SMNTCERR, Special Chapter 15: Syntax Error #1.
[This plane will travel from London Heathrow Airport to San Diego International Airport, with an estimated arrival time of 11 hours and 46 minutes, and is expected to have a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius….]
The young woman hurriedly boarded the plane while listening to the captain’s announcement. Along the narrow aisle, apart from herself, there were only flight attendants walking back and forth. As for the passengers, they were all seated with their seat belts fastened.
“It’s a good idea to end up in Business Class. Otherwise, there is no hope of walking to the end of the plane.”
The young woman tied her blonde hair on her neck, slightly sweaty, before lifting her bag and placing it in the overhead compartment. As she was about to sit down, she caught the eye of the man sitting next to her.
The Asian man in a gray silk suit sat quietly, holding a notepad in his hand. The formal atmosphere combined with his open forehead, which revealed his hairline, made him look like a high-ranking businessman. But in reality, he was just an ordinary young man, with slightly powdered hair, before diverting his gaze back to the notepad. The young woman slowly took her seat.
The young woman sneakily glanced at the other side while he was jotting something down in the notepad with a leaking ink pen. Could he be a successful businessperson from a young age or the heir to a large corporation? Or perhaps he’s an unknown Korean or Hong Kong actor in Europe?
At that moment, the black ink pen slipped from his finger, falling to the floor and rolling to hit her shoe.
[Excuse me, can you hand it back to me?]
His voice was low and heavy, making it seem like he was a foreigner. But once she heard him speak, she realized he was an Englishman with a fluent RP [1] accent.
[Yes, sure.]
The young woman replied with a smile, extending a pen. Then her eyes, which were more brown than black, looked at him. And in an instant, the young man expressed his gratitude gently, but he didn’t show any interest in her, which was a pity.
‘He looks like a second-generation fortune teller, a high-ranking resident, fluent in 4 languages, a member of the Cricket Club [2], rides horses and yachts, and went to a prestigious school. Then he graduated from the Economics
Faculty of Cambridge University and is about to start working in the city.’
While the young woman brushes her long hair, the young man put his notepad and a soaked pen into his briefcase and took out a book, a newly published Japanese novel, a bestseller. It was just like the book she had in her handbag.
[I’m reading that book too.]
As she picked up the book and opened it to the page where she left off, she immediately heard a deep, soothing voice from the side.
[I don’t know if it has such a detailed portrayal of emotions that it becomes implausible. If it’s like that, I think I’ll stop reading.]
[The description by the author is so detailed and intricate, as if it perfectly portrays the emotions of the dog.]
[Thank you for saving my time.]
The young man closed the book and put it back in his bag. This time, he held a tablet in his hand and the young woman thought that maybe her playful guess about what he was doing in his free time might be correct.
[Are you going to do something in California?]
Upon hearing her question casually, the young man immediately replied without taking his eyes off the screen.
[I heard the news that my sibling who lives there is getting married.]
[That’s great news.]
The young man, who used to have a calm and cool expression, smiled slightly, with a sexy crease between his eyebrows, the young woman thought.
[No. It’s sad news because he is not suitable for the institution of marriage.]
[So, you decided to join the army to help your siblings from that scary system, huh?]
[Well, for now at least. I don’t know if it will go as planned.]
The young man continued to look at his tablet while asking the girl where she wanted to go. It seemed more like a polite question rather than a genuine curiosity, but either way, it was an opportunity to draw attention to himself.
The girl smiled playfully.
[It’s just a solo vacation, really. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t even seen the sun or the moon. But, oh well. I guess looking at London’s boring sky won’t help either. So, I thought I’d go sunbathe on the beach alone for a week.]
[Sounds like a good daydream plan.]
Even though she had mentioned being single twice, it was still an acceptable response. She wondered if he was married and looked at his left hand, but there was no ring. So, she decided to take another chance and try her luck.
[Going to a beautiful place after being in a crowded city is like a good omen. My name is Susan.]
[Nice to meet you, I am Eric.]
She thought that was a name that matched well with her classic appearance.
At the same time, the girl took out her business card and handed it to the other party. He was a neurosurgeon, a position that would definitely leave an impression. It was an opportunity not to be missed.
The man took the business card first, then took out a leather wallet from his inner suit pocket with a calm expression. When he opened the wallet halfway and revealed an expensive picture, the picture of him holding a girl, the young man checked his wallet and shrugged as if disappointed.
[Looks like I forgot to bring my business cards. I apologize.]
‘You already have a child!’
The girl felt disappointed but immediately gave in. Hoping that such a handsome man would still be single was looking at the world too positively from the start.
[Oh, it’s okay. I’m glad we had a chance to talk and exchange. I’m tired now. I guess I’ll have to rest my eyes for a while.]
The girl smiled as if nothing had happened and took a blindfold from the seat pocket in front of her.
***.
The young man folded his wallet and put it in his shirt pocket again. The photo that he intentionally kept always had a good effect. In addition, there are advantages different from a fake wedding ring that can be picked out and shown only when you want to show it, that’s it.
The girl in the picture is the four-year-old daughter of a Chinese colleague. Sometimes back, she might be ten years old now. The girl with her eyes covered and turned her face the other way is a beautiful girl with a brain, but for him, she is just a goal that he doesn’t belong to.
The young man, or Jaehong, doesn’t care about the opposite gender at all, even a little bit. At the age of sixteen, while his twin brother was pursuing a blonde girl in the same class because he wanted to be friends with her, Jaehong secretly liked the Arab boy in the next class.
He studied at an old private school in the United Kingdom, graduated from Senior School with the top rank, graduated from the prestigious Economics faculty of a world-renowned university with second-class honors, and became the director of the most important risk management fund of a major bank in London’s financial district. Jaehong is a conservative and likes perfectionism, he has a cautious personality and only walks on suitable and appropriate paths.
He is well aware that his preference for the same gender is a weakness, but since he cannot change it, he accepts it and continues to live, but not in a way that is publicly revealed.
[Dating: 0 times.
Night Stand: Over 700 times.]
He often goes to crowded areas or tourist attractions, meets unfamiliar men from a distance, and doesn’t meet them for a second time. He also keeps his preferences tightly closed to the people around him. Not only with his father who would kick him out of the house as soon as he found out the truth, but also with his friends and co-workers. He keeps his secrets tightly with only one person in this world who knows the truth.
“Looking for someone? Sir?”
He had his first experience at the age of seventeen with a male student he didn’t know, even the name, in the bathroom of the dormitory. Jaehong was so distraught that he had to call his twin brother in Korea after hearing the story that he had sex with another male student. Jang Jaeyoung seemed amused.
“But what should I do? I’m busy, that’s it.”
Then the other party seemed disinterested. Although it was not the response he expected, Jaehong felt relieved as if he had been comforted by something that didn’t seem significant to the other party. And when he found out that Jaeyoung didn’t talk to his family about the secret he shared, he began to trust the other party.
Jaeyoung was a celebrity, always dating someone, and the partner changed every time he asked. He heard that Jaeyoung hadn’t been in a relationship for more than a year. When he saw that the other party had a clear problem, Jaehong felt relieved.
[Incoming call, Bebe.]
And then, seven years ago, Jaehong accidentally found out that Jaeyoung was dating a man at their uncle’s funeral.
The other party didn’t explain anything, but the voice he heard on the phone was clearly a man’s voice, after answering the call. Jaeyoung acted strangely, even though he had caused trouble several times, the other party still had a good relationship with his grandfather, who was not a man who allowed his beloved grandson to miss family gatherings.
Jaehong helped resolve the situation. At the same time, he wondered who that man was and what he said. Jang Jaeyoung had left everything and went to find the other party.
While busy with work, time passed. Jaehong focused on his work, got promoted twice, and made a lot of money from managing stocks for politicians and actors, writing columns in business magazines, and had engraved his name as ‘Portfolio Manager [3]’ and ‘Financial Analyst’ on his business card.
While Jaehong spent nights with many men he didn’t know, it seemed that
Jaeyoung continued to date “Bebe,” who called him “Hyungnim” all the time.
All the information Jaehong knew about that man was that he was younger by less than two years, a programmer, good-looking, and friendly. When it came to a secret lover, Jaeyoung was too reserved to even speak about it. He wouldn’t even let anyone see his picture. Even though he reluctantly asked him to introduce him during the first two years, the other party adamantly refused.
‘No way, over my dead body.’
After they had been dating for three years. The other party kept making meaningless excuses, making even himself embarrassed.
‘Who? Oh, him? Seems like he went to work somewhere outside.’
‘He’s busy cleaning the keyboard. He couldn’t come out.’
‘He’s taking care of a sick cat.’
‘Watering the plants, busy.’
And then Jaehong, who wondered if the man his twin was in relationship with really existed, received shocking news as the hot summer of the eighth year approached.
[@gmystler.]
Jae, my good friend, is getting married in December. From next year onwards, I probably won’t have to listen to him brag about his boyfriend anymore, but instead, he will be bragging about his married husband!] It’s hard to believe the wedding news of my identical twin brother that he saw on the social media feed of the Hollywood actor, Jaehong immediately called Jaeyoung.
[What? Why are you calling?]
“Jang Jaeyoung, are you getting married?”
[The rumor has reached you too.]
“…”
[Don’t come.]
“Why?”
[Just kidding. If you come, um… wear a mask, don’t show your face.]
“Stop kidding… Are you really getting married?”
[Yes.]
“Please don’t tell me it is to that ‘man.’”
[Where else do I have another one? Busy, that’s all.] Jaehong was very surprised.
They were completely different, but maybe it was because they saw their parents separate badly, that they had the same attitude towards marriage.
Jaehong was satisfied with occasional casual relationships from the beginning. While Jaeyoung didn’t restrict his dating with anyone, he also spoke without hesitation, saying, ‘Marriage is a trash system.’
Jaehong used to think that if one of them were to get married, that person would be willing to conform to social customs. Even though they didn’t like going to school the same way, while the younger brother endured and held back, the older brother opened the window and escaped outside.
“Are you going to get married then?”
Although Jaehong is more into one night stands than someone who has never been in a one night stand relationship before like Jang Jaeyoung, he is still far from being truly genuine. It’s hard to believe someone who easily gets bored with a relationship and is always looking for new excitement. Is he really thinking of getting married? That’s like being tied to one person for the rest of your life, like a dog with a collar around its neck.
[Yes, I’ve been in a relationship with one man for seven years. It’s surprising, right?]
“Tell me straight, what is your weak point?”
After the question from Jaehong over the phone and his serious inquiry, Jaeyoung burst into laughter for a while.
[Weak point, huh… I’ve been caught red-handed.]
Then he went on to talk about other things. While Jaehong listened to his words, he realized that he had solved a mystery he had been wondering about.
“Let’s meet and talk later, I’ll come find you.”
[What about you?]
“Haven’t moved yet, right?”
[Is it for real? I’ll be working until today. Starting tomorrow, I’ll have some time off. Not busy anymore.]
“Keep yourself available tomorrow afternoon.”
[Fine, do whatever you want.]
As soon as they hung up, Jaehong bought a ticket immediately and now he’s flying to save the life of his stepbrother, as the woman laying next to him mentioned, because he doesn’t know what happened to Jang Jaeyoung’s brain that he will make the most evil and foolish decision ever made, without anyone else’s advice.
First, he has to meet and analyze the situation realistically. What weak point has been caught? How wicked is the other person’s character, and how strong is the determination of the opposite side? What does he need to propose to make the other side stop and retreat? If that video or evidence is exposed, there will be some headaches, but Jaehong knows many lawyers who are capable enough to easily solve complicated problems.
‘I will help you myself, Jang Jaeyoung.’
Jaehong was struggling with himself. The only other person he felt good with was his blood relative, the other part that would be linked to him until the day he died, and the friend who kept his secrets. As long as he could help that person, Jaehong would do everything.
________________________________________.
[1] RP, “Received Pronunciation.” Standard accent in spoken English in Britain, characterized by a relatively clear articulation, commonly used in radio stations like the BBC.
[2] Cricket. It is a team sport played with 11 players per team, with one person designated as the bowler who throws the ball towards the three stumps placed on the field, called wickets. The team in batting is called the batsman, who tries to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets until the fielders, who are the defending team, can retrieve the ball.
[3] Portfolio Manager = Investment Portfolio Manager.
*Syntax Error*, an error that occurs due to incorrect formatting or grammar of a programming language.
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