A9 14

“…Hello?”

[Oh, Suho-ya. Are you home?]

A clear, gentle voice that rarely stumbled over words came through the phone. Suho closed his eyes as if tired and answered.

“Yeah.”

[I see…]

“Why did you call earlier?”

[…I-I was wondering if you might have plans tomorrow.]

As if his earlier confidence had been an illusion, Jaeyoung spoke in his usual, overly timid voice. Regardless, Suho slightly furrowed his closed eyelids and responded.

“Tomorrow?”

[Yeah… It’s Christmas.]

“I’m not sure what Christmas has to do with me.”

[If you have time… I wanted to ask if you’d like to hang out with me…]

“……”

[S-Suho-ya! Um, well… If it feels like too much, you can say no… I mean, if you do not have anything else going on, then with me…]

As if afraid of upsetting him, his already quiet voice trailed off without finishing the sentence. At that moment, the extremely cynical voice of Minhyuk, completely opposite to the tightly withdrawn Jaeyoung, flashed through his mind.

“Be out in front of your house by eleven tomorrow morning. I’ll come pick you up.”

…That bastard. I should’ve punched that smug face of his at least once. Suho crumpled his face as he thought of Minhyuk. Letting this slide did not suit his personality at all. He felt like he wouldn’t be able to sleep properly unless he found some way to ruin that guy’s mood. How could he mess with him without directly provoking the author’s temper, and if possible, settle all the built-up karma while he was at it…

Suho stayed silent, deep in thought. The pause grew long enough that Jaeyoung’s voice came through the phone several times, calling out, “Hello? Suho-ya?” When his name was called for the third time, Suho lifted one corner of his mouth and let out a quiet chuckle. A fairly convincing idea had come to him. A way to settle accumulated karma and still screw Minhyuk over.

“I don’t have any plans tomorrow.”

He answered with a faint hint of laughter in his voice. Jaeyoung sounded flustered, as if he hadn’t expected a positive response.

[…Huh?]

“Let’s hang out together.”

[…!]

As soon as the words ended, a clattering noise came from the other side of the call. A small groan of “Ow” followed, suggesting that he had probably hit his round head on something. Normally, Suho would have hung up without mercy, but this time he patiently waited. After all, this was the person who would mess with Minhyuk on his behalf while also helping him clear his karma. Waiting a bit was no trouble at all. Fortunately, the wait was not very long.

[Um, S-Suho-ya…]

“Yeah.”

[……]

“If you called me, say what you need to say.”

His voice was softer than usual, but still dispassionate. Perhaps because of that, Jaeyoung took a deep breath and continued, sounding nervous.

[Then, how about we meet in front of your place around noon tomorrow? There is a restaurant I had reserved but was planning to cancel, and I would like to go there with you. Would that be… okay?]

“Suit yourself.”

[Ah… You know, they say this is the first white Christmas in years.]

“Ah… Right.”

[Yeah… If possible, I’d like us to see the snow together.]

“Yeah.”

Suho replied indifferently and raised his right hand, rubbing the tip of his rounded nose a couple of times. It felt a little uncomfortable, as if he were using him for his own revenge, but that did not mean he felt particularly guilty about it.

Under the so-called double booking plan, Suho intended to arrange an unanticipated meeting. If he slipped away before Minhyuk and Jaeyoung arrived at his place, the two of them would have no choice but to run into each other. That was how a connection could form even where none had existed.

After all, wasn’t it better when things worked out nicely? Jaeyoung would benefit by having an opportunity to meet Minhyuk, and Suho would benefit by being able to serve Minhyuk a bitter lesson. Calling it mutual benefit, Suho slowly curled the corner of his mouth upward.

Somehow, he already felt himself becoming intoxicated with a sense of victory.

“If you’ve got nothing else to say, I’m hanging up. Don’t contact me separately until we meet tomorrow.”

As if his business was done, Suho slightly lowered the phone he had been holding to his ear. At that moment, a hurried voice stopped him from the other side of the call.

[W-Wait a second, Suho-ya!]

“What?”

[……]

Once again, Jaeyoung failed to say anything in particular. This time, Suho did not wait for him.

“See you tomorrow.”

Suho hung up without hesitation and tossed the phone onto the pillow beside his head with a light motion. Somehow, it felt like he would not be able to fall asleep easily tonight. More than anything, he was greatly looking forward to the expression Minhyuk would make when he saw the completely empty house tomorrow.

* * *

The biggest holiday of the year, the long-awaited Christmas, had begun. Contrary to the weather forecast, it was not a white Christmas, but that didn’t matter.  With just one sweet bit of payback prepared for Minhyuk, it already seemed like it would be a more enjoyable Christmas than usual.  

Suho, who preferred coats even if it meant freezing to death, wore black slacks, a white shirt, a sky-blue sweater, and an ash-gray long coat over it. In a good mood from the outing for the first time in a while, he had paid more attention to his hair than usual. Lastly, Suho looked at his reflection in the full-length mirror placed in one corner of the room and lifted the corner of his mouth. It was a carefully polished appearance, the kind that would easily draw anyone’s gaze at least once.

You’re the best, Im Suho. Perfect, Im Suho! Whoever ends up with you has struck gold.

Looking at his well-groomed self, a hum naturally escaped him. Suho gave his clothes one final adjustment.

Just then.

Buzz— Buzz—

The phone he had carelessly tossed onto the bed began to vibrate. It was Jaeyoung calling.

“Hello.”

[Hey, Suho-ya. Are you all ready?]

“No, I’m still a long way from being ready, so take your time coming.”

With the phone wedged between his shoulder and cheek, Suho grabbed his wallet.

[Really? I just left now.]

“Then what does it mean to say ‘really’ when you just left?”

[It’s just that… I wanted to hang out with you as soon as possible.]

A burst of giggling laughter came through the phone. It was amusing how excited he was, having no idea what lay ahead, but Suho muttered once again that what’s good is good and nodded.

“I’m going to shower, so I’m hanging up.”

[Okay. See you later!]

“Yeah.”

With that short reply, Suho slipped the phone into his coat pocket. After looking at the mirror one last time and rolling his shoulders a few times, he turned his body from side to side.

“Even I have to admit, my visuals are insane.”

Maybe I should debut as an idol. After repeatedly checking his face, Suho struck a pose once before heading for the door. He grabbed the doorknob and lightly turned it, and with a click, the door opened.

At that moment—

“So it really does take you forever just to get ready.”

A low, mid-toned voice spoke, and a face that was familiar yet so striking it was hard to find anyone better came into view. Along with a black coat, jet-black hair without a hint of curl gave off the impression of a grim reaper.

“…F*ck.”

It was Kang Minhyuk.

“I drank two cups of coffee waiting for you.”

“……”

“Don’t just stand there. Come sit next to me, Im Suho.”

Minhyuk, who was sitting on the sofa, brought the half-finished cup to his lips and tapped the seat beside him a couple of times. At his utterly calm and composed demeanor, Suho froze to the point of forgetting to breathe. Why was this man here right now? A chilling sensation washed over him, and at the same time, the strength drained from his legs.

Without realizing it, Suho braced himself against the wall and slid down to sit on the floor. Finding that odd, Minhyuk set the cup he had been drinking from down and slightly tilted his head.

“Are you sick again? I heard you’ve been taking your supplements properly.”

Though his tone sounded vaguely concerned, it did not register with Suho at all.

“…Kang Minhyuk.”

“Yeah.”

“Why are you here?”

“To catch you.”

“…What kind of bullshit is that?”

At his words, Suho scrunched up his face. Minhyuk continued speaking as if doing him a favor.

“When my fiancé openly declares he’s going to meet some other man, I can’t exactly sit still like an idiot.”

Leaning back against the sofa, Minhyuk looked down at Suho, who was slumped on the floor, then let out a sigh with an expressionless face, as if displeased.

“So, who are you meeting that you got this dressed up for? It’s obviously not me.”

“……”

“Kim Junhyun, whom you broke up with a few days ago? Or Cha Hyunwoo, who you saw before that? Or maybe…”

As if something had occurred to him, Minhyuk let out a soft chuckle.

“Ah… Lee Jaeyoung, the one who called yesterday.”

The moment he finished speaking, an oppressive pheromone poured out from Minhyuk. The force of it crashed down in fury, making Suho’s body jolt involuntarily.

“Ugh…”

He was already sitting on the floor, yet it felt as though he was being dragged even deeper. His center of gravity slowly collapsed, and before long, he dropped his head to the floor, resting his left cheek against it as he struggled to breathe. His body refused to obey him. Even breathing came with difficulty. And yet, despite everything, all his senses were stretching toward Minhyuk.

Suho lay flat against the floor, his body trembling in small shakes. Perhaps because of the pressure of the pheromones, he could not lift his head, but his eyes, glaring fiercely at Minhyuk, were as sharp as those of a wild animal. Looking down at him, Minhyuk brought the cup he had set on the table back to his lips.

“Secretary Kim, we’ll be leaving now, so have the car ready at the back entrance.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Just in case, make sure we don’t pass through the front entrance.”

“Understood.”

Secretary Kim responded immediately. After a brief pause, Minhyuk tilted his head as if reconsidering something, then corrected himself.