S#4. La Capitale de l’Amour
Bang Manager called around 9 a.m.
It was 5 p.m. in Seoul.
Yoon Jooho and Song Hyunsoo sat side by side at the terrace table, leisurely enjoying breakfast.
Even though they’d only fallen asleep at dawn, both had woken up earlier than usual.
They lazed around in bed for about an hour.
Sometimes, even without having sex, they could spend a calm morning just by being next to each other.
Just sometimes.
Sitting at the breakfast table in nothing but their bathrobes after a shower, the Eiffel Tower was right before their eyes.
It sounded like the start of a peaceful, leisurely day, but in reality, it wasn’t.
They barely touched their food, instead huddling together in front of the table, using the Homecam app to check on Monroe.
“Why are you barely eating? At least have another omelet.”
Yoon Jooho clicked his tongue as he looked at Song Hyunsoo’s plate, which was almost untouched.
Even though all he’d eaten himself was some juice and half a croissant.
“I’m eating. I’m still eating.”
Although he spoke a little less, there was no sign of tension in Yoon Jooho.
Song Hyunsoo wanted to act normally with him, but it wasn’t easy.
His words sounded hollow, like his mind was somewhere else.
Director Bang had gone to court to attend the hearing, so Monroe had been spending time alone since around noon.
They heard updates from Bang Manager every day and checked in on Monroe through the Homecam whenever they had time, but they missed the warmth and weight of the little one snuggling in their arms.
And that cute, chattering, complaining voice.
Fortunately, Monroe was healthy, roaming around the house, playing well.
He hardly spent any time in his own room now.
They watched Monroe dragging his bunny slippers out of his room and struggling to pull himself up onto the living room cat tower, and for a moment, a small smile broke out.
Then the call came in.
When Yoon Jooho saw the caller ID, he unconsciously reached for Song Hyunsoo’s hand and held it.
“Hey, hyung.”
Yoon Jooho continued the call in a calm, subdued voice.
His replies were almost all short.
Because of that, Song Hyunsoo was burning with anxiety, unable to guess the outcome of the trial.
As the short call continued, Yoon Jooho’s grip on Song Hyunsoo’s hand gradually tightened.
By the end, his knuckles ached, but Song Hyunsoo didn’t let go.
“Thanks for doing all this for me. When I get back to Seoul, I’ll stop by Attorney Moon’s office and thank them in person. Yeah, please pass that on.”
After finishing the call, Yoon Jooho slowly turned to look at Song Hyunsoo.
Even then, Song Hyunsoo couldn’t read victory or defeat in his eyes.
Yoon Jooho’s parents had been sentenced to 20 years at the first trial.
Just as the prosecution had requested.
Embezzlement, tax evasion, drug solicitation, perjury, evidence tampering—almost every charge brought by the prosecutor had been accepted.
Lighting a cigarette, Yoon Jooho exhaled the first puff with a drawn-out breath.
It was a heavy sigh, as if he’d been holding it in for years.
They might not accept the verdict.
They might appeal.
But according to the prosecutor and Yoon Jooho’s Lawyer, there was almost no chance the first verdict would be overturned, or that the sentence would be reduced.
The evidence was simply overwhelming.
He tossed the cigarette pack onto the table and stretched his neck back, as if stretching his whole body.
“That’s good.”
“……”
“I can finally get a good night’s sleep.”
But Song Hyunsoo couldn’t say those words so easily.
They stuck in his throat like something he couldn’t swallow.
Biological parents had been charged with committing terrifying crimes against their child and sentenced to prison.
It was better than not paying for their crimes, but things never should have gotten to this point in the first place.
It felt as if Yoon Jooho had lost his parents and become an orphan, so Song Hyunsoo couldn’t say it was a good thing.
“Should we just rest at the hotel today?”
“Why?”
“Just… in case you’re not feeling well.”
“Me?”
Yoon Jooho raised his eyebrows as if he had no idea why Hyunsoo would think that.
“The trial result came out just as I wanted, I’m actually in top shape.”
He tapped out his cigarette in the ashtray, narrowed his eyes, and tried to recall.
“Today’s plan was… going down from Montmartre to the Marais District, right?”
“Senpai.”
Only then did Yoon Jooho meet Song Hyunsoo’s eyes properly.
He slowly caressed Hyunsoo’s cheek and ran his fingers through Hyunsoo’s damp hair, like he was tending to something precious.
“Jungho’s looking forward to it, too.”
“……”
“We only have two days of free time. Are we going to waste a whole day in the hotel?”
Jungho was scheduled to return to Korea a day early tonight with Yoon Jooho’s manager.
Today, the three of them—well, technically, with two of Yoon Jooho’s bodyguards, too—had promised to walk together from Montmartre down to the Marais District, to experience the city with their own feet.
When Song Hyunsoo’s expression didn’t soften, Yoon Jooho gently tapped Hyunsoo’s nose and smiled.
“It’s been so long since I started letting go of my feelings for those people… I’m really okay.”
Song Hyunsoo didn’t truly believe Yoon Jooho was fine, but when they went out, Jooho was in even worse shape than expected.
Amidst the crowd in front of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, while eating at the restaurant Song Hyunsoo and Jungho picked after coming down from Montmartre, even when buying the Jam Han Jooyoung had asked for in the Marais District, he just clung to Song Hyunsoo the whole time.
Whenever he had the chance, he’d rest his chin or head on Hyunsoo’s shoulder from behind.
He was like a child in low spirits.
His world had shrunk, curling up and only allowing his “guardian” near.
Song Hyunsoo felt like he was piggybacking someone much bigger than himself.
If it would make Jooho feel even a little better, he’d actually carry him on his back if that’s what it took…
Maybe only Song Hyunsoo could see how off Jooho really was.
When Song Hyunsoo asked Jungho if he thought something was wrong with Jooho, Jungho just kept filming the scenery on his camera and replied casually.
“Jooho-hyung?”
“Yeah. He’s out of it and keeps sticking to me. Doesn’t seem interested in traveling at all. He says he’s fine, but it seems like he’s pushing himself.”
“Hyung’s always weird, you know.”
“What?”
“He’s always weird. And he only cares about you, anyway.”
“No, he’s not that weird…”
“If he started acting normal, that’s when you should really worry.”
Before Song Hyunsoo could object and say he wasn’t actually that strange, Jungho ran off to take another photo.
■
The restaurant Jung Jin had recommended wasn’t far from the hotel where Yoon Jooho and Song Hyunsoo were staying.
It was less than fifteen minutes away by car.
Paris was a small city, after all.
Although it was in the 8th arrondissement where landmarks like the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, Madeleine, and Élysée Palace were located, the restaurant was far from any of those famous spots.
When their car turned onto the alley where the restaurant was, Song Hyunsoo immediately spotted Jung Jin sitting at an outdoor table.
He was reading, sitting on a green and white checkered bistro chair.
Maybe it was the script for the work he was preparing.
The moment Song Hyunsoo saw him, a smile spread across his face.
Thankfully, he was just Jung Jin.
The one who taught him how to tie his sneakers properly.
The one who protected him when he lost Choi Hongseo in such a frightening way and was paralyzed by fear.
One of the few people in this world who genuinely wanted the best for him.
Jung Jin. Jiini-hyung.
As soon as the car stopped, Song Hyunsoo jumped out.
“Hyung!”
Jung Jin immediately looked up and broke into a bright smile when he saw Song Hyunsoo.
“Song Hyunsoo.”
He stood up right away and walked over to Hyunsoo.
Without anyone taking the lead, the distance closed between them and they hugged each other tightly with both arms.
No words were needed.
There was nothing to apologize for, since no one had done anything wrong; no explanations or emotional fences were necessary.
The bond between people who had gotten through the hardest times together simply seeped into the space between them.
Just looking at each other and embracing, they could feel it.
That he was still the same Jung Jin, and Hyunsoo was still Hyunsoo.
“I’m glad you came. I’m glad you came, Hyunsoo. Really, I’m so glad you’re here.”
Just the repeated, whispered welcome was enough to convey his feelings, and already, Song Hyunsoo’s nose was starting to tingle.