45
“Here you go.”
After causing a commotion on the hard dining table, my spine feels crushed. While I sit diagonally on the sofa wrapped in a thin blanket, Kwon Yikang cleans up the messy table and returns with something he’s prepared, dishes clattering. On the plate is scrambled eggs mixed with finely chopped vegetables.
“I thought you were making something fancy, but it was just all noise.”
“When I was in New York, I used to make this often because it was good for a quick meal. It’s also the dish I make best.”
He handed me a fork he’d brought, urging me to try it. I put the chunky eggs in my mouth and smiled with satisfaction at the rich buttery aroma and the texture of soft eggs and crisp vegetables.
“You’ve got skills worth showing off.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Yeah, it’s delicious.”
At my praise, Kwon Yikang’s face showed a hint of proud satisfaction. That side of him is really cute. It wasn’t empty flattery—it genuinely tasted good, so I emptied the plate in no time. When I licked the fork clean and placed it on the empty plate, he took it with a look that was almost touching.
“I was hungry.”
So don’t be too moved.
Even after my remark meant to temper his confidence, he proudly took the empty plate to the sink. Satisfied with his guest’s response, he showed his thoughtfulness by bringing me a glass of water.
“What got into you earlier that made you pounce on me?”
“The back view of a man cooking turned out to be sexier than I expected.”
“While it’s true my backside is sexy, I don’t think that’s the only reason.”
Kwon Yikang, who had moved to the sofa, picked up my blanket-wrapped body like a kimbap roll and placed me on his lap as he pointed this out. With our difference in build, this position didn’t feel awkward at all.
It’s sad to be in this position in another man’s arms, but on the other hand, the sense of security his broad chest provides feels good too.
“It’s true. Your ass looked incredibly delicious.”
“So you were targeting my butt.”
“I’ve been thinking…”
“Why do I get nervous every time you say you’ve been thinking about something?”
I pinched and wiggled his cheek slightly as if scolding him for his playful words. With his cheek in my hand, Kwon Yikang burst out laughing.
“You were thinking?”
“I’ve been thinking that I must have been an incredibly horny guy. I didn’t realize it until now, but after my first time, my inner desires were unleashed like a horse freed from its reins. Maybe God gave me a backdoor that feels pleasure when penetrated and made me unable to sense pheromones properly for the sake of my backdoor’s well-being?”
“…”
I glanced up at Kwon Yikang’s face, which had gone silent for a moment. He had furrowed his brow and looked somewhat angry and annoyed.
“So.”
“Hmm?”
What does he mean, “so”? That was just it, nothing more.
“So besides my thing, what else has been inserted into your backside?”
Despite the coldly frozen air, the pheromones he was emitting stimulated my skin. It didn’t hurt, but the pricking sensation was slightly painful and itchy.
“Why are you getting angry? Like you’re jealous. It’s cute.”
I lightly bit Kwon Yikang’s lips and released them, then left his embrace. He clicked his tongue with a “ha,” as if in disbelief.
“I hate the word ‘borrow’ the most. I don’t like other people’s hands on my things, and I don’t like sharing my things with someone else.”
“But I’m not your thing.”
I belong to myself. What’s the problem with how or where I use my own body?
“And are you so clean? Can you say you never used your cock before me? I’m not even the first user anyway. Of course, I’m not saying I’ll pass my body around everywhere, but still… What I mean is… there’s no need to get so worked up over a joke. Getting all serious over one joke.”
I liked Kwon Yikang’s kindness, and I liked the warmth and broad chest he offered. I liked him looking at me, holding me. I wanted him to think of me, and I hoped he would continue to remember my past self as he had done so far.
Nevertheless, I found it difficult to imagine our future beyond the present. The step ahead of me was unpredictable chaos, and in that chaos, I couldn’t tell whether we would stand side by side as we do now, or whether his figure would no longer be visible.
So I didn’t ask about our relationship, nor did I confirm it. Even if sweet answers came from his lips, it was hard to believe words that confidently predicted the future. I decided to be content with his presence beside me now.
Even if someday our touching hands separate and I can no longer see him, I wanted to cherish him lovingly now.
“Now that I’ve eaten, shall we take a tour of the house?”
Even when I tried to change the atmosphere with those words, Kwon Yikang didn’t answer. The way he sat with his lips firmly sealed made him look angry, but to my eyes, he resembled a sulking child.
This cuteness is really something else.
Deciding to leave him alone for a while, I looked around by myself. Besides the wall with photos hanging, it wasn’t very elaborately decorated, so there wasn’t much to look at.
In the bedroom was a large, solitary bed, and it was dark with blackout curtains blocking all light. The room used as a dressing room had clothes and accessories neatly organized, and the room used as a study had wooden bookshelves and a desk facing the window.
It’s extremely tidy. Nothing’s really messy, and everything is neatly organized as if rejecting the touch of others.
The wastebasket next to the desk didn’t have a single piece of tissue, but instead, several files had been thrown away completely. Why would someone who kept even their desk so clean dump these in such a messy way?
Curious, I picked up a file and looked inside, and found a photo fixed with a clip on top of a paper. The content of the paper seemed like personal information.
When they were born, which elementary school, middle school, high school they attended, which university they graduated from, what they’re doing now. Except for who their parents are, what buildings and land they own, and what profession they have, it was similar to a resume used when applying for a job.
The rest of the files were similar. Photos of women around the same age. And content about those women.
Are these people who need background checks? I thought they might be under surveillance for internal embezzlement or technology leaks within the company, but their occupations were all different. And they didn’t seem related to his company either—there were teachers, lawyers, and even unemployed people.
What is this unpleasant premonition?
After scratching my cheek for a moment, I took the files and went to the living room. Kwon Yikang was still sitting in the same position, protesting. I quietly approached and sat down next to him.
“Your house is really neat, huh? You must really hate other people touching your things. Will I get scolded if I make a mess around here?”
“…”
“Don’t be mad, okay? I’m not seeing anyone else besides you, it was just a joke. We can’t even fight anyway. No matter how angry you get, your pheromones just make me excited.”
“Is this even a fight? What you thoughtlessly said…”
He was speaking but stopped when he saw the file in my hand. The wrinkle between his brows deepened.
“Ah, I saw this in the study. It was crumpled in the trash. Is it okay to throw around other people’s personal information like this?”
“Put it back in the trash.”
“What… is this?”
“It’s blind dates my father brought me. It’s also why I was staying at the hotel.”
Feeling upset, I threw the file onto the table.
Cancel everything I was thinking earlier. Present, future, certainty, uncertainty. The thought of the man before me going on blind dates and marrying someone else made my stomach twist.
And this is the present, isn’t it? I said I couldn’t be certain about the future, not that I was going to end things with this guy right now.
“I don’t like it.”
“Why? You were just speaking like someone with no connection to me.”
“…”
That was true, but still, feeling bad is feeling bad.
When I tightly closed my mouth and remained silent, just as Kwon Yikang had done, he finally smoothed the wrinkle between his brows and reached out to pull me close.
“Are you… going on blind dates? Have you been on any already?”
Thinking about Kwon Yikang’s age, he was certainly old enough to consider marriage. I felt a bit anxious waiting for his answer.
“Why do you think those were in the trash? My father will keep pressuring me, but if necessary, I can just go back to the hotel.”
“You don’t want to go on blind dates either, right?”
“…Right.”
“Do you want to get married?”
He stared down at my face for a while and then gave a vague “Well…” as an answer. I’m not sure if he wants to get married right now or not, but it’s good enough that he said he doesn’t want to go on blind dates.
“Call your father right now and set up an appointment.”
“…What?”
Kwon Yikang blinked, not understanding my words.
“Today, no, today is too late, so this weekend would be good. Tell him to keep the weekend free.”
“…”
“I’ll save you. If you tell him you’re currently seeing someone, he won’t push blind dates on you for a while, right? What do you think?”
I asked, holding both of his cheeks and meeting his gaze. The answer is already decided, so you just have to respond. His eyes, which wavered momentarily under my intense gaze, soon took on a soft light.
“Certainly… that’s not a bad idea.”
“We’ll dress up in suits, get styled from head to toe, and go. I’ll make it clear to him not to bother you with things like blind dates.”
Whether it’s for his sake or mine, I’m not sure. But for now, it was true that his father pushing blind dates on him was really getting on my nerves.
“Take those files back and throw them away. Now show me around your house.”
“Didn’t you already do that? Seems like you’ve been poking around on your own quite well.”
“No.”
What a disappointing thing to say. I grabbed his loosely worn shirt tightly, met his gaze, and smiled gently with the corners of my eyes.
“I haven’t seen the bed yet.”
Understanding my meaning, Kwon Yikang lifted me up with the blanket and headed towards the bedroom.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
