SRP 20

Chapter 20

Seeing the woman staring blankly, probably in shock, Gogeon issued a warning.
“Even if it’s your first offense, there will be no leniency. And if it only ends with a fine, I’ll make sure to file a civil suit as well. So don’t get your hopes up.”

As Gogeon wrapped his arm around Bom’s shoulder to leave, the woman spoke urgently.
“I guess I’ll be able to see Mr. Geon again…”

Her face was shy. Ilju, however, looked disgusted.
“No, the person you’re dealing with is a lawyer.”

At his cold words, the woman sank to the floor.

When they stepped into the hallway, Giwoong and employees from Able Entertainment were waiting. Because this was related to Gogeon, the management team leader was also there to handle media relations.

“Hyungnim, reporters have gathered. The police tried to keep them from causing chaos, but what should we do?”

It had happened during rush hour, and banners made it visible from afar. It was impossible to hide.

The team leader stepped forward.
“Let’s do an interview with Lee Bom as we leave the police station. The public will sympathize with her.”

“Hey.”

Ilju snapped. Gogeon firmly refused before he could say more.
“Bom won’t be exposed.”
“What? She’s participating in a variety show soon anyway. Bom needs to actively appeal, so the hardcore fans seem overreactive. She should show them the extent of the harassment.”
“Team leader, do I need to say it again?”
“…Understood.”

Bom looked down at the hand Gogeon was holding. He held her tightly.

It was the same when she was a trainee. When she got crushed in the end-of-month evaluations and felt dejected, Gogeon always stood firmly by her side. Most of the time, they met on the emergency stairs or in empty practice rooms.

‘It’s not okay. I don’t want to be disappointed in myself, but I can’t help being angry.’
‘Me too.’
‘What are you talking about? Someone who reads your face like that. Expecting talent on top of that would be shameless.’
‘Am I really that handsome?’
‘Why ask when you know? Even saying a thousand times, it’s not enough.’

Even sharing bottled water or just being together, anywhere felt good.

‘Wow, you’re happy that I said you’re handsome.’
‘I’m happy to hear it from you.’
‘…Such a gentle soul. The woman you marry will have a hard time because of Geon.’
‘It’ll be me.’
‘You say that so easily.’

Even if the future could change easily, his words quickly lifted her spirits. Gogeon was the same as back then.

“I’ll handle the reporters and draw attention. Meanwhile, you leave through the back door.”
“Ah.”

Bom held his hand tightly. She didn’t want to let go. Even though she knew his suggestion was reasonable and meant to protect her, it was hard to release her grip.

“I’ll contact you later. We’ll find out what really happened. There’s a gate on the first floor—people without an ID card can’t enter—so how were you on the rooftop at that time?”

“I’m sorry.”

At Ilju’s words, Gogeon apologized, even though it wasn’t his fault. Bom finally let go of his hand. Gogeon slowly lifted his arm and embraced her, comforting her gently so she wouldn’t be startled.

“I should be the one staying with you.”

Hearing his restrained voice, Bom felt her throat tighten. They had dated briefly in the past but hadn’t seen each other for years. Yet, just a few words could disarm her heart so completely.

“…I’ll contact you later.”

In front of people who might think it was acting, Bom spoke as if they were really a couple. Seeing his expression, no other words came to mind. Her heart tightened painfully.

Although shocked, she hadn’t been directly harmed. Even though she said she was fine, Ilju still brought Bom home.

“Try this on. I got it as a gift, but it wasn’t my taste. I can’t just give it to someone else right away since it was a gift, so I just hung it up. Perfect timing.”

When Bom asked for clothes to change into comfortably, Ilju’s eyes lit up, and he began pulling out all the clothes in the wardrobe. He was fully immersed in his adult version of playing with dolls. Though he claimed it was for her benefit, he was clearly indulging himself.

“As expected. Your skin is even whiter than mine, so bright tones suit you well. This is your outfit. Ah, the bag you got from him last Christmas goes well with this.”
“No! This is enough! It’s fine!”
“If I’m giving it, it should match as a set.”

As Bom tried to stop him from taking out the bag box, a deep voice called out.
“I’m here.”
“It’s hyungbu! Sis, hyungbu is here. Let’s stop cleaning now.”

Pushing the pile of clothes aside, Bom pulled Ilju to the living room. Ilju was living with his boyfriend. They had met while he was starting a company and working as an accountant at an accounting firm, and began dating.

“Hello.”

Yeon Namhoon smiled brightly at Bom. Having heard about her from Ilju, he wasn’t surprised.
“Sis-in-law, welcome. It’s been a while.”
“I’ll be relying on you for now.”
“Relying? Anytime, stay as long as you like.”

Ilju treated Bom like a younger sister, but Namhoon also liked her. His face, usually tired from work, brightened.

Namhoon sniffed toward the kitchen.
“Ah, it’s been a while since dinner. That’s why I love it when sis-in-law comes.”
“Do you mean I don’t cook? You have frequent dinner plans, and I have work, so even when I made food, it often got wasted. That’s why I stopped making meals at home.”
“…I misspoke. Let’s eat dinner.”

Though he was competent at work as a senior audit manager, Bom remembered last year waiting in front of his office with Ilju for dinner. When Namhoon saw Ilju, his strict expression vanished, replaced by a bright, almost dancing smile that left his employees behind stunned. He was kind when it came to Ilju.

“Since sis-in-law is here, let’s go camping this weekend. There’s a campsite recommended by one of my employees in Gapyeong.”

Excited, Namhoon showed Bom the campsite website on his phone. One reason he liked Bom was that if she wanted to do something, Ilju usually went along, even if he didn’t feel like leaving the house. The couple clearly indulged Bom for their own amusement. Bom laughed.

“Sorry, hyungbu. I have to film the variety show this weekend, so I can’t join.”
“…What? Then the following week?”

Namhoon was briefly disappointed but didn’t give up.
“I have a variety show schedule then too.”
“Weekdays are fine! I can take a day off!”
“Honey, you have to work.”
“I’ve accumulated a lot of leave…”
“Go work then. If you left on time, you’d have brought your work with you.”
“Even though sis-in-law is here, I have to work…”
“After work, we can have a drink together.”

Namhoon’s expression brightened a bit. He took his briefcase into the living room. Though he had a separate study, Namhoon, fond of people, spread out his documents in the living room with the TV on. Bom and Ilju laughed at his antics.

“Since hyungbu wants it, go along with him.”
“I told you before. Last time we went camping, he packed everything noisily and couldn’t even light a fire. I did everything. How can someone who never even used a gas stove want to go camping?”
“Oh, that’s hyungbu for you.”

Though competent at work, it was limited to the city.
“In other families, men do everything on camping trips, but here I do most of the work. Do you think I’d want to go?”

Once he started, Ilju kept recalling other stories without pause.
“Once, he said he had a fishing dream, so we went. But he couldn’t even hook worms, was scared of the bugs by the water, and wouldn’t leave the tent. Any splashing sound, and he freaked out thinking it was a ghost.”

Namhoon turned up the news volume. The National Tax Service’s International Tax Division was announcing that they would focus on detecting tax evasion using AI and big data, moving away from document-based investigations, including income hiding through offshore companies and asset concealment via virtual assets.

“They must have sharpened their knives at headquarters. Clients will be calling non-stop.”

Muttering, Namhoon pretended not to hear Ilju. Even Bom could see how much Namhoon loved Ilju—and vice versa.

Lowering her voice, Bom asked,
“Why haven’t you married hyungbu?”
“When we started living together, he joked that we should marry if we had a kid. I agreed, but it didn’t happen even without contraception. It was strange, so I got a health check, and they said my uterus isn’t in good condition.”

Ilju had cared for Bom and knew her well, but this was the first time she’d heard this. She had assumed that because they weren’t married, they were just using contraception.

“Pregnancy is difficult. It’s not infertility, but subfertility. In my condition, even IVF implantation doesn’t work well, so it’s tough.”
“Ah…”

Bom was at a loss for words. Seeing her shocked, Ilju shrugged.
“That’s why we haven’t married. He likes kids, but I can’t bind him with marriage. I don’t have the courage to say we should break up, so we’re living like this for now. Eventually, we’ll make a decision.”

“Sis.”
“You don’t need to look so serious. Later, quietly talk to him.”

Ilju’s eyes held sadness and guilt as he watched Namhoon in the living room, working with the news on.

“Don’t waste time like me. If you like someone, just grab them.”
“There’s no one to grab.”

On her phone screen appeared: ‘My Actor Gogeon♥’