Where Every Story Blooms

    “…”

    In that instant, Kei’s gaze changed. There was no need to explain what kind of help I needed or how I needed it. As a short breath escaped his lips, his face suddenly drew closer to mine.

    “Mmph…”

    Our lips met in an instant. His tongue invaded mercilessly through the gap of our pressed lips. Though my stomach twisted from the suddenly released pheromones, I couldn’t push him away now.

    He held my chin with one hand while removing his glasses with the other, carelessly tossing them to the side. My sunglasses fell to the floor along with his. My hat had long since been half-removed, with only disheveled hair covering the sides of my face.

    The kiss was too passionate to have started so suddenly. Just moments ago we were having a calm conversation, but now every action was intense. The way his tongue entangled with mine, exploring every corner of my mouth, felt almost violent in a way.

    “…Ah.”

    How did this fire get started? There was no time to wonder about that. Just as he had me completely lying down on the sofa, the attendant outside spoke carefully.

    “I’m coming in.”

    This time it was an announcement, followed by the sound of the door sliding open. But instead of breaking the kiss, Kei changed angles and pushed his tongue in deeper into my mouth. Only the wet sounds of kissing echoed in the quiet compartment.

    “…”

    I could sense the attendant’s hesitation and embarrassment upon entering the cabin. Though it would have been nice if he just turned around and left, unfortunately, he remained standing in place. Even while kissing, all my attention was focused on the door, making me overly aware of every small movement coming from him.

    After a while of intertwining tongues, Kei soon slid his lips down to my neck. He buried his lips on the side of my neck and deeply sucked on the thin skin. When I let out an “Ah!” at the stinging sensation, he finally lifted his upper body.

    “…”

    For some reason, he looked slightly regretful. His lips, glistening with saliva, were a mess with smeared lipstick. His gaze as he looked down at me revealed excitement he hadn’t managed to contain.

    I covered my eyes with one arm and turned my head to the side. As I deliberately breathed heavily pretending to be aroused, Kei let out a long sigh. Then he loosened his tie and looked back.

    “…You said ID check?”

    No answer was needed. He took out his wallet from inside his jacket and pulled out an ID from between the cards. He carelessly placed the wallet on the table, and in that brief moment, I caught a glimpse of a photo tucked inside.

    Kei then picked up my fallen bag and naturally began searching through it. After finding both IDs, he tossed them onto the sofa where he had been sitting.

    “Look and go.”

    It was rude behavior, but no one could point that out. The attendant picked up the IDs without a word and hesitantly spoke.

    “Um, face verification…”

    “Face?”

    This time Kei retorted in a decidedly sharp tone. As if he was genuinely annoyed, not acting at all. As if he was displeased about having his time alone with me interrupted.

    “Do you not know who I am?”

    “Ah, no, sir. We do know.”

    The attendant hurriedly waved both hands at his overtly incredulous response. An employee working on this train couldn’t possibly not know who “Kim Jaewon” was.

    To this, Kei asked again slowly.

    “Then surely…you’re not asking to see this lady’s face?”

    Kei retrieved my fallen hat and used its wide brim to cover my face. While straightening my disheveled clothes, he spoke to the attendant as if addressing someone shameless.

    “How ungentlemanly of you. Asking to see another man’s woman’s face in this state.”

    His voice, tinged with laughter, was nothing short of openly condemning the attendant. The fact that his tone remained excessively calm despite what just happened made it even more contemptuous.

    “If you must see, come back when things have calmed down. It would be awkward for both parties right now.”

    Even the attendant seemed to hesitate at this natural excuse that flowed out of Kei’s mouth. Just like Kei said, it was awkward for both parties, so he too probably wanted to leave this space as quickly as possible.

    “…Thank you for your cooperation. Excuse me.”

    Finally, the attendant left with just those words. Seeing how he closed the door himself as soon as he left, it looked like he probably wouldn’t return. With the sliding sound of the door closing, a strange silence fell over the compartment right then.

    “…”

    “…”

    How long had we stayed like that before the hat covering my face was smoothly removed? Beyond my brightened vision, I could see Kei looking down at me. As I unconsciously examined the lipstick smeared around his lips and mouth, my stomach suddenly turned.

    “Ugh…”

    I hurriedly pushed him away and covered my mouth with one hand. The remaining pheromones made my stomach churn. The nausea was so intense I felt like throwing up despite not having eaten anything.

    “…Urgh.”

    Fortunately, I didn’t vomit. I managed to hold it back, knowing throwing up would ruin everything. After quietly watching me dry heave several times, Kei let out a hollow laugh and slumped down right next to me.

    “…I’m a bit hurt.”

    His large hand gently stroked my back. The up-and-down motion gradually made me feel more comfortable. It also helped that the intense alpha pheromones were slowly subsiding.

    “Was it that bad?”

    “…”

    I looked at Kei quietly. My vision was slightly blurred from the tears that had welled up. Kei wiped the tears from my eyes with his index finger and said lightly.

    “It’s not like it’s our first time.”

    “…My stomach hasn’t been well lately.”

    I slowly made my excuse, feeling I’d been too rude to someone who had helped and even kissed me. Only then did Kei nod as if understanding.

    “It’s no wonder you turned down all the food.”

    Kei grabbed tissues from the table and roughly wiped the lipstick smeared around his mouth. The way he handed me several sheets seemed too familiar. Judging by how he noticed his own state without looking in a mirror, it seemed this wasn’t his first time undergoing such an experience.

    “You’ve never refused food before…”

    Back when he used to visit Oceans, all the food ordered in the room was for me. I might not have eaten what other customers offered, not knowing what they’d put in it, but I always ate what Kei gave me without question.

    “You’ve lost weight in that amount of time.”

    He poked my cheek with the tissue-holding hand. He asked worriedly if my stomach was very unwell.

    “Want some medicine?”

    “If I can resell it.”

    “Always such a penny pincher…”

    Knowing I was serious, Kei didn’t offer twice. Guess reselling isn’t allowed. True to his money-making nature, he was strict about such things.

    “Now, tell me.”

    Kei retrieved the IDs from the sofa and returned mine to me. As he put his back in his wallet, I caught another glimpse of the photo I’d noticed earlier. I deliberately looked away, pretending not to notice, as he looked at me directly.

    “Why are you like this?”

    Such a belated question. One that contained so much too—why I was here, why I looked like this, why I was hiding.

    Of course, I had questions too.

    “When did you know? That it was me?”

    “Since the bar.”

    The answer was simple, and in its simplicity, somewhat devastating. Everything that had felt off made sense the moment I heard the words come out of his mouth.

    “Who does hush money that way? With so many people who’d just ask for more money, why would I give out my business card?”

    I had thought about this too. I’d thought he had some naive aspects befitting a young master, but it seemed he knew how foolish that would have been. Well, he was no longer the kid who had recklessly come to the back alleys.

    “I’ll return your watch.”

    “Sell it and use the money.”

    “…”

    “It’s expensive. Should fetch whatever price you ask.”

    So he was saying to keep it. Kei seemed completely uninterested in the watch. It appeared he had given it to me intending it as a donation from the start.

    After a moment of silence, Kei lowered his voice heavily.

    “Are you running away?”

    Coming full circle back to the first question. How should I answer? Yes or no wouldn’t be difficult, but Kei wouldn’t be satisfied with just that. Now that he was helping, he might want to know all the details.

    “Yes, why else would you be here?”

    Even though I hadn’t answered, Kei reached his own conclusion. In a way it was obvious, so there was no need for me to confirm it explicitly.

    The problem was his next question.

    “What about my business card?”

    Was it my imagination, or did he sound somewhat accusatory? Why didn’t I contact him, why did I refuse when he suggested running away, why in the world were  we meeting here? The reproachful criticisms felt as vivid as if I’d heard them.

    “Joo Do-hwa took it.”

    “…”

    “I threw away the one I got yesterday.”

    I calmly told him what happened to the cards, pretending not to notice. Kei’s brow furrowed at the name ‘Joo Do-hwa,’ but when he heard I’d thrown the card away, he laughed instead.

    “I figured as much.”

    His tone suggested ‘That’s just like you.’ As if he hadn’t expected anything different from the start.

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