The Pathetically Jealous Man, Chapter 2.1
CHAPTER 2.1
“I’ll take the photo op now, Mr. Lim,” the photographer said to Taesup. “All right, one, two, three.”
Taesup smiled brightly in front of the coffee truck, holding a cup in one hand. He had paid for a coffee truck to support his childhood friend Lee Seonho, who was appearing on Idol Maker. The lot was mostly deserted except for a few staff members, probably because filming was still in progress.
Taesup wasn’t usually the type to send out coffee trucks, but Seonho had asked him to show his face to his juniors and make an appearance as a senior of the industry. Not to mention, he thought he might be able to see Ma Jehyuk at the site—the latter being the much bigger reason. So he paid for a coffee truck for the first time in his life.
After taking the photo, Taesup wiped the smile from his face and once again assumed a haggard expression. He hadn’t been able to sleep since hearing directly from Lumin that he was dating Ma Jehyuk. Every time he lay down in bed and closed his eyes to sleep, an afterimage of Lumin fucking Ma Jehyuk would linger in his mind, making it impossible for him to sleep. His face was puffy, and dark circles lay thick under his eyes. He looked terrible.
One reason for sex partners to be exclusive was because of sexual hygiene, so it was only natural that one wouldn’t have a lover while in a sponsored relationship. Taesup was a safe, careful guy, after all.
That’s right. I’m not here for any other reason. It’s just to be safe and hygienic.
After taking the photo op, he didn’t return to his car and instead stood tall with a gloomy face while chewing the corner of the paper cup he held. He took out his phone and once again looked at the internet article he’d been reading.
[Lee Lumin admits to being in relationship with older man, a first for the entertainment industry!]
“Fuck,” he grunted. “This headline sucks.”
Older man? Goddammit.
Today, the official article about Lumin’s relationship had been published, much to Taesup’s dismay. Rather surprisingly, the general public’s reactions had been fairly positive so far. Taesup wondered when the country had become so open-minded. It was almost as though readers had expected it, and they left comments on the article, guessing who the mystery man could be. It felt like Taesup was the only person in the world who opposed Lumin’s relationship.
Soon after, the trainees, actors, and production staff of Idol Maker finished filming, came outside, and lined up in front of the truck to drink coffee. They each thanked Taesup, a senior in the entertainment industry: “Thank you, Sunbae, I’ll enjoy the coffee” and “Thank you, Mr. Lim.” Taesup answered each greeting with a soft smile, even though he was exhausted from a lack of sleep. And he continued to look for Ma Jehyuk to show his face.
It wasn’t like he had feelings for Lumin or wanted to date him. He was just sad that Lumin had met someone else and would leave him when they’d had so much fun playing these last few years. That was all. It wasn’t anything deeper.
So today, he was going to meet Ma Jehyuk and tell him to break up with Lumin.
“Does this punk not even drink coffee?” he muttered under his breath, tired of waiting.
Taesup yawned with his mouth wide open. Ever since he started sponsoring Lumin, he had always slept well. It was the first time in a long while that he had experienced insomnia, and he was exhausted.
“Lim Taesup Sunbae! Thanks for the coffee.”
Speak of the devil. Ma Jehyuk appeared. He came over with a coffee in his hand, looking well-groomed for the shoot, and greeted his senior warmly. He looked flashy on the outside, but he was ten years older than Lumin, so how the hell had he seduced Lumin? Taesup let out a loud, unpleasant sigh.
I have to keep my cool in front of this ugly bastard. Just say what I have to say, no more.
Taesup opened his mouth several times.
“Who says keep your ugly cool?”
“Excuse me?”
Haa, shit, why is nothing going right? I ended up spewing nonsense because I was so focused on being cool.
Ma Jehyuk tilted his head and made a bewildered face.
Taesup pursed his lips and let out a deep sigh. He wiped his face with his palm and opened his mouth again.
“No, I mean, who’re you calling ‘Sunbae’?”
“What? Oh, I...”
Ma Jehyuk took a step back, flustered by his senior’s sudden, provocative tone.
“Anyways, I came here ’cause I have something to tell you.”
“What? Me?”
“Yeah, you. I, well, I heard the news. About you and Lumin...”
The fact that you’re dating him, you fucking bastard.
Taesup swallowed the words he wanted to say and scratched his forehead as his words trailed off. Only then did Ma Jehyuk smile annoyingly, as if he had realized why Taesup was being so hostile toward him.
“Oh, yes, that’s right. Lumin and I are dating. Did you read the article?”
Taesup’s jaw twitched, and he clenched his teeth. Already, Ma Jehyuk dared to say words like “Lumin and I.”
This goddamned prick.
Not only was he dating Lumin, who was ten years younger than him, but he even acknowledged the dating rumors openly. Taesup had never imagined this guy could be so arrogant.
Taesup couldn’t allow himself to get aggravated. He had to stay calm. He wouldn’t allow himself to get one-upped by this brat.
“Hah, aren’t you even embarrassed about the age gap? Never mind that. Don’t go around playing with a kid’s heart, got it?”
“I heard about you from Lumin. He said the two of you are very close, like brothers.”
Ma Jehyuk cocked an eyebrow, emphasizing the word “close.” If he had known that Taesup was actually sponsoring Lumin, he would have been angry instead of describing them as “like brothers,” so Taesup was positive that Ma Jehyuk didn’t know the real relationship between Lumin and himself.
“Yeah. We are close. Kinda like brothers. That’s why—”
“Hyung.”
Taesup was taken aback by the word “hyung” coming out of Ma Jehyuk’s mouth.
“I’m serious about Lumin.” Ma Jehyuk’s eyes, which had been sly and bright, became clearer and more serious.
“What?”
Taesup’s expression changed to one of bewilderment, looking like he was talking with a crazy person.
What the hell, you punk?
“I approached Minnie first, and he finally gave in after I pursued him for a long time. Minnie and I are serious about each other now,” Ma Jehyuk continued talking with a look of great determination. “Another article’s going to be published soon with my name in it. ‘Actor Ma Jehyuk admits to dating idol Lumin!’” He waved his palm in the air as if creating a headline.
“Minnie, Minnie, Minnie.” Fuck!
Taesup felt like an old man in the back who had no place to be. Ma Jehyuk was basically treating him like his lover’s father. What could he even say? I’m against this relationship? Or, I give you my blessing? Nothing could change how awful he felt. He swallowed, but his mouth was dry and burning. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Ma Jehyuk was looking straight into his eyes with a serious look.
If I’d known this would happen, I would have accepted Lumin’s confession a year ago…
Wait, what do I mean ‘accept’?
The absurd moment of regret came and went, and Taesup quickly came to his senses. He coughed in vain against his lightly clenched fist.
Ma Jehyuk was acting like he was trying to get Taesup’s approval, but barely really. Plus, he was living under a delusion. What was so great about a relationship? People did it all the time, and they broke up all the time.
“You talk like you’re in love or something great, but you—”
“Oh, wait a second, please.”
Taesup was just about to teach him a life lesson when Ma Jehyuk gestured with his palm to tell him to stop talking. He took out his ringing phone and checked the caller. Then he nodded, pretending to be sorry, and answered the phone.
“Hey. Yeah, I’m with Taesup Sunbae now. Yeah. Really? Okay, got it.”
Little punk. Don’t call me your “sunbae.”
Taesup’s expression crumpled, and he suppressed his anger. He was rendered speechless at the arrogance of his junior, who dared to cut him off to speak on the phone. As he huffed and puffed, he was unable to hear the familiar voice on the other end of the phone.
Ma Jehyuk finished the call and put his phone in his pocket.
“Go ahead,” he said, looking back at Taesup with serious eyes.
Is this punk serious right now…?
Taesup felt like he was losing this battle somehow. He knew he should retreat, but before that, he wanted to strike at least one blow. In short, he wanted to cut off the relationship between Lumin and this asshole.
Taesup scratched his forehead, deep in thought. Anyways, Lumin still had time left on his sponsorship contract, and he was technically required to come running whenever Taesup called (though in fact, the two were extremely considerate of each other and coordinated their schedules) to spread his legs and cry under him.
“So you don’t think your feelings for Lumin’ll change, no matter what?” Taesup regained his composure, thinking that he could still gain the upper hand.
“What?”
Ma Jehyuk raised an eyebrow, questioning Taesup’s loaded question.
“And you know how close Lumin and I are. Maybe you should show some manners to me,” Taesup continued arrogantly.
I’m sponsoring him. Your young lover runs to me as soon as I call his name, and then he cries beneath me.
Taesup couldn’t exactly say that, so he blurted out the other rude words instead. Of course, Ma Jehyuk had no idea what kind of relationship they had and showed a dumbfounded expression. Taesup felt a small sense of relief.
“No matter what? Who the hell are you to ask that, old man?”
“Wh-what? Old man?” Taesup, who had been feeling proud a second ago, stuttered.
“Yeah, old man. You clearly didn’t want me to call you sunbae,” Ma Jehyuk continued, flustering Taesup. “And your relationship to Minnie? What, are you his uncle? Or his guardian or something?”
“L-Lumin and I...” Taesup hesitated, shocked by the geriatric accusations of “old man,” “uncle,” and “guardian.”
In truth, they were nothing. A sponsored relationship? That wasn’t anything except money and sex. Taesup couldn’t understand himself either. He knew he had no right to make a fuss when he didn’t carry any feelings for Lumin and had rejected him a year ago. (He’d even called Lumin the next day, tied up his arms and legs, and did it like crazy.) But for whatever reason, it bothered him that Lumin was dating a guy like Ma Jehyuk. He didn’t like it.
Taesup was rendered speechless by the question and simply stood silently and shook his head in frustration.
“Guess who!”
Suddenly, Ma Jehyuk’s wary eyes were covered by pale hands. They were hands that Taesup had seen many, many times. The hands he’d seen so often in bed, hands that clenched the sheets and trembled, hands that would grip Taesup’s shoulders...
They were Lumin’s hands.
ST: Hope you enjoyed! Such a funny chapter.
CHAPTER 1.1
CHAPTER 1.2
CHAPTER 2.1
CHAPTER 2.2
CHAPTER 3.0
CHAPTER 4.1
CHAPTER 4.2
CHAPTER 4.3
EPILOGUE
Ahjussi suffering is satisfying
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