#27
Feeling pressured to quickly answer Hyun-oh’s question, Eunsol rolled his lips inward and bit them while watching for Hyun-oh’s reaction.
“Then let’s have Mr. Lee Eunsol pay for the meal today.”
But contrary to Eunsol’s worry, Hyun-oh didn’t seem particularly upset. Rather, he gave Eunsol a new task.
It was a strange thing to say. After all, even the card Eunsol had was Hyun-oh’s. Eunsol had essentially entered the marriage with nothing but himself.
Still, he nodded obediently. He believed there must be a reason behind what Hyun-oh was asking. He had been worrying about how to continue the conversation, so he also felt grateful that Hyun-oh had concluded this topic.
Afterward, only silence circled between the two. Eunsol clasped his hands together and glanced at Hyun-oh. Hyun-oh had already taken out his phone and was looking at something.
It seemed like he was dealing with work. …Or perhaps something more private and personal.
The omega pheromones that had been deeply embedded in Hyun-oh’s jacket unconsciously came to mind. Eunsol shook his head to forget the painful memories of the early morning, but once recalled, the thought lingered in his mind like sticky tar.
“I’ll prepare the appetizers first.”
“…Ah.”
What pulled him from his thoughts was a waiter placing a large plate in front of him.
“Ham biscuit, foie gras muffin, and lobster ceviche.”
The large plate contained three types of food, but they were all bite-sized. Eunsol carefully moved his utensils, recalling his education on dining etiquette.
“Not to your taste?”
“No, no… it’s delicious.”
Eunsol thought only he had been glancing at Hyun-oh. But it seemed Hyun-oh had also been observing Eunsol while eating. As he said, Eunsol’s plate was still more than half full.
This was despite the food not being plentiful. It was due to the tension of having to eat quietly and the omega pheromones that kept surfacing in his mind.
Though he could properly taste the flavors in his mouth, swallowing and passing the food down his throat was an ordeal.
“You don’t have to force yourself to eat.”
Seeing Eunsol’s face turning pale at his words, Hyun-oh suppressed a rising sigh. Returning from his business trip, he found that the already thin person had become even thinner.
Concerned about this, he had invited him out to feed him some delicious food. He didn’t recall ever intimidating Eunsol, but the fact that Eunsol seemed afraid of him almost every time made a corner of his heart feel constricted.
“…I’m fine.”
Eunsol also sensed the change in Hyun-oh’s demeanor. The once indifferent gaze had changed to resemble the way his family used to look at him. Eunsol’s shoulders stiffened at what seemed like a look of contempt.
To make matters worse, his utensils kept slipping in his palm, which was accumulating cold sweat. Eunsol placed the utensils on the plate and hurriedly picked up a napkin to wipe his palms.
“I’ll prepare the wine you ordered.”
Just then, a waiter entered the room with an elegantly designed wine bottle in hand.
“…Thank you.”
He felt thankful to the waiter for breaking the uncomfortable silence. Eunsol took a deep breath while watching the red wine fill the transparent glass.
This might be the only chance to dine alone with Hyun-oh for a while. He couldn’t let it end like this.
Eunsol grasped the stem of the wine glass and swirled it around. He was unconsciously imitating what Hyun-oh had done once.
As the wine’s aroma spread to the tip of his nose, he felt the lingering memories that had been troubling him disperse somewhat.
He took a sip of wine in his mouth. The first taste was bitterness. But soon, faint woody notes and fruit flavors spread, and the wine that circled his mouth once slid smoothly down his throat.
Not knowing which one to choose, he had picked the first one on the list, but the aroma filling his mouth was exquisite.
“Eat some food with it. Don’t fill your stomach with wine.”
The amount of wine Eunsol drank at once wasn’t much. But because he moistened his throat with wine whenever he felt tense, the bottom of the glass soon appeared.
Hyun-oh’s gaze, which had been slowly savoring a sip of poured wine, had been fixed on Eunsol for some time.
As the wine glass emptied, color returned to Eunsol’s once-white cheeks. As if the red of the wine was spreading across his cheeks. Strangely, that sight captured his attention and wouldn’t let go.
“Can I… have one more glass?”
“If you want.”
Hyun-oh himself stood up, took the wine bottle, and approached Eunsol. Usually, there would be a server stationed in the room, but Hyun-oh typically sent the waiters outside when dining.
“I-I could pour it myself…”
Eunsol flustered, fiddling with the wine glass, not knowing what to do. He had intended to pour it himself if Hyun-oh permitted him to drink more.
With movements more elegant than a waiter’s, Hyun-oh lifted the wine bottle and filled Eunsol’s glass. Eunsol swallowed dryly as he fixed his gaze on Hyun-oh’s straight fingers and the prominent veins on the back of his hand.
Unlike his own hands that looked soft just by sight, these were hands that clearly exuded an adult’s presence.
“It’s higher in alcohol content than you might think, so drink slowly.”
“…Yes.”
At times like this, Hyun-oh seemed like the kindest person in the world. Despite his cold, deep voice. Eunsol lifted his wine glass to hide his reddened face at the conversation content that seemed to show concern for him.
“I’ll prepare the main course.”
By the time the main course of the set meal arrived, the atmosphere in the room had relaxed considerably compared to the beginning.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Hyun-oh’s gaze fell on Eunsol. So did the waiter’s as he placed a plate in front of Eunsol. Eunsol’s relaxed face, flushed with alcohol, had a light pink hue on both cheeks, as if touching them would leave powder on one’s fingertips.
The end of his sentences, unlike usual, was subtly stretched. It was a manner of speaking that didn’t suit a grown adult man, but coming from Eunsol, it didn’t feel out of place.
Moreover, whether Eunsol intended it or not, omega pheromones were gradually flowing out around him.
“…Is there anything else you need?”
The waiter’s neck reddened. Eunsol’s eyes, moister than usual due to the alcohol, turned toward the waiter. The waiter, facing Eunsol directly, was now starting to have heat rush to his cheeks as well.
Hyun-oh tapped the table with his index finger. He found it strange that Eunsol, who could barely make eye contact with him, could easily meet the eyes of someone he was seeing for the first time.
Moreover, a natural smile bloomed on Eunsol’s lips. It was an expression he had never shown to Hyun-oh. Realizing this fact, an unpleasant sensation spread in his chest, as if a tiny thorn had been stuck under his nail.
“It’s okay…”
“Mr. Lee Eunsol.”
Eunsol was merely trying to tell the waiter that he didn’t need anything. But before Eunsol could finish speaking, Hyun-oh stood up from his seat.
The waiter unconsciously took half a step back as Hyun-oh’s height quickly approached the ceiling. Focusing only on Eunsol, he had momentarily forgotten that there was another person in the room.
The waiter clenched his fist, which was developing cold sweat, and hunched his shoulders.
He was a room guest that the general manager had specifically warned to serve carefully. Hyun-oh wasn’t even saying anything to him. He merely passed by, close enough for their shoulders to brush, and stood next to Eunsol.
Yet the waiter froze like someone who had been struck, even holding his breath.
“Your face is very red. It might be best not to drink any more wine.”
“Ah…”
Eunsol’s lips parted wide enough to reveal the tongue inside. His long eyelashes trembled relentlessly, unable to settle.
It felt surreal that the person gently cupping his face right now was really Hyun-oh. He even wondered if he might be dreaming from the wine.
The warmth felt on his cheeks seemed to spread to his heart, making it feel hot. As if bound by invisible threads by the gaze looking down at him, he couldn’t move even a fingertip.
“Answer me.”
“…Pardon?”
Eunsol desperately tried to move his slowly rolling head. He tried to recall what Hyun-oh had just said, but all his attention was buried in the warmth of Hyun-oh’s hands on his cheeks and the intense gaze focused solely on him.
“You’re fine with not drinking more wine, right?”
“Yes…”
Only after Hyun-oh asked once more did Eunsol answer in a dreamy voice. Afraid that Hyun-oh might withdraw his hand if he moved too much, he nodded with a very small motion.
“Then let’s continue our meal.”
He missed Hyun-oh’s retreating hand. Eunsol curled his trembling fingertips into a fist. It felt as if all the alcohol that had been circulating throughout his body had evaporated at once.
Thump, thump, thump – his chest ached in one corner from his violently beating heart. The rapidly circulating blood made even the corners of his eyes flush red.
“We don’t need anything else, so you can leave now.”
“…Yes. I’m sorry.”
The moment the waiter’s eyes met Hyun-oh’s, he felt as if a sharp knife had touched near his carotid artery. Hyun-oh’s gaze was so cold that an apology naturally came out.
Even as the frightened waiter hurriedly left the room, Eunsol’s attention was solely on Hyun-oh. He needlessly raised his hand to stroke his reddened cheek with the back of his hand.
To confirm it wasn’t a dream, he even painfully bit the tender flesh inside his cheek.
“Eat before it gets cold.”
“…Yes.”
Eunsol picked up the fork and knife and cut a small piece from the edge of the steak. As the piece of meat entered his mouth, his round eyes naturally rolled toward the wine glass.
Seeing this, Hyun-oh placed his utensils down on the table with a sound. Eunsol’s wide-eyed gaze missed the wine glass and turned toward Hyun-oh.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
