Chapter 4: The Morning After Makgeolli

Do-ha clutched his throbbing head, sitting up and frantically raking his hands through his hair. Makgeolli was always a delight, but the lingering hangover the next morning was truly the issue.

The plush comfort of the bed, the serene atmosphere, and the subtle scent of the forest—all too familiar. Recognizing his surroundings instantly, he staggered from the bed, scratching his distended stomach, and made his way to the living room.

“Did I pass out again last night?”

“Yes. Seriously, don’t ever drink with strangers. How can a person just keel over the moment they’re drunk?”

“I know. That’s precisely why I only drink when I’m with you and Jia. I manage my intake elsewhere. At the company, they think my limit is two shots of soju.”

Do-ha accepted the lukewarm honey water Hyun-woo offered, drinking it while his gaze drifted to the clock in the living room.

‘I wouldn’t be late, would I? Seven o’clock. No, not late. Seven. Seven.’

Feeling a sudden emptiness, Do-ha paused in thought, then set the honey water down on the table with a clatter and bolted into the bedroom.

‘Damn it. The wake-up call.’

“Hey, where’s my phone? I told you to just leave me be when I crash, so why do you always insist on changing my clothes?”

Hurrying about in a flurry, Do-ha grabbed the phone Hyun-woo extended and quickly pressed a speed-dial button.

‘Please, please… Surely, this won’t cause an issue?’

“Where are you?”

He usually picked up after three rings, but at Tae-jun’s voice, which came through before the dial tone could even finish, Do-ha let out a startled hiccup.

“Hiccup.”

“Seo Do-ha, where are you right now?”

“Hiccup. That would be a friend’s house…”

“Why are you there?”

“I was drinking… Now that you’re awake, I’ll just hang up now…”

“I’ll see you at the company.”

Do-ha looked down at the disconnected call, having fumbled for words against Tae-jun’s rigid tone. ‘Why did that sound so angry? Could he truly be angry over a mere thirty-minute delay in my call?’

Gazing absently at the phone, Do-ha shrugged and headed to the bathroom. If he was going to quibble over a delayed wake-up call, Do-ha had a few retorts ready. ‘Wasn’t this technically outside of working hours? I should get a hearty bowl of galbitang for lunch to soothe this hangover.’

“Who was that?”

Do-ha shook his head slightly, looking at Hyun-woo, who looked at him with narrowed eyes and spoke. ‘What’s with you now?’

“The team leader.”

“Why are you calling the team leader at this hour?”

“It’s an extension of work. Let me shower, dude. You’re an Alpha, for crying out loud. How much further will you follow me?”

‘What terrible sin must I have committed in a past life to be surrounded by such abnormal individuals?’ After pushing Hyun-woo, who had followed him into the bathroom, back out, Do-ha let out a long, exasperated sigh.

With an air of complete nonchalance, as if it were his own abode, Do-ha entered Hyun-woo’s dressing room. He stood before the built-in closet and perused his own clothing. He visited so often and stayed overnight so frequently that a selection of spare clothes was always kept ready.

As he selected a suit to wear and retrieved his underwear from a drawer, Do-ha clicked his tongue upon seeing Hyun-woo leaning against the doorframe.

“What?”

Though he found it peculiar that Hyun-woo had not only followed him into the bathroom but was now openly staring at him, clad only in a shower gown, Do-ha nonetheless loosened the tie around his waist.

“Don’t you have any sense of danger?”

After putting on his underwear and tossing the shower gown from his shoulders carelessly onto the floor, Do-ha, as he donned his shirt, cast a glance at Hyun-woo, who had been behaving oddly since the previous day.

“What exactly are you trying to say? If you’re just going to stand there, then come over here and lend a hand.”

He fumbled with the lower buttons of his shirt, struggling to fasten them. Do-ha reached for his suit trousers and beckoned Hyun-woo closer.

“How can you not do this? And with such small hands.”

Hyun-woo, gazing intently at Do-ha as he dressed in silence, advanced toward him with deliberate steps.

“I have no idea. I’m in a rush. Just button it quickly.”

Once his trousers were buckled, Do-ha observed Hyun-woo’s hands working on his shirt buttons. He then opened the adjacent drawer, surveying the immaculately arranged ties.

“I keep telling you to buy some pre-tied ties. Are all of these classic styles?”

Unable to find a pre-tied necktie that could be easily worn without the hassle of knotting, Do-ha instead selected a suitable classic tie and offered it to Hyun-woo.

Do-ha looked up at Hyun-woo, who was raising his shirt collar and expertly tying the necktie. Do-ha involuntarily offered a small smile. He had overlooked it, simply because they were just friends, but seeing him like this, he was truly a commendable individual.

Unlike Jia, who would scold him for being clumsy and boast about every single favor she did, Hyun-woo was a refreshing contrast.

His brow was subtly furrowed, presumably from his concentration on tying the necktie. Do-ha lifted a hand and softly grazed Hyun-woo’s forehead.

“Take your hand off.”

“While you’re at it, give me a ride to the company.”

At Hyun-woo’s stern expression and rigid tone, Do-ha swiftly withdrew his hand, meeting Hyun-woo’s gaze.

****

Tae-jun closed the file he had been fruitlessly attempting to concentrate on and stood up. Even when he walked slowly around his office, or gazed down at the refreshing cityscape beyond his window, the oppressive tightness in his chest was inescapable.

The previous evening.

The moment he saw Do-ha sharing an umbrella with a man, then entering a car and departing for an unknown destination, Tae-jun found his heart pounding uncontrollably, a frantic rhythm he couldn’t subdue.

It could have been a close friend picking him up. Or perhaps, it was his lover.

His mood was, to put it mildly, abysmal—a feeling he couldn’t quite articulate.

And with the wake-up call coming later than usual, he found himself inadvertently chastising Do-ha.

He had personally instructed Do-ha not to bother with wake-up calls, yet, he found himself utterly foolish for having stared at his phone since 6:30 AM. The instant the phone rang, he couldn’t contain himself and pressed the answer button without a moment’s hesitation.

Drinking and sleeping at a friend’s house. It was a perfectly normal occurrence.

What he saw passing through the lobby this morning had sent Tae-jun’s heart into another frantic dance.

It was the same car from yesterday. Do-ha emerged from the passenger seat, said something through the open window, waved, and then proceeded inside.

“Team Leader, you called for me…”

After two brief knocks, Do-ha cautiously opened the door and stepped inside. Seeing him, Tae-jun stopped his restless pacing.

“We will be conducting surprise inspections today at the companies that showed problems during the last meeting. Prepare yourselves.”

Do-ha’s skin looked rougher than usual, and faint dark circles were visible beneath his eyes.

Tae-jun found himself acting spitefully, not because Do-ha deserved a break from work, but simply because he had drunk with someone else and slept at their house.

“Wouldn’t it be better if I drove the company car?”

‘It seems more appropriate for a subordinate like me to drive.’

Do-ha cautiously spoke, watching Tae-jun open the passenger door of a luxury sedan, expecting him to get in, suggesting they go in his own car, not a company one.

“I drive my own car. Get in.”

Do-ha’s words were cut off sharply, like a radish sliced clean. He awkwardly got into the passenger seat, then watched Tae-jun, who had taken the driver’s seat but hadn’t yet started the car.

Trying to appear somewhat perceptive, Do-ha input the inspection locations—which he had discreetly found out after being told to prepare for the inspection—into the navigation system, a satisfied smile gracing his lips.

“Do-ha, are you doing this on purpose?”

Still not fully grasping the situation, Do-ha blinked at Tae-jun’s words, having merely stared blankly at him. His head still ached from the lingering alcohol, and his stomach was uneasy. Even though he had showered that morning, he still worried that the scent of alcohol or pheromones might cling to him, so he instinctively lifted his arm and sniffed.

The deodorant spray had effectively masked his pheromones, leaving only the faint, pleasant scent of fabric softener.

Tae-jun made no move to start the car, instead turning his body completely towards Do-ha, his gaze unsettling.

“Huh? Aren’t we leaving?”

“You’re still quite high-maintenance, I see.”

Do-ha’s breath caught as Tae-jun’s body suddenly leaned over him, pressing him against the seatback. Tae-jun’s profile flashed past his eyes and then moved away, but Do-ha found he couldn’t easily resume his halted breathing.

Click.

“Ah…”

Only after the seatbelt clicked into place and the car began to move did Do-ha slowly exhale the breath he had been holding, letting out a soft sigh.

‘Just say it with words.’

“The company we’re heading to now has been experiencing an unusual increase in defects recently. The company claims it’s due to a change in the person in charge, but it appears to be more like embezzlement of funds.”

Do-ha pulled out the documents the manager had given him and began to briefly explain them to Tae-jun. If he were driving, he could have asked Tae-jun to read them during the journey, but since Tae-jun was at the wheel, Do-ha had no choice but to explain.

“Do-ha.”

“Yes.”

“Just rest.”

“What? But if you’re going to visit three places today, the manager specifically told me to make sure you referred to this…”

“Why do you think I suggested we go for an inspection today?”

This was Tae-jun’s space, his car. Perhaps because it was a place where he didn’t need to fully control his pheromones, the subtle scent of plum blossoms filled Do-ha’s lungs with every breath.

Do-ha had no suitable answer for Tae-jun’s question, so he simply looked at Tae-jun, who was focused on driving.

His gaze lingered on Tae-jun’s strong profile, then moved to his shoulders, his arms, and finally, his hands gripping the steering wheel.

Do-ha’s face and ears flushed as he remembered how obscenely those hands could move, and how sweet those tightly sealed lips had been. Once his thoughts strayed there, a blush crept across his face and ears.

He remembered the name of the person Tae-jun had called out so desperately, and he knew for certain that Tae-jun had someone he liked. Yet, his heart seemed to beat faster and faster, prompting him to press a hand firmly against his chest.

Do-ha offered no reply to Tae-jun’s question, but Tae-jun didn’t seem to expect one, making no further remarks. Do-ha then shifted his gaze to the car window.

“Oh, Team Leader, this place is…”

Distracted and not paying attention to where they were going, Do-ha realized they had arrived not at an inspection site, but at a famous galbitang restaurant.

It was noon.

As soon as they entered the bustling galbitang restaurant during lunchtime, Tae-jun ordered two bowls of galbitang without even asking Do-ha’s opinion.

“Is that not enough?”

‘Not enough?’ Do-ha wished he could read Tae-jun’s mind.

Receiving one bowl of galbitang each was understandable. It was better to eat a hearty lunch beforehand to avoid unnecessary hospitality.

Moreover, a hot bowl of galbitang was good for settling an upset stomach. However, the problem was the meat, which filled his bowl to the brim.

Eating styles varied from person to person, so Tae-jun’s action of separating all the ribs from the bones as soon as he received his bowl didn’t particularly catch Do-ha’s attention. But an odd feeling arose when Tae-jun handed him the bowl with all the bones and meat removed, then took Do-ha’s untouched bowl.

Do-ha tried to dismiss it, thinking Tae-jun had just deboned it for easier eating, but with a few movements of Tae-jun’s hand, all the meat from Tae-jun’s galbitang bowl had transferred to Do-ha’s.

“Why are you doing this?”

‘What’s the point of galbitang if you take out all the meat?’

“Eat.”

Do-ha watched Tae-jun casually say this while adding plain rice to his own galbitang, which now consisted only of clear broth with green onions floating in it. With a troubled heart, Do-ha picked up a piece of rib meat and put it in his mouth.

Despite his troubled mind, the rib meat melted in his mouth, and the warm broth instantly soothed his stomach. Do-ha focused on his galbitang, oblivious to Tae-jun sitting opposite him.

Given that Tae-jun only chose the rib meat for him, perhaps he didn’t like meat. Regardless, the meat was delicious, and it tasted even better with every bite, causing Do-ha’s spoon to move faster and faster.

“Was it delicious?”

‘Ah… this crazy guy.’

Do-ha, who had been eating his galbitang without a care, feeling pleasantly full, put down his spoon and reached for a tissue to wipe his mouth. His movements suddenly froze.

Galbitang was his go-to hangover cure.

He loved it because it alleviated his throbbing headache and soothed his upset stomach.

However, seeing his galbitang bowl completely empty, not a drop of broth left, let alone the generous amount of meat Tae-jun had given him, Do-ha’s spirits sank.

In a situation where he needed to impress and earn points by showing his competence, he had instead simply sat comfortably in the passenger seat, lost in thought while gazing out the window, and then eaten his meal so foolishly.

Jia’s voice seemed to echo in his ears: ‘Don’t lose your mind over food you like. If you want to succeed at work, show your capabilities.’

“Yes, Team Leader. Did you enjoy your meal as well?”

The only consolation was that Tae-jun’s bowl was also perfectly clean, not a drop of broth remaining.