Chapter 28: An Unscheduled Rendezvous

It was only natural. Trust was essential between people, yet Sa-yoon could offer none to anyone. He couldn’t share stories about his family, his friends, or his past.

‘Would Chae-jun eventually grow weary of Sa-yoon’s silence, of his refusal to share anything, and drift away?’ Such thoughts occasionally plagued Sa-yoon.

“Why are those people gathered there?”

As they walked, a crowd of people came into view outside the window. The two men, traversing the second floor, glanced out to see a throng passing by. Amidst them, a prominent head of black hair swayed.

“Ah, I see. If there’s any commotion in the unit, it’s always that team’s fault.”

The culprits were Han Do-hoon and the members of Team 1 surrounding him. Despite having returned to the country some time ago, Han Do-hoon still commanded attention wherever he went. Not only his teammates but also onlookers gathered, their eyes drawn to him from all directions.

It was a familiar sight, so Sa-yoon dismissed it and prepared to move on. Yet, he felt as though Han Do-hoon had been looking their way. Peering out the window once more, he saw only the same dark crown of a head. Sa-yoon scratched his head, scrutinizing Han Do-hoon’s direction.

‘Was it just my imagination…?’

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

Sa-yoon dismissed it casually, continuing towards their destination. The post office, responsible for the unit’s mail, was located at the end of the first-floor corridor. The two men descended the stairs.

“It’s farther than I thought.”

“Well, a lot of heavy items come and go, and they need storage, so it makes sense it’s in a secluded spot.”

“If I’d known, I would have just sent you alone.”

“But we’re almost there… huh?”

Chae-jun, who had been walking half a step behind, suddenly froze. His gaze landed on a large, dark silhouette standing before them. It was Han Do-hoon, who had been leading the crowd outside the window just moments ago, now standing alone.

‘I knew it,’ Sa-yoon thought. ‘My imagination, indeed.’ He extended the paper bag to Chae-jun.

“You mail this for me. I’ll just have a quick chat before I go.”

Chae-jun’s eyes widened as he took the paper bag. Han Do-hoon and Sa-yoon no longer snarled at each other every time they met, as they once had. They lived as if the other didn’t exist.

Yet, Sa-yoon was telling him to leave so he could speak with Han Do-hoon alone. Chae-jun had known his team leader for a long time. Given Sa-yoon’s inherent selectivity with people, a personality like Han Do-hoon’s was practically an antithesis.

“You’ll be… alright?”

“Didn’t you say I’d finally matured?”

“That’s precisely why I’m more anxious. I’m worried this is the calm before the storm.”

Trembling, Chae-jun muttered, then whispered softly to Sa-yoon.

“Don’t cause any trouble. Absolutely not. Just keep things quiet, like you have been.”

“Do you think I’m a child?”

“If you were a child, I wouldn’t worry!”

Sa-yoon patted the flustered Chae-jun and waved his hand. He couldn’t very well tell him not to worry, especially after their intimate night in bed yesterday. It was truly difficult to articulate the situation.

“Stop with the nonsense and go on now.”

Still riddled with worry, Chae-jun cautiously backed away, deliberating for a long moment before offering a silent bow to the two of them and disappearing down the corridor. Han Do-hoon, who had been quietly observing the scene, approached Sa-yoon.

“What a coincidence, running into you here.”

“Is it really a coincidence?”

At the blunt question, Han Do-hoon chuckled silently. His long arm reached out to Sa-yoon, pulling him into the shadows beneath the stairs, where his arm wrapped firmly around Sa-yoon’s waist.

Han Do-hoon’s smiling lips parted, licking the corner of Sa-yoon’s mouth before invading. Tongues instantly entwined, heads pressing together. A thick tongue root obstructed Sa-yoon’s breathing, lingering to savor the soft interior of his mouth. Only when Sa-yoon’s chest heaved, gasping for air, did Han Do-hoon finally pull away.

“Haa…”

Sa-yoon exhaled the breath he had been holding. Han Do-hoon’s lips glistened, and Sa-yoon’s were no different.

“Chae-jun should have seen this. He specifically told us not to fight before he left.”

“Shall I show him?”

Speaking slyly, Han Do-hoon’s hand roamed over Sa-yoon. It traced between his firm vertebrae, pressing into the hollow of his lower back.

Since the satisfactory contract was signed, Sa-yoon had met with his new partner, Han Do-hoon, several times. Their relationship proved more beneficial than expected. Han Do-hoon had excellent bedroom manners and was discreet.

Crucially, he was someone who would never develop personal feelings for Sa-yoon. Han Do-hoon simply needed Sa-yoon’s body to accommodate his unique constitution.

“If we get caught doing this, it’ll cause a huge commotion. I absolutely detest noise.”

Despite his firm words, Sa-yoon remained in Han Do-hoon’s embrace. The moment he met Han Do-hoon, he had quickly scanned their surroundings, checking for CCTV cameras and people. Fortunately, there was no risk of being discovered if they indulged themselves here.

With Sa-yoon’s unspoken consent, Han Do-hoon’s touch grew bolder. He stroked Sa-yoon’s back, then buried his face in his neck. A ticklish breath brushed against the exposed skin. A moist tongue licked his neck, slowly ascending to nip at his earlobe.

“How far do you intend to go?”

“I only meant to say hello, but seeing your face makes it hard to resist.”

Han Do-hoon behaved as if he were in heat, as he had consistently done during their previous encounters. Ever since that first night when he refused to let Sa-yoon leave, he had been desperate to cling to Sa-yoon whenever their eyes met. Sa-yoon, for his part, never refused such advances.

“Uh…”

His actions, pressing close and licking Sa-yoon’s ear, grew increasingly daring. Han Do-hoon’s black hair warmed Sa-yoon’s cheek, and the wet, sloshing sounds echoing in his ear sent a shiver down his neck. Sa-yoon, hunching his shoulders, pushed Han Do-hoon away. While it was true he was quite aroused himself, it was broad daylight. Moreover, this was a place where anyone could appear.

Fortunately, despite the gentle push, Han Do-hoon willingly retreated.

“What brings you all the way here? I understood Mr. Sa-yoon’s team uses the training grounds on the opposite side.”

“I had a package to send.”

Recalling the paper bag Chae-jun had held moments ago, Han Do-hoon nodded.

“It must be an important item, considering you brought it all the way here yourself.”

“Well, something like that.”

In truth, he had come all this way more for a change of scenery than for the item’s importance, but he saw no need to add unnecessary details. Sa-yoon gazed intently at Han Do-hoon. He realized that just moments ago, he had felt quite melancholic, but that feeling had evaporated and flown away during their frantic tryst.

Sa-yoon looked at Han Do-hoon, who was diligently fulfilling his role.

“You’re quite useful, you know.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course. I almost want to scratch your chin for being such a good boy.”

His demeanor, clinging to Sa-yoon and asking if it was a compliment, resembled a large, black dog. Sa-yoon imagined him closing his eyes and wagging his tail if his chin were scratched. Sa-yoon straightened his disheveled top and wiped his lips. He also tidied his bangs, which seemed to declare, ‘I just had a good time with someone.’

“But don’t you have another appointment?”

Having been with others just moments ago, he must have stepped away briefly. With a busy international talent like Han Do-hoon kept domestically, the higher-ups surely wouldn’t have left him idle. It was common knowledge that Han Do-hoon, whose next departure date was uncertain, was being utilized in various capacities.

Han Do-hoon checked the device on his wrist. He scanned his schedule, then looked at Sa-yoon.

“My schedule is clear after 8 PM today. Until then, I have work.”

“That sounds tiring.”

“Then let’s meet in my room afterward.”

As Sa-yoon stared intently, Han Do-hoon took a step closer and whispered into his ear.

“If you’re going to compliment me, I’ll take it physically. I prefer doing the stroking to being stroked, you see.”

The faint smile playing on his lips deepened. Han Do-hoon playfully kissed Sa-yoon’s lips briefly, his tongue tracing the roof of his mouth. Just as the kiss threatened to deepen again, a voice called out for Han Do-hoon from a distance.

“…sir. Team Leader Do-hoon!”

“Tsk. Well, I’ll see you tonight.”

Han Do-hoon clicked his tongue at the distant call and turned towards his team members. Sa-yoon, standing in a daze, needlessly wiped his lips with his wrist. His mouth felt strangely tingly.

‘8 PM…’

Sa-yoon opened his device. Even though he knew he had no evening plans, he needlessly checked his schedule before closing it again. It was a strange feeling.

“You’ve been looking quite radiant lately.”

‘Was this déjà vu?’ Sa-yoon tilted his head, recalling having heard similar words recently. Kim Sang-hoo, the Director-General, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, scratched his temple with an uncomfortable expression.

“Director-General, you’ve aged quite a bit since I last saw you.”

“If only you couldn’t talk…”

The reason for the Director-General’s haggard appearance was obvious: the internal investigation was still ongoing. The insider who had colluded with the terrorist group Airain remained untraceable. In their search for a traitor, an unexpected defense industry corruption scandal had erupted, turning every day into a battle for the administration and intelligence agencies.

“Seriously, there’s no clean corner. Dig anywhere, and something’s bound to explode.”

“This organization has been around for a long time, hasn’t it? It’s probably due for something like this.”

The International Esper Security Association. Sa-yoon was part of the South Korean headquarters of this global Esper military organization.

‘To endure with the dawn moon.’

This was the slogan of the South Korean headquarters. Like the dawn moon, which guards the darkest night and then yields its place to the sun, the organization was founded with the resolve to protect humanity facing immense trials with their lives, then fade into history once peace arrived.