No sooner had they arrived at the Bat Guild than guild members came rushing out in droves to greet Sa-yoon, having received word of his return. Having been informed by the guild member who had driven that Sa-yoon was in a foul mood, those who came running out didn’t maintain their usual boisterous atmosphere. Men in black suits bowed their heads in unison. Ignoring those who were showing rare respect to their guild master, Sa-yoon got out of the car and roughly pulled Geon-joo along.
The man resisted the rough handling by pulling back. Sa-yoon snorted and yanked Geon-joo even more forcefully, making him exit the car in a semi-forced manner.
“If you think you can escape, try breaking free and running. Our guys are on high alert after losing you last time—I wonder if you can escape again.”
The words were close to mockery. Grimacing at Sa-yoon’s muttered challenge to try using “that damned skill” again, Geon-joo struck Sa-yoon’s arm as if to shake it off.
“Take it easy.”
“What?”
“I’ll go on my own without being dragged, so ease up on the grip.”
Words like a hedgehog with its quills raised. Sa-yoon turned up the corners of his mouth into a smile as he mulled over the man’s curt words. The guild members pretended not to see that smile and bowed even deeper. They all knew they’d be in trouble if they caught his attention now. All except Han Geon-joo.
“Why? Afraid something else might break?”
“…”
“You should have behaved when I was being nice.”
Why do people always regret things after they’re gone?
There was no response to his murmured words. Since he hadn’t expected an answer, Sa-yoon let it pass without comment and entered the guild building, walking past the bowing guild members. As Geon-joo followed at a leisurely pace, the guild members who straightened up only after Sa-yoon had gone through the door began to whisper among themselves.
“What’s going on? Wasn’t the boss coming back from the Association?”
“Exactly. Why is Han Geon-joo…”
“Hey, watch your mouth.”
“Ah.”
The guild member who had mentioned Geon-joo’s name hastily covered his mouth. Mentioning his name had become taboo within the Bat Guild since Geon-joo’s escape. Belatedly realizing his mistake, the guild member anxiously peered into the doorway. The footsteps were fading away. Fortunately, it seemed their angry guild master wasn’t going to come charging back after hearing his voice.
One of the guild members sighed.
“Did they meet at the Association?”
“What? Then that would mean the Association bastards have been protecting him?”
“I doubt it. If that were the case, we would have heard that the boss was tearing down the Association first.”
“…I guess you’re right.”
The guild members, who knew their leader’s personality all too well, nodded in understanding. Whatever the case, the important fact was that Han Geon-joo, whom they thought had left for good, had returned, causing dozens of Bat Guild members to simultaneously shake their heads. Everyone present had experienced what Sa-yoon was like when he went berserk. However, they had never experienced Sa-yoon being this angry. Just recall his chilling back view as he entered the building—wasn’t there a palpable chill in the air?
Sa-yoon with his eyes rolled back was already frightening, but Sa-yoon with his eyes rolled back and thoroughly enraged was too terrifying to even imagine.
It seemed the guild would be in turmoil for a while. Since all the guild members could do was keep to themselves to avoid being caught in the storm, those suddenly faced with disaster ran their hands through their hair in distress. The atmosphere had been good until this morning, but in half a day, it had instantly become like walking on thin ice.
Anyway, that bastard Han Geon-joo is always the problem.
Such a drastic change in atmosphere also meant that Han Geon-joo was Sa-yoon’s Achilles’ heel.
What’s so special about that kid hunter anyway?
The guild members, unable to understand why Sa-yoon reacted so sensitively to Han Geon-joo, muttered blankly.
“That Geon-joo kid, if he was going to run away, he should have gone all the way. Why’d he let himself get caught?”
“Yeah. The boss’s expression was no joke… I bet he’ll break at least two ankles—I’ll put money on it.”
“I bet he’ll be chained in serrated shackles.”
“I put three votes on him being locked up in the torture villa.”
“100,000 won says all four limbs will disappear.”
The guild members whispered among themselves, discussing Han Geon-joo’s fate. Then suddenly, one lowered his voice and spoke.
“But seeing how the boss is going wild like this, I think…”
He paused there, then glanced at the guild building as if checking for Sa-yoon before continuing in a voice so small that even those standing next to him could barely hear.
“They really were lovers, weren’t they?”
After Geon-joo’s departure, seeing Sa-yoon become a wreck, that was the only conclusion the guild members could draw. Not being high-ranking members, they didn’t know why Sa-yoon had been so despondent or the detailed circumstances regarding Geon-joo, so in a way, it was a natural conclusion. Back then it was just speculation, but today’s events added certainty to that guess. Unless they had been lovers and Han Geon-joo had betrayed Sa-yoon and left, his current attitude couldn’t be understood.
One of the guild members clicked his tongue at the one who dared to stab their boss in the back and leave.
“Han Geon-joo, that bold bastard.”
“Hey, I said watch your mouth.”
“But it’s true, right? Of all people, our guild master…”
Did he get fucked or something? At this quietly muttered comment, the other guild members pounced on the one who had made such an irreverent remark, grabbing him like they would a mouse. While being criticized for speaking so freely with an open mouth, the guild member, now being punched, kicked, and hit with skills, looked at the door with resentment.
Anyway, the fact remains he was abandoned! That son of a bitch Han Geon-joo did something terrible to our boss!
The guild member wanted to shout this out of indignation but held back to preserve his life. He knew that a single playful hit from Sa-yoon was more terrifying than being earnestly attacked by all the other guild members combined.
“Nothing’s changed here.”
Geon-joo offered his casual observation in the awkward atmosphere. Sa-yoon didn’t particularly react to the remark, which was close to a formality, and pressed the elevator button. When the elevator that had slowly descended opened, he unhesitatingly pressed the top floor, indicating their destination was his room. The mirror inside the elevator reflected both him and Han Geon-joo.
They looked terrible.
One had an excessively hardened expression, while the other had a thoughtful face. His own hardened expression felt unfamiliar, and as he was stroking his chin while looking at his reflection in the mirror—
Han Geon-joo’s lips moved in the mirror. As if he had something he really wanted to say.
Yes, go ahead and make excuses if you dare.
Sa-yoon, in his irritated state, suppressed his anger and waited, wanting to hear at least some excuse from him about his escape.
“I didn’t leave intending never to see you again.”
“…?”
It was an unexpected remark. It was strange for something said after being lost in thought for so long, so Sa-yoon furrowed his brow as he mulled over Geon-joo’s words, trying to understand them.
Not intending never to see him again?
Judging from the context, he seemed to be talking about the time he ran away. Once Sa-yoon realized this, a surge of irritation welled up.
Does he take me for a complete fool?
“I was waiting to hear an excuse, but if you’re going to make one, you should choose better.”
Words that wouldn’t convince him in the slightest. Would someone who left intending to see the other person again escape so desperately, even jumping into a valley?
The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed, and as he laughed in disbelief, Geon-joo wore a dejected expression.
“If you’re not going to believe anything I say, what’s the point of talking?”
“Then don’t talk, my pretty.”
“…”
“Just stay feeling wronged.”
Wronged, frustrated. Not knowing what to say to make things right. That’s how he wanted Geon-joo to feel.
Just as he had felt.
Shouldn’t he experience this frustration at least once? If he felt so stifled that he could hardly breathe, wouldn’t he think about Sa-yoon’s situation a little?
Geon-joo blinked at Sa-yoon’s firm words. Sa-yoon stared intently at those blinking eyelids until he heard the elevator arrive and turned his body. The ding sounded, and the heavy doors opened. Just as Sa-yoon was stepping out first—
“At that time.”
The voice held Sa-yoon back. Sa-yoon cocked his head and looked at Geon-joo. With a somewhat frustrated expression, the man sighed, ran his hand through his hair, and looked at Sa-yoon. The ridiculous mask had been completely removed and was now held in his other hand.
“At that time, it was the best option.”
“…”
“Continuing that awkward standoff would only make us both uncomfortable and sick of each other, so what was the point of staying together? If we had remained in that state, both you and I would have just been standing still, and I wanted to change the situation where we kept taking the same steps over and over because I hated it. I thought if I changed the game, your attitude would change too. So I don’t regret it. In the end, there were results, weren’t there?”
Despite the slow and calm delivery, Sa-yoon couldn’t properly understand. Even after going over his long excuse several times, it was the same.
He couldn’t fathom it at all.
What exactly were these “results” he was talking about?
However, one thing he could be certain of was that even those words from Han Geon-joo were possible only because he was thoroughly in a position of superiority.
“Geon-joo.”
Sa-yoon called his name, feeling deflated.
“That might have been the best choice for you.”
He bit his lip fiercely. He didn’t want to show signs of agitation, but the word “best” from Geon-joo’s mouth shook Sa-yoon.
“Best” is a word that can only be used when one can choose the most favorable among several options.
It was a word to use when there was a second-best option, when there were multiple paths.
But for Sa-yoon, he had been the only one.
That’s why he felt such a terrible sense of defeat.
“For me, it was a fucking shitty forced choice.”
Han Geon-joo would never understand his feelings for the rest of his life.