16 16. Control? No Control?

"Excuse me?" Taeho tried to act as nonchalant as he shifted on his feet, stuffing his hands inside his pockets. He glanced at Yejeong for something but she was looking as conflicted as he did. So were these kinds of things a normal occurrence? The Dick Doyun simply does things like this? Invite people over their place like they were a family? Were they a family? If Bo Yejeong was to build a family, it should be with him, Lee Taeho. If not, then what of everything they had promised to each other? Was that all a lie?

"It would be great if you would join us for dinner! Yejeong cooks well, it just doesn't stop at pastries. I'm sure you're looking forward to trying it out as well."

Taeho forced a straight smile and gritted his teeth, of course, he was the stranger here.

Suddenly, his fist was itching for something. Something violent.

Taeho looked down and froze, the sudden bloodlust disappearing like dry ice. He stared at the two round eyes boring a hole into his face. The little girl might have appeared a bit brat-like, an imp if you will, a gnome but now, she simply looked so innocent with those large brown pupils. His eyes darted over the kid's face, taking in all the resemblance he could find. Those lips and the shape of her face, it was a complete copy of Yejeong when she was a kid. He could remember it even without a picture. And Yejeong used to love dirt too. A smile fought its way through unconsciously as Taeho thought of those times, a small bratty Yejeong in the place where they would always gather to play. It was a small dusty clearing that gathered into slush mud when it rained and boy did she love it when it rained. She was the kind of kid who loved when it rained but it was not that. She only liked the rain for the moments after the rain, the wetness that hung around and the— well, she was a kid, she liked the puddles and the mud. It was not the scene after the rain, where nature looked at its best after a fresh shower as the shy sun rays trickled to refract against the water droplets. Sure, she must have liked that but Taeho knew it was more that she could play with something so forbidden. Then, after that…

Taeho's fond smile dropped away. After that, it never ended well for her. Mud and puddles meant that she played. She played so she got dirty. When she got dirty, it happened. It happened easily and for any reason but Taeho was glad he didn't know for what reason it happened. Because when he knew, he hated himself. Then he also knew it happened whenever she got dirty, so he did a lot of stupid things as a small kid. He simply wanted to keep her smiling, he wished that the smile she had at the start of the day would last until when they whispered good night to each other.

But life doesn't go that way, does it?

Now he's here, watching her stand with someone else.

"So dinner?" Taeho mumbled, tearing his eyes away from the kid. He couldn't see the father in her, and he was damn glad that he didn't see a trace of Doyun in the kid's eyes. He looked at Yejeong this time. Properly.

Dinner. Is that ok? His eyes conveyed.

Yejeong looked at him, swallowing hard. Dinner? She wanted to scoff, stomp her feet and scream her lungs out. She wanted it, of course. But if dinner came, it also meant that she wouldn't be able to stay away anymore because she already wanted to fall into his arms right now as his eyes rove over her face. She wanted to feel that again. How everything simply clicks into place when her skin touches his. She whipped her head away, unable to maintain eye contact with him.

Nothing. She didn't give him a reply, simply looked away and refused to look back at him. Does that mean he can do whatever she wants?

"Dinner sounds awesome." Taeho turned to Doyun, switching his business facade on.

This was it. He knew that he didn't want to go back.

"Great! I am so glad! Maybe you can interview me as well, you know. I can't help it. We both share so much so it would make sense that you introduce the man who has made her reach this place!"

His business smile faltered for a split second but Taeho smiled wider and reached out for a handshake, "No, that won't be necessary."

Exactly what was stopping him from murdering this man?

"Really? That's a shame since it would– wow, uh your grip is really strong, huh?" Doyun let out a nervous chuckle as he glanced down at their adjoined hands, Taeho's hand gripping his a little too firmly but enough to make his skin turn white with the extreme pressure. Another ripple of nervous laughter continued as Doyun tried to pull his hand away.

"That–...hahaa.." Doyun tugged his hand, "That's enough now. Sir."

Taeho silently smiled as he kept on gripping Doyun's hand until the latter successfully pulled himself free. Doyun smiled forcibly as he tried not to shake his hand from the pain pulsing through his hand.

"New Ajusshi is strong! Like Gru!"

"Ah!" Yejeong gasped, as though she only realized that her daughter had been there all this while, "Taehee, you shouldn't be out this late. Oh look, there are mosquitoes roaming around you. Let mommy close the shop and we'll go back home, okay?"

"Ma, Taehee wants cake!"

Cake.

The Pastries.

Taeho gulped and looked back at his car, the pastries box lying across the back seat. He looked back and watched Yejeong try to reason her daughter against cake at night. Why was she named Taehee? Taeho cleared his throat and reached up to tug at his collar. He didn't want to get ahead of anything but coming back to find that he is still in love with her, then having a kid with the same name as his. It was almost like he should have never left in the first place.

"Pretty, isn't she?"

Taeho flinched slightly and turned to his side, finding Doyun taking place beside him. Taeho grunted and merely nodded, trying to come off as uninterested as possible.

"You won't believe it, she used to be this really rowdy tomboy during school. Nobody dared to date her." Doyun snickered and shook his head, as though it was the funniest thing in the world.

Taeho had to turn to his side and take a proper look at the bastard, to check if he was being serious. He was too dumbfounded, how can a man make such a comment. Especially to a girl he was pursuing,

"Maybe she didn't care for that because she was already in love with someone else." Taeho snidely remarked but then immediately regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth. He cursed silently, closing his eyes. Doyun frowned, trying to understand what Taeho meant. But then, he didn't care. He shrugged it off.

"Is it that obvious?" Doyun sighed, crossing his arms.

"Hey, i am taking Taehee to the store." Yejeong called, her eyes lingering on Taeho as she passed on a grateful smile to Doyun, "Thank you for looking after her."

"She's like my kid now."

Yejeong laughed, walking away, "But she's not. Then, Sir." She bowed to Taeho before rushing off.

"Damn. What do you have to do around here to land a woman?" Doyun muttered, giving Taeho an incredulous look as he gestured his hands out.

"What did you say was obvious?"

"What? Oh, that." Doyun laughed to himself, waving a hand off, "Leave that, i was stroking my ego."

"By insulting her? You sound like a jerk." Taeho said, all pretense of cordiality suddenly dropping away from his face as he stood up straighter.

"Wha…" Doyun scoffed, taking a careful step back, "What's your problem?"

"That woman has worked for herself. All you have done today is demean her and try to take credit for yourself. I have done everything in my will from putting my fist through your face. Even if i hadn't known you, i would still feel like giving you a taste of my fist would always be the right thing to do because seriously? You're pissing me off by just breathing. So tell me why I shouldn't do it right now."

"W-well—"

"You know what? I don't care." Taeho smiled, finally feeling free, "I am going to do it anyway."

Doyun frowned as he turned towards Taeho. He had barely registered what Taeho had just said when an impact met with his lower right jaw within seconds. He staggered backwards, crouching close to the concrete road as he tried to gather himself. Taeho sighed, flexing his hand as he stood in front of the crouching man. He tried so hard. He wanted to hold back. But after all the comments and how Yejeong seemed truly uncomfortable, his brain acted on its own. It was like a reflex action.

"That's not…" Taeho mumbled, running a red hand through his hair as he took a deep breath, "That should be enough."