A Cold Stranger

There was no such thing called a perfect plan. Young Jae had to stay in the recovery room along with his cousin as there was an issue in work. Chin Hae was too busy on-call sorting out the messed up quotation in getting a project. From what Young Jae heard, it was regarding the building contract, and the quotation amount was more than what Chin Hae instructed. If not for his secretary checking at the last moment everything would have been a mess and landed Young Jae in huge trouble.

Chin Hae was angry. Young Jae understood his angry cousin was holding his anger in and not lashing out on his subordinates. That was new. Young Jae had seen his father, uncle, even the eldest cousin, took their anger out on their subordinates and employees even if those innocent people have nothing to do with the reason for anger. They show their anger to anyone and everyone. Feeling that they were entitled to it just because they were the boss. Here his cousin was trying to be calm and make everything work as he tries to maintain his composure.

Young Jae didn't realise that Chin Hae has to be calm because his role was not a bad cop. He was supposed to be the good cop. KING YAMA or his beloved hell-hounds always played the bad cop. So he needs to wait till BB gives the judgement and punishment.

Young Jae felt very sad as his cousin was supposed to leave and meet their nephew an hour ago but here he was sitting in the couch in the very same room pulling the hair in frustration.

Young Jae couldn't get over the thought that it was his fault. If Chin Hae were not taking care of him, then wouldn't he be in the office doing the work and he would have made sure there was no error in the work. Everything has to become a mess the minute he was involved. The strong feeling of everything being his fault was making him question his life. He was nothing but a burden.

Young Jae was unknowingly forced to reality from spiralling down in his negative thoughts when Chin Hae placed his hands on his cousin's shoulder.

"I am going to make a few calls out. They are confidential ones. I will come in a few minutes. Take care. If you need anything, call the nurse." with that he kept the intercom buzzer near his recovering cousin.

Right when Chin Hae left, the nurse entered the room to give him the sponge bath. The intercom buzzer became useless.

Young Jae was used to the nurse giving his the sponge bath when Chin Hae was busy. Or it was usually his cousin takes care of his needs. It's not like Young Jae could take care of his need with his right arm still in a sling, both the knees with a healing external injury, one leg in plaster for the broken ankle and other ankle secured in bandage wrapped because of ligament tear. Young Jae was still surprised at how he managed to accept his state. Maybe having both his cousins care for him and baby doll being a reality anchor helped him these few days.

There was a knock on the door. He thought it was his cousin and asked the person to come in. But the person was not Chin Hae. Young Jae froze when he heard the voice… familiar but not so familiar voice…

"Annyeonghaseyo! Where is Chin Hae Hyung?" The pleasant calm voice asked the two people in the room.

He was met with silence instead of the answer. Young Jae was very uncomfortable because he was almost naked in front of a stranger as the nurse was giving him the sponge bath. But the stranger was not at all bothered by it. He was standing calmly, expecting a response from both in the room. The nurse knew who he was and decided not to answer.

After a few more minutes of awkward silence, Young Jae decided to speak.

"He went to make a few calls. May I know who is this?" he curbed down his awkwardness and asked.

"I am his dongsaeng." the cryptic answer didn't give any more information. The voice was cold and distant.

Young Jae couldn't help but frown beneath the bandage, which was covering his eyes. He understood why the other was secretive as they were strangers but the being cold was uncalled for. What harm could it bring revealing the name... after all he was here to meet his cousin.

"Stop frowning." the stranger chided him. Young Jae was surprised. How could the stranger knew he was frowning when his eyes and a considerable part of his forehead was covered under the bandage.

As if he heard the thought of Young Jae, the stranger answered him. "When one frown, it is not only the eyebrows that move." With that, the stranger became quiet and went back to observing the people in the room.