As the whispered words tickled his ear, Seo Jeong-won’s face turned bright red.
“I think the most appropriate explanation would be to say we’re seriously seeing each other. Leave your brother out of it.”
“It’s more for your sake than mine,”
Kwon Tae-hee shrugged.
He had already given the answer, and now he gently pulled Seo Jeong-won into his arms, as if telling him to go on and say it.
“This person is with me—”
Just as Seo Jeong-won was about to explain Kwon Tae-hee, Kang Da-hyun turned around.
As if there was nothing more to hear, he strode away.
The worn plastic door, brittle in places, slammed shut roughly.
“Go on. There might be another time you have to introduce me to someone else anyway—even if it’s not him.”
“Huh? Me? That kind of…”
Kwon Tae-hee’s eyes sparkled.
His handsome face was full of mischief, like he was enjoying some game.
“I-I don’t think… that day will ever come.”
“What exactly are we, Jeong-won?”
He lightly tapped Seo Jeong-won’s shoulder with his fingertips.
Hesitating, Seo Jeong-won parted his lips as if unsure what to say, then spoke softly with a small sigh.
“We’re… seriously seeing each other.”
“We’re getting to know each other too.”
“Yes. Yes, that’s right.”
Kwon Tae-hee smiled as he looked at Seo Jeong-won’s innocent voice and face, which had become even more lovely with a deep blush.
“Seo Jeong-won is dating me for my face. Fell for me at first sight. Doesn’t care about social status, family, money, or background.”
“Yes… Director. Your face…”
“Well, I’m dating you for your face too. You’re pretty and handsome.”
At that gentle smile, Seo Jeong-won’s eyes glazed over as if enchanted.
Kwon Tae-hee checked behind him, then lowered his head.
Kang Da-hyun, who they thought had left, was stomping back in angrily.
Kwon Tae-hee cupped Seo Jeong-won’s soft cheek and gently pulled him up.
As if he had been waiting, he softly kissed the lips before him. He did it knowing full well it wouldn’t be rejected.
He nibbled on the soft lips several times before diving in fully.
Seo Jeong-won, trembling, reached out and grabbed Kwon Tae-hee’s arm.
His toes lifted off the ground as he leaned on the strong arms around his slender waist.
They kissed for a long time.
With one final pecking sound, Kwon Tae-hee’s lips parted. Seo Jeong-won’s dazed eyes slowly took him in.
The sound of the plastic door closing rang out, but he didn’t hear it.
“You really are pretty.”
Kwon Tae-hee stepped back and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
As if the sound woke him up, Seo Jeong-won dropped his head, rubbed his wet lips with the back of his hand, and let out a breath he’d been holding.
“Let’s keep it official in public, but privately, it’s just between us.”
“Yes, yes. That’s what I’ll do.”
“Shall we go now? Looks like the water’s all been handed out.”
Seo Jeong-won moved quickly.
The flower shop didn’t need much tidying, so he just threw the paper cups from the table into the trash and went to Kwon Tae-hee.
After seeing him out, Seo Jeong-won turned off the lights and sign, and locked the door.
When Kwon Tae-hee was around, all the thoughts that usually cluttered Seo Jeong-won’s head disappeared. It was like he couldn’t think at all.
“Come on.”
The passenger seat door opened as if he’d been waiting.
Seo Jeong-won thanked him and got in. Kwon Tae-hee naturally drove to Seo Jeong-won’s small, old house.
***
Seo Jeong-won scraped together whatever was in the fridge to make dinner.
Just like the first time they ate at his place, Kwon Tae-hee ate everything without complaint and thanked him in the same way.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Thanks.”
He didn’t refuse.
Even though he usually wouldn’t touch instant coffee, the mix coffee at Seo Jeong-won’s house always tasted so sweet.
It never tasted the same at the office.
It was strange.
“You must be tired, driving again after this.”
“True.”
“And you have work tomorrow too…”
“Yeah, probably.”
Kwon Tae-hee casually replied while sipping the light brown coffee from the small cup.
He thought: either fix this house, or help him move.
One or the other.
But to do that, he’d need to ask what Seo Jeong-won thought.
“Have you lived here long?”
“Yes, since I started middle school.”
“Is this your house?”
“No, there’s a landlord.”
Seo Jeong-won explained that he paid 300,000 won per month and added with a sheepish smile that the landlord hadn’t raised the rent out of kindness.
“Let’s move.”
“Huh?”
“I was going to renovate if it was your place, but it’s not.”
Even though he knew he couldn’t refuse anything Kwon Tae-hee offered, Seo Jeong-won instinctively replied that it was okay.
“I live alone, the door lock was just replaced recently, the shop’s close by… and you’ve already done too much for me.”
“I’m uncomfortable.”
“Huh?”
“It might be familiar for you, but it’s not for me. The ceiling’s way too low.”
At that, Seo Jeong-won’s lips parted slightly, then closed.
He nodded slowly and apologized as he had gotten into the habit of doing lately.
“I’ll look for a place that’s not too far from the shop and decent to live in, so let’s leave everything here behind.”
He said it casually, glancing around, and Seo Jeong-won nodded.
“Everything…?
All of it?”
“Isn’t it all too old anyway? Even if you keep a few things, don’t think about taking everything.”
Kwon Tae-hee stood up.
He said he’d wash up and headed into the cluttered dressing room.
He sighed at the mess and picked out his neatly hung clothes before heading to the bathroom.
Just as he was about to open the door, Seo Jeong-won quietly called out.
“Um… Director.”
“Yes?”
Seo Jeong-won hesitated.
Since he said he’d wash, he must be staying the night again—but Seo Jeong-won couldn’t understand why he kept staying over if he found the place uncomfortable.
However, I wasn’t someone capable of fully understanding, nor did I have the right to.
So, I could only quietly accept his decision.
Even so, I was afraid that things might become awkward again after I washed up.
Isn’t it too obvious what might happen when two people are alone in a small house with nothing much to do?
“Would you like to go for a walk? Uh… after you freshen up. There’s a small park nearby, just a short walk away, and it has a nice trail. It’s a good place to walk around with a coffee or a drink.”
“If you’re tired… we can go another time. I just asked because it felt a little early, so please feel free to say no. I’m okay staying home.”
But that wasn’t the truth.
Being alone together in the house was far from comfortable.
My body was exhausted.
Today, I felt like I had reached my limit.
“You don’t look like you’re in any condition to walk,” Kwon Tae-hee said, as if he could see straight through me.
Seo Jung-won’s eyes trembled slightly.
“I-I’m okay.”
“Let’s go another time. You should rest today.”
“Alright… maybe that’s best.”
Kwon Tae-hee smiled at the disappointed look on Seo Jung-won’s face.
He could tell exactly what kind of feeling had led to the suggestion.
If he truly wanted to go for a walk, he wouldn’t be limping.
Still… he was endearing.
Tae-hee decided that tonight, he would avoid crossing any lines and simply let Seo Jung-won get a good rest.
He looked at the already blushing face before moving.
Just as he was about to step into the bathroom, he paused halfway and looked at Seo Jung-won.
“Want to shower together?”
“I already washed at home. Right after I woke up. But earlier… I think I did sweat a little.”
Nodding, Tae-hee walked toward the bathroom.
As he unbuttoned his shirt, he reached out and gently helped take off Seo Jung-won’s T-shirt.
He softly touched the faint bruises on the pale skin, causing Seo Jung-won to flinch.
“You bruise easily.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Not really… just a little sore here.”
He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
A bluish mark trailed along his skin from behind his ear.
There were faint signs of where he had been held too tightly.
“I’ll be more careful.”
“Y-yeah. Thanks.”
“How’s the, uh… spot? It didn’t tear, but is it still uncomfortable?”
“I-it’s fine. Just a little sore… mostly around my stomach and legs.”
Seo Jung-won felt embarrassed by the bluntness of the question, unsure how to respond.
It was also awkward how Kwon Tae-hee often asked about the most private aspects of his well-being.
Even when he was half-conscious, the way he was so attentive felt a little overwhelming.
Tae-hee’s gaze drifted downward.
Sensing where things might be headed, Seo Jung-won quickly moved to change the mood before things went too far.