“Your boss should have something prepared for me.”
Seonwook looked at the hand, then met Director Hwang’s eyes again.
Deokman had mentioned that someone from Director Hwang’s side would come to pick up the item, but he hadn’t expected Director Hwang himself.
“Oh, you came for that? I thought you came to see me.”
Seonwook bent down, pretending to be disappointed, and opened the bottom drawer of the desk.
“Well, I guess this is killing two birds with one stone.”
Rummaging through the drawer, Seonwook pulled out a thick envelope and pushed it through the counter window.
The moment Director Hwang reached for it, Seonwook tightened his grip to keep him from taking it.
“What’s your name?”
Their eyes met through the counter window.
Director Hwang pulled the envelope toward himself, and Seonwook pulled it back. The envelope moved back and forth between them.
“Director Hwang, tell me your name.”
Director Hwang stared at Seonwook without speaking.
“Are you worried I’ll get too comfortable if you don’t keep me at a distance?”
“Ah, no way. And I’ve got a high pain tolerance. You could come in and hit me a few times, like yesterday!”
Director Hwang suddenly clenched his fist and yanked hard, causing Seonwook’s arm to slip out of the window and his face to smack against it. The chair rolled back, hitting Seonwook’s legs.
“Ah, Direc—tooor…”
Seonwook squirmed, his cheek pressed against the window.
“Is it so hard to tell me your name?”
“Kim Seonwook.”
……
Seonwook stared at Director Hwang with his cheek still pressed against the window.
His own name, just three syllables, flowed from Director Hwang’s flower-like lips in his flower-like voice, and suddenly, it felt like colorful petals scattering in the wind.
Seonwook grinned, his face squished.
“How did you know?”
“Why are you asking for my name?”
“Because I want to know more about you.”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Isn’t it natural to want to know the name of someone you love?”
……
“And it’d be better if we at least knew each other’s names, right?”
“Better for what?”
Seonwook moved his eyes to glance at Director Hwang’s lower body, then met his gaze again.
“For anything.”
……
Director Hwang soon let go of Seonwook’s arm and stepped back.
Seonwook rubbed his tingling arm and pulled the chair back to sit down. Neither of them broke eye contact.
Director Hwang spoke first.
“What kind of guy are you?”
“Uh… a guy who works at an inn?”
“Do you think I don’t know that?”
“Ah. A guy in love.”
Director Hwang let out a short sigh.
“I’m asking why you’re acting so recklessly. Do you have something to rely on? Or is your bag strap too short to understand?”
“I believe we’re connected by the red string of fate.”
“I told you that string could be used to strangle you.”
“I believe you want what I want.”
“How did you come to believe that?”
“Isn’t it true?”
Seonwook pulled up his T-shirt to expose his chest.
Director Hwang only lowered his eyes to look at Seonwook’s body, then snatched the envelope from the shelf.
“Isn’t it true?”
Seonwook asked again, but Director Hwang silently walked to the entrance and opened the door.
“See you soon, Director Hwang!”
Seonwook quickly called out to his retreating figure.
The old door’s bell jingled and faded as Director Hwang left.
Look at that. He swallowed again when he saw my nipples. Why does he keep pretending otherwise?
Seonwook inhaled the scent Director Hwang left behind, staring at the closed door, then looked at his arm.
A red handprint marked where Director Hwang had grabbed him.
“Flower pollen.”
Seonwook murmured softly, stroking the mark.
***
“This idiot again!”
Deokman shouted the moment he arrived in the morning.
“What?”
Seonwook turned the page of his book indifferently. Deokman burst into the counter room.
“What did you give Director Hwang?!”
“What he asked for.”
Deokman opened the bottom drawer of the desk and pulled out a yellow envelope, shaking it in the air.
“Then why is this still here, you moron!”
“What is it?”
“What I told you to give Director Hwang!”
“Oh, that? Hmm.”
Seonwook exaggeratedly scratched his ear, pretending to just remember.
“There was so much stuff in there, I got confused. Sorry.”
“You’ve got other things to be confused about, you crazy bastard!”
“You should’ve organized it better.”
“Ugh, you’re hopeless. Why did I ever—”
Deokman pounded his chest.
Seonwook leaned back in his chair, watching Deokman.
“Did Director Hwang chew you out?”
“Chew me out? Director Hwang isn’t the type to chew people out like some lowlife!”
“Then why are you so flustered?”
“He doesn’t do it outright… but he can chew you out with the atmosphere!”
“So did he chew you out or not?”
“Shut up and take this to him right now.”
Seonwook’s eyes sparkled as he sprang up.
“To Director Hwang?”
“Yeah! You should clean up your own mess.”
Seonwook jumped up excitedly.
He had thought Director Hwang might come back to hit him a few times, but this was another unexpected turn.
“Where am I going?”
Seonwook asked, grabbing his board from the small room. Deokman pointed outside.
“See that white building?”
He was talking about the large building visible from the window behind the counter. A luxurious-looking white building standing on the mountainside.
“That’s a hotel. Go to the counter and say you’re on an errand for Director Hwang.”
Deokman shoved the envelope into Seonwook’s chest.
“Oh, he works at a hotel?”
“Say you made a mistake because you were sleepy and apologize sincerely, got it?”
Deokman, as usual, only said what he wanted and sat down to look at the game screen.
“If you lose this, both of us are dead. Be careful.”
“Got it.”
“Come back as soon as you’re done!”
Deokman’s shout was cut off by the sound of Seonwook slamming the door.
Seonwook tossed his board down and hopped on, pushing off hard.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
