Precious Thing

It felt natural to pull the blanket back up over his shoulders. Stroking his body and running fingers through his hair were actions that came naturally as well. Lee Yesin slid his hand under Tae Woowon’s T-shirt, running it over the firm muscles of his abdomen before resting it on his chest. Beneath his palm, he could feel the strong, steady beat of a healthy heart. He silently promised himself to be good to him in the time they had left, shaking his head as if reaffirming the thought.“It’s nothing,” he said softly, slowly slipping into sleep. Tae Woowon’s hand slid under Lee Yesin’s pants, brushing over his bare skin. It was warm.٠ ࣪⭑Lee Yesin had tried to treat him well for five days straight, but Tae Woowon had rejected one of those days. Sitting across from him at the dining table, Lee Yesin wiped his lips, looking at him.“All of a sudden?” he asked.Tae Woowon nodded. He was diligently eating breakfast, something he often skipped, and even finishing it off with ice cream for dessert, when he casually mentioned that he would be going to China for personal reasons. His departure was scheduled for Thursday, and Lee Yesin was set to take a boat on Friday. He’d been worried about how to slip away unnoticed, but things were conveniently falling into place.“When will you be back?”“Saturday.”In truth, it didn’t matter when he returned, as it had no bearing on Lee Yesin. Still, he feigned curiosity. Nodding, he scooped up more ice cream. Thursday would be their last day together. What should he do until then? If he was overly nice, Tae Woowon might get suspicious. He was unnecessarily perceptive.“Someone else will come to stay here while I’m gone.”“…That’s not necessary.”Lee Yesin glanced up as he spoke. Tae Woowon, who had quickly finished his small cup of ice cream, rested his chin on his hand and looked at him.“I’ll make sure they know not to touch anything.”“What am I, a sensitive plant? Will I die if someone touches me?”The comparison was amusing, making Tae Woowon chuckle. For some reason, it felt like he was being mocked, and Lee Yesin frowned, shoveling a large spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. A brain freeze immediately followed.“I’d prefer something other than a sensitive plant,” Tae Woowon mused.Holding his head, Lee Yesin looked at him, bewildered by the sudden remark. Tae Woowon reached out, gently pressing his temples to relieve the discomfort.“Something else? Like what?”His mouth was still numb, and it was surprising he could even speak properly. He pushed Tae Woowon’s hand away. As Tae Woowon retracted his hand, he casually wiped Lee Yesin’s lips, then licked the ice cream off his own fingers.“Dunno. I forgot the name.”“…It must have some distinctive trait, right?”“Once you touch it, it dies.”Lee Yesin exhaled in disbelief. What, was he threatening to kill him just by touching him? Despite his irritation, Tae Woowon found the whole thing amusing and smiled with his eyes.“…Bring me a gift when you come back.”It was a familiar smile, but today it left Lee Yesin feeling flustered, so he said the first thing that came to mind. Luckily, it didn’t seem to annoy Tae Woowon, who nodded obediently.“Do you want anything in particular?”“Just something red.”“Do you like red?”Scooping up the last bit of ice cream, Lee Yesin shook his head.“I like blue better.”“Then why ask for something red?”“China’s famous for red.”Tae Woowon accepted Lee Yesin’s simple reasoning without further comment, nodding. Lee Yesin finished his ice cream, placed the cup and spoon on the table, and watched Tae Woowon pull out a cigarette.“That’s a secret,” he said after swallowing the last of the ice cream. Tae Woowon, lighting the cigarette, glanced at him.“What is?”“The fact that I like blue.”“…Got it.”Tae Woowon often asked why in trivial moments, but when it truly mattered, he never asked anything. Lee Yesin smiled quietly at him.٠ ࣪⭑There wasn’t much Lee Yesin could do for him, as it turned out. Like a well-raised child, Tae Woowon woke up on time, slept well, and ate regularly. He even took care of Lee Yesin. Almost every hour, he would check in on him, asking, “Do you need anything?” whenever he caught him staring blankly. Lee Yesin had never thought of himself as helpless, but Tae Woowon’s constant care made him feel like a child incapable of doing anything on his own. Determined, Lee Yesin decided to take matters into his own hands and grabbed a frying pan.He rummaged through the kitchen and found a pancake mix he’d bought ages ago. After carefully reading the instructions, he poured the sweet-smelling powder into a large bowl. He wanted to measure the milk accurately, but couldn’t find a measuring cup, so he just eyeballed it and cracked an egg in as well. He whisked everything together and heated the pan. After a brief wait, he poured the batter into the pan. Not knowing when to flip it, he kept peeking underneath with the spatula. Finally, when it turned golden, he flipped it over.“What are you doing?”At that moment, Tae Woowon appeared.“Want some pancakes?”Lee Yesin turned around with a bright expression, asking. He had been embarrassed about delivering them to his room, but now that Tae Woowon showed up at just the right time, he was relieved. Whether Tae Woowon understood this or not, he approached Lee Yesin with a somewhat skeptical look.“Just wait a moment. They’re almost ready.”Lee Yesin checked the bottom of the pancake with the spatula. Seeing the color change, he plated it. The pancake looked perfect, without a tear. Still, he wanted to taste it first, just in case, so he grabbed a fork and went to the table. Tae Woowon picked up the frying pan, turned off the heat on the induction stove, and sat across from him. Oh, I forgot to turn off the heat, Lee Yesin realized, feeling a pang of regret. But he didn’t let it get him down. Handing the fork to Tae Woowon, he thought about whether they had any maple syrup in the house while tearing off a piece of pancake.“……”And then he stopped. Inside the thick pancake was a gooey, undercooked batter. If it had been burned, he wouldn’t have had any expectations. While Lee Yesin stood frozen, Tae Woowon picked up the plate and stood up. He turned up the heat on the induction stove and placed the pancake back in the pan.“If you want something, just ask me to make it.”“…It’s because it’s my first time. I’ll do better next time.”Lee Yesin put the fork down on the table and stood beside Tae Woowon. After just a few movements of Tae Woowon’s hand, a pancake that looked exactly like the one on the picture of the mix packet appeared. He transferred it to a plate and added a bit more milk to the batter Lee Yesin had made. He stirred it expertly, spilling none, and poured it into the pan. Maybe it was just a feeling, but even the smell seemed different.“Want to try?”After making a perfectly cooked pancake, Tae Woowon slid the bowl of batter over to Lee Yesin. Lee Yesin carefully scooped a smaller amount of batter into the pan, as he’d seen Tae Woowon do. When bubbles started to rise on the surface of the batter, he flipped it over in one smooth motion. It was a success. Eyes wide with surprise, Lee Yesin looked up at Tae Woowon, who smiled. As expected, the pancake was delicious.It was a small misstep, but after that, Lee Yesin started taking care of Tae Woowon more frequently. Since both of them were cooped up at home, the housekeeper hadn’t been coming over, so they were handling the household chores together. Lee Yesin even folded Tae Woowon’s laundry and washed the cups he left in the sink. Each time, Tae Woowon would look him over and say, “Thanks.” And just from that one word, a sense of accomplishment would wash over him. There was also something else Lee Yesin could do for him.“It’s going to scar.”Lee Yesin frowned as he examined Tae Woowon’s palm. Even a slight brush would normally cause a blister, but that day, Tae Woowon had gripped the flames with force. Thanks to proper care, there was no pus or severe discharge, but the top layer of skin was completely gone, and it looked painful.“I don’t mind.”Leaning back lazily on the sofa, Tae Woowon looked at Lee Yesin. No one had forced him to grab the flame—it was his own doing. But since Lee Yesin felt somewhat responsible for the situation, he couldn’t help feeling guilty.“If it scars, just get surgery. I’ll pay for it.”Tae Woowon chuckled at the remark, as if something about it amused him. Glancing at him, Lee Yesin dipped a cotton swab into some ointment and gently applied it to the wound.“I’m serious. I’ve got a lot of money.”“I know. I know you’re rich.”For some reason, Lee Yesin suddenly wished that Tae Woowon was more interested in money.“Do you want me to wash your hair?”Shaking off the thought, he asked Tae Woowon. Tae Woowon, who had been quietly staring at him, slowly nodded.٠ ࣪⭑Time passed easily. Lee Yesin washed Tae Woowon’s hair once a day, and Tae Woowon, as usual, helped put Lee Yesin to sleep. On a leisurely Wednesday evening, Lee Yesin lay on his stomach in the living room, playing a game of omok with Tae Woowon. After dinner, while rummaging through the storage to see if there was anything to take with him, he had come across a Go board. So, he dragged Tae Woowon, who had been in his room, out into the living room and forced a Go stone into his hand.Even though Tae Woowon had said he didn’t know how to play Go, they ended up playing omok instead. It was surprising to Lee Yesin that there was something Tae Woowon didn’t know how to do, especially considering how much older he was. It wasn’t just a bias; it was almost like he believed there was nothing Tae Woowon couldn’t do. The thought was a bit over the top, and it wasn’t exactly love-blindness either. While trying to figure out where that feeling came from, Lee Yesin lost three games in a row. If he had known it would turn out this way, he would have teased Tae Woowon when he first said he didn’t know how to play Go. As he quietly simmered in frustration and pondered his next move, the doorbell rang.Tae Woowon flicked the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray, ruffled Lee Yesin’s hair, and stood up. While he went to greet the visitor, Lee Yesin sneakily moved one of the black stones. This much should go unnoticed, right?“Lee Yesin.”At the sound of his name and the closing of the front door, Lee Yesin jumped up, feeling guilty. Turning around, he saw Kwon Heechan standing there, smiling. Only then did Lee Yesin remember their appointment. He let out a small sigh and walked over to him.“You’re here?”“Yeah, but I’ve got to leave soon. Things are so hectic these days.”“Oh, really?” Lee Yesin answered with a vague smile as he led Kwon Heechan into the room. Before turning the door handle, he glanced back at Tae Woowon, who was putting out his cigarette in the ashtray.“Don’t touch the stones.”At Lee Yesin’s remark, Tae Woowon glanced down at the Go board. Then he chuckled.“You’re white stones. I’m black stones.”“…This round doesn’t count.”How did he notice that? Lee Yesin grumbled inwardly and went into the room with Kwon Heechan. Kwon Heechan set down his backpack, opened the zipper, and reached inside.“I brought as much as I could… But don’t take it every day, okay?”Kwon Heechan handed over five bottles of sleeping pills. Nodding, Lee Yesin shoved the bottles into the drawer. He would need them now, as he would be sleeping without Tae Woowon. There were other ways to get rest—like having sex with strangers in foreign lands—but Lee Yesin didn’t want to do that anymore. He would rather rely on the pills and become a forgetful fool.“Hyung… do you really have to go?”When Lee Yesin first told Kwon Heechan he was leaving, Kwon Heechan had tried to persuade him with the same concerned expression, his eyebrows furrowed deeply. Then, as now, Lee Yesin gave the same answer.“Yeah. I’m going. And I’m never coming back.”“…Aren’t you scared?”He was. But there was no reason to stay here any longer. He couldn’t just live his life under Chairman Lee’s surveillance, doing nothing, waiting to die. He didn’t know how long it would take to adjust once he crossed over to another country. Nor could he tell how long it would take to brace himself and prepare to pursue Hangyeol’s dream. He wasn’t sure of anything about his shaky, uncertain future. But rotting away here was worse.“It’s fine. Everything will work out.”Lee Yesin smiled at Kwon Heechan, trying to ease his worries. Kwon Heechan sighed softly.“Did you think of how you’re going to shake him off?”Kwon Heechan nodded in the direction of Tae Woowon, who was still outside the door. Lee Yesin walked over to the mini-fridge and pulled out a bottle of soda, handing it to Kwon Heechan.“I don’t need to. He’s leaving tomorrow and won’t be back until Saturday.”“Oh, really? So you’re trying to slip away in the meantime. Have you already set a departure date?”The man with the messy tattoos on his hands and Kwon Heechan didn’t seem to know each other well. It appeared that Kwon Heechan was only introduced to the man through a mutual acquaintance, as he knew nothing about Lee Yesin’s schedule.“Yeah. Friday at 6 p.m.”“…Should I go with you?”“No, you’re busy. You’ve got finals soon.”That was true, but… Kwon Heechan, holding his drink, stopped speaking. Lee Yesin took the drink from his hand, opened the lid, and handed it back to him.“Take care, Heechan.”“…You’re saying goodbye with tomato juice?”Kwon Heechan made a sad face and downed the drink in one shot. Lee Yesin, pretending to be surprised, laughed brightly. After finishing the bottle, Kwon Heechan wiped his lips with the back of his hand.“Hyung, you know I’m always on your side, right?”“Yeah, of course I know.”“If anything happens, call me. I won’t change my phone number. Promise me… call me later, okay?”Lee Yesin smiled and nodded. Sighing softly, Kwon Heechan looked at his wristwatch and stood up. He really did seem busy, just like he had said. Lee Yesin stood up as well, following him. Kwon Heechan, having gathered his things, spread his arms toward Lee Yesin, who giggled and hugged him. Kwon Heechan patted Lee Yesin’s back a couple of times, then tightened his embrace without warning. Lee Yesin hesitated for a moment, then pulled away and opened the door.“I’ll be in touch.”Hearing Lee Yesin’s gentle voice, Kwon Heechan touched the corner of his eye and responded, “Yeah.” Tae Woowon was not in the living room, probably having gone into his room. After seeing Kwon Heechan off outside, Lee Yesin came back inside. He went straight to Tae Woowon’s room and opened the door without knocking.Tae Woowon, leaning against the bedhead and looking at his tablet PC, glanced up. Before Tae Woowon could even ask why, Lee Yesin swiftly moved toward him and climbed onto his body. Snatching the tablet from his hands, he threw it roughly onto the bedside table and took off his t-shirt.“Just one hour. You can bite me, but no drawing blood. What about you?”“…I’ll slap your ass every time you come.”“…What?”“I said I’ll slap your ass every time you come.”Tae Woowon took off his t-shirt and tossed it to the floor. He then pulled down Lee Yesin’s sweatpants and, without warning, grabbed and shook his penis.“H-How many times will you hit me?”“Until nothing comes out.”To think I wanted to go with this guy.Earlier, as he watched Kwon Heechan’s back getting farther away, Lee Yesin had thought of Tae Woowon. If he went with him, he wouldn’t be scared. He could do anything well except play Go, and as long as he had someone like Tae Woowon, who was kind to him, unfamiliar lands wouldn’t seem so frightening. But he couldn’t even say a proper goodbye to his healthy sleeping pill. As the reality of their broken relationship set in, he couldn’t resist the desire to touch him.So he climbed confidently onto his waist, and now he was being told to get his ass slapped. Losing his momentum, Lee Yesin fiddled with Tae Woowon’s abs, his eyes darting around. Next time, I’ll make him set the conditions first. Ah… but there won’t be a next time.“I won’t hit you hard. But I’ll leave some marks.”“…Marks?”“I said I’ll chew and scratch you.”Why is he so obsessed with tormenting my ass? Lee Yesin shot Tae Woowon, who was grinning mischievously, an exasperated look. Tae Woowon lightly tapped Lee Yesin’s cheek.“You didn’t go out that one time because you had bruises on your ass.”It was true. When both of his buttocks were ruthlessly bruised by Tae Woowon, Lee Yesin had no choice but to cancel his weekend outings meant for sleep. He could have dealt with blood clots, but there was no way he wanted anyone to see his baby-blue bruised buttocks.“You’re going to make bruises by chewing and scratching me?”“If you want, I can hit you and make them.”“…You could just tell me not to go out.”“You never listen.”Tae Woowon gently wrapped his hand around Lee Yesin’s half-erect penis and rubbed the tip with his thumb. Lee Yesin flinched and slowly started to move his hips.“Are you worried I might sleep with someone else?”Tae Woowon, who had been staring at Lee Yesin’s penis, furrowed his brow in irritation. It was the perfect moment for him to say something, but his lips stayed shut. Seeing his sleek face, Lee Yesin smirked. Somehow, it felt funny. And it made him feel good. Lee Yesin lifted a finger and brought it to Tae Woowon’s face.“I’ll stay home like a good boy. You can check for yourself when you come back.”Raising his body slightly, Lee Yesin grabbed Tae Woowon’s wrist and brought it behind his back. His fingers brushed against the opening of Lee Yesin’s hole.“I’m still going to spank you.”Tae Woowon gripped Lee Yesin’s buttocks with the other hand, the one with the gauze pad, and pressed his finger firmly against the opening. It was dry, and only one knuckle managed to slip in. The wrinkled skin tickled. Lee Yesin pressed his penis against Tae Woowon’s, grinding them together. His knees were starting to heat up.“Why are you so obsessed, huff, with my ass?”“If I could, I’d bite it until it burst.”“…You freak.”Tae Woowon squinted his eyes and curled his lips into a smile.“You’re cute, that’s why.”“What…?”The moment he asked, Tae Woowon pulled Lee Yesin close and hugged him tightly. Then, he began to move his hips. The two hard penises, wedged between their lower stomachs, rubbed together rapidly. Pressed tightly against Tae Woowon, Lee Yesin buried his face in his shoulder. A small moan escaped from his lips, “Mm, huff.”“Check the time.”“Uh, huff! Ah, faster, faster!”There was no time to check the clock. Moving his hips in sync with Tae Woowon’s rhythm, Lee Yesin pushed him away slightly. Then, lowering his upper body a bit, he grabbed both of their genitals tightly in his hands. As he moved his hips back and forth, Tae Woowon’s penis kept slipping out of Lee Yesin’s grasp. Lee Yesin gazed intently at the two tips of their exposed heads, his eyes burning with heat. Pre-cum dripped down from the tip of Lee Yesin’s penis, which had been hit by Tae Woowon’s.“Hah, ugh!”Tension surged through his buttocks, tightening the entrance sharply. At that moment, Tae Woowon spread his hand wide and slapped Lee Yesin’s butt.“Ah!”He should have shouted, asking why Tae Woowon was hitting him when he hadn’t finished yet. But Lee Yesin’s hips, moving roughly, didn’t stop, and his lips were too busy stifling moans. With a trembling bottom, he squeezed his hands tighter around the two throbbing shafts. The two hot, rubbing rods seemed ready to burst.“Ugh…!”Lee Yesin moaned deeply, throwing his head back. Arching his back, he thrust his chest forward towards Tae Woowon’s face. As he bent, the forceful spray of semen splattered onto Lee Yesin’s body. Smack! Tae Woowon licked Lee Yesin’s chest and slapped his butt again. Lee Yesin, biting his lip, pulled his hips back sharply, trembling. Slap! Tae Woowon slapped him once more, grabbing Lee Yesin’s butt tightly and shaking it vigorously.“Ugh… ah…”“Does it hurt?”A shiver ran down his entire body. Catching his breath, Lee Yesin grabbed Tae Woowon’s shoulders, struggling to meet his gaze.“You’re such a pervert…”There was nothing tender about it. Lee Yesin ran his fingers over Tae Woowon’s lips, which carried a faint smile. Tae Woowon’s large hands, unrestrained and blind to gentleness, had already brought heat to Lee Yesin’s hips. He knew he should dislike it, but part of him wanted to both evade Tae Woowon’s touch and crash into him harder. Lee Yesin was more easily excited than usual and finished quickly on his own. Even after releasing, there was no calm—his fingertips still tingled, and the inside of him was on the verge of losing control.“Touch my hole.”Tae Woowon, glancing at Lee Yesin’s flushed eyes, smeared the cum over Lee Yesin’s entrance. He slid one slick finger inside and began to gently prod. Lee Yesin licked his lower lip, gazing down at Tae Woowon’s face. Tae Woowon bit the gauze off his palm and, with his bare hand, gripped Lee Yesin’s shaft. Squeezing upward from the base, a bit of fluid dripped from the tip. Then, Tae Woowon removed his finger from Lee Yesin’s bottom and gave his butt a light slap.“Ah.”“Check the time while you’re still conscious. If you don’t stop me, I won’t stop,” Tae Woowon said as he slipped a finger into Lee Yesin’s entrance. Lee Yesin slightly frowned.“When you said you’d hit me every time I came… You weren’t just talking about cum, right?”“No, everything that comes out of your dick. If you pee during sex, you’re still getting hit.”“……”Lee Yesin blinked a couple of times before quickly reaching out to tap his tablet. 8:21 PM. Subtract 10 minutes since they had started earlier. As he quietly calculated, Lee Yesin began to rub Tae Woowon’s shaft. Tae Woowon, who had been intensely licking Lee Yesin’s chest, lifted his gaze.“Did it hurt?”“What?”“I asked if it hurt when I spanked you.”“…The first one hurt.”Tae Woowon nodded as he inserted another finger into the hole.“Tell me if you can’t take it.”Lee Yesin had no idea what was going on. He parted his lips slightly, then wrapped his arms around Tae Woowon’s neck.٠ ࣪⭑Sex didn’t end at 9:11. It didn’t even end at 9:21. Lee Yesin, who was supposed to be keeping track of time, lost focus due to the overwhelming pleasure. In the end, it was Tae Woowon, now fully satisfied with his fill of Lee Yesin, who checked the time.“It’s past 10. Want to keep going?”Lee Yesin, folded over with his knees pressed against the headboard, barely managed to nod while gasping for breath. With Tae Woowon blocking his entrance, there wasn’t much of a choice—refusal wasn’t even an option.“H-hurry… put it in already.”Lee Yesin, unable to move in his contorted position, was desperate. Pleading with tears in his eyes, he grabbed onto Tae Woowon’s arm. Tae Woowon chuckled, leisurely brushing back Lee Yesin’s hair. He gripped one of Lee Yesin’s reddened buttocks and, with a slow, deliberate motion, thrust his member into the slick, wet opening. A squelching sound echoed from inside, and it felt as though his mind was being filled with semen.“Is it cold?”Tae Woowon asked as he pressed an ice pack, wrapped in a towel, against Lee Yesin’s buttocks, gently stroking his waist. Tonight’s sleeping position was a bit different from usual. Though there wasn’t any bleeding or bruising, Lee Yesin had taken enough hits to make his butt feel hot, making it impossible for him to lie down properly. Even when lying on his side, he kept groaning, so Tae Woowon brought an ice pack. He then placed Lee Yesin on top of himself and started applying the ice to his sore behind. It felt absurd—this wouldn’t have been necessary if he hadn’t hit him in the first place. But the memory of how every strike had sent him spiraling into pleasure stopped Lee Yesin from complaining. Who would’ve thought he’d climax from getting hit?“It feels nice.”Lee Yesin rested his cheek against Tae Woowon’s collarbone, closing his eyes. Tonight was their last night together.“Sleep if you’re tired.”Tae Woowon caressed Lee Yesin’s shoulders, waist, and back. His slow, deliberate touch seemed to trace the marks he had left with his mouth earlier.“What time are you leaving tomorrow?”“Around two. The guy coming to replace me will be here around then, too.”Tell him not to come. And don’t go either.“Got it.”Lee Yesin responded indifferently, though he was joking in his head. Tae Woowon moved the ice pack to the other side of his butt. The cold sensation, combined with the soft touch, felt good.“Behave yourself. If you need to go out, take him with you.”I’ll go out alone. Without him knowing.“Yeah. I’m not going out. I’ll just sleep.”“Don’t take the pills.”“I can’t sleep without you.”I’ll just take one…“…”“Sorry, I didn’t mean that.”Damn. This is why I shouldn’t joke around in my head. His whole body tensed up, but Lee Yesin forced himself to stay calm, shifting slightly as if nothing was wrong. Tae Woowon slipped his hand into Lee Yesin’s hair, massaging his scalp. The tension in his body melted away, but soon, his chest, pressed against Tae Woowon’s body, started to bother him. His heart was beating faster than usual.“Why don’t you ask when I’ll be back?”Over the past few days together, Lee Yesin had been acting strangely. But it was too late for Tae Woowon to suspect anything now. Lee Yesin had already made up his mind to leave, and he wasn’t going to change it. This would be the end of them. When Tae Woowon returned, he hoped he wouldn’t be too angry to find an empty room. He should just think of it as bad luck and find happiness elsewhere.“I thought I’d be waiting all day.”Please remember our time together as a good memory.Tae Woowon grabbed a handful of Lee Yesin’s hair, tilting his head back. His neck stretched uncomfortably. Lee Yesin looked into Tae Woowon’s dark eyes and grinned.“I’m kidding. When are you coming back?”He must have gotten permission from Chairman Lee to treat Lee Yesin however he wanted. In fact, the first time they met, he didn’t hesitate to raise his hand against him. But as time passed and they spent more time together, he began to block out the rumors and slowly took a deeper look into Lee Yesin. He grew curious about the parts of Lee Yesin that no one else cared about. That felt… nice.“I’ll get to the airport at 8:30, home by 10:30?”He let go of Lee Yesin’s hair and gently stroked his head as he spoke. Lee Yesin lowered his head and rested his cheek against the man’s body.“Morning?”“Yeah, morning.”Lee Yesin wrapped his arm around Tae Woowon’s waist. He hoped the sun wouldn’t rise. But the guilt that came with his white suit pants was still here. He buried his face into Tae Woowon’s body and hugged him tightly.“Tell me to sleep well.”“…Sleep well.”He wanted to live, yet wanted to die.٠ ࣪⭑“Hello, nice to meet you.”The temporary bodyguard arrived just before two. Lee Yesin stood next to Tae Woowon and gave a slight nod to him. Maybe it was because his attitude was different from what the bodyguard had expected, but the man let out an awkward laugh, clearly unsure of how to react. Without a second glance, Lee Yesin turned away, while Tae Woowon gestured toward the luggage the bodyguard brought and led him to the room he would use.“You’ll stay in this room, and the bathroom is in the living room. The housekeeper will come tomorrow at 2 p.m. As for meals, Lee Yesin will take care of himself, so eat alone.”Lee Yesin sat on the living room sofa, casually glancing at Tae Woowon and the temporary bodyguard. Tae Woowon, noticing this, smiled and led the bodyguard into his room, shutting the door. Even though Lee Yesin was the owner of the house, he felt oddly excluded. Scratching the back of his head, he walked into his own room and sat in front of the TV. He mindlessly flipped through the channels when someone knocked on the door. Without turning his head, Lee Yesin hugged his knees closer. The knock came again, followed by the sound of the door opening. Tae Woowon stood in the doorway, now dressed in casual clothes instead of his suit.“I’m leaving.”“Take care.”Lee Yesin didn’t turn around. Tae Woowon chuckled, seemingly thinking it was just another of his insomniac grumbles.“Will you be unreachable?”“Not today. Tomorrow, from the evening onwards.”What about Saturday? From sunrise, you’ll be reachable again. Tae Woowon exchanged a few words with the temporary bodyguard behind him, preparing to close the door. Lee Yesin bit his lip, then impulsively got up, pushing the door open. Grabbing Tae Woowon by the wrist, he yanked him back into the room and slammed the door shut. He pushed him against the door, stood on his toes, and cupped his face to kiss him.Smooch.Despite the rough setup, the kiss was brief and soft. Swallowing hard, Lee Yesin looked up at Tae Woowon, lightly touching his cheek.“…It’s like you hesitate every time.”Tae Woowon, who had been staring at him with a blank expression, slowly wrapped his arms around Lee Yesin’s waist, pulling him closer. The warmth from their pressed bodies spread between them. Tae Woowon grabbed the back of Lee Yesin’s head, tilting it slightly. Lee Yesin parted his lips.Tae Woowon’s tongue slid into his mouth, exploring with urgency. Lee Yesin’s tongue met his, and they intertwined—licking, teasing, probing deeper into each other’s mouths. The wet sounds felt too close, too intimate. Tae Woowon’s tongue brushed against the roof of Lee Yesin’s mouth, then dipped below, lapping at the smooth underside. Because of the height difference, their combined saliva gathered in Lee Yesin’s mouth. Fearing it might spill out, he swallowed the sticky liquid down his throat. Tae Woowon’s tongue was trapped in his narrowed mouth. Lee Yesin tilted his head back, slowly releasing his tongue, and licked his lower lip before pulling away. Tae Woowon, who had been silently observing him, used his finger to wipe Lee Yesin’s lips.“You’re in big trouble now.”Lee Yesin blinked, tilting his head in confusion.“I like kissing more than sex.”Tae Woowon said this while sensually rubbing his side, his tone light but provocative, calling it just a kiss. For some reason, Lee Yesin felt his cheeks heat up. He tried to hide it, stepping back and pulling Tae Woowon’s hand away.“…So?”“It means you’ll lose control more easily.”Smooch. Tae Woowon stepped forward, giving him a quick kiss, and gently stroked Lee Yesin’s cheek with his thumb.