Seonwook leaned against the wall and opened his notebook to the first page.
Leaf
Art → Director Hwang?
Love
Labor
He circled “Love” and drew an arrow toward “Director Hwang?” Then, he crossed out the question mark and replaced it with an exclamation mark.
Since he was already working at the inn for “Labor,” the three essentials of life were now roughly in place.
I’m in love.
And with someone who smells this good.
Seonwook sniffed the air greedily, flaring his nostrils.
I didn’t know a person’s body could smell this good.
If I stripped him, would the scent be even stronger? Every fold, every crevice…
Wait, if I fucked him, would the poetry flow even more smoothly? Like I’m sucking out his essence…
Wow, maybe I’ll write a poem in a second!
Seonwook’s face lit up with excitement as he spread out his blanket and lay down.
Rubbing his still-stinging cheek, he could almost feel the warmth and softness of Director Hwang’s hand again.
He touched my face, my lips, my chest with that hand.
He left flower pollen on me. Like a flower.
But I didn’t get to touch any part of his pretty face.
Seonwook savored the lingering presence of Director Hwang like a dissolving candy and soon fell asleep.
***
Seonwook woke up clutching his growling stomach around 2 p.m.
Peeking his head out, he saw Deokman glued to the computer, playing Go-Stop.
“I’m hungry.”
Deokman ignored him.
“Boss?”
“Ugh, go out and eat.”
“Did you eat lunch?”
“Of course I did, you lazy bastard. What time do you think it is?”
“Why do you snap at me every time you open your mouth? Menopause?”
“Hey, shut up and get out.”
Seonwook tucked his skateboard under his arm and left the room.
“Give me lunch money.”
“Your salary includes meals. Buy it yourself.”
“My salary’s so shit I already spent it all.”
“That’s your problem!”
“You’re such a fucking scumbag.”
Seonwook shook his head and opened the counter room door.
“Just eat fast and come back to clean. Don’t wander around.”
“What time do I have to be back?”
“Just eat and come back. By 2:30.”
“Tomorrow at 2:30?”
“Today at 2:30, you idiot.”
“Ah, boss, even if you’re in menopause, at least talk nicely.”
“Talk nicely when you act nicely!”
“Then make me want to act nicely.”
“Didn’t I tell you to get out?”
Seonwook snickered and deliberately slammed the door on his way out.
He hopped onto his skateboard, and the sound of the wheels echoed loudly in the quiet alley. Seonwook skillfully maneuvered through the bumpy streets, weaving and jumping until he reached the main road, where the noise of cars and people flooded in.
Dodging through the crowd and nearly colliding with a motorcycle, Seonwook skated into a convenience store.
He placed a cup of ramen on the table by the window and looked out at the street.
“People tiptoe, tiptoe, cup ramen in three minutes… Oh!”
Seonwook had been humming softly as poetic lines came to mind when he suddenly widened his eyes and stretched his neck.
Passing by the window was unmistakably Director Hwang.
“Wow, shit.”
Seonwook watched his retreating figure, then grabbed his board and rushed out of the convenience store.
“Don’t throw that away! Sorry!”
As he burst through the glass door, he spotted Director Hwang disappearing into the crowd. Seonwook tossed his board down and hopped on.
He quickly caught up to Director Hwang, zooming past him, but Director Hwang didn’t even glance his way. He seemed to be on a call.
Seonwook rode a little further, then turned back toward Director Hwang. The sound of the wheels grinding loudly echoed beneath him.
Director Hwang, slightly frowning as he walked and talked on the phone, finally looked up at Seonwook approaching from the opposite direction. Their eyes met, and Seonwook felt a thrill.
Director Hwang continued speaking into the phone but kept his gaze fixed on Seonwook.
As Seonwook whizzed past him, they locked eyes again. Time seemed to slow down, almost like slow motion.
After passing Director Hwang, Seonwook stopped and quickly turned around. Director Hwang was still walking, phone to his ear.
“He’s ignoring me again.”
Seonwook rubbed his nose once and got back on his board, pushing off.
The loud rumbling sound must have reached Director Hwang. He must have heard it getting closer. But he didn’t turn around.
Seonwook passed Director Hwang again, then turned and traced a winding curve back toward him.
He glided around Director Hwang so closely their clothes almost brushed, but Director Hwang didn’t even blink, focused on his call.
Seonwook stopped again, watching Director Hwang’s back, then slowly pushed his board to follow him, keeping a step’s distance.
Soon, Director Hwang took the phone away from his ear. Perfect timing—there was a crosswalk ahead.
Seonwook kept the same distance, watching Director Hwang’s straight back, who still didn’t look back.
A moment later, Director Hwang stopped at the crosswalk. Seonwook, standing beside him, balanced on his board with one foot, looking at Director Hwang’s profile.
Director Hwang turned his head and met Seonwook’s gaze.
“We meet often, don’t we?”
Seonwook grinned and waved.
“I guess we really are bound by the red string of fate.”
……
Director Hwang, with one hand in his pocket, slowly scanned Seonwook’s face with just his eyes. Standing close, that cold, dark, shimmering scent filled the air again.
He won’t act up in public like he did in my room earlier.
“I said I wanted to buy you a meal. When are you free?”
The signal changed. Director Hwang turned his gaze and started walking. Seonwook quickly pushed off on his board to follow.
“Ah, sir. Director Hwang.”
……
“Please make time for me, Director Hwang. I’ll treat you properly.”
……
“What kind of food do you like? Expensive stuff? Or should I buy you alcohol? Do you like alcohol? Expensive stuff? Whiskey?”
As they neared the end of the crosswalk, Seonwook suddenly wobbled and lurched forward.
“Heck!”
Seonwook flailed wildly to regain balance, stumbling across the sidewalk and crashing into the corner of a flower bed.
“Ow…”
Rubbing his stinging palm, Seonwook looked back. It was clear Director Hwang had kicked his board, but he was already disappearing into the crowd, indifferent.
Seonwook stayed seated on the ground, watching until Director Hwang’s figure vanished completely, then stood up.
“Dazzle, you’ve got flower pollen on you again.”
Muttering, Seonwook picked up his board and returned to the convenience store.
The cup ramen he had left behind was still there, bloated and steaming.
***
Director Hwang reappeared at the inn the next night.
“Welcome.”
Seonwook, who had been reading, looked up mechanically at the sound of the door opening. Seeing Director Hwang, he grinned widely.
“Oh, shit, Director Hwang!”
……
“We keep running into each other. I searched for you like crazy and never saw you, but after meeting you yesterday morning, this is the third time in two days.”
Director Hwang walked up to the counter without responding and placed his hand on the shelf in front of the window.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
