Knowing Brother-Chapter 69

“Ah.”

Whenever he loses his mind, he always hits his head. Until he finished the basic physical skill measurement and came out, Won Dae-young was absorbed in one thought.

— If you do it with me once, you have to do it with me until you die, but your dick is wrong.

Does that mean that if you leave him alone, he will make a lifelong pact with Yoon Ji-hwan? It was unusual for Yoon Ji-hwan to follow him to the alley. It wasn’t enough that he had threatened him with a sponsorship contract when they had met a while ago. It was time for Won Dae-young to make a move. How could he completely get Choi Seol-woo away from Yoon Sang-moo?

The coach, who had been loitering around the chair, approached him.

“Dae-young. What’s wrong? You have a fierce face that needs to be discussed right away?” freёnovelkiss.com

“Well. Burnout?”

The coach’s face turned pale.

“Burnout? Burnout? Burnout with your life’s goal in front of you?”

“Or....”

A breakup?

A friend who has a lover is being rejected in a good way?

Won Dae-young tried to figure out the cause of this unpleasant and painful feeling.

Someone who suddenly appears in life naturally takes priority.

Everyone lives like that. They fall in love with someone they suddenly meet, get married, become a family, and become the most precious person. It must be natural for Choi Seol-woo as well. A man who suddenly enters his life can become the most precious person.

Is that a change that can make him feel so helpless?

The foundation that supported Won Dae-young shook. I feel painful and afraid of being away from Choi Seol-woo. It’s an emptiness I’ve never felt when he’s around.

Maybe I want that guy more deeply than I subconsciously do.

The hot thoughts made my head heat up to the tips of my hair. The image of sensual flesh derived from the word ‘want’ lingered in my head. ... A naked body I’ve never seen before, the body temperature touching my forehead for the first time. Won Dae-young sat down on his chair and tilted his head back. The coach’s voice became noticeably affectionate.

“Could it be that you’re just temporarily exhausted from the psychological burden? Burnout is a symptom that occurs when you lose your goal. You’re the first Korean to qualify for the Olympics and you’re feeling burnout? That can’t be true, Daeyoung.”

Won Daeyoung, what have you been running for?

For a medal.

What was that medal for? Why did you try to become the best in Korea? Won Daeyoung.

“Daeyoung. Don’t jump to conclusions like that. Let’s talk to an expert. If you have any concerns, tell me. I’m the only person you can trust in this track and field world. Is there any trouble at home? Or is something wrong with your little friend’s younger brother?”

“.......”

“Is there another reason you’re making this expression? Don’t I know you?”

The coach shoved the selfie screen of his phone at Won Daeyoung, who was frowning and looking at the ceiling. Suddenly, his expression seemed to carry all the troubles of the world. It was so fierce that he looked like he would throw a punch if anyone touched him.

The coach, who had been lost in thought with a worried face, carefully spoke.

“......That thing that happened before your injury, isn’t it over yet? It was a few years ago, that kid’s loan debt....”

Won Dae-young immediately straightened his back and gave the coach a hard time.

“Coach.”

“.......”

“That thing is over. It’s all resolved. It’s over.”

It was a word of unspoken pressure telling him not to mention it again. Won Dae-young glared at the coach with a strong gaze.

“You didn’t say anything to Choi Seol-woo about that, did you?”

“What do I have to talk to him about? Should I make an appointment for a mental training consultation?”

“Okay. It’s okay.”

Won Dae-young waved his hand and got up from his seat. He couldn't just sit still. If he wanted to turn back the clock, Won Dae-young had to pour the same amount of energy into Choi Seol-woo that he had devoted to track and field in his teens and twenties. Without Bae Soo-jin, without any escape route. Even if it was through a slightly immoral means... ... .

* * *

Yakuza repayment money

*2012. Smartphone 1 million won

*2013. Tuition... 400? 500? If you add it all up, it's 2014. School violence lawsuit countersuit cost 5 million won.

And,

*2021. 120 million won

“.......”

Choi Seol-woo can only be a burden to Won Dae-young. Also, their story is just a human documentary story featuring the vulnerable class, not a love story. Won Dae-young often makes strange claims that Choi Seol-woo is the best, but that's all nonsense. It couldn't be.

120 million won.

A few years ago, the long dispute between Won Dae-young and Kang Jong-hyeok died down, Choi Seol-woo entered the university he wanted and started studying for the CPA exam early, and Won Dae-young was working hard to improve his record as a member of the Physical Education Department.

It was December. I remember it exactly. The day the collection team finally found Mrs. Choi and turned over the snack shop. The day two loan sharks were loitering around the multi-family house in search of their family before the end of the semester... ... .

Mrs. Choi's financial incompetence was not proportional to her love for Seol-woo. However, because Seol-woo loved Mrs. Choi, he didn't hate her unrealistic sense of money and irresponsible escapes.

She couldn't just leave her three-year-old child who would have seizures several times a day if she didn't have brain surgery. She had to scam the karaoke bar owner to pay for the surgery. She ran away from debts she couldn’t pay, and her mother, who had been chased away for over 10 years, was called that debt, but Mrs. Choi In-young was the person Choi Seol-woo cherished the most in the world. The only person before Won Dae-young.

Won Dae-young sold one of the inheritances he received from his family, the officetel, and negotiated with loan sharks.

— No, Mrs. Choi! I’m sorry. Hey, don’t force the atmosphere with emotion. My family is doing well. I’ll have to hear a word, but what can I do? It’s my property anyway.

They demanded an absurd amount of 200 million won, but thanks to Won Dae-young, who was good at lawsuits, bringing a lawyer and scaring them, the repayment amount was lowered to 120 million won. They agreed to immediately cancel the debt certificate as soon as they paid it off, and the money was transferred from Won Dae-young’s account to theirs.

— My brother’s family is doing well.

There was never a time when those words felt so sad. Choi Seol-woo swore that he didn’t want to be a sore thumb to Won Dae-young.

On that day, he prayed earnestly, wishing to be reborn.

On the day that the collection team that had made Choi Seol-woo anxious for over 10 years completely disappeared, it snowed. On the day he left the law office with the debt settlement certificate, Mrs. Choi was in a detention center after being sued for fraud. The two of them visited Mrs. Choi together and went to a nearby noodle restaurant.

Seol-woo talked to Won Dae-young casually until he was halfway through eating the noodles. Then, when tears suddenly fell onto the white soup, Won Dae-young moved to the chair next to him and hugged Choi Seol-woo.

—You saved me from the motorcycle accident, right? You saved my life, so that’s natural. When Mrs. Choi comes out, let’s mix some modeling pack into soft tofu and cover it in it.

Won Dae-young’s low voice still rings in my memory.

—Choi Seol-woo, look outside. It’s snowing. The sun has set, and Seoul is all purple.

A gentle voice that remembered Choi Seol-woo’s favorite scenery.

“.......”

We are on the same side. No matter what happens.

How can I say all this?

Yoon Ji-hwan asked Choi Seol-woo, who was fiddling with his wine glass, again.

“Mr. Choi Seol-woo is the most reliable and sharp person I’ve ever met. I don’t know why he’s being dragged around by Won.”

How can I talk about all the things that are buried deep in my memory, how dare I?

“I’m asking because I’m wondering {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} if you’re being threatened. Is everything okay?”

Choi Seol-woo nodded with a faint smile and opened his mouth.

“I didn’t know it would be like this. I thought my feelings would cool down in three years. I thought I’d get sick of it in ten years, and I thought it would be over in fifteen years. I thought that bastard would hate me if I slept with someone else. Do something about it, sir.”

The desperate feelings flowed out in a calm tone. When Seol-woo’s eyes met his, Yoon Sang-moo cleared his dry throat.

“I’m sorry. I’m not the type to press you like this, but I made a mistake in front of you, Seol-woo.”

“...No. It’s okay.”

What Won Dae-young said yesterday kept bothering him. ‘You’re uncomfortable. I keep thinking about other things.’ ‘The ethics of not being on the list of people you’ve been hanging out with.’

Choi Seol-woo, who was wondering whether he should tell Yoon Sang-moo about this, decided to keep his mouth shut. It would have been a lie anyway. If Choi Seol-woo had gotten caught up in it and even kissed him, it would have been nothing more than Won Dae-young talking nonsense.

... ... If that was really his heart, it couldn’t have been unspoken over the long years.

“You said it’s rude to talk about your past in front of your current lover. I’ll stop here.”

“Where did you hear that dating tip?”

“ChatGPT.”

Yoon Ji-hwan burst into laughter and leaned his shoulders a little closer.

“I feel a little guilty because I was stupid for waiting until Seol-woo said, ‘Do something about me?’ I’m not the type of person who is usually that careful. I think manners are manners and a bed is a bed.”

The music flowing out of the wine bar seemed like it was from another world. To Choi Seol-woo, who had only studied hard, it felt distant. Director Yoon said.

“From now on, I won’t make you think of Dae-young. I’ll change the tone of No-sek-no-sa.”

The voice was filled with gentle confidence. A smile that was both affectionate and confident. Choi Seol-woo felt that Yoon Ji-hwan had the wit and experience to not be fooled, and he also knew how much he had to bend so that the other person wouldn’t get tired of him. It felt like he was facing a perfectly balanced piece of art.

On the surface of the glass piece that had no flaws, Choi Seol-woo felt like he was constantly slipping. The ‘real’ Choi Seol-woo seems to be crouching next to a smooth piece of glass. He doesn’t seem like a bad person, so he will try to embrace Choi Seol-woo’s many shortcomings. He already revealed where he lives. He was a person who gave people that kind of trust.

However, I also thought that ‘being embraced’ and ‘being able to just be who you are’ were quite different.

“There’s a place I want to go with Seol-woo. If you enjoyed Hold’em Pub, how about checking out an entertainment resort with a casino?? I haven't had a chance to play properly because I'm studying."

"Okay. I think it'll be fun."

I don't create things that I cherish because I'm afraid of losing them. If it's going to end someday, I don't want to start it. I know that this kind of thinking is problematic, so I want to try. I know that I have a mind that no one can meet. What kind of answer can you give me? What kind of faith can you give me?

"Did I overdo it today? You look tired."

Would you be okay with knowing that I'm an android? Even if you knew that I owe Won Dae-young over 100 million won? And,

Does it make sense for me to ask someone to understand all that?

"... It's too bad. I'll go inside and rest today."

Yoon Sang-moo bit his lower lip as he studied Choi Seol-woo’s face, who had barely finished a glass of wine. He could tell that what he had barely held back was a late-night, passionate desire. Yoon Sang-moo lightly stroked Seol-woo’s cheek. A cool perfume scent wafted from his firm body that had been regularly maintained for a long time. It was a body scent that was still unfamiliar.

“I’ll make a reservation for the weekend when I go on a business trip. Go and check out the resort and try the card properly. I’ll reserve a large room, so if you want, you can use a twin bed. The choice is yours, Seol-woo. However, you’ll want a single bed.”