By Zephyria 
He got out of bed just like that. He didn’t even think about opening the bathroom attached to the bedroom. Kwon Young-je walked, half-asleep. Like a man possessed, he followed only the scent of Hui-won’s pheromone wafting from somewhere in the house.
It was three in the morning. While the entire house was pitch dark, the rustling sounds were clearly audible.
Reaching the kitchen, he fumbled for the switch on the wall. Pressing the middle button, click, the dining table light turned on. Simultaneously, Hui-won, who had been crouched under the sink, flinched his shoulders.
“……”
Kwon Young-je crossed his arms and leaned his head sideways against the wall. He just quietly watched Hui-won’s faintly visible face with his half-open, bleary eyes.
Hui-won was holding a spoon in one hand, hugging a round stainless steel bowl. His cheeks were puffed up as if about to burst. Perhaps embarrassed at being caught secretly eating, he hurriedly swallowed what was in his mouth and burst into a choked cough.
At that, Kwon Young-je straightened his leaning body and immediately fetched water. Only after pouring lukewarm water into a mug and handing it to Hui-won did he let out a low sigh.
“Drink slowly. You can get indigestion even from drinking water wrong.”
Hui-won nodded. Still feeling awkward, he kept stealing glances even as he sipped the water in small gulps.
Even before, he had often jumped out of bed in the early morning and rummaged through the refrigerator. Every time, he was inevitably caught by Kwon Young-je. But what was he supposed to do about being hungry? Hui-won defiantly adjusted his grip on the spoon.
The newly hired housekeeper auntie had incredible cooking skills. As if it hadn’t been a day, she filled the refrigerator to the brim with homemade side dishes, and they miraculously suited Hui-won’s taste.
When asked, she said she had separately contacted Hui-won’s mother to meticulously inquire about what foods he liked and how salty he preferred things. She even had extensive experience as a postpartum caregiver, so her knowledge about pregnancy and childcare was vast.
Thanks to that, Hui-won had been showing off a hearty appetite lately. Today too, he definitely ate dinner and went to bed, but in the middle of the night, he craved bibimbap and woke up.
Sneaking out, he scooped three spatulas of rice from the rice cooker, scraped in the last bits of seasoned radish salad, chwinamul, and even the little bit of spicy gochujang left, and mixed it all. Adding sesame oil pressed directly from the mill, the savory smell made his mouth water on its own.
“Go back to sleep. I’ll go in after eating just this.”
“Forget it.”
Kwon Young-je slowly moved his spot. As if Hui-won’s side was his rightful place, he also unhesitatingly plopped down on the bare floor. Leaning his head against the lower cabinet of the sink, he struggled to shake off the drowsiness washing over him.
Glancing sideways, the size of the bowl Hui-won was hugging was considerable. Even though the rice inside looked like enough for at least three servings, he seemed poised to finish it easily.
Even though he eats that well, why doesn’t any fat show on his face? It was clear someone was stealing all the nutrients going in.
“Who on earth did you inherit that good appetite from? Is this how daughters originally are?”
“I don’t know, me either.”
Hui-won continued spooning with a laugh. Having eaten something salty, this time something sweet was calling. His stomach was full, but the spoon kept scraping the bottom. It really seemed like an eating goblin had entered his stomach.
Kwon Young-je, who had been quietly watching that sight, tactfully got up and opened the refrigerator door. Perfectly partitioned and organized ingredients and side dishes came into his view.
One side of the refrigerator was completely dominated by fruits. All the fruits were procured by Madam Im. They were top-quality items carefully selected from department stores, so whatever you picked was guaranteed to taste good. Kwon Young-je took out a large yellow peach.
Walking to the sink, he personally washed the fruit and thinly peeled it with a fruit knife. Right beside him, Hui-won was looking up at Kwon Young-je with wide eyes. Perhaps finding it increasingly strange to see him volunteering for menial tasks, he kept letting out deflated laughs even while spooning.
A beautifully carved peach was placed on a white plate. He skillfully even found a dessert fork and handed the plate to Hui-won. Hui-won, having just heartily finished a large bowl of bibimbap, ate the peach as if hiding a crab’s eyes. By the time Kwon Young-je shook off his wet hands and sat down beside him again, half of it had already disappeared.
“Want one?”
Feeling awkward eating alone, Hui-won speared a piece of peach with the fork and offered it. Kwon Young-je just shook his head.
“You eat it.”
The refusal was natural. He originally never ate anything late at night. Hui-won pushed the rejected peach piece into his own mouth. With dessert now perfect, the corners of his mouth wouldn’t come down.
“Kwon Young-ho is returning tomorrow, I heard.”
Kwon Young-je said while brushing back his fallen bangs with his fingers. He said ‘tomorrow,’ but in reality, it was in a few hours. Kwon Young-ho was on a flight from Shanghai and would set foot in Incheon Airport around 9 AM.
“You said you weren’t concerned.”
Hui-won split the last remaining peach in half with the fork, putting one half in his own mouth and forcibly pushing the other into Kwon Young-je’s mouth. Then, he gently pressed and smoothed Kwon Young-je’s furrowed brow with his index finger.
“What are you worried about? Just eat something delicious and cheer up.”
At Hui-won’s words, Kwon Young-je laughed as if it was absurd. Grabbing Hui-won’s hand that was pressing between his eyebrows, he lowered it and intertwined his own fingers between Hui-won’s spread fingers.
“It’s too sweet.”
“That’s not something to say after eating well.”
“I wish we could live like this every day without worries.”
The long exhaled sigh was more relaxed than before. Strength was added to their interlocked hands. In the deep dawn, the two sat side by side leaning against the sink’s lower cabinet, chatting in low voices. Their long, stretched legs occasionally tapped each other’s bare feet.
“If Kwon Young-ho hovers around, just ignore him completely.”
“How can I do that?”
“Who knows what that bastard might do?”
“Surely not? It hasn’t been that long since he got exiled for causing trouble.”
Hui-won replied slowly, as drowsiness was gradually creeping in. Amidst that, he opened his drooping eyes wide at the strength gripping his hand.
Looking beside him, Kwon Young-je still had a serious expression. Hui-won gently stroked his hand with his thumb.
“Everyone in the world knows we’re married. As long as there are eyes watching, it’s obvious Kwon Young-ho can’t act recklessly towards me. Well… with that personality, it’s unlikely he could hide it even if he tried, but still, he probably won’t act as willfully as before.”
“……”
“Just do as you always do, Executive Director. You’re good at that.”
“You’re really worry-free. While someone’s insides are burning up.”
Hui-won laughed without making a sound. Soon, a breath resembling a sigh flowed out long. His blurry eyes were already half-closed.
“Young-je, can’t we go to sleep now?”
“……”
“I’m so sleepy. My back and stomach hurt.”
At those words, Kwon Young-je pushed off the floor and stood up. Scooping Hui-won up, he strode with his long legs.
The bed would have cooled, but it was enough to sleep hugging each other. Their nest alone was waiting with its door wide open, welcoming them to come quickly.
\*
Kwon Young-ho headed straight for the headquarters as soon as he set foot in Incheon Airport.
Dressed in a clean suit set, the Apex employees were busy blinking their eyes in disbelief at his appearance.
The official appointment was next Monday. But Kwon Young-ho was in a state of perfect readiness, as if he would start work immediately. His gaze, sweeping the lobby, was quite sharp, more than just for making an impression.
“Head of department Kwon Young-ho! Oh my, what an honor to see you again!”
A few quick-on-the-uptake directors rushed out to greet Kwon Young-ho. Bowing their heads with sparse white hair wasn’t enough; in front of their oily-tongued, hypocritical fawning, the corner of Kwon Young-ho’s mouth drew a crooked line.
“…Yes. Well, I’m also glad to see you all again. Everyone looks well.”
After he fell out of Chairman Kwon’s favor, his close associates fell away like autumn leaves. The people standing before him weren’t much different. Betrayers who had cut him off and abandoned him. Kwon Young-ho silently looked down at the directors’ shameless faces, his lips tightly sealed.
“If we knew you were coming today, we would have been waiting at the airport. You should have contacted us.”
“No need to bother busy people like you.”
The original Kwon Young-ho would have openly rebuked them. But for some reason, he displayed a mature demeanor. As he nodded his head, the attendants who had been a step behind approached and solidly filled the space around Kwon Young-ho. They were all talents brought from the China branch.
“Let’s have a meal together sometime. I’m not that narrow-minded a guy. We just need to clear up misunderstandings and rebuild a solid relationship, right?”
When Kwon Young-ho offered a handshake first, the directors bowed as if receiving a favor and grasped his hand with both of theirs.
Certainly, the previously impatient and sensitive atmosphere had largely disappeared. Kwon Young-ho was filled with confidence and didn’t even bother hiding his ambition. His upright posture revealed the demeanor of a successful entrepreneur to anyone who saw him.
“There’s plenty of time. I’ll gradually reclaim what was lost.”
His gaze was fixed on the main entrance of the lobby. Just then, Kwon Young-je was entering inside.
Kwon Young-ho leisurely lifted his chin, both hands shoved into his trouser pockets. A full smile was on his lips, as if he had been waiting only for this day.