Heewoon’s eyes widened. Kangwoo noticed his serious expression and firmly held Heewoon’s cheek.
“Sunbae, who do you think I am?”
“…”
Various words flashed through Heewoon’s mind, but he couldn’t express any of them.
Seeing Heewoon’s silence, Kangwoo furrowed his brows slightly. He watched Heewoon grunt in annoyance as his cheek was teased , but soon, Kangwoo sighed.
“Why do you have to go out…”
Seo Kangwoo had bought one of Heewoon’s company’s security staff. It was to get CCTV footage. He had already investigated Heewoon’s department staff before Heewoon even joined the company, but he needed a more definite method.
“Can we really go there? I’m okay even if it’s a more expensive place.”
“But the beef at that place is delicious.”
“Yeah, that’s right, but…”
Considering how Seo Kangwoo always took him to nice places to eat, Heewoon wanted to buy him expensive and delicious food to make this memorable. Of course, the reserved meat restaurant was considered expensive beyond his imagination if this was the previous Heewoon.
“You agreed to buy something delicious, so it’s settled with this.”
Looking up at Heewoon, who was now sitting on his knees, Kangwoo smiled with his eyes curved. Heewoon frowned slightly but soon smiled.
***
It was the first time Heewoon bought a meal for Seo Kangwoo. Feeling totally like a senior now, Heewoon felt good.
“Kangwoo, eat a lot.”
“Yes. Thank you, Sunbae.”
The conversation they shared over the well-cooked beef felt like a genuine senior-junior exchange.
“Do you really like it that much?”
Smiling with narrowed eyes, Kangwoo asked jokingly. He reached out and lightly tapped Heewoon’s cheek, momentarily breaking the illusion of their senior-junior relationship. Of course, such things didn’t matter now.
“Yeah.”
“I feel like I’ve given you enough money.”
Kangwoo had given him more than enough. Heewoon looked at Kangwoo’s face, tilted his head, and picked up his chopsticks.
“It’s because there’s something I can do for you now.”
At the blunt words, Kangwoo’s eyes widened. He looked at Heewoon, who was eating calmly, and sighed.
“Do less of that outside. You’re fucking good at making me turned on…”
Ignoring the crude comment, Heewoon placed a piece of well-cooked meat onto Kangwoo’s plate. Originally, it was a place where the staff grilled the meat for the customers, but Kangwoo had declined because it would be uncomfortable. It was truly fortunate. Thinking about him saying such things in front of the staff was dreadful.
“Go ahead and have some.”
Kangwoo glared at Heewoon as he changed the subject, then quietly gripped his utensils. It was because he liked Heewoon’s slightly flushed cheeks.
“It’s delicious. Maybe it tastes better because you bought it for me, Sunbae.”
Kangwoo said with a smile, and Heewoon pretended to be indifferent, saying, “What are you saying?” Kangwoo noticed the slight twitch of Heewoon’s lips and chuckled. Heewoon, aware that he had been caught, hurriedly placed the meat on the grill while blushing.
“Sunbae, you should eat some too.”
“I am eating.”
“Hmm.”
When Kangwoo made a sniffle, Heewoon glanced at him from the side of his eyes. Kangwoo extended his hand and looked at Heewoon intently. Heewoon attempted to retort that he was eating but, seeing that Kangwoo didn’t withdraw his hand, he quietly passed the tongs over.
Soon, the meat piled up on the plate in front of him, prompting Heewoon to eat diligently to clear it away. After filling his stomach a bit, he resumed his casual daily conversation with Kangwoo.
They talked about mundane things that happened at Heewoon’s work today. Work-related topics must have been dull, Heewoon spoke in detail because Kangwoo wanted to know everything. Having listened to his stories frequently, Kangwoo seemed to understand the personalities of the people at his work well. When Heewoon omitted a name while speaking, Kangwoo would inquire correctly, saying, “Ah, Manager Kim?”.
They also talked a lot about travelling, as his summer vacation was about a month away. Ever since Italy was decided as their travel destination, Heewoon had been suggesting various places to go.
“Look at this, Kangwoo. This restaurant has been around for 80 years.”
“Hmm… Sounds good.”
Kangwoo nodded as he held the phone that was above Heewoon’s hand. Heewoon tried to bring the phone closer to show another place he had found, but Kangwoo didn’t let go, so he had to use his other hand.
“They say this place suits Koreans’ taste well. Should we stop by after visiting the square?”
“Sure.”
Heewoon suddenly stared at Kangwoo. Kangwoo raised his eyebrows and asked, “Why?”
“It seems like we’re only going to places that I want to go.”
“I’m fine with going wherever with you, Sunbae.”
Kangwoo chuckled and tickled Heewoon’s hand. Heewoon flinched and flxed his fingers, and Kangwoo stopped tickling, looking satisfied.
“Don’t you like that as well, Sunbae?”
It isn’t really so… When Heewoon fell silent for a moment, Kangwoo added force to his hold. Heewoon modded when he felt a slight pain in his hand as it got caught between Kangwoo’s large hand and the phone.
“It’s really great…”
Heewoon added awkwardly, and Kangwoo chuckled.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
Heewoon’s eyes looked away, but those words came out more or less naturally. Kangwoo nodded, looking at Woo Heewoon’s embarrassed face.
“Yeah, you’re cute.”
“….”
“By the way, make sure to tell your colleagues that you’re going with your lover.”
“I could just shrug it off..”
Heewoon replied that he thought it was unnecessary to share personal information with colleagues. Kangwoo then gently smiled and asked.
“What should you answer with?”
“Oh. Yeah, I’ll tell them that.”
“But, Sunbae. This place may not fit well into our schedule. Are you sure it’s okay even if it might be tiring?”
After hearing Heewoon’s response, Kangwoo smoothly changed the topic. He continued to hold Heewoon’s hand and the phone, casually browsing through the information Heewoon had found.
After talking for a while with a phone between them and their heads close together, they finally put down the phone when dessert arrived. Heewoon felt his hand was warm from being held by Kangwoo for a long time, so he brushed the back of it against his thigh.
“How about we just say we’re going on a honeymoon?”
“…No.”
Heewoon looked up from the ice cream and stared at Kangwoo with a look of disbelief. Kangwoo nonchalantly put some pressure on the back of Heewoon’s head and grabbed the teaspoon he was about to put down
Kangwoo knew Woo Heewoon couldn’t lie. It was better not to put him in a situation where people will see his clumsiness.
Kangwoo watched pathetically as Heewoon struggled to raise his head from under the pressure, then patted him on the head. That’s why he had prepared another plan.
The problem was, after I thought of that plan, Kangwoo became impatient. Woo Heewoon, oblivious of Kangwoo’s feelings, was eating his ice cream nonchalantly. Watching his light-colored lips pucker, Kangwoo thought that a few weeks felt like a long time.
“Sunbae, thanks for the meal today. It was really nice.”
“This much is nothing…”
Despite the blunt words he blurted, Heewoon’s lips were curved faintly. Seeing that, Kangwoo became a bit more impatient.
***
Finally, after a few weeks had passed, the day of the trip approached, which both Kangwoo and Heewoon had been looking forward to.
Although it was Heewoon’s second overseas trip, he still couldn’t sleep the night before and spent the entire flight watching movies. Since they would arrive in the evening, Kangwoo left Heewoon on his own.
Their destination was Sardinia Island. It was a place Heewoon had never heard of, but apparently it was famous for its beaches. Originally, Kangwoo’s plan was to stay only on Sardinia Island, but Heewoon suggested they visit Rome since they were in Italy, so the plan was modified.
As a result, they spent four days on Sardinia Island and three days in Rome. Even so, the long flight times took up a lot of time, so Heewoon was already feeling a bit disappointed.
‘We can come here again next time.’
Kangwoo told Heewoon, and his eyes widened. He could visit this place again at anytime, and that realization put Heewoon’s mind at ease.
After another 40-minute flight from Rome, they finally arrived at Sardinia Island. As they drove to the hotel in a rental car, Heewoon couldn’t stop marveling. Even though it was evening, the sun hadn’t set yet, and the sea was a vivid shade of blue. It was a different feeling from the Hawaiian sea.
“Put your head in.”
Heewoon was surprised to hear Kangwoo say that with a frown. He didn’t realize he was sticking his head out the window like a child. It wasn’t mourning or anything. Feeling embarrassed, Heewoon leaned his head against the seat while stroking his head.
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