Chapter 38: Chapter 38.

Chapter 38.

“What would you like to eat?”

Woojin was watching Shin placing edamame onto a dish for him when Shin asked. Woojin turned his eyes to the menu.

Shin Kim’s cheeks looked a little pink and Woojin wondered if it was because of him or because it was a bit warm in the restaurant. Before they walked into the Japanese restaurant, right after Shin parked his car, Shin kissed Woojin.

It happened as Shin undid Woojin’s seat belt. Shin kissed him like it was nothing, but Woojin noticed that Shin’s chin turned pink slowly.

Shin asked, “What is your favorite food?”

“…”

“I ask you this often, but you never answer me.”

Shin mussed Woojin’s hair. These unexpected casual touches… Woojin didn’t dislike them. When he closed his eyes and lowered his face, Shin smiled and caressed Woojin’s cheek.

Shin whispered, “Sometimes, you act like a puppy…”

“…”

“You need to make sure I am the only one who gets to touch you like this.”

Shin gently pushed aside the menu. When Woojin looked up into his eyes, Shin said to him in a warm low voice, “Then I will tell you what my favorite foods are.”

Woojin nodded, making Shin chuckle. He continued, “I like all seafood. I also like meat.”

“…”

“I also like fruits, but as for vegetables… I like certain ones, but not all of them. I had to eat so much of them when I was young that I kind of got sick of them. Well, I also ate a lot of meat too, but I guess I never got sick of it. There is a certain type of food you need to eat when you are an athlete.”

As Shin explained, Woojin listened quietly. Slowly, he realized that he actually didn’t know what he liked or disliked. There was food Woojin ate more of, but he also avoided certain foods as well. But all this time, Woojin didn’t think about it at all. He just ate because he had to live. Most of the time, Woojin ate without really tasting the food, or even because he felt hunger.

Shin suddenly asked, “You don’t know what you like or dislike, do you, Woojin?”

Woojin stared quietly. After thinking for a long time, Woojin finally answered, “… I do know one thing I like.”

“What is it?”

Woojin continued to look at him. Shin’s eyebrows arched in curiosity, and Woojin followed their movements. They looked like two thick lines drawn by black ink.

Shin’s face was very expressive, yet he always looked quiet and calm. The lines of his face were thick and beautiful. Woojin raised his hand to touch Shin’s eyebrows.

Shin looked at him in surprise as Woojin answered, “… You.”

Woojin thought as Shin’s face and neck began to turn red, ‘I guess my heart fell out of my mouth.’

Shin asked, “Where did you learn to flirt like that? Quite a skill.” He smiled widely. There was no sadness or uncertainty in his smile.

Watching such an expressive face was so satisfactory for Woojin. When Woojin picked out a few things from the menu, Shin nodded and ordered.

They shared a bottle of beer together. The main dishes, plates of sashimi and sushi, filled the table along with a few of the side dishes. Shin poured himself warm oolong tea when a man with a white apron came up to the table.

The man had a chubby face and looked very friendly. Woojin looked up at him and the man smiled at him. He also tapped Shin’s shoulder a few times and asked, “Hey, Shin, is the food ok?”

“… Umm yeah.”

Shin bowed to the man politely. When Woojin looked at them quietly, Shin finally introduced them, “This is a friend of mine. He is also the owner of this Japanese restaurant. This is an assistant manager from my office.”

Shin looked a little tense as he introduced Woojin as an office co-worker. Woojin looked away from Shin and greeted the man, “Hello, my name is Woojin Choi.” He felt like his face was turning rigid.

The man replied, “Nice to meet you. When I heard you were here, I thought you came with your girlfriend! How is the food? Do you like it?”

Shin suddenly looked upset. Woojin looked at Shin curiously before nodding to the man. Woojin replied, “I haven’t tried anything yet.”

“Oh, please try some. I am certain you will like the food here.”

Shin interrupted the man, “You should go back to the kitchen. You shouldn’t leave it for too long, right?”

The chef bowed and looked at Shin with a teasing grin. He replied, “Why do you look so uncomfortable, Shin? You know something, Mr. Choi? Shin here brings a different girl every time, so I thought it would be like that again today.”

Shin growled, “… Leave now.”

“But, you are a very good-looking person too, Mr. Choi. I was curious because the server told me that Shin came with someone very pretty. I assumed he came in with a girl.”

Shin asked rigidly, “What are you talking about? Pretty?”

“Well, look at him. He is obviously a beauty.”

The chef laughed and after a few more jokes, he left the table.

Woojin placed a small dish in front of Shin who became very quiet. Shin seemed to feel awkward, almost apologetic. When their eyes met, Shin hurriedly tried to explain, “Gosh… that man is awful…”

“Eat up.”

Woojin placed fresh dab of wasabi on Shin’s plate. Shin turned serious and asked, “Aren’t you upset? Aren’t you angry?”

“Why should I?”

“That chef told you I brought a lot of women here.”

“But not a man.”

Woojin smiled. Now, he felt like he finally learned how to smile. He reached out and mussed Shin’s hair and added, “You need to make sure I am the only MAN who gets to touch you like this.”

***

“Now where should we go?”

After dinner, Shin and Woojin got into Shin’s car. Woojin sat in the passenger seat leisurely. Shin thought he smelled so wonderful.

Recently, Shin Kim was beginning to lose control over himself. Perhaps it was because this was the first time he felt this possessive about someone. Perhaps his body was just reacting to this emotion.

It wasn’t like he was greedy about having a relationship. He just felt… sensitive and aware whenever he was in the same space as Woojin Choi.

Shin asked, “Are you tired?”

“… No.”

To Shin, Woojin felt… sticky. If he reached out and touched him, Shin felt like his hand would stick to Woojin’s skin.

Slowly. Shin leaned forward and kissed him. Woojin’s eyes widened for a second before closing. Every time he breathed, his neck and ears shivered.

Sometimes, Woojin smelled like water under the sun. He was so pale that he sometimes almost looked bluish. Woojin also looked very fragile, and to Shin, that vulnerability reminded him of a young plant with new stems and leaves.

Shin lifted Woojin’s chin with his finger when suddenly, he remembered something. He asked, “I have something I want to know.”

“…”

Woojin had a habit of looking down often, and when his chin was lifted like Shin was doing right now, Woojin stared into his eyes deeply.

Shin continued, “What is your relationship with Assistant Manager Jihoon Kang?”

“Pardon?”

Jihoon seemed to be very curious about Shin Kim. It wasn’t that he was interested in Shin; the curiosity was definitely related to Woojin.

When they met in the basement parking lot, Jihoon had an odd expression. Shin remembered it very well, and he knew that what Jihoon felt wasn’t jealousy. It was more like sadness, and Shin had been worried about what he saw.

Shin wanted to ask about Jihoon for a long time, and finally he got the courage to do so. But when Woojin looked indifferent, Shin began to regret asking. But it was too late, so he continued, “I know this is a ridiculous thing to ask…”

“…”

“But… did you use to go out with Assistant Manager Jihoon Kang?”