Mason noticeably stared at Noah who was sitting on the opposite side of the table and elegantly cutting the steak. Just like an educated, wealthy young master, there was no mistake in his table manners. He used the fork and knife in order, held the glass neatly, cut the meat and chewed on it. Those movements didn’t seem forced. It was very natural and exuded a sweet charm, which was typical to Noah Raycarlton.

Mason, being just a mercenary, simply ripped the meat apart as he wanted and consumed it; at the same time watching Noah dine like a movie.

“Are you watching a monkey in a zoo eating a banana?”

Noah put down the fork on the plate, raised his head and inquired with an apathetic expression. Instead of denying it Mason said, “Please eat more,” and pushed the salad towards him. Noah smirked and grabbed the tongs in the salad bowl.

“Were you busy today?”

Mason asked while chewing on the steak. It was past 11 PM when Noah came back home, and because of that, they were eating the meal nearly at midnight. Noah, who was pouring the dressing, tilted his head like he was curious and smiled.

“Why? Were you disappointed that I sent Phil instead?”

“Huh? Ah, sure, well.”

Mason glossed over as Noah kept smiling sweetly, like a real lover. He chuckled and said,

“It wasn’t something urgent, but my parents called me. I haven’t seen them in a while too.”

He defiantly rested his arm on the table and shook his fork while saying, “To play a son is very tiring.”

“-…I can see why.”

Mason nodded, feeling sympathetic towards Mr. and Mrs. Raycarlton who probably were shocked by their son’s scandal. If the media, which were irrelevant, were acting so crazy, then how would the parents feel? Their precious son got involved with the infamous, vulgar druggie.

“They said they want to meet you some day.”

“….Me?”

Mason asked, “Why?” with a puzzled look.

“Probably because you are the person I’m seeing?”

Noah questioned back and ate the salad again. Mason’s lips were creased and stared at his mouth chewing on the salad and said.

“So, did you explain to them properly that it’s not true?”

“I told them that I’m going to introduce you later.”

“Can you give me a date when you won’t be filming?” -Noah asked, smiling sweetly and Mason changed the subject saying, “….Ah, today’s salad is very fresh.” Noah shrugged and held the glass to sip some wine. Only the utensil clanking sound could be heard from the table where the two sat.

“…..”

Mason lifted his eyes again and glanced at Noah chewing on the meat with a coy face.

Not so long ago, on his way back to Noah’s mansion, Mason had seen Aaron and Ashely on the street. They were mingled with the paparazzi and loitering along the side, as if looking for someone and then disappeared quickly. It was clear the person they were looking for was Noah.

Fortunately, it wasn’t today, but what would’ve happened if Noah came to pick him up like he did for few days now. They probably couldn’t do much in the midst of his bodyguards and dozens of cameras. But nobody knew what they were going to do because they were helplessly cornered. It was unusual for them to have appeared where they did, to begin with.

Mason stared at Noah’s clean cheeks and asked like he just remembered.

“But…., do you take your bodyguards around these days too?”

“…? -I usually do. Why? Is someone trying to harm me again?”

Noah used the same excuse that Mason had used in the hotel room a few days ago. Swallowing his words, ‘Yes, that’s it,’ Mason cut the potato with an impassive expression.

“Because these days the paparazzi are very vicious.”

“That’s true.”

Noah clicked his tongue like Mason was worrying uselessly. Mason drank some water and said, “I even got terror threats. It’s not wrong to be cautious.” He tried to pass it off as a casual remark, but he was pretty worried.

“…You’re worried about me?”

Noah swallowed the wine and asked tilting his head. Mason moved his lips, “That is…..”

“That is?”

Since Mason tried to gloss over again, Noah encouraged him squinting his eyes.

“……”

‘Asking if I am worried, what is he saying? His body is healthy; he got money and power that can even make a few people disappear. There’s nowhere for me to worry about, but….’ Mason thought it was ridiculous and frustrating, but surprisingly he WAS worried about him. It was not at a concerning level, but occasionally Mason did throw away his own peace of mind and well being into the gutter to worry about him.

He thought what kind of idiot would act like this and tried to stop thinking about it, but the truth couldn’t be denied. In the elevator, in the slum next to the filming set, at the hotel, and even until now, Mason was stupidly concerned about Noah. Should he seriously think about why is he like that? Mason murmured, “…I’m really worried about myself,” and drank some water. Noah laughed quietly and drank his wine.

“Why?”

Mason asked what was funny and Noah slightly shook the wine glass and said, “Just….”

“How should I put it? I thought it’ll be nice if you worried about me.”

“Do you need my worries?”

Because of his unnecessary concerns, Mason, who doubted his own mental health, frowned and asked. Noah said, “Ah, of course. Of course! I really do need it,” and drank the rest of his wine.

“Worrying about someone means there’s affection.”

Worrying about someone means there’s affection. –Hearing Noah’s words, Mason moved his lips.

“Yeah, well-…, to ask for that is a little extravagant”.

“I’m just saying it’ll be nice if it was like that”. –Noah mumbled and smiled and lifted the wine bottle. He licked his slightly wet lips with his tongue and poured some fresh wine into the empty glass. Mason stared at the red liquid pouring into Noah’s glass and said.

“….I think you’ve been drinking a little too much.”

I think I heard that he was weak at drinking. When Mason asked, Noah said, “Huh?” and checked the almost empty bottle.

“Ah, that’s true. I thought we drank together, but I ended up drinking everything. One bottle for myself is a bit too much. -You don’t drink wine?”

“But, didn’t you drink some yesterday?” Noah asked, and Mason closed his mouth. Noah said, “Why don’t you have a glass? Do you have filming early in the morning?” and shook the bottle.

“No. It’s not like that, but alcohol is a little…”

Mason panicked and waved his hand. Noah said, “Just a little?” and asked what Mason was about to say, to which Mason began picking his words.

“That is, I thought a glass of wine was okay, but after drinking some yesterday, I’ve changed my mind.”

“Why?” At Mason’s panicked expression, Noah seemed like he wanted to tease him. He licked his lips and asked,“…-Because you got horny?”

Noah’s eyes ended up on the edge of the table, where Mason’s thighs rested. Noah chuckled like he remembered something in between Mason’s legs, and Mason dropped the fork and knife on the table.

“Mr. Raycarlton.”

At Mason’s firm voice, Noah put both of his hands up. It meant ‘I know you are uncomfortable, but since it’s a joke, you don’t have to be so serious.’

“But still, do you want to have a drink now?”

Noah was smiling as he tapped Mason’s glass with the wine bottle he was holding, as if ready to pour. Mason bit his lips and stood up from his seat. Noah looked at him a little surprised, but Mason avoided his eyes and said, “Then,”

“It seems like both of us are done eating, so I’ll leave.”

At Mason’s decisive reply, Noah said, “We are done eating-… and it’s not ‘I’ll leave–,’ you’re already leaving?” Noah blinked and stared at him. He scolded Mason that it was not proper etiquette in any town.

“I got tired suddenly. Have a good night.”

Mason didn’t wait for Noah’s reply and left the cafeteria as if running away.

Noah stared at the door, through which Mason had disappeared, with a surprised expression. Blinking, he turned his gaze to rest on the table, where Mason’s plate and wine were left unfinished.

“…-Ahhh.”

Noah drank the wine with an apathetic face and poured the rest into his glass. Quite a lot of wine flowed into his glass, and he licked his lips.

“I told you, one bottle by myself is too much.”

Noah mumbled and chuckled as he drank the rest of the wine.