“What’s that bastard doing over the weekend?” Choi Sang-hyuk asked. Seo Ha-yoon finally smiled and clung to Choi Sang-hyuk’s arm.
“He said he has concerto practice all weekend. So I was planning to go over to your place tomorrow.”
“Don’t go home after work. Wait for me so we can leave together.”
Choi Sang-hyuk said. Seo Ha-yoon nodded without a second thought. His ass had already been exposed, so he had decided to spend the entire weekend with Choi Sang-hyuk, starting from Friday night.
“But what are we doing this weekend? I want to go somewhere.”
Time spent with Choi Sang-hyuk was never boring. But seeing each other only at home or the office could get stale if it became a routine. Relationships needed occasional new experiences. A short trip would be a good way to mix things up.
“Where do you want to go?”
Choi Sang-hyuk asked, seeming open to the idea of going somewhere.
Seo Ha-yoon, still hugging Choi Sang-hyuk’s muscular arm, thought carefully. They would leave tonight and return by Sunday evening. A short, one-night trip…
“Haeundae. How about Haeundae?”
“Haeundae?”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s expression slightly hardened. It seemed he didn’t have fond memories of the place.
“I stayed in Haeundae for a while, remember? I thought it’d be nice to visit again. We could eat good food, take a walk along the beach… watch the sunrise together from our hotel room.”
“When I was there, I used to walk along the beach alone and think, ‘It’d be nice if Sang-hyuk was here too.’ You’re always just going back and forth between your house and the office, working all the time. This is a chance to breathe in some sea air and clear your head.”
Choi Sang-hyuk gazed out the window for a moment, lost in thought. Then, he nodded and spoke to Kim Sil-jang, who was driving.
“Book a hotel in Haeundae. We’re leaving now.”
“Understood, Director.”
Kim Sil-jang replied without hesitation.
“W-Wait, right now? I have to go to work!”
“Process Seo Ha-yoon’s leave.”
“Yes, Director.”
Kim Sil-jang immediately pulled out his phone and called the company. Seo Ha-yoon held his breath as he listened to Kim Sil-jang arrange his leave. There was no escaping the rumors of favoritism now.
When I go to work on Monday, people are going to give me those weird looks again.
Seo Ha-yoon thought to himself. But soon, his mind shifted to the bright side. People already knew he was a parachute hire—taking an extra day off wouldn’t change anything. What mattered was that he was going on a trip to Haeundae with Choi Sang-hyuk.
“I should’ve packed some clothes. Won’t we look weird walking around the beach in suits?”
“We can just buy some when we get there.”
“That’s true.”
Seo Ha-yoon quickly accepted the idea and nodded. Then, resting his head on Choi Sang-hyuk’s shoulder, he let himself savor the excitement bubbling inside him. It reminded him of the last time he left for Haeundae. Back then, he never could have imagined a day like this would come.
“I’m scared this might be a dream.”
Seo Ha-yoon murmured absentmindedly.
“Over something like this?”
“Yes. Even just this much.”
The last time he went down there, he had called himself Kim Min-seok. Even now, his two identities hadn’t completely merged. But through continuous hypnotherapy and sheer determination, he had learned to fully accept that he was Seo Ha-yoon. Many of his memories as Seo Ha-yoon had returned as well.
Yet sometimes, an unsettling fear crept up on him—especially in moments of happiness and joy. Do I even deserve to be this happy? Is life really allowed to be this enjoyable? Can good things like this actually happen to me?
Whenever those thoughts surfaced, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was all just a dream. What if, when he opened his eyes, he saw the cramped ceiling of his tiny goshiwon? What if he woke up sprawled on the stained blanket of a dingy inn? What if he opened his eyes and realized he was still alone? The fear came less frequently now, but it never completely disappeared.
“You’re such an idiot.”
Choi Sang-hyuk pulled Seo Ha-yoon closer, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Seo Ha-yoon turned his head and pressed his lips to Choi Sang-hyuk’s. Their lips parted, tongues intertwining, as the scent of Choi Sang-hyuk filled his senses. Moments like this, when he could feel his presence so vividly, reassured him.
“Never let me go.”
Seo Ha-yoon whispered softly. As if answering him, Choi Sang-hyuk laced their fingers together and held on tightly.
As soon as they arrived in Haeundae, the first thing they did was stop by a mall to buy comfortable clothes. While they were at it, they ended up shopping for a bunch of other things as well. Choi Sang-hyuk had a keen eye—just by glancing, he could pick out clothes that suited Seo Ha-yoon perfectly. And as for himself, he looked good in anything.
After dropping off their shopping bags at the hotel, they immediately headed out for lunch. Seo Ha-yoon knew all the best restaurants around Haeundae like the back of his hand. When they stopped by an old favorite, the owner recognized him right away and greeted him warmly.
With Choi Sang-hyuk’s striking looks, they attracted quite a few stares from the people around them. That’s right, my man is this gorgeous. Seo Ha-yoon thought smugly, feeling a sense of pride swell in his chest.
After lunch, the two strolled along the Haeundae beach. The place was just as he remembered—people leisurely walking along the shore, young tourists dressed to impress, dog walkers, and flocks of seagulls skimming past. Everyone looked bright and carefree, and Seo Ha-yoon couldn’t help but feel lighter himself.
“How is it? Feels nice to breathe in the sea air while looking at the ocean, right?”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s face remained indifferent. His expression simply said, Oh, there’s the ocean, and the wind is blowing.
“You really like this kind of thing, huh?”
Choi Sang-hyuk asked. His tone wasn’t mocking—he was just genuinely curious.
“Of course! Who doesn’t like watching the ocean?”
“True. That’s why you’re always going on about beach resorts.”
Choi Sang-hyuk muttered. Seo Ha-yoon, who had a deep romanticized love for coastal getaways, often talked about places like Hawaii, Okinawa, and Guam, dreaming of traveling to them.
“It’s not just the ocean itself—it’s the experience. Taking a leisurely walk along the shore, spending time with someone you love. That’s what makes it special.”
As he spoke, Seo Ha-yoon gently reached for Choi Sang-hyuk’s hand, which he had refrained from holding earlier because of the people around them.
Choi Sang-hyuk suddenly stopped walking and gazed at Seo Ha-yoon in silence. Then, after a moment, he spoke.
“If you want, we could take some time off and live abroad for a while.”
Seo Ha-yoon blinked, not quite understanding. Seeing his confusion, Choi Sang-hyuk repeated himself slowly.
“We could both take long-term leave from work and spend a few months in Hawaii or wherever you want. Isn’t that what you want?”
“Wait… a few months?”
Seo Ha-yoon’s eyes widened. This man, honestly… When he decided to do something, he took it all the way. He had just wanted to go on a short trip for a few days—how did that suddenly turn into several months? And what about work? Taking short breaks here and there was one thing; he could get away with that thanks to his “parachute” status. But what company in the world would approve months of leave?
“Why? You don’t want to?”
Choi Sang-hyuk asked. Seo Ha-yoon hesitated for a moment. Thinking about it… it actually sounded amazing. A few months of a carefree life in Hawaii? Just imagining it made his heart race.
“I do want to. That sounds incredible. But… not right now.”
“Why?”
Choi Sang-hyuk looked genuinely puzzled.
“You’re busy with work, obviously. And so am I. I haven’t even been at the company that long—how can I just take off for months? Even I’m not that shameless. Maybe after I’ve been there for a while and built up some vacation time.”
“If anyone gives you a hard time about it, let me know. I’ll fire them.”
Choi Sang-hyuk clicked his tongue. Seo Ha-yoon quickly shook his head, worried that innocent people might end up losing their jobs because of him.
“There’s no one like that. No one at all.”
Choi Sang-hyuk scoffed, looking unconvinced. Seo Ha-yoon, afraid he might actually start naming people, quickly grabbed his hand and tugged him forward.
“I want coffee. Let’s go to the café I always went to. If we go now, there might still be a window seat open.”
His luck seemed to be on his side today. When they arrived at the café, the window seat Seo Ha-yoon liked was still available. The two of them sat down, enjoying their coffee and chatting about trivial things.
Even though it was the same kind of conversation they always had, talking about it in a new place made it feel more fun. There weren’t many shared topics between them, but Seo Ha-yoon didn’t mind. Even just getting a reaction out of Choi Sang-hyuk now and then was enough.
