Chapter Text
Yeosang had just finished smoothing out all the creases on the layers of blankets when Jongho stormed into his room, slammed the door, and threw himself onto the bed, grumbling about something his parents said. Yeosang couldn't hear him clearly, but he knew it was about the topic of marriage. It was something he complained about often— for the past year and a half, in fact.
Marriage talk started in Jongho's first year of university— a few suggestions here and there, and grew more frequent in the following years— but a few weeks before his 25th birthday, they started pressuring him more, since they didn't want him to be "old" and unmarried. He remembered trying to tune out their berating when they only visited Jongho to pressure him into marriage, to ask why he didn't start looking in university. It was absolutely dreadful to hear, and Yeosang so terribly wanted to reach out and comfort the young heir, who ended those nights drinking more than he usually did.
As someone who had spent about the past ten years of his life working for the renowned Choi family, he knew that an arranged marriage was far from what Jongho desired — he struggled, and teetered on the line of duty and heart. Yeosang knew how much the obligation weighed on him, especially since he was the Choi family's only child.
Yeosang remembered the first time he saw the family. The towering CEO, his haughty wife, and the boy who was not that much older than him, who looked at him with wide, curious eyes. They were only teenagers, but Yeosang had found him quite handsome already. He'd got the job because his parents already worked for them, and it was an easy enough job that he could take on after school and during the weekends. After they graduated high school, he moved in with Jongho into a luxurious apartment close to Jongho's prestigious university, where he'd continue helping the young heir keep his apartment tidy throughout their studies, per Jongho's parents' requests, because he needed to "focus on his studies".
While the family provided furnishing, they couldn't provide steady transportation. A few times, Jongho's driver was available for Yeosang, but mostly when Jongho needed him right away, or when he didn't immediately need them. But the driver rarely had time for Yeosang anyway, which he was fine with, since he knew his way around— he took the bus and subway about halfway across town to his university that, while still had a respectable name, was not as prestigious as Jongho's. Every day, he woke up before Jongho to help Jianyu, the cook prepare food, set the table, and clean up. And because of the course load and work, Yeosang didn't have time for any extracurriculars, though he did join the dance club for a just a few weeks before realizing that as much as he loved dancing, he had to give it up because he was exhausted by the end of the day, on top of hardly having any time to himself.
Normally, he would get to the apartment around 9 PM— he made a rule for himself that he couldn't take any classes that went past 8 PM— and work for a few hours while Jongho studied, only studying himself late into the night after he finished whatever cleaning he needed to do and after Jongho fell asleep.
There, away from Jongho's family, their relationship shifted from a domestic and employer to something Yeosang thought impossible: friends. That door of friendship opened one night when Jongho sighed and told Yeosang that his parents wanted him to start thinking about marriage, and that he was struggling to meet their terms, because he didn't want an arranged marriage, he wanted to find someone he loved and marry them. What would happen if you married for love, and it was a person without status? he'd asked. Jongho shook his head. I'd lose everything I worked all my life for. He also confessed to Yeosang about how envious he was, because he would be able to marry for love. It took everything in him to not accidentally profess his feelings.
"I know I have everything that I could ever ask for, but I must confess, there is one thing I envy about you."
"What is it, and why?"
"You weren't born into a position like mine, you don't have to look for a loveless marriage with good prospects for the sake of the company's future. You get to meet someone and fall in love."
Yeosang wanted to laugh. He nearly said, "As if. The one person I've fallen in love with is someone I can't have." Instead, he just shrugged, and told Jongho that sure, while he had the freedom to choose who he loved, it was difficult for him to find a genuine connection. From then on, they talked about more personal things, which really didn't do anything to help diminish Yeosang's feelings.
How he'd let Jongho take over his mind like this, he didn't know— perhaps it came from the way he treated him, because Yeosang knew that plenty of other conglomerate families who treated their workers poorly, and they could do nothing about it, because if they spoke against it, they would simply just be fired and replaced, and they didn't have what the conglomerates had: money and influence.
But it was still bizarre to him, especially because they came from different socioeconomic backgrounds. While Jongho was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Yeosang was born into a low class family that had just enough to get by. After late nights studying and working, Yeosang got into a decent university after high school, even though his academic records were good enough to get him into the top universities. They were worlds apart, and Yeosang knew nothing would ever happen between them, even when he first developed a crush on him. Perhaps, Yeosang thought, it was because they were often in the same space.
Now, Jongho's parents were pressing marriage more than ever, even to the point that they started bringing women over to his estate, and forcing him on dates. A few times they asked him to attend a "private business meeting" in their stead because they couldn't make it, only for him to show up and find out it was a date.
"I'm going to do it," Jongho admitted quietly, defeated.
"Do what?" Yeosang asked. He already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear Jongho say it.
"Get married, even when I don't want to. It's just, well, I don't know, I feel indebted to my parents, and don't want to disappoint them." And just like that, he felt fragments of his heart break into smaller pieces. He didn't know what to say. In the past, he agreed with Jongho when he expressed wanting to marry someone because he loved them, because he truly believed Jongho deserved to fall in love, even before he discovered his own feelings for him.
"Why aren't you saying anything? You've agreed with me so fiercely in the past, but now all you offer me is silence?" Jongho whispered, voice trembling.
"I don't know what you want me to say. I still believe that you have every right to fall in love. But… What am I to say? I'm just a servant. We both know my words hold no weight here."
"But I want to know what you think. I care about what you have to say. You are my friend after all," Jongho begged.
"It isn't right that they're forcing this on you, because as I have said before, you have the right to fall in love, you deserve to fall in love," Yeosang finally said. "But when it comes to it," Yeosang sighed. "It's your decision, and I hope that you'll at least find someone that you can form an amicable relationship with if you can't find romance with them."
Jongho sighed, defeated. He was dissatisfied with his answer and wanted to press for more from Yeosang, but he knew him well enough not to push the topic further. Their evening continued quietly, with Yeosang staying long enough to help him clean up after dinner, and bidding him a good night before he left.
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On his commute home, he knew he needed to look for another job. Something, anything to decrease his proximity to Jongho, because he didn't want to work with them while dealing with a halfway broken heart. Maybe, when he was finally over Jongho, he could return to working for him, if he allowed it, and if it was even an option.
When he pushed the door to his apartment open, his father was preparing dinner, and Yeosang easily joined him after slipping off his shoes and setting down his bag. They exchanged a hug and smiles, before he began chopping up kimchi, onions, garlic, napa cabbage, and green onions while his father began frying up some pork. He handed the kimchi and cabbage over to his father so he could begin assembling the soup as he cut the tofu and began to set the table.
Steaming kimchi soup and rice sat in the middle of assorted dishes; pickled radish, doljaban muchim, and seasoned spinach. Yeosang went to guide help his mother to the table, and over dinner, they all talked about their day, which was usually the same as always— his mother talking about what she saw on TV or what she read, and his father updating them on his mother's condition. After dinner, he cleaned up in the kitchen while his father helped his mother bathe and prepare for bed. As he scrubbed the dishes, he wondered what kind of job would accept him; a young man who had to quit university two years in because of all the responsibilities he shouldered, which included caring for his parents and working long hours in the Choi household in order to pay rent, bills, his mother's medical bills, and to finish paying off whatever was left of his university fees.
He would never blame his parents for their situation, though. They all worked for the Choi family, but after his mother got injured she could no longer work, so his father had to quit to care for her full time since the cost of outside care exceeded their income. Sure, they could have used the handsome compensation from the Choi family for that, but after discussing it as a family, it went towards other necessities.
When Yeosang had finally finished cleaning and showering, he stared at his laptop at nearly 1 AM, scrolling through job listings, unsure where he even could even begin applying. All he knew was that this new job had to pay as much as his current job, or close to it, and that it had to be something he already knew, or something he could learn quickly. Perhaps a new job would be good for him, that way, he'd have something to occupy his mind instead of Jongho Jongho Jongho. He applied to all the available office jobs and data entry jobs, and hoped for the best.
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Jongho hated the talk of marriage. He did not want to get married; at least not to someone he didn't love. If it were up to him, he'd fall in love, propose somewhere special, and have a small, intimate wedding. But instead, he was born as heir of Choi Enterprise, where his life had been mapped out for him even before he was born. He wished that his parents were open to him choosing a marriage partner he loved. But, alas, many families still followed such archaic ways, and unfortunately, his parents were a part of that majority. He could count on one hand the families who let their children marry whom they wanted without consequence. It wasn't like he couldn't love who he wanted, but he knew what happened to plenty of former heirs. They were disowned, cut off by family, and lost nearly everything— parents, family, the luxuries and comfort that were at their fingertips, access to family assets; completely cut off from high society, all their years hard work down the drain. Even Jongho's own parents forbade him from reaching out to these disowned heirs, saying that they would cut him off from his inheritance.
The few dates he went on were underwhelming. He at least wanted to know the women a little more personally, but each time, they only wanted to talk business as if they had already entered into an arrangement. Of course, he knew talking business was important, but he grew bored of it quickly— he already had enough of that during the day, he didn't want to hear it when he wasn't working. The closest he got to anything personal was with a woman named Jiyoo who wore colorful accessories and jewelry that reminded him of tropical fish, who talked about her adoration for affinity for numbers that led to her to become the head of finance for her father's company. Perhaps he'd marry her. He could already see the headlines. Choi Jongho, Heir of Choi Enterprises Marries Lee Jiyoo, Heir of Lee Jewelers is what he imagines all over the news within the next year, which wasn't as romantic as Kim Hongjoong, Heir of Kim Technologies Steps Down, Marries High School Sweetheart, and left him feeling hollow.
The next morning, Jongho didn't even notice Yeosang entering his room, for he was too lost in thought about the date he was to go on later that evening after working for his father all day. It was still early, yet he had to plan his outfit. There was not enough time between finishing work and the date to come home and even change, let alone wash up.
There were three suit coats on his bed and he paced, stressed out about which one to pick. Until Yeosang spoke up after staring at him for a few moments.
"You seem stressed. What's wrong?" he asked.
"I have a date after work. And I don't know which ones to pick." Yeosang stared at him as if he grew another head.
"Why don't you just pick two? One color for work, the other for the date," he suggested. The answer was so simple and obvious that Jongho had to take a moment and scoff at himself for being so foolish.
"Thank you, Yeosang," he said with a smile. Yeosang just smiled and shook his head. Just as he reached the door, Jongho called to him. "Wait! Can you help me pick, please? I'm sure you'd know what looks good on me?"
Yeosang smiled. "I can help you, but there's no guarantee that you'll look good," he chuckled. "Now, why don't you start by trying them all on?" Jongho smiled and obeyed, changing between all three jackets until Yeosang finally made his decision. "The two darker ones look a lot better on you. Quite flattering. It makes your skin glow." Jongho blushed. Was that a compliment? He shook his head, thanked Yeosang, and left for work.
As soon as Jongho left, the smile Yeosang wore fell away to a neutral expression as he began his daily chores. He started by sorting Jongho's clothes into different piles: dry clean, lights, darks, and colors; a luxury he didn't have— he just threw everything together and hoped for the best.
First, he sent the dry clean clothes off to a dry cleaner's, before starting on the rest of the laundry. There were two sets of washers and dryers in Jongho's laundry room, so he started two loads and headed out to do a little bit of cleaning throughout the rest of the house between loads.
Once he finished washing and drying his clothes, he hauled them back upstairs to Jongho's room, where he carefully sorted the clothes further. All of them were carefully ironed and either folded and neatly put away in drawers, or hung in the closet on silk-lined hangers.
As Yeosang restocked Jongho's fridge, he couldn't help but think of how different their worlds were. He was always aware of their differences, but the weight of it settled on his shoulders more heavily now that Jongho's engagement and marriage to someone equally wealthy was slowly approaching. Fresh fish from the best markets, organic fruits and vegetables imported from California's fertile valley, many different cuts of fresh beef, pork, and chicken from the best butchers, and produce from the best farmers. So much food for one person.
Back home, his own fridge wasn't even this large and stocked, and three, originally four, people depended on that fridge. It was filled with produce from local farmers who sold their goods at the street markets. They bought their meat and other food from the local supermarket. And instant ramen— they had plenty of instant ramen— an item that Yeosang never found in Jongho's home. Which made complete sense to him, because who, of his status, would willingly have something like instant ramen, when he could have fresh, luxurious food at his fingertips and call?
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When Jongho returned home from his date, he was exhausted. Since the morning, he was stressed all day about the it that he found it difficult to focus during meetings. The only thing that calmed him down was Yeosang. He couldn't stop thinking about the other's smile and compliment. Perhaps he should ask Yeosang to help him more with his outfit choices if he wanted to hear more of that.
Thankfully, by the time the date rolled around, it went better than he thought. It was his third date with Jiyoo, and he learned a little bit more about her, namely her aquarium filled with bright fish that she loved dearly and cared for meticulously. They got along better than he hoped, and he was glad for that, but it left him full of dread; that he was about to bind himself to a union that wouldn't fulfill him. But as the heir of Choi Enterprises, that was simply a fact he had to overlook. Perhaps over time, he could grow to love her, romantically or not, the way his parents eventually loved each other.
"When we were your age, we couldn't even choose who we wanted to marry, be glad that at least you have that choice," berated his father. Jongho scoffed at that. He didn't really have any choice— just the illusion of one.
As soon as he pushed the door open, he scanned the room, and his eyes fell on the sight of Yeosang asleep on the couch, and it pushed all his worries and anxieties away. He looked so young and peaceful. The creases between his eyebrows softened to nothing, though he still wore a frown on his face, as if he was still thinking of all his troubles while asleep.
On the coffee table were his trinkets, neatly and artfully arranged. Just then, Yeosang's phone rang, breaking the silence. Quickly, Jongho reached for it to check who it was. Upon seeing the name of the contact, he immediately picked up and introduced himself.
"Hello, Mr. Kang, it's Choi Jongho… Yes, Yeosang is fine… I have a guest room he can stay in overnight, it's well stocked with spare clothes and hygiene products… No, it's okay, don't worry about it. Of course, Mr. Kang, have a good night."
After he hung up, he turned to Yeosang, wondering what his next move was… Which was to probably get him upstairs into the guest room. He lowered himself to pick up Yeosang, surprised at how light he was, despite knowing very well that he had some muscle on him. He shifted a little in his sleep, before resting his head on Jongho's shoulder. He froze for a second and stared at Yeosang, hoping he didn't disturb his sleep. Once he settled, Jongho continued to the guest room.
Inside the guest room, he carefully placed Yeosang on the bed before turning the lights on at a dim setting. He was about to leave, but it just felt wrong to leave him there like that. He and Yeosang were friends, so there shouldn't be any problem helping him change into pajamas, right? He'd done that plenty of times before, with Yunho and Mingi after a night of drinking. Besides, Yeosang had his fair share of helping Jongho into pajamas…
Carefully, he took off Yeosang's shirt and pants and folded them the best he could, though they were no match for Yeosang's folding, before dressing him in a set of dark tan cotton pajamas. As soon as he finished, he tucked him under the blankets and put his phone on the night stand, turned the lights off completely, and closed the door. After he finished his own nightly routine, he laid in bed, feeling more content and rested than he had ever felt in such a long time. He fell asleep within minutes.