#24
“This seems… too expensive.”
“Lee Eunsol.”
Hyun-oh gave a look to the branch manager. Sensing the tense atmosphere between the two, the branch manager gave a small bow and stepped away.
Eunsol’s shoulders stiffened at the deep sigh that reached his ears. His fists clenched so tightly that the knuckles turned white.
“This amount is not at all burdensome for me. And it shouldn’t be for you either.”
It wasn’t just any accessory, but wedding rings. Considering both of their backgrounds, it would be more ridiculous to spend only a few hundred on wedding rings. In fact, the ring Hyun-oh had chosen for Eunsol was, from his perspective, selected within a reasonable range.
If he had really set his mind to it, he would have chosen wedding gifts worth not just hundreds of millions, but billions of won.
“Take this for now.”
“This is…”
Hyun-oh took out his wallet and pulled out a black card. His name was written on the card in English.
“There’s no limit, so buy whatever you want and use it for anything you need.”
Eunsol had no need to spend money. He lived in a house where food and clothes were all provided, and whenever he went out, the person who invited him paid for everything.
“A building will soon be transferred to your name as well. Secretary Song will explain that to you. From now on, you can use the monthly income from the building however you want. It’s truly yours.”
He had felt burdened just by a ring. Now he was about to receive a card and a building. Eunsol’s eyes trembled uncontrollably.
Honestly, he didn’t want to accept it. Strangely enough, that’s how he felt. Even though he knew his relationship with Hyun-oh had started one-sidedly, he was developing desires.
He wanted their relationship to be more than just receiving from Hyun-oh; he wanted to give something to him as well, but it wasn’t easy.
Hyun-oh forcibly opened Eunsol’s hand, which showed no sign of movement, and placed the card in it. The coldness that remained on his fingertips naturally drew his gaze to Eunsol’s hand.
His hands were cold enough to make Hyun-oh’s eyebrows twitch. Like his pale complexion, it seemed as if blood wasn’t flowing to his fingertips either. Although they had stopped by the hospital, it hadn’t been enough time for his shocked body to fully recover.
“Let’s just order all the rings. I was planning to pay for the designs anyway, even for the ones we didn’t choose.”
“Ah…”
Eunsol had no choice but to nod. Hyun-oh called the branch manager back.
“Have you made your decision?”
“Please prepare all five of them.”
“…All of them, sir?”
“Yes.”
The branch manager’s eyes widened. His expectation that Hyun-oh would order two rings—one for the wedding ceremony and one for daily wear—considering his wealth, was off the mark.
“How long will it take? I’d like them prepared as quickly as possible. I don’t mind paying additional fees.”
“I’ll need to contact headquarters to know for sure, but even rushing, it would take at least two weeks. Normally, it’s a process that takes over a month, but since the designs are already selected, I think we can expedite it if we push.”
“Then I’ll keep that timeframe in mind.”
“Yes. If they can be completed sooner, I’ll let you know immediately.”
Having finished the conversation, Hyun-oh promptly stood up. Following him, Eunsol jumped to his feet as well. The black card remained clutched in his hands as if it were someone else’s possession.
“We’ve prepared tea and refreshments in the tea room. Would you like to rest a moment before leaving?”
The branch manager suggested with a friendly smile. Hyun-oh had not been at the store for long.
She had expected it would take quite some time to choose rings, but everything had proceeded smoothly.
“That’s alright.”
Hyun-oh politely declined her offer. Seeing Hyun-oh heading toward where the car was parked, Eunsol hurriedly followed.
Silence hung between them until they got into the car under the guidance of an employee. The car vibrated softly as the engine started.
“Put on your seatbelt.”
Hyun-oh said without looking at Eunsol as he checked the messages on his phone. Only then did Eunsol realize he had been sitting in a daze and hastily fastened his seatbelt.
“I’ll take you home.”
With those final words, Hyun-oh gently turned the steering wheel. Through the car window, they could see all the employees coming out to bow.
Eunsol, fidgeting with the seatbelt, finally broke the silence with difficulty.
“It’s dinner time… aren’t you hungry?”
It wasn’t hard to understand what Hyun-oh meant. Eunsol was sure that after dropping him off at home, Hyun-oh would definitely go to the company or somewhere else to work.
They had reunited after a long time but hadn’t even had a proper conversation. He was suddenly afraid that if Hyun-oh went to the company now, he might not come home for a while again.
Both before and after speaking, his heart raced at a dangerously fast pace. Just as his sweaty hands tightly gripped the seatbelt—
“I have a meeting with a client. Make sure you eat properly when you get home, don’t skip meals.”
Hyun-oh’s gaze briefly flicked to Eunsol’s wrist. The prominent bones along the contour made him sigh every time he saw them.
“…Yes.”
Eunsol hung his head low. Contrary to Hyun-oh’s intention, his sigh came across to Eunsol as a signal not to bother him anymore.
Despite seeing Eunsol’s crestfallen state, Hyun-oh didn’t say anything more. He simply increased the car’s speed toward home.
“Be… careful.”
At the moment he needed to get out, Eunsol whispered his wish in a small voice. What he really wanted to say was that he hoped Hyun-oh would come home today, even if it was late.
But after experiencing one indirect rejection, his courage vanished like bubbles. Instead, Eunsol tried to embed his true feelings in his words as discreetly as possible.
“I will.”
He hadn’t expected an answer. But Hyun-oh had given a positive response. Just that was enough to melt away some of Eunsol’s anxiety.
Eunsol bowed deeply at the retreating back of the car. Even after straightening up, he stared for a long time in the direction where the car had disappeared.
It was strange how the angular edges of the card he was fingering didn’t feel as sharp as they had before.
* * *
“Why not use the bedroom…”
Hyun-oh paused in the act of loosening his tie, which felt like it was strangling him.
The entertainment had ended later than expected. To make matters worse, the client preferred venues with hostesses, which doubled his fatigue.
If it hadn’t been a meeting connected to an important contract, he would have sent a subordinate in his place.
Although Hyun-oh politely declined, the other party forcibly placed people on either side of him. Both were omegas but of different genders.
As if they had been briefed in advance, both subtly released their pheromones as soon as they sat down. Whenever they glanced at Hyun-oh, blushes would bloom simultaneously on their twin-like faces.
Hyun-oh tolerated the release of pheromones but made sure they didn’t directly touch his body.
Seeing them sitting stiffly like borrowed sacks of barley, the client, with a voice slightly drunk, approached Hyun-oh.
‘Perhaps they’re not to your liking? Should I call for younger ones?’
‘That won’t be necessary.’
The current companions were already young enough that you could see the fine hair on the bridges of their noses and cheeks. Though not as young as Eunsol, they both looked sufficiently youthful.
As he declined, Hyun-oh picked up a bottle of whiskey and filled an empty glass. The client held the glass with both hands and watched the flowing alcohol with anticipation.
‘We’re paying today, so please enjoy yourself.’
‘Thank you.’
It was a rare and expensive liquor, difficult to obtain even with money. Hyun-oh continued to ply the client with alcohol until he was completely intoxicated.
When the client was still sober enough to sign the contract, Hyun-oh presented the purpose of their meeting. After achieving his goal, he was even more relentless.
While only pretending to drink himself, Hyun-oh made sure the client drank an entire bottle of whiskey straight.
Even so, the meeting ended later than expected. When the chauffeur asked where to go, Hyun-oh simply said “home” and briefly closed his eyes.
The fatigue that had built up as he rode the elevator to his home intensified. Due to not sleeping properly while in America, even his temples were throbbing.
The omega pheromones still strongly present on his clothes made his headache worse. He wanted to wash up and throw himself into bed as soon as possible.
But when the front door opened, what he found was Eunsol, who had fallen asleep hugging his knees.
He hadn’t expected Eunsol to be waiting for him. Hyun-oh, with his tie removed and clutched in his hand, leaned against the wall.
The light in the entryway went off briefly, then came back on as Eunsol, dozing, bent forward.
Under the light, his round crown was particularly noticeable. Because he was wearing loose pajamas, whenever Eunsol’s body swayed, his skin was precariously revealed.
Hyun-oh suddenly realized that his own gaze was directed toward Eunsol’s chest. A small laugh escaped as he raised his hand to rub his face.
As his large hand swept down his face, where shadows were clearly defined, the smile quickly faded.
“Lee Eunsol.”
Hyun-oh called Eunsol’s name. The head that had been bowing forward slowly lifted toward Hyun-oh.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
