Unbeknownst to Hakyung, who was busily enjoying his leisurely cafe tour, Muheon and Ki Sang-ho were in fact deep in the midst of plotting their next moves.
“How is it, little brother Hakyung? This salted vanilla latte is absolutely delicious, isn’t it?” Bo Geun-rim inquired, his voice warm and friendly.
“Yes! Hyung-nim, it’s truly the perfect blend of sweet and salty!” Hakyung exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with pleasure.
Bo Geun-rim, Hakyung’s unofficial but very much appreciated official latte mate at the company, and Hakyung habitually enjoyed their daily ritual: a refreshing vanilla latte from one of the nearby cafes after their lunch break.
Today, they had ventured out for a pleasant stroll to discover a new cafe in the area.
It was past two o’clock, and the air temperature had risen considerably, making the cold, creamy drink slide down smoothly and delightfully.
“We should definitely add this place to our growing list of good spots,” Bo Geun-rim mused, taking another sip.
“We absolutely should. Our list of delicious places has grown quite long already,” Hakyung agreed, nodding his head.
“Exactly! Isn’t this the very fun part of working? Just looking at the meticulously organized list you’ve put together makes me feel full, even without eating anything!” Bo Geun-rim declared, praising Hakyung with genuine enthusiasm.
He began to hum a cheerful tune, and his vibrant red hair bobbed gently with the melody.
Hakyung, walking contentedly beside him, hummed along inwardly, following Bo Geun-rim’s amiable lead.
He felt a quiet sense of satisfaction that he could at least showcase his honed Excel skills in such a practical and enjoyable way.
It was just as their pleasant lunchtime, filled with both delightful conversation and delicious drinks, was nearing its end.
Suddenly, the phone in his pocket began to vibrate continuously, a persistent buzz.
It seemed to be a call, not merely a text message.
There’s no one who would normally call me at this time, he thought, a slight furrow appearing between his brows, as he checked the screen.
His younger brother’s name illuminated the display.
Hakyung’s head tilted slightly to the side in a gesture of curiosity and concern.
“Hyung-nim, I’ll just take this call and then head back inside,” Hakyung announced, already reaching for his phone.
“Okay, go ahead. I’ll go in first then,” Bo Geun-rim replied, waving a dismissive hand.
Hakyung waved back at Bo Geun-rim, bidding him a quick farewell, and then pressed the call button, bringing the phone to his ear.
“Hey Hajo. What’s up? Aren’t you supposed to be in class right now?” Hakyung asked, a hint of playful authority in his voice.
“Hyung-ah…!” The voice on the other end, coming through the phone, trembled faintly, a fragile sound that immediately caught Hakyung’s attention.
Startled by the unexpected tremor, Hakyung exclaimed, “What’s wrong! Are you crying?”
“Hyung-ah, Grandma’s sick…!” Hajo’s voice cracked, thick with distress.
“Grandma’s sick? No, where is she sick, and how bad is it?” Hakyung demanded, his heart beginning to pound.
At the sudden news of his grandmother’s illness, Hakyung’s heart sank with a sickening lurch.
She had been perfectly fine, even cheerful, when he called her just two days ago.
How sick must she be for his younger brother to be crying so openly on the phone?
Now, Hakyung’s own voice began to tremble uncontrollably.
His grandmother was more than just a family member; she was the unwavering pillar of their entire family and the eternal, protective guardian of the young Gang-dolphin siblings.
For such a vital figure, his beloved grandmother, to be sick…
Hakyung’s eyes became visibly moist with unshed tears, blurring his vision.
“She fell while working in the field yesterday, and her knee and ankle are super swollen. She says she can’t even get up… and she refuses to go to the hospital, and she told us specifically not to contact you, Hyung-ah…! Sniff…!” Hajo’s voice was a choked sob, filled with a child’s helpless despair.
His young siblings, still just students, had clearly been filled with anxiety all day, pacing restlessly, unable to do anything concrete because of their grandmother’s fierce stubbornness.
How badly must she have fallen for her to be completely unable to get up?
Hakyung wondered, his mind reeling.
This was a woman who believed it was a literal catastrophe not to work in the fields every single day.
And why, for goodness sake, wouldn’t she go to the hospital?
And why, crucially, would she forbid them from contacting him…?
Hakyung instinctively smacked his throbbing forehead with the palm of his hand, a futile attempt to clear his racing thoughts and regain his composure.
Despite his desperate efforts, his fingertips and toes continued to tremble uncontrollably, a physical manifestation of his deep worry.
“Hajo-yah, first, put some ice on Grandma’s knee for her. Hyung-ah is going to come down there right now,” Hakyung instructed, his voice firm despite his internal turmoil.
“And whatever you do, don’t tell Grandma that Hyung-ah is coming.
She might get angry for no reason, you know how she is.”
“Okay. Can you really come? What about work…?” Hajo’s voice was still laced with doubt and concern for his older brother.
“Don’t worry about that at all. Anyway, Hyung is coming, so if anything, anything at all, happens, contact me again, okay?” Hakyung reassured him, trying to project confidence.
“Hmph, mmm…” Hajo’s sniffles were still audible.
“Don’t cry, now. Stop it.” Hakyung gently soothed his sniffling brother, offering what comfort he could from afar, then swiftly rushed back to the company building.
The office inside was in a slight state of chaotic bustle, as the lunch break had just concluded and everyone was returning to their duties.
Hakyung vaguely replied to the older colleagues who greeted him, inquiring if he had enjoyed his lunch, before pushing open the CEO’s office door with an uncharacteristic force.
He had completely forgotten the simple, common courtesy of knocking.
“Kang Hakyung?” Muheon questioned, his voice carried a note of surprise at Hakyung’s sudden, unannounced intrusion.
One of his eyebrows arched in a subtle query.
At Muheon’s call, Hakyung urgently cried out, his voice tinged with desperation, “I need to leave early!”
“What? What’s wrong? Why do you look like that?” Muheon asked, his concern was immediate and evident.
Hakyung’s face, as he abruptly declared his need for leave, was not merely pale; it had turned a distinct bluish-white, drained of all color.
Sensing something profoundly amiss, Muheon swiftly rose from his seat and gently, yet firmly, cupped Hakyung’s cheeks in his hands.
Hakyung’s cheeks, cradled within Muheon’s warm palms, trembled faintly, a clear sign that he was barely managing to hold back a torrent of tears.
“Kang Hakyung. Tell me, okay?” Muheon urged, his voice soft and persuasive.
“Boss,” Hakyung managed to utter, his voice thick.
“Yes, I’m here,” Muheon replied, his tone gentle and reassuring.
At the man’s tender and unwavering response, Hakyung’s eyebrows furrowed deeply, the visible effort of holding back his emotions.
The moisture filling his eyes shimmered precariously, threatening to spill over at any moment, like a dam about to burst.
“Grandma, Grandma fell really badly yesterday… and she can’t get up at all,” Hakyung explained, his words tumbling out in a disjointed rush.
“I think she really needs to go to the hospital, but my siblings are too young to handle it, and I need to go there myself…”
Despite the fragmented nature of Hakyung’s words, Muheon, who had largely pieced together the gravity of the situation, gently continued to rub Hakyung’s cheeks with a soothing motion.
At the man’s rough yet profoundly careful comfort, Hakyung’s eyebrows furrowed once more, his face contorting in a struggle to suppress the rising tears.
Fearing that Hakyung would become a weeping mess before they even managed to leave, Muheon quickly and decisively embraced him, pulling him into a secure hug.
“Alright. Let’s go,” Muheon stated, his voice firm and resolved.
“G-go?” Hakyung stammered, surprised by the unexpected declaration.
“Yes. I’ll go with you,” Muheon affirmed, his decision unyielding.
This wasn’t just a casual walk to a neighboring town; the destination was a place located approximately four hours away by car, a one-way journey.
Hakyung was acutely aware of the considerable distance.
“It’s too far, Boss. I’ll just go quickly by myself,” Hakyung protested, his voice laced with concern for Muheon’s time and effort.
“No, I can’t possibly send you alone,” Muheon stated, his voice laced with a deep, unwavering concern.
“I’d be far too worried about you. And truly, I can’t bear to be alone without you either.”
“Uh, uh…?”
Whenever Muheon so unexpectedly confirmed his deep affection in such direct terms, Hakyung was perpetually left in a state of bewildered surprise.
This time, as Hakyung merely rolled his eyes, utterly unable to process or react to the sudden declaration, Muheon took the initiative.
He gently but firmly interlocked their fingers and began to lead Hakyung out of the CEO’s office.
The company employees, having gradually grown accustomed to the increasingly intimate and close relationship between their CEO and Hakyung over the past few days, merely cast quick, discreet side glances, before calmly and peaceably bidding the pair farewell, their expressions serene.
“Park Geoun, contact me immediately if anything, anything at all, happens,” Muheon instructed, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.
“Yes, understood, CEO,” Geoun replied, his voice a steady, somewhat slow cadence.
Hearing Geoun’s confirmation, Muheon tightened his grip on Hakyung’s hand, a silent reassurance, and guided him directly towards the waiting parking lot.
“Get in,” Muheon commanded, opening the car door for Hakyung.
“Boss, are you actually driving yourself?” Hakyung asked, surprised by the direct involvement.
“Yeah,” Muheon affirmed, already settled in the driver’s seat. He gestured towards the navigation system. “Put the address in here.”
“You must be tired, Boss… I mean, you’ve had a long day…” Hakyung murmured, his concern evident.
“This much travel doesn’t tire me out. Come on, hurry,” Muheon urged, his voice gentle but firm.
At the man’s gentle prodding, Hakyung reluctantly entered the address of his rural home into the navigation system.
A bitter taste filled his mouth; he felt as though he wasn’t just causing his beloved lover worry, but also physically exhausting him by making him drive such a long distance.
Perhaps sensing Hakyung’s underlying unease, Muheon extended his right arm and gently, soothingly, stroked Hakyung’s head-vent, which was still covered by his hat. “Your grandmother will be perfectly fine. Don’t worry too much, alright?” Muheon reassured him, his voice a calming balm.
“Yes… Thank you, Boss,” Hakyung replied, his voice tinged with weariness, as he pressed his head-vent forcefully against his boss’s comforting palm, a small gesture of gratitude.
When they were alone together, Hakyung’s desire to speak would exponentially increase, and he would chatter incessantly, filling every quiet moment.
But now, with Hakyung glumly silent and withdrawn, it was Muheon who found himself speaking more frequently, trying to fill the void.
He constantly inquired if Hakyung desired anything to eat at the rest stop, or if there were any particular songs he wished to listen to, or if he felt even a hint of sleepiness.
Each time, Hakyung merely shook his head, his focus consumed by worry, and Muheon’s heart churned with a silent, consuming concern, burning within him.
How long did they drive in that heavy, expectant silence?
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they arrived at Hakyung’s family home.
“Grandma!” Hakyung exclaimed, bursting out of the car as if propelled by a spring, and called out loudly, his voice echoing across the quiet property.
“What is it, Hakyung-ah?!” his grandmother’s voice, raspy with surprise, called out from inside.
“Grandma, Hyung-ah must be here!” Hajo’s excited voice rang out.
Hearing her eldest grandson’s distinct voice, the grandmother, who had been resting, looked around with a startled expression.
Hajo, who had been diligently massaging his grandmother’s aching legs, quickly scurried to the door and poked his face out, his eyes wide with anticipation.
“Hyung-ah!” Hajo cried, rushing forward.
“Hajo-yah, how’s Grandma doing?” Hakyung asked, concern etched deeply on his face.
Hakyung quickly kicked off his shoes, tossing them aside carelessly, and hurried to his grandmother’s side to assess her condition.
Just as his younger brother had described, her right knee and ankle were visibly swollen, alarmingly so, and her elbows and palms were covered in numerous small, superficial cuts and scrapes.
It was the first time his beloved grandmother had been hurt so severely, filling Hakyung with a potent mix of shock and a deep-seated resentment that she hadn’t sought medical attention despite her obvious injuries.
“Why didn’t you go to the hospital?!” Hakyung exclaimed, his voice rising sharply, tinged with accusation and worry.
His grandmother, taken aback by Hakyung’s sudden appearance and his immediate, agitated outburst, smacked her younger grandson, Hajo, lightly on the back.
“You little pig! Didn’t I explicitly tell you not to tell your brother I was hurting?!” she scolded, her voice surprisingly firm despite her pain.
“Ow! But Grandma, if you’re hurting this much, Hyung-ah needs to know!” Hajo protested, rubbing his back.
“Oh, really now? Look at you, talking back!” his grandmother retorted, a hint of exasperated affection in her tone.
His grandmother and younger brother began to bicker back and forth, a familiar dynamic.
Still, it was a profound relief to Hakyung to see that she retained enough energy to engage in such an argument.
But it’s still swollen so badly… she must have a crack somewhere, Hakyung thought, a tight lump forming in his throat.
He gently but firmly grabbed his grandmother’s shoulder.
Feeling her thin bones beneath the fragile skin of her arm, he felt a suffocating sensation, as if a large lump had formed in his own throat.
“Grandma, you have to go to the hospital. Why are you just staying at home like this?!” Hakyung pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion.
“No! What hospital? A simple patch will fix it right up! It’s you, Hakyung-ah, who shouldn’t have come all the way here, skipping work!” his grandmother retorted, her stubbornness unwavering.
“Is work the problem right now, Grandma?!” Hakyung cried, disbelief coloring his tone.
“Then what is the problem?! Are you going to get summarily fired from your job because of this?!” she shot back, her voice rising.
The situation had quickly devolved into a heated verbal sparring match between Hakyung and his grandmother, leaving his younger brother, Hajo, caught anxiously in the middle, fidgeting with discomfort.
Both Hakyung and his grandmother were known for their strong, unyielding wills, and in such arguments, trying to intervene often resulted in the intervener getting “caught in the crossfire.”
Hajo was pacing nervously, wringing his hands, when he sensed a large, imposing figure approaching from behind.
Then, a low, resonant voice cut through the bickering.
“I am his boss, and I have no intention of firing Hakyung for this,” Muheon stated calmly, his voice clear and authoritative.
“So, Grandmother, please, let’s get you treated.”
It was the powerful, unexpected arrival of his boss, the very man Hakyung had always sung praises about, repeatedly declaring “I like him, I like him” whenever he was on the phone.