By Zephyria 
Inside the fast-moving car, Han Seung-jae looked into his tablet PC while listening to the report being recited by Secretary Park, who sat in the passenger seat.
“Since they said they would arrive in the evening, the installation should already be complete.”
Out of habit, Han Seung-jae glanced at his wristwatch to check the time. It was already nearly midnight. His sharp eyes were reflected in the car window. Neon signs blurred like bruises over his cold expression.
“We have arrived.”
Secretary Park stepped out of the passenger seat and opened the rear door. As Han Seung-jae exited the car, he handed the tablet PC to him. Secretary Park took it and bowed.
“I will come to pick you up tomorrow morning.”
“Alright. Good work.”
Han Seung-jae pushed open the iron gate and stepped inside. The garden was illuminated. Inside the quiet house, the only sound was that of his footsteps.
As the elevator doors opened, a long stretch of light spilled out. He stepped inside.
When Han Seung-jae had arrived the previous day, Seo Yi-kyung had been asleep. Recalling that image, Han Seung-jae stepped out of the elevator. He walked along the long hallway.
Han Seung-jae gripped the doorknob. The door opened slowly without making much sound. Stepping inside, Han Seung-jae looked at Seo Yi-kyung lying on the bed.
“You weren’t sleeping?”
It was well past midnight. Yet, Seo Yi-kyung, lying in bed, had his eyes open. He clumsily braced himself against the bed and pushed his upper body up. The blanket that had covered him up to his chest slid down, revealing his pajamas.
Han Seung-jae took off his suit jacket, hung it on a chair, and adjusted his sleeves. Click, the cufflinks clinked against his palm. Han Seung-jae placed them on the table.
“Can’t sleep because you’re hungry?”
Seo Yi-kyung raised a hand to touch his forehead, fumbling with his disheveled bangs. However, Han Seung-jae was not looking at him, as he was busy loosening the tie around his neck and draping it over the chair.
Seo Yi-kyung tried hard to hide his slightly awkward expression. He had been thinking about Han Seung-jae, and for the man to just open the door and walk in like this… it would have been stranger not to be flustered. And he desperately hoped Han Seung-jae wouldn’t notice.
Seo Yi-kyung looked at Han Seung-jae’s tall back. He took off his vest and tossed it onto the table. Seo Yi-kyung spoke hesitantly.
“Something… arrived at the house this evening.”
He was reluctant to say the words ‘ultrasound machine’ directly. He had no idea what intention Han Seung-jae had in buying such a thing.
“Ah.”
Han Seung-jae dragged out the sound uncharacteristically, then turned around. As he walked over, he rolled up his open sleeves. Then, he sat down on the edge of the bed. The light spilling from the terrace crossed Han Seung-jae’s upper body diagonally. Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t see his expression clearly.
“Do you like my gift?”
Seo Yi-kyung had never asked for such a thing, nor had he ever even thought about it. However, as Seo Yi-kyung remained speechless, Han Seung-jae added while rolling up his other sleeve.
“Think of it as payment for the painting.”
Payment for a painting. The canvas with scattering cherry blossom petals flickered in Seo Yi-kyung’s mind. He hadn’t even painted that. No, that wasn’t what was important right now.
Seo Yi-kyung swallowed hard. He hoped Han Seung-jae wouldn’t see how nervous he was, but the man leaned his upper body forward, peering into Seo Yi-kyung’s stiff, bare face.
“If the price is insufficient, tell me something else. You don’t say you want anything, you don’t hope for or desire anything, and since you don’t say a word about anything, how am I supposed to know?”
As Seo Yi-kyung blinked, faint shadows flickered beneath his eyes.
“But why weren’t you sleeping?”
“I… I woke up from my sleep. Because I heard the door.”
Seo Yi-kyung hadn’t been sleeping. He decided it would be better than saying he had just been tossing and turning because he couldn’t sleep.
“Yesterday, you didn’t even know I had visited.”
“…!”
A shiver ran down Seo Yi-kyung’s spine. The fingertips gripping the fallen blanket curled instinctively. Was that so? He hadn’t heard any sound yesterday.
“See. I told you I can hear the sound of your gears turning.”
Han Seung-jae let out a low click of his tongue. However, there was no sign of displeasure on his face. He didn’t seem angry either. He was simply pointing out what kind of expression Seo Yi-kyung was making.
“You’re… late?”
Seo Yi-kyung was utterly bewildered by his own words. He wanted to bite his tongue. Because Han Seung-jae had hit the mark so bluntly, the deeply stung Seo Yi-kyung had blurted out whatever came to mind just to change the subject. However, Han Seung-jae accepted it readily.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“….”
He wanted to say no, but Seo Yi-kyung pressed his lips together as silence swirled. He neither affirmed nor denied it.
As if deciding to stop teasing him there, Han Seung-jae looked at Seo Yi-kyung’s face and spoke.
“If there’s something you need, call Butler Do.”
It was a statement that likely included everything, whether it be warm tea or a light snack. Seo Yi-kyung murmured.
“But you’re going to sleep now.”
“You really are hungry. Get up.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted. Somehow, he had fallen for Han Seung-jae’s words and revealed his inner thoughts. However, Han Seung-jae was already opening the bedroom door and leaving.
After some hesitation, Seo Yi-kyung swung his legs out of bed. He dragged his slippers and snatched up a long cardigan. The cardigan brushed against his ankles.
Tying the waist loosely, Seo Yi-kyung stepped out of the open bedroom. The long hallway was now brightly lit. Han Seung-jae, standing by the elevator, gestured with his head.
“What are you doing? Get in.”
When Han Seung-jae wasn’t around, Seo Yi-kyung had started using this elevator quite often. But it seemed unavoidable that he would hesitate when actually riding it alone with him. After all, this was already the second time it had happened here.
As Seo Yi-kyung entered the elevator, Han Seung-jae removed his hand from the button he had been pressing. Soon, the doors opened on the first floor, and dazzling light stretched into the living room. Two long silhouettes moved as if overlapping before heading toward one spot.
Seo Yi-kyung followed Han Seung-jae toward the dining room. Han Seung-jae, who entered first, looked around and pointed with his fingertip toward the ceramic dining table.
“Sit there.”
Seo Yi-kyung pulled out a chair and sat slowly at the table. Han Seung-jae disappeared inside, and the repeated sound of shelves opening and closing as if he were searching for something echoed. With his nerves on edge, Seo Yi-kyung patted his anxious chest.
“I can’t tell where the tea is.”
Eventually, frowning, Han Seung-jae called for Butler Do. The lights in the entire living room turned on brightly. Butler Do, appearing in a rush, grabbed a teapot and pulled out teacups.
“I am sorry. I will prepare it for you immediately.”
Watching Butler Do’s back as he moved frantically, Seo Yi-kyung covered his eyes with his palm. It was a sight so pitiful that he couldn’t bear to watch.
Butler Do was moving his hands even more hurriedly because Han Seung-jae was standing right there.
Step. At the sound of footsteps, Seo Yi-kyung lowered the hand covering his eyes. Han Seung-jae, wearing a dress shirt, pulled out a chair. Butler Do seemed flustered until Han Seung-jae sat opposite him. However, Han Seung-jae seemed not to care much about that.
Pour. Butler Do tilted the teapot. After filling two teacups, he placed them in front of Han Seung-jae and Seo Yi-kyung.
“If you need anything else…”
Glancing at Han Seung-jae’s complexion, Butler Do trailed off, then spoke hurriedly when their eyes met.
“I will be nearby, so please let me know if you need anything.”
“Alright.”
Seo Yi-kyung watched Butler Do pass by, then gazed at Han Seung-jae. It seemed Butler Do had finished his task, but since Han Seung-jae had responded that way, Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t exactly tell him to go and rest.
“Drink. Or do you need something else?”
Since Han Seung-jae looked ready to call Butler Do again, Seo Yi-kyung gripped the teacup.
“No. This is enough. I was actually feeling a bit chilly.”
Even though the house wasn’t cold, Seo Yi-kyung occasionally felt a chill. At that, Han Seung-jae, who had been looking at the receding Butler Do, shifted his gaze.
“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Seo Yi-kyung shook his head. If he said he was sick, this was a man who wouldn’t hesitate to call a doctor to the house, just like last time.
Seo Yi-kyung brought the gripped teacup to his lips. Han Seung-jae similarly picked up the teacup Butler Do had placed.
Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t bring himself to pull the tea away from his lips for a while. That was because Han Seung-jae was staring at him. Eventually, Seo Yi-kyung lowered the cup.
Han Seung-jae refilled Seo Yi-kyung’s half-empty cup and placed the teapot back on the table.
Seo Yi-kyung traced the warm teacup with his fingers. The heat spread from his fingertips to his palm. Han Seung-jae’s voice rang out indifferently.
“Do you want to go see the baby?”