* * *

He knew why Jaehyuk had brought up some nonsensical story about a new coworker to provoke him.

It was his attempt at getting a reaction, trying to lure Jungyoon out of his stoic shell.

Though he’d feigned indifference, Jungyoon wasn’t immune to jealousy.

Knowing someone else lingered near Jaehyuk gnawed at him.

But what could he do?

Expressing his feelings wasn’t his strong suit, and he’d always been more comfortable suppressing emotions than showing them.

It wasn’t that his feelings for Jaehyuk had faded.

He still loved him and considered him the most important person in his world.

Jaehyuk wasn’t just his boyfriend; he was like an older brother, a friend, and in many ways, the only family Jungyoon had left.

He enjoyed hugging and kissing Jaehyuk, but sex was a different story.

Being penetrated was always painful, even with the help with lube.

While there were moments when he could feel some pleasure after enduring the discomfort, it wasn’t enough to justify the effort.

The pain overshadowed any enjoyment.

Because of that, he often prioritized his physical condition the next day, ignoring Jaehyuk’s subtle advances even when he noticed them.

“Am I the strange one?”

At 28, Seo Jungyoon’s only sexual experiences had been with Jaehyuk.

There was no basis for comparison.

After sighing repeatedly, Jungyoon slowly straightened his posture and tried to focus on his work again.

His fingers tapped at the keyboard but frequently paused mid-typing, eventually curling into a fist.

His concentration was already shot.

How was he supposed to write anything meaningful in this state?
“…”

Closing the file, Jungyoon finally shut down his computer.

As the screen went black, only his pale reflection stared back at him.

Sliding his chair back, he got up.

He decided to finish the recommendation letter early the next morning instead. His fingers touched the light switch on the wall.

Click—the workspace was swallowed in darkness.

The shuffle of his slippers echoed down the wooden hallway, growing quieter as he neared the bedroom.

---

“Ah, I screwed up.”

The moment Seo Jungyoon opened his eyes, he realized his plan had gone awry.

The clock already read 11 a.m. Despite his resolve, he had overslept.

Feeling the cold sheets beside him, he instinctively knew Jaehyuk had left without waking him, despite his repeated requests to be roused before work.

Dragging his stiff body to the edge of the bed, he noticed a glass of water, a white pill, and a small note left by Jaehyuk on the bedside table.

Reaching for the glass, he quenched his thirst first.

[I’m off to work. Take the painkillers when you wake up and call me. Love you, Jungyoon.]

Jungyoon frowned as he read the hurried handwriting.

He sighed and crumpled the note before swallowing the pill.

The tiny tablet stuck in his throat, forcing him to endure its bitter taste before finally choking it down.

Skipping a shower, he headed straight to his workspace and powered on the computer.

As it booted up, Jungyoon rubbed his swollen eyelids, exhaling hot breaths.

His condition was terrible.

Even sitting in the chair felt like torture.

The previous night’s events replayed in his mind.

Jaehyuk, seemingly invigorated after a long dry spell, had been relentless, reaching climax several times.

But how had Jungyoon fared?

It felt like he’d shed more tears than anything else.

At this point, he couldn’t help but wonder if he might genuinely be frigid.

The computer finally lit up with a bright display.

Pushing aside his thoughts, Jungyoon hurried to grab the mouse.

There were barely three hours left until the deadline—no room for excuses.

Rain pelted the windows, a relentless downpour against the backdrop of the ongoing monsoon season.

---

That afternoon, Seo Jungyoon’s editor, Go Eunjoo, visited his home.

Braving the bad weather, she arrived carrying bags from a famous bakery and a briefcase.

“Wow, writer Seo! Your house is amazing!”

The two-story wooden house was impressive in size and charm.

Though traces of age were evident, they only added to its tranquil beauty.

The wooden beams stretched high overhead, making anyone who looked up crane their neck.

The air was thick with the earthy aroma of wood, creating a sense of calm.

Stepping into the home of Seo Taeseon, a legendary poet, left the editor awe-struck.

Lost in admiration, Eunjoo lingered at the entrance.

Jungyoon gently smiled and took the bags from her hands.

“It’s a bit empty, isn’t it? Are you warm enough?”

“Warm? Of course! But really, do you live here alone? How do you manage such a big place?”

“A housekeeper comes by once a week. I’ve locked up the unused rooms since they’re too much to clean. They’re basically storage now.”

It was true; the house was far too big for one person.

Built by his grandfather, the old home had been bustling with students just a decade ago.

After his grandfather passed away, everyone dispersed, leaving Jungyoon to guard the house alone for the past eight years.

“Would you like some tea?”

“I’d love some.”

They sat at the large table in the living room, spacious enough to seat twelve.

From there, they had a perfect view of the garden through a wall of glass, the rain adding a poetic touch to the scene.

Leaning on her hands, Eunjoo stared outside.
“It feels… peaceful.”

“My grandfather loved that spot too.”

Jungyoon smiled faintly, skillfully preparing tea.

The sound of pouring filled the air, mingling with the fragrant aroma.

Sliding a steaming cup toward Eunjoo, he cautioned her.

“Careful, it’s hot.”

“Thank you, writer Seo.”

Blowing gently on the tea, Eunjoo took a sip before diving into the real reason for her visit.

“About the recommendation letter you sent—Mr. Kim San loved it. He said he’d contact you directly to thank you.”

“I’m glad it met his expectations.”

“Thank you for accommodating our request despite the tight timeline.”

“Well, I didn’t do anything significant. It’s you and the editor-in-chief who worked hard.”

“I know how much effort you put in. It’s evident in your writing. Do you think I wouldn’t notice?”

The editor smiled warmly, her eyes curving, and then pulled a laptop from her briefcase, switching immediately into work mode.

Seo Jungyoon sipped his tea in silence as he watched.

“I have two pieces of news—one good, one bad. Which one should I start with?”

Jungyoon let out a small sigh.

“Start with the bad news.”

“The author event planned with Geumyeong Bookstore seems like it’s going to fall through.”

“It’s because I declined the reading session, isn’t it?”

The editor nodded silently.

They had been preparing a promotional event with a major offline bookstore to commemorate the release of his new book next month.

The bookstore had persistently suggested a live reading session with Seo Jungyoon, followed by a meet-and-greet with readers.

However, Jungyoon had never participated in promotional activities.

Not only did he avoid media appearances, but he also refrained from putting his face on book covers.

Even a simple internet search wouldn’t yield a single ID photo of him.

It wasn’t surprising—he had anticipated this outcome.

Setting down his teacup with a calm expression, Jungyoon said, “I’m fine with it. I didn’t particularly want to do the event anyway. Though, I suppose it’s a bit disappointing for the publisher. Sorry about that.”

“We expected this, honestly. So we prepared a backup plan in advance.”

The editor confidently turned her laptop screen toward him and laid out the alternative plan step by step.

Jungyoon nodded along without objection.

When it came to non-writing matters, he generally deferred to the publisher’s decisions.

The only exceptions were events like readings, book launch ceremonies, or media interviews.

Fortunately, Editor Go Eunjoo was well aware of his preferences and rarely pushed for such suggestions.

* * *