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Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Unspoken Boundaries

Joo-won arrived early at the office the next day, trying to shake off the unease that had settled deep within him. The events of the previous day—Kim Joon-ho's proximity, his praise, the way his name lingered in the air—had all but consumed his thoughts. He had been trying to focus, trying to convince himself that he was merely overthinking, that he was simply reacting to the stress of the job. But the tension between him and Kim felt undeniable. It wasn't just professional anymore—it was personal, and it was pulling him in deeper with every interaction.

As he passed the glass walls of the executive offices, he couldn't help but glance inside Kim's office. Kim sat at his desk, engrossed in a meeting with a few senior managers. His sharp, authoritative presence filled the room, and despite being surrounded by people, he seemed isolated in his own world. Joo-won wondered for a moment if anyone else in the company could feel the weight of Kim's influence as he did.

Pushing the thought away, Joo-won tried to focus on his own work, but his mind was clouded with memories of their last interaction. He couldn't stop replaying the way Kim had looked at him, the tension in his voice when he said, "Call me Joon-ho." The way Kim had touched his arm.

Was it a test? A moment of weakness? Or something more?

As the day wore on, the feeling of being pulled in two different directions continued to build within him. He was working on a presentation for an upcoming meeting when he heard his phone buzz. He half-expected it to be Kim, but it was an email from Min-seo.

From: Park Min-seo

Message: "Are you okay? You've been quiet lately. You seem… off."

Joo-won stared at the message, his fingers hovering over the keyboard as he considered how to respond. Min-seo was one of the few people he'd ever felt comfortable confiding in, but this was different. This was too personal. He couldn't explain to her what was going on with Kim—he couldn't even explain it to himself.

He typed a quick reply, trying to brush it off:

From: Seo Joo-won

Message: "Just tired. Big presentation coming up."

He didn't hear back immediately, and for a brief moment, he was relieved. He needed time to process everything.

The day passed in a blur of meetings, spreadsheets, and the constant hum of office life. By the time 6 PM rolled around, most of the employees had gone home, leaving the office quieter than usual. Joo-won was still at his desk, working on the final touches for the presentation, when he felt a familiar, unsettling presence at the door.

Kim Joon-ho stood there, his silhouette framed by the hallway lights. His gaze met Joo-won's, and for a moment, neither of them moved. The space between them seemed to shrink, charged with an energy that neither could ignore.

"Joo-won," Kim's voice broke the silence, low and deliberate. "I need to see you in my office."

Joo-won's heart skipped a beat as he quickly stood up. He didn't know why, but he felt compelled to follow. It was as if something unspoken was drawing him to Kim's office, something that neither of them could resist.

He followed Kim through the dimly lit hallways, his mind racing with questions. What did Kim want? Was this going to be another casual conversation, or was something more about to happen?

As they entered Kim's office, Joo-won noticed the lights were dimmer than usual, casting long shadows across the room. Kim's desk was cluttered with papers, but the moment he closed the door behind him, everything seemed to go still.

Kim turned to face him, his expression unreadable. For a moment, there was silence, as if both of them were weighing the unspoken tension that hung thick in the air.

Joo-won swallowed, trying to steady his breathing. "Is something wrong, Joon-ho?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Kim's gaze softened, but there was something darker in his eyes. He took a step closer to Joo-won, his voice lower than before.

"You've been distant," Kim said, his words carrying an edge of frustration. "You don't look at me the same way you did before."

Joo-won's heart raced. He didn't know how to respond. Was he supposed to admit the growing feelings that were eating at him? Was he supposed to tell Kim that every time they were alone, his thoughts were clouded with the weight of their proximity?

Kim was studying him intently, as though waiting for an answer. But Joo-won couldn't speak—he couldn't articulate what was happening inside him. His thoughts were jumbled, confused by the intensity of his attraction to Kim, and the fear of crossing a line that could never be uncrossed.

Kim stepped even closer, and Joo-won instinctively took a step back, his breath hitching in his throat.

"We can't keep pretending this isn't happening," Kim said softly. "We're not the same, you and I. There's no turning back now."

Joo-won's world spun as Kim closed the gap between them. He could feel the heat of Kim's body, the raw power in his presence. The room felt impossibly small as Kim's fingers brushed against Joo-won's arm, sending an electric shock straight to his core.

"I'm not sure I can stop myself, Joo-won," Kim murmured, his lips barely an inch from Joo-won's ear. "And neither can you."

The words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. Joo-won's body was trembling with desire and confusion, caught between his growing attraction to Kim and the professional boundaries he knew should exist between them. But in that moment, everything else faded away. There was only Kim, and there was only Joo-won.

Joo-won closed his eyes, his breath shallow. "I don't know what to do anymore," he whispered, barely audible.

Kim's response was a slow, deliberate kiss, one that sealed their fate.