Ha Jun-seo asked with a teasing smile, his beautiful eyes curving seductively. The lingering traces of the dream that had held Kim Min-seok in a daze quickly faded away.
“Why are you suddenly talking about kissing?”
“Because I want to.”
“I don’t.”
“But I do.”
“I… don’t want to.”
Kim Min-seok instinctively leaned back, putting some distance between them. But Ha Jun-seo reached out and traced Kim Min-seok’s lips with his fingertips, his touch slow and deliberate.
“Do you really not want to kiss me, or are you just hesitating because of Choi Sang-hyuk?”
Damn it. Why was this man so good at hitting the mark today?
When Kim Min-seok’s face stiffened awkwardly, Ha Jun-seo let out a soft chuckle.
“Alright, alright. I won’t ask difficult questions. This is why being the concubine is tough.”
“C-Concubine?”
“Isn’t that exactly what I am? The main spouse is glaring at me with those big, round eyes while I have to sneak around with you. What else would you call it?”
For some reason, the way Ha Jun-seo diminished his own position like that left an uncomfortable feeling in Kim Min-seok’s chest. Without realizing it, a trace of guilt flickered in his gaze.
Ha Jun-seo claimed to love Seo Ha-yoon. Of course, he must be unhappy with this situation—this role, this position. And yet, he never got angry or demanded answers. Perhaps because, given Seo Ha-yoon’s current state, even if he wanted to lash out, there was no place for him to direct that frustration.
“I’m sorry.”
At Kim Min-seok’s quiet apology, Ha Jun-seo’s lips curled into a small smile.
“You’re not even Seo Ha-yoon, so what are you apologizing for?”
“Well… it is his body, after all.”
Kim Min-seok’s voice trailed off, sounding almost dejected. Ha Jun-seo’s smile grew faint as he murmured under his breath,
“See? You really have gotten too soft…”
He slowly tilted his head forward, giving Kim Min-seok space—an unspoken invitation. If you want to avoid this, you can.
But Kim Min-seok couldn’t bring himself to move away. The guilt, the sympathy, the lingering sense of wanting to comfort Ha Jun-seo—all of it mixed together, pressing down on his chest.
Their lips met in a light touch.
Ha Jun-seo’s lips were soft and warm. That familiar, gentle scent of fabric softener clung to him, just like the first time they met.
The kiss was slow and tender, full of warmth. Something in it made Kim Min-seok’s heart feel lighter, softer.
At first, he merely let Ha Jun-seo kiss him. But before he realized it, he was responding—his tongue tangling with the other’s, deepening the kiss.
Wrapped in each other’s arms, they rolled across the bed, completely immersed in the sensation.
Chup… chuuup…
The wet sounds of their lips and tongues filled the air.
For some reason, the kiss felt sweeter than usual today. And along with it, so did his heart.
Ha Jun-seo asked while they rolled around on the bed, still caught up in their lingering kisses.
“Do you want to come over to my place tomorrow?”
Kim Min-seok almost nodded instinctively but quickly snapped back to reality and hesitated.
“That’s…”
“Are you worried about what Choi Sang-hyuk might say? You don’t have to be. It’d be ridiculous to suddenly start asking for his permission to go places. You’re his boyfriend, not a prisoner under house arrest.”
“Mm…”
Kim Min-seok recalled Choi Sang-hyuk’s warning to stay home and not wander around carelessly. But visiting Ha Jun-seo’s place… that should be fine, right? No, wait—of all places, Ha Jun-seo’s house was exactly where Sang-hyuk wouldn’t allow him to go. After all, he was the other man in this situation…
“Come on, just come over, yeah? I’ll pick you up. We can go to my place, cook something delicious together, watch a fun movie…”
“We can do all of that here too.”
“Hmm… but my place has really cute cats.”
“…Cats?”
His ears perked up.
Honestly, Kim Min-seok loved cats. He could never have one himself, not while living in a tiny goshiwon, but he made up for it by watching cat videos. He even used what little money he had from his part-time jobs to buy cat food and feed strays whenever he could.
“Yeah. Two of them. They’re adorable.”
“Two…”
Kim Min-seok murmured absentmindedly, his eyes glazing over in a daze. Without realizing it, his hand reached out and clutched Ha Jun-seo’s sleeve.
“Do you have pictures?”
“Yeah, want to see?”
“Yes.”
As soon as Kim Min-seok nodded, Ha Jun-seo pulled out his phone and handed it over. The screen displayed a photo of two cats curled up together, hugging each other in their sleep. One was a black-and-white tuxedo cat, the other a calico.
“They’re so cute…”
“Right?”
“Yeah, they’re really cute. What are their names?”
“Cheol and Soon.”
“Cheol and Soon?”
Ha Jun-seo nodded. Kim Min-seok suddenly burst out laughing.
“What kind of old-fashioned names are those?”
“I didn’t name them.”
“Then who did?”
“Ha-yoon did.”
“Seo Ha-yoon?”
Kim Min-seok’s eyes widened. He stared at the cats in the picture with renewed interest.
“Ha-yoon found them as orphaned kittens. He said he couldn’t raise them himself, so he begged me to take them in. I’ve been taking care of them ever since. He even named them. He used to come over all the time just to see them. He adored them.”
“…So, Seo Ha-yoon liked cats too.”
“Yeah, he did.”
“We actually have some things in common. Same birthday… and a love for cats.”
Kim Min-seok murmured, thinking about Seo Ha-yoon—where he was, what state he was in.
“You’ll come see them, right?”
Ha Jun-seo didn’t miss the opportunity to ask again.
Kim Min-seok stared at the cats in the photo, hesitating for a moment before finally nodding.
Ha Jun-seo smiled in satisfaction.
***
Beep—
The electronic lock beeped as the front door opened.
Kim Min-seok, who had been watching TV in the living room, sat up on the sofa. Checking the clock, he saw that it was already past midnight. Another late night at work.
“Do you always get off this late?”
He approached Choi Sang-hyuk as he spoke. The man had left early in the morning and was only now returning, yet he showed no signs of exhaustion.
“Did you eat?”
Choi Sang-hyuk asked abruptly.
“I did.”
At Kim Min-seok’s response, Sang-hyuk’s gaze flickered toward the kitchen. It was spotless, with no signs that anyone had cooked or eaten there. His expression hardened slightly.
“So that bastard came over, didn’t he?”
“…He kept ringing the doorbell nonstop….”
Kim Min-seok muttered an excuse.
Sang-hyuk said nothing, simply shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the sofa. As he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his dress shirt, the unintentional sexiness of the gesture made Kim Min-seok avert his gaze. Carefully, he spoke up.
“I… want to go to Ha Jun-seo’s place tomorrow.”
“When did you ever ask for my permission to go anywhere?”
Sang-hyuk’s voice was cold.
“I just… thought I should at least tell you. You told me not to wander around alone. Ha Jun-seo said he’d pick me up and bring me back. I won’t be alone.”
Sang-hyuk silently unbuttoned his cuffs.
“I’ll be back early.”
Kim Min-seok added hastily.
Still, there was no response.
So he’s not going to allow it, after all.
Kim Min-seok lowered his head, sighing internally.
Asking for permission to visit the house of the man he was cheating with—it was absurd from the start. He had done something utterly foolish.
“Seo Ha-yoon.”
Sang-hyuk called his name.
When Min-seok lifted his head, Sang-hyuk suddenly grabbed the back of his hair and crushed their lips together in a fierce, searing kiss.
“Mm…!”
The kiss was intense, almost devouring, but brief.
As their lips parted, Sang-hyuk locked eyes with him from an impossibly close distance and said,
“Do whatever the fuck you want.”
“If you fool around with that bastard, I won’t let it slide. When you come back, I’ll be checking, so don’t even think about playing loose with your ass.”
As Choi Sang-hyuk spoke, his hand squeezed Kim Min-seok’s ass in a way that made his intent clear.
It was his version of permission.
“…Got it.”
Kim Min-seok’s face flushed red as he nodded.
Without another word, Sang-hyuk turned and headed for the bathroom. Watching his retreating back, Kim Min-seok hesitated before calling out in a small voice,
“Thanks!”
Sang-hyuk’s steps abruptly halted. He slowly turned his head, looking at Min-seok with an unreadable expression.
“…Thanks?”
He sounded as if he had just heard something completely absurd.
From his reaction, it was clear—Seo Ha-yoon must not have been the type to say thank you very often.
“Yeah. I mean… going to Ha Jun-seo’s place… I know it must not feel great for you, but you still let me go. So, thanks.”
“…Are you really grateful?”
“Yeah.”
Kim Min-seok nodded slightly.
Sang-hyuk stared at him for a moment before curling his fingers, motioning him closer.
“Come here.”
Without hesitation, Kim Min-seok walked up to him.
The moment he was within reach, Sang-hyuk grabbed his wrist and, without warning, pulled him straight into the bathroom.
“Wait—what?! Choi Sang-hyuk?!”
“You haven’t washed yet, have you?”
“Uh… well, no, but—”
“Take it off. We’re showering together.”
Sang-hyuk’s voice was firm, a command rather than a suggestion. As he spoke, he casually stripped off the rest of his clothes.
Kim Min-seok’s eyes flickered toward the closed bathroom door.
Should he try to make a run for it?
Before he could decide, Sang-hyuk was already completely naked, reaching for the showerhead and turning on the water.
“Do I need to undress you myself?”
“N-No!”
“Then quit acting like a blushing virgin and strip.”
“…Okay….”
Defeated, Kim Min-seok hesitantly started removing his clothes.
It wasn’t like they hadn’t already seen everything—they were lovers now, after all.
Still, it was embarrassing.
It was surreal how, in just a few days, he had ended up in this kind of deep relationship with Choi Sang-hyuk.
As soon as he removed the last piece of clothing, Sang-hyuk grabbed his wrist and pulled him under the warm stream of water.
The heat cascaded over both of them, soaking their hair and skin.
And then—
“Suck it.”
Sang-hyuk’s deep voice commanded.
“…What?!”
“You said you were grateful. So suck.”
“How the hell did we get to this from that?!”
“Wasn’t it real gratitude?”
“I am grateful!”
“Then show me. Now—suck.”
“……”
Kim Min-seok hesitated, unsure of what to do. His body was already soaked from the shower, and both of them were naked. Choi Sang-hyuk stood under the showerhead, slightly aroused.
“Seo Ha-yoon, were you just being polite when you thanked me?” Choi Sang-hyuk asked.
“No, it’s not that… It’s just… doing this here suddenly…” Kim Min-seok trailed off, hesitating before continuing, “Can’t we do this after we’re clean and in bed?”
“No,” Choi Sang-hyuk replied firmly, pressing down on Kim Min-seok’s shoulder with one hand.
“Ugh…” Kim Min-seok felt his body yielding to the pressure, sinking lower until he was kneeling on the bathroom floor. Right in front of him was Choi Sang-hyuk’s semi-erect cock. Kim Min-seok swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry.
