In high school, s.h.i.+n Kim realized for the first time how scary an emotion could be. Since being little boy, swimming was part of his life and he had no doubt that it was going to be with him forever, like the air he breathed.

It was just a fact, nothing more nothing less.

It would've been a lie to say the training was easy, but the satisfaction he got from his achievements was more than enough to keep him going. He felt almost blissful at certain moments.

But an unexpected accident caused him to lose over half his lung capacity.

It was a h.e.l.lish time for him during the recovery and a long time after. He developed a sudden hate for water. He even began to fear it.

His high school had an indoor swimming pool and smelling the chlorine everyday at school was a torture for him. There were more than a handful times when he had a panic attack and ended up fainting on the ground. After the accident, s.h.i.+n swore that he would never let anyone or anything become such a huge part of his life. He didn't want to waste his emotion and energy anymore.

This decision made him feel much lighter, like a burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

And from then on, his social life reflected the change in his life. He never again became too attached to anyone. He neither liked nor hated someone wholeheartedly. Just a lighthearted acquaintance was perfect for s.h.i.+n, and it was also a good disguise to hide his intention. He could make friends or date someone without having the responsibility of a real relations.h.i.+p. He didn't have to put any effort into it.

People liked spending time with s.h.i.+n Kim. But if someone approached him for a serious and meaningful connection, s.h.i.+n ran away in disgust and fear. He was afraid. He hated showing his scars and pain to anyone. He also hated seeing other people's pain.

Just a shallow relations.h.i.+p. That's all he wanted. No sharing of feelings, no deep connections.

s.h.i.+n sighed as he stared down at his cellphone. It wasn't a big deal to ask his co-worker Woojin to have lunch together. But strangely, s.h.i.+n found himself hesitating.

It wasn't that he was worried Woojin might reject him. In truth, s.h.i.+n was worried about himself and what this could mean for him.

The more time they spend together, the more s.h.i.+n would want. If they ate lunch together, s.h.i.+n would want to spend time outside of work. If they did that, s.h.i.+n would want to touch Woojin. And if he did that, s.h.i.+n would want to have s.e.x with Woojin.

Whenever s.h.i.+n saw Woojin, he got the feeling that Woojin was gay. The fact that Woojin refused to have lunch with Chief Seulgi Kim… How he didn't socialise with anyone at work… This was similar to how s.h.i.+n's gay friends lived their lives as well.

But his friends usually had extravagant nightlives.

"Hmm… Let's not think too much of it."

s.h.i.+n was disturbed by himself for contemplating so much about having a simple lunch. Perhaps it would've been healthier to explore this feeling, but s.h.i.+n ignored it for now.

He just wanted to have lunch with Woojin Choi, and that was all. And there were things he wanted to ask as well.

Did he eat the rice porridge? Was it good? s.h.i.+n didn't know why he was curious about these mundane things, but he was.

s.h.i.+n finally texted Woojin.

-a.s.sistant Manager Woojin Choi

s.h.i.+n immediately went back to work. He had many tasks to finish that day. He also wanted to distract himself. s.h.i.+n a.s.sumed it would take at least a little while till Woojin can check his phone and reply.

s.h.i.+n decided to work on the weekly report and other minor excel files. He also had to finalize the paperwork for press release.

But he began to feel anxious immediately. He couldn't help checking his phone again and again, and every time he did, he saw that his message still hadn't been read by Woojin.

'What's going on? Why isn't he checking my message?'

-a.s.sistant Manager Woojin?

Dammit! He sent another message. As soon as he pressed "enter," he realized that this was a bad idea. Why was he acting so impatient?

It had only been ONE MINUTE since he sent the first message! What an idiot he was.

Just then, like magic, the message he sent became marked "read." It felt like hours, waiting for Woojin's reply, but in fact, it was only a few seconds.

-Yes, Mr. s.h.i.+n Kim.

-Do you have any plans for lunch today?

Dammit again! s.h.i.+n sent a message immediately after Woojin's message arrived. Now he was going to look desperate to Woojin. s.h.i.+n closed his eyes in frustration.

-No.

-Do you want to have lunch with me then?

It seemed that Woojin was the type who replied quickly to messages. s.h.i.+n began to feel nauseous with anxiety.

1 second, 2 seconds…

But there was no answer from Woojin. When he didn't get an immediate reply all of a sudden, s.h.i.+n became confused. His last message was marked 'read," so why wasn't Woojin answering back?

1 minute pa.s.sed by, followed by 15, and 30 minutes. Finally, s.h.i.+n closed the messaging app.

'Is he ignoring me?'

Woojin was a friendly easy type, but s.h.i.+n was certain Woojin had been treating him with special interest.

Woojin definitely didn't like getting involved with others. He avoided it at all costs. More than once, s.h.i.+n witnessed Woojin shrinking when someone offered to shake his hand. Woojin also rarely left his office during work hours and seemed to dislike talking to anyone.

But that night they drank together… Things were different. Woojin Choi was different. Woojin may claim that he was too drunk to know what he was doing, but that had to be a lie.

Woojin kissed s.h.i.+n's neck. It really happened.

When he did, s.h.i.+n could smell the mint scent from Woojin's hair. s.h.i.+n felt the veins in his neck throbbing; his whole body felt like it was going to explode from the pressure.

The way Woojin moaned… Woojin was definitely s.h.i.+n's type.

The way Woojin felt in his arms… He was so slim and fragile, but not like a woman. Woojin had a cold face, but the way he hung onto s.h.i.+n…

s.h.i.+n thought to himself, 'I did think he resemble a fox even from the beginning, but…'

When s.h.i.+n caressed his neck, Woojin s.h.i.+vered lightly and s.h.i.+n found it so irresistible. When s.h.i.+n helped him lay down on his bed, Woojin kept his arms around s.h.i.+n's neck and refused to let him go. s.h.i.+n thought this was extremely adorable.

When s.h.i.+n got closer, Woojin smelled of baby lotion. s.h.i.+n couldn't help but caress Woojin's lips; if Woojin continued to hold on to s.h.i.+n at that time, he would've kissed him.

This was a dangerous path. If they kissed, their tongues would've met. Their legs would become intertwined, and… Woojin's legs were so slim. They were only legs, but just thinking about them made s.h.i.+n's body burn.

'He is driving me crazy.'

s.h.i.+n wasn't a h.o.r.n.y teenager or an animal in heat, but the excitement he felt in Woojin's bedroom was overwhelming. s.h.i.+n left in a hurry; he didn't plan on having s.e.x with a drunk person.

If he was going to sleep with anyone, it was going to be with someone who was wide awake.

Wait a minute… Was he thinking about having s.e.x with… Woojin Choi?

What was he thinking?

"I'm going to lose my mind at this rate…"

It was already 11:40 AM. In 10 minutes, it was going to be lunch time. s.h.i.+n hated eating alone, so he sent a message on a group chat that included his coworkers.

Minjae suggested a ramen restaurant near the office building. It seemed like Yeonwoo was going to go too.

Should he go? s.h.i.+n hesitated, which was very unusual for him.

The truth was… This was the first time s.h.i.+n felt this way about someone. When he first saw Woojin, s.h.i.+n thought he was a strange and unpleasant person. The way Woojin stared at him was unnerving.

But after that office dinner, s.h.i.+n began to feel differently. And after that night they drank together, a sudden but fierce emotion developed.

He should've just gone home… Why did he have to ask Woojin to go for a drink? s.h.i.+n touched his forehead, which seemed hot.

'And I need to stop picturing him…'

But it was too late.

Ever since he started working, s.h.i.+n had been too tired and too annoyed to find a s.e.x partner. He thought that perhaps if he just had a good one night with a stranger, this would all go away.

Just then…

"Mr. s.h.i.+n Kim."

Dammit! Now he was hearing voices…

"Mr. Kim?"

"…"

s.h.i.+n slowly turned around, and because he didn't expect Woojin to be standing there, s.h.i.+n's eyes widened.

Woojin was right there.

It really was Woojin Choi.

When the thought finally registered in his mind, s.h.i.+n stood up.

"Oh, a.s.sistant Manager Woojin."

"I wasn't sure if it would be a good idea to reply back with a message…"

"Oh, I see."

"I will be ready in 10 minutes. Will you wait for me?"

When s.h.i.+n nodded, Woojin thanked him quietly and left the marketing team office to return to his own.

One of the marketing department managers came to s.h.i.+n quickly and in shock. He asked, "W-was that a.s.sistant Manager Woojin Choi?"

"Pardon?"

"Oh my G.o.d! That was my first time seeing a.s.sistant Manager Choi coming into this room. Even when he has to send doc.u.ments to our department, he always sends it by fax! He is such a shy man."

"…"

"s.h.i.+n, are you friends with a.s.sistant Manager Woojin Choi?"

s.h.i.+n could neither nod nor shake his head. He felt like he was going to burst into laughter, so he just covered his mouth.