By Zephyria 
Whether it was because taking naps thanks to Gyu-oh had become a habit for a while, or because he had become too dependent on the guy. While spending time apart from Gyu-oh, he couldn’t even sleep properly, let alone take naps. He could feel the speed at which he was being worn down, both physically and mentally. That must have shown on his face.
Min-ho averted his gaze to the window to avoid the subtle and persistent eyes. Along the quiet road, there were rows of skeletal trees left untouched. Would I look like that to others too? Like a dying tree with no sign of life. He struggled to suppress the bitter thought crossing his mind and changed the subject.
“You said you were hungry. Let’s have lunch before heading to the office. Do you have time for that?”
When he asked toward the front seat, an immediate affirmative answer returned.
“There’s a restaurant I spotted on the way. Won Gyu-oh, don’t be picky about the menu and just eat.”
“When did you ever see me be picky? I could eat dirt right now.”
It was a conversation no different from usual. When the three of them gathered, it mostly flowed this way. But for some reason, it became difficult to endure even when Gyu-oh’s interest was simply focused on him. Even though he should be more than grateful for the care.
The inexplicable discomfort continued throughout the meal.
“Eat some of this too. Plenty of it.”
“…….”
“If you’re not going to exercise, at least make sure to eat some protein.”
Interference was piled on with every spoonful of rice. He took care of him excessively today, though of course, their gazes never once locked during the process.
It would be nice if he shared that interest with Mu-gyeong sitting opposite him. But Gyu-oh acted as if he could only see Min-ho. Thinking it would be better to just eat quickly and leave this place, Min-ho was eating whatever side dishes Gyu-oh placed on his plate when—
“I knew you’d set up a household, but now you’re not even hiding it.”
At the sudden remark, Min-ho’s chopsticks stopped dead. Mu-gyeong had been linking the two of them as a joke for a while now, but those words were becoming increasingly uncomfortable. It was fine for him since he was a guy who dated men, but Won Gyu-oh wasn’t. There was also the matter of the slip of the tongue he’d made previously. He couldn’t let a weird atmosphere be created and make a perfectly sane guy misunderstand.
“……Right, let’s just eat our own food. It’s annoying.”
Because he cut him off quite coldly, the air froze for a moment. Nevertheless, Gyu-oh smiled brightly and placed a side dish on Mu-gyeong’s rice as well.
“Now you know how I feel, right? Your couple is so real it was practically an eyesore, seriously.”
The atmosphere softened slightly with Gyu-oh’s playful remark. However, he couldn’t hide the lingering feeling of unease. He didn’t even know how he finished his meal after that. He struggled because he couldn’t manage his facial expressions well.
Rather than the fear of having stepped into a space he dreaded, Won Gyu-oh’s excessive interest weighed on his heart. It seemed certain that tonight would be a night followed by nightmares.
* * *
“……Why isn’t he responding.”
It was well past the time the Executive Director, who had gone on a golf trip to Guam, should have returned. There had been no reply for several days to the message asking if he had a good trip. Normally, he was the type to reply as soon as he saw a text. Min-ho sank into thought, tapping the desk rhythmically with the tip of his fountain pen.
He had parted ways cleanly with Son Pro after the meal that day, and they had exchanged messages occasionally since then. There was no reason for things to go wrong, so why had it been quiet for several days? Did they notice we were doing a background check? They shouldn’t. If it was something Won Gyu-oh did, it wouldn’t leave a trace.
The burden of being the only one in contact with the T Corporation Executive Director occasionally created anxiety, as he had to keep a firm grip on that side.
“Haa.”
He leaned back into the chair as if collapsing and tapped his tight chest. A heavy silence pressed against his ears. He felt as if he would be plagued by nightmares if he let his guard down for even a moment. Min-ho, with his eyes wide open against the urge to close them, tapped his cheeks lightly with both hands.
“……He’ll come.”
It wasn’t as if the work would fall apart just because there was no contact. It wasn’t like a clever solution would appear just by sitting here. Min-ho let out a deep sigh and counted to three in his head. One, two……
“Three.”
After speaking the last number aloud, he immediately turned on the laptop screen. Then, he began to immerse himself in work like someone who had never once taken their eyes off the screen. For now, forced concentration was the only way to stop the self-reproach.
How long had he been struggling, immersed in work? Before he knew it, his tie was loosened and buttons were undone. He had cast off everything that felt suffocating, so why did his inside feel so stifled? He lit up the phone screen to see if the Executive Director had contacted him.
Instead of the awaited contact, a single text from Mu-gyeong sat there. A photo was attached, and upon checking it, Min-ho’s brow furrowed sharply. It was a scene of the T Corporation Executive Director, who had ignored all his messages, having a meal with Son Pro. Opposite him was a face that was unfamiliar yet familiar. A construction company Director who wasn’t exactly a rival, but certainly someone to keep in check.
“……What is this.”
[Seong Mu-gyeong: He’s acting like a crazy person, so don’t wait too much for the contact.]
A short message was attached, as if knowing he would be blaming himself and worrying. There was no reproach in it. He always felt a sense of responsibility regarding his clumsy friendship with the T Corporation Executive Director. Although it seemed other people didn’t want to put that much pressure on him.
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, the contact seemed to have dwindled since he had dinner with Son Pro. Did Son Pro egg the Executive Director on again? Closing his eyes tight, he retraced every single word and action from the day he met Son Pro. He didn’t think there were any particularly problematic words or behaviors. His mind, which never had a quiet day, began to get noisy again.
In times like this, his thoughts only led in one direction. He wanted to rest. But he didn’t know how to rest. Until now, whenever he wanted to sleep peacefully, he had only clung to stimulating things while breaking himself down.
If only Won Gyu-oh were by his side, he might have been able to close his eyes.
“……Am I crazy.”
In the end, it always comes to this. It was the situation he desired least.
Biting his lower lip in contemplation, Min-ho finally opened the drawer. And he took out the business card of the detective who had sent him secret signals several times. Mu-gyeong had passed it to him via photo, and afterward, he had handed it over, saying he didn’t need it.
After fidgeting with the card, which had a frayed corner, for a long time, he finally pressed the call button. The ringing didn’t even last two beats before it was picked up.
“Hello there.”
Hearing the voice of the person responding warmly as soon as they heard his voice, Min-ho turned his dry gaze toward the window. It was the season where winter was gradually approaching. A time when desolation deepened with every tick of the second hand. Perhaps that was why there was only dryness where Min-ho’s gaze landed.
He got into the car parked in the corner, but he didn’t leave immediately. He sat still in the parking lot, which was so quiet it felt like the dead of night, and continued his blank thoughts.
“……Haa.”
He had gone to the hotel on his own, but in the end, the meeting with the detective ended in failure. The man, fed up with Cha Min-ho’s countless one-sided whims, would no longer take his calls. Even though it was a situation where he was letting a partner go, rather than regret, a corner of his heart felt uneasy. An unpleasant sensation, like a thorn pricking under his fingernail.
To shake it off, he had spent two full hours sweating through exercise, but his head wouldn’t lighten. He brushed back his half-dry hair and leaned his body against the driver’s seat.
Thoughts that had been continuing slowly and emptily, like floating dust, finally reached a destination. His imagination eventually formed a certain shape. That face, so familiar and familiar.
Minho unconsciously reached for his phone.
[Viper]
He pulled up the number he had exchanged the most messages with among those in his call list. Then, just as he had when calling the detective, he hesitated for a long time. After biting his lower lip until it stung, he eventually threw the phone onto the passenger seat.
“Forget it. What would I even say if I called.”
Why contact a busy guy and say what? He shook his head, shaking off the tailing thoughts. Only then was he able to completely leave the dark parking lot.
Was it because he had pushed his body to the limit until he was out of breath? Or was it because the insomnia that had piled up like a debt had reached its limit? By the time he reached home, sleep crashed over him terrifyingly. Without even having the time to head to the bed, he collapsed face-down on the sofa.
“I should change my clothes first……”
Why is sleep hitting me like this? Usually, he wasn’t this sleepy just from some exercise. It was strange. However, before he could feel any more wonder, Min-ho fell into a shallow sleep.
Cruelly, the shallow sleep could not lead to a deep one.
“Ah…… my back.”
Perhaps because he slept face-down, his neck and back were stiff. He tossed and turned for a while in discomfort before turning his head. As he blinked slowly, something large caught in his field of vision.
“…….”
He let his eyes slide along the shape of a silhouette that was both unfamiliar and familiar. The tattoo engraved on the nape, the broad back and sturdy shoulders. Messy hair with a bit of length. He looks like Won Gyu-oh. While thinking this and blinking stupidly, Min-ho bolted upright.
“What. When did you get here?”
“…….”
Even at his words, Gyu-oh did not look back.