Pig Government Official

-38-

As soon as Jeonggwan entered the room, he locked the door. He never knew when one of his family members might barge in. Jeonggwan took out the chocolate box from his pocket. Although he had seen it last week, he was still excited to see it again. This little one. Today, the plum is really mine. If he forgot to eat it now, it was only a matter of time before it disappeared into his brothers’ mouths. Jeonggwan opened the box lid and popped the plum chocolate, which he couldn’t taste last week because Won Junjae ate it, straight into his mouth.

The semi-dried plum and the rich, smooth dark chocolate created a duet in Jeonggwan’s mouth. It was a perfect harmony of flavors. Wow- It’s insane. Wow-! Jeonggwan closed his eyes tightly in happiness. When will I be able to make such chocolates? No. These are best when bought from a master craftsman. Jeonggwan nodded and chewed the chocolate vigorously. This is happiness. This is happiness. The humming that had stopped started flowing again.

Ah, this isn’t the time. Jeonggwan opened his eyes wide and shook out the blanket that was crumpled like a caterpillar in one corner. Then he placed the chocolate box on it and took pictures from various angles. Click- Click-. After taking several shots, Jeonggwan immediately sent the prettiest one to Won Junjae. You should always take proof shots for things like this. Yep.

[Heart-fluttering ㅎㅎ]

And he sent just one short message. He had been told that when receiving a gift from someone you like, it’s not attractive to write long, gushing messages. He was advised to keep it simple and not cringeworthy, like “Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.” or “I’ll use it well.” But for Jeonggwan’s personality, such words felt even more cringeworthy. Jeonggwan left the chat window open in case Junjae would read it right away, and lying on his side, he picked up a fig chocolate and ate it. Delicious.

“1 disappeared……!”

Sure enough, as he was watching the chat window, the 1 disappeared immediately. Jeonggwan stomped his feet on the bed again and repeatedly pressed the back button. What kind of reply would come? Enjoy it? I received it well? Somehow feeling it might be something like that, Jeonggwan pondered what he should answer next. Should he send an emoticon along with it?

Hmm.

Hmm-.

Hmmm-.

“What? Why is it being read without a reply again?”

However, there was no reply from Won Junjae. Even after staring at the list window for a long time, there was no reply. Wondering if the Wi-Fi wasn’t working, he turned it off and on, and did the same with the data. But still, there was no reply. Did he see the 1 disappear by mistake? He quickly entered and exited the chat window again, but the 1 was indeed gone.

It really was read without a reply. Surely, following “cheesecake,” he’s not looking up what “heart-fluttering” means, is he? But he’s 32, he should know what “heart-fluttering” means, right? And even if he didn’t know and was searching, would it take this long? Jeonggwan opened the green window and searched for the word “heart-fluttering.” Is that word not there?

Heart-fluttering: To be surprised or excited to the point where one’s heart beats strongly when seeing something or someone.

It took less than 3 seconds to find. It was even in the green window’s language dictionary. Jeonggwan was perplexed. Why is he reading without replying? Is he in a sudden meeting like last time, so he can’t reply? Jeonggwan pouted his lips and waited for the still silent KakaoTalk, then turned on YouTube. Indeed, when there’s nothing to do, it’s Instagram or YouTube.

* * *

Zing-.

Jeonggwan slowly opened his eyes to the vibration in his hand.

It seemed he had fallen asleep while watching YouTube for a while. The wall clock in front of him was passing 7:30. It was definitely just before 5 o’clock when he fell asleep, but he had slept for more than two hours. He must have been more stressed today than he thought.

Still drowsy, Jeonggwan fumbled around nearby to find his phone and picked it up. The lock screen showed text messages, Instagram notifications, and a KakaoTalk message with preview prevention, among which he tapped on the text message at the top, which looked suspicious from the glimpse of the greeting.

[Hello—? I’m the person you knocked down at the gym yesterday. I’m sorry for hurting you by calling you a pig–. Of course, it’s not an untrue fact that I said, but it can be hurtful to some people, right? — Anyway, I ended up being sorry? They say the tailbone can be reattached, but a wounded heart can’t be mended or something? –. By any chance, did you get any nail marks when I lunged at you? If so, please submit a claim to our lawyer. But considering I held back about my broken tailbone, it seems a bit unconscionable for you to claim for nail marks. — Anyway, I’m sorry. – Kyung Juhwan – ]

What is this? Jeonggwan slowly sat up. The text from an unknown number, even after reading it two or three times, was clearly an apology message from that guy yesterday. Although it seemed to have lost much of its essence, it was unmistakably an apology. Whoa. Did he not only solve the reflection letter but was even made to send me an apology text?! Jeonggwan’s cheekbones rose roundly.

Immediately thinking of Won Junjae, Jeonggwan entered the KakaoTalk window. At the top of KakaoTalk, there were three replies from the man he had been waiting for so eagerly earlier.

[Come out for a moment – Won Junjae pm 5:30]

[Are you sleeping? – Won Junjae pm 6:00]

[See you tomorrow – Won Junjae pm 6:30]

Come out? Where……?

Ah……! Jeonggwan startled, slightly pulled back the curtain of the window next to the bed. From Jeonggwan’s room, you could see a bit beyond the house fence.

“Whoa……”

Sure enough, there was a car parked in the alley in front of Jeonggwan’s house. At this, Jeonggwan’s cheekbones rose crazily. He came……. He’s here……! Jeonggwan jumped up and hurriedly flung open the door.

“Oh. The youngest is up? Can you get the spoons……. Where are you going?”

“Where’s Jeonggwan going?”

“Jeonggwan-. Come sit here, our youngest……!”

In the kitchen next to the living room, the eldest brother and Jeongwon hyung were busy setting the table, while in the living room, mom and dad were whispering about something. Especially Jeonggwan’s dad, his face brightening up as soon as Jeonggwan came out, was about to say something and asked him to come and sit, but Jeonggwan didn’t have time for that now.

“Later-! Just a moment-!”

Jeonggwan ran to the entrance. And as he was about to put on the three-striped slippers used by all family members, he saw his bare feet and ran back to the living room. Showing bare feet was still too fast progress……!

Dad, thinking Jeonggwan had come back to talk, brightened his eyes and even slightly moved his bottom to make space as if telling Jeonggwan to sit here. However, Jeonggwan passed by such a dad with a whoosh-. and opened the sock drawer next to the living room cabinet.

“Why socks? Where are you going?”

“Yeah. Just out front.”

“Why?”

“My crush came to see me.”

Jeonggwan answered his mom’s question coyly while hurriedly putting on his socks.

“See-! See! Honey, didn’t I tell you! Right?”

At the mention of Jeonggwan’s crush, oh my, mom’s eyes widened a bit, and dad’s eyes grew twice as big, rejoicing that his words were right. Then he even started clapping his hands and making a fuss.

“In front of the house? Then bring him in! Let’s have dinner together…Ah!”

“What sudden dinner. It’ll be burdensome for him. It’s fine, go meet him quickly.”

Mom, who had hit dad’s mouth once to stop him, gestured with her chin towards the front door as if telling Jeonggwan to go quickly. Jeonggwan nodded, yeah! and darted back to the front door. From behind, dad’s voice whining to mom, why-! was heard, and again, slap. The sound of something being hit was heard. Jeonghyun, who was scooping rice, also had his mouth wide open, his gaze following Jeonggwan.

“……A crush came?”

And Jeongwon, who was checking the seasoning of the soybean paste stew, quickly took out his phone just in case after hearing Jeonggwan’s words in the living room, but Jeongwon’s phone had been quiet since receiving the contact earlier. Did he come again? But there was no sign in the group chat either. Jeongwon, with a puzzled face, looked up towards the entrance where Jeonggwan had gone out.

It can’t be…….

* * *

On the way to the front gate, he eagerly fixed his hair and dusted off his clothes. What should I say when we meet? Should I just throw myself into his arms again-? Jeonggwan grinned mischievously. Will he blush from his neck again? Earlier I only touched his forehead, but if I kiss him later, won’t his face just explode? Jeonggwan giggled as he grabbed the gate handle.

“……Huh?”

However, Jeonggwan, who had opened the door and stepped outside, stopped at a car different from the one he had seen before. It was a black car like before, but last time the body seemed a bit longer and more expensive-looking than this one….. Jeonggwan might not know car types, but he had a good eye. Did he come with a different car? This one looks quite expensive too, but….. Somehow it didn’t feel like something Won Junjae would ride. Moreover, because it was evening, the inside of the car wasn’t clearly visible. Jeonggwan tilted his head. Is it not Won Junjae? As Jeonggwan was hesitating to approach further, it happened.

Click-. The driver’s side door opened, and a long leg came out of the driver’s seat first. A foot in brown loafers and beige cotton pants was visible.

Loafers? Beige cotton pants? Jeonggwan’s gaze, filled with puzzlement at Won Junjae not wearing his trademark suit, followed up the leg.

“……”

And slowly, Jeonggwan’s cheekbones descended.

“Jeonggwan.”

“……”

“I thought you might have moved since you didn’t come out.”

It was a voice he was hearing for the first time in 5 years.

“Shit……”

Jeonggwan’s hollow curse dispersed into the air.