Jihoon couldn't help but feel a knot in his stomach at the thought of the pink-haired guy—Hyunwoo—coming back. The image of him leaving Minjae's office still lingered in Jihoon's mind, his mind racing with questions. What did this mean for him and Minjae? Was there more to their relationship than he was being led to believe?
After a long pause, Jihoon spoke up, his voice a little hesitant. "Is he... going to come back again?" he asked quietly, his gaze flickering to Minjae. "At least... I need some warning if he does. It's... a little awkward."
Minjae leaned back in his chair, his smirk gone, replaced with a more serious expression. He studied Jihoon for a moment before speaking, his voice steady and calm.
"No," Minjae replied, his tone resolute. "This was the last time I'll be seeing him like that."
Jihoon's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean?" he asked, not able to hide the confusion on his face. "I thought you—"
Minjae cut him off with a soft sigh. "After we... you know," he said, trailing off as though the words felt difficult to say, "I told Hyunwoo that I couldn't keep seeing him anymore. I told him I wanted to focus on taking care of you."
The words hung in the air between them, and Jihoon's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't quite process what Minjae had just said. Focus on him?
Minjae's gaze softened, the seriousness in his eyes replaced with something gentler. "I know things between us have been complicated, Jihoon, but I can't keep running away from it. I want to be there for you. I've made mistakes in the past, but I don't want to keep making them."
Jihoon felt a mix of emotions welling up inside him—confusion, relief, maybe even a little hope—but he couldn't bring himself to say anything right away. Minjae had just told him that, after everything, he was choosing him—choosing to focus on him over someone else. It was overwhelming.
"Why?" Jihoon finally managed to ask, his voice soft. "Why now? Why after everything that happened between us...?"
Minjae stood up from his desk and walked around to Jihoon, his steps deliberate and confident. He leaned against the edge of the desk, looking down at Jihoon with a quiet intensity in his eyes.
"Because," Minjae began, his voice low and filled with sincerity, "I care about you, Jihoon. I've always cared about you. And I know we've been through a lot, but I don't want to keep pretending that we're just strangers anymore."
Jihoon's chest tightened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to look at Minjae fully—to see him not as the man who had hurt him, but as someone who was trying to make amends.
"I want to make it right," Minjae added softly, his gaze never leaving Jihoon's face. "I don't want to lose you again."
Jihoon's breath caught in his throat, his mind still trying to process everything. Minjae was right there, in front of him, offering something Jihoon had never imagined. But with everything that had happened between them, could he really trust Minjae again?
"Minjae," Jihoon whispered, his voice barely audible. "I... don't know if I can just forget everything that happened. You left me, and I... I've been angry for so long."
Minjae's expression faltered for a moment, but he didn't step back. Instead, he reached out gently, touching Jihoon's arm, a silent gesture of reassurance.
"I know, Jihoon," he said, his voice thick with regret. "I don't expect you to forget. But I hope you can at least see that I'm trying now. I want to be the person you need me to be. The person you deserve."
For a long moment, the two of them stood in silence, the weight of their past hanging in the air. Jihoon's mind was spinning, the pull of his emotions almost overwhelming. The years of pain, of rejection, of confusion—it was all flooding back.
But now, Minjae was here. And he was offering him something real.
Maybe, just maybe, this was a second chance.
Jihoon took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I don't know if I can just let go of everything," he admitted, his voice raw. "But... I guess I'm willing to try. To see where we go from here."
Minjae's expression softened, and for the first time in a long while, there was a sense of relief in his eyes. He reached out, pulling Jihoon into a gentle embrace, his arms wrapping around him in a way that felt like safety—like everything could finally start to make sense again.
"I'll take care of you, Jihoon," Minjae murmured softly. "I promise."
And for the first time in a long while, Jihoon allowed himself to believe it.
As the workday came to a close, Jihoon followed Minjae through the sleek, modern halls of the office building, his mind still reeling from the conversation they had earlier. It felt like everything had shifted in a way he hadn't expected, and he wasn't quite sure what to make of it all. The air was lighter, but Jihoon still couldn't shake the uncertainty lingering in his chest.
They made their way down to the basement parking lot, and Jihoon's footsteps slowed when he caught sight of the car that was parked in one of the reserved spaces. His eyes widened in surprise—it was a sleek, black sports car, polished to perfection. The car gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and the luxury of it hit Jihoon like a wave.
"You've got a car like this?" Jihoon said, his voice tinged with awe. "It looks so expensive."
Minjae smirked as he reached the car and unlocked it with the press of a button. "Yeah, it's not bad," he replied casually, as though the car were just another ordinary possession. "But, you know, I can always get another one if you want."
Jihoon blinked, not sure if he had heard that right. "Wha-"
Minjae opened the driver's side door and slid into the seat, giving Jihoon a sideways glance. "You heard me. If you like it, I'll buy you one. Consider it a gift."
Jihoon was taken aback. "A gift? For me?" He didn't know whether to laugh or be embarrassed. "I couldn't accept something like that. That's way too much."
Minjae chuckled and patted the passenger seat. "Come on, don't be shy. I've got more than enough to spare. Plus, it would be nice to see you driving something that suits you better than your old bike."
Jihoon hesitated, but he couldn't deny the temptation of such an extravagant offer. Deep down, he knew he couldn't afford anything close to a car like this. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. He shrugged, unsure. "I don't know, Minjae. I just—"
"Don't worry about it," Minjae interrupted, his tone light. "Let me take care of it. You deserve it."
With that, Minjae started the car, the low purr of the engine vibrating through the air. Jihoon couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the sudden wealth and luxury that surrounded him. It wasn't just the car; it was everything. The office, the way Minjae carried himself, the way he seemed to live in a different world altogether.
As they drove through the city streets, Jihoon slowly began to relax. The windows were down, and the evening breeze felt cool against his skin. The sound of the city was muffled by the smooth hum of the car's engine. For the first time in a long time, Jihoon felt at ease. It was like they had slipped back into an old rhythm, the way they used to talk when they were younger.
"Remember when we used to walk around the park after school?" Minjae asked, his eyes on the road as he steered the car effortlessly through traffic.
Jihoon smiled at the memory. "Yeah. I remember how you always made fun of my shoes when I couldn't keep up with you."
Minjae laughed, the sound warm and familiar. "You were always so slow. But I didn't mind. I liked spending time with you."
Jihoon's heart skipped a beat at the casual way Minjae spoke. There was something in his voice, something that felt different than before. Maybe it was the sincerity, or maybe it was the way Minjae's words seemed to hold a deeper meaning now.
As the car sped through the streets, Jihoon couldn't help but feel a strange mix of nostalgia and hope building inside him. He had missed this—the feeling of being with Minjae, of talking without all the tension and distance that had come between them in the past.
The car pulled into a parking lot outside an upscale restaurant, and Jihoon's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the elegant building in front of them. The restaurant was a modern, sleek establishment with glass walls and soft golden lights glowing from within.
"We're eating here?" Jihoon asked, half-expecting Minjae to tell him they were just passing by.
Minjae smirked and opened the car door. "Of course. It's one of my favorites. Come on, I'll treat you to the best meal you've ever had."
Jihoon followed Minjae inside, feeling suddenly out of place in the lavish setting. The waitstaff greeted them with polished smiles, guiding them to a private table near the window. Jihoon sat down, looking around at the immaculate decor, the low murmur of conversation around them, and the glint of crystal chandeliers above. He felt like he didn't belong in a place like this, but Minjae seemed completely at ease.
As the waiter presented the menu, Jihoon scanned it quickly, his eyes widening at the prices. "This is too much," he muttered, looking up at Minjae in shock. "I—I can't order anything here. It's too expensive."
Minjae simply raised an eyebrow, his expression calm and unbothered. "You're my guest. Order whatever you want. Don't worry about the price."
Jihoon hesitated, but the warmth in Minjae's voice made him feel a little more at ease. He picked a dish that sounded nice, though it still felt like too much for him.
Over dinner, they laughed, reminisced about old times, and shared stories about their lives since they'd last seen each other. It was easy, the conversation flowing naturally between them, as if they had never been apart. The tension Jihoon had felt earlier seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of comfort and familiarity.
But despite the fun, Jihoon still couldn't shake the feeling that all of this was so foreign to him. The luxury, the lavishness—it was all a stark contrast to the life he had been living.
Minjae noticed his unease and gently placed a hand on Jihoon's across the table. "You're not used to this, are you?" he asked softly.
Jihoon shook his head, feeling a little embarrassed. "I'm not used to... any of this. It's all so much."
Minjae smiled, his gaze warm. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it. And if you ever need anything, I'll be here. You're not alone anymore, Jihoon."
For a moment, Jihoon just sat there, looking at Minjae. His heart was full of mixed emotions—gratitude, confusion, but also a growing sense of longing. Maybe things really could be different between them.
Maybe this wasn't just about the car, or the money, or the fancy restaurant. Maybe, just maybe, Minjae really was offering him a chance to start over.