Pig Government Official

-24-

While washing the cooking utensils, Jeonggwan kept trying to suppress his rising cheekbones. Even though Jihoon had said he hated seeing him grinning all the time, smiles kept breaking out on their own. It was because he kept thinking about last Saturday.

At Won Junjae’s suggestion to meet again next week, Jeonggwan’s anger had melted away. Indeed, people should be judged by their looks. If it had been Park Jihoon who ate the plum chocolate, he would have ended the friendship right there…

Afterwards, he was able to get Won Junjae’s phone number using a classic method he saw on Al.da.kko.

“Oh no! I left my phone at the cafe!”

“I’ll send you a new one.”

It was obviously a trick that wouldn’t work on a chaebol executive of an electronics company, but…

“No, I just need to make one call. Let me borrow your phone.”

Fortunately, Won Junjae, intimidated by his charisma, handed over his phone without resistance, allowing Jeonggwan to get his number. “Ah, here it is!” Pulling out his phone from his back pocket and smiling at Won Junjae, he couldn’t forget the bewildered expression on Won Junjae’s face.

“What are you going to save it as?”

“…What?”

“My number.”

“…Ah.”

Only then realizing they had exchanged numbers, Won Junjae looked at him with a “What’s this?” expression, but Jeonggwan brazenly demanded to be saved as ‘Jeonggwan-ie’. Of course, he didn’t get an answer.

Afterwards, he texted Won Junjae that his brothers had taken all the rum chocolates, and although Won Junjae was surely on his way home, he took an hour to reply, playing hard to get.

[I’ll buy you those too]

Pfft. Even recalling it now, it was a tickling reply. Jeonggwan had kicked his bed repeatedly after receiving that message, and on Sunday, he looked at that text again. This is totally flirting-! Al.da.kko is really the best. There’s no alpha they can’t seduce! As a devoted fan, Jeonggwan even left a comment on the latest video.

[Goeni – Al.da.kko! I’m currently using the method shown here to seduce an alpha! It’s going well, and when I completely succeed, I’ll send you a gift! (Al.da.kko likes this comment.)]

And he even got a heart from Al.da.kko on his comment. He was so happy about getting the heart that he almost jumped, but gravity didn’t allow it. Still, getting a heart from his favorite YouTuber after Won Junjae. Jeonggwan couldn’t stop smiling.

But now he had to force his cheekbones down. Because today, Monday, as soon as it turned 10:30, Won Junjae showed up at the cafe, and he was clearly looking at Jeonggwan more often than before.

Jeonggwan focused on washing dishes, keeping his lips tightly closed to avoid showing his smile.

“Hey.”

At that moment, Jihoon quietly approached Jeonggwan’s side. Usually, Jihoon would make it obvious that he was talking to Jeonggwan, but today, for some reason, he spoke quietly with his back to Won Junjae.

“You… What was your ex-boyfriend’s name again?”

“Why?”

“Well, on Saturday, this handsome guy who looked familiar came in.”

“…And?”

“And then he suddenly looked at the kitchen and went to the counter with a really surprised face?”

“…”

“Then he asked if there was an employee named Kim Jeonggwan, can you believe it?”

Jihoon continued speaking while staring at Jeonggwan with an expression that said, “What in the world is going on?”

“When our manager asked why, he begged to be told. Such a desperate king. Was he filming a movie by himself? So I went and asked who he was. Then he said, ‘Ah, it’s nothing,’ and went back to his companions? I overheard his companions calling him, I think his name was Jung Taegeon…”

Jeonggwan had stopped washing and was looking at Jihoon, while Jihoon started confirming with expressions that said, “Really? No way? Is it true?”

Jung Taegeon.

Jeonggwan’s brain momentarily stopped at hearing this name from someone else’s mouth after so long. He had been stalking his Instagram daily, but… Is he in Korea now? Jeonggwan took off his rubber gloves and pulled out his phone from his apron pocket. He typed in Jung Taegeon’s ID without hesitation.

“It’s true.”

He really came to Korea. Jeonggwan’s first boyfriend and ex-boyfriend.

The most recent post was a photo of the short cake Jeonggwan had made, taken at the cafe where Jeonggwan works, which he had visited by chance with friends. The date was last week, Saturday, when Jeonggwan was meeting Won Junjae. The caption with the photo read,

– I miss you

Jeonggwan turned off his phone screen. Jihoon, who was looking alongside him, exclaimed, “It’s him! It’s him! Wow!” while slapping Jeonggwan’s shoulder, and Jeonggwan put his rubber gloves back on to finish the washing he was doing.

“…Ah, move.”

“Hey. I think he might come again? Don’t you think he’ll come today?”

“He won’t come.”

“No way. I’m telling you, his expression was really desperate? He’ll definitely come.”

Jeonggwan rinsed the last spatula and took off his rubber gloves, hanging them up. Then, wiping his damp hands on his apron, he looked straight at Jihoon, who kept making assumptions, and said clearly once again.

“I’m telling you, he won’t come. He’s a coward.”

A coward? What does that mean? Jihoon’s expression became enigmatic. Jeonggwan shrugged with a face that said it was no big deal, and stood on his tiptoes to look over Jihoon’s shoulder that was blocking his view.

“…”

His eyes immediately met Won Junjae’s. As if he couldn’t see because Jihoon was blocking Jeonggwan, Won Junjae was also slightly tilting his head to the side, as if looking for Jeonggwan. And as if embarrassed to be caught by Jeonggwan in this pose, Won Junjae quickly averted his gaze.

Jeonggwan’s sunken mood began to float up again. That man, full of flaws but pretending to be perfect, looks for him every day. He wants to hide it in front of others but can’t. He thinks he’s hiding it well, but it’s extremely obvious. As if, though it’s unlikely, he’s experiencing love for the first time.

“Director, you’ve dated a lot, right?”

“For the past 10 years that I remember, there’s always been an omega by my side.”

Of course. It couldn’t be otherwise. Well, who would leave such a perfectly packaged man alone? While he’s relying on Al.da.kko’s power, there must have been omegas who were Al.da.kko themselves always crowding around that man. Did he show such obvious signs every time he dated?

‘Jeonggwan, I like you so much. But… let’s not show it on SNS or in front of other people.’

‘I can’t go to Korea now… I don’t show my family who I’m dating… Just wait a little longer.’

Would Won Junjae express his feelings openly in front of others no matter who he’s dating? As Won Junjae glanced at Jeonggwan again, pretending not to, Jeonggwan pushed Jihoon aside and faced him directly.

Won Junjae seemed flustered and lowered his head, pretending not to see and looking at his phone, but…

“…”

Eventually, he raised his head again and faced Jeonggwan, who kept staring at him.

* * *

Jihoon said he might come today and told Jeonggwan to stay a bit longer before clocking out, but Jeonggwan knew. He knew that his ex-boyfriend would never come. He no longer had any lingering feelings or regrets. He occasionally stalked his SNS just for eye candy because of his good looks, but he had no desire to get back together. It was time to end this stalking too. He had found better eye candy.

But does Won Junjae use SNS too?

As soon as Jeonggwan got on the bus home, he opened Won Junjae’s KakaoTalk profile. No profile picture. No background picture. He’s unlikely to use SNS if he doesn’t even set these up. Still, he might have an account for stalking, so Jeonggwan sent a message. They had only texted before, this was the first KakaoTalk message.

[Do you use Instagram?]

Oh, what’s this? An error? The number 1 disappeared within seconds of sending the KakaoTalk message. What’s going on? Did he click it right away? It’s hard to imagine Won Junjae reading KakaoTalk messages immediately. Jeonggwan suspected it might be an error, but then…

[No, I don’t. – Won Junjae]

It wasn’t an error. Wait, he reads faster than Park Jihoon?

[Why did you read it so quickly? lol]

[Perhaps~ㅎ Were you waiting for me to contact you~ㅎ]

He probably saw it pop up while looking at his phone, but Jeonggwan didn’t miss the chance to tease. The 1 disappeared immediately, but there was no immediate reply.

1 minute.

5 minutes.

What’s this? Is he ignoring me?

He was. There was no reply even after Jeonggwan got home and finished showering. Wow. Wondering what to do in this situation, Jeonggwan turned on his laptop. He needed to check Al.da.kko.

[How to deal with an alpha who ignores your messages! Al.da.kko will tell you!]

(Comments)

!Pinned by Al.da.kko

Al.da.kko’s point is to deliberately not look at them the next day! Hold back even if you want to see them>_ㅇ

– 32 likes 2 comments

(Various comments follow)

Oh… So don’t give them attention even if you meet the next day until they reply? It’s about making them anxious! Jeonggwan nodded at Al.da.kko’s words and absorbed the information one by one.

Ding-.

Jeonggwan’s phone rang while he was focusing on YouTube. Huh. Is it Won Junjae? Jeonggwan picked up his phone faster than he would grab the last potato chip.

[TAE_GEON_J has requested to follow you]