#95

With calm eyes, President Go Woonjae spoke in a concerned voice. I nodded lightly at his words and replied.

“Yes. I’m fine. I’m sorry for making you worried.”

“No, not at all. I should have been more mindful of your condition when I spoke…… I’m sorry. When you showed tears, I should have just stopped.”

At the mention of ‘tears’ from President Go Woonjae, everyone in the secretary’s lounge turned their gaze toward my face.

No, you shouldn’t be saying such things publicly in a place like this. I pressed my lips together, embarrassed, and desperately tried to control my expression. Whether he noticed my discomfort or not, President Go Woonjae approached me, patted my shoulder, and gave me a pitying look.

“It’s tough now, but it’ll get better eventually. Humans are creatures like that, after all. No matter how painful and hard the memories, they will eventually fade and wither away. That’s what I’ve learned from living. Just let time be the medicine and hold on a bit longer. This is all the advice an old man like me can give you.”

As President Go Woonjae continued speaking, the gazes fixed on me grew more intense. I really wish he would stop talking…… I barely suppressed the impulse to cover President Go Woonjae’s mouth with reason and said.

“……I appreciate the advice.”

With those difficult words, a satisfied smile appeared on President Go Woonjae’s face. I had been thinking about it for a while, but he was such a difficult person to deal with. If he were at least malicious, I could retaliate in kind, but since he genuinely cared and was speaking from the heart, I couldn’t respond harshly.

……Seeing this, I realize I’m not even in a position to criticize Yoo Euiseo. I exhaled softly while thinking that, when suddenly, I heard Yoo Euiseo’s sharp voice from behind.

“Stop and go back right now. Don’t bother the president here.”

With those cold words, Yoo Euiseo grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him. Then, as though not allowing President Go Woonjae’s gaze to land on me, he stood firmly in front of me. His actions, which seemed to be trying to protect me, made me blink in surprise, staring at the back of Yoo Euiseo’s head.

“I’m not bothering anyone. Grandfather is just here to talk to President Goo Won……”

“I can already guess what you came to say. You came here to try and persuade me, just like you did with the others. The president won’t listen to you. Even if he does, I won’t accept it. So go back now, and never come again.”

It seemed strange to me that, having known me for only two months, he came here asking for help. Apparently, he had already asked people around him for help. Judging by the situation, it seemed he had been rejected by them, or perhaps someone had accepted but failed to persuade him.

As I came to understand President Go Woonjae’s behavior, the atmosphere between Yoo Euiseo and the president grew increasingly tense.

“Euiseo.”

“Don’t call my name.”

“Why is it so wrong for a grandfather to call his grandson by his name……”

“Grandfather? Who? You? My grandfather? Do you really think that?”

The question, filled with a cold sneer, made President Go Woonjae pause for a moment. But soon, he nodded stubbornly and spoke.

“Yes. I truly think so.”

“Ha……! Are you really this shameless? It was you who drove my mother and me away first. And now, when you’re in need, I’m supposed to be your grandchild? Even if the illustrious heir of the Go family was alive, would you be treating me like this now?”

Yoo Euiseo retorted sharply. At his words, a chillingly cold expression appeared on President Go Woonjae’s face. He called Yoo Euiseo with reproach in his tone.

“Go Euiseo.”

“Don’t call me that. I’m Yoo Euiseo.”

However, the president’s reprimand didn’t reach Yoo Euiseo. If anything, it only fueled his resentment.

Once Yoo Euiseo finished speaking, the president remained silent and simply stared intently at his face. Yoo Euiseo, not backing down, met the president’s gaze with a fierce glare.

As the uncomfortable silence settled in the lounge, I rolled my eyes and subtly tilted my head to observe the side of Yoo Euiseo’s face. Hmm, he looks like he’s boiling with every curse word imaginable. If the president were his peer, he would have probably let loose a stream of curses by now.

I let out a dry laugh and reached out. Carefully, I took hold of Yoo Euiseo’s hand, which had been clenched into a fist and trembling.

As soon as the warmth of my hand touched his, Yoo Euiseo flinched, as if startled, and tensed up. But soon, realizing it was my hand, he relaxed and let go. As he did, I slid my fingers in between the spaces of his open fist and interlocked my fingers with his. After a brief hesitation, Yoo Euiseo slowly took my hand and held it.

I looked at his face, which now seemed calmer, and then slowly turned my head to look at President Go Woonjae. He was staring, wide-eyed, at our interlaced hands.

“Sir, it would be best for you to leave now.”

“H-huh?”

“It would be best for you to leave. It doesn’t seem like anything good will come from staying here.”

“Ah……”

At my clear dismissal, President Go Woonjae looked stunned for a moment but then slowly nodded in a dazed manner.

“Right. That’s probably for the best. Then I’ll leave today and come back again next time.”

When President Go Woonjae hinted that he would return, I felt a tighter grip on my hand from Yoo Euiseo. Sensing his unease, I gently stroked the back of his hand to comfort him.

“No, please don’t. It’s a waste of time. No matter how many times you come, I won’t be able to fulfill your request, sir.”

With a firm refusal that left no room for reconsideration, a look of disappointment appeared on President Go Woonjae’s face. Watching his expression, I made sure to firmly put an end to it.

“What you asked me to do is purely a personal matter between you and Euiseo-ssi, and I don’t think I have any right to interfere. Honestly, I don’t even want to interfere.”

“President Goo Won, please don’t do this……”

“I place the utmost importance on Euiseo-ssi’s opinion in this matter. And whatever his opinion may be, I will respect it. So please, stop asking me for this.”

I stared at President Go Woonjae with a resolute gaze. Perhaps sensing my sincerity in my eyes, the president looked a little flustered before shaking his head solemnly.

“I’m sorry, but I plan to come back again. I’ve finally found a way, and I can’t just let it slip away like this.”

President Go Woonjae’s gaze was fixed on the hands Yoo Euiseo and I were holding tightly. Feeling the president’s lingering stare, Yoo Euiseo quickly hid our joined hands behind his back, almost as if to shield them. A sharp glint flashed in the president’s eyes as he observed this.

Seeing that look, I knew he wouldn’t give up easily. Quietly, I sent my condolences to my future self, who would undoubtedly be inconvenienced by President Go Woonjae, and then looked at Secretary Jung Minjae.

“Please escort the president out.”

“Understood. Let’s go, sir.”

Despite the somewhat rude treatment, President Go Woonjae didn’t resist and quietly followed Secretary Jung Minjae out. However, he kept glancing back at Yoo Euiseo, as if unwilling to let go.

Even though he must have felt the gaze, Yoo Euiseo never once looked back at the president. In the end, realizing that Yoo Euiseo would never turn to him, the president left with a bitter expression.

Yoo Euiseo didn’t speak until long after the president and secretary had left the office.

“……I’m sorry, sir.”

The moment he spoke, it was an apology. I slowly tilted my head to the side in response to Yoo Euiseo’s apology.

“Why are you apologizing to me?”

“Well, because I caused you trouble……”

“But it wasn’t you who asked him to come here.”

“Still, you collapsed while talking to that person……”

“That wasn’t because of him, it was due to my personal issue.”

As I countered each of Yoo Euiseo’s points, his gaze, which had been fixed ahead, slowly shifted to meet my eyes. Yoo Euiseo stared at me with eyes bloodshot from strain. I didn’t look away, meeting his gaze steadily.

He seemed to want to say something, but chewed on his lips before closing them again. After a brief pause to collect himself, he spoke slowly.

“……Are you okay?”

I had the strong sense that he was changing the subject, perhaps avoiding something he wanted to say. But I didn’t press him. If he didn’t want to speak, that was fine. I could wait until he was ready to share whenever that might be.

“Yes. Really, I’m fine. It’s just that some unpleasant memories came up.”

“Unpleasant memories?”

“Yes.”

I answered with a gentle smile, trying to reassure him that I was alright. But neither Yoo Euiseo nor anyone else in the break room seemed to believe me at all. Everyone’s reactions made me feel embarrassed, unable to ignore their skepticism.