HEAL 6

But as a human being, Kang Sang-kyung doesn’t get intimidated by a junior who is younger and holds a lower position. It wasn’t like he was a stranger, and the other person was Lee Yeon-su, famously not only good-looking but also known for having a great personality.

“Let’s not assume things that haven’t happened yet. You know very well that I ran out of that motel, Yeon-su.”

Regarding the infidelity, given who the other party was, he couldn’t blame Yeon-su. However, wasn’t dating a piece of trash who cheated or fooled around something an individual could sufficiently avoid?

The momentum with which Yeon-su had been pushing him seemed to dull. His blinking eyes looked innocent.

“Alright, since we’ve opened up this much, let’s just lay it all out and talk.”

Sang-kyung pulled his chair right up to the table and lowered his voice. Like someone discussing a very secret operation. This kind of conversation needed to be had quietly.

“You’re from that side, Yeon-su, so you’d know well, right? Among the bottoms, the type that acts a bit cute and is pretty is popular, isn’t it? That person… didn’t seem to act cute, but they were pretty, weren’t they? Am I not popular?”

“……”

“I’m doing market research right now. You’re the only person I know on that side. Actually, maybe I should increase the sample size? Should I ask on the internet?”

“No!”

Sang-kyung was startled by the desperate shout from the usually calm guy.

“Absolutely not the internet. You know how those places are crawling with trash. What Assistant Manager is curious about is practically a question with a clear answer, like asking which is better between a diamond and cubic zirconia.”

Sang-kyung became even more interested that Yeon-su, who always used only polite words compared to what he himself said, had referred to someone as trash. He filtered his inner thoughts before speaking. It wasn’t impossible that inside Yeon-su, who seemed kind, there might be something dark lurking. ‘Trash’ wasn’t even a surprising swear word, but still.

“…To be honest, you’re probably not a popular type. Among… bottoms.”

“Really? I do well with women though. I guess you can’t have everything.”

If asked whether he’d rather have popularity with women or with gay men, he’d obviously choose women. At least he wasn’t the type men in society disliked. He’d heard people say he was annoyingly aware of his own good looks, but well, wasn’t that a compliment?

Sang-kyung suddenly looked over the junior in front of him again. ‘Pretty’ wasn’t enough. The sleek jawline, delicate bridge of the nose, and even the harmless-looking eyes that evoked a protective instinct for no reason. His features were harmoniously gathered together in a neat, compact way.

“You’d probably be popular with both men and women, Yeon-su.”

Sang-kyung admired him purely. He was sufficiently confident in his own charm, so he wasn’t particularly envious of the other.

Yeon-su was noticeably flustered. His eyes, avoiding Sang-kyung’s gaze, lost their place and wavered. This guy has a boyfriend, yet he’s acting innocent? Sang-kyung narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“N-no, not really.”

“What do you mean ‘not really’? You can tell at a glance.”

Teasing him mischievously, Yeon-su completely bowed his head. It was amusing to see the normally upright and mature guy get flustered. For the first time, Sang-kyung found a crack in Yeon-su. And that crack was quite… cute. Sang-kyung looked down at the junior’s crown.

“We’re going to be late at this rate. Should we get going?”

As it neared 1 PM, the restaurant was almost empty. At Sang-kyung’s words, Yeon-su nodded as if he’d been waiting.

When they finished paying and stepped outside, the sweltering heat choked them. He felt anew that it had been an insane decision. What lunatic walks for 10 minutes in this heat to go eat lunch? He truly felt Yeon-su’s gentle nature. If his superior had suggested going to eat lunch on this street, of course he would have accepted with a smiling face, but he might have been cursing internally. Maybe the other person was already doing that too?

Sang-kyung looked back at Yeon-su. His flushed cheeks looked hot.

“Should we buy coffee before going back?”

Time would be tight, but they’d probably let it slide a little.

Yeon-su didn’t refuse Sang-kyung’s suggestion and nodded. As soon as they entered a nearby franchise coffee shop, the air conditioner cooled their hot skin. It felt like salvation.

“What do you want to drink? I’ll buy.”

“Ah, no. You paid for lunch, so I’ll…”

“Hey now. This isn’t an opportunity that comes often.”

Sang-kyung took out his card. He didn’t forget to issue a warning.

“Just pick something cheap.”

Yeon-su hesitated for a moment before answering carefully.

“Then, I’ll have an Iced Vanilla Latte, please.”

Why is it so cute when this guy says trendy terms? Sang-kyung’s eyes narrowed into crescents.

“You like sweet things like a baby.”

Sang-kyung stood at the counter with a shameless face.

“Two Iced Vanilla Lattes, please. To go.”

“You’re the one who likes sweet things, Assistant Manager…”

“I like people who are confident in their tastes.”

Although his girlfriend had met someone too confident in their tastes and had her eyes opened to a new world…

A little later, the vibration bell rang, and Sang-kyung received the drinks, peeled off the straw wrappers, and stuck them into each cup. He handed a drink to Yeon-su, who looked like he didn’t know what to do as if it was his own task.

Even though he looked hot, Yeon-su didn’t drink the beverage right away and just stared at it intently. Was there something he was dissatisfied with?

Thinking back, he had acted excessively. With women, he didn’t put in the straw for them, worried they might misunderstand it as interest or feel offended. With guys, he just handed over the drink, telling them to figure it out themselves.

Did I act a bit like I was treating my girlfriend? Was it because of this guy’s peculiar vibe? Since most times I’m alone with someone are with my girlfriend, did my brain mistake the situation?

“Thinking about it, it’s a place that touches your mouth, and I handled it. Should I get you a new straw?”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind.”

As if to show it wasn’t an empty courtesy, Yeon-su promptly put the straw in his mouth.

On the way out of the coffee shop and back to the office, the Iced Vanilla Latte helped cool the stifling air, even if just a little. Using the excuse of drinking something, they didn’t have to try to fill the empty silence.

They stood on the opposite side of the crosswalk where that inconsiderate motorcycle had passed earlier. Yeon-su seemed to have a habit of standing close to the roadway. Sang-kyung couldn’t leave him be and silently pulled Yeon-su’s shirt collar, positioning him next to himself. His mouth continued to sip the drink. For a moment, the exposed, flawless white nape of his neck caught his eye.

“Um, Assistant Manager.”

At Yeon-su’s voice, Sang-kyung opened his eyes wide and raised and lowered his eyebrows in response. It meant he was listening.

“Earlier, about you saying you’d ask on the internet. Please, absolutely don’t do that.”

He thought the conversation was over, but had he been worried about it until now? Sang-kyung took his mouth off the straw.

“I can’t even just ask?”

“You weren’t planning to post a photo and ask for ratings, were you? You might get weird sexual harassment… What if your identity spreads?”

If his personal details spread, the girlfriends he’d dated would serve as witnesses, so wouldn’t it be fine? But… what Yeon-su’s boyfriend had said might be a bit problematic. If it’s the internet, the level would be higher, not lower, than that.

“Thanks for worrying.”

“Don’t take it lightly. There might be people who dig up your personal info and threaten to inform your company or home.”

Even so, since it’s not untrue, it didn’t feel threatening at all. He’d been someone with girlfriends since kindergarten.

“There are peculiar tastes in the world. There are many… inclinations that are even terrible to mention. So if people start clinging to you in that way, Assistant Manager…”

Yeon-su’s voice was desperate. Like someone who had witnessed something unsightly. His gentle face was filled with sincere concern.

Strange men with peculiar inclinations clinging to me? In other words, doesn’t that mean my appearance is that much to their taste? No matter what, that couldn’t be possible, right?

“Am I that low-grade that I wouldn’t even be considered there?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

He gave the fidgeting guy’s back a push to make him look forward. The light had turned green, and delaying was something Korean blood wouldn’t tolerate. Crossing the crosswalk, the guy started rambling.

“I’m worried you might meet someone through the internet. There are a lot of people who meet up very casually. Who knows what STDs they might have. They could be some kind of criminal, yet people meet them?”

I’m the one who wants to casually sleep with a guy and be done with it. Still, the mention of STDs couldn’t be ignored. Moreover, if meeting people through the internet, couldn’t that pot-bellied uncle who just passed by be randomly selected? That was Sang-kyung’s most horrifying scenario.

“My standards are high. I won’t meet people through the internet. Yeon-su…”

He was about to say, ‘Looking at the boyfriend you met, wouldn’t you know?’ but thinking that repeatedly mentioning the other’s private partner was impolite, Sang-kyung stopped and cleared his throat.

“Anyway, you’re saying men look at things more critically than women do.”

Finally, Yeon-su quieted down.

As expected, they arrived at the office exactly at 1 PM. Sang-kyung and Yeon-su’s seats were at opposite ends of the same row. Sang-kyung was by the window, Yeon-su by the aisle.

When going to the restroom, Sang-kyung looked at Yeon-su for no reason, conscious of him. The guy, who usually focused on the monitor with correct posture, was today sighing deeply and clicking the mouse meaninglessly.

Can’t concentrate?

When he returned to the office shaking his wet hands, Yeon-su seemed to have pressed Ctrl+V from his earlier state.

Since he wasn’t the CEO and Yeon-su didn’t have urgent work to finish, Sang-kyung pretended not to see. Perhaps because sharing a secret had increased their familiarity, he was oddly concerned about him.

Is it because his boyfriend is causing him trouble? It doesn’t seem like a one-time thing, but still?

Before he knew it, it was time to leave work. It was the moment Sang-kyung was packing his bag and getting up from his seat.

“Assistant Manager Kang.”

Hearing the voice from behind, Sang-kyung turned around. Yeon-su was standing there with a stiff, rigid face. His complexion was pale, like someone who had been tormented by worries all day.

“I have something to tell you.”

No matter how close they’d become, interrupting quitting time was crossing a line… Sang-kyung perfectly hid his feelings.

“What is it?”

Yeon-su brought his face closer as if worried someone might hear. Even then, as if not reassured, he lowered his voice as much as possible.

“I’ve been thinking because of what you said earlier…”

Wouldn’t someone think we’re gossiping? That’s the level of conversation that needs to be shared secretly at the office.

“Rather…”

Yeon-su bit his lip hard, then raised his eyes as if having made a decision.

“Would you like to… do it with me once?”

What? What is this bastard thinking?

Dozens of thoughts flashed through Sang-kyung’s mind. And soon he reached a conclusion.

This punk. Does he want to get back at his boyfriend by cheating like that?