought him to and the argument that ensued. Sure, it was sparked by his own misunderstanding, but even putting that aside, the guy’s attitude had been incredibly irritating.

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Mocking him for being smart like some overexcited Border Collie, countering his complaints about feeling weird by suggesting his personality was weirder, and even questioning whether he was human after hearing that he didn’t recognize his face…

Dealing with him had been exhausting. A guy who played coy when he wanted sex but then revealed his true colors and ran his mouth off when things didn’t go his way. Someone who knew exactly how to push your buttons and rile you up.

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Although Haeyoon acknowledged that the man wasn’t a bad person, he had no desire to see him again. At best, maybe for a one-night stand—but definitely not as a regular fling.

“His personality’s the worst, that Mister.”

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Seo Haeyoon rejected the idea outright.

“Really…?”

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But Ahn Yewon clicked her tongue in disappointment, as though she regretted his decision.

What was with her reaction? She was the one who had screamed over the phone, asking if he wasn’t picky enough to date old geezers now. Confused, Haeyoon questioned her sarcastically:

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“What’s with your response?”

“It’s just, from what I can tell, there’s no one else in the social club who fits your type besides him.”

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“Then forget it. I don’t want that Mister.”

Haeyoon immediately shook his head at her explanation. If that guy kept running his mouth every time they met, he’d be too annoyed to even think about sex. But Ahn Yewon wasn’t ready to give up yet, her eyes widening as she insisted:

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“No, but seriously… The more I think about it, that guy’s actually perfect. Out of everyone at the club, he’s the most well-mannered. And he’s such a player that there’s no way he’d get clingy and hurt you by suddenly wanting a relationship.”

“You said he was scary!”

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Her serious tone and matchmaking efforts made her seem like a meddling matchmaker. Hadn’t she been the one to scare him by calling the guy a gangster? Bewildered, Haeyoon shot her a look, only for Yewon to burst out laughing.

“I just brought it up to say that strange people seem to be drawn to you. I don’t think he’s the type to beat people up or kill them, you know? Come on, what year is it?”

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“You’re not saying ‘he’s not like that,’ but ‘I don’t think so?’ What are you trying to say, that I should do something with that Mister? Are you really my friend? You told me not to meet weird people, and now you’re recommending the weirdest Mister?”

“I’m saying this because I know you’re not going to get into a relationship anyway. And there’s a reason. The guy has good reviews. Have you checked those? On delivery apps, sometimes there are places with hundreds of five-star reviews even without any promotional events. That guy’s like that. No one’s threatening him, but everyone says he’s a good guy. He’s a bit light, promiscuous, and aimless, though.”

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Ahn Yewon’s tone sounded like someone recommending a shabby old restaurant they found on the street, saying, “Oh, my friend said this place is good. It’s old and dirty, but you should try it.” She added, “It’s not my thing, though.”

It was ridiculous, but honestly, Seo Haeyoon was somewhat intrigued by the good reviews.

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Ahn Yewon’s words weren’t wrong. As she said, Seo Haeyoon wasn’t looking for a relationship, so the man’s characteristics—being promiscuous, aimless, and reckless—weren’t really flaws. Seo Haeyoon wasn’t much different, and with his experience, the guy would probably be good at sex, which could be a plus.

Besides, he was perfect physically…

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“Just drink.”

As Seo Haeyoon hesitated, Ahn Yewon lifted her wine glass. After clinking glasses and downing it in one shot, Ahn Yewon noticed Seo Haeyoon was still turning his wrist slowly, clearly deep in thought. As she watched him, she seemed to understand why he was hesitating and spoke softly.

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“I’ve told you this before. What you need isn’t someone to sleep with every day, but someone you can rely on.”

Ahn Yewon understood why Seo Haeyoon was always searching for sex partners. The alienation from others, the dirty feeling he experienced in the most cherished part of his life every day. She knew he was someone who instinctively relieved stress with pleasure. And she thought that was natural.

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Ahn Yewon agreed to some extent but wanted to add that while temporary relief was fine, the real solution to his anxiety lay in finding a stable support system. That’s why, after breaking up with Park Hayeon, she had kept calling Seo Haeyoon back to Korea—so that he could feel her and Seo Jonggil’s unwavering support, which might ease his anxiety.

But it wasn’t the perfect solution. Since Seo Haeyoon saw his father’s support as a given because of their blood relation, the comfort offered by Ahn Yewon and Seo Jonggil was minimal.

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So, she suggested he have a completely separate person beside him. A fling wasn’t a problem as long as they could still communicate deeply. Ahn Yewon hoped Haeyoon could find someone he could truly open up to.

She thought Chae Beomjoon might be a good choice. Everyone who had slept with him praised him as kind and fun, so he seemed like someone who could help alleviate Seo Haeyoon’s anxiety.

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“And honestly, think about it. You’re sick of constantly looking for someone, right? How many times did you call me from the club? You kept complaining about annoying guys bothering you.”

“…”

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Seeing Seo Haeyoon without a reply, his lips pressed tightly together, Ahn Yewon continued with a deliberate pace, noticing his ears twitching.

“That guy really has a good reputation. You’re not looking for a relationship, right? He’d be fine as a sex partner. Right? He’s tall, handsome, and apparently, well-endowed.”

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Objectively, that was true. He might look a little older, but as Ahn Yewon said, if he was just a partner, that didn’t matter.

Seo Haeyoon, who used to set ridiculous conditions for people he was introduced to, began to think that maybe, with Mister, ideals didn’t matter after all. After all, he was never going to date him, so he wouldn’t have to worry about being deceived by a worn-out, promiscuous man.

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But just then, Ahn Yewon threw cold water on his thoughts.

“Besides, he’s got a solid background and a good personality.”

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What? Seo Haeyoon, who had been warming to the idea, immediately furrowed his brows. A good personality? He was sure she had misunderstood something. Letting out a sigh, Seo Haeyoon set his utensils down and twisted his lips in a crooked smile.

“Who has a good personality? Ahn Yewon, listen up.”

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While he could accept other things, this one was a definite no. Morality and a good personality were entirely different concepts. Ahn Yewon clearly didn’t understand this. To clarify, Seo Haeyoon glared and explained.

“That Mister is totally weird! His personality is worse than yours!”

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Of course, there was no way that could lead to a positive reaction. Ahn Yewon, suddenly being attacked, raised her fist in annoyance.

“Hey! Who’s got a better personality than me?”

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