JD 49

With Hakyung’s humming as background music, Muheon and Hakyung finished their breakfast and walked down to the office holding hands. It was such a common sight every morning that the employees barely reacted and resumed their work.

However, as Muheon stood behind Hakyung, who had just sat down and was booting up his computer, and began watching his every move, the pace of everyone’s work noticeably slowed.

It was normal to see them holding hands every day, but the fact that the boss didn’t go back to his office and instead stayed to watch Hakyung drew puzzled looks from everyone.

‘Why isn’t Mr. Muheon going in today?’

‘No idea… Did Hakyung say he’d do something for him?’

‘If it’s something like that, shouldn’t it happen in a bedroom, not here—ahem!’

The employees, having let their imaginations wander too far, blushed furiously. As curious as they might be about the master of the West Sea, they hadn’t wanted to imagine that much.

While everyone’s eyes darted around in confusion at Muheon’s unusual behavior, it was Hakyung, of course, who broke the silence.

“Boss, aren’t you going to work? Why are you hovering behind me like that?”

Truly, the bravest among them was the river dolphin. He never held back his curiosity. At his question, Muheon tapped his cap and answered casually:

“Just. Because I like you, Kang Hakyung.”

“W-what—don’t say stuff like that so casually!”

The fastball straight down the middle at 160 km/h left Hakyung stammering. His words came out in fragments before he even realized it. Even the other employees, who were used to pretending they hadn’t seen or heard anything, gasped at Muheon’s overwhelming display of affection.

Despite the gasps around the room, Muheon didn’t bat an eye and instead leaned forward, bracing his arms on either side of Hakyung, practically wrapping him in a hug.

Hakyung flinched as he launched a program on his computer, the tension making his shoulder twitch. Muheon leaned in and whispered softly into his ear:

“Want to skip work and go play with me?”

“N-no way. Of course not.”

It had only been a week since they skipped work to go to the sea. If they went off to play again, the hyungs would definitely talk—no matter if Muheon was the boss.

Hakyung glanced nervously at his coworkers and tried to wriggle out of Muheon’s arms, but the man’s solid grip didn’t budge. The firm muscle pressing against him nearly made Hakyung drool before he snapped back to reality and shook his head.

Save this kind of hot affection for when we’re alone!

“Too bad.”

“Not for me—I’m not sad at all! Go already!”

Hakyung tapped the back of Muheon’s large hand on the desk, signaling him to get moving. Reluctantly, Muheon straightened up and let out a short sigh of regret.

He had half a mind to just kidnap Hakyung straight to his palace, but clenched fists were all he allowed himself as he turned toward his office. As he went, he called for Sang-oh.

Sang-oh, who had also briefly zoned out from Muheon’s over-the-top PDA, somehow picked up on the signal and followed.

As soon as the office door shut, Muheon spoke.

“Is it ready?”

“Yes, almost.”

“How many days?”

“It should be completely done by next week.”

Muheon raised an eyebrow at Sang-oh’s reply.

Too slow.

Now that Hakyung had taken the pill and could live in the sea, every second felt like a year. After living for hundreds of years without caring much about time, he now felt nothing but…

Impatience. That word alone filled Muheon’s head.

He wanted to take Hakyung deep into the ocean, somewhere no one else could reach. His fingers began tapping the desk faster and faster. With every tap, Sang-oh’s heart beat faster too.

Given Muheon behavior, there was only one possible conclusion.

“The river dolphin—did he finally take it?”

“Mmm.”

Muheon answered with a subtle smile. But that slight curl of his lips was so satisfied, it relaxed Sang-oh’s own tense expression.

He let out a hearty laugh and puffed out his broad chest, proud that he had played a part in Muheon’s satisfaction.

“He’s braver than I thought! I figured it’d take forever for him to take it, since he’s so timid.”

“Then report back the moment everything’s ready.”

“Yes, sir! Leave it to me!”

With a booming voice, Sang-oh marched proudly out of the office.

***

Thankfully, Grandma’s fracture was healing well. The doctor said if it stayed immobilized for about a month more, it should be fine, and Hakyung let out a long breath of relief.

Though Grandma wasn’t too pleased that her grandson had dragged his boyfriend down from Seoul again during his busy work schedule, Hakyung pretended not to notice her discontent.

To him, Grandma meant more than a mother or father. He would’ve come every day if she asked.

“Grandma, this is octopus leg, this one’s abalone, and that one’s webfoot octopus, okay? My hyungs gave you all this so you’ll recover faster.”

“That so? Tell ’em thank you. They sent such precious things.”

Normally, Grandma wouldn’t touch anything that came from the sea, but she was genuinely grateful for the food Hakyung’s coworkers had sent.

Hakyung sat by her side, stuffing her pockets with sea-salt chocolate snacks, insisting she’d be surprised how tasty sea things were.

As the two chatted peacefully, enjoying the food, Muheon—who’d been sitting quietly by—suddenly got down on his knees.

Even when quiet, his size made him impossible to miss. When he knelt, both Grandma and Hakyung turned to him in shock, eyes wide.

Especially Grandma, who looked like she might kneel too, until Hakyung grabbed onto the man’s thick thigh.

“Boss! Why are you kneeling all of a sudden?!”

“Y-yeah! What’s going on?”

Grandma echoed him, nervous from the serious look on Muheon’s face.

Even if he was older than her barely-twenty-something grandson, he was still much younger than she was, and face-to-face moments like this were always difficult—especially now.

“I don’t know if Hakyung has told you, but I plan to take him to the sea.”

“Ah… y-yeah, he mentioned it.”

She was the one who had scolded Hakyung into tears just a few days ago for hesitating to go. So she had figured he would follow his boyfriend to the sea eventually.

She still worried about his phobia, but with such a reliable partner, she hadn’t been too anxious. But then—

“As soon as I bring him to the sea, I intend to marry him.”

“…What?!”

“Wh-what did you say?!”

Both Grandma and Hakyung shouted in unison at the bombshell.

His scalp tingled and heart thudded like a drum. So did Hakyung’s.

“Why’re you looking like that now, huh?!”

Of course he was shocked, but Grandma was stunned too by her grandson’s wide-eyed look.

Hakyung couldn’t even register her expression—his mind kept replaying Muheon’s words.

Marriage.

The word washed over his whole body. His limbs tingled, his skin felt hot. He felt both mad at Muheon for springing such a huge thing without warning, and also hopelessly in love with his overwhelming charisma.

“L-look now. Marriage isn’t something you decide on a whim! And even for beastmen, registering a same-sex marriage isn’t easy. Besides, aren’t a lot of people not marrying these days?”

“Grandma! I’m not not marrying!”

Completely missing the mood, Hakyung had already linked arms with his boyfriend and was protesting like a fool.

“So you are marrying him?! Now?!”

“Uh… well, if the boss wants to, then I’m all for it.”

Grinning ear to ear, Hakyung nuzzled Muheon’s arm.

So that time the boss said, “Let’s go to the sea,” that was a proposal?! The pearl pill was the ring substitute?!

The way Muheon didn’t say unnecessary words and just acted… it was so cool.

Seeing Hakyung’s eyes overflowing with love, Grandma could only let out a breathless laugh.

He had just become an adult, and here he was talking about tying the knot. Sure, the boyfriend was handsome, thoughtful, capable, and had a good personality…

But still! Huh? And he was planning to snatch her cute little grandson away in under a year of dating?!

Grandma’s brow furrowed. She hadn’t minded when Hakyung introduced Muheon as his boyfriend—but the thought of him staying forever rubbed her wrong.

“Hakyung! You haven’t even been dating for a year, and you’re already wagging your tail like a puppy over marriage?!”

“I-I never—!”

“You are right now!!”

If her leg weren’t injured, she’d have smacked his back right there. But her grandson just giggled happily in his boyfriend’s arms.

That Hakyung—was he really a river dolphin and not a dog?!