Hyathos' Lil Apple

“Let’s try this one next.”

Your eyes widen just the slightest after reading the name of the product on the sleek, metallic packaging: Ultra-Sensitive Thin condom – 0,01mm

“No.” The answer comes out immediate.

Across the table, Hyunjin only tilts his head, completely unfazed, like you’ve just told him the sky is blue instead of rejecting his idea outright. “Why not?” he innocently asks.

Because the way he says it so casually, so easily like this whole thing is just a game, like last night was just another item to check off a list— You place your mug down a little harder than necessary that it makes a muffled thudding sound against the wooden table. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

Hyunjin raises a brow. “What?”

“You,” you say, pointing at him briefly before dragging your hand back. “You treat this whole thing like it’s your playground.”

He lets out a quiet scoff, leaning back in his chair. “I am taking it seriously.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I am.”

“You’re not.”

Hyunjin straightens slightly, a hint of defensiveness slipping into his expression. “You’re the one who keeps complaining.”

“Yeah,” you didn’t even try to deny it and that seems to throw him off for half a second.

You lean forward slightly, resting your forearms on the table. “Yeah, I complain. But it’s nothing about the test.”

His eyes narrow just a little, index finger rubbing over his lower lip. “Then what?”

“It’s how you approach it,” you answer while staring at him. “You’re like a kid who just got into a candy store and wants to try everything at once.”

Hyunjin’s finger stop touching his lips as he breaks into a grin. “I mean… Who doesn’t like candy?”

Of course he’d say that. Of course, he’d further prove that he treats this like a game and if you don’t take control of this now, this entire month is going to spiral into chaos—and worse, you might start losing control of something else entirely. So you straighten up and refocus. “We need a plan.”

Hyunjin groans immediately, already leaning back again like you’ve personally offended him. “Oh, no, you’re going to un-fun this.”

You shoot him a look. Then lean forward again, just enough that your voice drops slightly. “Do you want to win that vacation?”

There’s a crease forming between his eyebrows, an obvious tell that he’s actually thinking. You gently slam the table and ask again. “Do you want to win that vacation? Yes or no?”

Hyunjin leans forward on the table and answers in conviction. “Yes.”

You nod once and lean forward on the table too. “Then listen carefully.”

His eyes are on you now, giving you all of his attention. Focused in a way that feels… different from earlier.

“I will make sure we win, if you do what I say,” you say.

“Okay.” He says it just like that. No argument. No teasing.

It catches you off guard for a fraction of a second, but you recover quickly. “Good.”

You sit back slightly, slipping into something that you’re actually good at. Control. “As of now, we take this seriously.”

Hyunjin nods. Again, there’s no complaints.

“We’re going to schedule everything properly. So we stay on track. And we follow it.”

Hyunjin’s lips curl into a small grin. “Planning, scheduling… That’s your specialty, right?”

You lift your chin slightly. “Yes.”

“Then I trust you with it,” Hyunjin says it with genuine, kind intention. You’re taken aback by it that for a brief moment, you forgot what you’re what about to say. After a while, you finally add, “But before anything else, we need rules.”

Hyunjin immediately drops his head back against the chair. A long, dramatic groan escapes him. “I knew it. You’re going to take all the fun out of this,” he grumbles with lips pouting slightly.

“Rules are important.”

“They’re boring.”

You already expected that he would say that. Instead of arguing more, you lean back in your chair, crossing your arms as you look at him evenly. “I thought you agreed to take this seriously.”

For a moment, neither of you says anything. Just a quiet standoff across the table. Hyunjin looks at you. You look right back. Both of you won’t back down.

Eventually, he exhales sharply through his nose, shoulders dropping just slightly. “Yeah, okay, fine. Let’s set some rules,” he says it like it physically pains him.

You smile and clap your hands together once, decisive. “Okay, great.”

You shift your laptop aside just enough to clear space on the table, folding your hands together like you’re about to run a meeting. Because, in a way, you are. “Alright. Ground rules.”

Hyunjin brushes his hair to the back and then slouches in his chair, already looking like he regrets agreeing to this.

“Rule number one. We do not talk about this outside of here.”

Your eyes stare straight into his eyes as you explain. “That means no talking about it in the office, in your… gym. No talking about it outside of this house.”

Hyunjin lifts a brow. “What if it’s an emergency?”

“What kind of emergency would there be that you need to tell people about testing some sex products?”

He lightly chuckles at that and shrugs, completely unhelpful. It’s clear that he asked it just for amusement.

“No talking about it outside of here. Outside of you and me,” you warn one last time.

You hold his gaze and wait until he gives the confirmation.

Hyunjin shifts slightly in his chair, then finally nods. “Okay.”

You don’t waste time to move onto the next thing. “Rule number two. We follow the plan and schedule. Exactly.”

You give him a look this time. A very specific look.

Hyunjin sees it immediately and lets out a quiet groan, dragging a hand over his face. “Yeah, yeah.”

“When the schedule says Saturday at 8. It means Saturday at 8. On the dot,” you emphasize.

He leans back like he’s being personally attacked. “This is starting to feel like military training.”

You drop your head to the side and glare at him.

He sighs and then gives you a reluctant nod. “Okay. Fine.”

You don’t fully trust it, but you decide to accept it for now. “Rule number three. We provide proper feedback and complete the evaluation forms together.”

Hyunjin perks up slightly at that. “That one’s easy.”

You narrow your eyes at him.

He grins. “We’re great at teamwork.”

You stare at him.

He leans forward slightly, resting his chin in his hand. “Based on last night, I’d say we work pretty well together.”

You look away, deciding to ignore him completely. “Moving on.”

You take a small breath before the final one. “Rule number four. After the program ends… this end.”

Hyunjin’s expression shifts like he’s hearing something he doesn’t want to hear.

“We keep this a secret. No one finds out. And that’s it.” You put on a thin smile and add, “That’ll be the end of story. Farewell. Goodbye,”

Silence settles between you again. Hyunjin tilts his head. “That’s it?”

You frown slightly. “What did you expect?”

He leans back, thinking. “Feels like we should have a happy ending.”

You snort before you can stop yourself. “This isn’t a romance movie.”

Hyunjin shakes his head immediately, persisting. “No, no—we’ll have a happy ending.”

His confidence is truly something to admire. You almost snort and open your mouth to correct him, but he cuts in.

“We finish this,” he says, gesturing vaguely between the two of you, “win the vacation, and end up sitting on a beach somewhere.”

His eyes flick up to meet yours and stares into them as he adds, “Enjoying the hell out of it.”

You don’t know how to respond to that. Because, truthfully— You’re not even sure you want that vacation as much as he does. You just want this to be done with. But right now? It’s easier to let him believe it.

So you nod. “Yeah. Okay. We’ll win that vacation.”

Hyunjin’s face lights up instantly. He raises his coffee mug, leaning forward across the table.

“Now that’s the spirit.” Then he bumps his mug against yours with a soft clink. “We’ll win that vacation!”

-

You decide to treat the testing program like a job. Not just any job—your kind of job. If this is going to work—if the two of you are actually going to get through thirty days of this without losing your mind—then it needs to run like one of your events. Timelines, clear objectives, no room for chaos. That’s how you guarantee success of a successful event. Err… you mean a successful testing program. Same thing. Mostly.

Of course, every project comes with its own set of challenges. Difficult vendors. Demanding stakeholders. Or worse— An annoying client. The kind who asks too many questions, pushes boundaries, refuses to follow directions, and still expects perfect results. And apparently, Hyunjin falls into that category.

You step into the creative team’s office and take a seat in the small meeting room, your eyes flick around almost instinctively. Once. Twice. Trying to steer clear of him. Your brows knit slightly as you sit back in your chair.

Where is he? You wonder inside your head.You scoff as you remind yourself that you should be glad he’s not here. Less of his annoying grins. Less distraction. Less… whatever this is.

You exhale quietly and open your notebook, putting your attention to the one of the creative team members on the end of the table as she introduces a few videos they designed for the event you’re handling.

In the midst of it, the door flies open and Hyunjin slips in like he owns the place, a little late, a little too relaxed for someone who’s technically not supposed to be, and the first thing he does is look at you and grin. You immediately look away and subtly roll your eyes. Of course he does that. Of course, he treats this like some sort of playground instead of a job that he needs to do. But then he steps forward, takes his place at the front, and takes the lead of the meeting.

“Alright, let’s get into it,” he begins.

And suddenly, he’s different. Gone are the goofy grin and this playfulness in him. He’s focused and professional. He moves through the presentation with ease, explaining the concepts behind the graphics, the tone of the visuals, the pacing of the videos they’ve prepared for the event. He gestures toward the screen, breaking things down in a way that’s eloquently clear and confident.

Sure, there are moments where that smirk slips through, where he throws in a light joke that gets a few chuckles around the room, but he never loses control of it. Never derails. Never crosses the line. You find yourself giving him all of your undivided attention, listening intently as he explains further because this— this version of him doesn’t quite match the one you’ve been dealing with.

The meeting wraps up before you realize it. You exchange a few notes with the creative team before gathering your things, closing your notebook and clutching it close to your chest as you’re heading out without a second thought— or at least, you try to.

Footsteps fall into pace behind you and you don’t need to look to know. “Why are you following me?” you ask, keeping your voice low to avoid being overheard.

He catches up to your pace and now walking beside you. “I’m just being a nice co-worker who walks her to the elevator,” he simply answers, grinning.

You ignore him, quickening the pace of your walking like you could outrun him and his long legs.

“So… tonight?” he asks, eyebrow raised.

“I couldn’t have been any clearer in my text,” you say with jaws slightly clenched.

Hyunjin hums but you can hear the smile in it. “I just wanted to make sure.”

He jogs the last few steps to push the button to summon the elevator. Then, he leans against the wall, arms loosely crossed in front of him.

“You’re already breaking rule number one,” you say with a tired sigh while keeping your eyes on the little screen that shows which floors the elevators are currently on.

Hyunjin only grins wider. “You can’t blame me for being excited.”

He just grins like this is not a big deal to him. Maybe it is..

You turn to face him fully now, lowering your voice even more. “The conversation ends here,” you say firmly.

For a second, he just looks at you. Then he raises his hands slightly in mock surrender, though the grin never leaves his face. “Alright, boss.”

The elevator dings open and thankfully, it’s empty. You step in immediately, pressing your floor without hesitation. You turn back just as the doors begin to slide shut and now he’s standing there, hands in his pockets, that same infuriating grin on his face.

“See you tonight,” he says, purposely waiting for the right moment to say it.

The doors close before you can respond. But the groan leaves your lips anyway, your head falling back against the elevator wall.

Unbelievable. You shake your head, staring up at the ceiling as the elevator begins to move.

Absolutely unbelievable.  And yet, despite everything, you already know you’re going to see him tonight.

-

In your house, you fall back into routine. It’s the easiest way to deal with this—treat it like preparation, like any other event you’ve handled before. The guest room becomes your project. You strip the bed first, pulling off yesterday’s sheets and replacing them with a fresh set. Smooth, clean, perfectly tucked at the corners. Next, you put clean towel, folded them neatly before putting them on the shelf in the bathroom. You pause for a second, staring at the extra toothbrush in your hand. Then you place it down, into the bathroom drawer. Because it’s part of the process. Because you like the routine. That’s all.

When you step back into the living room, the house feels ready. Peaceful and quiet, but ready. Your eyes flick to the clock and it’s 10:14 PM. Hyunjin is already late after you both set rules that very clearly stated that the two of you will follow schedule exactly. Another rule broken. You don’t even feel surprised. Just… annoyed.

Instead of dwelling on it, you decide to get ahead, grabbing the testing kit where you stored it and turn toward the kitchen. You put it on the dining table and then grab a glass, pour wine more than you intended, and take a sip almost immediately. You need it not because you’re nervous, it’s just a part of the preparation. Just getting yourself in the right mindset before he arrives. Or if he arrives.

You lean against the counter, glass in hand, staring at nothing in particular and for the first time in a long time, you learn that you’ve been living in this peaceful quiet by yourself for you don’t know how long. You have another sip of wine when the realization hits harder than you expected. This small house suddenly feels too big when you’re the only one living in it.

The knocking on the door snaps you out of your head and have the rest of the wine in one long gulp. Then you set the glass aside, shoulders squared and walk toward the door like you’re heading into something inevitable. And right before you reach for the handle, you brace yourself for impact.

“You’re late.” The words come out flat and tired the second you open the door.

Hyunjin is standing there like he wasn’t just behind schedule, completely unbothered as he lifts the bag in his hand. “And I brought us dumplings.”

His eyes curve into crescents as he smiles brightly like it would make up for the time he made you waited.

You stare at him and then sigh. You step aside anyway, pulling the door open wider. “Come in.”

The moment he walks past you, you’re already talking. “You know we agreed on punctuality, right? We literally set the schedule together and—”

“These dumplings?” Hyunjin cuts in, already heading toward the kitchen like he owns the place. “Top spot. You have to queue for like thirty minutes. Worth it though.”

You follow him, frowning. “That’s not the point, you—”

“They sell out fast too,” he continues, setting the bag down on the counter. “I almost didn’t get them.”

“Don’t shift the topic,” you scold.

He suddenly stops walking and turns on his feet, causing you to walk straight into him with a small thud. Before you can step back, his hand closes around yours. He looks down at you, expression softer now. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

The sincerity in his voice throws you off more than the lateness itself. Then, just as gently he asks, “But can we sit and eat first? These babies are getting cold,” he says, lifting the bag of food again.

“Okay,” you say in defeat.

Hyunjin places both hands on your shoulders and steers you toward the dining chair, pressing you down into it before you can protest. You look up and he’s already moving again. He pushes the testing kit to the side with his forearm. Next, he puts the bag of food on the table. His backpack dropped carelessly onto the empty chair. Then straight to your fridge like it’s his. “Do you have anything less healthy to drink…” he mutters to himself, opening it without asking first. “Oh.”

He pulls out two cans, holding them up like he’s struck gold. “Hard seltzer. Nice.”

You watch him in disbelief as he returns to the table, setting them down before finally unpacking the food.

Hyunjin opens the containers open one by one, letting the steam escapes in white curls. The smell hits you next. Warm and savory. They look ridiculously good too. He slides one container toward you. “I even got the veggie ones for you.”

You never mentioned that you only eat vegetables so it confuses you but you decide to focus on the good intention. “Thanks,” you mutter, a little perplexed.

He presses a pair of chopsticks into your hand before opening his own. “Trust me, it’s good,” he says again, already taking a pair for himself.

Curiosity wins in the end. You grab one, clamping it firmly with your chopstick and without thinking, you pop the whole thing into your mouth. Instant regret. It’s hot. Way too hot. You freeze mid-chew, eyes widening as the heat burns across your tongue.

“Slow down—” Hyunjin starts, already laughing under his breath. He scrambles to get a glass of water for you.

When he puts it in front of you, you’re busy fanning your mouth quickly, trying to cool it down before you can even chew properly. It takes a second for you to finally, manage to chew, swallow and he’s right. “It’s good,” you admit.

Hyunjin doesn’t tease you, doesn’t gloat. He just smiles a little to himself and takes a bite of his own. “Yeah,” he says simply.

The two of you fall into quiet, busy stuffing your mouths with dumplings to even talk or comment. At some point, Hyunjin nudges his container toward you and in exchange, he tries on yours.

When you steal another of his meat dumpling, your eyes somehow land on the backpack sitting on the empty chair next to his. It’s big and stuffed beyond its capacity, making you narrow your eyes in suspicion. “Why did you bring your entire life with you?”

Hyunjin glances down, then back at you, completely unfazed. “What?” he says lightly.

You point at it with your chopsticks. “That. Why is it so big? Are you going somewhere?”

Instead of answering, he just grins. The kind of grin that usually means you’re about to regret asking. He pulls the bag onto his lap and unzips it. “Let me show you.”

The first thing he pulls out is a box of cereal. “This,” he says, holding it up proudly, “is my breakfast.”

You roll your eyes. “Of course it is.”

Next is a coffee mug. It has a hand drawing on it and you assume he made it himself at some pottery classes. He sets it down carefully on the table. “My coffee mug. You’re not allowed to use it,” he says in utter seriousness.

You stare at him and scowl. “I have my own mug.”

“Good,” he replies easily, already digging back into the bag. He pulls out more things from his backpack. Laptop. Headphones. Sketchbook. A tin case full of his drawing supplies. A neatly packed toiletry bag

You watch in growing disbelief as he keeps pulling things out like he’s unpacking for a week-long trip.

“And…” he adds, pulling out a folded set of clothes, “clothes. Lots of it.”

“Why did you pack so much clothes?” you ask, horrified and confused.

He looks at you like the answer is obvious. “I can’t go to work wearing the same outfit,” he says.

“What makes you think you’re staying over again?”

Hyunjin doesn’t even hesitate. If anything, he looks like he’s been waiting for it. He props his elbow on the table, resting his chin against his palm as he looks at you, smiling. “I decide I’ll be staying over after every test.”

“But why? You have your own place.”

“Because… I like your guest room too much,” he says simply.

You glare at him, displeased.

He just grins back, completely immune to it. Like always. Without another word, he starts packing everything back into his bag—except for the cereal and the mug, which he leaves on the table like he’s already claimed territory. Then he zips it up and pats it once.

“Your guest room is mine whenever I’m here for the test,” he declares.

“But I’m the owner of the house,” you state matter-of-factly.

He looks at you, unbothered. “And what’s your question?”

You open your mouth and close it again. Honestly? It’s easier to just let him have this one.

You sigh in defeat and put down your chopsticks. “Are you done?”

He nods, satisfied.

You push your chair back slightly, standing up. “Good. Then let’s start.”

Hyunjin looks up at you, brows lifting slightly. “You’re not taking time to get ready?”

You only look at him and say, “I am ready.”

You gesture vaguely around. “Everything’s ready.”

He studies you for a second. Then, instead of responding, he reaches for the testing kit you’d already placed on the table and drags it closer to him. “You’re forgetting something.”

You already know what he’s about to grab and sure enough, it’s the aphrodisiac pills. He pops it open, tapping two pills into his palm before placing one into your hand. You stare at it like you always do. Like it might suddenly grow legs and run away. When you look up, he’s already watching you, waiting.

“Down the hatch,” he says.

Not this. Again. You dread it but you remember that you agreed to it, that you agreed on taking this seriously so that means there’s no arguing, no stalling, no finding a way out of it. You agreed to rules, schedules, products and… this.

You bring the pill to your lips and swallow it quickly, washing it down with a gulp of water before you can think too much about it. Because at this point, you’re not doing this because he’s pushing you. You’re doing it because you chose to. Because you said you would take this seriously. And for better or worse, that’s exactly what you’re doing.

-

The moment you step into the guest room, Hyunjin shrugs his backpack off his shoulder and lets it drop onto the nearby chair like it’s already claimed its place there. His eyes flick to the bed and linger there. “Did you change the bedsheets?”

You pause by the door, arms loosely crossed. “Of course.”

His lips slowly curl into that smirk again and without thinking, he launches himself onto the bed, bouncing on it like he did the first time. He plants his face into the mattress and softly inhales. “Oh… it smells so nice,” he murmurs, now flapping his arms and legs like he’s making a snow angel.

You watch him with a grimace. “Can we focus, please?”

He rolls onto his back, then lazily shifts until he’s lounging at the end of the bed, one arm tucked behind his head, completely at ease. “You need to tell me the fabric softener you use cause it smells amazing,” he says rather dramatically.

You step closer, stopping just short of the mattress. “There’s no playing around. We have products to test,” you say it like you’re scolding a five-year-old.

He opens his arms, grin widening as he gestures you to come at him. “Come here then.”

You only stare at him, unimpressed.

“Come on, baby girl,” he coaxes sweetly, inviting you into his arms.

“Hyunjin…” you sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose.

When that doesn’t work, he starts tapping his lap with both hands. “Come, sit. You’re my good girl, come on,” he coaxes again like you’re his obedient puppy.

You glare at him and firmly demand, “Get up!”

His full lips instantly curl into a pout. “Why?” he asks, like he genuinely doesn’t understand.

You exhale through your nose, already losing patience. “Because I think it’s better if we get naked now.”

That finally gets a reaction out of him. His brows lift, surprise flickering across his face before it melts into something amused. “Wow, look who’s impatient tonight,” he teasingly says.

“It’s called efficiency so we don’t waste time,” you shoot back.

A soft chuckle escapes him and he tilts his head to the side. “Why rush? It’s not like you have anything else to do—”

“Because we have work tomorrow,” you remind him.

He looks like he actually forgot about it and then nods. “Right. Right. Cool. Makes sense.”

Finally, he pushes himself up from the bed and takes a step toward you. Too close. Always too close. “So,” he says, voice dipping just slightly, “should we help each other undressing this time?”

You offer him a smile, a sly, sarcastic smile before grabbing his arms hard and turn him around at once. Then turn yourself. Now you’re standing back-to-back. A clear line drawn. “This is fine,” you mutter in satisfaction.

Behind you, you can practically hear his grin. “You know this is unnecessary, right? We’ve already seen each other naked,” he says, voice laced with amusement.

You ignore him and focus on removing your clothes, piece by piece.

“Could be helpful for the test,” he continues, far too entertained. “Visual stimulation and all that—”

You hear the sound of fabric rustling behind you, the faint sound of him moving, undressing just as casually—just as talkative.

“It would definitely improve the results,” he adds, like he’s making a serious point now.

You refuse to respond and shrug the last layer of clothing until there’s nothing left but your bare skin, slightly shivering from being exposed to the cool night air. You quickly climbing onto the bed and pulling the duvet up, clutching it close to your chest.

You tell yourself not to look. You really do. But your eyes betray you as they drift toward Hyunjin. You see his back figure in all its glory, his body is like carved alabaster, broad shoulders shifting as he pulls his inner sleeveless top, muscles moving under his skin in a way that’s distracting. Annoyingly so.

Your gaze lingers a second too long as they follow the line of his spine. The way his body moves so easily, so confidently and then he bends down, pulling his jeans off. You immediately look away but heat rushes to your face anyway as you grip the duvet tighter. You don’t need to see the rest. You definitely don’t want to acknowledge the way your mind tries to fill in the gaps anyway.

The mattress dips and you feel it before you see it. Then the duvet shifts as he slides in beside you, the warmth of his body suddenly there—close enough to feel, even without touching.

Silence settles until a while later, Hyunjin turns his head slightly, looking at you. “So… What now?”

You hesitate because you don’t think this through. Your only plan is to get this over with as soon, as efficient as possible.

“Because,” he starts, already gearing up to say something you know you won’t like, “if we actually take our time, maybe the process of—”

You don’t let him finish but lean in and press your lips against his. It shuts him up instantly as much as it surprises him. it takes him a second to properly return the kiss. You don’t think but kiss him, taking his lower lips between yours, lightly sucking at it as he does the same to your upper lip.

In the midst of it, Hyunjin pulls away just the slightest only to mutter, “Less talking, more kisses. Got it.”

With that, he crashes his mouth into yours and this time, neither of you pulls back. It’s not tentative anymore, not awkward. It’s heat meeting heat, breath tangling, mouths moving like you’re both trying to say something without words and failing, over and over again.

Hyunjin’s hands find you first. They always do. Sliding over your sides, your waist, feeling the curve of your breast, your nipple caught between his fingers as he does and he continues mapping you with a kind of focus that makes your pulse stutter. And you feel how different it is from before. Less teasing. Less careless. More intent.

You follow suit, your hands begin tracing the lines of him, learning him by touch—the rise of muscle, the dip along his waist, the bulges of his biceps, the warmth of his skin that feels almost too much the longer you keep your hands on him.

Somewhere along the way, your bodies shift closer and closer still. Until there’s barely any space left between you. Until it’s skin against skin. Warmth bleeding into warmth. The duvet tangles around your legs, forgotten, as your bodies move instinctively in small, restless motions that bring you together again and again, like neither of you can quite stay still. Your lips don’t part for long and even when you do, it’s only to take a quick, shallow breathe before you’re pulled right back in.

Hyunjin explores further, lower. Down south. The second his hand finds the heat pooling between your legs, a gasp slips out before you can stop it, caught between his lips. His fingers lightly hovering, teasing, testing…

When he pulls back slightly, his eyes flick up to yours. Asking, seeking permission. You give him a subtle nod and it’s all he needs to lean in again, capturing your mouth like he’s been waiting for that exact moment.

When his hand touches you again, it’s with certainty, full of intentions. Fingers lightly tracing around your vulva, feeling the soft flesh under his fingertips. Two fingers pressing on the folds, parting them open so he can run them in between, coaxing more arousal out of you.

At the same time, Hyunjin buries his head in your neck, lips planting there, teeth gently nibling on the skin. You feel his smile as his fingers ever so softly teasing your entrance, pushing just barely just to feel your tightness welcoming him.

“God, you’re so soft…” he whispers before planting an open-mouthed kiss on the column of your throat.

Your breath falters as you feel warmth blooming, spreading, made worse by the way he doesn’t rush it, don’t push it. And you realize, somewhere in the haze of it, you’re not just reacting anymore. Your hand slides down his front, easily finding his stiff member, hot to the touch. You wrap your fingers around him, testing, learning the same way he did with you. You trace its shape, running your fingertips along its length, curiously tracing the prominent vein coiling around it.

After a while, you begin to stroke him, lightly, intently. You closing in the hold around him to add more of that tightness feeling. You run your hand up and down, repeatedly. Feeling him grow firmer with each pump, feeling it pulsating with so much desire. You know because of the way he reacts, the way his breath catches just slightly against your neck, the way his body leans into your touch without thinking. Seeing it. Feeling it. Knowing you’re the cause — It does something to you. So you keep going. Not faster. Just steadier. More certain. And the rhythm finds you both eventually. Your bodies moving in quiet agreement, breath mixing, lips brushing skin, hands learning each other in a way that feels dangerously close to familiar. You turn your head, facing him only to catch his lips on yours again.

Time stretches. Or maybe it collapses. It’s hard to tell. All you know is that the air feels charged with something that builds and builds. Until the space between you feels like it’s holding its breath, like it’s waiting for whatever comes next.

After what feels like eternity, you pull away first, almost reluctantly —but necessary. The kiss breaks in a quiet breath, your lips parting from his, and for a moment, neither of you moves.

You just look at him and he looks… different. Gone is the smugness, the easy teasing. His eyes are wide, a little dazed, like he’s still catching up to what just happened. His lips are swollen and glistening, parted open as he exhales, and for once, he doesn’t have something clever to say.

You swallow. Then, softer than you expect, you say, “I’m ready.”

The words hang between you for a brief moment and then, something in him shifts. He just nods once, understanding right away what you mean. His hand reaches to the bedside table, fingers brushing around until he finds what he’s looking for.

When he turns back, there’s a small tube in his hand. He lifts it slightly for you to see. The package has an interesting design on it that hints at the texture and flavor of the content. Lust - Edible Lubricant.

“Cherry,” he says, a hint of that familiar grin returning. “My favorite.”

You roll your eyes, even as your pulse ticks a little faster. “Focus.”

He chuckles under his breath and obeys anyway. He flips the cap open with a soft click and immediately, the air is tinted with a sweet, fruity scent of it.  Out of curiosity, he squeezes a small amount onto the back of his hand, studying the clear, light liquid for a second before leaning in and licking it. He pauses as he tastes it. Then his brows lift, pleasantly surprised. “It actually tastes like cherry.”

You can’t help but laugh at his unexpected silliness. “What did you expect it to taste like?”

He only grins and shrugs, shifting lower on the bed until he’s hovering above, the mattress dipping under his weight. The movement alone makes you swallow air, your body already too aware of him, of how close he is, of how easily everything could tip from controlled into something else entirely. “Let’s try it on you,” his voice somehow dropping lower than before.

“Okay,” you answer even lower, almost a whisper.

He squeezes the tube until a big dollop dripping onto your arousal. You softly gasp at the sensation of the lubricant touches your sensitive bud but he continues anyway, moving his fingers in circular motions. His touch is gentler than you expect.

When he glances up, his gaze is deep. Intense. “How does it feel?”

“It has that… cool feeling… to it,” you stammer as you answer.

He only stares at you as he continues spreading the lubricant around your sex like he doesn’t want to miss a spot. He gives it extra care when he’s inching around your clit, using just his fingertip to circle on it.

You try to stay still, try to stay quiet. But it’s hard. Because he takes his time, exploring, learning, like he’s just as invested in this as you are—maybe more. A strangled voice slips past your mouth and his shoulders tense slightly at that, like he notices everything, like he files it away and then he adjusts.

And that’s when he leans in. The first lick lands between your folds, soft and careful, making your fingers curl against the sheets. The second and third licks placed on each lip, tongue collecting the lubricant in such greed like he can’t get enough of it. The rhythm changes almost instantly, his licking turns impatient now, each one hungrier than the previous. The warmth starts to build, spreading, tightening something low in your stomach.

Your hand finds his hair. Not pushing him away. Not exactly pulling him closer either. Just grounding yourself as the sensation grows, as your body starts reacting in ways you can’t quite control anymore.

“Hyunjin—”

The call comes out softer than you mean it to. Barely a protest. Barely anything at all. He hears it but doesn’t stop. If anything, there’s a shift in him—a confidence, like he knows exactly what he’s doing now. He opens his mouth wider, taking as much as he can to have more taste, more of you on him. But soon, his focus centered on your bundle of nerves, hot, wet tongue endlessly teasing on it in maddening circles.

Hyunjin can’t stop. Won’t stop. And if anything, he starts sucking on it. Gentle, steady suctions that escalate in each passing second. The pressure builds. Relentless in the gentlest way. Your breath stutters, your grip tightens, your body arching despite your best effort to stay calm until you unravel under his mouth. Your climax leaves you breathless, your head falling back against the pillow as everything fades into a warm, hazy blur.

He doesn’t pull away immediately, he lingers for just a second longer. Tongue darting out to place slow, almost lazy licks around your entrance. And then upward, between the folds, twirling it around your clit.

When he finally lifts his head, he grins. A satisfied, smug grin. Hyunjin’s grin. His lips are still slightly flushed, glistening wet around the mouth and chin, still catching his breath as he tilts his head just slightly, voice laced in amusement as he murmurs, “I just love cherry so much.”

For a moment, he stays hovering above you. Like he’s trying to memorize something. Your lips part slightly, your chest still rising and falling unevenly, and you don’t know why that makes his gaze soften—but it does. Then, slowly, he leans down. His mouth finds yours again and when your lips meet, you taste yourself on him mixed with the faint sweetness of cherry that lingers on his tongue. And as the kiss deepens, as his hand settles lightly against your side, holding you close against him, you realize that maybe cherry is your favorite too.

-

Hyunjin pulls back just enough for breath to pass between you, his face still close, his gaze flicking between your eyes and your mouth like he hasn’t quite decided which one to focus on. “I think we’re ready for the next test,” he murmurs.

Your throat feels dry all of a sudden. You swallow and nod. “Yes.”

Something in his expression tells that he’s pleased and before you can think too much about it, he leans in and steals one quick kiss from you. “Give me a second,” he says when he pulls away.

The space he leaves behind feels noticeable. He rolls onto his side, reaching over to the bedside table where the box of condom sits, unopened. You watch him as he picks it up while your body still humming faintly from earlier, your mind trying and failing to stay focused on the purpose of this.

The plastic seal tears with a soft sound. He opens the box, fingers brushing over the contents before pulling out a single foil packet. There’s something oddly focused about him now. a crease formed between his brows as he tears it open.

You push yourself up slightly, resting on your elbows without realizing it and heat creeps up your neck as you look at the stiffness, the flushed skin, the length… Even though you’ve seen it before, the sheer size of it still catches you off guard.

Hyunjin carefully rolls the rubber down his length. He adjusts it, making sure everything sits right and then he pauses. That crease between his brows appears again.

“What’s wrong?” you ask.

He glances down, then back at you, looking… oddly puzzled. “I think I got the wrong size.”

You think you misheard it. “What?”

He exhales, shifting a little like he’s uncomfortable. “It’s too tight.”

You push yourself up a bit more, reaching for the box and flipping it around to check. “This is… already XL.”

He shakes his head, still frowning slightly. “Yeah, I know. But it doesn’t feel right.”

You’re still holding the box in your hand and holding it for a minute straight as you process this new information. Because— XL? Too tight? Your brain doesn’t quite compute it. You look at him again. Then back at the box. Then back at him.

“You need bigger than that?” The question blurts out of you before you think it.

He just shrugs lightly, casually. “Looks like it.”

You gulp air because suddenly, what you thought you knew and seen and felt, doesn’t feel very accurate anymore. Before you can even process it properly, Hyunjin pushes himself off the bed. “I’ll grab the bigger one,” he says casually.

And just like that, he walks out of the guest room, fully naked. Like this is just another normal step in the process. You’re there on the bed with duvet clutched loosely in your hands, staring at the space he just left, still trying to process the fact that apparently… XL wasn’t enough.

-

When Hyunjin returns to the guest room a moment later, you focus on the box he’s carrying in his hand.  He sits on the edge of the bed, there’s a rustle of plastic as he unwraps the box of condoms. He tales another foil packet and you can barely watch with his back turned to you, but you can hear his steady low breathing as he concentrates on putting the condom on. You notice the way he checks on it after, making sure he puts it on properly, securely.

After a while, you dare yourself to ask, “Is it okay now?”

You hear him smacking his lips together and then nods. “Yeah, I think this is the right one,” he confirms.

It takes Hyunjin another moment to finally rejoins you on the bed, he doesn’t bother hiding it and you sure he isn’t planning to. You try to keep your eyes up, around the face but they betray you as they flick down, looking directly at his erected sex. And oh, the sight of his length with the layer of protection… somehow his cock looking bigger than you remember, than earlier and you suddenly feel intimidated by it.

Hyunjin moves closer, arm reaching over your side of bedside table to grab the bottle of lubricant. He squeezes it until a generous amount pile on his fingers. His lips curve into a smirk as he playfully says, “More cherry for me.”

You manage a thin smile in respond but it falters the second you feel his hand moving to part your legs open. Your breathing shallows as he’s inching closer to where you’re dripping, begging for his touch. The second it makes contact, you gasp from the wet, cool sensation of the lubricant against your heating sex.

Hyunjin squeezes the bottle right on your cunt and this time, focusing around your entrance, providing proper lubrications for penetration.

You inhale and exhale because all of a sudden, you have a hard time focusing on the way he touches you. All you're thinking about is his size and how you’re going to take him and if it's going to fit in. You’re fully aware that it's not the right time for you to overthinking it but you can't help it.

By the time Hyunjin settles himself between your legs, you start to stiffen just slightly. He seems to sense it as he lowers himself on you, one hand tenderly cupping your jaw before he leans in and kisses you. You return the kiss as best as you can, despite the thoughts that gnawing at your confidence, your steadiness.

“Ready?” he softly asks when he pulls away.

You nod, even though the motion feels heavier than it should, like your body is already bracing for something your mind hasn’t caught up with yet.

Hyunjin moves slowly, his usual teasing ease replaced with something more careful, cautious. His hand lingers at your jaw, thumb brushing lightly along your skin as if grounding you there, with him, instead of wherever your thoughts have drifted off to. “Hey,” he murmurs, softer now. “Look at me.”

You do and for a second, it works. The warmth in his gaze, the way his calm expression steadies you, just a little. But the moment stretches, long enough for the awareness creeps back in. The closeness. The reality of what you’re about to do. Your fingers curl slightly against the sheets.

He leans in, presses another kiss to your lips, gentler, like he’s coaxing rather than consuming and you respond, trying to follow his rhythm, trying to let yourself sink into it instead of overthink it. But your body doesn’t quite listen. When he shifts, when he moves closer, rubbing the tip of his cock to smear more lubricant around your entrance, your breath dips not in anticipation. But in hesitation.

It’s subtle, but he feels it. He pauses almost immediately, his body going still against yours, his hand tightening just slightly where it rests near your shoulder. “Are you okay?” he asks, voice low, searching.

“I’m fine,” you answer but it comes out thin. Unconvincing.

He doesn’t move right away, his hands come to the side of your thighs, caressing the skin in up and down motions. When you’re breathing slows, that’s when he enters himself, putting just the slightest bit of him into you.

You wince at the feeling of his blunt tip pushing its way into you, just barely. But with the way you’re tensing around him, makes the sensation painful instead of pleasurable.

He feels it. Of course, he feels it. He talks softly like he’s trying not to startle you. “Relax. You’re… tense.”

You take a second to reorganize your breathing, in and out, for a couple of times. You nod and say, “Just— I’m okay, you can continue,” you assure him but your strained voice does the opposite job.

“Sure?” he asks, the vein on his temple appearing like he’s in distress.

“Yeah,” you say, still unconvincing.

Hyunjin only nods as he tries again, more cautious now. He’s pushing just barely, not even an inch. But the moment he feels that same resistance, the same hesitation, he abruptly stops. He shakes his head, in disbelief and something else, something intense. “I don’t think—” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence but pulls back.

You quickly grab his shoulder, not letting him go. “I said I’m okay,” you insist, a little harsh.

And just like that. The warmth is gone. The space between you returns, colder than it should be.

“No.” His voice isn’t raised, but it’s firm. Final. He pulls back hard enough that it forces your hand to let go of him.

You sit up slightly, clutching the duvet closer to yourself, confusion and frustration bubbling up all at once. “We agreed—we said we’d do this seriously—”

“And you think this is it?” he cuts in, turning to look at you fully now.

There’s something different in his eyes. Annoyed. Maybe even a little hurt. Or worse — Anger. “You think I’m okay with that?” he continues, quieter but sharper. “With you forcing yourself through it just because it’s on a schedule?”

Your certainly don’t expect it. Your mouth opens, but nothing comes out at first. “That’s not what I—”

“Then what is it?” his voice slightly raises, his jaws clench and unclench. “Because it doesn’t feel like you even ready for it.”

The words tumbling out of him are harsh but they’re true. You find it hard to say anything. “I’m just… trying to follow the plan,” you manage to say, weakly.

He lets out a short breath, almost a disbelieving laugh, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. That’s the problem.”

He lets the silence fills the space, letting you have it to process what you’ve insisted to do and why he was against it. After a moment, he looks away, his voice calmer now but still firm. “We’ll do it another time.”

Your hand somehow reaches for him but he’s out of your grasp. “Hyunjin—”

“Not like this,” he firmly says.

There’s no room to argue with that tone. You know that so slowly, pull the duvet tighter around yourself, the earlier heat of the moment replaced with something far more tangled—embarrassment, frustration, something you don’t quite want to admit.

He shifts to the edge of the bed, back already turned to you, putting distance where there hadn’t been any before. He grabs his t-shirt from the floor, roughly puts his head through it like he can’t stand another second exposed to the night air.

Quietly, you gather the pile of clothes on the floor, putting on what you can and then, you slip off the bed. The room suddenly feels too small, too tense, too full of everything left unsaid.

At the door, you pause while clutching your clothes in one arm. “Goodnight,” you murmur.

Maybe you said it too low for him to hear. Maybe he’s still upset. Maybe it’s both. Because Hyunjin doesn’t turn around. His back still turned to you, like the sight of you would only anger him more. You take that as your cue to leave. You step out, closing the door softly behind you. And as you make your way upstairs, the silence follows you, echoing in your head and settling deep in your chest where the warmth used to be.

-

Upstairs, your room feels unfamiliar. Not because anything has changed, but because you have. You sit on the edge of your bed for a long moment, hands resting on your thighs, staring at nothing in particular as the quiet settles in around you. The kind of quiet that lets everything replay whether you want it to or not.

You eventually lie down, pulling the blanket over yourself, turning to one side, then the other.

Sleep doesn’t come but what comes is him. Hyunjin. The way he looks at you like he’s hurt with what you said. The way his voice shifted, raised in anger.

“Do you think I’m okay with that?”

You squeeze your eyes shut as those words echoing in the back of your head, unbidden. You’ve heard him tease, joke, push buttons just to get a reaction—but that wasn’t it. That wasn’t right. That was… real. And you pushed him there.

Your fingers curl into the sheets as the memory plays again—how you kept insisting, how you tried to brush it off like it was just another task on a checklist. How you didn’t stop, even when your own body was telling you something wasn’t right. You turn onto your back, staring up at the ceiling now as the guilt settles in slowly, like something heavy pressing down on your chest. You didn’t mean to make him feel like that. Didn’t mean to make it feel like… that. A job. A task. Something to get through.

You swallow, your throat suddenly tight. Because for a second, you realize something that makes your stomach twist. He wasn’t just stopping for you. He was stopping for himself, too.

Your hand comes up to your face, dragging down slowly as you exhale. “That’s just great,” you mutter under your breath.

Now you can’t even look at him tomorrow without remembering this. The tension. The way he looked at you. The way you made him feel. You turn to your side again, pulling the blanket closer, like that might quiet your thoughts. But it doesn’t. Because somewhere between the frustration and the embarrassment, you acknowledge the fact that he cared enough to stop and somehow, that makes you feel worse than before.

And sleep doesn’t come easy that night.

-

Morning comes whether you’re ready or not. Nothing is different as you move around your kitchen, preparing your breakfast, brewing your coffee like you always do. But in a way, it is. You can feel it in the way your thoughts keep circling back to last night, in the way your shoulders won’t quite relax no matter how many times you roll them back. You’re spreading jam onto your toast a little too carefully when you hear his slow, dragging footsteps. Your heart sinks but you brace yourself anyway.

When Hyunjin appears, he looks unfairly normal. Hair messy like he just rolled out of bed, eyes still heavy with sleep, sweatpants hanging low on his hips like he didn’t bother fixing them, the sleeves of his white t-shirt pushed up enough to expose his defined arms.

“Good morning,” he greets with a smile. Casually, a little cheerfully. Like last night didn’t happen.

You’re a little taken aback because you expect tension, strained interaction. But also, that’s possibly just the product of your overthinking. You force yourself to remain calm before turning slightly to face him, greeting him back. “Morning.”

You turn back to your toast, focusing on the task and not at Hyunjin who moves around your kitchen behind you. You don’t even have to look to know what he’s doing. There’s the sound of cabinet opens and closes, rustle of cardboard, the careless pour of cereal into a bowl—followed by the quiet crunch of the pieces that didn’t make it into the bowl.

After pouring some into your coffee, you slide the carton of milk toward him without a word.

“Thanks,” he mutters, still sounding half-asleep.

Normal. Everything is… normal. So you act accordingly. You move to the dining table with your breakfast, laptop tucked under your arm, coffee in hand, settling into your usual seat in the dining table.

Hyunjin follows not long after, a bowl of cereal in one and mug of coffee on the other. He drops into the chair across from you, taking a spoonful of cereal and then a sip of milk straight from the bowl after. He continues eating like he hasn’t had a proper meal in days while you take smaller, more controlled bites, eyes flicking between your screen and your plate. “Are you filling the evaluation forms?” he suddenly asks, voice clearer now.

You glance away from your laptop. “No. Just handling bills.”

He nods, like that answers everything, and goes back to eating. More cereal, more sips of milk straight from the bowl. Then he lifts his coffee mug close to his mouth. “Let’s reschedule,” he says.

He pauses to take a small sip of coffee before continuing. “Let’s reschedule the test. Whenever it’s convenient for you.”

Your fingers stop moving and nod slowly. “Yeah.”

“It should be this week though,” he continues, slipping his fingers through the handle and wrapped them around the mug. “If we want to stay on track.”

“Yes,” you answer in short, safe answers.

The morning is nice, sunny weather and all. There are only two of you alone in this house and he’s enjoying his breakfast. You know this would be the right time to say something about last night. But the words just piling there on the tip of your tongue, resisting to spill out of you.

Before you can even try, Hyunjin looks up from his bowl of cereal, waving his spoon in the air as he asks, “Did you take the supplement?”

“What supplement?” You ask, puzzled.

He tilts the bowl, drinking the leftover milk before answering, “The libido boosting one. From the kit.”

Oh. That. You don’t tell him it’s been sitting untouched in your kitchen drawer, deliberately out of sight. You choose not to respond but that is respond enough.

He nods, like he expected that. “You should start taking it.”

He leans back in his chair, stretching slightly, watching you with a look that feels a little too knowing. “It’s not just for that, you know. It helps with hormones. Mood. Stuff like that.”

You raise an eyebrow, highly doubting him but still say nothing.

As if he could read your thoughts, he adds with a faint grin, “You can look it up if you don’t believe me.”

You hum, noncommittal, eyes dropping back to your screen. You choose avoidance, stalling, a way out of this instead of going through it like a mature person. The words still sit heavy in your throat—but this time, you force them out anyway. “Hey, about last night.”

He only looks up from his mug of coffee, slender fingers tracing the drawing of pattern on it. “Yeah?”

You don’t look at him right away. You fix your gaze on the dining table instead. “I—” you exhale softly. “I’m sorry.”

You muster up the courage to glance up, just briefly and find him looking at you with the same eyes that looked at you in disbelief and hurt last night. But now, in this light, his warm brown eyes are of tenderness and understanding. “I was the one making it uncomfortable for both of us. I kept pushing even when… it wasn’t right,” you openly admit.

Your fingers tighten slightly around your coffee mug. “So… yeah. I’m sorry.”

For a moment, he doesn’t say anything. He just looks at you and then lets go of the coffee mug. He inhales air and licks his lips before talking. “I just… I don’t like that you thought of me as that kind of man,” his voice is low and steady, but firm in places.

You know he’s right to feel that way but the pang of guilt that hits you, it’s a little unbearable.

“Just because you think I’m this… charming playboy,” he continues, a faint hint of amusement slipping into his tone, “doesn’t mean I’d take advantage of you.”

You softly scoff at his playful words but appreciate the attempt to soften the tension.

“I’m not that kind of person. I know boundaries. And I respect them,” he adds, more seriously now.

Something in your chest shifts at that. Because he’s not joking. He’s being genuine. The room goes quiet for a beat. Then he leans back on his chair, hand reaching for his mouth, point finger rubbing at his lower lip. “I know we said we’d take this seriously, but I’d rather we do it when we’re actually ready,” he says

There’s a small shrug in his shoulders, like he’s trying to make it sound casual. “I mean, it’s not a race.”

“Yeah, I’d like that,” you say and really mean it.

He nods and picks up his spoon again like nothing monumental just happened, finishing off his cereal in a few quick bites.

The tension that’s been sitting in your chest since last night eases the moment you said it. You’re glad that things can be handled this maturely and openly. You didn’t even expect that he has those qualities in him. You sit there for a second longer, watching him. Because despite the way he jokes, the way he pushes, the way he acts like everything is a game— he’s… this grounded, thoughtful and careful in ways you didn’t expect. You hate to admit it but it catches you off guard.

“I’m gonna shower,” he says, pushing back his chair as he stands

You watch as he walks to the kitchen to put the dirty dishes in the sink but do nothing after. “Hey, wash your dishes first!” you scold.

You hear his grin first and then him shouting, “I’ll do it later.”

There it is. That the Hyunjin you know. You almost scoff. But instead, you shake your head lightly, looking back at your screen. Some things, apparently, don’t change and yet,  you can’t help the small, quiet thought that lingers in the back of your mind.

Maybe you’ve been reading him wrong this whole time.

-

When the office building comes into view, reality snaps back into place. You straighten slightly in your seat, already scanning the entrance like it’s a battlefield.

The second he parks, you’re unbuckling your seatbelt. “We can’t go in together.”

Hyunjin barely even looks at you as he turns off the engine. “Yes, we can.”

“No, we can’t. People will see,” you snap quietly.

“It’s not like we committed a crime,” Hyunjin grumbles as he fiddles with the safety belt.

“It feels like it,” you say back, shoving your phone into your bag.

He finally turns his head, eyebrow raised. “Acting like that is exactly what makes it suspicious.”

“What?”

Hyunjin’s mouth curl into a small pout and then he coyly shrugs. “If you’re this jumpy about being seen with me, people are going to assume there’s something to hide.”

You open your mouth then close it again. Because annoyingly, that makes sense. “Ugh, whatever,” you grumble as you open the car door.

So you walk in together, casually, like two coworkers who just happened to arrive at the same time. You almost start to believe it might work until the elevator doors slide open and there’s already someone in there. Someone you know. Gabe.

She looks rather pleased to see you but you notice the way her eyes flick between you and Hyunjin, widening just a fraction before she smooths it over with a warm smile. “Good morning!”

“Morning,” Hyunjin replies easily, one hand holding the strap of his backpack in one shoulder.

“Morning,” you echo, a little less enthusiastic.

The doors close and silence instantly falls in the enclosed space. You can feel all sort of questions forming in Gabe’s mind, sitting right there on the tip of her tongue. She glances at you again, clearly about to say something.

Hyunjin gets ahead of her and says what you guess is whatever crossed his mind at the moment. “I found a stray cat this morning.”

Gabe’s lips curve into an amused smile. “Oh?”

Hyunjin nods seriously, reaching over to lightly pinch the back of your blouse. Like he’s picking up a kitten.

You jolt and immediately protest. “Hey—”

“Picked it up on the way. Still deciding if I should keep it or not,” Hyunjin says with a satisfied smirk.

You shake yourself off him immediately, shooting him a glare while he just chuckles under his breath.

Gabe laughs too, clearly entertained. “Well, that’s one way to start a morning.”

Hyunjin leans back against the elevator wall, completely at ease. You, on the other hand, feel like your soul just left your body. You remain calm but inside, you’re already preparing responses and answers if Gabe decides to ask further about this interaction.

Thankfully, the elevator ride passes in a blur. The moment you’re out, you walk to your desk like you’re on fire. But you don’t even get to sit before Gabe appears beside you.

“So—”

Here it comes. You straighten, already launching into damage control. “He just saw me waiting for the bus and offered me a ride. That’s all,” you say it in one breathe and end it with a smile.

Gabe looks confused for a second then breaks into a smile. A soft, knowing smile. “You don’t have to explain,” she says.

“I just wanted to make it clear,” you casually say.

“Mm,” she hums, clearly unconcerned. “I can see that you’re not very keen about Hyunjin anyway.”

You let out a small, awkward chuckle. “Yeah. Exactly.”

Oof, you’re glad that your lack enthusiasm in joining Hyunjin’s office fandom is apparent to her.

Gabe nods, turning slightly and then pauses, like a thought just crossed her mind. “You don’t seem like his type either,” she mutters, almost absentmindedly.

Something in your chest tugs. You can’t tell if you should feel glad or offended. Can you feel both? Cause it feels like it. You recover quickly, scoffing a small laugh. “God, I hope I’m not.”

“I mean, you don’t look like the type he’d go for,” Gabe adds as she gets to her desk.

“Yeah. And it’s not like… he’s my type either,” you say it lightly with a light laugh.

Gabe doesn’t seem to notice how you slightly stammering as she’s settled herself to her desk, already busy with her morning ritual.

You do yours as well. You sit down slowly, staring at your desk as your computer is booting, anything that isn’t the thought that just planted itself firmly in your head.

Not his type. You scoff under your breath, shaking your head as you shrug off your blazer.“I’m smart. I’m great. Anyone would go out with me,” you mutter, defending yourself against no one but your own head.

Your fingers hover over the keyboard to enter your password but you lean back in your chair instead, eyes unfocused. Because for some reason, you can’t help but wonder— Are you really not his type?

-

By the time lunch rolls around, you’re more than ready to get out of your own head.

Gabe falls into step beside you like she always does, already scrolling through her phone as the two of you make your way to the canteen. “So, what are we feeling today?” she asks, taking a tray for you and herself.

You scan the stalls; there are too many of them and they all look so good. “Something good. Obviously,” you say, indecisive.

“Helpful,” she deadpans.

You huff a quiet laugh despite yourself, pointing vaguely. “Rice. Anything with rice.”

“Wow. Very adventurous.”

You nudge her shoulder lightly as the line moves forward, the noise of the canteen buzzing around you with the usual midday chaos. By the time you both get your food and find an empty table, you’re already settling back into routine—unpacking your utensils, adjusting your seat, taking that first bite like it might reset your entire day.

For a moment, it does. You’re enjoying your food, chatting with Gabe in between, something that is completely not about work. Some juicy, celebrity gossips and new eating spots around the office building. You’re distracted by the mundanity of it until your eyes drift away and find Hyunjin there, sitting two tables away from you. You recognize his male co-worker, the one Hyunjin seems to be the closest with in the creative team but the rest, they are all female employees that you familiar with but can’t quite name.

A couple of them leaning forward on the table, another one laughs louder than necessary and it’s hurt to see how they’re desperately want to be noticed while Hyunjin himself is leaning back in his chair, one arm slung casually over the backrest, head tilted as he listens to someone speak before chiming in with something that earns him another round of giggles.

But you see the way he fits there, the way he belongs there and suddenly, something clicks into place. Yeah. You can’t imagine yourself in that crowd, in that scene.

You look down at your food, scoffing quietly to yourself. Even without everything else—the clashing personalities, the constant bickering, the way you both operate on completely different wavelengths— Just look at that. It’s obvious. Whatever this… situation is between you and him? It’s temporary. Transactional. Bound by a contract and a ridiculous “test program.”

Nothing more.

A few minutes left in lunch break, Gabe excuses herself to go out for a smoke and seeing that the coffee station is empty, you decide to make a beeline there. You grab a paper cup, putting it under the coffee machine and waiting for it to finish brewing. And you feel it before you even see him. That stupid grin. You don’t turn right away but sigh. “You’re breaking the rule again.”

A quiet chuckle sounds beside you as he leans against the counter. “Hi to you too.”

You finally glance at him with an unimpressed look on your face. “It’s rule number one, for God’s sake!”

He’s exactly as you expected—relaxed, amused, entirely unbothered. “Rules are made to be broken anyway,” he says.

“So is your leg,” you say, deadpan.

He looks rather amused than threatened. “Ooh, we’re feeling spicy today,” he teases.

You ignore that and look at the mini fridge as you consider whether you want milk in your coffee or not.

“Have you decided?” he asks, like this is a normal follow-up conversation. “For the rescheduled test.”

“I’ll inform you when I do,” you mutter, deciding on adding a packet of sugar for now.

“Okay.”

You pour the sugar into the coffee and stir it with a spoon.

“Did you take the supplements?”

You turn on your feet, fully facing him now. “What does that have to do with anything?”

He shrugs, like it’s obvious. “Told you. You should start taking them.”

You decide to add creamer next because talking with Hyunjin drain your energy and you need to get through the day. Your fingers fumble slightly with the edge, trying to tear it open but the packaging refuses to cooperate.

Noticing the struggle, Hyunjin takes it from your hand. You glance at him just in time to see him tear it open with his teeth like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Then he pours it into your coffee.

You stare at the mug, at the way the creamer makes a hypnotizing swirl in your coffee as he stirs it. Then innocently, he shoves the spoon into his mouth, licking it clean. How does something as innocent like that seems erotic when he does it.

He lifts the cup and hands it to you with a proud smile. “Your coffee, ma’am.”

You stare at it and then at him, remembering the way his mouth touched the creamer packet and dumped the whole thing into your coffee. “…That was in your mouth.”

Hyunjin meets your gaze and a smirk slowly blooming on his small face. “You know what else were in my mouth?” he lowly mutters, one eyebrow raised, teasing.

The first image that flashes through his head his head hanging between your legs and your expression twists instantly at the unbidden memory. “God—”

You recoil, pulling your hand back like you’ve been burned. You grab your coffee without another word, already stepping away. But even as you walk, you can feel that grin on you. Lingering, boring a hole in the back of your head.

You don’t turn back. You don’t acknowledge it. You just take a sip of your coffee and keep walking, pretending it doesn’t follow you all the way out.

-

The result on your search for the ingredients in the libido boosting supplement appears on your phone as you sit down in the dining table with your plate of breakfast, half-finsihed because curiosity gets the best of you. Your eyes skim most of the texts, focusing on the important keywords. 

Safe. Clinically tested. Supports hormonal balance. Improves mood. Enhances sexual wellness.

Ugh, you hate that he is right. That the supplement doesn’t solely help on boosting sexual desire. Your gaze flicks back to the box and there’s only one way to know for sure. You tear the package open, fingers moving quicker than your thoughts can catch up. The foil gives way with a soft rip, and you tap one supplement into your palm.

It’s small and unassuming. It doesn’t look like it could do anything. You grab your glass of water and before you can think much on it, you pop it into your mouth and swallow it down with a gulp of water.

As you wait for it to take effect, you put your focus back on your schedule. You’ll be busy next week, preparing the company’s anniversary and you’re sure that Hyunjin will be just as busy. He also mentioned that it has to be done within this week.

So… it has to be tonight. You pick up your phone, typing a message to inform Hyunjin about the rescheduled test. You hit send immediately, like if you linger even a second longer, you’ll start second-guessing yourself again. Your phone barely has time to rest against the table before it buzzes. You already know who it is. Still, you pick it up.

Got it, Boss. Then, a second later. Should I be excited or scared?

You roll your eyes, letting out a quiet scoff as you toss your phone back onto the table. You stare at the screen for a moment, debating whether to ignore it or not. You really should ignore it. That would be the mature thing to do. Instead, you pick it back up. Just be on time.

The typing bubble appears instantly. Like he’s been waiting. Wow. No threats today? I’m offended.

You shake your head, pressing your lips together as you set your phone down again, deciding you’re done entertaining him for now. You take another bite of your toast, chewing slowly as your eyes return to the laptop screen, checking your emails and if you missed anything important. In the middle of it, you somehow begin wondering when the supplement would take effect. It’s too early to know but there’s also a possibility that it’s just placebo. You decide to not fuss about it. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, that’s fine too.

-

You barely make it through the office doors before the day decides to start without your permission.

“Good morning—oh, thank God you’re here.”

You don’t even get a proper step in before Gabe is already at your side, tablet in hand, brows slightly furrowed in that way that immediately tells you something’s off.

You pause mid-step, adjusting the strap of your bag on your shoulder. “What happened?”

“It’s the vendor for the stage setup,” she says quickly, already flipping through her notes. “They just called—there’s an issue with the shipment. Something about a delay on one of the structural pieces, and they’re saying it might affect installation timing.”

You close your eyes for half a second, already dreading the workload ahead. “Did they specify how long the delay is?”

“Not clearly,” Gabe replies, a little apologetic. “They said they’re ‘working on it,’ which—”

“Means nothing,” you finish flatly.

Gabe nods, lips pressing together.

You exhale sharply, already turning on your heel toward your desk. “I’ll get on it.”

“Now?” Gabe blinks, surprised. “You just got in—maybe you can head out later? They said they’d send another update—”

“No,” you cut in, grabbing your planner and keys without hesitation. “If I wait, it turns into a bigger problem. I need to see what’s actually going on.”

Gabe watches you for a second, then quickly adds, “Oh—wait, the new CMO is coming in today. They’re supposed to stop by and greet everyone this morning.”

You pause just long enough to let out a quiet groan, your head tilting back slightly. “Of course they are.”

Gabe lets out a small laugh. “I thought you’d want to be here for that.”

You glance at her, already halfway back to the door. “And leave a vendor issue hanging? That sounds like a terrible first impression.”

She shrugs, amused. “Fair point.”

You sling your bag over your shoulder properly this time, already mentally shifting gears. “Just say hi to the new CMO for me,” you add, tone light but clearly not changing your decision.

“I’ll make sure to represent you well,” Gabe says with a grin.

“Please do,” you shoot back, already moving again.

She follows you a few steps, calling after you, “Call me if anything gets worse, okay? Or if you need backup.”

You glance over your shoulder, offering her a quick nod. “I will.”

“Be safe!”

You lift a hand in acknowledgment, already heading toward the elevator. The moment you step inside, the doors sliding shut with a soft chime, the noise of the office replaced by the quiet hum of descent and your own thoughts catching up with you. You’re already planning on how you’re going to handle the issue when your phone dings inside your bag. You open it without checking the sender first. It’s a candidly-taken picture of you waiting by the elevator and under it, a caption that sounds exactly like one particular person.

Hyunjin: Looking hot in that skirt😚

And a beat later, your phone dings again.

Hyunjin: See you tonight, you sexy minx.

Ugh! You groan loudly and it’s echoing in the enclosed space. Your thumb hovers over the screen, debating whether to respond or ignore it entirely. You can almost see his grin through the text. You exhale softly, shaking your head as you lock your phone instead, slipping it back into your bag without replying.

Focus. You have a problem to solve. Even if somewhere, annoyingly persistent in the back of your mind, tonight is already waiting for you.

-

The vendor site is chaos disguised as “we’re handling it.” And you can tell within five minutes of being there that they’re not. And just like that, your entire day disappears. One issue leads to another. Adjusting one section throws off another. Materials that were “available” suddenly aren’t. A call turns into three. A quick fix turns into a complete rework. You’re moving constantly between people, between ideas, between problems that refuse to stay contained. At some point, your phone rings and you almost ignore it. Almost. But when you catch the name flashing across the screen, you step aside, pressing the phone to your ear.

“What?” you answer, breath slightly uneven from everything.

There’s a pause on the other end and Hyunjin says, “I’m at your door.”

Right. Tonight. The rescheduled test. You pinch the bridge of your nose, turning slightly away from the noise. “I’m still at the vendor.”

Another pause. Then, lighter, but you can hear the shift beneath it, “So… you’re not home.”

“No. And I don’t know when I will be,” you honestly share.

You hear him exhale softly. “Okay… so what am I supposed to do now?”

You glance around the space, your brain already splitting in two—one half still problem-solving here, the other trying to deal with him.

Before you can think of anything, he adds, “And I’m not going back. My next-door neighbor is having a cult meeting or something and I don’t think I can deal with the mysterious noises.”

That’s a little too much information. Your brain complile a list of options. One, he can wait in his car. But you don’t know how long this will take and you don’t want to deal with more complaints. Two, you could reschedule. Again. But remembering that you’re packed for the next few days, you see that it’s not best option either.

You click your tongue softly, making the decision before you can overthink it. “There’s a spare key,” you say.

“Spare key? To your house?”

“Yeah. You can let yourself in through the back door,” you continue, already half-walking back toward the chaos. “Under one of the potted plants. Just—try the ones on the left first.”

You can practically hear the grin forming on his face. “You’re letting me into your house?”

You close your eyes briefly. “Don’t make it weird.”

“I’m not,” he says, far too quickly to be believable.

You ignore that. “Don’t do anything stupid, please? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

There’s a short silence on the line, and when he speaks again, his voice is softer. “I’ll try.”

“Hyunjin, I’m serious,” you warn him.

“I’ll go inside and patiently wait for you like a good boy,” he says, amusement laced in his tone.

You groan quietly under your breath. “You better be.”

A low chuckle hums through the line, and before he can say anything else, you hang up. You stare at your phone for a moment longer than necessary. Then shove it back into your pocket and turn around. “Okay,” you clap your hands once, sharp, pulling everyone’s attention back to you. “Let’s fix this properly.”

You don’t get to think on it as you throw yourself back into the mess. Completely unaware that, somewhere else, he’s already inside your space.

-

By the time you finally make it home, your body feels like it’s been wrung dry. Your shoulders ache, your head pulses faintly, and every step up to your front door feels heavier than the last. You dig through your bag for your keys, already bracing yourself for the quiet of an empty house.

The door flies open before you can wrap your fingers on your keys and there, leaning casually against the frame is Hyunjin. His grin is wide and entirely too pleased with himself. “Welcome home, sweetie,” he greets, arms opening wide to welcome you.

You scoff, the sound sharp with disbelief as you duck under his arm to walk past him. Too tired to even respond.

He only laughs softly behind you, completely unbothered, already reaching for your bag as you step inside. “Rough day?”

You let out a tired exhale, not even resisting as he takes it from your shoulder and holds it for you. “You have no idea,” you mutter, dragging a hand through your hair. “Sorry I’m late.”

“It’s okay,” he says easily, like he actually means it.

You glance at him for a second, then nod faintly before turning toward the stairs. “I just need a quick shower and—”

“Nope,” he instantly refuses. His hands land on your shoulders, stopping you in your tracks before gently steering you in the opposite direction.

“Come on,” he insists, already guiding you forward. “You look like you’re about to collapse.”

“I’m fine—”

“You’re not,” he cuts in lightly, pushing you down onto one of the dining chairs before you can protest further. “Sit.”

You stare up at him, too tired to even argue properly.

“I already ordered food and I’m starving from waiting for you.” he adds, like that settles everything.

You let out a small, incredulous breath. “I’m not hungry.”

He shrugs, already moving toward the counter to grab the containers. “Well, then, just sit there so I can look at your pretty face as I eat.”

Something in the way he says it so casually… you give in and slump in your seat. When he places the chopsticks into your hand, you don’t fight him. You just take them.

The containers open one by one—steam rising, the smell of fried rice and dumplings instantly filling the space. Stir-fried vegetables and chicken still glossy with sauce. You hadn’t realized how hungry you were until now. The first bite hits, and you almost sigh. For a while, there’s nothing but the quiet sounds of eating, the kind of silence that doesn’t feel awkward.

“So,” he starts, glancing at you with that familiar hint of mischief, “how’s work, darling?”

You huff out a quiet laugh, shaking your head as you take another bite. “Stop playing house.”

“Why? It’s fun,” he says with a shrug, leaning back slightly in his chair, completely at ease. “Not every day I get to play house in an actual house.”

You can’t help but let out a chuckle, a soft and tired chuckle but real. “Unbelievable.”

He just smiles, satisfied with himself as he goes back to eating.

The moment lingers, warm and strange and dangerously comfortable. Until it shifts, just the slightest as he sets his chopsticks down, looking at you a little more carefully now. “You sure you’re up for tonight?”

He continues, tone quieter this time, “You look exhausted. We can reschedule again.”

For a second, you consider it. Your body is tired. Your mind even more so. But it’s not something you can’t manage. “No,” you say, more firmly than you feel. “Next week’s going to be worse. I won’t have time.”

“Yeah, with the company’s anniversary and everything,” he sighs, also dreading it already. Then he leans back and adds, “I’ve got everything ready when you were gone.”

Your hand stills and slowly, you look up at him, sensing that he’s up to no good. “What did you do?”

He grins that grin. The one that never means anything simple. “Don’t worry about it.”

Your eyes narrow immediately. “I am worried.”

He just chuckles, clearly enjoying this far too much as he picks his chopsticks back up. “You’ll see soon enough,” he simply says.

That does absolutely nothing to reassure you. If anything, it makes it worse. Because it’s Hyunjin and when he says don’t worry, that’s exactly when you should.

-

The shower runs hotter than usual, steam curling around you as you stand there longer than necessary, letting the water rinse off the day—every bit of stress, every voice, every problem that clung to you from morning until now. Your hands move slowly like you’re resetting yourself piece by piece. By the time you step out, skin warm, hair slightly damp, you feel lighter. Not completely relaxed, but better. More present.

You change into your night dress, soft fabric slipping over your skin, before pulling your robe over it, tying it just a little tighter than needed. A small, subconscious layer of protection. Then turn away before you can think too much.

You exhale as you descend the stairs, one hand lightly grazing the railing, already bracing yourself. Please don’t let him have destroyed something.

It’s a very real concern and you deeply inhale air before pushing the door to the guest room. Nothing’s broken. Nothing’s out of place. You should feel relieved that everything is where it is. Yet, he did something. The lights dimmed enough to soften everything, to blur the edges of the room into something more intimate. There’s a faint scent in the air, something sweet and vanilla, a scented candle lit on the bedside table.

And then there, sitting on the bed, completely at ease, like he’s been waiting exactly for this moment—like this was always the plan is Hyunjin. Behind him, a suspicious box hidden from your sight.

You cross your arms together in front of you. “This is what you meant by getting everything ready?”

He doesn’t even try to hide his smile of pride and satisfaction. “Yep. I’m setting the right mood for the test.”

Instead of arguing, you reach for the tie of your robe, fingers already starting to loosen it. “Okay, then. Let’s get—”

“Wait.” His voice cuts in, soft but firm enough to stop you. He lifts both hands slightly, like he’s asking for a moment, before shifting to sit properly at the edge of the bed, his attention fully on you now. “I have another idea for tonight.”

“Oh, no no no,” you flatly reject the idea.

“Just hear me out first,” he demands, the grin still tugging at his lips.

“Nope,” you say again, shaking your head.

“Please?” his lower lip jutting out slightly as he cutely pleads.

You swallow the urge to smile and press you lips together instead. “Okay, I’m listening,” you say.

“I think,” he starts, tone light but eyes a little more focused than usual, “you need to learn how to trust me.”

“I literally let you into my house when I wasn’t even there,” you point out.

He frowns slightly. “That’s not enough.”

Your brows knit together. “Then what is enough?”

Instead of answering right away, he reaches behind him and pulls out the box you’ve seen earlier. You don’t ask but look at it, recognizing it as the foreplay kit from the test package. A low groan escapes you immediately. “Why—”

He smirks like he’s been waiting for that exact reaction. He goes ahead and open it. “So we can practice trusting each other.”

You step a little closer despite yourself, eyes flicking down at the contents. There is a blindfold, a feather tickler, a small bottle of lubricant and the last one you can’t quite decipher until Hyunjin turns it around. Your eyes widen when it registers to you that it’s a finger vibrator. “You want us to practice trust? With those?” You ask, perplexed and a bit mortified.

He nods, completely serious. “Yes.”

You let out a quiet breath, unconvinced. “I don’t see how that’s supposed to help.”

He takes the blindfold from the box and stands, closing the distance between you in just a few steps. It’s subtle but you can feel the shift in the air, the space, the way your body instinctively stills as he comes closer. His voice lowers when he speaks again. “Tonight, I want you to trust yourself to me,” he murmurs, eyes holding yours.

Before you can question everything, darkness greets you. The silky fabric of the blindfold slips over your eyes, soft but absolute, cutting you off from everything in an instant. Your hands instinctively lifting to pull it away—

But Hyunjin is faster. His fingers wrap gently around your wrists, stopping you. He guides your hands back down, until they rest at your sides again and steadily holds them there.

You feel him closer than before from the warmth of him near your back, you know it from the way your senses sharpen without your permission. His breath brushes against your ear as he whispers low enough to send a shiver down your spine. “Just for tonight… trust yourself to me.”

Your heart stutters not in fear but something that feels dangerously close to it. A thrill.

His hands move, sliding up your arms until they settle on your shoulders. His fingers lightly adjust your hair, pushing it back, clearing the space at your neck. You swallow as you feel him even closer. Closer still.

“Tonight…” he murmurs, softer now, the edge of his voice brushing against your skin, “trust me to take care of you, yeah?”

It’s the tone. It’s the low, sultry voice. The warmth of his breath brushes your skin. The way it sinks under your skin before you can stop it. You don’t realize you’ve nodded until it’s already done. And even then, you’re still thinking, still hesitating somewhere deep inside. But your body, your body answers first.

His lips ghost against your neck. Enough for you to feel the shape of his smile. “I’ll take very good care of you,” he whispers.

And this time, the shiver that runs through you is stronger. Deeper. It coils low, tightens, settles low between your legs. Then, he steps away and the warmth disappears with him. The space opens again and you’re left there, standing in the dark, senses sharpened, body quietly buzzing in anticipation for whatever he decides to do next.

-

Your world narrowed into darkness and the sound of your own breathing feels louder now. Like every inhale, every exhale gives you away. For a second, nothing happens and you hate it. Because the waiting—it stretches, coils tight in your chest, crawls under your skin until you start to wonder if he’s doing this on purpose. Letting you stand there, suspended, hyperaware of the cool air brushing over your bare arms, your collarbones, the backs of your knees. Of everything.

“Hyunjin—”

You don’t even get to finish and he’s suddenly there. Behind you. Close enough that the heat of him bleeds into your back, his chest hovering just shy of touching, but near enough that your body reacts anyway in the way your spine straightening, breath catching mid-inhale.

He doesn’t say anything but his hands find your waist as if he’s giving you time to register it. Warm palms settling against your clothed skin and then they move to the front. Fingers slipping to the knot of your robe, undoing it with an ease that makes your stomach dip. The fabric loosens instantly, and before you can even think about stopping him, he parts it open. His hands drag upward along the lapels until they rest on your shoulders again. He gives it a moment, letting you feel it and then slowly, he slides the robe off. The fabric falls away from you in a whisper, slipping down your arms, your sides until you heat the faint thudding sound of it hitting the floor.

This time, you feel his chest against your back with no space in between. He feels solid, undeniable, and warm. His fingers find the thin straps of your slip next, tangling it around his little finger. “This is cute,” he murmurs, voice low, right against your ear. You feel the ghost of a smile there, hear it in the way his tone dips. “But I think it has to go too.”

He doesn’t waste time. His fingers slide the straps down your shoulders slowly. His fingertips grazing your skin as they travel, sending a trail of goosebumps in their wake. You can feel his focus now as if he’s watching every reaction you give him.

The dress gathers at your waist. His fingers hook beneath the fabric, and for a moment, you feel his slow intake of air, like he’s bracing himself for what he’s about to do, about to see and feel. Then finally, he pulls it down until the fabric pooling around your ankles.

You step out of it without thinking, one foot, then the other, and the second it’s gone, you feel his gaze on you. You can’t see it, but you know it. The way his deep, intense eyes drag over your skin and suddenly you feel exposed in a way that has nothing to do with the lack of clothes. Your arms start to lift, instinctively trying to cover yourself as best as you can.

But then, you feel arms wrapping around you, lifting you clean off the ground in one smooth motion. A surprised gasp leaves you, hands flying to his shoulders as your body instinctively presses into his. He doesn’t falter, just carries you like it’s nothing, like you weigh nothing at all.

The bed dips beneath you as he sets you down, gently and carefully, the contrast almost jarring after the strength of his grip. You barely have time to process it before he’s gone again. Or at least… not touching you.

The absence, the hollow space… it makes your chest rise a little faster. You lie there, blindfolded, bare, your senses reaching for him and finding only the faint shift of air, the quiet creak of the mattress as he moves somewhere near you.

He’s watching—you know he is— and he lets you sit in it, letting the anticipation build again. Before you know it, you feel his hands on yours. His fingers slip between yours, loosely lacing them together before guiding them upward. You let him move you, your arms lifting above your head until your wrists rest against the pillow. And then, he keeps them there.

“I could tie these,” he murmurs, almost to himself, his thumbs brushing lazily over your knuckles. “Have a lot more fun that way.”

Your lips part, ready to protest but he cuts you off with a quiet chuckle. “Yeah, yeah—I know. You’d hate that.”

A second passes in silence and then his voice dips, closer. “So I’ll trust you instead.”

He tightens his hold around your wrist just a little as he leans in, the warmth of his breath brushes your face as he asks, “I trust you that no matter what happens, you’ll keep them there, right?”

You hesitate because trusting him like this—blindfolded, exposed, held in place by nothing but your own promise feels… dangerous in a way you can’t quite explain. But still, your mouth responding before your brain can fully comprehend the options. “Yes,” you murmur, almost breathless.

“Good,” he says in satisfaction. With that, he slowly lets go of your hands.

As promised, your hands remain where they are, hovering above your head, fingers curling slightly into the sheets as if testing yourself. “Okay,” he says lightly, a grin hidden somewhere in his voice. “Now the fun begins.”

You immediately regret everything. A quiet groan leaves you under your breath, and you hear the low, amused chuckle that follows from him.

“You do trust me, right?” he asks again, almost teasing now.

There’s still that thread of doubt in you, something cautious, something that wants to pull the blindfold off and take back control. But you swallow it down because something you have to give trust in order to gain it. “Yes,” you say with a low sigh.

He hums, unimpressed. “I can hear that sigh, you know.”

You sigh again—louder this time, just to spite him.

He laughs, amused and then bed shifts. The sound of his laughter fades as you’re left there again, waiting. Your body tenses instinctively, anticipation curling tight in your stomach. You almost give in, almost reach up and rip the blindfold away just to see what he’s doing.

The temptation is there but you choose not to fall for it. You stay and wait. And then, something brushes your neck. Light and soft, barely there. You flinch but the hair on the back of your neck raised anyway. “What is that—”

“Shh,” he murmurs, cutting you off gently. “Just feel.”

You consider it again, to just give in already but you choose to obey anyway. You let your eyes fall shut beneath the blindfold, leaning into the sensation instead of questioning it. It moves again and you’re certain now that Hyunjin is using the feather tickler on you. A faint tickle just behind your ear this time—so delicate it almost doesn’t feel real, like a whisper against your skin. Your head tips instinctively, chasing away the sensation even as it lingers.

The feather trails lower. Down your throat, the valley of your chest. It drifts to the side, to your left breast. He makes slow, circling movements that barely touch you, teasing around the nipple and when it grazes over your other breast, drawing soft patterns that make your skin prickle with awareness, you feel warmth begin to bloom beneath the surface, spreading, building.

He takes his time, long enough that your breathing shifts, long enough that you start anticipating the next pass before it even comes and then it disappears. Only to return somewhere else. Under your arm. You jolt this time, a quiet, startled sound slipping out as your body curls slightly away from it.

“It’s ticklish, huh?” he mutters, amused.

“You think?” you shoot back, breathless.

Another chuckle and then he moves again. Back across your body, slow and wandering, tracing new paths that keep your muscles tensing and releasing in waves. Across your stomach, your sides, your hips—never quite lingering long enough, never quite giving you what you think you want. It’s maddening. The way he keeps you there, reacting, guessing.

The feather drifts lower, cutting across your abdomen, sending your hips lifted off the bed in reaction. Seeking more of that ticklish, tingling feeling. But then, as you’re about to drown in the sensation of it, it disappears. When it returns, the feather is tickling at the sole of your foot. Your toes curl, pressing into the mattress as a quiet breath escapes you. He drags it upward, trailing the inside of your leg. He focuses on the sensitive skin behind your knee, tickling you there before continuing its path. Higher. Slower. He takes his time along the inside of your thigh. Inching closer but not exactly touching where you want him to, but close enough that your body responds anyway. Your hips lift slightly, unthinking, chasing a contact he refuses to give.

“So sensitive…” he murmurs, voice lower now, closer. Like this is what he’s been waiting for.

You hate how right he is, how sensitive you are to his stimulation and just when the tension peaks, when your body starts to lean into it, to crave more— He stops and the feather disappears. Your body drops back against the mattress, a soft exhale leaving you as the warmth lingers, pulsing quietly beneath your skin. You hear him move again and you turn your head toward the sound, brows knitting faintly. “Having too much fun, mmh?” you mutter.

There’s no answer. Instead, the mattress shifts again, and suddenly he’s right there. Too close. “I was lying earlier,” he murmurs, voice low against your ear.

Your heart dips at the betrayal. “What do you mean—”

“The real fun…” his plush lips brushing your ear as he talks in low, sultry voice. “…starts now.”

Anticipation, excitement, thrills and fears — they’re all tangled into this one indescribable feeling the second you hear those words out of his mouth. Before you can brace yourself for it, his hand hovering near your hip. Just there, waiting for the right moment.

Your breath goes shallow and that’s when his fingers brush lightly along the waistband of your underwear, just enough to make your hips shift ever so slightly against the sheets.

And then his mouth is right by your ear again. “But first,” he seductively murmurs. “Let’s get this out of the way first.”

-

You try. You really try to stay calm. But the second his fingers hook into the waistband of your underwear and begin to slide it down, your body betrays you anyway. A shiver runs through you and it’s not just the touch—it’s how aware you are of it. The light graze of his fingertips along your skin as the fabric moves lower, brushing your hips, your thighs until it’s gone completely. And just like that, you’re bare

The blindfold doesn’t help. If anything, it makes it worse. Because you can’t see him—you can only imagine the way he’s looking at you, the way his gaze lingers, the way it travels down your body. Your breath turns shallow as the bed shifts again. A quiet rustle of sheets, then the faint sound of something being opened.

Then, almost to himself, Hyunjin says, “Uh… it’s watermelon.”

You almost scoff, knowing that he’s checking on the small bottle of lubricant from the foreplay kit. And sure enough, a second later, there’s a quiet hum of consideration like he’s actually tasting it before a low, almost disappointed murmur follows.

“Still like cherry more,” he says, sticking to his favorite.

You don’t get the chance to respond because suddenly, a cool drop lands on your skin. It’s unexpected and it takes you a second to even process where it landed before his voice follows, entirely too innocent. “Oops…” he dramatically gasps but doesn’t sound sorry at all.

“Don’t worry,” he adds, a smile threading through his tone, “I’ll clean it up.”

Too bad that he can’t see the way you roll your eyes behind the blindfold but you gasp the second you feel his warm mouth on you. And instead of cleaning it up like he said, he’s using his soft lips to smear the lubricant all over your breast. When he’s sure he makes the mess out of it, he begins to collect the lubricant with his tongue in small, teasing licks.

He moves slowly, working his way around the areola and then inward. His hot, slick tongue tirelessly licking every inch of skin, every drop of lubricant coating it. Catching you off guard, he takes your whole nipple into his mouth and sucks on it hard enough, earning himself a low, breathless gasp from you. You can feel his smirk against your skin and it seems to encourage him to do more. You feel his tongue twirling around the bed, before sucking on it again harder that by the time he let go, it makes a popping sound.

You shiver at the warm, the wet of his wet saliva coated your breast as it exposed to cool night air. You gasp again as he lands more lubricant, not giving you time to catch up as he’s making a trail of lubricant, clear liquid makes a path down from your sternum to your abdomen.

“I got clumsy hands,” he mutters, still not a hint of sorry.

You’re about to scoff when he lands his mouth on you again, his tongue following the trail of lubricant, licking and gently sucking on the skin as he goes lower and lower still. Then his tongue teasing around the navel for a while before it inches down south, closer to where you want him the most.

His mouth hovering above your pelvic bone when he suddenly, he stops and mutters, “There. I cleaned it up well.”

For a second, you really think he's done but at the same time, it’s Hyunjin, you can tell that it’s just a false warning. And you’re right, as soon as you think it, you feel the cool liquid dripping on you. You gasp as he squeezes more of it, right onto your arousal. Heat meeting the cool, watery liquid as it drips down between your folds.

You inhale sharply, your body reacting before your other senses catching up. But instead of following through like he did earlier, he does nothing and leaves you there, waiting. “Aren’t you going to clean that too?” you manage to ask between your uneven breaths.

A soft chuckle and then lightly, he says, “It’s not a mess… yet.”

It’s quiet for a brief moment before a faint mechanical sound cutting through the silence in the room. Something is humming, vibrating, brushing against your hardening nipple in a way that makes you jolt slightly in surprise. Your best guess is he’s using the finger vibrator and he takes his time with it too, making you squirm under him. His next target moves source of heat between your legs. He doesn’t waste another second but to press the vibrator on your bundle of nerves, knowing that it’s pulsating with needs.

Hyunjin continues experimenting, testing, learning what makes you react, angling the vibrator to find one that makes you shift beneath him, what makes your breathing falter.

You can’t hide it, you can’t hold the unguarded moan that spills out of you when he finds that sensitive spot. Your body responds on instinct, arching slightly, chasing the sensation before you can stop yourself. He notices and therefore, he leans into it.

Soon, everything narrow and builds. And tightens. You lose it for a moment. Just a moment. Your body going slack against the mattress as the tension finally breaks, your breath coming out in soft, uneven waves.

Hyunjin ditches the vibrator because what you feel next is his warm breath ghosting your still quivering, still sensitive sex. Then, he softly murmurs. “Now, time to clean the mess.”

There’s nothing playful about the way he says it but what does it is the eagerness and excitement laced in the tone. Like he’s been waiting for this and can’t stand another second of it.

As expected, he dives right into your wetness, a mix of your arousal and lubricant, you can imagine it flooding his mouth as you still relishing the waves of pleasure washing over you. Your hips twitching as his tongue teasing at your engorging clit, you gasp when he opens his mouth wider like he doesn't want to miss a spot. Like he can't get enough of the taste. Like he’s determined to clean the mess he made.

That's when you finally allow your hands to stop gripping the sheets and reach around blindly for his head, until they're tangled in his dark locks. You feel his head moving, bobbing as he continues to collect every drop of you with his mouth.

It’s quiet in the room, only filled with the sound of his wet tongue meeting your wet cunt, and the occasional slurping, sucking sounds. From the sound of it, he does sound like one thirsty man.

The pleasure gets too overwhelming again, you tug at his hair, hard enough in hope that he would ease down on sucking at your clit but it seems to do the opposite as he curves his hands under and around your thighs. He presses you closer into him and at the same time, allowing him to suck deeper, harder on your clit.

“Hyunjin…” you whine.

But no, he won’t let go. The plush lips wrapped firmly around your clit, the hands resting on each side of your hips holding you down, he resists to let go for a breather. He only stops when he feels your legs trembling around him and only then, he slowly lets go.

When he finally moves away, the absence of him feels just as noticeable as his presence did before. But then, you feel the duvet settles over you, shielding you from the night air. You feel him beside you next, so close that his warmth slowly seeps into you. Your blindfold lifts next and you blink your eyes, adjusting them to the lights.

The first thing you see is him, right there, staring at you. His hair falls slightly into his eyes as he reaches out, brushing a damp strand away from your forehead, his touch gentler now, almost careful. “See? It’s all fun stuff,” he says rather playfully like he’s clueless about the intensity of what just happened before this.

Despite it, your chest loosens because you get it now. What he meant. Why he did this. It’s trust. Not control. Not pressure. Just… trust. Your fingers move before you can think too much about it, finding his hand where it rests near you. You lace your fingers with his this time. “Let’s get on with it,” you say quietly.

“What?” he asks, putting away the strand of hair sticking to your temple.

You meet his gaze properly now, steady despite the lingering warmth still humming through you. “Let’s continue. The test.”

He seems surprised by it. “Are you sure?”

You nod without hesitation. “I’m sure.”

He studies you for a second longer, like he’s checking on you. Then he exhales softly. “Okay.”

-

The moment stretches as Hyunjin takes his time. He’s fully concentrating on putting the condom on and even when he’s done, he adjusts it and readjusts it until he’s hundred percent sure that he wears it properly and securely. It intimidates you still, the size of him wrapped in the thin rubber but not as much as the other day. This time, the nerves are manageable.

When he finally moves back toward you, lowering himself on top of you, there’s that look of half questioning, half restraint. “Are you still sure about this?” he murmurs.

You huff out the smallest laugh, tilting your head. “Ask me once more and maybe I’ll change my mind.”

The grin returns to his face but it softens just as fast when you pull him in by the shoulder and press your lips to his. It’s easier this way—less thinking, more feeling. His smile melts into the kiss, and then he’s there with you. Soon, your bodies to mold into one, rubbing against each other, heating, burning, lighting each other’s fuse.

You know your body best and your body is more than ready. You know for sure from the way it's still dripping from the previous stimulation and the one he's doing now as he has his fingers lightly rubbing around your entrance. So when Hyunjin pulls away just the slightest to check on you again, you quickly give him a nod of permission. Your hand reaches for him, turning his head toward you. "Do it slowly," you breathlessly say.

He nods and softly answers, “Okay.”

Hyunjin lifts himself off the bed, sending the duvet sliding off his body, exposing both of your bodies to the night air again. Slowly, surely, he positions himself between your legs. He doesn’t rush it, he’s drawing more essence by fingering you and smearing it around with the tip of his cock.

When he looks up, he checks on you one more time and says, “I’m going in.”

You remind yourself to breathe, to keep calm even though the big, blunt tip of him pushing into you. You’re too focused on yourself for a brief moment that the sight of Hyunjin surprised you. You can see how much it overwhelms him too, his eyes screwed shut, lips pressed tight that it forms a thin line, low groans threatening to spill.

However, when he looks at you, he manages to keep calm and asks again. “Okay?”

You can barely feel him inside you, just there hovering around the entrance so you tell him, “You can put it in a little bit more.”

Hyunjin nods. He pulls back before entering you again, slowly and carefully more. He pushes through the entrance and keeps pushing, just an inch before stopping himself. You catch the way his face contorts in both restraint and focus. Like he can’t bear losing it right then, right there. "Is this okay?" he asks, hands rubbing the side of your thighs.

“This much… is okay,” you manage to say even though you feel that sudden stretch and fullness inside you.

He exhales, like he’s been holding it in. And for a moment, neither of you move. It’s just the two of you, suspended there—breathing, adjusting, feeling.

You try to lighten it, just a little. Almost too casually, you say, “It has good lubrication.”

He blinks, like you’ve pulled him out of somewhere far away. “What?”

“The condom has good lubrication,” you repeat it, more clearly this time but he seems to be caught in the feeling of it all to properly hear your words and process it.

You rest your hands on his forearms, feeling the blood rushing under his skin. Then slowly, glide them higher, trying to ease him, to put his focus back on track. After a moment, you look at him and ask, “How does it feel?”

He looks at you and exhales. “It’s good,” he says it so low it’s almost a whisper.

But you doubt that the two of you are thinking of the same thing so you lightly, carefully ask, “The condom is… good?”

It’s probably the first time you see Hyunjin flustered, like he’s caught doing things he shouldn’t be. “Yeah, the condom is good. It so thin that…” he pauses to deeply inhale air before continuing. “…I can feel everything.”

Out of curiosity, you move your hips just the slightest, wanting to test it. Or test him. And the way he holds himself back from groaning have you supress your smile. You land soft caresses on his shoulders, trying to calm him down. “I think we need to move to properly test it,” you say, fingers playing with the hair on the nape of his neck.

Even with the suggestion comes from you, Hyunjin doesn’t move right away. He takes a moment to gather himself and when he’s ready, he plants his knees firmly against the mattress, resting his hands on each side of your thighs. Slowly, he’s parting them wider, just enough space for him to move. When he looks down to where your bodies connected, his eyes widen almost in awe, like he can't quite comprehend it that he’s inside you. Like what he’s seeing doesn’t quite match to what he’s feeling.

His hands firmly grip your hips, needing an anchor as he starts moving, slowly, deliberately. He’s keeping the depth steady and same in each careful thrust. He’s not quite hitting you right on the spot but from the size alone is enough to give you the pleasure you seek and added with the fact that you’re still sensitive from the previous orgasm. The next thing you know, you're opening your legs wider for him, hips moving along to meet his thrust halfway.

Hyunjin grips your thighs harder, fingers digging into the flesh yet he moves with such control even though you can see how much he's restrained himself and at one point, you feel him launched a little deeper than before.

Your eyes glance down to where your bodies joined and to your surprise, his cock is not even halfway inside you yet you feel so full of him. The sight arouses you so much that the knot inside you tighten, the moans spill free from your parted mouth.

When your eyes flick up, they meet his instantly and the eye contact stays as the two of you keep moving, chasing that high together. Something unspoken passes between you, something that has nothing to do with testing or schedules or rules. Just heat. Just want. You feel it crest before you even realize it’s coming—the tight pull low in your stomach, the way the pleasure gets a hold of your body even more intense than before. This time, you don’t hold it back. You let it happen, let him see it, feel it.

That’s what undoes him. You see it clear as day the moment he loses that last thread of control, the careful rhythm breaking, his breath hitching, his grip tightening. His jaws drop open and a soundless groan rolls out of his mouth. His head dips, his forehead brushing yours, and then he’s kissing you again—harder this time, deeper, like it’s the only thing he needs right now. This kiss. You.

And in that moment, none of you seem to remember what this supposed to be.

-

Hyunjin’s lips are still on yours when it begins to fade and reality comes back all at once.

The room, the dim lights, the faint scent of vanilla still lingering in the air—and him. This. What you just did. What this is.

Hyunjin is the one who pulls away first, just enough for breath to return between you. His lips brush yours one last time before he leans back, running a hand through his hair, still a little dazed. “Wait here,” he murmurs, voice a little rough like the intensity from earlier still clinging to him. “I’ll just—bathroom.”

However, you’re already moving. You sit up abruptly, the duvet slipping from your body as you scramble off the bed, your heartbeat suddenly loud in your ears. Your fingers fumble for the robe you’d discarded earlier, grabbing it from the floor and pulling it around yourself. “I—uh—I’d better go,” you say, words coming out too quickly, tripping over each other.

Hyunjin freezes as he tethers on the edge of the bed. He looks at you with eyes flickering with confusion. “What?” he says, a small laugh under his breath, like he thinks you’re joking. “You don’t have to rush.”

But you are already rushing. You’re crouching, gathering your clothes in a messy bundle, not even bothering to sort what’s what. Your hands move faster than your thoughts, like if you stop, even for a second, you might actually feel everything you’re trying to outrun. “It’s late. You—you should rest. I should rest. It’s been… a long, exhausting day.”

It sounds flimsy the second it leaves your mouth, but you don’t give him the chance to question it. You don’t look at him. If you do, you might hesitate. If you hesitate, you might stay. And that—that feels dangerous in a way you don’t want to examine right now.

“Hey…” he starts, softer this time.

But you cut it off with a rushed, “Goodnight.”

With that, you’re gone. Out of the room, down the hallway, up the stairs. Your grip tightening around the bundle of clothes in your arms. You don’t stop until you’re inside your room.

The door shuts behind you with a soft click and you lean back against it immediately, your body pressing into the wood as if you need it to keep you steady, your breath uneven, chest rising and falling too fast. Your eyes squeeze shut and for a second, everything spins. His hands. His voice. The way he looked at you. The way you looked back.

“What the hell are you doing?” you mutter to yourself under your breath.

Your head tips back, and you let it hit the door lightly—once. Then again, a little harder. Not enough to hurt. Just enough to snap you back into yourself. You almost lost it in there. Not just control—not just composure. Judgment.

You swallow, fingers tightening around the fabric in your arms. “This is a test” you remind yourself, quieter now. “And you’re not his type.”

But the way your chest still feels tight doesn’t quite convince you. You press the back of your head against the door one last time, eyes still closed. Trying to steady something that doesn’t want to settle.

-

The next morning, you move through your routine like it will save you. Breakfast first. Coffee next. Laptop. Everything placed just within reach on the dining table, the screen already lighting up with the evaluation site. The cursor blinks patiently in the corner, waiting. You only need to wait for Hyunjin because you’re both agree to fill it together.

So instead, you eat. You scroll through emails. You pretend your mind isn’t drifting somewhere it shouldn’t. But your eyes catch something unfamiliar on your table. Hyunjin’s sketchbook. It’s just… there. Left open beside his abandoned laptop and headphones like he forgot it existed. Or like he didn’t care if you saw it.

You hesitate for a second and then, slowly, you reach for it. You glance around like he might magically appear and catch you in the act before dragging it closer, fingertips brushing the worn cover. You take one look around the space to finally open it. The pages are filled with lines, shapes. Half-finished ideas. Doodles scattered between notes written in cursive letter that you can’t fully understand and yet somehow, it all makes sense together. It’s messy, unfiltered, alive. Just like the owner. Just like Hyunjin.

You flip another page and another. More doodles, more drawings. They’re all good. No, good is an understatement. They’re fucking great. There’s intention in every stroke, even the careless ones. A kind of quiet attention to detail that feels… intimate. Like he sees things most people don’t bother to notice. Like he feels them.

You don’t even realize how absorbed you are until you hear his voice. “They’re good, right?”

Your head snaps up and Hyunjin is there, leaning against the kitchen counter, hair a mess, eyes barely open, that lazy, knowing grin already stretching across his face like he’s been watching you longer than you’d like to admit. You shut the sketchbook a little too fast and slides it back to where it was. You turn your attention back to your laptop, clicking aimlessly just to give yourself something to do. You don’t answer him but take another bite of your breakfast.

Thankfully, Hyunjin doesn’t push. He just hums softly to himself and moves around the kitchen to prepare his breakfast. He gathers a bowl, a spoon, pulling his cereal box from your cabinet. Milk from your fridge. Coffee poured into his mug. By the time he sits across from you, he’s already halfway through a spoonful, still blinking sleep out of his eyes. His cheeks are full of food when he reaches for the sketchbook again, flipping through the pages and stops when he finds a particular drawing he made. Then, he turns it toward you.

You don’t even need a second glance to know it’s you. You recognize it instantly from the shape, the facial features, the expression. Your eyes drawn wider, almost sparkling. Your smile softer, warmer like something out of a version of you that doesn’t exist in real life. It’s you but… brighter. Your face shows that you’re unimpressed but you’re not going to give him the satisfaction by saying it out loud. You scoff under your breath instead.

“Drew it last night,” he says with a grin, like it’s no big deal. “Figured that’s what you’d look like when I welcomed you home.”

You don’t respond because what are you even supposed to say to that? You can’t even find it in you to say thanks for drawing you beautifully like that. Your dignity won’t just allow you.

He flips the sketchbook shut again, like he’s already satisfied with your reaction—or lack of one—and goes back to his cereal. “I know you were happy to see me,” he adds, almost to himself.

You ignore that too and instead, turn your laptop toward him, angling the screen just enough for him to see. “Time to fill the evaluation form,” you announce without much ceremony.

He glances at it, chewing slowly, then leans back just a little. “Not sure we gathered enough data.”

You narrow your eyes immediately. “You’re saying we need more testing?”

A coy shrug and then. “Just saying…”

You don’t dare to entertain the idea. You cut it off before he can spiral into anything else.

“Comfort rating?” you ask, going through the questions on the evaluation form.

“Ten.”

You type it in and fill the same for you. No hesitation there. “Stimulation intensity?”

He smirks slightly. “Twelve.”

You don’t even look at him as you type. “Ten it is.”

He chuckles under his breath but lets you have it.

“Experience?” you prompt.

This time, he thinks before providing a proper answer. “I barely have no complaints. It’s thin. Like—really thin. I had to check a few times if it was even there.”

You pause for half a second to filter his words, smoothing them into something usable before typing them in. You add your own note beneath it: good lubrication.

“Additional feedback?”

He taps his spoon against the bowl, thinking. “Oh, the smell. There’s a faint rubbery smell, but it’s there. Would’ve been annoying without the lubricant.”

You nod slightly, typing it in and moves on. “Additional feedback?”

He leans back further this time, eyes drifting—not on you, not on the laptop, but somewhere in between. “Gotta be careful putting it on because the material is so thin. Also I’m not sure yet how it holds up under… intense activity.”

You don’t comment and just type. Once you get everything you wanted, you close the laptop halfway and plan to organize it later, make it neat and proper — Unlike something else.

Across from you, Hyunjin sips the milk straight from his cereal bowl and then stretches his arms into the air. That familiar smirk creeping back into his face as he settles onto his seat and you’re afraid of what he’s thinking in that little head of his. But he says what’s in his head anyway, like he needs you to know. “If the foreplay kit wasn’t complimentary, I’d rate it a hundred.”

You so badly want to ignore him but your mind — your mind doesn’t cooperate with you and it acts on its own by taking you back to last night. The blindfold. The waiting in anticipation. The way everything felt sharper, louder, more intense in the dark. The way you let him take control. The way you trusted him. You wrap your fingers around your mug and the heat helps to take you back to present. Before you slip too far into it again. Because this is a test. Just a test. Right?

“What’s the next product we’re testing?” Hyunjin asks after shoving a spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

You open the calendar and each date filled with notes in it. The scheduled test is next weekend, along with the time and the product. A heavy sigh escaped your mouth when you read the name. It’s one he’s excited the most to try.

He looks at you, waiting for your answer while lifting his coffee mug close to his mouth.

You’re so not in the mood to see his triumphant smile or grin or smirk. Or any sign that he’s having fun with it. You sigh again and finally say it, “It’s the hands-free couple vibrator.”

-

The office feels… different the moment you step in. Everyone is there but there’s a stiffness in the air, like something unseen has straightened every spine, forcing everyone to focus at the task at hand. Even the usual low chatter is replaced with polite murmurs and the soft tapping of keyboards. You don’t comment on but head straight to your desk, setting your bag down as Gabe rolls her chair closer, tablet already in hand.

“You’re glowing,” she says, a statement rather than a guess.

You’re not even sure that it’s true or that she gets the impression of it. “Glowing? Really?”

“Yeah, like something good happened,” Gabe says, leaning forward on your desk, raising her eyebrow teasingly.

Your hand mindlessly reaching for your face like it’s written all over your face and you want to smudge it down. “I don’t think—”

“So I guess you handled the vendor issue well?” Gabe cuts in through your flustered moment with a ork question.

“Yes, I… handled it,” you reply, keeping your composure despite the sudden shift of topic. “Delay on their end, but we secured a workaround. Which remind me to revise the timeline later.”

She nods, fingers moving quickly across the screen as she logs it in. “Good. That would’ve been a nightmare if it dragged longer.”

“It won’t,” you say simply, already opening your laptop.

You can finally settle to your seat, to your work and it reminds you of the way everyone is behaving today. Your brows furrow as you lean toward Gabe’s desk and asks, “Is someone happening in the office? It’s so quiet.”

Gabe doesn’t even look up as she answers, “The new CMO is visiting.”

“Didn’t that happen yesterday?”

“Got canceled,” she replies, finally glancing at you. “It’s today.”

You hum softly, leaning back in your chair. “So… I can safely bet it’s one of the family again?”

Gabe snorts under her breath, clearly trying to keep it professional. “That’s what everyone’s saying.”

Of course. Same cycle. Same pattern. A revolving door of titles passed between people who were born into them. You don’t think much of it after that. You turn back to your screen, clicking through emails, letting yourself fall into routine again because it’s easier that way.

A moment later, you hear the noise coming from the hallway. A dozen pair of footsteps coming in at once. Gabe cranes her neck toward the hallway, eyes widening just slightly before she pushes herself up from her chair and leans toward you. “They’re here.”

You hum, noncommittal. You’ve done this before. Smile, greet, nod, repeat. It’s all the same method of surviving in a workplace. The footsteps grow louder the closer they get and the office seems to hold its breath.

“Good morning,” Gabe greets, her voice warm and perfectly measured.

That’s your cue to also do your formal greeting, maybe a small talk too if necessary. You exhale quietly, pushing your chair back before standing up, smoothing down your skirt out of habit. Your expression settles into professionalism and politeness, just the right amount of pleasant. You turn with a smile and then, you freeze in place. It’s barely noticeable to anyone else. But it is to him. Because it’s him.

Kim Seungmin. He’s standing there like he did once before. He’s still composed and sharp as you remember, his eyes scanning the room before landing on you and stopping. There’s no surprise on his face. None. If anything, there’s the faintest flicker of recognition. Of something deeper, something that doesn’t belong in a room like this.

Your smile falters for half a second then snaps back into place. it’s too late to hide it because you already know and he saw it. And the worst part? The way your chest tightens has nothing to do with his job title. Nothing to do with why he’s here.

And everything to do with the fact that he’s back. Back in your life. And you can only hope, he doesn’t find his way back into your heart too.

-

Product Evaluation Submission Participant Product Testing Program Product Name: Ultra-sensitive Thin Condom – 0,01mm. Product Code: US-TC-21 Participant 1 ID: P-260319 Participant 2 ID: P-260320 Date of Evaluation: Friday, March 26. 1. Rate Comfort (1–10) Participant 1: 10 Participant 2: 10 2. Rate Stimulation Intensity (1–10) Participant 1: 9 Participant 2: 10 3. Describe Your Experience Using the Product The product offers a high level of comfort with an ultra-thin design that closely mimics natural sensation. Once applied correctly, it remains secure and unobtrusive throughout use. The lubrication provided is effective and enhances overall smoothness and ease of use. Users may need to handle the product carefully during application due to its delicate material. 4. Additional Feedback Slight rubber scent detected; may be noticeable without lubricant. Thin material enhances sensitivity but requires careful handling. Further testing recommended to assess durability under more intense conditions. 5. Are you satisfied with the product? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 9 Participant 2: 10 6. Would You Buy This Product? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 9 Participant 2: 10 7. Would You Recommend This Product To Others? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 10 Participant 2: 10 Final Comment A highly effective product for those prioritizing sensitivity and comfort. Best used with adequate lubrication. Additional testing advised for long-term durability and performance under varied conditions. Submission Status: ✔ Successfully Submitted

-

✨ COCKY: CHAPTER THREE is available on Patreon ✨

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...

You sit beside Hyunjin in the row of chairs arranged in neat lines across the hall, your ID badge hanging stiffly around your neck like a badge of shame. Around you, a dozen or so couples settle into their seats, some leaning comfortably into each other, some whispering and laughing like they’re on some bizarre date night.

You, on the other hand, sit ramrod straight with arms crossed. You back rigid against the chair. As if posture alone can save you from the humiliating reality of the situation.

At the front of the hall, a man in a white coat adjusts the microphone and opens the seminar. “Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for participating in our thirty-day couple product testing program.”

Thirty days. Thirty days of this. Oh, god…

The man gestures to the large screen behind him where images of the products appear one by one.

“Our goal is to gather honest feedback about usability, comfort, and partner experience. Each of you will receive a full testing kit at the end of this seminar.”

A ripple of excitement moves through the room. You, however, feel your stomach sink lower with every slide that appears.

The speaker continues explaining the first product—what it is, what it does, how it’s supposed to be used. “… And don’t worry, there will also be detailed instruction sheets included in the package.”

From somewhere in the back, a male participant calls out jokingly. “Don’t worry, I think we’ll figure it out!”

Laughter erupts across the hall.

God. This is a nightmare. You wince so hard your eyes nearly close.

Strangely, the person sitting beside you doesn’t join the laughter. You glance sideways and finds Hyunjin sitting relaxed in his chair, long legs stretched slightly forward, a few strands of hair escaped the messy bun on the back of his head. He looks calm, almost focused.

When the next slide appears, the presenter gestures toward it. “And this model is designed specifically for couples—”

The screen displays a sleek product image and below it, the name of the product typed in bold: Hands-free couple vibrator.

You feel heat creep up your neck immediately but before you can look away, Hyunjin leans closer. His shoulder brushes yours, warm through the thin fabric of your sleeve. “That looks fun,” he teasingly murmurs.

Your entire body shivers from sheer, mortifying disbelief that you and Hyunjin will be testing that product together. You stare straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge him.

The seminar continues, each explanation somehow making the situation worse in your mind. Eventually, the presentation shifts and different speaker steps forward.

“Now let’s discuss the structure of the program itself.”

Finally. Something practical. Something that you can pay attention to without feeling queasy.

“You will receive your testing kits today after the seminar. You may test the products in any order and at any time during the thirty-day program period.”

Thirty days. The number echoes again in your skull.

“For each product, both participants must submit evaluation forms describing your experience, including comfort level, ease of use, and partner response.”

That part, at least, you understand.

“As long as all evaluations are completed within the thirty-day period, participants will receive the full compensation package at the end of the program.”

The room erupts in whistles and clapping. Someone actually cheers.

You stare at the floor, wondering how the atmosphere became so festive.

And just when it seems like the excitement has peaked, the speaker raises a hand. “Oh, and we’ve prepared one more special thing.”

The room quiets instantly, anticipating.

“We will also be selecting one couple who provides the most genuine and insightful product feedback.”

The screen behind him changes again to an image of a tropical beach, palm trees and vast blue ocean.

“Those participants will receive a complimentary couples vacation package.”

The hall explodes. The whistles and clapping are louder now. A few couples lean into each other laughing, already excited.

Beside you, Hyunjin turns his head. His elbow nudges yours. “Did you hear that?”

You glance at him with pure exhaustion. “Yes. We’re hearing the same thing.”

He grins like a man who just won the lottery. “We’ll get a free vacation.”

You stare at him. “It goes to one couple.”

“And?”

“And I highly doubt that couple will be us.”

Hyunjin shrugs easily, completely unbothered. “I feel like we could win this.”

The reality of the situation settles heavier and heavier on your shoulders. You close your eyes for a moment, massaging your temple as dizziness creeps in from the sheer absurdity of it all.

Beside you, Hyunjin joins the excitement buzzes around you as if there was no complication in this situation. Which, somehow, makes it even worse.

...

COCKY: HYUNJIN will be released every Friday starting March 27th.

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