By Zephyria 
How much time had passed? His body, filled with fatigue and stress, slowly began to lose focus. He reached a point where he read the same paragraph a couple of times and it still wouldn’t enter his mind. He even started reading aloud while underlining, but it had no effect.
“Haa…”
He had reached his limit.
Although he had been sharing a drink with Gyu-oh often lately, it had been quite a while since he had called anyone out. Since Gyu-oh had moved in with his carrier over a month ago, he wondered if he had ever lived this abstinently. Checking the calendar, Min-ho realized anew that a lot of time had passed.
Usually, there were some people who contacted him under the guise of checking in, but recently, there had been no such contact. He checked to see if he had missed any messages, but as expected, there were none.
When his head was this full of idle thoughts, nothing beat mixing bodies frantically. That moment when his mind went blank, and he was overwhelmed just by focusing on the rapidly racing pulse and disordered breathing. The weight that had been pressing down on him would vanish, and he would be swept away into a profound darkness.
Recalling the sensation he had forgotten for a while, a needless thirst surged. Should he try contacting that detective again? If he searched, there might be a business card somewhere. As he reached for the drawer, Gyu-oh’s face suddenly came to mind. The guy who had been struggling to manage him lately.
“…Forget it, why the hell would I want sex when I’m busy.”
Strangely, as he thought of the boy’s face, the boiling desire seemed to gradually subside. He withdrew his hand from the drawer and stood up from the chair.
“…Maybe I’ll go get some fresh air.”
Watching the rain might clear his head. Taking only his cigarettes, he left the deeply darkened office.
Since it was close to midnight, the building was empty. The lobby, where people usually bustled about, and the cafe, where familiar faces always greeted him, were quiet. Because the main entrance was locked, he had to go out through the back door. As soon as he opened the door, the fishy scent of rain brushed the tip of his nose.
Swaaaa, the rain was much thicker and fiercer than expected. At this rate, he’d need an umbrella. Min-ho shook off the raindrops hitting his palms and turned around, intending to go back and grab an umbrella. At that moment, he felt a strong grip on his wrist. It was a moment of carelessness, but he reflexively threw a punch.
Thwack, the sensation of his fist hitting firm flesh was vividly transmitted, followed by a scoffing laugh.
“Huh.”
“…What the.”
A figure draped in a black raincoat still blocked his path, arms wrapped around his midsection. Min-ho hurriedly tried to identify the person. Strangely, the silhouette and the laugh were so familiar that he had to narrow his eyes and look closely.
“You haven’t forgotten the days when you were still a rookie, Hyung.”
“……Won Gyu-oh?”
The one who pushed back the raincoat hood with a wet hand shook off the rainwater from his hair and closed the distance. The two men stood close together under a building awning that extended only a couple of spans.
“Where are you going in such a rush?”
“You scared me. You could have just called me.”
“I was going to.”
Gyu-oh trailed off and took a few steps to the side. As he pinched the raincoat and shook it, the ground became stained with rainwater.
“But since you were leaving without even looking back, I wanted to catch you.”
“…….”
Gyu-oh stripped off the raincoat as if tearing buttons from the front and gently stroked Min-ho’s lower abdomen. He let his eyes droop, pretending to be hurt.
“Still, I didn’t know you’d beat a person up like this. Your fists are still useful, Hyung.”
“If I’d actually hit you, there wouldn’t be enough of you left to bury.”
“Yes, yes, I’m sure.”
Clutching the raincoat in one hand, Gyu-oh bumped his shoulder against Min-ho’s. Steadying his swaying body, Min-ho put the cigarette and lighter back into his pocket. He had only intended to come down to get his umbrella, but after talking to this guy, he realized he didn’t particularly need it.
“But why did you come out only to go back in immediately?”
“……I just came out to get some fresh air. Where have you been hiding until now?”
“A rainy day is the optimal environment for infiltration. Aren’t you off work?”
At the mention of leaving work, the documents piled on the desk and the computer he hadn’t turned off came to mind. However, seeing Gyu-oh’s wet pant legs and hair, the thought of staying any longer vanished completely.
“I should probably get going.”
“Then pack your things. Are there towels upstairs?”
Nodding, Min-ho opened the narrow side door. In the silent hallway, only the rhythmic sound of wet sneakers squelching against the floor echoed. The two walked quietly and boarded the elevator waiting on the first floor. Only after entering a space where no one could eavesdrop did a proper conversation follow.
“Did you find anything out?”
“That guy, Son Pro or whatever his name is—apparently, he bought up several plots of land and buildings in the neighborhood where the center is being built. Way before the site was even finalized.”
“Hmm.”
It could have been information obtained in advance through the Executive Director of T Corporation, but for those already doubting the relationship between the two, even a small coincidence could not be easily overlooked.
“I think it’ll be too obvious if I take lessons from Son Pro, so I’m thinking of joining a golf course he frequents.”
“I thought you said you weren’t going to infiltrate.”
“If it’s necessary, I have to do it.”
Gyu-oh shrugged, holding the dripping raincoat in one hand. His cheeks were red, perhaps from being outside for a long time. Without realizing it, Min-ho reached out and pressed the back of his hand against the flushed cheek. As soon as the cold body temperature transferred, he realized his mistake. Gyu-oh would feel uncomfortable if he touched him so carelessly.
“……How long were you outside in a raincoat.”
Because he was flustered, the words came out awkwardly. As he tried to withdraw his hand as naturally as possible, Gyu-oh leaned forward, burying his face deeper. Then, he quietly looked up and met Min-ho’s gaze.
“Mu-gyeong Hyung dropped me off when I left, and I only walked back on the way here.”
“…….”
The low voice echoing in the narrow elevator gave him a strange chill. He couldn’t even find the timing to pull his hand away. While he stood frozen, captured by a gaze that was almost obsessive, the corners of Gyu-oh’s mouth curled up slightly.
“I thought about calling you, Hyung. But since it was raining, I wondered if you’d fallen asleep.”
Gyu-oh straightened his slightly bent waist and shook his bangs. Raindrops were sliding down his nape, where a tattoo was etched. Only then did the awkward tension that had held Min-ho motionless dissipate.
“……Who sleeps just because it’s raining?”
“Lately, the sound of rain has been your lullaby, Hyung.”
Gyu-oh chuckled, bumping his shoulder. Ah, he’s talking about that video of the lonely puppy sleeping soundly… Min-ho understood a step too late. Forgetting the momentary awkwardness, he glared fiercely, and Gyu-oh pretended to cower.
“Oh my, how scary.”
“Right. If you were actually scared, would you be acting so bold with me?”
“Crawl, crawl.”
“Hey.”
This brat always has to push things to the second or third level just to provoke people. Just as Min-ho was about to say something, the elevator doors opened. Gyu-oh extended his arm draped with the raincoat and leaned his waist slightly. Like someone providing an escort.
“Let’s go, Hyung-nim.”
“…….”
No matter how long the conversation went, he would be the one exhausted. This guy didn’t budge for most things. Min-ho took a stride and stepped out of the narrow space.
“But would it be a bit weird if I’m working at the golf course after saying I was a designated driver last time?”
“They probably won’t remember in detail. You drank quite a bit then.”
Even if they did remember, he could just insist it wasn’t true. And if that didn’t work, they’d just think he was a guy who does any job he can because he’s desperate for money. People with hidden agendas often only look at the goal in front of them and rarely pay attention to their surroundings.
The office they returned to was still settled in a cold silence. The footsteps of the two echoed through the space, and the faint scent of rain filled the void. It felt as though the stifling air had finally become a bit lighter.
“Towels are over there.”
Min-ho pointed to the cabinet attached under the small sink. Watching the broad back as Gyu-oh bent his knees to rummage inside, Min-ho flopped into his chair.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to work more?”
Gyu-oh, wiping his wet forearms with a towel, looked over. Min-ho, picking up his briefcase, continued speaking without even glancing back.
“I’m taking some things to look over.”
“Honestly. Living with a work ghost and a money ghost is no easy feat.”
After letting out a laugh instead of a reply, Min-ho finished filling his folder. Since he had originally planned to work more before leaving, things were still cluttered. Only after hurriedly tidying the desk did he clap his hands together loudly.
“Really done. Let’s go.”
As he finished speaking and looked up, he saw a silhouette that had already approached him. Min-ho flinched in surprise, but Gyu-oh placed one hand on the desk between them. With a towel draped carelessly over his shoulder and his wet, messy hair swept back haphazardly, he leaned his upper body forward and reached out. His black pupils were still fixed obsessively on him.
“…….”
Aware of the fingertips closing the distance, strangely, Min-ho couldn’t push him away or avoid him. Perhaps it was because of the rain. He had the illusion that the air was stretching out unusually heavy. The moment the fingertips, almost touching, finally brushed his cheek.
Flicker, flicker.
The light illuminating the desk blinked. Light repeatedly poured over Gyu-oh’s face, which still held a fierce atmosphere, and then dimmed. He wanted to pull away, but an unknown tension clung to his entire body, making it impossible to move.
“Director Cha?”
“…….”
Then, a touch followed, tapping his cheek as if to draw his attention. The fingertips touched the glasses Min-ho was wearing.
“You should take these off before you go.”
“Ah.”
As he hurriedly took off his glasses and tossed them aside, Gyu-oh withdrew his body without hesitation. As if his only goal from the start had been to tell him to take off his glasses.
“Let’s go. It’s going to rain more.”
Watching Gyu-oh turn and lead the way, Min-ho let out a small sigh.
“……Yeah.”
If he had stared into those eyes looking down at him for just a moment longer… something serious might have happened. Even if it wasn’t intentional, Gyu-oh’s gaze was somehow sticky, and the atmosphere was strange. And strangely, it didn’t feel repulsive. No, should repulsion only be felt toward a guy who used to date women?
He lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut and open.
He’s been having these stray thoughts a lot lately. It’s because he’s not living the way he used to. He should try to find someone useful soon. As he left the office, he thought of the people remaining in his phone book.