By Zephyria Haa, an involuntary, excited sigh escaped. Yu-jin hugged the man’s body, which was more than enough to fill his arms.
“I love you.”
Yu-jin whispered softly. Could anything be so perfect? Winston said with a smile.
“My father will try to kill me.”
“Are you scared?”
Winston let out a short laugh.
“Shall we do it again?”
Yu-jin liked his answer very much. They smiled at each other and cupped each other’s cheeks, and soon Winston tilted his head. He whispered between their overlapping lips.
“That’s why I’m lying next to you all night long.”
Their softly touching lips seemed to part, then overlapped again in reverse.
“My love…….”
His voice seeped into his mouth along with his soft breath.
“My life…….”
Winston recited a line from Annabel Lee and stroked Yu-jin’s cheek.
“By the side of my bride.”
Yu-jin lifted one leg and wrapped it around Winston’s waist.
“Winnie.”
With that small whisper, their tongues intertwined again. Why Annabel Lee of all things? Did Winston know that an angel, or perhaps a demon, jealous of their love, caused a cold wind to kill the girl, and that was how the two were separated?
If I had known that in advance, I probably would have…….
……Ah.
Yu-jin opened his eyes at the pouring sunlight. The clock on the wall pointed to 8 o’clock. Winston was already gone. It was a daily routine that had been repeating recently.
Yu-jin slowly got out of bed. Since that day, the two had not argued once. Yu-jin also accepted Winston’s truce proposal without refusing. If they continued to fight like that every day, Yu-jin would surely be the first to fall. In any case, as long as Winston didn’t criticize and sneer at him, it wasn’t so bad, was it? Anyway, his attitude was gentlemanly.
“Pregnancy is your duty.”
That day, Winston said that and demanded to sleep with Yu-jin. He had been prepared for it, but unexpectedly, he held Yu-jin very politely. The sex was so bland that it was almost boring. After the act, he didn’t touch him with a single finger and fell asleep separately. Already two weeks had passed like that. As he came out of the bathroom, he heard a knock on the door as if someone had been waiting.
“Daddy, Daddy!”
Yu-jin, who picked up Angela, who had jumped in like an alarm, rubbed his cheek affectionately and asked.
“Did you sleep well, Angie?”
“Yeah! Did Daddy too?”
Feeling a smile come out naturally, Yu-jin showered his daughter with kisses. It was a peaceful morning.
“What shall we do today, Angie?”
I should start looking for a job soon.
Listening to his child’s voice, Yu-jin fell into thought. Before leaving this place and returning to his old life, he had to come up with some measures. Since he couldn’t get a letter of recommendation, it would still be difficult to find a good job.
Isn’t there anything short I can take a lecture on for a job……?
He couldn’t even dream of it before because he didn’t have the time, but while he was here, his life was guaranteed, so he could do anything. He didn’t feel like thanking Harold, but he changed his mind and thought that this situation itself was fortunate. There was no point in thinking negatively.
Connecting to the Internet with his cell phone for the first time in a while, he habitually checked his email. As expected, he was mechanically deleting the piles of spam, but something different caught his eye down below.
“Huh?”
He inadvertently exclaimed, hesitated for a moment, and then moved his finger. He thought it would be spam anyway, but somehow, feeling a strange excitement, he clicked on the title, quickly scanned the contents, and then returned to the beginning. As he repeated it several times, his eyes gradually widened, and eventually he covered his mouth with one hand.
* * *
No way, this can’t be happening.
He was in a daze all day. Could something like this really happen? Am I dreaming?
Really, really?
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Huh, huh?”
Yu-jin was startled and quickly turned his head at the sudden voice. Winston was looking at him with a puzzled expression. Yu-jin belatedly realized that he was having dinner with him and quickly turned his eyes to the plate.
“Ah, no, nothing.”
Yu-jin hurriedly put the meat in his mouth, moved his jaw diligently, and stole a glance at Winston’s face. Whether he believed Yu-jin’s words or not, he was continuing to eat again. Habitually chewing the meat, Yu-jin fell into thought again.
Should I tell him about this? Or…….
After thinking for a while, he soon gave up. Not yet. I should talk about it after it becomes more certain. Winston’s attitude has changed a lot from the beginning these days, but that doesn’t mean he’s back to the way he used to be.
It would be embarrassing if I said it in advance and it fell through…….
He made up his mind and focused on dinner again. I shouldn’t expect too much either. He may have just asked to meet once. Anyone can make a proposal.
That’s right, since when have I been so lucky.
Thinking that way, his expectant heart was dampened. Thinking it was better that way, Yu-jin finished his meal. And that night, they turned their backs after having mechanical sex as they had the day before, but they couldn’t fall asleep easily for their own reasons.
* * *
On the morning of the promised day, Yu-jin woke up earlier than usual. When he opened his eyes, it wasn’t even 7 a.m. yet. Since they had decided to have lunch together, there was still plenty of time until the appointment.
“Already awake?”
Winston, who was preparing to go to work, turned to him as if he had sensed someone. Yu-jin, who had raised himself halfway, rubbed his eyes and sat up.
“Yeah…… Are you going to work now?”
“Yeah.”
Winston, who was wearing a suit jacket, approached the bed and bent down. Suddenly, their eyes met, and Yu-jin was momentarily stunned. Dark purple eyes were facing him. For some reason, past memories were revived. It was always like that back then. The days when they would kiss each other as if it were natural before parting. And the kisses soon turned into deeper caresses, and in many cases, they ended up jumping back into bed and going all the way. After that, Winston would give Yu-jin, who was completely exhausted, a final kiss and barely leave.
His eyes were looking at him as if it were that day. His lips opened involuntarily, and his breath subsided. As if expecting something. And as if responding to that, Winston’s face came closer.
The moment Yu-jin noticed his intention, he reflexively sat back. Soon, an awkward silence flowed, and Winston stared at him intently. Yu-jin quickly turned his head and made an excuse, his eyes narrowed as if suspecting something.
“W, we’re not in a relationship where we can share affectionate kisses.”
It wasn’t wrong. Winston also agreed.
“……Yeah.”
He said briefly after a pause, then soon straightened his back again.
“Then, have a good day today too.”
After smiling at Yu-jin, Winston turned and left the room. Yu-jin, who was left alone, finally let out the breath he had been holding. Belatedly, his heart began to beat fast.
What, all of a sudden.
It was absurd that his heart was suddenly beating like this when they had sex every day. Maybe it was because of the anticipation for the afternoon appointment.
Yeah, that’s right.
Yu-jin calmed his excited heart, vowing that several times.
* * *
The meeting place was a French restaurant that was quite popular these days. Yu-jin dressed as neatly as possible and entered the restaurant on time.
“This way, please. He’s waiting.”
When he said the other person’s name at the entrance, the employee smiled and led him to the table. Yu-jin took a deep breath and followed behind. The splendid interior, reminiscent of a palace, was said to have been moved from a French castle, brick by brick. Recalling what he had heard in advance through the Butler, Yu-jin admired it inwardly.
As he walked between the tables that were not yet full, a man who had found them over there fixed his gaze. He stared intently as if half in doubt, and then slowly got up, as if he had become convinced. Finally, the employee who had reached the table smiled and extended a hand to Yu-jin. As soon as the employee quickly went behind the chair and pulled out the chair so that Yu-jin could sit down, the man spoke first.
“Yu-jin Solssi? Nice to meet you, I’m Jay Grant, who sent you the email.”
With a bright smile, he extended his right hand.
“I’m the editor-in-chief of Grant Publishing. It’s an honor to meet you.”