SMNTCERR, Special Chapter 21: Syntax Error #7. 

   Jaehong felt a sudden surge of emotions. He was the man who took the photo because he wanted to possess Jang Jaeyoung. The man who went on a trip to see Jang Jaeyoung in the background scene was different. The man who expected the red aurora light only because it suited Jang Jaeyoung. Even though he spoke strangely or displayed an indifferent attitude, there was only one conclusion.

   ‘Aren’t you just getting married just because of money.’ 

   It may be because he had grown tired of relationships that were solely physical, or it may be because he saw married couples arguing over financial problems until they were bored. Just by imagining that, Jaehong no longer felt any emotions.

   “Chu Sangwoo?”

   “Yes.”

   “What kind of memorial park is the one we’re going to visit?”

   “It is a place that provides knowledge about the history of human conflicts and the importance of peace.”

   “It doesn’t seem very interesting. I would rather talk to you two in a quieter place.”

   The man standing close to the aquarium glass looked back with a questioning face. Jaehong remained silent.

   “I think we’ve looked enough. Let’s move to another place.”

   “From this point on, it’s worth seeing for real.”

   The man reached out his hand towards the sign that read <Komuflage –

   Stealth Experts> but Jaehong returns his gaze to the poster above that sign.

   [Romantic Skyline Dinner, 10% off! 

   Enjoy the beautiful view on the 15th floor, together with your loved ones.] 

   He wasted 58 minutes of his time, and he didn’t have any more time to waste. There was an elevator in the hallway, so Jaehong put one hand in his trouser pocket and pressed the elevator button.

   “Where are you going?”

   “15th floor.”

   “That’s a restaurant up there. Are you hungry?”

   “I already told you. I want to find a quiet place to talk to you, Sangwoo.”

   “If you insist on going, I’ll go along with your intentions. But I also have my own plans.”

   The man looked dissatisfied at his watch, but Jaehong pretended not to hear those words.

   Just then, the elevator arrived, and they entered the enclosed space together.

   Jaehong pressed the button for “15th floor” before leaning against one wall.

   Meanwhile, the other person turned to face the elevator door.

   ‘The outside looks normal.’

   The other person just closed his mouth and looked like a painting. Although his hairstyle held firmly to the normal and indifferent fashion, he looked naturally handsome. The curve from his forehead to between his eyebrows, or the faint shadow created by the tip of his nose made him look younger than his age. The sexy point was the slender and pale neck that extended from his chin, both thin and pale, inviting me to hold it tightly with just one hand…

   “Are you considering me?”

   The man looked straight ahead, his voice lifting slightly as if he had finally caught the strange atmosphere. Jaehong immediately replied as if he had been waiting.

   “Yes. What are you looking at?”

   “Why are you staring?”

   “So I can’t look? I think good-looking men are a public commodity.”

   “That must be a common joke among economists.”

   The other person turned slightly, with a mocking smile hanging on the corner of their lips. As both locked eyes, Jaehong realized that this was a chance that would not come again. Jaehong took a step closer to the other person, tying them down with his gaze so they couldn’t escape, whispering softly.

   “I…am I like Jang Jaeyoung?”

   “Yes. You’re twin brothers from the same test-tube, after all.”

   “Even so, we have many differences.”

   The young man furrowed his brows, his gaze slowly trailing down from Jaehong’s hair to his neck, chest, waist, until it reached his feet.

   “Where is your suit from?”

   “I had it custom-made.”

   “That’s a shame. I wanted to buy it for hyung.”

   Is it a normal behavior for someone to be openly seductive while the other thinks about whether the shirt suits his partner or not? Jaehong couldn’t understand the other person’s thoughts with his own way of thinking. The man shifted his gaze from Jaehong’s shoulders and looked into his eyes.

   “Hyung Jaeyoung doesn’t wear suits often, but he has a slightly different style. He thinks the standard style is boring.”

   “That’s true.”

   “Sometimes if he dresses like that…I would definitely lose my composure and jump him right there.”

   “…”

   After Sangwoo spoke casually, the elevator opened and they walked out. The man seemed fierce in contrast to his outward appearance, which looked polite and refined. He felt that he understood why Jaeyoung couldn’t concentrate. 

   The restaurant on the 15th floor had a decent atmosphere. It was now a time of uncertainty. It wasn’t lunchtime or dinner, but it was easier to do something than going to a war memorial. 

   When they sat at the table by the window, covered with a white tablecloth, the waiter immediately brought the menu. Jaehong looked at the wine before flipping the menu to pass it to the other person. 

   “What would you like? This time, I’ll pay for it myself.”

   “It’s okay, I don’t mind.”

   “At least order something light…”

   “I have to go have dinner with hyung.”

   Every sentence must end with “hyung.” Jaehong didn’t like it, but he pretended not to notice and ordered a cheese platter [1] and French wine.

   Both of them sat in silence for a while, the man’s hands crossed and hugged his chest and looked out the window. Meanwhile, Jaehong elegantly looked at the other person and chose a topic to discuss in his mind. The shoulder wrapped in a black polo shirt, the well-defined muscles on the stretched arms, the rough and protruding fingers adorned with a ring, just like the one Jaeyoung wore. The right hand had long and thin scars and a few blemishes.

   “Your hand was injured.”

   The young man briefly looked at his own hand before glancing outside again.

   “I have pets at home.”

   Judging by the appearance of the wound, it seemed like a cat. Ah, it’s an opportunity to make the atmosphere more relaxed.

   “A cat, huh? What breed?”

   “Domestic cats. Unlike dogs, they have a short history of breed  according to human conveniences so it’s not meaningful to categorize them. But if you really want to know, it’s a mixed breed.”

   “What’s the need of categorizing breeds according to human convenience?

   As long as they are healthy, it’s enough.”

   “When Hyung Jaeyoung found it, it had an infection and low platelets, which was life-threatening. But now it’s healthy.”

   “It’s really amazing. What’s its name?”

   “Its real name is ‘Visual Basic [2].’ And hyung Jaeyoung calls it ‘WB.’”

   “That sounds very unique.”

   “I named it related to my own work to make it feel close to me, but that plan failed.”

   “…”

   It seems like the conversation is going in the wrong direction, Jaehong changes the topic even though it’s awkward.

   “I don’t really like cats, because they don’t really like humans, which is wrong compared to dogs.”

   When he heard that, the other party nodded.

   “It would try to go hunting after not finding someone to feed it and pick up its waste. I don’t know if it’s stupid or if it has a bad temperament, but either way, it’s a big problem.”

   “I’ve never raised a cat, and my dad likes dogs, so we always had two dogs at home.”

   “I know. Lucy and Tan, purebred Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds. Hyung raised them until they were nine. I heard you cried a lot when you separated.”

   ‘Jang Jaeyoung, you’re telling this outsider everything.’ 

   Jaehong thought about the large dog he used to raise as a child, when his job responsibilities changed, his dad left the two dogs they raised for the military personnel who came to take over the position. From that day on, he could hear the sound of Jaeyoung crying every night.

   “And I raised Mir, a Samoyed breed in Hong Kong for two years.”

   “That’s right. That friend of mine, I stubbornly brought the dog with me to

   England.”

   At that time, his parents divorced. Jaeyoung returned to Korea with his mother, while Jaehong grew up under his father’s care in England.

   For some reason, the conversation continued as normal, so Jaehong pushed this momentum and thought of fun stories about dogs.

   “Among my friends from school, there was one person who likes to howl when drunk.”

   “Is that so?”

   “That friend is a man, but he howls like a female dog. If he gets drunk one day, the male dogs who are on heat would gather in front of his flat, causing great rumors among the other residents.”

   The other party didn’t laugh or smirk, just waiting for Jaehong to finish speaking and then pausing with an expressionless face.

   “It’s a very fun story. If you don’t mind, can I go back to the topic about childhood experiences?”

   “…Sure.”

   “Hyung Jaeyoung. When he was a kid, he was very popular among the girls.”

   Even though he vaguely mentioned childhood, in the end it was about Jang Jaeyoung that Jaehong answered.

   “I was more popular.”

   “You’re really good at teasing, aren’t you? There’s no way it’s like that.”

   “…”

   “He told me first girlfriend was when he was 10 years old. A girl named

   Emily. You might have met her.”

   “Yes…maybe.”

   “What kind of person is she?”

   “I remember she was not a good person.”

   “He would show off to everyone that she was his first love.”

   “…”

   “And he even said that he practiced dating for seventeen years to pursue me, who would believe such a meaningless story.”

   ‘And what should I answer?’ 

   Jaehong had to try his best not to make a cold face. At this moment, the man in front of him looked the most excited he had ever seen.

   “Hyung Jaeyoung. When he was a kid, did he play basketball in a cunning style?”

   “Did he ever raise his hand to present at school?”

   “At what age did he start drawing?”

   “Is he good at talking to seniors?”

   “How tall was he when he entered elementary school? How much does he weigh?”

   Besides, there were many other questions, but Jaehong cannot answer clearly because he does not remember things from his childhood often, and both have very different personalities so they don’t get along.

   “If you have a photo or drawing of Hyung Jaeyoung, find it and scan it to sell it to me. It would be better if you can give me the original.”

   “No.”

   “Diary, homework book, letters, or other information, anything?”

   “No, there is nothing like that.”

   When he heard both of them talking on the phone, Jaehong thought they were a couple who upheld traditional customs, and it was easy to break them by just snapping his fingers, but he was wrong because the man in front of him had crossed the line of love to a level that looked like a stalker. 

   “I want to know what is written in the record. He must have kept the love and admiration of every teacher reserved for himself, right?”

   “No. He is a troubled child who needs special attention.”

   “Please speak the truth.”

   “You must have misunderstood something very much… Jang Jaeyoung… He was not cute as a child. Not intelligent beyond his age, and not at all lovable.

   He was a troublemaker.”

   “Because he is your fraternal twin. That’s why you are so jealous of him.”

   Luckily, the waiter served the wine and dishes just in time, as Jaehong almost struggled to find words to answer. The waiter poured wine into Jaehong’s glass before turning to look at the other person, but the other side declined. Well, this is an excellent opportunity to change this boring conversation topic.

   “Looks like you’re not very good at drinking alcohol.”

   The man looked beyond Jaehong’s shoulder, seemingly there is something special that can captivate their attention for a while. Jaehong sneakily glanced behind, but only found a typical atmosphere of a restaurant.

   “Why? Is there something there?”

   “There’s nothing.”

   “What is it?”

   “Hyung Jaeyoung just goes back and forth.”

   “…Jang Jaeyoung?”

   “He acts like he’s busy, but he doesn’t seem to know what to do with the wig.”

   Jaehong turned around and looked behind him, but he couldn’t find Jaeyoung. Then the faint dry voice of another person grew louder from behind.

   “He’s gone now.”

   “If he’s been going back and forth for a while, does that mean you’ve seen him multiple times?”

   “On the first floor. Didn’t you see him? He walked in with us but stayed about a meter away.”

   ‘Damn it, crazy guy!’ 

   Giving him two hours, even setting a long condition like a tail, and still not being able to trust enough to have to follow? The man looked around before whispering softly, afraid that someone might hear.

   “Help me by pretending that you don’t know or see. I beg you.”

   “Huh? Why?”

   “If he’s caught red handed, hyung Jaeyoungwon’t be happy.”

   “…”

   ________________________________________.

[1]      Cheese, platter, or “Cheese, board.” Or, Cheese, plate, can be called by various names. It is a collection of various types of cheese, arranged on a wooden tray, with accompanying condiments, for snacking or socializing on various occasions. 

[2]      Visual Basic, or VB, is a programming language with a GUI (Graphic User Interface: using images as the user interface). Created by Microsoft, this language is one of the popular programming languages for business applications. 

SMNTCERR, Chapter 22: Syntax Error #8. 

“One April Fool’s day,  five years ago, there was this one time when he came knocking on the door and said there was a letter for me, but is there a man at the post office with such a handsome and charming appearance? I couldn’t resist and ended up kissing him without realizing it.”

“So, you mean he’s gone now, right?”

“Yes. He left just a minute ago.”

As I looked at the time on my wristwatch, I realized I still had 36 minutes left. There’s no time to waste. Especially now that Jang Jaeyoung is on guard duty.

Since the other party doesn’t understand indirect speech, the only option left is to directly suggest that we have sex. Jaehong took a sip of the wine left by Rint, then looked into the eyes of the man in front of him. Suddenly, those special pairs of black eyes flinched.

“Chu Sangwoo?”

“Yes.”

Jaehong remained silent for a moment before whispering quietly.

“Do you really think I came all this way just to watch the fish?”

“I heard that you came for a vacation on a hot holiday.”

“That’s just an excuse. I have another motive.”

The other party blinked two or three times. Then, they looked at Jaehong calmly, as if understanding everything.

“Actually, I have already figured it out.”

The unexpected response left Jaehong stunned.

“What?”

“That’s actually your goal, Jaehong. I’ve noticed it before.”

“Wh- When did you notice…?”

“When I got in the car, it took me 12 minutes. When you tried to come to my house but failed. I tried to guess why you wanted to go to someone else’s house.

Then suddenly I felt suspicious.”

The young man clasped his hands and spoke together with a serious expression and posture like a detective, Jaehong blinked his eyes and didn’t know what to answer. Therefore, the other party’s face looked more confident.

“You came to test whether I have the qualifications to marry

HyungJaeyoung or not.”

“Huh?”

“You checked my lifestyle, threw questions that evaluated my behavior, asked leading questions that could make me lose my cool, for example, words that are synonymous with breakup, and tested my instant reaction by assigning a task abruptly, which was to ask for help on how to take pictures. You evaluated my appearance in detail to assess whether I have a strong physique, and you judged my ability to deal with crises through an intense interview about personal life.”

“…”

“How did I score?”

The man in front of him guessed wrong with a calm and quiet expression, just thinking about where to start correcting this misunderstanding, Jaehong had already figured it out.

‘But if I don’t do anything, Jang Jaeyoung will have to marry this crazy person!’ 

He began to deal with the problem directly.

“I object to this marriage.”

“I’ve thought about it and it has to be this way. I can understand it myself.”

However, before he could say the powerful words he had planned in advance, ‘I don’t think I’ll give Jang Jaeyoung to you!’ the other party responded casually.

Jaehong gradually lost his determination and bravery, he had always endured every small or big crisis that had passed, but this time he really wanted to give up, the economist who had excelled in his job had always been unfamiliar with failure. While raising his hand to wipe his face, the other party burst out.

“If you object because I’m a man like you, Shin Jongsok and Shin Mihee, then please reconsider one more time.”

“Huh?”

“Whether it’s me or Hyung Jaeyoung, we didn’t choose our gender to be born like this.”

“Shin…No. Have you met my grandfather?”

His grandfather is a very stubborn man, and the older he gets, the more stubborn he becomes. That man will never allow his grandson to marry someone of the same sex, no matter how much he loves them. However, the man in front of him responds nonchalantly, without any hint of difficulty.

“I met him three months ago and gave him an invitation card.”

He thinks that Jaeyoung must have kept the wedding a secret because that old man, despite being over seventy years old, is still strong enough to go golfing abroad and is ready to swing a golf club at his grandson if he is not satisfied.

“What happened? For example, did you protest or something?”

“Although I was verbally violated in a severe way, I didn’t suffer physically. I happen to have good visual perception skills. And even though I am physically strong, he is still an elderly person, isn’t he?”

“…”

“Although I didn’t receive any blessings, I did receive a clear answer that he will join the event.”

“How do you feel about it?”

“He said he would create a commotion just by coming. I feel grateful already.”

The young man officially announced that he has overthrown the boss of Lasst and is now in a deep valley.

‘This is a completely crazy person.’ 

Jaehong cursed inwardly. Then the silence dragged on.

The other party looked at Jaehong with a face that seemed to say there is something else to discuss. Jaehong couldn’t predict what would come out of that unpredictable mouth. But the other party reached out politely to both sides.

 

 

I am confident that I will be a good husband to Hyung Jaeyoung.”

“Is that so?”

“Because it is highly possible for a gentle person to be a gentle partner. I always try to understand Hyung Jaeyoung and listen to him. If there are problems, we have annual satisfaction surveys to improve and the average score over the six years is about 99.83 in the first year.”

“…”

“In the third year, I got 99 points, which made the average score decrease significantly. Because it happened the day after we had a serious argument.”

The young man spoke in a detailed manner, like conducting an election campaign with a smooth voice. Jaehong held back his throbbing headache and let his opponent continue speaking.

“I misunderstood. I don’t dislike you, Chu Sangwoo, not at all.”

Then he stopped talking. Why? Even if it is someone unfamiliar, he wouldn’t object to the marriage just because he is not satisfied with the other person. Even if the person involved is different, Jaehong would still hinder the marriage.

‘Quite reasonable.’ 

It is not difficult to conclude that he interfered because he was afraid of Jang Jaeyoung’s misfortune, but in truth, Jaehong simply didn’t want to accept the reality that his twin brother loved Chu Sangwoo like a madman.

The other party still waited for an answer with a pleased expression, but Jaehong couldn’t say out loud that he wanted Jang Jaeyoung to live a carefree life like himself. Jaehong faced the unchanging gaze of that person and spoke.

“Both of you… you are fundamentally wrong. If Jang Jaeyoung is a bird flying in the sky, then Chu Sangwoo, you are no different from a mushroom growing on the ground.”

The other party pouted. Then he had a solemn expression for a moment before answering with frustration.

“You’re better off scolding me like Shin Jongsok. I’m not so foolish to the point where I can’t even stand listening to your insulting words.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t pretend to not know or not point it out. You assigned one side as a bird an animal and the other side as a mushroom, which is not even a plant.

Do you have a reason for it?”

If Jang Jaeyoung is a beautiful bird, then you Sangwoo are no different from a penguin. Are you satisfied now or not?” “Yes.”  Jaehong took a breath and continued speaking.

“Look, you’re a person who seeks a structured life, while Jang Jaeyoung is emotional and enjoys chaos. So why would both of you think about getting married? Just because opposites attract.”

“…”

“What I am saying is that Jang Jaeyoung is emotionally unstable, and also messy.”

The man in front of him listened to Jaehong until the end before responding indifferently.

“You may be an open-minded person who enjoys making decisions and embracing new challenges, but your choice of words can be harmful. And the phrase ‘messy personality’ is highly subjective. If that’s the case, I wonder what

‘clean personality’ means.”

“Does he not even clean his own room? Are you, Chu Sangwoo, the one who takes care of everything? How do you divide the household chores?”

“His lifestyle may not be organized, but I feel it’s okay, as I can handle the household chores easily while Hyung Jaeyoung struggles with them. If we were to quantify the difficulty level, it’s like a balance. And according to the second law of thermodynamics, the world naturally progresses from order to disorder. Making a mess in the room is just a natural human tendency. It’s not a flaw to be criticized.”

‘Is he really trying to justify different people being together in this extreme way?’ 

Jaehong looked at the man in front of him and thought of the dragon that guarded the princess’ castle.

“Both of you are too different…”

“The two assumptions, ‘different personalities’ and ‘incompatibility,’ don’t imply a simile [3]. And for example, the strong attraction between protons and electrons, which are oppositely charged, or a chessboard with black and white squares that visually attract attention. It’s a natural phenomenon. Chaos and cosmos [4] are two separate relationships.”

“…”

You must reconsider whether we are suitable for each other, take your time.”

The young man spoke negotiably, Jaehong sat listening attentively and was almost persuaded, but he remained calm. This is the last obstacle. If Jaehong gives up, Jaeyoung will have to marry this man, there is no avoiding it.

“I think there are many other people who are more suitable for you than

Jang Jaeyoung. Why does it have to be him?”

“Jaehong, you are someone who cannot be persuaded. If that’s the case, I will go to the next level and so you listen carefully.”

The once indifferent gaze of the young man was filled with a definite determination, and he spoke clearly and sternly, as if delivering a formal speech.

“I am someone who has achieved goals through competition. It does not make sense for me to listen to just two words from someone I don’t know well, and to give up the greatest joy and happiness that has been bestowed upon me.”

“…”

“In another 175 days. No matter what happens. I will marry Jang Jaeyoung. Even if you try to obstruct, you will surely fail. It is better for your mental health to prepare good wishes.”

Jaehong tried his best to maintain a calm expression, but he felt uneasy in his heart. He couldn’t speak at that moment and had transformed into an opponent fighting against Jaeyoung, while being in a situation where the man in front of him was giving orders.

‘This guy, if Soloman tells him to leave Jang Jaeyoung, Sangwoo would most likely tear him apart. So boring!’ 

Although he was frustrated with the unexpected lack of progress, he himself was familiar with striving for victory in competitions. He did not want to lose in any situation. Jaehong squeezed his last bit of strength and spoke with determination.

“You haven’t answered why it has to be Jang Jaeyoung.”

“I like Jang Jaeyoung.”

The answer that came back in less than a second was entirely different from the conclusion and all the words spoken up to this point. It was surprisingly simple, without any logic or reason.

If you try to look, there may still be many people who can provide much greater happiness for you, Chu Sangwoo.”

“That’s not possible.”

“How do you know? You have never tried dating other men.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“Take me for example! I have the appearance that you Chu Sangwoo likes, dress in the style that you love, and have a similar personality in seeking stability. Don’t you think so?”

The man in front of him revealed an anxious gesture, clenched his fists, focused his brows, and spoke in a tense manner.

“I am bisexual, and I feel that what I just heard is you making a proposition towards me. Please be careful with words and actions that can be misunderstood.”

‘I can’t read the atmosphere much, so let’s set some boundaries.’ 

Jaehong forcefully restrained his desire to grope the other party and spoke.

“Yes, I am courting you.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t Jaeyoung tell you that I am gay?”

“That kind of matter…”

“I like men, and I am also interested in you, Chu Sangwoo.”

The young man’s eyes widened like coins, and the corners of his mouth were open as if to knock the back of his head. No matter what was said, the face that used to hide emotions would now show a little bit of joy to Jaehong.

Jaehong glanced at the small wristwatch, there is still 22 minutes left, which may seem short but also long, the opportunity has not disappeared, there is still a ray of hope.

“You haven’t taken your eyes off me for a while.”

He slowly stretched his chest and leaned back on the chair.

“Don’t you want to know if being twin siblings means we have the same style in bed?”

________________________________________.

[1]      Visual motion perception skills. In this context, it refers to the clarity of vision while the head is in motion, or Dynamic Visual Acuity: 

DVA, is one of the tests for obtaining a driver’s license. 

 

 

[2]   Thermodynamics, in physics, studies the relationships involving heat, temperature, work, and energy. The second law of thermodynamics refers to the increase in entropy or the dissipation of energy in a closed system, which can be explained in various ways. One of them is that heat cannot naturally flow from a colder to a hotter body. 

[3]      Simile, a term in logic, refers to things that are equal, in this case, Sangwoo means ‘different personalities.’ It does not mean ‘incompatible personalities’ and is therefore not a simile. 

[4]      Chaos = disorder, without order, Cosmos = complete order. 

 

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