Above and Below // SeongJoong

13. Mixed Feelings

DISCLAIMER: I have limited knowledge of the law, so please excuse any mistakes or inaccurate representations of reality. This is fiction, and everything that happens does not reflect any real events.

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First thing in the morning, Hongjoong was welcomed with brisk and escalating footsteps outside his office door, followed by a heavy thump when it swung open and his bespectacled junior bolted in with his forehead gleaming under the lights. "Hyung!" Jongho wailed. "Where have you been the whole week?"

The partner attorney paused for a mere second at the initial surprise before resuming his previous task of hanging up his waxed cotton jacket on the clothes tree. Without bothering to look up, he gestured for the man to close the door and sit while he himself settled on one of the armchairs in front of his desk.

Jongho sat, but so close to the edge that he was sure to fall off, and he had hardly a satisfied look on his face. "You better be honest with me. You 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 took unannounced leaves, let alone for four days in a row! And why didn't you answer your calls and texts? Everyone was looking for you! Do you know how much trouble you––"

"You need to slow down," Hongjoong cut him off nonchalantly. "Do you want coffee? I'll put some ice in yours if you want." He was already standing and heading to the credenza where the espresso machine was. With his back to the other, he asked, "What made you sweat so much anyway?"

Knowing him, the younger would most definitely be distracted and switch gears to make the conversation all about himself, given the chance. And that was exactly what he did. "Do you even have to ask?" he snorted and shuffled back in his cushioned seat. "Of course I ran all the way here once I heard that you finally came to work! All the way from the chairman's office!" He perked up suddenly again, the couch underneath him protesting with every small yet irritating movement he made. "Hyung, because you weren't here, he asked me to give him a report about Ms. Jo's case. You know, the mother who waited for you every day the week before, in case you forgot." His tone was grudging and sullen, almost like a misbehaving child's. "Do you see now, how much mess you left behind for me to clean up?"

Hongjoong turned around just in time to see Jongho raising a fist at him in a feint attack, and he had to smile when the latter flustered at getting caught and tried to act innocent. "I know," he agreed, "you're right, I should've at least given a call to let the firm know what I've been up to." He placed the drinks down on the glass table and crossed his legs in his armchair. "Don't worry about that case, I'll be able to get evidence this Sunday." Seeing that the associate attorney was still stunned, he continued to explain, "I was at home these days, sorting out my thoughts and organizing what I know."

"Wuh-wuh-wait." Jongho placed his cup down, eyes full of skepticism. "Evidence? You don't mean evidence against the Salgeum gang, right?" He must have found the answer on his senior's face and instantly grew more agitated. "No way, did you make contact with the gang itself? Is that why we lost all contact with––" He stopped short, his gaze ever scrutinizing. Hongjoong could almost hear the gears in his brain working and the imaginary click when he understood. "Oh, I see. I see." He crossed his arms and nodded his head slowly. "I knew I had a keen eye for reading people. It's Mr. Park Seonghwa, isn't it? Your boyfriend. It's the only reasonable explanation I can think of for why you decided to avoid work."

The older sipped on his hot coffee as though he had not a care in the world. In truth, he did, and in fact, his heart was racing. That brat can sure be smart when he wants to, he thought somewhat bitterly, but it was not like he did not see this coming at all; he finally showed up today because he was ready to confront his colleague... and ultimately, the truth that he'd refused to believe all along. So, with a calm disposition he did not know he had in him, he opened up about everything that had happened while he was gone, starting with how he'd pretended that Ms. Jo's daughter was his niece to gain more knowledge from Seonghwa on Sunday night. "I really didn't think it would work," he sighed. "Even with all the speculations you've warned me about all along, I really didn't believe someone like Seonghwa would be..."