Kang Ji-a felt offended by Cha Gil-Do’s indifferent attitude. It was nothing more than the fragment of an ordinary person who would not know the value of artistry, yet she could not shake off the thought that her work had been denied. Grinding her teeth, Kang Ji-a spoke.
“I have no intention of drawing to match your taste.”
“I know, that’s why I’m not forcing you.”
Cha Gil-Do pushed the invitation toward her, right after the painting. Seeing that, Kang Ji-a furrowed her brows.
“Cha Gil-Do, do you usually handle work so carelessly?”
“I tend to, when it’s something unimportant.”
“…Ha. Unimportant? You were the one who told me to prove it. And now you say you won’t even check?”
“Why, did you lie?”
“What are you trying to do with me right now?”
“If not, then fine. I just hope you’ll make sure this kind of pointless waste of time never happens again.”
Even the LA Art Show exhibition issue was something he could have reported by text, yet he came in person. Once she left, he was planning to check on what Baek Eun-Seong was doing. But Kang Ji-a did not move from her seat. Thinking the conversation had already ended, Cha Gil-Do looked at her, puzzled that she still had not left.
“If you have more to say, then say it.”
“…My request?”
“If you mean Baek Eun-Seong, he shouldn’t be bothering you these days.”
Ever since that incident when Baek Eun-Seong had followed her to the alley and nearly done something terrible to her, she had not even seen a strand of his hair. He was the one who had dogged her persistently, suffocating her everywhere she went. Until she met Cha Gil-Do, neither the law nor anything else could get rid of him, yet suddenly he had vanished as if evaporated. Unless he had been buried somewhere.
Even though she already suspected Baek Eun-Seong’s end, she asked.
“Since that day, I haven’t seen even a shadow of him. Just what did you do?”
“Don’t mind it. You’ll never see him again.”
“Don’t tell me you….”
“You asked me to erase him from your life. It happened as you wanted, so why?”
Cha Gil-Do looked at Kang Ji-a with an expression that said, ‘What’s the problem?’ Kang Ji-a was struck speechless by his attitude, committing a crime without his expression changing in the slightest. She was even shaken, since she had not thought he would go that far for her.
While being tormented by Baek Eun-Seong had felt like hell, once she thought of him no longer existing in this world, she felt strangely empty. But because he had once driven her to the edge of the cliff, she did not ask further about Baek Eun-Seong. She simply could not shake the feeling that she had fallen into the hands of someone even more relentless than him.
She should have been afraid of that….
‘Since he kept his promise, now he wants me to satisfy him?’
Kang Ji-a vividly recalled her first encounter with Cha Gil-Do.
Jet-black hair, rough beast-like blue eyes, yet his skin was pale, and with a build twice the size of others, he had an emotionless expression. Just his appearance alone had made those present catch their breath, and the hall fell into silence in an instant. Until then, the wolves who had been sexually harassing her had already tucked their tails and backed down. As he passed by her, the thickly alluring scent that emanated from him was enough to take her breath away.
Kang Ji-a could not take her eyes off him, turning her gaze and head to follow him until his back disappeared from sight. He was a man one’s eyes could not help but be drawn to. It was because that dangerous aura was too attractive.
Who would dare oppose that man? She felt certain that if it were him, even the dreadful Baek Eun-Seong could be torn away from her. He was, without exaggeration, the apex predator.
Perhaps because of that, she also wanted to see that cold and arrogant face of Cha Gil-Do crumble in front of her. Imagining him craving her, the thrill welled up pleasantly, and her dried-up heart began to beat faster.
That Cha Gil-Do was a beast who knew no easy satisfaction was exactly what she, with her competitive spirit, also wanted. Kang Ji-a, too, was not satisfied with just an LA Art Show exhibition.
“Fine, then I’ll prove myself properly this time.”
Cha Gil-Do did not even look at Kang Ji-a. That annoyed her, but she vowed that one day she would flatten that nose of his, and she left the invitation behind, taking only her painting.
Once he thought the surroundings were finally quiet again, Cha Gil-Do checked the video he had delayed. Baek Eun-Seong, who he thought would be enjoying a feast, was instead curled up on the sofa with food untouched before him. Stroking the image with his finger as if tapping at him, Cha Gil-Do unconsciously muttered.
“Why are you sitting there spaced out, not eating….”
Could it be, he had a fever again?
It looked as though he was sick, waiting endlessly until he came. Cha Gil-Do immediately rose from his seat. He hurriedly grabbed only his outer coat and went out.
Unaware of this, the chief secretary knocked on his office door, thinking it was about time to leave for Incheon Airport.
“Director, the export consultation meeting is soon… Director?”
Thinking perhaps the director had collapsed from overwork lately, the secretary quickly opened the door. But the office was empty from his early departure. The secretary stood dazed for a while, staring at the masterless desk.
Cha Gil-Do, impatient, rushed home and passed right by the servant who had come out to greet him and take his coat. Entering inside, he looked around the living room for Baek Eun-Seong. Just as in the video, he was curled up. Fortunately, his face was dry and clear.
Cha Gil-Do felt some relief and approached.
Even with him sitting right beside, Baek Eun-Seong did not look back at him. Watching that dazed face, he seemed like someone fallen from another world. Feeling that precariousness, Cha Gil-Do unconsciously reached out. If Baek Eun-Seong had not even noticed his hand touching that soft cheek, Cha Gil-Do would have pulled him into his arms.
Even as Baek Eun-Seong turned toward him, his face was still blank. When he had first seen him, Cha Gil-Do had wondered if it was some mental illness different from dissociative identity disorder or depression, but recently he had realized it was simply a thoughtless expression.
“Did you enjoy looking around the house? What could you have been doing all day….”
Baek Eun-Seong still gave no answer, but Cha Gil-Do went on as though it were nothing. He was curious about what he had been searching for so thoroughly. But before his words even ended, Baek Eun-Seong broke into a bright smile, grabbing his hand and speaking.
“You’re back.”
At that greeting to welcome him, Cha Gil-Do nearly gasped for breath. The golden eyes that stared straight at him wavered. They were so beautiful that, as he gazed, he felt he would be drawn in, and he turned his head away in haste. Thump-thump, his heart began to beat. When leaving, it was “Have a good trip,” and upon returning, “You’re back.”
Just light words of seeing off and welcoming. Nothing much at all, and yet….
“…This feels pretty good.”
Cha Gil-Do let that feeling show directly on his face. Always one who wore a thicker mask than anyone else, he now revealed himself unguarded, without realizing it, as he smiled faintly and asked.
“Did you find the acorn?”
“…Acorn?”
Baek Eun-Seong looked puzzled, not understanding. Naturally so. That squirrel-like side of him was something only Cha Gil-Do had seen.
“You were scurrying around everywhere like a squirrel, weren’t you?”
Finally grasping what he meant, Baek Eun-Seong nodded as if in understanding and replied that he had not found it. Even though he had gone upstairs and into the greenhouse as suggested, he said dejectedly there was nothing he could do. Cha Gil-Do did not like seeing him so discouraged. He could not understand why he seemed so lacking in confidence.
It was that mural of a cherry blossom forest on the restaurant wall that sometimes came to his mind, enough for him to go look at it on purpose. Each time, crowds had gathered to see it, so now even pausing there had become difficult.
“Why do you say you can’t do anything? I gave you an art studio.”
Indeed, Cha Gil-Do had felt disappointed that he did not use the studio at all. It was a space he had specially created for Baek Eun-Seong, yet since the owner never stepped inside, there was no reward in it.
But Baek Eun-Seong jumped in protest.
“Why would I go there…!”
“If you want to and you can, then you should.”
When he tried to pull his hand away, Cha Gil-Do, who held him tightly, did not let go, and impulsively bit down. Somehow, just having him in his mouth tasted sweet enough to drive him insane.
Baek Eun-Seong flinched. At that flinch, a deep ache pulled at Cha Gil-Do’s lower belly.
Cha Gil-Do admitted to himself that Baek Eun-Seong was arousing his sexual desire. For some reason, everything about him provoked him. Whether it was simply pent-up need, or because it was Baek Eun-Seong, he would have to find out. Either way, his desire was directed toward Baek Eun-Seong.
The sofa was soft, plenty enough for two to roll around together. As Cha Gil-Do’s eyes narrowed, they traced over Baek Eun-Seong’s neck and collarbones.
If he were to press him down right now, bind his hands, slip a hand inside his shirt—what kind of face would Baek Eun-Seong make? Those faintly pink nipples, if rolled inside his mouth and teased with his teeth, he would surely arch his waist, overwhelmed. Holding that slender body down, he would tear his pants off in an instant.
Grabbing those exposed thighs, forcing them open, and with each time he filled the tender flesh, he would cry again. And Cha Gil-Do would find that beautiful.
‘I’m not in my right mind.’
Mocking his own erection brought on by mere imagination, Cha Gil-Do casually crossed his legs, naturally enough that Baek Eun-Seong would not notice.
Unlike his restless body, his reason claimed the taste of a gourmet.
Candy was not to be bitten, but slowly rolled and melted.
Cha Gil-Do deliberately let out a smile, as if to tempt.