PO 38

The outside of the window could be seen through the half-opened blackout curtain. Rain that no one knew when it had started fell and slid down the glass.

At some moment the outside flashed, and from far away a loud thunderclap was heard. The sound was so loud that the window vibrated, and Woojeong flinched and trembled.

“What are you so startled for?”

The gentle voice that soothed him lasted only briefly, because Han Jaegang’s hand slipped under his chest and raised his upper body.

“Haa…”

Han Jaegang supported Woojeong’s chin so that he wouldn’t collapse while kneeling, and he moved his hips slowly. As he pushed the thick shaft in and pulled Woojeong’s pelvis, the hole tightened around his cock without the slightest gap.

In this posture the penetration was too deep. Woojeong, who barely held his waist upright, couldn’t endure longer and leaned against Han Jaegang who supported him from behind.

The cock that spread open his whole inner wall hit and rubbed his sensitive spot. Woojeong shook his head as he panted.

“Lee Woojeong, you have to breathe.”

At some point Woojeong, who had forgotten even to breathe, gasped and blinked his blurry eyes. His sweat-dampened back touched Han Jaegang’s hot chest.

Woojeong leaned the back of his head on his shoulder and he reached his hand to his lower belly. The penis that pounded in again and again with heavy sounds felt as if it might hit the skin of his stomach and it frightened him.

“Do you feel like you will release?”

Even from behind, as if he knew Woojeong’s state clearly, Han Jaegang took hold of his penis. While he thrust again and again the spot that Woojeong felt especially, he quickly stroked his cock.

“Please…”

The pleasure soared to the point of being unbearable. Woojeong rubbed the back of his head against Han Jaegang’s shoulder and he begged. He didn’t even realize that tears were sliding down his cheeks.

“Is it hard? Shall I stop?”

His head was hazy and he couldn’t think of anything. His stamina was at the limit, and his whole body felt soaked in Han Jaegang’s dense pheromones.

The “Shall I stop?” wasn’t sincere. With his thrusts that grew even faster and stronger, Woojeong couldn’t even answer.

“Hng, hmm…”

Woojeong reached out and grabbed Han Jaegang’s thigh. Every time his muscles flexed, goosebumps spread down his spine. Woojeong parted his lips and exhaled ragged breaths, then he dropped his head.

From the tip of his penis held in the large hand, clear fluid streamed down. Now the semen that came was thin and small in amount, and it dampened Han Jaegang’s hand.

He couldn’t tell how many times he had already climaxed while their bodies joined. Woojeong was so drained that if he closed his eyes he felt he would fall asleep immediately.

Woojeong rubbed his damp eyes with the back of his hand, and when he wavered, Han Jaegang quickly supported his waist and pulled him in. Sitting on the mattress, he set Woojeong on his thigh.

Facing each other, Han Jaegang silently caressed Woojeong’s back. His gentle hand soothed Woojeong’s body as it moved slowly up and down.

“Stay a moment. I’ll get some water.”

Watching Woojeong swallow dryly, he got up. Han Jaegang bent his waist and tried to set him on the mattress, but Woojeong hastily hugged his neck.

In just one night Woojeong experienced for the first time the comfort and reassurance of another person’s warm arms, and he grew afraid of parting from his side.

“Shall we go together?”

When Woojeong nodded, Han Jaegang carried him without another word and stepped out of the bedroom. With no sign of fatigue, he went to the living room and took bottled water from the refrigerator.

Since Woojeong’s posture was uncomfortable to drink, he set him on the table, then he opened the cap of the bottle and handed it to him.

“Drink. Your mouth is all dry.”

Woojeong took the water bottle and he brought it to his lips. When he swallowed one mouthful of water, he felt how thirsty he had been.

Han Jaegang, who stayed by his side, took the water Woojeong left and drank it. He set the empty bottle on the table, and he looked quietly at Woojeong whose eyes were now at the same height as his own.

His sweat-dampened hair clung to his forehead, and his eyes were flushed red from crying. His lips swollen from biting and sucking looked even luscious.

Han Jaegang touched Woojeong’s forehead with his palm. The fever had gone down to some extent, and his awareness also looked clear. Would the heat cycle calm down like this?

“Hug me…”

Woojeong whispered small and carefully put his hand on Han Jaegang’s shoulder. Wasn’t it unfair to say that in that state? Woojeong’s unexpected words pleased him.

When Han Jaegang only held his hands at Woojeong’s sides and silently looked at him, tears soon welled in Woojeong’s anxious eyes.

Should he make him cry a little more? He felt a little cruel, and Han Jaegang smirked. After watching a little more, when he leaned closer, Woojeong let out a damp breath and wrapped his arms around his neck.

Han Jaegang embraced him and walked leisurely back to the bedroom. Inside the dark room, their pheromones and the scent of their intercourse were spread in a messy mix.

He laid Woojeong on the bed where the bedding was scattered, and he kissed his swollen lips. He slipped his wet tongue through the parted lips and stole his sweet saliva.

He felt thirsty even though he had just drank water.

•••

Han Jaegang managed to close his eyes at dawn, but he woke at his usual time. He placed the back of his hand on his eyelid, then he turned his head at the heavy weight on his shoulder.

Woojeong was asleep beside him. With his arm used as a pillow and one hand placed on his chest as he nestled, he looked comfortable.

“…….”

For him, opening his eyes beside someone in the same bed was an unfamiliar thing, but it didn’t feel bad.

Han Jaegang lay still and he quietly looked at Woojeong. Though he looked a little exhausted, his soft breaths sounded peaceful.

Maybe the aftereffects of the heat cycle still remained, but at least it wasn’t to the point of worrying about pheromone shock like last night.

Han Jaegang reached out his hand and he picked up the phone from the nightstand. He sent a message to Joo Yeongmo that he would delay his office time a little, then he put the phone back.

He turned to his side and he carefully embraced Woojeong’s shoulder. Handling someone asleep was also awkward for him.

“Hmm…”

Maybe he was uncomfortable with the touch he felt in sleep, Woojeong curled his body and burrowed into his chest. The tickling breath brushed his bare chest.

Han Jaegang naturally wrapped his arm around Woojeong’s back. Taken over by unexpected comfort, he slowly caressed the soft skin and he let out a languid breath.

Though he wasn’t usually attached to morning sleep, now it wasn’t easy to shake off the warmth and get up.

He played with Woojeong’s hair, then he closed his eyes. He had meant only to catch his breath, but he fell asleep again.

•••

With a shirt on, Han Jaegang sat on the dresser for a moment to catch his breath. Because he had overslept unexpectedly, only after receiving Joo Yeongmo’s call could he wake.

He fastened his shirt buttons with one hand as he called Joo Yeongmo. As soon as the signal went, he spoke.

-Yes, Executive Director.

“I’m coming out now, so have the car ready.”

-It’s waiting. Sir, what should I do about Lee Woojeong?

He chose one tie and held it in his hand, and he stood at the entrance of the dressing room and looked toward the bedroom. On the shaded bed, dimmed by the curtain drawn halfway, the figure lying there was still in deep sleep without movement.

“…Don’t wake him until he gets up on his own. When he wakes, prepare so he can have food or whatever he needs right away.”

-Yes, understood.

“If Lee Woojeong’s condition worsens, set it up so I can be contacted immediately, and find one suitable person. Exclusively for Lee Woojeong.”

After ending the call, Han Jaegang tied his necktie and put on his jacket. He approached Woojeong and sat quietly on the bed.

Woojeong was sound asleep without awareness on the bed where they had rolled together all night. The T-shirt he put on him after cleaning him with a warm towel was too large, so his pale nape was left exposed.

Because he hadn’t felt any need to restrain himself, the tender skin still bore reddish marks of their intimacy.

“…He will be surprised.”

He gently stroked the red bruise on Woojeong’s shoulder, then he opened the nightstand and took out a small box. It was the bracelet he had once bought at Yoon Hyunjun’s gallery and kept.

He unfastened the clasp of the bracelet and placed it on Woojeong’s arm, then he stroked the white wrist softly. Just as he had thought, the color and shape suited Woojeong well. The bracelet that always made him think of Woojeong had finally found its place, and that satisfied him.

Han Jaegang lifted the blanket and covered Woojeong’s shoulder. He attached a note to his phone and set it beside the sleeping Woojeong, then he regretfully got up.

He wanted to stay by Woojeong’s side until he woke, but he had an appointment that couldn’t be delayed.

He left the bedroom, and as he was about to close the door, he turned back to look at Woojeong.

Sometimes, instead of endless assumptions and worries, it was more effective to face things directly. Now was such a time.

He had to keep Lee Woojeong in the Snow Reflection Residence. The answer was simple.

•••

Woojeong seemed to have fallen into a sleep he couldn’t wake from. As if he was making up for all the sleep he had missed, he opened his eyes for short moments then he fell asleep again right away.

When he barely sat up, it was already close to four in the afternoon. In the empty space beside him, instead of Han Jaegang, a phone with a note attached was placed.

[I went to work. Call me when you wake.]

Woojeong looked down at the handwriting on the note, and instead of calling he first picked up the bottle of water on the nightstand.

After quenching his thirst, he picked up the phone again, but he didn’t have the courage to press the call button. Troubled by the memories of last night that surfaced suddenly, Woojeong only bit his nails.

What should he do now? How should he explain that he hadn’t come home without any contact?

“What should I do…”

Woojeong, who only kept biting his nails, turned his eyes to the phone that lit up.

[Call me if you woke.] 04:19 PM

It was like a message from someone who was watching him somewhere. Since he couldn’t keep avoiding, Woojeong pressed the call button.

When the call connected, at first he heard voices of people he didn’t know. As he waited for a moment, a familiar voice soon spoke to him.

-Did you wake?

“…Yes.”

-How’s your body.

“I think I’m fine.”

-I’ll send someone, so wash and eat. Tell me if you need anything.

Woojeong sat hugging his knees and answered meekly to his words. He didn’t need anyone to help him, and he wasn’t even hungry, but he felt he had to answer.

Right now Han Jaegang sounded busy. During the call, he told Woojeong to wait for a moment and he answered someone’s questions. Woojeong couldn’t understand the content, but it seemed like a serious conversation.

-Then go rest.

“Um…”

-If you have something to say, say it.

Woojeong, who had hesitated and opened his lips several times, barely managed to speak.

“Yesterday I couldn’t go home without telling them. Today I couldn’t go to the gallery either… I don’t know what to do.”

He didn’t know if it was right to ask him something like that, but there was no one else he could ask.

The calm now wasn’t normal. If Woojeong had a phone his family knew the number of, it would already be ringing endlessly. It felt like he could hear Kang Eonju and Lee Doyoung’s voices from somewhere.

-I already told Director Yoon this morning. About your house, you can tell them later, so don’t worry.

“They’ll worry at home.”

-Lee Woojeong.

“Yes.”

-You know too. In that house, there’s no one who worries about you.

Woojeong bit his lips. It was as he said. His family wouldn’t worry about him, they would surely get angry that he didn’t come home and was without contact.

In the end it wouldn’t pass quietly, but right now Woojeong wanted to pretend not to know, just as he said.

Just for today. As if nothing had happened…

-Anything else to say?

It seemed like the call had to end now. Woojeong, holding the phone close to his ear while fiddling with the blanket, let out the words he had wanted to ask from earlier.

“When will you… come, Executive Director?”

He didn’t know what he should do in the Snow Reflection Residence without him. He wasn’t glad about anyone else coming either.

In truth, right now even if someone else was by his side, he didn’t think he would feel at ease.

-In about two hours.

“Two hours?”

-No, I think an hour and a half.

“…Yes.”

After ending the call, Woojeong lay curled on the bed holding the phone in his hand.

Was it an illusion that his voice saying he would come soon sounded softer than before? Woojeong looked at the clock on the wall and only waited for the time to pass quickly.

The bedroom was thick with his scent. And it seemed to calm Woojeong’s anxious heart a little.