TAF Ch 2

Anyone would think this was his own place. Even amidst his anxiety, Yeonwoo chuckled inwardly.

Well, strictly speaking, it was his place. This entire building belonged to Chahyun’s father’s company. And since Baek Chahyun also worked at the company, no one could say anything about his reckless behavior.

He could see the part-timer and Chahyun’s driver looking awkward and unsure of what to do.

Yeonwoo checked the time as he approached Chahyun. It was only a little past 4 PM.

He’s already here and camping out even though it’s not even close to closing time. It’s not easy to look that delinquent in a suit.

“Sir!”

“Minhyuk.”

As soon as the part-timer acknowledged him, Chahyun, who had been tapping the table listlessly with his fingertips, turned his head towards Yeonwoo.

Despite the cafe staff and his driver being present, Chahyun beckoned Yeonwoo with a flick of his finger, as if summoning a subordinate.

When he acted like this, trying to assert dominance, Chahyun seemed more like the older brother, not the younger one.

“What.”

Yeonwoo asked as he approached.

“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

“I didn’t see it.”

“Is that supposed to be an excuse?”

Chahyun retorted coldly.

“It’s true.”

“Where were you?”

“I had something to do.”

“What?”

“…I’ll tell you later.”

Yeonwoo spoke, conscious of the part-timer glancing their way.

“Sit.”

But Chahyun, seemingly unwilling to let it go, jerked his chin towards the opposite chair.

“Right now…?”

“Sit down. Don’t make me say it twice.”

Chahyun raised an eyebrow irritably.

Yeonwoo stared at him for a moment before sitting down. He was already used to Chahyun’s condescending behavior.

If he continued to argue here, it would only get louder and attract unnecessary attention. There was nothing to gain from it.

As always, it was easier to play the role of the pitiful cafe owner being harassed by the Heesung Group’s young master over trivial matters.

“You should answer when I call. Why ignore me?”

“I didn’t ignore you.”

“So, where were you?”

“Outside….”

What excuse should he make? He couldn’t tell the truth, that he’d met Chahyun’s mother.

Should he just ask him now? Ask if it’s really true that he’s getting married next year. Ask if his mother had gotten something wrong.

‘It’s best not to mention to Chahyun that I met with her today.’

But once he asked, he felt like his relationship with Chahyun and his peaceful daily life would shatter. Shatter beyond repair.

That’s why he was afraid to open his mouth.

“What were you doing outside? Don’t tell me you were meeting that alpha who keeps hitting on you. Kim Jeonho, was it?”

Chahyun, oblivious to Yeonwoo’s inner turmoil, barked up the wrong tree.

“…It’s Han Jeonghyo. And I told you I only contact him about dessert deliveries. I didn’t even meet him today.”

“Then why are you so slow to answer? It’s suspicious.”

As Yeonwoo pondered, he suddenly remembered a street vendor he’d seen while driving.

“I went to eat tteokbokki.”

Yeonwoo lowered his voice and whispered as if embarrassed.

“Tteokbokki?”

“The one they sell at the corner of that intersection. I’ve wanted to try it for a while.”

“And you ran out during work for that?”

Suddenly, tteokbokki? Even to him, it sounded like a flimsy excuse. He should have come up with something more plausible.

Yeonwoo berated himself, but nodded anyway.

“Yeah. It reminded me of the tteokbokki they used to sell in front of the school.”

“…….”

“I was busy eating fried food, fish cakes, and other things, so I really didn’t see the call.”

Fortunately, Chahyun’s expression softened a bit.

“Then you should have told me. I would have had my secretary buy some for you.”

That’s easier said than done. In the first place, the whole tteokbokki craving was a lie, and how could he make use of someone else’s secretary? Besides, Chahyun wasn’t even senior enough to have a secretary, but he was using one thanks to his parents’ influence.

“Are you, off work?”

“Yeah. Let’s go home.”

“Okay. Go down first. I’ll finish up at the cafe and be there in five minutes.”

“I’ll wait in the car.”

“Okay.”

Chahyun’s working hours were truly erratic. It was only possible because he was the youngest son of the Heesung Group chairman.

Yeonwoo sent Chahyun to the parking lot first, and a little later told the part-timer that something had come up and he had to leave, asking them to handle closing.

“But, sir, why does that customer always give you such a hard time?”

“He’s asking me to raise the cafe rent.”

Yeonwoo offered a half-hearted excuse.

“Seriously? To act like a thug and order people around…”

“I know, right?”

“Rich people are the worst.”

The part-timer’s gaze held a hint of pity for Yeonwoo.

Since Chahyun was used to bossing people around, it wasn’t surprising that those around them saw their relationship as a hierarchy.

Because of this, Yeonwoo often felt frustrated, but it wasn’t all bad. Thanks to this perception, they were able to maintain their secret relationship for a long time.

“Are you going to keep coming to the cafe and causing trouble? Flaunting your power just because you set this place up for me?”

Yeonwoo grumbled as he got into Chahyun’s car, having made his way down to the parking lot.

Chahyun leaned his arms on the steering wheel and tilted his head.

“When did I ever cause trouble?”

“Sitting there in the cafe like you’re protesting is causing trouble. And it’s not even closing time. The part-timers are scared of you.”

Being a large alpha, he had an intimidating presence even when he was just sitting still, but when he sat with a hardened expression, slouched in a chair much smaller than him, he really looked like a gangster.

Yeonwoo swallowed the last part.

“What, Hong Yeonwoo. Did you really forget?”

“Forget what?”

“You had your rehabilitation therapy this afternoon. I cleared my schedule to go with you.”

Yeonwoo, who was fastening his seatbelt in the passenger seat, froze.

Oh. He had completely forgotten.

With a surprised look, Yeonwoo checked the date. It really was the day of his scheduled rehabilitation therapy.

Yeonwoo had fractured his right ankle in college while working a physically demanding part-time job. Although he recovered quickly because he was young, he returned to work before fully healing and suffered lingering aftereffects.

Later, when Chahyun found out, he got angry and signed him up for rehabilitation therapy. Now, although he could go about his daily life without much difficulty and could do basic exercises, his ankle still ached if he overexerted himself or used his body all day. In severe cases, he even limped.

He would be fine if he rested well, but it was important that he didn’t overdo it.

“Where do you keep your mind?”

Chahyun frowned and glanced disapprovingly at Yeonwoo sitting next to him.

“I’ve been fine lately…”

“Even so, the doctor said you shouldn’t skip your treatments.”

“I know.”

“You ‘know,’ and yet you completely forgot your appointment?”

Yeonwoo bristled at being called “kid.” There was a limit to insubordination. Calling him “you,” or using his full name, Hong Yeonwoo, was one thing, but calling his older brother “kid” was too much.

“Are you going to keep talking to me like that? And I always went by myself before you came along.”

“Oh really? When did you ever go alone?”

“Last month.”

“Last month you missed just once because something came up. Before that, we always went together.”

“…….”

That was true. Chahyun was overly sensitive about this issue, almost to an extreme.

Even now, years later, it was always Chahyun, not Yeonwoo himself, who consistently made sure he didn’t miss his rehabilitation appointments.

Seeing this side of him, there was no need to doubt Chahyun’s feelings. His mother must have been lying. Trying to separate him and Chahyun.

Feeling his sharp emotions soften, Yeonwoo considered how he should ask Chahyun about the marriage.

“I’ll have to call the hospital tomorrow.”

“Good idea, Hong Yeonwoo. I’ve rescheduled your appointment for next week.”

“…Thanks.”

Chahyun, who was driving, smiled faintly with one arm resting on the car window.

“What’s with the sudden tteokbokki craving that made you forget your hospital appointment?”

“It happens.”

“Are you pregnant?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I haven’t really cum inside you much, but are you already expecting?”

Chahyun chuckled at his own words, seemingly amused.

“Stop saying things like that.”

Yeonwoo punched Chahyun’s shoulder. Then, worried he had hit him too hard, he gently stroked his shoulder.

Chahyun snorted, as if tickled. Yeonwoo’s fist, which had thrown the punch, was the only one that hurt.

“Why, it’s just the two of us.”

He continued driving, a sly grin on his face, showing no sign of pain. That made him even more annoying.

The atmosphere quickly returned to normal. Yeonwoo couldn’t believe that just a few hours ago, he’d met Chahyun’s mother. Hearing about his marriage felt like a dream.