#36
But if she were to advise him on that aspect, Hyun-oh would likely become even more stubborn, given his disposition. Kang Ye-ryeong was letting the relationship between the two flow according to fate.
Eunsol was a pure and kind young man without any rough edges.
Although his pheromone levels were low, Hyun-oh wasn’t desperate for a child, and while Ye-ryeong wanted grandchildren, she had no intention of changing her daughter-in-law for that reason.
She believed that as they spent more time together, someday Hyun-oh would properly face his growing feelings for Eunsol.
“Let’s choose the clothes first. If you don’t like anything here, I’ll have to tell them to bring more options. Even if it’s not custom-made, it should be altered to fit your body.”
Ye-ryeong set aside her complicated thoughts and picked up one of the garments from the rack, holding it up against Eunsol.
“This design seems to suit you. Would you like to try it on? Seeing is different from wearing.”
“Yes.”
Eunsol didn’t refuse and took the clothes Ye-ryeong had chosen, moving toward the changing room. It was a basic suit design with subtle accents on the collar.
The color Ye-ryeong had chosen was a light sky blue. Imagining the same design in black and matching it to Hyun-oh’s figure, he thought it would suit him well too.
“The waist is too big. Is this the smallest size? And it’s specifically for male omegas, right?”
As Eunsol came out after changing, Ye-ryeong examined him with a discerning eye. The shoulders and cuffs of the jacket were just the right length, but even at a glance, the pants looked too big.
“Yes, Madam. It’s the smallest size, but…”
The boutique manager looked flustered. Having received the list of reserved guests, he had put great effort into selecting designs and sizes to match their preferences, but he hadn’t expected such a size mismatch.
“After we finish shopping today, let’s eat and then go home. Hyun-oh will be working late as always anyway.”
Ye-ryeong shook her head and felt Eunsol’s waistband. Every time they met, she fed him delicious food, but his constitution seemed to resist gaining weight, which made her simultaneously envious and concerned.
“Yes, Mother. I’ll choose something delicious.”
Recognizing that she was concerned about him, Eunsol gave Ye-ryeong a faint smile. Then he examined his reflection in the full-length mirror. He had liked the design since Ye-ryeong had picked it out and handed it to him.
Apart from the pants looking a bit large once he put it on, it suited him well. The light sky blue particularly made his fair complexion appear more radiant.
“And I’d like to go with this design, if that’s alright?”
“You already like the first one I chose for you?”
“Yes.”
Ye-ryeong, quickly pleased by Eunsol’s answer, hummed lightly.
“Of course it’s fine. This is the first time anyone has seen this design, correct?”
“Yes, Madam. I’ll make a note that it shouldn’t be shown to other customers.”
Two people wearing the same design at the party—Eunsol and Hyun-oh—would be sufficient.
The clothes Eunsol had chosen were a design that had just arrived from France and was being shown for the first time in this fitting room. It hadn’t even been featured in shows yet, so it wasn’t available abroad either. The clothes had been specially requested from the headquarters.
Ye-ryeong smiled with satisfaction at the manager’s perceptive words.
Eunsol picked up a black suit of the same design he was wearing. Lifting it up as if Hyun-oh were standing beside him, his heart began to beat pleasantly.
‘…I think we’d look good together.’
He imagined Hyun-oh’s face above the clothes. The reflection in the mirror might look a bit comical now, but if they actually wore the same design at the party, they probably wouldn’t be ridiculed by others.
‘I need to gain some weight by then.’
Even to himself, his prominent cheekbones didn’t look beautiful. Ye-ryeong was quite thin, but Eunsol, despite being male, swallowed a sigh as he looked down at his wrist, which wasn’t much different in size from Ye-ryeong’s.
‘I want to… try them on together soon.’
He hadn’t expected to look forward to the party. His upbringing had instilled a fear of parties in him. He had rarely attended parties, and whenever he did, he had no good memories.
Moreover, Hyun-oh was practically the main character of this party. Numerous people would crowd around Hyun-oh like hyenas, trying to impress him as the most likely candidate for the next chairman.
As Eunsol would be attending the party as Hyun-oh’s spouse, he couldn’t afford to become prey to them.
“Mother, could you… help me a bit?”
Although he had already asked Manager Kim Myungjun for information he needed to know, the information directly from Ye-ryeong would surely be different. He didn’t know what might happen at this party.
“If our little bird asks for help, of course I’ll help.”
Ye-ryeong smiled cheerfully. Having gained a reliable ally, Eunsol looked back at her with rounded eyes.
* * *
“Is Hyun-oh… coming directly to the party venue?”
“Yes. That’s what I’ve been informed by Manager Kim.”
Eunsol fidgeted with the cuff of the suit he was wearing. It was an exceptionally beautiful day. Despite the cloudless sky matching the color of his suit, his eyes were dark.
“…I delivered the suit to Director Han early this morning. I heard that he was pleased with it.”
Song Do-ye, who had been sitting with an expressionless face, glanced at Eunsol’s complexion through the rearview mirror before bringing up a topic she wouldn’t normally discuss.
“…That’s good to hear.”
She had always treated Eunsol in a purely businesslike manner. Eunsol raised his hand to touch his lips. They seemed to be drooping as if weighted down. It must have been obvious for Secretary Song to offer words of comfort.
Eunsol forced a bright smile to relax the tense muscles around his mouth. From the moment he arrived at the party venue, he would need to keep smiling. He had to manage his expression now to maintain a smiling face throughout the party.
Even as he practiced smiling, Eunsol’s gaze kept drifting to the side. The phone screen on the seat was still black. He had definitely sent a message this morning, but there was no reply today either.
He hadn’t seen Hyun-oh yesterday or today. In fact, it had been more than a week since he had properly faced him and exchanged greetings.
Whether he was very busy with work or not, he couldn’t even come home, and occasionally sent Kim Myungjun to the house to pick up clothes.
According to Kim Myungjun, Hyun-oh seemed to spend most of his time in the company office. Or he would stop by a hotel near the company to briefly rest.
‘You don’t need to worry. He’s such a workaholic that even before marrying you, Eunsol, he would stay at the company when there were important schedules.’
If Eunsol looked at him with such a pitiful gaze every time Kim Myungjun stopped by the house, it’s no wonder that Kim Myungjun couldn’t ignore Eunsol and spoke on Hyun-oh’s behalf.
‘If only I could receive just one message… I’d have no other wishes.’
At the thought that suddenly crossed his mind, Eunsol bit his lip hard. He felt suffocated by his own greed, wanting more from Hyun-oh despite already living a life beyond what he deserved.
Hyun-oh and he were not lovers. They were in a contract marriage out of necessity, but since becoming aware of his feelings, he often felt hurt by the quiet phone that used to seem normal.
If Hyun-oh knew what Eunsol was thinking… wouldn’t he also feel suffocated?
While feeling frustrated with Eunsol, who had developed feelings for him despite not even having shared proper physical intimacy.
There had been no opportunity for emotional exchange. Eunsol alone had been stealing glances at him, and during times when they couldn’t be together, he would conjure Hyun-oh in his mind, ruminating over each of his expressions and actions.
Swallowing a rising sigh, Eunsol fingered the wedding ring on his right ring finger. From some point, whenever he thought of Hyun-oh, Eunsol had developed a habit of fiddling with the ring Hyun-oh had given him.
Among the five rings, the one Eunsol had chosen today was the simplest in design. Even so, it was still equally splendid with large diamonds embedded in it.
“Eunsol, we’re almost there.”
It was a calm voice that woke Eunsol from his reverie. Eunsol raised his head to examine the approaching exterior of the hotel. It was Seoul T Hotel, where the charity auction party was being held.
As Eunsol blinked his long lashes and prepared to get out, the image of a person gradually filling his vision caused him to unconsciously forget his expression management and half-open his mouth.
“It seems Director Han has come to greet you.”
It was unexpected. Hyun-oh’s face, which he was seeing after several days, looked as if he had lost weight, his jawline appearing sharper than in Eunsol’s memory.
Although the car windows were heavily tinted, making it unlikely that Hyun-oh could see him clearly, his gaze was directed precisely at Eunsol’s face.
For a moment, Eunsol forgot to breathe and absorbed the sight of him as if sinking into it. Whether he had visited a salon or not, his hairstyle, which revealed his handsome forehead, looked unfamiliar yet incredibly suited to him.
Unable to even blink, Eunsol gazed endlessly at the approaching Hyun-oh, but his gaze trembled violently immediately after seeing what he was wearing.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
