RB 78

“Taehwa-hyung.”

When Eunho called again, Seo Taehwa quickly lifted his head. He smiled gently as if his expression had never been frozen.

“Sorry, I startled you by coming in suddenly.”

“It’s fine.”

Eunho carefully put on his T-shirt.

Seo Taehwa didn’t know that Eunho’s partner was Choi Yeorok, but he must’ve already guessed the reason Eunho’s body was in bad shape. He was still embarrassed, but since he had returned to the annex, he decided not to hide it anymore. If it had been Choi Yoonho, he would’ve handled even this kind of situation shamelessly.

When he changed into a short-sleeved shirt, his neck became fully visible. Seo Taehwa’s gaze lingered again and again on the marks. Eunho rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward smile.

“It looks like this, but it doesn’t hurt.”

“Can I take a look?”

Before Eunho could answer, Seo Taehwa stepped closer. Seeing it up close, he could tell for sure that they were handprints. Looking at them didn’t reveal who had done it.

Seo Taehwa tried to erase the thought that sprouted in his head. No way, it can’t be. Even so, he studied the shape of the marks carefully.

Absurd thoughts continued swirling in his mind. For instance, the image of Choi Yeorok strangling Eunho’s neck.

“At least it didn’t break the skin. That’s good.”

Seo Taehwa forced himself to speak. As always, he spoke with a kind tone and smiled softly. But when he saw Eunho smiling back, he felt guilty.

What was I thinking toward this kid?

Eunho’s face, a little pale, still looked as gentle and pure as Seo Taehwa remembered. With that white face and those dark bruises on his neck, he looked only more pitiful.

“Let’s go eat.”

Seo Taehwa took Eunho with him. His voice sounded lighter now. Yes, it was only pointless suspicion. Rather than having strange doubts, he decided to focus on his role.

From the next day, their usual routine began again. Eunho received skin treatment for the first time in a while and even got a full-body massage that felt almost too luxurious. His stiff body loosened little by little.

He had almost forgotten, but his public identity was that of a chaebol heir. Since coming back to the annex, he was feeling that reality again.

Eunho could enjoy this comfort mostly because of Seo Taehwa, who always stayed beside him and looked after him. Even now, Taehwa applied nail nutrients to Eunho’s fingernails, tended to his hair, and poured all his care into maintaining his appearance.

After checking his body composition, Seo Taehwa’s expression turned serious.

“You lost three kilograms.”

The look in his eyes while reading the report resembled a parent staring at a child’s failed grade report. Eunho felt guilty as if the weight loss were his fault.

“I’ve been eating the same. Secretary Hong always made sure I ate well.”

“Then maybe it’s because you’ve been using a lot of energy?”

“……”

Eunho closed his mouth at that. He didn’t even dare deny it. It was true he had been draining his strength almost every day. But since it was an embarrassing topic, he couldn’t open his mouth.

“……”

Eunho looked at him. Luckily, Seo Taehwa didn’t bring it up again. His tone and the way he treated him was the same as always.

That made him feel even more secure. Seo Taehwa was the most trustworthy person Eunho had ever met. Having someone like him nearby felt like a blessing. Finally, Eunho’s anxious heart began to relax.

The counseling sessions, which had been paused, started again.

Ahn Jaehwan had been paying close attention to Eunho’s condition for the past few days. They talked about whether he was sleeping well and whether any abnormal symptoms appeared. Fortunately, Sim Eunho seemed to be handling reality better than they had feared.

The part Ahn Jaehwan worried most about was Eunho’s trauma. He chose his words carefully each time, afraid he might touch a wound.

“I managed.”

Eunho also explained his condition carefully. Saying the past three months hadn’t been hard would’ve been a lie. There had been several difficult moments, and many times he felt overwhelmed. He had only endured it because his partner was Choi Yeorok.

It was true that he had grown used to sex, but that only meant he had grown used to Choi Yeorok. He wasn’t sure if it would apply with anyone else. But he couldn’t delay it any longer. To avoid ruining Yeorok’s plan, he had to be fully ready.

Eunho answered with a bit of falsehood, saying he had become much more comfortable thanks to his partner.

“It’s a huge relief that you don’t feel aversion to sex anymore.”

“…Yes.”

His ears still turned red whenever the word sex was mentioned.

Since his skin was so pale, any blush stood out immediately. It was amazing that while acting as Choi Yoonho, his face didn’t change at all.

Maybe he really had a natural talent for it. Ahn Jaehwan looked at the man sitting in front of him like he was observing a rare specimen. Could it be that Choi Yoonho’s soul slipped in and out of him sometimes? The thought was unprofessional.

Soon Ahn Jaehwan changed the topic. Eunho had once said he often dreamed of Choi Yoonho, so he brought that up.

“Do you still dream these days?”

“I was fine while I was at the officetel. But since I came here, I started again sometimes.”

“You still dreams of Choi Yoonho?”

Eunho nodded quietly. Maybe it was because of the place, or maybe because of the pressure of soon having to act like Choi Yoonho in front of people, he couldn’t sleep peacefully and often dreamed. And in those dreams, he always became Choi Yoonho.

When he stayed trapped in those dreams for hours, he woke up with no strength left. His head felt foggy like he was drunk, and he could hardly remember what had happened in the dream. The memories broke apart, and he even felt slightly separated from the world.

“But everyone dreams.”

“Nightmares usually come from stress. And this is a stressful period. It still worries me.”

Ahn Jaehwan tapped his pen against the paper and kept thinking. The part where Eunho said he became Choi Yoonho even in dreams was bothering him. It might be temporary, but it wasn’t a good sign.

He decided to keep in mind the possibility of identity confusion caused by stress. And in times like this, self-recognition was the most important thing.

“You remember the conversations we had during counseling, right? Like before, recall your grandma’s name, her face, your old neighborhood, the things you like. Even small ones are fine. Bring back your memories as Sim Eunho step by step.”

“Will that help me?”

“It’s a kind of mental health training. Of course, I’m not saying you have a mental illness. Let’s just keep watching. And don’t forget to tell me right away if anything unusual happens, okay?”

Eunho nodded. He was glad he had talked to Ahn Jaehwan. A small smile appeared on his face.‎

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Each day felt the same, but it had already been almost ten months since Eunho came to this house.

Late at night, after finishing all his daily routines, Eunho stayed shut in his room watching videos of Choi Yoonho again. They were ones he had seen dozens of times, so by now he could recite every line of dialogue.

The pressure of imitating Choi Yoonho had disappeared. He had practiced that much, and he was sure he had become just like Choi Yoonho.

When warm heat started to rise from the tablet, a ringing sound came from behind him. Startled by the sudden sound, Eunho turned toward it. The phone he almost never used was ringing.

An unsaved number was displayed on the screen. Until now, the only messages he had received on that phone were from Hong. It was a number that had never even gotten spam.

He meant to ignore it, but the number felt strangely familiar. After a long moment of hesitation, Eunho answered.

“Hel… lo.”

–You’re slow to answer.

As Yeorok’s voice reached his ear, Eunho went blank. Even then, his heart pounded wildly.

–What were you doing?

“I was just… resting.”

–Are you busy?

“No,” Eunho said, shaking his head. Even though Choi Yeorok wasn’t standing in front of him, his posture turned polite.

–Then come over for a bit. You know where my private study is, right?

“Right now?”

–Yes, right now.

It was half past ten, a time neither late nor early. If he had explained the reason for calling, it might have made sense, but Yeorok just told him to come and then hung up. He was such a selfish man.

Eunho let out a trembling breath and saved the number first. Why does he always only say what he wants? he complained inwardly, yet he treated the number like something precious. After all, getting to see Yeorok’s face was enough to make his heart race.

Even so, he had to tell Seo Taehwa before going. He pressed the button on the radio and called, “Taehwa-hyung.” The reply came immediately.

–Yeah, do you need something?

“Hyung, I’m going to the main house for a bit.”

–At this hour? What’s going on?

“The chairman called me.”

Eunho spoke in as calm a tone as he could so the excitement wouldn’t show in his voice.

–You don’t know why?

“He said he has something to tell me. He told me to come to the study.”

Eunho held the radio and waited for a response. Seo Taehwa stayed silent for a few seconds, then his voice became softer.

–Okay. Go and come back safely.

That ended the call. With his report done, Eunho felt relieved and stood up. When he turned, he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror.

He was doomed. His face looked completely expectant.

Eunho stepped out of the annex lightly dressed. The cold air rushed at him, but the main house was close enough to reach on foot.

He passed through the garden full of the smell of grass and entered the mansion. The wide house was filled with warm air that melted the chill off his body in an instant.

He crossed the house without anyone guiding him. He climbed the stairs he knew well and went up to the second floor. In the quiet mansion, only the soft sound of his steps echoed.

When he reached the door of the private study, he saw it slightly open. Through the gap, he caught sight of a tall man.

Eunho puffed up his cheeks and exhaled slowly. He hesitated about knocking, but their eyes met unexpectedly. The man standing at the desk tilted his chin toward him.

“Come in.”

Eunho stepped inside as if drawn in. But that was all. When he didn’t come closer, Yeorok gave him another look.

Eunho walked forward bit by bit until Yeorok’s face showed satisfaction, and he ended up perched on the edge of the desk in front of him.

Back at the officetel, Yeorok often made him sit on the desk like this. But now it felt different. Maybe because it was the mansion, it felt like doing something they shouldn’t, something secret.

“There’s the Haegang Foundation anniversary coming up soon.”

Yeorok began calmly.

“Choi Yoonho must attend that day. It’s an important event, so you’ll have to act perfectly without any mistakes.”

What Yeorok said was more important than expected. The pressure built on Eunho’s shoulders layer by layer. But it didn’t feel burdensome or frightening. He only thought that he had worked for this and had to do it well.

“Don’t worry. I’ll never disappoint you.”

Eunho answered in a calm voice.

He would become Choi Yoonho completely. That was how he could help Yeorok, and that was why he stayed by his side.

A smile appeared Yeorok’s lips. He liked Eunho’s certain reply. He reached for a folder on the desk and picked it up.

“This is the guest list. Take a look ahead of time.”

Eunho took the list and flipped through it slowly. Even at a glance, the number was large. He couldn’t even imagine how big the event would be.

“You won’t have to talk to most of them, but you should remember faces and names. I marked the ones you especially need to know.”

“…Okay.”

Eunho turned a few more pages. His focused eyes shone as usual.

Yeorok crossed his arms and looked down at Eunho’s face. Only a few days had passed since Eunho returned to the annex, but his appearance had changed noticeably. His cheeks had filled out a bit, and his hair had gained a healthy shine.

“Your face looks better already.”

Eunho lifted his head slowly. In his brown eyes, there was only Yeorok’s reflection. His smooth lips, free of any dryness, parted faintly.

“It’s probably because I got a massage.”

“Yeah, you’ve gotten softer.”

A cold hand touched Eunho’s cheek. Yeorok’s hands were always cold. But only at first. Once their skin met for long enough, his hand warmed up with body heat.

Eunho had grown used to Yeorok’s touch now. He no longer flinched or felt awkward. He quietly let Yeorok’s hand stay on him. His feet, dangling under the desk, swung gently.

After being around Yeorok almost every day, he must’ve felt a little empty when their meetings stopped once he returned to the annex. Without realizing it, Eunho stared at Yeorok’s face.

Their eyes met while Yeorok’s hand still rested on his cheek. Neither of them looked away.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Why did you call me?”

“I had something to say.”

“Did you really only plan to talk tonight?”

His tone was calm for something that sounded like a challenge. It was a question asked out of real curiosity.

Yeorok’s eyes narrowed, and a disbelieving smirk followed. His already cold features turned even colder.

“Of course not.”

Yeorok leaned down. As their lips met, the hand that had been cupping Eunho’s cheek slid down and wrapped around the back of his neck.

He had wanted to do this with Sim Eunho from the start. He couldn’t focus on work, and holding back only deepened the thirst. That was why he called him in person for something he could’ve sent through someone else.

Eunho tilted his head to match him. Their faces aligned in the angle most familiar between them.

The kiss that began softly caught fire in an instant. Their lips crushed against each other and sucked wetly. Their tongues mixed roughly. The sounds that escaped were obscene.

The binder in Eunho’s hands dropped to the floor, but neither of them cared. Instead, their upper bodies pressed closer, and their knees tangled together.

When the pressure made Eunho’s body bend backward, he stretched his left arm behind him to hold himself up. With his right hand, he grabbed Yeorok’s tie and pulled him closer.

Yeorok allowed himself to be pulled and held the back of Eunho’s head. While devouring his lips, Yeorok lifted his eyes slightly.

Through the half-open door, a dark shadow flickered. He could even make out Seo Taehwa’s hocked face.

Yeorok hesitated briefly, wondering what to do. But it was already too late. Since Seo Taehwa had clearly seen everything, there was no point pretending otherwise. He only needed a fitting excuse later.

It wouldn’t be hard to make one. He could always claim the meeting had another purpose. But in that brief instant, Yeorok caught the jealousy burning in Seo Taehwa’s eyes. Even after all the warnings, he still hadn’t let go.

Seo Taehwa’s affection was honestly exhausting. Yeorok had no intention of accepting it, and he felt not even the smallest desire toward him.

Yeorok let out a short breath through his nose. Instead of driving the intruder away like a rat, he kissed Eunho’s lower lip more deeply, making sure it was visible.

The sound of Eunho’s moan, shaped perfectly to Yeorok’s liking, filled the room. His soft, obedient lips wrapped around Yeorok’s with flawless precision.