By Zephyria 
After watching him like that for a few more minutes, he finally flipped him over. As their positions reversed in an instant, Hui-won looked surprised. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but it was rendered futile as Kwon Young-je began moving his hips.
How long had they been entangled like this? Kwon Young-je knew Hui-won’s body inside out. He could find, even with his eyes closed, where to thrust to make him feel good, where to prod to make him fall apart.
He deliberately thrust at a slow, tantalizing pace. Observing Hui-won’s reactions in detail, he added sloppy kisses.
“Haah, hh, uhn.”
The body that had been stiffly tense slowly began to loosen. A series of thick, nasal sounds flowed out, and Hui-won’s waist trembled slightly. It was a familiar reaction.
Kwon Young-je finally figured out why he felt uneasy. It was because Kim Hui-won, while opening his body, was still controlling his pheromones. It didn’t make sense to him that Hui-won was conscientiously trying to hide his pheromones while steadily sinking into pleasure.
The moment he noticed the difference from usual, his heart grew impatient. Whenever they tangled their bodies, Hui-won had always shown honest reactions, but now it was clearly evident he was performing the act out of obligation. Not as communion, but as if handling a task.
Was he still misunderstanding? He couldn’t even guess what he was thinking, and it was eating him up inside. Knowing that stubborn personality so well—that no matter how much he pushed, he wouldn’t reveal his true feelings—only deepened his frustration.
He deliberately didn’t point it out and treated him the same way. Fine, do as you please. The thrusting grew considerably rougher. He felt a bit resentful too. Like a bratty teenager.
Their relationship had always been steeped in pheromones. His vaginal fluid would flow copiously, and even a slight collision of their bodies would make splashing sounds.
But today, it was starkly dry. The only wet sounds were their ragged breaths, moans, and the slick sound of tongues rubbing. The funny thing was, even that was stimulating, driving them to persistently delve into each other.
At a glance, it was no different from Beta sex. Sex filled with sweaty, lewd smells instead of mind-clouding pheromones. Even though it was an act of mad obsession solely with each other’s bodies, it drove people insane.
“Haah, Exe, cutive, hhhuut, I, I’m going to… Ah, I think I’m going to come.”
“Come. Since when did you need my permission to come?”
Kwon Young-je persistently sucked on his neck. Hui-won, flushed red, lay pinned beneath him, writhing. He himself was also nearing climax and added speed to his hip movements. As he repeatedly drove his member upward, Hui-won swayed back and forth before tightly wrapping his arms around the shoulders pressed against him.
“Uht, hhuu.”
As he came, Hui-won, instead of scratching the broad shoulders, only scratched his own forearm. Even in a situation where he couldn’t see an inch ahead, he was clearly drawing a line.
The two gasped for breath as if they had just finished a race. Sweat streamed down their entangled bodies. After rubbing their slippery skin together to catch their breath for a moment, Hui-won took advantage of Kwon Young-je removing the condom to twist his body first and escape from his embrace.
He propped himself up on the bed with difficulty and immediately started putting on his clothes. The sweat hadn’t even dried yet.
“……”
The moment Kwon Young-je saw that, a hollow laugh burst out. What difference was this from having sex with someone who didn’t want to? Of course, he couldn’t feel good.
Hui-won had already finished preparing to leave. He had hastily buttoned his shirt and put on his jacket and coat. The flushed cheeks had returned to their original complexion as if nothing had happened.
“I’ll be going now.”
“In a hurry? Enough to leave right away like this?”
“I want to go and rest.”
Kwon Young-je tilted his head back and lightly pressed his own long nape. He had a lot he wanted to say, but he decided to hold back for now.
“Wait. I’ll wash up and drive you.”
Without waiting for Hui-won’s answer, he walked into the bathroom attached to the room. Soon, the sound of strong water flow was heard.
“……”
Hui-won, left standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, rubbed his troubled face. After a long moment of hesitation, he left the room.
His body, filled with heat, quickly cooled in the cold wind. The weather was now cold enough to call it winter. Hui-won pulled his coat collar tight as he walked up the hill road.
After working up a sweat, his mind felt much clearer too. It was the perfect time to sort out his thoughts.
Through the sex just now, he had clearly realized one thing. That he wasn’t being drawn to Kwon Young-je because he was intoxicated by pheromones or the like. Without realizing it, his heart had already drifted that far.
Hui-won laughed incredulously at the fact that he had a one-sided crush. Of all people, it had to be Kwon Young-je. The future already looked bleak with a love that would never be reciprocated.
He stopped walking for a moment and looked down at the ground. A deep sigh mixed with his breath flowed out.
A one-sided crush is nothing but a loss. It’s better to give up on those feelings quickly.
If he were younger, he might have charged in headfirst, ready to get hurt and break, but Hui-won was too much of an adult for that now. He was at an age where he had personally experienced and learned that it’s best not to commit to things you can’t handle.
The problem was he couldn’t muster the courage to cut him off. Was there no way to at least stop the sex? Could he really make a firm decision?
Kwon Young-je was a man he couldn’t refuse. Above all, he knew well that his own will wasn’t that strong.
Just as his worries were deepening on all fronts, his phone rang from inside his jacket pocket.
Was it Kwon Young-je? Reluctantly, he took out his phone. The caller was unexpectedly Professor Kwon.
–
“Secretary Kim, is it okay to talk? You’re not still working, are you?”
Professor Kwon’s gentle voice came through the speaker. Hui-won’s tension instantly eased, and he slowly rubbed his stiff face with his hand. He also resumed his halted steps.
“It’s fine. I just finished work and am on my way home.”
–
“That’s a relief. Ah… Actually, the thing is…”
Professor Kwon hesitated before bringing up the matter. Hui-won listened silently, then suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“…A blind date?”
–
“A good match just came up, and you were the first person I thought of, Secretary Kim. Don’t feel pressured, just tell me comfortably. It’s not forced, you know? I, and Seo-ran too, care a lot about you, Secretary Kim. I’d like to see you happy.”
Would being with your son make me unhappy? The sudden urge to ask back arose. It was a ridiculous question. Why was he even thinking of arguing and asking Professor Kwon that?
“Thank you for thinking of me…”
–
“If you really don’t want to, it’s okay to refuse.”
Hui-won let out a large sigh, releasing the pent-up frustration. His answer didn’t take long.
“I’ll do it.”
–
“…Really? Hmm, just a moment.”
Murmuring voices could be heard through the speaker. It seemed Professor Kwon was conveying Hui-won’s intention to Madam Im.
He said he’ll do it. Really? What are we going to do now! Oh my, he agreed. He agreed.
They were probably testing his true feelings. He could understand their situation too. It was just that he no longer had the energy left to get entangled with them. He deliberately cut off his nerves and pretended not to hear the conversation coming through.
–
“Um, Secretary Kim… You don’t have to force yourself.”
Hui-won held his throbbing forehead and spoke.
“Please let me know the place and date. I’ll meet them.”
If things continued like this, it was obvious his heart would remain in turmoil. He liked Kwon Young-je, but expressing his feelings was also difficult. The possibility of it working out with him was slim anyway.
If this state dragged on, the only one suffering would be him. He had to find a way, even if forced, to sever the feelings directed at Kwon Young-je.
This blind date might just be the last chance given to him.
Hui-won was hurrying to get ready to leave on time for the appointment. When he stood in front of the mirror, he paused for a moment upon seeing the hickey engraved on his neck.
Two days had passed since they shared a bed, but instead of fading, the mark had grown darker. He usually avoided visible places… It seemed Kwon Young-je wasn’t in his right mind that day either.
It was a position that would be barely covered by a shirt. After a moment’s thought, Hui-won chose the safe option of covering it.
He picked up and put on a black turtleneck sweater and stood in front of the mirror again. His pale face contrasted sharply with the dark color. Hui-won rubbed his own skin half-heartedly. Why do I look like I haven’t eaten a single bowl of blood soup?
He even fussed with his hair. When he put on his coat, he looked quite dressed up. It was a rare day off, wasn’t it? Moreover, it was his first-ever blind date. Hui-won looked at his face reflected in the mirror and took a short breath. It wasn’t difficult. He just had to meet them lightly and come back.
The hotel lounge at noon on Sunday, fitting for a blind date spot, had several awkward-looking couples. The moment Hui-won entered, he scanned the surroundings. Since he didn’t know who his blind date was, it was best to call first.
–
“Hello?”
“Hello, I’m the person scheduled to meet today. Have you arrived by any chance?”
“Ah, yes. Um, about where I am…”
A tall, well-built man abruptly stood up from a corner seat. Their eyes met without difficulty. Simultaneously, the man held his phone to his ear with a dumbfounded expression.
“Secretary Kim?”
“…Uh, hello.”
Hui-won was equally surprised when they faced each other. The other person was none other than Executive Director Kwon’s close friend. He had heard he was a pediatrician, but he never dreamed it would be Kim Seok-jun.