MM 119

Do-won gently lifted Yu-young’s hand and placed a soft kiss on the back of it. Startled by the sensation of his lips brushing against his skin, Yu-young blinked in surprise and nodded. With Yu-young’s silent consent, Do-won slowly began to speak.

“I was originally planning to prepare a bit more before saying this. But…”

“…”

“After seeing you step up for me today, genuinely getting angry for me… I just couldn’t hold it in anymore.”

Do-won lowered his gaze, as if suppressing some emotions, and took a moment to choose his words carefully. After clearing his throat, he spoke again, more cautiously this time.

“When I first met you, Assistant Han, I found your constant attempts to grab my attention annoying and bothersome. But it didn’t take long for me to see you differently. You’re attractive, considerate, and warm-hearted.”

Yu-young’s heart sank at hearing those words. After hearing such careful buildup, he couldn’t help but think that the situation was about to take a turn for the worse. Usually, when someone starts a conversation with compliments like these, it’s followed by something like “You’re a good person, but not the right one for me.”

He couldn’t even confess, and now he was already facing this. Yu-young, who had been on edge for so long, was too exhausted to think clearly anymore. The feeling of despair grew, but no tears came. He didn’t know what to do next, until Do-won spoke again.

“Assistant Han, you look beautiful when you sleep or eat. You’re incredibly handsome when dressed up, and just as cute in pajamas. You’re passionate when you roll up your sleeves to work, and when you lean into me, you’re so lovable that I just want to hold you forever.”

Unexpectedly, the words that followed were completely different from what Yu-young had expected. These were words so embarrassing, he almost couldn’t believe they were coming from Do-won. Could these words really be meant for him? Yu-young stared blankly, unable to process what he was hearing.

“It was me who suggested the contract with you, but it didn’t take long for me to regret it. I’ve never regretted making a proposal like that before.”

“…”

“It was nonsensical. It was impossible. To be next to someone as lovable as you and tell myself not to fall in love with you.”

Do-won was known for his competence, and everyone knew he was someone who wouldn’t waste time on emotional turmoil. He didn’t seem like the type of person to get caught up in feelings of love or regret.

Yet, here he was, speaking to Yu-young. The trembling in his gaze and the sincerity in his words made it clear to Yu-young that he was telling the truth.

It was clear—he was going through all of these emotions because of Yu-young. He, who had never experienced such feelings before, was now tumbling through them in confusion, just like Yu-young. All the emotions he was feeling mirrored the ones Yu-young had been grappling with.

Was he hearing things just because he was desperately hoping for them? Yu-young stared at Do-won with a dazed expression. What he was saying felt as unreal as the scene in the fairy tale-like café they were sitting in. But even so, his words, as sweet as a dream, kept pouring out, directed solely at Yu-young.

“So, Assistant Han…”

Do-won’s unwavering gaze met Yu-young’s, showing no signs of doubt.

“Will you give me a chance?”

Yu-young’s heart plummeted with a loud thud, and all he could see in his wide-open eyes was Do-won, nothing else.

“I don’t want to be tied down by a contract. I really… I want to win your heart. Let’s stop pretending to be a fake couple and become real lovers.”

In that moment, Do-won spoke with unwavering conviction, as if he would never waste a single word. Every word was filled with sincerity, as if he meant to convey nothing but the truth.

Yu-young, with his heart pounding so fiercely it felt like it might burst, didn’t dare to miss a single word. He gazed deeply into Do-won’s eyes.

He felt as though he might fall into those eyes—into the deep, earnest longing in them.

“I like you. I really, really like you, Yu-young.”

Do-won was no longer smiling. In his serious, intense gaze, only his earnest desire and sincerity toward Yu-young remained.

Looking into his eyes, Yu-young was certain. The feelings Do-won had harbored were the same as his own. The warmth in Do-won’s gaze toward him had always been the same, never changing.

In that moment, something hot surged from his chest and eyes.

“…Team Leader…”

He wasn’t normally the type to cry, but today, tears kept flowing. He didn’t understand how Do-won could so easily break through his defenses and touch the fragile places inside his heart. The tears just kept coming. Do-won had said all the things Yu-young had wanted to hear, and now that he knew their feelings were the same, he should just be happy, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

Do-won’s large hand reached up to gently wipe the tears from Yu-young’s wet cheeks. Then, his face followed, and Do-won’s lips, warm and soft, gently pressed against Yu-young’s tear-streaked ones.

Yu-young, like a baby bird, opened his lips without resistance. As if waiting for this moment, a hot tongue slid between his lips, but Do-won didn’t rush. Slowly, they touched, gently moving their tongues against each other. Do-won tilted his head to deepen the kiss, and a soft frictional sound followed with each tender touch.

It was a kiss that felt as though time had stopped. Between their kisses, the scent of coffee, the jazz’s now-sweet melody, and the sound of burning wood quietly filled the space.

As he kissed Do-won, all his senses sharpened, absorbing and storing every sensation. Yu-young realized he would never forget this moment for the rest of his life.

“Don’t cry. You’re crying too much.”

Do-won whispered as he briefly pulled away from the kiss, still keeping his forehead pressed against Yu-young’s.

“Why are you crying, huh?”

“…Please just let me be like this today… I’m just so happy.”

Yu-young sniffled, looking like a child, and Do-won’s lips stretched into a bright smile.

“What’s making you so happy? Tell me.”

“Just… Team Leader…”

When he tried to speak, tears and sniffling kept interrupting, making him feel embarrassed. This wasn’t how he wanted it to go—he should be doing it smoothly. Wiping his face with a napkin, Yu-young stubbornly continued speaking.

“…You said you liked me… right? I didn’t hear it wrong, did I? I’ve been wanting to hear those words so badly… so I’m not just hearing things, right?”

Hearing Yu-young’s words, Do-won couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud. Yu-young, his eyes now swollen from all the crying, shot Do-won a glare, but it only made Do-won laugh harder.

“Can I take that as an answer to my confession?”

With a playful tone, Do-won wiped away Yu-young’s tears. Yu-young hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.

“I like you, Team Leader. …I really like you a lot. Actually, I’ve wanted to say it for a long time.”

Since Do-won had spoken first, Yu-young had no more worries, but he still wanted to say it himself.

A genuinely satisfied smile spread across Do-won’s face after hearing Yu-young’s confession. Unable to hold back any longer, he pulled Yu-young into his arms as though to trap him in his embrace.

Their lips met again, this time with an undeniable urgency. The kiss, filled with pheromones, was deeper, as their tongues eagerly intertwined.

While Yu-young trembled and couldn’t even open his eyes from the excitement, Do-won’s steady gaze never wavered. He didn’t miss a single detail—the flush on Yu-young’s face, the fluttering of his eyelashes, or the soft moans escaping from him.

Do-won’s delicate hands caressed Yu-young’s face. His fingers traced his jawline before slowly sliding down to his neck. Every place Do-won touched felt like an electric current running through Yu-young. Breathing heavily, Yu-young gripped Do-won’s wrist, but Do-won continued to touch him, making sure he was still there, constantly reassuring him with his touch.

The intensity in Do-won’s gaze made Yu-young feel like he couldn’t breathe. Yet, despite the suffocating feeling, he couldn’t stop clinging to Do-won. Whenever Do-won pulled away to give him a moment to breathe, Yu-young urgently leaned in, and their lips met once again in a heated kiss.

At first, he had been terrified—afraid of losing Do-won, fearing that if he didn’t act, he would never be able to make him his. He had feared and been anxious about the idea of drifting apart from him.

But now, as the time had passed, the result was sweeter and warmer than Yu-young had ever imagined. In this moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

The thought that Do-won liked him, just as Yu-young liked him, made it impossible for him to resist wanting to be close to Do-won, to feel his body against his.