Unrequited Love Thresher-Chapter 58: The Whereabouts of the Clothes

The only reason Ha Giyeon turned around at the sound of that voice was because Nam Taekyung’s gaze had suddenly shifted over his shoulder—his expression confused.

“Ha Dohoon doryeon-nim is waiting.”

It was Secretary Kim.

He ignored Nam Taekyung completely and spoke only to Ha Giyeon, a faint irritation in his voice.

“Why are you here?”

Since Secretary Kim only handled Ha Dohoon’s rides to and from school, he normally had no business picking up Ha Giyeon. Unless Dohoon drove him personally like last time, this was highly unusual.

Giyeon, puzzled by the sudden command to get in the car, asked for a reason.

“There’s a dinner out scheduled tonight. The chairman instructed me to pick you up along with doryeon-nim.”

“But...”

He had clearly told their father that morning he wouldn’t be going. So why was he being called to join his brother now?

When he didn’t move, Secretary Kim seemed to grow annoyed with his hesitation and gently but firmly turned him toward the car, slowly guiding him forward. As he was being herded along, Giyeon glanced back at Nam Taekyung.

Taekyung was glaring at him—eyes burning with jealousy.

Giyeon didn’t fully understand what that look meant. He was shoved into the backseat of the car, almost stuffed in like luggage.

Sitting on the other side was Ha Dohoon, who glanced over at him, then turned his head away.

“...”

Giyeon had expected him to say something—but strangely, he didn’t. Relieved, Giyeon looked away.

But just as Secretary Kim entered the car, Dohoon opened his mouth.

“Anyone looking at this would think you’re dragging a mutt into the car by its leash.”

“...Excuse me?”

Secretary Kim, about to start the engine, flinched and turned to look at him. Dohoon was resting his chin on his hand, elbow perched against the window, a crooked smirk on his lips.

“Ajusshi, what do you call me again?”

“...Doryeon-nim.”

“And Ha Giyeon?”

“...Doryeon-nim.”

“Then why are you acting like we’re beneath you? Since when were we your subordinates?”

Dohoon’s tone was razor-sharp.

Secretary Kim dropped his gaze and bowed his head in apology.

“My apologies. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Maybe start thinking about your place before you act.”

“...Yes, sir.”

Secretary Kim bit down hard on his lip, gripping the steering wheel so tightly it looked like ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) it might break. Being lectured like this by some brat over ten years his junior—it was humiliating.

He’d been planning to take his girlfriend to the department store today, maybe catch a drive, but now he was stuck escorting these brats to dinner. It infuriated him.

This expensive car—he’d been driving it for years. It was practically his. He’d hoped to impress a girl with it, not get bogged down by two spoiled kids.

And so, he’d acted the way he always did around Ha Giyeon—without thinking. He’d figured Dohoon wouldn’t care, but clearly, Dohoon had seen everything with his own eyes.

Secretary Kim could ignore Ha Giyeon, but never Ha Dohoon. The chairman and his wife treasured Dohoon—anyone could see it. From his looks alone, you could tell he’d grown up loved.

He was arrogant, confident, and knew how to command those beneath him. Totally different from the average brats he’d worked with in other households.

He’d tried to coax Giyeon to bend to his will, but there was no chance of that now.

Ha Giyeon, in contrast, was passive, frustrating, and had clearly grown up neglected. Secretary Kim had seen it himself. That’s why he treated him like someone beneath him. A kid who couldn’t even use the cards he was given properly. Useless.

And it wasn’t like it cost him anything to take advantage of that.

He’d noticed Giyeon change a bit after entering high school, but didn’t think much of it—just chalked it up to a passing rebellious phase. That’s why, when Dohoon told him to buy Giyeon clothes, he ignored the request and bought only for himself. If he got caught, he could always say Giyeon lost them.

But then, when the topic came up in the car that one time, he accidentally slammed on the brakes. The conversation trailed off after that, but it had been a close call.

What the hell’s with this kid now?

Ever since Giyeon started acting differently, even his parents had changed. The lady of the house, who always looked at Giyeon with disdain, suddenly wanted his room redone. Per orders from Lee Mihyun, Secretary Kim brought in furniture and organized the space.

Since Giyeon never bought much, he checked to see if there was anything useful to take—and found some barely-used shoes and a necktie.

They didn’t fit him, but they were worth hundreds of thousands of won. Hidden deep in the closet, clearly unused. No harm in taking them for himself.

And if the kid ever came asking, he’d just claim Mihyun told him to throw them out.

He even took a phone case from the drawer and sold it for cash—then laughed at Giyeon, who seemed none the wiser.

But then, a few weeks ago, Mihyun abruptly confiscated his spending card.

“Leave the card and head out.”

Gritting his teeth, Secretary Kim left the card behind and went to confront Giyeon. The kid had just gotten out of the shower, looking calm and innocent—and that only made his blood boil.

“Madam took your card.”

“Oh... okay.”

“Why don’t you go ask for it back?”

Because of you, I can’t even shop properly. He wanted to yell. Demand it be returned. But instead, he forced himself to speak civilly.

Even then, Giyeon only tilted his head.

“I don’t really need it. I don’t use it anyway.”

“What do you mean you don’t need it? I’m the one who buys everything you need!”

“...”

“If you act like this, the madam’s going to look down on you even more. What’ll you do if she locks you out again like last time?”

He added a veiled threat—just enough pressure to break the kid down.

Usually, that was enough to make Giyeon fold. Nothing scared him more than being abandoned by his parents.

But this time—

“I won’t ask you to buy me anything anymore, sajangnim. You can just keep helping my brother.”

“...What?”

“I don’t need anything, and I can buy what I need on my own. Like the school uniform.”

“...”

“So please don’t worry about me anymore.”

And just like that, he disappeared into his room.

Secretary Kim stood there for a long time, unable to accept what had just happened. The brat was seriously drawing a line.

That damn kid blocked me from using his card. The thought made Secretary Kim seethe.

But there was nothing he could do now.

Especially not after that bit about the school uniform—he didn’t dare say another word. The chairman and his wife had been paying more attention to Giyeon lately. If he pushed too hard and the topic of the uniform came up...

Screwed.

There was still one more card in Giyeon’s name—the one from Ha Ilwoo—but that one was untouchable. Ilwoo tracked every single transaction.

Mihyun’s card, on the other hand, had been lax enough for him to exploit.

Now, all those little transgressions had piled up into a festering resentment. He’d taken it out on Giyeon—and gotten caught by Ha Dohoon.

Now he could only bow his head and stew in humiliation. And all he could think about was how to repay that disgrace.

***

Their parents had called to say they’d be a little late, so Ha Dohoon and Ha Giyeon waited at the department store next to the restaurant.

Giyeon had only followed because Dohoon insisted. He now sat in the lounge area, resting quietly.

I told Dad I wasn’t coming. So why go through the trouble of having me brought in?

For him, this family dinner was the first in a long time. But it didn’t feel like a happy occasion—if anything, it made him anxious.

Did he find out?

About him not being their biological son, maybe.

But this didn’t feel like a “last meal.” Their father wasn’t the kind of man who’d treat a stranger to dinner out of sentiment. He was more the type to kick someone out without a second thought.

As he mulled over the reason behind the dinner, someone sat down across from him.

It was Ha Dohoon.

He must’ve been wandering the department store earlier, but now he’d come right over. Giyeon glanced at him, then pretended to be absorbed in his phone. After Dohoon’s cutting remark to Secretary Kim in the car, the silence had been a relief. But now they were back to this.

“Ha Giyeon.”

“Yeah?”

“If you don’t like the clothes, return or toss them.”

“...Huh?”

“If you’re not gonna wear them, just throw them out.”

Giyeon racked his brain. Clothes? He couldn’t remember getting any from Dohoon. In fact, he was sure he never had.

“What clothes?”

“Did you forget? The ones I gave you during break.”

“I’ve never gotten clothes from you...”

“...What?”