Ji-Won’s eyes remained closed, though he was fully awake. His mind replayed the last thing he remembered—being with Youn-Jae in the bathroom, their intimate moments blending into a haze.

"Shit! did I really pass out in the middle of that?" Ji-Won muttered to himself, eyes fluttering open. He tried to move but felt a comforting weight against his stomach. Lifting the blanket slightly, he realized Youn-Jae was cuddling him, one arm draped over Ji-Won’s waist, holding him close. Youn-Jae’s warmth was soothing, easing the chill Ji-Won hadn’t noticed until now.

Youn-Jae stirred, sensing Ji-Won’s movement, and slowly opened his eyes. "You're awake now?" he murmured, pulling back slightly but keeping his gaze soft on Ji-Won. "You slept the entire day. You passed out, you know?" Youn-Jae teased with a playful smirk.

Ji-Won’s cheeks flushed deeply, a mix of embarrassment and the lingering warmth from their closeness. "Sir, please don’t tease me," he pleaded softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Youn-Jae chuckled, the sound warm and genuine, catching Ji-Won off guard. It was rare to see Youn-Jae so relaxed, his laughter so unguarded. "Okay, okay, I’ll stop," Youn-Jae said, still smiling. "Let’s eat first, then maybe we can go for a walk afterward?"

Ji-Won watched him, a quiet awe settling in his chest. "Is this really him? It’s the first time I’ve seen him laugh like that—so freely," Ji-Won thought, unable to suppress a small smile of his own. Slowly, he sat up, feeling the softness of the bed beneath him and the lingering warmth of where Youn-Jae had been beside him.

"Actually, Sir," Ji-Won began hesitantly, his voice still carrying a touch of shyness. "Can we walk first?"

Youn-Jae raised an eyebrow, amused by Ji-Won’s sudden eagerness. "You sure got all your strength back after sleeping all day, huh!" Youn-Jae teased lightly, but there was a fondness in his eyes that made Ji-Won’s heart skip a beat.

Ji-Won nodded, his confidence growing slightly as he met Youn-Jae’s gaze. "I feel…better now. Let’s go."

Youn-Jae nodded, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from Ji-Won’s face, his touch gentle. “Alright then, let’s get going,” he said, his voice softening.

***

“Enjoy yourself, Won. We’re leaving tomorrow.” Youn-Jae patted Ji-Won on the head as they walked along the sand, a gentle smile on his face.

“Sir, thank you so much. Honestly, I’d love to come back here with you again,” Ji-Won said, his voice sincere, eyes reflecting a deep sense of contentment and happiness.

They sat quietly on the sand for a while, basking in the serene beauty of their surroundings. The calming rhythm of the sea and the warmth of the moment made them both feel a profound sense of relief and comfort. Their connection deepened with each passing second.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind.

“Sir”

Youn-Jae and Ji-Won turned around to see Secretary Min approaching. He had driven all the way to Gangwon-do in a hurry. His face was tense and urgent. Youn-Jae stood up abruptly, leaving Ji-Won behind as he walked towards Secretary Min.

“What are you doing here?” Youn-Jae asked, his tone edged with concern.

“President, we need to go back to Seoul,” Secretary Min said, his voice clipped and rushed, glancing nervously at Ji-Won to ensure he wouldn’t hear him address Youn-Jae as President. He shifted his weight, a subtle sign of his anxiety.

Ji-Won, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, appeared behind Youn-Jae, bowing politely to Secretary Min. His posture was straight, but a frown tugged at the corners of his mouth as he instinctively sensed the tension. The three of them walked back into the villa, the air thick with unspoken worries.

“So, what’s wrong? Why the sudden urgency?” Youn-Jae asked, his brow furrowing as he tried to grasp the situation. He crossed his arms, an unconscious gesture of protectiveness as he searched Secretary Min’s face for answers.

Secretary Min hesitated, his discomfort evident as he darted a glance at Ji-Won. Youn-Jae’s gaze sharpened, a storm brewing behind his eyes as he caught on to the underlying gravity of the moment.

“Won—go upstairs and get ready. We’re leaving now,” Youn-Jae’s voice was firm, brooking no argument, his jaw set with determination.

Ji-Won didn’t question it. He nodded, the uncertainty gnawing at him, and hurried up the stairs, racing to get ready. Once Secretary Min was sure Ji-Won was out of earshot, he turned to Youn-Jae, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the news he was about to deliver.

After ten minutes, Ji-Won returned downstairs, fully prepared to leave. However, his heart sank when he found only Secretary Min in the living room. Youn-Jae was nowhere in sight.

“Sir Kyle has already left in his car. You’ll be riding with me,” Secretary Min said, his tone apologetic yet firm, a shadow of sympathy flickering in his eyes.

Ji-Won’s face fell into a mask of sadness and devastation. The world around him dimmed as he processed the reality that Youn-Jae had left without even saying goodbye. Words failed him, and he followed Secretary Min outside, each step heavier than the last.

The drive back to Seoul was somber. The silence in the car felt like a suffocating blanket, punctuated only by Ji-Won’s despondent gaze fixed out the window. The cityscape blurred past, a reflection of the turmoil roiling within him.

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After an hour, Secretary Min dropped Ji-Won near the café. Ji-Won’s expression remained unchanged as he thanked Secretary Min for the ride, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Please, let Sir Kyle know I’m grateful for the vacation,” he managed, though his heart was not in it. He promised to wait for Youn-Jae’s call or message. Secretary Min nodded, his face lined with concern. “Take care, Won,” he said softly, sighing deeply as Ji-Won closed the car door.

As Ji-Won walked toward the café, he noticed the usual lights were dim, and the place was unusually quiet. Through the window, he spotted Uncle Baek and Byeong-Ho seated at a table, their expressions grave as they engaged in a serious discussion. Byeong-Ho rushed to open the door as Ji-Won approached, his eyes wide with urgency.

“Hyung! We’ve been waiting for you,” Byeong-Ho’s tone was rushed, lacking its usual excitement, his hands fidgeting at his sides.

Upon entering, Ji-Won noticed boxes and items were missing from their usual places, a jarring sight that made his stomach churn.

“What’s happening here? Uncle? Byeong-Ho?” Ji-Won’s voice trembled with confusion, his brows knitting together in distress.

Uncle Baek stood up, holding an eviction notice with trembling hands. He handed it to Ji-Won, his heart heavy with the burden of delivering such devastating news. “We’re leaving today, Ji-Won. We have to,” he said, his voice breaking slightly.

“What? This must be a mistake,” Ji-Won protested, desperation rising in his voice as he took a step back, feeling as if the ground was shifting beneath him.

“I know they’ve given us six months, but they didn’t explain why the sudden change,” Uncle Baek replied, his tone resigned as he slumped slightly in his chair, the weight of uncertainty heavy on his shoulders. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that spoke of his frustration and helplessness.

“There could be a misunderstanding,” Ji-Won insisted, his voice rising with urgency as he searched frantically for his phone, his fingers trembling as they navigated through the contacts. He pressed the call button for Youn-Jae, but the call failed to connect. Panic gripped him, tightening his chest as he dialed repeatedly, each failed attempt amplifying the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

“Why isn’t he answering?” Ji-Won muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed in distress, his heart racing as frustration mounted. He felt as if the ground was slipping beneath him, and he struggled to comprehend how everything they had fought for was crumbling so suddenly.

“Just wait here, Uncle,” Ji-Won said through gritted teeth, his jaw clenched in determination. The frustration was palpable in his voice as he turned on his heel, urgency propelling him out of the café. He clutched his phone tightly, as if it could somehow bridge the distance between him and Youn-Jae.

His heart pounded heavily in his chest as he ran, each beat echoing in his ears, torn between heading to his apartment or the office. The world around him blurred, his mind a chaotic mess consumed by the urgent need to speak with Youn-Jae and get clarity on the situation.

***

Youn-Jae was nowhere to be found—neither at his apartment nor his office. The hollow ache in Ji-Won’s chest grew with every step he took back toward the café, his head lowered in despair. His phone, gripped tightly in his hand, felt like dead weight. Desperation crawled up his throat as he tried calling Youn-Jae again. The phone rang endlessly before cutting off, a bitter reminder of the growing distance between them.

Ji-Won sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping as he stared at the screen, anxiety gnawing at him. His thumb hovered over the call button, hesitant. A part of him feared what he might hear, yet the urge to understand, he dialed once more, heart pounding in his ears as the phone rang.

This time, Youn-Jae answered.

"Hello," Youn-Jae's voice was flat, devoid of the warmth.

"Sir! I need to talk to you. Where are you?" Ji-Won’s voice trembled, urgency and desperation spilling from his words.

“I can’t talk right now,” Youn-Jae replied curtly, the coldness in his tone cutting like a knife through Ji-Won’s chest.

“How about later or tomorrow? I think there’s a misunderstanding about the building,” Ji-Won pleaded, a frantic edge to his voice. His mind raced, grasping for any explanation, any lifeline to pull them out of this darkness.

“There’s no misunderstanding, Won.” Youn-Jae’s voice was emotionless, final, as if he’d already made up his mind.

“Huh? What do you mean, Sir?” Ji-Won’s heart sank, confusion and fear swirling in his gut. His hand gripped the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white, dread creeping in.

“Won, I need to hang up now,” Youn-Jae replied, his tone cold.

"Wa... wait, Sir. Let’s talk about this!" Ji-Won’s voice cracked, panic rising as he felt the situation slipping through his fingers like sand. A chill ran down his spine, his stomach twisting with the fear that he was about to lose everything.

"I have a flight to catch." Youn-Jae stated, dismissive, as if Ji-Won’s words didn’t matter, as if the conversation meant nothing.

"What flight? Where are you going, Sir? Please, we need to talk—I need to talk to you." Ji-Won’s voice trembled, his heart pounding violently in his chest. His breaths came in shallow bursts, the weight of impending heartbreak threatening to crush him.

"Don’t wait for me from now on. Do you understand?" Youn-Jae’s words struck like a sledgehammer, leaving Ji-Won momentarily breathless, his chest tightening with the force of unspoken pain.

"Sir! Did I do something wrong?" Ji-Won’s voice wavered, raw and desperate, as he reached out instinctively, his trembling hands grasping at air. "Please… I’ll fix it. I’ll do better—just don’t do this to me." His heart ached, the words spilling from him in a torrent of confusion and hurt. "I really thought… we were starting to walk the same path, to understand each other."

"Stop, Won," Youn - Jae tone as sharp as broken glass. "You heard me. Don’t wait for me."

Ji-Won’s chest tightened, dread building like a storm. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears.

“I don’t have any intention of going further with you, or taking this any further,” Youn-Jae’s voice was steady, too steady, masking the weight of his own words. “I only wanted to mess around with you, to play with you.”

Ji-Won felt the ground beneath him disappear. His breath caught in his throat as disbelief and agony twisted inside him. He opened his mouth to speak but found no words.

“I never imagined I would develop feelings for you.” Youn-Jae’s confession was like a final blow, driving the knife deeper.

Each word was a dagger, twisting in Ji-Won’s chest, slicing through the fragile hope he had held onto. His knees weakened, and his vision blurred with unshed tears. The pain was unbearable, a suffocating weight crushing his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Youn-Jae’s voice echoed in his mind, cold and detached, tearing him apart.

The phone slipped from Ji-Won’s trembling hand, crashing to the floor with a hollow thud. His body followed, collapsing in a heap beside the phone. His legs gave way as if the world had collapsed beneath him. He could feel the life draining from his limbs, his mind spiraling into chaos.

Before darkness fully claimed him, Ji-Won’s trembling lips parted, his voice barely a whisper, fractured and raw. “I wish I’d never met you….”

The world faded around him, consumed by the unbearable weight of heartbreak.

***

“Hyung… what happened?!” Byeong-Ho’s voice was panicked as he saw Ji-Won’s crumpled figure lying motionless on the ground near the café. His eyes widened in alarm as he rushed over, his heart racing with fear.

He knelt beside Ji-Won, shaking him gently, slapping his cheeks lightly, desperate to wake him. “Hyung, please wake up!”

But Ji-Won’s eyes remained closed, his face pale, his body limp.

Byeong-Ho acted swiftly, his heart pounding in his chest. He lifted Ji-Won onto his back, struggling to hold back his own panic as he hurried to the street to hail a taxi.

The story doesn't end here......