* * *

An unasked-for confession slipped out. It felt like if he didn’t spill it, he’d be swallowed up by his past again.

He could feel Ki Taeryu’s gaze, but he offered no verbal response.

“He was… my father’s lover and live-in partner. I don’t know much else beyond his name…”

Junhee’s lips twitched, a faint spasm as if he were back at twenty years old, overhearing a conversation between his father and brother by the front door.

A fragment of his shattered soul was still standing there, unable to leave.

“I think it’s because I ran away. I was a recessive Omega, and I just ran off then, taking the money with me… Maybe that’s why Seunggyo hyung…”

“Enough.”

A long finger pressed against Junhee’s lips, silencing him.

Only then did Junhee realize he’d said far more than he intended and fell quiet.

“Repeat after me.”

“Huh? What…?”

“That bastard is an asshole.”

“…”

“You won’t say it?”

The icy gaze from his right side was like the tip of a knife held at his throat.

If someone asked which was more vivid, the ghostly remnants of the past or the blade in front of him, the answer was clear—the blade.

“That bastard is… an asshole.”

“For doing such shitty things.”

“For doing such… shitty things.”

“Shitty.”

“…Shitty.”

He corrected Junhee’s pronunciation as if he were teaching him.

A hand, warm like the flat side of a knife, stroked Junhee’s pale cheek as if in praise.

It was forced, but after saying it, the haunting memory seemed to drift further away.

“Baek Seunggyo.”

“Baek…”

The shadowing exercise wasn’t over yet.

“Baek Seunggyo.”

“Baek Seunggyo.”

“Piece of shit.”

“…Piece of shit.”

It was hard at first, but once he started, it became easier to spit it out like clearing out impurities.

“Baek Seunggyo, you piece of shit.”

“Well done.”

It wasn’t something he said to earn praise.

Just a few days ago, Junhee had often muttered those curses to himself.

…Though the biggest target of those curses had been Ki Taeryu, and he’d never admit that.

“Now, sleep.”

The low voice soothed him, and he closed his eyes. As he finally calmed down, his eyelids felt heavy.

He thought there was still more he needed to say, but he couldn’t resist the drowsiness and soon fell asleep.

The next morning, when Junhee woke up, Ki Taeryu was nowhere to be seen.

It was a bit ridiculous that the best sleep he’d had in a long time was in someone else’s bed, but the sun was up, and unless the world had ended, he had to go to work.

Judging by the soft purple light filtering through the curtains, it was still early dawn.

Junhee blinked a few times and buried his face into the pillow.

It was soaked with a familiar scent of pheromones.

He took a deep breath through his nose, exhaled slowly, and repeated.

Just as he was about to drift back into sleep—

“You need to get washed up, Junhee.”

A voice startled him from behind, causing his shoulders to shudder.

The sound of the curtain being drawn filled the room, letting in the blue hues of dawn.

“……”

Junhee felt like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t and decided to pretend to be asleep.

He hoped that the other person hadn’t noticed him sniffing the pillow like that.

Footsteps, still damp, approached closer.

Fingers gently brushed through Junhee’s hair, half-buried in the pillow.

“You should’ve told me sooner.”

The voice was so close to his ear that a chill ran down his spine.

“If you like my pheromones that much, I could let you smell them as much as you want.”

The hand that was playing with his hair slowly tightened around the back of his neck.

Startled, Junhee pulled back as if escaping a trap.

“I’ll go wash up now.”

With that, Junhee hurriedly fled the bedroom, leaving behind a soft, mocking laugh.

---

Using the bathroom here felt unfamiliar.

It wasn’t because it was overly spacious or impeccably clean.

It was the instant stream of hot water and the lingering steam that filled the room.

Living alone, Junhee was used to dry, cold air after his showers, and he usually had to let the water run for a while before it warmed up.

As he was drying his hair with a towel, Junhee realized a problem.

‘Wait a second, what about clothes?’

He remembered Ki Taeryu’s casual remark to dress comfortably, which led Junhee to show up in casual wear instead of his usual suit.

Now, in an oversized T-shirt with a loose neckline and cotton pants, he looked anything but work-ready.

He was wondering if he had time to swing by his place when he opened the bathroom door.

There, neatly folded, was a fresh set of clothes—a suit from the brand he and Taeryu had visited before.

He quickly dressed and stepped out. Ki Taeryu was lounging on the sofa, sipping coffee.

“Thank you,” Junhee said.

Without even looking his way, Taeryu extended an arm.

Junhee instinctively reached for the tie wrapped around that hand and stepped closer to tie it.

His position was awkward, partly because of Taeryu’s long legs and partly because of the sofa armrest.

‘If he’s going to make me do this, he could at least cooperate a bit.’

Junhee was grateful for the new clothes but found the situation irritating.

As he struggled in his awkward stance, Taeryu spread his legs just enough for Junhee to fit between them.

Junhee had no intention of falling for his obvious ploy.

He stood firm at an angle and was about to loop the tie around his neck when Taeryu leaned back even further.

The distance now made it impossible for Junhee, unless his arms suddenly grew longer.

‘Damn bastard.’

He muttered curses under his breath and finally stepped between Taeryu’s legs.

Determined not to look at Taeryu’s smirking lips, he silently tied the knot.

As he was finishing the loop and adjusting the shape—

“What… what are you doing?”

Junhee found himself squeezed into a shrinking space, his calves pressed against something firm.

Before he could react, Taeryu’s large hand covered the back of Junhee’s hand holding the tie.

Junhee’s knees buckled, and he ended up perched on Taeryu’s thigh.

The sensation of his legs dangling slightly off the floor was mortifying.

“Isn’t this the moment?”

Taeryu’s eyes, dark and intent, seemed to pierce right through him.

The memory of the previous night made Junhee’s entire body go rigid.

He could feel every touch of the hand slowly trailing down his spine.

Just as the fingers reached the base of his back, he snapped back to reality.

“Enough with the games.”

“Does this seem like a game to you? I’ve been holding back since last night, even when you were practically tempting me.”

The warm breath against his ear was almost sweet.

Junhee hastily tried to stop him, seeing how close their lips were getting.

“I truly appreciate your help, but—”

“If you’re grateful, don’t just say it—show me.”

“…”

“It’s not like kissing will wear your lips out. Should I just settle for a little peck then?”

Junhee seriously considered it.

If he had to choose between the two, maybe the latter was the better option.

Realizing his own inappropriate thoughts, he startled himself.

“I don’t want either.”

“You don’t want this, you don’t want that—then what do you want? What about what we did last night?”

Junhee braced himself, determined not to be swayed again.

Back when he didn’t know much about Ki Taeryu, these words might have felt intimidating.

But not anymore.

If Taeryu had truly wanted to devour him—

“You don’t really want this either, do you?”

He would’ve done so already.

Junhee’s brown eyes met Taeryu’s gaze unwaveringly.

For a fleeting moment, the dark pupils quivered, like a candle flickering in the wind.

Not missing the sign, Junhee muttered under his breath, as if driving in the final nail.

‘Not this game.’

---

“Could you drop me off here?”

The traffic light ahead had just turned yellow, and Junhee hurriedly spoke up, but the car sped up instead.

Maybe he misjudged the timing.

He tried again at the next light.

“Director, you can drop me off around here.”

He got his answer in silence.

It was clear Ki Taeryu was ignoring him on purpose.

Only when they reached Junhee’s company building did the car finally unlock.

“Thank you.”

He threw the words out flatly, not feeling grateful at all, and quickly stepped out of the tense, silent car.

Watching the taillights fade in the distance, Junhee sighed and muttered under his breath.

“You’re so damn petty.”

He hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from that one comment— ‘You don’t actually like this, do you?’

It would’ve been easier if he had just continued his usual act, pretending to be shameless.

Instead, his odd, uncharacteristic behavior left Junhee feeling bewildered.

He glanced around nervously, making sure no one saw him getting out of Taeryu’s car before hurrying into the building.

---

Just as Junhee finished organizing the meeting materials and was about to take a break—

Bzzzzz—

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

Seeing the caller ID, ‘Ms. Cha Hetsal’, he realized it was time.

Junhee had left a message earlier, saying he didn’t want to disturb with a morning call and asking when it would be convenient to reach her.

He stepped into a meeting room, took a deep breath, and answered the phone.

“Hello, Junhee? Did you get home safe last night?”

“Yes, Ms. Cha. I was feeling unwell from all the tension yesterday, so I had to leave abruptly. I’m really sorry about that.”

“No need to apologize. I noticed you looked a bit pale yesterday. Are you feeling better now?”

“…Yes. I’m fine now.”

Because of the intense experience he had backstage, he half-expected to get an earful, but Cha Haetsal’s voice was as calm and gentle as ever.

-I’m glad you’re okay. Oh, and I had one of my staff find your clothes. I have a meeting near your office, Junhee. If you have a moment, why don’t you drop by and pick them up? If it’s too much trouble, I can bring them over the day after tomorrow.

Junhee quickly glanced at the clock beneath his monitor.

Fifteen minutes until lunch break.

“Of course, I’m fine with that.”

-Alright, see you soon.

After being given a rough time and location, the other party hung up first, allowing Junhee a moment to breathe.

But then, a troublesome issue he’d forgotten about suddenly resurfaced in his mind.

Junhee chewed on his lip briefly before making a call.

The dial tone was cut off abruptly, followed by an incoming text message.

* * *