Cozy Obsession

“There’s no one at home. Make yourself comfortable.”He took off his shoes and hesitantly stepped inside. The sophisticated interior and the view outside, like something out of a drama, filled Heemin’s vision.“This place is amazing.”White floors and walls, brightly colored furniture, occasional potted plants, and a grand piano in a corner of the spacious living room. Everything was so fascinating that Heemin didn’t even feel envious. As he looked around, continuously exclaiming in amazement, a sudden thought made him speak to Yiheon with a concerned voice.“But if you fall, it would really hurt.”That made sense, given that the floor was marble, not linoleum. If he were to trip while running from his sisters, he might crack his head open, which scared him a bit. Yiheon laughed at Heemin’s odd remark.“What do you want to order?”He handed Heemin his phone. The screen displayed the homepage of Domino’s Pizza.“I don’t have any money…”Ordering pizza would cost at least ten thousand won. That might not be much for someone living in such a place, but for Heemin, ten thousand won was his allowance for ten days.“I’ll pay.”“No, don’t. You already paid for the bus fare.”“Just choose.”“…But still.”“I invited you because I didn’t want to eat alone. It’s lonely eating by myself. And you looked hungry.”He had thought Yiheon invited him over just to copy notes. Surprised by the unexpected reason, Heemin blinked up at Yiheon.Everyone wanted to be friends with Yiheon. He couldn’t understand why he would say he had no one to eat with. Then he remembered Yiheon asking if he went to cram school.His friends must be busy attending cram schools. Kids usually went to English or math academies, so they probably didn’t have time to visit.“Don’t you go to a cram school?”“Me?”“Yeah.”“I quit today.”Yiheon answered lightly. It seemed he wanted to celebrate quitting the cram school by having fun. After scanning the screen for a while, Heemin chose the cheapest pizza.“How about this one?”“I’ll order it.”Yiheon took back the phone and swiftly completed the order. He seemed quite familiar with the process, as if he regularly ordered delivery food.In the family photos seen in the hallway, there were only Yiheon and what appeared to be his parents. Heemin often wished he was an only child when his sisters teamed up to scold him, but he also felt lonely waiting eagerly for them to come home when he was alone. He started to understand why Yiheon brought him over, even though they hadn’t really talked before. The more friends you have, the greater the loneliness when you’re alone.“Want to play a game while we wait?”Yiheon fetched a game console from his room and connected it to the TV. It was an expensive console often referred to as a grown-up’s toy.“I’ve never played this before.”“I’ll show you how.”Yiheon handed him a controller and patiently explained which buttons to press. Maybe it was because he was the class president, but he showed remarkable patience, waiting for Heemin to get the hang of the controller without getting frustrated. Despite being somewhat unpredictable, Yiheon had a really good personality.Time flew by as they played a soccer game. There was no more awkwardness. Heemin found himself chatting happily with Yiheon while eating a more lavishly topped pizza than the one he had chosen.“Why do you go to the library every lunch break?”Yiheon asked out of the blue after finishing his plate.“Huh? How did you know I go to the library every day?”“I saw you by chance when I went to borrow a book.”“Ah.”Heemin was the only student who went to the library during lunch. Everyone else was outside playing soccer or basketball or chatting in their classrooms. If someone as noticeable as Yiheon had gone to the library, Heemin would have recognized him. But he must have been too engrossed in his book to notice Yiheon borrowing a book. Pushing down the urge to ask what book Yiheon had borrowed, Heemin answered honestly.“Because if I stay in the classroom, the smell makes me hungry.”“You don’t eat lunch?”“My mom is busy working, so I don’t want to ask her to pack me a lunchbox. And buying lunch is too expensive.”He had initially thought about packing just rice and kimchi. But that would mean washing the container every day, and his perceptive sisters would ask why he was packing lunch, which would eventually put more burden on his mom. So he chose to skip lunch instead.“Should I ask my aunt to pack an extra lunch for you?”Instead of eating his pizza, Yiheon rested his elbows on the table and propped his chin, speaking in a calm tone.“It’s only a few days left. It’s fine.”“I’m not fine with it. It’s noisy.”“…Oh. Sorry.”Heemin felt a lump in his throat at Yiheon’s straightforwardness. He put down the pizza crust he was holding and cleared his throat. Yiheon handed him a cup of cola and spoke gently.“My aunt always makes too much food. It’s better than throwing it away. From tomorrow, let’s eat lunch together.”Yiheon’s warm smile filled Heemin’s vision. His eyes, curved beautifully, held kindness and consideration in their dark pupils. Heemin took a sip of the cola, the fizzy drink soothing his parched mouth.“Thanks for thinking of me.”It was the first time he felt such kindness from someone outside his family. Whether it was because of his responsibility as class president or simply because there was leftover food, Heemin didn’t know, but he felt grateful for the unintended favor. He thought to himself that Yiheon was a much better person than he had imagined. Determined to be a good friend to Yiheon, Heemin finished his cola.“Do you live with your aunt?”“Oh… I mean the housekeeper. She works for us.”For some reason, Yiheon’s voice sounded muffled when he mentioned the housekeeper, as if he had pressed the mute button.“Eat more. Have another piece.”Yiheon placed a slice of pizza loaded with hot sauce and garlic dipping sauce on Heemin’s plate.“You should eat too.”“Okay.”Maybe it was because he had been so hungry, but the taste of the pizza was unforgettable, a taste he would crave again and again. If anyone asked him what his favorite food was, Heemin thought he would answer pizza without hesitation.* * *Ding-dong.Startled by the sudden doorbell, Heemin woke up with a jolt. His vision was filled with the dark-toned furniture made of glass, marble, and steel, and the modern, impersonal interior that was worlds apart from his friend’s cozy home. This was not reality; this was the world of *Silence*.“It was a dream.”Maybe it was because he knew it was the same apartment, the same floor, and the same unit number. He had dreamed about visiting Yiheon’s house for the first time, playing console games, and eating premium pizza. Those were unforgettable childhood memories. Suddenly, Heemin missed his friend.“I hope he’s doing well over there.”Yiheon, now 21, had gone to the US to visit relatives during the vacation. He had offered to cover the airfare and expenses for Heemin to come along, but Heemin had to decline. He felt uncomfortable receiving so much without giving anything in return.Having spent almost every day together like brothers, Heemin felt a bit lonely and bored with Yiheon so far away. Even though he increased his part-time work and prepared for certification exams, he still felt an emptiness. To fill that void, he buried himself in books, much like he did when he spent lunch breaks in the library, skipping meals.“This is all because of that guy, Yiheon.”If Yiheon were in Korea, by Heemin’s side as always, he would be spending his vacation playing games with him instead of reading *Silence*. Heemin blamed Yiheon for everything, thinking that he ended up in this world because of him.Ding-dong.The doorbell rang, followed by a knock on the front door. The delivery person had arrived. Heemin started to get up, but Ms. Ahn gestured for him to stay seated and headed to the door. The movie had already ended. Heemin stared blankly at the TV screen showing commercials, recalling the vivid dream he had.“That was the turning point.”He became close with Yiheon after they started eating lunch together. Despite their different family backgrounds, they had similar thoughts and tastes, and they got along well. Eventually, it became natural for Heemin to be by Yiheon’s side. Even when they were placed in different classes, Yiheon would find him during breaks, sticking to him like glue. At times, it became a bit bothersome because Yiheon’s presence prevented Heemin from making other friends.Nevertheless, Heemin enjoyed being with Yiheon because he was kind and considerate, unlike the 30-year-old gangster version of him. Yiheon would generously share his study materials, like practice exams from their tutor, and he would savor the convenience store snacks Heemin bought for him as if they were gourmet meals.Now that he thought about it, the Yiheon in the novel had also been friendly to “Seo Heemin” during their school days. He approached Seo Heemin, who struggled to adapt to school life, and became his friend. They would visit each other’s homes to study together, and Yiheon even modeled for Seo Heemin’s anatomy sketches.Although he turned on Seo Heemin after feeling betrayed by his romantic interest, he wasn’t inherently a bad person. He had the potential to return to his former self.A romantic interest…Even in college, Yiheon rejected many confessions and stuck close to Heemin. He had naively thought Yiheon simply enjoyed spending time with him. But in hindsight, it seemed like a typical behavior pattern of someone with a one-sided crush.“No way, no way. That can’t be it.”“Are you crazy, Seo Heemin?”“This Yiheon is different from that Yiheon.”How could he entertain such absurd thoughts about his friend? He must have been temporarily insane from dealing with the gangster Yiheon. Heemin cursed himself and smacked his head with his fist.“Ouch!”He must have hit too hard because it hurt. The pain snapped him out of his thoughts, and the drowsiness in his eyes disappeared.The important thing now wasn’t doubting his friend’s feelings, but rather winning over the 30-year-old Yiheon and returning safely to reality.To do that, he needed to analyze his target closely and find the key points to capture his heart. He had no time for useless thoughts. Heemin threw off his blanket and got out of bed. He felt much better after a good nap. Eating would make him feel even better.He headed to the kitchen. Ms. Ahn had placed the pizza box from the delivery person on the table. The delicious smell made his mouth water.“Thank you.”She set the table with a plate, cup, fork, and knife, and then turned back to the counter, where she was preparing side dishes. There were peeled onions and diced potatoes on the wooden cutting board.The housekeeper at Yiheon’s home used to make braised potatoes often. What was her name again? He couldn’t remember, so he called out to Ms. Ahn.“Auntie.”Seo Heemin had called her “Ahn Lady,” but Heemin wanted to address her more affectionately. She turned around, looking slightly surprised.“Let’s eat together.”[No, it’s fine.]She quickly pulled out her phone and showed Heemin the screen.“It’s lonely to eat alone.”Yiheon hated doing anything alone, unlike the recent trend of eating, drinking, traveling, or watching movies alone. He always used loneliness as an excuse to spend time with Heemin. Because of that, Heemin had also become uncomfortable with doing things alone.[Okay, just one slice then.]The line he used to persuade Dr. Hwang worked again. Heemin wrapped some stringy cheese around his fork and said to her,“Three slices are fine too.”* * *At 10 PM, the time he would usually finish his part-time job and study for certification exams at the library in reality, Secretary Jung opened the door instead of Yiheon. He had come to keep an eye on Heemin after Ms. Ahn had left.At 3 AM, Yiheon returned home with a faint smell of blood. He gave a cold glance at Heemin, who greeted him with sleepy eyes, and went straight to his bedroom.The next day, and the day after that, Yiheon only came home to sleep. He no longer came home with bloodstains on his shirt, but the dangerous aura from his illegal activities made it impossible for Heemin to approach him.Contempt, indifference, disdain. These were the new names for the lines Yiheon drew. He treated Heemin, the 21-year-old, as if he were worthless, as if mocking Heemin’s belief that he would never become indifferent.Instead of narrowing the gap and unlocking his heart, the distance between them was growing. Only the bandage on Yiheon’s right hand comforted Heemin’s aching heart. Without it, he might have lost hope and been overwhelmed by anxiety.“Hello, Secretary Jung.”As usual, Secretary Jung arrived first. He brought the best-selling books Heemin had requested.Even though he received the heavy bag full of books, he didn’t feel happy. His mind was completely occupied with thoughts of Yiheon.If he got ignored again today, not only would the keyword-changing project fail, but he’d also end up not even getting a word in and losing pathetically. Tomorrow was the day Yiheon would take over as the president of Shinwon Cement, a company once run by Seo Heemin’s father. It was also the day Yiheon, driven mad by his pheromone overload, would forcibly embrace Seo Heemin.Even though Yiheon had acquired the largest shareholder’s stake and management rights of Shinwon Cement, it wasn’t a complete victory since he had borrowed funds from Chairman Yoon Daeho of the Wooshin Group in the process. Yiheon’s ultimate goal for joining the organization wasn’t to gain power, authority, or wealth like the other executives. His aim was revenge against those who ruined him and his biological father and to resurrect Taeseong Remicon, the company he was supposed to inherit. Yiheon had no intention of serving Chairman Yoon forever.While secretly preparing for his independence, hiding his claws, the inauguration ceremony took place in a frosty atmosphere due to the opposition from existing Shinwon employees, seriously aggravating Yiheon. Eventually, driven to the brink by stress and the overload, Yiheon lost his reason and ravaged Seo Heemin’s body like a raging beast. Now that Heemin knew Seo Heemin’s trauma, Yiheon wouldn’t act as coercively as in the story, but the reaction to this could trigger another terrible event, such as committing murder.“I become sadistic whenever I see you.”He might whisper these lines, which he once threw without hesitation while exercising violence, into Heemin’s ear tomorrow night. Although Yiheon showed a kind side to Seo Heemin, he was inherently cruel. Abandoned by his beloved and losing his biological father, he no longer suppressed his nature.He had been expelled for severely beating up classmates to the point of breaking their bones just because they annoyed him, and he had regretted not doing more damage. The first time he killed someone under his great-uncle’s orders, he didn’t blink as he cleaned the bloodied knife with a handkerchief.They needed to talk before anything big happened unprepared.Stopping tomorrow morning’s inauguration ceremony seemed impossible, so Heemin had to close the distance with Yiheon tonight by any means necessary. That way, he could be ready for whatever unfolded the next day.Instead of taking the books out of the paper bag, Heemin placed it in a corner of the living room. He then approached Secretary Jung, who stood with an expressionless face, and spoke.“Secretary Jung.”“Yes, what can I do for you?”“Are you working late because of me again today?”“No.”His sisters, who worked in companies, hated overtime. Who would welcome working beyond designated hours? Yet Secretary Jung seemed to follow Yiheon’s orders 24/7 without any emotions, be they good or bad. He was an exceptionally loyal subordinate.“How much do you get paid per month, Secretary Jung?”To keep the conversation going with someone who barely spoke outside of necessary exchanges, Heemin asked a question he had long been curious about.“My salary?”“Yes.”“…”Maybe it was too direct. Just as Heemin was about to add that he thought the boss was overworking him, Secretary Jung spoke up.“Mr. Cha compensates me well.”“Ah, I see.”Yiheon must be rewarding him enough to make his day-and-night dedication worthwhile. Indeed, considering Ms. Ahn and her son Kim Minseok, Yiheon knew how to make his subordinates listen to him. If only Yiheon had used that ability on Seo Heemin as well.Now that he had gotten the answer he wanted, Secretary Jung looked at Heemin as if to say he should go back to his room with his books. Glancing at the surveillance camera on the ceiling, Heemin finally stopped the small talk and got to the point.“What time will the boss be home today?”“I’m not sure.”“Can you call and ask?”“He said not to contact him unless it’s urgent. He’s attending an important meeting.”The nuance suggested Heemin should go back to reading as usual without bothering Yiheon. Unwilling to leave without achieving anything, Heemin pressed on.“When does this important meeting end?”“I can’t give a definite answer, but even if it ends early, he might not come home due to preparations for the inauguration ceremony tomorrow.”“He’s not coming home?”“Correct.”The unexpected news made Heemin dizzy. He might end up spending the night with a rampaging Yiheon. Heemin held his head for a moment to steady himself, then asked Secretary Jung, who was looking at him with concern.“So, it needs to be an urgent matter to contact him?”Heemin’s eyes sparkled as he repeated the question. He had come up with a very good idea to get Yiheon home. He would throw a tantrum like Seo Heemin.Whenever Seo Heemin wrecked the house, Yiheon would rush home, skipping meetings with Chairman Yoon to punish, no, to soothe him. If Heemin caused a commotion, Yiheon would surely come back.He had already been branded as mentally unstable. No matter what he did, he could use that as an excuse, so it wouldn’t matter if he acted crazy. Heemin squinted and looked around for something to break.“Should I break the cup?”If he broke it wrong and stepped on the shards or accidentally cut himself, it would be a big problem. Also, Ms. Ahn would have to clean up the mess, and he felt sorry for that. Instead, Heemin quietly approached the sofa and picked up a cushion instead of a cup.“Call the boss right now!”He threw the cushion to the floor with all his might. Unlike in the movies, it didn’t burst and scatter feathers everywhere. Nothing happened.A moment of silence ensued. Secretary Jung looked at Heemin with a cloudy gaze as if to ask what he was doing. This is so embarrassing, Heemin thought.“I’m so mad! Call the boss right now!”This time, he kicked the cushion on the floor. Secretary Jung picked it up and said in a dry tone.“Stop this and go to your room.”His neatly combed hair, immaculate attire, and overly polite speech made him look like an ordinary office worker. However, just like Cha Yiheon, he also worked in the shadows. Acting recklessly would only result in being locked up in his room without achieving anything. To elicit a more dramatic and immediate response… Heemin steeled himself and headed to the kitchen.“Where’s Cha Yiheon? Call Cha Yiheon here!”Heemin took a kitchen knife from under the sink and held it to his neck. The sharp blade reflecting the light filled his vision, making his legs tremble. But this was the only way to threaten them.“Put the knife down.”“No, call Cha Yiheon here!”Secretary Jung, who had been watching Heemin with a pale face, took out his phone. After a brief report to Yiheon, he remained tense, waiting for Heemin to tire out.“……”“……”As the standoff continued, the tension increased. Sweat gathered at the tip of his chin and dripped down the blade. Heemin frowned as he exhaled through his teeth.“This isn’t something I should be doing. This is too hard.”His hand and arm were aching from holding the knife for so long. It felt like a punishment. Just when he wanted to give up on the keyword-changing project and everything else,“Stop the show and put the knife down unless you want to die by my hand first.”A commanding voice with an irresistible pressure resonated in the living room.A low, authoritative voice that seemed to grip the listener, dark, deep eyes like the night sky, and pheromones exuding a piercing masculinity.It was Cha Yiheon. The person Heemin had been desperately waiting for appeared before him.“Welcome back.”The relief of not having to hold this terrifying object anymore was brief. As Heemin greeted Yiheon with a relaxed face, Yiheon’s brows furrowed deeply.He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. The chilling gaze made it feel like the space around him was distorting. His black dress shirt and deep navy tie were as immaculate as when he left for work, but the fatigue was etched into the wrinkles around his eyes. It seemed like he had rushed over, losing his composure.Yiheon tilted his head, glaring at Heemin. The sharp gaze felt like a harpoon piercing through him, causing his chest to heave.“Ah…”Heemin’s grip on the knife weakened. As he unknowingly dropped it, Yiheon, who had quickly approached, caught the handle before it hit the ground. The knife was drawn into Yiheon’s bandaged hand like a magnet.“Ugh!”At the same time, he grabbed Heemin’s collar with his other hand. The force of the push slammed Heemin against the wall.The dull pain made his vision spin for a moment. Before he could react, the knife he had been holding was embedded in the wall right next to his ear. It all happened in an instant.The cold sensation brushed against his face. Heemin turned his head slightly to see the knife stuck in the wall like a nail. A shiver ran down his spine like cold water had been poured over him.“Welcome back? Are you out of your mind, wanting to die?”Yiheon twisted his lips into a sneer. He seemed thoroughly infuriated by Heemin’s cheerful greeting.His rough breath brushed against Heemin’s cheek. The sudden closeness made Heemin bite his lip. The overwhelming pheromones and the physical disparity made his body shrink involuntarily.“Thanks to you, I lost a five billion won deal. Let’s see if your reason for calling me is worth it.”He had promised to reduce Heemin’s debt by one hundred million won each time they slept together. At this rate, Heemin thought he might have to do it a hundred times instead of fifty.This would mean doing nothing but that. A chill ran through his body at the thought. Even the idea of it was exhausting.As he imagined such a scenario, his vision darkened, and his hands and feet grew cold. Heemin lowered his head, losing the will to speak. It seemed he had chosen the wrong day. He had been anxious to get closer to Yiheon before the inauguration.“Why aren’t you answering? You said you were so mad you could die because of me.”Yiheon’s sarcastic tone stabbed at his heart. Even without looking up, Heemin could feel Yiheon’s sharp gaze. The tears welled up in his eyes.To Cha Yiheon, Seo Heemin was like a flower on an unreachable cliff. He had hoped that seeing each other would somehow melt the ice between them. It was a foolishly naive hope.“I… I just…”“What did you do right to be crying?”“…sob.”How on earth can I do this a hundred times?He tried to stop crying, but it was no use. Being dragged into this fictional world was already unjust, and now the man who looked like his only friend seemed to constantly want to devour him. The combined sorrow and fear crushed his chest.More than anything, he was disappointed in himself for being so arrogant and thinking he knew the future, only to disrupt Yiheon with his selfish tantrum. It was natural to be scolded for ruining such an important deal.Yiheon’s cold gaze was glued to his tear-streaked face. The emotionless, straight stare felt so harsh that Heemin wanted to avoid it, but moving even slightly meant brushing against the knife. He fought back the sobs threatening to escape his throat and finally spoke.“I just…”“Just what?”“…wanted to see you.”In this strange yet familiar world, Yiheon was the only person Heemin could rely on. In reality, Heemin wouldn’t have even interacted with someone like Yiheon, who lived in the shadows, but this was fiction, so his occupation didn’t matter much.He hadn’t intended to interfere with Yiheon’s work. It was just that Yiheon’s indifference shook Heemin’s faith in him, making him anxious.It wasn’t that he wanted Yiheon to be abnormally obsessive with him like he was with Seo Heemin. Since they lived in the same house, Heemin simply wanted to see his face and have conversations.If possible, he wanted to slowly erase the hatred Yiheon harbored.