Spark Chapter 2.5 - Spark

“Haah, ah……!”

Cha Hongjo moaned louder than before, bending at the waist. He reached out towards his throbbing penis and barely managed to grab Go Baekwoo’s wrist as if to stop him. Nevertheless, Go Baekwoo did not stop his movements; instead, he increased his grip and speed. Cha Hongjo’s heaving abdomen soon stiffened.

“Ha, eut……!”

The ejaculated semen dripped onto his fingers, soaking them. Go Baekwoo removed his hand from Cha Hongjo’s penis and licked the semen flowing down his knuckles, swallowing it. Cha Hongjo, whose abdomen was still heaving, lowered his gaze from his forearm, meeting Go Baekwoo’s eyes. It was at that moment, as Go Baekwoo wiped the semen pooled between Cha Hongjo’s abdominal muscles with his fingers and raised his body, that he said,

“Tell me if you don’t like it.”

He stroked the soft scrotum below, just after ejaculation. As his fingertips touched the perineum, Cha Hongjo’s still-erect penis twitched. He flinched at the teasing touch.

“…….”

“I won’t do it if you don’t like it.”

Cha Hongjo said nothing. Since silence couldn’t be taken as consent, Go Baekwoo, in order to ascertain Cha Hongjo’s intentions, slid his finger down to his perineum again. The pressed…… hole twitched. Still, Cha Hongjo kept his lips tightly sealed.

“Ha, eu, feels…… fucking amazing.”

As he carefully inserted his index finger into the hole, Cha Hongjo belatedly let out a moan and a curse, his chest swelling.

“……I guess so. Now, you and I……”

Go Baekwoo agreed in a low murmur, trailing off as he pushed his index finger deeper. He expected another curse, but Cha Hongjo just closed his eyes and crumpled the sheets. He didn’t stop him. He couldn’t understand what change of heart Cha Hongjo, who seemed like he would never give in, had experienced. However,

“It’s gonna be fucking awesome.”

He had no intention of stopping now, pretending he didn’t know.

“Isn’t it, Cha Hongjo?”

A part of him was inside Cha Hongjo. He couldn’t stop now.

“Haaa…… if.”

Cha Hongjo let out a long, broken sigh like someone who had been outside for too long in the dead of winter, then spoke.

“You can’t do shit, then pretty boy’s gonna be the one taking it.”

“Ha, then……”

Go Baekwoo let out a hollow laugh.

“I guess I won’t have to be the one taking it.”

“Eut.”

He pressed gently against the slippery inner wall, which felt warm on the surface, and Cha Hongjo furrowed his brow even more. He clearly looked like he was struggling even with just one finger. Go Baekwoo hadn’t ejaculated yet, but he decided not to rush. True to his resolve, he slowly rotated his finger, rubbing here and there, and observed Cha Hongjo’s expression.

“How is it?”

“How is it…… it’s fucking awful…….”

“It’ll get better.”

“Ha, no matter how I think about it, pretty boy. I don’t think I can do it from behind.”

“We’ll see when we try. Bend your knees and spread your legs wider.”

“……This is the last time, this time.”

“We’ll see.”

“Fuck, you don’t keep a single promise.”

“Legs.”

Cha Hongjo, looking displeased, bent his knees and spread his thighs wide. Go Baekwoo kissed his forehead, cheeks, and lips while gently caressing his skin so that Cha Hongjo could relax.

“Eut……”

However, as it wasn’t a place originally meant for insertion, Cha Hongjo’s complexion grew increasingly pale. The inner walls tightened, as if trying to expel the moving finger. Even one finger was this difficult, so how would he manage to insert that?

“Tell me if it hurts.”

“…….”

Go Baekwoo pushed his index finger, already inserted up to the second knuckle, a little further. He had told him to say if it hurt, but Cha Hongjo, with a puzzled expression, stubbornly closed his lips as if in defiance.

“I’m going to put another finger in.”

“…….”

Cha Hongjo grabbed his forearm. Go Baekwoo, with his palm facing upwards, pressed his index finger firmly against the inner wall and slid his middle finger underneath it, calmly.

Cha Hongjo’s grip tightened on his bicep, which was defined like a dumbbell. The moment both fingers were fully inside, his fingernails scratched the white skin.

“Does it hurt?”

“……No.”

Cha Hongjo, who had puffed out his chest before answering as if bursting, released Go Baekwoo’s forearm. His gaze lingered for a moment on the scratched skin. Go Baekwoo, unconcerned about his own scratches, was engrossed in pleasuring Cha Hongjo. He slid his fingers in deep, until the base was no longer visible, moving with the careful touch of someone stroking porcelain. Each time Cha Hongjo trembled slightly, he kissed every corner of his face, soothing him.

“It’s okay.”

“…….”

He rubbed every nook and cranny as if intending to explore every inch of Cha Hongjo’s insides. Thanks to the pre-applied semen, the inner walls felt slick. However, the inherently narrow walls constricted his fingers, making movement difficult. Go Baekwoo bent and straightened his knuckles, rotating his wrist as if to widen the opening. The repetitive squelching sound of his semen-coated fingers rubbing against the inner mucous membranes, along with tiny pockets of air, leaked out.

“Baekwoo…… lips.”

He was about to insert another finger into the now more relaxed interior. Cha Hongjo, who had his lips tightly pursed and his eyebrows twitching, slightly raised his head and reached out. Go Baekwoo supported the back of Cha Hongjo’s head with his forearm and slid his tongue into the offered lips. At the same time, he shifted the two fingers inside the opening and inserted his ring finger into the small gap created. Cha Hongjo’s jaw trembled slightly. Once again, Go Baekwoo teased Cha Hongjo, gently licking his palate.

For some reason, it felt right, so Cha Hongjo decided to accept Go Baekwoo. He felt the urge to kiss him as soon as he smelled the damp scent of Go Baekwoo’s body after he had returned from wetting himself. Seeing Go Baekwoo’s expression shadowed over him, the desperate look in his eyes that said he wanted him so badly, Cha Hongjo thought it wouldn’t hurt to try once. It was an impulsive consent, and he felt uneasy about accepting something into a place where it shouldn’t go, but he didn’t feel any aversion to Go Baekwoo on top of him.

“…….”

“…….”

Opening his closed eyes during the kiss, he saw a beautiful face with closed eyelids, focused solely on him. Cha Hongjo furrowed his brow at the stinging sensation at the entrance where three fingers were moving in and out, then lowered his gaze. He saw Go Baekwoo’s wrist moving carefully between his wide-spread legs and Go Baekwoo’s cock twitching against his pelvis.

He had pulled out once, but Go Baekwoo hadn’t yet. Cha Hongjo was inwardly impressed by Go Baekwoo’s patience. If it were him, he would have already joined him instead of using his fingers. All the guys he had slept with so far had been experienced and mostly proficient, so he had never had to be as patient as Go Baekwoo was now. Enduring oiled-up desire without igniting it would be a disaster. How is pretty boy holding back? Is he singing the national anthem in his head or someth…….

“……Ah!”

His mind, where shallow thoughts had been floating, suddenly went blank, and his whole body jerked. Cha Hongjo twisted his waist, moaning and turning his head to the side. If he had been a moment later, he would have bitten Go Baekwoo’s tongue, which was inside his mouth.

His curled fingertips and toes trembled as if charged with static electricity. Goosebumps erupted on his skin, and a chill ran down his spine. A warmth spread through his lower abdomen, and the urge to ejaculate surged. He couldn’t believe it. Cha Hongjo barely opened his tightly closed eyes and looked down between his legs. His penis, which had been limp after ejaculating, was now erect. Moreover, precum was dripping down, as if it had been stroked for a long time. He hadn’t even touched it.

“…….”

His bewildered eyes turned towards Go Baekwoo. The question of whether he knew the source of this sudden pleasure was mixed in his gaze. Go Baekwoo, meeting his gaze, smiled faintly with his bright red lips.

“Your hole is clenching my fingers so hard right now. Can you feel it?”

“……Fuck……”

Cha Hongjo muttered, running his hand from his eyelids to the top of his head.

“I feel it.”

Thud. Cha Hongjo dropped his arm beside his face. His bangs, which had been swept back, fell forward again, covering his forehead. A smile spread across his face, shadowed by Go Baekwoo. Cha Hongjo chuckled as if in disbelief. The laughter, heavily tinged with resignation, seemed like it would continue for a long time, then abruptly stopped.

“Baekwoo.”

Go Baekwoo, who had been lost in thought at the sight of Cha Hongjo’s beautiful smile, blinked as if trying to regain his composure.

“……Yeah.”

“Since the first time is always shitty anyway.”

Five fingers reached up and rested on Go Baekwoo’s left chest. Thump, thump. The resonance of his heartbeat traveled through his fingertips to Cha Hongjo.

“Stop holding back and just do it.”

“But you……”

“Just do it. Before I change my mind.”

Cha Hongjo spoke as if he had let go of everything he had, and that surrender, like resignation, gave everything to Go Baekwoo. Biting his lip at the bittersweet feeling spreading from his solar plexus, Go Baekwoo withdrew his fingers from Cha Hongjo. Cha Hongjo moaned in a muffled voice. He was struggling even with just fingers, so how could he just do it? He was worried, but as Cha Hongjo had said, the first time was always difficult. Just like the feelings he felt for the first time towards Cha Hongjo.

“Cha Hongjo.”

Go Baekwoo said, hooking Cha Hongjo’s legs over his shoulders.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Cha Hongjo, uncomfortable with the unfamiliar position, fidgeted his toes and replied.

“Ask.”

“……You.”

Go Baekwoo leaned down. A deep shadow fell on his features, which were formed with intricate curves that would be difficult to trace even with a piece of paper. Cha Hongjo glanced down at his knees pressed against his chest, then fixed his gaze back on Go Baekwoo. Elegant lips parted.

“Even after it’s all over……”

Go Baekwoo, holding his erect penis pointed towards Cha Hongjo’s navel, positioned himself between Cha Hongjo’s legs and murmured.

“You won’t leave, right?”

“…….”

A thick object pressed gently against the entrance. Cha Hongjo inhaled sharply for a moment, then let out a faint, breathless reply.

“Are you, scared?”

“Yes…… I’m scared……”

Go Baekwoo’s breath was shallower than Cha Hongjo’s.

Anyone watching would think I’m the one being tormented. Cha Hongjo cupped Go Baekwoo’s cheeks, who could exude a forlorn air with just the slightest movement of his eyebrows. His fingers, placed on his cheekbones, slid precariously down to his chin.

“Then break my legs or something.”

It was the moment the words were fully spoken. Go Baekwoo grabbed Cha Hongjo’s leg, which was resting on his left shoulder, bent his ankle, and immediately.

“……Heuk! Ah!”

He entered, spreading the opening. There was no time to be bewildered by the sudden intrusion. Cha Hongjo trembled uncontrollably, unable to even cry out properly from the pain that felt like his entire body was being torn in two. The muscles in his startled body contracted stiffly. His rear, gripping the thick glans, was no exception.

“Ha, ah……”

He felt like he was going to break. Go Baekwoo clenched his teeth and gripped Cha Hongjo’s ankle even tighter. Looking down, Cha Hongjo’s face, except for his eyes, was pale.

“This is better than breaking your ankle.”

Go Baekwoo, staring at Cha Hongjo, whose only movement was the fluttering of his eyelashes, shifted his grip on his ankle slightly and kissed the exposed ankle bone. As if cherishing it.

“Isn’t it, Hongjo?”

“Ah, don’t move……”

Cha Hongjo couldn’t speak further, enduring the burning sensation that spread from below to his core. He had expected it to hurt, but not to this extent. He had naively thought, it’s a human body after all. Ankle or whatever, he felt like he was dying. Yes, it would be better to die.

“Don’t move, or should I move?”

“Just…… ah, fuck…… just.”

Pretty boy spoke in a tone as casual as ever, but there was something unsettling in the way he looked down at him.

……He had forgotten.

‘Cha Hongjo.’

‘Fuck, what are you doing.’

‘What are you doing.’

Pretty boy usually acted sweetly, but he could suddenly throw a chair and smash a door to pieces.

‘But Hongjo, please, at least don’t suck face in front of me……. I’ll kill you.’

He had also coldly warned. In short, even though he put on a gentle act, he was originally a bad-tempered bastard.

If he had lied and said he would stay by his side in response to the question of whether he would leave even after everything was over, Go Baekwoo wouldn’t have thrust into him so brutally.

However, even if it hurt enough to make him wish he were dead, Cha Hongjo didn’t regret it. Everyone leaves. Whether they leave on their own accord, or are pushed away by something. So, it was better this way than to make false promises and give Pretty Boy false hope. As he had said, the first time is always shitty anyway.

Cha Hongjo, his eyes bloodshot with pain, twisted his lips into a strange shape, somewhere between a smile and a grimace, and said,

“Just, fuck me.”

“……Hongjo.”

What kind of answer did he expect from Cha Hongjo, who denied ‘us’? Go Baekwoo reassured himself not to be disappointed.

“I love you.”

And he confessed his unchanging feelings, even if he were pushed away, tripped, scratched, and wounded. He intended to do so until Cha Hongjo accepted him. But he released the ankle he was holding. Anyway.

“So much……”

Even without holding his ankle or wrist, at this moment, he was connected to Cha Hongjo.

“Like I’m going to die.”

He slowly pushed in the glans, which had only been resting at the entrance. Cha Hongjo shook his head from side to side, biting his lip.

“Eut, eu……!”

“Relax……”

But Cha Hongjo only rippled his stomach muscles.

The inner walls, pushed aside by the entering penis, rippled and tightened around the shaft. Frowning at the pressure squeezing his entire penis, Go Baekwoo gently stroked Cha Hongjo’s waist and pelvis.

“It’s okay.”

“Haa, ah……”

The heavy penis continued to enter, as if it would crush all his internal organs. It felt to Cha Hongjo as if it had been going in for a long time, but it showed no sign of stopping. Every time the penis, which had almost taken over his abdomen, twitched, it felt like his stomach would burst. Of course, it wouldn’t actually happen, though.

Fear and pain aside, the excitement he had felt earlier when he was being pleasured with fingers still lingered faintly throughout his body. He had had sex with many people countless times, but it was a sensation he had experienced for the first time in his life. His body, as if anticipating it again, didn’t lower its temperature.

“Ah, heut……”

“Ha……”

Go Baekwoo, who had been pushing his pelvis forward, stopped moving. He had finally inserted it all the way. From the entrance of the hole to a little inside, it tingled with a foreign sensation, and his lower abdomen felt heavy with a strange fullness. As if Go Baekwoo’s entire weight had been transferred inside him.

“Should I just put it in this far?”

When the glans touched the concave inner wall, Go Baekwoo decided he shouldn’t push any further. Human intestines were bent like a folded piece of paper, and if he forced it in, it would go in, but Cha Hongjo might get seriously hurt. Since it wasn’t a place normally used for sex, it was best to be careful. He wanted to bury himself completely inside Cha Hongjo, but even this far was enough for pleasure. Anyway, he had never inserted himself all the way to the base, even with partners other than men.

Go Baekwoo grasped Cha Hongjo’s stiff penis and stroked it gently up and down, matching the rhythm with his thrusts. Cha Hongjo brushed back his sweat-soaked bangs and tilted his chin back. Chopped-off moans, “euk, eut,” echoed from within his tightly closed lips, as if in endurance.

The range of the penis moving in and out gradually widened, and the speed of the reciprocating movements increased. Cha Hongjo’s penis, constantly rubbed by Go Baekwoo’s palm, became flushed and began to leak precum. Squelching sounds leaked from Go Baekwoo’s palm, and the taut front thighs and tense back thighs collided lightly, repeatedly creating a rhythmic sound. The copious precum from Go Baekwoo, who had held back for a long time, created a sloppy sound at their point of connection.

“Eu, eut, ah……”

The burning heat that had filled his abdomen softened, and a squishy warmth spread along the penis that was constantly rubbing against his mucous membranes. The nausea from the uncomfortable insertion was being replaced by a surging wave of pleasure.

“Heut, ah, ah……!”

At the different moans, Go Baekwoo realized that Cha Hongjo was getting used to him. It had been agonizingly slow sex, but now it seemed okay to increase the speed. And to change the monotonous thrusting.

To find the spot where Cha Hongjo had become instantly erect at the touch of his fingers, Go Baekwoo started rotating his pelvis in all directions, instead of just back and forth. At the same time, he put a little more weight into it and heavily rubbed against the swollen interior. Then he suddenly pulled his waist back and thrust upwards.

“Haa, eeuk!”

Cha Hongjo jerked his waist and squeezed his eyes shut. At the same time, a sticky, cloudy liquid gushed out, soaking Cha Hongjo’s abdomen and Go Baekwoo’s hand.

“Haa, haa……”

Cha Hongjo, who had been trying to turn his body sideways, raising one shoulder and supporting himself with the other hand while catching his breath, opened his eyelids and lowered his gaze. He widened his eyes in disbelief as he confirmed the semen streaking across his heaving abdominal muscles. Go Baekwoo smiled secretly and,

“Looks like you won’t need your dick anymore.”

He declared, firmly gripping Cha Hongjo’s pelvis. Cha Hongjo, who had ejaculated unexpectedly, needed time to catch his breath from the sudden release of tension.

“Wait……!”

Even a moment was too long for Go Baekwoo, who had been holding back for a long time.

As if determined, Go Baekwoo tightened his grip on his pelvis and moved his hips shallowly. He had positioned his glans at the spot that had made Cha Hongjo ejaculate in an instant.

“Ah, aah, eut……!”

Cha Hongjo flinched and flailed his arms towards Go Baekwoo. The area around his penis, lower abdomen, and perineum, which had just released semen, throbbed, and he felt the urge to urinate.

“Ah, slow, ly, I think I’m, gonna cum.”

“Then, haa…… cum.”

He wondered what he was supposed to cum, but he was too comfortable to care. Cha Hongjo tightened his lower abdomen muscles, which were already twitching involuntarily. But every time Go Baekwoo thrust deep inside, his whole body went limp. Sure enough.

“Aah, ha, eut, euk……!”

Cha Hongjo closed his eyes as he felt his urethra tighten and then suddenly relax. Judging by the fact that his abdomen wasn’t getting wet, it seemed like nothing had come out.

“Should we change positions?”

“Yeah, let’s change……”

He wanted to rest, even if only for the duration of the position change. Surprisingly, Go Baekwoo hadn’t ejaculated even once, but Cha Hongjo had climaxed twice, and he felt like he would cum again soon if he continued to be pounded like this.

Anyway, he had suggested changing positions, but his limbs were trembling uncontrollably, making it difficult to move easily. Go Baekwoo must have noticed, as he was staring down at him intently.

“You try moving.”

Go Baekwoo, speaking as if giving an order, pulled Cha Hongjo’s wrist and straightened his upper body.

“……Ah, euk!”

As his body was lifted, the penis plunged deep inside in one thrust. Cha Hongjo gasped and rested his forehead on Go Baekwoo’s shoulder, now facing him. Haa, haa, his rapid breaths beat helplessly against Go Baekwoo’s skin.

“Hongjo.”

Go Baekwoo cupped Cha Hongjo’s cheeks, forcing him to lift his head, and brought their noses together.

“Try it, yourself.”

He nuzzled his nose against Cha Hongjo’s, as if acting cute, shaking his head slightly from side to side, and whispered,

“You’re good at moving your hips.”

“Haa, that was, a different situation, fuck……”

“Come on, I’m supporting you, so don’t worry.”

Go Baekwoo spoke as if he didn’t understand what Cha Hongjo was talking about, simply repeating his own words. Cha Hongjo wondered what he meant, then realized that Go Baekwoo was supporting his buttocks. It was unbelievable that Go Baekwoo hadn’t fully inserted himself, even though it felt like his insides were completely full.

“But, ah, when are you……”

If it went in any further, he would die. Even though Go Baekwoo was supporting him, anything could happen. Cha Hongjo, struggling to keep his trembling knees up, muttered,

“Going to cum…… I’m dying, ah.”

Go Baekwoo wasn’t just having a carefree time. Every time the inner walls clenching his penis contracted, he was desperately suppressing the overwhelming urge to ejaculate. He wanted to make it last longer. It was because of the anxiety that this might be the first and last time.

“If you move your hips well, I’ll cum soon……”

Go Baekwoo, feigning composure, kissed Cha Hongjo’s flushed earlobe and lowered his head. He pressed his nose against Cha Hongjo’s sweaty shoulder and inhaled deeply.

“Haa……”

It was when Cha Hongjo’s sigh brushed past his ear.

“I’m gonna have to eat meat tomorrow.”

Cha Hongjo, muttering self-deprecatingly, placed his palm on Go Baekwoo’s shoulder, putting his weight on it, and lifted his pelvis as if pushing his buttocks back.

“Eut……”

And then he dropped his lower body as if sitting down again. Thanks to Go Baekwoo supporting him, it took less effort. For now.

“Ah, euk…… heut……”

Cha Hongjo moaned softly, his face lifted, as he moved his pelvis back and forth, then changed direction. It was his first time having sex with a cock between his buttocks, but his hip movements weren’t clumsy because of his previous experience moving his hips.

“Ha……”

The inner walls, sufficiently pressed and softened, began to tightly grip the penis once more. Go Baekwoo, burying his nose in Cha Hongjo’s skin, squeezed his eyes shut. His lips parted involuntarily. Hot breaths escaped. As his penis was being kneaded in a way he hadn’t intended, it became even more difficult to control the surging pleasure. His lower abdomen tingled. The friction spreading from the point of connection, with bodily fluids being churned inside, became increasingly wet. Cha Hongjo’s moans mixed with the squelching sounds.

“Ah, eut……”

“Ha, aah…… ah…… eut.”

Cha Hongjo became more afraid whenever he felt the urge to urinate, and when he started moving his own hips, he vowed to avoid that spot. However, as the act continued, his body naturally moved towards that very spot. His waist, which had been circling irregularly left and right, now stayed in one place, moving shallowly up and down. The glans rubbed quickly against a particularly swollen spot on the bumpy inner wall.

“Eut, ah, heuk, ah……!”

White light flashed before his eyes, and goosebumps crawled from his tailbone to the nape of his neck. Cha Hongjo, gripping Go Baekwoo’s shoulders tightly, whimpered and stopped moving his hips.

“Heut……!”

At that moment, his body suddenly fell back under the unexpected weight. The back of his head hit the mattress. Then, as soon as he looked up to find Go Baekwoo positioned on top of him as before, his vision, along with his entire body, flipped over. The beautiful, red, tightly-lipped face was gone, replaced by the cheap headboard. Cha Hongjo blinked, closed his eyes, then opened them again, rubbing his forehead against the pillow before turning his head back.

“Haa.”

“Ah……!”

However, Go Baekwoo, sitting behind him with his thighs raised, pulled back his hips and then thrust them forward in one swift motion, forcing Cha Hongjo’s face back into the pillow. This time, his vision went black before tiny sparks flickered. Go Baekwoo’s grip on his waist was rough. He pulled his penis out and then thrust it back in an instant, hitting the back wall, his thrusts frighteningly rough. The speed was getting faster and faster. It was difficult to maintain his prone position with his body being tossed around so roughly. Cha Hongjo instinctively flailed his arms as if trying to escape from Go Baekwoo, but it was futile.

“Heu, euk, eut, eu, eung, aah, ah!”

The inner walls, which had been pulled out, scraped against the base of the glans, and were now pushed back inside. His body, ironically, melted and flowed under the rough insertion that felt like his insides were being turned inside out. He couldn’t bear it any longer as the area where pleasure was peaking was continuously stimulated. The ever-increasing sensation of pleasure finally exploded, spreading to every corner of his body.

“Ueuk, eu, heeuk……!”

The sharp excitement, like a blade, severed his reason. Cha Hongjo lost consciousness and started to cry. He moaned, saliva dribbling from his parted lips, unaware that the pillow pressing against his eyelids was getting wet. His penis, curving upwards towards his lower abdomen, dripped with sticky, transparent fluid.

“Haa, ah, haa……”

Go Baekwoo, who had been pounding all the way to the end of Cha Hongjo’s intestines, was no different. Now, the pleasure concentrated in his penis was so intense that it hurt. Go Baekwoo, his upper body collapsing, wrapped his arms tightly around Cha Hongjo’s stomach. Pressing firmly against his neatly defined abdomen, he increased the speed of his thrusts to the fastest they could possibly go. The movement of his penis, moving in and out of the hot, chafed interior, was vividly felt by the palm of his hand covering Cha Hongjo’s convulsing abdomen. But that was only for a moment. All his senses concentrated at their point of connection, and he could no longer feel anything but that part of his body.

“Heeu, euk, eu……!”

Cha Hongjo, who had been sobbing incessantly, suddenly gasped. The glans, strung with sticky precum, twitched as if snapping, and then spurted thin semen.

“Haa, ah……!”

Go Baekwoo, his chest against Cha Hongjo’s twisting back, also stiffened. He buried his penis deep inside Cha Hongjo, and spurted thick semen as if to flood the twitching inner walls.

“Haa, haa……”

“Ha, ah……”

It was a dry winter day, but the motel room was hot and humid from the heat and fluids the two men had released.

He had had sex like animals in heat all day long, but he had never been as exhausted as this. Cha Hongjo, lying face down, breathed shallowly, and then flailed his arms backwards, trying to shake off the weight pressing down on his back. Go Baekwoo slowly sat up and pulled back his waist.

“Euk……!”

His insides, where orgasm had pooled like a puddle, twitched and vibrated even at the simple act of him pulling out. Cha Hongjo grimaced at the sharp sensation that once again shot through his spine. When the inside was finally empty, liquid gurgled out of his rear. He curled his fingers and toes, squeezing his eyes shut at the flowing sensation.

“……Fucked up.”

It was the moment he returned to reality. A strange sense of emptiness settled like fog in his lower abdomen. Cha Hongjo, turning his body upright to face the ceiling, mumbled as he looked at Go Baekwoo, who had settled between his legs, his head resting on his thighs.

“…….”

Go Baekwoo, meeting Cha Hongjo’s gaze, kissed his thighs, slick with fluids, and then,

“It’s good……”

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, their tails tinged with pink.

“So good.”

“…….”

The sincere murmur, combined with his innocent smile, added a bitter taste to Cha Hongjo’s reality.

🔥

“Fuck……”

Cha Hongjo, who had entered the bathroom alone, ignoring Go Baekwoo’s suggestion to wash together, cursed when no warm water came out no matter how much he adjusted the faucet or waited. Even in the middle of winter, he sometimes took cold showers, but now his whole body ached, and he wanted to pour hot water over himself. It was just like a cheap motel room. He had no choice but to shower in cold water. Perhaps because of the cold water temperature, Go Baekwoo’s dried semen on his thighs didn’t come off easily, making his shower time longer than usual. Earlier, his skin had felt sticky from the heat, but by the end of the shower, his whole body was shivering from the cold.

“Ah.”

Cha Hongjo, who had bent down to dry his legs, straightened up with a start and cursed again. A throbbing pain pierced through his lower back and tailbone. He wondered if he would be able to film properly like this. The role of ‘Yeo Ji-tae’ happened to have many scenes requiring strenuous physical activity.

“Ha……”

Cha Hongjo placed a towel over his wet hair and lowered his head, sighing. He had a healthy body and had never suffered from a serious cold, but he was in this state after just one time with Go Baekwoo. He was pathetic.

His whole body creaked with every step he took, so Cha Hongjo roughly dried himself and put on his clothes. He smoked three cigarettes while Go Baekwoo showered. He opened the faded curtains, and the blue pre-dawn air flowed in.

Filming began in the morning, so they had to leave soon. Fortunately, Go Baekwoo wasn’t sore like Cha Hongjo, so he finished showering quickly.

Just as they were about to leave the motel room, littered with traces of their activities, Cha Hongjo stopped as he was opening the door, as if he had remembered something, and turned to look at Go Baekwoo. His dark eyes rested on Go Baekwoo’s upper body.

“Your clothes.”

Even though the motel room was warm, outside, the wind was like an ice-sharpened knife, below freezing. But Go Baekwoo wasn’t wearing a coat and didn’t seem to be thinking about getting it.

“Can’t wear that.”

He said, grinning like a fool.

“Someone spilled water on it.”

“……Ah.”

Only then did Cha Hongjo realize that Go Baekwoo had placed his coat underneath him when he was drunk, and they had had sex without removing it.

“Right.”

He couldn’t wear that again. Cha Hongjo straightened up without hesitation, resumed walking, and muttered,

“You don’t even jerk off, do you? You cum so much.”

He was blaming Go Baekwoo for his coat being completely soiled. Go Baekwoo grinned, looking at the back of Cha Hongjo’s head.

“I came inside you, not outside.”

He replied playfully and quickly walked up to Cha Hongjo, hesitated for a moment, and then grabbed his hand. He worried Cha Hongjo might shake him off, but Cha Hongjo just kept walking.

“Good job, you cummed so much you’ll be full for three days.”

“Good job?”

“Yeah.”

Holding hands like that, they exchanged lighthearted banter and left the dingy building. The alley, bathed in the blue light of dawn, was deserted, and his heart was filled with a fluttering sensation. He kept grinning at Cha Hongjo, and they soon reached the place where he had parked the car. Go Baekwoo and Cha Hongjo, their breaths clouding in the cold air, got into the front seats. But.

“……Uh.”

The car wouldn’t start. It couldn’t have broken down overnight, and sure enough.

“Out of gas.”

Cha Hongjo glanced at the fuel gauge and muttered casually. Go Baekwoo’s smile disappeared, and he ran his hand through his hair in frustration, letting out an “Ah.” He had kept thinking he should fill up the tank while driving to the set yesterday, but he had been so preoccupied with Cha Hongjo that he had completely forgotten. His inexperience as a driver showed, despite his driving skills.

“What time did you say filming starts?”

Go Baekwoo asked, banging his forehead against the steering wheel, then lifting his head. Cha Hongjo put a cigarette in his mouth and rolled down the window as he answered.

“Eight thirty.”

“Let’s get a taxi.”

They weren’t pressed for time, but they weren’t exactly relaxed either. Go Baekwoo immediately opened the car door, and Cha Hongjo leisurely followed him out.

And until Cha Hongjo finished another cigarette, they didn’t see a single taxi. It was early morning, close to dawn, and even passing cars were rare in this neighborhood.

“I should call my manager to pick us up.”

Go Baekwoo, looking rather anxious, gestured towards the payphone across the street. Cha Hongjo glanced in that direction, then turned to the left and nodded.

“Let’s take the bus.”

“The bus?”

There was a bus stop sign where Cha Hongjo pointed. Go Baekwoo frowned slightly, as if dissatisfied. He didn’t know if there was a bus that went towards the filming location, and although Cha Hongjo hadn’t officially debuted, his face was quite well-known. He wasn’t sure if it was okay for him to casually use public transport, whether anyone recognized him or not. He was worried that Cha Hongjo might suffer some kind of disadvantage because of his absurd mistake of not filling up the gas tank. Since there wasn’t any traffic from the set to here, it would be faster to call Tae Pyunghyun. Rather than the bus.

“It’s better to call my manager…… Cha Hongjo.”

However, before Go Baekwoo could finish his sentence, Cha Hongjo headed towards the bus stop. With his long strides, he quickly moved out of reach. Go Baekwoo hurriedly followed him. He caught up easily.

“Grandma.”

Just as Go Baekwoo reached his side, Cha Hongjo spoke to an elderly woman sitting on the bus stop bench. The elderly woman, her white hair neatly combed back, looked up at Cha Hongjo.

“Is there a bus to Saekkeut Village from here?”

“Saekkeut Village?”

The elderly woman, who seemed hard of hearing, asked back in a loud voice. Cha Hongjo also raised his voice to answer.

“Yes, Saekkeut Village.”

“I’m going there. Get on with me.”

They were lucky. Cha Hongjo bowed his head to the elderly woman in gratitude, straightened up, and looked at Go Baekwoo. Go Baekwoo, still seemingly thinking it was better to call Tae Pyunghyun, looked back and forth between the payphone and Cha Hongjo. But then he stopped.

“Are you boys here to film something?”

The elderly woman’s voice came from behind them as they were looking at the empty road. Go Baekwoo and Cha Hongjo turned around simultaneously.

“Yes.”

Go Baekwoo hesitated, unsure whether he should answer, and Cha Hongjo replied.

The elderly woman slapped her knee and smiled brightly, her wrinkles seeming to disappear.

“I thought so, oh my, what handsome young men.”

“Thank you.”

Cha Hongjo thanked her out of politeness.

“Sit down. The bus is still a while away.”

The elderly woman patted the seat next to her with her thick hand. Cha Hongjo sat down without refusing. Go Baekwoo stared blankly at Cha Hongjo, who was unexpectedly polite to the elderly woman, and then,

“The pale young man, sit down too.”

“Ah…… yes.”

Since it seemed awkward to remain standing, Go Baekwoo sat down next to Cha Hongjo.

The time waiting for the bus, whose arrival time was uncertain, wasn’t boring. It was thanks to the elderly woman, who kept chattering about how handsome they were. Go Baekwoo felt embarrassed by the constant stream of compliments, so he pretended to look elsewhere, but suddenly an arm was thrown over his shoulder, pulling him close.

“Grandma.”

Cha Hongjo, his arm around Go Baekwoo’s shoulders, their faces close together, turned towards the elderly woman.

“Who’s more handsome?”

His question was full of playfulness.

Go Baekwoo thought Cha Hongjo was asking a pointless question. Whether he asked or not, it was Cha Hongjo who was more handsome.

“Oh, both of you are handsome. But this one is more handsome, and this young man is pretty.”

The ‘more handsome one’ was Cha Hongjo, and the ‘pretty young man’ was Go Baekwoo.

Cha Hongjo was pleased with the elderly woman’s answer.

“Right, he’s pretty.”

“Yes, my son is pretty too, but this young man is a bit prettier than my son.”

“You have a good eye.”

When Cha Hongjo responded playfully, the elderly woman chuckled and patted Cha Hongjo’s back.

“Are you boys married?”

Then, such a question suddenly came flying at them. Cha Hongjo removed his arm from Go Baekwoo’s shoulder and replied nonchalantly,

“No, do you want to make me your son-in-law, Grandma?”

“I should have given birth to a daughter.”

This time, the elderly woman laughed even louder. Cha Hongjo also curled up his lips. Only Go Baekwoo wasn’t smiling. Just then, a bus approached the bus stop.

“Take that one.”

The elderly woman got up, placing her hands on her knees. Cha Hongjo and Go Baekwoo also stood up.

It had become difficult to see bus conductors in Seoul now, but they still existed in this town, not far from Seoul. The cheerful conductor shouted, “All aboard,” and banged on the side of the bus as it started moving. The elderly woman went to sit near the driver’s seat, and Go Baekwoo and Cha Hongjo settled in the back seats.

The bus swayed and rattled as it passed over the bumpy road. Go Baekwoo and Cha Hongjo’s shoulders bumped against each other. Even though he had slept, Go Baekwoo felt his heart flutter as if he had just started dating. Cha Hongjo, on the other hand, opened the bus window with an indifferent expression. The cold wind carried in the smell of dirt and exhaust fumes.

It was around the third stop. High school girls rushed onto the bus. The quiet bus became noisy, and Cha Hongjo and Go Baekwoo were suddenly under the scrutiny of many eyes.

“…….”

The moment almost all the high school girls’ gazes fixed on the two men in the back seats, the bus became quiet again. Except for the whispers.

“Hey, hey, over there…… isn’t that, him?”

“What?”

“The rookie actor in the movie with Kim Hyunwoo and Yang Seohee.”

The whispers were mostly like that. The high school girls standing very close to the two men weren’t quiet either. The girls, all with bob haircuts that looked like they had been cut with a ruler, glanced conspicuously at Cha Hongjo and Go Baekwoo and whispered.

“The ‘Spring’s Wish’ guy?”

“Yeah, I saw him in a magazine…… Oh my god, what was his name! Ah! I remember, Cha Hongjo!”

“Hey, shut up!”

One of them poked her friend, who had shouted Cha Hongjo’s name, hard in the side. It was too late. The two men had heard everything. The girls blushed and looked around nervously. Go Baekwoo felt like facepalming. He shouldn’t have taken the bus. And on top of that.

“Hi.”

Cha Hongjo, to the girls who couldn’t take their eyes off him despite their embarrassment, suddenly greeted them with a bright smile.

“Kya!”

“He, hello……”

“Gasp, he, he greeted us……”

“Oh my god, what do we do……”

The girls’ faces turned as red as if Cha Hongjo had splashed them with red paint. They couldn’t even steal glances at Cha Hongjo anymore. Cha Hongjo, as if he had never been friendly, immediately hardened his expression and leaned back against the seat.

“……Ha.”

Go Baekwoo sighed.

“Cha Hongjo.”

“Yeah.”

“Is that a habit of yours?”

“What is.”

Clatter. The bus shook violently, and the high school girls, filling his vision, swayed like waves in the same direction. Go Baekwoo and Cha Hongjo, who had been watching the scene side by side, also tilted in the same direction before returning to their original positions.

“Smiling indiscriminately.”

“Did I do that?”

“Yeah.”

“I guess so, then.”

Cha Hongjo, looking straight ahead, replied indifferently, resting his head on Go Baekwoo’s shoulder.

“…….”

Go Baekwoo parted his lips, then closed them again.

Looking down at Cha Hongjo from the corner of his eye, he saw that he had closed his eyes as if asleep.

Saekkeut Village, where the filming set was located, was the last stop. He must be tired. Go Baekwoo’s heart stirred, but he didn’t bother Cha Hongjo any further.

🔥

His mother, whom he met after three weeks, looked noticeably thinner. Every time he saw her, she seemed smaller than before.

Go Baekwoo asked his mother how she was doing, and the answer he received was as expected. ‘I’m fine.’ Another stake of guilt was driven into his son’s heart at the obvious lie.

“Don’t skip meals. Don’t worry about me. Always be careful.”

Lee Heejin looked at the grown-up Go Baekwoo as if he were a three-year-old child. Even though he hadn’t moved out on his own, but had moved to his father’s house, she couldn’t shake off her anxieties. To be honest, it was a natural worry precisely because it was that father’s house. She had resolved to raise her child normally even though she had married that man, but it was another delusion from the time she believed in love.

“You take care of your meals too, Mother. I’ll be back soon.”

As the son of Chairman Go Daeil, and as Go Baekwoo himself, he had a lot to do, so he didn’t know when he would have time again. But that was all the promise Go Baekwoo could make to his mother.

The gazes the mother and son exchanged were filled with affection. Go Baekwoo only managed to tear himself away when Lee Heejin patted his shoulder a couple of times as if urging him to leave.

“Mother.”

Suddenly, an unsettling face flashed through his mind, and he turned back to face his mother again.

“Does my uncle still come to visit?”

His uncle, who gambled and ran out of money, would always seek out his mother first. Once he visited the shop, he wouldn’t leave until he received some money. Now that he couldn’t deal with him himself, his worry was doubled.

“……Sometimes.”

Lee Heejin’s face paled at the mention of her younger brother. It was because Lee Taekjin had visited just a few days ago.

Lee Taekjin, whose sole purpose was money, unusually inquired about Go Baekwoo’s whereabouts, which were unknown to her, and pressed Lee Heejin, asking, “Did Baekwoo go to his father?” When Lee Heejin gave a vague answer, Lee Taekjin, finally convinced that Chairman Go Daeil had taken his nephew, laughed heartily.

‘Since you’ve suffered all this time, Noona, shouldn’t you get at least a house from your brother-in-law?’

‘Don’t say such things. That man is neither my husband nor your brother-in-law.’

‘Still, he’s Baekwoo’s father, right?’

‘……Whether he is or not. It has nothing to do with you.’

Lee Heejin was worried that Lee Taekjin, claiming to be Baekwoo’s maternal uncle, would demand money or cause trouble. Fortunately, Chairman Go Daeil was a cold-blooded man who wouldn’t flinch even if that guy acted up. However, she was also worried that Lee Taekjin might get hurt in return. Even if he was such a good-for-nothing, he was still her younger brother.

“Baekwoo, don’t worry about your uncle.”

“Call me if my uncle comes. You know my number, right?”

“Yes…… I will.”

Lee Heejin would never call Go Baekwoo about her younger brother, but she said she would. Her son, who had spent half his life burdened with worries under an inadequate mother, now had to focus on other things, and she had an obligation not to become a stumbling block in his path, even if she couldn’t pave the way for him. She resolved that Baekwoo would never see his maternal uncle again.

“I’ll be going.”

Go Baekwoo took a step towards his small mother, whom he could probably embrace with room to spare, then just twitched his fingers. His mother gave him a wry smile and waved. He lamented that he couldn’t be more affectionate towards his mother, but in the end, he just pursed his lips and left.

For a while after he started living with his father, Secretary Moon had accompanied him, but now he did most things on his own. He had said he would, and his father had readily agreed. That’s why he had learned to drive.

Learning to drive had been a really good decision. Being able to go anywhere he wanted, whenever he wanted, was a great advantage. Go Baekwoo turned the steering wheel towards the “Spring’s Wish” filming set. He was now in a position and circumstance where he could see Cha Hongjo whenever he wanted.

The day after the first filming of “Spring’s Wish”, the day that made him chuckle every time he thought about it. The day he ‘slept’ with Cha Hongjo. Thanks to his foolish mistake of not filling up the car with gas, he had taken the bus with Cha Hongjo to Saekkeut Village. As soon as they arrived, Cha Hongjo had to start preparing for filming, and there wasn’t enough time to properly greet him. Go Baekwoo watched Cha Hongjo’s back as he was getting his makeup done, and as he stepped back, he thought. He wanted to be in a position where he could watch over Cha Hongjo, even if not as his manager.

In the evening, his father, sitting across from him at the dinner table, asked him how his visit to the set had been. Go Baekwoo seized the opportunity to express his desire to be deeply involved with High Entertainment. He had prepared himself for a dismissive reaction or even a scolding from his father because of his previous attempt to become Cha Hongjo’s manager.

‘Don’t waste your energy on greed. It’s already yours.’

It wasn’t as if High Entertainment would naturally belong to him because he was his biological son.

Of course, when he became too old to even lift a spoon, or when he passed away, Go Baekwoo would naturally succeed Go Daeil. This was consistent with the meaning that nothing would be Go Baekwoo’s until Chairman Go was ready to let go.

However, Chairman Go wasn’t going to make Go Baekwoo wait indefinitely. He had something prepared for his son. That was the reason why Kim Yongmin couldn’t get rid of the ‘Secretary’ title, even though he was in charge of all matters related to High Entertainment. The position of CEO of High Entertainment had been reserved for Go Baekwoo since the company’s establishment.

For that position, Go Baekwoo was diligently learning the entertainment business. There were many things that were difficult to grasp in just a year or two, but thanks to that, he could see Cha Hongjo more freely and more often, so he had no complaints. He could endure even more demanding efforts, as long as he could keep Cha Hongjo by his side.

The responsibility or burden of becoming someone who could firmly support his father’s business was a secondary issue. Currently, Go Baekwoo’s thoughts and actions, past, present, and future, all revolved around Cha Hongjo. Instinctively, like he didn’t have to think about where to exhale the air he inhaled.

The filming of “Spring’s Wish” took place in Saekkeut Village only for the first three nights and four days, and afterwards, it continued in various locations in Gyeonggi-do and Seoul. According to the schedule he had received in advance from Secretary Kim Yongmin, today’s filming location was Moyang-dong, Seoul. It wasn’t far from Wonseon-dong, where his mother’s tea room was located.

Go Baekwoo, who had barely managed to park his car in the parking lot, which was packed with vehicles belonging to the staff and cast, realized that he had left without smoking, caught up in the thought of seeing Cha Hongjo. Once he thought about it, he felt he couldn’t resist lighting up, so he pulled out a cigarette and lit it as soon as he got out of the car.

Go Baekwoo watched people busily passing by through the smoke he exhaled. Filming locations were always busy and lively, wherever and whenever. Although he frequented the set solely for Cha Hongjo, he had come to like the unique vitality of the place. After he quit boxing, he had intentionally cut ties with the feeling of passion, but as he watched the busy set, he felt a warmth stirring in his chest.

“Oh, hello.”

Someone passing by greeted him as he was about to finish his cigarette. Go Baekwoo nodded in response. As he consistently visited the set, more and more people recognized him, and some, like this person, started greeting him.

“Hongjo is taking a break right now. Go ahead.”

And since they pointed out Cha Hongjo’s location for him, he was spared the trouble of searching around.

“Ah, okay.”

Go Baekwoo, exhaling the last puff of smoke, turned towards the direction the staff member had indicated with their finger. His steps, which had felt as heavy as lead when leaving the tea room, were now as light as air.

But always, his heart, filled with Cha Hongjo, surged heavily. Especially if he happened to witness Cha Hongjo chatting with someone else.

“…….”

Cha Hongjo was tucked away in a corner of the parking lot, seemingly trying to avoid attention. With Yang Seohee, a beauty who could appear in the dreams of many men. Yang Seohee was leaning against the fence separating the parking lot from the outside, her arm around Cha Hongjo’s neck. Cha Hongjo had his head lowered towards her.

Round eyes, peeking out over his shapely shoulders, spotted Go Baekwoo.

“Hongjo.”

Yang Seohee, smiling at Go Baekwoo, removed her arm from Cha Hongjo’s neck.

“Your friend, Baekwoo, is here.”

Only then did Cha Hongjo notice the shadow cast on his back. He knew who it was without having to check, so he slowly raised his head and turned away from Yang Seohee.

“You’re here?”

Cha Hongjo asked, a lingering smile on his lips, as if something had amused him.

“Yeah.”

Go Baekwoo nodded briefly in response. Then, Yang Seohee, popping up from behind Cha Hongjo, greeted him. He replied to her as well. Politely, trying not to be emotional.

“Is it break time?”

“No, we finished early today.”

They finished early, so they were chatting. Go Baekwoo suppressed the sudden urge to curse. For now.

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“If you haven’t eaten, shall we eat together?”

Cha Hongjo gave a short reply to the question, and Yang Seohee suggested with a friendly expression. Cha Hongjo looked back and forth between Go Baekwoo and Yang Seohee. It was a brief moment, but Go Baekwoo didn’t miss it.

“Shall we?”

Go Baekwoo, gazing intently into the eyes that didn’t lose their unique sparkle even in the shade, averted his gaze and answered Yang Seohee with a smile.

“Oh, really? Don’t you have plans with just Hongjo?”

“It’s okay.”

Yang Seohee smiled brightly, as if overjoyed, and Go Baekwoo also brightened his face in the same way.

“I’ll pay.”

“I can pay too.”

Cha Hongjo, watching them, furrowed his brow slightly.

“What do you want to eat?”

He felt strange. He had known Pretty Boy for a while now, and they had even rubbed their naked bodies together, but this was the first time he had seen him smile so brightly.

“You’re easygoing. Then let me treat you next time. What I want to eat…… is meat?”

“Okay, let’s eat meat.”

……What the fuck is he doing?

“Cha Hongjo.”

The pretty face, which had been directed only at Yang Seohee, turned towards Cha Hongjo. The smile was gone.

“Meat, is that okay?”

Cha Hongjo furrowed his brow even more, lowering his gaze to his feet, then lifting his eyes and opening his mouth.

“Do you have a cigarette?”

It was a rather abrupt question in the middle of deciding on what to eat, but Go Baekwoo took out a cigarette from his coat pocket and handed it to Cha Hongjo, then even lit it for him.

Cha Hongjo, standing nonchalantly, took two drags of the cigarette and exhaled before rubbing his face and returning the cigarette pack to Go Baekwoo.

“You two eat, the meat.”

His hand trembled slightly as he took the cigarette pack back. The plastic wrap around the cardboard box crinkled faintly. His brown eyes, like coffee with a dollop of cream, lifted to meet Cha Hongjo’s.

“You?”

“I don’t have an appetite.”

Go Baekwoo was a little flustered because he had expected Cha Hongjo to eat, since he had only said ‘not yet’ when asked if he had eaten, not that he had no appetite.

“Eat anyway.”

“Yeah, didn’t you say you haven’t eaten breakfast?”

Go Baekwoo spoke softly, in a soothing tone, and Yang Seohee chimed in. Cha Hongjo chewed on the cigarette filter. If the filter had been made of a hard material, there would have been a crunching sound.

“……Seohee.”

Cha Hongjo called Yang Seohee, who was older than him and a senior in the entertainment industry, in such a way. Naturally. Since when? Probably since the day they slept together, just like with many other older women.

Anyway, Yang Seohee told him not to call her that in front of the staff, in case word got around, but she didn’t mind otherwise.

“Yes?”

“You……”

Cha Hongjo finished exhaling the smoke from his throat, threw the cigarette butt on the ground, and stepped on it before continuing,

“Just go today.”

“What, why?”

Yang Seohee asked, sounding disappointed.

“Just, go.”

Cha Hongjo rubbed between his eyebrows with his index and middle fingers and muttered irritably. Yes, anyone could hear the irritation in his tone.

“We’ve already made plans with Baekwoo……”

“Hey, Pretty Boy.”

While Yang Seohee was speaking, Cha Hongjo turned his back to her and faced Go Baekwoo.

“Where did you park your car?”

“Near the entrance.”

Go Baekwoo pointed in the direction he had come from. Cha Hongjo immediately started walking without a word. Yang Seohee, flustered, called out to Cha Hongjo several times. But he didn’t look back.

“Ah, what the heck, why is he like that? He was fine just a moment ago? Did something happen to him?”

Yang Seohee asked, hunching her shoulders as if cold, putting her hands in her jumper pockets. Go Baekwoo smiled sweetly, just like when they were deciding on what to eat.

“I wonder, something must have happened……”

And as he turned to look after Cha Hongjo, he smiled secretively, without her noticing.

He had a hunch.

“He’s jealous……”

“What?”

Yang Seohee asked at Go Baekwoo’s murmur as he looked back, and Go Baekwoo, turning to face her again, said with his usual indifferent expression,

“Sorry, I need to go to Hongjo.”

“It’s okay. Why are you apologizing, Baekwoo?”

Yang Seohee brushed it off. Cha Hongjo’s behavior was sudden and rude, but from what she had seen while working with him, he was always like that. Sudden and rude. He acted like a sly old fox one minute, and a seven-year-old child the next. Director Kim praised Cha Hongjo’s such qualities as ‘flexible and creative’, and she, too, found him attractive in that aspect, aside from his looks.

“Still, that kind of guy is better for marriage.”

Yang Seohee shrugged, watching Go Baekwoo walk away in the direction Cha Hongjo had disappeared.

She had been worried about Director Kim, who had started to become suspicious of her relationship with Cha Hongjo, to the point of suffocation, but now it seemed okay to move on to this guy through Cha Hongjo. At first, she had assumed he was a rookie actor under High Entertainment, but he turned out to be the young master of Geumyang Group. He had a good physique, his face was a bit too pretty for her comfort, but his personality seemed steady, unlike his appearance. As the only son of a wealthy family, his future was paved with gold. He was a perfect husband material.

On the other hand, Cha Hongjo…… to put it simply, if she got greedy, she would be the only one suffering. When she was younger, she might have clung to him without knowing any better, but not anymore. With this type of person, it was best to enjoy it moderately and then let go. It was her intuition, honed through meeting many men in the entertainment industry.

Yang Seohee turned away from the spot where the two men had disappeared, heading towards her manager without any lingering feelings…… and then stopped abruptly.

But just now, didn’t Cha Hongjo call Baekwoo ‘Pretty Boy’?

“……Well.”

‘Pretty Boy’ wasn’t a suitable nickname to use for a man, but if the target was Go Baekwoo, it was a different story. He was pretty.

And also…….

“Who does he think he is to get angry at me!”

Yang Seohee kicked a pebble at her feet in frustration. She had pretended to be nonchalant in front of Go Baekwoo, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Cha Hongjo, who had suddenly gotten angry and left. This was bad. It seemed like the time had come to distance herself from Cha Hongjo. But there was still a month and a half left of filming, which would be a pain in itself.

“Ha……”

Yang Seohee sighed and turned her back on the direction the two men had disappeared. However, as if she still had some lingering feelings, she looked back one more time. Cha Hongjo, growing smaller and smaller in the distance, didn’t look back even once.

Cha Hongjo, standing in front of the parked car, frowned at Go Baekwoo, who was exchanging a few words with Yang Seohee in the distance. Then he put a cigarette in his mouth. He had deliberately borrowed a cigarette from Go Baekwoo, but he had his own from the start.

He had known for a while that Yang Seohee, who appeared on set at least twice a week, was interested in Go Baekwoo. Even actors, whose profession was acting, couldn’t hide the desire in their eyes. Moreover, she didn’t even try to hide it. It was because of her personality that she could flirt with Cha Hongjo even while Director Kim was watching them with hawk eyes. She was a woman who enjoyed herself fearlessly when she did. A woman who was bold, cheerful, beautiful as if she had stepped out of a painting, and excellent at her main job, acting…….

She and Go Baekwoo looked like a well-matched couple. Cha Hongjo chewed on the filter at the unintentional thought. Then he realized what emotion lay beneath his observation. It was jealousy. The unpleasant lump in his solar plexus, which wouldn’t go down and couldn’t be coughed up, was definitely jealousy.

Jealousy wasn’t a frequent emotion, so he wasn’t used to it, but Cha Hongjo remembered the nauseating feeling vividly enough to describe it. He had learned about jealousy at a very young age, when he was still yearning for his father’s affection.

Cha Hongjo had filled the void left by his mother with loneliness, but his father had filled the void left by his partner with another person. He constantly sought out women, met them, and sometimes even introduced them to Cha Hongjo. It was because most of the women were the ones who first expressed their desire to “meet your son.”

He had met dozens of women who had passed through his father’s life, but he had forgotten all their faces. However, he could still remember that woman. He even remembered her name. Jung Soohyun.

Jung Soohyun was, as far as Cha Hongjo knew, the woman his father had dated the longest, and they even lived together for over a year. His father treated her with an attitude unfamiliar to his son. Warm, gentle, and considerate.

At home, his father dressed neatly and wore a refreshing scent that cleared his sinuses. On the other hand, Jung Soohyun, who was his ‘stepmother’ for a short time, had a scent that calmed his mind. He didn’t know if it was perfume, the smell of cosmetics, detergent, or her unique body scent.

Anyway, amidst the confusing scents emanating from the adults, young Cha Hongjo was completely an outsider.

The adults brought the child inside the fence, but that was all. The neglected Cha Hongjo merely observed the adults. And in doing so, he learned. The refreshing and fragrant love, and the process of it decaying and being buried.

His father’s affectionate gaze, which he had never seen directed at him, focused on Jung Soohyun. That’s when he learned about jealousy.

And his ‘stepmother’s’ increasingly protruding belly, carrying his ‘sibling’. His father’s hand gently caressing it. That’s when he learned about self-loathing. His father wasn’t a cold-hearted man incapable of giving affection to his child. It was just that he was someone who couldn’t receive affection, even from his parents…….

Cha Hongjo, staring blankly at Yang Seohee and Go Baekwoo, felt something dripping down his chin and blinked awake. He brought his hand to his chin, and the ash from the cigarette, which had been burning idly between his fingers, crumbled and scattered. He threw away the short butt and touched his chin. Blood stained his fingers. It was blood from his lower lip, which he had bitten so hard that it had split open.

“…….”

Cha Hongjo roughly wiped his lower lip with the back of his hand and took his eyes off Go Baekwoo. He had turned away from Yang Seohee and was approaching him. For some reason, he wanted to run away. He took a step back. But he couldn’t move any further. Go Baekwoo, who had been diligently striding with his long legs, had reached him.

“What happened to your lip?”