SMNTCERR, Chapter 69: Yellow #11.

   Meanwhile, his grandfather, who was still chuckling, returned and the grunting uncle quickly flashed a wide smile that almost revealed all of his gold teeth. Jaeyoung felt a sense of worthlessness that he had never felt before. He stopped eating, put down his spoon and fork, and just laughed out loud. When he was a child and saw people getting what they wanted, he felt so envious that he didn’t know what to do, but now he just felt annoyed and could tolerate it.

   “Father, let’s find time to go to Australia together. I went to Australia last month and secretly looked at some nice golf courses.”

   “Hahaha, Australia is also good.”

   The reason why Jaeyoung had to force himself to attend the family gathering was because his grandfather, an elderly businessman who had built himself up from scratch, was a person with high self-esteem and a strong leader. He had a taste for “image” and even when he went out for a moment, he had to wear a suit. He was also a romantic man who strongly emphasized that he would not date or remarry after his grandmother died five years ago, but at the same time, he was an old-fashioned person who held the belief that a daughter who got married and to another family/clan was like being an outsider, and he emphasized the importance of blood ties.

   When he was in junior high school and was punished by the seniors, and when he brought his girlfriend home in high school and was caught, his grandfather just laughed and said that men could have such things happen. When he rebelled and said he didn’t want to see his grandfather’s face and ran away from home for a month, secretly drank Western liquor in the library, and started smoking, his grandfather said it was just a phase of his life and let him do it, even when he chose to study design instead of business administration as the other party hoped. His grandfather respected Jaeyoung’s decision.

   However, on the day when Jaeyoung argued that he wanted to cut ties with his family that had split in different directions like this, he was slapped for the first time in his life, the day he didn’t participate in the family activity as the other party wished, he was kicked out of the house, and the day he called his uncle a dog-faced man, he was beaten with a golf club.

   His grandfather is the most understanding and intimidating man that Jaeyoung has ever met. Jaeyoung has learned both freedom and compromise from the other party at the same time, and he is not confident that he will not meet your grandfather for the rest of his life, and he cannot change your grandfather, so he can only surrender and maintain the ‘line’ throughout his twenties.

   After leaving the family gathering, Jaeyoung returned to the room exhausted and immediately collapsed on the bed. Every time they gathered like this, he would normally be exhausted, but today he felt more impatient than usual, and he knew why.

   He struggled to remove his contact lenses, then lay face down with his arms and legs spread out for a while before reaching into his pants pocket and taking out his phone, which he had put on silent. There were several useless contacts from various places, but the one he really wanted to contact did not come.

   ‘I miss you so much.’

   Perhaps because they had been seeing each other almost every day until now. When they didn’t see each other for just one day, he became agitated. In the past, even though there was nothing special going on, he just wanted to know if the other party was doing well, if they were eating enough. Jaeyoung stared at the four-word message Sangwoo had sent him before calling the other party.

   Ring… ring… ring… ring… ring…

   ‘Please pick up.’

   Despite the fact that the phone was ringing incessantly, Sangwoo refused to let Jaeyoung hear the voice he wanted to hear, so Jaeyoung called again.

   Ring… ring… ring… ring…

   ‘What are you doing?’

   Jaeyoung felt angry. No, he wanted it so badly. He didn’t know why, but he had to hear that voice right now. Jaeyoung hung up before entering the voicemail system and calling again.

   [Hello… hello.]

   The end of the line crackled and responded to the seventh or eighth attempt to call, and he wasn’t sure. Jaeyoung closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

   [What’s up? Why are you calling?]

   ‘It’s really effective.’

   He muttered to himself. When he heard Sangwoo’s voice, the anger and exhaustion he had felt just a moment ago were washed away in an instant.

   [Are you at a funeral or something?]

   “No.”

   He had already paid his respects to the deceased. He thought about helping with the funeral arrangements, but that was for tomorrow and the day after. It was like Sangwoo wouldn’t say anything and he didn’t prolong the conversation. The man on the other side hung up for sure. He hesitated to speak even though he didn’t want to.

   “Where are you?”

   [I’m at home.]

   “What are you doing?”

   [Well…doing this and that, playing games. And…um…brushing my teeth.]

   “Before that.”

   [I was writing code in my office.]

   “Alone?”

   [Yes.]

   The other side’s answer was too short. Jaeyoung wanted to hear more than that.

   “I’m not there, why did you go to the office?”

   [I have gotten into a habit of working there.]

   “…”  […]

   Jaeyoung thought that today was the only day he hated silence.

   “Sangwooya.”

   [Yes.]

   “Sangwooya.”

   [What is it?]

   “Sangwooya.”

   [Finally, you lost your mind.]

   Jaeyoung laughed softly, not thinking about hating the other party, the senseless and lifeless man who even though he heard his soft voice. He asked if he was crazy. Instead of being able to touch the abnormality, Sangwoo hated everything he did during this period. Jaeyoung smiled and decided to retreat like usual.

   “What are you wearing now?”

   [I’m wearing pajamas.]

   “I imagine you wearing pajamas and playing games and I am feeling aroused.”

   [Then just go jerk off.]

   “Help me a little, with a sexy voice like that.”

   [How so?]

   “Just use your hand to play with yourself and moan for me to hear, I think I can finish here.”

   Sangwoo remained silent for a moment, his expression unable to convey the emotions that were locked in his gaze.

   [I’ll just summarize it for you. You have not cummed yet.]

   “Why not?”

   […I tried earlier but it didn’t work out.]

   Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Jaeyoung burst out laughing, his laughter tinged with exhaustion, before Sangwoo retorted that laughing at a phenomenon in psychology was not appropriate.

   “What did you do when you looked at my pictures?”

   [What are you asking?”]

   “Hey, what are you looking at? Look at my face.”

   [Stop fooling around.]

   “I’m serious, where are you looking?”

   […]

   “Hurry up and answer.”

   [Well…I’ve looked at several pictures and I’ve tried doing it with my hand. I can’t remember it very well now. I feel embarrassed now, can I just leave it?]

   “No.”

   Jaeyoung had Sangwoo explain in detail the work he had done with his hand and lotion that day, while the other party spoke in a calm voice, simply closing his eyes and listening quietly.

   If there was a voice like this in a reading assistance program, it would be great. He would probably listen to it every night until he knew it by heart, or sometimes he might just listen to the voice without understanding the content at all. Jaeyoung slipped under the blanket without even changing his clothes.

   [Are you listening?]

   “Uh.”

   [Do you know that the call has been going on for over fifty minutes?]

   “No.”

   [The duration of the call has been increasing steadily lately. If this trend continues, it is highly possible that it will exceed three hours next time.]

   “Then…let it go too far.”

   [Isn’t it better not to do that?]

   “…Yeah, you’re right.”

   [Are you asleep?]

   “No…not yet.”

   [Seems like you’re getting drowsy. Hang up and go to bed.]

   “Don’t put it down. Keep talking…a little more.”

   [Why?]

   “Just keep talking…go on.”

   [That’s all for now.]

   Despite Jaeyoung’s incessant talking, complaining, and whining, it seemed like the other party was willing to listen. Towards the end, Jaeyoung couldn’t speak much because he fell asleep in the middle without turning off the light.

   ⌘W.

   The next day, Jaeyoung was busy receiving money for helping with the funeral all day long. Although the funeral was held in a province far from Seoul, there were still many guests who came to express their condolences. Although he claimed to be there as a grandson, he hated the dead uncle and was glad that he had passed away and that he wouldn’t have to see him again. If it was a job that required labor like this because that hateful uncle died, he would gladly do it.

   In the evening, the whole family gathered to eat together amidst an eerie atmosphere. Grandpa called him to talk for thirty minutes. By the time he came out, the sky was already dark. It was then that Jang Jaeyoung received a call from Jaehong.

   [Where are you? I’m almost at the hotel.]

   “Are you coming?”

   [There’s nothing else to do.]

   “Why don’t you go pay your respects to the deceased first? “

   [What’s the point of going now? I’ll go see Grandpa tomorrow. It’s better to go with Mom and you together.]

   Jaeyoung thought that it wasn’t so bad, compared to Jang Jaehong. Even though his relatives didn’t like him and tried to control him, he was still better than Jang Jaehong, who was raised by their father. They didn’t care about Jang Jaehong and didn’t consider him part of the family.

   “You’re in front of the hotel, right? I see you.”

   Shortly after hanging up, the taxi pulled up in front of Jang Jaeyoung. Then his twin brother got out of the car.

   ‘Why do I feel so annoyed seeing his face?’

   They were both the same height, looked the same, and sounded the same. When they were kids, they both couldn’t stand having someone who looked exactly like them around, so they often fought. But they were only the same on the outside, everything else was different, from their personalities, hobbies, fashion styles, way of speaking, and even their facial expressions.

   “Long time no see…Jang Jaeyoung.”

   Jaehong spoke firmly before walking towards him. On the other side, a handsome man in a perfectly fitting black suit and necktie stood, with a strong and confident appearance. Even my meticulously groomed hair was still a bit unsettling for Jaeyoung’s taste, and his accessories and shoes, which he claimed were classic, just looked old-fashioned. Who would have thought that he was still in his twenties?

   “Everything is fine, isn’t it?”

   Jaeyoung turned to exhale cigarette smoke before answering.

   “It’s always chaotic here.”

   “Who gets to sit in the executive chair?”

   “I don’t care about that party.”

   After graduating from Europe and starting to work in finance, his twin brother became very interested in social success. Therefore, even though he was looked down upon as a member of the Jang family, he still came to the Park family events without hesitation. Jaeyoung added.

   “Why are you here? It smells strange.”

   “Just taking a break. I have some free time. And I wanted to know what the situation is like.”

   Jaehong spoke as if it wasn’t important, they were similar only on the outside, the truth was very different.

   After the conversation ended, Jaehong broke the silence.

   “Do you have something to say? You must have graduated by now.”  “Well… not exactly, but it’s not something I need to talk to you about.” Jaeyoung replied curtly.

   Their relationship was not that close. Although they lived in the same house until they were twelve years old, their habits were too different to play together. While Jaeyoung liked to draw on walls, Jaehong liked to read books. Although they studied the same foreign language, Jaeyoung showed talent in speaking, while Jaehong was good at understanding. If Jaeyoung was a troublemaker who caused problems in the alley, Jaehong was a top student who was serious, to the point that the other side also had some secrets.

   “Which room do you sleep in? If the room is spacious, let me sleep with you.”

   “Don’t act useless, go rent your own room.”

   We should sleep together after this many years.”

   Jaeyoung didn’t see the point in arguing back, so he dropped the cigarette he had finished smoking on the floor and stepped on it hard. When Jaehong saw his face, he added,

   “Just kidding, just kidding.”

   At that moment, the phone in Jaeyoung’s pants pocket rang loudly. He had been working until now and didn’t know if anyone else was calling. Annoyed, Jaeyoung took out his phone, but his expression changed when he looked at the screen.

   [Incoming call, Baby.]

   Jaeyoung slid his finger to answer the call without realizing it, and then brought the communication device up to his ear. As he was about to call out the name without paying attention, he stopped because Jaehong was watching him.

   [Hyung…]

   He quickly lowered the volume, feeling that the other side’s voice was particularly loud. Then he made eye contact with Jae-hong. Jaeyoung walked past the other side and checked to make sure no one was around the building before picking up the phone again.

   “Oh, what’s up?”

   The heart was pounding just because the other side called.

   [I found a bug today, so I tried testing it…]

   Sangwoo talked about his own work with a slightly excited tone, and the meaningless words flowed through his ears, but Jaeyoung didn’t mind.

   [The performance has improved a lot. I’ll try to put it on the phone and see how great it is when you come back tomorrow night.]

   “Really? You did a great job.”

   [Yes, but to be honest, when it’s too tight, I’m not sure if I can do the unlimited mode with some features. I’m worried about that.]

   “Just cut it out and release the game.”

   [I just want to make it perfect.]

   “Let’s think about it together tomorrow night.”

   Jaeyoung leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Although he felt guilty towards Sangwoo, he didn’t care about the game at all now, he just wanted to hear the other side’s voice. Jaeyoung was too tired, still in a tense and cold state.

   [Actually, it’s just an excuse.]

   After a long silence, Sangwoo spoke up.

   “What do you mean?”

   [I tested it alone and will tell you the version later, but I just called to say hello.]

   “…”

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