TPG 23
by Cherry“Dry my hair.”
Despite acting like he had something to say, the hair drying seemed more like an excuse.
Earlier he said he wouldn’t dry it, but instead he crossed his arms and closed his eyes. Si-woo wanted to tell him to open his eyes again.
Why did I even offer to do it? Still, Han Soo-hyeok’s expression wasn’t bad, so he was enthusiastically drying his hair more than anyone would. It felt strangely like he was being drawn in.
“Thank you for lending me the clothes.”
When Lee Si-woo had almost finished drying his hair, he said this while turning off the hair dryer switch and unplugging the cord, and Han Soo-hyeok opened his eyes that had been closed.
Looking somewhat drowsy, he looked at his face reflected in the mirror. Thinking he might be checking if his hair was completely dry, Si-woo gently ran his fingers through his hair.
“Ah, the clothes.”
Han Soo-hyeok, who belatedly understood what he meant, spoke in a sleepy voice.
Si-woo wondered if Soo-hyeok had fallen asleep while he was drying his hair.
“I’ll wash them and return them to you.”
“If you return them, there’s no one to wear them.”
He was momentarily at a loss for words at Han Soo-hyeok’s response. Saying “Then should I not return them?” seemed a bit awkward.
“You wear them.”
When Han Soo-hyeok got up from his seat, his figure and Si-woo’s white t-shirt became even more prominent in the mirror that was filled with their reflections.
“I have a suit for you to wear to work tomorrow too, so put today’s clothes in the laundry.”
There’s a suit for me?
“Let’s get back to work.”
Han Soo-hyeok pointed to the clock that was approaching 11 o’clock and left first. Perhaps due to the heat from the hair dryer, his neck was flushed red.
* * *
Lee Si-woo reviewed materials while leaving notes on printed papers. He had been concentrating on work for a while when he heard a thud from beside him, something falling. When he looked to see what it was, it seemed Han Soo-hyeok had dropped the paper he was holding.
He was about to pick up the paper and give it to him when he paused. Han Soo-hyeok’s eyes were closed. Si-woo suddenly checked what time it was.
“It’s already 4 o’clock.”
He had reason to be tired.
“Hyung, go inside and sleep.”
Si-woo said this while carefully placing his hand on Han Soo-hyeok’s shoulder. Since he was sitting on the floor, not even on a sofa while working, it must have been uncomfortable.
But as soon as he touched him, Han Soo-hyeok collapsed.
And toward him, at that.
While Si-woo was staring, unable to do anything, Han Soo-hyeok leaned against his shoulder.
‘Did I shake him for no reason?’
Who would have thought that trying to wake him up would lead to this? While contemplating whether to leave him like this, he looked at Han Soo-hyeok’s face. His prominent nose bridge and tightly closed lips were the same as when he was drying his hair earlier, but his steady breathing was different.
Si-woo quietly sighed.
Let’s just leave him be.
Since he was already leaning anyway, he adjusted his posture so Han Soo-hyeok could lean more comfortably. Then as he picked up the paper again, Han Soo-hyeok’s hair gently brushed against his cheek. The subtle fragrance spreading from his hair tickled his nose. Wasn’t it the same shampoo? It was mysteriously different, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
“It’s nice, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”
Although Han Soo-hyeok’s weight was resting on his shoulder, it wasn’t uncomfortable. Rather, it was so warm that he thought it would be okay if he leaned on him a little more.
With the sound of turning pages and Soo-hyeok’s gentle breathing as a lullaby, Si-woo unknowingly fell asleep too.
* * *
When Lee Si-woo opened his eyes, something felt awkward.
Something was strange.
Not only had the weight that had been leaning on his shoulder disappeared, but his body was tilted. He was about to straighten up when he paused.
When had he fallen asleep leaning against Han Soo-hyeok?
Then he heard a slow voice.
“Are you awake?”
When he lifted his head, Han Soo-hyeok turned his gaze from the documents to look at him.
“You looked tired, so I didn’t wake you.”
“Did I sleep leaning against you, hyung?”
“Hmm… my shoulder is a bit stiff.”
When Si-woo moved away from him, Han Soo-hyeok rolled his shoulder in a big circle. Si-woo felt sorry for sleeping while leaning on him, but he had something to say too.
“I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I mean, before I fell asleep…”
“It’s okay. I’m the one who didn’t wake you, so don’t worry about my shoulder.”
Han Soo-hyeok smiled faintly as he said this and got up from his seat.
“Let’s get ready for work.”
Watching his retreating figure walking with one shoulder dropped, Si-woo couldn’t shake off his sense of injustice.
*
The savory aroma of soup and soufflé filled the kitchen. Since Han Soo-hyeok hadn’t slept much, Lee Si-woo prepared soft foods in case his stomach felt unsettled.
As he was adding salad and fruit that could be served alongside, Han Soo-hyeok came out. Shaking off his wet bangs as if he had just washed his face lightly, his clean face shone smoothly.
His atmosphere was definitely different with his hair down. It had become softer. Si-woo thought the basic cotton t-shirt also played a part in that…
“You haven’t changed clothes yet.”
At his words, Han Soo-hyeok looked at his own clothes. Then he looked at Si-woo’s clothes, and Si-woo felt oddly embarrassed for no reason.
“I was going to change after breakfast.”
“…Please eat.”
Si-woo held out the utensils. Han Soo-hyeok looked at the soup and soufflé, then glanced at the refrigerator. Even without him saying anything, Si-woo could guess what that look meant.
“I made it myself.”
Since he had made it using ingredients from the refrigerator, there was no way there would be ready-made products inside.
“You can eat lightly and have a hearty lunch.”
At Si-woo’s words, Han Soo-hyeok ate the soup. Si-woo almost laughed at the sight of him lifting his head while holding the spoon in his mouth.
“You can also dip this bread in the soup. Or you can eat it with the fruit.”
When Si-woo cut the soufflé with a knife, it looked like a soft sponge just from looking at it. Han Soo-hyeok held out the spoon he had been holding in his mouth, so Si-woo placed some on it. To signal not to eat it yet, he held Han Soo-hyeok’s hand that was gripping the spoon and also placed a blueberry on top.
He wanted to keep holding his hand in case the blueberry rolled off, but since he wasn’t a child, he carefully let go.
As if there was no need to hold it for him, Han Soo-hyeok skillfully put the spoon in his mouth. His eyes blinked twice, as if the taste was good.
“When did you start cooking?”
“Just… talent?”
It was no different from when he asked about driving. Since Si-woo had nothing to say, he could only make excuses.
Then he remembered something he had forgotten. He put down his spoon and tapped his left shoulder.
“Why does my shoulder hurt so much?”
It was a soliloquy he muttered for Han Soo-hyeok to hear. He was trying to show that it wasn’t just him who woke up leaning on the other, but that Han Soo-hyeok had done the same. Honestly, his head should weigh more than his!
“Maybe it’s because I had something heavy on it all night, it’s stiff.”
Si-woo looked at him meaningfully, implying that it was all because Han Soo-hyeok had been leaning on him.
“It’s because you slept on the floor. Your room is over there, so next time sleep on the bed. Even if you sleep for just an hour, you need to sleep on a bed to get deep sleep. Don’t foolishly sleep on the floor for no reason.”
When did he say his shoulder was stiff from sleeping on the floor? And he fell asleep without knowing it, so how could he have looked for a bed?
“If you’re complaining that I made you work overtime, I’ll make it up to you with food and coffee.”
“I prepared this morning’s meal myself. Anyway, my shoulder didn’t get stiff for that reason…”
“Finish eating and come to the dressing room.”
Han Soo-hyeok calmly said only what he wanted to say and got up. The soup was already cleanly finished, and more than half of the soufflé was gone. He had eaten efficiently while Si-woo was tapping his shoulder.
“Thanks for the meal.”
Han Soo-hyeok said only what he wanted to say and walked away leisurely.
This was already the second time.
With a frustrated heart, Si-woo went to the dressing room but couldn’t bring himself to open it, thinking he might be changing clothes.
*
Perhaps because of the stiff collar of the shirt, Lee Si-woo felt uncomfortable somewhere. It felt like the fabric was choking his neck, and the texture against his skin was unfamiliar. It was the suit Han Soo-hyeok had given him.
Clean lines, luxurious fabric, and most of all, he was surprised that it fit his body perfectly as if it had been his from the beginning.
With his left hand that wasn’t holding the steering wheel, he touched the tie and suddenly let out a hollow laugh.
At this level, wasn’t this really a *custom suit*?
Through the rearview mirror, he made eye contact with Han Soo-hyeok sitting in the back seat. Even though he was looking through the mirror, the intense aura emanating from Han Soo-hyeok’s features didn’t diminish at all.
“Thank you. If you give me the receipt, I’ll transfer the money.”
When he tried to pay for the clothes, Han Soo-hyeok tilted his head.
“What receipt?”
His voice was clear and firm.
“Well…”
He was talking about the suit, but what else could there be? Yet Han Soo-hyeok’s voice was so nonchalant that Si-woo wavered.
“If you’re talking about the clothes you’re wearing, they’re ones I didn’t wear because the size didn’t fit, so you don’t need to pay.”
Clothes that happened to not fit so he didn’t wear them…
He had suspected yesterday too, but when changing clothes in the dressing room, he saw shopping bags crumpled up on one side. Even perfect humans make mistakes.
“If you’re really concerned about it, make seaweed soup for breakfast tomorrow or something.”
“That takes time though…”
As he was speaking, something seemed strange.
“President.”
When he deliberately changed the form of address, Han Soo-hyeok’s expression also became serious.
“What?”
“When will I be able to go home?”
When he asked just in case, Han Soo-hyeok’s lips curved up slightly before returning to their original position.
“Anyone would think you’re living and eating at the company.”
“I’m with you, CEO.”
And yesterday, he had no choice but to go to Han Soo-hyeok’s house and work overtime. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to work, and he understood that things would be busy for a while. Still, he thought he should at least ask when he could stop by home.
“After work, I’m not the president but Han Soo-hyeok…”
Since he had said something similar before, Si-woo couldn’t argue back.