ASCP Ch 7

After that, he’d only ever seen slightly inadequate bodies, but then, at an unexpected moment, in an unexpected place, he found a body that reminded him of that body—a body that was a 100% match.

That charcoal grill bastard’s body must feel like that too.

Myeongseon slowly ran his hand down his body.

Firm, toned, taut.

Hot, hard, smooth, flexible, and strong too.

Myeongseon closed his eyes for a moment and, with his mouth slightly open, exhaled increasingly ragged breaths. Rubbing himself, he imagined Jaekang on top of him.

Slowly moving his hips back and forth, stroking his chest and stomach with his rough hands.

“Haah…”

Myeongseon’s brows furrowed deeply.

“You’re loving this, aren’t you, you fucking bastard.”

Jaekang whispered hoarsely in his imagination.

* * *

In the morning, Myeongseon woke to the sound of his parents, Yangja and Jeongsik, leaving for work and hurried out of his room with a puffy face.

“Why are you up so early?”

Yangja, putting on her shoes at the entrance, asked with a surprised face.

“Uh… should I work the counter again tonight?”

At Myeongseon’s words, Yangja and Jeongsik’s eyes widened before they broke into broad smiles.

“Really? Oh, that’s great! It’s good for us if you come and work.”

“So you found it manageable after actually trying it. That’s right, that’s how you start, that’s how you start!”

Jeongsik clapped his hands, his face filled with emotion.

Myeongseon instantly regretted his words at his parents’ over-the-top reaction, but there was nothing he could do now.

Last night, while thinking of Jaekang, he had masturbated twice, and even as he drifted to sleep, he continued thinking about him, ultimately concluding that he would confront the situation head-on again.

He couldn’t just back down and leave that body there. Come hell or high water, he had to do something.

Just to see him again.

* * *

Parking his car and stepping out, Myeongseon looked up at the ‘Myeongseon Garden’ sign and let out a deep sigh.

Yangja, who was out in the garden, spotted Myeongseon and waved enthusiastically.

“Myeongseon’s here for work!”

Myeongseon waved back and slowly walked toward the arched entrance.

Yangja was holding the end of a long rubber hose, spraying water on the trees at the edge of the garden.

“Have you eaten anything? Want some pancakes?”

“No, I’m not hungry.”

“Myeongseon, it’s really great that you’re working here, but if you’re going to do it, it would be even better if you committed to a week, a month, something like that. How about it?”

“……”

Myeongseon silently watched the spray of water from the end of the rubber hose.

He had already agonized over even agreeing to work today because he didn’t want to be stuck to the counter for a whole week or even a month. He had to settle things before then.

“I’ll… decide after I see how today goes.”

“Okay, okay.”

Yangja answered quickly. Her face was anxious, as if she were worried that Myeongseon might lose his hard-won interest in working at the restaurant.

Myeongseon slowly headed toward the dining hall but then stealthily went toward the back.

Passing the corner where Jaekang had cursed at him last night, Myeongseon furrowed his brow slightly.

I should have cursed right back at him.

Normally, Myeongseon would have reacted immediately, but yesterday, the situation was so sudden and unexpected that he was left speechless.

With a bitter expression, Myeongseon passed the corner and went toward the charcoal grilling area in the back.

Sure enough, he saw that perfect body standing in front of the cleaning machine.

“Agh…”

Myeongseon slumped his shoulders and sighed deeply again.

Even after being humiliated like that, his body still looked perfect.

Even though the apron hung loosely, it couldn’t hide his perfect physique, and the work gloves and the water splashed on his forearms were also, somehow, perfect.

The intensity of the atmosphere, with its mixture of the primitive and the civilized, the spraying water, the heat emanating, the whirring and clanking, was still the same.

Chewing on his lip as watched the scene, Myeongseon gritted his teeth and strode toward him.

Myeongseon’s heart beat faster as the sounds, smells, and heat intensified around him.

“Excuse me.”

He spoke, standing in front of the charcoal grilling area, but Jaekang seemed not to hear his voice. The cleaning machine was too loud.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

“Hey, charcoal guy!”

Jaekang turned around. Like his forearms, his face and neck were beaded with water.

Myeongseon suddenly found hismelf gulping as he glanced at the wet areas around his body.

Acting all sexy by himself. It’s not like he’s doing a photoshoot. 

“What.”

Jaekang said curtly, staring intently at Myeongseon.

Myeongseon quickly pulled himself together, organized his thoughts, and opened his mouth.

“Why are you using informal speech¹?” 

Jaekang tossed the grill pan he was holding into the left sink, turned off the cleaning machine, and took a few steps toward Myeongseon.

“What did you say?”

Myeongseon barely managed to stop himself from stepping back.

Now they were close again, about two steps apart, just like last night at the corner of the hall.

“Why did you use informal speech yesterday? And curse at me, too.”

“……”

Jaekang remained silent, staring at Myeongseon.

Meeting his gaze, Myeongseon tightened his stomach muscles.

“Can’t you hear me? Why the informal… .”

“I apologize.”

Jaekang bowed deeply, bending at the waist to about 45 degrees.

“…….”

Myeongseon stared at him blankly.

Although he had bowed at him, Jaekang’s eyes remained fixed on Myeongseon, making it seem like he was glaring at him.

“I’m sorry. Yesterday, you were staring at me like some kind of pervert, so I lost my temper.”

“…….”

Jaekang straightened up.

“Are we good now?”

As Jaekang turned to leave, Myeongseon took a step closer.

“Hey, wait, charcoal. What was that? Is that supposed to be an apology?”

“Then what do you want me to do, fuck off.”

“Huh?”

Myeongseon’s jaw dropped.

“I apologized. What more do you want? If you keep staring at me today, I’ll gouge your eyes out. Annoying little thug.” 

“…….”

“I’m not as free as you are, so how about you let me work?”

“…….”

Leaving a stunned Myeongseon behind, Jaekang went back to the cleaning machine and resumed his work.

Myeongseon stood there, blinking with a blank mind, then turned his head to the side, followed by his upper body, then his lower body, and creaked away from the backyard.

What… did I just hear? What did that bastard just say to me?

Sorry, gouge your eyes out, apologize, temper, pervert, thug… The words that came out of his mouth floated around in Myeongseon’s head, fragmented and chaotic.

Myeongseon went into the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face, and stared blankly at the mirror. Then he splashed some water on his face again.

After staring at his dripping face in the mirror for a long time, Myeongseon let out a short, disbelieving laugh.

So… you want to play this kind of game? 

* * *

Friday evening at the garden was hell. The restaurant was overflowing with groups of customers, and there were frequent mistakes.

Even in the midst of all this chaos, whenever Jaekang passed by, Myeongseon stared at him intensely. Openly, scanning him from head to toe, ogling him.

Let’s see if he really gouges my eyes out. Who does he think he is, threatening me?

And what? A thug? 

Threatening someone and cursing at them, who’s the real thug here? Hey, you messed with the wrong person.

Part of him was worried that Jaekang might actually gouge his eyes out, but he also thought that he wouldn’t dare do anything with so many people around.

The restaurant staff and customers were his solid shield.

When the business day ended and it was time for the staff meal, Myeongseon quickly took a seat opposite Jaekang’s usual spot.

As usual, a soju bottle sat on his spot. The red-capped version, slightly stronger than the regular one. =

Showing off that he can hold his liquor, huh? What a thing to brag about.

“Myeongseon, how was it today? Are you getting the hang of things now?”

Jeongsik asked, leaning in from beside him.

“Yeah.”

Myeongseon replied perfunctorily, his eyes fixed on the entrance where Jaekang would appear.

Soon, he walked in, casually moving his impeccably perfect body.

Myeongseon cleared his throat and took a sip of water, his gaze still locked on him.

Gouge them out then, you bastard. Go ahead and try it.

Without even glancing back at Myeongseon, Jaekang walked over and plopped down across from him. A faint scent of charcoal clung to him.

“Thank you for the meal.”

As always, Jaekang filled his glass to the brim with soju.

“Myeongseon, tomorrow… .”

“Do you always have a drink with every meal?”

Myeongseon ignored Jeongsik, who was trying to talk to him, and addressed Jaekang directly, leaning slightly towards him.

Jaekang glanced at him as he capped the soju bottle.

“Yes.”

“Don’t you have to do the final cleanup after dinner? It’s not like your work is completely finish. Is it appropriate to be drinking like this?”

“I don’t get drunk from this much.”

“Still, isn’t it a bit careless?”

“I have a high tolerance.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Myeongseon flashed his killer smile at Jaekang. 

Jaekang, expressionless, turned his body slightly to the side and drank about half of his soju in one go.

“Our Myeongseon is showing more and more interest in the restaurant business.”

Jeongsik nudged Myeongseon’s arm excitedly and chuckled.

“But it’s alright. I’ve been watching Jaekang for over a month now, and I’ve never seen him drink more than that. He’s a man of moderation. Isn’t that right, Jaekang? He listens really well.”

Jeongsik gestured encouragingly toward Jaekang and laughed heartily.

Myeongseon, his smile still in place, nodded at Jaekang.

“He does seem moderate. And quiet.”

Jaekang started eating his meal. He didn’t respond and didn’t look at Myeongseon.

“It’s better to be silent and a good worker. The previous guy, Mr. Jang, was so clumsy at work and talked so much… .”

Only Jeongsik continued chattering on about something else.