If You Want Me - Episode 25
<Episode 25>
“Have you sorted out your feelings?”
“…”
Exactly one week from that day. Do-gyeom came to Seo-won’s house as if it was a given, like it was a promise.
Should I have moved after all? He did declare he would give exactly one week, but I never dreamed he would come to this countryside twice.
Why is he doing this… He hated wasting time to the utmost degree. It took at least five hours to come down to this village from Seoul. Why was a man whose every minute and second was gold, no, more precious than gold, personally coming all the way here? His behavior was so unusual that it was suspicious enough to doubt if it was someone else wearing Do-gyeom’s mask.
How many times do I have to say it for him to understand? Quitting as his partner wasn’t just a whim… Seo-won closed his eyes, then spoke to him in a powerless voice as if sighing.
“I clearly told you that nothing would change even if you came looking for me like this.”
“You still haven’t sorted out your feelings without even meeting them?”
“…Please stop investigating me.”
“You should have come back before I investigated then.”
“…”
What kind of shameless logic is this… I knew he was brazen, but I didn’t know it would be to this extent.
Wasn’t Do-gyeom a man who was good at his job? He probably doesn’t usually work this way when negotiating. Perhaps it was because I had been with him for a long time that he was still treating me like a subordinate. I was also speaking to him respectfully as if he were my young master.
Seo-won looked down at Do-gyeom, feeling frustrated. He had naturally taken over the sofa in Seo-won’s house and was sitting there. I had clearly tried to chase him out from the front door, but when I came to my senses, I had naturally given him my house. It was my fault.
“…Anyway, could you please leave now?”
“I have no intention of leaving.”
“I’ll report you for trespassing.”
“Go ahead and report me. See if that works.”
“…”
Do-gyeom crossed his legs arrogantly as if daring me to try it. Reporting him probably wouldn’t work anyway.
Seo-won wanted to ignore him because of his overly arrogant attitude. But without realizing it, he took in the sight of Do-gyeom’s long legs crossing with his eyes.
He was tall, nearly 190cm, and had good proportions, so the way he crossed his legs was as cool as a model’s. Not only were they long, but Seo-won’s gaze was drawn even more because he knew his tightly clenched thighs were also sturdy with muscle.
Here I am admiring his long legs when I should be kicking him out. I resented myself for being so faithful to my desires. Seo-won pushed away the lust filling his head and tried to make his voice sound indifferent.
“Even if you… stay at my house, there’s probably nothing you can do.”
“I need to see how well you’re living that you can ignore my conditions like that.”
“Don’t you already know pretty much everything from your investigation? If it seems like I’m refusing because I’m well off, do you think I would have come down to this countryside?”
“Then why did you come all the way to such a remote place? Do you know how many hours it takes to come down here?”
Do-gyeom shifted the blame, asking if he knew how bothersome and annoying it was to come all the way here.
“Then you don’t have to come.”
“I clearly know you’re holed up at home all day, so stop making excuses. I’m saying I need a partner to relieve pheromones, what’s so hard about that? What’s the real reason you say you can’t be a partner?”
Do-gyeom asked as if he knew Seo-won was lying.
Until he recklessly quit his job and came down to the countryside to settle, Seo-won had never once thought Do-gyeom would want him back, investigate him, or maybe even chase after him. Because he thought Do-gyeom had no interest in him in the first place.
That’s why he never imagined his lie would be exposed so quickly, and had never even thought about how to react in this situation.
Seo-won was momentarily at a loss for words and his pupils trembled, but soon he pulled himself together and shook his head.
“I told you the reason, didn’t I? That I found someone I like.”
“You think that kind of lie will work?”
“…Not everyone thinks and acts like you, young master. Thinking your thoughts are all correct is also arrogance and prejudice.”
“You’re saying I’m mistaken?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Seo-won nodded firmly as he answered resolutely.
At that, Do-gyeom silently made eye contact with Seo-won. It was a sharp gaze as if trying to read his inner thoughts.
Just meeting his gaze made Seo-won feel a chill as if everything would be exposed. But no matter how outstanding Do-gyeom was, he probably couldn’t read minds.
As Seo-won met his eyes without avoiding them despite his sweaty palms, Do-gyeom let out a hollow laugh and his eyes shone fiercely.
“I don’t trust a blabbering mouth without evidence. So if you want to terminate the contract with me, bring that bastard in front of me right now.”
“…”
At Do-gyeom’s confident words, Seo-won bit the inside of his mouth hard.
If he had known this would happen, he would have hired a fake lover… It was too late to hire one now. There was no guarantee Do-gyeom wasn’t even monitoring his internet usage history.
Seo-won suppressed the sigh that threatened to escape and retorted firmly word by word.
“It’s someone I like one-sidedly. I can’t arrange a meeting with you, young master.”
“You’re rejecting all the conditions I proposed just because of a mere crush?”
“You may not understand, young master, but there is such a love. Don’t make unfounded assumptions and leave. This is a waste of time that you hate the most.”
“This isn’t called a waste, it’s called an investment.”
“If you don’t gain anything, it’s a waste.”
“That’s not something you can hastily judge now. If you’re so confident, shall we make a deal? About whether I’m right or you’re right? If you can prove there is someone you have a crush on within this month, I’ll give up cleanly too.”
Do-gyeom arrogantly proposed a deal. He was still convinced Seo-won would come back to his side.
He urged Seo-won to accept the deal if he had nothing weighing on his mind, but Seo-won questioned the deal itself.
“No… As I said, I can’t show you, so how can I prove that?”
“If it’s true, you’ll have no choice but to know. I’ve been with you for several years, you think I won’t be able to tell?”
“…”
At Do-gyeom’s confident words, Seo-won pressed his lips tightly together. Even though he had been his partner for 6 years and had a one-sided love for him, Do-gyeom hadn’t known, so… How could he be so self-assured?
Out of frustration, he wanted to say that the one he liked was Do-gyeom, that he wanted him, but Seo-won desperately suppressed the urge.
Do-gyeom still didn’t seem to know that Seo-won was even pregnant, so there was the option of confessing and cutting ties, but he was more afraid of seeing Do-gyeom’s reaction than severing the connection. He realized he was much more of an avoidant person than he had thought.
After some contemplation, Seo-won nodded, thinking he might be able to send Do-gyeom away using this as an excuse if he found out the truth later.
“Let’s do it, the deal.”
“Ha, then I’ll have to bring a contract with me next week.”
“Why go that far…”
“It’s better to make it clear, isn’t it?”
“…Do as you wish then.”
I don’t know why he needs to leave that in a contract, but if he really finds out that I like him… Then the contract might come in handy. Anyway, the fact that there was someone I liked remains unchanged.
Seo-won was about to agree, but a thought crossing his mind made him open his mouth again.
“Let’s add a clause to the contract. If it’s a deal, shouldn’t there be compensation for me too?”
“Speak. What, do you need money? If you win, should I prepare a house for you in Seoul?”
“Never mind that, if it really is true that I have someone I like… Please add that you and I will never have a reason to see each other again.”
Do-gyeom furrowed his brows deeply as if he very much disliked Seo-won’s proposal.
Then, as if a ferocious beast was baring its teeth and growling, he retorted angrily.
“Even if it’s not about being partners, there’s no reason to sever ties, is there?”
“No. We have no common ground except for the partner job anyway. There would be no need for me outside of partner work, right?”
“…I really don’t know what you’re scheming. It would be easier to just ask for money.”
“It’s not a scheme, it’s literal.”
“Fine, let’s try anything. Who’s right.”
Although Do-gyeom expressed dislike for Seo-won’s proposal, emitting heavy alpha pheromones, he accepted it as if confident there was no one Seo-won liked.