Come Back

“Tomorrow, I’ve cleared my schedule for the first time in a while, so you can rest comfortably. Just make sure to explain properly so there’s no misunderstanding about how you might have more overseas schedules soon. Got it?”

Mr. Myung reached out and gently grabbed the arm of Choi Hongseo, who had placed it on the armrest. The touch, pretending to be intimate, made Hongseo shiver, and he reflexively yanked his arm away.

Mr. Myung frowned for a moment, but didn’t say anything about Hongseo’s action. Normally, he would have never let something like this slide.

In moments like this, Choi Hongseo couldn’t help but feel how socially VVIP Lee Hye-seong really was. Hongseo suppressed a bitter smile and turned his gaze outside the tinted windows of the new car.

The mixed-use building where he was supposed to meet wasn’t far from the airport. It seemed like Lee Hye-seong’s people had already taken action, as the underground parking lot, accessible only to residents, let them through without any check. Several cars following behind that were full of sasaeng fans couldn’t proceed past the entrance and eventually turned away.

The car descended to the fourth underground floor. It seemed like the manager knew the location in advance, as there were no hitches in the drive. When they arrived, they saw Lee Hye-seong’s sedan parked at the corner of the floor.

Seeing the car made Hongseo breathe easier. He hadn’t realized how much pressure he was under until that moment.

“Hey? Why are you getting off here, Hongseo hyung?”

“My hyung’s gotta get back to work right after we land. If you know I’m struggling, you guys better hit the practice room. Yeong-ju, didn’t you mess up again on stage in Ho Chi Minh? Can’t you tell the difference between right and left? Huh? Is that really so hard?”

Hongseo couldn’t bear hearing that phrase “getting back to work,” so he plugged his earphones in. He knew Mr. Myung wanted something different from the usual VIPs, but he still couldn’t help acting like his usual self.

While Mr. Myung scolded the members, Hongseo quietly grabbed his bag and got out of the car. Adjusting the strap on his shoulder, he walked towards the building, but then, a brief vibration came from his phone. It was a message from the carrot vendor.

《Come to the passenger seat instead of the back seat^^》

Aware that he was likely watching, Hongseo pulled his bucket hat down deeper and quickened his pace.

“Come on in.”

As soon as he opened the passenger side door, his bright face and greeting welcomed him. Was he driving himself? It was a bit unfamiliar and new to Hongseo.

“Did you have a good trip?”

“Yeah.”

“I wanted to date you on the way here, so I came.”

Once Hongseo properly sat down, he turned his body and gently brushed Hongseo’s cheek with his thumb.

“Show me your face. I’ve been dying to see it.”

At his request, Hongseo took out his earphones, took off his hat, and turned toward him. Then, he stretched his neck a bit longer, allowing his face to rest gently in his hand. By now, this level of physical closeness had become natural. It didn’t mean he wasn’t nervous or excited, but it felt like something that had just become part of him.

As Hongseo offered his face, as if to say “Here it is,” a soft chuckle escaped from his lips.

“You’re so good.”

The compliment made Hongseo act even kinder, as if it were a natural effect.

“It was harder this time than when you went to Bangkok.”

As he softly continued to stroke his cheek, he added, “I was worried because you seemed down after arriving in Ho Chi Minh. I wondered if something happened.”

This was really because of Lee Seogyeong.

Since hearing that Lee Seogyeong was looking for him, Hongseo couldn’t seem to settle down. Despite trying not to show it in his calls or messages, Lee Hye-seong had caught on to the slight change in Hongseo’s mood.

“I see. But still, you have to be strict at work. As a leader, I believe in your abilities.”

“……”

“Although I only became Casper later, I watched all the important history of ‘Layered’ through videos. People who know you, know how dedicated and sincere you are to the team.”

A faint smile appeared on Hongseo’s face under his palm.

Lee Hye-seong smiled back and released his face, then laced their fingers together. Hongseo felt his lips brush against the back of his hand.

“Seeing your smile puts me at ease. I’ve been so worried about you.”

Each time he spoke, Hongseo could feel the warmth of his breath and the movement of his lips against his skin. The sensation made him slightly uncomfortable, and the name “Lee Seogyeong” lingered in his mind, annoying him. He wanted to shake it off and focus solely on the time with Lee Hye-seong.

Hongseo decided to change the topic.

“By the way, our car changed. Did Vice President Hye-seong arrange that for us?”

“Ah… well…”

While his lips still rested on the back of Hongseo’s hand, Lee Hye-seong squinted and looked off into the distance as if avoiding the question.

“How can I say this without making you mad at me?”

“I won’t be mad.”

“Really?”

“Really. You did it for my sake, why would I be mad? I was just curious, that’s all.”

“With all the schedules lately, I’ve been worried. The trips to and from the airport are happening so often. I can only do so much, and I thought the safest thing I could do was to get a safer car for you. I can’t just reduce your schedule…”

“……”

“I thought if you had a safer car, you might feel at ease, so I prepared it for you.”

Hongseo knew he could never repay him in terms of monetary value, but he could feel how much Lee Hye-seong wanted to do something for him. It was hard for Hongseo to know if it was right to take away the joy of giving just because it made him feel burdened. It was a dilemma that Hongseo couldn’t solve.

“Is that… a scarf or gloves, too?”

Choi Hongseo’s question made Lee Hye-seong laugh softly as he answered.

“You don’t need to measure everything by assigning value or weight like that.”

“……”

“It’s not about how much it costs, I just want you to see it with your heart.”

“Is this something that our CEO asked for…?”

“Mm, no, not at all. I suggested it because I wanted to do something for you, Hongseo.”

“In that case… I’ll gratefully accept it. The members really liked it, too. They were saying it’s the kind of car that top actors use.”

“Well, it is a top actor’s car.”

He teased as he raised their laced hands and pointed at Hongseo. Just an hour ago, his heart had been clouded with the heavy and uneasy feelings caused by Lee Seogyeong, and now it all seemed like a lie. Under the sweet spell of Lee Hye-seong’s forgetfulness, Hongseo, who had been chuckling, suddenly thought of the box inside his bag.

“Oh, I also have a gift.”

As Hongseo unlinked their hands and rummaged through his bag, Lee Hye-seong looked down at his empty hand like a child who had lost his candy, waiting. When Hongseo returned with something, it was a long, deep purple box, neatly tied with the same colored ribbon.

“I didn’t have time to shop, so I bought it at the duty-free store… it’s nothing compared to what I’ve received from you, Vice President, but please accept it.”

Taken aback by the unexpected gift, Lee Hye-seong slowly opened the box. Inside was a diagonal-striped tie with a blue base and light gray stripes. He stared at it for a moment, quietly.

Since he didn’t say anything, Hongseo found it harder to bear.

“I know you already have a lot of ties, and this color might be similar to some of the ones you have, but still… this is from me.”

The last part was Hongseo trying to muster some courage, wanting to say something more like a boyfriend.

Suddenly, Lee Hye-seong’s warm palm came around to the back of Hongseo’s neck. In a space so close that their foreheads and noses almost touched, he softly asked:

“Did you pick this out while thinking of me?”

Hongseo nodded. Lee Hye-seong gently pulled his neck a little closer, and lightly kissed his upper lip. After the brief kiss, he asked again:

“Did you stop by the duty-free shop on purpose at the airport?”

This time, with the distance so close, Hongseo nodded just slightly.

“You’re so beautiful, I could die.”

With a sigh-like statement, as if to finish his sentence, Lee Hye-seong’s lips covered Hongseo’s, filling the gap between them. They took turns slowly kissing each other’s lips, cautiously sharing their tongues. His tongue, only gently brushing the inside of Hongseo’s mouth at first, slowly ventured deeper, observing Hongseo’s reactions.

But he didn’t rush. It wasn’t intense. Even though it was a kiss involving their tongues, it felt more affectionate than sexual, like the gentle kisses on the forehead or nose. It seemed like Lee Hye-seong was really trying to make it feel that way.

Still, with the unfamiliar sensation of his tongue in his mouth, Hongseo couldn’t help but grip his chest tightly, feeling a bit overwhelmed. It was the first time he had experienced such a kiss.

His tongue moved with much care, like a polite guest. Only when his tongue had completely withdrawn did Hongseo, still in a dazed state, feel like he understood something.

Most people’s first kisses were probably like this.