Chief Kim and Assistant manager Choi

He looked at the luggage that he packed and left in the living room. Taking out a bottle of water from the fridge, he took a sip. He noticed that his refrigerator was well stocked, thanks to Shin Kim. Woojin also took out an apple from the bottom drawer and took a bite. The sweet and sour taste filled his mouth.

He mumbled, “I still have an hour left.”

Shin told him that he would pick him up at 7 AM. The resort Woojin reserved had a check-in time of 11 AM. Woojin considered going abroad, but he knew it wasn’t possible because Jihoon had his passport.

Yesterday, Woojin didn’t get to eat lunch with Shin and ended up spending his lunchtime in a café.

Looking out the window again, Woojin murmured, “Why isn’t the car leaving?”

He frowned, wondering how long it was going to stay. Woojin had to go to the washroom at 2 AM, and at that time, the car had already been there. That meant it had been waiting there for hours by now. Woojin frowned again and fidgeted with the blinds. He hoped that the car would be gone by the time Shin arrived. This entire week, Woojin didn’t get to spend any time with Shin. No lunches or dinners...

Woojin couldn’t wait till he could spend time with him. He touched his cellphone anxiously.

‘Maybe I should text him to ask when exactly he will arrive.’

Recently, Woojin realized that he could text Shin first if he wanted. But he worried that Shin might be annoyed if he did, so he stopped himself. Instead, he went back to his bedroom and lay down on his bed again.

It was Woojin who had begged Shin to take a day off from work. It was also him who decided and reserved the resort without even asking what Shin wanted.

A week of not being with Shin... Woojin felt frustrated. He set down the apple, which was already turning brown, on the table.

‘... I miss him. I want to see him.’

Woojin couldn’t wait to see Shin. He wanted to be with Shin all the time. He wanted to touch Shin.

He had asked Shin to show him photos of his childhood. And Shin promised that he would bring some today. Woojin planned on asking to keep some of them. He had never asked for something from Shin, so he felt a little excited. He blushed.

‘Is it weird that I like him so much? Is it wrong?’

Woojin knew there was a difference between love and obsession, but what he felt right now... he couldn’t be sure what it truly was. He didn’t get to sleep much, but his head felt clear. When he closed his eyes, he could see the five women he had already met.

There were ten in total, and he had already met five of them. Only five more to go. Woojin was going to reject all of them. Luckily, two of the five he met already rejected him.

Woojin couldn’t even remember the names of the women he met so far. During the ‘dates,’ he barely looked up at the women; Woojin stared down at his phone and texted Shin the entire time. One of the women left angrily, telling him that he was being rude.

Woojin thought of Shin. His low voice... his neck that vibrated whenever he laughed...

‘And when I look up at him....’

Woojin remembered the first time Shin slept over at his house. Shin fell asleep nude, and when Woojin woke up the next morning, he saw that Shin was on top of him looking down at him. When Woojin blinked a few times, Shin covered Woojin’s eyes with his large hand. Shin whispered that he felt a little shy.

The feeling of Shin’s skin felt so hot that Woojin couldn’t breathe. Shin’s broad shoulders felt so smooth that Woojin touched them and buried deeper into Shin’s chest. He could hear Shin’s breath and after a long time, Woojin looked up. Their eyes met and Woojin bit his lip.

“...”

Woojin got out of the bed, realizing that it was a bad idea to think about Shin in bed, his body was getting hot. So hot that he felt almost embarrassed at his own reaction. Just then, his phone vibrated. There was a message from Shin.

-When will you be ready?

Would the feeling for Shin go away? Or would it last forever?

All Woojin knew was that he felt overwhelmed by it. Woojin rubbed his eyes and texted him back.

-I’m already done packing. Ready to go.

-What the! You’re already awake?”

-Yes.

-What have you been doing in the morning?

-I was waiting.

-For who?

It was such a silly question, but it was obvious that Shin wanted to hear the answer, even though he already knew it. Woojin laughed and texted him.

-Hmm. I wonder who...

There was no answer for a while. There were still 30 minutes left till Shin was to arrive.

Just then, another text from Shin arrived.

-Please open the door.

Woojin stood up quickly. It wasn’t 7 AM yet, but it seemed that Shin was already there. His heart began to beat faster as he ran to the door. He almost tripped and fell, so he slowed his steps.

Standing in front of the entrance, Woojin took a deep breath and tried to calm down. It wasn’t his first time seeing Shin, but strangely, he felt nervous.

When he unlocked the door and opened it, Woojin saw Shin standing there with a big smile. Shin was wearing an ivory scarf, and he asked, “Were you waiting for a long time?”

He felt breathless as he enjoyed the view of Shin, who smiled shyly. When Shin’s eyes crinkled, he looked like a young boy. Shin grabbed his hands and continued, “I couldn’t sleep at all, even though it’s not my first time going on a trip.”

“...”

“Grab your bag and let’s go!”

Shin mussed Woojin’s hair and smiled happily. He whispered, “You look so pretty today too.”

He kissed Shin’s neck, which smelled like winter and warmth. Loving this moment, Woojin whispered, his lips still on Shin’s neck, “I have been waiting for you.”

“... I know.”

Shin nodded. He knew that Woojin had indeed been waiting for him for a very long time.