PASSION Chapter 3 Part 8

Chapter 3 Part 8

Tae-ui tried to smile calmly as he spoke. Shin Lu said "Yes" and stood up to go to the side room again.

As soon as Shin Lu disappeared from view, Tae-ui silently but frantically beat his chest and thighs.

What are you doing? Want to show an ugly side in this situation when you've barely known each other a few days? Get it together, Jung Tae-ui! He's still just a kid, look at those cheeks with baby fat and the down on his ears. How can you have such thoughts about such a young kid!

However, while thinking such things, another voice whispered from a corner of his mind:

At twenty-two he's a proper adult, and there's no real reason to hold back such thoughts. It's not like you're going to force anything, look, even now you're having tea and getting along well.

Tae-ui clutched his head amid the conflicting thoughts.

Either way, the priority was cooling down his body that had heated up from smelling that soft scent. It seems to have built up quite a bit. Come to think of it, it had been over a month since he had properly tasted human skin, but to lose self-control to this degree - still far to go.

Tae-ui pounded his chest as if choking. After taking several deep breaths while pounding his chest repeatedly, his body cooled somewhat. And Shin Lu returned from behind.

"What's wrong, Brother? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"

Shin Lu asked strangely as he brought out dried fruit on a plate and saw Tae-ui beating himself. Tae-ui shook his head with a smile. His hand stroking his chest had now cooled considerably.

He quietly examined Shin Lu over his cup as the latter lowered his gaze to drink his tea.

Though he appeared young, he wasn't that young. His eyes that curved gently at the corners, his plump moist lips - though he looked young because his cheeks were round and his skin was clear, if anything he tended more toward the seductive side.

Feeling the gaze, Shin Lu raised his head. As their eyes met, he gave an eye-smile after a brief pause. Was it his slightly rising lips that seemed so alluring, or did they seem that way because he was viewing him with such eyes?

"Come to think of it Brother, I heard that Jung Jae-ui who used to be at headquarters is your brother?"

"Hm? Ah, Brother Jae-ui? That's right."

Tae-ui nodded with relief at the new topic. The fact that Jae-ui was Tae-ui's brother seemed to have spread throughout the entire branch already. Well, with barely over a hundred people trapped in one building, there probably couldn't be any secrets. Though it wasn't a secret anyway.

"They all say he's incredibly smart. And that you're twins?"

"Hmm── we're twins but we don't look alike. Not our faces, minds, or personalities - my brother is better than me."

Tae-ui slowly listed while biting into the dried fruit. Thinking about it again, there was nothing where he could beat Jae-ui. Except perhaps being closer to a normal person.

Then suddenly Tae-ui clicked his tongue bitterly. It was a known fact that he couldn't beat Jae-ui in anything. He had accepted that obvious fact from the beginning. By now he was used to any kind of reaction from people around his brother. Having experienced it for a quarter century, how could he not be used to it?

So it was fine now, but what had been hardest to get used to until most recently were people who approached him with the goal of getting to his brother. At least those who showed their interest in Jae-ui from the start were better. The bitterness when discovering that people who had seemed to approach otherwise had different motives was incomparable.

Tae-ui smiled slightly after briefly thinking of past events.

People eventually get used to anything that repeats. Only the first few times do you get hurt and suffer. As similar incidents repeated, resignation covered his heart like a shield.

Tae-ui stared blankly at the beautiful red of the tea with its subtle orchid fragrance rising.

Well, what would happen? If for whatever reason this young man showed more interest in Jae-ui and tried to use Tae-ui as a means.

If that happened…

Tae-ui smiled. What would it mean if that happened? Just go with the flow.

There are things within his control and things beyond it. Other people's hearts are the latter.

But even if that happened, this boy would still be lovely. Just like others had been before.

"Want to meet him?"

Tae-ui asked. Shin Lu, who had been enjoying the tea's aroma, opened his eyes wide. His face showed he didn't understand what was being asked. But soon seeming to grasp the context of the conversation, he went "Ah" and tilted his head.

"I have no reason not to want to meet him... but he's a stranger to me?"

"I see..."

Tae-ui just smiled calmly.

Come to think of it, it hadn't always been bad. Even if they had approached Tae-ui wanting to know Jae-ui, some of them had remained by Tae-ui's side. People who are now by his side, whom he never would have had the chance to know if not for Jae-ui.

"But I bet he's popular."

"Yes"

"Your brother. Even if you say you don't look alike, twins must have some similarities. If he looks like you and is that smart too, he must be popular."

"..."

Tae-ui just blinked while holding his teacup. Shin Lu spoke casually and drank his tea as if nothing had happened. Tae-ui looked at him with his head tilted slightly.

What should he say, it seemed like something that could make him feel good depending on how it was interpreted.

"Um... Brother is popular. (With ambitious old men from major government organizations in each country.) But... I'm not very popular."

Tae-ui trailed off slightly. At that, Shin Lu opened his eyes wide as if surprised.

"No way, you just don't realize it. I think you must be popular too, Brother. You're cool."

Shin Lu spoke calmly while smiling. Then he reached out to gently brush back Tae-ui's hair that had fallen over his forehead. His small white hand brushed Tae-ui's cheek to reach his ear.

"Your features are so distinct... Brother, you should show your face more. Oh, and your neckline too. Since you have a nice neckline, you might look good with short hair."

"Um... you think so?"

Though answering like that, Tae-ui didn't know what state of mind he was answering in.

He couldn't move at all. The warm hand brushed his forehead and cheeks. The fingers briefly touching his neckline were very ticklish. He could hardly breathe.

"Oh... Brother, you seem to be hurt. There's a bruise here. Just a moment, I have ointment so I'll apply it for you."

Shin Lu's hand paused between Tae-ui's shoulder and neck. Though he hadn't been conscious of it until now, indeed as Shin Lu said there was a bruise as it hurt slightly when pressed. He must have gotten hit during sparring.

Shin Lu opened the desk drawer within reach and took out ointment, then stroked up Tae-ui's neckline again while squeezing ointment onto his palm.

"Ah, no, it's fine, it doesn't even hurt--"

Tae-ui tried to stop Shin Lu in panic but ended up closing his mouth. His voice had grown slightly hoarse. He became even more flustered hearing his own voice.

Fortunately Shin Lu didn't seem to notice as he started rubbing the ointment on Tae-ui's neck.

Soft fingers stroked his neck. It was a comfortable, soothing touch as if giving a massage.

However, Tae-ui became flustered. Shin Lu's breath touched his ear. The regular breathing sound reached his face with warm breath.

"Shin Lu, that's enough, stop--"

His body felt hot. Tae-ui finally grabbed Shin Lu's wrist to pull it away. He knew his face was completely flushed. But worse than that was the reaction that had come in his groin.

The thin loose indoor clothing couldn't hide the slight swelling of aroused flesh.

Shin Lu looked bewildered at being suddenly pushed away almost violently by Tae-ui, but soon seemed to realize where Tae-ui's downcast gaze was directed. Tae-ui could feel him shrinking in his grip as he followed Tae-ui's line of sight.

Perplexed eyes lingered uncertainly on Tae-ui's face. Shin Lu's voice circled anxiously just inside his mouth as he muttered "Um."

Tae-ui clicked his tongue even as his head grew hot. He was angry enough at his own foolishness.

What are you doing? You're not some hot-blooded rookie kid.

He wished someone would burst in and give his face one good hard slap.

"Brother..., um..."

"Sor... ry."

Only then did Tae-ui realize the wrist struggling in his hand and quickly let go. Their eyes met. Young eyes blinked at Tae-ui's face. Seeing those eyes made his face heat up again.

Clatter, his chair hit something as he suddenly stood up. Tae-ui helplessly clenched and unclenched his empty hands before muttering "Sorry" again and turning to leave. Though it felt like he should make some excuse or further apology to Shin Lu, he just couldn't look at his face right now.

After rushing out of the office, Tae-ui stepped into the dark hallway.

It felt like he had never felt such embarrassment in his life.

Stride by stride, his rough steps with large strides were almost running.

Though he brushed past one or two people while coming down the stairs past the elevator, none of them tried to stop Tae-ui as he passed with his bright red rigid face.

Tae-ui walked aimlessly wherever his feet took him, his thoughts so jumbled he didn't even know what he was thinking. When he looked up, his uncle's room was before him. Even in his mindless state, his feet had naturally found their way to a familiar path.

He yanked the door handle but the door was locked. His uncle must not be in. Rather fortunate.

Tae-ui took out the key he carried almost constantly and entered his uncle's room. It was a room kept spotlessly tidy as always.

After carelessly throwing off his outer clothes, he took out beer from the refrigerator and drank. He finished it in a few gulps but it wasn't enough. He took out another and drank it. This one too he emptied in one go. So he took out one more and drank half, then finally his insides seemed to cool somewhat.