TTD 162 END

-Side Story 2.10-

“You had such a nice meal, so why do you have indigestion?”

Ja-kyung couldn’t say anything to the housekeeper’s question. Even after taking two digestive pills, the indigestion didn’t go away, so she brought a needle and thread from somewhere, saying it was the last resort. Ja-kyung wondered what she was going to do with the needle and thread.

Even when she wrapped thread tightly around the middle part of his thumb, he thought “no way.” When she disinfected the tip of the needle and brought it to the upper part of his thumb, he realized something was wrong.

“Wa, wait a moment. Ma’am, just a moment!”

“Don’t make a fuss. It hurts less than a knife.”

He was about to argue that he’d never been stabbed by a knife, but stopped. It seemed like she might have been.

Shortly after, he felt a prick, and black blood seeped out.

After doing both sides like that, she patted his back and even made him plum tea.

“If it doesn’t get better in an hour, tell me. I’ll call a doctor.”

“No. Thanks to you, I think it’s gone down.”

That’s a relief. While the housekeeper cleaned up with a smile, Ja-kyung fidgeted and brought something. He had bought gifts not only his family but also for the housekeeper, but when it came time to give it, he felt awkward and couldn’t speak. When he hovered from behind, the housekeeper turned around and her eyes widened.

“What’s this?”

“It’s nothing much… You always take such good care of me… I’m grateful.”

What came out of the box was a softly glowing muffler. She had been wearing the same muffler for years, it wasn’t worn out, but still, he wanted to buy her a new one.

“Goodness! It’s so beautiful. It’s my favorite color!”

“Really? I’m glad. Sh, shall I put it on for you?”

The housekeeper handed him the muffler, and Ja-kyung carefully wrapped it around her neck. The housekeeper went to look in the mirror and liked it so much that her eyes even welled up with tears, which made Ja-kyung feel happy. He had thought that money was the most important thing in life, but maybe it wasn’t. He made up his mind that he should give people gifts more often in the future.

Leaving the delighted housekeeper behind, Ja-kyung headed to Kang Il-hyun’s study. Kang Il-hyun was sitting at his desk, catching up on his work, and he sometimes wore glasses because his eyesight had gotten worse lately. When he wore glasses, his sharp eyes looked a little softer, and that made him even hotter.

Of course, he himself had no idea.

“Welcome. Mr. Santa Claus.”

“What Santa Claus?”

“You’re going around scattering gifts everywhere. Is it my turn now?”

Ja-kyung narrowed his eyes. Always so perceptive. He had given gifts to Jang Tae-ho, Kang Yoo-jung, and even Park Tae-soo, so the only one left was Kang Il-hyun. Ja-kyung subtly took out what he’d been hiding behind him and placed it on his desk. One of Kang Il-hyun’s eyebrows rose crookedly at the size.

“A tie?”

He was asking if it was the same thing since he’d given ties to Jang Tae-ho and Park Tae-soo. Instead of answering, Ja-kyung gestured for him to open it. Kang Il-hyun’s expression was peculiar as he untied the ribbon and opened the cover.

“Cufflinks?”

He took one out and examined it but didn’t say anything. It was made to resemble the cross-section of a bullet, and he seemed curious about what it meant. Ja-kyung went to his side and sat on the desk. Facing him, he took the cufflink that was in his hand.

“This is the bullet that was lodged in my shoulder the first time. You know? The scar here.”

“I know. You almost died.”

“Right. Actually, my eldest brother kept the one removed from my body back then. Not decorating it with a name like you do, but just shoved it in some corner.”

Kang Il-hyun chuckled and Ja-kyung continued his explanation.

“At the time, I thought it was fine to die. My consciousness was fading but I wasn’t even scared, I just thought this tiresome life was ending. I had no attachment to living.”

Kang Il-hyun didn’t interrupt and just quietly listened.

“But not now. You…”

Ja-kyung paused for a moment then continued.

“You became my attachment.”

“……”

“When I look at you, I think I’m glad I didn’t die back then and lived.”

“……”

“So it’s childish, but I also put a name on this.”

“……”

“…’I’m glad I’m alive.'”

“……”

“From now on, by your side, I want to live well.”

Kang Il-hyun didn’t smile mischievously as usual, nor did he joke. Instead, he just placed his forehead on Ja-kyung’s thigh and caught his breath.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re crying from being moved?”

“I didn’t know what it meant to have an overwhelming heart. I just realized it now.”

“…I’m glad you like it.”

Kang Il-hyun lifted his head and smiled like a painting. Can I receive this kind of love from you? Ja-kyung grabbed his face and pressed their lips together. Smooch, smooch, as if reluctant to let their lips part, he caught them again. Then he stood up, lifted him in his arms, and strode toward the sofa.

“I thought you had to work.”

“Later. No, I should take a few days off.”

“You’ll bankrupt the company doing that.”

“Yeah. If you have our company stock, sell it right now.”

While he laughed with his chest heaving, his body was laid on the sofa. Kang Il-hyun frantically unbuttoned his shirt and whispered. Sorry. It’s hard to get to the bedroom. Ja-kyung put his hand inside the shirt and caressed his back. Same here. The body tightly packed with muscle squirmed. While they undressed and endlessly explored each other’s bodies, white snow was piling up softly outside.

*

Mmm. Ja-kyung, who had been tossing and turning, grabbed his aching waist and got up. His whole body hurt like it had been beaten with a club. It was well past morning, and looking to the side, Kang Il-hyun had disappeared.

He stretched and got up, and the semen that had pooled inside ran down his thighs. Damn it. Cursing, he roughly blocked it with a towel from the floor and headed to the bathroom. Looking at himself in the mirror, only a hollow laugh came out. His hair was disheveled, his chest was swollen and red, and from his shoulders to his calves and ankles, there wasn’t an intact spot.

“Hah…”

He squeezed his eyes shut, opened them, and picked up his toothbrush to regain his senses. After brushing his teeth and showering, he was changing clothes when his nipples touching the sweater stung so much he almost screamed. He deliberately changed into something looser and came out, and the view outside the living room caught his eye first. Thanks to the snow that had fallen overnight, the garden was covered in white and beautiful like a painting.

“You’re awake?”

He greeted the housekeeper, who was smiling warmly, and looked around.

“The CEO is in the study talking with Secretary Park.”

So diligent. Ja-kyung was about to go back to the bedroom to wait when he noticed it was noisy upstairs. Hearing Wang Lun and Wang Han’s voices, he quickly went up the stairs. Sure enough, they were standing in front of the second-floor terrace, looking outside and constantly exclaiming in admiration.

“What are you two doing? You said you were busy with appointments, so what’s going on since morning?”

“Wei! Come quick! Hurry!”

“You said you were going to volunteer, you liar!”

“You bastard. That’s not important right now! Look at that!”

Lun forcibly turned Ja-kyung’s head to look outside. Ja-kyung was speechless at what unfolded before his eyes. All the barricades that had been put up for construction had disappeared, and there appeared a sight he’d never seen before in his life.

Unable to close his mouth in surprise, Wang Lun took out his phone and started taking pictures.

“Wow- CEO Kang is really crazy. How did he think to make something like that?”

“Who else would it be for? He was always singing island songs.”

“It’s amazing no matter how many times I look. Look, look, hyung. Isn’t that a greenhouse? The trees inside are so green.”

Wang Lun excitedly chattered while enlarging the photo he just took.

An island…

What was before his eyes really looked like an island. An island floating in the middle of a lake… Did I see it wrong? Even after rubbing his eyes and looking, it was definitely an island. The surrounding water was frozen in spots from the cold, and it was a perfect island that seemed impossible to enter without taking a boat…

“Do you like it?”

At the voice that suddenly came, the three turned their heads.

Kang Il-hyun, who approached closely, looked at Wang Lun and Wang Han alternately.

“We have something to talk about, so would you excuse us?”

That’s what you call talking! Of course we should leave! Or should we call a band? Are you going to propose here? I can sing the song myself. When Wang Lun made unnecessary comments, Wang Han grabbed him by the nape and went downstairs. Looking closely, the live-in staff had also gone outside to see it.

“What… is that?”

When Ja-kyung asked with a bewildered expression, Il-hyun came close and wrapped his arms around his waist. Their bodies pressed together and his gaze settled warmly.

“It’s your dream. Living on an island with the person you love.”

“Don’t tell me it’s because of that…”

“It’s my dream now too.”

Kang Il-hyun confessed he had quite a hard time making that. When it was almost complete, several problems arose, and when he went to New York he met with experts to get advice. He said among the people he met then was the woman from the scandal. Recalling that she was a famous architect, it made sense.

Ja-kyung tried hard to calm his rising mouth corners. It wasn’t that he was happy about getting an island, but that there was someone who poured this much affection into him, that fact was overwhelming and thrilling. As he grinned foolishly, Kang Il-hyun rubbed his cheek against his.

“Want to go see it after eating?”

“Yes.”

Then he suddenly became curious. Was that built legally? He was also curious where the water came from and how deep it was. He was relieved to hear they got permission, surprised that the depth was deeper than expected, and even more surprised to hear that if necessary, he would release crocodiles.

…Why are crocodiles suddenly coming up?

He thought it was a joke, but his expression was more serious than usual.

When he unconsciously frowned and stared, Kang Il-hyun added an explanation.

“If your heart changes, I’ll release crocodiles and imprison you there.”

“Come on…”

“Does it seem like a joke?”

The burial was also serious, so why would the crocodile be a lie?

When he asked just in case, it seemed he’d already looked into all the procedures for importing them.

“Damn… It was incredibly romantic until 5 seconds ago.”

When he grumbled, smooch, he kissed him. As if it was regretful, this time he kissed a bit longer and pulled him into his arms. Don’t worry. You won’t be imprisoned alone. The two of us, we’ll live there forever.

Ja-kyung, who laughed in disbelief, shifted his gaze outside. Considering he thought that was actually a pretty good idea, he must have gone crazy. On the other hand, he was looking forward to spring. The thought of spending time with Kang Il-hyun in that place already made his heart