By Zephyria 
“……!”
Flustered, Seo Yi-kyung covered his lips with the back of his hand. The sweet wagashi was soft, making it easy to swallow, and above all, the taste was exquisite. Having spent the entire afternoon focusing on his painting in the studio, Seo Yi-kyung hadn’t eaten anything. Consequently, he felt a deep hunger.
“It was a mistake.”
“Is that so?”
Han Seung-jae picked up a piece of wagashi. Like the one he had eaten in the study earlier, it was shaped like a peach with a pale pink hue.
“Try it again. That mistake.”
Seo Yi-kyung still had the back of his hand covering his lips. He merely shifted his gaze slightly to stare blankly at Han Seung-jae’s face. There was no particular change in Han Seung-jae’s expression.
‘Is he… is he actually serious?’
The more he wondered, the more Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes wavered slightly. He looked at the wagashi Han Seung-jae was holding. It seemed he would hold it there until he ate it. More than anything, was Han Seung-jae the type of person to joke around? He wasn’t someone who said things he didn’t mean.
As if gauging the situation, Seo Yi-kyung hesitantly lowered his hand. Han Seung-jae brought his hand closer than before. Seo Yi-kyung parted his lips and took a small bite of the wagashi.
“Why did you stop eating?”
At Han Seung-jae’s question, Seo Yi-kyung stared at the half-eaten peach. He murmured softly.
“I’m finished.”
And just like in the study, Seo Yi-kyung didn’t offer a polite gesture telling Han Seung-jae to try some. Had he done that, their lips would have touched, and he would have nearly ended up lying on the desk. Moreover, they were currently sitting on a bed. It was a far more precarious situation than before.
Tense, Seo Yi-kyung struggled not to repeat the same mistake. He intentionally ate only half to ensure his tongue wouldn’t touch Han Seung-jae’s hand.
Tsk. Eventually, Han Seung-jae let out a low click of his tongue.
“I know it was a mistake, so just eat. While you’re looking at it with a face that wants it so badly.”
Seo Yi-kyung looked at Han Seung-jae with a puzzled expression. He didn’t know what his own face looked like. As he opened his lips to speak, the wagashi was suddenly pushed inside.
As Seo Yi-kyung began to chew the wagashi in his mouth, Han Seung-jae picked up his teacup.
“You eat that well.”
Han Seung-jae looked at the remaining wagashi on the plate. A sweet scent was spreading through the room. And hadn’t Han Seung-jae already tasted it himself in the study? Of course, he had licked it off Seo Yi-kyung’s lips and sucked his tongue, but that was more than enough to experience the sweetness.
Seo Yi-kyung’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He swallowed the wagashi and picked up another piece. Part of it was to push away the awkwardness, but he also thought it would be better to eat while Han Seung-jae was beside him.
He hadn’t had a proper meal in a few days. Having never experienced something like morning sickness, he hadn’t known what to expect, but it was incredibly taxing and painful. Previously, he couldn’t eat much because his stomach was small, but now, he found it difficult to eat even what was right in front of him.
Soon, Seo Yi-kyung put the wagashi down.
“Why don’t you eat more?”
“I’ve had enough now.”
Saying he had eaten enough, Seo Yi-kyung picked up his teacup. As he drank the lukewarm tea, the sweetness faded, and his mouth felt refreshed. Han Seung-jae’s cup was already empty. When Seo Yi-kyung looked at the teapot, Han Seung-jae spoke as if reading his mind.
“I’m fine with the tea. I don’t know how many cups I’ve had already.”
And for good reason; while Seo Yi-kyung ate the wagashi—which was so sweet it felt like it would melt his tongue—Han Seung-jae had been drinking tea the entire time. All while watching Seo Yi-kyung eat.
Knock, knock. Just then, a knock sounded. When Han Seung-jae answered, Butler Do opened the door and entered.
“Dinner is ready.”
It seemed time had passed that quickly. At Butler Do’s words, Seo Yi-kyung didn’t hesitate to straighten his legs. Although he had already eaten plenty of wagashi, hadn’t they agreed to have dinner together today, as Seo Yi-kyung had wished? Seo Yi-kyung was full, but Han Seung-jae hadn’t eaten anything.
“Let’s go down for dinner.”
However, Han Seung-jae grabbed Seo Yi-kyung’s wrist as he tried to move and spoke to Butler Do.
“That’s enough. No one is to come in from now on. I’ll call if I need something.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s surprised eyes looked down. Because Han Seung-jae pulled him, he ended up perched on the edge of the bed again. Butler Do said he understood, bowed, and turned to leave.
With his wrist still held, Seo Yi-kyung watched Han Seung-jae carefully select a piece of wagashi.
‘Is he planning to eat it?’
He thought Han Seung-jae wouldn’t eat it…
Above all, it was sweet. That made it easier for Seo Yi-kyung to eat, but wasn’t it different for Han Seung-jae? He had merely watched while Seo Yi-kyung ate. Having maintained that attitude throughout, it seemed he truly intended to eat now.
And finally, he picked up a cherry-shaped wagashi. Han Seung-jae slowly turned his head and locked eyes with Seo Yi-kyung. As he did, an inexplicable sense of anxiety bloomed in Seo Yi-kyung’s chest.
* * *
Step, step. Butler Do descended the stairs and entered the dining room. The large table was filled with appetizing food. Since it was Christmas, it was evident the chef had put in extra effort. Min Ra-hyeon, who had been sitting there alone, whipped his head around at the sound of approaching footsteps.
Min Ra-hyeon asked.
“Why are you coming down alone? Where are the others?”
He looked behind Butler Do, but no one followed. Butler Do politely clasped his hands in front of him and spoke.
“The two of them said they would not be eating.”
“Seung-jae said he won’t eat? I’ll go call him.”
As Min Ra-hyeon stood up abruptly to move, Butler Do blocked his path. He did so without losing the courtesy expected when dealing with a guest.
“Director Han requested that no one come up.”
“I’m sure I’m not included in ‘no one.’”
Min Ra-hyeon emphasized the word ‘no one’ stubbornly, but Butler Do did not yield.
“No. No one is permitted to go up to the second floor.”
Han Seung-jae had mentioned it himself. Therefore, from now on, no one could go to the second floor unless Han Seung-jae sought them out. Butler Do stopped Min Ra-hyeon once more and added.
“If it is uncomfortable for you to dine here, I will bring the food to your room.”
Min Ra-hyeon stared at Butler Do, who looked as though he wouldn’t budge an inch, and then turned around to sit at the table.
Butler Do stood beside him as if it were nothing, filled his water glass, and added.
“Once the meal is finished, I will escort you to your room.”
* * *
…Why is it that bad premonitions are never wrong? Seo Yi-kyung’s anxiety did not miss the mark by a single bit. His lips trembled.
“S-Seung-jae…”
“What is it?”
A plain voice followed in contrast. This only made Seo Yi-kyung’s lips tremble more. Was he really asking because he didn’t know?
Without hesitation, Han Seung-jae lifted the shirt Seo Yi-kyung was wearing and crushed the wagashi against his chest. Han Seung-jae’s fingertips brushed against the nipple. The color of the nipple was not different from what was on his palm. However, if he touched it more, the nipple would turn even redder than this.
“Didn’t you say you’ve eaten everything?”
It was true that he had said that, but who would have expected him to rub the remaining wagashi into his chest?
“But, this is…”
Seo Yi-kyung’s words were cut off and leaked out because Han Seung-jae was rubbing his nipple with his fingertips. Seo Yi-kyung was barely managing to hold himself up without falling onto the bed. Han Seung-jae released his hand from the shirt he had pulled up. The shirt, which had been lifted high, slid down in a crumpled heap, covering the back of Han Seung-jae’s hand. His hand remained in contact with the chest.
“It’s evening now, and there’s a bed.”
Han Seung-jae’s fingers leisurely wandered around the chest. Then, he gathered the sparse flesh and toyed with the tip of the nipple.
He was clearly ruminating on what Seo Yi-kyung had said in the study. Thump. Unable to hold on any longer, Seo Yi-kyung fell back onto the bed.
Han Seung-jae leaned his upper body further forward. He looked down at Seo Yi-kyung with even more composure than before. Then, Han Seung-jae’s low voice clouded his ears.
“What else do you need?”
There was no way there was anything he needed. Seo Yi-kyung tried to brace himself with his palms on the bedsheet but hit the teapot. Han Seung-jae lightly lifted the teapot and pushed it aside. Then, he pressed down on the chest of the trying-to-rise Seo Yi-kyung.
The cherry wagashi was pressed between Han Seung-jae and Seo Yi-kyung’s chests. At the erotic sensation, Seo Yi-kyung’s waist flinched. There was no way Han Seung-jae hadn’t noticed that small movement.
Han Seung-jae’s finger moved in a circle, as if tracing the perimeter of the nipple. While doing so, he looked down at Seo Yi-kyung and spoke.
“Continuing from earlier, shall I try eating the rest too?”