HARD 10

‘That was delicious. I don’t think I’ll be satisfied anywhere else now.’

‘…Th-Then please come again.’

‘Really?’

‘Anytime… Yes. Please come have a meal….’

Cha Gyuwon, who mumbled without being able to meet my eyes while contorting his very large frame this way and that, was a little cute.

Go Woonha hummed as he put in a capsule and brewed some coffee.

“Did something good happen?”

“Yes. Well.”

Go Woonha smiled brightly.

Many people in the company had a favorable impression of him. He was good at his job, was kind to those around him, and even when a subordinate made a mistake, he took responsibility and covered for them without even scolding them harshly. He was flexible, and on top of that, he was very handsome. He was clearly a good role model, to the point that he should be enshrined somewhere as an exemplary boss.

That boss, who was a model for so many, was sipping his iced coffee and contemplating when he would go eat Cha Gyuwon again—no, go eat the food Cha Gyuwon made… that is, when he would eat them both.

As Go Woonha was leaving the breakroom with his coffee, his gaze was suddenly stolen by a video one of the employees was watching as he passed by.

“……”

As he watched intently over the employee’s shoulder, the employee, who had been completely absorbed in the video, belatedly noticed Go Woonha’s presence and turned around in surprise.

“Gasp, oh, sorr—this is…!”

Go Woonha waved his hand at the flustered, frantic employee.

“It’s still lunchtime, so what’s the problem? But the video is good. It has a great feel. Whose work is it? Or is that something you wouldn’t know?”

“Should I find out?”

That would turn it into work, though.

But Go Woonha, unable to take his eyes off the video that was still playing, quietly nodded his head.

“Yes. Could you gather the creator’s works and send them to me?”

It was perfect timing, as he had been thinking about creating a new promotional video for the agency, having just completed a large number of contract renewals and new signings.

The stylish screen transitions, the quirky, kitschy charm that popped amidst it all, and the way it naturally blended disparate effects to create something new without feeling unpleasantly strange—the creator’s sense was truly amazing. Go Woonha drank his coffee and returned to his desk.

An hour and a half later, an email arrived with a collection of the works and the creator’s name.

The portfolio was quite impressive. Not only had the person collaborated with mostly well-known clients, but a good number of the works were ones Go Woonha had already viewed favorably. Seeing them in a list like this, their distinctive style was clear. Go Woonha looked through the works with interest, then muttered the designer’s name under his breath.

“BearB?”

Is it a play on the word ‘baby’? Or just Bear, B?

Go Woonha tilted his head, then sent a reply asking the employee to try contacting the person in charge. He was about to return to his original tasks when he suddenly remembered something and checked his phone.

[Seoul Cha Gyuhan]

He still hadn’t replied to Cha Gyuhan’s message.

Instead, he had sent a message to his younger brother, as if whining like a child.

But no matter how much time passed, there was no reply from Cha Gyuwon.

“Hmm.”

Go Woonha, who was tapping the desk with his fingertips, sent a message to Cha Gyuhan.

A reply came from him almost immediately.

[Seoul Cha Gyuhan]
My younger brother.

Go Woonha, recalling how truly delicious it had been, wrote a reply.

[Seoul Cha Gyuhan]
Did you get home okay?

[Seoul Cha Gyuhan]
Yes. Tell your brother I’ll treat him to a meal next time.

A pleased smile formed on Go Woonha’s face at Cha Gyuhan’s reply, and he placed his phone face down.

A little while ago, he had eaten at a traditional Korean restaurant that was known to be pretty good, but his stomach felt completely empty. Go Woonha popped a xylitol candy into his bored mouth and hummed as he grabbed his mouse.

👟

It wasn’t until it was about time to leave work that he got a message from Cha Gyuhan.

[Seoul Cha Gyuhan]
Here. This is his account.
[link]

Without even checking the link, Go Woonha sent a thumbs-up emoticon.

There was still no reply from Cha Gyuwon.

It was clear he had seen the message; it seemed he was deliberately not replying.

Go Woonha was curious about the reason, but he figured he’d see him eventually anyway, so he didn’t think much of it.

“Everyone, head home safely.”

Go Woonha was the first to say his goodbyes as he left the office.

Once in his car, he felt a little disappointed at the thought of going straight home and opened his messenger app. It was full of a long line of unread notifications.

Even at this very moment, messages were still coming in.

The senders varied in age and body type.

“How did word get out?”

Go Woonha muttered, wondering how everyone knew he was in Korea, without even considering that he had been the one stirring things up.

There was no one he particularly wanted to meet.

He had never felt romantic feelings for anyone in the first place, so he only ever followed where his instincts led him at the moment.

But for some reason, today his instincts weren’t leaning in any direction.

Go Woonha was about to exit the app when he paused at the sight of Cha Gyuwon’s name.

“……”

Then, after staring at the screen for a moment, he lightly tapped the name and sent a message.

A kid who had clearly never dated before, and a virgin. Alarm bells were ringing, signaling danger, but as always, Go Woonha decided not to care. He had felt the most plausible pleasure of his life. His whole body had twitched, screaming that it was alive, and perhaps thanks to that lingering feeling, he was still full of energy today, without a hint of boredom.

‘He probably just has high expectations because it’s his first time. If I shatter them a bit, he’ll lose interest.’

Having reached a conclusion, Go Woonha started the car with a vroom.

👟

The meeting, which had been set for the next day, kept getting postponed.

Even by then, there was still no reply from Cha Gyuwon. No, from the second message on, he hadn’t even checked them at all.

Time passed like that until Friday, right before the weekend.

With about ten minutes left until lunchtime, Go Woonha happened to see the video the employee was watching over his shoulder, just like last time. He had only glanced at it for a moment, but he immediately recognized whose work it was. It was probably thanks to having reviewed the person’s portfolio. Although all the works were clearly and distinctly different, they had a standout personality that made it immediately obvious who had created them.

“Is this another work by that designer?”

When Go Woonha asked, the employee, not surprised this time, answered in an excited voice.

“Yes!”

It was a music video. The battle of hero jellies fighting against giant monster jellies was depicted in a kitschy atmosphere, and the popping effects that burst here and there were instantly eye-catching. The zesty feeling seemed so real it even made his mouth water.

Despite not being a big fan of sweets, Go Woonha went to the breakroom and came back with a small bag of jellies. He returned to his desk and ate a couple, but disappointed that they tasted different from what he had imagined from the video, he threw the rest into the trash can.

Cha Gyuhan kept putting him off, saying, ‘My brother’s busy. Sorry.’

He couldn’t postpone it any longer. The pent-up frustration was becoming too much to handle. He could meet someone else, but no one was stirring his desires. This was not a good sign.

Unlike the refreshing Monday when he had come to work, it was now an exciting Friday, but Go Woonha’s expression was faintly soaked with displeasure.

In the end, Go Woonha found a random person in his contacts and sent a message. It was a guy who ran a gym; his body was great, but the sex was terrible. He was a dud who thought being strong was all that mattered. They had slept together only once, and he had never contacted him again. Go Woonha didn’t stop to consider why, of all people, he had chosen this person now.

Only after setting up a meeting for the evening was Go Woonha able to get back to work.

And that evening, even in the crowded downtown area, a large man with a gold chain around his neck and a shiny black shirt, who stood out in the crowd, waved his hand enthusiastically at Go Woonha.

“Hey! Over here. Here.”

Ah, right. This is why I didn’t like him.

Go Woonha smiled gently, but inwardly he was greatly disappointed.

The man cleared his throat, ahem, acting smug. The closer he got, the stronger the smell of his cologne, and it was obvious he had applied some kind of shimmering glitter oil to his body. And above all, his voice was too loud.

“It’s been a while, hyung.”

But Go Woonha greeted him kindly.

“Yeah. When did you get back? D-Didn’t you see my messages?”

He blushed and spoke as if deliberately looking away, making Go Woonha seriously worry that a rose might appear from behind his back.

Looking at his still-imposing physique, Go Woonha had to try hard not to be disappointed too soon, anticipating the weight that would press down on him.

“I came back suddenly, so I’ve been busy. I’m sorry.”

“So you’re back for good now?”

“Just for a bit. For work.”

Go Woonha lied nonchalantly, even though he was going to be there for at least another year.

The man put his arm around Go Woonha’s shoulder. His hand left sticky sweat and oil on Go Woonha’s skin. Right. He was the type with sweaty hands, too.

But it couldn’t be helped. If he really wasn’t turned on at all, he could just suggest they spar together instead. All Go Woonha needed was to get off, anyway.

👟

Go Woonha let out a deep sigh while showering. It was a very long one, as if he were spitting out everything he had swallowed until now.

The motel, which was said to have been newly remodeled, must not have touched the plumbing, because the water pressure was terrible. The decent hotels nearby were all fully booked, and the person he had called out today kept whining for them to go inside anywhere. I should have just turned back then. Go Woonha frowned at the erratically changing water pressure, feeling a moment of regret.

It doesn’t matter since I’m going home anyway, does it? Thinking it would be much better to wash up there, Go Woonha ended up leaving the bathroom just like that.

“Uh, uh uh, a-are you leaving?” the man asked, embarrassed.

Go Woonha smiled brightly.

“Yup. I have to go. You go home too, hyung.”

“Hey, but we haven’t seen each other in a while, stay a little longer….”

“I don’t want to… It’s not like you can get it up anyway. Yours was limp, hyung.”

Slightly annoyed, Go Woonha spoke honestly.

“Or did you call people over?”

He could do it with multiple people, and he had before, but he hated it when it happened without him asking for it. Seeing the man’s flinching reaction, it was clear he had called people over on his own. Fuck, this is a crime. Swearing inwardly with a smile, Go Woonha completely erased the man’s name, contact information, and all other personal details from his mind, then offered a piece of advice out of consideration for the non-existent affection between them.