SMNTCERR, Special Chapter 16: Syntax Error #2. 

   They agreed to meet between the airport and Jaeyoung’s house, even though it was supposed to be in the middle, according to the map, it was very close to

   Jaeyoung’s house. However, the other party did not arrive on time, causing Jaehong to wait for almost an hour.

   Jaehong was at an outdoor cafe, drinking espresso under the sun shining down on his head. In the meantime, he sent three emails to clients and talked on the phone with high-level executives of an insurance company.

   – [But Mister Jang, I heard that you took a vacation… I wonder if I misunderstood.] 

   [I did take a vacation, but there is still some time remaining.] 

   – [Haha, you’re still as dedicated as ever. Where did you go on your trip?] 

   [I am on the west coast of America.] 

   – [Sounds like a place with great weather.] 

   While Jang Jaeyoung was about to answer, Jaeyoung arrived. Although the windshield was tinted and made it difficult to see the driver’s face, it was clear that there was someone driving – a red Ferrari Superfast parked by the small coffee shop.

   [I guess I have to hang up now. If you have any other business, please send me an email.] 

   – [Okay! Have fun on your hot holiday.] 

   Jaehong hung up the phone and looked at his twin brother who had just gotten out of a high-performance sports car with a long hood.

   They hadn’t seen each other for a year. The other side still looked the same. Jaeyoung was wearing a white button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves that reached his elbows and beige shorts, with half of his face hidden behind sunglasses. He wondered why the other side always dressed so elegantly, but of course, his brother was wearing turquoise loafers.

   Jaeyoung raised his arm over his shoulder to lock his car with the key. Then he walked towards Jaehong with an emotionless face.

   ‘Hollywood Star came on its own.’

   The onlookers from the nearby table, who used to eye Jaehong, were now drawn in the opposite direction. Jaehong felt used to this feeling because even though they looked alike, Jaeyoung always attracted attention from people since they were kids.

   Jaehong was quite reserved, unlike his twin brother who enjoyed attention from others. He was the type who knew how to attract attention and use it. When they were kids, they had to move frequently due to their dad’s job. No matter which country they went to, the other side could quickly learn the language and make other kids become like his groupies. That boy grew up to be a topic of conversation wherever he went.

   When they heard that he would study abroad, Jaehong thought the other side would remain quiet for a while, but it turned out not to be the case. Jang Jaeyoung worked as an album cover designer for a hip-hop artist and became a star designer. His non-traditional album cover, which used symbols that could be interpreted in many ways, became a scorching subject of discussion and even caused controversies, parodies, art, and more. It was considered the most problematic artwork of the year. Even the New York Times and Times were caught and dragged into the mud, asking, ‘Is this art or vulgarity?’ Eventually, the President of the United States made a condemnation comment on social media, causing the issue to spread worldwide like a wildfire, and the result was an intelligent rapper who had been anonymous for a long time rising to the top of the Billboard charts. Meanwhile, Jaeyoung was named the

   ‘Most Eye-Catching Graphic Designer of the Year.’

   Jaeyoung increased his worth with personal projects and occasionally participated in exhibitions. After completing his master’s degree, he worked for a branding company and is currently an art director, receiving attention for his outstanding works, such as designing logos for famous sports brands, changing the NBA team logos, and more.

   “Don’t you have any work to do?”

   The arrogant graphic designer who had a good background and made good fortune whispered as he took off his sunglasses, his eyes wanting to see the side face of the other party. However, Jaeyoung sat down opposite Jaehong without paying the slightest attention and opened his mouth wide.

   “Didn’t you sleep?”

   “I just came back from Copenhagen three hours ago, so I’m dying.”

   “You could have slept on the plane.”

   “I was watching a movie.”

   “I guess we should meet at the airport.”

   “I really want to see something at home, even if I don’t get to see it.”

   Jaeyoung wiped away the remaining tears from the corners of his eyes before placing his cell phone, wallet, car keys, and something in a white envelope on the table. He called for a waiter and ordered a Caffè Americano with lots of ice, and carelessly handed a white envelope with his index and middle fingers. The far right corner was written with a chicken scratch that was difficult to read even with good vision.

   [Jang Jae-Hong.] 

   Jaehong opened the envelope and frowned. When he opened the white background card, he found the names of the two grooms, the wedding date, and a rough map.

   “Why did you print the invitation cards?”

   “They got prepared two years ago.”

   “…”

   “My partner is very meticulous in preparing everything.”

   “The design doesn’t seem suitable for you.”

   “It wasn’t like this at first, I’ve revised it twelve times.”

   Is it too late to turn back? Jaehong looked deep into Jaeyoung’s eyes, but the other party seemed reluctant and looked only tired and pathetic. 

   “Man, you don’t seem to be looking forward to it.”

   “I’ve been engaged for five years and have been preparing for two years. I’m not impressed with anything special anymore.”

   Jaeyoung looked at his nails and casually replied with a white gold ring with small embedded diamonds on his fourth finger.

   “Not yet.”

   Six months? Jaehong evaluated the remaining time in his mind.

   Jaehong’s coworker broke off the engagement two days before the wedding. No. Let’s not talk about the distant past. The fiance of the man Jaehong fell for suddenly appeared at the dormitory when he and that man were becoming intimate with each other. When they went back and forth, he found out that the apartment was a dormitory where the couple would move in together in a month, after the wedding. And they broke off the wedding without looking pretty in front of Jaehong.

   While he was considering what to say, Jaeyoung’s ringtone suddenly became louder. Jaeyoung quickly answered the call and used both hands to hold the communication device close to his ear.

   “Oh, are you home?”

   Jaehong squinted at his twin brother as if he were a stranger.

   “Really? It was quiet there. Oh, and now I’m so exhausted as if I’m about to die. Hurry up and come help me quickly. Oh, someone asked me to come out and meet him for a moment. Didn’t you see the message? Did you see it? It’s a friend whom you don’t know, well… really.”

   The other person raised their eyebrows and glanced at Jaehong before quickly looking back at the table.

   “Well, tell you the truth, he is a friend named Eric… the financial manager I met when we went to work in Berlin, that English guy.”

   Jang Jaeyoung’s condition was worse off than he had imagined. Even though he might say it himself, he had to be caught one day, but he thought it was a

   joke. The other person must have held some vulnerable point to impress him like that. And furthermore, ‘the financial manager who is an English person’, is that so? Even though it’s not a lie, that’s not the best description either.

   “Well, are you coming back soon? I want to see you soon.”

   Jaeyoung spoke like an idiot with a stupid face. Then, when he puts down the phone, he looks at the cone and criticizes it.

   “Really curious.”

   As soon as he puts the phone on the table, the background image appears immediately, a picture of Jaeyoung hugging ‘that man’ from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder. That man is wearing sunglasses, making his face unclear. In addition, Jaeyoung covers the top section of the person’s arm with a towel, making it impossible to know what the shape is. Judging from the legs, it can only be guessed that ‘that man’ figure is thin.

   “What are you looking at?”

   Jaeyoung reached out his hand to lock the screen, Jaehong reluctantly looked at the black screen unable to speak.

   “We… aren’t going to the sea, right?”

   When they were eight, they played at the seaside and almost died together. After that, both of them developed aquaphobia and Jaehong never dreamed of playing in the water by the beach or bathing in the tub again. Jaeyoung responds carelessly.

   “I conquered it six years ago.”

   “Did you undergo therapy?”

   “No, I just wanted to see him in a swimsuit. So, I couldn’t help it.”

   “…”

   “I even surfed.”

   “You… surf? On the water?”

   “Yes, well, here it is, Scuba Dive Running, have you heard of it?”

   Jaeyoung sighed heavily once again and grabbed something from his pants pocket, a vape, that’s it. The man in front of Jaehong seems to be more unfamiliar every time.

   “Are you going to quit smoking?”

   “Not to that extent.”

   “Then… why?”

   “Stop making it a habit, once a year.”

   “…”

   Jaeyoung blinked slowly and then took a puff of his e-cigarette. Meanwhile, drinks were being served. A male staff placed plastic cups on the tray on the table. There was a Spanish-looking young man who seemed to be in his early twenties and looked sexually provocative, but Jaeyoung didn’t even glance at him. Instead, Jaehong tried to take his gaze away from the staff and looked at Jaeyoung.

   “Throughout these seven years…have you really only been dating that one man?”

   “Yes.”

   “You’ve never broken up even once?”

   “Like a high-speed train in a sleeper.”

   “Never looked at anyone else?”

   “What? Chu Sangwoo is not that daring.”

   “No, I mean you.”

   “What? Are you saying that I will definitely die like that or be imprisoned for life?”

   Jaeyoung’s face turned pale and his body trembled. Jaehong lowered his voice, pressed the volume down, and called the other person’s name softly.

   “Jang Jaeyoung.”

   “What?”

   “Just tell me what weakness you have been trapped in. I’ve come to help you.”

   Jaeyoung sprayed the coffee he had just drunk out. Jaehong looked at the ceiling, wiped his mouth with a cloth, wiped his mobile phone and arm with his gaze. After the small but chaotic incident passed, Jaeyoung’s lips curled into a smile, unable to speak.

   “So, you’ve come on a vacation, haven’t you? I’m just playing around.”

   “Haa?”

   “But it’s not just a fling.”

   “So what is it?”

   “Because I was captured by the weakness called a heart.”

   He wondered if the man sitting across from him, with a red face while sipping coffee, was really his older brother. While Jaeyoung quietly looked at his watch, Jaehong sighed and pulled his hair in frustration.

   Unreasonable anger and suppressed emotions engulfed him. If he wasn’t pressured to get married, it would mean Jaeyoung chose that man himself. It would be normal for someone else to help with marriage after being together with someone for a long time and being accustomed to it. But Jang Jaeyoung, whom Jaehong knew, was the type of person who didn’t want to do it. No matter what method, Jaehong refused to do it.

   “Why are you dating that man?”

   “It’s embarrassing to talk about it.”

   “There must be a reason, right? I don’t understand.”

   Jaehong couldn’t believe it. The fact that the person in front of him had been dating only one person for so long, and that he planned to get married without even the slightest resistance. Jaeyoung shrugged and answered.

   “There’s nothing special, just… he’s cute.”

   “His appearance?”

   When Jaehong laughed mockingly, the other party spoke nonchalantly.

   “Our personalities match well. Besides that, there’s something else… actions, ways of thinking, tone of voice, way of speaking, atmosphere, gaze. Even in terms of cleanliness, he’s good. Altogether, he’s just cute.”

   “…”

   “Sometimes, I’m surprised when I see him beside me. Oh, that kid, he’s unbelievably cute.”

   Jaehong was greatly impacted mentally, but he pretended not to feel anything and casually asked.

   “Hey, if you date someone else for the first time, you might change your mind.”

   “That’s not the case. Besides, it’s already too late.”

   “What do you mean by ‘too late’?”

   “I’ve already said it. If you want to quit, you have to exchange it with your life.”

   Jaeyoung smiled casually while sipping coffee, looking unlike someone who speaks in a serious tone. The other person’s eyes curved into a mischievous smile.

   “Sounds like a joke, huh? Well, it’s not. I’m serious.”

   Once he thought that Jaeyoung, who lived according to his own desires, was cool. However, now he has changed from aggressive investing to a safer investment approach. Jaehong couldn’t stand the fact that Jaeyoung, who used to live a remarkable life, had become mediocre.

   “So, you’re just like the others.”

   Although Jaeyoung pondered the question, Jaehong considered it an acceptance.

   “Even if it’s you, you should give the other party a chance to play with another man.”

   Jaeyoung’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was in a daze. The other person stared at Jaehong silently before finally breaking the ice.

   “Did you mistakenly eat the upper part of the machine or something?”

   Jaehong easily noticed the caution from that fierce expression. Now he understood why Jang Jaeyoung had kept his love hidden to such an extent. He laughed instinctively.

   “You’re not confident enough, huh?”

   “What?”

   “You’re afraid that he won’t care about you if he sees me and so you won’t introduce us, right?”

   Jaeyoung looked at Jaehong calmly, substituting his answer with a cold gaze.

   Jaehong returned the gaze challengingly.

   “Why hide him like that? What would I do if he actually cares about me?”

   “…”

   “For me, a throuple is not a problem.”

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