Pig Government Official Side Story

-10-

Jeonggwan hadn’t seen Taekun since he started dating Junjae, and naturally, he had never recommended the restaurant he visited with Junjae to Taekun. However, being quick-witted, Jeonggwan realized that Taekun was jumping in to help him now, and he immediately responded with composure.

“Oh, that place? It’s good, right? I thought of it since it’s close to your law firm.”

Among their classmates, Jeonggwan was the most successful, but his success was more like another level, a different world, so he was excluded from comparisons. The most realistically successful person among them was Taekun. When Taekun and Jeonggwan showed such friendly behavior as if they had been in contact all this time, the classmates stirred again.

“Taekun, have you been in contact with Jeonggwan?”

“Yes. I’ve even met Jeonggwan’s husband together.”

“Wow, really? That person? Won Junjae?”

Of course, they had met. That time six years ago, which became Junjae’s embarrassing history that Jeonggwan still teased him about whenever he had the chance, asking if he could handle it. Since it wasn’t a complete lie, Jeonggwan nodded in agreement.

“What’s he like? He looks super handsome in photos. Is he like that in person too?”

“Yes. He’s really handsome. He treats Jeonggwan very well too.”

“Oh… Really? He treats him very well?”

At the comment that Junjae treated him “very” well, some classmates mumbled in disappointment, as if they had expected something else. Jeonggwan ignored their reactions lightly and looked back at Taekun, who was gazing at him with a gentle smile. Taekun, being an ex-boyfriend, could have easily believed the rumors floating around the internet like others, but instead he was taking his side…

“Yes. We’re still crazy about each other.”

We’ve both grown a lot. Jeonggwan smiled back at Taekun.

* * *

The class reunion atmosphere was heating up. Though everyone wasn’t drinking much, they were all laughing and chattering about funny incidents from school days, or imitating teachers, creating an overheated atmosphere. Jeonggwan was also immersed in reminiscing with friends, laughing together and blending into the mood.

[When should I pick you up? – 1 hour ago]

[Obsessive Fan♡ Missed call 1 – 30 minutes ago]

Only now checking the message and missed call that Junjae had sent a while ago, Jeonggwan felt a pang of realization. He had momentarily forgotten his purpose for coming here because he was too busy laughing and chatting. Imagining Junjae being sulky for not receiving a response, Jeonggwan quickly got up, pretending to go to the bathroom.

“Hello? Hyung, where are you?”

As soon as he opened the door of the private room, thinking Junjae might have come to pick him up out of concern, Jeonggwan called him while quickly walking toward the entrance. In fact, he was 100% certain that Junjae would already be there. True to his new nickname “Obsessive Fan,” Junjae was genuinely obsessive.

[I’m still at home. I thought you’d have a lot to catch up on with your friends since it’s been a while.]

But when Junjae, who he expected would have parked in front of the restaurant waiting, said he was still at home, Jeonggwan’s steps stopped abruptly as he reached the entrance looking for him. What’s going on? My obsessive super fan? Junjae’s words completely broke his 100% certainty, leaving Jeonggwan quite bewildered with his brain momentarily freezing, but soon he responded casually.

“Ah… oh, really? Then should I leave now…?”

[Don’t you want to stay longer?]

“Huh? Um…”

[Alright, I’ll leave now.]

“Okay… I’ll time it to meet you. I’ll call you.”

With Junjae’s relaxed voice saying “Okay~,” the call ended, but Jeonggwan remained standing there for a while, confused. What? He’s not being clingy or obsessively coming to find me? Won Junjae?

Junjae couldn’t stand Jeonggwan flaunting his charm in front of strangers. He always fretted about how adorable Jeonggwan was and worried someone might hit on him, so he would either rush to pick him up or stick by his side like glue. Jeonggwan had expected him to frantically come today too, but he was still at home? Could this really be the seven-year itch?

Whenever Junjae behaved that way, Jeonggwan would think, “He’s really being clingy,” and feel slightly annoyed, but now that he wasn’t doing it, there was a bitter taste in his mouth. Right. We’ve been married for a year now? Legally bound for a year? Jeonggwan’s steps back to the room were quite heavy.

“Huh?”

And behind him was Taekun, holding a white cigarette pack, apparently on his way out to smoke.

“…”

“…”

Jeonggwan should have thanked him for his help earlier, but now that they were alone, it felt awkward and he couldn’t speak. He was also embarrassed that Taekun might have overheard his confused reaction during the call with Junjae. Still, he had helped him, and Jeonggwan should have pretended to be even more in love in response.

“…Earlier,”

“You really do still love each other, right?”

As expected, Taekun caught on immediately and cut off Jeonggwan as he was about to express his gratitude, asking first. Of course, they really did still love each other, so he should have confidently said yes, but Jeonggwan was caught off guard by Taekun’s sudden question and stammered.

“Huh? Uh-huh. Right? Yes. Um…”

“…”

“Wait. That just sounded really weird.”

And he immediately corrected himself. To make it clear there was no misunderstanding, Jeonggwan gathered his composure and answered firmly.

“Seriously. We still love each other.”

“…”

“Thanks for your help. But there’s no misunderstanding just now.”

“…Jeonggwan.”

“I’m really happy with hyung. There’s no marital discord. And there won’t be in the future. I was just surprised on the phone because my hyung, who usually sticks to me like glue, suddenly evolved into a understanding husband role…”

“Jeonggwan.”

As Jeonggwan was rattling on, determined not to leave any room for misunderstanding, Taekun approached and was about to place his hand on Jeonggwan’s shoulder to calm him down. But being cautious about who might be watching and where, Jeonggwan immediately withdrew his hand and just smiled reassuringly.

“I know. That you still love each other a lot. You don’t need to explain. I was just joking.”

“…”

“How can you show affection every day when you’re living together? I understand.”

“…Ah.”

“But if things ever do go wrong, contact me.”

“…What?”

“I’m a divorce lawyer, you know.”

“Ah, haha. I was overreacting. Sorry.”

Six years seemed both short and long. When he last saw Taekun, he thought he had matured a lot, but now he seemed like a complete adult. Meanwhile, Jeonggwan, approaching thirty, still felt childish at times. He felt embarrassed for having acted so immature and panicky.

“Well, enjoy your cigarette! I’ll head back first.”

Still grateful to Taekun for his understanding words, Jeonggwan smiled back in relief and returned to the restaurant with a lighter heart. Behind him, Taekun, putting a cigarette in his mouth, smiled bitterly.

“He’s coming now?”

“Wow… I’m going to see him in person?”

“Me too. Can I go out to see him too?”

As soon as he entered the room and announced that his husband was coming to pick him up so he had to leave, his classmates went wild. They all looked at Jeonggwan with anticipation in their eyes, asking if they could really see the actual Won Junjae. Their eyes were like those seeing a famous celebrity. Of course, since this was his original purpose for attending the reunion, they could see Junjae, but Jeonggwan pretended to hesitate, teasing them further.

“Well… but hyung is extremely shy around strangers…”

“Ah…”

“I see…”

“But if I tell him they’re my friends, he’ll say hello.”

“Ohh-! Amazing!”

This was necessary to strengthen the positive perception of Junjae. Jeonggwan had a natural talent for playing hard to get in relationships and everything else.

“Hello.”

“Wow.”

“…Incredible.”

“I’m suddenly sobering up…”

And when the actual main character of the day, Junjae, got out of the driver’s seat and greeted them, exclamations burst from the classmates who had rushed out to the front of the restaurant to see him. They already knew he was handsome from photos, but this handsome? Isn’t that too much? No one said it, but their eyes clearly conveyed such thoughts.

Coming from home, Junjae was wearing a blue knit sweater with ivory cotton pants, which made him look comfortable and soft compared to his usual suit-wearing appearance. This image made him truly seem like a caring husband who came to pick up his spouse. Of course, he was already genuine, but that’s beside the point. Although today, since they needed to take photos, the styling team had specified all of Junjae and Jeonggwan’s outfits, so there was some staging involved, but everything else was genuine.

“I’m sorry for taking Jeonggwan away early when you’ve met after so long.”

“Oh no, it’s fine. Married men should go home early…”

“Yes, that’s right…”

The image of a neglected Jeonggwan vanished from their minds. Junjae standing beside him, supporting Jeonggwan’s back with his hand and looking at him with honey-dripping eyes, was already exceeding the sweetness limit just by his presence.

And as expected, the next day the whole country was buzzing with their paparazzi photo, and the pouring testimonies from classmates added credibility to the photos, immediately dispelling rumors of marital discord.

Also, the slight sulkiness Jeonggwan had felt was resolved at once.

“I thought you were at home.”

“…”

“You were waiting for an hour?”

“…”

The fact that Junjae had been waiting in front of the restaurant even before sending Jeonggwan the message asking if he should pick him up was discovered when Jeonggwan personally selected the paparazzi shots taken by the hired reporter before the article was published.

“…What were you talking about with Jung Taekun then.”

What seven-year itch? He was truly living up to his title as Kim Jeonggwan’s obsessive super fan.