Chapter 2: Soyo

Hearing Kwon Seha call his name made him feel alive.

It was the season when a cool breeze had begun to blow.

It was the kind of weather where you had to start wearing long sleeves, and when you went to a café, you would naturally reach for a warm drink first.

Choi Haesu quite liked this season.

It had been a while since they had a proper date.

Seha’s team had entered a mid-to-large-scale project, and it had taken four months.

Kwon Seha, who tended to be obsessive about the work he was responsible for regardless of his position, had worn himself out alongside his subordinates until the project was over.

In the meantime, he also paid close attention to how others perceived him.

Haesu understood the desire to show only your best side in front of someone you wanted recognition from, so he wasn’t upset.

On the rare days they managed to see each other even briefly, Seha always had dark circles under his eyes.

“Yeah, Haesu. Are you done? I’ll come pick you up. Don’t leave, just wait.”

Haesu felt sorry for Seha, but also found it endearing how immersed he was in his first major project.

So while Seha was busy, he chose to be a mature partner who didn’t sulk.

After all, Seha would postpone even team dinners and rush to him right after work, so Haesu didn’t wish for anything more.

Even when Haesu asked how a team leader could leave such important gatherings, Seha ignored him completely.

“I need to see Haesu. I need to touch him, bite him, kiss him, so don’t argue.”

His slightly sulky voice, as if asking whether he was the only one who had missed him, was lovable.

Affectionate and like a big puppy, Seha always made Haesu—who was weak to cuteness—smile helplessly.

“Am I a kid? Just go home and meet me there.”

“Still. It’s cold. You get cold easily.”

“It’s still September, you know? You’re being weird, Kwon Seha.”

“Can’t you understand that I’m just trying to see you a little sooner?”

The weather was nice, the breeze was pleasant, and there were no obligations.

With the voice of the person he loved coming through his phone, Haesu couldn’t help but feel happy.

Unable to resist Seha’s whining, he agreed to wait.

Seha told him to wait just a little and hung up.

Looking at the screen after the call ended, Haesu started walking.

Thanks to Seha’s call during his walk, he sat on a bench in the school field and leisurely enjoyed the breeze settling on his hair.

It really is autumn.

Maybe I should start reorganizing my wardrobe.

He thought about the summer clothes he had left in Seha’s closet.

As these thoughts passed, a cold breeze brushed against his skin.

Haesu rubbed his arms and shrank slightly to fight off the chill.

At that moment, a luxury sedan stopped within his view.

As the sleek surface of the car caught his eye, Haesu quickly lifted his head.

It was a car he knew very well.

The moment he saw the person stepping out of the driver’s seat, he couldn’t hide his happiness.

“Seha.”

“Are you cold? Why are you like that?”

“A little. I was confidently talking earlier, but I lost to the wind.”

“See? Come here. Good thing I came to get you, right?”

Seha spread his arms and grinned brightly.

His face looked dazzlingly fresh.

His slightly messy hair from the wind softened his strong brows.

Even though he must have been tired, his skin was smooth and unblemished.

The upward curve of his lips still made Haesu’s heart flutter.

Maybe because it had been a while, Haesu kept wanting to kiss those handsome lips.

Seeing the face he hadn’t touched in so long made his fingertips tingle.

Thinking it was unlike him, Haesu fanned his flushed face.

Seha, still smiling, intertwined their fingers.

“What if someone sees? Let go.”

“I’ll let go when we get in the car.”

“Then let’s get in quickly.”

Holding Seha’s hand, Haesu walked toward the passenger seat.

As Haesu reached for the door, Seha quickly opened it for him and seated him inside.

After fastening his seatbelt himself, Seha quickly kissed his forehead and closed the door.

Watching him walk around to the driver’s seat made Haesu laugh softly.

Even after starting the car, Haesu couldn’t stop smiling.

He clenched and unclenched his tingling hands before reaching out and gently placing one on Seha’s cheek.

As if waiting for it, Seha pulled Haesu closer.

It was the face of his lover he hadn’t touched in three weeks.

When Seha’s tongue slipped between their lips, Haesu was completely unprepared.

Feeling the soft warmth, his hands moved urgently before settling into Seha’s hair.

After a long moment, they shared breath and swallowed what might have been either of theirs.

When a faint sound escaped Haesu’s lips, Seha pulled back and looked at him.

“How did you hold back from missing me?”

“I didn’t. That’s why we’re still here.”

“I missed you too, Haesu.”

After wiping his lips, Seha kissed his face lightly several times.

Only after a few minutes did Haesu pull away.

“Why?”

“Let’s leave the school first. This is a bit embarrassing.”

“Since when has that mattered?”

It felt slightly ticklish, realizing how much Seha had missed him too.

“Let’s eat quickly. Then go home.”

“What will you do at home?”

“It’s our home. What should I do?”

“Of course you should. Think of it as an entry fee. It starts today.”

That’s cute.

Even knowing it was a silly thought, Haesu couldn’t stop himself.

For a moment, he wondered if this man was really older than him.

As the car moved away from the school, Haesu finally let out a breath.

They had kissed like that with the car parked on the field.

Even if no one could see inside, it still felt embarrassing.

Compared to how much more reserved he used to be, Haesu had changed a lot.

All of those changes came from this man.

Bright, affectionate, and always confident, Seha was the opposite of how Haesu saw himself.

That’s why he admired him and couldn’t help but love him.

Not many people could reject someone who embodied everything they wanted to be.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Hmm… Kwon Seha.”

“Well, obviously. I’m right next to you.”

“You were awkward and cute when we first met. What happened?”

“I wasn’t awkward.”

“No, you were.”

Their meaningless bickering was enjoyable.

Warmth flowed through their joined hands.

“What should we eat? I’ll eat whatever you want.”

“Then I’ll eat what you want.”

“No. I don’t like what I want. You choose.”

“That’s ridiculous…”

Seha grabbed his hand again and brought it to his lips.

A light kiss.

Haesu held his large, steady hand and looked down at it.

The warmth felt real.

He looked up at Seha’s profile.

Compared to when they first met, Seha had grown stronger.

Even from their joined hands, he could tell.

Through all this time together, Haesu’s feelings never rested.

He was always busy loving Kwon Seha.

Whenever Seha called his name, he felt alive.

“Haesu.”

It felt like he could keep living.

He vaguely thought he wanted to stay by Seha’s side until he died.

He wanted to feel that happiness with every breath.

It was when he was thinking that.

When he was imagining only happiness.

“Haesu. Wait…”

Seha’s shaken voice pierced his ears.

Haesu, who had been looking at him, turned toward the windshield.

He was about to smile playfully, but his eyes widened.

Hooooonk—!

“Close your eyes!”

The first thing he registered was Seha shouting.

He had never heard his voice like that before.

There was no time to process what was approaching.

The moment he realized, the car shook violently.

Fear dropped heavily in his chest as he shut his eyes tightly.

Horns blared everywhere.

His whole body trembled.

When the noise echoed over and over, he felt Seha’s arm across his chest.

The moment he felt it, he opened his eyes.

The car in front of them was stopping abruptly at terrifying speed.

Right in front of them.

Bang— Crash—

Screeeech—!

“Haesu!”

The last thing he heard was the horn and Seha’s scream.

There had been warmth around his head.

But with that, Haesu lost consciousness.