By Zephyria It was the smile that most resembled the Lee Hae-sung Choi Hong-seo remembered from the past. He understood. This look was the image of Choi Hong-seo that Lee Hae-sung remembered. And whenever he found that look, the more he could collect this smile he showed, the more he could give him confidence.
When he was just Yoon Hye-an to him.
Back then, the traces of Choi Hong-seo found in Yoon Hye-an only caused him suspicion and displeasure.
For a while after that period, it was a substitute that barely quenched the tongue burning with the thirst of longing. Treating Yoon Hye-an as he would Choi Hong-seo, he had constantly searched for Choi Hong-seo within Yoon Hye-an.
But the image of Choi Hong-seo he discovered now was no longer doubt or a substitute.
With each discovery, he felt his soul tremble, be moved, and rejoice.
Choi Hong-seo recalled how happy he was just for that. The fact that he saw him as Choi Hong-seo, and was trying to fully accept that fact. This was a situation he hadn’t expected even a little bit since the moment he found Yoon Hye-an’s face in the mirror.
“I can confirm it. As much as you want, Darling.”
“Huh?”
“I really don’t get hurt.”
“……”
“You can test me, ask me as many quizzes as you want. Until you’re convinced within yourself… Don’t feel sorry and keep checking.”
Actually, he had wanted to say, ‘Until you can kiss me without hesitation.’ But he couldn’t voice it. Such an expression would likely make him feel more sorry.
With a smile that looked complicated, he nodded his head carefully a couple of times.
As they drove away from the airport, the traffic began to clear. Sceneries that he had only seen in media, the kind that came to mind when thinking of LA, began to unfold. They drove along roads lined with palm trees, and passed through neighborhoods of houses with well-manicured lawns. The further north they went, the more bustling the scenery became. Many stylish buildings and shops were visible, and the streets were well-maintained. The atmosphere was completely different from the area where Choi Hong-seo had stayed, with its old hotel and gallery.
“This area here is Beverly Hills.”
“Ah…”
So this was the Beverly Hills he had only heard about. Choi Hong-seo nodded as if he understood, looking at the row of luxurious shops, cafes, and restaurants with opulent exteriors, and the line of high-end cars parked in front of them.
“You haven’t been able to do any sightseeing… of course, right?”
“It’s okay. I didn’t come here to sightsee.”
“Is there anywhere you wanted to go? I think it would be nice to do some sightseeing for a day.”
“Rather than tourist spots… I want to go to places you like, Darling.”
“I’ve mostly come here on business trips too. When I had two or three days free after work, I’d go hiking, or out on the yacht, or just ride horses without thinking about anything… That’s about it.”
“Then I like hiking too.”
“Santa Monica Mountains are right behind the accommodation. Shall we go hiking tomorrow?”
The dry November California wind, blowing through the half-open car window, ruffled his hair. Lee Hae-sung looked over at him, brushing the hair that fell over his forehead.
Choi Hong-seo nodded his head vigorously in response, and he showed another smile.
Lee Hae-sung’s car, after turning left past a cafe filled with people dressed comfortably yet stylishly sitting at outdoor tables, entered a large, single-story building.
Lee Hae-sung declined valet parking and parked the car in a corner of the nearly empty parking lot. He unbuckled his seatbelt and reached his arm back towards the rear seat.
“How about taking that off and putting this on?”
In his hand was a thin cardigan suitable for LA’s November weather. Choi Hong-seo looked down at the shiny jacket of Yoon Hye-an he was wearing. This was the most presentable one he had chosen. It was definitely not Choi Hong-seo’s style. He took the garment from him and changed.
“Hmm, much better. It’s a bit loose, but you always liked wearing things a little oversized.”
Lee Hae-sung nodded with satisfaction, looking at him wearing the cardigan over his t-shirt. Then, he carefully examined Choi Hong-seo’s face.
“The ice pack must have had some effect. It’s better.”
Choi Hong-seo also felt that the swelling around his eyes had lightened. As he nodded, his palm lightly touched and then fell away from his cheek. With a light, short laugh.
Following him out of the car, Choi Hong-seo pulled the right front edge of the cardigan and buried his nose in the fabric. The lingering scent of perfume, not over-applied, mixed with aftershave, body lotion, and Lee Hae-sung’s unique scent, colored his senses. It was a scent that made him feel an overwhelming sense of longing, as if tears might suddenly well up.
“……”
Sensing a gaze, he looked up. He had stopped and was looking this way, having walked to the front of the car. Choi Hong-seo sheepishly let go of the fabric as if he had done something wrong. But Lee Hae-sung didn’t scold him or frown. I see. He’s seeing me as Choi Hong-seo now, for real.
“Come here, take my hand.” He held out his right hand. He quickened his steps, almost running, and overlapped his palm with his. Grasping his hand firmly, he walked towards the entrance.
Two or three staff members were waiting at the building entrance.
“This is Benjamin, the manager who will assist you with your shopping today. Please feel free to call him Ben. It’s a great honor to have you choose our shop, Mr. Lee… and…”
Having only been informed of Lee Hae-sung’s name in advance, the manager tilted his head slightly with a smile as he looked at Choi Hong-seo, who was accompanying him.
“What should I call you?”
It was a fleeting moment, but Choi Hong-seo could read the man’s gaze, which assessed his attire, demeanor, and the ‘origin’ hidden within them. The man wore a gentle smile, but it seemed he had already concluded in his mind that Lee Hae-sung and Choi Hong-seo were a VVIP customer and the young plaything he brought along. It was strange how that thought was so clearly conveyed despite his friendly smile.
Choi Hong-seo hesitated, stepping back slightly, and half-hid behind Lee Hae-sung’s shoulder. Tug-tug on the hand he was holding, Lee Hae-sung looked down at Choi Hong-seo.
“You should tell him your name.”
“You tell him for me, Darling.”
“What will you do if you can’t even introduce yourself directly at your age?”
Even as he said that, his face looked amused. Looking down lovingly at Choi Hong-seo, who was half-hiding his face behind his shoulder and acting shy, he lowered his head further and touched foreheads.
“Baby. He’s my baby, baby.”
“……”
“……”
Lee Hae-sung’s expression was serious, but of course, it was a joke, and of course, no one in the room, including Choi Hong-seo, laughed. The manager and staff looked visibly perplexed about how to react. Choi Hong-seo couldn’t laugh for a slightly different reason than them.
Baby.
That was the nickname Lee Hae-sung had given Choi Hong-seo.
Hearing ‘baby’ in English, even with the same meaning, felt slightly different. Perhaps he wasn’t trying to say the old nickname, but just wanted to tease him. Even so, his voice saying ‘my baby’ was as sweet as the most delicious macarons he had never tasted.
Shyness, however, was a separate matter from that sweetness.
Pulling the hand he held, he muttered just loud enough for him to hear.
“Don’t.”
“Why? Because you can’t introduce yourself, I called you baby.”
He shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know what the problem was. Then, looking down at Choi Hong-seo’s earlobes, which were almost crimson, he sighed.
“It’s a joke. He’s just too shy, so I wanted to tease him a little. This is Mr. Choi. Choi Hong-seo, my partner.”
“Ah, yes! Mr. Lee and Choi. We’ve been looking forward to it. We’ll help you have a comfortable shopping experience.”
At Lee Hae-sung’s words that it was a joke, the manager and staff let out awkward laughs. They had to sweat it out, smiling at the customer’s ambiguous joke, just like in Korea. Moreover, he wasn’t an ordinary customer.
Guided inside, the two moved towards the back of the store. The manager enthusiastically introduced the shop to Lee Hae-sung, who was visiting for the first time. Since the rapid, long English was mostly incomprehensible, Choi Hong-seo just followed along, looking around the spacious store.
Lee Hae-sung looked back at Choi Hong-seo, who was following a couple of steps behind, and pulled his hand closer to shorten the distance.
“Is there anything you like?”
“It’s not that… it’s just that there are so few people.”
“I requested it in advance. You’re the only customer, so you can relax.”
So that’s what he meant when he called someone at the hotel earlier, asking to shop quietly. How much shopping would they have to do here to empty out this entire store?
Choi Hong-seo couldn’t even guess. Since it was a shop filled with expensive products, they wouldn’t empty it for a mere ten to twenty thousand dollars. His steps, following Lee Hae-sung, inevitably slowed. He didn’t particularly enjoy shopping, but this was the first time he felt scared.
In the back, a shopping space was prepared just for Lee Hae-sung and Choi Hong-seo. A spacious sofa was placed in the center, and refreshments were prepared on the table in front of it. It wasn’t just for show; the table was beautifully set, like an afternoon tea set at a high-end hotel.
“This is good. You like this, don’t you?”
Lee Hae-sung smiled at Choi Hong-seo, pointing at the colorful macarons on the three-tiered tray and the adorable pastries that looked too precious to eat. Even as he was about to spend an enormous amount of money, he spoke as if he were lucky to be treated to this spread of refreshments. His tone was like that of someone coaxing a child who had been dragged along to their parents’ boring shopping trip, trying to distract them.
Feeling as uncomfortable as if sitting on a bed of thorns, he sat next to him on the sofa. Coffee, juice, tea, champagne… they could order any drink they wanted. Choi Hong-seo followed his choice for any option.
“I can’t drink because I have to drive, but why didn’t you have some champagne? To relax your nerves.”
“I was just… curious about what the tea you chose tasted like.”
Although he could have made other choices, thanks to Lee Hae-sung’s kind and gentle interpretation, he simply preferred to have the same thing as him, whatever it was. And, pretending not to, he enjoyed watching the deepening expression on Lee Hae-sung’s face whenever he chose the same thing.
He thought that if he could gather more of that smile, much more, he could receive a kiss from him that much sooner.