The night streets of Zurich were quiet and cool. Inside the limousine heading from the airport to the hotel, Seong Yeohwi couldn’t take his eyes off the unfamiliar scenery passing by the car window.
The Limmat River flowing between antique buildings. The streetlight reflections breaking over it. He felt a calm, exotic atmosphere different from Seoul’s flashy neon signs.
“Nice……”
Yeohwi muttered without realizing it.
Dowon glanced at Yeohwi from the corner of his eye.
His excited profile looked exactly like a college student on a trip. It was hard to believe that a meticulous plan to move hundreds of billions of won was inside that head.
“Close the window. You’ll catch a cold.”
Dowon indifferently pressed the button to raise the window.
“Ah, I want to look a little more.”
Yeohwi smacked his lips regretfully, but Dowon was firm.
“Manage your condition if you want to work tomorrow.”
When they arrived at the hotel lobby, employees including the manager were lined up. Their attitude welcoming KD Group’s VIP was extremely courteous.
“Welcome, Director-nim. And……”
The manager bowed his head while smiling brightly at Yeohwi.
“Director Do Dowon’s spouse, sincerely congratulations on your marriage. It’s an honor to host your honeymoon at our hotel.”
“Yes…… Thank you.”
Yeohwi bashfully grabbed Dowon’s arm tightly.
Dowon skillfully wrapped his arm around Yeohwi’s waist and showed a perfect business smile.
“Thank you for your attention. We’re tired, so please guide us to the room right away.”
The place they entered following the staff’s guidance was the royal suite on the hotel’s top floor.
As soon as the door opened, they could see the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows where the Alps mountain range and lake were visible at a glance. But there was something that caught their attention even more.
On top of the huge king-size bed.
Red rose petals were lavishly scattered in a heart shape, and in the center, two towels folded into swan shapes had their beaks touching in a kiss. On the side table were champagne and chocolate, and even subtle aroma candles were lit.
“……”
Dowon’s brow furrowed mercilessly. It was a perfect yet burdensome setting for a passionate first night that anyone could see.
“Wow, something you’d only see in movies.”
Yeohwi giggled while covering his mouth with his hand. Then he took out his phone and photographed the bed.
Dowon took off his jacket and threw it on the sofa, loosening his tie with impatient hands.
“You use that.”
“What?”
“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Dowon gestured with his chin toward the long leather sofa in the living room area. Yeohwi’s expression hardened at Dowon’s declaration.
“I don’t want to.”
“What?”
“You use the bed, Dowon-ssi. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“I should use, that?”
His gaze turned toward the bed. Precisely, toward the only bed in the room. When he made eye contact with the rose petals, he let out a small laugh.
“You use it.”
“No. You need to sleep more comfortably than me. Honestly, you’re tired.”
Yeohwi shook his head. It was quite a firm attitude.
“Or, we could sleep together.”
“……Seong Yeohwi.”
“I said I’d sleep on the sofa. If you like the sofa too, Dowon-ssi, then we’ll have to squeeze together on this narrow thing.”
Yeohwi patted the fluffy gray sofa cushions with his palm. Dowon’s voice came out low.
“Don’t keep talking nonsense.”
Yeohwi deliberately pretended not to hear and flopped down on the sofa. Then he muttered to himself quite loudly, sneakily.
“Wow, the sofa’s really narrow. Even lying down alone fills it up. But the bed is huge. It’s king-size, so three people could sleep and still have room.”
“……”
“Decide quickly. Whether we’ll sleep together uncomfortably on the sofa, or sleep on the bed.”
“……I told you. I have no intention of playing house with you.”
“No, we’re just sleeping, so what’s the problem?”
Yeohwi swept his hair back as if frustrated.
“If you’re uncomfortable because of the roses and decorations, I’ll clean them all up for you. Dowon-ssi just lie down. I don’t have any other thoughts, I just want you to sleep well even just for today.”
“Don’t cross the line. I’ll manage my own body.”
“You’re really too much. You nag me about closing the window so I won’t catch a cold and everything. Can’t I even worry about you? You work overtime late every night saying you have work to handle, overworking yourself. Actually, the one who should collapse isn’t me but you, Dowon-ssi. Isn’t that right?”
“……”
When Dowon fell silent, Yeohwi pouted his lips and started unbuttoning his coat one by one.
“Ah! I don’t know. Anyway, I’m sleeping on the sofa, so it’s decided.”
Then he threw his jacket and socks haphazardly on the sofa like marking territory after shedding his skin.
Dowon let out a long sigh.
It was a fight he couldn’t win. No, maybe it was a fight he didn’t need to win in the first place.
“……Do what you want.”
Dowon made a declaration of surrender.
“But.”
He raised his index finger in warning.
“If even a fingertip crosses onto the bed, I’ll kick you off immediately.”
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
Yeohwi grinned. As soon as he secured the small victory, he bounced up from the sofa as if satisfied.
“Then I’ll wash up first!”
Yeohwi grabbed pajamas and toiletries from his suitcase and ran into the bathroom as if fleeing.
Click. As soon as he locked the bathroom door, Yeohwi gripped the sink and swayed as if his legs had given out. He caught his breath while panting rapidly, then raised his head.
His face reflected in the mirror was red as if about to burst.
“Wowww……”
Yeohwi screamed silently while covering his mouth.
“Crazy, crazy…… I’ve lost it, Seong Yeohwi……”
Unable to believe it, he slapped his cheeks while looking in the mirror.
It hurt. It wasn’t a dream.
Tonight, when he went out that door, he would be waiting, and he had to fall asleep in the same room with him. Hearing his breathing at a distance visible just by turning his head.
“What do I do. This is a big problem……”
Yeohwi hurriedly turned on the shower. Hot water poured down. He quickly threw off his clothes and went under the stream.
‘Smell, I don’t smell, right?’
Did he sweat on the plane? Did he break out in cold sweat from being nervous earlier?
Yeohwi squeezed body wash generously onto the shower ball. He created lots of foam and meticulously scrubbed his nape, behind his ears, armpits, and between his toes.
“No, no. Nothing will happen, I know. Because Dowon-ssi told me not to cross over.”
Yeohwi muttered to himself like a crazy person while vigorously rubbing his collarbone.
“I know, but still, you never know. I might lose my mind and crawl in at dawn…… I shouldn’t do that, but ah, shit.”
Yeohwi sniffed to check if the shampoo smelled good, then washed his entire body with body wash once more. In case he smelled like sweat. In case he gave off an unpleasant odor.
“Anyway, being clean is good. Yeah, cleanliness is manners.”
Yeohwi finished washing his face meticulously with a determined expression. The young man with wet hair reflected in the mirror looked even clearer with moisture, and at the same time strangely excited.
And…….
“Mm……”
He, who was about to go out after finishing his shower, hesitated for a moment. Standing by the door, he took a deep breath once, then checked his lower body with contemplative eyes.
He could see the white towel wrapped around his waist slightly bulging.
‘W-wait. This is dangerous.’
He, who was about to leave, quickly turned around and headed back to the shower. Even though he’d already washed his entire body twice, he turned on the hot water again and fell into meditation. He sang the national anthem all the way to the fourth verse and recited the second half of Corporate Valuation Theory from memory, but between his legs was still hot.
If he went out too late, Dowon might find it strange. It was already late. There was no answer.
‘Huu. This is really a problem.’
A shameful act carried out with just one door between them. The sense of immorality from committing something he shouldn’t do added to it, making his lower body swell thicker than usual. Just the heavy weight and large volume showed how excited he was.
Yeohwi lowered his hand downward while facing the hot water. He grasped the pillar that stood stiffly erect even without touching it and slowly stroked. It would be better to finish quickly and go out, but if he got even a little intense, he felt like he might let out a moan.
‘Ugh. Ngh.’
The shape of bulging veins was transmitted through his palm. This was the first time he’d been this excited. Yeohwi slowly moved his wrist back and forth, leaned his back against the shower booth wall and arched his waist. A friction sound came as his flesh-colored back rubbed against the damp wall. And from below him too, the sound of rubbing flesh began to be heard with wet sounds.
Inevitably, his hand movements got faster and faster.
Yeohwi bit his lower lip hard and tried to slow down the pace. While holding back sounds, he thought of Dowon. Naturally his hands came to mind. The hands he’d accidentally held on the plane. The sensation from that time was still vivid.
