Ha-min stuck close to Ye-jun. Fearful that something might happen, Ha-min paid close attention to every little thing that came to Ye-jun's mind. Ye-jun sometimes found Ha-min's behavior burdensome, but he still felt a sense of satisfaction. As time passed and nothing happened to Ye-jun, Ha-min gradually forgot about his dream.
“Ha..thank goodness it was just a bad dream.”
Days of peace with Yejun, to the point where Ha-min gradually forgets the dream he had.
While working at the office, Ha-min prints out the train tickets he had booked for his trip with Ye-jun. He then sends Ye-jun a KakaoTalk message.
Ha-min planned to make a cool confession before going on a train trip with Ye-jun. This was Ha-min's first time confessing, and he was searching the internet for ideas on how to do it. Ye-jun, who didn't know anything, pretended to have some business and approached Ha-min with documents.
“Manager, I need to check some documents.”
Ha-min quickly closed his laptop, startled by Ye-jun's sudden appearance. Ye-jun, bewildered by Ha-min's behavior, tilted his head and asked.
“Uh..what were you doing..?”
Ha-min avoids eye contact and is dumbfounded by Ye-jun's question.
“No…no…nothing”
‘I was secretly preparing to confess... but Yejun hyung absolutely cannot find out..!’
“Haha..I see..”
“What, what are the documents?”
“Huh? Oh, that’s it..”
Yejun couldn't continue. He'd lied to see Hamin, and he didn't know how to lie. Hamin, staring at Yejun, who couldn't continue, tilted his head, unsure why. Embarrassed, Yejun decided to just run away.
“No..! Now that I look at it, I don’t think that’s right..!!”
“…Yejun..?”
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Time passes and two days before Yejun and Hamin were scheduled to go on a train trip.
The rain poured down furiously from morning. Yejun had some work to do, so he went to work first. Hamin, who arrived on time, looked around for Yejun as soon as he arrived. However, only Yejun's bag was there, and he wasn't there. Hamin asked a nearby employee about Yejun.
“Excuse me, where is employee Nam Ye-jun?”
“Oh, Mr. Yejun? Mr. Kang sent me on an errand earlier, so I took the car and went out for a bit.”
“It’s raining like this..?”
“Well... I don’t know. I guess they’re just spreading the word or something..”
“Okay, I understand. Thanks for letting me know.”
Ha-min looks out the window at the rain and worries about Ye-jun.
Even without that, Manager Kang was already harassing Yejun every day, making him anxious. What on earth was he thinking, making him work on a rainy day like this? What if something happened?
After leaving a message for Yejun, Ha-min sat down and waited for Yejun while working.
Meanwhile, on a rainy day, Yejun toured other companies, promoting his company. The sky grew darker and darker, and time flew by. He braced himself, exhausted, by the thought of the trip he'd take with Ha-min.
"Yeah, if you just hold on a little longer, you can go on a trip with Ha-min... Just hang in there, Nam Ye-jun!"
While driving, Yejun's phone kept ringing. But he couldn't answer the call because he was driving. Eventually, the call ended and a KakaoTalk message arrived.
Yejun was excited at the thought of meeting Ha-min after work.
What do you want to say to me? By any chance... a confession? Hey... no way... don't think weird, Nam Ye-jun... come to your senses and get to work!
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Late at night, Ha-min was getting off work and was preparing to confess to Ye-jun by arriving at the restaurant where he was supposed to meet him.
At that moment, Yejun mustered all his strength to make his last visit to the company. He entered another company, bowed at a 90-degree angle to the employees, and handed out business cards and documents.
“Hello..! This is Nam Ye-jun, an employee at W Corporation!”
However, the company employees were not at all pleased with Yejun's greeting and looked at him with strange eyes. Yejun, who was embarrassed by the gaze, did not lose his smile and continued to promote the company diligently.
After a long round of promotions and greetings, Yejun, feeling extremely tired, went to the bathroom to wash up. Just then, he heard the company employees coming in, and without realizing it, he hid in the bathroom stall. They were talking about something, and upon listening closely, he realized they were talking about Yejun.
"Hey, did you see that guy earlier?"
"who?"
"That w company."
"Ah~ Promotion?"
"Oh, but am I the only one who feels sorry for that person?"
"Huh, why?"
"No... If it's a company called W, it's the number one company in Korea, so why are you promoting it?"
"Is that so?"
"That's ridiculous. It wouldn't matter if he were a manager or a section chief at that company, but he's obviously a new employee. And you're asking him to do something like this on a rainy day?"
"Now that I hear it, that's true. Why are you doing this? Don't you have anything else to do? Hahaha."
"ㅋㅋㅋ From what I can see, he's doing that to get screwed 100%."
"ㅋㅋㅋThat's right, you can tell just by looking at him that he's trying to bully the newbiesㅋㅋㅋ"
"Oh my, something pretty has appeared, I almost got curious about something new~"
"Hahaha, are you crazy? But seriously, why are you taking on this kind of work?"
"It's one of two things. Either she's trying to be a jerk, or she's pretty but terrible at her job."
"Wow..so pitiful lol ㅠㅠ"
Yejun, who overheard the employees' conversation in the bathroom stall, felt everything crumble for a moment. They were casually harassing others. Was it right for him to do this job while listening to such things? Yejun hid in the bathroom until the employees left, then emerged from the office with slumped shoulders.
The rain poured down without warning, and Yejun stood still, getting drenched in it. Why did it always grab his ankles whenever he tried to get up again? Yejun tried to be strong, but the things that kept happening to him were too much, and he couldn't hold on. Yejun crouched down in the middle of the road, tears streaming down his face.
“Ugh..why..to me..ugh..why is everyone doing this to me..”
Passersby looked at Yejun strangely, and no one offered any relief. Yejun stood up after crying in the rain for a long time. Was the sky sympathizing with his situation? The sky, too, was shedding tears, pouring down rain. It felt just like Yejun's own feelings.
Yejun got into the car, soaking wet. Hamin had the address of the restaurant. Reading Hamin's text, Yejun missed him even more today. He thought if he saw Hamin even now, his heart would feel better.
Yejun finished his work and returned to the office. When he arrived, all the employees had left their desks. Manager Kang approached Yejun from afar, calling out to him. Seeing Yejun drenched in the rain, Manager Kang sneered and said,
“Huh? Are you trying to act pitiful? Why are you taking so long?”
"Hey, when your boss speaks, answer him. I asked why you were so late."
Yejun still didn't answer. Kang Daeri, annoyed by Yejun's behavior, decided to let him go without getting angry.
“Oh my, when people talk… ugh, that’s enough. Just get out of my sight..”
“…..Sir, I have something to ask you.”
Kang Byari was taken aback by Yejun's question. Normally, he'd just remain silent or repeat his apologies, but now he had something to ask. Yejun had been suffering from Kang's constant harassment. Exhausted, Yejun mustered up the courage to speak, thinking, "If not now, when will I have the chance to confront him?"
“…What did I hear about the work you asked me to do today?”
Manager Kang was taken aback by Yejun's words.
“Wh..what is it..?”
“..Is the work you assigned me today the right thing to do?”
Manager Kang laughs at Yejun's words and says:
"Huh? You just do whatever I tell you to do, so what's the big deal? If you got a job later than others, you should do whatever I say. What's the complaint? Huh? What did you hear that made you say something like that in front of me!"
”…..“
Manager Kang was flustered and kept talking, but Ye-jun was speechless. "Manager Kang is right. What choice do I have, having started later than others?" Ye-jun continued in a quiet voice.
“…I’m trying to make candy...”
"what?"
“…The employees of that company said that they were doing it to get rid of the taffy.”
Manager Kang was taken aback by Yejun's words. His voice grew louder and louder, and he glared at Yejun as he spoke.
"Hey! I don't know what people at other companies are saying, but is that the only way you see your boss?"
"…no."
"No, that's not true! Oh, that's okay. If you're going to do it like that, just beat them all up."
After hitting Yejun hard on the shoulder, Manager Kang left. Yejun stood there for a while, completely drenched in the rain.
Yejun was so angry that he couldn't even speak properly to Manager Kang. "I'm going to end up like this again. Yejun felt so pathetic and hated himself so much. He couldn't even speak properly, when he didn't know how to do anything properly."
Yejun got back into the car. After getting into the car, he became lost in thought.
"How long do I have to endure before I can succeed? I don't even want success anymore. I just want to be happy."
Yejun, who had been dazed for a long time, holding the steering wheel, wanted to give up everything. The tattered bracelet hanging on his wrist.
Whenever I looked at the bracelet, I was reminded of Ha-min's words and appearance. At this moment, as Ha-min's words came to mind, I suddenly felt like crying.
Yejun, on his way to a small gathering place with Hamin, was waiting for a signal. Half-conscious, Yejun tried to keep his expression as bright as possible, worried that Hamin might be surprised by his appearance. While he was trying to calm himself, a man appeared next to Yejun.A bright light appeared. A large truck was rushing towards Yejun, ignoring the traffic light.
Bang-!
Yejun's body froze as the truck suddenly rushed at him.
As he watched the truck rushing towards him, Yejun had many thoughts.
‘Ah… I’m going to die so meaninglessly.’
Squeak..thud..!
As the truck slammed into Yejun's car, a tremendous shock washed over him. The moment the truck hit him, everything seemed to slow down, and all the happy memories he had with Ha-min flashed before his eyes like a movie.
‘… How about me as Yejun’s first man?’
“Why is Yejun so cute?”
"I'm glad that my brother is happy."
“Brother, you can’t leave me. I promise.”
The car was completely overturned, and Yejun was covered in blood. Yejun, on the verge of death, was only worried about Hamin.
‘I have to go see Ha-min… I promised I wouldn’t leave, but what if he waits for me? Ah… I miss Ha-min…’
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Ha-min finally left the restaurant, holding an umbrella. On a day when the rain was pouring down, Ha-min searched the area for Ye-jun. While wandering, he heard a commotion and headed in that direction. A large crowd of people were gathered, and several ambulances and police cars were present. Because of the crowd, Ha-min couldn't see the situation clearly, so he overheard the conversations of those around him.
“Hey.. I think I died.”
"That's why...the car is crushed."
"Oh, so that's why truck drivers fall asleep at the wheel. Tsk tsk..."
"It's so pitiful... He still looks like a young man.
At that moment, Ha-min heard those words and pushed his way through the crowd to reach the scene of the incident. There, there was a car that was almost completely destroyed by a truck.
There was blood like a puddle. And it was covered with a white cloth.
A corpse.
Hamin approached the corpse covered in white cloth with a trembling heart. The moment he approached, one arm appeared through the cloth.
A familiar suit, familiar hands. And a white bracelet stained red with blood.
Ha Min ran, feeling as if his breath had stopped for a moment. He threw down his umbrella and ran towards the body, praying it wasn't Ye-jun. But when he pulled back the white cloth, it was Ye-jun. Ha Min's heart sank, and he couldn't believe what was happening. No, this couldn't be happening. Ha Min, broken in an instant, cried out, hugging Ye-jun.
“Tongue..hyung..!! Yejun hyung..!”
Ha-min caressed Ye-jun's face and hands. They were so cold.
In this situation that felt like a lie, Ha-min cried even more. The police restrained Ha-min, preventing him from being separated from Ye-jun. Ha-min, held captive by the police, sobbed and screamed.
“No…no, hyung…”
Ha-min shook off the police and approached Ye-jun again. He gave him a tender hug, touching him with his warm hands. He hugged Ye-jun, trying to give him a little of his warmth, and said,
“Hyung.. I’m here. Okay? Open your eyes.. I’m here, hyung..”
But Yejun didn't even move. Ha-min wiped Yejun's face, which was already not breathing, and shed tears.
“No… This can’t be happening… Hyung…? Please open your eyes… Please…”
Yejun, who was cold and numb. How much pain must he have felt, alone and drenched in the rain on a rainy day like this?
Holding Yejun's cold hand, Ha-min sobs and cries.
“I’m sorry, bro.. I’m.. so sorry.. You must be so tired from working.. I said let’s eat.. It’s because of me, bro.. I’m sorry…”
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So Yejun was transferred to the hospital. The lights came on in the operating room, and Ha-min was wandering outside. His eyes were empty, seemingly unable to accept reality.
“No…hyung…this can’t happen…”
As time passed, the doctor emerged from the operating room. Ha-min ran to him and spoke in a trembling voice.
Heh..what about you..? How is it..? Can I buy it..?
The doctor shakes his head and speaks in a somber voice.
"I did my best, but... I'm sorry."
Ha-min staggered at the doctor's words.
“Wh..what did you say..?”
Ha-min sat down. He took out the blood-stained bracelet from Ye-jun's wrist and looked at it. Because it was a gift from him, Ha-min sobbed even more, and the hospital hallway filled with his cries.
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