#048
The helicopter took off into the sky in an awkward atmosphere. Eunseok, who somehow ended up sitting right next to Choi Hanseo, avoided eye contact by fixing his gaze on the sky visible outside the helicopter. He felt quite embarrassed, honestly, having insisted on coming along only to end up injured.
As he was avoiding eye contact, something was draped over his shoulder. Looking down, he saw Choi Hanseo’s suit jacket covering his bare upper body.
“…Thank you.”
Instead of refusing the clothing, Eunseok put his arms through the sleeves of the jacket. Even if the helicopter dropped them off on the building’s rooftop, he would still have to take the elevator back to his lodging. It felt a bit uncomfortable to ride the elevator bare-chested.
The loud propeller noise somewhat diluted the awkward atmosphere. But it wouldn’t be long before the helicopter arrived at the guild building’s rooftop.
The team members who got off the helicopter nodded slightly to Choi Hanseo in greeting and quickly left the rooftop, as if escaping. Eunseok tried to slip away quickly among them but ended up having his shoulder caught.
“Let’s go to my place.”
Choi Hanseo whispered into Eunseok’s ear. And without giving Eunseok a chance to refuse, he put his arm around Eunseok’s shoulder and started walking.
Choi Hanseo’s walking pace was very slow. Naturally, Eunseok’s pace slowed as well.
As they entered, they saw team members in the elevator. Although they clearly made eye contact, Shin Jeongho quickly reached out and repeatedly pressed the elevator close button.
Eventually, the elevator doors closed. Eunseok found himself standing in front of the closed elevator doors with Choi Hanseo’s arm around his shoulder.
“…There was a pretty large green mana stone in the valley water. That seems to be the cause of this incident.”
Eunseok brought up work talk to dispel the awkwardness. He glanced to the side, but Choi Hanseo remained silent.
They stood there blankly in silence until the elevator that had gone all the way down returned to the rooftop. The hand on his shoulder was bothersome, but it felt awkward to shake it off.
Finally, the elevator arrived at the rooftop.
As they got in, Choi Hanseo pressed the top floor button. When Eunseok was about to press the button for the lodging floor, the hand on his shoulder tightened its grip as if to stop him.
“I’d like to wash up and change clothes.”
“There’s a bathroom in my place too. And clothes to change into.”
Choi Hanseo said curtly. His tone was somewhat stiff. Eunseok was concerned about the grip of the hand on his shoulder. It wasn’t painful, but it was holding on very firmly, as if refusing to let go.
It didn’t take long to reach the top floor from the rooftop.
Ding-.
The arrival chime sounded and the elevator doors opened. Choi Hanseo stepped out of the elevator with his arm still around Eunseok’s shoulder. Eunseok, feeling somewhat guilty inside, chose to follow along obediently instead of refusing.
“Go wash up.”
Choi Hanseo opened the bathroom door and gently pushed Eunseok inside. Eunseok glanced around the spacious and luxurious bathroom with a somewhat awkward look, then closed the door and took off his clothes and underwear.
Standing in front of the mirror, he saw his hair and face covered in sweat, cold sweat, and dirt. When he lifted his arm and sniffed, the smell of sweat was overwhelming. It was routine for men to get dirty while training and rolling around together. But perhaps because of the ambiguous relationship he now had with Choi Hanseo, he felt a creeping embarrassment.
After thoroughly showering with hot water, Eunseok stood in front of the mirror and shook his wet hair to dry it. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, he squeezed toothpaste onto his finger and cleaned his teeth and tongue. Not satisfied with just that, he rinsed his mouth once more thoroughly with mouthwash.
His reflection in the mirror looked neat again. His body, tightly packed with only practical muscles without any focus on aesthetic bulk, looked no different from when he was active in the military. Eunseok stalled for time in front of the mirror, combing his wet hair this way and that.
He felt a surge of nervousness for no reason. Since he had received something like a confession… Being in this situation, showering in the other person’s home, was bound to make him a bit nervous.
It was silly to keep stalling. Eunseok looked around the bathroom for something to wear out. Surprisingly, the hotel-style bathroom didn’t have a bathrobe. In the end, Eunseok wrapped a towel around his waist and opened the bathroom door.
“…What are you doing there?”
As soon as he opened the door, Choi Hanseo was leaning against the opposite wall. Instead of answering Eunseok’s question, Choi Hanseo jerked his head slightly as if to say ‘follow me’.
Eunseok silently followed behind Choi Hanseo. With his tie loosened and a couple of shirt buttons undone, he looked unusually relaxed.
Choi Hanseo passed through the living room, opened a closed door, and went inside. Eunseok, who had been following without much thought, hesitated for a moment at the sight of the large bed prominently placed in the room.
“I won’t eat you. I’ll go get some clothes, so sit over there.”
Choi Hanseo said, as if he had noticed Eunseok’s slight hesitation. Feeling somewhat awkward, Eunseok plopped down on the bed, the only piece of furniture in the bedroom. After glancing at him, Choi Hanseo opened a door on one side of the bedroom and went inside. A peek showed it was a considerably large walk-in closet.
While Choi Hanseo was in the walk-in closet, Eunseok looked around the bedroom. On either side of the wide, white bed that looked larger than king-size were bedside tables, and the large windows were covered with blackout curtains. Other than that, there was no furniture at all, just doors leading to the walk-in closet and bathroom.
Choi Hanseo came out of the walk-in closet and placed some clothes on one corner of the bed. Just as Eunseok reached out to grab the clothes, a large hand firmly grasped his outstretched forearm.
“What are you doing?”
Eunseok asked, looking down at Choi Hanseo who was kneeling in front of him. Wordlessly, Choi Hanseo grabbed one of Eunseok’s ankles and placed it on his thigh. As one leg was raised, the towel naturally rolled up.
“Guild Master.”
Eunseok quickly grabbed the edge of the towel to cover himself as he called out to Choi Hanseo.
“Aren’t you addressing me too formally?”
Choi Hanseo said in a leisurely voice as he examined and massaged Eunseok’s calf on his thigh.
“Taeuk hyung healed it cleanly.”
“It seems so. But that doesn’t erase the fact that you were injured.”
Choi Hanseo put down the examined leg and picked up the other ankle to start examining it. His face was quite serious as he massaged and examined the calf muscle.
He’s more meticulous than I thought…
Eunseok thought with a strange feeling.
Contrary to the expectation that he would put the examined leg back down, the large hand massaging the calf slowly slid upwards. The delicate touch brushed past the knee and up to the thigh.
“Guild Master!”
Eunseok quickly called out to Choi Hanseo, grabbing the hand climbing up his thigh.
“Are you going to keep calling me by that stiff title?”
Choi Hanseo asked, slightly raising one eyebrow.
“Please remove your hand.”
“Hanseo-ssi.”
“…”
“Try calling me that.”
Choi Hanseo demanded, locking eyes with Eunseok. Eunseok hesitated to comply with that request. Calling others casually was one thing, but calling Choi Hanseo by name felt completely different.
“Or you can call me hyung if you prefer.”
Choi Hanseo said, sliding his hand, which Eunseok was holding, further up. Although Eunseok gripped it tightly, he couldn’t match Choi Hanseo’s strength.
“Choi Hanseo-ssi.”
Eunseok finally called Choi Hanseo’s name, as if declaring surrender. Choi Hanseo looked alternately at the hand Eunseok was holding and his face, then slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.
“Are you that desperate?”
A mischievous smile appeared in Choi Hanseo’s eyes.
“…Don’t tease me.”
Eunseok said grumpily, pushing away Choi Hanseo’s hand. Fortunately, this time the hand came away easily.
It was quite unsettling to be sitting on Choi Hanseo’s bed in a nearly naked state in front of the fully dressed Choi Hanseo. Eunseok stretched his hand to the side to grab the clothes while watching Choi Hanseo warily. But before his fingertips could touch the clothes, Choi Hanseo playfully pushed Eunseok’s shoulder with his fingertips.
Eunseok’s upper body, caught off guard for a moment, fell back onto the bed with a thump.
The springy mattress softly received his back. Eunseok reflexively tried to sit up, but a large hand on his chest prevented it.
“…What are you doing?”
Eunseok asked in a slightly husky voice.
Of course, he wasn’t asking because he didn’t know. Being laid on the bed nearly naked with only his lower body barely covered – how could he not know what was intended?
“Surely you’re not asking because you don’t know…”
Choi Hanseo said slowly as he climbed onto the bed, placing his knee over Eunseok.
The sight of the man climbing onto the bed, his scent, the gaze openly revealing desire, and the large hand on his chest – the situation overwhelmed him, making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. It was closer to sexual tension than fear or a sense of crisis.
“I haven’t fallen for you yet, Choi Hanseo-ssi.”
Eunseok said, grabbing Choi Hanseo’s wrist that was on his chest. Regardless of gender, this development was too fast and sudden.
“Then why did you go out on your own and come back injured? Shouldn’t you comfort my startled heart like this at least?”
Choi Hanseo said, leaning his upper body closer by placing one hand near Eunseok’s head. Choi Hanseo’s handsome face, right in front of him, and his eyes tinged with desire filled Eunseok’s vision. Choi Hanseo’s eyes gazed at Eunseok’s eyes for a moment before moving down to his lips.
It felt like he might kiss him at any moment. The sexual tension that had been creeping up suddenly exploded.
“Will you comfort me?”
Choi Hanseo asked softly as he slowly lowered his head. Eunseok could feel his breath. It wasn’t unpleasant. No, rather, it felt extremely stimulating. In the end, Eunseok tightly gripped Choi Hanseo’s wrist and closed his eyes as if trying to escape.
