“Jae-jin, how does this look?”
“And me?”
Jae-jin was busy annihilating ice cubes between his teeth when both Seo Eui-woos emerged from the dressing room. They had changed into outfits for their date.
The Seo Eui-woo from the second timeline was wearing a crisp white dress shirt, while the Seo Eui-woo from the first timeline was dressed in sleek black.
Either way, there was nowhere safe to look.
The high-quality fabric clung perfectly to their broad shoulders, subtly outlining the contours of their muscles. The open collar revealed glimpses of collarbones, the firm bulge of their forearms stretched against the sleeves, and every breath caused their well-defined abs and lat muscles to shift ever so slightly.
Jae-jin’s lips pressed together as if they had been glued shut.
He was speechless. Seeing two Seo Eui-woos standing side by side, dressed in contrasting black and white, made it feel surreal all over again. As much as he hated the cliché comparison, they honestly looked like—
…A damn angel and a devil.
Jae-jin blinked in disbelief.
He had been through countless absurd, irrational, and utterly nonsensical situations with Seo Eui-woo before, so much so that he thought he had become immune to surprises. But today was proving that he still had a long way to go.
“Though, this shirt is a little tight on me.”
The Seo Eui-woo from the first timeline casually tugged at the front of his shirt. The jet-black fabric stretched taut over his chest, pulling at the seams.
The creases formed along the cloth highlighted the solid definition of his muscles beneath.
Since the shirt had been tailored for the younger, twenty-year-old Seo Eui-woo from the second timeline, it was naturally a bit too snug on the fully grown, twenty-four-year-old Seo Eui-woo.
It wasn’t unflattering, though.
If anything, it was dangerous in a completely different way.
Jae-jin’s tongue flicked against the roof of his mouth.
“Yeah, uh… it’s a bit small.”
That was the best response he could manage.
He had never expected to see the Seo Eui-woo from the first timeline again—not in his waking life, not like this.
To be honest, he felt overwhelmed, caught between nostalgia, happiness, and an odd sense of awkwardness. It was a mess of emotions colliding all at once.
“What’s this, Jae-jin… Do you like that version of me better?”
A teasing voice murmured close to his ear.
Before he realized it, the twenty-year-old Seo Eui-woo had crept up beside him, whispering in a low, velvety tone.
“Don’t just look at him too much. You’ll make me jealous.”
The sultry weight of his voice sent a shiver down Jae-jin’s spine. He swallowed.
“I mean… it’s just been a while since I saw him like that—”
“Yeah, still. Be fair.”
“Fair about what? Both of you are you.”
“True, but, you know… for my pride?”
Seo Eui-woo leaned in and pressed his lips to the side of Jae-jin’s neck.
His teeth grazed the skin before he bit down lightly, as if to leave a mark—a possessive gesture.
“Right. We agreed to split today evenly.”
The Seo Eui-woo from the first timeline approached soundlessly, mirroring the movement from the opposite side. His lips brushed against the left side of Jae-jin’s neck.
“Yeah. Half and half.”
“Ugh—”
The soft press of mouths. The gentle, yet firm tug of teeth.
It was nothing new—Seo Eui-woo was always like this—but for some reason, today, Jae-jin’s ears burned hot.
He shoved at both of their shoulders, pushing them away.
“Wait. Move.”
“Hmm?”
“Why?”
“Jae-jin?”
“What’s wrong?”
“…You.”
“Hm?”
“Hm?”
“…Never mind.”
Jae-jin thrust his nearly empty glass—still filled with ice—into one of their hands, not even bothering to check which one.
He refused to admit that hearing them whisper identical words in unison, clinging to him and kissing him from both sides, was making him insanely flustered.
His feet felt restless, his gaze darting away awkwardly.
“A-Anyway… I’m going to get changed too, so both of you just stay put and wait quietly.”
He shoved past them and disappeared into the dressing room, shutting the door behind him.
Standing alone in the enclosed space, he let out a deep sigh and ran a hand over his forehead.
Then, feeling the warmth lingering on the back of his neck, he rubbed at it with his palm.
“It’s not even noon yet…”
Stay calm.
Stay—
Stay…
***
A brilliant flash of white light flickered before dispersing, revealing an entirely new space.
It was May. The vast meadow was blanketed in wildflowers, bursting in vibrant hues that stretched endlessly before them. Like an intricately woven tapestry, the emerald-green field was dotted with vivid red, yellow, pink, purple, and white blossoms, all lifting their heads toward the sun.
Clusters of tulips, their elegant buds resembling regal crowns, stood proudly together. Among them, fragrant lilacs were scattered here and there, filling the air with their soft perfume.
Bright yellow daffodils peeked through the tulips and lilacs, adding a cheerful touch—like bells ringing in the crisp spring air.
And standing at the heart of the field were the peonies. Rich pink and crimson, their lush, layered petals swayed gracefully in the wind, exuding an air of noble elegance.
Butterflies drifted lazily between the blooms, while small birds flitted overhead, their quick movements adding life to the picturesque scenery. The sky was an endless blue, dotted with fluffy, cotton-like clouds. Just standing there, taking it all in, filled the soul with a quiet sense of peace.
“All set. Jae-jin, come sit down.”
While Jae-jin was admiring the scenery, a large picnic blanket had already been spread out on the grass. In the center, a neatly arranged picnic basket sat, filled with food carefully prepared by Seo Eui-woo himself. Chilled champagne was also included—of course.
A full-fledged picnic in broad daylight.
Jae-jin kicked off his shoes and settled onto the clean, solid-colored blanket.
“Did you really have to pack this much?”
“It’s not as much as it looks. Just some sandwiches and fruit.”
“The hell are you talking about? It’s packed to the brim.”
Jae-jin peeked inside the basket.
There were roast beef sandwiches Eui-woo had made the night before, smoked duck salad, pizza with fresh tomatoes, bacon, and basil, blueberry tarts, Greek yogurt, whole wheat bread, apple jam, fig jam, strawberry jam—all the jams.
There were even canapés topped with cream cheese, mashed eggs, and crackers.
And then there was the fruit—strawberries, kiwis—along with the champagne chilling in an ice bucket.
It was a feast.
“Well, you’ve got two mouths to feed today.”
“Yeah, Jae-jin. Twice the appetite, twice the food.”
The Seo Eui-woo from the second timeline cheerfully popped open the champagne. A satisfying pop! echoed through the meadow, followed by a trail of foam trickling from the bottle’s mouth.
He poured a glass and handed it to Jae-jin.
“Twice the kisses, too.”
“And twice as many ‘I love you’s.'”
From the other side, the Seo Eui-woo from the first timeline handed over a thick roast beef sandwich.
Being flanked from both sides was… overwhelming.
“…I think I’m also getting twice as much of a headache.”
Jae-jin muttered under his breath, accepting both the champagne and the sandwich. He took a sip first, letting the alcohol settle before biting into the sandwich.
The pinkish center of the sirloin was incredibly tender, practically melting in his mouth. The fresh lettuce and tomatoes added a pleasant crunch, and the sauce—it was rich, savory, and perfectly balanced.
Seo Eui-woo’s cooking skills had only gotten better with time.
“This is good. What’s in the sauce?”
“I simmered it with a bit of honey, just to give it a slight sweetness.”
“What’s that fresh note?”
“Herbs and lime.”
They chatted idly while eating, finishing off their meal with the champagne. Though the alcohol content was low, the combination of good food, the beautiful scenery, and the perfect weather had Jae-jin feeling pleasantly lightheaded.
His dark eyes flicked between the two Seo Eui-woos sitting across from him.
Watching them like this…
If he was being honest, it wasn’t bad.
“Eui-woo.”
He called out softly.
Two identical voices responded at the same time.
“Yeah?”
“Hm?”
Two Seo Eui-woos.
Two lovers.
‘Should’ve brought my goggles.’
Would’ve been nice to snap a photo.
Jae-jin swallowed a laugh. Something about this whole setup—flowers, a picnic, and being stuck between two versions of his boyfriend—reminded him of that outdated phrase: a flower in each hand.
“Open your mouth.”
Jae-jin picked out two perfectly ripe strawberries, holding one in each hand.
Without hesitation, both Seo Eui-woos burst into laughter, grinning wide. Their dimples deepened, and their eyes crinkled in amusement.
The bright greenery and Seo Eui-woo’s presence—both of them—somehow fit together perfectly.
“Ahh.”
“Ahhh.”
Both of them playfully opened their mouths, waiting expectantly.
Jae-jin rolled his eyes but extended his hands, pressing a strawberry into each of their mouths.
He watched them chew, their expressions content as they ate.
And suddenly, he found himself smiling, too.
No matter if it was the twenty-year-old or the twenty-four-year-old… they were both just… Seo Eui-woo.
And in this moment, everything felt peaceful. Warm. Nice.
“Jae-jin, let us feed you, too.”
“Wait, me first.”
“Huh? No, one at a time— I can’t eat two at once.”
Both Seo Eui-woos eagerly pressed strawberries toward his lips, practically shoving them at him in a competition to see who could feed him first.
Jae-jin blinked and instinctively leaned back, but the two of them weren’t giving up.
“You can just hold one in each cheek.”
“Yeah, I bet you could swallow them both just fine.”
“No, absolutely not.”
“Come on, just open up.”
“Say ahhh.”
“Aaahhh.”
“Would you quit it—”
Jae-jin jerked his head back, dodging them as best he could. But the two Seo Eui-woos, apparently thrilled by his struggle, closed in from both sides, wrapping their arms around him and playfully pressing strawberries against his lips.
He clenched his teeth stubbornly, but they weren’t budging. They weren’t going to back off until he ate.
“For fuck’s sake, I said one at a time—”
“Nuh-uh. We agreed to split the date evenly.”
“Yeah, fair and square.”
“You’re really making this a thing over strawberries?”
“Obviously.”
“Are you saying you’d favor one of us over the other?”
“Come on, just eat them together.”
“Jae-jin, pleeease~?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake…”
In the end, Jae-jin surrendered.
