SOG Ch 95

For a moment, Jae-chan seemed to have returned to the situation before Gyeong Chang-hyun arrived, making the commotion from earlier seem meaningless. The sensations, scents, temperatures, and atmosphere of that moment flashed in his mind as if etched into his skin.

Jae-chan’s eyes were agitated. Woo-jin, who was quietly examining the trembling surface, elaborated further.

“Team assignment.”

“Ah, team assignment…”

Jae-chan resolutely followed Woo-jin’s words, but his blinking speed became faster. He was trying to hide his disappointment, but Woo-jin clarified with a slight smile.

“Actually, not that.”

“…?”

“It was a joke. We already submitted the assignment.”

Woo-jin smiled even more deeply. Meeting Jae-chan’s gaze with his softly curved eyes under thick eyebrows, Jae-chan nodded. Right, they had submitted it. If they had already submitted it, then what was Woo-jin suggesting?

He didn’t have the confidence to face Woo-jin at all. Jae-chan was only focusing on the area around Woo-jin’s cheek, but his eyes suddenly caught sight of his hand. Unlike the hand that had been holding him, the long fingers that had been nervously tapping on the steering wheel seemed restless.

‘Can I prove it now?’

Before Chang-hyun barged in, Woo-jin’s voice that rang softly seemed to echo in his ears. Even the touch of his wrist felt too warm.

Jae-chan suddenly looked down at his wriggling hand. The acceptance of proof had already been decided, starting from the hostel, or perhaps even much earlier than that.

He’d wanted this for so long.

He had already fallen for Woo-jin, and the only question that mattered was whether this was the right choice.

Jae-chan suddenly remembered about eternity. About how temporary relationships could be.

He glanced up at the front window through the glass. The downpour that had drenched the world stopped as if it had never happened before. The streets were still wet, but even that was just a trace that would evaporate when the sun rose.

Watching the citizens walking under the clear night sky, he thought of the mustache Guide he met at the motel. He remembered his figure leaving the motel with a stranger who wasn’t the esper he was imprinting on. The hurried steps that left as soon as the rain stopped.

Eternal relationships were rare. Most people who passionately frequented motels would soon break up, and like his parents, there were countless couples who divorced. Even the Guide who imprinted with the Esper still cheats.

Accepting a partnership with Woo-jin here and taking him to bed wouldn’t make that relationship eternal, of course. Woo-jin’s sense of responsibility and interest would likely be temporary as well.

In that case, wouldn’t it be okay to covet some of Woo-jin’s time, even if just for a moment?

Jae-chan had been somewhat biased in seeking this since some time ago, driven by his intense longing.

What to do about Woo-jin’s persistent advances? Jae-chan finally blamed Woo-jin inwardly, gritting his teeth. Ever since the other party was Woo-jin, Jae-chan had always felt like he was on the losing end.

If Woo-jin grew tired of their partnership and started to lean towards Hae-sol as before, then it would be time to let go. Jae-chan rationalized himself and relaxed his grip. He turned his hand back, lightly clasping Woo-jin’s hand that had been holding his until then, and answered.

“Okay.”

And since he had already made the decision, he thought, why not just do it now?

He planned to savor this moment to the fullest. Jae-chan’s eyes, filled with the brilliance of encountering a golden opportunity, were clear and resolute. Without hesitation, he spoke up.

“Do you want to do it now?”

“…Yeah.”

Woo-jin, who was holding the steering wheel tightly, nodded his head slightly nervously. Jae-chan held the guy’s hand tightly once and then let go. He stared straight ahead.

However, the car that was moving silently soon stopped.

Woo-jin, who had been licking his lips a few times, suddenly stopped next to the park.

“Wait a moment.”

Woo-jin spoke as if something had occurred to him. Jae-chan felt a bit puzzled by the abrupt change, but he nodded.

However, as Woo-jin prepared to get out of the car, the confusion deepened.

Was he having doubts?

Confusion turned into anxiety. Jae-chan also had a history of going through a lot of trial and error until he was comfortable sleeping with a man for the first time. As he pondered over various thoughts, Woo-jin gently took Jae-chan’s hand.

Then, a warm kiss pressed firmly against his lips. “It really will be just a moment,” Woo-jin said, meeting Jae-chan’s eyes before getting out of the car, and leaving the engine running.

Jae-chan, feeling a little dazed, was staring out the window at Woo-jin’s back quickly moving away. Woo-jin, who was running somewhere, suddenly stopped.

“…?”

Jae-chan wondered what was happening as Woo-jin returned to the car and unexpectedly turned on some music before locking the door again and heading back into the night.

The music Woo-jin left behind was somewhat esoteric band music with the sound of a bass guitar gently vibrating the car.

Jae-chan wondered what kind of situation this was, but his attention was drawn to the song title and album art on display. As he turned down the volume, he recalled Woo-jin’s interview he had read in an article, where he had said, ‘I usually listen to classical music.’ Remembering Woo-jin’s boring response, Jae-chan found it somewhat ambiguous now.

It might be a short time. Or perhaps a long time.

With his nerves already tense and his attention scattered, Jae-chan couldn’t quite gauge how many track changes had passed as he navigated through the hard rock sound. Then, the door opened.

Woo-jin’s hair was disheveled as if he had rushed back.

“I kept you waiting.”

Jae-chan shook his head with a faint smile at the slightly hoarse voice but adjusted his sitting posture uncomfortably.

The car moved again.

As the serene scenery of tall buildings illuminated the night, lush trees lining the streets, and the glistening streets passed by outside the car window, Jae-chan’s heart felt heavy.

While waiting for Woo-jin to return, Jae-chan had many thoughts. He reminded himself not to be too imposing. If Woo-jin changed his mind, he should casually let him go. He even prepared for the possibility that this stroke of luck might turn out to be false, just as it often did when he achieved something he desired so much.

Despite all this, Jae-chan couldn’t help but feel anxious about Woo-jin silently driving beside him.

After a while, they stopped at a traffic light. Both of them focused intently on the people crossing the pedestrian walkway. Jae-chan, who found even breathing uncomfortable, cautiously broke the heavy silence.

“Do you like rock music?”

After a brief silence, Woo-jin replied.

“No.”

A longer silence followed.

Woo-jin, who had been tensing his broad shoulders even while waiting at the traffic signal, took a deep breath. After exhaling softly, he loosened his grip on the steering wheel with one hand and spoke.

“I do listen to it often. It soothes me afterward.”

Another brief silence.

After a while, Woo-jin said, “So you like it, then,” He added some meaningless remarks. Jae-chan remained silent and only focused his eyes on the dashboard. Every time Woo-jin said a word, all kinds of commotion seemed to rise in his heart. Woo-jin’s meaningless words stuck in his ears like a broken record.

In the overly soundproofed car, only the bass sound, which Jae-chan had lowered considerably, resonated quietly like a heartbeat. Woo-jin reached out and turned up the volume. Fortunately, the traffic light turned green again, and the car started moving.

They arrived at a nearby famous hotel.

Woo-jin drove to the front door and left the valet parking. Only then did Jae-chan feel the strength in the back of his neck loosening. It was a place he was quite familiar with.

It was also the most suitable place for two people who agreed to be sexual partners. Motel, hotel. Where else could be more fitting for a bed partner than these places?

He entered the hotel lobby with Woo-jin. Perhaps because it was late at night, it was just the two of them in the wide, luxurious space. It was the same when he got on the elevator.

Until Woo-jin tapped the card key on the panel, Jae-chan was thinking about countless one-night stands.

It’s all the same. There’s no difference. His tense expression softened. A habitual calmness settled over him in the familiar situation.

Within that calmness, warmth invaded.

Unexpectedly, Woo-jin wrapped his hand around Jae-chan’s. The fingers that were just covering his warm hand soon gently dug into Jae-chan’s fingers. They were tightly clasped together.

Jae-chan, whose lips had just twitched, raised his gaze. He noticed Woo-jin, who was silently staring at the changing numbers on the dot-matrix floor indicator. His ears caught the faint blush on Woo-jin’s slightly reddened earlobes.

Unable to tear his gaze away from the pretty hue, Jae-chan belatedly checked the floor number and was surprised by what he saw. It was the top floor, where the penthouse suite was located. How much was it for a night? That thought crept into his mind involuntarily.

But the surprise didn’t end there.

‘… Scented candles?

As they stepped into the room with a ceiling height twice that of other rooms, Jae-chan immediately sensed a warm and cozy fragrance. In front of the large floor-to-ceiling window showcasing a dazzling skyline, a couple of small candles inside glass cases emitted a soft and warm light.

Was it prepared by the hotel?

Jae-chan, who involuntarily opened his lips at the modern room interior contrasting with the rustic charm, hesitated once again. His gaze was fixed on the enormous bed prominently displayed in the living area.

There was a large bunch of roses lying on the spotless sheets.

Looking at the extremely embarrassing scene, Jae-chan turned to Woo-jin as if seeking an explanation.

Woo-jin, who had a slightly troubled face, slowly opened his mouth with slightly red cheeks.

“Because the house is a mess.”

Actually, the house wasn’t messy. Besides managing it himself, he also hired people separately.

The only problem was that his stepmother frequently bribed those people and installed wiretapping devices. If he wanted to share his body temperature with Jae-chan at home, it would have to be after a complete check.

And as for the flowers and candles…

“I didn’t want to keep you waiting for too long… I hastily prepared these, so it’s all I could manage.”