By Zephyria 
Inside the fast-moving car, many people were coming and going on the streets despite the late hour.
When the car stopped at a signal, Han Seung-jae, who had been looking into his tablet PC, suddenly shifted his gaze out the window. An advertisement for a massive art exhibition held for the end of the year was displayed on a giant electronic billboard. Han Seung-jae stared at it and spoke tentatively.
“An exhibition, huh.”
Secretary Park, keenly picking up on Han Seung-jae’s low murmur, looked at the same large billboard.
“I will check your schedule.”
“…….”
Han Seung-jae didn’t say anything further. Perhaps it was because he also believed that, given his tight schedule, he wasn’t in a position to leisurely appreciate paintings.
Secretary Park observed the changes in Han Seung-jae’s expression through the rearview mirror. When the signal changed and the sedan departed, Han Seung-jae withdrew his gaze from the billboard and looked back down at the tablet PC.
At the same time, Secretary Park checked Han Seung-jae’s schedule. Since there was still some time left before the deadline, he wondered if he could carve out a day. Though it would be difficult to view it with others, it might be possible after closing hours.
“We have arrived.”
Han Seung-jae stepped out of the car.
“Forget the paintings.”
He didn’t think he could appreciate them as seriously as Seo Yi-kyung did, even if he did go.
“Just arrange a dinner appointment.”
“Understood.”
Leaving behind Secretary Park, who answered clearly, he entered through the iron gate. It was easier to adjust the schedule for a dinner time.
Han Seung-jae crossed the garden, which was lit with soft lighting. As he opened the door and stepped inside, the house was filled with silence.
Han Seung-jae, who had been wearing an indifferent expression, gradually slowed his pace. His gaze lingered intently on one spot. Despite the very small clicking sound, he was looking exactly in that direction. Leaning against the dim light seeping in from outside, a small shadow was moving bit by bit.
Standing still as if blending into the darkness, Han Seung-jae gazed blankly at the sight.
Seo Yi-kyung, coming out of the dressing room, touched the back of his neck and headed toward the elevator. As he pressed the button without hesitation, the elevator doors, which had been waiting on the first floor, slid wide open. The bright light embraced Seo Yi-kyung’s pajamas and stretched behind him. In the surrounding area that had suddenly turned dark, he alone shone vividly. His pale face and delicate features were facing forward. He didn’t check at all to see if anyone was beside him.
It was just as Seo Yi-kyung took a step to board the elevator.
“How careless.”
Han Seung-jae’s low, spreading voice was heard. A chill ran down Seo Yi-kyung’s spine. Han Seung-jae grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the elevator. A mechanical sound flowed from the open elevator.
Seo Yi-kyung blinked. He hadn’t expected Han Seung-jae to be standing here at all. Not only had a voice suddenly spoken, but his arm was even being held right now.
Han Seung-jae tentatively loosened the grip on the slender wrist. There was enough room for Seo Yi-kyung to twist his wrist and escape if he tried. But even then, the only place he could flee to was inside the elevator. Perhaps that place was even more dangerous.
“W-when did you get here?”
Seo Yi-kyung murmured while his wrist was still held. Han Seung-jae looked down at him quietly and replied.
“Just now.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything? Were you hiding here?”
Han Seung-jae had never heard such a ridiculous claim as having been ‘hiding.’ Not only had he never done such a thing, but why would he have any reason to hide? This house was strictly Han Seung-jae’s property, and it was a place where he had no need to conceal his presence.
“Did I startle you?”
The reason Han Seung-jae spoke like that was likely because Seo Yi-kyung was carrying a child. Seo Yi-kyung murmured, the strength leaving his dangling fingers.
“A… a little.”
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t surprised. He had been staying on the second floor, discovered a stain on his pajamas, and had come down to the first floor to change. And for some reason, he had felt a chill on the back of his neck from the moment he changed into his pajamas in the dressing room. Was that because Han Seung-jae was watching him?
Seo Yi-kyung swallowed the rest of his thoughts. He tried to pull his captured arm away, but it didn’t budge. Instead, as Han Seung-jae moved his steps, Seo Yi-kyung’s legs were pulled along.
He didn’t know where they were heading. Shouldn’t they take this elevator to the second floor to get to the bedroom? Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted. He opened his mouth to ask Han Seung-jae where they were going.
“Where are we going? The bedroom is on the second floor.”
“I heard an art exhibition is being held; did you know?”
“Paintings?”
Han Seung-jae opened a firmly closed door. The lights flickered on brightly. In a room where the bedding was neat and orderly, an ultrasound machine sat on one side. Seo Yi-kyung put strength into his toes to avoid entering the room, but it was useless. It was merely a waste of energy.
“Do you want to see it?”
Han Seung-jae closed the door behind him. Seo Yi-kyung agonized over whether to first protest being suddenly dragged into the room or to answer Han Seung-jae’s question.
“If you want to see it, make some time.”
Step, step, Seo Yi-kyung’s steps were led by Han Seung-jae’s arm toward the bedside. As Seo Yi-kyung reached the bed, Han Seung-jae ruthlessly grabbed the buttons of the pajama shirt Seo Yi-kyung was wearing.
“……I-it’s fine.”
“Does ‘fine’ mean the paintings? Or does it mean this hand?”
Even as he spoke, Han Seung-jae’s hand was undoing the buttons of Seo Yi-kyung’s pajama shirt. Seo Yi-kyung hurriedly blurted out.
“B-both.”
Seo Yi-kyung wasn’t interested enough to go see paintings separately. Moreover, he knew better than anyone how busy Han Seung-jae was. He would likely only be able to see them after the exhibition had ended, like last time.
And belatedly, Seo Yi-kyung realized he had said the wrong thing. He spoke quickly as if to correct himself.
“I-I mean, that is. What I meant was…”
“Ah, was today the date for the regular check-up?”
Seo Yi-kyung almost bit his tongue. Han Seung-jae’s voice was so low that it felt chilling.
“You saw it not too long ago.”
Last time, Seo Yi-kyung had watched distractedly as Han Seung-jae scanned his stomach with the ultrasound machine. Back then, hadn’t the baby been moving very actively?
“Relax and lie down slowly.”
Han Seung-jae pressed down on Seo Yi-kyung’s shoulder with his large hand. With his pajamas spread open, Seo Yi-kyung sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed. He immediately tried to spring up, but Han Seung-jae spoke as if he had expected it.
“It’s nice that you’re so easy to read.”
It sounded like a compliment, but Han Seung-jae’s actions were not like that at all.
Holding Seo Yi-kyung’s iliac crest as he lay on the bed, Han Seung-jae stripped off Seo Yi-kyung’s pajama pants and drawers all at once.
“……!”
He couldn’t understand why the pants were being removed when he said he was looking at the baby. Seo Yi-kyung hurriedly tried to grab the pajama pants being pulled down, but Han Seung-jae’s hand, which brushed past his ankle to lay the clothes on the floor, was faster.
Seo Yi-kyung tried to pull together his wide-open pajama shirt. Then, Han Seung-jae grabbed the tie around his neck and pulled it down, murmuring.
“Stay still.”
“…….”
“Don’t provoke me.”
Holding onto his pajama shirt, Seo Yi-kyung didn’t even think about fastening the buttons.
“Yes. Just like that.”
Han Seung-jae took off the black coat he was wearing and threw it on the bed. Feeling a sudden chill touch his toes, Seo Yi-kyung pressed his legs together.
As Han Seung-jae reached out his long arm and pressed a button, the ultrasound machine began to light up. Soon after, the black-and-white screen he had seen last time appeared on the monitor.
Han Seung-jae poured gel into his palm and then looked down at Seo Yi-kyung.
“What are you doing? Open up.”
Seo Yi-kyung swallowed hard while looking into Han Seung-jae’s cold eyes. As he spread open the pajama shirt he had been holding, his genitals—with thin prepuce and light color—stood out below his flat stomach. His slender thighs trembled slightly.
Han Seung-jae reached out and rubbed the gel across Seo Yi-kyung’s stomach.
“I-I think this is too much.”
Seo Yi-kyung continued speaking, trying his best not to irritate Han Seung-jae.
“Seung-jae?”
Was it an illusion that Han Seung-jae’s palm, which had been applying gel thickly to his stomach, was gradually moving downward?
Seo Yi-kyung’s toes curled. Just as it seemed Han Seung-jae’s hand was navigating below his navel, with an expressionless face, he brushed past Seo Yi-kyung’s genitals and slid his finger down to the hole below the perineum. Seo Yi-kyung’s lips trembled as he let out a shallow breath.
It felt as if Han Seung-jae’s finger would split the hole and enter inside at any moment.