Min Jae nodded and replied casually,"Okay. Take care."
Tae headed toward his room, but just before going, he glanced once more toward Ji Ho's room door… then at Min Jae —as if his suspicion was still lingering in the same place.
Tae got ready and left the house shortly afterward.
Min Jae, exhausted from the day's events, decided to head upstairs to his room.His eyes instinctively went toward the upper floor — his room.When he went inside,he found Ji Ho still asleep, exactly as he had left him.
He had been sleeping continuously since the previous night...Now, Min Jae began to feel a little uneasy.
He decided,"I should wake him up..."
He walked over to the bed,sat down gently beside Ji Ho,placed his hand lightly over Ji Ho's hand,and softly shook his shoulder.
"Ji Ho..."he called out gently.
There was no response.
So he spoke a bit louder:"Ji Ho... wake up."
After calling him a few more times and gently shaking him,Ji Ho slowly opened his eyes.
The face of a stranger was the first thing he saw —and as he regained consciousness, he suddenly sat up,like someone yanked out of a dream and dropped into reality.
Min Jae backed away a little,so Ji Ho wouldn't feel like something "wrong" had been attempted while he was asleep.
Now Ji Ho sat on the bed, holding his head in both hands.There was confusion in his eyes.
"This place... where am I?""What am I doing here...?""Whose room is this?"
Min Jae replied calmly:
"This is my room."Ji Ho looked around,then slowly his mind started to work.Some memories began to come back...Mr. Han's hotel,being with Min Jae,some blurry images from last night...
"Do you have a headache?" Min Jae asked.Ji Ho nodded.
"You drank something intoxicating last night, that's probably why your head is hurting.Go take a shower, maybe that will help you feel a little relaxed."
Min Jae took some clothes out of the wardrobe and handed them to him.Ji Ho quietly took the clothes and went to the bathroom.
After some time...Ji Ho came out freshened up,but no one was in the room.
He started coming downstairs,and as soon as he stepped into the living area from the stairs,his feet suddenly stopped with a jolt...
The house was big... luxurious... almost unreal.
He heard noise from the kitchen—maybe someone was working there.Min Jae was setting the dinner on the table.
As soon as Min Jae saw him,a faint smile appeared on his face.
Ji Ho stood a little far away.He felt a bit uncomfortable—in Min Jae's oversized clothes.
Min Jae said,"Why are you standing there? Come, sit here."
He gestured toward the chair across the table.
Ji Ho bowed his head slightly and said a soft "Thank you," then sat down.
Smiling, Min Jae said,"I'm not a very good chef like you, but your lip is hurt, so I made something light.Simple food… something easy to chew,"Min Jae explained.
Ji Ho bowed his head and said, "Thank you,
Then, hesitating a little, he said:"Well… I was at the hotel, right…How did I end up here?"
Min Jae calmly explained everything to him—what was happening at Mr. Han's hotel,the army operation,him passing out,and then bringing him home...
After hearing everything, Ji Ho calmed down a bit.
Min Jae asked:" you can tell me—if you want to go back home,I will help you."
But Min Jae himself wanted Ji Ho not to go.He was restless inside,but didn't want to force his own will on him.
Ji Ho thought for a moment and lowered his head.His voice was soft, but his emotions were deep:"I know…this is all the result of my own mistakes. Maybe if I hadn't told my parents about coming here, I wouldn't have gotten into such big trouble.But I don't want to go back as a loser.I came here to do something—and if I leave now, this guilt will stay with me forever.I don't want to live as a burden on my family."
Min Jae was impressed by his words.A calm smile appeared on his face.
"You are really brave. Not everyone has this much courage.Even after everything that happened, you're still able to hold yourself together.You don't need to worry.I hope you will get a very good chance again soon."
Min Jae continued,"It's not like everyone here is bad.If you look at it in a certain way, like every place has its strengths and weaknesses,the lives of these 'beasts' also have their good and bad sides.But many times, people unfamiliar with the environment get influenced by outsiders' words or fail to recognize the real situation,and then they get trapped in such problems.You don't need to be afraid of anyone, just stay a little alert."
Then suddenly, Min Jae remembered Tae's question about Ji Ho—the one he had used as an excuse to brush Tae off back then.