Chapter 23-Part-2
He waited there for three whole minutes, sitting alone in the quiet living room, until his patience finally ran out completely.
Restless and irritated, he stood up and made his way toward the kitchen.
As he got closer, he could hear Yeonho and Jiseok talking inside, their voices clear enough to make out every word.
Moving carefully and quietly, Gyeongjae stopped right at the edge of the doorway, leaning in slightly, eyes peeking through to watch them.
It was a good thing the kitchen was large and open; both men were standing all the way at the back, too far away to notice or hear him lurking by the entrance.
"Was that man really just a friend? Don't lie to me."
"Yup, he's a friend. I told you already — I was helping him out, that's why he's here in the first place."
Hearing those words almost made Gyeongjae scoff out loud, but he bit it back just in time.
'He's really dead set on calling me his friend, huh?'
The conversation grew more serious, so Gyeongjae crossed his arms and leaned in a little further, listening closely to every word.
"You're lying." Jiseok said flatly.
"I am not, Mr. Han. He really is nothing more than a friend."
Yeonho waved his hand casually, as if brushing off a silly little worry.
"There's no need to hide anything from me. Did you sleep with him?"
He demanded, wanting nothing but the truth.
"No! Mr. Han, how can you even say that? He's just my friend."
As far as Gyeongjae knew, normal people definitely don't sleep with their friends. Yeonho was lying through his teeth, shameless as always.
Just like he'd always been. And here he was now, looking Jiseok straight in the eye and spouting lie after lie.
"You can't fool me. I know exactly what it looks like when a man looks at someone with lust and hunger. That 'friend' of yours, Gyeongjae… the way he stares at you is obvious. Friends don't look at you like that. Only twisted, desperate people want to share beds with someone they claim is just a companion."
Every single part of that statement was right on the spot. Jiseok was completely correct. Gyeongjae knew it deep down, but he kept denying it to himself anyway.
What he felt for Yeonho was nothing but lust, nothing but temptation.
That was why he didn't feel guilty about it at all. He didn't regret sleeping with him either. He'd written it off as a mistake, acknowledged it was wrong, but never once looked back or wished it hadn't happened.
He liked Hana — not Yeonho. It was only physical attraction, only the heat of the moment and the contact between their bodies that had messed his head up so badly.
It was confusing, but at the same time, it made perfect sense.
He couldn't put a name to exactly what it was, but he could feel it growing stronger every minute — and it was all because of Yeonho.
All because of that last night they spent together.
Gyeongjae snapped himself out of his thoughts before he could spiral any deeper. He'd done it again, getting lost in his own head instead of paying attention.
He focused back on the scene in front of him, watching the two figures in the kitchen closely.
"I'm going to ask you one last time. Tell me the truth. Did you sleep with him?"
Jiseok reached out slowly, fingers curling firm and steady under Yeonho's chin, tilting his face up.
Yeonho only sighed, sounding cheeky and unbothered, like there wasn't a single thing wrong with the situation.
'Don't tell me he's actually going to admit it…'
And just as Gyeongjae expected, Yeonho gave him exactly that answer.
"Yes. I did sleep with him." He said it so plainly.
There wasn't a trace of regret or shame in his voice. In fact, he was smiling, bright and unapologetic, like he was proud of it.
How could he say that with such a straight face? Gyeongjae never thought Yeonho would admit it this easily.
'What is wrong with him? He's actually smiling…'
That unbothered, grinning expression was unsettling to look at. He didn't seem to care at all that he'd been caught. He'd called Jiseok his partner, him a mistress — so why would he admit to cheating so freely?
Jiseok shook his head slowly, clear disappointment written all over his face.
Yet oddly enough, he looked just as relaxed and calm as Yeonho did.
"I gave you more than enough freedom lately, and this is what I get? Another man hanging around you, and you even go as far as sharing a bed with him. Aren't you scared I'll lock you up again? You're being far too reckless, Yeonho."
His hand moved to cup Yeonho's jaw, holding him in place. Yeonho just laughed right at him.
"Don't worry, Mr. Han. You're still number one in my eyes. So relax, alright? No need to get jealous over something so small."
Jiseok raised one sharp eyebrow, radiating that natural authority he carried.
"You really think I'll just forgive you for this?"
"Yeah. I know you will."
Yeonho leaned in slowly, bringing his face right up close to Jiseok's.
Watching every little movement, Gyeongjae couldn't help but feel a surge of dislike at how flirty Yeonho acted.
He'd done the exact same thing to Gyeongjae, too.
Those bright blue eyes, that confident tilt of his head, that way he looked at you like he owned you — he used it to wrap men like Gyeongjae and Jiseok right around his finger, controlling them without them even noticing.
It was hypnotic, how sure of himself he was, how unpredictable and shameless he always was.
Usually, it drew people right in — but right now, all Gyeongjae felt was repulsed.
"Come on, Mr. Han… Do something. I know you miss me. Forget about this tiny little mistake, and I'll even let you kiss me to make up for it."
"Spoiled little brat…" Jiseok murmured.
What happened next made Gyeongjae shake his head in pure disbelief.
Jiseok pulled Yeonho flush against his body, arms wrapping tight around his waist, and kissed him deeply.
Yeonho smirked against his lips, looping his own arms easily around Jiseok's neck, melting right into the touch like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The whole sight made Gyeongjae burn with bitterness. He was so annoyed he almost forgot exactly what kind of person Yeonho really was.
Just like Hana had always said. Trash.
He was, and always had been, the disgraced, useless bastard son of the Choi family.
And worse than that, he'd only gotten worse as time went on. More shameless, more immoral, more of a lying manipulator than ever before.
Then he remembered what Yeonho had said earlier.
'I'm going to steal you, and everything else that belongs to Hana, right from her hands.'
Was this all just for revenge? Did he do all this only because he was jealous of Hana's perfect life, jealous of everything she had?
Was that the only reason he'd slept with Gyeongjae in the first place?
But then again, he also remembered clearly that it was Hana who had tried to drug him first.
Even so… he still sided with Hana. He remembered how she'd cried, how heartbroken and depressed she'd been over Yeonho's cruel actions. How much she'd suffered because of him.
As Gyeongjae watched the two of them getting lost in each other, tangled up and intimate, he suddenly caught Jiseok's gaze.
The older man was staring right at him, eyes sharp and icy, glaring hard.
Gyeongjae clenched his jaw tight. Jiseok was doing it on purpose — showing him exactly what he owned, exactly what he had, all while kissing Yeonho like he was marking his territory.
'Fucking old man… Is he jealous because slept with Yeonho?'
It had been a long time since anyone had looked at him with that kind of challenging fire.
All the other men who liked Hana were exactly like this too. He'd been too busy before to notice how they acted around her, how possessive and competitive they got.
But seeing Han Jiseok throw his weight and dominance around like this only made Gyeongjae burn with matching fire right back.
If he wanted to play this game, then fine. Gyeongjae was still here, wasn't he? He might as well play right along.
He let out a heavy, sharp breath, straightened up, and made up his mind to interrupt them right then and there.
He walked straight into the kitchen.
Jiseok had interrupt Gyeongjae and Yeonho earlier, now he will do the same.