Chapter 18

Seungcheol was on his way to a lecture given by one of Japan’s biggest magnates. He’s been looking forward to this lecture not because some old Japanese man is speaking, but because he’ll see Jeonghan for the first time since the party.

Yes, Yoon Jeonghan has decided to come home just right after he left the apartment the day before yesterday. He wanted to go earlier, but Wonwoo advised him not to; that its better for them to meet outside.

Having no choice on the matter, he decided to turn his attention to this major lecture he’s going to. It’s a one-time event that is open for the entire business program in the university; Financial Management, Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, etc. It’s one of the main events for the semester that’s why everyone is compelled to go.

He took his seat at the back of the auditorium, making sure that he can see everyone from his place. He intends to transfer seats once he’s spotted Jeonghan.

Soon, students filled the place and he tried his best to spot his longhaired friend. He scanned every seat in front of him but failed to see Jeonghan. It wasn’t until he looked to his right that he succeeded.

Like him, Jeonghan was seating on the directly opposite side of the auditorium. He was sitting in the rightmost seat in the last row. Seungcheol immediately stood up and went to Jeonghan’s side and sat on his side. The longhaired boy looked pretty surprised at his sudden appearance.

“Where the hell have you been, Yoon Jeonghan?” He asked Jeonghan in a hiss.

“What do you mean, where have I been?” the other asked him. Seungcheol couldn’t handle this. Why is he acting like nothing happened?

“I mean where have you been for the last week? You didn’t even leave me a message? Or at least Wonwoo!” He snapped, trying his hardest to keep his voice down. The lecture has begun and everyone was listening to the speaker. Jeonghan was listening intently to the Japanese old man.

“The hotel. I never left.” He answered in a hushed manner. “Now can you please keep quiet? It’s hard to listen to Korean and Japanese language simultaneously.” He said, sparing him a glance. Seungcheol felt as insulted as he was the day they first met. Is this the first thing they’re gonna talk about after a week of silence? He was so disappointed by everything that he couldn’t help but retort.

“There’s a reason why his translator is there, dummy.” He sneered. “Listen to the translator and you won’t have to listen to two language at the same time.” He explained, nudging the other repeatedly. Jeonghan was irritated by this; judging from the cold look on his face. He was glaring on Seungcheol when he replied.

“Or you could shut up and wait for the lecture to finish before we talk. And you’re the dummy since you need a translator to understand what the speaker is saying. Now, shut up.” Jeonghan retorted. Seungcheol couldn’t find anything to answer to that. It was good that he’s getting a response from the other, though he would’ve preferred if it were a cheerful one.

He forced himself to listen to the speaker, or the translator rather, and find it actually a good lecture. Soon, he was taking notes as well and was disappointed when it finished too soon for his liking.

Wonwoo sat on the cafeteria with Seokmin. It was their free period and he’s forced the other to actually eat something on time.

“Are you sure your boyfriend won’t mind us eating together?” Seokmin asked him. He blushed at the mention of his boyfriend. It was a rather new thing for him to hear and he still feel shy at the thought of it.

“He would, but I don’t care.” He answered nonchalantly. He was worried about it, actually, but he knew that he needed to set things straight at the start of their relationship so that Mingyu won’t turn out to be a dictator.

“Why don’t you? I do.” Seokmin answered nervously. “I just don’t want to be in the middle of something. I don’t like to be misunderstood.” He explained.

“Don’t worry, Seokmin. I’ve already cleared things out with Mingyu that you’re my study partner and that I won’t change anything just so he’s okay with it.” Wonwoo assured his friend. It was a rather long conversation when it came to Seokmin. Mingyu was livid at the thought of them together but Wonwoo did his best to say that Seokmin is his friend as much as Jeonghan was to him. They were classmates that turned out to be friends. Studying together and having a good grade out of it doesn’t hurt either, so he made sure that Mingyu understood that he wouldn’t be changing anything.

“Well, if you’re sure.” Seokmin shrugged. “By the way, Lawyer Cho is here today!” He added. Wonwoo gave him a surprised look.

“Really? Do we have a special lecture with him today?” He asked his friend. He knew from experience that Lawyer Cho is a very knowledgeable person and one could learn a lot from him.

“No, he doesn’t” Seokmin shook his head. “He’s here as counselor. There’s this Japanese Magnate that he works for, and that is who is giving a lecture today.” He explained. “It’s for all of business program so I expect Jeonghan hyung, Seungcheol hyung, and your boyfriend to be there.”

“I don’t think Mingyu would be there. Either that or he’s gonna be late.” Wonwoo said, knowing Mingyu’s tendency to be tardy.

“Oh right!” Seokmin blurted out. “Lawyer Cho wanted to talk to Jeonghan hyung later!” He suddenly remembered. Again, Wonwoo found Lawyer Cho’s interest on his hyung a little weird.

“Why?” He couldn’t help but ask. Seokmin gave him a knowing look. It says ‘don’t even go there’.

“I don’t know. I’ll just text Jeonghan hyung to stay behind after the lecture.” Seokmin answered him.

The lecture has ended and Jeonghan was still sitting while all the other students are leaving.

“Why are we still here, Han?” Mingyu asked him. He came in thirty minutes late into the lecture and wasn’t even fazed by it.

“Seokmin asked me to stay behind. Someone wanted to talk to me.” He answered the silver-haired boy while looking out for Lawyer Cho.

“Look out, Cheol Hyung. Han’s got someone who wants to talk to him.” Mingyu called Seungcheol; giving him a teasing look.

“Who wants to talk to you, Jeong?” Seungcheol asked the longhaired boy. They were sitting together with Seungcheol in the middle. They haven’t left their seats because Jeonghan wanted to stay behind. Seungcheol has something to discuss with the longhaired boy and this person is delaying them.

“Lawyer Cho.” He said, craning out his neck to look for the Japanese Lawyer.

“Uhm, why is he looking for you?” Seungcheol asked further, a bit impatiently.

“How do you know him?” Mingyu asked as well. Jeonghan looked at them before answering.

“I met him first in Seokmin’s house. Wonwoo and I went there before, and Lawyer Cho was there as well. He’s a Japanese Lawyer who helps Seokmin in his studies, but since they didn’t have a translator that night, I did it for them.” He explained. “Lawyer Cho was impressed with me, I think, and he really thought that I looked Japanese more than Korean.” He added. The two nodded in understanding.

“Well, where is he now?” Mingyu asked him again.

“I dunno, Gyu. That’s why I’m looking for him.” Jeonghan answered rather pointedly.

“Why don’t we get out of our seats and go to the front, Jeong? That way we can look for him properly.” Seungcheol suggested. Jeonghan tucked his hair with frustration behind his ear before answering.

“I want to do that as well, but Seokmin told me to wait here and Lawyer Cho would come to me personally.” He answered. Seungcheol shrugged, not saying anything.

They saw three men walk out of the backstage and descended down the stage. Jeonghan stood up when he saw Lawyer Cho together with the speaker from earlier and his translator. They waited until the three elderly men walked to them.

“Good day to you three, this is Minatozaki Kyouhei of Minatozaki Technologies and his legal advisor Lawyer Cho.” The translator introduced the two. Lawyer Cho looked at him and gave him a smile. Jeonghan looked at Minatozaki Kyouhei and saw him already staring at him with wide eyes.

“Mr. Baek, I don’t think your translations would be needed for now as Jeonghan-san already understands us just fine.” Lawyer Cho said in Japanese. He next looked to Jeonghan and acknowledged him.

“Jeonghan-san, I trust it that you’ve been well?” He asked, taking out his hand. Jeonghan took his hand and shook it before answering.

“Yes, Lawyer Cho, thank you. Have you been good as well?” Jeonghan inquired after. It was the first time that Seungcheol and Mingyu heard him speak in Japanese but not the first time they heard him speak in another language. Indeed, Jeonghan sounded like a native Japanese man, but they could understand and speak the language as well; only not as fluent.

“Yes, Jeonghan-san, I’ve been well. Seokmin has told me that you’d be attending this lecture. How did you like it?” The lawyer asked him. Jeonghan gave him a smile and said that it was very informative. He looked at Mr. Minatozaki and saw him still staring at him with wide eyes. He tried to ignore it as to not disrespect anyone, but it was getting a bit awkward and his friends are starting to notice.

“We’re going to be staying here until the next week; would it be alright if we invited you to lunch in the course of the week?” Mr. Cho asked him politely. Despite finding the invitation a little weird, he still felt grateful for such a compliment. After all, Mr. Minatozaki wasn’t just anyone.

“Of course, sir! I would be delighted to!” Jeonghan replied to the invitation. “If you’d just give me your number, then it would be settled.” He added. Lawy