IKC C23

Chapter 23

 

Why on earth is this happening? What did I do wrong?

“Lee Taegyeong?”

I turned slowly at the sound of my name being called.

Walking towards me was Kang Robin, dressed in a suit like he had stepped out of a fashion spread.

“Did you come after meeting Sehan? He didn’t say anything about having plans today.”

“Ah…”

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out properly. Instead, I bowed deeply from the waist.

“Hello. I didn’t have an appointment with Sehan… I just wanted to see him.”

“Sehan doesn’t usually meet anyone while he’s working.”

It wasn’t Kang Robin’s cold gaze that made my heart shrivel, but the message on my status window.

“I used to spend a lot of time in Sehan’s studio.”

“Hey, Taegyeong. Sehan treated you like you were special—so why did you make things so hard for him? Hm?”

That again. I bit my lip hard. Even in my urgent state, resentment surged up inside me.

Was I the one who ended contact without a reason? He knows everything—so why would he say something like that?

“What’s that look? Are you being defiant?”

“No, sir.”

I bowed again and took out my phone. First, I needed to get Sehan to come out.

“Sorry. It’s just that I’m in a hurry…”

“All right, follow me.”

Baeknyeon Entertainment was even more majestic inside than out. From the moment I stepped into the lobby, the high ceilings and lavish interior design dazzled my eyes.

Thanks to Kang Robin, I passed through the lobby without issue and headed straight for the elevator.

“All the private studios are on the third floor.”

“Ah… I see.”

As I anxiously watched the elevator numbers ticking upward, I could feel Kang Robin’s gaze on me.

“You’re really annoying.”

“…Excuse me? Are you talking to me?”

Flustered, I looked at him—just as the arrival bell chimed and the elevator stopped.

“Who else would I be talking to?”

With a gust of icy air, Kang Robin stepped out of the elevator. I sighed and followed him down the long corridor.

It was clear now—Kang Robin didn’t like me.

“But, Taegyeong, I do like your vocals.”

The sudden compliment made my facial muscles twitch. I rubbed my face with my palm before bowing.

“Thank you!”

As I bent from behind, I felt him turn to look at me.

“Sehan and I have similar tastes.”

“Huh? Ah…!”

Seeing the man who had radiated coldness all this time suddenly smirk… it was like someone had smacked the back of my head.

What was that just now…? Something was on the verge of surfacing, then dissipated like smoke, leaving my brows furrowed.

“Ah, looks like Sehan’s over there.”

Kang Robin pointed down the hall. I saw someone bow to him after opening a door.

“Sehan’s there, right?”

“Yes, should I call him over?”

“No, leave him be.”

Kang Robin turned left down the corridor.

“Let’s wait together, Taegyeong.”

“No, um… I think I should go to him first.”

I tried to hide my impatience, but I was too pressed for time.

[Time remaining: 1 hour 18 minutes!]

“Sorry, I’m really in a hurry…”

“But Taegyeong.”

“Yes?”

I lifted my gaze. Kang Robin was looking at me steadily.

“Actually, Sehan’s not in a good mood today.”

“Ah… Did something happen to him?”

“No matter who you are, today’s not going to be easy.”

So something happened to Sehan today. But I couldn’t spare the thought. If I didn’t complete the quest now, the date of Sehan’s accident…

Perhaps noticing the way my feet were tapping unconsciously, Kang Robin’s lips curled as he glanced down at my legs.

“Fine. Go.”

The instant I got permission, I dashed to the far end of the corridor. But all that effort felt pointless when I froze before the glass door.

Through it, I saw Seong Sehan.

Wearing a pitch-black cardigan, he lounged limply on the sofa, a nearly burnt-out cigarette between his fingers.

“Ah, that guy…”

I had no idea what he’d been doing alone while the smoking lounge filled up with haze. Irritated, I gripped the handle—but couldn’t bring myself to open the door.

His slackened figure, the empty gaze staring into space—they felt so foreign that I was unsettled.

Then, rolling his eyes toward me, Sehan met my gaze. The moment our eyes locked, he sprang to his feet.

“Oh?”

Seeing his eyes widen in surprise at the sight of me eased my mood slightly. I pushed open the glass door firmly.

“Hey, don’t come in!”

He hurried back to stub out the cigarette in the ashtray. I did as he said, retreating into the corridor to wait for him to emerge.

“Taegyeong! What happened? Why are you here so suddenly?”

He must have been quite startled to see me at the company out of the blue. His large eyes looked genuinely confused.

“I ran into Kang Robin at the entrance, so I came in easily.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Sehan ruffled his hair roughly, then shook his head.

“Taegyeong, you’ve been really weird lately.”

[Time remaining: 1 hour 12 minutes!]

“Sehan, I have something to say to you.”

“What is it?”

Tell him to quit smoking—now? As if I’d blurt that out while he’s just come from the smoking room!

“Well…”

“Want a soy milk?”

Sehan draped a long arm over my shoulder, and we walked side by side down the corridor.

There was no cologne—only cigarette smoke lingering around him.

Even without Kang Robin’s comment, I could tell from his breath alone that Sehan wasn’t in high spirits.

“I don’t like soy milk.”

“I know. But coffee at night isn’t good for you.”

“Lately, I drink it any time—day or night.”

Sehan led me into a small rest area. Past tall potted plants draped like curtains, a cluster of pretty tables came into view. Against one wall, several coffee machines stood in a line.

He seated me at a table by the window, then brought over a glass of soy milk.

“Coffee at night makes it hard to sleep, you know.”

“Sehan.”

The quest needed completing, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Coffee, sleep—none of it mattered. My heart felt like it might burst, and keeping a calm face was exhausting.

“When did you start smoking?”

A question about when he’d started smoking came out before I could stop it. That wasn’t even what I wanted to know.

Sehan leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on me. His brown gaze shone quietly, as if he’d never been flustered.

“It’s been a while.”

So he was going to gloss over it. Then he gave the fan-favorite eye smile. The sight of it made me frown.

What was with the business smile? If you’re in a bad mood, don’t force it.

“I never noticed before—there was no smell of cigarettes.”

“I don’t smoke that much. And when I met you, I made sure to be careful.”

[Time remaining: 1 hour 1 minute!]

I took a sip of the soy milk and set it on the table. Turning my gaze briefly to the night view outside, I looked back at Sehan.

“Sehan, I know work can be stressful… but can’t you cut out the cigarettes?”

My voice trembled slightly under the strain of urgency.

“I’m not stressed.”

Still smiling, Sehan lifted one corner of his mouth.

“When I make music, I do it exactly the way I want—so why would there be stress?”

“…Right, you’ve always been like that. Then there’s no need for cigarettes, is there?”

He crossed his arms, tilting his face slightly.

“So today’s about cigarettes?”

“…What?”

“Every time we meet, you do weird things like you’re on some kind of mission.”

My chest tightened, and I clasped my hands together. Naturally—after all my running around, it would be impossible for Sehan not to notice.

“What are you talking about? It’s not a mission. I just don’t like you smoking, that’s all.”

“I like it.”

My hand froze halfway to picking up the glass. His smile was still there, but it wasn’t the soft one from before.

“If you hate it, then don’t smoke yourself. I’ll only smoke when you’re not around. Satisfied?”

The cold gleam in his eyes and the tone of his voice poured fuel on my anxious thoughts. Rage shot straight to the top of my head.

Who do you think I’m doing all this crazy stuff for…?

“No, don’t smoke even when I’m not around.”

I didn’t even know why I was so angry. My fists clenched, teeth grinding.

“Promise me right now you’ll quit smoking.”

Sehan glanced at my fist on the table, then casually pulled something from the back pocket of his black jeans.

“That’s…”

He placed a cigarette pack and a lighter on the table.

No way…?

Right before my eyes, he put a cigarette between his lips and struck the lighter. Click. A small flame flared, and I held my breath.

“Why should I quit smoking?”