#Side Story 2 – Chapter 2
[I’m sorry. There’s been an accident because work got complicated right now.]
Taemin’s voice sounded weak. So Idam became even more worried, thinking something might have happened.
“Oh no. Are you hurt?”
[It’s not that. There’s a bit of a hitch in the work, but it’s not a big deal. Don’t worry. It’s a shame, but let’s have the party tomorrow. I’m really sorry.]
“No, it’s okay. I’m fine.”
Honestly, he was disappointed, but since Taemin, the main character of today, seemed to feel even more sorry, Idam couldn’t show it.
“Then, are you staying at the office?”
[Yes. I think I’ll have to review documents until dawn.]
“What about dinner? Have you eaten?”
[I’ll eat in a little while. I can order delivery, so don’t worry.]
“But still…”
[Oh, a client just came in, so I have to go.]
“Ah! Okay.”
After ending the call, Idam felt heavy-hearted. Although Taemin pretended it was nothing, something big had clearly happened. Maybe it was even bigger than Idam imagined. Above all, he felt sorry for Taemin, who would be at the company until dawn on his birthday. Idam’s gloomy eyes soon filled with determination.
“This won’t do.”
Idam took out an insulated food container from the storage cabinet. Then he started filling it with the dinner dishes he had prepared to eat with Taemin today. He couldn’t let Taemin eat delivery food on a day like this. Given the situation, he decided to leave Jimin with the babysitter and go to the company.
Gradually, the container was filled with various jeon (Korean pancakes), spicy braised short ribs, various namul (seasoned vegetable dishes), and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables). He also took out a cake from the refrigerator and put it in a box. Since he was going anyway, he wanted to at least let Taemin blow out some candles before the day ended.
After packing the food container, Idam called the babysitter. Then he went into the dressing room to change clothes. He put on a knit top and pants, and wore a caramel-colored coat. Suddenly, a red box in the corner caught his eye. It was something he had prepared to commemorate Taemin’s birthday today. Idam walked carefully like a cat and opened the box.
“I hope our honey likes it…”
His fair cheeks turned as red as ripe apples.
* * *
“The CEO’s office was here, right?”
Arriving at Baekwol Corporation, Idam walked carefully down the corridor. It seemed all the other employees had gone home, as there was silence. Idam carefully opened the door to the CEO’s office.
A spacious office decorated in white tones came into view. On various parts of the walls were photos related to hanok (traditional Korean houses) or business plan diagrams. There were also authentic swords that he was collecting. The opposite wall was made entirely of glass, offering a spectacular view of Seoul’s night skyline. There was also a changing room, shower room, and bedroom. It was like a space transplanted from a luxury hotel.
He had visited a few times when he was pregnant with Jimin, and last month he had come to set up a Christmas tree. So now he was calm, but when he first encountered Taemin’s office, his jaw had dropped in amazement. Idam put the food container and cake box on the table in front. Taemin wasn’t at the main desk at first. But there was another work space inside, so he approached and opened the door, but it was the same. Other places were like that too.
“Honey, are you here?”
Thinking he might be somewhere else, Idam called out to him. But only Idam’s voice echoed back, with no sign of Taemin.
“Where did he go?”
He was puzzled, as he had assumed Taemin would be here. Did he step out for a moment? Idam tried calling Taemin, but couldn’t get through. He became confused, wondering if something really big had happened. He approached the main desk to look for anything that might hint at Taemin’s whereabouts.
Amidst the jungle of documents, there was a framed photo of Idam holding Jimin tightly. Idam unconsciously stroked Jimin’s face in the photo. He felt as if he could feel the characteristic soft skin, and it was as if he could hear the cute voice in his ear. It was as sweet as if he had a mouthful of whipped cream.
Idam’s lips curved into a gentle smile, but then a phrase written on one of the documents caught his eye.
“Huh? What’s this…?”
Startled, Idam picked it up as if entranced. And he examined it in detail. Most of it was in English. Although there was some Korean, the content was completely incomprehensible. Since he hadn’t particularly excelled in school, it felt even more like a barrier.
Usually, Taemin talks to Idam about his business, but not in detail. It seemed to be because Idam was quite young and there were parts he shouldn’t be deeply involved in. But now, this document seemed to be related to his own nature, giving an unusual feeling.
He had heard that after the Jeramy Revolution project ended, there would be a new business, and he wondered if this was related to that.
To try to understand a bit more, he looked at the documents scattered on the desk one by one. Just then, his phone rang.
“Oh?”
It was a call from Taemin. He must have seen the missed call. Idam quickly answered.
[Honey! Why did you call?]
“Actually, I’m in your office right now. But you weren’t here, so I called.”
[What? Why?]
“I brought dinner. I wanted you to eat and work with a full stomach… Are you eating out?”
He suddenly asked, guessing the reason for Taemin’s absence.
[No. I’m at a nearby café with a client. I’ll be back in 30 minutes, so wait for me.]
“Okay. I will.”
His voice was much brighter than before. He seemed glad that Idam had come. After ending the call, Idam started walking back to the sofa. At that moment, his foot hit something and his body wobbled. He almost fell but managed to steady himself by placing his palm on the desk.
“What’s this?”
Wondering, he looked at the floor. A pink box had fallen over, its lid open. The contents came into view.
“Oh.”
Idam let out an involuntary gasp. And he realized. Indeed, he and Taemin were a married couple. Their wills were so alike. Idam picked it up as if entranced. A firm light of resolve shone in his round eyes.
‘Yeo Idam, I don’t want to eat anything but you.’
Taemin’s whispered words from a week ago echoed in his ears. Idam’s face burned even more.
“Ha… Should I try it on…?”
Muttering in a trembling voice, Idam headed to a corner of the CEO’s office. His small feet trembled strangely.
* * *
“Honey, I’m back.”
Taemin entered the CEO’s office. In his arms was a bouquet of bright red roses. After hearing that Idam had come, he quickly finished the meeting and stopped by a flower shop. He judged that he couldn’t just face his fairy empty-handed. Taemin opened the door, imagining Idam’s surprised face at seeing the roses.
“Huh?”
But Idam was nowhere to be seen. Instead, only the cake box and food container were on the table. Taemin was puzzled when he felt a vibration from the phone in his jacket pocket.
It was a message from Idam. Did he just leave the meal and go? Given that Jimin was at home, it seemed quite possible. He put the rose bouquet on the sofa with a disappointed face. Then he opened the lid of the food container.
“Wow…”
Multi-grain rice and various side dishes. There was also seaweed soup in an enclosed thermos. All were Taemin’s favorites. It was a packed meal full of Idam’s love.
Taemin started eating as if entranced, from the assorted jeon to the braised short ribs. Both the appearance and taste were perfect. The seaweed soup had large chunks of beef, making it enjoyable to chew. After eating every last grain of rice from the meal, Taemin felt satisfied. Then he brushed his teeth in the washroom.
That’s when it happened.
Thud.
A heavy footstep was heard from behind. Sensing something was amiss, he quickly finished brushing and came out. This was because he was preparing for a new business, and according to Secretary Kang, industrial spies had been appearing lately. He firmly grasped the authentic sword hanging on the wall. Then he started inspecting every corner of the CEO’s office.
First, heading towards the direction of the sound, he saw the pantry. He opened the door with sharp eyes. But it was empty inside.
“Was I mistaken?”
At the same time, he felt a presence quickly passing behind him. The sound of a door opening and closing was also heard. Taemin’s face hardened even more as he looked in that direction. It seemed the industrial spy had now entered another room.
“This bastard…”
Taemin’s eyes became even more fierce. He immediately opened another door roughly. It was the bedroom. Thinking the intruder might be hiding somewhere, he searched the inside. At that moment, a black figure darted out from under the bed and rushed out the door. Taemin was about to follow with the determination not to let it escape this time when he stepped on something.
“What’s this?”
Wondering, he picked up the object. It was a reindeer antler headband made of a soft, plush material like a stuffed animal.
Life sparked in Taemin’s eyes, which had been full of wariness. He brought the antlers to his nose. A faint floral scent could be detected. Soon, he moved with a perverted-looking face, following the fairy’s breath.
* * *
“Ha… This is driving me crazy.”
Idam curled up like a ball, his face crestfallen.
Earlier, after discovering the pink box under Taemin’s desk, Idam had headed to the changing room. Inside was a special outfit. Honestly, it was embarrassing to wear, but since it was Taemin’s birthday today and he had gained a lot of weight from eating well lately, he wanted to check how he looked in case the size didn’t fit.
Once he put it on, it felt even more embarrassing and unsuitable. So just as he was about to change back into his original clothes, he sensed Taemin’s presence.
Flustered, Idam first sent a text message to Taemin telling him to eat the packed meal. He planned to change clothes and leave while Taemin was eating, but strangely, the clothes wouldn’t come off easily, and eventually, Taemin approached.
Fortunately, Taemin entered the pantry next to the changing room, and Idam took that opportunity to leave the changing room.
But Taemin was about to come out of the pantry right away. So in a hurry, Idam hid under the bed in the bedroom, but Taemin followed in there as well. While Taemin was briefly distracted, Idam slipped out, but he couldn’t leave the CEO’s office in this state, so he had no choice but to return to the changing room where his clothes were. And now he was hiding in a box placed in the corner.
Creak.
Along with the sound of the door opening, Taemin’s loafer sounds were heard. Perhaps because the surroundings were so quiet, it seemed even louder. Idam’s heart shrank even more. It would be troublesome if Taemin saw him in his current state. He might be teased for the rest of his life.
But the footsteps soon stopped being heard.
Did he leave?
Idam opened the lid of the box with relief. The empty changing room was visible, and Taemin’s shadow was nowhere to be felt. Fortunately, it seemed he had left.
“Thank goodness.”
Relieved, Idam fully opened the lid and stood up. Just as he was about to hurry out, a shadow fell across his back. And he felt a hand gently smoothing his disheveled hair. Idam’s eyes widened as he turned his head. At the same time, something was placed on his head. When he hurriedly touched it with his hand, it didn’t take long to realize it was reindeer antlers.
“What are you doing here?”
Along with Taemin’s voice, two strong arms wrapped around Idam’s chest, hugging him. More precisely, they were fondling Idam’s nipples.
“Looking so pretty like this.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
