FF Chapter 13

“If he knew we had to stay together for two days, would he freak out?”

Choi Muhyeok was curious about what kind of expression Ji Yeonwoo might make.

Given his personality, he probably wouldn’t show his excitement openly, but he wasn’t the type to be overly inquisitive either. He would likely just accept it with a calm face. After all, that calm face was part of what he liked about him.

“…!”

Lost in thought, Choi Muhyeok suddenly sensed someone’s presence. He quickly removed the arm that had been covering his eyes and turned his head.

His eyes met Ji Yeonwoo’s, who was already awake.

“When did you wake up?”

“A little while ago.”

“I must’ve woken you up.”

“Not really. I always wake up around this time.”

Choi Muhyeok, now fully alert, locked eyes with Ji Yeonwoo. There was no sign of drowsiness in Ji Yeonwoo’s long, blinking eyes. That meant he had probably been awake for a while.

Did he hear everything on the phone?

It was just a guess, but a reasonable one. If so, there was no need to beat around the bush with an explanation.

Their gazes met again. Choi Muhyeok reached out and gently touched Ji Yeonwoo’s bangs that had fallen over his forehead. The moment his fingers brushed the hair, Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes, which had been staring blankly, fluttered shut for a moment and then opened again. Choi Muhyeok swept his fingers smoothly through the soft strands, pushing them back.

“Are you okay now?”

“Yes. I’m sorry about yesterday…”

The hand that had been brushing his hair paused, and their eyes met again. Ji Yeonwoo looked at Choi Muhyeok with a face full of concern.

“Were you really startled?”

“I wasn’t exactly not startled, but it’s not something you need to apologize for, Yeonwoo. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

At the firmness in Choi Muhyeok’s voice, Ji Yeonwoo fell silent.

“Anyway, I’m letting it go just this once. Next time, I won’t be so forgiving if you lose yourself, so be prepared.”

“Okay…”

“And you’re not going to say anything about this?”

Ji Yeonwoo looked at Choi Muhyeok as if to ask what he meant.

“You just barged into my bedroom. I thought you’d at least say something about that.”

Ji Yeonwoo’s lips curled into an ‘O’ shape, as if remembering the other events of the previous day. His freshly woken face turned bashful.

“I do have some sense of shame, you know, Managing Director.”

Seeing Ji Yeonwoo blush, Choi Muhyeok smiled softly. Since Ji Yeonwoo mentioned shame, it seemed he did remember what had happened yesterday, at least to some extent. Choi Muhyeok had a mountain of questions he wanted to ask—what had happened, and who had caused it—but he decided not to bring it up right now.

Instead, he thought he’d slow down the pace a little more. Taking things one step at a time, savoring each moment, seemed like it could be a new kind of fun.

“So, what do we do now?”

Ji Yeonwoo yawned lightly as he blinked lazily.

“It’s time to get up. We need to go to work.”

Despite having his upper body exposed and his lover lying beside him, Ji Yeonwoo’s innocent comment about needing to go to work somehow annoyed Choi Muhyeok.

“Who says?”

Choi Muhyeok tensed the forearm that had been serving as Ji Yeonwoo’s pillow, propping himself up halfway. He ended up holding Ji Yeonwoo in a half-embrace, looking down at him from above.

“Oh, so I’m not allowed to leave either?”

Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes trembled as if hit by an earthquake.

“I can’t even go to work? Really?”

Choi Muhyeok, listening to Ji Yeonwoo’s mild question, pressed his hand against Ji Yeonwoo’s soft, pale cheek. Ji Yeonwoo’s lips puckered out like a bird’s beak.

“You heard everything on the phone.”

“…Mmm.”

Ji Yeonwoo let out a soft groan, as if in pain.

“You’re not going anywhere, understand?”

“Oh…”

“Think about what we’ll do next.”

“If I say what I want to do, will you do it?”

“As long as time allows.”

“How much time do we have?”

Ji Yeonwoo’s breath hitched slightly as Choi Muhyeok’s face came close.

“Probably until Monday morning?”

Looking at Ji Yeonwoo’s lips, which had puckered slightly and were now trembling, Choi Muhyeok leaned in and placed a kiss on them. He kissed him lightly, over and over, letting the sound echo before loosening his grip.

After pulling away briefly, Choi Muhyeok glanced at Ji Yeonwoo. His sleepy eyes opened, and their gazes locked.

As if that was a signal, Choi Muhyeok lowered his head again and captured Ji Yeonwoo’s warm, plump lips. He gently sucked on his lower lip, then moved on to his upper lip. Ji Yeonwoo’s lips parted slightly, as if he needed to catch his breath, and Choi Muhyeok took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, tangling their tongues together.

A familiar scent emanated from Ji Yeonwoo, one that Choi Muhyeok had grown quite accustomed to. He suddenly found himself wondering what Ji Yeonwoo’s pheromones had been like before he lost them.

Had it been a common, sweet scent?

Or was it a slightly special scent?

Until now, Ji Yeonwoo had never thought that the absence of pheromones was disappointing, but as the intimacy between them grew, so did his craving. It was an inevitable instinct of a dominant alpha.

݁˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

It was a clear day with not a single cloud in the sky, but the atmosphere inside Ji Yeonwoo’s officetel felt unusually heavy.

Ji Yeonwoo paced around the living room, nervously biting his nails, which was unlike him.

“Ugh, this is driving me crazy. How am I supposed to face the Managing Director over the weekend?”

Stopping his steps, Ji Yeonwoo let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face with his hands. Although he pretended everything was fine after waking up, he actually remembered everything. How he had acted like someone whose fuse had blown as Choi Muhyeok’s touches grew more intense throughout the night.

It was behavior he never would have exhibited under normal circumstances. Knowing that, Ji Yeonwoo was sure Choi Muhyeok must have been shocked and confused. But Ji Yeonwoo was just as flustered.

He thought he had forgotten it all. It had been two years since the divorce, and even his ex’s face had faded from his memory, so he assumed that all the other memories had faded as well. But that wasn’t the case. His body still remembered. Though it was forced on him, the habits ingrained in him over time surfaced, beyond his control.

If only I had held myself together a little longer.

Ji Yeonwoo crouched down and clutched his head. He couldn’t understand why he had acted that way either. He knew that it was Choi Muhyeok touching him, but he couldn’t stop the overwhelming anxiety from creeping in. His mouth moved on its own, and his hands followed suit. It was a habit ingrained in him from four years of hellish routine.

Ji Yeonwoo clenched his trembling hands into fists, trying hard to regain his composure. There was no turning back now. If Choi Muhyeok wanted to have a serious talk, he would have no choice but to come clean. He had already admitted to losing his pheromones, so revealing his divorce shouldn’t be that hard.

And if telling him made Choi Muhyeok leave, then there would be nothing he could do about it.

He had always anticipated that his failed past would come back to haunt him at some point. So, accepting the reality now would be easier.

But contrary to his rational thoughts, a wave of sadness washed over Ji Yeonwoo’s face. Burdened by the jumble of thoughts in his mind, he sighed softly, trying to shake them off.

The sound of running water in the living room abruptly stopped. Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes widened slightly as he slowly stood up. He held a short-sleeved t-shirt in his hand, the largest one he had in the house, but he wasn’t sure if it would fit Choi Muhyeok.

The bathroom door opened, and a freshly showered Choi Muhyeok emerged, his wet hair dripping as he shook it dry.

“Uh…”

He was shirtless, wearing only his dress pants. The waistband of his boxer briefs, branded with a logo, peeked out from under the slightly sagging pants. The moment Ji Yeonwoo saw this, all the resolutions and thoughts he had been wrestling with seemed to vanish like smoke.

Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t tear his gaze away from Choi Muhyeok as he walked toward him. He was suddenly reminded of the time when Choi Muhyeok had taken off his suit jacket, saying he would make pasta for him. Due to his dominant alpha traits, Choi Muhyeok was a head taller and nearly twice as broad as Ji Yeonwoo. Even in the same formal suit, the way they looked in it was worlds apart.

Ji Yeonwoo also recalled how striking Choi Muhyeok’s back had been when he had turned to head toward the kitchen in his crisp white dress shirt. Every time Choi Muhyeok moved, his tightly stretched back muscles had been evident through the shirt. His shoulders were broad and well-built, but his waist and hips were slim in proportion, and the fitted pants highlighted his lean, muscular legs. Ji Yeonwoo had imagined it, but he hadn’t expected Choi Muhyeok’s upper body to be so well-toned.

“Aren’t you going to give it to me?”

“…What?”

Lost in thought, Ji Yeonwoo snapped back to reality and looked up. Choi Muhyeok was standing right in front of him, looking down at him with a quizzical expression, his wet hair partially covering his forehead.

“Oh, right. Here.”

Ji Yeonwoo stammered like a broken robot as he handed Choi Muhyeok the t-shirt. Choi Muhyeok gave him a curious look but slipped his arms into the shirt.

Surprisingly, the shirt wasn’t ridiculously small on him. The length was just right, and though it looked a bit tight around his muscular arms, it didn’t seem uncomfortable. Wow, that shirt is three sizes too big for me, but it fits him.

“Is this what you usually wear?”

Choi Muhyeok tugged at the shirt, giving Ji Yeonwoo a questioning look.

“No way. I bought it by mistake when ordering clothes, and since I removed the tag before realizing it, I couldn’t return it.”

Ji Yeonwoo trailed off, recalling how he had looked like a child wearing his dad’s clothes when he first tried on the shirt.

“Would you like to keep it, Managing Director?”

Choi Muhyeok grimaced in horror.

“No, thank you. It’s not my style.”

Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction. He decided to push aside any further thoughts for now. For the weekend, he would focus on what to do with the Managing Director. Maybe he could finally experience that normal, happy relationship he had only seen in dramas. Ji Yeonwoo took a deep breath, pursing his lips.

“Come this way. Breakfast is ready.”

“Is it doenjang jjigae?”

Ji Yeonwoo nodded and gently pulled Choi Muhyeok by the arm.

“Yes, I made doenjang stew with tofu. Do you like Korean food?”

“I generally eat it well.”

“Great. Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

Choi Muhyeok smiled faintly and let himself be pulled toward the kitchen.

After a late breakfast that also served as lunch, the two sat in the living room. They debated what to do and eventually decided to watch a movie they had postponed. As Ji Yeonwoo browsed the movie list on an OTT platform, he suddenly froze. Without warning, Choi Muhyeok shifted his position, resting his head on Ji Yeonwoo’s thigh.

“Is it uncomfortable?”

When Ji Yeonwoo stopped moving, Choi Muhyeok, still resting his head on Ji Yeonwoo’s lap, looked up at him.

“No, it’s fine.”

Ji Yeonwoo quickly waved his hand in denial. Choi Muhyeok, who had been staring at him, eventually turned his head back toward the television. Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t take his eyes off Choi Muhyeok. No matter how many times he looked, he couldn’t get used to it. He was amazed at how different someone’s image could be just by lowering their hair! When his hair was slicked back with pomade, his sharp, handsome features were more pronounced, but now, with his forehead covered, he seemed softer and gentler.

“If you can’t find anything to watch, should I look?”

Startled out of his thoughts, Ji Yeonwoo quickly averted his gaze. He had assumed that Choi Muhyeok was watching TV, but at some point, he had turned his gaze back to Ji Yeonwoo. He must have mistakenly thought Ji Yeonwoo was having trouble finding something because he wasn’t using the remote. Without a word, Ji Yeonwoo handed him the remote. After a few more clicks, Choi Muhyeok selected a thriller-action movie that had been released about two years ago.

“Oh, I heard this one has some racy scenes.”

The title seemed familiar, and he remembered that Eungyeom had raved about how fun this movie was after seeing it.

“Have you seen it?”

“No, a friend told me about it. He went to see it with his boyfriend and said it was one of the best they’ve watched together.”

“Boyfriend?”

Choi Muhyeok raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled. Sensing where his confusion lay, Ji Yeonwoo quickly added more context.

“Right, I never mentioned this, did I? My best friend, Seo Eungyeom, his boyfriend is quite a bit older. I think he said he’s about 10 years older than us. So both Eungyeom and I call him ‘Ahjussi’ (equivalent of calling someone sir).”

Not wanting any misunderstanding, Ji Yeonwoo hurriedly explained, talking so fast he barely took a breath.

“What does he do for a living? This ‘Ahjussi.’”

“He’s a surgeon, I think. I’ve never actually seen him at work, though.”

“You must be pretty close if you’re comfortable calling him ‘Ahjussi.’”

“Well, we hang out a lot, you know—eating, drinking.”

Although he often got invited to their dates, it wasn’t always enjoyable, so lately, he’d been avoiding those outings with various excuses.

“Next time, invite me too. Even if he’s your friend’s boyfriend, you shouldn’t be meeting an Alpha alone.”

Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes widened. For a moment, he wondered if he’d heard him correctly and looked down at Choi Muhyeok, who was still resting on his lap. Choi Muhyeok, with his arms crossed and head turned towards the TV, glanced sideways at Ji Yeonwoo.

Ji Yeonwoo stared at him for a moment before letting out a small laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

Choi Muhyeok didn’t miss a beat. One of his thick eyebrows arched upward, a telltale sign he was feeling a bit awkward or embarrassed.

“I didn’t think you were the jealous type, Managing Director.”

“Who said I was jealous?”

It was obvious, yet he was denying it. Ji Yeonwoo found it amusing. He had thought it was upsetting to reveal such a vulnerable side of himself, but seeing this new side of Choi Muhyeok made him happy.

“Right, you’re not jealous at all.”

Choi Muhyeok, who had been looking up at Ji Yeonwoo’s smiling face, suddenly sat up. Ji Yeonwoo felt his body tilt backward and instinctively shut his eyes. Even though the sofa was soft, the sudden impact made the back of his head sting, and the grip on his wrist throbbed.

“Do you want to see what happens when I really get jealous?”

Opening his eyes, he realized their positions had changed. Now, Choi Muhyeok was on top of him, pinning his wrists down with a sharp look in his eyes.

“Uh…”

Ji Yeonwoo wanted to ask if he was upset, but the words disappeared down his throat as Choi Muhyeok’s lips suddenly pressed against his. The kiss, which had started soft, quickly escalated, and the atmosphere between them became heated. There was no way to push him away or resist.

As Choi Muhyeok released one of Ji Yeonwoo’s wrists, his hand slid downward, slipping under the loose shirt and moving quickly to Ji Yeonwoo’s chest.

Panicked, Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze darted to Choi Muhyeok’s face. Their eyes met, and Choi Muhyeok hesitated, withdrawing his hand. It seemed like he was remembering the events from the previous day.

Without meaning to, Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes drifted toward Choi Muhyeok’s center. The outline of his arousal was evident through his slacks, and Ji Yeonwoo felt heat rush to his face. Already? He had suspected as much, given the weight pressing against his lower abdomen, but seeing it up close made him unsure where to look.

“Enough. Get up.”

Choi Muhyeok’s next words were unexpected. He got off of Ji Yeonwoo, sitting beside him and helping him up. The sudden shift in position made Ji Yeonwoo’s head spin, so he shut his eyes tightly.

“The movie’s started.”

A large hand began to massage the back of his neck.

“……”

Ji Yeonwoo stole a glance at Choi Muhyeok. As usual, it was impossible to read his expression.

The gentle pressure on his neck helped ease the dizziness, but Ji Yeonwoo’s mind remained tangled like a knotted thread.

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After a whirlwind weekend, Ji Yeonwoo returned to work, only to be greeted by wilted flowers. Although the potted plants were still in decent condition, most of the flowers had withered and dried up, no longer suitable for sale due to their sensitivity to the low winter temperatures and humidity.

As he conditioned the few flowers that still had a chance of reviving, Ji Yeonwoo let out a deep sigh. He felt guilty for neglecting the flowers he had cared for like his own children, but his mind had been preoccupied with other things.

Just as Choi Muhyeok had said, he didn’t stay until Monday. He left late Sunday afternoon, but unfortunately, Ji Yeonwoo didn’t get to see him go. He had fallen asleep—a rare daytime nap—and when he woke up, all that was left was a note saying that Choi Muhyeok had to leave early due to some work.

Throughout the weekend, Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t help but wonder what Choi Muhyeok had been thinking.