TSG 132
by Springlila“Are you still alive?”
Se-hyun poked Shin Tae-oh’s cheek, who was lying motionless with his eyes closed as if dead.
Shin Tae-oh, who usually enjoyed wine, had succumbed helplessly to the homemade liquor.
“You should have drunk moderately.”
Not knowing his tolerance for this unfamiliar drink, should have held back a bit or refused some of it. But instead, he drank everything offered to him.
Se-hyun, who had been watching nervously, wondered if he should call 119. Fortunately, Shin Tae-oh was just moderately drunk, only mumbling some drunken words before collapsing.
Se-hyun poked Shin Tae-oh’s other cheek fairly.
“My parents were already planning to give their blessing.”
When Se-hyun said he was visiting his parents, they had already anticipated that he was coming to ask for permission to marry. As it turned out, ever since Shin Tae-oh had arranged that unofficial meeting last time, they had been waiting for them to come and announce their marriage plans.
They were quite surprised about Honey Rice Cake, which we told them about this time.
“Well, you did well anyway.”
His father was happy, saying he finally had a drinking buddy after a long time.
Se-hyun stopped poking Shin Tae-oh’s cheek and started caressing it with his palm. Perhaps due to the alcohol, Shin Tae-oh’s body was warm. In his sleep, Shin Tae-oh leaned more towards Se-hyun, like a baby bird seeking the most comfortable and cozy spot in the nest.
Though Shin Tae-oh isn’t actually a baby bird…
Se-hyun’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Shin Tae-oh’s face.
“Ah, what should I do?”
Listening to Shin Tae-oh’s even breathing, Se-hyun muttered to himself in a somewhat awkward tone.
“I was going to propose to our Shin Tae-oh, but he’s sleeping so I can’t.”
“Mmm…”
Se-hyun chuckled at Shin Tae-oh’s poor acting, pretending to just wake up.
He’s really cute.
“Mr. CEO, if you’re sober, try getting up.”
As Se-hyun’s voice lowered, Shin Tae-oh stopped pretending to be asleep and immediately sat up. The double single bed, adequate for one but insufficient for two, creaked pitifully.
“I’m up.”
Not just up, he even knelt down.
Se-hyun straightened his back from leaning on the headboard and looked closely at Shin Tae-oh’s face. His eyes were still red and he smelled of alcohol, but his gaze was focused, indicating he had sobered up somewhat.
Se-hyun pretended not to notice what Shin Tae-oh wanted and pointed at his head.
“Does your head hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you not thirsty?”
“…A little dry.”
Shin Tae-oh, who was about to say he was fine, touched his throat and frowned. He seemed too thirsty to pretend otherwise.
“Wait a moment. I’ll bring some water.”
Se-hyun stroked Shin Tae-oh’s shoulder and got up. Shin Tae-oh looked like he wanted to hold onto Se-hyun, but he held back well without reaching out. Se-hyun gave him an approving look before leaving the room.
“Is everything okay?”
His mother, who had been peeking into the room, asked with worried eyes.
“Yes. He seems to have sobered up a bit. No headache either.”
“Keep an eye on him. Really, this man, I told him to drink moderately.”
Her muttered complaint was directed toward Se-hyun’s father, who sat on the couch and coughed awkwardly as he turned his head away.
“I just got carried away because the mood was good. And with a grandchild on the way, how could I not share a drink with him? What kind of—”
His excuse was cut short by the sharpness in his wife’s gaze, which grew increasingly pointed until he fell silent.
“I’m planning to take the CEO upstairs.”
“I’ve already turned on the boiler there.”
Understanding immediately that Se-hyun didn’t mean going back to Seoul, his mother said it was fine to do so anytime. Not only that, she forcibly lifted his father, who couldn’t leave the sofa, and went into the room.
“But I need to watch my drama.”
“You can watch it later.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything if I just sit here…”
His father’s protests disappeared with the sound of the door closing. Se-hyun smiled at his parents’ consideration. But then the closed door opened again, and his father peeked his head out.
“Congratulations.”
It was a brusque but heartfelt message. Whether it was for the wedding, the baby, or both, Se-hyun wasn’t sure.
“Thank you.”
Se-hyun gave a sincere response as well.
***
“Is this your idea of a proposal?”
Back in the room, Se-hyun returned empty-handed, pulling Shin Tae-oh by the hand. Shin Tae-oh, who had been expecting water, looked dazed as he was made to stand.
Se-hyun told him to follow if he wanted water. Shin Tae-oh, never one to refuse Se-hyun’s requests, obediently followed him out of the room.
However, instead of heading to the kitchen, they stopped at a narrow, steep staircase—small enough for children to climb easily. Even Shin Tae-oh hesitated for a moment.
Standing before the stairs leading to the attic, Shin Tae-oh looked anxious, wondering if the stairs would hold his weight or if he’d get stuck in the tiny entrance at the top.
“Won’t I get stuck?”
“Just fold your shoulders and try to get in.”
Se-hyun patted Shin Tae-oh’s back, urging him to stop hesitating and go up. At this signal, Shin Tae-oh placed one foot on the stairs.
Creak. The stairs groaned in protest. It was an old house, and so were its fixtures—nothing like the ones in Shin Tae-oh’s modern home.
Yet Se-hyun persistently urged Shin Tae-oh to climb to the attic. Shin Tae-oh lifted his remaining foot from the floor onto the stairs, and soon climbed step by step. Though the stairs kept creaking, he now chose to ascend quickly rather than stop.
After climbing all the stairs, Shin Tae-oh poked his head into the attic entrance and froze, seeing something inside.
Even knowing this, Se-hyun didn’t rush him like before. He just stood silently, waiting for Shin Tae-oh’s next reaction.
Se-hyun knew exactly what Shin Tae-oh was seeing.
He had brought Shin Tae-oh here to show him what was inside the attic. While meeting his parents together, Se-hyun had also wanted to make his own confession to Shin Tae-oh.
Soon, Shin Tae-oh moved again and entered the attic. Whether or not he had to fold his shoulders to fit through the entrance was unclear. What mattered was that he got in without much trouble.
The attic was the only space where Se-hyun could relax when he first entered this novel.
Of course, Se-hyun had his own room. But that was a place his parents could enter anytime, while the attic was a sanctuary that only Se-hyun could ever visit.
Here, Se-hyun had done a lot of thinking. How to live from now on, how to reduce the burden on his parents.
Now, he had invited Shin Tae-oh into that cherished space.
When Se-hyun followed him up, he saw Shin Tae-oh sitting cross-legged on the floor. His back was turned as he stared at the whiteboard occupying one of the walls.
Se-hyun sat down next to Shin Tae-oh and handed him a prepared glass of water. Without looking at Se-hyun, Shin Tae-oh drank the water in one gulp. Even then, he seemed reluctant to return the empty glass, fiddling with it for a while. Se-hyun took the empty glass back from his hands.
“Honestly, I couldn’t think of an amazing proposal…”
Se-hyun spoke, his gaze fixed on the whiteboard Shin Tae-oh was looking at.
“Creating an unforgettable memory in a fantastic place seemed difficult. So I just wanted to show you.”
That was exactly this.
The whiteboard was a reflection of Se-hyun’s past.
Under the small letters “SR Construction,” Shin Tae-oh’s name was written largest. And branching out from that name were articles and information about him.
Nothing about the original work was included. That was a secret Se-hyun intended to carry alone for the rest of his life.
Thus, the board only contained information about Shin Tae-oh that was publicly known.
“Most of it was written before I got the job, but I’d occasionally add updates whenever I came up here.”
As Shin Tae-oh said nothing, Se-hyun felt awkward and started saying various things. But with still no response, Se-hyun finally fell silent.
“Was it me from the beginning?”
Shin Tae-oh’s quiet voice broke the stillness as he continued to stare at the board. Se-hyun turned his head to meet his gaze.
“You didn’t just pick the company and end up as my secretary…”
“Yes. From the beginning, I entered that company to work for you, CEO Shin Tae-oh. If you had been in electronics or food instead of construction, I would have gone there without hesitation.”
To be by Shin Tae-oh’s side.
Although it started with the improper purpose of living well for himself, at least the process was not shameful to reveal to anyone.
Not just thinking he could be by Shin Tae-oh’s side, but working hard with the heart to be of help to him somehow.
“Honestly, I didn’t start with feelings of liking you, but you could see it as interest…”
The rest of Se-hyun’s words were sucked into Shin Tae-oh’s mouth as he suddenly lunged forward. Shin Tae-oh showed his overflowing emotions as they were. His breath parted Se-hyun’s lips and entered. His t0ngue heavily stirred inside.
After giving a deep kiss, Shin Tae-oh murmured in a low voice.
“There really was someone in this world just for me.”
For someone who had always thought he was alone, realizing that his person had been breathing somewhere in the world all along struck Shin Tae-oh profoundly.
He kissed Se-hyun again.