It seemed he was the only one in here who didn’t know the destination. He stretched his neck long trying to see the destination displayed on the navigation, but the letters were too small to see clearly.
“To eat sashimi.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah.”
At the unexpected words, Ian bounced his bottom. He’d said he would buy it, but he didn’t know it would be today. So decisive. Just like during sex too.
Ian, whose cheeks had turned red, gradually sidled up next to Ganghyuk. Their arms and thighs touched. Bringing back the hand he’d let go of when getting in the car, he intertwined their fingers again, and Ganghyuk just chuckled.
“I haven’t had sashimi in a really long time. It’ll be so delicious. Can I eat a lot?”
He liked sashimi, but since it was expensive, he couldn’t eat it often. Unlike Ian, his grandfather couldn’t eat raw fish, so he’d only eaten it very occasionally with Okjeong and Soyeon.
“Yeah.”
Ganghyuk’s gaze briefly touched his flat stomach. Ian certainly ate a lot compared to his build. Though he didn’t know where all that food went.
“Ah, and there’s something I thought about today.”
Ian, who had been tapping Ganghyuk’s knuckles with his fingertips like pressing piano keys, spoke. The inside of the car was quiet. The guidance voice flowing from the navigation was so soft that only Jaehyun could hear it.
Feeling unnecessarily conscious, Ian glanced at the driver’s seat, and Ganghyuk grabbed Ian’s face with his right hand.
“What is it?”
The round eyes now only glanced at Ganghyuk’s face. When Ganghyuk put strength in his fingertips, Ian’s lips protruded forward like a fish.
“Let go of my face.”
His pronunciation was a bit muffled because his cheeks were being pressed. Ian frowned, worried he might look ridiculous when he should look cool, but in Ganghyuk’s eyes, he was just cute.
“It doesn’t interfere with talking.”
When Ganghyuk, who had found amusement in pressing the soft cheeks, raised the corners of his mouth, Ian let out a small sigh.
People really needed to be known for a long time. Who would have known Ganghyuk had this playful side? Feeling that Ganghyuk found him cute, Ian obediently offered his cheeks and brought up the topic that hadn’t left one corner of his mind today.
“We are dating, right?”
Screech. As soon as Ian’s words ended, the car came to a sudden stop. Ganghyuk wrapped his arms around Ian’s body as it lurched forward. Ian, whose face was buried in the broad chest, blinked his big eyes.
“Jaehyun-ah, your driving is rough.”
“…I apologize.”
Jaehyun turned his head to apologize while breaking out in a cold sweat. He also turned on the hazard lights to send an apology signal to the car behind.
Fortunately, it was just when the yellow light was changing to red, so there was time to catch his breath. Jaehyun’s eyes, fixed on the road ahead, shook as if an earthquake had occurred, not knowing what he’d just heard.
“I like things to be clear. You’ve never said it directly with your own mouth, Executive Director.”
In a voice noticeably smaller than before, Ian whispered into Ganghyuk’s ear. The small breath tickled Ganghyuk’s earlobe.
“Day 1 started yesterday. Is this what you wanted to hear?”
At the voice mixed with laughter, Ian bit his inner lip. He knew it seemed childish, but he didn’t want to start things vaguely.
“Yes. I really want to celebrate our hundredth day. And our first anniversary too. You’re my first boyfriend, Executive Director. …As you well know.”
He suddenly became curious about who Ganghyuk’s first relationship was with, but he decided not to ask about this. In the world, there were some truths that weren’t good to know.
“So, shouldn’t we decide on new forms of address for each other? I don’t really like continuing to call you Executive Director. Other people will all call you Executive Director too.”
“Baby has a lot of demands.”
Ian hurriedly checked Ganghyuk’s expression, thinking “oops.” Had he been too greedy? Their relationship as a couple was different from ordinary lovers. For one thing, they’d started with sex.
He’d confessed his feelings during sex. Though he’d subtly let it slip that he liked him before, he’d never let it pass his lips. Ganghyuk had also pretended not to know.
Moreover, there was an age gap, and the circumstances of how they met weren’t ordinary either. Though it was a connection that had continued since childhood, they’d reunited on the stage of a decadent club.
Even if the order was reversed, he still wanted to do everything others do…
When he pouted dejectedly, a low sigh could be heard. Just as Ian was releasing his grip on the hand he was holding with Ganghyuk, feeling even smaller:
“What do you want to call me? Is there another form of address to use?”
Ganghyuk gently shook the hand he was holding with Ian. If only he’d had experience comforting a sulking person.
The words came out bluntly, but it wasn’t because he was unwilling. Just as this was Ian’s first relationship, it was Ganghyuk’s too.
It wasn’t his first time dating someone, but being this careful was a first in his life. Before, he’d never once worried about what the other person felt. He’d considered it insignificant even if they got hurt by his actions and tone.
But now, he’d just blurted out what came to mind, and seeing that dejected expression made him feel uncomfortable.
“Hmm…”
Ian made a sound as if lost in thought and glanced sideways at Ganghyuk’s face. There was exactly one form of address that came to mind. Sensing that Ganghyuk’s mood had softened a bit, he gathered his courage.
“Jagiya?”
“Cough, cough…”
The reaction burst out from the front. Jaehyun, who had choked, covered his mouth with the back of his hand while tightening his grip on the steering wheel. Blue veins bulged over the back of his hand.
“Where’d you learn something like that?”
Ganghyuk had no interest in Jaehyun’s reaction. As if dumbfounded, he laughed and flicked Ian’s nose bridge with his index finger, not hard enough to hurt.
“From Soyeon noona.”
Ian, rubbing his nose, answered in a timid voice. Soyeon always called her live-in lover ‘jagi.’ Watching her, Ian had decided that when he had a lover later, he would definitely use the term ‘jagi.’
“Yeah. Call me whatever you want to call me.”
Ian wiggled his toes inside his sneakers at the attitude that seemed indifferent to however he was called.
When he actually tried to call Ganghyuk ‘jagi,’ his face heated up. Even though the gaze clearly fixed on his face wasn’t rushing him, his heart became impatient.
“Ja…”
As soon as he said the first part, his heart pounded loudly. Ganghyuk raised one eyebrow. Feeling pressured, Ian took a deep breath and eventually buried his face in Ganghyuk’s shoulder.
“Ahem. …I’ll change it slowly.”
It wouldn’t work. Changing how he addressed him was harder than he thought. Jaehyun’s intense reaction also played a part in his hesitation.
The term ‘Executive Director’ also stuck perfectly to his lips. It seemed too soon to call Ganghyuk by something other than ‘Executive Director.’
He should be satisfied today just with confirming they were dating. Day 1 from yesterday. Today was the second day. Realizing that Ganghyuk had really become his lover, a grin kept leaking from the corners of his mouth even amid his embarrassment.
“Do as you like.”
At the blunt permission, Ian quietly closed his eyes. A pleasant scent brushed past his nose. It was a scent held by only one person in the world—Ganghyuk.
The sensation of every cell in his body awakening made his heart flutter. It hadn’t even been two months since his grandfather passed away, but so much had happened in that time.
If he hadn’t met this person, he might not be of this world by now. After experiencing something more terrible than what happened with Hongdo, he wouldn’t have been able to maintain his sanity.
‘Come to think of it, it’s soon grandfather’s 49th-day memorial.’
Even now, thinking about his grandfather made his heart heavy. The hand that stroked his head, the affectionate voice, the loving gaze directed at him—everything came back vividly, yet he still couldn’t believe he could no longer face him.
He suddenly thought, perhaps his grandfather, worried about leaving him while still young, had sent Ganghyuk to his side.
Since the person called father was someone who would sell his only son to loan sharks over gambling debts. His eyes grew hot as he recalled how, even when his grandfather died in an unexpected accident, instead of mourning, his father had ransacked the entire house.
What was he doing now? Would he gamble freely at gambling halls with the money from selling his son, then come looking for him again when the money ran out?
“Why are you trembling?”
Ganghyuk detached Ian, who was clinging to his arm like a koala. Ian’s eyes were red when he opened them. Not understanding why he was suddenly like this, when Ganghyuk furrowed his brow, Ian opened his mouth.
