CHAPTER 14 #2
Min-Jun entered the room in his usual maid uniform with a tray in hand and walked towards Aidan’s table. He tried his best to keep control over his racing heart and trembling fingers.
“Your coffee, sir, and your breakfast.”
When the tray touched the table, Aidan shot him a look. While keeping his face devoid of all emotions, Min-Jun straightened up, and asked, “Is that all?”
Aidan replied simply, “Yes,” and looked back on his screen.
Min-Jun turned and walked towards the door without another word. When the door closed behind him, he released a shaky breath.
There was no more staying in his boss’ room a bit longer so they could fuck. No more secret and longing glances.
Was it really over? Just like that? Min-Jun had a hard time believing it. In a way, he didn’t want to.
Aidan acted distant, but the same was with him. Min-Jun decided that this was how things would stay until he firmly decided to quit, or Aidan finds a reason to fire him.
Min-Jun closed himself in a small room and leaned his back against the door. He was breathing heavily while his heart was sinking.
We are just strangers again, aren’t we? But we always were. We live in two different worlds and to think that there’s hope for something more was foolish of me.
Ever since Aidan saw him at the fair, Min-Jun had known this.
“This is for the best…” he whispered to himself.
Min-Jun decided to build thick, tall walls, and withdraw even more into himself. Since he didn’t have the strength to quit, he would stay working for another two or three weeks at least. He also needed money, and they were paying well.
Once I quit, I will stop seeing him… How would I survive that?
Min-Jun gasped as the pressure began to build in his chest, then behind his eyes, and it started squeezing his throat. He choked trying to suppress the tears, but they rolled down his cheeks anyway.
***
Everyone was in their regular places at the table, and Min-Jun and Aidan sat next to each other as they usually did. Elena and their staff led their debates, and Aidan would add something from time to time, while Min-Jun was just quietly sitting and eating.
Sometimes Min-Jun would secretly glance at Aidan, trying his best not to be noticed. The others had no idea what kind of drama was unfolding in front of their noses. They talked and laughed.
When they finished eating, Min-Jun began to collect empty plates and went to the kitchen. As he was putting it all in a dishwasher, he saw Aidan enter the kitchen as well. They passed each other without a word.
_
Aidan wanted to stop him and kiss him right there and end his suffering once and for all. But he didn’t. He let Min-Jun walk right past him. His insides screamed but his pride was bigger than anything else. Instead, he took a new bottle of whiskey from the cabinet and headed back to his bedroom.
***
Two long weeks passed, but it seemed like eternity.
Things between them did not change.
Aidan was in his study working on a case when his phone rang. He didn’t look at the screen to see who was calling him; he answered automatically.
“Yes?”
“Hey. It’s me.”
Cade.
“I’m listening.”
“How are you doing?”
“Good. You?”
“I’m bored. It’s been long since we… You know.”
“Then come over. I have to hang up now.”
Aidan dropped the phone on the table with a loud thud and sighed. It’s been a while since he fucked, but he wasn’t even in the mood for it.
Not without Min-Jun.
Just as he opened a new document, he heard a knock on the door.
“You may enter.”
It was Min-Jun. He stepped into the room and said, “I came to clean the windows.”
“Sure,” Aidan replied and got up. He noticed Min-Jun turned his gaze back at him, but he walked towards the door. He left. Aidan decided to light the cigarette on the balcony of his bedroom and waited a few minutes before returning to his work room.
When he returned, Min-Jun was still cleaning, but he was already outside. Aidan took a deep breath and sat at his worktable.
Once Min-Jun entered, he said, “I have finished.”
“Good... Then you can bring me a slice of Belgian chocolate cake.”
“Um… Okay. Sure.” Min-Jun disappeared from the room. He returned without knocking, holding a plate with a large piece of chocolate cake.
Aidan looked at it closely and said, “I told you to bring Belgian chocolate cake. This is Swiss.”
Min-Jun opened and closed his mouth, visibly taken aback. But he took the plate back and left the room. He returned with a new piece, but when he put it on the table, Aidan spoke again, “You brought the wrong cake.”
Now clearly irritated, Min-Jun grabbed the plate.
He returned for the third time and Aidan said it once more, “This is not Belgian chocolate, Min-Jun.” He looked up at him with a bored expression.
Disbelief painted Min-Jun’s face, but his eyebrows knotted. Aidan didn’t even have time to react when the piece collided with his face. He gasped in shock and ran his hands over his face.
“I’ve had enough! I quit!” He heard Min-Jun’s voice and his hurried steps.
With his face still smeared, Aidan jumped to his feet to catch Min-Jun before he reached the door. He grabbed his forearm and Min-Jun turned. Without much thinking, Aidan smacked their lips together.
_
Min-Jun was taken aback, he didn’t see it coming, he parted his lips for a moment when he felt the sweetness mixed with Aidan’s tongue.
The world spun around him and for a second, he almost changed his mind and gave in.
But he regained control of himself quickly, pushed Aidan away and rewarded him with a slap across the face.
They both stared at each other wide-eyed for a few seconds; then Min-Jun turned and disappeared on the other side of the door.
_
Aidan remained frozen on the spot and with a mess from the Belgian chocolate cake. On his confused face appeared a grin as he licked the remnants of the cake from his fingers.