By Zephyria Seo Jeong-won’s face flushed crimson at the words whispered softly with lips close to his ear.
“Wouldn’t it be most appropriate to explain that we’re seeing each other seriously? Except for the Hyung part.”
“……”
“It’s for Seo Jeong-won-ssi’s sake, more than mine.”
Kwon Tae-hee shrugged. He even gently embraced Seo Jeong-won, as if telling him to speak now that he had given him the answer.
“This person is with me…”
The moment Seo Jeong-won tried to explain Kwon Tae-hee, Kang Da-hyun turned around. He strode away as if there was nothing more to hear. The old door, with vinyl peeling off in places, slammed shut violently.
“Keep going. There might come a moment when you have to introduce me to someone other than that friend.”
“Pardon? Me, do that…”
Kwon Tae-hee’s eyes sparkled. His handsome face was full of playfulness, as if he were having a fun game.
“That kind of day won’t, won’t come…”
“What exactly are we, Jeong-won-ssi?”
He tapped his fingertips on the shoulder he was lightly holding. Seo Jeong-won hesitated to answer, moving his lips as if reluctant, then spoke with a small exhale.
“…We’re seeing each other seriously.”
“And getting to know each other.”
“…Yes. Yes, that’s right.”
Kwon Tae-hee smiled as he looked at the innocent voice that spoke as he had told him to, and the face that had turned red and become even more lovely.
“Seo Jeong-won-ssi is seeing me because of my face, because he fell in love at first sight. Without considering social status, family, wealth, or anything like that.”
“Yes. Executive Director, your face…”
“I’m seeing Seo Jeong-won-ssi because of his face too. Because he’s pretty and handsome.”
Seo Jeong-won’s eyes blurred as if he were bewitched by the smiling face. Kwon Tae-hee checked behind Seo Jeong-won and then lowered his head. Kang Da-hyun, whom he thought had left, was stomping back in.
Kwon Tae-hee cupped the soft cheek and lifted it up. He kissed the lips that parted as if waiting for it. It was an action he took knowing that he would not be rejected in the first place.
He lightly bit the plump lips several times before delving deeper. Seo Jeong-won’s toes lifted as he trembled and moved his hands to grab Kwon Tae-hee’s arm.
He was kissed for a long time, relying on the firm arm that wrapped around his slender waist.
With a light ‘pop’, Kwon Tae-hee’s lips fell away. The hazy, dazed eyes slowly took in Kwon Tae-hee. Seo Jeong-won did not hear the sound of the vinyl door closing.
“So pretty.”
Kwon Tae-hee distanced himself and snapped his fingers. With the snap, Seo Jeong-won seemed to come to his senses and lowered his head. He rubbed his wet lips with the back of his hand and let out a breath he had been holding in.
“That’s what it’s like to the outside world, but let’s keep the truth between us.”
“…Yes, yes. I will.”
“Shall we go now? I think we’ve watered everything.”
Seo Jeong-won moved quickly. In fact, there was nothing more to tidy up in the flower shop, so he just put the paper cup on the table in the trash can and approached Kwon Tae-hee. Seo Jeong-won, who let him out first and turned off the lights and sign, locked the door.
When Kwon Tae-hee is in front of him, the things that had been swirling around in his head all day disappear. He can’t think of anything.
“Come here.”
As if he had been waiting, the passenger seat door opened. Seo Jeong-won thanked him and got into the passenger seat. Kwon Tae-hee drove the car to Seo Jeong-won’s small, old house as usual.
* * *
Seo Jeong-won scraped together as much as he could from the refrigerator and prepared dinner. Just like when they had dinner together at his house for the first time, Kwon Tae-hee emptied the food without complaint. The greeting that he ate well was the same.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Thank you.”
He didn’t refuse. The instant coffee that he never usually drank was so sweet when he drank it at Seo Jeong-won’s house. It didn’t taste like this when he drank it at the company. It was strange.
“It must be tiring to drive back again.”
“I guess so.”
“You have to go to work tomorrow, so…”
“That’s right, I guess.”
Kwon Tae-hee took a sip of the light brown coffee in the small cup and replied insincerely.
He wanted to either fix up the house or move him. To do that, he needed to hear the opinion of Seo Jeong-won, who lived in this house.
“Have you lived here long?”
“…Yes, I came when I entered middle school.”
“Is it Seo Jeong-won-ssi’s house?”
“No, there’s a landlord.”
Seo Jeong-won replied that he paid 300,000 won a month for rent. He smiled shyly, saying that the landlord had taken his circumstances into consideration and had not raised the rent.
“Let’s move.”
“……Pardon?”
“I was going to redecorate if Seo Jeong-won-ssi was the landlord, but you’re not.”
Seo Jeong-won knew that he couldn’t refuse anything Kwon Tae-hee gave him, but the answer that he was okay with it came out reflexively.
“I live alone, and they haven’t replaced the door lock for long… The flower shop is close, and you’ve already done so much for me.”
“I’m uncomfortable.”
“……”
“Seo Jeong-won-ssi may be used to this environment, but I’m not. The ceiling is too low.”
Seo Jeong-won’s lips parted slightly at Kwon Tae-hee’s answer, then soon closed. Then, his head went up and down. He said that he hadn’t thought of that and apologized for his mistake, as he had newly developed the habit.
“I’ll look for a place that’s not far from the flower shop and is suitable for living in, so throw away everything here.”
Seo Jeong-won nodded at the words he said easily as he looked around lightly.
“Everything… all of it?”
“Isn’t it all too old? Even if you take a few things, don’t think about taking everything.”
Kwon Tae-hee got up from his seat. He said that he should take a shower and went into the untidy dressing room.
He sighed at the messy and cluttered state, took out his clothes that were neatly hung on one side, and headed to the bathroom.
Just as he was about to open the door and enter, Seo Jeong-won quietly called out to him.
“Um… Executive Director.”
“Yes.”
Seo Jeong-won hesitated to ask. Seeing that he was going to take a shower, it seemed like he was going to sleep here again, but he found it difficult to understand why he kept sleeping over even though he said he was uncomfortable.
But he realized that he was not someone he could understand, and that he was not in a position to do so, so he quietly accepted his decision.
But apart from that, he was afraid that the same atmosphere would be created again when he came out of the shower. It was too obvious what would happen if they were alone in a small house with nothing to do.
“Would you like to take a walk? If you walk a little, there’s a small park, and the walking path is well-maintained. It’s a good place to walk while drinking coffee or juice.”
“……”
“If you’re tired… we can do it later. I asked because it seems early, so please feel free to tell me. I’m, I’m okay with staying at home.”
That’s actually a lie. He wasn’t okay with being alone at home at all. His body was too tired. To the point where he couldn’t do anything more today.
“I don’t think Seo Jeong-won-ssi can walk.”
Kwon Tae-hee answered as if he knew his condition well. Seo Jeong-won’s eyes shook helplessly.
“I’m, I’m okay.”
“Let’s take a walk later. Rest today.”
“Then… shall we?”
Kwon Tae-hee smiled as he looked at Seo Jeong-won, who was quickly becoming sullen and disappointed. He felt like he knew too well what he was talking about.
If you wanted to take a walk, you shouldn’t limp. He’s cute anyway.
Kwon Tae-hee decided to put Seo Jeong-won, whom he wanted to touch wherever he was next to him, to bed early without touching him.
He looked at the beautiful face that was already starting to turn red and moved his body. Kwon Tae-hee, who was about to enter the bathroom, only half-stepped in and stared at Seo Jeong-won.
“Shall we shower together?”
“I showered at home. I showered when I woke up. But, I think I sweated a little earlier…”
He nodded and moved to the front of the bathroom. Kwon Tae-hee, who was unbuttoning his shirt, reached out and took off Seo Jeong-won’s T-shirt. Seo Jeong-won flinched as he stroked the mottled bruises on his white body with his fingertips.
“The marks stay well.”
“……”
“Does it hurt?”
“No. It doesn’t hurt… but it hurts a little here.”
The small hand awkwardly stroked his nape. A blue bruise was spreading along the soft line that continued from behind his ear. There were also hideous bite marks and scabs from being chewed on several times.
“I’ll be careful.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
“How’s the hole? It’s not torn, but is it still uncomfortable?”
“It’s, it’s okay. It just hurts… it does hurt. My stomach and everything are sore…”
Seo Jeong-won was flustered and didn’t know what to do with the direct words that came out of his beautiful lips.
Besides, he was embarrassed that Kwon Tae-hee asked about the well-being of the most private part of his body every time. He sometimes felt distressed that he was looking at it intently, whether he was conscious or not.
Kwon Tae-hee’s gaze gradually went down. He was afraid that his pants and underwear would be taken off again and he would have to reveal that place under the bright light, so he deliberately hurried his movements.