"Wow, two people from our company on a long-term leave of absence…"

When Yeonwoo spotted s.h.i.+n Kim, her eyes brightened as she pulled him into the office pantry. She began to ask questions about Woojin. Many people now knew s.h.i.+n and Woojin were close, so Yeonwoo was excited to find out the details.

s.h.i.+n asked, "Yeonwoo, why are you so curious about this whole thing?"

"Well, because so many things happened in our company recently. I mean, did you see that notice about Chief Eejun Bae? He has been fired! How could this be? What happened?"

"…So what about it?"

"And on top of that, both a.s.sistant Managers Woojin Choi and Jihoon Kang are on sick leave. Both of them!"

"And?"

"And there is a rumor that our company was involved in that famous. .h.i.tman incident! You know, the one that involved family members killing each other?"

"Hmm… I can hear the company stock dropping," Yeonwoo covered her lips and said jokingly.

"Oh no! I bought some stocks recently! What shall I do?!"

s.h.i.+n replied with a shrug, "I don't really know much. I probably know less than you, Yeonwoo, by the sounds of it."

"You lie, Oppa! I heard you and a.s.sistant Manager Choi went to the same high school. Is that true?"

s.h.i.+n was pouring himself a cup of coffee when he turned towards Yeonwoo in shock.

"How did you know that? Who told you?"

"Oh my G.o.d! So it's true! a.s.sistant Manager Choi himself told me at the last office dinner. I was so shocked when I heard it. I couldn't believe it, but you are telling me it's true?!"

"…What? He told you that? When?"

"You know, we had that office dinner recently. At the time, someone asked a.s.sistant Manager Choi if he was close to anyone in the office. a.s.sistant Manager Choi named you, Oppa, as the one he is closest to."

"…"

"I have never seen a.s.sistant Manager Choi smile like that. He said you were someone he very much admired for a long time since high school."

s.h.i.+n suddenly felt hot. He knew his face was turning red, so he turned away from Yeonwoo. His heart began to beat fast and s.h.i.+n didn't know what to do. When he staggered a little, Yeonwoo frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Oh, I'm just surprised."

"Why? Were you guys not close?"

"No, we were. We used to live in the same dorm."

"Oh, I see."

Yeonwoo shrugged and begged s.h.i.+n, "So, tell me everything! Everything you know!"

"I have nothing."

"What? Man, you are useless."

"I heard he is just sick. He has always been not very healthy even when he was younger."

s.h.i.+n quickly left the pantry. He wasn't expecting someone to ask such questions, so he tried to escape the situation, but Yeonwoo was persistent. She followed him and continued, "By the way, I am surprised about a.s.sistant Manager Kang too. I heard he is on leave because of a sick family member, but I'm shocked he would take this much time off."

"Yeah, I know."

s.h.i.+n walked faster and returned to his seat. Quietly, he looked outside the window.

Woojin Choi.

s.h.i.+n still remembered the first time he met Woojin at work. At the time, s.h.i.+n thought the way Woojin stared at him was cold. To him, Woojin was a mystery, but he knew one thing for sure. Woojin Choi was someone he should avoid.

Someone he shouldn't fall in love with.

But at some point, the tension between them escalated. The coldness turned into heat. They began to burn for each other.

"… This is so crazy."

If someone asked s.h.i.+n what love was right now, he would hesitate before offering an answer.

Woojin Choi.

They had come a long way around to cross paths again, and it was fate. And now that he had Woojin, he swore to never let his love go.

Not again.

***

s.h.i.+n went straight to Woojin's hospital room after work. They ate dinner together and s.h.i.+n was laying on the sofa comfortably. Watching him, Woojin asked, "What are you thinking about? Did something good happen?"

s.h.i.+n looked calm and peaceful. He had a faint smile on his lips too. s.h.i.+n turned towards Woojin and replied, "No, it's nothing." But even with that reply, s.h.i.+n's smile became even wider. Woojin smiled as well and commented, "You look like you are pleased."

"Really?"

s.h.i.+n stood up and went to Woojin's bed to sit down next to him.

"Can I sleep over tonight?"

"Sure."

"Would you like me to sleep over every night?"

"Yeah."

"So get better quickly. I want to go home with you as soon as possible too."

It was thanks to s.h.i.+n that Woojin could become more honest about his thoughts and feelings.

All because of s.h.i.+n's love.

s.h.i.+n kissed Woojin's forehead, nose, and lips. When he blew lightly on Woojin's lips, Woojin could smell the lovely fragrance of earl grey. It was thanks to the black tea they drank after dinner.

"You are so cute, Woojin."

"You too."

"What? But I'm so tall and big!"

"Even so, I think you are cute."

When Woojin caressed the back of s.h.i.+n's head, s.h.i.+n smiled in satisfaction and said to him, "Did I ever tell you I love you?"

"…"

"There was a time when I thought I should tell you this. To confess to you, but calmly and naturally."

"When were you thinking that?"

"When I thought I might lose you."

s.h.i.+n pulled Woojin into his embrace and sighed deeply.

"Please don't go anywhere anymore. Please stay with me."

"…Alright, I will."

"And wherever you go, I will follow you. I will never let you go."

"I know."

"Really? Do you really know?"

"Yeah."

That night. That blue knight. Woojin remembered.

The very early morning when he saw s.h.i.+n's face. It was love at first sight, and after years of loneliness, they were finally here.

Together.

Woojin whispered, "I love you too, s.h.i.+n."

Being loved by the one you love. This was what life should be. This was how Woojin would live the rest of his life.