SB Ch 19

“…Wanna do it?”

Even though he was obviously aroused….

“Let’s eat first. You probably skipped breakfast and practiced all day. I can tell without even asking.”

Chae Beomjoon prioritized Seo Haeyoon’s needs first.

How had the others he dated acted before?

The ones who called themselves his boyfriends had never refused Seo Haeyoon’s “Wanna do it?” Even if he asked after coming home utterly exhausted, they’d skip any questioning and just pull down their pants.

It was confusing how differently Chae Beomjoon, supposedly just a casual partner, behaved compared to those who claimed to be his lovers. Were those guys jerks, or was Chae Beomjoon being a two-faced jerk? Seo Haeyoon couldn’t decide.

Either way, he didn’t feel like overthinking it today. Exhausted, Seo Haeyoon sprawled on the sofa like a wrung-out towel until Chae Beomjoon finished preparing their meal and called him to the dining table.

“…Did you really make this yourself?”

“What have you been watching? I’ve been busy moving around.”

“Even watching it, it’s hard to believe…”

The presentation was impeccable. The oven-roasted pork, pre-seared in a frying pan, was cooked to perfection, revealing its tender pink flesh. Beside it, butter-sautéed potatoes and vegetables were perfectly done. On the side, there was Cajun fried rice, homemade pickles, and a mild kimchi salad for the quintessential Korean touch—all prepared by Chae Beomjoon himself.

Despite having been served various dishes like pasta, ratatouille, soybean paste stew, braised fish, and chirashi sushi by Chae Beomjoon before, Seo Haeyoon still found it unbelievable every time a meal was set before him. Picking up his chopsticks after a polite “Thanks for the food,” Haeyoon asked, “You didn’t swap this out with something from a restaurant while I wasn’t looking, did you?”

“That suspicion of yours again. Should we visit a hospital tomorrow?”

Beomjoon’s retort, as if Haeyoon were being ridiculous, made him chuckle. Conversations with Beomjoon were always enjoyable. Neither of them yielded easily, making their exchanges lively and entertaining.

“How did you learn to cook?”

“What do you mean, ‘how’?”

“To impress women?”

Haeyoon didn’t think cooking was just a hobby for Beomjoon. After all, Beomjoon only cooked when Haeyoon came over.

This was a recent realization. Upon returning after a few days, Haeyoon noticed the dishes were still in the exact arrangement he had left them, indicating that Beomjoon’s cooking was reserved for entertaining guests.

“Am I right?”

Beomjoon seemed momentarily at a loss for words, as if Haeyoon had hit the mark. Raising his eyebrows, he feigned innocence before serving Haeyoon some roasted pork and vegetables with a smile.

“Enough with the detective games. Just eat.”

“So I am right.”

“Does it matter? What’s more important is that I cooked to fill your belly today.”

“Mm…”

When Haeyoon pushed further, Beomjoon sternly advised him to stop overthinking, his tone sharp but not harsh. He wasn’t wrong, after all.

Why should it matter who he learned to cook for when they weren’t even dating? With a playful grin, Haeyoon muttered, “Thanks,” and teasingly tapped Beomjoon’s leg with his foot before starting to eat.

Beomjoon brought up the topic of piano after both their plates were cleared. Pouring water into Haeyoon’s empty glass, he hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’ve been practicing the piano.”

His tone sounded just like a student reporting homework to a teacher.

“Practicing? For what?”

“I just felt like playing after a while. Would you like to hear it?”

Haeyoon raised an eyebrow, suppressing a laugh at the randomness of the suggestion.

Ah, could this be another tactic? A performance meant to charm? With that thought, Haeyoon followed Beomjoon to clear the dishes and asked, “You learned piano to seduce people too, didn’t you?”

“Let’s just say it was out of pure musical curiosity.”

The word “musical” automatically translated to “sensual” in Haeyoon’s mind. What an ambitious playboy. With skills like that, no wonder he managed to seduce so many.

“Well…”

Haeyoon didn’t mind. Listening to a piano performance wouldn’t take long, and if it became unbearable, he could simply stop him.

Just as he was about to agree, a nagging curiosity surfaced, occupying his thoughts.

Was Chae Beomjoon really a hypocrite, or were the other men he’d been with jerks? It felt like the perfect moment to find out. Narrowing his eyes mischievously, Haeyoon countered, “So when are we having sex?”

As Beomjoon rinsed the dishes and placed them in the dishwasher below, he turned his head at the question. A playful glint sparkled in his eyes, his smile teasingly sly.

“Why? Can’t wait to have me?”

That cheeky grin and sly tone nearly made Haeyoon blurt out, “Yes,” and pounce on him.

“Ridiculously handsome for no reason…” Haeyoon barely managed to slam on the brakes of his thoughts, shrugging his shoulders as he muttered inwardly. Then, based on what Park Hayeon and Ahn Yewon had said, he decided to throw out a remark that seemed plausible enough to test Chae Beomjoon.

“We’re not exactly in a relationship where we play the piano for fun, are we?”

It was a statement that underscored their arrangement as purely sexual partners. At this, Beomjoon, who had turned his back to activate the dishwasher, noticeably reacted.

His body stiffened, his hand froze mid-motion. Although he resumed moving within a second, Haeyoon keenly picked up on the awkward silence that fell over him. Clearly, something was amiss.

“Did something happen today? Did practice not go well?”

The follow-up question was even stranger. Instead of brushing off Haeyoon’s words, getting annoyed, or chiding him for the phrasing, Beomjoon first checked on his feelings.

That gentle concern made Haeyoon’s heart inexplicably warm. Even if he tried not to show it, he did have a soft spot for kindness.

“No, nothing’s wrong.”

Still, he replied nonchalantly, without revealing how he felt. Shortly after, a few beeping sounds were followed by the noise of water splashing inside the dishwasher.

Leaning his chin on his hand at the freshly cleaned table, Haeyoon watched Beomjoon wash his hands at the sink. He wondered what kind of expression Beomjoon was wearing. Perhaps he was a little disheartened—if he really did have feelings for Haeyoon.

“For someone who says nothing’s wrong, you’re being pretty insistent.”

It wasn’t until Beomjoon had leisurely dried his hands that he turned around. His expression was the same as always—irritatingly handsome and exuding a calm confidence that showed no trace of discomfort.

Did I misread it? Haeyoon, suddenly unsure, looked up at him, studying his face. Meeting his gaze, Beomjoon smiled brilliantly. He stepped closer, reached out, and gently ran his hand through Haeyoon’s hair.

“Don’t worry—I never said I play with my hands, did I?”

With those words, it became clear that Beomjoon wasn’t talking about piano practice to simply play a piece for him.

Was he just testing the waters to try something on the grand piano? Haeyoon nodded, half-convinced, and Beomjoon immediately bent down and lifted him into his arms.

“Then are we in a relationship where having sex isn’t out of the question?”

He asked for confirmation.

“Yeah,” Haeyoon replied softly, burying his nose in Beomjoon’s neck, which carried a familiar, pleasant scent. The comforting smell made his body relax.

…Maybe not, but who knows? For now, Haeyoon didn’t want to think about anything other than sex.

🔮🌙

The performance was right around the corner. Haeyoon reluctantly opened his eyes when the alarm blared at the scheduled time.

Recently, he had been staying up late, renting practice rooms and immersing himself in practice due to various concerns weighing on his mind.

As a result, his body felt as heavy as a waterlogged sponge. Even after turning off the alarm, he lay there for a while before finally grabbing his phone past 9 a.m. to check the messages that had arrived overnight.

Father

Haeyoon-ah, son, a man’s face isn’t everything… (read more) 3:43

It seemed his father had been drinking overnight, as usual, and sent another message in the early hours. Once again, he was harping about appearances. Ever since meeting Chae Beomjoon in the church parking lot, it had been the same nagging refrain. Even though the person in question had denied it, Seo Jonggil wouldn’t stop spinning his wild fantasies.

After Haeyoon’s mother, Yoo Jihyun, passed away, Seo Jonggil became a Catholic. He claimed he wanted to pray for her happiness in the afterlife, that Buddhism was too boring, Protestantism too money-hungry, and Catholicism the best fit. Saying such things, he began attending church and eventually became a baptized Catholic.

It was for this reason that Haeyoon had accompanied him to church once. Seo Jonggil wanted to introduce him to a fellow congregant who had, like a savior, helped him in the parking lot. However, the situation turned out to be a bit problematic.

Haeyoon had assumed it was a simple introduction between two people. But upon arrival, he realized it was practically a blind date.

What? You’re so devoted to the Lord, yet you’re setting your son up with a man at church?

Of course, Seo Jonggil hadn’t explicitly revealed Haeyoon’s orientation to the other person or formally arranged a meeting. From his perspective, he simply thought the person was decent and hoped for a natural connection. Naturally, it wasn’t natural at all. The issue was that the other person already knew about Haeyoon’s orientation.

Haeyoon hadn’t been impressed with the man’s appearance and planned to exchange pleasantries and move on. However, as soon as they were alone, the man subtly hinted that if Haeyoon was open to it, he’d be willing to become his live-in son-in-law.

Shocked, Haeyoon had asked if he’d heard about his orientation from his father, but the man denied it. He claimed he’d picked up on it from the way Seo Jonggil boasted about his son.

As absurd as it was, Haeyoon couldn’t lash out at the man, who spoke in earnest tones about his dream of marrying into a wealthy family, even if it wasn’t a chaebol dynasty.

So he roughly made an excuse about meeting someone and headed out to the parking lot, only to run into Chae Beomjoon, who was arguing with his father.

Recalling that day, Seo Haeyoon let out a weak laugh.

Chae Beomjoon, who was protesting with an indignant expression and a red face, had been incredibly cute. Adorable, even.

That day, Haeyoon played the role of a judge, mediated their fight, and then parted ways to head to his father’s house. On the way, his father couldn’t stop grilling him about Chae Beomjoon. Who was he? How did they meet? How old was he? Had he been married before? He looked like someone who might have a child.

But no matter how bold Haeyoon was, mentioning a sexual partner in front of his father was out of the question. So he just brushed it off, saying he was someone he knew. Later, however, his father ended up meeting that announcer again and learned the details, mistakenly assuming that the person Haeyoon was seeing was Chae Beomjoon.

Since then, messages like those had been coming sporadically. “Looks aren’t everything when it comes to men,” or something like that. Apparently, even to his father, Chae Beomjoon seemed flashier than the announcer. It was amusing.

Don’t drink too much. 9:05

Consider your age now.

Haeyoon sent a reply to his father and then checked the messages below that.

Tennis.

Haha That’s right.

Are you still busy these days?ㅠ.ㅠ 6:11

Tennis was a kid who had once gotten his number at a hotel. Haeyoon didn’t know his real name, but the scar on his wrist looked like he was wearing a tennis wristband, so Haeyoon had nicknamed him that.

After getting his contact, they exchanged brief greetings, but since Haeyoon found a partner that very day, he told Tennis he was busy for a while and cut off contact. Then yesterday, a message arrived after a long time. Tennis had asked how Haeyoon had been, so Haeyoon replied late and went to bed. But apparently, the kid liked him quite a bit and was now asking if he had any free time.

What did he look like? Other than being big, nothing about him had really left an impression. Anyway, it wasn’t an important matter.

If nothing else happened, his relationship with Chae Beomjoon would probably last until next year. Haeyoon, who was quite satisfied with his current situation, felt no need to change his life.

Haeyoon marked the message as read without replying and scrolled further down in the messenger app.

That day, there was no message from Chae Beomjoon yet.

Haeyoon ordered a salad for delivery and, with nothing to do, kept opening and closing his chat window with Beomjoon before finally deciding to send a message first. Of course, Ahn Yewon and Park Hayeon had told him not to just contact whenever he wanted, but…

There was still some time left before work, and Haeyoon was a bit bored.

Beomjoon-ah. 9:12

Are you at work?

He sent the message and went into the bathroom to wash up. He considered taking a bath but postponed it until the evening, opting for a refreshing shower to wash off the morning lethargy.

When he came out wearing a robe, leisurely drying his hair, the delivery had already arrived. Haeyoon set the poke salad on the table and checked his phone. His large eyes narrowed slightly. Nothing had arrived.

Busy? 9:51

He sent another message and ate his meal. However, even after exercising alone and changing clothes, there was still no reply from Chae Beomjoon.

He had grown used to replies arriving within two minutes recently. Thinking back, though, Beomjoon had mentioned something early on in their relationship—that he often couldn’t properly respond to messages because of his busy schedule.

So was the recent smooth communication just because things had been slow at work? Or had he been making an effort to respond to Haeyoon specifically?

Still unable to shake off his suspicions, Haeyoon finished getting ready for work, packed his bow and instruments, and headed to the underground parking lot. Then, remembering something Beomjoon had said before, he decided to call him while walking to his car.

Beomjoon had once said that if there was an urgent matter, leaving a call record would make him check messages immediately. But Haeyoon couldn’t help but hope he might actually pick up, so he let the call ring instead of hanging up.

The ringing tone stretched on, until finally, a recorded message played after a long pause.

“The person you’re trying to reach is unavailable. You’ll be directed to voicemail.”

He wasn’t answering. Pouting slightly, Haeyoon started his car and ended the call. Since he’d left a missed call, he figured a reply would come soon enough.

But…

“What the heck.”

When he arrived at the theater, parked, and opened the trunk, the notification count on his phone still showed “1.” Seo Haeyoon narrowed his eyes, staring at the phone, and suddenly felt a jolt of unease.

Come to think of it, Beomjoon had mentioned he was a secretary at a company connected to gangsters. It was something Haeyoon had completely forgotten since he hadn’t shown any signs of it, but Chae Beomjoon worked in a rather dangerous field.

Remembering that fact, worry began to creep in. Had something happened? After some hesitation, Haeyoon pursed his lips and decided to leave him another message.

Mister, are you okay?

Is everything all right? 11:53

Did you get hurt?

As expected, there was no immediate read receipt or reply this time either. Suppressing the strange fluttering in his chest, Haeyoon slung the large soft case over his shoulder. He reassured himself that everything would be fine, heading to the practice room with an effort to calm his nerves.

“Hello.”

“Hello, teacher.”

Perhaps because it was the final rehearsal before the performance, the atmosphere was subdued. Even the flounder-eyed guy who always sneaked glances at Haeyoon was focused only on applying rosin to his bow today.

It was a relief—it allowed Haeyoon to concentrate fully on practice without any distractions.

The final rehearsal concluded without issues. Thanks to his relentless effort memorizing the entire score, Haeyoon finished perfectly, without any corrections or side glances from others.

The ensemble itself was flawless, proving that the long period of preparation hadn’t been in vain. He felt confident that tomorrow’s performance would go smoothly.

“Everyone, you’ve worked hard. Take care of your condition, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Great job.”

As soon as the conductor, nodding in satisfaction, left the room, the thoughts Haeyoon had pushed aside came flooding back. Chae Beomjoon. The name popped into his mind, prompting him to swiftly bid farewell to the others and rise from his seat.

“Haeyoon….”

“I have something urgent. Goodbye.”

Without giving the flounder-eyed guy a chance to speak, Haeyoon packed his instrument and left the practice room. Quickly returning to the parking lot, he secured his instrument in the trunk and immediately checked his phone.

Would there be a message? With trembling anticipation, he pressed the button, and the lock screen lit up.

Beomjoon.

The name appeared on the screen. The fact that a reply had come from the one person he had set notifications for calmed his anxious heart. Letting out a short sigh, Haeyoon opened the message with trembling hands. But….

Beomjoon:

Sorry, I was busy with a meeting. 15:55

Beomjoon:

Were you worried?

I didn’t think we were at the point where a little silence would cause concern, but I’m honored^^ 15:56

“……”

Seo Haeyoon’s fine eyebrows arched sharply. The corners of his large eyes turned fierce, and a faint scoff escaped through his slightly parted lips.

Reading the message aloud, his crooked smile deepened.

I didn’t think we were at the point where a little silence would cause concern, but I’m honored…?

Saying it out loud made it clear. Chae Beomjoon had been upset by something Haeyoon had said a few days ago and was now twisting his words in response.

There was only one reason for a mature man to immaturely mock a statement that wasn’t entirely wrong.

“You said you weren’t into romantic games.”

His muttered voice dropped low, carrying a dull weight.

🔮🌙

Oddly enough, he didn’t feel betrayed. It was just, “Oh, it’s this again,” that crossed his mind.

Did he secretly anticipate this, even while believing this man would never do such a thing? Either way, it was already done. How it happened didn’t matter.

Lying on the sofa, Haeyoon idly touched his cheek. Just a few days ago, he had been so satisfied with this situation that he wanted to maintain it as it was.

But now that he had learned that Chae Beomjoon seemed to have feelings for him—something that could shatter this peaceful life—he couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

Should he pretend not to know?

Or should he address it outright?

Both approaches had clear pros and cons.

If he acted like he didn’t know anything, it would be easier on him. Seo Haeyoon could continue to irresponsibly enjoy the affection Chae Beomjoon was giving him, just as he always had.

But for Chae Beomjoon, it would be a torment. His open and unreserved behavior would only make Beomjoon’s feelings for him grow stronger.

That was the biggest issue—the possibility that, over time, Chae Beomjoon might come to like him so much that it became unmanageable.

People inevitably change when they fall for someone.

Even the composed and mature Chae Beomjoon had already started to lose his composure, showing his feelings in childish ways. If his feelings grew any stronger, there was no guarantee that the usually cool and straightforward Chae Beomjoon wouldn’t turn clingy, like a stalker. That would become a hassle for Haeyoon….

“Ah, this isn’t right.”

Lost in thought, Seo Haeyoon sighed and muttered as if in resignation.

No, none of that mattered.

Pros and cons aside, Seo Haeyoon didn’t want to deceive Chae Beomjoon in this way. He had no desire to gain anything by tricking someone, like the nine despicable men who had cheated on him but still slept with him regularly.

This approach was rejected—there was no need to consider it further.

That left only one option. He would have to openly acknowledge Chae Beomjoon’s feelings.

If Chae Beomjoon could let go of his feelings easily, it might lead to an awkward period, but in the long run, this was the best solution.

But the heart—this was the problem.

Although he had been in relationships with nine men, all of whom had betrayed him, there had been moments when some of them had been deeply devoted to him. There had been grand beginnings, even if the endings were disappointing. Out of the nine, at least two or three had shown desperate affection before they officially became lovers.

When they confessed their feelings, and the timing wasn’t right, Haeyoon had rejected them, saying he only wanted to remain casual sex partners. The heartbreak they experienced was intense.

One had proposed cutting ties completely, saying it would be better to end things than to continue without deeper feelings. Another had claimed they were so heartbroken that they could no longer bear to see Haeyoon and would abandon their studies and return to their hometown.

Though Haeyoon couldn’t comprehend such behavior, there had been no other choice. He didn’t want to ruin anyone’s life or lose a compatible partner, so he had reluctantly agreed to what they wanted.

And what had been the result?

The men who had once professed undying devotion to him ended up leaving him for someone else.

What if Chae Beomjoon reacted the same way?

If he rejected Beomjoon’s feelings, saying he didn’t want a relationship but was fine continuing as casual partners, what if Beomjoon responded with an ultimatum to end everything?

Seo Haeyoon had no intention of accepting Beomjoon’s feelings. Even the more ordinary men in his past had flipped their emotions as easily as pancakes; with Beomjoon, it wasn’t even a question. Casual partners were one thing, but Beomjoon was not someone who fit the title of “lover.”

That much was clear—despite all his experience with people, Beomjoon had never been in a romantic relationship. It was almost unsettling.

His mastery of intimacy, including fisting and other acts, aside, Chae Beomjoon was fundamentally skilled at dealing with people. His kindness, attentiveness, natural consideration for others, kisses so exquisite they could earn a doctorate, and his encyclopedic knowledge of romantic spots around Seoul all pointed to someone who’d had dozens, if not hundreds, of relationships.

But the fact that all of this had been cultivated solely for successful sexual encounters proved one thing—he was utterly obsessed with sex.

And that habit wouldn’t change….

Judging by his behavior, he’d likely been living this way for over twenty years. Even if he and Haeyoon started dating, it was obvious that Beomjoon wouldn’t suddenly change his ways.

Sure, when Haeyoon wasn’t busy, it might work. Haeyoon also enjoyed and valued sex, and if they could meet each other’s needs, there wouldn’t be a reason for Beomjoon to seek out other partners.

But the problem arose during the times he couldn’t—when his schedule became too packed for even a brief encounter or if he had to leave town for an extended period.

Haeyoon couldn’t imagine Beomjoon quietly staying home, resorting to self-gratification. Someone so fond of sex wouldn’t be able to wait for him to return and would soon seek out others.

It was so… predictable.

“Ha.”

His calm eyes scanned the ceiling as the tips of his toes, sticking out from the sofa, gently twitched.

Of course, he had no intention of facing such an ending.

Although Seo Haeyoon wandered for a while after returning to Korea, his life had been remarkably stable since autumn. Haeyoon was well aware that this stability was underpinned by the trust-based relationship he had with his sex partner, Chae Beomjoon.

However, it wasn’t that Haeyoon trusted Chae Beomjoon as a person. The foundation of his trust lay in the belief that “Chae Beomjoon loves the act of sex itself.”

For that reason, though it was amusing, he believed that Chae Beomjoon wouldn’t tarnish that pure lust with feelings of love for someone. It was why he could overlook the man’s constant kindness, attributing it to his nature.

But that assumption was wrong, and it seemed Chae Beomjoon was already deeply infatuated with him.

Of course, Haeyoon didn’t blame Beomjoon’s feelings. Emotions were beyond one’s control. How many things in life could go exactly as one wished? Even Seo Haeyoon hadn’t intended to love the double bass from the start. It just ended up happening.

“Haeyoon?”

…Now that he thought about it, the man who used to call him “you” or “that person” had started addressing him as “Haeyoon” more frequently quite some time ago.

When did he begin to like me? Although Haeyoon only noticed the change a few days ago, it was clear in hindsight that Chae Beomjoon had been acting this way for quite some time.

“Haeyoon, are you asleep?”

When there was no response, the sound of footsteps gradually faded, and the man entered the living room quietly, asking softly. Assuming the figure lying on the sofa had fallen asleep, he silently turned and headed to his room.

After a while, Chae Beomjoon emerged again from the room. As he approached, Seo Haeyoon kept his eyes closed, pretending to sleep and breathing evenly. Soon, Beomjoon stopped near him and gently placed a hand on Haeyoon’s cheek, stroking it for a long time.

His touch was soft and tender. The hand, slightly damp and warm, revealed that Beomjoon had used hot water to warm his hands, likely to avoid waking him. Realizing this brought an indescribable rush of emotion. He treated Haeyoon like something precious, brushing his hand over Haeyoon’s palm and leaving a ticklish kiss on his fingertips. Unable to hold back any longer, Seo Haeyoon frowned and opened his eyes, feeling a fluttering sensation in his chest. Dark eyes were staring back at him from close proximity.

“…Sorry, did I wake you?”

When their eyes met, Chae Beomjoon looked startled, like a thief caught in the act. But his poker face crumbled only for a fleeting moment.

He soon flashed a soft smile, tilting his head as he leaned in closer naturally. Honestly, this wasn’t the time to indulge in such things, but for some reason, Haeyoon didn’t want to refuse that kiss. After all, this was what Chae Beomjoon was best at.

Let’s just eat and talk afterward.

Seo Haeyoon made up his mind as he quietly accepted Beomjoon’s kiss. The gentle kisses, devoid of any sexual undertones, passed between them a few times before Beomjoon pulled away first. Smiling faintly, he touched Haeyoon’s cheek and brushed the area around his eyebrows.

“Was today your last practice? You must be tired. I’ll make dinner, so just lie down and rest.”

Unlike Seo Haeyoon’s calloused hands, Beomjoon’s hands were soft and smooth as they brushed against his temple. When the light touch tickled, causing Haeyoon to frown, Beomjoon chuckled softly. Something about that relaxed smile made Haeyoon feel odd again.

“If you’re really tired, you can sleep a bit longer. You can eat later.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll prepare dinner now.”

With that, Beomjoon began to rise. Instinctively, Haeyoon reached out and grabbed his hand. When he held on tightly without letting go, Beomjoon, who had half-straightened his legs, smiled faintly and sat back down beside him.

“What’s wrong? Do you need something?”

“Beomjoon.”

When Haeyoon called his name, Beomjoon didn’t answer. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Haeyoon, meeting his eyes. With a look that said, “What is it?” he began gently massaging Haeyoon’s arm. Feeling the tension ease from his body under Beomjoon’s touch, Haeyoon silently stared at him.

After a moment, Beomjoon, sensing the prolonged gaze, tilted his head and smiled softly.

“Why are you acting like this?”

As expected, this is nice.

Not because it was Chae Beomjoon, but because he enjoyed the time spent with him.

It was comfortable and free of burdens. Beyond just the sex, Beomjoon was a man who catered to Haeyoon’s needs in every way, making life with him free of any strain or tension.

For that reason, Haeyoon wanted to avoid disrupting this peace if possible.

As he absentmindedly toyed with Beomjoon’s fingers, Haeyoon pondered. Even if Beomjoon liked him, they hadn’t been together long, so it couldn’t be a deep feeling. If he explained things properly, Beomjoon would understand.

Seo Haeyoon decided to place his hopes on one simple fact: Chae Beomjoon liked sex. Even without considering emotions, Beomjoon seemed completely satisfied with their current arrangement. Haeyoon would persuade him to go back to basics and focus on that instead, firmly rejecting any foolish notions of romance.

Having reached a conclusion, he felt it would be better to bring it up now before eating and potentially softening his resolve. Seo Haeyoon sat up and looked down at Chae Beomjoon, who was crouched in front of the sofa. Beomjoon raised his gaze gracefully, as if silently asking if there was something to discuss, and Haeyoon opened his mouth to speak.

“Mister.”

“Yes, Haeyoon.”

“Do you like me?”

The question was direct and unrestrained.