By Zephyria 
After barely managing to send Cha Seo-jun off. With just one mention that he had to go to his part-time job, the mood stubbornly refused to lift.
At this rate, it looked like he wouldn’t even get to make eye contact with Cha Jeong-won once during the little time they had left.
Even when the elevator stopped and the doors opened, Cha Jeong-won stepped out first without bothering to look after Haon.
It wasn’t as if he was a little child who needed someone to watch over him, so why did it feel so disappointing?
Still, just seeing Cha Jeong-won’s broad, door-like back was enough to make him happy, and he followed as if entranced.
Haon quietly watched Cha Jeong-won’s fingers press the keypad for the front door code.
Click.
As the door opened, the air from inside flowed out. It was too calm to be Seoul’s air. He could smell a scent that was distinctly Cha Jeong-won’s.
Just as Haon was about to follow Cha Jeong-won inside, the man spoke offhandedly.
“I haven’t changed the passcode, so come and go as you please.”
Cha Jeong-won headed towards the living room without even looking back.
Because of that, Haon was left standing there dumbly, not even having untied his sneaker laces.
He said to come and go as I please, but right now, for some reason, it felt a bit awkward.
“Um… I’m coming in.”
After speaking in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, he slipped one foot out of his sneaker, heel first, and then paused again. Even his posture became terribly awkward.
Is it really okay to go in? He stood still for a moment like that when footsteps approached again.
Cha Jeong-won appeared. He gently placed the slippers he was carrying onto the floor in front of Haon.
“Wear these.”
Actually, there were already guest slippers in the entryway.
Simple but cleanly designed slippers that were already prepared. Then he looked again at the slippers Cha Jeong-won had handed him.
They looked much plusher, and the color and shape were pretty too. They had that neat, brand-new feel.
Just looking at them, they weren’t something just anyone would wear; they seemed chosen with someone specific in mind.
“These are yours, so I put a name tag on them.”
For a moment, Haon’s pupils dilated.
Cha Jeong-won took a step back.
Haon ended up changing into those slippers.
They were so plush and comfortable that his feet sank right in, which made him even more embarrassed. He pressed his lips together tightly, feeling like he might laugh.
“We were together the whole time, when did you even order these? Do you have someone else working for you here?”
Remembering how the heating at the villa had been turned on in advance, he made a joking remark.
“I bought these. You’ll be coming and going here anyway, after all.”
Haon’s heart pounded thump thump.
Could it be that Cha Jeong-won knew he was keeping an eye on the box he’d placed under his bed?
“I have separate ones for you to wear in the studio. For now, wear these here.”
Cha Jeong-won gestured with his chin towards the outside. At that, Haon let out an “Ah,” sounding a bit dazed.
“I’ll buy the things you’ll use, one by one, so prepare name tags generously.”
Cha Jeong-won said this nonchalantly and went back inside.
Haon shuffled along in his slippers, following him.
His steps became cautious. This house still felt unfamiliar, but perhaps because of the slippers he’d just received, he felt like he was sinking deeper into a place he shouldn’t enter.
While walking down the hallway, Haon unconsciously let his gaze drift towards the room he had stayed in before.
Peeking inside, he could see the bed. Before, there had only been a lone bed, but now there was a nightstand.
Still, it felt empty.
From behind, Cha Jeong-won’s voice was heard.
“Fill it up diligently on your own.”
Only his tone was stern. Haon found that even more annoying and grumbled.
“When am I supposed to fill this place? I’m busy with my graduation project prep and everything else right now.”
“Busier than me?”
Cha Jeong-won retorted casually as he headed to the living room.
Haon had no comeback and closed his mouth. He didn’t know exactly how busy Cha Jeong-won was, but he knew he was busier than himself. That was beyond Haon’s imagination.
Going out to the living room, he saw Cha Jeong-won sitting on the sofa. And with his head tilted just a little, he made a gesture with his eyes. It meant to come sit next to him.
Haon shuffled over in his slippers and sat down.
He left a slight distance between himself and Cha Jeong-won, but for some reason, that felt even more awkward. Haon cleared his throat for no reason.
“Why are you setting the mood as soon as we get here?”
At the words treating him like some lecherous person, Cha Jeong-won momentarily made an expression as if he found it absurd.
“I called you over to talk.”
“Okay, okay.”
Pretending not to believe him, Haon nonetheless subtly closed the distance with his butt. Then he leaned his body towards Cha Jeong-won.
Cha Jeong-won spoke again.
“Not a physical conversation, just a conversation.”
“Got it.”
He said he got it, but Haon didn’t pull away. Instead, he attached himself even more naturally.
Leaning his head lightly against Cha Jeong-won’s shoulder, he spoke in a voice mixed with a sigh.
“I’m tired from being in the car for so long.”
And then he leaned against the shoulder of the man who had been driving the whole time and was probably tired too.
Cha Jeong-won didn’t exactly agree, but he didn’t push Haon away either.
“This time, there’s no set deadline, so don’t just leave as you please.”
Before, it was a relationship with a set period of one week, but now it was different. Every time that fact struck him anew, Haon felt both happy and scared.
Haon deliberately spoke in a light tone.
“No, we could fight or break up, so telling me not to leave is a bit much.”
Without even turning his gaze, Cha Jeong-won retorted immediately.
“Whether we fight or break up, you’re my talisman.”
He stated it decisively, blocking Haon’s path of escape.
It was so valid that Haon couldn’t even retort anymore.
That’s right. Even if they fought and he got sick of seeing Cha Jeong-won, he had no intention of leaving.
Still, his contrary nature surfaced and he tried saying it slyly, but he hadn’t expected that kind of answer.
Cha Jeong-won, you’re clever.
Haon eventually moved on to another question.
“You don’t have anything else to say, right? Then I’ll just sleep a little before I go to my part-time job.”
As he spoke, Haon closed his eyes.
A hand came through his hair. Cha Jeong-won’s fingertips slowly stroked Haon’s hair.
It was a gentle, soothing touch. Haon sensed Cha Jeong-won letting out a very small laugh.
“I have a lot to say.”
With his eyes closed, Haon tensed and then relaxed his lips.
“Whatever you say is fine. I’ll listen to all of it, so tell me.”
“Alright, first, I’ll take you to the cafe where you work. Tell me when you finish too. I’ll wait.”
With his eyes still closed, Haon answered a beat late.
“Then I’ll have to thank you with an almond cream latte.”
Instead of saying okay, Cha Jeong-won changed the subject.
“…And the date for the retrospective is undecided.”
Haon opened his eyes slightly.
It was an important topic, but Cha Jeong-won’s attitude of trying to steer the conversation was cute.
“There’s a date I want to match as much as possible.”
Cha Jeong-won’s voice was calm. He was speaking as if it were nothing, but Haon also knew very well how important that exhibition was to Cha Jeong-won.
Perhaps his mind was completely filled with thoughts of the retrospective.
Haon just listened quietly.
“My grandfather’s memorial day.”
In that instant, the smile vanished from Haon’s face. His closed eyes opened completely.
Unaware of Haon’s change, Cha Jeong-won continued speaking.
“I’ll hold the retrospective then. Hmm… I’m thinking of trying out the idea you mentioned too.”
As he finished speaking, Cha Jeong-won shifted his gaze to the side. The direction visible from the living room. Right towards Cha Jeong-won’s bedroom.
Haon immediately realized what Cha Jeong-won was thinking of.
No. More than what Cha Jeong-won remembered, Haon ended up recalling another fact.
Haon didn’t turn his head. Cha Jeong-won’s gaze was fixed on that room.
And his bedroom, and the box belonging to his maternal grandfather located beneath it.
That ominous object that would bring misfortune to Cha Jeong-won.
He remembered that in the original work, Cha Jeong-won ultimately never held the retrospective. So Haon also found it difficult to predict when the final accident from the original story would occur.
But with the mention of wanting to hold the retrospective on his grandfather’s memorial day, a new clue clicked into place.
It wasn’t just a simple memorial day for his grandfather.
That day was also the date Cha Jeong-won would have his accident.
Haon unconsciously held his breath.
His mind quickly organized the information.
In the original work, Cha Jeong-won gets caught up in an irreversible, major accident.
And at that time, that box was by his side.
Only now in Haon’s mind did the clues begin to interlock, forming a single picture.
The box made by Cha Jeong-won’s beloved grandfather; Cha Jeong-won took out that box on his grandfather’s memorial day. And then the accident happened.
Cha Jeong-won, seeing Haon’s lack of reaction, seemed to sense something was off.
But before he could act, Haon first pulled Cha Jeong-won’s waist into an embrace. A very tight one.
Cha Jeong-won took a short breath in and then spoke with a voice tinged with laughter.
“Why are you rubbing against me like this.”
His voice sounded like he was grumbling, but his hand was supporting Haon’s back. He didn’t push him away.
Haon rubbed his cheek against Cha Jeong-won’s chest.
“What can I do, it feels good.”
And then he said no more. Instead, he took a deeper breath within his embrace.
Cha Jeong-won’s scent filled the depths of his lungs. He tried to suppress the chill he felt from the word ‘memorial day’ with that scent.
“Buy me an Americano.”
Cha Jeong-won subtly changed the subject. But Haon just kept rubbing his face against his chest.
‘I’ll protect you.’
As long as this person remains safe, he could buy him a hundred, a thousand almond cream lattes.
“You’ll buy me an Americano, right?”