Knowing Brother-Chapter 71

“...But that’s the fact. Even if it’s within the realm of understanding, it’s hard to say that it’s completely wrong. If you fight back with a fist, it’s illegal. If you tell him to curse and harass you first, isn’t it violence if you don’t use a fist? Even if the fight after that is self-defense, it’s not like your ribs will break that easily.... Can you come out on Xtube and explain yourself confidently? You should apologize and reflect on yourself? Isn’t everyone giving too much of an indulgence just because you’re an Olympic prospect? I have to beat Saudi Arabia at the World Championships, right?”

He was talking as if Choi Seol-woo wasn’t there, but he realized the surroundings a long time ago and shut his mouth. Seol-woo answered while sitting on his chair.

“Hyung. All Won Dae-young did was declare that he’s going to fight that bastard.”

He was already drunk at the first meat restaurant, so he sneered at him in a way that was counterproductive.

“...So isn’t that politics? Sitting at the top of the hierarchy and manipulating people and doing politics isn’t a good thing.”

“Ah... I guess you’ve been a victim of that kind of politics. You seem to have an inferiority complex.”

“Ha...! What did you say?”

“Mr. Choi. Let’s stop. Mr. Yang, I know you two are close....”

The seniors laughed and stopped them. Compared to Choi Seol-woo, whose expression didn’t change at all, his face was red and blue from the alcohol.

“You’re so tired from filming X-Tube that you’re stuck in the break room during work hours, and your arms must be bent inward.”

“Mr. Yang. Let’s stop. Is this a private place?”

“.......”

When the team leader, who couldn’t stand it any longer, pointed out directly, he closed his mouth with a dark expression. His breathing began to go out of the normal range. The world was always a twisted place for Seol-woo. He always had to compete with the next track and lie to make himself look good. In that world, Choi Seol-woo had to rest more often and be less tired than others.

“Team Leader, I’m sorry....”

You can’t malfunction here. You quickly apologize and go back and sit on the stairs for now. You can’t do it here.

At that moment when a faint tinnitus rang in his ears and his eyes started to shake, what overwhelmed Seol-woo was extreme fear.

“I’m not feeling well.”

The absolute fear of not malfunctioning in front of people further amplified the tension. You can’t do it here. If you find out that you have a problem with your body, it won’t help you get hired. Choi Seol-woo has to be perfect. Only people without problems can win the competition.

Choi Seol-woo has to act. He’s a healthy person. He’s a person without any problems. He’s an excellent person.

And then darkness came. His head was spinning. Wow... . The glass broke and the chair fell over.

A scream echoed through the bar. The people moved the collapsed man to the sofa and untied the tie that was squeezing his neck.

“Check your breathing, breathing!”

“I’ll call an ambulance!”

The man lying on the sofa didn’t have his eyes closed. He looked as if he was looking down into the distance, soaked in tears. He was staring somewhere with his long, beautiful eyelashes down. Like a robot whose power supply had been cut off. Dark darkness formed in his dim pupils.

- ... Wooya.

- Seolwooya.

- Seolwooya.

When I opened my eyes to the familiar voice, I saw the curtain rod and the IV line under the bright ceiling.

“Hyung...?”

Why is the person who went into hiding here...? Won Daeyoung’s face was covered in sweat, wearing a black T-shirt with “Team KOREA” written on it. The black ball cap and mask he liked to wear were at the end of the bed. Won Daeyoung lightly brushed Seolwoo’s forehead.

“I guess he called Mrs. Choi after seeing your ID and getting help from the police.”

“...But why are you here...? Mrs. Choi should be here.”

Looking at his watch, it had only been about 25 minutes since he last checked at the bar. It wasn’t a distance that could be reached in twenty minutes from the weight training center... Of course, Choi Seol-woo had no idea that Won Dae-young, who had been suspicious because the taxi details for the time he left work were not recorded, had contacted Mrs. Choi to find out about the dinner schedule.

“I just finished training early today and was on my way to your company. I told you to stay home so I could pick you up. The company said it was an industrial accident, so I didn’t take the card. It would be difficult if the medical certificate with the name of the disease was lost. It was my decision, so I paid the bill. I sent everything before I told you about your symptoms, so don’t worry. I’ll contact you, but you can take a day off tomorrow. Just go home and get some rest. Everything’s taken care of, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“.......”

“Choi Seol-woo’s guardian?”

“Yes.”

Won Dae-young got up and pulled back the curtains. His broad back and sturdy arms moved powerfully.

Seol-woo’s hair stood on end at the words, “Choi Seol-woo’s guardian.” The tickling sensation warmed his body temperature. The doctor was startled when he saw Won Dae-young. Aren’t you player Won Dae-young?” When asked, Won Dae-young smiled sadly and stepped back.

The doctor asked a few questions and examined his condition. After explaining his condition, he was told that he could go home as soon as he stabilized.

Seol-woo collapsed back onto the bed. He closed his eyes and prepared to leave the hospital bed, but his toes were ticklish. Won Dae-young was scratching Seol-woo’s socks that had gotten wet from the rain.

“Hey!”

Won Dae-young burst into laughter and gave Seol-woo a blank look. His hand came lovingly to Seol-woo’s face, then quickly returned to its original position. The corners of his mouth trembled, as if he was holding back the urge to hug her. Won Dae-young, who was looking at Seol-woo with a complicated expression, rubbed his eyes hard.

“This is the first time, you malfunctioned somewhere else.”

“.......”

“This is the first time.”

When he was young, he had done this in front of Won Dae-young a few times. After his teens, whenever he saw signs of it, he would pretend to sleep in the infirmary or leave early and rest at home, so such unexpected situations never happened.

This was a problem that Choi Seol-woo should have been fully prepared for when he started his ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ social life. If he had to take medication for the rest of his life, he would probably have to endure it for the rest of his life. A sharp sadness stabbed his rib cage. However, Seol-woo held back his emotions and threw off the blanket.

“Let’s go.”

He left the emergency room with Won Dae-young’s help. Of course, Seol-woo’s umbrella was on the bar because he had been rushed here and there. He had no choice but to share an umbrella and walk to a nearby paid parking lot.

I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten into Won Dae-young’s car since the declaration of breaking up. But now, I wasn’t in a position to insist on taking a taxi. Rather than feeling tired after the malfunction, I was worried that I would experience something like this in my future social life, and my chest felt heavy and sore, and I had no energy.

In the past, Seol-woo might have leaned on Won Dae-young to vent this painful despair. But that shouldn’t happen. He muttered to Seol-woo, who had kept her mouth shut with a firm resolve.

“I understand now. I understand.”

“What.”

“I can’t imagine not being the first person you contact when you’re sick. No, I can’t imagine. I don’t want to do it.”

Seol-woo stared blankly at the rainy night sky, mumbling over the meaning of his words. Won Dae-young’s monologue that followed didn’t seem real.

“I have to be your spouse, from now on.”

It wasn’t a crush, it wasn’t a lover, it wasn’t an engagement, and my mind went blank at the words that had jumped several levels.

When I was so shocked, I lost the will to fight back. I lost all energy to even say a word. Choi Seol-woo closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the car window, ignoring Won Dae-young’s words.

When he entered the front door, Mrs. Choi came running out in a hurry. Mrs. Choi, who had been holding back tears while hugging Seol-woo, gestured for Won Dae-young to come in.

“Dae-young, eat something and go. Don’t just go. Sit down.”

“No. Rest. If you eat something at this hour, I’ll get fired. I’ll go.”

“Who would fire the record holder?”

Won Dae-young grabbed the front door handle and said vigorously, “I’ll go!” Choi Seol-woo, who was about to take off his shoes and head to his room, suddenly walked out the front door again. Mrs. Choi shouted, “Where are you going?” “I’ll see you off. Hyung, you worked hard until late.”

“Oh, okay. Come quickly and rest!”

I went out the front door and fixed my slippers. I went down a few steps and came face to face with Won Dae-young, who was looking up with his hands in his pockets on the stairs below. In the damp darkness, he waited for Seol-woo to speak.

There were many things I wanted to ask, but I decided to ask only one today. I asked the most superficial question.

“...You, you went into hiding.”

“.......”

“Why did you do that? Is there something going on in the house?”

“No.”

He answered curtly.

“Don’t you know? Why?”

“.......”

“Go and sleep.”

There was no proper answer. Won Dae-young lightly patted Seol-woo on the head and left the villa. It was only a seven-letter question, but it was an answer that needed no further explanation.

* * *

The next day, I decided to use my half-day leave and come in late. The team leader insisted that I get a full day off, but this is a society where people are always on their toes. I had to be quick and lead by example. After doing some light jogging and home training during my free time in the morning, I sat down at my desk with my cell phone in my hand.

Managing Director Yoon Ji-hwan: [You were really tired yesterday, weren’t you? Let me know when you have a good time to talk. I just want to hear your voice for a moment.] 10:01 AM

Because I still had to worry about when to reveal the truth to this person who didn’t know my secret. I decided that I shouldn’t hide the fact that I was taken to the emergency room yesterday and the things I heard from Won Dae-young on my way home. To be honest, it was morally right to reveal that I was shaken.

Choi Seol-woo had already wavered when he asked me to ‘do something about it.’ As the days passed, his wavering grew. In that case, I shouldn’t act selfishly anymore. Whether I end up being played around by Won Dae-young or something. I can't afford to bother Director Yoon.