Seo Ha-yoon gulped down the remaining beer in a single go, emptying the can, and then wrapped both arms tightly around Choi Sang-hyuk’s neck. He also wrapped his legs around the man’s waist, clinging to him like a sloth. Being in the water made it effortless.
“Ah… I love this so much.”
Seo Ha-yoon murmured again, saying how much he liked it. He felt so good that all he could do was keep repeating those words.
“If I’d known you’d enjoy it this much, I would’ve made time to come sooner.”
Choi Sang-hyuk spoke while kneading Seo Ha-yoon’s ass underwater.
“It’s fine. As long as you’re here, that’s all that matters.”
Seo Ha-yoon responded languidly, resting his chin on Choi Sang-hyuk’s firm shoulder. Their bodies were always pressed together, but the feeling of being skin-to-skin in the cool pool water was a whole new level of sensation. Choi Sang-hyuk’s wet, muscular body looked more seductive than ever. Seo Ha-yoon thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to let him get a bit of a tan while they were here. His body was already sexy, but with a slight sun-kissed glow, he would become dangerously irresistible.
Since he couldn’t swim and wasn’t exactly young anymore, there wasn’t much to do in the water. They just splashed around, did some playful frog strokes, and ended up clinging to each other, exchanging kisses, pecks, and light touches. When they got hungry, they lay side by side on the sunbeds, ordering pizza, burgers, beer, and cocktails while taking a break. If there was a heaven, this was it.
The pleasant buzz from the alcohol mixed with the comfortable fullness in his stomach, leaving Seo Ha-yoon sprawled out on the sunbed. Then, he happened to glance at the table and suddenly stiffened. Seeing Choi Sang-hyuk’s phone reminded him of something—no, someone.
Seo Ha-yoon’s own phone had been confiscated. Choi Sang-hyuk must have already taken care of things at work, but the problem was Ha Jun-seo. He hadn’t even managed to say good morning to him, let alone let him know about this trip. Instead, he had been practically abducted here. That meant there was no way to contact Ha Jun-seo until they returned to Korea.
Even a single missed message could make Ha Jun-seo worry. But now, Seo Ha-yoon was going to be completely out of touch for several days? Just imagining how anxious he would be made his scalp tighten with stress.
What the hell should I do…
Seo Ha-yoon slowly turned his gaze behind his sunglasses, looking at Choi Sang-hyuk lying beside him. The only way to reach out was through Choi Sang-hyuk’s phone. If he could secretly send Ha Jun-seo a message and erase the call log, no one would know.
Choi Sang-hyuk’s eyelids remained still beneath his sunglasses. But was he actually savoring the sun, or was he asleep? It was impossible to tell. Seo Ha-yoon took a slow, quiet breath, torn in deep contemplation. He couldn’t bear to let Ha Jun-seo worry for days, but secretly using Choi Sang-hyuk’s phone was just as nerve-wracking.
After agonizing for a while, Seo Ha-yoon stretched silently, subtly observing Choi Sang-hyuk. He extended his arms in various directions, as if naturally loosening up, but Choi Sang-hyuk’s eyes remained shut.
Is he really asleep?
Seo Ha-yoon slowly lifted his upper body. Holding his breath, he cautiously reached toward the table.
Just as his fingers were about to brush against the phone, a low voice interrupted him.
“I’m not asleep.”
Choi Sang-hyuk spoke with his eyes still closed. Seo Ha-yoon silently retracted his hand and flopped back onto the sunbed, pouting his lips.
Any hope of secretly sending a message to Ha Jun-seo had officially gone out the window. But the thought of Ha Jun-seo, left alone and undoubtedly anxious, weighed heavily on his mind. The heavenly bliss he had been basking in moments ago now felt distant.
After tossing and turning restlessly on the sunbed for a while, Seo Ha-yoon finally couldn’t hold it in any longer and spoke up.
“You didn’t tell Jun-seo hyung that we were going on this trip, did you?”
His question was met with silence. That alone was an answer—one that made it clear Choi Sang-hyuk didn’t even think the question was worth responding to.
Their tangled three-way relationship had remained unchanged for a long time, but one thing had never wavered: Choi Sang-hyuk and Ha Jun-seo still hated each other. And from the looks of it, that wasn’t going to change anytime soon.
“If I suddenly disappear without a word, of course he’s going to worry. It doesn’t have to be me, but at least you could send him a quick message so he doesn’t freak out.”
Again, silence. Not even an acknowledgement.
“Fine, if you won’t do it, I will.”
Seo Ha-yoon grumbled and reached for Choi Sang-hyuk’s phone on the table. But the moment his fingers wrapped around it, his wrist was caught in a firm grip.
“You’re really that concerned about that bastard worrying?” Choi Sang-hyuk’s voice was laced with irritation. “Ha Jun-seo isn’t a fucking idiot. If both you and I disappear at the same time, he’ll put two and two together. Why are you acting like it’s the end of the world?”
“Because he will worry. Just cutting off all contact like this—it’s shitty. It makes me feel guilty.”
“If that bothered you so much, you should’ve quit playing mistress and ended things with him a long time ago.”
There was a sharp edge of resentment in Choi Sang-hyuk’s voice. Seo Ha-yoon had thought he had mellowed out about Ha Jun-seo lately, but clearly, that wasn’t the case.
“I know you went through a lot just to make time for this trip, especially when you’re so busy. But do we really have to ignore him completely?”
Choi Sang-hyuk, still lying down, turned his head slightly and cast a deep, intense gaze at him from behind his sunglasses. Even through the dark lenses, the weight of his stare was unmistakable.
“I know, okay? I know how busy you are. I know how much effort it took for you to take time off for this trip. I get all of it. But just think about it—if the situation were reversed and Jun-seo hyung suddenly took me on a trip and cut off all contact with you, how would you feel? You’d be worried sick, right?”
“Worried? No. I’d be fucking livid.”
The way he said it was so bluntly funny that Seo Ha-yoon let out a small laugh.
Then, moving carefully, he climbed onto Choi Sang-hyuk’s sunbed, wriggling his way onto the narrow space. He was briefly concerned that the single-person sunbed might not hold both of them, but fortunately, it held up just fine.
“Not too much, not too little. Just one message. Please?”
Seo Ha-yoon pressed his body tightly against Choi Sang-hyuk, letting out a nasal whine as he pleaded. A grown man acting this cutesy was honestly cringe-worthy, and he felt a wave of self-disgust wash over him. But his priority was achieving his goal, no matter what.
“No. Not only are you not contacting that bastard until we’re back, but I don’t even want you thinking about him.”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s response was far more firm than expected. Seo Ha-yoon had assumed that a bit of coaxing and sweet-talking would be enough to get his way. But faced with unexpected resistance, he was caught off guard—and, deep down, slightly pissed off.
Still, he knew better than to push further. The fact that Choi Sang-hyuk tolerated Ha Jun-seo’s existence at all was already a miracle of patience. Seo Ha-yoon wasn’t foolish enough to test those limits.
“…Fine. Like you said, since we both disappeared at the same time, he’ll probably just assume we went off somewhere together.”
He let it go without further fuss. Choi Sang-hyuk glanced at him before reaching up and lightly patting his head. It almost felt like praise.
“You’re stubborn as hell.”
Seo Ha-yoon deliberately muttered under his breath, making sure Choi Sang-hyuk could hear, then pressed a quick kiss against his lips with an audible smack. Tossing his sunglasses aside, he sprang back into the pool with a splash.
***
When morning came, his eyes opened automatically. There was no phone alarm ringing, but years of working life had ingrained the habit of waking up early.
Blinking groggily, he stared up at an unfamiliar ceiling. His body, still heavy with the lingering exhaustion from yesterday’s swimming, felt completely relaxed. The realization that he didn’t have to go to work today filled him with bliss.
Seo Ha-yoon buried himself deeper into the soft, dry sheets, savoring the crisp feel of the luxurious bed linen. He shut his eyes again, intent on dozing off a little longer.
The next time he woke up, it was due to movement in the room. His nose caught a faint but delicious aroma, making his stomach stir. With great effort, he pried his heavy eyelids open, greeted by bright sunlight streaming into the room.
Somehow, at some point, Choi Sang-hyuk had woken up, dressed himself in slacks and a shirt, and was now walking toward him.
“If you’re up, come eat.”
Choi Sang-hyuk ran a large, firm hand through Seo Ha-yoon’s hair, tousling it as he spoke.
“…Food…”
Seo Ha-yoon stretched his limbs languidly, mumbling as he caught another whiff of the enticing scent. His appetite flared up almost instantly.
“If you carry me, I won’t bite.”
Grabbing a robe off the bed and slipping his arms through it lazily, Seo Ha-yoon held out both hands toward Choi Sang-hyuk like a spoiled child. The rare display of clinginess made Choi Sang-hyuk chuckle. Without hesitation, he scooped Seo Ha-yoon up and carried him toward the dining area.
The large dining table was filled with dishes tailored perfectly to Seo Ha-yoon’s tastes.
“Wow, this looks amazing.”
The words slipped out naturally as he grabbed a spoon and eagerly took a scoop of the thick, creamy soup. The rich flavor melted in his mouth. It was absolutely divine.
Seo Ha-yoon kept spooning the soup into his mouth while using his other hand to grab a sandwich, taking big, eager bites. Even though they had snacked throughout their time in the water yesterday and indulged in a heavy dinner, he felt as if he hadn’t eaten in a full day.
Switching between the fluffy omelet packed with smoked salmon, the rich, buttery bread, and the deep, aromatic coffee, he devoured everything without hesitation. At some point, he glanced up and noticed Choi Sang-hyuk eating with his usual neat and efficient manner, quickly finishing his food. Judging by his pace, it seemed he had been just as hungry.
“This is seriously so good, right?”
“Yeah.”
Choi Sang-hyuk nodded, swallowing a mouthful of coffee.
Seo Ha-yoon’s gaze dropped to Choi Sang-hyuk’s fingers, where a bit of sauce was left behind. Without thinking, he reached out, grabbed his hand, and pulled it toward him. Then, he took Choi Sang-hyuk’s fingers into his mouth, sucking the sauce off slowly. Before letting go, he deliberately wrapped his tongue around them once in a suggestive motion.
“…You little tease.”
Choi Sang-hyuk clicked his tongue and tapped Seo Ha-yoon’s cheek with his fingers, silently telling him to behave.
Seo Ha-yoon had no intention of escalating things right then, so he just chuckled and let it go.
