Chapter 41.
“What’s up with the workshop schedule?”
As soon as Jihoon Kang arrived at work, he asked Yeonwoo Ji impatiently. Yeonwoo looked up and smiled with a quiet bow, but Jihoon still seemed annoyed.
Yeonwoo replied, “No hello or good morning, Assistant Manager Kang? I’m hurt.”
“I’ve been feeling irritated all weekend.”
It was an odd answer so when Yeonwoo looked up at him in confusion, Jihoon Kang put on an awkward smile. Woojin wasn’t paying any attention to them, so Jihoon walked up to him and tapped him a few times.
When Woojin looked up, Jihoon asked, “You won’t even say hi to me?”
“It’s not like we say hello every single morning.”
“When will I get the workshop schedule?”
“I’m sure Miss Yeonwoo will let you know.”
Yeonwoo watched them curiously. Jihoon, for some reason, seemed very annoyed today. When Yeonwoo looked at him in confusion, Jihoon turned towards her as well.
Jihoon was very chatty and friendly, almost to the point of being silly, but he was one gorgeous man. He had a luxurious face and with his pleasant manner, Jihoon was very popular.
Jihoon asked her again, “Please tell me, Miss Yeonwoo. I don’t think Assistant Manager Woojin will ever give me the answer.”
“It’s this Thursday and Friday.”
“And who prepared the whole workshop?”
“You mean the office education program?”
“Yup.”
“… You did, Assistant Manager Jihoon Kang.”
Today, Jihoon seemed to stare at Woojin much more than usual. It was normal to see Jihoon constantly trying to start a conversation with Woojin, but today, it seemed… different.
Jihoon asked, “And why did I have to be the one who take care of the WHOLE thing? Because of who?” He sounded like he was teasing, but his voice was shockingly low and serious. Woojin sighed deeply, took his glasses off, and stood up. He offered Jihoon, “Do you want me to buy you a coffee or something?”
“…”
“That’s not enough?”
“Nope, not at all.”
Woojin wondered why Jihoon was being unusually difficult today. He slowly walked to the printer and Jihoon followed him as he put his arms around Woojin’s shoulder. Woojin frowned, “Stop.”
“Eat lunch with me today.”
“It was you who told me to go on that business trip. That is why you ended up preparing for the workshop by yourself. It wasn’t my doing.”
“How about dinner then?”
It was Monday morning. Last night, Woojin returned home from Shin’s condo. Shin drove him home and throughout the ride, Woojin couldn’t help feeling hot and excited again. Just being in the same space with Shin…
When they arrived at Woojin’s apartment, Woojin seriously considered packing his things and going back to Shin’s home. Woojin wanted to, but it was Shin who told him to rest.
“Get some sleep.”
But even as he said that to Woojin, Shin’s neck was turning red. Did his disappointment show on his face? Shin touched his face awkwardly and sighed.
Shin said to Woojin, “It’s so strange.”
“I am?”
“No, me.”
“…”
“I don’t want to go home alone…” Shin patted Woojin’s neck before adding, “Let me hug you one more time.”
Shin pulled Woojin closer and kissed his neck. He smiled and whispered, “You smell like me now… Because you used my shampoo.”
Shin smiled teasingly and kissed Woojin on the lips. He asked, “… Does it still hurt?”
“… Not really.”
Shin hugged him again and mumbled, “You are too good to me.”
Woojin thought it was Shin who was being too good to him, but he didn’t say anything. He loved how Shin was stroking his back; Woojin buried his face into Shin’s neck and breathed in deeply.
Shin sighed finally and told Woojin to go up to his apartment. Even after he was gone, Shin remained in the parking lot of a while.
That night, before going to sleep, they texted each other as well.
Jihoon insisted, “We need to eat dinner together!”
“I already have plans tonight.”
“With who?”
“Why are you being so difficult?”
“Is it with Shin Kim?”
Woojin frowned and asked in annoyance, “What are you trying to say?”
“That’s what I want to ask you, Woojin.”
“Just stop.”
Jihoon looked at him with a blank face. Woojin knew him very well. Jihoon may look social and pleasant, but when you looked closely at him, Jihoon actually didn’t have much facial expression. He did always look like he was smiling, but it was impossible to figure out what he was really thinking.
Jihoon replied, “Think very carefully, Woojin Choi.”
“…”
“Even I can’t fix it twice.”
“What are you saying?”
Woojin looked pale as he faced Jihoon, who replied, “Don’t look at me like that.”
“…”
“Let’s eat dinner together tonight.”
Jihoon’s hand pulled Woojin’s wrist.
***
Woojin texted Shin.
-I don’t think I can have dinner with you tonight.
It was almost time to go home, and Shin kept looking at the text Woojin sent him earlier. His team had a lunch meeting that day, so Shin couldn’t eat with Woojin. Woojin ended up eating by himself and when Shin heard about it from Seulgi, he was determined to have dinner with Woojin that night.
Shin actually didn’t care about dinner. It didn’t matter what they did; Shin just wanted to spend as much time with Woojin as possible. Shin had never felt this way in any of his romantic relationships. He felt unsure of himself.
When he read Woojin’s message, he felt relieved and anxious at the same time. They actually never made plans for tonight, but it was so cute of Woojin to think that they were going to eat together without a doubt.
The only thing was… Shin wanted to know why they couldn’t have dinner together.
‘Will he hate it if I ask him why not? Will I look needy if I ask about every little thing?’
Until now, all Shin’s relationships were very casual. Shin always made sure he had plenty of his personal time and space. He saw his girlfriends as more of his partners. Chemistry in bed was more important to him than the girls’ personalities.
He had many girlfriends in his life but none of them made him feel sad when they broke up. He never felt lonely or disappointed when the girls left him.
‘I don’t know what to do.’
But Woojin was different. It was going to be Shin who would get left behind. Shin couldn’t help thinking about Woojin constantly. He kept wondering what Woojin was doing. Shin felt thankful that they worked on the same floor.
After sleeping with Woojin, Shin began to feel even greedier. When he woke up yesterday, Woojin was sleeping soundly. Shin got the chance to study him for a long time. It was still dark, but he could still tell where Woojin’s eyes and lips were.
Woojin’s body had many scars, but he showed Shin everything. Woojin, in fact, even made bold eye contact with him.
‘It feels like I’m a teenager all over again.’
To be honest, Shin HAD been trying to figure out how to take Woojin to his home tonight as well. He felt a bit embarrassed; his chin began to turn pink and Shin covered it with his hand.
Just then, another message arrived on his phone.
-Shin Kim, any plans after work today?
It was from Siwoo. Shin replied immediately.
-Nothing.
-I am near your office right now. I had a business meeting nearby. Buy me dinner.
-Hmm…
-I will wait for you at the lobby. Meet me by 6:30.
Shin smiled and began to pack up. When he looked up, he saw that Woojin was standing at the door to his office. Woojin was holding his briefcase, which meant he was on his way out as well.
“Oh, Assistant Manager Woojin.”
“Did you get my message?”
“Yes.”
“I’m leaving work right now.”
Shin and Woojin left together. Woojin was wearing a dark grey padded jacket, making him look like a college kid. Shin grabbed Woojin’s jacket impulsively. He still had 20 minutes until Siwoo arrived. When Woojin looked at him in confusion, Shin offered, “I will walk you to the elevator.”
Thankfully, the hallway was quiet.
Pretending to straighten Woojin’s collars, Shin leaned against him and whispered, “You were walking away too fast from me.”
When Woojin frowned, Shin asked, “Oh, are you upset?”
“Yes.”
Shin wondered, ‘Did… did he come by because he wanted to see me?’
It seemed like this was the case. Woojin looked embarrassed, and Shin found him adorable. He said to Woojin, “Please contact me when you are done.”
“Alright.”
“And call me before you get home.”
“Ok.”
“Have a nice dinner. Make sure you eat something yummy. I wish you would gain some weight.”
Shin caressed Woojin’s shoulders and waist. He was looking right at him, but for some reason, Shin already missed Woojin.
The elevator door opened and Woojin got in. Both of them sighed and Shin waved goodbye.
Shin returned to his seat. His heart ached and his blood boiled.
Was… this what dating felt like?
