Chapter 13 – Undertaking
“What if I say I’m not okay with that?” Yoonshin asked.
“You can’t do it?”
“No, but can’t you just come?”
Sehun didn’t seem to understand the request disguised as an innocent question at all. The biggest reason that Sehun wasn’t going to partake in the test and only receive the results was that he didn’t want to waste his precious time on something he found no value in. However, there was some intention to give some breathing space to this experienced new recruit.
“I work on a schedule with 10-minute intervals,” Sehun replied.
“I know. I only need a little bit of your time. I won’t take up too much of it.”
“Are you fearless or just brash?”
“I just want to understand your style of doing things. Even though you’re always in the building, you’re so busy that it’s hard to even meet you once.”
Sehun narrowed his eyes then. He looked as if he was trying to peek into a solid fortress gate and retorted frostily, “Are you crazy? How dare you?”
“I’m not trying to overstep my bounds and judge you. I wanted to know what appeals to you so I can work on that area. I know you find me unsatisfactory, but as long as I choose to remain here, I need to work under you, and I really want to do well.”
“You’ll regret it. I’m very selective. I won’t give you points so easily.”
“Regret is something everyone feels.” Yoonshin implied that he was mentally prepared enough. The man himself wanted to be pushed into a corner, so Sehun, as someone with an inherently mean personality, had no reason to deny the younger lawyer some spare time for some entertainment.
However, Yoonshin’s attitude kept grating him. The other party was clearly being submissive, groveling on the ground before him. But for some reason, Sehun strangely still felt uprightness and stubbornness from Yoonshin. Sehun could anticipate that Yoonshin, as he was, could potentially upset him.
Sehun ground his teeth and moved his arm impulsively. His long and straight fingers curled around Yoonshin’s necktie like claws. Then, he yanked the silky material and the other’s skinny upper body was helplessly pulled toward Sehun.
“Ngh… Sir?” Yoonshin asked in surprise.
They were close enough as it was already, but apparently, that wasn’t close enough for Sehun. He looked down at Yoonshin menacingly, then leaned in, bringing their faces extremely close.
The frigid gaze that motionlessly observed Yoonshin’s face was sharp and defensive.
Tension crawled up from his waist, making Yoonshin astonished. He grew pale. “Why are you suddenly…? Did I do something wrong?”
Despite the careful question, Sehun didn’t answer. Instead, he hooked his finger into the narrow knot of the other’s tie and pulled it down.
The knot that sat on Yoonshin’s neck was undone completely. The younger’s neat appearance looked a bit ruffled. Now satisfied, Sehun tossed the accessory on the floor.
Yoonshin finally heard Sehun’s reply. “Why do I dislike you so much?”
For some reason, it seemed like Sehun himself didn’t know the reason even though he was the one who asked, so Yoonshin couldn’t press on.
Yoonshin merely swallowed nervously. He straightened his shirt and answered in a composed manner, “From now on, I’ll try for you to like some part of me.”
Yoonshin felt his stomach churning as Sehun watched Yoonshin’s calm reaction.
Sehun could easily tell what was going on in the other’s mind. After he read about Yoonshin’s life trajectory, it was even easier. Yoonshin was always a good person to others for his entire life, so he probably had very few chances to have animosity directed at him.
Most people already felt positive about him, so even if he was uncomfortable around Sehun, who everyone considered to be a bad person, Yoonshin’s feelings probably would not be hurt significantly.
In other words, Sehun’s animosity toward him wasn’t really of interest to Yoonshin.
“I dislike that even more,” Sehun mumbled to himself.
“By any chance, do you hate everything I do?” Yoonshin asked.
“I’m not interested in you enough for that.”
Disliking another person was emotionally taxing. So, Sehun didn’t hate his parents who left him behind, the adults in his childhood who passed him around from place to place, or the business relationships who treated him as a rival and swore that they would give him tit for tat. To be more accurate, he didn’t care about them.
However, everything about Yoonshin strangely rubbed him the wrong way. More accurately speaking, rather than disliking him, Sehun was extremely conscious of Yoonshin.
A very old memory inevitably invaded his cluttered mind like light.
The memory was of a funeral home—shabbier than the honor he received in life—a variety of groups of visitors, and the strong, upright image of Director Ikyung Do thanking visitors.
In a secluded place all alone, a lone figure in funeral attire was crying. “I’m really sorry, but could you stay with me for a moment? I don’t think I can stay here alone.”
That day, the two of them said nothing to each other and shared a transient moment together.
Did Yoonshin also remember that day?
“What should I fix? If you let me know…” At that moment, he heard Yoonshin’s voice. His musings about the past were washed away and filled once more with present-day thoughts and issues.
Sehun, who almost relaxed, looked stiff again. “Then would you like to quit at least now?”
“No, sorry.”
“Then, just do your assignments well.” Sehun turned around, unwilling to stay in the room any longer. He looked like he would kick the door open and walk out, so Yoonshin stood up reflectively. At the same time, Sehun turned around, seemingly having something more to say. His sharp gaze pierced through Yoonshin, making the younger man’s skinny shoulders flinch.