Kim Min-seok genuinely couldn’t remember, so he asked.
Choi Sang-hyuk glanced toward the window, where the curtains were drawn. Even though they were closed, it was clear that daylight was streaming in from outside.
“We’ve been at it nonstop since last night until now. I couldn’t even take a break because someone kept clinging to me like their life depended on it.”
“Uh…”
Kim Min-seok looked at him in disbelief.
If it had been since last night and it was already bright outside, that meant they had been having sex for nearly half a day.
And yet, Choi Sang-hyuk didn’t look the least bit exhausted.
Kim Min-seok’s body, however, told a different story. Every ounce of strength had been drained from him, leaving him breathless and weak, as if his energy had been completely sucked dry.
“Seo Chang-seop drugged you. You probably won’t remember much of what happened while you were under the influence. Now that the effects are wearing off, you should get some sleep.”
Choi Sang-hyuk said, brushing his hand over Kim Min-seok’s sweat-dampened cheek.
“Seo Chang-seop…”
Kim Min-seok tried to piece together his last memories.
Right. He had successfully drugged Seo Chang-seop.
But when he tried to steal his phone, he had been ambushed—stabbed with a syringe instead.
The drug had kicked in quickly, making him collapse to the floor… and then Seo Chang-seop had tried to rape him.
He could remember swinging his knife as a last resort.
But after that, everything was a complete blank.
“The knife… I stabbed Seo Chang-seop…”
Kim Min-seok murmured, struggling to recall.
Choi Sang-hyuk frowned, clearly displeased that instead of resting, Kim Min-seok was forcing himself to remember.
As if trying to calm him down, he gently stroked his forehead and cheek again.
“He’s not dead, is he?”
Kim Min-seok asked, his face stiff.
Choi Sang-hyuk let out a dry scoff.
“If you were planning to kill him, you should’ve at least brought a sashimi knife. Do you think you can kill someone with a tiny paring knife? Especially with that scrawny body of yours?”
In other words, Seo Chang-seop was still alive.
Kim Min-seok exhaled a deep sigh of relief.
He had wielded the knife to protect himself, not to become a murderer.
That was all that mattered.
“Stop thinking about useless shit and just sleep. You can worry about it after you’ve rested.”
Choi Sang-hyuk urged.
Kim Min-seok obediently closed his eyes… only to open them again a few moments later.
“Now what?”
Choi Sang-hyuk grumbled, furrowing his brows as if he had been watching the entire time.
He was so damn blunt, with absolutely no clue how to be gentle with people.
And yet, somehow, Seo Ha-yoon had him wrapped around his little finger…
Really, what a strange man.
Kim Min-seok mused to himself before finally speaking.
“I need to go to the bathroom.”
Choi Sang-hyuk gave him a small nod of acknowledgment.
Kim Min-seok pressed his hands against the bed, trying to push himself upright.
That was as far as he got.
After nearly half a day of relentless sex, his body had been utterly spent.
Choi Sang-hyuk clicked his tongue as Kim Min-seok struggled to move, unable to even sit up properly. Without another word, he scooped him up into a bridal carry.
“Ah… You could’ve just helped me up.”
“You can’t even lift your upper body, and you think just helping you up would be enough? Were you planning to crawl to the bathroom?”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s voice was blunt as ever.
Kim Min-seok grumbled against his chest, pouting.
“You do everything for Seo Ha-yoon without a second thought, but that cold way you talk ruins everything. It’s like you cancel out all the nice things you do.”
Choi Sang-hyuk let out a small scoff.
When they reached the toilet, he carefully set Kim Min-seok down and held him steady, guiding his body and positioning him properly. It should’ve been embarrassing, but after everything they’d already done, it didn’t even faze him.
Come to think of it, this was already the second time Choi Sang-hyuk had helped him pee.
As he watched the stream hit the water, Kim Min-seok found himself thinking—Choi Sang-hyuk was actually a pretty decent guy. He was just quiet and rough on the outside.
And most of all, it was obvious that he loved Seo Ha-yoon deeply.
“I… wanna wash up.”
Kim Min-seok muttered as he glanced down at his body, sticky with sweat and other fluids.
Without hesitation, Choi Sang-hyuk lifted him again and placed him in the bathtub. Then, after adjusting the showerhead to the right temperature, he carefully wet his hair and face.
“Hold the showerhead close to your body so you don’t get cold.”
Choi Sang-hyuk instructed, handing it over.
Kim Min-seok let the warm water cascade over him, relaxing under Choi Sang-hyuk’s strong hands as he worked the shampoo into his hair.
Maybe it was because his hands were big and firm, but even just having his scalp washed felt like receiving an expensive head massage.
Before he knew it, a pleased expression crept onto his face.
Choi Sang-hyuk smirked at the sight and playfully tapped the tip of his nose with a shampoo-covered finger, leaving a little foam sticking up like a horn.
Kim Min-seok let out a soft laugh.
After thoroughly lathering, Choi Sang-hyuk rinsed his hair, taking care to occasionally run the showerhead over his body so he wouldn’t get cold.
As Kim Min-seok leaned against the tub, enjoying being taken care of, his eyes lingered on Choi Sang-hyuk’s face—serious and focused as he washed him.
On impulse, he reached out, gently pulled him down by the neck, and kissed him.
“You need more?”
Choi Sang-hyuk asked. His expression made it clear—if Kim Min-seok nodded, he wouldn’t hesitate to go another round.
This guy… he looked sharp and intimidating, but there was something ridiculously straightforward about him.
Or maybe dense was the better word. No, that was too much.
Anyway, he was an odd one. Even the way he let Seo Ha-yoon string him along was so ridiculous that it was almost funny.
“No, I just suddenly felt like kissing you.”
“Well, good to know you at least have enough strength for that.”
“Thank you, Sang-hyuk.”
At Kim Min-seok’s words, Choi Sang-hyuk’s stiff expression softened just a little.
Up until now, he had always thought the man’s face was permanently unreadable, but looking at him closely, he realized there were subtle changes in his expression.
And the fact that he could recognize those small shifts made him strangely happy.
“You’re being way too good to me. I don’t even have a way to repay you.”
“I don’t need that, so don’t think unnecessary thoughts. If you really want to repay me, how about cutting ties with that bastard Ha Jun-seo?”
Unexpected words left Kim Min-seok speechless for a moment. Yes, thinking of Choi Sang-hyuk, it made sense to sever ties with Ha Jun-seo. After all, he wasn’t Seo Ha-yoon’s lover. Logically and in terms of priorities, Choi Sang-hyuk should come first. However, he wasn’t Seo Ha-yoon. Choosing one side wasn’t his responsibility. Even if he were to live as Seo Ha-yoon from now on, he hadn’t yet sorted out his thoughts enough to choose between the two.
Seeing Kim Min-seok hesitate, Choi Sang-hyuk glared at him as if he had expected this. Well, at least he wasn’t cursing out loud. Kim Min-seok pretended to wash himself, rubbing the foam off his body with his hands.
Swoosh—
Choi Sang-hyuk rinsed Kim Min-seok’s foam-covered body with warm water. Then, he lifted the cleaned Kim Min-seok and sat him on the toilet lid, drying him from his toes up with a towel.
“Um… I can apply the lotion myself….”
Kim Min-seok hesitantly raised his hand as he watched Choi Sang-hyuk meticulously apply body lotion after drying him.
“Just stay still.”
Choi Sang-hyuk cut him off.
Both naked, Kim Min-seok couldn’t help but notice Choi Sang-hyuk’s glistening cock swaying between his legs. He tried to avert his gaze but found his eyes drawn back to it. His mouth filled with saliva, forcing him to swallow repeatedly.
After applying the lotion, Choi Sang-hyuk carried Kim Min-seok to the bed and gently laid him down.
“I’ll go wash up, so just rest.”
Choi Sang-hyuk said, heading into the bathroom. The sound of the shower started.
Kim Min-seok blushed as he looked at the bed, a mess from their lengthy lovemaking. He tried to recall the details, but all he remembered was an overwhelming sensation of pleasure that seemed to lift him to the heavens.
He closed his eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come. Instead, the empty bed and the hotel room’s scenery filled his vision, making everything feel anxious, dark, and desolate. Unable to bear the gnawing anxiety in his chest, Kim Min-seok stumbled into the bathroom, his legs shaking.
“What’s wrong? Why are you here?”
Choi Sang-hyuk, in the middle of his shower, asked worriedly as Kim Min-seok entered. Kim Min-seok staggered over and hugged Choi Sang-hyuk tightly, his arms trembling against the broad chest.
“Seo Ha-yoon? What’s wrong?”
Choi Sang-hyuk turned off the shower and embraced Kim Min-seok, asking softly. Kim Min-seok murmured into the wet, muscular chest.
“I’m scared to be alone….”
“…Then you should have just called me. I would have come to you.”
Choi Sang-hyuk said softly. He held Kim Min-seok tightly for a moment, stroking his wet hair, then lifted him and sat him on the toilet lid, wrapping him in a large towel to keep him warm.
After wrapping Kim Min-seok in the towel, Choi Sang-hyuk resumed his shower under Kim Min-seok’s watchful gaze. Being in the same space as Choi Sang-hyuk and seeing him calmed Kim Min-seok’s anxiety completely. He sat quietly on the toilet lid, intently observing Choi Sang-hyuk as he showered.
