"a.s.sistant Manager Choi, what brings you here?"

Woojin was waiting in front of the marketing team office. The first person to notice him was Chief Seulgi Kim, who was leaving the room. Woojin, who was standing with one of his sleeves pulled up neatly, bowed lightly to her. Some of his brown hair fell on his forehead as he did.

"Oh, I…"

"Would you like me to let Mr. s.h.i.+n Kim know you are here?"

"…"

Like a drop of red ink in a bowl of cream, Woojin's pale neck began to blush. Woojin covered it with his hand quietly.

Seulgi noticed this gesture. She smiled and opened the door to the office. She announced, "Mr. s.h.i.+n Kim, you have a guest."

A guest? Woojin's face began to turn red as well, and he tried to hide it by pretending to cough. Seulgi stared at him for a long time before bowing lightly and leaving. Through the open door, s.h.i.+n Kim soon appeared.

"a.s.sistant Manager Woojin?"

"…"

"Chief Seulgi… She said there was a guest…"

Looking at s.h.i.+n who seemed confused, Woojin felt like his entire body was turning red. When he awkwardly remained in the hallway, s.h.i.+n Kim closed the door behind him quietly and pulled Woojin towards the marketing team's kitchen. s.h.i.+n held Woojin's wrist gently.

As they entered the kitchen, the smell of coffee engulfed them. When s.h.i.+n was sure the place was empty, he pulled Woojin into the room and closed the door.

s.h.i.+n leaned against the door and looked down at Woojin who appeared to be puzzled. Woojin also looked a bit wary.

When Woojin tried to touch his chin, which was turning pink, s.h.i.+n used his other hand to stop Woojin. He grabbed Woojin's hand and pulled it down. When s.h.i.+n looked stiff, or almost harsh, Woojin looked away. s.h.i.+n only squeezed Woojin's wrists tighter.

s.h.i.+n was standing with his legs a bit apart. He slowly pulled Woojin into his arms into a tight hug. Woojin's face rested on his chest, making his heartbeat go faster and louder.

s.h.i.+n rested his chin on Woojin's head. After a few minutes of silence, he finally sighed and said to Woojin, "You can't do this. You can't be like this."

"Why not?"

"Are you asking because you really don't know?"

s.h.i.+n buried his nose into Woojin's neck. He never realized it before, but apparently, s.h.i.+n liked smelling people.

Or at least, Woojin.

Cheeks, neck, hands, and everywhere else. s.h.i.+n took deep breaths of Woojin, making him tremble in shock. s.h.i.+n kept breathing in Woojin deeply and intensely.

s.h.i.+n murmured, "You always smell so good."

"…"

Woojin wanted to reply that s.h.i.+n smelled good too, but he stopped himself.

"Why did you come here, Mr. Woojin Choi.?"

"… Ahh."

Woojin moaned because s.h.i.+n suddenly bit his neck. s.h.i.+n laughed quietly as Woojin replied, "I messaged you to have lunch with me, but you didn't answer…"

s.h.i.+n saw that Woojin was holding his jacket on his arm. s.h.i.+n stepped back slightly from him and looked into Woojin's eyes. s.h.i.+n feared that perhaps his cheeks were red too.

Woojin was feeling s.h.i.+n's heat; he was burning inside and out.

s.h.i.+n said quietly, "I will see you in the bas.e.m.e.nt parking lot at 11:50 AM."

"…"

"Answer me."

"Ok."

"Well, that's only in 5 minutes."

s.h.i.+n smiled and hugged Woojin again tightly. When Woojin tried to escape, s.h.i.+n held his face. Their eyes met.

They stared at each other unhurriedly yet pa.s.sionately. Woojin sighed and placed his hands on top of s.h.i.+n's, which were still on Woojin's cheeks. s.h.i.+n's hands were so much larger than his. The heat from their hands mingled together.

s.h.i.+n asked, "What would you like to eat for lunch?"

Woojin didn't think any food would be enough to fill his hunger. He needed something… more. Something was lacking, but Woojin didn't know what. All he felt now was that his heart was beating uncontrollably and he felt breathless.

s.h.i.+n whispered, "Your face looks like you are asking me to take you here right now."

When s.h.i.+n hugged him tightly again, Woojin felt s.h.i.+n's shoulder on his face and remembered. He remembered how he wished he could feel s.h.i.+n's shoulders ever since he first saw him in high school.

Woojin closed his eyes and breathed s.h.i.+n in, fearing that if he didn't, s.h.i.+n might disappear like he did in his dreams. s.h.i.+n smelled like a tree in a deep forest.

Woojin knew that s.h.i.+n's scent would be with him for a very long time and this fact made him sad.

***

s.h.i.+n found himself waking up early on a weekend, which was very unusual for him. Instead of staying in his bed longer, he got up quickly and went to the gym. After an hour of workout, he showered while constantly checking his watch.

His nose felt a bit dry, most likely because of the autumn weather. After the shower, he chose his s.h.i.+rt and wore a pair of black slacks.

s.h.i.+n checked himself in the mirror. He had to stand far back because the body-sized mirror was a bit too short for him. The jean s.h.i.+rt looked fine with the pants.

Suddenly, he felt a little tight around his shoulders. He ma.s.saged them a bit; there wasn't any pain but every time he touched the area, he felt odd.

s.h.i.+n wondered why he had a dream last night. He rarely dreamt, and even when he did, s.h.i.+n usually forgot about it the next day. But when he woke up this morning, he could almost smell the blood. Strangely, the sensation wouldn't go away even now.

"…"

In his dream, there was someone who was covered in blood.

This person was inside the pool, sinking to the bottom. This person was covered in injuries. When s.h.i.+n pulled him out, the man was deathly pale. The swimming pool looked pink because of all the blood this person lost.

s.h.i.+n thought he must've died. He quickly grabbed his phone and dialed 911.

The man who was being carried to the ambulance… s.h.i.+n no longer remembered his face. In truth, the man's face was so badly damaged as if he was beaten cruelly. He couldn't open his eyes; his entire face was b.l.o.o.d.y and swollen. On top of that, the man's wrists were covered with cuts.

In s.h.i.+n's dream, he saw a faint pulse underneath the man's b.l.o.o.d.y wrists. The wrists were so thin and the pulse was so weak that s.h.i.+n wasn't sure if he was mistaken. Was the man truly still alive?

And soon after, he woke up from the dream.

Those slim wrists… The thought of them remained in s.h.i.+n's head for a very long time,