MM 77

Hearing Yu-young’s honest answer, Do-won smiled faintly.

“Can’t sleep?”

“Yes. Why aren’t you sleeping, Team Leader?”

“I was just doing some work. I don’t usually sleep at this hour.”

“Ah… Are you very busy? Is there anything I can help with?”

At Yu-young’s innocent question, Do-won’s smile stretched a little further.

“I don’t want to make you work overtime even at home. It’s fine. It’s not urgent; I just couldn’t sleep either.”

“Ah….”

Yu-young nodded slowly. The fact that they shared the same feeling, that Do-won, like him, couldn’t sleep in this unfamiliar environment, strangely gave him a sense of relief. It was as if Do-won was telling him that he wasn’t the only one feeling lonely and uneasy.

Feeling somewhat impulsive, Yu-young asked Do-won.

“Um… Would you like to have a glass of wine? Team Leader.”

Do-won, looking a little surprised, soon relaxed his expression.

“Sounds good.”

“Then, what about snacks…”

“We have some cheese and fruit. I’ll prepare it, so sit and wait.”

“Oh, no. Then I’ll get the wine. What kind do you like?”

“I like most wines, so just bring whatever suits your taste.”

He seemed to have an unexpectedly mild taste. It was completely different from the image Yu-young had of him. With that thought in mind, Yu-young walked to the wine cabinet he had seen earlier and reached for it. But as soon as he opened the door, he understood why Do-won had said to bring anything. Every bottle of wine was top-tier.

After selecting a suitable one, Yu-young brought it to the table and stood next to Do-won, helping him prepare canapés. Like with the dinner earlier, Do-won seemed to be quite skilled at cooking. His hands moved with ease, and everything he made turned out beautiful and appetizing.

Since it was late, and they had already eaten, they didn’t need much. The two of them quickly finished preparing and brought the wine and snacks to the living room sofa.

“Now that I think about it, this is the first time sitting on this sofa.”

“True.”

The two of them exchanged a small smile. They had chosen the sofa together earlier, and now, here they were, sitting together. If Yu-young had fallen asleep right after dinner, they wouldn’t have ended up sitting together like this on the first day of moving in.

Unlike the loud toast earlier, this time, the two glasses clinked quietly with no words. Holding their glasses, both Yu-young and Do-won stared ahead. The first to break the short silence was Do-won.

“Why couldn’t you sleep?”

“Just…”

Yu-young, who had almost casually answered, gave a playful smile.

“Isn’t it for a similar reason as you?”

At Yu-young’s bold answer, Do-won let out a small laugh.

“I suppose so.”

“Yes. And… honestly, it’s a little strange sleeping in the same house as the Team Leader.”

At Yu-young’s joking words, Do-won’s smile grew a little wider. He gently shook the wine in his glass, sipping the red liquid.

“Sudden, isn’t it? A bit awkward, too.”

“……”

Yu-young couldn’t immediately respond to Do-won’s comment. Do-won set his wine glass down, his face now serious.

“It must be confusing. I understand. I try to stay calm, but I feel the same way.”

“…Yes. It’s only natural.”

How could he deny it? Everything had fallen into place perfectly, making the process of moving in together smooth sailing, but in another sense, it had felt like a hasty decision. There probably weren’t many people in the world who would end up living together after only visiting each other’s homes for less than 30 minutes.

“Still.”

Do-won’s gaze was focused squarely on Yu-young.

“I plan to do my best. Whether it’s according to the contract or whatever, whether this is a relationship that started sincerely or not. Anyway, as long as we are considered a couple, I want to make sure Assistant Manager Han doesn’t feel neglected. This is my first time in this kind of relationship, so I may go through some trial and error myself.”

His words were polite but warm. There was nothing to criticize, especially for someone in his position.

Nodding along, Yu-young felt a slight discomfort from one particular part of his words, like a thorn. “Whether our relationship started sincerely or not.” It felt as though Do-won was reminding him that his relationship with him hadn’t started sincerely. But that he would respect it nonetheless.

Without saying anything, Yu-young lifted his glass and took a sip of his wine. If he were to feel even a bit hurt by those words, it would mean something was wrong with him. Anyone who saw him would probably think he was hopelessly in love with Do-won.

‘… What a ridiculous thing to think.’

Just thinking that made him want to laugh, but then why did his lips feel so stiff, as if pinned in place?

“…Han.”

“……”

“Assistant Han.”

“Huh? Ah… yes, Team Leader.”

Do-won’s voice snapped Yu-young out of his trance. Surprised, he met Do-won’s eyes, but his face was awkward as he tried to hide his feelings.

“What are you thinking so deeply about? Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“Huh? Ah, no. Not at all.”

“Let me hold your hand.”

“…My hand?”

Yu-young looked confused as he extended his hand. Do-won slowly and gently took his small, pale hand and began to massage it. It reminded Yu-young of the time during the family gathering when he had thought he was feeling nauseous, and Do-won had done the same thing for him.

The comforting touch and warmth spread through Yu-young’s hand. But unlike the time before, when it had made him feel at ease, he didn’t understand why he was feeling so strange today.

“Are you feeling better?”

“……”

‘This kindness, this endless tenderness of yours, and the words you’ve said about not falling in love—these things can’t coexist.’

He wanted to say that, but of course, he couldn’t. Without saying anything, he let Do-won hold his hand, and when it was over, Yu-young carefully withdrew his hand. For some reason, receiving his kindness and warmth felt uncomfortable tonight. Instead of surrendering to him as he usually did, Yu-young impulsively blurted out a question he had been holding on to for a while.

“…Team Leader. Can I ask you something?”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

Yu-young hesitated for a moment, fidgeting with his fingers, before finally asking the question to the nodding Do-won.

“…Team Leader, why have you never really thought about getting married until now?”

Based on his own experiences, and considering how it could be rude to ask others carelessly, this was a question he had never asked before. However, now that they’ve entered into a contract marriage and are really living together, he thought it might be a question he could ask, so he carefully brought it up.

“Hm,” Do-won said slowly, opening his mouth.

“As I mentioned before, my family tried to marry me off to a very old friend. But I couldn’t see him as anything more than a friend, so I had no thoughts of marriage. Also, I didn’t want an arranged marriage. If the person I want to spend my life with isn’t there, I didn’t want to get married.”

“Ah… then why haven’t you met anyone else?”

“After I started working, I was too busy to meet anyone, and I didn’t really want to meet anyone. I didn’t want to meet people artificially through blind dates or anything like that.”

I see. Yu-young nodded and clinked his glass with Do-won’s again. Considering both of their families, arranged marriages were quite a common topic, so it wasn’t anything particularly new or surprising.

However, the tone in which Do-won said “someone to spend my life with” was firm. Someone to spend my life with… It was an emotional phrase, one that didn’t seem like something that would come out of Do-won’s mouth.

“Then, why hasn’t Assistant Han thought about marriage until now?”

The question came back to him. Yu-young casually spoke his thoughts.

“Well, I’ve never liked alphas… and I don’t like the societal pressure that says I have to marry one. I didn’t want to quit my job either. I just want to live freely, doing what I enjoy on my own.”

It was a light answer, but Do-won’s gaze was heavy.

“Is it because of quitting your job that you dislike marrying an alpha? Or is there another reason?”

“Well… that’s part of it, but the impression I got from the alphas I met during blind dates, forced by my father, was just terrible. They were dominant, coercive… And, as you know, Team Leader, I’m not the type to put up with that kind of personality, haha.”

After saying that with a laugh, Yu-young felt a bit awkward, as he was criticizing alphas in front of one. However, it was the real reason he had avoided marriage, so he decided to express it honestly.

Listening seriously to Yu-young’s words, Do-won spoke again.

“Didn’t I also, at times, show you a dominant and coercive side, Assistant Han?”

“Well… that’s when you’re Team Leader. When you’re not the Team Leader…”

Just as he was about to continue, a loud vibration sound started coming from somewhere. Do-won pulled out his phone, which was glowing white, and frowned.

If it were a work call, he would have answered right away, but he didn’t take the call immediately. Instead, he sighed and covered his eyes with one hand. It seemed like it was a call he didn’t want to take in front of Yu-young, so he subtly stood up.

“Team Leader, go ahead and take your call. I’ll head back to my room.”

“It’s fine. Sit down.”

“No, I’ll go… I’m feeling a bit sleepy after the wine. I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night!”

Before he could say anything, Yu-young quickly stood up, shook out his seat, and hurriedly placed his wine glass in the sink before retreating to his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

While he had used the excuse of the phone call, he actually needed some time to sort his thoughts. It was hard to think clearly while with Do-won.

Even though Do-won kept drawing clear boundaries and emphasizing their contractual relationship, his casual kindness and warmth continued to stir Yu-young’s heart.

Why was this happening?

Perhaps, he thought to himself, he might have feelings for Choi Do-won…

‘…This is crazy.’

He knew it was crazy. He knew he shouldn’t feel this way, especially after signing the contract and starting such a big thing together, but…

‘…I must be crazy.’

…He must like Choi Do-won.

If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t feel so hurt by him drawing boundaries and treating everything as a mere contract. If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t keep thinking about him bringing flowers or adjusting his clothes.

If that weren’t the case… he wouldn’t feel his heart racing and his mind spinning every time he thought of him.

‘…I want to cry.’

The emotions that had been far off in the distance suddenly began to approach rapidly, step by step. The feelings that had been too distant to name now stood so close, knocking on his heart.

Now, he had to accept it. He liked him. He liked Choi Do-won.

“…Haa…”

How did he end up liking his team leader? The person he was supposed to live with for three years and then divorce? How had that happened?

Another sigh escaped. Yu-young squeezed his eyes shut and buried himself deeper under the blanket. But the familiar scent and foreign feel of the blankets only reminded him of his reality and stirred his inner turmoil. As the night stretched on, Yu-young tossed and turned, blinking in the dark.