It was answered.

📝

MinJun arrived at the designated address. In the signboard above, the huge 3D words "WinterDew Foodland" flashed continually which made it difficult for passing citizens to ignore the highlighted writing.

HaeSung's family was in food business and

"WinterDew Foodland" was one of their most successful business branch. Although the price here was expensive relative to other restaurants because of the high quality food and warm customer service offered by WinterDew it was quite popular since its opening. Along with rich well-off people it had been a favourite place to occasionally dine for common people as well.

When MinJun pass through the sliding door there was already someone waiting for him and he was brought to a private suite in the third floor afterwhich he was left there alone, standing outside the door, hesitanting to go in. He took a deep breath, calm down his pounding heartbeats and pushed open the door to walk into the private suite.

Inside the room, at the middle, were two sofas separated by a round table in between them. On one of them HaeSung was seated reading a stock-market magazine lifted close to his cold stoic face.

MinJun invited himself in. He sat on the empty sofa opposite to HaeSung. He lowered his head. Though his outward appearance was calm and collected his sweating hands hidden beneath the wooden table clearly depict the kind of nervousness he was feeling at the current moment.

For a while the big and wide room was engulfed in silent flames. HaeSung didn't bother with him while he himself didn't know what to speak firstly. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and reminded himself to steady his restless heart. Coming this far MinJun was still somewhat hesitant afterall HaeSung was forced by him making use of their circumstances.

'Should he back-out?' MinJun thought.

Then he remembered the content of the paper that he has drafted. After a mere signature he will be together with HaeSung. In the debate between his guilty conscience and his greed, MinJun decided to be selfish this time and wait for their uncertain future. Later, what it has to serve in his plate , bitter or sweet he will willingly accept all of it's servings .

MinJun took out a piece of paper from his pocket and spread it on the table. It was the agreement about contractual marriage that is to be treated as trade between them.

HaeSung who was neutral and uncaring all this time finally put down the magazine. He looked at MinJun who was secretly watching HaeSung time and again.Their gaze collided for a second and MinJun's already steadied heart thumped violently once again. HaeSung didn't seem to care. He leaned back on the sofa like a CEO of a big company and coldly glanced at MinJun.

A chill ran down his spine. MinJun didn't dare to meet his eyes.

"Do you think..I would appreciate your feelings. After this will you feel less guilty. When I get to know about our families, I even thought treating you like a brother. Don't know how our childhood went like..I don't remember at all. But,...MinJun!Let me clear myself....You will regret it!! Day after day I would make sure to mentally exhaust your persistence. I am actually grateful to myself though. In those recent years I wasn't moved by your so called fake sincerity."

HaeSung took out a pen signed his name on the white sheet then left the room seemingly disgust. His previous words poked MinJun in his heart like it had been prick by ten needles at once. MinJun dazedly looked at the neat handwriting and softly caressed the bottom of the paper. He showed a bitter smile then self ridicule-

"Oh~ MinJun. Oh MinJun.....It seems you had to pay a heavy price for this paper of yours."

/~

The days returned to normal. HaeSung's mother slowly recovered from her coma. On a certain day MinJun paid her a secret visit and explained himself to her. Contrary to what he expected for, HaeSung's mother didn't exaggeratedly reacted instead she exhaled a pitiful sigh. After that day the deal made between two boys was never brought up again not utill their graduation ceremony.

/~

It had been days after he moved out.He had tried contacting part-time recruits and wasn't selected by any of them. Earning a living was such a pain.

MinJun lied on his bed and rummaged through his phone. His eyes were starting to hurt still none of the jobs recruits he found were to his good-points.

MinJun put down his phone then walked over the wardrobe area. A metal bolt fell down. He squatted down and something enter into his peripheral vision. From a corner he picked out a yellow dusty paper. It was a sketch of someone. MinJun pressed the paper close to his eyes and only then identified the sketch as a woman's picture but being too old it was hard to make out her identity. He ran his hands through that corner and found some materials that can only belong to an artist. Why would someone hide it here?

He laid all the things on the floor. Seeing them he fell into a daze as he remember something that redden the rims of his eyes. Sigh, the previous owner might have been an art maniac just like....The sudden pain stung his heart and soaked his eyes wet. After some conflicting thoughts he put those materials in their place again.

After MinJun changed into his pajamas, his eyes darted towards the study table where he had placed the gift that he got from an anyoymous person. He took it to his bed along. If the gift was really sent to him then it was all in vain. His contacts are less than seven, who would he call for. And to say, the rotatory phone seems too old, does this even work at all.

MinJun thoroughly examined the device and in one of it's corner found some small digits scribbled on it. The numbers were so faint that he barely managed to skeem.

Should he try calling this number?

Would he likely chance encounter the unknown sender?

Jumping his mind between whether or not to call, MinJun curiously pressed the numbers. Ten rings and the call was cut off. The du du du sound coming from the rotatory phone made him laugh at himself. Was he an idiot?

MinJun quietly gazed at the digits. What was it? He felt some kind of invisible force tugging myhis heart urging him to press the numbers again. Thus, MinJun decided to become an idiot for the second time.

This time his call was answered by a young and deep voice. His voice was mysteriously familiar. The call disconnected yet again. Without delay MinJun re-dialed. The call was picked up but MinJun remain silent until the call had end.

MinJun wasn't discouraged.

He re-dialed for the third time. At last the person on the other side seem to be annoyed by MinJun thus he rained a bunch of curses and angrily cut off the call.

And here MinJun re-dialed again but the call wasn't picked up onwards. If at this time his thoughts were clear, MinJun would have known how shamelessly childish his actions were. But who can blame it on him. One was his social barrier, thus why he didn't reply although the call was made by him. And second was this familiar feeling. What was it?

Who exactly was this person?