RB 137

After dinner, a tonic awaited. A bitter scent of herbal medicine wafted from the warm mug. Eunho took the mug with a reluctant look, while Yeorok stood in front of him like a watcher.

Eunho was particularly hesitant today. He looked up at Yeorok and managed a rare, pitiful expression.

“…I don’t want to drink it today.”

“No. Drink it all.”

No matter how much he begged, this was a matter that could never be compromised. Ever since witnessing Eunho suffer a nosebleed in the middle of the night, Yeorok had been obsessed with managing his health. Studying is a battle of stamina. At the very least, he had to have the tonic consumed right in front of him.

Eunho finally brought the mug to his lips. His face contorted into a thousand grimaces with every gulp. After downing the tonic without even breathing, Eunho’s whole body shivered.

Yeorok pushed the candy he had prepared beforehand into the gap between his teeth. The finger holding the candy touched his soft tongue. The sensation was so intoxicating that, even though it was only for a fleeting moment, Yeorok’s lower jaw tensed.

“Go study. I won’t disturb you.”

“See you later.”

Eunho trudged away listlessly, erasing the bitter taste in his mouth with the candy.

Yeorok leaned against the countertop as he watched his retreating figure until the very end. He put the finger, covered in Eunho’s saliva, into his mouth and sucked on it. It tasted of bitter tonic mixed with a subtle sweetness. It was a pity, but there was nothing he could do. He had to endure it like a grown man.

As dawn broke, the house grew chilly. Yeorok lay in bed, warming the blankets with his own body heat.

Around two o’clock, the door opened with a knock. Eunho, who had finished today’s studying, came over looking exhausted.

“You finished early today?”

“Yes, I’m tired…”

Yeorok lifted the covers for his hardworking lover. Although they each had separate rooms, Eunho always slept in Yeorok’s bedroom. At first, it was just to rest next to him for a while because he was tired, but at some point, it became a natural habit.

Eunho clung to Yeorok’s side as if it were his rightful place. Enjoying the warmth, he inhaled Yeorok’s scent, which he loved so much, to his heart’s content.

Yeorok placed his tablet on the bedside table and completely dimmed the lighting in the bedroom. This moment was precious to him as well. He propped his head up and quietly gazed at Eunho’s face.

“Eunho.”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything you need?”

He wished Eunho would fully enjoy everything materially given to him. It was truly a pity that he was so unassuming that he never spoke first unless probed. That was why Yeorok urged him on from time to time.

Eunho, nestled in his arms, spoke with his eyes closed.

“Chairman, my hair…”

It wasn’t even a proper sentence, but Yeorok managed to understand and stroked the back of Eunho’s round head. When asked, “Again?”, Eunho moved his lips again.

“A kiss.”

His eyelids were half-closed; he was on the verge of falling asleep. After pouring all his energy into studying for the day, Eunho barely managed to make a request.

One must act immediately once an order was given. Without hesitation, Yeorok grabbed Eunho’s chin and kissed him. His lips and the inner mucous membranes were all warm and moist. Eunho’s tongue, relaxed and weary, wrapped gently around his.

A kiss before bed was a kind of reward. For whom? There was no need to dwell on that. Since they had both had a weary day, it was only right that they both accepted it together.

“Mm-hmm.”

A pleasant nasal sound escaped Eunho’s lips. Yeorok’s kiss was less akin to lust and more like a beast licking its young, slow and affectionate. Eunho rubbed their lips together; he weaved his arms and legs into every nook and cranny of Yeorok’s body. The cold dawn air, unable to find a place to penetrate between their intertwined bodies, was pushed away.

After about five minutes of their lips pressed together, Eunho’s limbs went limp. He had fallen completely asleep.

Yeorok swallowed his regret and laid his head on the pillow. He could not sleep peacefully like some others. He felt a surge of heat throughout his entire body from a mere kiss, as if he were a vigorous teenager.

“…Ha, how am I going to make it through November?”

Yeorok covered his wet lips and spat a curse onto his palm. The remaining days seemed daunting, making it impossible to endure.

For a student preparing for exams, stimulation was poison.

Intense pleasure easily distractes concentration, and addiction to dopamine leads to repetitive indulgence.

Of course, it could be used to relieve stress. However, since sex is an act stemming from instinctive impulses, maintaining an appropriate level is not as easy as it seems. Moreover, Eunho was the one on the receiving end. Penetrative sex inevitably put a strain on the body and always had a negative impact on his condition the next day.

Would similar acts be any different? Satisfying ejaculation triggers lethargy and sleep. In fact, during the early stages of his exam preparation, Eunho would often fall asleep after engaging in intense sexual acts with Yeorok. Feeling so pathetic about himself, he had asked to keep his distance for a while.

Absolutely not. Instead of living apart from Eunho, Yeorok promised to refrain from any sexual activity with him.

It was easy for a month. Starting from the second month, he began to feel a burning anxiety. And now, Choi Yeorok was writhing in agony from hunger, like a patient forced to fast.

Yeorok had never suppressed his sexual urges before. It was an act he could perform whenever he wanted, and he had faced many unwanted temptations. It was agonizing to have these primal acts blocked. He certainly never craved sex this much in the past, but many things had changed since he fell in love with Eunho.

He knew he only needed to endure a few more months, but he never knew abstinence would be this difficult. As the saying goes, “a familiar taste is dangerous,” and the reality of having to masturbate with Eunho right beside him was exhausting.

Yeorok was becoming more sensitive every day. The kindness and dignity he had fabricated for his social image were long gone. Lacking his smile, he was like a honed blade; it felt as if he could cut just by standing beside him. The hardships faced by the employees who had to confront such a Chairman on the front lines were beyond words. It was a difficult time for everyone.

***

On the day of the September mock exam, Yeorok returned home just in time.

“Chairman!”

At the sound of the door opening, Eunho ran over. Judging from the way he immediately threw himself into Yeorok’s arms, he must have done well on the test.

Even on Yeorok’s face, which had been expressionless all day, a look of emotion appeared. The corners of his mouth gently turned up, and a warm light filled his eyes. It was the moment when emotion blossomed in this usually heartless person.

“You seem really excited. What’s going on?”

“That’s right.”

Eunho wrapped his arms around Yeorok’s waist and poured out everything he had been holding back. He said he had surpassed his target score. Although he’d placed in the top tier, he hadn’t reached the score he’d hoped for, and Eunho had been agonizing over it for months.

“Is it safe now?”

“It’s just a mock exam. I have to do well on the CSAT.”

“Still, I’m proud of you. You worked hard.”

Yeorok pushed Eunho’s bangs back with his left hand and pressed his lips against the exposed forehead. Eunho stood on tiptoe to meet his gaze. Their lips briefly touched. That contact was sweet. Sweet enough to make one’s tongue curl.

“Chairman, let’s have dinner.”

Eunho confidently declared that he would prepare dinner tonight. Even his footsteps as he led Yeorok to the kitchen were excited. It seemed he had prepared a lot.

The table setting Eunho had arranged was impressive. He had even brought out an aperitif. When he saw the chilled Riesling wine, Yeorok lifted his chin slightly.

“The service is exceptional.”

“Please drink that for now. It will take a little time.”

Eunho hurriedly stood in front of the counter. He had wanted to have dinner ready before Yeorok arrived, but he had come earlier than expected. In his haste, he had no presence of mind to pay attention to Yeorok. The latter leaned against the wall to watch Eunho cook while sipping his aperitif. Seeing Eunho so excited was a great pleasure for him.

“…….”

However, as time passed, the smile faded from his face, and his gaze became somewhat obsessive. Eunho, dressed in a loose-fitting hoodie and short shorts, looked ordinary from every angle from his back. Yet, he couldn’t help but have dirty thoughts.

Yeorok knew exactly how slender the waist hidden beneath that baggy hoodie was. He also vividly remembered the sensation of gripping the buttocks inside those shorts.

His mouth felt parched. Even the acidic aperitif tasted like nothing at that moment. He was starving to death, and it didn’t seem like eating dinner would satiate his hunger. Forget the food; he was filled only with the urge to slam him onto the table and thrust into him right now.

Yeorok tilted his head back and rubbed the back of his neck, which had stiffened. The seam at the center of his pants was on the verge of bursting. He muttered curses to himself. He found himself so pathetic for being unable to properly control his urges and constantly getting aroused.

“I’ll go wash up.”

“Okay.”

Yeorok stepped onto the stairs leading to the second floor. His urges seemed to have reached a dangerous level. He really needed to stay alert today. Otherwise, he would do something terrible to Eunho.