By Zephyria 
Seo Yi-kyung tightened his shower robe and glanced at the door through which Han Seung-jae had disappeared. The door was firmly closed.
Once he was gone, Seo Yi-kyung breathed a deep sigh of relief and spent some time in the bathtub. He was slightly startled to see his chest mottled with red marks once the wagashi was washed away, but he regained his composure much faster than he used to. Perhaps he was getting used to it. However, he didn’t dare approach the mirror to look at himself.
Throughout the time he spent lying on his stomach to avoid pressure on his belly while receiving him, Seo Yi-kyung felt as though Han Seung-jae’s lips had touched his shoulder, and perhaps lingered on his back. He simply couldn’t remember exactly because his body had been shaking so much.
Click. Seo Yi-kyung opened the closed door and stepped out. He rubbed his wet hair with the towel in his hand. As he did, he cautiously scanned the room. His gaze entangled with Han Seung-jae’s, who was sitting at the table. He was drinking tea. Seo Yi-kyung stared at him, his eyes barely visible through the fluttering towel.
Han Seung-jae’s expression showed little change, enough to make Yi-kyung wonder if this was the same passionate man who had been rolling around on the bed with him just moments ago. It only served as a reminder that he was a completely different person from Seo Yi-kyung, who was clumsy at hiding his emotions.
Seo Yi-kyung still felt embarrassed to meet Han Seung-jae’s eyes. Wasn’t he the man who had placed wagashi on his chest and sucked on it? Because he had watched such a sight from so close, the image flickered vividly in his mind. Seo Yi-kyung slid his gaze away.
Still, he only lifted the towel in his hand a bit higher to dry his hair. But as his vision was blocked, Han Seung-jae disappeared from sight.
Han Seung-jae set down his teacup. At that small sound, Seo Yi-kyung hurriedly lowered the towel from his head and looked around. While he was washing, the room had been cleaned up perfectly. No trace of what had happened moments ago could be found anywhere on the neatly arranged bedding.
Seo Yi-kyung picked up the clothes that had been folded on the bed.
“Come here.”
Hearing the low voice behind him, Seo Yi-kyung, clutching the clothes to his chest, stopped in his tracks and looked back. He had been about to enter the bathroom with the clothes. For some reason, he felt shy about taking off his robe and changing clothes in front of Han Seung-jae. Especially since Han Seung-jae looked excessively pristine.
He let out a low hum in his throat. Hmm.
“Do I have to go there?”
Hidden by his slippers, Seo Yi-kyung wiggled his toes.
“Then you won’t be able to wear those clothes.”
Hesitating with the clothes in his arms, Seo Yi-kyung stepped toward Han Seung-jae. Suddenly, Seo Yi-kyung realized that there wasn’t just tea on the table. Looking closer, he saw wagashi arranged on a plate in addition to the freshly prepared tea.
He untied the string of Seo Yi-kyung’s robe. Perhaps to avoid pressing on his belly, it had been tied loosely, so it slid open without much effort.
Han Seung-jae reached out, gazing impassively at Seo Yi-kyung’s light-colored pubic hair and genitals. He caressed Seo Yi-kyung’s waist and traced the iliac crest with his fingertips. His thumb moved downward along the slender frame in a circular, gentle motion.
“…!”
Seo Yi-kyung’s flank flinched. Without hesitation, Han Seung-jae slid his hand down to the inside of Seo Yi-kyung’s thigh. The smooth skin wrapped around his fingertips.
“There are some here, too.”
Marks left by Han Seung-jae were scattered across the once snow-white body. There were even finger marks on the inner thigh.
Seo Yi-kyung was swept by an erotic sensation, as Han Seung-jae’s touch felt somehow obsessive. As if snapping back to his senses, he placed the clothes he was holding on the table and pulled out his drawers.
Seo Yi-kyung turned around. Han Seung-jae’s hand slipped out from under the shower robe draped over his shoulders. With his back turned, Seo Yi-kyung quickly put on his underwear and reached out his left arm. After putting on his pants, Seo Yi-kyung reached out again. Only after picking up the shirt did he shed the robe hanging from his shoulders.
The robe fell at his feet like a shed skin. Since he was already dressed from the waist down, it was less embarrassing. Besides, wasn’t Han Seung-jae only looking at his back? There was no need to be conscious of it.
Han Seung-jae fixed his gaze on Seo Yi-kyung’s exposed back. The bruises stretching from the shoulders to the back and waist were all devoid of order or system; they were not typical, even for things Han Seung-jae had left.
Rather, it was closer to the fact that there wasn’t a single spot his lips hadn’t touched.
Soon, Seo Yi-kyung slid both arms into the shirt, covering his back. After buttoning the shirt up to the collar, Seo Yi-kyung turned around.
“I’m all dressed.”
* * *
Han Seung-jae stepped out of the elevator. Seo Yi-kyung, appearing behind him, looked around to gauge the time. Seeing that lights were only on in the direction of the dining room, it must have been late.
“You have arrived.”
Butler Do, who spotted Han Seung-jae first, walked over hurriedly and pulled out a chair. Then, he moved swiftly to pull out a chair for Seo Yi-kyung.
Seo Yi-kyung looked at the vase with flowers, the lit candlesticks, and the empty table. His doubt was brief. Soon, the chef emerged from the kitchen, greeted them politely, and placed plates in front of the two men. As he set down the soup, he provided a detailed explanation of the food.
Seo Yi-kyung looked down at the green soup before him. According to the chef, it seemed to be made of ingredients that were good for the body.
Following that, a salad topped with fruit was added, so that it wouldn’t be burdensome for Seo Yi-kyung, who was carrying a child.
The chef seemed to be meticulously checking Seo Yi-kyung’s plate. Before the main course, a lime sorbet was placed to whet the appetite.
Seo Yi-kyung ate the sorbet completely with a small teaspoon. The refreshing lime spread through his mouth.
Grilled mero was served alongside the soup, browned to perfection.
“It tastes much better if you eat it with the soup.”
It seemed they provided it together in case Seo Yi-kyung found it difficult to eat fish grilled in oil. However, Seo Yi-kyung found the white fish flesh spreading in his mouth to be soft. Foods that had been difficult to eat during the day were now sliding down his throat comfortably.
“Burdock has the effect of stabilizing the mind and body.”
Very thin fried burdock was placed on top of the grilled mero like a garnish. Seo Yi-kyung moved his hands as the chef suggested. Everything was made to be easy to swallow. It seemed a painstaking effort had been made to chop everything finely or ensure there were no strong smells.
And above all, since the plates contained small portions tailored to Seo Yi-kyung, who couldn’t eat much, the scents of the food didn’t mix, preventing any feeling of repulsion.
Seo Yi-kyung watched as a plate with striploin was placed before him. He used the fork and knife to enjoy the food tailored specifically for him.
Meanwhile, Butler Do approached Han Seung-jae’s side and filled a crystal glass with whisky.
Suddenly looking up at him, Seo Yi-kyung glanced at the plate in front of Han Seung-jae. The food hadn’t decreased in the slightest. In fact, he hadn’t even touched it.
Seo Yi-kyung hadn’t known why the chef had been tailoring the food to him, but seeing it now, it appeared that Seo Yi-kyung was the only one eating.
“Eat.”
As if noticing Seo Yi-kyung’s hand had stopped, Han Seung-jae spoke. As he did, Han Seung-jae slowly lifted his glass. The ice in the crystal glass rattled against the whisky, creating a clear, ringing sound.
“I’ve already eaten plenty of sweets.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s cheeks flushed slightly. Partly because he was the only one eating, but also because he knew all too well what “sweets” Han Seung-jae was referring to. Seo Yi-kyung’s eyelids lowered.
“I will prepare the food cut into even smaller pieces for you.”
While slicing the meat with his knife, Seo Yi-kyung suddenly looked at the chef who had approached his side. Only after looking down at the meat he was cutting did Seo Yi-kyung understand the chef’s words. Perhaps because he had sliced the same spot several times, it was almost minced.
“No. This is enough.”
“Is that so?”
The chef’s expression gradually brightened. He once again listed detailed explanations about the food only for Seo Yi-kyung. Meanwhile, Han Seung-jae gripped the glass filled with whisky.
“….”
Watching Seo Yi-kyung eat, Han Seung-jae moved his fingertips lightly. The half-empty amber liquid sloshed.
“Shall I pour you more?”
Step. Asking this, Butler Do approached Han Seung-jae’s side. Han Seung-jae finished the glass he was holding and set it down.
Originally, Han Seung-jae wasn’t one to enjoy drinking alone. So, he thought it would be nice to have someone to drink with on a day like this.
Butler Do tilted the whisky bottle into Han Seung-jae’s empty glass with both hands. The liquid gradually filled the glass with the sound of ice clinking.
“Is it to your liking?”
Seo Yi-kyung, who had been listening to the chef, nodded. Watching that sight with cold eyes, the thought suddenly crossed Han Seung-jae’s mind that this wasn’t so bad. After all, he wasn’t sitting alone.
Furthermore, whether it was alcohol or food, Han Seung-jae felt no particular difference.