Im No Min was on his way to lunch when he saw his son working hard in his office.

Standing outside the window, he smiled proudly at how hardworking he was. He knocked on the window, catching his son’s attention.

Kyu Hyun nodded for him to come in, and he did. “I see you are hard at work. How about you take a break? It’s lunchtime already.”

Kyu Hyun packed his table neatly, saying, “I know. I usually eat when I am done. I don’t need to go out and meet people like you.”

No Min sat down saying, “And what’s for lunch today? Did Chang Min cook?”

He nodded his head. “I haven’t checked yet, but I think it’s a Japanese bento.”

No Min nodded his head. “How is he doing these days? Does he still have an enormous appetite?”

“You know about that?” He asked, surprised. 

He nodded his head. “It’s nothing new. I didn’t believe his father when he told me at first until I saw it myself. When we go out to eat, he eats a whole hotpot by himself.”

Kyu Hyun frowned. “You take him out to eat?”

He nodded his head, “Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked.

“Son, you are always in your own world. Going out to parties, spending all your money on people you don’t love. How did you think things will end?” He asked.

Kyu Hyun kept his gaze lowered. His father wasn’t berating him, he was just talking.

“Chang Min’s father asked us to take care of his son, and what you have been doing has been hurting you. I know things didn’t work out the way you planned and you never saw Chang Min in your life before you met him and now he is here. It’s about time you step up and be a man. Take responsibility for your actions and be a good partner to him. He has always cared for you and asked nothing in return,” he said.

“I took care of Chang Min in your place because I knew you weren’t ready, but now that you are no more with that boy, can you consider it? And take Chang Min home to see his parents. It’s already been ten years. He must miss home,” he encouraged.

Kyu Hyun nodded his head. “I’ll think about it.”

No Min stood up and said, “Don’t think son, do. It’s your actions that count, not what you say.”

He looked up at his father and asked, “Dad, why don’t you hate him?”

No Min looked at his son, then sat down. He thought about his question and said as he looked at him, “I did. I hated him with my everything.”

“What changed?” He asked.

Gazing into his son’s eyes, he said, “The only thing Chang Min did wrong was to have sex with you when he was underage.”

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“I raised you Im Kyu Hyun. The one who was wrong ten years ago was you and no one else. If I had locked you up, disciplined you and deprived you of money, you would have had a different life, but no. I allowed you to go with your friends and what did you do? You slept with Chang Min and I was called by Yun Ho to go fetch you and what happened? I went to fetch my son, and I returned with two. Now tell me, who was in the wrong? Your father-in-law, who told you to take responsibility for your actions, or would you have preferred going to jail for having sex with a minor?” He asked him.

Kyu Hyun was tongue tied. He stood up and said, “Dad, that isn’t fair. I didn’t know.”

“And you should have been careful,” he answered.

Looking at his son, he could see that he was conflicted and asked, “What about you? Do you hate him?”

Kyu Hyun thought about the question and shook his head. “I used to. I hated him for putting me in this situation.”

No Min nodded his head, “You’ve had a long time to think about it. I hope you’ve decided.”

*

While he was eating his lunch, he reached into the last drawer and pulled out the Mivo 29 mobile and switched it on. It was the same model as the one Chang Min had.

While Chang Min was sleeping on the first night of his club outing, Kyu Hyun cloned his phone to find out who he was messaging and thanks to the spyware he got installed, he could listen to recordings of the phone calls made and the video calls.

A notification came from the messaging app Chang Min used. Going into it, he saw that Chang Min and the other person were busy chatting again.

He had read everything from when they first started chatting until now.

Chang Min had told this stranger almost everything, including about the affairs he had. It was after reading all these messages that he ended things with Ji Soo, even though he was slowly starting to like him.

Friend: I don’t know, I’m just so chilled. My parents called asking me to go visit them but I’m too lazy to pack my bags.

You: I wish I could go visit my parents but I’m afraid of asking my husband, he might go complain to his mother and you know that woman doesn’t like me.

Friend: I don’t know what I would have done if I had her as my mother-in-law.

You: I wouldn’t wish it upon you.

Friend: What are you making for dinner tonight?

You: I haven’t decided. I’m thinking of making his favourite to eat but I’m craving for kimchi fried pork.

Friend: That sounds delicious. By the way, who taught you how to cook?

You: I had to learn. How else was I going to get her off my back?

Friend: Well, that sucks.

*

Placing the phone down, he looked around, feeling lost.

Who would have thought things would turn out like this?

Avoiding Chang Min helped for a while, but not long enough.