"Hey, don't you think s.h.i.+n Kim from the marketing department is totally s.e.xy?"

When Woojin walked by and heard the female workers talking in the office pantry, he felt a sudden and violently unpleasant sensation deep inside of him. Woojin suffered from selective hearing loss, so he would have missed their conversation except for the fact that s.h.i.+n's name was mentioned. It only made sense that when his lover and roommate's name was said out loud, his normally dense ears would pick it up immediately.

Woojin murmured to himself, "… s.h.i.+n Kim."

He stopped to listen in out of curiosity. It was rare for Woojin to be interested in other people's conversations, but not when it came to that one person most important to him at present. He still didn't realize it, but what he was feeling was more like jealousy than curiosity.

The girls continued to chat.

"He is so hot, isn't he?"

"It's is so shocking that someone so good-looking is just a simple salaryman."

"I heard he isn't as young as he looks."

"Oh, and he used to be a promising athlete in college."

Woojin frowned and murmured to himself, "…That's not true…" But he agreed with the s.e.xy and good-looking part.

"And even his voice is so s.e.xy!"

"Did you notice his Adam's apple? It's huge!"

"Wow!!!"

Woojin had never noticed s.h.i.+n's Adam's apple before. When he got home tonight, he would have to check it out for sure. Just then, one of the girls asked a question that made him flinch.

"It doesn't look like he has a girlfriend, right?"

"Why? Are you going to ask him out or something?"

"Hmmm… Have you noticed how he smiles at me? Well, other girls too, but still… I feel like if I try, I might be able to make him fall for me."

"Office romance? You are brave just considering it. Well, who knows?"

Unable to resist, Woojin peaked in through the slightly open door to see who it was. Vaguely, he remembered that it was a woman who was in Eejun Bae's division. She studied in the US and got hired around the same time as Eejun Bae.

Woojin couldn't remember her name. Biting his lower lip hard, Woojin walked away. He felt his heart dropping. He felt very upset, even angry.

It was an annoyingly hot summer day.

***

Woojin told s.h.i.+n he was going to be working late this morning, so s.h.i.+n decided to go home alone. But when he returned home after work, Woojin was just leaving. It seemed Woojin was in a hurry. He was wearing a white t-s.h.i.+rt and a pair of jeans. His hair was still wet, which meant he just took a shower. Confused, s.h.i.+n asked, "Where are you going?"

Woojin looked up and stammered, "I-I was going out…"

"To where?"

"…"

Woojin was a terrible liar, so his cheeks began to blush. s.h.i.+n turned away, trying to hide his smile. It had been 4 months since they began to live together, and s.h.i.+n learned a lot about Woojin. Firstly, Woojin always made sure to be fully dressed when he left the washroom after a shower. He was rather shy about his body. Secondly, Woojin spent a lot of time doing nothing. Thirdly, he could be very slow about many things and that was why he didn't say much. But Woojin also couldn't lie well. And lastly, it seemed Woojin was ok not having s.e.x for the rest of his life because he never asked for it. It was always s.h.i.+n who initiated it.

s.h.i.+n asked, "I thought you said you were working late tonight, right?"

He gently held Woojin's waist. They had s.e.x about once a week, and sometimes, s.h.i.+n felt impatient and uncertain about how Woojin felt about it. Woojin never seemed to feel the need like s.h.i.+n did.

Woojin glanced at s.h.i.+n nervously and when s.h.i.+n pulled him into their home, Woojin didn't resist. But… he still looked hesitant and awkward. s.h.i.+n found Woojin so adorable. Woojin was never going to know how cute he was.

Woojin's ears turned red too, and when s.h.i.+n let him go, he looked a little disappointed.

"Why are you already home, Woojin?"

"… It turned out I didn't have to work late today."

"Then we could have come home together. You could've told me so I can drive you."

"In case people see us together…"

s.h.i.+n dropped his briefcase and took his shoes off. Quietly, Woojin did the same and followed s.h.i.+n into the living room.

"I thought you were going out."

"…"

s.h.i.+n hoped Woojin would never find out how fun it was to tease him. s.h.i.+n began to loosen his tie when he noticed Woojin staring at his hands. The way Woojin looked at him was intense, making s.h.i.+n a little excited. Tomorrow was a workday, so s.e.x was not a good idea, but… s.h.i.+n could feel himself beginning to harden. Last week, Siwoo called him a total pervert, and he was probably right. s.h.i.+n felt a sudden urge to bite Woojin's pale neck and turn it red and puffy. Maybe even blue.

Lately, s.h.i.+n realized how s.e.x could stem from destructive desire.

s.h.i.+n murmured, "Why are you staring at me like that? You are making me feel weird."

"…Do you feel weird?"

Woojin looked down a little, and s.h.i.+n found him so s.e.xy. When s.h.i.+n rubbed his cheek gently, Woojin leaned against him.

s.h.i.+n wanted to do it tonight… And probably tomorrow night too… and the next day…

s.h.i.+n leaned to put his lips on Woojin's neck as he pulled Woojin closer to him. Woojin didn't resist and in fact, tilted his neck so s.h.i.+n could get better access. It looked like Woojin liked this.

Woojin inhaled deeply and s.h.i.+vered a little. The clean smell of his hair felt wonderful to s.h.i.+n.

"You showered too."

"…"

"Where were you planning to go? You didn't want me to find out, right?"

s.h.i.+n finally bit Woojin's neck. Woojin moaned a little, making an erotic sound. s.h.i.+n pulled him closer and laid him on the bed. Woojin didn't resist, but he looked away.

"Why are you looking away?"

"…Because I feel shy."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

When s.h.i.+n laughed, Woojin reached out and touched s.h.i.+n's Adam's apple. Looking up again, Woojin murmured, "I don't think I have to go out after all."

"And?"

When s.h.i.+n smiled knowingly, Woojin's eyes widened. Woojin liked s.h.i.+n's body. He liked s.h.i.+n's eyes and lips. s.h.i.+n knew that Woojin liked to trace his eyes and lips when he thought s.h.i.+n was asleep.

Woojin replied, "We need to eat dinner, right?"

"Hmm… I am actually hungry for something else."