Chapter 36: Chapter 36.

Chapter 36.

“Assistant Manager Choi, what brings you here?”

Woojin was waiting in front of the marketing team office. The first person to notice him was Chief Seulgi Kim, who was leaving the room. Woojin, who was standing with one of his sleeves pulled up neatly, bowed lightly to her. Some of his brown hair fell on his forehead as he did.

“Oh, I…”

“Would you like me to let Mr. Shin Kim know you are here?”

“…”

Like a drop of red ink in a bowl of cream, Woojin’s pale neck began to blush. Woojin covered it with his hand quietly.

Seulgi noticed this gesture. She smiled and opened the door to the office. She announced, “Mr. Shin Kim, you have a guest.”

A guest? Woojin’s face began to turn red as well, and he tried to hide it by pretending to cough. Seulgi stared at him for a long time before bowing lightly and leaving. Through the open door, Shin Kim soon appeared.

“Assistant Manager Woojin?”

“…”

“Chief Seulgi… She said there was a guest…”

Looking at Shin who seemed confused, Woojin felt like his entire body was turning red. When he awkwardly remained in the hallway, Shin Kim closed the door behind him quietly and pulled Woojin towards the marketing team’s kitchen. Shin held Woojin’s wrist gently.

As they entered the kitchen, the smell of coffee engulfed them. When Shin was sure the place was empty, he pulled Woojin into the room and closed the door.

Shin leaned against the door and looked down at Woojin who appeared to be puzzled. Woojin also looked a bit wary.

When Woojin tried to touch his chin, which was turning pink, Shin used his other hand to stop Woojin. He grabbed Woojin’s hand and pulled it down. When Shin looked stiff, or almost harsh, Woojin looked away. Shin only squeezed Woojin’s wrists tighter.

Shin was standing with his legs a bit apart. He slowly pulled Woojin into his arms into a tight hug. Woojin’s face rested on his chest, making his heartbeat go faster and louder.

Shin rested his chin on Woojin’s head. After a few minutes of silence, he finally sighed and said to Woojin, “You can’t do this. You can’t be like this.”

“Why not?”

“Are you asking because you really don’t know?”

Shin buried his nose into Woojin’s neck. He never realized it before, but apparently, Shin liked smelling people.

Or at least, Woojin.

Cheeks, neck, hands, and everywhere else. Shin took deep breaths of Woojin, making him tremble in shock. Shin kept breathing in Woojin deeply and intensely.

Shin murmured, “You always smell so good.”

“…”

Woojin wanted to reply that Shin smelled good too, but he stopped himself.

“Why did you come here, Mr. Woojin Choi.?”

“… Ahh.”

Woojin moaned because Shin suddenly bit his neck. Shin laughed quietly as Woojin replied, “I messaged you to have lunch with me, but you didn’t answer…”

Shin saw that Woojin was holding his jacket on his arm. Shin stepped back slightly from him and looked into Woojin’s eyes. Shin feared that perhaps his cheeks were red too.

Woojin was feeling Shin’s heat; he was burning inside and out.

Shin said quietly, “I will see you in the basement parking lot at 11:50 AM.”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“Ok.”

“Well, that’s only in 5 minutes.”

Shin smiled and hugged Woojin again tightly. When Woojin tried to escape, Shin held his face. Their eyes met.

They stared at each other unhurriedly yet passionately. Woojin sighed and placed his hands on top of Shin’s, which were still on Woojin’s cheeks. Shin’s hands were so much larger than his. The heat from their hands mingled together.

Shin asked, “What would you like to eat for lunch?”

Woojin didn’t think any food would be enough to fill his hunger. He needed something… more. Something was lacking, but Woojin didn’t know what. All he felt now was that his heart was beating uncontrollably and he felt breathless.

Shin whispered, “Your face looks like you are asking me to take you here right now.”

When Shin hugged him tightly again, Woojin felt Shin’s shoulder on his face and remembered. He remembered how he wished he could feel Shin’s shoulders ever since he first saw him in high school.

Woojin closed his eyes and breathed Shin in, fearing that if he didn’t, Shin might disappear like he did in his dreams. Shin smelled like a tree in a deep forest.

Woojin knew that Shin’s scent would be with him for a very long time and this fact made him sad.

***

Shin found himself waking up early on a weekend, which was very unusual for him. Instead of staying in his bed longer, he got up quickly and went to the gym. After an hour of workout, he showered while constantly checking his watch.

His nose felt a bit dry, most likely because of the autumn weather. After the shower, he chose his shirt and wore a pair of black slacks.

Shin checked himself in the mirror. He had to stand far back because the body-sized mirror was a bit too short for him. The jean shirt looked fine with the pants.

Suddenly, he felt a little tight around his shoulders. He massaged them a bit; there wasn’t any pain but every time he touched the area, he felt odd.

Shin wondered why he had a dream last night. He rarely dreamt, and even when he did, Shin usually forgot about it the next day. But when he woke up this morning, he could almost smell the blood. Strangely, the sensation wouldn’t go away even now.

“…”

In his dream, there was someone who was covered in blood.

This person was inside the pool, sinking to the bottom. This person was covered in injuries. When Shin pulled him out, the man was deathly pale. The swimming pool looked pink because of all the blood this person lost.

Shin thought he must’ve died. He quickly grabbed his phone and dialed 911.

The man who was being carried to the ambulance… Shin no longer remembered his face. In truth, the man’s face was so badly damaged as if he was beaten cruelly. He couldn’t open his eyes; his entire face was bloody and swollen. On top of that, the man’s wrists were covered with cuts.

In Shin’s dream, he saw a faint pulse underneath the man’s bloody wrists. The wrists were so thin and the pulse was so weak that Shin wasn’t sure if he was mistaken. Was the man truly still alive?

And soon after, he woke up from the dream.

Those slim wrists… The thought of them remained in Shin’s head for a very long time,