After mounting Ju-eon, Myung-hwon placed small kisses on his lips. His body trembled each time Myung-hwon’s fingers brushed against his skin. His breathing became rapid, making his ribs prominent with each breath.

When the hands that had been wandering above moved downward, his fingers stopped at one point. It wasn’t the natural warmth from the body, but rather heat as if from a swollen wound.

“What’s this?”

Myung-hwon traced the letters engraved on the inside of Ju-eon’s thigh.

Remember 0515.

The day we first became special to each other. Hoping I would never forget.

“It’s nothing.”

“Woo Ju-eon.”

“Are you relaxed enough to ask me about such things?”

“What?”

“I’m not feeling very relaxed myself.”

Speaking provocatively on purpose, Ju-eon ran his hands over Myung-hwon’s upper body. With his fingertips, he traced the firm muscles beneath his smooth skin.

Myung-hwon’s warmth that drew Ju-eon into pleasure enveloped his entire body. Perhaps because it had been a while, there was slight pain at first, but soon pleasure gradually began to overtake the pain. Ju-eon clung desperately to Myung-hwon as his senses went wild.

“S-sorry.”

“For what?”

“Just… everything…”

The intense pleasure made his true feelings spill out. Ju-eon cupped Myung-hwon’s cheek. He could feel his strong jaw tensing.

As if not wanting to hear any more apologies from Ju-eon, Myung-hwon began driving into him more forcefully, not giving him time to think of anything else. Myung-hwon didn’t let go of Ju-eon until his scent had permeated every inch of his body.

It felt like the tattooed skin was burning as if branded by fire. It was a night where dawn’s characteristic cold air was obliterated.

**

It felt like they had returned to their normal selves. When he woke up, dawn was faintly breaking. Under the characteristic blue light of dawn, traces of last night came into view.

“Ugh.”

When he half-raised his body, his waist ached dully, probably from overdoing it after so long. He reflexively held his waist as he got up from the bed.

‘Was it a bit too much?’

When he looked down, dark marks were engraved all over his body. Though he grumbled quietly about how much biting there had been throughout the night, there was a faint smile on Ju-eon’s face. While he loved the love mixed with stability and comfort gained from their long time together, he also loved when their love burned as if they couldn’t exist without each other.

He lay back down on the bed, wanting to stay beside him a little longer. Myung-hwon’s back came into view. When he lightly poked the elastic back with his fingertip, his muscles reflexively twitched.

How many more days would he have to lie looking at his back like this? Since he couldn’t tell Myung-hwon about his condition, he couldn’t directly ask him to stay together during the less than two weeks remaining. Because he had decided not to explain his circumstances to him.

He had considered suggesting they break up before entering the clinical trial. But feeling he couldn’t endure a moment where they weren’t lovers, he wanted to survive while remaining lovers.

‘It must be a selfish choice.’

Ju-eon muttered an apology that wouldn’t reach him inside his mind.

“Hng…”

The pain came without warning. Ju-eon quickly covered his mouth to stifle his groan. He hadn’t known the symptoms had worsened to where even pure physical contact without guiding could have adverse effects. Maybe that’s why the progression was so fast…

‘Weathering syndrome is poison just by being near an esper.’

Yun-jae’s words suddenly came to mind. If given the choice between avoiding Myung-hwon to live one more day or staying close to him, Ju-eon would choose to stay close to him.

Where was the medicine?

After searching his memories for a while, Ju-eon recalled throwing his bag down at the entrance.

Though Myung-hwon had sensitive hearing, he slept deeply when feeling secure, so Ju-eon wanted to let him sleep comfortably beside him. Conscious of Myung-hwon sleeping soundly, he quietly opened the bedroom door.

“Urgh.”

He dry heaved. Fortunately he was covering his mouth while coming out to avoid making noise. When Ju-eon removed his hand, a metallic smell stung his nose.

“Ah… ugh…”

Ju-eon’s hands were wet with dark red blood. In just a moment, his back was drenched in cold sweat. With trembling hands, he shoved the medicine into his mouth. Each time he chewed the medicine, a bitter taste filled his mouth. Soon feeling it gradually calming down, his body went limp and he sat down in front of the entrance for a moment. He waited until his body completely settled down.

He thought it was a sensation he could never get used to. It felt like his internal organs were melting.

Whoosh.

Day had fully broken by now. He turned the faucet on high and washed away the blood. He meticulously erased all traces of blood.

Click.

Just as he finished cleaning up the blood, the bedroom door opened.

“You’re up already?”

Ju-eon clutched his startled heart and casually greeted Myung-hwon.

“It’s almost time to head to work.”

“It’s that time already?”

“What were you doing?”

“I was checking if there was anything to eat in the fridge. Not much there. Is toast okay?”

“Yeah.”

The fridge was empty after eating out for a while. He had wanted to sit at the table together and eat breakfast today. Ju-eon took bread from the freezer and put it in the toaster, then put water in the kettle.

Myung-hwon took out two cups and started grinding coffee beans. This is what it meant to live sharing the same space. Even after not living together for a while, knowing each other’s habits inside and out.

“Should we go grocery shopping after work and make dinner? Tomorrow’s the weekend.”

“We can’t today.”

“Why?”

“Your farewell party is tonight.”

“…Oh right.”

“Didn’t you hear when they mentioned it yesterday?”

He belatedly recalled Yun-jin’s words about pork belly yesterday. So that conversation had been about his farewell party.

“Ah. Yeah. I forgot for a moment.”

Ju-eon placed the well-toasted bread on plates, took jam from the fridge, and sat across from Myung-hwon.

“Your hair’s sticking up.”

“…Yours too.”

It was peace after a long time. He didn’t want to ruin this atmosphere. Just for a very brief moment, just for now.

Putting off things that needed to be done was one of Ju-eon’s bad habits.

“The farewell party probably won’t go too late. Let’s talk briefly when I get back after it’s over. I have something to tell you.”

He needed to clearly address that the tabloid article wasn’t true. He didn’t want Myung-hwon to hear such stories and be shaken when he wasn’t around.

This was now Ju-eon’s best. As if vaguely knowing what he wanted to talk about, Myung-hwon quietly nodded his head.

**

Like someone’s joke that you have to go to work even if the world ends. No matter how much he was dying, work remained unchanged.

After finishing work with some time left, he helped with Yun-jin’s work. While massaging his stiff shoulders from looking at the screen for so long, Ju-eon did a final check of the files to send to Yun-jin.

“Yun-jin-ssi. I finished the documents you asked for.”

“Already? Who’s going to help me with my work when you go to another team, Ju-eon-ssi.”

“You helped me with my work a lot too, Yun-jin-ssi.”

Yun-jin pouted, saying “Still…”

“Ah, Ju-eon-ssi.”

Ju-eon turned his head at No-hun’s voice.

“Yes?”

“About today’s farewell party. Team 2 says they want to join for team bonding, what do you think?”

“Team 2?”

“I thought it might be good to get familiar before joining the new team, so I said I’d think about it.”

It was awkward. He didn’t want to unnecessarily get close. But he also knew No-hun was being considerate in many ways. Ju-eon hid his reluctance and answered.

“Um… I don’t mind.”

“Really? That’s good.”

No-hun turned cheerfully, saying he’d go tell Team 2.

“The guest of honor is Ju-eon-ssi but the team leader seems the most excited.”

“I’m grateful he’s being considerate. It’s not like I’m quitting. We didn’t even need to have a farewell party.”

Before turning his gaze back to his seat, Ju-eon briefly glanced toward where Ho-yun and Myung-hwon were.

‘Maybe it’s better this way.’

As the tabloid news said, going from Attack Team 1 to Attack Team 2 meant going down the career ladder.

Since Ju-eon wasn’t going to Team 2 by choice, if only Attack Team 1 was there, the atmosphere would likely become awkward with everyone being overly conscious.

“Let’s max out the company card today.”

Yun-jin declared with a determined voice, as if having made up her mind.

“Isn’t there a limit?”

“Still, seeing how we’re going somewhere more expensive today and inviting Team 2, the limit seems pretty high. Let’s use up our whole limit.”

Ju-eon let out a small laugh at Yun-jin’s eyes shining determinedly over something so trivial.

**

Thanks to Kang No-hun’s authority letting them leave early, Attack Team 1 arrived at the meat restaurant first.

“Please sit at the reserved table.”

The employee handed them menus while guiding them to where long tables were connected.

“Isn’t pork belly the same everywhere?”

Not having heard the exact location for the company dinner, Ji-woo clicked his tongue saying he had gotten his hopes up for nothing.

“You’re going to eat the most while saying that. Should I order cold noodles for Ji-woo-ssi if you don’t want meat?”

They naturally sat in groups of three. Yun-jin went in first and called Ju-eon to sit beside her. Kang No-hun sat across from them.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t eat it.”

Ji-woo grumbled at Yun-jin’s scolding. At another table, Lee Ji-woo sat beside Kang No-hun while Myung-hwon and Lee Ho-yun sat across from them side by side.

“They have special cuts too.”

Ju-eon could feel Yun-jin watching his face at the naturally divided tables. Not wanting to ruin the mood unnecessarily, Ju-eon added a comment to Ji-woo’s complaints.