“Hyung, thank you so much, but still, next time, please don’t come to a place where Kang Hyukwoo is.”
“…….”
Seo Yutae didn’t answer right away, but quietly looked up at Jo Inchan’s face.
Jo Inchan couldn’t bear the gaze and shut his eyes tightly.
‘…This is the right thing to do.’
He knew it was only thanks to Seo Yutae that the video had been wiped from existence, and that he’d been able to get away from Kang Hyukwoo today. That’s why he also knew how deeply contradictory and unconvincing it was to be saying something like this to Seo Yutae now.
The decisive reason he pushed Seo Yutae away, even while desperately needing someone’s help and feeling the weight of his own limits, was because the Seo Yutae standing before him now wasn’t yet fully himself.
‘If Hyung ends up in danger again because of us…….’
When their bodies bumped into each other in front of the main entrance, Jo Inchan realized it vividly.
How surprised must the person he bumped into have been, that he just stood there, not daring to touch him carelessly?
Seo Yutae, being someone with a body much stronger than most people’s, probably didn’t have a clear sense of what ‘average’ really meant, but others couldn’t help but begin to get a sense of it. To put it plainly, that body was far below the average; at a level similar to those who either had health issues or were born with a weak constitution.
Didn’t Seo Yutae often push himself to the point of total collapse? His mental strength wasn’t just strong; it was closer to compulsion. For someone so accustomed to enduring to such extremes, showing such weakness in front of others meant his body could no longer bear the toll.
In that state, what kind of situation would arise if Seo Yutae were to actually face Kang Hyukwoo?
‘Kang Hyukwoo is still here … what on earth was he thinking coming here!’
Up until now, the Kang Hyukwoo Jo Inchan had seen was a person who had grown all too accustomed to violence. Especially after he got involved in illegal businesses, associating with gangsters, and started resorting to physical violence against him a few times, his aggression only worsened with each passing day.
‘Because he had already confirmed for himself that there would be no real consequences even if he did.’
Furthermore, Kang Hyukwoo had a short temper by nature, and he was the type of person who sometimes acted impulsively. This meant that there was also a chance he could lash out and resort to violence without thinking of the consequences.
“Hey, what’s the deal with you guys and Han Seungbeom?”
Kang Hyukwoo already seemed to harbor a strong sense of unease toward Han Seungbeom. On top of that, with this scandal blowing up, that suspicion would have grown even more, eventually taking the form of resentment and hatred.
If, in his current state, Kang Hyukwoo were to be completely cornered, give up on everything, and in a final desperate act try to drag Han Seungbeom down with him to die, what would become of Seo Yutae?
‘Han Seungbeom is already on Kang Hyukwoo’s bad side. He’s going to try to harm him in some way or another. So how could you just come here recklessly, thinking only about me!’
Jo Inchan hoped that Seo Yutae would never go through what he had, not even by accident.
If Seo Yutae were in his original body, there wouldn’t be a chance—not even one in ten thousand—that he’d be physically overpowered by Kang Hyukwoo. But in Han Seungbeom’s body, he would be nothing more than a target for the assault.
With that thought in mind, Jo Inchan decided that Seo Yutae should no longer be involved with Kang Hyukwoo.
“Do you really think continuing to step forward like this will do you any good?”
“Have you not considered the possibility of getting into another accident like last time if you keep getting involved with Prism?”
The reason why Choi Jeokhyeon was reluctant to let Seo Yutae continue getting involved in Prism’s affairs was precisely that. No matter how many bodyguards he assigned to him, it would only lower the chances of him being in danger, but it wouldn’t make it zero.
Hiding him in a place where no one else could reach might have been one solution. However, it would slowly eat away at Seo Yutae’s very existence, so it should only be used as a last resort.
“…….”
However, Jo Inchan did not know what Seo Yutae had been like after Seo Yuseong’s death, so he could only focus on the risk of him being in danger, which caused him to feel anxious.
‘You know how far he’s willing to go. If Kang Hyukwoo gets the chance, he’ll get ride of Han Seungbeom without any hesitation or guilt..…….’
Just like when Seo Yuseong died, if he were to lose his life in an accident that happens in the blink of an eye, it would all be over. No matter how much revenge was taken afterward, it would mean nothing once Seo Yutae was lost.
‘…Last time, an accident happened because of me, and now?’
There had already been one instance where Seo Yutae, in Han Seungbeom’s body, was attacked by Kang Hyukwoo and nearly died. Kang Hyukwoo had deliberately caused an accident by making Dalli do his bidding. The members, reflecting on that time, all agreed that, had it not been for Hyung’s mysterious ability, they might have lost him for good.
If Seo Yutae hadn’t kept trying to contact Lim Seunghoon to erase that video, if he hadn’t been swayed by his emotions and hadn’t been with Prism that day, and if he hadn’t informed the people and location he would meet to Kang Hyukwoo, Seo Yutae wouldn’t have gotten into that accident.
‘Hyung also said he had absolutely no idea he could survive like that.’
After the Prism members took over Jo Inchan’s house as their temporary dorm, Jo Inchan had once found Nam Yihwon drinking strong liquor by himself. When he sat down in front of him, telling him not to drink alone, Nam Yihwon, his mind clouded by the alcohol, confessed that he couldn’t sleep.
“After that accident that day, I was the one holding Hyung, and I still can’t get that sensation out of my head. It’s driving me crazy. He was squirming in my arms, like he was in pain, and then his body stopped moving, little by little, and his body became as cold as ice … It’s just, even when I’m just doing everyday things, it suddenly comes back to me…….”
“Don’t tell Hyung.”
If Nam Yihwon was affected that badly, then it must’ve been a pretty serious accident.
Just because his body had restored didn’t mean the pain was gone. And yet, Seo Yutae was once again overing near the perpetrators, trying to bring Kang Hyukwoo down as if nothing had happened—like he wasn’t the least bit afraid of the pain he’d have to endure.
‘There’s no guarantee that he’ll be able to recover like that again next time.’
Jo Inchan was terrified of that.
But even though his rational mind kept telling him, ‘If I let him go now, Seo Yutae might finally be able to live a much safer life‘, Jo Inchan still couldn’t bring himself to say “Don’t ever come near us again“. Instead, he deliberately chose a more ambiguous wording: “Just don’t come where Kang Hyukwoo is.”
Because he had a gut feeling that if Seo Yutae really left Prism behind and went far away, he wouldn’t be able to handle it. Not a single thing in their relationship had faded—neither regret, nor fear, nor affection—so how could he possibly endure his absence?
Jo Inchan was certain that he was the one who desperately wished to be with Seo Yutae more than anyone else. As they said, human greed knows no bounds; Jo Inchan could feel how his initial wish, which was simply for Seo Yutae to be alive, had evolved into a desire to be with him now that he had made it happen.
In fact, deep down, he often felt envious, and sometimes even resentful, of the Pantheion members. Whenever he saw Seo Yutae returning to them he would find himself wanting to hold him back, almost instinctively, as if begging him not to go.
‘But that’s just my greed.’
Jo Inchan had not yet recovered from the panic caused by Kang Hyukwoo’s sudden intrusion and was in a more irrational state than usual. In that state, as the fear stemming from Seo Yutae’s pain chaotically tangled with the fear originating from his absence, Jo Inchan could only flounder, unable to break free from any of it.
So, thinking that he should first put out the immediate fire, he said that.
But Seo Yutae, who didn’t have the luxury to notice that…….
…slowly opened his tightly closed mouth.
And he managed to let out a faint voice.
“…Why?”
He was like a candle flickering precariously in front of the harsh wind.
But if you closed your eyes and just listened to his voice, he sounded like someone without any problems at all.
Seo Yutae was originally skilled at faking his voice. While staying at the place arranged by Choi Jeokhyeon, he had to occasionally receive calls from his acquaintances as if nothing was amiss. By now, he had practiced it so much that it came naturally.
“I’m sorry.”
What was truly fortunate for Seo Yutae was that Jo Inchan, overcome with intense guilt, lowered his head and couldn’t see his face. What was unfortunate, however, was that because of that guilt, he couldn’t give Seo Yutae a proper answer, fearing it might sound like an excuse.
There was also a part of him that worried that no matter what reason he gave, Seo Yutae wouldn’t be able to accept it and wouldn’t give up until the end.
‘….He apologized.’
But Seo Yutae needed that excuse.
It didn’t matter how flimsy the lie was.
“…I’m sorry, hyung, for causing you trouble again.”
“Forget it. I told you not to say things like that to me. Why are all the habits I fixed during my time in Prism coming back?”
He would have been okay with anything, as long as it wasn’t an apology.
Such words felt like he was drawing a line, and he hated it.
If there had been some reason, he might have been able to rationalize it and let it pass somehow. Or at least, he could have argued or tried to persuade him. He mumbled those thoughts to himself, his mind growing hazy.
Then, the door of Prism’s waiting room, which had closed right in front of his face, suddenly flashed through his mind.
Seo Yutae closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to erase the memory, and turned his head toward the window.
At some point, the sunset that had deepened the red of Jo Inchan’s hair had set unnoticed, and he quietly watched as the dark night sky took its place.
“…….”
As Seo Yutae remained silent, Jo Inchan finally sensed something was wrong and raised his head. But Seo Yutae’s face was already turned away, out of his sight.
Screech.
And before long, the car they were in had arrived in front of the broadcasting station where Cha Woon and Lee Chise were filming. As soon as the car stopped, Seo Yutae spoke to Jo Inchan in a low tone.
“Stay at one of the members’ houses for the time being. I already contacted them earlier. If possible, Lee Chise’s place would be the best, since Kang Hyukwoo finds that guy especially difficult.”
“…….”
“Go inside carefully.”
“…Yeah, you too, hyung.”
With an anxious look that he couldn’t conceal, Jo Inchan gave a short greeting to Seo Yutae, who refused to meet his gaze until the very end. As soon as he entered the broadcasting station, Choi Jeokhyeon turned around to look at Seo Yutae.
“…….”
Seo Yutae remained motionless until Jo Inchan was no longer in sight. And the second Jo Inchan went inside the building, Seo Yutae hunched over and covered his deeply bowed head with both arms.
Just a little while ago, he had stubbornly argued against every word Choi Jeokhyeon said, but now, in front of the members, he was just sitting there dejected, unable to say a word. Watching him like that made it difficult to decide whether he should consider it a good development or a bad one.
“Are you just going to stay still, just as Jo Inchan wants?”
He asked softly, and after a long pause, a short answer came back.
“…No, I’m going to do what I have to do.”
He then got up from his seat, saying he was going to the convenience store, opened the door, and went out. Having spent so much time together, Choi Jeokhyeon could tell even with just this much. He was going to get cigarettes. Seo Yutae always felt a strong urge to smoke whenever something stressful happened.
However, Seo Yutae returned shortly after, empty-handed. As he stared steadily at that exhausted face, Seo Yutae arched an eyebrow and smiled.
“I forgot that I’m in Han Seungbeom’s body.”
A self-mocking laugh passed his lips, and Seo Yutae mumbled in a voice drained of all strength.
“…I can’t breathe.”
.
.
.
Inside RH Entertainment’s executive office, Kang Hyukwoo was busy on the phone. The call was from a reporter with whom he maintained a close relationship. After a long back-and-forth about how bad the industry atmosphere was these days, Kang Hyukwoo was finally able to get the information he wanted, but only after offering a hefty payment.
“Well, you know Han Seungbeom’s younger brother, right? Han Jaewoon. They did a lot of mediaplay about him being Han Seungbeom’s brother. I’ve been hearing some bad rumors about him lately …… How about we stir things up in that direction?”
“People usually lose their reason when it comes to family matters, don’t they?”
And as soon as the call ended, Kang Hyukwoo couldn’t hold back his laughter. He let out a chuckle before lifting his head.
‘…I found it.’
A weapon that could instantly ruin Han Seungbeom’s image and bury this scandal. At last, it was in his hands.
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Translator’s Corner:
All I can say about this is #MyMentalHealthMatters
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