chapter 10

I should have been able to see it through the rearview mirror. I thought I would be able to observe Tae-oh's complexion sitting in the co-pilot seat, but it was difficult to turn my head since I was sitting beside him. How could I dispel the awkwardness of that moment if I were to meet Tae-oh's eyes?

However, I couldn't be negligent in my driving, so I turned my head just enough to see the side mirror, avoiding direct eye contact with Tae-oh.

"Can you drive with such a narrow field of view?"

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. If there's an accident, the responsibility will fall on Secretary Ahn.

If I end up in the hospital, will you take care of feeding me and nursing me?"

If it comes to that, maybe we'll be in the hospital together?

"No, I'll be lying beside you. Shall we feed each other? I will make sure that there will be no accidents."

With Tae-oh's clear statement, Se-hyeon turned their head at a much wider angle than before, checking their surroundings. It was better to feel awkward than to have an accident.

"Yes, that's a good idea."

Tae-oh accepted it with a more relaxed expression than before. He should have just told Sehyeon from the beginning not to worry and focus on driving. Nevertheless, having him sit next to Se-hyeon made driving much more comfortable.

"Jin-ha mentioned receiving a gift, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

It was a repetition of the conversation they had just had a while ago. Se-hyeon didn't react much when they reported it earlier, but now they realized it anew.

"It's actually a good thing."

The reason Tae-oh said he was attracted to me must have been due to Yoo Jin-ha's

unresponsive attitude. I had put so much effort into spending a good time with Yoo Jin-ha at the hotel that day, but nothing happened.. I felt sorry, thinking it was my fault, but now I know. Yoo Jin-ha received a gift from Tae-oh.

"What could be the reason?"

If the reason for receiving the gift was that I didn't give some lame excuse as usual,

Contrary to my inner thoughts.

Se-hyeon kept his mouth shut, feeling as if it wasn't a topic he should discuss.

"Anyway, I should keep sending gifts. And maybe even ask for a date... That's how we can get closer. That was the original plan, right?"

Se-hyeon nodded slightly in response to Tae-oh's words. Forget the words Tae-oh said to him and focus on expressing affection to Yoo Jin-ha as originally planned.

'A role... is that what it is?'

Se-hyeon's heart grew heavy. He wondered if the reason he viewed Tae-oh as a limited character was because he was the only one who knew the original story.

"But I'm not like that."

Se-hyeon wouldn't interfere just because Tae-oh wouldn't end up with Yoo Jin-ha. From the beginning, Se-hyeon wanted to observe everything from the perspective of a bystander. His goal was to live peacefully without getting entangled in the passionate fate of Yoo Jin-ha's love.

"But there's no guarantee that Jin-ha will accept the gifts next time...?"

Se-hyeon had nothing to say in response to the ongoing discussion about Yoo Jin-ha.

"I will do my best."

"You know that doing your best doesn't guarantee any specific outcome, right? It's just a strong expression of effort, that's all."

Suddenly, Se-hyeon's eyebrows furrowed as if catching the tail end of a question.

"Do you know that saying 'I will do my best' regardless of the outcome is just a strong expression of effort?"

Se-hyeon's eyebrows twitched slightly at the sudden question as if catching the tail end of it.

Was his response to doing his best not satisfactory?

"But people always say they will do their best. Just saying it doesn't necessarily mean they can do well."

Tae-oh leaned his head against the window frame, resting his elbow on it. He spoke in a somewhat serious tone, but Se-hyeon couldn't understand any of it from start to finish. It seemed like he was just speaking according to his stream of consciousness, and Se-hyeon couldn't decide whether to accept it or ignore it. But he couldn't simply ignore it either.

"If you do your best, you'll have less regret regardless of the outcome."

Se-hyeon gave a safe response. Since they didn't know the result, all they could do was their best.

"Less regret?"

"I hope to achieve the desired outcome, but since I can't know that for sure."

"Do you think that way?"

At the sudden friendly tone, Se-hyeon momentarily closed his mouth and nodded slightly.

"Well then, I guess I'll give it a try, this idea of doing my best."

Instead of responding, Se-hyeon turned the steering wheel. From the conversation they had so far, it was clear that he was determined to do his best for Yoo Jin-ha. Yet, he couldn't understand why he felt so uneasy about it.

***

As Se-hyeon approached Tae-oh's house, he unconsciously lowered his shoulders. It seemed like he had been inadvertently conscious of Tae-oh and feeling tense.

"Don't go into the parking lot, just park in one spot."

"Understood."

For reasons unknown, Se-hyeon turned the steering wheel as Tae-oh instructed. As he parked the car at the entrance of the upscale apartment complex where he lived and was about to unbuckle their seatbelt, he paused and looked up at the sound of the door opening.

"Boss?"

Normally, Se-hyeon was supposed to get out of the car and open the door for Tae-oh to exit...

"Stay in the car and get home by it."

"What? But..."

This was Tae-oh's personal vehicle. It felt quite burdensome for Se-hyeon to drive it and take it home.

"Instead, come early tomorrow morning. About thirty minutes before the usual work hours."

"Alright, I understand."

Considering the fact that Se-hyeon usually arrives at work earlier than others, even going home now would mean he won't get much sleep. Se-hyeon accepted without refusing twice, and Tae-oh waved his hand in farewell. Se-hyeon was so flustered that he forgot to get out of the car to bid farewell. He nodded his head and slowly drove away.

As Se-hyeon saw Tae-oh walking towards the entrance reflected in the side mirror, he tilted his head in confusion.

"Isn't it strange?"

Honestly, when Tae-oh told him to drive the car home, Se-hyeon had suspicions that it wasn't just to be kind to him. At first, he had firmly refused, but seeing Tae-oh turn away without looking at him, it didn't seem like that anymore.

"Well, it's fine, I suppose."

Today felt long, and he was eager to go home, take a shower, and rest his eyes for a while.

Meanwhile, as Tae-oh walked towards the entrance, his steps came to a halt. Instead of turning back, he closed his eyes and began counting.

"One, two, three, four... Should I count one more? Five."

With a very leisurely count, Tae-oh opened his eyes and turned around. Seeing the car Sehyeon had driven entering the road, Tae-oh nodded to himself.

"That looked natural."

His act of pretending to lose interest in Se-hyeon seemed quite convincing. Tae-oh then lifted his phone and made a call.

"You're calling now?"

"Where are you?"

"At the studio."

"I'll come."

Yoo Jin-hyeon's mind was filled with a mix of confusion and curiosity as he listened to Tae-oh's conversation. He wondered what was happening at the studio and why Tae-oh wanted him to come along.

Without even waiting for Yoo Jin-hyeon's response, Tae-oh abruptly ended the call.

***

As Tae-oh entered J/H Studio, he ignored Yoo Jin-hyeon, who was taking pictures from various angles and headed towards a specific spot. It was a place where he had set up a bar.

Thanks to Yoo Jin-hyeon's peculiar taste for creating a place for taking photos and drinking, Tae-oh didn't have to bother moving to another location to enjoy a drink.

He took out a bottle from his hand and opened the lid. Tae-oh took a sip straight from the bottle without any ice and then turned around, resting his back against the bar counter.

"You'll end up getting drunk like this."

"Well, that's the plan. Cheers to living life to the fullest."

As he spoke of embracing the moment, Tae-oh held onto the bottle of alcohol. He took large swigs, causing his throat to bob with each gulp.

"What's going on that's making you like this?" Yoo Jin-hyeon asked as he took the alcohol from Tae-oh's hand and took a sip.

"Just... nothing."

"Just nothing?... What happened at the hotel back then?"

Upon Yoo Jin-hyeon's question, Tae-oh tilted his head and looked ahead. The subject of Yoo Jin-hyeon's recent photo shoot came into view. It was a perfume bottle sitting alone without a model. The thought of that perfume being hung everywhere brought a smile to Tae-oh's face.

Suddenly, Ahn Se-hyeon's pheromones came to mind. Their scent was incomparable to any perfume. It was so intoxicating that it felt like the lingering aroma was still on his fingertips,

shaking him to the core.

Ah, Ahn Se-hyeon's pheromones are truly amazing.

"Why are you laughing by yourself? Are you crazy or something?" Yoo Jin-hyeon

questioned, puzzled by Tae-oh's reaction.

"That perfume isn't anything special. Ahn Se-hyeon's pheromones are even better."

"What? What's better than perfume? "

"But you said you don't even photograph people, yet you said you would photograph Sehyeon."

"I do photograph people."

Yoo Jin-hyeon added with a chuckle.

"Just the ones I want to capture..."

"And Se-hyeon fits into that category?"

"Yes, exactly. He has a pleasing appearance, good proportions, and a captivating aura. There's nothing missing about him, so isn't it natural to want to capture him in a photo?"

"Is that so?"

Yoo Jin-hyeon's eyes narrowed in response to Tae-oh's curious question.

"What is it?"

"What?"

"Since when did you start calling Ahn Se-hyeon by his name so affectionately? And you didn't tell me what happened that day. What on earth made you keep Jin-ha waiting all night..."

Yoo Jin-hyeon asked with a serious expression. There was a sense of bewilderment in his gaze, unable to comprehend why Tae-oh was behaving this way.

"Did I ever mention that I like Se-hyeon's pheromones...?"

Yoo Jin-hyeon looked intently at Tae-oh, his gaze reflecting a mixture of concern and

confusion.

"Isn't it natural to find pheromones appealing when you like someone like Se-hyeon?...What's going on? Did something happen between you and my little brother? What?"

Yoo Jin-hyeon placed the bottle of alcohol on the table and approached Tae-oh, leaning in closely to ask. He had even let go of his protective stance towards his little brother, so he had every right to inquire.

Tae-oh let out a deep sigh, seemingly lost in thought, before locking eyes with Yoo Jinhyeon.

"I might have become a bit strange. Hey, try smelling your own pheromones at least. Maybe that will help you regain your senses. This can't continue like this."

Tae-oh closed his eyes tightly and urged Yoo Jin-hyeon. Startled by Tae-oh's intense

expression, Yoo Jin-hyeon hesitated for a moment before asking,

"...Are you treating my pheromones like foot odour or something?"

"No, of course not!"