2.1 Instead of XX

2.1 Instead of XX

The truth was, Jinwoo had slept with him once, a long time ago.
Just one night. It was before he’d started working full-time.

Honestly, he could still remember it vividly — the mood, the heat, the emotions he tried to dismiss as something casual but couldn’t fully control. Every bit of it.

“Hey, jobless Shim Jinwoo. Don’t you need a million won? This noona wants to help you out a little.”

Thanks to his older sister the owner of a cocktail bar and an absolute travel addict Jinwoo had often helped out at her place since his college days. She was off on a ten-day trip across the Balkans at the time, leaving him in charge.

That’s when Joo Heeseong walked in  on the very first day.
He came with a group of more than five people. Among them, Heeseong stood out right away.
Instead of working properly behind the bar, Jin-woo found himself sneaking glances at him all night.

It was just a short-term job, so his duties were mostly to help the main bartender and look busy but that night, he really was slacking off.
He kept stealing glances, and a few times, their eyes actually met. That alone made his heart skip.
He thought that would be the end of it. But the next day, Heeseong came again.

Different friends this time, shorter stay but their eyes met even more often. Then the next day, and the day after that. It was as if he’d fallen for the cocktails or something, bringing new people each time and helping boost sales.

By then, it was impossible to ignore: I’m not the only one interested here.
That tension — risky and electric — was kind of thrilling. Jinwoo even felt thankful his sister had gone on that trip.
Still, not all of it was good. A quiet anxiety started to creep in.

He’d had a few casual relationships before, none of which had ended well.
Once, after coming out to a trusted friend, that same friend nearly took advantage of him. Another time, his college boyfriend turned out to be a notorious scammer.

Jinwoo didn’t dwell on those failures, but they did leave scars. They turned him, little by little, into someone cautious someone who feared getting close, even if he never showed it outwardly.
And yet, he wanted Hee-sung. Badly.
He’d never been that drawn to someone he barely knew.

After much thought, Jin-woo decided on what felt like a reasonable outlet for that desire: a one-night thing. Nothing more, no strings attached.
It seemed like the easiest way to let the impulse out.

It was his last day working at the bar. Heeseong came alone for the first time dressed well, wearing a scent that fit him perfectly.
They’d barely exchanged a few words over the past ten days, but Jinwoo’s heart was racing.
He gathered his courage and offered him a drink on the house.

Having decided it would just be one night made him brave.
And exactly forty minutes later, they ended up together urgently, like animals at the edge of control. Outdoors.

It was far better than he’d imagined.
Jin-woo lost himself completely, over and over, barely able to restrain himself. It was intense, messy, unforgettable.

He wished it could have lasted longer but he knew better.
He told himself to be satisfied. Serious emotions scared him; being abandoned by someone that good would’ve been unbearable.

But Heeseong didn’t seem to see it that way.

As Jinwoo wiped himself clean afterward, Hee-sung said softly:
“I really like you. This is a first for me it’s kind of ridiculous, but I feel amazing.”

“You look cute with glasses… and honestly, even better without them. It’s driving me crazy. What do you usually wear?”

“Why don’t we go to my place? You can shower and rest. I’ll make hangover soup in the morning. Maybe we can catch a movie tomorrow?”

To him, it wasn’t just one night.

He asked Jinwoo’s name, where he lived everything. It was so sweet it almost melted him completely.

But Jinwoo, coward that he was, gave a fake name.
Then he ended things with a sudden kiss and ran  literally ran while Heeseong had stepped out to buy hangover pills, heart pounding in his throat the whole way.

That was three years ago.

Who could’ve guessed they’d meet again  in the same company, no less?

The moment they shared an elevator, Jinwoo recognized him instantly.
He couldn’t mistake that face. The second their eyes met, it felt like all the blood drained from his body  like he was pulled back to that night.

It lasted only a moment, but felt eternal.
Heeseong was even more handsome now  sharper, more mature yet when he saw Jinwoo, he didn’t show any reaction. He just pressed the elevator button and stood there, still as wax.

Jin-woo was completely thrown off.
They ran into each other a few more times  in the cafeteria, in the hallway — but nothing happened.
Maybe he really didn’t remember. After all, it had been years. Maybe ten days wasn’t enough to leave an impression.

Eventually, Jinwoo relaxed. But then he started to feel oddly resentful bruised pride, maybe.
He forced himself to act casual, even around Heeseong. He believed that even if they drank together at a company dinner, nothing strange would happen.

And yet… tonight, somehow, a drunk Heeseing ended up at his apartment.

What did that even mean?
That was what scared him most.
Did something spark his memory again? Was this about those rumors  that he’d gotten his job through connections? Surely he wasn’t planning to… threaten him or something.

Click.

The door opened, breaking his thoughts.
Hee-sung stepped out.
Jin-woo, pacing nervously, froze as he came face to face with him.

The faint scent of minty toothpaste drifted through the air, mixed with a trace of fading alcohol.

“….."

Just like before, the first thing that caught his eye was the loosely unbuttoned shirt. Somehow, the front was all wet  who even brushes their teeth like that? He hadn’t been that loud earlier, but maybe he’d splashed water everywhere while brushing.

The result of that silly behavior strangely created a kind of… tension. The wet shirt clung to his body, outlining his firm build. Leaning casually against the doorframe, Joo Heeseong looked down at Jinwoo. They were way too close. The sharp scent of mint filled Jinwoo’s senses.

It was a big door, but Heeseong’s frame seemed to fill it entirely. Jinwoo hesitated before finally speaking up.

“D-Did I do well?”

Ah, that wasn’t what he meant to say. What was he, a kid? His face flushed red as he looked away. Then he noticed something over Heeseong’s shoulder  the sink where he’d placed a new toothbrush earlier.

On top of it lay his glasses.

A silent alarm went off in his head.

He’d left them there after washing his face that morning. It was the same model he’d worn three years ago lightweight, perfectly suited to his face, from a brand he’d stuck with for years.

Not exactly one-of-a-kind, but still… you never knew. During the ten days they’d worked together, he’d worn those glasses often maybe even every day. He was pretty sure Heeseong had commented on them once.

Then, a low voice pierced the air.

“Shim Jinwoo.”

Jinwoo flinched and looked up from the glasses. Did he just… call my name?

“Assistant Manager Shim Jinwoo.”

The voice was clearer now, not slurred at all. Maybe he’d sobered up a bit. Sensing an opening, Jinwoo quickly said,

“See? Brushing helped, right?”

Heeseong didn’t answer just gave a faint, unreadable smirk.

“I’ll call you a taxi, so go home, okay? It’s really late. I’ve got to get up early tomorrow, so I should—”

“Why are you trying to send me away so badly?”

Blink. Blink. Jinwoo was speechless. He wanted to snap back — You really don’t know why? — but bit his tongue.

“I said… I have something to tell you.”

“What?”

“Assistant Manager, do you not know who I am?”

The sudden question froze Jinwoo’s mind. Wait. Is he… still drunk?

“O-of course I know.”

Their eyes met, but Jinwoo couldn’t read what was behind that dark, unreadable gaze.

“Of course I know you. You’re Joo Heeseong. Everyone knows you. I think I’ve even seen you before… right? We were at the same dinner tonight, too.”

Heeseong’s narrowed eyes flickered, opening and closing slowly. The shadows of his thick lashes trembled at the corners of his sharp eyes. And… was that moisture?

What’s wrong with him?

“Um, your address… I mean, for the taxi. Or maybe you should, uh, fix your clothes first—”

Jinwoo stammered, flustered. When he looked down to avoid Heeseong’s eyes, he instantly regretted it. The wet shirt clung to him, and… the area below his waist looked suspiciously tense.

Jinwoo instinctively took a step back. Was that because of the alcohol? No actually, people usually can’t when they’ve been drinking… right?

As his thoughts spun, Heeseong suddenly gave a faint laugh.

“Ah. Sorry. I tried to calm it down, but it’s not listening.”

He murmured something Jinwoo couldn’t quite make out, then exhaled deeply and continued slowly,

“But I can’t go home right now.”

“Why not?”

“I’m too sleepy. Just a short nap, then I’ll go.”

That was weird he didn’t look sleepy at all. But after a moment’s thought, Jinwoo realized it might actually be safer that way. Heeseong was… unpredictable right now. Letting him sleep it off sounded like the better option.

“Oh, sure. The sofa’s in the living room, so you can—”

But before Jinwoo could finish, Heeseong suddenly turned around and walked back into the bathroom.

What now? Was he going to throw up again? Or maybe… use the toilet?

Nope. Jinwoo’s guesses were all wrong. Heesung stumbled toward the bathtub and then, unbelievably, started climbing into it.

There was no way he was planning to take a bath. But to Jinwoo’s shock, Heeseong lay down inside, slowly, carefully.

What on earth… First the sidewalk, then the doorway, and now the bathtub? And he wasn’t even collapsing he looked determined to get a proper night’s sleep.

With a straight face, he lay flat on his back, neatly folded his hands over his stomach, and closed his eyes.

The wet shirt hung loose, revealing skin and firm abs, but Heeseong didn’t seem to care. The bathtub wasn’t small, but it was clearly uncomfortable he kept shifting slightly, trying to find a way to rest his feet at the edge.

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