Even a Lonely Squirrel Has Its Burrow - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

 

As Sa Muheon opened the front door and stepped inside, he silently counted to himself. Before he even reached three, Garam peeked his head out from the living room.

 

Seeing Garam’s face light up with joy upon spotting him, Sa Muheon suppressed a smile and walked further into the house.

 

“You’re back?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Even back when he thought Garam was just an ordinary squirrel, it had felt nice to be greeted by someone upon returning home.

 

Of course, that was all there was to it. Remembering the remarks he’d heard earlier today questioning his relationship with Garam, Sa Muheon found himself pausing mid-step.

 

Noticing this, Garam tilted his head in curiosity and approached him.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Ah… it’s nothing.”

 

Sa Muheon shook his head lightly and headed toward the living room. It seemed Garam had been reading a book on the couch while he was at the office, as there was an open book and a plate full of cranberries on the table.

 

As Sa Muheon stared intently at the plate piled high with bright red berries, Garam quickly darted toward the couch as if realizing something. Holding the plate in his hands, he smiled awkwardly.

 

“If you keep eating sweets like that…”

 

“It’s just for today!”

 

Before Sa Muheon could finish his scolding, Garam interrupted with an indignant look. His grip on the plate tightened, as though he was afraid it might be snatched away.

 

“Well…”

 

Hearing Garam’s defense, Sa Muheon stepped back, wondering if he had been too harsh.

 

Come to think of it, while Garam had been cute and round in his squirrel form, his human appearance was far from that.

 

Without realizing it, Sa Muheon found himself gazing at Garam’s face. He was reminded, yet again, that the boy had quite a handsome appearance.

 

He thought he’d had a similar realization before—Garam likely drew plenty of attention while growing up.

 

Although Sa Muheon wasn’t particularly interested in people’s appearances, he was at least aware that his own face wasn’t bad-looking. He also knew that, for better or worse, he exuded an aura that kept others at a distance.

 

In contrast, Garam’s face seemed to be composed entirely of soft, gentle features. Unlike Sa Muheon’s entirely black hair and eyes, Garam had brown hair that looked soft to the touch and lighter brown eyes that gave him a squirrel-like impression.

 

Sa Muheon had been staring at Garam’s eyes for some time when the boy turned his head slightly, prompting him to realize he’d been looking for too long.

 

He usually didn’t feel so conscious of Garam, but today’s earlier comments seemed to have gotten under his skin. Clicking his tongue in irritation, Sa Muheon noticed Garam flinch and look at him.

 

“Uh… is something wrong with me?”

 

“No.”

 

Sa Muheon answered curtly, loosening his tie as he headed to his bedroom. He stopped midway, recalling his conversation with Chief Han before leaving the office.

 

“Are you busy today?”

 

“No…?”

 

Garam shook his head slightly. He was currently in the most leisurely phase of his life.

 

In the past, he had been constantly busy with part-time jobs, but now, living in Sa Muheon’s house and using the card he’d been given, he had no reason to be busy.

 

So much so that he’d started reading books he normally wouldn’t, just to pass the time.

 

Sa Muheon was well aware of Garam’s free schedule. But hearing it confirmed again, he nodded lightly.

 

“Then let’s go out for a bit.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I thought we’d eat out tonight. Don’t want to?”

 

“No!”

 

Garam quickly replied, hesitated for a moment, and then placed the plate he was holding back on the table before hurrying to his room.

 

He returned shortly, fully dressed and visibly excited about the outing. His eagerness was endearing, like that of a child. Perhaps it was because of his young age, but Sa Muheon found Garam rather adorable. Garam seemed to accept this attention as natural.

 

But that was all it was. Sa Muheon was objective about his own feelings.

 

So the idea that he was keeping Garam around for other reasons was utterly absurd. A faint chuckle escaped Sa Muheon’s lips.

 

Even as they left the house, Garam continued chatting. At first, he’d only answered Sa Muheon’s questions, hesitant to speak up on his own. But now, having grown comfortable, he often initiated conversations.

 

“What are we going to eat?”

 

“Something good.”

 

“Wow.”

 

Garam exclaimed in awe, not even knowing what they’d be eating. Amused, Sa Muheon couldn’t hide his smile as he turned to look at him. Garam grinned back and asked again.

 

“What are we eating?”

 

“Who knows. You’re not picky, right?”

 

“Nope. I can eat anything.”

 

As Garam nodded, Sa Muheon briefly pondered what they should eat.

 

Even after getting into the car, the decision eluded him. Tapping the steering wheel lightly with his fingers, Sa Muheon finally made up his mind and started driving.

 

Their destination turned out to be a large hanok. Garam’s eyes grew wide as he eagerly looked around the area.

 

“Is this a restaurant?”

 

“Yes. Stop looking around and come inside.”

 

At Sa Muheon’s call, Garam finally scurried over to his side. Sa Muheon, as if familiar with the place, moved further inside.

 

As he entered, the staff at the entrance greeted him warmly.

 

“Director Sa, it’s been a while.”

 

“I’ve been busy.”

 

“Are you dining with anyone else?”

 

“Just the two of us. Please prepare a quiet room.”

 

While Sa Muheon conversed with the staff, Garam stayed close by, his eyes darting around.

 

It seemed he wanted to appear calm, but he was so absorbed in observing his surroundings that it felt like the sound of his eyes moving could almost be heard.

 

As they followed the staff further inside, the staff member suddenly spoke as if remembering something.

 

“Now that I think of it, President Yoo Taewoo is also here today.”

 

“President Yoo?”

 

It had been a while since Sa Muheon had heard that name. The last time was when he heard that Ryu Beomju had been scolded harshly by President Yoo over a mistake. Curious, Sa Muheon asked again, and the staff member continued with a smile.

 

“Yes. He’s here with Manager Hong. Did you have an appointment with them by any chance?”

 

“Manager Hong is here too.”

 

The moment he heard Ryu Beomju was at the restaurant, Sa Muheon stopped in his tracks.

 

He recalled what Chief Han had mentioned earlier in the day—that it had been unusually quiet. The memory left a bad taste in his mouth.

 

“Hmm…”

 

Behind him, Garam, who had been quietly following, also stiffened upon hearing the staff’s words and stuck closer to Sa Muheon.

 

“Manager Hong is…”

 

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

 

Before Garam could finish his uneasy remark, Sa Muheon had already made up his mind. As long as they could eat, it didn’t matter where.

 

There was no need to share the same space as Ryu Beomju, who might be scheming something.

 

Just as Sa Muheon turned to leave, the door ahead of them opened, and a familiar face appeared.

 

“Well, if it isn’t…”

 

Ryu Beomju smirked as he approached Sa Muheon and Garam, standing by his side.

 

“What brings Director Sa all the way here?”

 

Ryu Beomju addressed Sa Muheon first, but Sa Muheon responded in a cold voice.

 

“Do I need to inform Manager Hong where I go?”

 

The tone of his reply made it clear he didn’t want to continue the conversation. Ryu Beomju gritted his teeth but didn’t stop there. He turned to Garam, who was half-hidden behind Sa Muheon.

 

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

 

“…”

 

Though their eyes met, Garam kept his lips tightly shut and didn’t respond. Instead of avoiding Ryu Beomju’s gaze, he stared straight back at him, which seemed to provoke Ryu Beomju. As his anger rose, Ryu Beomju lifted his hand.

 

“You dare—”

 

“Manager Hong.”

 

Before he could finish, Sa Muheon grabbed Ryu Beomju’s wrist. His icy tone made Ryu Beomju hesitate, as if suddenly realizing Sa Muheon was present. Embarrassed, he tried to step back, but Sa Muheon didn’t let go of his wrist.

 

At that moment, the door to the room Ryu Beomju had come from opened.

 

“Director Sa!”

 

The man who emerged was a large, middle-aged man. Upon seeing his face, Sa Muheon released Ryu Beomju’s wrist with a flick, as if discarding something dirty.

 

Ryu Beomju’s face turned red with humiliation, but he said nothing, clasping his hands behind his back and lowering his head.

 

The man from inside approached Ryu Beomju and, without hesitation, raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

 

Smack!

 

The sharp sound echoed loudly in the now-empty corridor, where only the four of them remained.