Vol 1 Ch 17

Fifteen minutes ago, two o’clock.

 

When the dark gray Audi passed over the speed bump, the barrier lifted and brief information flashed on the vehicle recognition panel.

 

Registered Vehicle

345마 8796

Entry Time

13:45

 

Yeonho glanced at the LED screen and the corner of his mouth lifted.

 

Leaving early had been worth it.

 

He arrived five minutes earlier than expected.

 

The parking lot, usually packed to a high density, was unusually empty today.

 

Spotting the first open space, he parked cleanly in one go, turned off the engine, and stepped out lightly.

 

After entering the entrance passcode and stepping inside the building, luck followed him again.

 

The elevator happened to be stopped on the second basement floor.

 

Once inside, Yeonho even took a moment to straighten his clothes and hair in the mirror.

 

‘Mm… perfect.’

 

Even to his own eyes he looked immaculate.

 

Satisfied, he leisurely pressed the button for the lobby.

 

The time it had taken until now was barely three minutes.

 

Plenty of time.

 

There were still twelve minutes left until the appointment.

 

‘Let’s see what state he shows up in. Just try being even one minute late.’

 

A slightly wicked smile spread across Yeonho’s face as he unknowingly tapped his foot.

 

During that time, the elevator reached the first floor.

 

Composing his expression, Yeonho stepped out.

 

He walked a few steps down the corridor when someone called out.

 

“Oh my, Director. You came in today?”

 

Someone acknowledged him.

 

It was the Marketing Team 1 leader.

 

Her surprise was rude at first glance, but somewhat understandable.

 

Yeonho responded briefly.

 

“Yes. Just now.”

 

“But why aren’t you heading straight to your office? Are you… leaving again?”

 

If the first comment had been accidental rudeness, this one was certain.

 

It made clear what the employees thought of him.

 

Still, it was not enough to ruin his mood.

 

If anything, his insides simmered with amusement.

 

Yeonho pulled up the corner of his mouth once more.

 

“No. I’m on my way to screw someone over.”

 

“…Sorry?”

 

“Well then, keep up the good work.”

 

Leaving her blinking in confusion, Yeonho strode ahead again.

 

His destination was the first floor entrance.

 

As she said, sitting comfortably in his office and asking when he would arrive would have been nice too.

 

But then he would not get to enjoy the sight of a certain someone running in, out of breath.

 

‘Standing outside for ten minutes is nothing. I’ll gladly endure it.’

 

Without realizing he was humming to himself, Yeonho pushed open the glass door with a sly smile.

 

But… the excitement, the smile spread across his face, all shattered at once.

 

‘…What?’

 

The person he was ninety-nine point nine nine percent sure would be late was already there.

 

And he was dressed neatly from head to toe.

 

Behind the stunned and frozen Yeonho, the glass door rattled weakly.

 

Hearing the sound, the man who had been looking toward the street, Marteo, slowly turned his head.

 

As soon as their eyes met, he lifted a hand in greeting, wearing his usual faint smile, not breathless at all.

 

“Do Yeonho.”

 

Yeonho reflexively looked down at his wristwatch.

 

1:53….

 

The watch was correct and the man was even more correct.

 

The only thing wrong was Yeonho’s calculation.

 

Seoul’s traffic is generally heavy.

 

Especially the city center where DO:IT, his company, was located, infamous for traffic jams.

 

Even by subway, it took at least a fifteen minute walk from the station.

 

Knowing all this, Yeonho had deliberately called Marteo at 1:30.

 

Asking where he was.

 

Telling him to meet at two.

 

Even adding the petty warning, “Don’t be late.”

 

He had not expected that warning to be followed this thoroughly.

 

Any hope of seeing him apologizing desperately had gone out the window.

 

When Yeonho stayed silent for a while, Marteo tilted his head slightly and closed the distance.

 

Even now, he was dressed as neatly as Yeonho, without a single sign of having rushed.

 

Finally, Yeonho twisted his expression.

 

“You… what are you.”

 

“……?”

 

“Did you fly here or something?”

 

He did not like the expression, but nothing else fit better.

 

Marteo, who had been closely studying his face, paused.

 

As if thinking, how did you know, which made no sense.

 

Even Yeonho, who was literally a bird, could not do that.

 

There was no way a normal human could.

 

Soon, Marteo relaxed his expression and pulled his lips slightly.

 

“I happened to be nearby.”

 

…Nearby?

 

“Since you did not contact me again, I did not know when you would call.”

 

“What?”

 

“You said you hated waiting.”

 

“…….”

 

“More importantly… is your anger all gone now?”

 

His already gentle smile deepened as he asked the last question.

 

Because of that, Yeonho could not even complain properly, his insides hollowing out instead.

 

Talking this through meant hearing something like: I did not know when you would call me, so I wandered around near your company all this time.

 

Then at night… was he near his home too?

 

Remembering the time he had seen him near his place a few days ago, it was not impossible.

 

With things like this, anger naturally cooled.

 

He had tried to play a petty trick just to get back at him.

 

Caught off guard, Yeonho pressed a hand to his forehead.

 

But some responsibility clearly lay with the man too.

 

With a tone cooled but still prickly, Yeonho clicked his tongue.

 

“You… you do know I was angry, right?”

 

“…….”

 

“Then do you know why I was angry?”

 

“Because… I kissed you that day without permission. Acting on my own. I reflected on that.”

 

“That’s it?”

 

“……?”

 

“Ha. You really know only one thing and nothing else.”

 

“…….”

 

“Hey, who said it was because you kissed me? The problem wasn’t that you did it without permission, it was that you ended it without permission. I’m not some sample bite for tasting. How do you turn away at that exact moment? Not giving is fine, but taking then not giving back is the worst thing you can do.”

 

“…No, that’s…”

 

“Think about it. Did you really think I invited you into my place just to share some cup noodles? Just for that? If that was the goal, why would I even bother sponsoring you? I would just open a diner.”

 

Marteo opened and closed his mouth several times, then pressed his lips into a straight line.

 

It was not because he had nothing to say.

 

If anything, his eyes curved with the look of someone holding back laughter, strangely pleased.

 

Marteo leaned close to Yeonho’s ear.

 

“Then… next time can we eat something other than ramen? Without getting permission?”

 

This time Yeonho bit his own lip.

 

Then, smack, he struck Marteo’s straight forehead with force.

 

“Don’t mess around. I’m the one eating.”

 

Instead of disagreement, the golden glow in Marteo’s eyes flickered even more brilliantly.

 

Thanks to that, even the last remnants of Yeonho’s irritation melted away.

 

Honestly, if he were just a little less good-looking, no… if he had been just a little worse at kissing, Yeonho would have ended things for sure.

 

He had been stewing for days, annoyed to no end, but every time the lingering sensation on his lips came to mind, the frustration dissolved.

 

Turning things over in his head, Yeonho let out a sigh that had completely cooled and turned toward the lobby entrance.

 

Marteo quickly reached out to stop him.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

Tch. When was he ever so breezy? Why did he suddenly get clingy only in moments like this?

 

Still… the firm grip that refused to let him go was not bad at all.

 

Hiding his true thoughts, Yeonho narrowed his eyes in feigned coldness.

 

“Where do you think. Did you think I called you here for nothing. I told you. Yoon Seungwon said he wanted to see you.”

 

“…….”

 

“Follow me.”

 

This time it was Yeonho who grabbed Marteo by the lapels.

 

A chicken dragging an eagle around…

 

This whole Morphers situation was unpredictable.