By Zephyria Lee-eum opened his eyes and detached Choi Won-joon’s arms and legs, which were wrapped around him like vines. Choi Won-joon clung to people so desperately, it made Lee-eum wonder if he had attachment issues. He tried to get out of bed, but his waist was grabbed, and he was pulled back. Just a minute. Just a minute.
He turned to see Choi Won-joon staring at him with his eyes half-open.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to go to work…”
“Liar. You have the day off today.”
Lee-eum was startled. How did this guy know his day off? He made up an excuse, saying he switched days with another team member and had to go to work today, but it didn’t work at all.
“Should I call Team Leader Oh and ask?”
Lee-eum knew he was capable of actually doing that, so he reluctantly gave up and lay back down on the bed. Then, Choi Won-joon patted his chest, saying he was a good boy. When he brushed his hand away, Choi Won-joon gently swept his hair back.
“Our Detective Kim has a handsome forehead too. If it gets any longer, you can show it off.”
“How long do I have to stay like this?”
“What are you going to do on your day off? Hiking? Fishing?”
He would have done that normally. But after spending several nights outside, he wanted to rest at home today. To be honest, he wanted to rest comfortably alone. But with Choi Won-joon around, he couldn’t relax. He was thinking of lying and going to a nearby sauna, or renting a motel and watching TV all day by himself, but it all went up in smoke.
“Tell me, huh?”
When he kept his mouth shut, Choi Won-joon pinched his cheek lightly. When he slapped his hand away, Choi Won-joon hugged him and rubbed his cheek against his. He struggled and barely escaped from his grasp, then jumped off the bed and quickly got down.
Choi Won-joon sat up halfway, looking disappointed.
“Can’t I hold you more?”
“No. It’s too hot. Now that we’re done, let’s do our own things. I’d appreciate it more if you went home.”
Choi Won-joon chuckled in disbelief, and Lee-eum ignored him and went into the bathroom, locking the door. He put his ear to the door and, when it was quiet, he took off his clothes to take a shower, but his thigh area was slightly sore.
Every time his hand brushed that area while showering, the sensation of a cock going in and out vividly came to mind. He wasn’t a pervert, but how could he think of doing it there? And not just once, but twice.
Annoyed, he grumbled and came out, but Choi Won-joon was nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t in the bedroom or the living room. What was going on? Did he get upset and go home? Anyway, he had allowed him to live with him because he needed him too, but had he gone too far? He was secretly worried and looked around the house, and found a note on the refrigerator.
—I’ll be back in a bit.
Ah, so he wasn’t angry… Where did he go from morning? Before he could wonder, the phone rang. He thought it was Choi Won-joon and looked, but it was his Noona. As soon as he answered the phone, his Noona’s urgent voice came through.
【Lee-eum-ah. Did Father arrive?】
What a bolt from the blue while he was sleeping. Father?
“Why would Father come here…?”
【Oh, I can’t live. Mom and I talked to him so much, but he insisted on going to see you. Mom woke up from her sleep and just found out. I want to go right away, but I came far away because of a seminar!】
At the shocking news, Lee-eum blankly spaced out. Judging by the time he left, he was almost there.
【Even if Father nags, just listen and ignore it. You’re not seeing Choi Won-joon these days, are you? Even if you do, if Father asks, absolutely say no. Got it?】
Lee-eum hung up the phone urgently with a desperate expression. Then he contacted Choi Won-joon. The guy wasn’t answering, no matter what he was doing. He tried several times, and eventually became anxious and even bit his nails.
Just then, as if he had been waiting, the doorbell rang. His heart sank and he quickly ran to the intercom. His father appeared on the screen with a stiff expression. Was this how he would have felt if he had encountered a tiger in the mountains in the old days?
Should he pretend he wasn’t home? He thought about it for a moment, but it was no use. His father called, and Lee-eum quickly left a message for Choi Won-joon and headed to the front door.
【Father is here. Don’t come. Absolutely!】
He opened the door in a state of great tension, and his father stood there with a displeased look. Seeing that, he felt breathless.
“Father, what brings you here…?”
“Did I come to a place I shouldn’t have?”
His father passed Lee-eum and went inside. Lee-eum was anxious that there might be traces left by Choi Won-joon. Then he remembered the slippers and toothbrush in the bathroom. He was about to go and clean them up when his father strode into the living room.
“You have the day off today, right?”
“Yes…”
His father looked around the house. The family had gathered for a housewarming party after he moved, but this was his first visit since then. It was that unusual. Fortunately, he hadn’t come for a long time, so he didn’t know that the furniture had changed.
“Was the TV always this big?”
“Yes…”
“And why are there so many paintings?”
“I collect them as a hobby. What kind of tea would you like?”
“No tea. Come and sit down.”
Lee-eum went to the sofa with his phone clutched in his hand. He had felt particularly small whenever he stood in front of his father since he was a child. It had become even worse after he manifested as an Omega. He had worked hard, but now he sensed that the time was approaching when he would have to reveal it to his family, as Yoo Seol-ah had said.
“Are you still close with that guy?”
“Who…?”
“Choi Seung-gil, the youngest son of the guy you caught the Drug addict with.”
“Is that why you came all the way here to ask? I told you last time. We’re not close. It just so happened that we were in the same place that day, and the article came out unintentionally.”
At that, his father scoffed.
“Well, like father, like son. They’ll use the media or whatever else if it benefits them. Just like his father, that guy is doing the same thing as his father.”
Lee-eum forced a smile and turned his body to check his phone. Choi Won-joon had read the message but hadn’t replied. Lee-eum asked his father to wait and moved to the kitchen.
“I heard you’re up for promotion.”
“Yes…”
“Apply to the headquarters and go in. It would be reassuring for Margeum if you were there.”
Instead of answering, Lee-eum secretly used his phone while the coffee was being brewed. He was urging Choi Won-joon not to come when he heard a ‘ding-dong’ sound from the front door. A chill ran down his spine.
Could it be… No way?
He rushed out, but the door opened and Choi Won-joon came in. Seeing that he was carrying a shopping bag with a lunch box in one hand, he must have met Director Lee. Lee-eum looked back with a dumbfounded expression.
His father, who had been sitting on the living room sofa, had already gotten up and was staring at them. His father didn’t recognize Choi Won-joon at first glance, who was wearing sportswear and had his hair down, and tilted his head.
“Who is it?”
Lee-eum tried to calm his trembling voice.
“It’s, it’s Seon-gyu… Did you forget his face already?”
His father, who didn’t have good eyesight, frowned and stretched his neck. Seon-gyu? His face looks brighter than before? He signaled him to leave quickly, but Choi Won-joon nonchalantly took off his shoes and came in. Lee-eum blocked him and whispered through gritted teeth.
“Get out of here.”
But Choi Won-joon smiled kindly and bowed politely.
“Hello, Father. Choi, who greeted you on the phone back then,”
Lee-eum hurriedly covered his mouth. His father’s expression crumpled. Even if his eyes weren’t good, he wasn’t deaf. He clearly remembered Choi Won-joon’s voice.
Lee, Lee…! The veins in his father’s neck stood out and his face turned red as if it would explode. You’re that bastard, aren’t you! Lee-eum grabbed Choi Won-joon’s arm and pulled him outside.
“Get out, quickly!”
His father looked around and found a round wooden chair that had been placed on one side and picked it up. Choi Won-joon didn’t leave and resisted, and Lee-eum decided that it would be better to stop his father.
“Calm down, Father!”
He blocked his father with his body and looked at Choi Won-joon, who was smiling shamelessly. That clearly made his father even more angry.
“You, you come here! You son of a bitch! Why did you approach my son! Tell me straight! What are you trying to get!”
Choi Won-joon carefully pondered and answered, “Heart?” and that word became the catalyst, bringing his father’s anger to the point of explosion.
“You, you just! Just now!”
“Father, please stop. It’s a joke. That guy always says nonsense! He’s a little crazy!”
Even though he was old, he was once a big shot in the violent crimes unit, and even became the head of the police. That’s why he was still in good shape and full of energy. His father threw Lee-eum aside and threw the chair at Choi Won-joon.
Thud! Lee-eum turned around at the sound. He thought the chair had hit the wall, but it shattered in front of Choi Won-joon. He didn’t avoid it and was hit directly, leaving a scratch on his cheek and blood flowing down his nose.
Lee-eum was surprised and jumped up, and his father also looked quite embarrassed. Before he could ask if he was okay, Choi Won-joon suddenly grabbed his head and collapsed to the side like the main character of a tragic drama.
Looking at him lying motionless with his eyes closed, Lee-eum immediately realized it was an act. He glanced at his father’s expression, which was serious.
“Why… why is he like that?”
Lee-eum pretended not to know and took out his phone.
“He’s, he’s always been weak. I’ll call an ambulance…”
In an attempt to get out of this situation, Lee-eum hurriedly called 119. Meanwhile, his father’s face completely hardened, and even as he was being carried out on a stretcher by the paramedics, Choi Won-joon never opened his eyes once.