Separation Anxiety

15.

#Differences

“Hayun hyung is busy. Until recently, it was hard to even see his face.”

“Would a busy person come to pick you up in front of the school? Don’t you know how much of a commotion it caused that day?”

The next day, rumors spread wildly that the heir of Haedo Group had appeared. Even without mingling with other kids, the rumors had reached Dawoon’s ears, so everyone in the school must have known.

“Regardless of being busy, your brother is quite special to you.”

This time, Dawoon couldn’t deny Ui-hyeon’s words. Certainly, until middle school, or more precisely, until his parents were alive, Hayun would often take Dawoon out to buy clothes, choosing Dawoon’s share as well. But since he started learning about the company work from grandfather, he couldn’t spare time for such things anymore.

Was he feeling disappointed? Suddenly realizing his mood was sinking, Dawoon shook his head with a weak smile. It wasn’t Hayun’s fault that things weren’t the same as before. It was also what Dawoon himself had wanted. So there was no reason to feel disappointed.

“I’m not sure, but if your brother is buying and filling your closet, isn’t that a bit…”

“A bit what?”

“What kind of brother buys and fills his younger brother’s clothes every season? It’s creepy.”

“It’s creepy?”

“If my brother did that, I think I’d die from the creeps.”

“Is it really that…”

Was that really such a creepy thing? He wasn’t sure.

“Usually at our age, brothers don’t buy clothes for each other, but fight over whose clothes are whose. Even getting beaten for wearing the older brother’s clothes without permission.”

Ui-hyeon smiled bitterly, as if he had really experienced such things.

“Fighting over clothes doesn’t even make sense for us.”

At Dawoon’s response, Ui-hyeon nodded, saying that was true. Although they had become high school students with bodies not much different from adults, there was still a physical difference between Hayun and Dawoon. Hayun was 185 cm tall and had a sturdy build from regular exercise, while Dawoon was only about 176 cm, thin from just going back and forth to school and not eating much. Their clothes sizes were bound to be different.

“Your brother is just big.”

Ui-hyeon, who was about the same height as Dawoon, frowned, saying it hurt his pride as a man to compare himself to Hayun. When Dawoon chuckled, Ui-hyeon demanded to know why he was laughing.

“It’s rare for people to compare themselves to my brother.”

Most people didn’t even attempt to compare themselves to Jeong Hayun. Nothing was comparable, so they didn’t even try. Dawoon was the same. In everything, Hayun was not a comparison. Whether it was grades in school, friendships, appearance, or physique, there was nothing Dawoon could match up to Hayun in. So he never even thought of comparing himself.

“Well, isn’t your brother human too? All people are basically the same.”

This was why Dawoon liked Ui-hyeon. He was someone who could be bold not just towards Dawoon, but even towards Jeong Hayun.

“Have you picked out your clothes? We’re going to that store over there.”

Na-eun, who had appeared at some point, urged them, pulling on Dawoon’s arm. She already had several pieces of clothing in her hands. But that didn’t seem to be enough.

“What else are you going to buy?”

Ui-hyeon openly showed his fatigue.

“I want to look at bags.”

“Can’t you two go by yourselves?”

As Dawoon was about to nod in agreement with Ui-hyeon’s words, Na-eun quickly put on a sulky face.

“Are you planning to abandon us?”

“What do you mean abandon? Are you a child? Can’t you find your way?”

“But we came out together, leaving first is betrayal.”

“I don’t understand why we have to follow you around.”

Once again, Na-eun and Ui-hyeon’s bickering continued. Just watching them made Dawoon feel tired, so he sighed and turned his head.

When I went out with hyung, I never thought it was this tiring…

Whether they went shopping, watched a movie, or went out to eat, he had never felt it was difficult or tiring. Not because it was Hayun, but because there was no need to force himself to do anything he didn’t like. Before Dawoon got tired, Hayun would suggest taking a rest, and by the time Dawoon thought he was hungry, they were already in a restaurant.

There was no need to say anything. Hayun always acted as if he knew everything Dawoon was thinking without being told.

So it wasn’t all coincidence. Hyung was adjusting to me.

This newly realized fact gave him a strange feeling. At the same time, he felt that being with people other than Hayun was really tiring. As he was about to turn around to tell Na-eun and Ui-hyeon, who were still arguing, to just quickly go buy a bag or whatever, he hesitated as he saw something glinting in the distance.

What’s that? Could it be the flash of a camera?

At the thought that it might be a reporter, his heart started beating anxiously. Even though he thought there was no reason for reporters to follow him, the thought that it might be because of the name “Haedo Group” made the color drain from his face.

***

Bzzt. The phone on the desk moved due to the vibration. Hayun took his eyes off the monitor he had been looking at and picked up the phone to check.

When he opened the text message, several photos popped up. It was sent by Driver Kim, who had been assigned to follow Dawoon.

[After leaving the movie theater and having a meal, they are shopping without any issues.]

A brief report was also attached.

“Without any issues…”

Muttering softly, Hayun scrolled up and down the phone screen to check the attached photos again. His hand stopped on a photo where Kim Na-eun was hanging onto Dawoon’s arm. It was ambiguous whether they were arm in arm. It just looked like Kim Na-eun was grabbing and pulling on one of Dawoon’s arms. But even that was irritating. The very fact that someone was touching Dawoon’s body displeased him.

A small, bitter laugh escaped him. He knew how meaningless it was to get worked up over something like this. Since they were in the same class at school, there would be plenty of opportunities for this level of skinship every day. So unless he made Dawoon quit school, it was something he couldn’t prevent.

At least, having confirmed that Dawoon had not the slightest interest in Kim Na-eun, he could suppress the darkly surging emotion without taking any action. The brake on romance or love in that boy’s heart was fortunate, at least for this moment.

If Dawoon were to date someone…

He chuckled at the unnecessary speculation. Being a high school student, he could certainly have an interest in the opposite sex, and might even casually date someone.

Already a high school student… It felt like the young child who used to laugh in his arms had grown up too quickly.

“So he’s no longer a child?”

How would Dawoon react if he said that because he’s no longer a child, he needs to be more careful? Hayun didn’t want to bring up the name of Haedo Group to Dawoon, but at times like this, the weight of that name seemed quite useful.

Because he’s the second son of Haedo Group, he can’t carelessly date anyone. Even the casual dating that kids his age do isn’t allowed. Even light gossip could snowball and overwhelm them.

There were countless reasons to tell Dawoon not to date girls. It was also a warning that Hayun himself had heard from his grandfather to the point of nausea since he was young.

“And yet the old man would subtly try to set me up with this person or that person.”

He put the phone down on the desk with a thud and spoke self-mockingly. Chairman Jeong hadn’t obviously introduced anyone. It was always at gatherings he was dragged to where he was naturally introduced to people like the only daughter of some family or the granddaughter of some politician. The adults might have thought they weren’t being obvious, but the girls introduced to Hayun were. They would either pretend to be shy at just a glance from Hayun, or conversely, approach him overtly pretending to be close.

He naturally learned the knack of being appropriately kind and keeping an appropriate distance. While introducing someone frequently like this, Chairman Jeong actually didn’t approve of Hayun meeting any one of them specially. The reason was that it was still too early. He wanted Hayun to socialize at gatherings with many people, but didn’t want private meetings. The reason was that meeting one specific person would become gossip, and that gossip would affect the group’s image or stock prices.

Hayun wasn’t interested in how complicated Chairman Jeong’s inner thoughts were. So he pretended to mingle appropriately and follow along appropriately. He agreed that the connections the Chairman introduced might be helpful when he became the owner of Haedo Group later. But that was the extent of it.

Staring at the darkened phone screen, he picked up the phone again and pressed speed dial number 1. Immediately, Dawoon’s number appeared and the call connected.

[Yeah.]

Seeing Hayun’s name, Dawoon answered with a short word instead of “hello.” Thinking that he really had become less talkative compared to before, Hayun chuckled.

“Did you enjoy the movie? Was it fun?”

[It was okay.]

“Will you be late?”

[I’m not sure.]

His brow furrowed slightly at the unwanted answer.

“I was wondering about dinner.”

[Ah…]

Again, there was no immediate answer that he would come home. Hayun could hear girls chattering behind Dawoon. It seemed he was in a situation where it was difficult to easily get away.

“That’s a shame. I’ll be busy again from next week, so it might be hard to see each other. I was planning to spend this weekend properly with you and Haram.”

At these casually dropped words, Hayun heard Dawoon exhale a long breath. He’s feeling troubled. Even without seeing him, Hayun could imagine what expression he was making.