PTT - 41

Gwak Seon-gi, who had lost consciousness, was immediately rushed to a nearby university hospital. In his place, White Agents followed instead of Ra-on and Si-heon, who couldn’t risk exposing their identities to the outside world. However, as if it were all a lie, he passed away the moment he arrived at the emergency room.

The exact cause of death would only be known after an autopsy, but the doctor was certain it was due to poisoning. It was suspected to be a far more dangerous and lethal substance than any commonly used poison in the country. It was clear that it wasn’t something like cyanide, pesticide, or pufferfish toxin.

A white sheet was draped over Gwak Seon-gi’s pale blue face, his eyes left unshut. With no immediate family to notify of his death, distant relatives were contacted instead.

“……”

In the situation control room, Si-heon, upon hearing the news, wiped his face with a troubled expression. Ra-on, seated beside him, mirrored the same sentiment. The bitter taste lingered on the tip of his tongue, as though he’d chewed on bitter herbs.

The bodyguard who had handed over the water bottle was immediately apprehended. He was a new employee who had been with the company for less than a year. The second-in-command was reportedly going to interrogate him personally. Given the chilling smile Gwak Seon-gi had worn in his final moments, it seemed highly likely some sort of deal had transpired between them.

Still, the process and reasoning behind it remained incomprehensible. How? Since when? And why?

Si-heon pressed his temples firmly with his fingertips and turned his head to look to the right. At some point, only he and Ra-on remained in the situation control room. Perhaps unsettled by the sudden turn of events, her expression was grim.

“Yeon.”

The low baritone grazed her ear, prompting Ra-on to slowly blink and raise her head. It was an unforeseen, uncontrollable event—one no one could have predicted.

Had they not peered into Gwak Seon-gi’s mind beforehand, the outcome would have been the same. She knew this fact well herself. Yet, what had happened just an hour ago refused to fade from her thoughts.

“You called?”

“Don’t dwell on it too much. The autopsy results will come soon enough, and the truth will surface.”

“…Yes, I know.”

Si-heon lightly patted Ra-on’s forearm. As much as he wanted to pull her into a suffocating embrace, he hesitated, unsure if she would welcome it.

His gaze fell on the bruised back of her right hand. He hoped today’s incident wouldn’t leave such scars on her, but all he could do was advise her not to dwell on it. Feeling foolish and helpless, Si-heon swallowed a self-deprecating laugh.

---

Swish.

The water gushing from the showerhead hit the floor, creating faint noise. By now, the interior of the shower stall had become opaque with billowing steam. Baek Si-heon, leaning against the wall under the cascading water for some time, turned the lever to the right to adjust the temperature.

Ice-cold water drenched the back of his head. Unfazed by the freezing sensation coursing down his body, he simply bowed his head, staring blankly at the floor.

“…Hah.”

A droplet of water clung to the tip of his eyelashes before succumbing to gravity and falling. Though he usually finished his showers within ten minutes, today his scattered thoughts refused to wash away.

Finally, lowering the lever silenced the water flow. An abrupt stillness enveloped the space. Pushing his soaked hair back, Baek Si-heon leaned against the wall. Droplets of water trickled down the sharp bridge of his nose.

He had hoped the cold water might clear his mind, but nothing changed. Overwhelmed by an indescribable frustration, he tilted his chin slightly upward. His mind was cluttered with the whirlwind of events that had unfolded since yesterday, but above all, the person weighing most heavily on his heart was Yoo Sa-yeon.

‘Yoo Sa-yeon.’ Though considerable time had passed since their reunion, her name from before the name change still felt more familiar. Yeon. Each time he called Ra-on by that name, Si-heon felt a nostalgia for a past he could never return to.

Even after eons of time, there are things that remain forever unchanged.

Her name, appearance, manner of speech, even her profession—all had changed, yet Yoo Ra-on still held his heart tightly in her grasp. Did she even realize how fiercely he clung to her, as though not a single grain of sand could escape?

Baek Si-heon wiped his wet face with his palm. His large, firm hand slid over his cheek, jawline, and throat. It felt as though an invisible force was pressing down on his windpipe.

It must be because I miss you. A bitter smile escaped his lips, which usually curved into a smirk. He regretted not approaching her more seriously and cautiously—his own foolishness grated on him.

Had she been hurt? Surely, she had been.

Suddenly, a memory from five years ago flashed through his mind—a day they had spent together. They had cared for each other tenderly, like people who didn’t know how to fight, until the night they first made love. That night, inexperienced in all things, he had explored her deeply, cherished her, and realized for the first time what it meant to desire another person.

”Hnn, mm… Sun-bae, it’s too deep. Ah! It feels strange…”

”Yeon-ah.”

”Sun-bae, hnn!”

The image of Ra-on clinging to him tightly, moaning softly, surfaced in his mind. Afterward, when she had no strength left, he carried her to the bathroom to wash their bodies.

With tears streaking her cheeks, she had smiled brightly, leaning against him despite her weakened legs, simply happy to be together.

The playful memory of smearing body wash on each other felt as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. He remembered her pressing close, covered in white foam, leaving him flustered.

Their plan to fall asleep together after the shower had fallen through, replaced by the sound of wet moans filling the steamy bathroom. The memory of tormenting her relentlessly until the very end filled Si-heon’s mind.

“I want to see you.”

Baek Si-heon lowered his hand slowly, pressing against his tired eyes. Just imagining sex with Ra-on had already brought him halfway to arousal.

Grasping his thick erection firmly, he moved his wrist up and down. The prominent veins rubbed against his palm, generating a heavy sense of pleasure. Despite the heat rising in his body, the wall behind him felt cold.

”It feels good… Sun-bae, I love you.”

The voice confessing amidst reckless passion echoed in his ears like a hallucination. Si-heon tilted his head slightly, staring into the distance.

A languid, sensual breath escaped his lips. Remembering the moment he gazed into her tear-filled eyes, he had been consumed by the desire to devour her whole.

The present-day Baek Si-heon felt the same way. Just days ago, when he had held her, impure desires surged uncontrollably within him. To him, Yoo Ra-on was the spark igniting a hidden fuse.

Brushing the thick glans with his thumb, a low groan escaped him. He clenched his teeth so hard his jaw ached. Thwap, thwap. Lewd friction sounds reverberated through the silent bathroom.

Moving his wrist rapidly up and down heightened the sensitivity, drawing blood to his core. He bit his lower lip lightly, his clouded eyes gazing upward at the ceiling.

“Yeon-ah.”

Transparent pre-cum dripped from the tip of his fully erect member. His hand naturally quickened its pace, stimulating the head. Si-heon furrowed his brow, releasing intermittent moans as his grip tightened around his shaft.

“Kuh…”

Finally, warm semen filled his palm. He frowned, slowly stroking the head as waves of release washed over him. For a while, he stood there catching his breath before turning the lever back on. Thin streams of water sprayed once again from the showerhead.

A wave of self-loathing rose to his throat, accompanied by a bitter chuckle. Though the cold water washed away the evidence of his climax, the tangled emotions remained unresolved.

“…You idiot.”

Muttering to himself, Si-heon squeezed out a pump of body wash. The scent of bergamot mingled with herbs erased the lingering fragrance of night-blooming flowers from his palms. Not long after, the sound of the shower resumed, softly echoing through the room.