By Zephyria 
As they left the restaurant, a renovated old detached house, the chilly night air felt refreshing.
Holding takeout coffees prepared by the restaurant, Song Hyun-soo and Jeong Seong-won paused briefly on the terrace in front of the entrance.
“Thank you for the meal today, Senior. And thank you for listening to my worries.”
To Song Hyun-soo, who bowed deeply, Jeong Seong-won put on a disappointed expression.
“It’s disappointing when you treat me so formally.”
“Still… you’re a senior.”
“I thought you were confiding in me because you felt a little comfortable with me. Was that not the case?”
“It was. I couldn’t think of anyone else to talk to about something like this.”
Whether he believed him or not, Jeong Seong-won, with his hands in the pockets of his light transitional coat, offered a subtle smile.
He looks so kind and gentle, just like his image, if you only look at his appearance.
“Hyun-soo-ssi, do you smoke?”
Jeong Seong-won took out a cigarette from his pocket and offered one. Song Hyun-soo wanted to leave now that he had achieved his goal, but he felt like he was trapped until they finished at least one cigarette and Jeong Seong-won’s car arrived.
They stood side-by-side in the designated smoking area, placing the filters to their lips. Jeong Seong-won reached out to light Song Hyun-soo’s cigarette first.
“I’ll do it myself.”
“Let me do this much. It’s an expression of closeness.”
As the gas flame rose from the lighter, Song Hyun-soo cupped his hands to block the wind. He felt Jeong Seong-won’s gaze fixed on his face, illuminated by the flickering flame, but he pretended not to notice.
After lighting his own cigarette, Jeong Seong-won exhaled smoke and spoke.
“By the way, Hyun-soo-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“If you have no relationship with Joo-ho Sunbae.”
“……”
“Then, do you perhaps dislike dating men in general?”
“……”
“Is there absolutely no possibility?”
“…What?”
Wait, why did the conversation suddenly take that turn?
Song Hyun-soo swallowed dryly without realizing it.
The entire conversation today had been recorded from the beginning. He planned to tell Director Bang and Yoon Joo-ho after parting ways with Jeong Seong-won.
Because of that, Song Hyun-soo felt as tense as if Yoon Joo-ho were standing opposite him, listening to this conversation.
He imagined Yoon Joo-ho standing next to Jeong Seong-won, arms crossed, legs akimbo, watching him.
Yeah, let’s see how you answer, Hyun-soo-ssi. I warned you this bastard had ulterior motives, didn’t I? – he could vividly picture the expression with his eyebrows raised.
“Ah, well, I haven’t really thought about it…”
As he tried to brush it off with an awkward laugh, Jeong Seong-won didn’t back down but pushed straight to the core.
“I thought I had been making my interest in Hyun-soo-ssi known since our first meeting. But seeing you today, I don’t think it got across.”
Jeong Seong-won took a sip of coffee and brought the filter to his lips, gazing intently at Song Hyun-soo.
“Even if you haven’t dated men, you have experience, right?”
“……”
No, damn it, is it written all over my face? Yoon Joo-ho said the same thing to me before.
“Haha… Senior, that’s sexual harassment.”
While thinking that he would have to edit and cut out the latter part of the recording in the car, Song Hyun-soo forced a smile.
“To be honest, Hyun-soo-ssi, you’re my type. I thought you were really cute from the first time I saw you.”
No! It’s not true! You’re lying to yourself right now! Shut up! Just shut up!
Song Hyun-soo wanted to stop the recording, but he couldn’t risk taking out the recorder in his pocket.
“How about me?”
How about me?
Was that a question a man could so easily ask another man in Korea right now?
He hadn’t expected Jeong Seong-won, who gained popularity as a harmless, gentlemanly figure, to be such a direct, straightforward man. Yoon Joo-ho’s words about him being quick, contrary to his appearance, might also be true.
“Senior, you’re handsome, tall, and so on. You’re popular enough without me…”
“Not as much as Joo-ho Sunbae, but I’m capable of protecting Hyun-soo-ssi in this industry too.”
At that remark, Song Hyun-soo’s mind turned cold. He felt it was okay to cut Jeong Seong-won off sharply. Song Hyun-soo took two or three quick puffs of his cigarette, rubbed the back of his neck, and looked down at Jeong Seong-won’s chest.
“Regardless of whether it’s a man or a woman, I appreciate your interest in me…”
Then he raised his gaze and looked directly at the man standing before him.
“Whether someone protects me or not, I don’t meet people for reasons like that.”
Jeong Seong-won shrugged his shoulders and grinned.
“Hearing that makes me want you even more. What should I do?”
“I, uh, have someone I like.”
Upon hearing the firm statement that left no room for doubt, Jeong Seong-won’s face stiffened for a moment. Then, flicking his cigarette into the ashtray, he looked across at Song Hyun-soo with narrowed eyes.
“Since you say you have someone you like, it sounds like you’re not dating them yet. Why don’t you give me a chance too?”
“A chance?”
“Even if you don’t have feelings for me yet, your body can still respond. Besides, I’m quite confident in my looks.”
“Are you talking about a chance to roll around together?”
Song Hyun-soo felt like scoffing.
Because the person I roll around with is Yoon Joo-ho. Anyone less than Yoon Joo-ho doesn’t even catch my eye.
Jeong Seong-won smiled ambiguously, fiddling with his coffee cup.
“You might not know this, Hyun-soo, but I’m giving you an opportunity right now.”
“So, what opportunity have you been talking about all this time?”
“Joo-ho Sunbae and the representatives. It’s a whale fight. I can completely pull you out from between them.”
“In exchange for sleeping together?”
Jeong Seong-won’s eyebrows furrowed.
“That’s harsh. I’m making a pretty active advance on you, you know.”
“That… seems impossible.”
“Impossible?”
“I don’t think I’d get hard for anyone else.”
Song Hyun-soo stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray, tossed the coffee cup into the trash bin, and bowed politely one last time.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
“……”
“Well then. I’ll be going now, Senior.”
He noticed the black RV van waiting across the alley.
Jung-ho was supposed to pick Song Hyun-soo up and take him to Seohae’s Pilates studio. They were scheduled to meet Yoon Joo-ho and Director Bang there.
He quickened his pace, not looking back. He took the voice recorder out of his pocket and pressed the stop button. As if Jung-ho had been watching, the rear door automatically opened as he approached the car.
He jumped into the car, letting out a sigh of relief at having escaped Jeong Seong-won. As Song Hyun-soo was about to plop down on the second-row seat, an arm shot out from the third row and pulled him backward.
As he pushed himself up from a near-collapse onto the seat, Yoon Joo-ho was before him.
In a demonic form, he asked sarcastically, “Was your date enjoyable?”
His legs crossed and arms tightly folded, he looked exactly as Song Hyun-soo had imagined moments before.
“What is this? You scared me.”
Yoon Joo-ho tapped the car window with his fingernail, pointing at Jeong Seong-won.
“If you’re done eating, you should leave promptly. Why are you standing there smoking and drinking coffee, acting all lovey-dovey?”
“Lov-lovey… Ah, what are you talking about? We just ate and had a smoke.”
Even though he had done nothing wrong, he felt genuinely innocent. Yet, he couldn’t meet Yoon Joo-ho’s eyes. He adjusted his posture and, using the excuse of fastening his seatbelt, Song Hyun-soo vaguely avoided his gaze.
The car slowly began to move. Looking out, he saw a curtain drawn between the driver’s seat and the second row.
“Why are you here? We were supposed to meet over there.”
“Be thankful I didn’t barge in midway.”
“I stopped you three times, hyung!”
Jung-ho, in the driver’s seat, shouted loudly enough to be heard beyond the curtain.
Pfft. Imagining Yoon Joo-ho grinding his teeth while looking out the window from here made him chuckle.
“You’re laughing? After coming back smelling of another man. What’s so funny about that? Huh?”
Sniff, sniff. Yoon Joo-ho sniffed over Song Hyun-soo’s clothes, his shoulders and arms. Then, he thrust his face deep into his neck. As his nose and lips inhaled on his skin, Song Hyun-soo flinched, his shoulders tensing.
Catching Song Hyun-soo’s reaction, Yoon Joo-ho looked up with wide eyes.
“Did you feel it?”
“Ah, really.”
Unconsciously glancing at the driver’s seat, he pushed Yoon Joo-ho’s face away. Yoon Joo-ho opened his mouth and playfully nipped at Song Hyun-soo’s fingers as if to bite them. Thank goodness. He didn’t seem truly angry.
However, Yoon Joo-ho, still looking displeased, pulled Song Hyun-soo’s hand, which had pushed him away, down and intertwined their fingers.
“Did that bastard douse himself in cologne? His etiquette is terrible. Who wears that much perfume to a meal?”
“You used to wear strong cologne yourself.”
“Is he the same as me?”
Yoon Joo-ho nibbled at the tips of Song Hyun-soo’s fingers.
“Ah, no. We’re different. So different.”
“He’s just a fake, imitating me.”
Despite being concerned about Jung-ho, who could hear them, Song Hyun-soo couldn’t help but smile at Yoon Joo-ho’s actions, finding them cute. Yoon Joo-ho was also half-smiling.
Leaning his head against the headrest, Yoon Joo-ho turned his body towards Song Hyun-soo. He then stroked Song Hyun-soo’s cheek with the back of his hand.
“What did you talk about? Tell me everything from beginning to end.”
“Ah… um… I’ll tell you when we get there.”
“You can’t look me in the eye? Did something happen that makes you feel guilty?”
“Ah, what are you even saying? I have to tell Director Bang the same thing anyway. When we get there… I’ll tell… you…”
Song Hyun-soo’s words gradually slowed. His eyes darted back and forth busily.
Ah… I forgot to delete the recording. I’m screwed.
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