Byung was done with the paperwork. Now that Do-Jin had left for the mountains after dropping the kitten off with him some days ago. He could, too, take a break for a while.
He took a carriage along with some other stuff from the office room upstairs that Do-Jin never used and walked out for the elevator. Greeting—mostly being greeted—people on his way before he got in and finally took a breath.
The kitten was sleeping peacefully, and he made sure that it stayed this way until he got home.
After throwing the files on the backseat of his car and securing the cat carriage in place, he turned the engine on.
Stopping on his way to buy a bouquet of flowers and chocolates.
He was finally home.
He put the sleeping kitty down on the kitchen island along with the banquet and the box of chocolates, walking around to look for her.
To his surprise, Kang Min-Ah looked tired, maybe angry, but frustrated for sure.
"Oh, you are home," she said like a matter of fact.
"Yep, I got some free days now that Do-Jin is gone on a vacation." Byung loosened his tie as he walked to the other side, where his loved one was standing.
As he got out of the way, the flowers exposed themselves behind him, making her smile just a little.
"You got me flowers and chocolates," Min-Ah said after tilting her head to the side to see more.
"Yeah, baby, you like to munch on them in your heat."
"That's considerate of you. You remember the date?" she said, walking over to lean on the chair.
Byung felt bad for even making her think that way. Obviously he remembered it.
"I am so sorry, love; I know I have been away this month a little bit more than normal. But as I told you, it was because of that incident at the lab." Byung walked closer and wrapped his arms around Min-Ah's waist, hugging her gently.
"I know, babe, I'm not angry at you for anything. I have been busy too at work."
She hugged him back, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.
"I sent them away; hopefully they can stop being assholes to each other and resolve their relationship."
"Do you think they will get together?"
"I would be surprised if they didn't."
They both laughed for a while, but she took a tired breath again.
"Is something wrong, b—" he was interrupted by a small meow.
"Is that a cat I heard?" She removed her hands to walk up to the sound with excitement. Smiling after she found the box a little hidden behind the flowers.
"Yeah, this little one is from the same world as Hyun, and now that they are on mountains, I thought we could take care of him for a while."
Byung put it into words that the cat was here temporarily so shewon't get her hopes up.
Despite actually loving animals, they couldn't keep any because both of their jobs left them no time for anything of that. Just like Do-Jin, Byung had no time. But he loved his girlfriend so much that if she hadn't rejected his offer, they would have had at least one pet right now.
Well, at least for a while, Min-Ah can play with this kitten, and if they like the idea, they can adopt one later.
"I love him. What's his name?"
She had picked the kitten up after taking him out of the cage.
"Coco, apparently Hyun-So named him Coco."
He said in disbelief, like it was silly. But to his surprise, Min-Ah liked it.
"Coco is a cute name." She snuggled the cat, who was also at ease with the love showers he was getting.
"Well, if you like it, then so do I. Just tell me what is wrong." He followed her to the place where she was standing. Still worried about her.
"A lot, actually. I got into a fight with my colleague, and then I broke my heel. I got home tired of all that, and now the kitchen sink is not draining itself." She rambled the words out, making Byung smile and feel relieved.
"It's all right now." He again wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, nuzzling into her neck, breathing in her scent. "I will take care of the dishes. Just go to sleep. If you want to take a bath, I will prepare that first. I will be there after getting cat food from the car and other stuff, okay? I love you," he said, backing away a little when he was done with his words.
"I love you too. I will just take a shower until you fix it up." Min-Ah looked back, pointing at the sink, and, facing him, pressed her lips on Byung's as a little kiss.
She was still tired but more relaxed now. Both of them were.
- - -
Night had fallen. They could see the lights of the manor.
Hyun-So was walking behind Do-Jin, distant from reality.
He still couldn't believe how their conversation took a sharp turn, and suddenly they were dating.
Are they dating?
How he just confessed his love to Do-Jin. It was all too strange, but in a good way.
Making it harder for him to believe that it really happened.
He… he had confessed to someone who actually accepted it.
Like it was a very normal thing to do.
It can't be, really.
How can someone fall in love with him?
Maybe he is dreaming; this must be the universe playing tricks on him. He will wake up any moment now, and he will feel the world laughing at him.
Any moment now.
On the contrary to Hyun-So
Do-Jin was lost in happy thoughts. He couldn't stop smiling as they walked closer to home.
He has never dated anyone either, but he had gained some experience through the conversations he had with his friend all those years, who for once actually had been in relationships.
And he was so confident that it would go perfectly fine.
He looked back, realizing that Hyun-So wasn't feeling the same way as him.
He was lost, too lost.
That if Do-Jin moved to a completely different path, Hyun-So would follow without knowing where he was going.
Do-Jin smiled at that thought. But he needed to make it better for Hyun-So.
He wanted him to accept that everything was real and that everything was alright.
And he had just the plan for it. He took his cellphone out to dial Byung.
He stopped suddenly, making Hyun-So bump into him.
He backed away to realize they were back, almost.
He wasn't sure as to why they stopped here when they were so close to the house.
Do-Jin ignored his questioning stares; he had a wild smile when Byung picked up.
"Byung, you won't believe this. Hyun-So is so fucking aggressive, man." Do-Jin screamed into the cell phone.
Han was working on something so sloppily that he wasn't prepared for his loud voice.
Still not praised, he asked. "What? Did he beat you up or something?"
"No, we kissed. He slammed his lips onto mine. It was crazy—"
Han cut him off to say, "So you two fucked?" There were rattling sounds that could be heard in the background, and Han sounded busy and not at all surprised.
"No."
"So you two are going to fuck later?"
"Maybe? But that's not the point; I'm just shocked to see him that way. It was the first—well, maybe not first—"
"Guys, I'm still here." Hyun-So said he was standing right beside him, confused.
This whole time, he was within Do-Jin's view but was being ignored by him.
Do-Jin kept rambling to Byung about how excited he was about the events that had happened within the last few hours.
Byung heard Hyun-So but hummed softly as Do-Jin kept going.
Hyun-So was baffled; he blinked multiple times to process everything before he laughed like a maniac, finally getting the men's attention.
He had totally lost it.
He palmed his face with a hand and laughed. Do-Jin watched him do so with a small smile forming on his lips.
Hyun-So couldn't stop, though; he was so fucking happy, it was unbearable at this point.
Someone going crazy about kissing him was the first time it ever happened.
Finally, after what felt like minutes, he stopped, struggling to breathe, holding his stomach like it hurt.
"You are fucking stupid, Kim Do." Hyun-So walked closer to him, gripping his hand that held the phone, and he pulled him into a tight hug.
He wrapped his arms around Do-Jin's neck, making it hard for him to breathe. But Do-Jin wasn't complaining.
On the other side, Han, who was trying to fix the kitchen sink, put the wrench down to give Min-Ah a smile that spoke 'I told you so.'
She put her hands up in defeat that she was using to lean on the counter, her hair still damp from the shower.
"Alright, you win."