Why am I getting so fluttery over something like this? Wonyoung cleared his throat unnecessarily and sat with a slight distance from Taerim.
Taerim merely frowned but didn’t particularly point it out.
“Well, you probably know my age, so let’s start with blood type.”
“Aren’t you type B?”
“? Do you know?”
“No matter what, I’m still your secretary, Director.”
Actually, it was a guess. It was based on the ridiculous nonsense that someone so blunt and shameless would probably be type B.
“Things I like… none. Things I dislike: noisy people, presumptuous people, stupid people…”
Wonyoung’s expression gradually hardened as he read through the contents of the paper. No matter how he looked at it, wasn’t this Narae (me, for now)?
“…Director. Is this about me?”
“Why would you think that?”
Taerim asked quite casually, but he couldn’t hide his trembling lips.
Seeing that, Wonyoung glared at Taerim fiercely, showing the whites of his eyes. The sight looked just like a puppy whose toy had been taken away, and Taerim finally burst into small laughter. His low voice resonated gently in the space.
Even after laughing for a while, to Wonyoung who was still in an enraged puppy state, Taerim made this proposal.
“Then let’s add one thing.”
He picked up a pen and crossed out “none” written next to “Things I like: none.” And he added next to it.
“Things I like: people who make me laugh.”
“How’s this?”
“Wh-what is this?”
“That’s you, Narae.”
At Taerim’s straightforward answer, both of Wonyoung’s cheeks turned red. Is he really coming at me so directly? Wonyoung shot back gruffly for no reason.
“If I’m both what you dislike and what you like, then what am I supposed to be?”
“Who knows. I don’t really understand my own heart either. Do you know, Narae-ssi?”
“Know what…?”
“What do you think of me?”
Wonyoung’s mind went blank. What do I think of him? Of Kyung Taerim?
In front of the flustered Wonyoung, choices appeared like a revelation.
[You’re damn handsome.]
[I love you.]
Huh? I love you? Has this sudden acceleration gone crazy?
Wonyoung made a horrified face. If there was one thing he couldn’t get used to in this game, it was these damn choices.
The one advantage, if any, was that the answer was generally predetermined. Thanks to one side being absolutely shitty.
Wonyoung ground his teeth and pressed the upper choice.
“You’re damn handsome.”
Taerim’s reaction to that clean answer was unexpected. He slightly frowned his thick eyebrows, then tilted his head and asked.
“Damn handsome? What’s that?”
Oh no.
Kyung Taerim was more innocent than expected!
Wonyoung stammered in embarrassment. His face, ears, and neck were burning bright red.
“Th-that is.”
Seeing Wonyoung extremely flustered, Taerim spoke as if embarrassed.
“I’m sorry. I’ve lived only working. Is it an abbreviation for something?”
‘Fuck.’
After cursing for the first time in a while, Wonyoung racked his brain to somehow salvage the situation. If he revealed the real meaning of “damn handsome” here, Narae’s image would be shattered.
‘But wait, why do I have to worry about this when I’m not even the one who created this choice?’
However, the momentary rebellious feeling was brief. After looking at Taerim’s face, Wonyoung soon gave up. Because he now seemed to understand how he thought of Taerim.
He wanted to look good to him, just a bit.
Wonyoung swallowed a sigh and gave an excuse that even he found ridiculous.
“Yes. D-damn handsome is an abbreviation. Damn… reverently… handsome.”
“…”
Taerim seemed to think for a moment, then soon asked.
“Am I that handsome?”
“…Pardon?”
“You always say I’m handsome. Is there nothing else?”
‘That does seem to be Narae’s taste.’
As Wonyoung muttered to himself, Taerim closed the distance between them.
“I feel like I’m getting the short end of the stick.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
At Wonyoung’s flustered voice, Taerim tapped the letters on the paper.
“I wrote that I like you.”
Wonyoung was at a loss for words. Does it, work out that way…?
Wonyoung’s eyes wandered aimlessly. Taerim frowned and pulled away from Wonyoung. He usually tried not to tease him since he had a weak heart, but in front of this man, he often felt childishly playful.
However, Wonyoung, who understood Taerim’s action as being angry, unconsciously grabbed Taerim’s sleeve.
“I, I, I too…!”
“…”
“I too, am always grate, grateful… and…”
Wonyoung muttered while bowing his head lower and lower.
“If I disliked it… I wouldn’t have made it this far…”
Wonyoung’s words that he wouldn’t have made it this far contained many meanings. All the memories so far, as well as his recent determination.
Taerim, who had been quietly looking down at such a Wonyoung, smiled while holding Wonyoung’s hand that was gripping his sleeve.
“Good. For now, let’s be satisfied with that.”
“…”
Wonyoung felt like he was the one getting the short end of the stick, but his heart was beating too fast and he missed the timing to get angry.
Soon Taerim unfolded the stack of papers and said.
“Well then, shall we study the rest?”
“I’ve never done any leftover studying!”
“Really? Well, if that’s the case, you should be able to memorize it all before we leave work today.”
I want to pinch that arrogant face. Thinking this, Wonyoung snatched the stack of papers from Taerim.
Just you wait. I’ll show you Heo Wonyoung-nim’s memorization skills. And kneel before them.
He was confident until then.
Until then.
* * *
Tick-tock tick-tock, in the office where only the sound of the second hand moving echoed. Taerim silently watched Wonyoung dozing off.
When his head was about to fall to the floor, he unconsciously supported his face with his hand. The warm cheek stuck to his palm like a sticky rice cake.
Watching the long, dense eyelashes tremble finely then stop, Taerim swallowed a sigh of relief.
‘When was he so confident?’
In the 30 minutes since they started, he couldn’t even get past the first page, and now that it was well past quitting time, he was completely dozing off.
What is this strange creature?
Why can I only smell fragrance through you?
Taerim thought of a word he had never once considered in his life: “fate.” Fate, what an absurd word.
But if the man before his eyes and he were truly fated, it didn’t seem so ridiculous. It didn’t seem like it would feel so bad.
I don’t want to let go more and more.
I’m getting greedy.
Feeling a burning thirst, Taerim leaned his head toward Wonyoung. What fragrance would come out if I held those lips? Such a question arose.
But before that question could be resolved, Wonyoung opened his round eyes.
To Wonyoung looking at him with eyes full of confusion, Taerim asked nonchalantly.
“What are the countries I studied abroad in and the duration?”
“Huh? Uh, uh, England, and… from XX year to XX year for 3 years?”
When Wonyoung answered in bewilderment, Taerim straightened his head and said.
“Well done. You barely memorized it in 2 hours.”
“…”
Wonyoung felt slightly offended but felt greater embarrassment at the fact that he had been sleeping soundly.
“I’m, I’m sorry. When did I fall asleep…”
Taerim had to hold back his laughter seeing Wonyoung’s cheek that was red from being pressed on one side. Wonyoung, who still seemed half-asleep, rubbed his eyes while dry-washing his face.
“It’s gotten too late, so let’s head back soon. I’ll take you home.”
“Huh? Whoa, it’s 7 o’clock…”
Checking the time, Wonyoung widened his eyes in surprise. When did it become this late?
However, while caressing the paper with Taerim’s information, Wonyoung hesitated and couldn’t easily get up.
“I haven’t memorized it all yet.”
“If it comes to it, I’ll cover for you. You seem to have memorized the basics, so it should be fine.”
Before Wonyoung could respond to that reliable answer, Taerim opened his mouth first.
“More than that, since you worked hard memorizing today, I’ll buy you dinner.”
“Re-really?”
“Even though it’s to repay a debt, it’s true that I’m receiving Narae-ssi’s help. Will beef be okay?”
At those words, Wonyoung unconsciously gasped ‘huk.’ He quickly covered his mouth, but the expectant exclamation that had already escaped couldn’t be helped.
“Let’s go. I know a good restaurant.”
When Taerim, who smiled slightly, grabbed his coat and stood up, Wonyoung quickly followed behind him.
After that, it was a more enjoyable time than expected. It didn’t just mean it was enjoyable because of the delicious and expensive food, but that the time with Taerim was enjoyable.
Taerim was someone who didn’t need to worry about circumstances and didn’t expect anything from him. From their first meeting, that was the case, so there would be nothing to expect. That was extremely comfortable. Because he didn’t have to pretend to be Narae.
Of course, he did get two warnings though.
Then suddenly, seeing Taerim’s plate that was barely touched, Wonyoung asked.
“I’ve been thinking this for a while, but you don’t eat much, Director. I’m curious how you maintain that body.”
“Are you worried I got some kind of drug injection? I do consume protein and exercise, but it’s inherent to begin with. My grandfather has a good build.”
“Whoa, I’m jealous…”
The original Wonyoung also exercised regularly, but since he was closer to a slim build, having the chest muscles and shoulders he dreamed of was impossible. But to think those broad shoulders and chest were something he was born with—he was truly an enviably matched man.
At Wonyoung’s gaze looking at his chest as if he might drool, Taerim frowned.
“Don’t you have any shame, Narae-ssi?”
“Pardon?”
“I know it’s excellent enough to look at so openly, but let’s keep it moderate.”
“…!”
Wonyoung belatedly noticed Taerim’s rebuke and was dumbfounded. Saying it’s excellent with his own mouth! Though that was true…!
‘How frustrating.’
Even though he was bursting with resentment, Wonyoung, who couldn’t express it in words, just chewed on his lips. Looking down at his own chest, he saw a pathetically flat mound. Ha. How severe.
But then, Taerim’s sighing voice was heard.
