Part 3 of this story

Third point of view

It was the final night of the three-day conference in Paris. Tonight's event was a cocktail party, a sophisticated gathering where attendees could relax and forge new connections. The atmosphere was elegant yet understated-no uniforms, no formal representation of countries or organizations. Instead, people were dressed modestly but professionally, blending professionalism with the casual elegance of the evening.

Over the past three days, Chang In and Tay had met only once, on the first night, in Chang In's room. They had talked, and Chang In had expressed his concerns about finding Jay.

"I'm not sure how I can help, Uncle." Tae-ui had said.

"I was just wondering if you'd be able to take a vacation and look for him." Chang In replied.

Chang In had softened his tone, not wanting to pressure his nephew.
"I don't want to force you into it, only if you feel ready. Also... Are you planning to stay in the special forces? I have an opportunity I wanted to propose to you."
Tae-ui had looked visibly uncomfortable.
"What kind of opportunity?"

"How about joining me at the 'UNHRDO'?" Chang In had asked, his eyes searching Tae-ui's for a reaction.

"That sounds nice, Uncle. Let me think about it." Taeui had said, his voice cautious.

Chang In had chuckled lightly,
"Haha, I'm glad you didn't shut it down right away. I've been hoping to get you out of the mandatory service and join me. But this whole thing with the special forces-it was a surprise."

"Yeah Even I had no idea." Tae-ui had mumbled.

Their conversation had gone on for a while longer before Tae-ui had left the room, and since that night, they hadn't found time to meet again.

For tonight's party, Tae-ui wore a cream-white shirt paired with dark navy pants. A caramel-colored neck scarf, matching the warmth of his eyes, complemented his look, along with a blazer of the same dark navy hue. The outfit was simple, clean, and effortlessly elegant.

As he entered the hall, the room was already alive with conversation. Guests were scattered in small groups, sipping cocktails and discussing the past few days' events.
It was the last night, and Taeui was looking for his uncle. His gaze scanned the room until he spotted Chang In, who was engaged in conversation with a group of attendees.
Making his way over, Tay greeted him.
"Uncle, I'll be leaving tonight."

Chang In turned to him with a nod.
"Okay. We're leaving tomorrow morning."

"Take care, Uncle. I'll let you know if I hear anything about Hyung." Taeui said, preparing to leave as someone else approached his uncle for a conversation.
Chang In smiled warmly at his nephew.
"Take care, Tae-ui."
With a final nod, Tae-ui turned and walked away, blending into the sea of attendees as the evening continued.

Tae-ui stood quietly at the side of the hall, scrolling through his phone, when Ilay approached.
"Hello, Tay." Ilay greeted smoothly.
"Hi...Reigrow." Tae-ui replied with a polite smile.

"How's it going?" Ilay asked, scanning the room briefly.

"It's fine. I'm just looking forward to going home after this." Tae-ui responded, glancing around the hall.

"Not much of a crowd person, huh?"

"You could say that." Tay replied with a small smile, though a slight edge of discomfort flickered on his face.

Nearby, two women stood talking in hushed voices. They spoke in Chinese, their eyes occasionally drifting toward Tay. Their conversation revolved around how to approach the man with caramel-colored eyes and a baby face to ask for his number. Though the women's voices were low, Tae-ui's posture shifted subtly. He remained composed, his gaze deliberately fixed forward, as if uninterested, though the tension in his stance hinted at his awareness.

"You don't seem alright." Ilay observed, noticing the subtle change in Tae-ui's demeanor.

"Huh? I'm fine." Tay replied, his smile a touch strained as he waved it off.
"Maybe you're thirsty." Ilay suggested, reaching for a drink from a passing waiter and offering it to him.
"Thanks, I think I needed that." Taeui said, taking the glass and sipping it gratefully.
"My pleasure." Ilay replied, watching him closely.

"Let's move over there." Tae-ui suggested, pointing to a quieter area of the hall.
"It's a bit cooler."

Ilay nodded, following him across the room. As they settled in a new spot, two men nearby were speaking in German. Their eyes flicked toward Tae-ui as they exchanged words, their voices low.

"Der Typ sieht so unschuldig aus." [That guy looks so innocent.]

"Ein Inbegriff von Schönheit." [An epitome of beauty.]

Ilay raised an eyebrow at their comments, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. His amusement turned to a frown, though, when the conversation continued.

"Waren Sie schon einmal mit einem Asiaten zusammen?" [Have you ever been with an Asian?]

"Nein, aber ich würde sogar betteln, wenn ich mit ihm zusammen sein könnte." [No, but I'd even beg if I could be with him.]

Ilay shot the men a pointed look, his brow furrowing in irritation. When he turned back to Taeui, however, his expression shifted to concern. Tae-ui's face had gone visibly red, though he kept his composure.

"You don't look well." Ilay said, his voice more serious now. "You're flushed."

"Yeah...Feeling a bit suffocated." Taeui admitted, his voice quiet but steady, as if trying to brush off the discomfort.
"Let's get some fresh air." Ilay suggested, already moving toward the balcony.

"Good idea." Tae-ui said, following with a forced smile.

Once outside on the spacious balcony, the cool air immediately eased the tension. Ilay's phone rang just as they stepped out, and he moved to the other side to take the call, though his eyes remained fixed on Taeui.

"Maybe I should've offered him water instead." Ilay muttered under his breath as he watched Tae-ui.

As Ilay continued his phone call, two women approached the balcony door and stood nearby, speaking quietly in what sounded like Russian. Though they weren't loud, their glances repeatedly flicked toward Tae-ui, their voices carrying just enough for him to hear.
Tae-ui's posture remained calm, but his discomfort was evident in the way his eyes briefly flicked toward them before he quickly looked away, trying to remain composed.

While on the phone, Ilay noticed Taeui's subtle reaction. He was about to approach when, suddenly, Tay dropped his phone-seemingly by accident-and then stepped on it, crushing it underfoot. His movements appeared almost intentional, though the shock on his face as he looked down at the broken device suggested otherwise.

Ilay raised an eyebrow, his confusion evident as he watched Tae-ui quickly gather the pieces of his phone and leave the balcony in a hurry, his expression flustered.

Taeui stood in front of the mirror, washing his face. He ran his hands through his hair, pulling it down messily.

"I need to start looking bad sometimes. Things got out of hand back there." he muttered to himself.
"What are you, Jeong Tae-ui? A damn celebrity?" he added, shaking his head in self-mockery.

Behind him, Ilay's voice cut through the quiet.
"I also have a few questions. When you're done talking to yourself, let me know."

Tae-ui dried his face and turned with a pleasant smile, offering a short bow.
"I don't have anything left for today. I'm wrapping up for the night."

When he straightened, Ilay had moved, standing much closer than before, the space between them almost non-existent. Taeui didn't react, maintaining his composed expression while Ilay observed him, his curious gaze contrasting Taeui's calm demeanor.

"How many languages do you know?" Ilay asked, his voice measured.

"More than you." Tae-ui whispered back, his eyes gleaming.

Ilay didn't respond immediately, seemingly at a loss for words.

"Don't worry." Tae-ui continued with a sly smile.
"I don't mind compliments, especially from someone with beautiful hands like yours."

Without warning, Ilay's hand moved swiftly, reaching toward Taeui's neck. Tay reacted just as quickly, stopping Ilay's hand mid-air with two fingers, his touch precise and controlled. Ilay's hand couldn't move an inch.

Taeui stepped back, two steps behind, creating space between them. His calm expression was unchanged.

"When I said I don't hate compliments." Tay added, his tone now edged with a warning.
"I didn't mean you could touch me."

Ilay laughed, lowering his hand.
"This is the first time in a while someone has left me speechless. I can't believe it." he admitted with a shake of his head.
"You stopped my hand with just two fingers. I'm baffled."

Tae-ui's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained composed. "I suggest you do your analysis in your alone time. I'm done for tonight. Good night, Ilay." He turned and made his way toward the door.

Just as Taeui reached for the door, Ilay moved swiftly behind him, and before Tae-ui could fully open it, he turned and instinctively caught both of Ilay's hands with his own, stopping Ilay's attempt to pin him against the door.

Their eyes met, Taeui's expression confused but sharp.

"Why are you attacking me suddenly? I haven't done anything to you" Taeui growled, his voice low and tense.

Ilay's eyes flashed with an odd glint, his lips slightly parted, almost as if he were savoring the moment.
"You've left me speechless, Tae-ui." he said, his tone darker, as he licked his lower lip.
"Stop it, Ilay." Tae-ui warned, pushing him back firmly.
"It's not my fault I understand German. You decided to play some game with your name, which I didn't care about."

Ilay's gaze was still locked on Tay, the intensity in his eyes unwavering.
"I don't want to let you go. Not without a taste." Ilay murmured.

"And Jeong Tae-ui is not up for anybody's touch tonight"
Tay shot back, his eyes hardening.

Ilay's lips curled into a smile.
"Jeong Tae-ui..." he repeated, but he didn't move, his eyes searching Taeui's.

"You're no baby fox. More like a black panther disguised as a golden retriever" Ilay whispered, the words laced with intrigue.
Taeui's eyes flickered with annoyance, but he said nothing more. He released Ilay's hands and left the washroom.

As he walked away, he muttered to himself.
"Don't tell me this guy is fluent in Korean. His pronunciation was perfect..."

From across the party, Chang In's eyes had subtly tracked Rick and Taeui together.
He watched as they exchanged words, and when Tay left the balcony and eventually exited the hall, Rick followed behind him just a minute later. To Chang In, it looked as though Rick was following Taeui, and that observation stirred something uneasy in him.

Chang In had noticed how Rick's demeanor had shifted after certain phone calls, how his entire aura seemed to change whenever Tae-ui's name was mentioned. It was subtle, but Chang In was perceptive enough to catch the small signs. He still wasn't sure what to make of it.

The thought gnawed at him, but he hoped he wouldn't have to act on his instincts. Tae-ui and Rick were living in different worlds right now, and the idea of those worlds colliding made Chang In uncomfortable.
He didn't want to become a bridge between them-he didn't want to have to mediate whatever was stirring between Rick and his nephew.

The mere possibility of it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

This is the end of part 3, total of words [1931 words].
Not my story, I won't continue this now cuz I found it completed by someone else. So yeah.
Thanks for reading~♡
Plus this edit is [1974 words].

Uploaded at November 18th.