MM Side story 3

Ju-yeon asked with a worried expression.

“Team Leader… You were supposed to be on vacation. What are you going to do? Oh, wait—wasn’t Yu-young also on leave?”

“Ah… It’s fine.”

Of course, it wasn’t fine at all, but with his face pale as a sheet, Yu-young forced a small smile.

“Didn’t you say you were going on a trip? What about your hotel and flight tickets?”

“I canceled everything.”

“What a waste. Shouldn’t you get compensation from XX Company for all this? What a mess.”

Ju-yeon bit her lip in frustration, but Yu-young swallowed back the words he couldn’t say. It wasn’t just any trip he had canceled—it had been their honeymoon. It was heartbreaking enough as it was, but with Do-won listening, he didn’t want to complain any further.

***

“Everyone, great work. Go home and rest.”

“Come on, let’s get out of here. Ugh, if we go through this one more time, these old bones won’t survive.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Good job, everyone!”

The team hurried to leave the office. For once, Do-won and Yu-young also left without hesitation. They let everyone else take the elevator first, using the excuse that it was too crowded. Once the place was completely quiet, Yu-young finally spoke.

“Um… Team Leader. You probably heard earlier, but we canceled our hotel and flights… since we wouldn’t be able to go anyway.”

“Yu-young.”

“…Yes.”

“You must be really upset.”

The sudden kindness in his voice made Yu-young bite his lip. Something stirred deep inside him. Do-won’s gaze, looking down at him, was filled with regret and sympathy.

“I’m upset too. Just thinking about how disappointed you must be…”

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t upset. But this wasn’t Do-won’s fault. He had already been through enough with upper management breathing down his neck. Yu-young didn’t want to add to his burden, so he forced a smile, ready to say it was okay.

But Do-won’s next words made his eyes go wide.

“Should we go on our honeymoon now?”

Yu-young stared at him blankly, his mouth slightly open.

“…Now? You mean right now?”

“We’re still on leave, so we can extend it by a day or two and go somewhere nearby. Somewhere with a short flight. If you’re okay with it, we could go to Phuket or Da Nang.”

“But… when the samples arrive, we’ll get busy again.”

“They’ll take about three days. I’ll handle any urgent matters over the phone, so don’t worry.”

Do-won gently stroked Yu-young’s face, which still held a concerned expression.

“We’ll come back as soon as the samples arrive. Let’s go on our honeymoon, okay?”

His voice was sweet, but the words themselves were even sweeter. Yu-young was stunned. The drowsiness that had been settling in just moments ago completely vanished.

They had spent an entire month preparing for their trip to the Maldives. They had carefully picked accommodations, transportation, and activities, staying up late at night to plan everything together. But an unexpected crisis had made all of that meaningless.

And now, they were just going to pick a new destination on the spot, without any reservations or plans, and go?

A laugh slipped out. Do-won, of all people, making such an impulsive suggestion? He was the type to meticulously plan everything, a leader who always kept his team on track. Seeing him like this was almost unimaginable.

Yet now, here he was, grinning like an excited boy about to embark on an adventure. His warm gaze shimmered with anticipation. Watching him, Yu-young felt his exhaustion start to lift, his heart growing lighter. A gentle excitement flowed from Do-won, washing over him.

“Yes, let’s go. Anywhere is fine.”

Do-won’s eyes crinkled as he broke into a deep smile.

“Then let’s leave right now. Our honeymoon starts now.”

***

As Do-won drove home, Yu-young frantically searched for plane tickets. Thankfully, their bags were already packed.

Considering flight times and travel distance, Phuket seemed like the best option. The only available seats were in economy class—a first for both of them—but that didn’t matter. They laughed, saying they would probably fall asleep the moment they got on the plane anyway.

The flight was at 10:30 PM, meaning they would arrive in the early morning local time. Just the thought of doing nothing but relaxing with Do-won in a warm place was almost too good to believe.

As soon as they arrived at the airport, they rushed through check-in and security. Normally, they would have arrived early to enjoy the first-class lounge, but today was different. Boarding immediately after security, they found their seats side by side.

The cramped space made it difficult for Do-won to stretch his long legs, and he looked visibly uncomfortable. But he just smiled and said it was fine.

“Get some sleep on the way. You can lean on me.”

“But… this is our honeymoon. Every second feels too precious to waste…”

Rubbing his tired eyes, Yu-young mumbled. He wanted to stargaze from the plane, chat with Do-won, and make the most of the time together. But despite his resolve, his voice was already heavy with sleep.

“You should rest while you can.”

Do-won spoke in a teasingly suggestive tone, smiling playfully.

“Huh?” Yu-young blinked in confusion, then his face turned red in an instant.

“W-what do you mean…!”

“I just meant you’ve had a long day and should rest. What were you thinking?”

“Ugh… Seriously.”

He was always teasing whenever he got the chance. As Yu-young shot him a glare, his face still red, Do-won chuckled.

“Seriously. Get some sleep. You’ve been through a lot today.”

“…You too, Team Leader.”

A warm hand slowly brushed over Yu-young’s forehead, covering his eyes like a sleep mask. It was warm. In the dimmed world behind his closed eyelids, Do-won’s faint scent and body heat surrounded him, bringing a deep sense of comfort. Yu-young let out a slow breath.

“Then… just for a little while.”

“Yeah. Sleep well.”

The warmth left his face, followed by a light kiss on his forehead. A blanket was gently draped over him. Do-won was always thoughtful, but tonight, being on the receiving end of his care like this made Yu-young feel like a baby.

A long yawn slipped out. His eyes blinked slowly, growing dry as drowsiness settled in. Maybe Do-won’s pheromones were evolving to make him fall asleep. He let out a small, amused thought—only to be suddenly caught by a different one.

…Could it be? Are we going to mark each other tonight?

Marking meant their pheromones would intertwine, making their connection more obvious. But within their team, the only other secondary gendered person, Yoon-seok, already knew about their relationship, and there were no others in the nearby departments either.

That’s why they had only agreed to bond sometime after the wedding, without setting an exact date. But tonight was their first night together as a married couple… Wouldn’t it be fine to do it now?

What the hell am I thinking? First night?

His ears felt like they were about to start steaming. Embarrassed, Yu-young quickly turned his head away, not wanting Do-won to see his flushed face.

[“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard. This flight is bound for Phuket…”]

Right on cue, the in-flight announcement played, helping him regain his composure. His heart pounded wildly, caught between excitement and anticipation.

But even that thrill couldn’t overpower the exhaustion from the past two days. In the end, Yu-young fell into a deep sleep, comfortably leaning against Do-won’s shoulder.

***

“Yu-young, we’re here.”

“…Mmm…”

“Did you sleep well?”

A playful voice murmured right beside his ear. Yu-young jolted awake, the blanket that had been covering him slipping down his chest. The plane was already preparing for landing.

He usually didn’t sleep well on planes, but tonight, he had been completely knocked out. The exhaustion from the past two days had been beyond overwhelming. Stretching his arms with a small groan, he spoke in an awkward tone.

“…Did you sleep at all, Team Leader?”

“I did. I woke up a few times, though. Got to admire my beautiful spouse while they slept.”

Do-won smiled warmly at him, and Yu-young found himself smiling back—until he noticed their intertwined hands. Their palms were so warm, it was clear they had been holding hands the entire flight.

[“Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at Phuket International Airport. The local time is 2:48 AM, and the temperature is 24 degrees Celsius.”]

As the landing announcement played, Yu-young eagerly turned to look out the window. His sleepiness instantly vanished. Outside, buildings were scattered with glowing red lights. If he had stayed awake during the flight, he could have seen the stars. A bit disappointed, he started gathering his things to disembark.

After grabbing a taxi, they began the nearly hour-long journey to their resort. It was in a secluded area, perfect for a private retreat, and as they drove, the scenery became increasingly distant from the bustling city. Despite having booked their accommodations in a rush, they had managed to secure a beautiful private pool villa.

When they finally arrived and stepped out in front of the grand resort, Yu-young let out a breathless exclamation.

“Wow, Team Leader… This place is stunning.”