Cherry Cake Chapter 16.1

Soohyun lifted his eyelids in a flash. He had a habit of waking up at dawn, so unless it was a night when he stayed up particularly late, he usually rose early. But today, being an especially important day, his eyes opened even sooner than usual.

Blinking his eyes out of habit despite the sleepiness that had vanished in an instant, he gently turned his head. Gi Taeyeon, still asleep, came into view.

He wouldn’t wake up, would he? Thinking of Gi Taeyeon’s uncanny intuition, it seemed possible he might stir. But as the saying goes, you can’t avoid making pickles just because you’re afraid of maggots—Soohyun had to try.

With utmost care, Soohyun pushed away the arm draped over him. When Gi Taeyeon’s sharp eyebrows twitched slightly, Soohyun gasped, holding his breath and freezing all movement, but it was only for a moment. Recalling the times he’d tiptoed to avoid waking his dog Bokshil, he stepped forward with extreme caution.

It took quite a bit of time, but he managed to slip out of the bedroom without waking Gi Taeyeon.

“I’d better soak the seaweed first.”

Hurrying to the bathroom to quickly wash his face, Soohyun headed straight to the kitchen. Seaweed soup tastes better the longer it simmers, so his plan was to start with that.

Opening the fridge, he pulled out the ingredients he’d mentally listed and placed the seaweed in water to soak. It would need about thirty minutes to soften properly, so he planned to prepare other dishes in the meantime.

Rice for today, he decided. Without delay, Soohyun began rinsing the rice.

“The cake’s reserved for tonight…”

Today was Gi Taeyeon’s birthday. The reason he was up at dawn cooking seaweed soup was precisely because it was his special day.

Seo Soohyun didn’t place much importance on his own birthday, but he always made sure to celebrate his grandmother’s and mother’s. Even if he couldn’t afford gifts, he’d always cook seaweed soup, and if they wanted something specific, he’d make that for them too.

“Director, your birthday’s coming up soon, isn’t it?”

“Birthday.”

“Yes, your birthday. Is there anything you’d like to eat? I’ll make it for you.”

He didn’t know why Gi Taeyeon repeated the word “birthday,” but that wasn’t important now. Brushing it off lightly, Soohyun asked what he was curious about. Since he usually cooked what he felt like eating, for Gi Taeyeon’s birthday, he wanted to make something the man desired.

“Spending the whole day with Seo Soohyun would be more than enough.”

But Gi Taeyeon only responded with a shameless, teasing remark, his expression bold and unapologetic.

“The Director eats anything well.”

In the end, Soohyun decided the menu on his own. For the seaweed soup, he’d use premium beef brisket, and for the main side dishes, he planned fish and vegetables.

“By the way, the Director doesn’t seem to care much about birthdays either.”

Still, he wanted to do something for him. Last summer, when Soohyun caught a cold, Gi Taeyeon had taken care of him. Since Soohyun rarely had the chance to look after Gi Taeyeon, it weighed on his mind even more.

Not that he wanted Gi Taeyeon to get hurt or sick—that was far better.

Thanks to Gi Taeyeon’s care, the cold cleared up completely. Maybe because he’d suffered so much that summer, September passed without so much as a cough. Perhaps it was all the nourishing food he’d been eating since then. The funny thing was, since Gi Taeyeon ate with him—and often brought home health-boosting dishes himself—his stamina seemed to have gotten a boost too.

“The Director probably won’t need health food even in the future.”

Muttering to himself as memories of recent nights popped into his head, he was interrupted.

“Why would I need health food?”

“What!”

Startled and about to turn around, Soohyun didn’t have time to move before an arm pulled him close and a chin rested on his shoulder.

“Young lovers are way better than any health food.”

A hand slipped under his t-shirt, brazenly grazing his bare skin. Seo Soohyun debated whether to scold the man for his cheeky words or ask how he was already awake, ultimately deciding to address both in order.

“That’s just a myth.”

“They say living with someone younger makes you feel younger.”

Having said something like that himself once, Soohyun had no comeback.

I shouldn’t say stuff like that anymore… Resolving once again, he blatantly changed the subject.

“How are you up already?”

“You were fidgeting right next to me—how could I not wake up?”

“I was super careful…”

He knew Gi Taeyeon wasn’t the type to miss him preparing a birthday meal, but still, Soohyun had hoped to have it ready by the time he woke up, so he felt a little disappointed.

“Anyway, it’s your birthday, Director, so I’ll make something delicious. Go back to bed.”

“Without Seo Soohyun next to me? No way. So, what are you making?”

Gi Taeyeon glanced at the ingredients laid out. Soohyun answered eagerly, not hiding anything.

“Those vegetables are for veggie wraps. I saw someone make them while uploading to YouTube, and they looked tasty. Since the seaweed soup has beef, I thought it’d be good to have some vegetables too. And that salmon over there—I’m going to make steaks.”

Since they planned to eat out for lunch and dinner, he’d put extra thought into breakfast. They’d be out all day, so filling up now was a good idea. Neither he nor Gi Taeyeon was the type to skip a hearty breakfast, so this menu wasn’t excessive by any means.

“What can I do?”

“Hmm…”

Knowing Gi Taeyeon wasn’t the type to just sit idle even if told to, Soohyun thought for a moment. It didn’t take long.

“Could you slice those vegetables?”

“How?”

“Long and thin, about this size?”

Seo Soohyun held his thumb and index finger slightly apart.

“And remove the cucumber seeds.”

“Got it.”

Gi Taeyeon grabbed a cutting board and knife with ease, washed the onions, cucumbers, carrots, and bell peppers, arranged them neatly, and started slicing quickly. Soohyun watched quietly.

Gi Taeyeon was really good with a knife. He’d said he’d never touched ingredients before, so Soohyun had assumed he’d be clumsy, but he was far better than most. It wasn’t hard for Soohyun to guess why. Someone who came home stabbed would naturally know how to handle a blade.

“As long as he doesn’t get hurt, that’s fine. At least he won’t cut himself like this.”

Since he had no intention of asking Gi Taeyeon to quit his job, Soohyun simply watched the vegetables being sliced evenly.

“What, want some?”

Gi Taeyeon rolled his eyes toward him and held out a large piece of yellow bell pepper—not thinly sliced, but a chunky piece.

“I wasn’t staring because I wanted to eat… but I’ll take it.”

Soohyun opened his mouth with an “ah.” The bell pepper Gi Taeyeon fed him was sweet and crisp.

Time to stop watching and get to the seaweed soup. The broth was already prepared, so seasoning the beef would suffice.

Soohyun added soy sauce, cooking wine, and salt by eye, giving the beef a quick marinade. He usually used brisket for seaweed soup, and this time was no different. The premium beef looked top-quality, justifying its high price.

After seasoning, he heated a pot and added sesame oil sent by his youngest grandmother. The nutty aroma already filled the kitchen. Waiting a bit, Soohyun added the beef, stirring with a spatula until it was just browned on the outside, then tossed in the soaked seaweed.

He stir-fried the seaweed and beef together before pouring in the pre-prepared broth. Now, it just needed to simmer on medium heat, and after checking the seasoning, the seaweed soup would be done.

“Finished?”

Gi Taeyeon, who’d finished slicing vegetables and was watching with a clear gaze, spoke up as Soohyun put the lid on the pot.

“Yeah. Now it just needs to simmer.”

“What’s next?”

“I’m going to wrap these in pickled radish. Want to help?”

Since the salmon would be best grilled when the soup was ready, it made sense to finish the veggie wraps first.

Standing side by side with Gi Taeyeon, Soohyun started making the wraps. They placed sliced vegetables vertically on pickled radish, folded the sides, and tied them with chives. It looked simple but was labor-intensive, making Soohyun wonder if it was okay to have the birthday boy do this. Still, doing anything with Gi Taeyeon was fun, so he enjoyed it.

“This isn’t child’s play.”

Gi Taeyeon raised one corner of his mouth. His tone suggested disbelief, but his hands moved naturally. Since Soohyun had just been thinking it felt like playing house, he let out a small chuckle.

“It’s fun making it with you, Director. I’d have been bored doing it alone.”

“Having fun?”

“Yeah. And while doing this, I remembered—some people add crab sticks or smoked duck. But since the soup has beef, I left those out on purpose. I think just vegetables will be refreshing and go well with it.”

Plus, fresh vegetables kept their natural flavor, pairing well with other dishes. Seo Soohyun rambled on, then lowered his gaze. Next to his hand, he saw Gi Taeyeon’s. As always, the man’s skilled hands made every wrap neat and tidy.

“You’ll probably have a pretty daughter, Director. You know how they say if you make pretty rice cakes, you’ll have a pretty daughter.”

“The one carrying the kid would be you, Seo Soohyun.”

“But you need an alpha to make a baby. And kids don’t just take after the omega or the mom—it’s a figure of speech.”

“Oh, is that so? Then if you’re carrying my kid, our daughter would be pretty.”

“I think so too. I make pretty rice cakes too. Learned from my grandma.”

Nodding as he looked at the finished wraps, Soohyun noted that both Gi Taeyeon’s and his own looked beautiful. Since he was even better at making rice cakes, he figured any kid of theirs would indeed be pretty.

“Making rice cakes this time too?”

Washing his hands and stepping aside, Gi Taeyeon asked as he wiped his own. Soohyun lifted the pot lid to check the soup while answering.

“Not sure. When I visit, the grandmas probably already made them…”

A few days from now was Chuseok. The day after, Soohyun planned to visit his old village for the first time in a while. The grandmas had sent plenty of sesame and perilla oil, and he was always grateful to them, so he intended to bring gifts with both hands full.

“Eat lots of good food there.”

“I’ll bring some back for you too, Director.”

“The old ladies will love that.”

“I’ll just say it’s for me. They’re not that stingy.”

Gi Taeyeon had work, so Soohyun was going alone, but he wasn’t particularly upset about it. Beyond Gi Taeyeon’s busyness, it was obvious how much the grandmas would shun the Director. Whether they welcomed Soohyun or not, his boyfriend wouldn’t care a bit, but it’d make Soohyun feel bad, so going alone was better.

“I’ll introduce you as my boyfriend properly later.”

Stubborn as he was, Soohyun figured the grandmas would eventually come around.

Tasting the simmering seaweed soup, Soohyun added some soy sauce, salt, and fish sauce to adjust the flavor. It was about time to grill the salmon.

“Decided what to bring them?”

“Yeah, I told the manager.”

As he took out the salmon, Gi Taeyeon stood beside him again. Handing him a frying pan, Soohyun subtly asked.

“Could you make some garlic oil?”

“Using your boyfriend like it’s second nature?”

“It’s your birthday, so I feel a bit bad, but it’ll be faster together.”

Grumbling playfully, Gi Taeyeon poured oil into the pan, added thinly sliced garlic, and started cooking. Soohyun took the chance to prep the salmon, scoring the skin side and sprinkling salt and pepper over the plump flesh.

“First time doing this—hope it turns out okay.”

Not living near the sea, the fish he grew up with were common ones like mackerel or hairtail. But since moving to Seoul, he’d tried all sorts of fish. Salmon was one of his favorites—delicious grilled or raw.

After seasoning, Soohyun grabbed butter and rosemary from the fridge—ingredients his rural home never had.

“Give it here. It’ll splatter.”

As Soohyun went to cook the salmon after removing the garlic, Gi Taeyeon snatched the pan.

“How should I grill it?”

“Skin side down. They say you don’t need to flip it—just baste the flesh with oil, and it’ll cook.”

Checking the recipe, Soohyun saw the salmon turning slightly white and added a pat of butter, rosemary, and whole garlic to the pan. The butter melted, bubbling up.

“See the butter foaming? They say basting with it cooks it automatically.”

“Got it. Move over.”

A little oil splatter was fine—it’d be okay if cooled quickly—but Gi Taeyeon gestured for him to step back, annoyed.

Not wanting to get scolded, Soohyun made a sauce instead, mixing mustard, mayo, sugar, and lemon juice. The ratio was key, but it was no big deal.

“Looks about done.”

As he set out side dishes for the meal, Gi Taeyeon called him. Soohyun hurried over to check the pan. The salmon, seared on all sides, looked perfectly cooked.

“Wow, it’s great. Put it here—it’ll cool just right while we set the table.”

Scooping fresh rice into bowls, Soohyun checked the soup’s seasoning one last time.

Seems good.

“Director.”

When he called, Gi Taeyeon approached.

“Check the seasoning.”

Scooping some soup and blowing on it, Soohyun held it out. Gi Taeyeon, grabbing his wrist to taste it, slightly raised his eyebrows.

“Tastes good.”

“Is it seasoned right? Good. Go sit—I’ll bring it since it’s your birthday.”

“Now you say that?”

“I’ll get you a cake later too.”

Chuckling and giving Soohyun’s hip a playful squeeze, Gi Taeyeon went to his seat. Soohyun carefully ladled the lovingly made seaweed soup and brought it to the table. It was a joyful morning, not much different from usual.

Breakfast was beyond satisfying. Seaweed soup was something he made often and was confident in, so he’d expected it to turn out well, but the salmon steak, which he’d worried about since it was his first try, was spot-on. Simple ingredients still made it delicious—proof that the quality of the ingredients mattered.

“I was nervous since it’s my first time with salmon like this, but I’m glad it’s tasty. Probably because you grilled it so well, Director.”

But the real key was skill. No matter how fresh and plump the salmon was, burning or undercooking it would ruin it. The crisp skin and moist flesh were all thanks to Gi Taeyeon.

“Didn’t put that much effort in. But if it’s well-grilled, good—no nagging from the kid.”

“I’ve never nagged you…”

The only “nagging” he’d ever given Gi Taeyeon was to stay safe, so he felt a bit wronged. With someone else handling housework, Soohyun didn’t have much to complain about, and when it came to cooking, he wouldn’t dare critique Gi Taeyeon’s level.

Besides, for someone who claimed to have never cooked, Gi Taeyeon wasn’t half bad.

“Personally, I think you’ve got a knack for this, Director.”

“Hah.”

Gi Taeyeon snorted as if he’d heard nonsense. But Soohyun was serious. One of the hardest parts of cooking was controlling the heat, and Gi Taeyeon managed it effortlessly without being told. While Soohyun could guess why he was good with a knife, handling fire was another skill entirely.

“He wouldn’t burn someone, would he?”

Naively unaware of the myriad ways to intimidate, Soohyun simply thought Gi Taeyeon was naturally gifted.

“I mean it. Thanks to you, this turned out great. I’m happy.”

The salmon’s slightly orange hue gave it a warm flavor. The garlic chips from the oil and the mustard sauce paired perfectly with it. The fresh veggie wraps complemented the main dishes flawlessly.

It was Gi Taeyeon’s first birthday with him, so Soohyun had chosen the menu carefully, and his effort paid off—it was an excellent choice.

“If you’re happy, eat up.”

“You too, Director.”

Did I say that already? Realizing he’d forgotten the most important thing, Soohyun looked at Gi Taeyeon eating the soup and smiled brightly.

“Happy birthday.”

After a slight hesitation, he added.

“I’ll celebrate your sixtieth too, Director.”

Gi Taeyeon, who’d been listening quietly, let out a disbelieving laugh.

“That’s a long way off, Boss.”

He hadn’t been able to celebrate his grandma’s sixtieth because he was too young, but he’d done plenty for her seventieth, so he’d meant it casually. But thinking of Gi Taeyeon’s age, it was indeed far off.

“I didn’t mean you’re old.”

He’d only made seaweed soup for family birthdays, so the distant future had slipped out without much thought. From Gi Taeyeon’s perspective, it might’ve seemed absurd. But saying it made that far-off future feel vivid.

“Anyway, I’ll celebrate your birthdays until then.”

“Not gonna run off?”

It didn’t seem to bother him much, as Gi Taeyeon asked with a sly grin. That line again.

“I wouldn’t leave even if you told me to. Grown adults shouldn’t hold onto old grudges. And that time wasn’t really running away.”

He’d never had the slightest thought of escaping, and with Gi Taeyeon’s imprint on him, it was even less possible. Imprinting was so rare that all Soohyun knew was that an imprinted person could only sense their partner’s pheromones.

But after some research, he learned imprinting was far more dangerous than he’d thought. The one who imprints grows ill without their partner’s pheromones. He couldn’t let Gi Taeyeon face that risk.

“From my perspective, if it feels like running, it’s running.”

Frustrated enough to pound his chest, Soohyun held back since it was Gi Taeyeon’s birthday.

“I won’t go anywhere without telling you anymore. I even let you know when I go out now.”

“You still sneak around.”

It was practically a sarcastic way of saying to keep him informed, but Soohyun didn’t mind Gi Taeyeon’s teasing. Ever since he’d nearly gotten into trouble sneaking out to meet Lee Chanseo, he’d diligently reported his whereabouts.

Besides, he didn’t go many places without Gi Taeyeon.

“If I were you, I’d check where you were too.”

They say a scare lingers long. Since it was just Gi Taeyeon worrying, reporting his movements wasn’t a big deal.

“Are the uncles still following me?”

“If they are.”

“I don’t mind, but it’ll be cold for them in winter… Oh, don’t send them when I visit the grandmas. A black car trailing me would be obvious, and it’d scare them.”

“I’m sure they’d move discreetly enough for the old ladies not to notice.”

With only fields and no big buildings around, it’d probably be noticeable anyway… But Soohyun nodded agreeably. No need to stop Gi Taeyeon from doing what he wanted. The uncles weren’t a bother—they moved so subtly he barely noticed them.

“Just checking, but you’re not doing anything dangerous while I’m gone, right?”

“It’s just a business trip—nothing dangerous about it.”

He’d only asked out of concern, but Gi Taeyeon’s smirk suggested he’d misunderstood.

“What, worried I’ll mess around?”

“I’m not worried about that. You wouldn’t meet anyone else anyway.”

Some people use business trips as an excuse to fool around overseas, but not his alpha. Seemingly satisfied, Gi Taeyeon let out a deflating laugh.

“It’s not dangerous, so don’t worry and eat. Didn’t you say you wanted a picnic?”

“There’s still plenty of time, so we can eat slowly.”

No matter how much he looked forward to the day, a relaxed breakfast with Gi Taeyeon was far more important. Scooping up some seaweed soup, Soohyun added, “Eat up,” and placed a piece of grilled salmon in Gi Taeyeon’s bowl.

They had a full day of fun ahead, so they needed to eat heartily.

🍑

“Super, super fun!”

Soohyun’s eyes sparkled as he grinned. Fixing his messy hair, tousled from a high-speed ride, Gi Taeyeon let out a low chuckle at his expression.

“Super, super fun?”

His teasing tone was obvious, but Soohyun was too excited to notice.

“Yeah. I was a bit worried it’d be scary, but it was really fun. Guess I’m good at rides.”

“Wanna go again?”

“Hmm… Nah, I want to try something else this time.”

Seo Soohyun and Gi Taeyeon were at an amusement park. Naturally, it wasn’t the birthday boy’s idea—they were here to indulge Soohyun’s wishes.

“Director, you free on the 10th? It’s a weekday.”

“Why, got something you wanna do?”

“It’s your birthday, so a date would be nice. That’s why I asked. After work’s fine, but spending the whole day together would be even better.”

Gi Taeyeon sent a message to Seo Jihwan to reschedule, looking down at Soohyun. He seemed to have something in mind.

“Spill it.”

“What?”

“You look like you’ve got something specific in mind.”

“If it’s okay, could we go to an amusement park?”

Truthfully, Gi Taeyeon would’ve preferred staying in bed, teasing Soohyun all day, but that could wait. To humor his boyfriend, he’d agreed to come. Despite it being a weekday, the nice weather drew a decent crowd.

“What do you wanna ride?”

“That one. Can we grab a snack on the way?”

“Eat whatever you want.”

Worried he was eating too many snacks, Soohyun quickly reconsidered. They’d had a big breakfast and lunch here, but he was already hungry again.

Lunch wasn’t bad. The park’s restaurant had a variety of options, so Soohyun ordered katsu, kimchi fried rice, and pizza. The food came quickly and tasted familiar. Seoul’s food was pricey, and since he’d been out with Gi Taeyeon a lot, he rarely thought about cost, but considering the price, it was a bit underwhelming.

Plus, the portions were oddly small. Despite a full breakfast, two hours of running around left him wanting more. He didn’t order extra, though, to save room for the park’s snacks—so today, he could indulge.

“I want churros. Want some, Director?”

“I’ll steal a bite of yours.”

“Then wait here a sec.”

Soohyun strolled to the churro stand and joined the line. It didn’t seem like it’d take long.

“They say it’s less crowded today.”

They’d bought express tickets to skip lines, but there was still a bit of a wait. He couldn’t imagine how long it’d be on a busy day.

Waiting his turn, Soohyun glanced at Gi Taeyeon standing nearby. The man’s imposing figure, out of place in an amusement park, drew curious glances from passersby. Unbothered, Gi Taeyeon was checking his phone—probably work.

“Good thing the Director’s patient.”

He’d worried Gi Taeyeon might cut lines like he did at a market once, but surprisingly, he was fine with waiting. The express tickets probably helped.

Still, skipping ahead wasn’t all great. Passing long lines to ride first felt like cutting in, leaving Soohyun uneasy. Even if they’d paid extra, it didn’t sit right. But for Gi Taeyeon’s patience, it was the best choice.

Lost in thought, his turn came.

“Hi, what can I get you?”

“One churro, please.”

“Okay.”

After paying, the worker handed him a churro. Unlike the earlier one, this dark-colored churro came with topping cream.

“So many unique snacks…”

Muttering to himself as he walked back to Gi Taeyeon, Soohyun noticed someone filming—not with a phone, but a fancy camera, likely a YouTuber like him.

It’s been a while since I uploaded.

Summer had kept him busy with the fields, so he’d forgotten.

“I can upload later.”

He only posted casually when it crossed his mind, never planning content. He hadn’t filmed the seaweed soup that morning either. Despite comments begging for couple vlogs, he had no interest. His life with Gi Taeyeon was private—he didn’t want to share it.

“What’d you get?”

As Soohyun approached, Gi Taeyeon looked at the churro, puzzled.

“Looks different from earlier. Thought you were getting a churro. Change your mind?”

“They have different flavors. The ones I had before were chocolate and plain—this one’s cookie-flavored, they say.”

“What’s that in your hand?”

Gi Taeyeon grabbed the topping cream, inspecting the wrapper with a mischievous grin.

“You put it in the hole?”

Is that how it works? With the long line, Soohyun hadn’t thought to ask, but looking at the churro’s end, it seemed possible.

“It’s kinda small…”

“Might make a mess.”

Something about his tone was off. Soohyun finally looked up at Gi Taeyeon. His expression was ambiguous—teasing or not, it was hard to tell.

“You’re messing with me.”

“Messing with you?”

“Then why that face?”

“What face?”

Asking that left Soohyun speechless again.

“Want me to put the cream on?”

Looking between the cream Gi Taeyeon held and his churro, Soohyun shook his head.

“Nah, I’ll eat it as is. It’s got sugar on it, so it’s probably sweet enough.”

Plus, the cream looked like it’d be too rich for his taste.

“Alright, then.”

Gi Taeyeon gave Soohyun’s hip a light tap, signaling it was time to go.

Soohyun followed him, taking a bite of the churro. The sweet sugar granules crunched softly.

“Kids will be kids.”

Gi Taeyeon glanced at his phone, the corner of his mouth twitching. On the screen was Seo Soohyun, perched on a carousel horse, beaming brightly. With evening approaching and the sky darkening, the twinkling carousel lights made him look innocently youthful, perfectly fitting his age.

His clear, radiant face was strikingly beautiful.

“Director!”

While flipping through the photos he’d taken, Seo Soohyun came bounding over with a wide grin. Gi Taeyeon deftly caught the body that nearly collided with him, teasing in a low voice near his ear.

“Fun riding with the kids?”

Regaining his balance quickly, Soohyun stepped back half a pace. His frown at the word “kids” was quite a sight.

“The carousel isn’t just for kids. There were plenty of people my age, and even adults.”

“Oh, adults were there too?”

“Yeah. It’s no big deal, but it’s surprisingly fun. I wish you’d ridden with me, Director.”

Soohyun genuinely felt disappointed. The carousel horse had looked too small for Gi Taeyeon to ride, so he’d gone alone, but it had a unique charm compared to the other rides. It felt like a shame that only he got to enjoy it.

“At least the Director took pictures.”

Thankfully, snapping photos of Gi Taeyeon eased some of that regret.

While riding the carousel, Soohyun had noticed Gi Taeyeon taking pictures of him, so he’d pulled out his own phone from his pocket. Each time the horse passed Gi Taeyeon, he’d grinned and clicked the camera.

By evening, the carousel area was crowded with people taking photos, but oddly, the space around Gi Taeyeon was clear, making it easy to shoot. The sparkling lights illuminated the man’s face vividly.

When Gi Taeyeon realized Soohyun was photographing him, he’d first raised an eyebrow as if to say, “What’s that about?” but soon pulled his lips into a smile. Since Soohyun only noticed late that Gi Taeyeon was snapping him, he regretted not taking more shots.

“Waiting to spot you while the carousel turned was fun too. I only realized you were taking my picture because I was too busy looking for you.”

He’d been so caught up waving at Gi Taeyeon that he hadn’t noticed the man holding his phone.

“I took some of you too, Director. I’ll show you while we eat later.”

“Had your fill of fun?”

Soohyun nodded. They’d been enjoying themselves since morning, and with their dinner reservation approaching, it was about time to head out. The reason he’d diligently cooked seaweed soup at dawn was because Gi Taeyeon had mentioned reserving a restaurant for the evening. Soohyun had agreed that eating out and coming home afterward sounded nice.

“Time to fill Seo Soohyun’s tummy.”

“I ate a ton of snacks, but I’m still hungry.”

“Running around like a puppy does that.”

Gi Taeyeon jerked his chin, indicating they should go.

Soohyun walked side by side with him. Lately, he’d been learning that even small-portioned tasting menus could be filling—though they usually ordered extra dishes—so he wasn’t worried about staying hungry after dinner.

“After dinner, we can stop by a café and head home—it’ll be perfect. I made a reservation to match our dinner schedule.”

“You reserved a café too?”

“Yeah. They say you have to book whole cakes these days.”

Since it was Gi Taeyeon’s birthday, he’d reserved a cake as well. Soohyun’s own birthdays had usually passed without cake, but last year, thanks to the Director, he’d had one, so he wanted to return the favor.

Gotta put candles on it too.

He wasn’t a child, and he was past the age to get excited about birthday cakes, but because it was his boyfriend’s birthday, everything felt thrilling.

“What’d you reserve?”

For once, the man who rarely cared about desserts asked about the type. Soohyun, finding it curious, answered eagerly.

“A fresh cream cake. There were so many options, I agonized over it, but since it’s your birthday, Director, I thought it’d be best to get something you’d eat. I know you’re not big on desserts, but you do eat fresh cream cakes. Oh, it’s got Shine Muscat grapes.”

“Fresh cream.”

Listening quietly, Gi Taeyeon narrowed his eyes slightly. The sly upward curve of his lips seemed suspicious.

“Yeah. Why’d you ask about that all of a sudden?”

“Just curious.”

Come to think of it, this is probably his first time getting a cake for his birthday, right?

Gi Taeyeon had mentioned receiving cash, gold, or dollars as gifts, so a birthday present wouldn’t be much different. That made it understandable why he’d ask about the cake. It wasn’t something he loved, but it was a gift he didn’t usually get, so he was probably intrigued.

“I’ll sing you a birthday song too.”

Soohyun grinned up at Gi Taeyeon, his heart soaring at the thought that the day was still far from over.

“Here?”

“Yeah.”

Soohyun paused as he was about to get out of the car.

“Director, they’re already selling bungeoppang.”

A bungeoppang stall, usually seen in winter, stood not far from the café.

“Want me to buy some?”

“No, I was just surprised. It’s not even winter yet, but they’re out already.”

Though it was a bit chilly, mid-October was still far from cold, yet people were already drawn to the early bungeoppang.

For Soohyun, bungeoppang was a special treat. In his small rural village, no one sold it, so he could only get it in the bigger town where his school was. Even then, the stalls usually opened at night, so he only tasted it when his grandmas brought some back from their outings.

“Maybe I’ll get some for the grandmas when I visit?”

It might lose flavor when cold, but they’d probably be happy to have it after so long.

“Got plenty of cash.”

“We’ve got cake to eat later, so bungeoppang would be too much. I’ll just get some next time.”

Glancing at the stall, Soohyun turned to Gi Taeyeon, whose gaze slowly met his after looking elsewhere.

What was he looking at? Seo Soohyun instinctively glanced to the side. Besides large buildings with glass fronts, there wasn’t much to see.

“I’ll be right back. Wait a sec.”

He must’ve been looking at the bungeoppang. Soohyun quickly got out of the car. It was a birthday cake, so he had to pick it up himself.

Thanks to Gi Taeyeon parking close, he reached the café in no time.

“Hi, I have a cake reservation.”

“Your name?”

“Seo Soohyun. Oh, and…”

Saying his name, Soohyun scanned the cute decorations on the display case. Besides candles, there were odd sunglasses and adorable hair accessories piled up. He only looked at the candle basket. He hadn’t worn a headband at the amusement park, so he wasn’t about to care about such things now.

“Number candles too, please.”

“What numbers?”

Soohyun recited Gi Taeyeon’s age and paid. The staff brought out the pre-packed cake and attached the candles to the box.

“Need dry ice?”

“No, we’re heading straight home. Thanks.”

The cake felt as hefty as its price.

With a final greeting, Soohyun left the café. He headed straight to the passenger seat without looking around, but the man who should’ve been in the driver’s seat was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’d he go?”

Can’t leave the car parked here too long… Wondering whether to sit in the driver’s seat or call, the back door suddenly opened.

“Huh?”

Before he could turn, there was a thud as the door closed, and Gi Taeyeon slid into the driver’s seat.

Where’d you go? Before he could ask, a warm paper bag landed in his lap. Soohyun’s eyes widened.

“You got bungeoppang?”

“Someone was eyeing it like they wanted it.”

Peeking inside, he saw a bungeoppang bigger than he remembered.

“Thanks. But since we’ve got cake, I’ll eat it tomorrow.”

“Eat it while it’s warm. That’s why I only got one.”

“It’s so big it’s like two… Wanna split it?”

“Sure.”

The car started moving. Soohyun tore the bag into a makeshift tong and split the bungeoppang, handing half to Gi Taeyeon. It wasn’t too hot, thankfully.

“Director.”

“What.”

Nibbling on the bungeoppang’s body, Soohyun glanced at Gi Taeyeon’s face.

“Did you have fun today?”

Focused on driving, Gi Taeyeon rolled his eyes as if to say, “What’s that about?”

“I had a great time, but I thought you might’ve been a little bored, Director. Waiting in lines, all the crowds. It’s your birthday, so I’d feel bad if I was the only one enjoying it.”

When Gi Taeyeon had asked what he wanted to do, Soohyun thought of the amusement park because he’d seen a related video the day before. He’d never been to a big one, so it sparked his interest.

Even after suggesting it, he’d worried, “What if the Director isn’t into it?”

“Kid? Wanna go to an amusement park?”

The teasing “kid” and quick agreement had swept his concerns away.

Having had so much fun, he was curious if Gi Taeyeon enjoyed it too. Unlike Soohyun, who’d been thrilled on every ride, Gi Taeyeon had stayed nonchalant, even on the scariest ones, making him wonder.

“Watching Seo Soohyun was fun. Getting all excited like a kid.”

“It’s not just kids who like it. People my age get excited for amusement parks too.”

“So they say.”

Gi Taeyeon chuckled lightly, teasing. Hearing he’d had fun put Soohyun at ease. He hoped today would be as unforgettable for Gi Taeyeon as it was for him.

“I’m glad you had fun too, Director. Today feels like a day I’ll never forget, and I hope it’s the same for you. Oh, and it just hit me—amusement parks must be fun at night too. The lights were so pretty. The carousel especially.”

“Gotta show you something even shinier for your birthday, then?”

Since his birthday was Christmas, Seoul would be sparkling more than usual.

“As long as I’m with you, Director, I’m happy with anything.”

Even an ordinary day was perfect if Gi Taeyeon was there.

“It’s your birthday—you should get what’s coming to you.”

Talking like a sleazy loan shark, Gi Taeyeon glanced at the cake box resting on Soohyun’s lap.

“The cake. Eating it right away?”

“Yeah. I promised to sing you a birthday song. Got number candles too.”

Tapping the plastic bag with the candles, Soohyun saw Gi Taeyeon glance over and flash a thin smile. It was the kind of look that said he was humoring a kid’s silly, adorable antics. Loving that expression, Soohyun giggled again.

🍑

“Delicious.”

Gotta stop at one slice since I ate so many snacks today.

Soohyun set down his fork, muttering softly. He’d booked this café because he’d enjoyed their cake before, and it felt rewarding to know he’d made the right choice. Gi Taeyeon had played along, finishing a slice too.

“Done?”

“Yeah. I ate so much random stuff today, I shouldn’t have more.”

He’d even bathed to digest a bit before putting candles on the cake—greed for more would be too much.

Soohyun had insisted on sticking the number candles in the cake and singing the birthday song. Gi Taeyeon, with a bemused look at being told to blow out the candles, complied with a puff when Soohyun urged, “Make a wish!” Watching him, Soohyun guessed this might be Gi Taeyeon’s first time eating birthday cake. Maybe not as a kid, but definitely as an adult.

“No birthday gift?”

“Oh, right.”

Seo Soohyun jumped up and scurried to the bedroom he used to use alone.

Opening the rarely used door, he saw a vibrant red rose bouquet on the bed.

“Anything you want for your birthday?”

“What’s there to want from a kid?”

Gi Taeyeon had snorted as if it was a ridiculous idea.

Still, not wanting to let it slide, Soohyun had agonized over what to give and ordered the bouquet a day early.

“Smells nice.”

Wanting to surprise him, he’d bought it while Gi Taeyeon was at work. Even after a day, the sweet fragrance lingered.

Will he like it? It was pretty but not exactly practical, so he was a bit worried. But since Gi Taeyeon had bragged about the lilies Soohyun gave him before, it didn’t seem like a bad choice.

Seo Soohyun carried the large rose bouquet back to the living room. He saw Gi Taeyeon’s gaze, initially fixed on his face, slowly shift to the flowers.

“Your gift, Director.”

“Roses.”

“Yeah. I meant to give it with the cake, but I forgot because of the bath.”

Soohyun handed the vibrant roses to Gi Taeyeon. The man, who seemed entirely unconnected to flower bouquets, accepted them readily.

Roses suit him more than lilies… Either way, they’re pretty, so Soohyun smiled proudly.

“That’s it?”

Gi Taeyeon raised an eyebrow, looking like something was missing.

“You said you didn’t need anything, Director.”

“Don’t they say you’re supposed to kiss when giving flowers?”

First I’ve heard of that… But as lovers, a kiss with the bouquet would probably be better than just the flowers. Soohyun casually climbed onto Gi Taeyeon’s lap and pecked his lips.

“Happy birth—mmph!”

Before he could finish wishing him again, Gi Taeyeon grabbed his cheeks and slipped his tongue inside. A large hand roamed his waist, crushing the bouquet between their bodies.

“Ngh…”

Oh, the flowers are getting ruined. The worry flickered, but it wasn’t strong enough to push away the tongue sucking at his. Maybe it was the lingering taste of fresh cream, but his mood melted softly. The rustling bouquet and its rich scent only heightened the feeling.

If it gets a bit crushed, sugar water will fix it. Rationalizing, Soohyun lifted his awkwardly placed arms to Gi Taeyeon’s shoulders. The hot tongue rubbing his and the bold hand slipping under his clothes felt nothing but good. As he squirmed to meet the tongue in his mouth, Gi Taeyeon spoke.

“Fuzz—face.”

Biting his lip, Gi Taeyeon tilted his head slightly, chuckling.

“Grant my wish?”

His tone implied fulfilling a wish, leaving Soohyun blinking in confusion.

“What’d you wish for?”

“For Seo Soohyun to wear that and kiss my cock.”

Soohyun blinked again. It took a moment for his brain to process the words.

His eyes reacted first, darting to where Gi Taeyeon gestured. There was a white paper bag. So that’s what he’d grabbed when they got out of the car—clothes, apparently.

“What clothes did you buy?”

“You’ll see.”

The sly tone made his eyes crinkle into triangles.

“You bought something weird, didn’t you?”

“Who buys weird stuff?”

Soohyun finally understood why Gi Taeyeon had opened the back door. He must’ve bought it while getting the bungeoppang.

There weren’t any weird shops around…

The buildings nearby were all upscale, not strange. So it’s from a normal store—not weird clothes, then? Wearing something wasn’t a big deal.

“Let me see.”

“Even better if you change in front of me.”

As Soohyun raised his knees, Gi Taeyeon patted his hip and nodded. Suspicious as it was, they wouldn’t sell unwearable clothes in the middle of the city, so it couldn’t be that bad.

Sliding off the large frame, Soohyun reached for the paper bag.

“…What’s this?”

Inside was a scrap of fabric that didn’t seem functional at all.

He’s such a tease… Fleeing to the bathroom, Soohyun opened the neatly packed paper bag again. No matter how he looked at it, the contents resembled underwear. The problem was its risqué appearance.

“Underwear or pajamas?”

He vaguely recalled a drama character heading to bed in something similar—not this sheer, though.

Wanting a closer look, Soohyun took it out. Removing the plastic, he held it up, and its provocative design was clear. Too long for underwear, too impractical for pajamas—just plain strange.

“The texture’s soft, at least…”

Like the silk shirts Gi Taeyeon often wore, the slippery fabric barely covered his hips. For pajamas, it was just strings—too much, wasn’t it?

Fidgeting, a pair of panties dropped out. Bending to pick them up, Soohyun saw they were lace, not the cotton he usually wore.

The lace was a bit uncomfortable, but the shape and lack of frills on the top suggested it was meant for men.

“They really made this for people to wear?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Soohyun stripped and began putting on the underwear Gi Taeyeon had bought. His expression wasn’t thrilled.

“Definitely not pajamas.”

He should’ve known when it was sheer enough to see his fingers through—it couldn’t function as sleepwear. The lace panties were oddly uncomfortable too.

Why’d he buy this? For a moment, he wondered if Gi Taeyeon had some perverse taste, but then thought he might’ve just grabbed it on a whim. Maybe there was an underwear shop near the bungeoppang stall.

It’s his birthday—can’t refuse to wear it.

The fabric clung to his chest, so soft it gave him chills, but it wasn’t like he was running around naked in winter. Wearing it indoors wasn’t a big deal.

“You actually put it on?”

Opening the door from the bathroom to the living room—he’d locked it just in case—Soohyun ran straight into Gi Taeyeon standing there. Glaring at the man’s sly grin, he scrunched his nose slightly.

“You said it was your wish, Director… Ngh!”

About to shoot him a look for teasing, Soohyun was cut off as Gi Taeyeon yanked him by the waist. Caught in his arms, Soohyun had to continue speaking.

“If you’re teasing me, I’ll take it off.”

“Who’s teasing?”

Chuckling, Gi Taeyeon nipped at his jaw. It was a signal to lower his head for a kiss, but instead of complying, Soohyun kept talking.

“Why’d you buy something this weird? I can’t tell if it’s pajamas or underwear.”

“Saw it and bought it. Was dying to see how it’d look on you, Seo Soohyun.”

“It’s your birthday, so I’m wearing it, but this is the last time. You’re just gonna take it off anyway—why make me wear it? The lace panties are uncomfortable too.”

“Take it off? I put it on you for eye candy.”

Only then did Soohyun realize the true purpose of the bizarre outfit. That such items sold in regular stores meant there was demand, but he couldn’t fathom why. How was this eye candy? Wouldn’t taking it off be sexier?

“Then you’ll wear something like this for me later, Director?”

Imagining Gi Taeyeon in something similar was horrifying, not appealing. Or was there a version for alphas?

“Find one that fits, and I’ll wear it.”

Cackling, Gi Taeyeon bit his cheek. There was no way they’d have his size, so it was an empty promise.

Oh well. Soohyun resolved that if he ever found something he wanted Gi Taeyeon to wear, he’d use his own birthday as an excuse, then pressed his lips to the urging man’s.

“Mmm…”

Normally, he’d have melted into the embrace, but the outfit was so uncomfortable. Soohyun shifted his hips, seeking a better position as he leaned in. Tilting his head to meet Gi Taeyeon’s tongue, he felt the man sit on the bed.

Oh, right. He said to kiss his cock.

Though Soohyun was used to being on the receiving end, he’d done this before, so it wasn’t impossible. Glancing cautiously, he pulled back and wiggled his legs to slide off the bed.

“What’re you doing?”

Without the arm pulling his waist, he’d have slid down and undone Gi Taeyeon’s pants.

“You said to kiss your cock, Director.”

When he asked why Gi Taeyeon stopped him, the man smirked.

“Oh, so you’re really gonna kiss it?”

“Yeah. You do it for me, so I can do it too.”

It wasn’t like Gi Taeyeon had smeared cake on him like last time, so there was no reason to refuse.

It wasn’t until they were eating cake at home that Soohyun realized why Gi Taeyeon had asked about the cake’s type. While quietly eating the candle-marked cake, Soohyun preempted him.

“No weird stuff with the cake today.”

Gi Taeyeon had put on an innocent face, as if he’d never done anything odd.

“You smeared cream all over last time… And you brought up the churro cream on purpose earlier, didn’t you?”

“Figured it out now?”

Soohyun had glared at the man’s amused laugh.

“Don’t. Playing with food isn’t okay.”

“Alright, just keep eating.”

Looking back, buying the underwear must’ve changed his mind.

“Enough.”

“Huh!”

Gi Taeyeon pulled him close, throwing off his balance. Soohyun toppled onto the man’s body, unable to move. Gi Taeyeon kneaded his slightly raised hips and stretched his lips.

“Come up to my face.”

“…What?”

Not catching the meaning right away, Soohyun stared blankly. Gi Taeyeon repeated the command with a sly grin.

“I wanna suck your hole, so sit on my face.”

“Oh!”

As the hand gripping his hips pushed, Soohyun was nudged upward. If Gi Taeyeon wanted to suck him, lying face-down would do, so sitting on his face was a baffling request.

“I blew out the candles, but my wish isn’t coming true.”

Is… that a thing?

He knew sex had endless variations, but whether this was normal was questionable.

“But you’ll suffocate.”

“I’ll handle it, Boss.”

Gi Taeyeon smacked his hip, urging him to hurry. This doesn’t feel right… Hesitating, Soohyun reluctantly moved his knees. He was used to having his hole sucked, so it wasn’t too embarrassing, but sitting on Gi Taeyeon’s face was something he’d never imagined, making him waver. Having Gi Taeyeon’s face between his thighs felt even stranger, especially with the sheer white fabric revealing everything.

“Director, I don’t think this’ll work…”

“You’ll love it, but you’re still talking back.”

Before he could finish, Gi Taeyeon cut him off, grabbed his thighs, and pulled him down.

“Ngh!”

Instinctively curling his body to lift his hips, Soohyun was too slow—Gi Taeyeon’s extended tongue grazed him first. The uncomfortable lace grew wet, sending shivers through him as his waist trembled.

“Direc—tor, ngh!”

His already hard cock, trapped in the tight underwear, protested. He wanted to free it, but his position—barely balanced with both hands on the bed—made it impossible. If he moved a hand, he’d collapse onto Gi Taeyeon’s face.

Gi Taeyeon’s amusement was evident not just in his low chuckle but in the hot breath against Soohyun’s skin. The tongue licking over the lace slid slowly, like a mollusk, burrowing inside.

“Ah! Hnn…”

What do I do? Soohyun panicked. He was used to being sucked, but holding himself up with tensed thighs was entirely new. If he’d been squatting, Gi Taeyeon’s pulling hands would’ve toppled him already. Kneeling with his hips forcibly raised, his thighs strained taut.

“Ah, this, I don’t… Ngh!”

As the tongue lapped at his folds and wet his hole, a burst of pheromones hit, and slick pooled inside, trickling out.

“Haa, hn, hngh!”

Though Gi Taeyeon knew Soohyun was struggling to hold himself up, he didn’t ease his grip. He could easily make Soohyun collapse if he wanted. Yet, he moderated his strength, not wanting to push him to tears just yet.

“He’s already crying, though.”

Soohyun’s unraveling moans carried a damp, teary edge.

Instead of releasing his captive lover, Gi Taeyeon pressed his tongue closer. Like a snake savoring the juice of a bitten cherry, he slid his tongue, probing the tender flesh. The slippery fabric brushed his face, but he ignored it, focusing solely on sucking the hole.

Spotting the underwear shop had been pure chance. Beyond the bungeoppang stall Soohyun pointed out, a glass-fronted store caught his eye.