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Hyungwon closed his eyes for a few moments as he buried his face in Kihyun’s neck, and his warm breaths touched his skin, sending a slight shiver through him.

Kihyun gripped his shoulders tightly with his fingers, while his heart was beating so hard that he thought Hyungwon could hear it.

“Hyungwon…” his voice came out broken as he tried to catch his breath.

Hyungwon slowly lifted his head, his black hair falling across his forehead, while a look in his eyes made Kihyun’s stomach tighten with nervousness.

He gently ran his fingers over Kihyun’s cheek, in a way that completely contrasted with the intensity of the kisses from moments ago.

“You’re the reason…” he whispered in a low, rough voice, “Every time you look at me like that, I lose my ability to stay composed.”

Kihyun’s ears immediately turned red, but he tried to act calm.

“And who asked you to look at me in the first place?”

Hyungwon laughed softly, a short laugh mixed with both exhaustion and desire, then leaned toward him again to kiss him.

This time the kiss was slower and deeper, to the point that Kihyun let out a quiet gasp when he felt Hyungwon’s hand slide to his waist, holding him more firmly beneath him.

But suddenly—
“Guys, I’m back!”

Both of them froze in place immediately.

Minhyuk’s voice came from outside the room, followed by the sounds of bags hitting the table.

Kihyun’s eyes widened in panic as he quickly pushed Hyungwon away.

“Minhyuk!”

Hyungwon sighed in annoyance and lay down beside Kihyun, placing an arm over his eyes as if he had lost the last bit of patience he had left.

“He always chooses the worst timing…”

The next moment, the door opened halfway, revealing Minhyuk staring at them in silence.

He first looked at Kihyun lying on the bed with his reddened lips, then at Hyungwon, who had not put his robe back on yet.

A heavy silence filled the room for two seconds.

Then Minhyuk slowly said:

“…I only came to give you your food.”

Kihyun felt as if his soul had left his body from embarrassment.

As for Hyungwon, he simply looked at Minhyuk calmly and said:

“Get out.”

Minhyuk raised an eyebrow, trying to hold back his laughter.

“No, no, don’t stop because of me. I don’t want to ruin the romantic atmosphere.”

“Minhyuk!”

Minhyuk burst out laughing loudly and quickly closed the door before Kihyun could throw something at him, while Hyungwon moved closer to Kihyun again as if nothing had happened.

“Where were we?” he whispered near his lips.

Kihyun pushed his face away shyly, trying to hide his smile.

“Move away. The moment is already ruined.”

Hyungwon sighed and moved back a little, but his gaze remained fixed on Kihyun, as if the interruption had not changed what he was feeling.

As for Kihyun, he was still trying to regain his composure, avoiding looking directly at him.

He quickly reached up to fix his messy hair and muttered:

“This is all because of you.”

Hyungwon raised an eyebrow in fake disbelief.

“Because of me?”

“Yes, because of you. If you had acted like a normal person, Minhyuk wouldn’t have almost had a heart attack.”

A slow side smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face before he moved closer again, supporting himself with one hand on the pillow near Kihyun’s head.

“But he didn’t seem that shocked.”

Kihyun let out an annoyed breath and turned his face away, but the redness on his cheeks completely gave him away.

“Don’t talk.”

Hyungwon laughed quietly, then reached out and gently turned Kihyun’s face back toward him.

For the first time in minutes, that playful look in his eyes faded, replaced by something calmer and more sincere.

“Did it really bother you?”

Kihyun hesitated for a second before slowly shaking his head.

“It’s not that… I just…”

He sighed shyly and lowered his gaze.

“I get flustered when you look at me like that.”

Hyungwon studied his features silently for a few moments, then gave a small smile that barely appeared.

“But I like looking at you.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened slightly, as if those words embarrassed him more than anything else.

Before he could respond, a loud knock echoed on the door.

“Are you done staring at each other, or am I eating the food by myself?”

Kihyun immediately closed his eyes in despair.

“I swear I’m going to kill Minhyuk one day.”

As for Hyungwon, he burst out laughing this time without trying to hide it, then finally got up from the bed and held out his hand toward Kihyun.

“Come on before he starts yelling in front of everyone.”

Kihyun looked at his hand for a brief moment, then finally took it.

And despite the embarrassment that still filled him, he could not stop the small smile that appeared on his lips as Hyungwon pulled him along toward the door.

———

Kihyun and Hyungwon finally sat down at the dining table, while Minhyuk placed the dishes in front of them with obvious exhaustion, though he still kept his usual smile.

As soon as they sat down, they both said at the exact same time:

“Weren’t you supposed to come back after a week? Why did you return early?”

Minhyuk blinked in surprise, then pointed at them as if he had uncovered a conspiracy.

“Look at you two, even the way you talk has become identical.”

Hyungwon sighed with very little patience left.

“Just answer.”

Minhyuk placed a hand over his chest dramatically and said:

“The photoshoot ended early.”

Then his eyes suddenly widened, as if he had realized something terrible.

“Wait… you two didn’t want me to come back?!”

Kihyun almost choked on his drink.

“What? No, that’s not what we meant.”

But Minhyuk was not listening to him at all. Instead, he continued in a sad tone:

“I came back tired, and I even brought food for both of you with my own hands, and this is my reward?”

Then he pointed at himself in mock shock.

“Didn’t you miss me even a little?”

Kihyun quickly looked at Hyungwon, as if demanding that he say something to fix the situation, but Hyungwon simply picked up a piece of food calmly.

“Actually, the house was very quiet while you were away.”

This time, Minhyuk’s mouth fell open in genuine shock.

“Hyungwon!”

As for Kihyun, he could not stop himself from laughing, even though he tried to hide it behind his hand.

Minhyuk immediately turned to him with an expression of complete emotional betrayal.

“And you’re laughing too? Great… just great. It seems I’m not wanted here.”

He slowly stood up from his chair as if he were preparing to leave the house forever, but Kihyun quickly grabbed the edge of his shirt.

“Just sit down.”

Minhyuk looked at him with narrowed eyes.

“So, you missed me?”

Kihyun hesitated for a moment before sighing in surrender.

“…A little.”

Minhyuk immediately smiled in victory and sat back down.

“I knew it.”

Meanwhile, Hyungwon looked at Kihyun silently for a few moments, then said coldly:

“You encourage him too much.”

Minhyuk raised an eyebrow in challenge.

“Because I’m loved.”

Hyungwon replied immediately:

“That’s only what you think.”

And just one second later, Minhyuk was throwing a paper napkin at him while Kihyun burst out laughing between them.

———

While Minhyuk was getting ready to respond to Hyungwon’s usual teasing, Kihyun set the chopsticks in his hand aside and said calmly:

“But Minhyuk… unfortunately, it seems that it’s our turn to leave.”

Minhyuk stopped moving and stared at him in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

Kihyun raised his phone slightly and waved it in front of him.

“We received two calls a little while ago. We were asked to participate in a joint photoshoot.”

Hyungwon added calmly while drinking water:

“And we’ll be traveling to Jeju Island for it.”

Silence filled the room for a few seconds.

Then Minhyuk slowly narrowed his eyes as he looked between them with obvious suspicion.

“…A joint photoshoot?”

Kihyun nodded.

“Yes.”

“And specifically in Jeju?”

“Yes.”

“And probably for several days?”

Hyungwon looked directly at Minhyuk as if he completely understood where he was going with this.

“Just say what you want to say.”

Minhyuk put his chopsticks down on the table and pointed at them with clear accusation.

“This isn’t work. This is a disguised romantic vacation.”

Kihyun immediately started coughing.

“W-What are you talking about?!”

As for Hyungwon, he remained suspiciously calm, making Minhyuk open his mouth in even greater shock.

“Look at him! He’s not even denying it!”

Kihyun quickly wiped his mouth as he tried to catch his breath again.

“Because you’re talking nonsense!”

But Minhyuk did not look convinced at all. Instead, he leaned over the table while staring at them with narrowed eyes.

“Let me guess… a luxury resort? Sunset views? Photos on the beach? Fancy dinners?”

The corner of Hyungwon’s mouth lifted slightly.

“It sounds nice when you say it like that.”

Kihyun stared at him in shock.

“Hyungwon!”

Minhyuk burst out laughing as he slapped the table with his hand.

“That’s it, I’m sure now. There’s no way you two are normal.”

Kihyun sighed in despair and buried his face in his hands for a moment, while Hyungwon looked at him with a smile as if he was completely enjoying seeing him flustered.

Then Hyungwon said with deliberate calmness:

“Anyway, we’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

Minhyuk’s laughter suddenly stopped.

“Tomorrow? That soon?”

This time Kihyun nodded, and his smile faded slightly.

“Yes… it looks like we won’t be staying long.”

Minhyuk blinked silently, then finally sighed as he leaned back in his chair.

“That’s really unfair.”

Kihyun looked at him in confusion.

“What’s unfair?”

Minhyuk pointed at them with obvious childish frustration.

“I only came back today, and now you’re leaving me alone in the house again.”

Kihyun looked at Minhyuk with a bit of guilt, then spoke in a gentler tone:

“You’ll only be alone for a few days.”

Minhyuk sighed deeply and crossed his arms over his chest.

“You say that so easily because the two of you will already be spending time together.”

Hyungwon raised an eyebrow.

“Are you jealous?”

“Of course I’m jealous!” Minhyuk replied immediately without hesitation, then pointed at them accusingly. “You two act like you’re living inside a romantic drama all the time.”

Kihyun’s face turned red again.

“Why do you always insist on saying embarrassing things like that?”

Minhyuk smiled triumphantly, but his expression changed slightly when he noticed the two suitcases placed near the couch.

“Wait…” He narrowed his eyes while pointing toward them. “Did you already pack your bags?”

Silence filled the room for a brief second.

Then Kihyun looked away with obvious nervousness.

As for Hyungwon, he simply took a calm sip from his cup.

Minhyuk’s eyes widened in shock.

“I can’t believe this… You were planning all of this while I thought you actually missed me!”

Kihyun could not even defend himself this time, because it was at least partially true.

Minhyuk stood up from his seat again and walked toward the suitcases, then picked one of them up and gave it a light shake.

“How many clothes did you pack?”

Hyungwon replied indifferently:

“Enough.”

Minhyuk opened the suitcase slightly to take a look inside, but suddenly froze.

“...”

He slowly looked at Hyungwon.

“Why are there candles inside the suitcase?”

Silence immediately fell over the entire room.

Kihyun’s eyes widened dramatically.

“What?!”

As for Hyungwon, he closed his eyes for a moment as if he had lost the will to live.

Then he said with deadly calmness:

“Put the suitcase back where it was.”

But Minhyuk had already started laughing, loud and broken laughter that almost kept him from breathing.

“Candles?! To Jeju Island?! Oh my God, you two aren’t even trying to hide it!”

Kihyun rushed toward the suitcase and quickly snatched it from his hands in extreme embarrassment.

“It’s not what you think!”

“Then why did you bring candles?”

Kihyun opened his mouth...

Then closed it again because he could not come up with a convincing answer.

Only then did Hyungwon’s smile slowly grow as he watched Kihyun’s flustered reaction.

Then he said in a calm tone that only made the situation worse:

“Because the atmosphere is important for a honeymoon.”

The room fell silent the moment Hyungwon finished speaking.

Even Minhyuk, who had not stopped joking since he returned, stared at him this time as if he could not process what he had just heard.

As for Kihyun, he felt as if time had completely stopped.

“...What did you say?”

Hyungwon looked at him with complete calmness, as if he had not said anything shocking at all.

“I said that we never had a honeymoon after our wedding.”

Then he added while leaning comfortably against his chair:

“So I thought that after the photoshoot ends, we could stay for an extra week.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened more and more with every word.

“Hyungwon!”

But Hyungwon completely ignored his protest and continued in a calm voice:

“I think Jeju is a suitable place for that.”

The very next moment, Minhyuk finally exploded.

“You got married?!”

His voice was so loud that Kihyun nearly jumped out of his seat.

Minhyuk quickly stood up from his chair and pointed at them in genuine shock this time.

“Since when?! And how are you saying it so casually?!”

Kihyun immediately buried his face in his hands as if he wished he could disappear.

“He’s just joking, don’t listen to him!”

But Minhyuk turned toward him with wide eyes.

“Does that look like a man who’s joking?!”

Both of them looked toward Hyungwon, who was sitting in complete calmness as if the chaos had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Then a small, slow smile appeared on his lips.

Only then did Minhyuk realize the truth.

“Ah...” He narrowed his eyes and pointed at him accusingly. “You’re enjoying this.”

Hyungwon’s smile grew slightly wider without denying it.

As for Kihyun, he finally lifted his head and stared at him with a mixture of shock and embarrassment.

“Why do you suddenly say things like that?!”

Hyungwon answered very simply:

“Because your facial expressions become funny.”

Kihyun gasped in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Minhyuk finally sat back down, shaking his head in despair.

“I swear, the two of you are going to make me lose my mind one day.”

Then he pointed at Hyungwon in warning.

“But if you actually come back from Jeju wearing matching rings, I won’t even be surprised.”

Hyungwon looked up at Minhyuk as if he were talking about something completely obvious, then said calmly:

“Don’t you remember? We got married on the night Kihyun got sick.”

Minhyuk blinked in confusion.

As for Kihyun, he slowly turned toward him, his expression gradually losing its calmness.

And Hyungwon continued without the slightest hesitation:

“Right before his fever got worse and we took him straight to the hospital.”

Minhyuk kept staring at him for several long seconds, then finally frowned.

“…I think there’s really something wrong with my memory, because I don’t remember any proposal in the middle of all that chaos.”

Hyungwon answered with complete seriousness:

“It was a small proposal.”

“Hyungwon!” Kihyun finally shouted as he stared at him in complete shock. “Were you actually serious?”

Hyungwon turned toward him calmly.

“Of course I was serious.”

“But I thought we were joking!”

Silence filled the room for a brief moment.

Then Hyungwon leaned slightly closer and said in a completely steady voice:

“No, we weren’t joking.”

Kihyun felt his heart stop for a second.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk looked between them with wide eyes as if he were witnessing the most absurd event of his life.

And Hyungwon continued with deadly calmness:

“We really did get married.”

Then he looked directly at Kihyun and added:

“And you became my official husband from that day.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened dramatically.

“What do you mean by official?!”

But Hyungwon remained frighteningly calm.

“I mean that I still consider it a real promise.”

He lowered his voice slightly, yet his words sounded more sincere this time.

“Even if you thought it, was a joke.”

Silence filled the room again, but it was not a teasing silence this time.

Kihyun stared at him without speaking, as if his mind was trying to process what he was hearing.

He remembered that night clearly now...

The exhaustion, the fever, and the way Hyungwon held his hand while trying to comfort him.

And he also remembered how they exchanged random words that sounded like silly promises in the middle of the night, just to make him smile despite being sick.

But he... had never imagined that Hyungwon had taken it this seriously.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk looked at the two of them in a long silence before finally whispering:

“…Oh my God.”

Then he slowly pointed at Hyungwon.

“You’re really, completely in love.”

Silence filled the room after Minhyuk’s last words.

But Kihyun could not even turn to look at him.

His eyes were fixed only on Hyungwon, as if the rest of the world had suddenly disappeared.

“Were... were you serious all this time?”

His voice came out quieter than usual, weaker, as if he was afraid of the answer even though he wanted to hear it more than anything.

Hyungwon looked at him calmly.

“When have I ever lied to you about this?”

Kihyun felt his heart tighten immediately.

That night returned to his mind with complete clarity now...

The fever that made his body shake, the pain that would not even let him sleep, and the way Hyungwon stayed beside him the entire night without letting go of his hand for even a moment.

He had been only half-conscious back then, barely aware of what he was saying, but he remembered clearly how Hyungwon held his hand, gently kissed his fingers, and then said:

“Marry me.”

And Kihyun had laughed tiredly and replied:

“Okay.”

Then they exchanged a few short words, silly promises that seemed like nothing more than a joke between two exhausted people in the middle of the night.

But Hyungwon... had never considered it a joke.

Kihyun slowly lowered his eyes and felt a strange warmth filling his chest until he became unable to speak.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk looked at them as if he were watching a scene from an unbelievable romantic movie.

“This is crazy...” he muttered quietly. “You two are really crazy.”

But Hyungwon did not take his eyes off Kihyun for even a second.

“I told you that day that you became mine.”

Kihyun’s breathing trembled slightly.

He did not know why those words always affected him this way...

Maybe because Hyungwon never said them carelessly.

Every word that came from him was sincere to a frightening degree.

Hyungwon slowly moved closer, then reached out and brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen over Kihyun’s eyes.

“Do you regret it?”

Kihyun immediately lifted his head as if the question bothered him.

“What? No!”

The answer came out so quickly and naturally that even Minhyuk smiled despite himself.

As for Hyungwon, his expression finally relaxed, as if that answer alone was enough to reassure him.

After that, Kihyun lowered his voice and whispered with obvious shyness:

“I just... didn’t know you were taking it this seriously.”

Hyungwon smiled slightly, then took his hand in front of Minhyuk without hesitation.

“How could I not take it seriously when you’re the most important person in my life?”

Kihyun felt as if his heart was about to stop.

His ears immediately turned red, yet he tightened his grip on Hyungwon’s hand unconsciously, as if he needed to feel him even more.

He truly could not imagine his life without him.

Even the few days they spent apart always felt painfully heavy to him.

Minhyuk noticed the way Kihyun looked at Hyungwon, then finally sighed as he rested his chin on his palm.

“Okay... now I understand.”

Kihyun looked at him nervously.

“Understand what?”

Minhyuk pointed at both of them.

“That you’re actually married, even if you’ve never officially admitted it to anyone.”

Then he added with a sly smile:

“Because nobody looks at another person like that unless they’re hopelessly in love.”

Hyungwon lifted Kihyun’s hand to his lips and gently kissed the tips of his fingers, then said as if he were announcing something that had already been decided:

“That’s why we’re spending our honeymoon in Jeju.”

Kihyun felt his heart start racing again, while Minhyuk stared at them with an exhausted expression as if he had finally surrendered to their nonsense.

But Hyungwon was not finished yet.

He added in a completely calm tone:

“And there, we’ll finally get some peace and quiet.”

Then he looked directly at Minhyuk and continued with deadly calmness:

“Without you interrupting us every five minutes.”

Minhyuk gasped in disbelief.

“Me?! I’m the one interrupting you two?!”

Hyungwon nodded without hesitation.

“Yes.”

As for Kihyun, he quickly tried to pull his hand away while feeling like his entire face was burning.

“Hyungwon, stop saying things so openly!”

But Hyungwon tightened his grip on his hand again and stopped him from pulling away, while that calm, provoking smile appeared on his lips.

“And why not? They’re all facts.”

Minhyuk narrowed his eyes as he looked at them suspiciously.

“I feel like I’ve become the third person in your marriage against my will.”

Kihyun finally laughed despite his embarrassment, but he soon lowered his head when he felt Hyungwon’s thumb gently brushing over the back of his hand.

Hyungwon always did small things like that without thinking...

Touching his hand, fixing his hair, pulling him closer whenever he drifted a little too far away.

As if his body had become so used to Kihyun being near him that it could no longer stop searching for him.

Minhyuk noticed it too, and watched them for a few moments before finally sighing in surrender.

“Okay, okay... I get it already. You love each other more than anything else in this world.”

Hyungwon calmly looked at him.

“That’s true.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened immediately.

“Don’t answer so quickly!”

But Hyungwon leaned closer and whispered near his ear in a voice only he could hear:

“Why should I be embarrassed by the truth?”

Kihyun almost completely froze from embarrassment, while Minhyuk burst out laughing as he stood up from the table.

“I’m leaving. I really need to protect myself from the two of you.”

———

In the next morning...

The pale sunlight filtered through the windows of the house, while Kihyun stood near the door, checking their luggage one last time. Meanwhile, Hyungwon stood behind him holding two cups of hot coffee.

“You’re nervous.”

Hyungwon said it calmly as he handed one of the cups to him.

Kihyun sighed and took it from him.

“Because you made it sound like we’re actually going on a honeymoon.”

Hyungwon slowly raised an eyebrow.

“Because we actually are.”

Kihyun immediately choked on his coffee, while a familiar small smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face.

At that moment, Minhyuk walked out of his room looking half asleep, his hair messily sticking out in a funny way.

“Do I really have to wake up this early just to say goodbye to you two?”

Hyungwon replied immediately:

“No one asked you to.”

But Minhyuk completely ignored him and walked over to Kihyun first, then pulled him into a surprisingly tight hug.

“Don’t forget about me over there.”

Kihyun laughed softly and patted his back.

“We’ll only be gone for a week. We’re not emigrating.”

Minhyuk pulled back slightly and looked at him with a dramatic expression.

“Two weeks.”

Kihyun blinked in confusion.

“What?”

Minhyuk pointed toward Hyungwon, who was standing silently while drinking his coffee.

“That man is definitely planning to extend the trip.”

Hyungwon did not even deny it.

Instead, he calmly said:

“That depends on Kihyun.”

Kihyun’s eyes immediately widened.

“We never even talked about that!”

But Hyungwon simply looked at him with that calm gaze that always weakened his resistance.

Minhyuk sighed as if he were watching something completely predictable.

“It’s over... They’ll come back after a month carrying sunset photos and four hundred pictures of each other.”

Kihyun finally laughed despite his embarrassment, then picked up his suitcase at last.

“We should go before we’re late.”

Hyungwon nodded calmly, then walked over to Minhyuk and lightly patted his shoulder.

“Take care of yourself.”

Minhyuk raised an eyebrow.

“You two as well... and try not to become an even more annoying married couple than you already are.”

A faint smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face, while Kihyun’s cheeks turned red once again.

A few minutes later, the two of them finally left the house.

The cool morning air immediately wrapped around them as soon as they stepped outside. Kihyun walked beside Hyungwon in brief silence before he felt Hyungwon’s fingers naturally intertwine with his.

Kihyun looked at him for a moment.

“You’re really happy, aren’t you?”

Hyungwon turned his head toward him, and his eyes were calm in a way that always made Kihyun’s heart tremble.

“Of course.”

Then he gently squeezed his hand and continued:

“Because I’ll finally have you all to myself for a few days.”

———

The airport was unusually crowded. Announcement voices echoed everywhere, and travelers moved quickly through the hallways while pulling their suitcases behind them.

But in the middle of all that, Kihyun seemed obviously distracted.

He walked beside Hyungwon in silence, his shoulders tense, while his fingers gripped the handle of his suitcase much more tightly than necessary.

Hyungwon had noticed it from the moment they entered the airport.

He noticed the worried glances Kihyun kept directing toward the large windows where the airplanes stood, and the way he became quieter and quieter as their departure time approached.

So, he suddenly stopped in the middle of the corridor and gently took Kihyun’s hand.

“Kihyun.”

Kihyun lifted his head toward him as if he had only just come back from his thoughts.

Hyungwon stepped a little closer, his eyes filled with concern.

“What’s wrong?”

Kihyun tried to smile naturally, but quickly failed.

“Nothing.”

But Hyungwon did not let go of his hand.

Instead, he held it a little more firmly and said in a low voice:

“Don’t lie to me.”

Kihyun hesitated for a few moments, then let out a small sigh and lowered his gaze to the floor.

“…I have a fear of airplanes.”

Silence filled the space for a brief second.

Then he continued in an even quieter voice, as if embarrassed to admit it:

“I’m scared.”

Hyungwon felt his heart tighten the moment he heard those words.

Kihyun rarely showed his fear so openly, and he always tried to pretend he was fine even when he wasn’t.

So, when he saw that worried look in his eyes, he immediately moved closer without hesitation.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

Kihyun gave a small shrug.

“Because it’s embarrassing…”

Hyungwon immediately cut him off in a steady tone:

“Don’t say that.”

Then he raised his hand and gently placed it against Kihyun’s cheek, making him look at him.

“There’s nothing you need to be embarrassed about in front of me.”

Kihyun felt some of his tension ease just because of his voice.

He sighed with difficulty and whispered:

“I always feel like the plane is going to crash... and the more I try to ignore it, the more scared I become.”

Hyungwon did not take his eyes off him for even a moment.

Then he gently rested his forehead against Kihyun’s and whispered:

“Then don’t think about it alone.”

Kihyun’s breathing trembled slightly.

Hyungwon continued while tightening his grip on his hand:

“I’ll stay beside you for the entire flight.”

Then he smiled a small reassuring smile and added:

“And if you get scared... just hold on to me.”

Kihyun immediately felt warmth spread through his chest.

It was strange...

Just having Hyungwon beside him made his fear seem lighter, as if the world would not be quite so frightening as long as he was there.

Without realizing it, he moved a little closer to him, then whispered shyly:

“…Then don’t leave my side.”

Hyungwon’s expression immediately softened, as if those words had gone straight to his heart.

“I won’t.”

————

The two of them finally boarded the plane after completing the check-in procedures. One of the cabin crew members greeted them with a polite smile before guiding them to their business-class seats.

Hyungwon’s eyes immediately landed on the spacious seats, and he let out a relieved sigh.

“At least the flight will be comfortable.”

Kihyun tried to return a similar smile, but he did not quite succeed.

His expression was more tense than he was trying to show, and his eyes quietly monitored everything around him with hidden anxiety.

Hyungwon noticed it immediately, but he did not comment.

They sat down in their seats and fastened their seatbelts while the flight attendants’ voices echoed calmly through the cabin.

As for Kihyun, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

But it was not easy.

Every time he felt a slight vibration or heard the sound of the engines, his anxiety grew stronger.

And when the plane began moving slowly in preparation for takeoff, he felt his stomach tighten painfully.

He lowered his head slightly and closed his eyes for a few seconds, trying to control his breathing.

Hyungwon noticed immediately.

“Kihyun.”

But before he could say anything else, he suddenly felt Kihyun grab his hand quickly.

Tightly.

Kihyun’s fingers were slightly cold and trembling as he unconsciously squeezed his hand, as if he were holding on to the only thing that made him feel safe.

Hyungwon immediately looked at him.

Kihyun was trying to appear composed, but he looked genuinely frightened now.

As the plane gradually gained speed along the runway, Kihyun’s grip on his hand tightened even more.

Without hesitation, Hyungwon immediately moved closer to him, then unfastened his seatbelt so he could lean toward him more.

“Look at me.”

Kihyun opened his eyes with difficulty and turned toward him.

His breathing was noticeably fast.

Hyungwon took his hand with both of his this time, then slowly brushed his thumb over Kihyun’s trembling fingers.

“You’re okay.”

Kihyun gave a small nod as if trying to believe him, but at that exact moment the plane lifted off the ground, and he immediately tightened his grip again.

Hyungwon moved closer until their foreheads were almost touching.

“Breathe with me.”

He held Kihyun’s gaze as he took a slow, deep breath, waiting for him to copy him.

After several tense moments, Kihyun began trying to do the same.

Inhale...

Then a shaky exhale.

Again.

And with every attempt, Hyungwon’s calm voice gradually brought him back to reality.

“That’s good...”

He whispered it gently, then lifted Kihyun’s hand to his lips and lightly kissed the back of it, making him stare in surprise.

“I’m here.”

Kihyun’s eyelashes trembled immediately.

And although the fear had not completely disappeared, he felt something else slowly calming his heart...

Safety.

Because Hyungwon was truly there with him, and he did not look like he was going to leave him for even a moment.

———

For a moment, Kihyun thought things were finally starting to settle down.

His breathing was still uneven, but he tried to focus on Hyungwon’s voice and the warmth of his hand instead of thinking about the plane.

But suddenly—

The plane shook violently from the first turbulence.

Kihyun froze completely.

Then his breathing sped up violently, as if the air around him had suddenly disappeared.

He felt his chest tightening more and more, and his heart pounding painfully against his ribs.

“H... Hyungwon...”

His voice came out weak and choked, barely audible above the roar of the engines.

But Hyungwon did not notice.

Kihyun’s hands began trembling harder, and his vision gradually blurred as he desperately tried to catch his breath.

“Hyungwo...”

This time he quickly reached out and grabbed Hyungwon’s hand tightly.

Hyungwon immediately turned toward him—

And froze in genuine panic.

Kihyun was literally struggling to breathe in front of him.

His breaths were terrifyingly broken, and his eyes were filled with tears and panic as he tried unsuccessfully to breathe.

“Kihyun!”

Hyungwon immediately moved closer and quickly unfastened his seatbelt, holding Kihyun’s face between his hands.

“Look at me, breathe... breathe slowly, I’m here.”

But Kihyun could not even focus on his voice.

It was a full panic attack.

His entire body was trembling, and his breathing only got worse the more he tried to control it.

For the first time since the beginning of the trip, Hyungwon felt real fear.

“Flight attendant!”

He called out immediately in a raised voice, his panic obvious.

“Please, help him!”

One of the flight attendants hurried over the moment she saw Kihyun’s condition. She quickly knelt beside him and tried to keep her voice calm.

“Sir, look at me. You’re okay.”

But Kihyun could barely hear her.

The flight attendant pressed a button above the seat, and the overhead compartment opened, dropping an emergency oxygen mask.

She quickly pulled it down and gently placed it over Kihyun’s face.

“Okay... just breathe.”

His hands were trembling so badly that he could not hold the mask himself, so Hyungwon immediately took it and helped him.

“Kihyun, listen to me.”

He moved closer until his voice became the only thing nearby amid the chaos Kihyun felt.

“Take a slow breath... like that.”

Kihyun tried with difficulty while the cool air finally entered his lungs through the mask.

A shaky inhale...

Then a broken exhale.

But tears had already begun falling from his eyes without him realizing it.

Seeing Kihyun in that condition made Hyungwon’s heart tighten painfully.

He immediately raised a hand and wiped away his tears with his thumb while whispering in a low voice full of concern:

“I’m here... nothing is going to happen to you, I swear.”

He held on to him the entire time, as if afraid Kihyun would fall apart even more if he let go for a single second.

Meanwhile, the flight attendant watched his breathing with concern.

“That’s good... keep breathing slowly.”

But Kihyun could not stop trembling.

Even after air started reaching his lungs more easily, his chest still hurt from gasping so hard, as if his body was still convinced he was in danger.

Hyungwon moved even closer until his knees were almost touching Kihyun’s seat.

“Just look at me.”

Kihyun slowly lifted his eyes toward him.

His eyes were red and filled with fear in a way that completely broke Hyungwon’s heart.

Hyungwon gently ran a hand through his hair and whispered:

“You’re safe... I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Kihyun’s lips trembled slightly behind the oxygen mask.

“I... I’m sorry...”

Hyungwon’s brows immediately drew together.

“Why are you apologizing?”

Kihyun lowered his gaze, feeling both embarrassed and hurt.

“I ruined the trip...”

Hyungwon felt as though something squeezed his heart painfully.

He gently held Kihyun’s face, making him look at him again.

“Never say that.”

His voice came out sharper this time, not because he was angry at him... but because he hated the idea of Kihyun blaming himself while he was in this state.

“You’re more important than any trip.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened slightly.

Hyungwon leaned closer and whispered in a steady, low voice:

“If I had to, I’d turn the entire plane around for you.”

The flight attendant let out a small laugh, surprised by how serious he sounded, but she quickly smiled warmly when she saw the way he was looking at Kihyun as if he were the only thing that mattered in the world.

After many long minutes, Kihyun’s breathing finally started calming down.

He was no longer gasping the way he had been before, but his fingers remained tightly wrapped around Hyungwon’s hand.

As if he was afraid that if he let go, everything would start all over again.

Hyungwon noticed, so he leaned closer without hesitation and sat nearer to his seat.

“Come here.”

Before Kihyun could protest, Hyungwon gently pulled his head toward him and guided him to rest against his shoulder.

Kihyun froze for a brief moment, then finally gave in and closed his eyes tiredly.

He could feel Hyungwon’s breathing above his hair as he slowly rubbed his back in the same calm rhythm he always used whenever Kihyun was anxious or unable to sleep.

“Get some sleep.”

He whispered near his ear.

“When you wake up, we’ll already be there.”

Kihyun remained silent for a few moments before quietly murmuring in a weak, exhausted voice:

“…Don’t leave me.”

Hyungwon closed his eyes for a second, as if those words had gone straight to his heart.

Then he placed a gentle kiss on top of his hair and whispered without hesitation:

“I’ll never leave you.”

———

Kihyun remained leaning against Hyungwon’s shoulder for a long time while the plane gradually settled down and the atmosphere inside the cabin returned to normal.

As for Hyungwon, he barely moved at all.

He continued rubbing Kihyun’s back slowly, his eyes never leaving his face for even a moment, as if he was still afraid the panic attack might return.

After a short while, he noticed that Kihyun’s breathing had become slower and more regular.

He had finally fallen asleep.

Hyungwon lowered his gaze to him silently.

Even while sleeping, his features looked exhausted, and faint traces of tears still lingered near his eyes.

A painful tightness settled in Hyungwon’s chest.

How had he never known about this fear before?

How had Kihyun managed to hide something that terrified him this much?

He gently ran his fingers through his hair, being careful not to wake him, then lowered his head slightly so that he too rested against Kihyun’s hair.

“Idiot...”

He whispered it so quietly that it was barely audible.

“You should have told me.”

But Kihyun did not hear him.

He was finally asleep after the exhaustion caused by the panic attack, and his hand was still gripping Hyungwon’s shirt even in his sleep.

A small tired smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face, and he held Kihyun’s hand more gently, as if reassuring him even while he slept.

Nearly an hour passed in relative calm afterward.

Eventually, the plane began descending in preparation for landing.

The seatbelt sign lit up again, and Kihyun slowly opened his eyes because of the slight movement.

It took him a few seconds to realize where he was, then he lifted his head slightly and found that he was still leaning against Hyungwon.

“You’re awake?”

Hyungwon’s voice was calm and warm as always.

Kihyun blinked tiredly, then suddenly remembered what had happened earlier, causing his face to turn red with embarrassment.

“...Did I cause trouble?”

Hyungwon immediately frowned.

“Why are you asking that as if you committed a crime?”

Kihyun lowered his gaze and whispered shyly:

“Everyone was looking at us...”

Hyungwon sighed softly, then raised his hand and gently fixed his messy hair.

“Let them look.”

Kihyun slowly raised his eyes toward him.

Hyungwon continued while looking directly at him:

“The only thing I cared about was that you weren’t struggling to breathe in front of me anymore.”

Kihyun’s heartbeat immediately sped up.

Even after all this time, Hyungwon’s words still affected him with frightening ease.

Without realizing it, he moved a little closer and whispered softly:

“...Thank you for staying with me.”

Hyungwon looked at him as if he did not understand why he was being thanked at all.

Then he raised his hand and gently kissed his forehead.

“Where else am I supposed to be if not by your side?”

Kihyun’s eyes widened slightly after that gentle kiss, then his lashes lowered shyly as he tried to hide the small smile that appeared on his lips.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon kept looking at him quietly, as if he was still making sure that he was truly okay.

At that moment, the pilot’s voice echoed through the cabin, announcing their approaching landing on Jeju Island.

Kihyun instinctively looked out the window.

The sea stretching beneath them shimmered in the sunlight, and white clouds surrounded the island in a way that made it look unrealistically peaceful.

He finally felt his breathing settle.

Hyungwon noticed and smiled faintly.

“Better?”

Kihyun nodded slowly.

“As long as the plane is landing, yes.”

Hyungwon laughed softly, then took his hand again before the plane completely landed.

And although Kihyun was still a little nervous about the landing itself, having Hyungwon’s hand wrapped around his made everything much easier.

A few minutes later, the plane’s wheels finally touched the runway.

Kihyun immediately closed his eyes in relief.

“We survived...”

This time, Hyungwon could not stop himself from laughing.

“Did you really think we were going to die?”

Kihyun turned to him with complete seriousness.

“Yes.”

Hyungwon laughed even harder, then leaned over and quickly kissed the side of his head.

“You’re so cute.”

Kihyun’s face immediately turned red.

“Don’t say things like that on the plane!”

But Hyungwon seemed completely unconcerned about the looks from the other passengers.

Instead, he stood up first and then held out his hand directly toward Kihyun.

“Come on.”

Kihyun looked at him for a moment before automatically taking his hand.

It was such a simple action...

But it always made Hyungwon’s heart soften.

They left the plane with the rest of the passengers, and as soon as they reached the airport exit, a cool breeze mixed with the scent of the sea hit them.

Kihyun stopped for a second and looked around.

Jeju Island was quiet compared to the noise of Seoul, and the atmosphere felt completely different.

Hyungwon noticed him slowing down beside him and moved closer.

“What is it?”

Kihyun looked at him, then finally smiled—a genuine smile for the first time since the trip began.

“...I think I’m starting to get excited now.”

Hyungwon’s expression immediately relaxed, as if he had been waiting to hear those words.

Then he grabbed both of their suitcases with one hand, and with the other, he gently pulled Kihyun a little closer.

“Good.”

He leaned closer to his ear and whispered in a low voice that immediately made Kihyun’s heart race:

“Because I’m planning to make this the best week of our lives.”

The moment Kihyun heard Hyungwon’s whisper, warmth spread across his face, and he quickly lowered his head in an attempt to hide his embarrassment.

But that did not stop Hyungwon from noticing the obvious redness of his ears.

He smiled lightly and started leading him through the airport while their fingers remained intertwined.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

Kihyun muttered shyly as he walked beside him.

“How am I looking at you?”

“As if you’re planning something.”

Hyungwon raised an eyebrow with fake innocence.

“Maybe I am planning something.”

Kihyun immediately turned toward him.

“Hyungwon.”

The other man laughed quietly, then gently squeezed his hand.

“Relax. First, we’ll get to the hotel.”

~

The driver sent by the company was already waiting for them, so Hyungwon placed their luggage in the car before opening the door for Kihyun first.

Kihyun sat inside the car and finally let out a tired sigh, while Hyungwon sat beside him a few moments later.

As soon as the car started moving, Kihyun automatically leaned his head against Hyungwon’s shoulder.

A smile immediately appeared on Hyungwon’s face.

“Tired?”

Kihyun nodded, his eyes half closed.

“A little.”

Hyungwon gently ran his fingers through his hair, a habit he had whenever he sensed that Kihyun was exhausted or stressed.

Kihyun closed his eyes even more at the touch.

And that always weakened Hyungwon’s heart mercilessly...

The way Kihyun trusted him without hesitation, as if his touch alone was enough to calm him down.

The driver glanced at the rearview mirror for a moment, then smiled faintly when he noticed how close they were, but quickly looked away again out of respect.

Meanwhile, Kihyun was already almost asleep on Hyungwon’s shoulder.

Then suddenly, he murmured sleepily:

“…I was really scared.”

Hyungwon immediately lowered his gaze toward him.

“I know.”

“I thought I was going to lose my mind on that plane.”

A slight ache settled in Hyungwon’s chest as he heard him speak with such exhausted honesty.

He leaned down slightly and placed a quiet kiss on top of his hair.

“But I was with you.”

Kihyun slowly opened his eyes and looked at him for a few moments.

Then he whispered very softly:

“That’s why I was able to endure it.”

Hyungwon’s breath caught for a brief moment.

Every time Kihyun said something like that, it felt as though he was falling completely in love with him all over again.

He raised his hand and gently touched his cheek.

“You have no idea what you do to my heart when you say things like that.”

Kihyun’s face immediately turned red, but this time he did not pull away.

Instead, he moved even closer, leaning completely against him as he whispered with sincere shyness:

“I’m only telling the truth.”

A peaceful silence followed.

A comfortable silence that needed no additional words.

Beyond the car windows, the roads of Jeju stretched quietly beneath the afternoon light, while Hyungwon looked at Kihyun every now and then as if he still could not quite believe that this person truly belonged to him.

———

After nearly half an hour of a peaceful drive, the car finally began slowing down in front of a luxurious hotel overlooking the sea.

Kihyun slowly lifted his head from Hyungwon’s shoulder when he felt the car stop, then blinked tiredly as he looked out the window.

The hotel’s warm lights reflected on the nearby water, and the evening air of Jeju seemed comfortingly calm.

“We’re here.”

Hyungwon said it in a low voice while gently running a hand through Kihyun’s hair.

Kihyun let out a soft sigh and finally sat upright while the driver got out to unload their luggage.

The moment they entered the hotel, Kihyun’s eyes widened slightly.

The lobby was quiet and elegant, carrying the faint scent of flowers, while the huge glass windows revealed the entire nighttime view of the sea.

A receptionist approached them with a polite smile.

“Welcome.”

Hyungwon calmly provided the reservation details while Kihyun stood beside him, trying to take in the place.

But a few moments later, he heard the receptionist say with a pleasant smile:

“We have prepared the ocean-view suite for the couple, just as requested.”

Kihyun froze completely.

“…The couple?”

As for Hyungwon, he did not look surprised at all.

Instead, he nodded calmly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Thank you.”

Kihyun immediately turned toward him in obvious shock as soon as the receptionist stepped away.

“Hyungwon.”

“Mm?”

“Why did he say ‘the couple’?”

Hyungwon raised an eyebrow with fake innocence.

“Because we’re a couple.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened even more.

“You did that on purpose!”

Hyungwon leaned slightly closer and whispered near his ear:

“Didn’t you say you didn’t mind?”

Kihyun’s entire face immediately turned red, especially when he remembered their conversation on the plane.

Before he could respond, the receptionist returned and handed them their room key card.

“We hope you enjoy your stay.”

Hyungwon thanked him calmly, then picked up their luggage and headed toward the elevator as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, Kihyun remained frozen in place for two seconds, feeling as though his heart had forgotten how to function normally.

Then he quickly hurried after him.

“Hyungwon, stop embarrassing me in front of people!”

But the moment Hyungwon stepped into the elevator, he gently pulled Kihyun closer by the wrist.

“And why are you embarrassed?”

The elevator doors slowly closed while Kihyun found himself trapped between Hyungwon and the wall, his face becoming redder by the second.

Hyungwon lowered his head slightly until their foreheads were very close.

“You’re already my husband.”

Kihyun’s breath immediately faltered.

Even after everything that had happened today, that word still made his heart completely lose its balance.

As for Hyungwon, he smiled faintly when he saw the effect his words had on him, then whispered calmly:

“And I’m going to take advantage of the fact that we’re alone here to remind you of that all week.”

Kihyun’s eyes immediately widened after Hyungwon’s last whisper, and he lightly pushed against his chest, trying to create some distance between them.

“Hyungwon...”

But his voice came out more flustered and weaker than he intended.

Hyungwon immediately smiled when he noticed that, as if he was enjoying every second of Kihyun’s embarrassment.

“What is it?”

“Stop saying things like that out of nowhere.”

Hyungwon leaned even closer until Kihyun could feel his breath near his face.

“What things?”

The heat in Kihyun’s face increased even more.

“You know exactly what I mean.”

Hyungwon laughed softly, then raised his hand and fixed the strands of Kihyun’s hair that had been messed up by the long trip.

At that exact moment, the elevator reached their floor.

Hyungwon finally stepped back before Kihyun could completely collapse from embarrassment, then walked out of the elevator as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, Kihyun remained standing there for a second, trying to steady his breathing before quickly following after him.

They finally reached the door of their suite, and Hyungwon swiped the key card to unlock it.

The moment they stepped inside—

Kihyun stopped in his tracks immediately.

The room was astonishingly spacious, with warm lighting and huge glass windows revealing the entire nighttime ocean view.

In the corner stood a large bathtub overlooking the sea, while the nearby table was filled with flowers and candles.

And Kihyun let out a genuine gasp of shock when his eyes landed on the bed.

It was decorated with flower petals arranged into the shape of a heart.

He immediately closed his eyes in despair.

“I want to go back to Seoul.”

For the first time since they arrived, Hyungwon burst out laughing—a real, loud laugh that made Kihyun stare at him in disbelief.

“You did this on purpose!”

“I swear I didn’t ask for the flowers.”

But the obvious smile on his face made Kihyun doubt him immediately.

Hyungwon walked farther into the room and set the luggage aside, then approached the large window overlooking the sea.

“The view is beautiful.”

A few moments later, Kihyun joined him, and the moment he looked outside, some of his tension unconsciously faded.

The sea was calm, and the lights reflecting on the water made the place look almost dreamlike.

Suddenly, he felt Hyungwon’s arm wrap gently around his waist from behind.

He froze for a brief moment.

Then he automatically relaxed within his embrace.

Hyungwon rested his chin on Kihyun’s shoulder and whispered near his ear:

“Are you still scared?”

Kihyun immediately knew that he was not talking about the hotel or the embarrassment.

He meant the flight... the panic attack... and all the stress he had gone through that day.

He sighed softly and tilted his head slightly, leaning into him more.

“I feel better now.”

Hyungwon gently tightened his arms around him, as if he had finally relaxed after hearing that.

Then he placed a light kiss against the side of his neck, making Kihyun’s breathing tremble.

“Good.”

Kihyun closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the warmth and safety he felt within Hyungwon’s arms.

And at that exact moment, he realized one thing with complete certainty...

Anywhere Hyungwon was would always feel like home to him.

———

The sunset light filtered through the wide glass windows, painting the suite in a warm orange glow that made the sea look as if it were quietly burning beneath the sky.

Kihyun stood by the window for a few moments, watching the distant waves while his expression finally began to relax after a long and exhausting day.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon was calmly unpacking their luggage and organizing a few things, as if he were completely used to traveling with him like this.

Suddenly, a notification sound came from both of their phones at the same time.

Kihyun picked up his phone first, then read the message quietly:

“It’s our manager.”

Hyungwon walked closer while continuing to read the message on his own phone.

“He says we should rest today.”

Then he added calmly:

“And that we should have dinner at the hotel restaurant. The first photoshoot will be tomorrow morning.”

Kihyun immediately let out a relieved sigh when he heard that.

“That’s better... I don’t think I could handle any work today.”

Hyungwon nodded in understanding, then moved closer until he was standing directly behind him near the window.

“That’s why I asked them to leave this evening free for us.”

Kihyun slowly turned toward him.

“You asked for that?”

Hyungwon nodded simply, then raised his hand to fix the strands of Kihyun’s hair that had been disturbed by the breeze coming from the slightly open balcony.

“You were exhausted.”

A strange warmth filled Kihyun’s chest once again.

Hyungwon always noticed the little things he tried to hide.

His exhaustion, his fear, and even the moments when he smiled while he was actually on the verge of breaking down.

Kihyun lowered his gaze with slight embarrassment and murmured:

“...You take care of me a lot.”

A calm smile immediately appeared on Hyungwon’s face.

“Because you’re my husband.”

Heat instantly rose to Kihyun’s face again the moment he heard the word.

“You’ve been using that word a lot since yesterday.”

Hyungwon stepped closer until almost no space remained between them.

“Because I like the way you look at me every time I say it.”

Kihyun held his breath for a moment.

He was right...

Every time he heard that word from Hyungwon, it felt as though something inside his heart completely melted.

Before he could respond, the sound of his stomach suddenly echoed through the quiet room.

Silence filled the space for a second.

Then Hyungwon burst into soft laughter while Kihyun immediately closed his eyes in extreme embarrassment.

“Ignore what just happened.”

But Hyungwon was still quietly laughing as he took his hand.

“It seems my husband is hungry.”

“Hyungwon!”

The other man finally smiled, then raised his hand and quickly kissed Kihyun’s forehead.

“Come on. Let’s go to dinner before your stomach starts yelling again.”

Kihyun sighed in embarrassment and lightly pushed Hyungwon away, trying to recover some of his dignity after the endless teasing.

“I swear I’m going to regret coming here with you.”

But Hyungwon did not look regretful at all.

Instead, he calmly picked up Kihyun’s coat and stepped closer to help him put it on, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Kihyun stood still for a moment while Hyungwon carefully adjusted the collar of his coat.

Then he looked up at him and whispered:

“...I can do that myself.”

Hyungwon smiled faintly.

“I know.”

“Then why—”

He interrupted him calmly:

“Because I want to.”

Kihyun felt his heart weaken once again in front of that dangerously simple honesty that Hyungwon possessed.

A few minutes later, they finally left the suite and headed toward the hotel restaurant.

The soft evening lights reflected across the marble floor, while the ocean-view restaurant was filled with quiet voices and gentle music that was barely audible.

As soon as they entered, a staff member guided them to a table directly beside the windows overlooking the sea.

“This place is beautiful...”

Kihyun said it quietly while looking at the dark waves outside.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon was looking at him instead of the sea.

“You’re more beautiful.”

Kihyun immediately lifted his head toward him in mild shock.

“Can you stop saying things like that in front of people?”

Hyungwon deliberately glanced around.

“No one cares about us.”

“I care!”

Hyungwon laughed softly as he finally sat down across from him.

After they ordered their food, a comfortable silence settled between them for a few moments.

Kihyun was much calmer now compared to how he had been on the plane, and his features finally looked relaxed beneath the warm lighting.

Hyungwon watched him silently for a while before asking quietly:

“Are you still scared?”

Kihyun immediately understood what he meant.

He lowered his gaze to the glass of water in his hands, then gave a small shake of his head.

“...A little.”

Hyungwon immediately frowned.

But Kihyun quickly continued:

“Not of the plane.”

Hyungwon looked at him calmly.

Kihyun let out a quiet sigh, then admitted in a low voice:

“Sometimes I’m afraid of loving you more than I should.”

Hyungwon’s hand stopped moving immediately.

Meanwhile, Kihyun gave a small shy smile as he tried to explain what he was feeling.

“Because sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe when you’re away from me... and even today, on the plane...”

He lowered his eyes further.

“The first thing I thought was that if you weren’t with me, I would really lose my mind.”

Silence settled between them.

But this time, it was not an awkward silence.

It was a silence heavy with emotion.

Hyungwon looked at Kihyun for a long time, as if his heart had filled with something greater than words.

Then he reached across the table and gently took Kihyun’s hand.

“Then don’t stay away from me either.”

Kihyun slowly lifted his eyes toward him.

And this time, the look in Hyungwon’s eyes was different...

Calm, deep, and sincere enough to make his heart tremble.

“Stay with me forever.”

———

The food gradually began arriving at the table, and with it, the calm atmosphere between them returned once again.

The sound of the waves outside blended with the soft music inside the restaurant, while Kihyun sat scrolling through his phone after opening the file their manager had sent.

“He sent the concept for the photoshoot.”

Hyungwon looked up at him with interest while calmly cutting a piece of food.

“Let me see.”
Kihyun moved the phone slightly toward him, revealing a collection of reference photos for the advertisement.

The brand was for skincare products and moisturizing creams, so the images were filled with soft and warm aesthetics—dim lighting, comfortable clothing, and intimate interactions between the models.

But with every new photo Kihyun scrolled to, the redness on his face gradually deepened.

Hyungwon noticed immediately.

“What is it?”

Kihyun lowered the phone slightly while avoiding eye contact.

“…This is embarrassing.”

Hyungwon raised an eyebrow, then calmly took the phone from his hand to look at the photos himself.

As soon as he swiped to the next image, he immediately understood why.

One of the reference photos showed a man embracing another from behind while applying cream to his neck, and another showed the two lying very close together on a white bed under soft lighting.

The corner of Hyungwon’s mouth slowly lifted.

“Ah.”

Kihyun immediately closed his eyes in embarrassment.

“Don’t say anything.”

But of course, that was impossible.

Hyungwon calmly continued looking through the photos as if he were studying them very seriously, then said:

“It looks like the photoshoot will be enjoyable.”

Kihyun stared at him in shock.

“Enjoyable?!”

Hyungwon pointed at one of the photos on the screen.

“This pose looks nice.”

Kihyun looked at the image—

Then his face immediately became even redder when he realized exactly which photo he meant.

“Hyungwon!”

The other man laughed quietly as he handed the phone back.

“Why are you embarrassed?”

Kihyun quickly lowered his voice while nervously looking around.

“Because these photos...”

He paused for a moment before whispering:

“They’re very intimate.”

A brief silence followed.

Then Hyungwon said with unexpected calmness:

“But I like it when you’re close to me.”

Kihyun’s breath caught for a brief moment.

Even after all this time, Hyungwon was still capable of saying things that made his heart lose its balance with painful ease.

Hyungwon leaned slightly closer across the table, then added in a low voice that only Kihyun could hear:

“And tomorrow, I won’t have to pretend for the camera.”

Kihyun felt his ears burn completely.

He quickly grabbed his glass of water and took a drink, trying to escape Hyungwon’s gaze, while Hyungwon watched him with a calm, satisfied smile, as if he was enjoying every moment of his embarrassment.

———

After they finally finished dinner, they quietly left the restaurant while night had fully settled over Jeju Island.

The cool sea air wrapped around them as soon as they approached the shore, and the sound of the waves was much clearer now in the stillness of the night.

They walked slowly along the beach with no real destination.

Simply... enjoying the peace.

The damp sand sank slightly beneath their footsteps, while the moonlight reflected across the water in a way that made the entire place feel dreamlike.

As for Kihyun, he walked very close to Hyungwon, so close that their shoulders brushed against each other from time to time.

Hyungwon noticed and calmly reached out, taking his hand without hesitation.

Kihyun looked at him for a moment, but this time he said nothing.

Instead, he tightened his grip on Hyungwon’s hand as if he had done it without thinking.

A faint smile appeared on Hyungwon’s lips as he continued walking beside him.

“You’re much calmer now.”

Kihyun let out a small breath while looking at the waves.

“I think the place itself is relaxing.”

Then he added after a brief pause:

“And with you... I feel like everything is calmer.”

Hyungwon immediately turned toward him.

Meanwhile, Kihyun realized what he had just said a second too late and lowered his gaze with slight embarrassment.

But Hyungwon did not let him escape this time.

Instead, he stopped walking completely, forcing Kihyun to stop with him.

“Kihyun.”

The other man slowly raised his head.

And the look in Hyungwon’s eyes was so calm that it made Kihyun’s heart slow for a moment.

“Do you know that sometimes you make me want to take you away from everyone like this forever?”

Kihyun’s eyes widened slightly.

Then he let out a small, flustered laugh.

“That sounds very dangerous.”

Hyungwon took a single step closer.

“I’m serious.”

Kihyun’s heartbeat immediately sped up.

The waves rolled gently onto the shore behind them, and the cool breeze stirred Hyungwon’s dark hair slightly while he looked at him in that way that made the entire world seem very far away.

Kihyun lowered his voice and whispered:

“...And I think I would actually agree.”

Hyungwon’s expression immediately softened, as if those words had touched something deeply sensitive inside him.

Then he raised his hand and touched Kihyun’s cool cheek with warm fingers.

“You have no idea how much I love you.”

Kihyun closed his eyes briefly at the touch, then unconsciously moved a little closer.

“I do know.”
He opened his eyes again and looked directly at him, his voice filled with quiet sincerity.

“Because I love you the same way.”

Hyungwon remained silent, staring at Kihyun after that confession, while the waves quietly crashed behind them and the cold night air surrounded them from every direction.
But despite the chill in the air, Hyungwon felt his heart warming in an almost painful way.

Kihyun was looking at him with those same sincere eyes...

The eyes that always made him feel as though the entire world disappeared until only Kihyun remained.

He slowly moved closer, never removing his hand from Kihyun’s cheek.

And Kihyun watched him silently, as if he understood exactly what Hyungwon was thinking before it even happened.

His breathing faltered slightly when he felt Hyungwon move closer.

Then Hyungwon whispered in an extremely low voice:

“May I?”

Kihyun’s eyelashes immediately trembled.

But he did not pull away.

Instead, he gave a small nod, shyly, while unconsciously moving a little closer as well.

And that was all Hyungwon needed.

He finally leaned in and gently kissed him on the lips.

A slow kiss...

Warm...

And filled with something deeper than simple longing.

Kihyun immediately felt his heart lose its ability to beat normally.

He closed his eyes and completely surrendered to the kiss, while his fingers lightly gripped Hyungwon’s coat as if he were afraid, he might pull away.

As for Hyungwon, he slowly drew him closer, as if he wanted to feel him completely within his arms.

The kiss was gentle at first, yet it carried all the words neither of them had been able to say out loud.

Fear.

Longing.

And a love that had become too great for either of them to hide.

When Hyungwon finally pulled away after a long moment, he remained very close, so close that their breaths were still mingling together.

Kihyun slowly opened his eyes, his entire face flushed red.

Hyungwon smiled faintly as he brushed his thumb across his cheek.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Kihyun immediately laughed shyly and hid half of his face inside the collar of his coat.

“Don’t ruin the moment.”

But Hyungwon leaned closer again and whispered directly near his lips:

“I want to relive it.”

Before Kihyun could even process what was happening, Hyungwon moved closer once again and captured his lips in another kiss.

But this time... it was completely different.

Deeper.

And warmer.

Kihyun immediately felt his breath slip away as Hyungwon pulled him closer, while his lips moved slowly against his, brushing between his upper and lower lip as if he wanted to savor every moment with a quiet, merciless patience.

Kihyun trembled from head to toe.

Then, without realizing it, he rose slightly onto his toes to move closer, clutching Hyungwon’s coat tightly as if he had lost the ability to think about anything else.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him closer until almost no distance remained between them.

The waves crashed softly against the shore around them, and the cold air drifted past them, but Kihyun felt nothing except Hyungwon’s warmth.

And the way his kiss made him completely melt within his embrace.

While returning the kiss with shaky breaths, Kihyun slowly raised a hand and placed it behind Hyungwon’s head, lightly threading his fingers through his hair.

A low groan sound immediately escaped Hyungwon at that movement.

As if Kihyun had ignited something inside him all at once.

He instinctively pulled him closer while the kiss became slower, heavier with emotions neither of them was trying to hide anymore.

Kihyun felt as though his heart might burst from his chest.

Hyungwon always kissed him as if he were the only thing he wanted in the world...

As if every touch carried more love than Kihyun could possibly bear.

When they finally pulled apart for a brief moment to catch their breath, their foreheads remained pressed together.

Kihyun’s breathing was uneven, his eyes half-closed from embarrassment, while his fingers were still tangled in Hyungwon’s hair.

As for Hyungwon, he was looking at him in a way that made Kihyun’s knees feel even weaker.

Then he whispered in a low, slightly rough voice:

“You have no idea what you do to me when you touch me like that.”

Kihyun’s face immediately turned red again, but he did not move away.

Instead, he unconsciously leaned closer, as if his body had become accustomed to seeking Hyungwon’s presence on its own.

A small smile filled with affection appeared on Hyungwon’s lips. He lightly kissed the tip of Kihyun’s nose before pulling him into a calm, firm embrace, as if he never wanted to let him go.

———

Kihyun suddenly shivered when a cold sea breeze passed over them, and Hyungwon immediately noticed.

He raised his hand at once and touched Kihyun’s cold cheek with his fingers.

“You’re shivering.”

Kihyun tried to shake his head lightly as if he was fine, but Hyungwon knew him well enough to realize that he was genuinely starting to feel cold.

So, he sighed softly, then took off his coat and draped it over Kihyun’s shoulders without hesitation.

“Let’s go back to the hotel.”

Kihyun looked up at him for a brief moment, then finally nodded.

“Okay.”

After that, Hyungwon moved closer and naturally wrapped an arm around his waist, and the two of them slowly started walking back toward the hotel.

The streets near the beach were quiet, with nothing to be heard except the sound of the waves and the gentle night breeze.

As for Kihyun, he stayed closer to Hyungwon than usual, enjoying the warmth that came from being near him.

Hyungwon noticed and tightened his arm around him a little more without saying a word.

After a few moments of comfortable silence, Kihyun quietly murmured:

“...Today was long.”

Hyungwon glanced at him lightly.

“But it wasn’t bad.”

A small smile appeared on Kihyun’s face.

“Because you were with me.”

Hyungwon’s steps paused for a brief moment the instant he heard that.

He slowly turned toward him, and there was something so warm in his gaze that Kihyun automatically lowered his eyes in embarrassment.

But Hyungwon stepped a little closer and whispered:

“You really have no idea how you make me fall even more in love with you every time.”

Kihyun felt his heart tighten gently inside his chest.

Then he buried half of his face inside the collar of Hyungwon’s coat and muttered shyly:

“...You’re the reason in the first place.”

Hyungwon laughed softly, then quickly kissed the side of his head as they continued walking.

And when they finally reached the hotel, Kihyun’s fingers were still tightly intertwined with Hyungwon’s, as if he never wanted to let go.

———

The two of them finally entered the hotel, and the quiet warmth immediately welcomed them as soon as they left the cold night air behind.

Kihyun let out a small sigh of relief as he took Hyungwon’s coat off his shoulders, but before he could hand it back, Hyungwon gently caught his hand.

“Keep it on.”

Kihyun looked at him with slight confusion.

“What about you?”

Hyungwon smiled calmly.

“I’m not the one who was shivering a little while ago.”

A faint blush appeared on Kihyun’s face, but he did not argue this time.

They rode the elevator in quiet silence, but this silence was not entirely comfortable this time...

It was filled with something else.

Something warm and heavy that had lingered between them ever since their kiss on the beach.

And Kihyun could feel it clearly with every glance Hyungwon directed toward him.

When the elevator doors finally opened, they slowly stepped out and made their way to their suite.

Hyungwon unlocked the door, and as soon as they entered, he quietly closed it behind them.

A brief silence followed.

Then Kihyun finally turned toward him.

His eyes still carried that soft confusion that had not left him since earlier.

Hyungwon approached him without rushing, then lifted a hand and gently brushed it against his cheek.

“Are you still cold?”

Kihyun lightly shook his head.

“...No.”

But his voice came out weaker than he intended, as if he had lost the ability to pretend to be calm around him.

A small smile appeared on Hyungwon’s lips before he slowly pulled Kihyun closer by the waist.

“Good.”

Kihyun’s breathing immediately quickened when almost no space remained between them once again.

He could feel the warmth of Hyungwon’s body even through their clothes, and the way he was looking at him made his heart tremble more than the cold sea breeze had earlier.

Kihyun lowered his eyes shyly, but Hyungwon gently lifted his chin, forcing him to look at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Kihyun whispered with slight nervousness:

“...Because you make me nervous.”

Hyungwon let out a soft laugh, then rested his forehead against Kihyun’s.

“And you make me lose my mind.”

Kihyun felt his breath catch in his chest for a moment.

Then he smiled shyly before whispering:

“You started it.”

The corner of Hyungwon’s mouth immediately lifted, as if he liked hearing that far more than he should have.

Then he finally wrapped him in a calm, firm embrace, resting his chin on top of his hair while Kihyun leaned completely against him.

And in that moment, surrounded by the quiet of the suite and the distant sound of the sea beyond the windows, Kihyun felt that there was no place in the world safer than Hyungwon’s arms.

———

Kihyun remained leaning against Hyungwon’s chest in silence while Hyungwon’s arms stayed wrapped securely around him, as if they were the only place he truly belonged.

Kihyun closed his eyes for a few moments, listening to the calm sound of Hyungwon’s heartbeat beneath his ear.

That sound alone had always been enough to make him feel safe.

Hyungwon slowly ran his fingers along his back, then whispered near his hair:

“Are you tired?”

Kihyun nodded lightly without pulling away.

“A little.”

A small smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face as he felt Kihyun unconsciously move even closer, as if his body was searching for more warmth and closeness.

“Then you should go to bed early.”

Kihyun finally lifted his head to look at him, and the moment he did, he felt his heart become unsettled again.

Hyungwon was looking at him in that same calm way...

As if he were the most precious thing in the world.

Kihyun lowered his gaze shyly and murmured:

“...Don’t look at me like that.”

“How?”

“As if you love me too much.”

Silence filled the room for a brief second.

Then Hyungwon slowly raised an eyebrow.

“But I do love you too much.”

Heat immediately spread across Kihyun’s face, and a small embarrassed laugh escaped him despite himself.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon seemed pleased simply because he had managed to embarrass him again.

He raised his hand and brushed the strands of hair away from Kihyun’s eyes, then said calmly:

“Go take a shower first. I’ll order something warm for us to drink before bed.”

Kihyun finally nodded, but he did not move right away.

He remained standing close to him for one more moment, then slowly lifted his arms and wrapped them around Hyungwon’s neck.

Hyungwon froze slightly in surprise.

As for Kihyun, he buried his face near his neck and whispered very softly:

“...Thank you for staying with me today.”

Hyungwon’s expression immediately softened completely.

Then he pulled him closer and closed his eyes for a brief moment, feeling his heart melt entirely.

“I’ll always stay with you.”

Kihyun slowly lifted his head after hearing those words, and his eyes were filled with that sincere love he never knew how to hide.

Then he leaned in slightly and pressed a brief, gentle kiss to Hyungwon’s lips, as if he were giving him all of his feelings through that small touch alone.

When he pulled away, he finally smiled shyly.

“...I’m going to take a shower now before you make me unable to breathe again.”

Hyungwon laughed softly as he watched him walk toward the bathroom, but his gaze remained fixed on him until he disappeared behind the door, as if his eyes simply did not know how to stop looking for him.

———

He quietly closed the bathroom door behind him, while Hyungwon remained standing where he was for a long moment, staring toward the door Kihyun had disappeared behind.

Then he let out a soft sigh and ran a hand over his face.

Kihyun truly never realized the effect he had on him.

The way he hugged him without hesitation, or looked at him with such complete sincerity... it was enough to make Hyungwon’s heart weaken all over again every single time.

A small smile finally appeared on his face, and he walked over to the room phone to order two hot drinks and some light desserts.

While waiting, he sat beside the large window overlooking the sea.

The waves were still moving quietly beneath the moonlight, and the distant city looked peacefully still.

But his attention immediately shifted when he finally heard the bathroom door open.

He automatically lifted his head—

Then completely stopped moving.

Kihyun stepped out, slowly drying his hair with a towel. He had changed into simple, comfortable clothes after his shower, while a few damp strands of hair still fell over his eyes.

And he looked...

Painfully beautiful.

Hyungwon felt his breathing slow for a moment as he watched him in silence.

As for Kihyun, the moment he noticed the way Hyungwon was looking at him, he stopped where he was with slight nervousness.

“...Why are you looking at me like that again?”

Hyungwon did not answer right away.

Instead, he calmly stood up and walked toward him until he was standing directly in front of him.

Then he took the towel from Kihyun’s hand without a word and gently started drying his hair himself.

Kihyun blinked in mild surprise.

“I can do that myself.”

“I know.”

Hyungwon answered calmly for the second time that day without stopping.

He carefully ran the towel through his hair, as if he were afraid of hurting him with even the slightest movement.

Meanwhile, Kihyun stayed silent this time.

His eyes remained fixed on Hyungwon’s face so close to his own, and on the focused way he always took care of him.

Then he quietly murmured:

“...Sometimes I feel like you treat me as if I’m something very fragile.”

Hyungwon’s hand paused briefly.

He looked directly at him and said very quietly:

“Because I worry about you more than I should.”

Kihyun felt his heart tighten with a warm ache.

He quickly lowered his eyes, trying to escape the effect of those words, but Hyungwon gently lifted his chin again.

“Look at me.”

Kihyun slowly raised his eyes.

The next moment, Hyungwon leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.

A long, slow kiss that made Kihyun immediately close his eyes.

Then he whispered near him:

“You scared me a lot today on the plane.”

Kihyun’s breathing trembled slightly.

“Sorry...”

But Hyungwon immediately shook his head.

“Don’t apologize.”

Then he pulled him a little closer and rested his forehead against Kihyun’s.

“Just... don’t be afraid all by yourself again.”

Before Kihyun could respond, the moment was interrupted by the soft sound of the doorbell.

Hyungwon stepped back slightly, letting out a quiet sigh that carried a hint of annoyance, while Kihyun quickly hid his small smile.

“Looks like bad timing is following us even here.”

Kihyun muttered it lightly, making Hyungwon laugh under his breath.

“I think Minhyuk cursed us before we left.”

Hyungwon finally walked over to the door and opened it, revealing a room service employee pushing a small cart carrying the hot drinks and desserts he had ordered.

“Good evening.”

Hyungwon thanked him calmly and allowed him to wheel the cart inside.

Meanwhile, Kihyun stood near the couch watching the scene, while the warmth of the kiss still lingered on his forehead and Hyungwon’s words remained lodged deep inside his chest.

After the employee left, silence settled over the suite once again.

Hyungwon walked over to the small table and began pouring the hot drinks into cups, while the scent of chocolate and warm coffee spread throughout the room.

Kihyun finally sat down on the couch, automatically pulling a light blanket over his legs.

Hyungwon looked at him for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“You look very small like that.”

Kihyun immediately lifted his head in protest.

“I’m not small.”

Carrying both cups, Hyungwon walked over and sat beside him, much too close as usual.

“Then why do you look this cute right now?”

Kihyun’s face instantly turned red as he quickly took the cup from him, trying to ignore the smile on his face.

But Hyungwon did not let him escape.

Instead, he pulled the blanket aside slightly and slipped underneath it beside him until their shoulders were completely pressed together.

Kihyun let out a quiet sigh.

“…You don’t know the meaning of personal space.”

“And you don’t like it when I move away.”

Kihyun opened his mouth to argue...

Then immediately closed it because he knew Hyungwon was right.

The other man noticed his silence and smiled with quiet satisfaction.

Then he lifted his cup and took a small sip before looking toward the sea beyond the window.

“Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

Kihyun nodded lightly while warming his hands around the hot cup.

“But I’m a little excited.”

Hyungwon turned toward him with interest.

“For the photoshoot?”

Kihyun hesitated for a second, then smiled with slight shyness.

“…Because I’ll be spending it with you.”

Hyungwon immediately felt his heart weaken again in a dangerously familiar way.

Without thinking, he reached out and pulled Kihyun closer until his head came to rest against his shoulder.

Then he whispered near his hair in a warm, low voice:

“You’re really going to kill me one day.”

———

As soon as they finished their hot drinks, Hyungwon finally stood up, picking up his clothes before heading toward the bathroom.

“I won’t be long.”

Kihyun nodded sleepily, his eyes growing heavier with the warmth of the room and the distant sound of the sea.

The moment Hyungwon disappeared into the bathroom, Kihyun turned toward the large bed.

The rose petals were still scattered all over it in an overly dramatic way, making him laugh softly as he walked closer.

“They really went overboard...”

He murmured it to himself while brushing some of the petals aside, then finally lifted the blanket and slipped underneath it with a sigh of relief.

The bed was so warm and soft that his entire body relaxed immediately.

Kihyun let out a deep sigh as he sank further into the pillow, smiling unconsciously as he remembered everything that had happened that day.

The fear on the plane.

The kiss on the beach.

And the way Hyungwon had not left him alone for even a single moment.

He finally closed his eyes as sleep slowly began pulling him under.

A short while later, the bathroom door finally opened.

Hyungwon stepped out, quickly drying his hair with a towel, but his steps immediately slowed the moment his eyes landed on the bed.

And on Kihyun lying there.

He was already half asleep, buried beneath the blanket, his hair scattered across the pillow while a few rose petals remained caught beside him.

And suddenly, Hyungwon felt an overwhelming urge to hold him.

As if all he needed after that long day was to feel him in his arms.

Without thinking, he tossed the towel aside and headed straight toward the bed.

He lifted the blanket slightly and slipped in beside him, immediately wrapping his arms around Kihyun’s waist from behind and pulling him closer without hesitation.

Kihyun flinched instantly at the unexpected touch.

“Ah—!”

But before he could process what was happening, he felt Hyungwon’s warm breath near his neck and heard his low, slightly husky voice after the shower:

“I just...”

His arms tightened around him a little more.

“...wanted to touch you.”

Kihyun’s expression immediately softened once he realized it was him, and he let out a quiet sigh as he relaxed back into his embrace.

“You scared me...”

Hyungwon buried his face near his neck for a moment, enjoying his warmth and the clean scent left behind by his shower.

“Sorry.”

But he did not sound truly sorry.

Instead, he sounded relieved that he could finally hold him like this.

As for Kihyun, his heart completely melted at the way Hyungwon always held on to him...

As if he was afraid Kihyun would disappear if he let go.

So, he slowly turned within his arms until he was facing him, then moved closer and rested his forehead near Hyungwon’s chest.

“You’re very attached to me.”

Hyungwon laughed softly while running a hand through his slightly damp hair.

“And you say that as if you don’t like it.”

A sleepy smile appeared on Kihyun’s face before he whispered very quietly:

“...I actually like it a lot.”

Kihyun moved even closer within Hyungwon’s arms, then slowly lifted his hands and wrapped them around his neck, burying his face near his warm neck.

Hyungwon’s breath caught for a brief moment the instant he felt him move closer like that.

Meanwhile, Kihyun quietly closed his eyes as he breathed in his familiar scent, then murmured with sleepy sincerity:

“...You smell nice.”

Hyungwon felt his heart tighten with a gentle ache inside his chest.

He laughed softly while slowly rubbing Kihyun’s back.

“You say very dangerous things before going to sleep.”

A small smile appeared against his neck as Kihyun murmured:

“I’m serious.”

He buried his face even closer, as if searching for more of his warmth, while his calm breaths brushed directly against Hyungwon’s skin.

As for Hyungwon, he closed his eyes for a moment as he felt him resting in his arms with such complete trust.

Every time Kihyun came close to him like this, it felt as if he possessed the entire world.

Finally, he lowered his head and placed a slow kiss on his slightly damp hair before whispering near his ear:

“And your scent makes me never want to be away from you.”

Kihyun’s eyelashes trembled lightly at those words, and he slowly lifted his head to look at him.

The distance between them was very small now...

Small enough for Kihyun to see that warm look that only ever appeared in Hyungwon’s eyes when he was with him.

He felt his heart soften completely.

So, he unconsciously moved a little closer until their noses lightly brushed together, then whispered with a sleepy smile:

“...Then don’t go anywhere.”

A smile immediately appeared on Hyungwon’s face, calm and filled with something that felt like complete devotion.

Then he pulled him closer beneath the blanket and whispered in a warm, low voice:

“I won’t... go to sleep now, my husband.”

Hyungwon said it in a low voice full of warmth, then leaned in and placed a brief, gentle kiss on Kihyun’s lips.

A quiet kiss, yet it was enough to make Kihyun’s heart tremble for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

When he pulled back slightly, he immediately gathered him against his chest again, wrapping both arms around him beneath the blanket as if he had grown used to falling asleep while keeping him this close.

As for Kihyun, he completely surrendered to that warmth.

He buried his face near Hyungwon’s neck once more while Hyungwon’s fingers slowly moved through his hair, stroking it with the same quiet, gentle affection again and again.

And with the distant sound of the sea...

The warmth of the bed...

And the steady beat of Hyungwon’s heart so close to him...

The two of them finally drifted off to sleep.

——

The next morning—

Golden sunlight filtered through the wide curtains, filling the suite with a warm and peaceful glow.

Kihyun stirred slowly beneath the blanket, still half asleep, before he felt the weight of Hyungwon’s arm wrapped tightly around his waist.

He opened his eyes slightly, then froze for a brief moment.

Hyungwon was still asleep.

His dark hair was scattered across the pillow, and his face remained very close to Kihyun’s, as if even in his sleep he had no desire to be away from him.

A small smile automatically appeared on Kihyun’s lips.

There was something incredibly comforting about waking up like this...

In the arms of the person, he loved.

He slowly raised a hand, careful not to wake him, and gently ran his fingers through Hyungwon’s soft hair.

But the moment he did, he felt Hyungwon’s arm pull him even closer.

“...I’m awake.”

His voice came out husky and sleepy, instantly making Kihyun’s heart soften.

He let out a quiet laugh.

“I thought you were asleep.”

Hyungwon slowly opened his eyes and looked at him silently for several long seconds, as if taking in the sight of him.

Then, without warning, he moved closer and buried his face near Kihyun’s neck with sleepy annoyance.

“Don’t move.”

Kihyun laughed even more this time.

“We have a photoshoot today. We need to get up.”

But Hyungwon stubbornly pulled him even closer.

“Five more minutes.”

Kihyun smiled helplessly as he felt Hyungwon’s warm breath near his neck, then gently ran a hand along his back.

And honestly...

He did not want to get up either.

——

After numerous attempts to convince Hyungwon to finally leave the bed, Kihyun managed, with great difficulty, to get him up.

Even then, Hyungwon stayed attached to him almost the entire time, whether they were getting dressed or preparing to leave, as if he were still half asleep and unwilling to let him go.

“Hyungwon...”

Kihyun sighed shyly while trying to straighten the collar of his shirt in front of the mirror, while Hyungwon stood behind him with his chin resting on his shoulder.

“Mm?”

“If we’re late, it’ll be your fault.”

Hyungwon lazily closed his eyes.

“Then let’s be late.”

Kihyun laughed despite himself before finally turning toward him.

“Get ready properly.”

Hyungwon looked at him for a moment, then suddenly leaned forward and lightly kissed the tip of his nose before finally stepping back.

“Okay.”
A short while later, they went downstairs together for breakfast.

The morning was relatively quiet, and sunlight filled the restaurant with a comforting warmth.

Kihyun sat across from Hyungwon, quickly drinking his coffee while checking the schedule their manager had sent.

“The shoot starts in about an hour.”

Hyungwon nodded calmly, paying more attention to Kihyun than to the food in front of him.

Kihyun noticed immediately.

“...Why have you been looking at me like that since this morning?”

A faint smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face.

“Because you’re beautiful.”

Kihyun closed his eyes to stop himself from smiling.

“Please stop that.”

But Hyungwon seemed to be enjoying his reactions far too much.

After finishing breakfast, they finally left the hotel and headed toward the photoshoot location.

The car moved through the quiet roads of Jeju while green landscapes stretched around them the farther, they traveled from the city.

Meanwhile, Kihyun was scrolling through the photoshoot concept images on his phone again, trying to prepare himself mentally.

But every time he remembered some of the required poses, the redness gradually returned to his face.

Hyungwon noticed immediately.

“What’s embarrassing you now?”

Kihyun quickly held the phone toward him.

“This picture specifically.”

Hyungwon looked at it, and the corner of his mouth instantly lifted.

The image showed two models lying very close together while one of them applied cream to the other’s cheek with a gentle smile.

“That looks easy.”

Kihyun stared at him in disbelief.

“Easy?!”

Hyungwon laughed softly, then leaned a little closer inside the car and whispered:

“Because I’m already used to touching my husband.”

Kihyun felt his entire face burn.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon simply smiled calmly as he watched his embarrassment, before his hand automatically reached for Kihyun’s and gently held it for the rest of the drive.

——

The two of them finally arrived at the photoshoot location, which was a spacious studio overlooking the sea, with soft natural lighting that perfectly suited the brand’s concept.

As soon as they entered, the staff welcomed them enthusiastically.

“You’re finally here!”

Kihyun smiled politely and bowed in greeting, while Hyungwon simply offered his usual calm smile.

After a brief conversation with the crew, they headed to the dressing room.

The selected outfits were simple and soft—light-colored shirts made of comfortable fabrics that created a warm feeling suitable for a skincare advertisement.

Kihyun finished changing first, but immediately stopped when he saw Hyungwon step out of the room across from him.

He blinked slowly.

Hyungwon was wearing a slightly oversized white shirt, and his hair had been styled softly, making him look even calmer and more attractive than usual.

Hyungwon immediately noticed him staring.

“What is it?”

Kihyun quickly became flustered and turned his face away.

“Nothing.”

A faint smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face as he walked closer.

“Liar.”

Before Kihyun could respond, however, one of the staff members called for them to begin the shoot.

⸻

At first, everything went smoothly.

Each of them took individual photos with the products—holding bottles of moisturizer or applying small amounts to their skin beneath the soft lighting.

Both were professional enough to make everything look completely natural in front of the camera.

Even the photographer seemed entirely satisfied.

“Excellent... very good!”

Meanwhile, Kihyun gradually began to relax as the session continued smoothly.

But that comfort did not last long.

Because the director finally clapped his hands together and said with a smile:

“Alright, let’s move on to the couple shots now.”

Kihyun immediately felt his nervousness return.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon calmly glanced toward him, as if he had noticed it right away.

One of the coordinators approached and showed them several reference images on a tablet.

“We want a very natural atmosphere between you two... close, warm, and as if you’re completely comfortable with each other.”

Kihyun looked at the photos and felt his face gradually growing warmer with each image he viewed.

In one of them, he was supposed to lean against Hyungwon’s chest while Hyungwon applied cream to his cheek.

In another, they were sitting very close together on a white bed within the set.

As for Hyungwon...

He looked suspiciously calm.

In fact, he leaned slightly toward Kihyun and whispered in a voice only he could hear:

“These are easier than real life for us.”

Kihyun’s eyes immediately widened.

“Hyungwon!”

But the photographer interrupted them enthusiastically:

“Perfect! Move a little closer. The chemistry between you two is amazing.”

Kihyun felt as though his heart might stop from embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon calmly stepped closer and placed a hand around his waist as instructed.

But his touch did not feel like acting at all.

It felt completely natural...

Far too warm.

As if he had forgotten the cameras existed altogether.

——

Kihyun stood beside Hyungwon in front of the soft white backdrop while the staff adjusted the lighting around them.

Meanwhile, Kihyun was seriously trying to remember that this was just a normal photoshoot...

And not some form of personal torture.

“Alright!” the photographer said enthusiastically. “Let’s start with a simple shot first.”

One of the coordinators approached and handed Hyungwon a small jar of moisturizing cream, then asked him to stand slightly behind Kihyun.

“Put your hand here... perfect.”

Hyungwon’s hand settled lightly around Kihyun’s waist.

But that simple touch alone immediately made Kihyun tense.

“And now, look at him as if you’re taking care of him.”

A brief silence followed.

Then Hyungwon calmly turned toward Kihyun.

And only then did Kihyun realize the real problem.

Hyungwon did not know how to “act” as if he cared about him...

Because that was genuinely how he looked at him.

Kihyun’s breath caught slightly beneath his gaze.

Meanwhile, the photographer immediately burst out with excitement:

“Yes! Exactly that look!”

Kihyun’s face instantly turned red as Hyungwon moved closer and placed a small amount of cream on his fingertips.

Then he gently applied it to Kihyun’s cheek.

The movement was so slow and affectionate that Kihyun forgot about the cameras for a moment.

“Amazing...” one of the staff members murmured quietly.

The cameras captured several shots in quick succession while Hyungwon’s eyes remained fixed entirely on Kihyun’s face.

Then they moved on to the next setup.

-----

This time, Kihyun sat on the white bed positioned in the middle of the studio set, while the director asked Hyungwon to sit behind him.

“We want a comfortable atmosphere... as if the two of you are getting ready to sleep.”

Kihyun immediately felt his ears burn.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon calmly sat behind him and opened his arms slightly.

“Move a little closer.”

The director said it to Kihyun.

With difficulty, Kihyun shifted backward until his back rested against Hyungwon’s chest.

And the moment he felt Hyungwon’s arms naturally settling around him, a large part of his nervousness disappeared automatically.

Because this...

Was far too familiar for the two of them.

The photographer stepped closer, taking pictures enthusiastically.

“Perfect! Hyungwon, look at him... and Kihyun, smile a little.”

Kihyun automatically lifted his head toward Hyungwon, and their eyes met for a brief moment.

But Hyungwon actually smiled at him.

A small, warm smile that made Kihyun smile back without thinking.

Immediately, the photographer’s excited voice echoed through the studio:

“That shot! Don’t move!”

The cameras captured several photos in quick succession while the two of them looked at each other with a sincerity that required no acting at all.

------

As for the third setup...

It was the worst one for Kihyun.

Or the best one for Hyungwon.

The two stood near the large window overlooking the sea inside the studio, and the director asked Kihyun to apply a little cream to Hyungwon’s neck.

“Gently and naturally.”

Someone handed him the product container while Kihyun felt his heart betraying him once again.

He slowly stepped closer to Hyungwon and carefully placed his fingertips against his neck.

But the problem was that Hyungwon kept looking at him the entire time.

Not at the camera.

At him.

Kihyun’s breathing trembled slightly as he tried to focus, his fingers moving slowly along Hyungwon’s neck.

Then suddenly, Hyungwon leaned a little closer and whispered in a very low voice:

“You’re trembling.”

Kihyun’s eyes immediately widened.

“Hyungwon...”

But the photographer burst out enthusiastically once again:

“Perfect! Don’t stop!”

A few members of the staff laughed softly after noticing the obvious redness on Kihyun’s face.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon seemed completely entertained by the situation.

He even lifted his hand afterward and gently touched Kihyun’s wrist, as if reassuring him through his nervousness.

That small gesture alone was enough to make the entire crew melt.

“The chemistry between them is insane...” one of the makeup artists whispered in amazement.

And in truth...

No one there knew that none of it was acting at all.

——

The photoshoot team then moved to the suite prepared for the next scene, which consisted of a spacious bathroom with soft lighting and large mirrors reflecting the morning sunlight streaming through the windows.

The moment Kihyun understood the concept of the new photos, he felt all of his embarrassment return at once.

“Is this really necessary...?”

he muttered quietly while looking at the toothbrushes carefully placed beside the sink.

But the director seemed extremely excited.

“The idea is to show the natural comfort and closeness between the two of you in everyday life.”

As for Hyungwon, he looked calm as always.

In fact, he leaned slightly closer to Kihyun and whispered:

“You’re very cute when you’re nervous.”

Kihyun immediately turned toward him and protested in a hushed voice:

“And all of this is because of you.”

Hyungwon laughed softly before the photographer called them over to begin.

The two stood in front of the large mirror, each holding a toothbrush, while the lighting team adjusted the angles around them.

“Perfect... just act naturally.”

At first, Kihyun tried to focus on the cameras and ignore how close Hyungwon was standing to him.

But that became much harder when Hyungwon stepped closer from behind and quietly wrapped his arms around Kihyun’s waist while they stood at the sink.

Kihyun immediately held his breath.

The gesture was completely natural for them in real life...

But having dozens of people and cameras around them made it feel entirely different.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon lightly rested his chin near Kihyun’s shoulder while wearing a calm smile in front of the mirror.

“Excellent!” the photographer immediately shouted. “A little closer!”

Kihyun felt his heart losing its balance again as Hyungwon pulled him closer until his back was completely pressed against his chest.

Then the two pretended to brush their teeth while light laughter spread through the crew because of how natural they looked together.

But the real problem happened when Kihyun looked into the mirror.

He saw Hyungwon’s reflection behind him, his arms wrapped around him, and the way he looked at him so calmly as though nobody else existed in the room.

Without realizing it, Kihyun’s movement paused for a brief moment.

Hyungwon noticed immediately.

He leaned slightly closer and whispered near his ear in a very low voice:

“Breathe.”

Kihyun’s ears immediately turned red.

Meanwhile, the photographer was absolutely delighted.

“That look! Perfect!”

The cameras captured several shots in rapid succession while Kihyun tried to appear calm, whereas Hyungwon looked dangerously comfortable holding him like that in front of everyone.

Then the director requested one final shot.

“Hyungwon, look at him as if you’re completely in love with him.”

Silence filled the room for a brief second.

Then several members of the crew burst out laughing when one of them replied:

“But he’s been looking at him like that since the beginning of the shoot.”

Kihyun’s entire face instantly turned red, while the corner of Hyungwon’s mouth slowly lifted without him denying it for even a second.

——

The photoshoot team then moved to the final part of the day’s session.

The bathroom had been fully prepared with warm lighting and a light mist to give the photos a comfortable and luxurious feeling suitable for a skincare advertisement.

The moment Kihyun saw the new concept, he froze in place for two full seconds.

“...No.”

The director looked up in confusion.

“No what?”

Meanwhile, Kihyun stared in obvious shock at the large bathtub filled with water and light foam, then at the two white bathrobes placed beside it.

“This is way too much!”

Several crew members laughed softly while Hyungwon stood beside him, looking annoyingly calm as usual.

In fact, he leaned closer and whispered near his ear:

“I think this will be my favorite concept.”

Kihyun immediately turned toward him in shock.

“Hyungwon!”

But Hyungwon was already smiling.

Several minutes later, the two finally emerged wearing the matching white bathrobes, their hair slightly damp to make the scene look more natural.

Kihyun felt as though the heat in his face had never disappeared since the beginning of the shoot.

As for Hyungwon...

He looked far too comfortable.

Far too dangerous for Kihyun’s heart.

“Alright!” the photographer said excitedly. “Get into the tub and make yourselves comfortable.”

Kihyun looked at the bathtub as if it had personally betrayed him.

But in the end, they carefully climbed in while soft laughter echoed from the crew.

Hyungwon sat down first, leaning back comfortably, while Kihyun sat beside him, very close because of the limited space.

One of the coordinators then handed them the products.

“Hold them like this... perfect.”

At first, the shoot consisted of simple shots—looking at the camera while holding the skincare products, or exchanging small smiles.

But the problem was that being so close together in such a small space automatically made every movement look intimate.

Kihyun’s knee kept brushing against Hyungwon’s leg beneath the water, their shoulders remained pressed together, and droplets of water rested on their hair and necks beneath the soft lighting.

“Hyungwon, move a little closer.”

He obeyed immediately without hesitation.

In fact, he lifted his arm behind Kihyun and leaned even closer until Kihyun could feel his breath near his ear.

His eyelashes trembled instantly.

Meanwhile, the photographer looked as if he might float away from excitement.

“Perfect! The chemistry between you two is incredible!”

Kihyun felt certain he would not survive this photoshoot alive.

Then the director requested another shot.

“Kihyun, look at him as if you feel comfortable and safe with him.”

Kihyun automatically lifted his eyes toward Hyungwon...

And unfortunately, those were the easiest instructions he had received all day.

The moment he looked at him, his expression relaxed without even realizing it.

His tension disappeared for a moment, leaving behind only the familiar warmth he always felt whenever he was close to him.

Hyungwon noticed the change immediately.

A small, calm smile appeared on his face, making Kihyun’s heart stumble once again.

“Yes! Don’t move!” the photographer quickly shouted while taking one shot after another.

Then came the final picture.

“Hyungwon, bring your head a little closer to his.”

Hyungwon slowly leaned closer until their foreheads were almost touching, his eyes remaining fixed entirely on Kihyun.

And in that moment...

Kihyun forgot about the cameras again.

He forgot about the crew, the lighting, and everything else.

Because the way Hyungwon looked at him made him feel as though they were the only two people in that place.

——

While Kihyun was trying to adjust his position inside the cramped bathtub, he placed a hand on the edge to carefully lift himself—
But his fingers suddenly slipped because of the water and soap bubbles.

“Ah—!”

And in a single second, he completely lost his balance.

He fell half-sprawled directly onto Hyungwon, his chest colliding with Hyungwon’s while his head landed heavily against his shoulder.

Meanwhile, his hand instinctively grabbed onto Hyungwon’s bathrobe in an attempt to steady himself, but accidentally pulled it slightly downward, revealing part of his damp chest beneath the warm lighting.

Kihyun froze completely.

“...”

Even Hyungwon blinked slowly in surprise, while his arm instinctively remained wrapped around Kihyun’s waist to keep him from slipping further into the water.

Silence filled the room for exactly one second.

Then—

“Don’t move!!”

The director suddenly shouted with wild excitement.

The next moment, cameras began firing off shot after shot.

“This pose is perfect!”

Kihyun felt as though his soul had completely left his body.

Because he was literally still lying on top of Hyungwon, his face far too close to his neck, while Hyungwon’s robe remained slightly open because of his grip.

And the worst part...

Was the way Hyungwon was looking at him.

Because Hyungwon did not seem bothered at all.

Instead, his eyes remained fixed on him with a dangerous calmness that nearly made Kihyun’s heart stop.

The photographer stepped closer excitedly, taking even more pictures.

“Kihyun, just lift your head a little!”

Kihyun slowly raised his head, and the moment he did, the distance between his face and Hyungwon’s became terrifyingly small.

He could immediately feel their breaths mixing together.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon continued staring at him without looking away even for a second.

Then he whispered in a very low voice that only Kihyun could hear:

“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

Kihyun’s eyes widened instantly.

“What?! No!”

But the redness spreading across his face immediately made the staff burst into laughter.

“Oh my God, even their embarrassment looks completely real.”

Meanwhile, the director looked happier than ever.

“This is the best photo we’ve taken all day.”

Kihyun quickly tried to get up once the shot was finished, but slipped slightly again, causing Hyungwon to finally laugh softly as he tightened his arm around him to keep him from falling a second time.

Then he leaned near his ear and whispered mischievously:

“Stay like this... I like it.”

Kihyun felt his entire face burn after Hyungwon’s last whisper.

“Hyungwon...”

His name slipped from his lips in a weak, flustered voice while he was still practically trapped on top of him inside the bathtub.

As for Hyungwon, he seemed in no hurry whatsoever to end the situation.

Instead, he kept a steady hand around Kihyun’s waist, his eyes slowly moving over his flushed features as though he were enjoying every second of his embarrassment.

“Perfect, perfect!” the director shouted enthusiastically. “Stay close like that!”

The cameras continued snapping pictures rapidly while Kihyun tried to recover what little composure he had left.

But it was almost impossible with Hyungwon looking at him from this close.

Then one of the photo coordinators stepped forward and said:

“Kihyun, just lift your hand toward his face a little... yes, like that.”

With awkward caution, Kihyun raised his hand and placed it near Hyungwon’s neck, trying to follow the instructions.

But because they were so close together, his fingertips immediately felt the warmth of Hyungwon’s skin, making him even more nervous.

Hyungwon noticed right away.

A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips before he whispered again:

“You’re trembling.”

Kihyun instantly held his breath.

“Stop talking...”

Hyungwon laughed softly, a low and deep sound that only made Kihyun’s heart fall into even greater chaos.

Meanwhile, the crew seemed completely captivated by the atmosphere between them.

“They look unbelievably natural in front of the camera.”

“It doesn’t even feel like I’m watching a photoshoot anymore.”

At that moment, the director requested one final shot for the scene.

“Hyungwon, just look at him... and Kihyun, relax.”

Kihyun slowly lifted his eyes toward him.

And his biggest mistake was doing exactly that.

Because Hyungwon was looking at him with that same warm, gentle gaze he always used whenever they were completely alone.

A look filled with obvious affection, without even trying to hide it.

Kihyun’s breath caught for a moment.

His embarrassment gradually faded away, leaving behind only that familiar warmth that always washed over him whenever he was close to him.

The photographer immediately noticed the change.

“That’s it! Don’t move!”

The cameras started clicking rapidly once more while Hyungwon held him as though he were the most important thing in his arms.

And for one very brief second...

Kihyun truly forgot that anyone else was there.

——

After many long hours of shooting, the director finally announced the end of the session.

“We’re done!”

The moment he heard those words, Kihyun let out a long breath as if he had survived a real disaster.

Meanwhile, the crew began applauding enthusiastically, while some of them were still reviewing the final photos with obvious amazement.

“The results are incredible.”

“The chemistry between them is unreal...”

“This campaign is definitely going to succeed.”

Kihyun felt embarrassed every time he heard those comments, so he quickly grabbed the towel placed nearby and tried to cover himself a little more after getting out of the bathtub.

But Hyungwon, who stepped out right after him, could not stop looking at him with that calm, irritating smile.

Kihyun noticed immediately.

“...Don’t look at me like that.”

Hyungwon raised an eyebrow with fake innocence.

“And how am I looking at you?”

“As if you enjoyed what happened.”

Hyungwon stepped a little closer while the crew remained busy dismantling the photography equipment.

Then he whispered near his ear in a low voice:

“Because I actually did enjoy it.”

Kihyun’s eyes immediately widened.

“Hyungwon!”

But before he could protest further, the director approached them with a broad smile.

“I really want to thank both of you. The session turned out even better than we imagined.”

Then he lifted the tablet and showed them some of the photos that had just been taken.

The moment Kihyun saw the photo of himself falling on top of Hyungwon, he felt his soul leave his body all over again.

The picture looked...

Dangerously intimate.

His head resting on Hyungwon’s chest, Hyungwon’s arm wrapped tightly around his waist, while the two of them looked at each other in a way that made it seem less like a skincare advertisement and more like a very private moment between two lovers.

As for Hyungwon, he looked at the photo calmly and then said:

“I like this one.”

Kihyun immediately turned toward him in complete disbelief.

“Of course you do!”

The director laughed loudly and shook his head.

“Honestly? This photo alone could carry the entire campaign.”

Kihyun’s face instantly turned red again, while Hyungwon looked completely satisfied with the situation.

A moment later, one of the crew members approached and handed them two small containers of the products as gifts.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

Kihyun accepted them politely and bowed in thanks, while the exhaustion from the long day of shooting finally began to show on his face.

Hyungwon noticed immediately.

As soon as the crew moved away, he quietly reached out and took Kihyun’s hand.

“Let’s go back to the hotel.”

Kihyun looked at him for a moment before finally nodding with a small, tired smile.

And honestly...

All he wanted right now was to return to their room with him and disappear into his arms, far away from all those cameras and staring eyes.

——

They finally entered the dressing room after the long photoshoot, and the moment the door closed behind them, Kihyun let out a tired sigh and leaned his back against a nearby locker.

“I feel like I’m going to die from embarrassment.”

Hyungwon laughed softly while removing the damp robe from his shoulders.

“But you were beautiful.”

Kihyun immediately looked up at him.

“You’re responsible for half of that embarrassment in the first place.”

Hyungwon slowly walked closer before stopping directly in front of him.

“Me?”

“Yes, you!” Kihyun said while trying to open his locker and take out his clothes. “Every time you get close to me, you start looking at me like that—”

He suddenly stopped when he felt Hyungwon move closer from behind.

He immediately sighed.

“...See? That’s exactly what I mean.”

Hyungwon laughed quietly, then lightly placed his hands on Kihyun’s waist while standing behind him.

“But I haven’t even done anything yet.”

Kihyun felt his heart beginning to lose its composure again.

“Hyungwon, let me change my clothes in peace this time.”

But Hyungwon did not seem very interested in leaving him in peace.

Instead, he buried his face near his neck for a moment and murmured in a low voice:

“I can’t.”

Kihyun’s eyelashes trembled lightly.

“Why?”

Hyungwon lifted his head slightly and looked at him through the mirror in front of them.

His gaze was dangerously calm.

“Because you were too beautiful today.”

The heat immediately returned to Kihyun’s face.

He quickly turned around as if he wanted to argue, but the problem was that Hyungwon was already far too close.

Close enough that his breath brushed directly against Kihyun’s lips.

Kihyun held his breath for a moment.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon slowly lifted a hand and tucked a few slightly damp strands of hair behind his ear before smiling faintly.

“You’re still flustered.”

Kihyun lowered his gaze shyly and muttered:

“...Because you won’t stop saying things like that.”

Hyungwon moved a little closer until their foreheads were only a short distance apart.

“And is that a bad thing?”

Kihyun slowly raised his eyes to meet his.

Then he felt his heart soften again in the exact same way it always did whenever he was with him.

In the end...

He let out a small defeated sigh and whispered shyly:

“...No.”

Hyungwon slowly moved closer, his eyes fixed on Kihyun’s lips as though he had spent the entire photoshoot struggling not to kiss him.

Even Kihyun had noticed it clearly from the way Hyungwon had been looking at him ever since the session ended.

And when he finally came very close, Kihyun immediately understood what he was about to do.

His eyes widened slightly, and he quickly pushed against Hyungwon’s chest, stopping him before their lips could meet.

“Not here!”

The words came out fast and flustered while his face burned completely red.

As for Hyungwon, he stopped for a moment as if he had not processed what had just happened.

Then he frowned slightly in protest.

“Why?”

But Kihyun had already grabbed his clothes and was hurrying toward the bathroom while avoiding eye contact entirely.

“Because we’re still at the photoshoot location!”

he said while quickly opening the door.

And before he could close it behind him, he heard Hyungwon’s slightly raised voice from behind:

“Then where?”

Kihyun froze for a moment.

Then Hyungwon continued, his voice filled with obvious teasing:

“At the hotel?”

Kihyun felt as though his soul had left his body from sheer embarrassment.

“Hyungwon!!”

But the other man finally started laughing openly behind the door, while Kihyun quickly shut it and leaned against it from the inside, burying his face in his hands.

Outside the bathroom, Hyungwon was still smiling as he looked toward the closed door.

Then he quietly murmured to himself with obvious satisfaction:

“...So, the hotel it is.”

——

A short while later, Kihyun finally came out of the bathroom after changing his clothes, though he avoided looking directly at Hyungwon at first.

As for Hyungwon, he had finished changing as well and was sitting calmly on the small couch inside the room, as if he had not been deliberately teasing him just minutes earlier.

But the moment his eyes landed on Kihyun, the corner of his mouth immediately lifted.

“You’re still flustered.”

Kihyun sighed as he picked up his bag.

“And you’re still annoying.”

Hyungwon laughed softly before finally standing up and taking the bag from his hand without a word.

“Come on.”

They left the dressing room shortly afterward and headed to say goodbye to the photoshoot staff, who were still busy reviewing the final images.

Kihyun bowed politely while thanking everyone for their hard work, while several members of the crew smiled at them enthusiastically.

“The session was truly amazing.”

“The photos turned out even better than we expected.”

Their manager finally approached them while looking at his phone with an obvious smile.

“By the way, the director is very happy with the results.”

Kihyun immediately looked up with interest.

“Really?”

The manager nodded at once.

“He said the photos are perfect, and there’s no need for any additional shoots.”

Hyungwon froze for a brief moment.

Then he understood immediately.

The rest of their time in Jeju...

Belonged only to them.

Kihyun noticed the look that suddenly appeared in his eyes and became nervous before he even spoke.

But Hyungwon had already stepped closer and leaned slightly toward him, whispering near his ear in a very low voice:

“It looks like the honeymoon has finally begun.”

Kihyun felt as though his heart completely stopped working.

His eyes widened instantly while his entire face turned red, whereas Hyungwon slowly stepped back as if he had not just said something dangerous at all.

Meanwhile, their manager was still focused on his phone and had not noticed anything.

But Kihyun continued staring at Hyungwon in obvious shock.

“You—”

Hyungwon smiled calmly while picking up both of their bags.

“Let’s go back to the hotel.”

And for some reason...

Kihyun felt as though his heartbeat had become more dangerous than ever before.

——

The two returned to the hotel around sunset, and Kihyun’s exhaustion was obvious after the long day of shooting.

The moment they entered the suite and the door closed behind them, Kihyun quickly kicked off his shoes and headed straight for the couch, grumbling tiredly:

“I’m hungry...”

Hyungwon laughed softly as he set their bags aside.

“You’re always hungry.”

Kihyun immediately turned toward him in protest.

“Because we spent hours inside that ridiculous bathtub!”

A smile immediately appeared on Hyungwon’s face when he remembered it.

“It didn’t seem like you hated it that much.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened instantly.

“Hyungwon.”

But the other man completely ignored the warning in his tone and calmly sat down beside him.

Meanwhile, Kihyun sighed and stretched out across the couch, genuinely exhausted.

“Let’s order room service.”

Hyungwon finally nodded.

“What do you want to eat?”

Kihyun thought for a moment before picking up the menu from the small table and beginning to flip through it with interest.

While he read, Hyungwon remained silently watching him.

Watching the way, he frowned slightly when he could not decide.

Or the way his lips moved faintly while reading the options to himself.

Eventually, Hyungwon let out an unconscious sigh.

Kihyun immediately looked up.

“What is it?”

Hyungwon lightly shook his head and smiled faintly.

“Nothing... I just still think you’re very cute.”

Kihyun immediately closed the menu and stared at him in disbelief.

“Can you stop flirting with me for just five minutes?”

Hyungwon laughed quietly as he moved a little closer on the couch.

“I don’t think so.”

Then he reached out and finally took the menu from Kihyun’s hands.

“Order whatever you want.”

Kihyun watched him for a moment before smiling unconsciously.

And honestly...

Despite all the embarrassment Hyungwon caused him, there was nothing he loved more than the complete attention and care Hyungwon constantly surrounded him with.

——

Kihyun finally picked up the menu and focused on it seriously this time before speaking a few moments later.

“I want steak.”

Hyungwon raised an eyebrow slightly.

“That’s all?”

Kihyun nodded while continuing to read the menu.

“And wine with it.”

A smile immediately appeared on Hyungwon’s face.

“So, you’re planning a whole evening.”

A faint blush spread across Kihyun’s face as he lightly tossed the menu at him.

“Be quiet and order your food.”

Hyungwon laughed softly before starting to choose his own meal.

“Alright... I’ll have the shrimp pasta.”

Then he added after a brief pause:

“And wine too.”

Kihyun looked at him suspiciously.

“I feel like you’re copying me.”

“Maybe because your taste is good.”

Kihyun did his best to ignore him while hiding his small smile.

A few minutes later, Hyungwon picked up the menu again.

“What about dessert?”

Kihyun’s eyes immediately lit up in a way that made Hyungwon laugh before he could even answer.

“...Strawberry cake.”

“I knew it.”

Hyungwon finally called room service and placed their order, while Kihyun stretched out across the couch again, looking visibly exhausted.

As soon as he finished the call, Hyungwon walked over and sat beside him once more.

“It should arrive in about half an hour.”

Kihyun let out a relieved sigh.

“Good... I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”

Hyungwon glanced at him lightly.

“Even though you were drinking water in the bathtub throughout the shoot.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened immediately.

“It got into my mouth by accident!”

Hyungwon finally laughed out loud this time, while Kihyun buried his face in the pillow in embarrassment.

A moment later, Hyungwon moved closer and gently ran a hand through his hair.

“You were cute even when you were complaining.”

Kihyun lifted his head from the pillow and stared at him hopelessly.

“...Are you done teasing me today?”

Hyungwon thought about it for a brief moment, then leaned closer and whispered deliberately:

“No. The night is still long.”

Kihyun felt his heart betray him once again.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon simply smiled as he watched the blush return to Kihyun’s face with complete ease.

——

About half an hour later, the doorbell finally rang through the suite.

Kihyun immediately lifted his head from the couch as if all his energy had suddenly returned.

“The food!”

Hyungwon laughed softly as he stood up to answer the door.

“You get more excited about food than anything else.”

“Because I’m actually hungry!”

Hyungwon opened the door, and a room service employee entered while pushing an elegant food cart.

Within moments, the room filled with the warm aroma of food.

Kihyun’s eyes immediately lit up when he saw the dishes.

His steak looked perfect, steam rose from the shrimp pasta Hyungwon had ordered, and beside them sat a bottle of wine and a carefully decorated strawberry cake.

“Thank you.”

Hyungwon said it calmly to the employee before he left and closed the door behind him.

The moment they were alone again, Kihyun immediately approached the table as though he had not eaten in a week.

Hyungwon watched him with a smile as he sat across from him.

“Slow down a little.”

But Kihyun had already cut into the first piece of steak.

The moment he tasted it, he closed his eyes with obvious satisfaction.

“This is so good...”

Hyungwon instantly felt his heart soften at the sight.

Even while eating, Kihyun somehow managed to look adorably endearing.

He calmly poured some wine into both glasses before sliding one toward Kihyun.

“To the first official day of our honeymoon.”

Kihyun immediately choked.

“Hyungwon!”

But the other man looked completely calm as he lifted his glass.

“What? Why don’t you get used to the idea that we’re married?”

Kihyun’s entire face turned red as he stared at him helplessly.

In the end...

He finally lifted his own glass with shy annoyance.

“...You’re impossible.”

A small, warm smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face as he lightly tapped his glass against Kihyun’s.

“But you love me.”

Kihyun immediately lowered his gaze and took a small sip of wine, trying to hide his smile.

And unfortunately...

Hyungwon was right once again.

——

After they finally finished dinner, Kihyun stretched out on the long couch with a relieved sigh, while Hyungwon gathered some of the dishes to the side before turning back toward him.

Then, instead of sitting across from him this time, he stood up and walked over.

He sat right beside him on the couch until their knees naturally touched, then picked up the dessert plate.

“And now...”

he said calmly while looking at Kihyun with a gaze that immediately made his heart tense.

“Dessert time.”

Kihyun quickly lowered his gaze to the cake, trying to ignore the way Hyungwon had said it.

It was a strawberry vanilla cake, decorated with white cream and three shiny fresh strawberries on top.

Hyungwon calmly picked up his fork, then took one of the strawberries.

Kihyun watched silently as Hyungwon slowly placed it between his lips and closed his eyes for a brief moment as though he were genuinely savoring it.

“Mmm...”

Kihyun’s stomach immediately fluttered at the way he did it.

Then Hyungwon finally opened his eyes and said in a low, calm voice:

“It tastes like someone’s lips.”

Kihyun froze completely.

His eyes widened in obvious shock while the heat rushed to his face at an alarming speed.

Because he understood immediately.

The strawberry.

He meant his lips.

“H-Hyungwon!”

His name slipped from his lips in a very flustered voice, while the other man watched his reaction as though he were enjoying every second of his embarrassment.

A faint smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face before he picked up the second strawberry between his fingers.

Then, deliberately slowly...

He brought it toward Kihyun’s lips.

“Open your mouth.”

Kihyun felt his heart begin racing wildly.

Even the gesture felt more intimate than it should have, especially with the way Hyungwon was looking at him from so closely.

He hesitated briefly before finally opening his mouth with obvious shyness.

Hyungwon fed him the strawberry calmly, but his fingers lightly brushed against Kihyun’s lips in the process.

Kihyun’s breath immediately trembled.

As for Hyungwon, he did not pull his hand away right away.

Instead, his fingers lingered near Kihyun’s lips for an extra moment, his eyes fixed on him in a way that made Kihyun forget the taste of the strawberry itself.

Then Hyungwon finally withdrew his hand, licked his fingertip, and said in a very low voice:

“...Yes, it really does taste like them.”

Kihyun felt as though his brain had completely stopped functioning.

He quickly buried his face against Hyungwon’s shoulder with intense embarrassment and let out a muffled groan.

“You’re very dangerous tonight...”

Hyungwon laughed softly, then wrapped an arm around him and pulled him closer with obvious satisfaction, as though nothing would make him happier than staying like this beside him all night.

While Kihyun was still hiding his face against Hyungwon’s shoulder, he suddenly felt Hyungwon’s arm tighten around his waist.

Before he could process what was happening—

Hyungwon pulled him closer and lifted him up in one sudden motion.

“H-Hyungwon!”

Kihyun gasped in shock and immediately grabbed onto his shirt, while Hyungwon laughed softly as if he enjoyed his reaction far more than he should have.

“You’re light.”

“That’s not the important thing right now!”

But Hyungwon had already reached the bed.

He gently lowered Kihyun onto it before leaning over him, supporting himself with his arms on either side of him.

Kihyun’s eyes widened completely in surprise.

Hyungwon was far too close...

Close enough that his breath brushed directly against his lips.

And Kihyun felt as though his heart had completely lost the ability to think normally.

“H... Hyungwon?”

Hyungwon slowly lifted a hand and brushed it across his flushed cheek while silently studying him for several long moments.

That look alone was enough to make Kihyun even more flustered.

Then he leaned closer until their foreheads were almost touching and whispered in a warm, low voice:

“Since when did you become this adorable?”

Kihyun’s eyelashes immediately trembled.

“I’m not—”

Hyungwon interrupted him with a small smile.

“Yes, you are.”

Then he leaned in even closer as if he were about to kiss him again, making Kihyun automatically hold his breath.

But just before their lips could meet, Hyungwon suddenly stopped and watched his flustered expression from up close.

“...Your heart is beating very fast.”

Kihyun’s entire face turned red as he looked away shyly.

“Because you keep surprising me!”

Hyungwon laughed softly, then finally leaned down and placed a short, gentle kiss on his forehead instead of his lips.

A quiet kiss that immediately melted away some of Kihyun’s tension.

Right afterward, Hyungwon lay down beside him instead of over him and pulled him against his chest between his arms, as though all he really wanted was to stay close to him.

As for Kihyun, he spent several seconds trying to process what had just happened before burying his face against Hyungwon’s neck with shy annoyance.

“...You almost scared me to death.”

Hyungwon smiled while slowly running his fingers through his hair.

“But you liked it a little.”

And unfortunately...

Kihyun could not deny it this time.

After all the trouble he had caused him just minutes earlier...

Hyungwon fell asleep with astonishing speed.

Kihyun lay beside him for several moments, staring at him in genuine disbelief.

“...How can you fall asleep so fast?”

he whispered softly, but Hyungwon did not move.

His breathing had already become calm and steady, while his features had completely relaxed against the pillow.

Kihyun moved a little closer, still unable to fully comprehend it.

Then he smiled unconsciously.

When Hyungwon slept, he became completely different...

Softly peaceful, unlike his usual strong presence.

Very slowly, Kihyun raised a hand and gently ran his fingertips through his dark hair, brushing some of it away from his eyes.

Then he simply watched him in silence.

His closed eyes.

His peaceful lips.

And the way he looked completely at ease, as though he had finally found his safe place.

Kihyun felt his heart fill with a warm and painful kind of love at the same time.

A love so large that it genuinely frightened him sometimes.

A small smile appeared on his face as he gently brushed his fingers over Hyungwon’s cheek.

“I love you...”

The words came out as the softest whisper.

Yet he said them as though he were confessing them to himself once again.

Finally, he moved even closer and slowly rested his head against Hyungwon’s chest.

Immediately...

He heard the calm rhythm of his heartbeat beneath his ear.

Kihyun smiled automatically at the sound.

He loved it so much.

It made him feel safe in a way he could never fully explain.

Afterward, he lightly grabbed onto Hyungwon’s shirt while his eyelids gradually grew heavier with sleep.

And with the warmth of his body...

The sound of his heartbeat...

And the arm that remained wrapped around him even in sleep...

Kihyun finally closed his eyes.

And he too drifted off to sleep in the arms of the person he loved more than anything else.

——

Morning arrived quietly this time, and golden sunlight slipped through the curtains, filling the room with a soft warmth.

Hyungwon woke up first.

But he did not move.

He remained lying on his side, resting his head on one hand while silently watching Kihyun sleeping beside him.

Kihyun looked so peaceful...

His hair was scattered across the pillow, and half of his face was buried beneath the blanket while his breathing remained slow and steady.

A smile appeared on Hyungwon’s face without him realizing it.

Every time he woke up and saw him beside him like this, he felt something warm settle quietly inside his chest.

After a moment, he moved a little closer, then slowly raised his hand and lightly brushed his fingertips across Kihyun’s nose in an intentionally annoying way.

Kihyun shifted slightly, frowning sleepily, but he did not wake up.

Hyungwon laughed softly.

“You’re stubborn even when you’re asleep.”

Then his fingers moved to Kihyun’s neck, teasing him lightly and making him squirm again as he tried to hide deeper inside the pillow.

But Hyungwon did not stop.

Instead, he moved closer and this time slowly ran a finger across Kihyun’s lips.

Kihyun’s eyelashes trembled slightly at the touch.

As for Hyungwon, his voice lowered as he whispered near him in a warm, gentle tone:

“My love...”

He leaned closer until his lips were almost touching Kihyun’s hair.

“Wake up.”

Kihyun slowly opened his eyes afterward, still completely sleepy.

He blinked several times before finally focusing on Hyungwon’s face, which was very close to his.

“…Why are you bothering me so early in the morning?”

Hyungwon laughed quietly, then gently ran his fingers through his hair.

“Because you’re very cute when you’re sleeping.”

Kihyun sighed and closed his eyes again tiredly.

“Let me sleep for five more minutes.”

But Hyungwon immediately moved closer and buried his face near Kihyun’s neck, deliberately bothering him even more.

“No.”

Kihyun finally smiled despite himself, then slowly lifted his arm and wrapped it around Hyungwon’s neck as he mumbled sleepily:

“…You’re annoying.”

Hyungwon lifted his head to look at him, then smiled a small smile filled with affection.

“But I’m your favorite annoyance.”

And unfortunately...

He was absolutely right.

——

Hyungwon suddenly moved closer until he was directly above Kihyun, supporting himself with his arms on either side of Kihyun’s head on the pillow.

Kihyun’s eyes widened immediately at the sudden movement.

“H... Hyungwon?”

But Hyungwon was looking at him differently this morning...

Calmly, yet filled with something that made Kihyun’s heart start racing from the very first moment.

He leaned a little closer, then whispered in a low, husky voice, still rough from sleep:

“Yesterday, I was really tired...”

He slowly brushed his fingers along Kihyun’s cheek as he continued:

“And I fell asleep without even realizing it.”

Kihyun’s breathing trembled lightly as he continued staring at him in silence.

As for Hyungwon, he leaned closer until his warm breath brushed directly against Kihyun’s face.

“But now...”

A small smile appeared on his lips, making Kihyun’s stomach tighten with a pleasant nervousness.

“I have a lot of energy.”

Before Kihyun could respond, Hyungwon leaned down and placed a light kiss on the tip of his nose.

Then he whispered warmly:

“I missed kissing you.”

Kihyun felt his heart completely weaken at those words.

He opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, maybe protest shyly as usual...

But Hyungwon did not give him the chance.

He lowered his head immediately and captured his lips in a firm kiss filled with all the longing he had held back since the night before.

Kihyun let out a soft gasp of surprise, but it lasted only a brief moment before he completely gave in to him.

It was a warm, deep kiss that instantly scattered Kihyun’s thoughts, while his hands unconsciously clutched Hyungwon’s shirt.

As for Hyungwon, he moved closer as he kissed him, as though making up for every moment he had spent sleeping instead of staying awake beside him.

He slowly ran a hand through Kihyun’s hair while the kiss gradually became slower and gentler.

When he finally pulled away after a short moment, he remained very close to him, their breaths still mingling together.

Kihyun’s lips were slightly flushed, and his eyes were half-lidded from embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon smiled as he gently brushed his thumb across Kihyun’s lips.

“...Yeah, I really did miss you.”

——

Hyungwon moved closer to him again as if he still had not had enough, then captured Kihyun’s lips in a stronger kiss this time, filled with the longing and urgency he had been trying to hold back for so long.

Kihyun’s breath immediately trembled beneath the kiss.

Hyungwon’s lips pressed slowly and insistently against his, moving between his upper and lower lip as though he were trying to memorize every detail of them.

As for Kihyun, he felt his mind gradually slipping away with every kiss.

He lifted his hands and gripped Hyungwon’s shirt more tightly, while a soft, trembling moan escaped him in the middle of the kiss before he even realized it.

Hyungwon took advantage of the opportunity and slipped his tongue into his mouth.

A small gasp escaped Kihyun the moment he felt it.

Then their tongues began to move together slowly and eagerly within the deep kiss.

And their breaths mingled more and more with every passing second.

And then...

The look in Hyungwon’s eyes changed completely.

He moved closer and deepened the kiss slowly, in a way that immediately made Kihyun gasp and squeeze his eyes shut from sheer flustered emotion.

The kiss was long and heated enough to make the entire world feel very far away from them.

Hyungwon kissed him as though he had truly missed him all night.

And Kihyun returned the kiss without any ability to pull away or think.

The minutes passed very slowly while their breaths continued to mix together, and their fingers remained tangled with each other as though neither of them wanted to let go.

Until they finally began to run out of air.

Only then did Hyungwon pull back quickly to catch his breath, and the moment their tongues parted—

a long strand of saliva stretched between them for a brief moment.

Both of them were breathing softly and unevenly from the length and intensity of the kiss.

As for Kihyun, he continued staring at him with completely dazed eyes, his face visibly flushed.

Hyungwon slowly lifted his hand and gently touched his cheek, while a small smile appeared on his lips, tired and warm at the same time.

Then he whispered in a soft, husky voice:

“...Good morning.”

Kihyun finally smiled despite his rapid breathing, then whispered back in a quiet, tired voice:

“Good morning...”

He thought for a moment that Hyungwon would be satisfied with that long kiss, especially after the way they had both been left breathless just seconds earlier.

But it seemed that Hyungwon had no intention of stopping so easily.

Because the moment he heard his voice, he moved closer again and buried his face directly in Kihyun’s neck.

Kihyun let out a soft gasp when he felt his lips brushing slowly against his neck, kissing him gently as though he were enjoying every reaction he got from him.

“H... Hyungwon...”

His name slipped out in a trembling voice as he unconsciously closed his eyes.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon continued kissing his neck with deliberate calmness, leaving scattered warm kisses that made Kihyun’s breathing grow more and more unsteady.

At the same time...

His hands moved slowly over Kihyun’s shirt, undoing the buttons one by one without any hurry.

Kihyun immediately felt his heart racing wildly when he realized what he was doing.

He opened his eyes quickly and looked at him with obvious confusion.

“H... Hyungwon, what are you doing?”

But Hyungwon did not lift his head right away.

Instead, he left one last kiss near his neck before whispering in a warm, low voice:

“I love you.”

Kihyun’s breath caught for a brief moment.

Because the way he said those words...

Was so sincere that it melted away some of his nervousness.

Hyungwon finally lifted his head and looked at him calmly, while his fingers remained resting on the last button he had undone on his shirt.

“You’ve been so beautiful since the moment you woke up...”

Kihyun’s face immediately turned completely red, but this time he did not push him away.

Instead, he slowly lifted his hand and ran his fingers through Hyungwon’s hair while looking at him with eyes filled with both confusion and affection.

Then he whispered with genuine shyness:

“...And you make me unable to think.”

——

Hyungwon slowly lowered himself again, while his hands remained wrapped around Kihyun’s waist as though he did not want to be away from him even for a moment.

Then his kisses began to move from Kihyun’s neck to his exposed collarbones, with a slow attentiveness that made Kihyun’s body tremble beneath his touch.

Kihyun let out a soft gasp when he felt his lips against his sensitive skin, while Hyungwon’s fingers gently traced along his sides at the same time.

He left scattered warm kisses across his collarbone and chest, and with every kiss, Kihyun felt his heart lose its balance a little more.

“Hyungwon...”

His name slipped from his lips in a weak whisper as he finally closed his eyes, completely surrendering to the emotions Hyungwon was surrounding him with.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon lifted his eyes toward him for a brief moment, noticing his trembling breaths and the way his fingers clung nervously to the blanket beneath him.

A small warm smile appeared on his lips.

Then he leaned closer and left another kiss near his collarbone before whispering in a low voice:

“I love it when you call my name like that.”

Kihyun’s eyelashes trembled even more, while he slowly lifted a hand and ran his fingers through Hyungwon’s hair, as though searching for something to hold onto amid all that confusion.

The warmth of his lips, his gentle touches, and the way he treated him as though he were the most precious thing in his hands...

It was enough to make Kihyun completely lose himself in him.

He opened his eyes slightly afterward and looked at him through uneven breaths.

Then he smiled with a small, shy smile and whispered:

“...You’re really dangerous when you wake up.”

Before Kihyun could finish his sentence, Hyungwon had already moved lower again, leaving warm kisses trailing down across his chest until he reached his stomach.

Kihyun immediately gasped when he felt his lips brushing against his skin in that slow, deliberate way.

His body quickly shivered beneath him, while his fingers unconsciously gripped the pillow beside him.

“H... Hyungwon...”

His name escaped on trembling breaths, making Hyungwon lift his eyes toward him for a brief moment.

And Kihyun’s gaze alone was enough to make his heart soften completely.

He moved closer again and placed another kiss on his stomach, this time even slower, as though enjoying every little shiver that passed through his body.

Meanwhile, Kihyun was completely immersed in Hyungwon’s touches and attention.

He felt his breathing quicken with every kiss, while his hands hesitated between pushing him away out of embarrassment... or pulling him even closer.

But in the end, his heart always won.

He finally lifted his hand and gently ran his fingers through Hyungwon’s hair while whispering with obvious shyness and vulnerability:

“...You’re making me lose my mind.”

Hyungwon smiled softly when he saw Kihyun’s obvious fluster and the effect his touches had on him, then pulled back slightly.

Kihyun watched him with quickened breaths and dazed eyes, before his eyes widened a little when Hyungwon began slowly taking off his shirt.

Kihyun felt his heart pound violently inside his chest.

Even after all this time...

The sight of Hyungwon could still steal his breath away with ease.

As soon as Hyungwon removed his shirt, he immediately returned to him and lay beside him on the bed.

He first moved to his lips and placed a long, gentle kiss there, making Kihyun close his eyes instantly, before slowly pulling away to leave scattered kisses across his cheek and neck.

His touches were filled with love more than anything else.

He kissed him as though he wanted to tell him everything he felt without using words.

He left kisses across his chest, then returned to his neck again, while his hands moved affectionately along his sides and back.

As for Kihyun, he was completely lost in him.

In the warmth of his lips.

And in the way he treated him as though he were the most precious thing in his hands.

He slowly lifted his arms and wrapped them around Hyungwon’s neck, pulling him closer whenever he moved away for even a moment.

And when Hyungwon finally returned to kiss his lips again, Kihyun immediately returned the kiss this time without hesitation, as though he had missed it even during the few seconds they had been apart.

Hyungwon continued kissing him slowly and tenderly, while Kihyun remained completely surrendered in his arms, feeling his heart overflow with love with every touch and every kiss he was given.

The kiss continued between them, slow, warm, and deep enough to make Kihyun feel as though the entire world had disappeared around them.

Hyungwon’s fingers moved gently through his hair while he remained so close that Kihyun could no longer tell where his own breaths ended and Hyungwon’s began.

And when they finally pulled apart to catch their breath, their foreheads remained pressed together.

Kihyun was breathing softly, his eyes half-lidded from embarrassment and from all the emotions Hyungwon had overwhelmed him with since they woke up.

As for Hyungwon, he looked at him for a long moment before smiling a small smile full of affection.

“You’re so beautiful...”

Kihyun’s face immediately turned red, but this time he did not run away or protest.

Instead, he lifted his hand and gently touched Hyungwon’s cheek before whispering in a soft, sincere voice:

“...And you make me very happy.”

——

Hyungwon’s expression paused for a brief moment at those words.

As if they had struck him directly in the heart.

After that, he moved closer and placed a gentle kiss on Kihyun’s forehead, then quietly pulled him against his chest so that Kihyun’s head rested over his heart once again.

A warm and comfortable silence settled between them, one that needed no additional words.

Only the sound of their breathing, the morning light filtering through the curtains, and the warmth of arms holding each other as though they were the only safe place in the world.

Hyungwon whispered it in a low, warm voice near Kihyun’s ear while continuing to hold him against his chest beneath the blanket.

“I wouldn’t mind staying in bed all day... kissing you like this.”

Kihyun felt his heart beat hard at those words, then lifted his head slightly to look at him.

The look in Hyungwon’s eyes was so calm and sincere that Kihyun smiled shyly without realizing it.

“Wouldn’t you get tired of it?”

he asked softly, while his fingers continued to play with the strands of Hyungwon’s hair near him.

Hyungwon immediately smiled and slowly ran a hand along his back.

“Of you?”

He leaned closer and placed a short kiss on the tip of his nose before continuing in a whisper:

“Impossible.”

A faint blush appeared on Kihyun’s face, but this time he let out a genuine soft laugh before moving closer and settling more comfortably against him.

“You’re dangerous when you say things like that first thing in the morning.”

Hyungwon laughed quietly, then wrapped his arms around him more tightly, as though he was happy simply to have him there between them.

“Then don’t make me stop.”

Kihyun looked up at him for a moment, then finally smiled a soft smile full of affection.

In the end, he leaned closer and placed a quiet kiss on Hyungwon’s lips himself this time, as though answering without words that he did not want that moment to end either.

Hyungwon immediately returned the kiss, slowly and gently this time, as though he simply wanted to enjoy being close to him without rushing anything.

The kiss was soft and warm, filled with the love that had become obvious in every touch between them.

When Kihyun pulled back slightly, he remained very close, their noses lightly brushing together.

Hyungwon smiled immediately.

“So, you finally started kissing me first.”

A faint blush returned to Kihyun’s face as he buried half of it near Hyungwon’s neck shyly.

“...Don’t get used to it.”

Hyungwon laughed softly, then gently ran a hand through his hair.

“Too late.”

Kihyun lifted his head to look at him with a small protest, but Hyungwon’s calm gaze made him forget what he had wanted to say in the first place.

Afterward, Hyungwon leaned closer and kissed his forehead slowly, then his cheek, before returning to place another light kiss on his lips.

“I love our days like this.”

he whispered while pulling him closer.

“Away from everyone... just you and me.”

A great warmth spread through Kihyun’s chest at those words.

Then he sighed comfortably as he settled more fully on top of him, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

“Me too.”

A comfortable silence settled between them afterward while the sunlight grew warmer inside the room and the distant sound of the sea reached them softly.

Several minutes passed with them simply holding each other and exchanging small scattered kisses without any hurry, as though the entire world had stopped outside that room.

Eventually, Kihyun lifted his head slightly and whispered with a sleepy smile:

“...But if we stay like this all day, we’ll get hungry again.”

Hyungwon immediately laughed, then pulled him even closer as though refusing to let him go.

“Then we’ll order room service again.”

Kihyun smiled faintly and closed his eyes, enjoying his warmth while Hyungwon continued gently stroking his hair, as though he never wanted that peaceful moment to end.

——

Kihyun lifted his head slightly from Hyungwon’s chest and asked with a hint of shyness while fidgeting with the edge of his shirt:

“...So, this is what a honeymoon is?”

Silence settled for a brief second.

Then a slow, mischievous smile appeared on Hyungwon’s lips.

“Mm?”

He raised an eyebrow, looking at him with obvious amusement.

“And what kind of honeymoon exactly do you want?”

Kihyun’s eyes widened immediately.

“H-Hyungwon, that’s not what I mea—”

But he never finished his sentence.

Because Hyungwon suddenly moved and hovered over him on the bed again, bracing himself on either side of Kihyun’s head while looking down at him with that playful expression that always made Kihyun’s heart lose its balance.

Kihyun let out a soft gasp, staring up at him with visible nervousness.

As for Hyungwon, he slowly leaned closer until their cheeks were almost touching, then whispered near his ear in a low, warm voice:

“I thought staying with you and kissing you all morning would be enough.”

Kihyun’s breathing immediately trembled.

But Hyungwon didn’t pull away.

Instead, he remained above him, watching his obvious embarrassment as if he enjoyed it more than anything else.

“But now...”

He moved a little closer.

“I’m curious.”

Kihyun closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the heat in his face grow stronger and stronger.

“You smile like that on purpose just to scare me.”

Hyungwon laughed quietly, then gently brushed his fingers over Kihyun’s cheek.

“And why would I scare my husband on our honeymoon?”

Kihyun opened his eyes and looked at him in flustered protest, but the problem was that Hyungwon was so close that all his thoughts vanished.

Then suddenly...

Hyungwon leaned down and lightly kissed the tip of his nose.

“Relax.”

he whispered with a small smile.

“I just wanted to see your face when you get nervous.”

Kihyun grumbled shyly and lightly smacked his shoulder.

“...You’re terrible.”

But Hyungwon immediately caught his hand and gently kissed his fingertips before looking at him again with that warm gaze that always made Kihyun’s heart soften.

“And yet... you love me very much.”

———

After several days filled with thier private moments and endless kisses throughout their stay in Jeju, the two finally returned to Seoul.

The exhaustion of the trip home was obvious on both of them, especially since Hyungwon had spent half the flight holding Kihyun’s hand so he wouldn’t get anxious on the plane again.

And the moment they arrived home and opened the door—

Minhyuk appeared in front of them immediately, as if he had been waiting behind the door for hours.

“You’re finally back!”

Before either of them could even take off their shoes, a flood of questions began.

“How was the photoshoot? Are the pictures good? Was the hotel nice? Was the ocean beautiful? And—”

Then he suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked between them suspiciously.

“...And how was the honeymoon?”

Kihyun immediately choked.

“M-Minhyuk!”

As for Hyungwon, he remained annoyingly calm as always.

In fact, he calmly removed his coat and said:

“It was wonderful.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened in shock as he quickly turned toward him.

But Minhyuk was already stepping closer with excitement.

“Really?! Tell me everything!”

Kihyun sighed and buried his face in his hands.

“Why are you asking him in the first place...”

But nothing could stop Minhyuk.

He immediately began circling around them while throwing questions nonstop.

“Did you take lots of pictures? Is it true you stayed in the same bathtub during the shoot? And was your chemistry really that good, or was the director exaggerating?”

Kihyun froze completely.

“...Who told you about the bathtub?”

Minhyuk flashed a huge grin.

“The internet is faster than both of you.”

Hyungwon finally burst out laughing while Kihyun’s face turned completely red.

“Hyungwon, don’t laugh!”

But Hyungwon calmly stepped closer and wrapped an arm around Kihyun’s waist as naturally as breathing, seemingly oblivious to his embarrassment.

Minhyuk noticed immediately.

Then he pointed at them with exaggerated shock.

“Look at you two! You came back even more attached than before!”

“We are not—”

But before Kihyun could finish his protest, Minhyuk interrupted him again.

“Did you kiss each other by the ocean?”

This time Kihyun let out a genuine shocked gasp.

Meanwhile, a slow smile spread across Hyungwon’s face, making Minhyuk immediately shout:

“So, you really did!”

“MINHYUK!!”

Hyungwon laughed openly at last while Kihyun looked moments away from dying of embarrassment and buried his face in Hyungwon’s shoulder in complete defeat.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk kept pointing at them triumphantly.

“I knew sending the two of you alone to Jeju was a very dangerous idea!”

Minhyuk continued laughing as he watched Kihyun literally hiding behind Hyungwon out of embarrassment.

“Oh my god, your face is so red!”

“Be quiet...”

Kihyun muttered in a muffled voice while still hiding his face in Hyungwon’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon was enjoying the entire scene.

He even raised a hand and gently patted Kihyun’s hair as if he were comforting him, despite the smile on his face clearly saying he was enjoying every second of his suffering.

Minhyuk watched them for a moment before narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

“...Wait.”

Kihyun cautiously lifted his head.

Then Minhyuk stepped closer and pointed at Kihyun’s neck in obvious shock.

“What are those marks?!”

Kihyun froze completely.

The very next second, he slapped a hand over his neck at lightning speed.

As for Hyungwon...

He burst out laughing immediately.

“HYUNGWON!!”

Kihyun gasped as he turned toward him with an expression of pure betrayal.

But Hyungwon was genuinely laughing this time, while Minhyuk slowly raised an eyebrow.

“Oh...”

Then he looked between them with a wicked grin.

“So, the honeymoon was very successful, I see.”

“Minhyuk, I’m going to throw you out of this house.”

Kihyun said despairingly while trying to pull his collar closed.

But Minhyuk still wasn’t done.

Instead, he stepped closer like a real detective.

“How many are there? Let me see.”

“Don’t come near me!”

Hyungwon laughed again as he watched Kihyun retreat backward while Minhyuk chased after him around the living room purely to tease him more.

Eventually, Hyungwon wrapped an arm around Kihyun’s waist and pulled him closer until he was completely hiding behind him.

“Save me from him.”

Kihyun muttered in embarrassed complaint, making Hyungwon’s heart soften immediately.

So, he looked at Minhyuk calmly and said:

“Stop teasing him.”

Minhyuk raised both hands in fake surrender.

“Alright, alright.”

Then he added while trying to suppress his laughter:

“But honestly... I didn’t expect Kihyun to come back with that many marks.”

Kihyun immediately buried his face in Hyungwon’s back in complete despair.

Meanwhile, Hyungwon smiled a small, satisfied smile as he gently ran a hand through his hair.

And at that moment, Minhyuk realized only one thing...

The Jeju trip had made them even more attached to each other in a way neither of them could hide anymore.