TL | Chapter 18 | Weakness

As Seowon stepped out of the elevator, he paused, seeing Iden standing right in front of him. It didn’t seem like a coincidence—more like he’d been waiting.

“The meeting…?”

He glanced at Min, who was standing beside him, and he informed him it had ended about ten minutes ago. It seemed he’d taken more time than expected, held up by Ji-an.

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“Apologies for leaving my post.”

Seowon bowed to Iden politely, noting the faint crease in his brow that appeared and then disappeared. He knew Iden didn’t like him treating him with such formality, but he couldn’t just act as casually as he did at home in the company.

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“What were you doing?” Iden asked in a relaxed tone. Instead of asking where he’d been, he wanted to know what he’d been doing. His choice of words was odd, and Seowon looked up to meet his gaze.

“I went to buy this,” he replied, pointing to the mask covering his face. A faint smile curved Iden’s lips.

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“You didn’t really need to go that far.”

“I don’t like people whispering when they see me.”

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“Anyone who’s going to see you already has, and rumors have likely spread by now.”

Even so, he didn’t want to advertise his existence here. Knowing Iden already understood his thoughts, he remained silent.

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“Considering you only bought a mask, didn’t it take too long? Did you run into someone you know?” Iden added another question. Did he already know about his meeting with Ji-an? He hadn’t seen Iden come outside while he was waiting on the bench…

“Did you put someone on surveillance for me?”

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His tone sharpened slightly. Surveillance… It was something the Iden he knew would never do.

“Why would you think that?”

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Iden responded with a casual smile.

“Do you think it’s necessary?”

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He threw the question back at him. Necessary? No, not really. They both knew he had no one else he could rely on in this world. Yet this man made him feel as if he would even doubt someone like him, who was bound completely to him.

“It’s protection, not surveillance. I’d rather keep you somewhere safe and out of sight, but I know that’s not what you want. I’m only doing as you asked. Have you forgotten?”

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There was no room to argue. He had been the one who wanted to work as Iden’s bodyguard. If he had simply stayed at home as Iden had suggested, no one in this world would have seen him or whispered behind his back.

Now he wondered if he’d inconvenienced him. Should he have been more careful? But sitting at home, waiting and worrying about what might happen to Iden wasn’t something he could bear.

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“You seem to be overthinking again,” Iden said, stepping forward and gently lifting his chin. Lowering his gaze to avoid his probing stare, Seowon found himself forced to look into his eyes.

“Whatever’s bothering you, there’s no need to shrink back. No one here is going to say anything to you.”

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His hand, still on his chin, moved up to pull down one of the straps of his mask, revealing his face.

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t cover your face. I like that face a lot.”

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Iden smiled, a playful yet relaxed expression that softened his gaze.

“Then again, maybe it’s better if you do cover it up when going outside,” he said. His attitude was confusing, swinging back and forth, and he didn’t know how to keep up. Then his smile vanished.

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“There’s no need to show your face to the enemy.”

With that, his eyes turned cold, a chill running through them that was sharp enough to make even Seowon shiver.

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“Min,” he called, turning away and addressing Min, who had been waiting nearby.

“Provide every bodyguard with the same mask, a proper one this time.”

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He tossed his mask aside, and Min nodded in acknowledgment.

“There’s no need to go that far…!”

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“Remember, you’re my weakness,” Iden replied, cutting off his protest. Weakness. The word made Seowon blink, momentarily stunned.

‘I was worried that night I found Seowon out there alone so late. I wondered if he’d lost his will to live.’

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‘Just because someone looks fine on the outside doesn’t mean they’re fine inside.’

Min’s words echoed in his mind. Until now, he’d only thought about protecting Iden. He hadn’t considered what Iden might do if something happened to him.

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‘If it were a few days ago, I might have thought he’d be broken beyond repair if anything happened to you.’

If he were hurt, Iden would break. He now fully understood Min’s plea to avoid getting hurt. The enemy’s target was Iden, but if they’d seen how he reacted to his loss, and if they heard rumors that he’d returned, they might start targeting him to get to Iden.

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“Even in the worst-case scenario…”

His voice drew Iden’s attention back to him.

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“While I’ll do everything I can to avoid it, if the worst happens and I become a liability, please don’t hesitate to let me go.”

At his resolute tone, Iden’s brow furrowed.

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“You’re telling me to give up on you?”

He looked at him with disbelief, as if the thought was unthinkable. Seowon met his fierce gaze without flinching, calm and unwavering.

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“I’ll come back on my own.”

He added, causing Iden to tilt his head slightly.

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“I mean I won’t get hurt, I won’t die, and I’ll come back safely. There’s no need for you to risk anything.”

Iden let out a short, disbelieving breath, then chuckled. The icy aura that had surrounded him only moments before dissipated in an instant.

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He wondered if that had resolved things when Iden suddenly stepped right up to him, closing the distance before he could react. Wrapping his hand around the back of his head, he pulled him close. His lips met his, and his eyes widened. He tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge. His tongue pushed its way into his mouth, exploring thoroughly before he finally released him.

“What the hell…!”

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They were in the company hallway. Min was standing nearby, and other employees were passing through the halls. Even if everyone knew he was his partner, this wasn’t something you did in front of an audience. Especially since he wasn’t his Seowon.

But his satisfied smile left him at a loss for words.

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“I’ll hold you to that.”

That smile made his heart skip. It was the same smile as the one he’d fallen for, embedded deep in his memories and heart, leaving him powerless to resist.

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“So, who did you meet?” he asked, abruptly shifting the topic. He’d thought he’d let it slide, but Iden was more tenacious than he’d expected.

“It doesn’t make sense for buying a mask to take thirty minutes.”

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He couldn’t tell if Iden already knew something or if he was just fishing for answers.

“Even if I did meet someone, I’m not obligated to report every detail to you,” he replied sharply, earning an amused smirk from Iden.

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“It’s very relevant for someone who’s supposed to be my bodyguard.”

He frowned, irritated by the implication that Iden distrusted his actions.

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“If it had been any other bodyguard hiding something from me like this, I wouldn’t hesitate to aim a gun at them. I can’t entrust my back to someone suspicious.”

Though his words were fair, being the subject of his distrust made his heart ache. So he could now see him as someone he couldn’t fully trust. That realization stung.

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Iden watched him intently, clearly waiting for an answer. But Seowon stayed silent. Meeting Ji-an wasn’t something he had to hide. It was just…

‘I need a favor. Could you get me some Heat Cycle suppressants?’

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Ji-an worked for a pharmaceutical company, and unlike Iden’s people, she wasn’t involved with him. Since she wanted Seowon to leave Iden, she wouldn’t question Seowon’s need for suppressants.

Seowon didn’t want to tell Iden he was looking for Heat Cycle suppressants to avoid intimacy with him. He didn’t know how he’d react if he knew. Maybe he wouldn’t care, but something told him that the current Iden might go out of his way to stop him from getting them. So, he stubbornly remained silent.

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“Well, whatever. It’s not that important,” Iden eventually turned away, breaking the prolonged silence. Relieved, Seowon exhaled softly, glad he wasn’t being pressed further.

Iden watched him quietly, deciding not to push. Eventually, he’d find out why he’d tried to hide his meeting with Ji-an. In fact, he already had a strong suspicion.

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No matter how much he tried to draw boundaries, Ha Seowon was still Ha Seowon. For Iden, his thoughts were as transparent as an open book.