• Love For Rent •JC

Chapter 10 • Thoughts.

Third Person
Omniscient Pov:

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The gala had finally come to an end. As the last of the guests drifted out and Seungcheol was pulled aside for a final round of handshakes, Jeonghan stepped outside, feeling the chill of the late night air wash over him.

He took a moment to steady himself, grateful for a quiet moment away from the evening's constant charade. When Hae-in had approached him with this deal, he had imagined formalities, a few polite exchanges here and there-not hours of being glued to Seungcheol's side, smiling through endless introductions. The entire night had felt like a performance with no intermission.

He would've gone straight home, but Hae-in's assistant had approached him earlier in the evening with a room key and clear instructions: he was to stay nearby, in case he was needed early the next morning.

The assistant explained that Hae-in had arranged a room at a modest hotel close to the gala venue for convenience, though Jeonghan suspected the arrangement had just as much to do with keeping him 'on hand' as it did with practicality.

It was a strange, almost surreal experience. He'd never stayed in a hotel before-not even an inexpensive one, let alone one as clean and respectable as this. The hotel was comfortable but unassuming, clearly intended to suit a personal assistant rather than a high-status guest.

The room had plain white walls, soft lighting, and a small window overlooking the city. A queen-sized bed sat in the center, flanked by two modest nightstands with brass lamps. Everything was tidy, minimalist, and felt worlds away from the worn furniture and peeling paint in the apartment he shared with his family.

After freshening up, Jeonghan lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The contrast between this temporary setting and his real life was jarring. Only hours ago, he'd been surrounded by luxury, standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the wealthiest people in the city.

But here he was, lying in a room that wasn't his, paid for by people he barely knew, in a life that wasn't truly his. The thought made him feel strangely hollow, a fleeting sense of belonging that only heightened the awareness of what was waiting for him back home.

His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was a message from his older brother, Minhyun.

-How's the new job, Jeonghan?-

A smile tugged at the corners of Jeonghan's mouth. Minhyun's brief check-in was such a small gesture, but it always reminded Jeonghan of his brother's quiet, constant support.

Since their father had passed and their mother had walked away, Minhyun had stepped into the role of caregiver, doing his best to support their grandmother and younger sister, Yeeun.

Jeonghan did what he could, of course-he had since high school, working part-time jobs just to add to the household income. But Minhyun had been the backbone, and his sacrifices hadn't gone unnoticed.

Jeonghan typed out a quick reply. -Busy, but okay. Tell Grandma and Yeeun I'll bring groceries tomorrow.-

He put his phone down, closing his eyes and trying to settle into sleep. But his thoughts were restless, drifting back to the hotel room, the gala, and the life waiting for him outside of this temporary arrangement.

Back at home, the weight of debt hung over him constantly. He could still picture the stack of bills that sat on the kitchen counter, the balance growing each month no matter how hard he and Minhyun worked.

Minhyun had been paying down a loan for years, working long hours at the factory to cover the interest, but their grandmother's health was starting to falter. Medical expenses were inevitable, and it was only a matter of time before they faced yet another bill they couldn't pay.