“Why are you laughing?”
Ha Jun-seo asked, sucking lightly on his lips.
“Mm. Mmm… Because you smell nice.”
Kim Min-seok, intoxicated, answered without much thought.
“You like my scent?”
Ha Jun-seo asked in a slightly husky voice.
“Yes. I do. You smell like soft fabric softener. It really suits your gentle personality.”
“Are you seriously tempting someone who’s barely holding back?”
“I’m not doing that.”
“Of course you are. You totally are. Even as Kim Min-seok, you still seduce men instinctively. Do you even realize how dangerous that is, going around bewitching people when you’re already this dazed?”
“No, I’m not… I’ve never even dated before. I don’t know anything about that.”
“Never dated, my ass. You’ve done all sorts of things with me and Choi Sang-hyuk. You can never call yourself a dating virgin again. Am I wrong?”
Ha Jun-seo playfully scolded. Kim Min-seok pondered for a moment before nodding.
“You’re right, Ha Jun-seo. I’m not a dating virgin anymore.”
His words, slurred by drunkenness, made Ha Jun-seo laugh out loud again.
“Ah, you’re cute. So cute I just want to devour you. I really do. Can’t I have a little taste tonight? Look at this. I’m already like this because of you, Ha-yoon. You have to take responsibility.”
Ha Jun-seo whined, rubbing himself subtly against Kim Min-seok. Even through their clothes, his erection was unmistakably heavy and firm.
“No. I’m not doing it.”
Kim Min-seok cut him off bluntly.
“Why not? Why won’t you? Are you scared Choi Sang-hyuk will get mad?”
“No, it’s not that. Choi Sang-hyuk…”
At that, Kim Min-seok recalled Seo Ha-yoon and Choi Sang-hyuk’s first meeting. Seo Ha-yoon had set a condition—no restrictions, no possessiveness. And Choi Sang-hyuk had agreed. Perhaps the reason Choi Sang-hyuk tolerated Ha Jun-seo’s presence was because he was faithfully upholding that promise.
“Either way, it’s not happening.”
“Liar. Look at this. Your body isn’t lying, is it?”
Ha Jun-seo lowered his hand and gently cupped Kim Min-seok’s crotch. Just as he said, Kim Min-seok was slightly hard.
“This… this is just because the kiss felt good.”
“Same thing, really.”
Ha Jun-seo replied nonchalantly and pressed his lips against Kim Min-seok’s again.
“Mmm… Mmm…”
A deep and heated kiss continued. The two clung to each other on the sofa, rolling this way and that in a struggle that was not quite a struggle. But Ha Jun-seo’s strength was overwhelming, and before long—zip—there was the unmistakable sound of a zipper being pulled down.
“Mm… no….”
Kim Min-seok squirmed, trying to push away the hand that had slipped inside his underwear. But his cock was already firmly gripped, leaving him with no means of escape.
And then—
Beep, beep, beep, beep—
Clack—
The electronic sound of the door unlocking echoed through the apartment.
The shock was so intense that his hair practically stood on end. Still pinned beneath Ha Jun-seo, Kim Min-seok turned his head toward the entrance. Standing just inside the doorway, Choi Sang-hyuk glared at the tangled-up pair with dark, unreadable eyes.
“Ch-choi Sang-hyuk, it’s not what it looks like….”
Panicking, Kim Min-seok shoved Ha Jun-seo away and scrambled upright—only to lose his balance and roll right off the sofa.
Thud—
“Oww….”
Landing hard on his ass, he groaned, rubbing at the sore spot. The shock must have sent his drunkenness into overdrive because his head swam, making it impossible to get up properly. Every time he tried, he just flailed uselessly.
“I didn’t drug him,” Ha Jun-seo was quick to clarify.
Kim Min-seok hurriedly nodded in agreement.
“N-no, I’m just drunk. Just drunk, that’s all.”
His slurred speech only made Choi Sang-hyuk scoff.
“Ha!”
Without another word, Choi Sang-hyuk strode over, grabbed Kim Min-seok by the arm, and pulled him upright. Then, turning to Ha Jun-seo, he bit out coldly—
“Unless you want your other cheek to match, get the fuck out.”
“And listen to this guy talk….” Ha Jun-seo clicked his tongue. “I was just keeping Ha-yoon company so he wouldn’t get lonely. You think he wants to be stuck here all alone while you’re off working? What, you gonna quit your job and stay with him 24/7? You should be thanking me instead.”
For once, he sounded genuinely sulky.
Still grumbling, he pushed himself off the sofa and made his way toward the entrance. As he passed, he waved lazily at Kim Min-seok.
“I’ll come hang out again tomorrow. Sleep well.”
With that, Ha Jun-seo disappeared through the door.
Kim Min-seok cautiously peeked up at Choi Sang-hyuk’s face, gauging his reaction. After a moment, he hesitantly spoke.
“You’re home early today.”
“How much did you drink?”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s voice was surprisingly even. Not exactly gentle, but compared to his usual sharp tone, it was noticeably softer.
“I just suddenly felt like having a beer. I really like drinking beer.”
“And so you decided to drink with that bastard? After what he did to you just yesterday? You really have no sense of self-preservation, do you?”
“Mm… well…”
Kim Min-seok hesitated, fumbling for an answer. Choi Sang-hyuk narrowed his eyes and reached out, brushing his thumb across Kim Min-seok’s lips—still wet from the kiss.
“So, you even kissed him, huh?”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s gaze drifted downward, landing on the unzipped front of Kim Min-seok’s pants.
“Looked like you were just about ready to spread your legs for him. Was I interrupting?”
“N-no! Ha Jun-seo just… did whatever he wanted….”
“If that bastard pulls something, don’t just whine—sock him in the face. If you really don’t want it, make that damn clear.”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s voice held a strict edge.
Kim Min-seok, feeling a mix of shame and guilt, lowered his head.
“I understand.”
Hearing his obedient response, Choi Sang-hyuk shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it onto the sofa. Then he spoke.
“Take it off.”
“…What?”
“I said, take it off. You haven’t showered yet, have you?”
“Well, no, but….”
“Then strip. We’re showering together.”
Kim Min-seok’s eyes widened in alarm.
“I-I can wash by myself!”
“You can’t even stand properly without swaying. How the hell do you plan to shower alone? Just hurry up and take your clothes off.”
Choi Sang-hyuk was firm.
Kim Min-seok hesitated for a moment but then, seeing how casually Choi Sang-hyuk stripped off his own clothes, he reluctantly started undressing as well.
When Choi Sang-hyuk finally removed his briefs, his cock—impressive even when flaccid—sprang free. Kim Min-seok tried his best not to look as he pulled down his own underwear. In the process, he wobbled dangerously, nearly toppling over, but Choi Sang-hyuk caught him in time.
With a steady grip on Kim Min-seok’s arm, Choi Sang-hyuk led him into the bathroom. Turning on the shower, he maneuvered Kim Min-seok around, inspecting his body.
He squeezed his ass, checking for any lingering redness, then grasped his cock, shifting it slightly as if examining him. Clearly, he was checking for any lasting effects from the previous night’s activities.
“I’m fine now. My ass isn’t red at all, I can pee just fine, and nothing hurts anymore.”
At Kim Min-seok’s words, Choi Sang-hyuk finally let go.
He tested the water temperature, then pulled Kim Min-seok under the steaming stream. Without a word, he grabbed the shampoo and squeezed a generous amount onto his palm before lathering it into Kim Min-seok’s hair.
His large, calloused hands massaged his scalp, and the sensation was unbelievably refreshing. Between the hot water and his lingering drunkenness, Kim Min-seok felt lightheaded, his body naturally swaying.
“Lean on me.”
Choi Sang-hyuk murmured, guiding him to rest against his chest.
“…Thank you.”
Kim Min-seok’s voice was small, but inside, he found himself wondering—was this man unexpectedly kind? He didn’t seem like it, but sometimes, his actions suggested otherwise. It was a different kind of kindness compared to Ha Jun-seo.
This one was firm, steady.
Pressed against his broad, solid chest, Kim Min-seok felt an overwhelming sense of security. For some reason, he even had the childish urge to be spoiled.
“Earlier, when I took a nap… I had another dream about Seo Ha-yoon.”
The words slipped out unconsciously—something he had brushed off with Ha Jun-seo, yet now, he found himself saying it aloud.
“What kind of dream?”
“Seo Ha-yoon… was getting beaten a lot by his mom. He was still just a little kid, but she was hitting him way too hard.”
“It made me think… having a family isn’t always a good thing. I grew up getting hit by my older brothers too, but never to that extent… And it wasn’t my mom who did it either.”
“So, would it have been better if he were an orphan?”
“Judging by the dream alone… maybe it would’ve been.”
Kim Min-seok spoke with deep sympathy for Seo Ha-yoon. Then, a sudden thought crossed his mind, and he added,
“Do you think that’s why Seo Ha-yoon doesn’t want to come back to this body?”
“Could be.”
Choi Sang-hyuk answered calmly.
After finishing their shower, they stepped out together and dried their hair.
As if it were the most natural thing, they both got into bed. Wrapped in the familiar embrace of Choi Sang-hyuk’s muscular frame, Kim Min-seok closed his eyes. Whether it was the warmth or the lingering alcohol in his system, drowsiness quickly took over.
“Choi Sang-hyuk.”
“Speak.”
“Why don’t you get mad about me meeting Ha Jun-seo?”
“Because getting mad at you won’t fix anything.”
“Why not?”
Kim Min-seok opened his eyes slightly, curious. After all, it was only natural for a lover to demand that their partner stop seeing someone they’d been involved with.
“Ha Jun-seo… That bastard isn’t the type to just walk away. If you try to push him out, he’ll cling on and drag you down with him. He’s always been like that. Once he sets his mind on something, he’d rather die than give it up. He’s clearly obsessed with you now, and if he thinks I’ve taken you away from him completely, he might just decide to ruin you instead.”
From Choi Sang-hyuk’s words alone, Ha Jun-seo sounded terrifying—like a completely different person from the one Kim Min-seok knew.
“Is he really that dangerous?”
“If he were easy to deal with, I would’ve gotten rid of him already.”
“So, you’re saying he’s too much for even you to handle?”
“I’m not saying you should fool around with him. Just make sure you keep your ass safe.”
Choi Sang-hyuk said this while firmly squeezing Kim Min-seok’s ass.
“Ugh… Why does the conversation always end up here?”
Kim Min-seok grumbled in frustration.
“Go to sleep.”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s voice was steady and commanding. Kim Min-seok fought against his heavy eyelids, staring at Choi Sang-hyuk’s face. The more he looked, the more he admired the man’s strong, masculine features.
“Close your eyes.”
As he continued staring, Choi Sang-hyuk murmured in a low voice.
Kim Min-seok immediately shut his eyes.
Suddenly, he remembered meeting Seo Chang-seop earlier and giving him his contact information. Should he mention that too?
But his eyelids felt far too heavy to open again, and he had a strong feeling that if he brought it up, he’d get scolded like hell.
‘Well… I just won’t answer if he calls.’
With that thought, Kim Min-seok let sleep take over.
