Apr 2019.

I pulled my hand out of his grasp, the heat rising to my cheeks. "It's f-fine," I stuttered, avoiding his gaze as my heart raced uncontrollably.

"By the way," Haru began, his hand reaching for my hair, nuzzling it gently. "I handled everything. Found a new investor today. No need to worry anymore."

My eyes widened in disbelief as I looked at him. "Really?" I asked, hardly able to believe it.

"Yep," Haru replied with a smile, pinching my cheek playfully. "I told you I'd take care of it."

A wave of relief washed over me, and without thinking, I wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my face in his chest. "Thank goodness," I murmured. "I feel so relieved..."

Haru hugged me back naturally, patting me lightly. "Aw, was my MiuMiu that scared?" he teased with a chuckle.

I lightly smacked his back with my right hand, still in his arms. "Of course I was!" I said as I thought to myself, not saying those words out loud. I even got a slap because of what had happened.

Out of nowhere, Haru began tickling the sides of my waist, making me jolt in surprise. "Ey, I told you to trust me!" he teased, laughing as he continued his assault. "You brat!"

I gasped, trying to wiggle free from his ticklish onslaught. "Haru, stop!" I squealed, my body jerking involuntarily with each poke at my ribs.

But he only laughed harder, his fingers relentless as they danced across my sides. "This is your punishment for not believing in me!" he teased, his voice a mix of amusement and affection.

"Ahahahaha..." I could barely catch my breath, torn between the annoyance of being tickled and the warmth flooding my chest. My heart raced—not out of fear, but from the intensity of the moment. His teasing, his touch—it was all so familiar, so comforting, that I couldn't help but feel a little giddy despite my frustration. "S-Stop!"

I finally fell back onto the mattress, trying to escape from his hands, only to find that Haru had lost his balance as well. He landed on top of me, palms on either side of my body, and for a moment, our eyes locked in stunned silence. My chest was still heaving as I struggled to catch my breath.

Haru leaned down even closer, his gaze fixed on mine as if searching for something. What's he doing? My heart skipped a beat, and a knot twisted in my stomach. Is he... is he about to kiss me? Panic shot through me, and instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut, shrinking into the mattress.

But instead of what I had predicted, I felt the sting of his teeth sink into the crook of my neck.

"Ow!" I grunted, pressing my palms against his chest to put some space between us. "Why the heck did you bite me?" I glared at him, taken aback.

Haru licked his lips, smirking mischievously. "You looked delicious for a second."

I rolled to my side, trying to sit up and push Haru away. "What are you, a zombie?" I frowned, rubbing the spot where he had bitten me, still processing what had just happened.

"Maybe I am..." Haru scoffed, casually getting out of bed and walking toward the hallway. "Aren't you hungry? I need some late-night snacks to satisfy my starving soul."

"You're ridiculous," I muttered under my breath, the words barely leaving my mouth as a flush spread across my face. My heart hammered in my chest, loud enough that it felt like the only sound in the room. I stayed frozen on the bed like I couldn't escape the weight of what had just happened.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I'm not gay, and neither is Haru...

So why does it feel like... something's off?

Why did I expect him to kiss me?

What am I even doing with these thoughts?

Why is my mind so... tangled?

The notion lingered in my mind, like a question with no answer. I couldn't make sense of it—of him—or of what was happening to me. Was I reading too much into this? Or was I just... imagining things? My chest tightened with uncertainty, and I could feel the lingering tension in the air, like something unsaid, something I wasn't ready to confront.

*****

As I sat behind my desk, organizing the files Haru needed for his meeting, Jang Eunsoo approached, lightly tapping the wooden surface with her finger. I glanced up at her in mild confusion, asking, "Do you need something, Miss Jang?"

She tucked a loose strand of her brunette hair behind her right ear, a smile curving her lips. Her dark brown eyes sparkled as she replied, "I've got something for you, Mr. Park."

I tilted my head slightly, my curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

With an effortless motion, Jang Eunsoo reached into the left pocket of her light blue jeans and pulled out a lip balm. She placed it on the desk between us with a satisfied smile. "Here you go."

I stared at the lip balm for a moment before returning my gaze to her, feeling awkward. "Uh, thanks for your kindness, but I can't accept this," I said nervously.

Her smile faltered slightly, but she quickly shook her head in response. "Why not? It's brand new—I haven't used it or anything."

"I know, but I just can't," I replied, my voice firmer this time as I got up from my chair, clutching the files in my hands.

Eunsoo's brows knit together slightly in confusion, though she maintained her cheery tone. "It's not an expensive thing, Mr. Park. You don't need to feel burdened by it!" Before I could react, she grabbed the lip balm and slipped it into the small pocket of my suit jacket.

"Myung, are you ready to go?" Haru's voice cut through the tension as he stepped out of his office, his gaze shifting between Eunsoo and me.

"Yeah," I answered almost instantly, my tone anxious. "Let's go." Without sparing another glance at Eunsoo, I turned to her briefly and mumbled, "I'll buy you a coffee later then."

Then, spinning around the desk, I quickly made my way toward the elevator; my steps were hurried. Haru followed closely behind, his silence strangely heavy as we walked.

Once we stepped into the elevator cabin, Haru slid his hands into the pockets of his black trousers, his expression unreadable. His voice came low and cold, slicing through the heavy silence. "What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing special," I replied quickly, shrugging as I swallowed hard. My heart picked up pace as unease crept in. Is he going to scold me for slacking off again? I thought nervously, casting a hesitant glance at him.

Haru's gaze remained fixed on the elevator doors, his jaw tight. He didn't look at me, didn't say another word. His silence felt heavier than any reprimand.

I'd never thought I'd be afraid of Haru one day, but during work hours, he felt like someone else entirely—a man with a commanding presence, emitting an air of authority that seemed impossible to defy. And that version of him intimidated me.

I shifted on my feet, fidgeting with the files in my hand, silently hoping the tense ride to the parking lot would end soon. The elevator's hum filled the silence between us, thick with unspoken words.

"The upcoming Monday," Haru finally broke the silence; his tone was casual as he changed the subject. "we have a business trip coming up."

"Uh," I blinked at him in surprise. "To where?"

"Japan," he smirked, watching my reaction closely.

My eyes lit up instantly, anticipation bubbling to the surface. As someone who loved games, comics, and anime, Japan had always been my dream destination—an ultimate paradise.

I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face. "Will it be just the two of us? For how many days?"

Without warning, Haru snaked his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close until his lips were near my ear. His voice dropped into a teasing whisper. "Hmm, do you like the idea of being alone with me that much?"

"Huh!" I scoffed, arching an eyebrow. "Of course! We can check out all the cool places I've been wanting to visit whenever we're free!" My enthusiasm spilled over, the excitement making me forget my usual guardedness. "So how many days are we staying? Are we—"

"Hold your horses," Haru cut me off, pressing his index finger against my lips, amusement dancing in his eyes. "It depends—"

Before he could finish, the elevator dinged, signaling our arrival. The doors slid open, breaking the moment.

"Let's talk in the car," Haru said smoothly, stepping out of the cabin without another glance.

"Ugh..." I groaned under my breath, following him.

*****

After arriving in Japan, the first three days passed in a blur of back-to-back meetings that stretched from early morning until late at night, leaving me utterly drained. Exhaustion clung to my bones, and I felt like I was barely holding myself together.

However, the silver lining was that we finally had a day and a half to ourselves before heading back. It wasn't much time to explore, but I was still grateful for the chance.

~

Stepping out of the bathroom, I ran a hand through my damp hair, feeling the cool air from the AC hit my skin. Dressed in fresh clothes, I walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down, scanning the room. "Where did Haru go?" I muttered under my breath, my eyes shifting to the cluttered bedside table.

Frowning, I rummaged through the mess, pushing aside our scattered belongings in search of my lip balm. "I'm pretty sure I left it here last night," I murmured, frustration creeping into my tone.

With a sigh, I flipped the blanket to one side and checked under the pillows and sheets, but it was nowhere to be found.

Maybe I left it somewhere else...

I made my way to the bathroom, opened the cabinet, and scanned the area around the sink. My eyes roamed over the toiletries until something unusual caught my attention.

There, inside the small trash bin, half-buried beneath crumpled tissues, was my lip balm.

I froze.

Its lid was snapped in half, and the stick inside was crushed—completely ruined.

My mind blanked for a moment as I stood there, staring in disbelief. What the...

"Myung..."

I jolted, a shiver running down my spine at the sound of Haru's voice. Quickly, I turned around, stepping out of the bathroom with an awkward stiffness in my movements.

Haru stood by the door, closing it behind him as he walked in. He balanced two cups of coffee in a holder and held a white paper bag in his other hand.

"Where were you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Haru smiled easily, lifting the items in his hands. "I thought it'd be more comfortable to have breakfast here," he said, walking toward the small square table by the window.

"Uh..." I nodded slowly, forcing myself to act normal. I closed the bathroom door behind me, but my heart pounded uncomfortably in my chest.

Haru placed the coffee and the pastries down, opening the box with a sense of ease. "Come and sit," he said casually, glancing over his shoulder at me.

I didn't move right away. My eyes were fixed on him; my thoughts were racing.

Are you the one who broke the lip balm?

Why did you throw it away?

Why didn't you tell me if it was an accident?

Or... was it on purpose?

I swallowed hard as I made my way to the table, my steps feeling heavier than usual. Something wasn't right. Haru sat down casually, peeling the lid off his coffee cup, seemingly unaware of the turmoil brewing inside me.

I pulled out the chair and sank into it, my fingers curling tightly around the cup he'd brought me. "You didn't have to go through the trouble," I muttered, stirring the cup even though I wasn't planning to drink it yet.

Haru shrugged, taking a slow bite of his pastry. "It's nothing," he said with a casual smile, but his eyes flickered toward me, scanning my face as if searching for something beneath my expression. "Still sleepy?"

"Umm," I murmured, keeping my gaze locked on the cup of coffee in my hands. The warmth seeped into my palms, grounding me, yet my thoughts felt distant.

"Drink your coffee then..." Haru reached out, ruffling my damp hair with a gentle touch, a familiar smile tugging at his lips. "It'll help with that."

I finally took a sip, feeling the bitterness slide down my throat, but my focus remained on him. I hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Haru," I called his name, my voice steady, yet my gaze sharp and unwavering. "Have you seen my lip balm? I can't find it."

Still holding the cup, Haru's fingers tightened around it slightly. He met my eyes, his expression unreadable. "Hm? Lip balm..." he echoed, leaning back in his seat with an air of nonchalance, his fingers tapping lightly against the ceramic. "No. Have you checked your clothes' pockets?"

"I did. It's nowhere to be found," I replied, watching him closely, searching for something—anything—in his reaction.

"Probably lost it," Haru said, his voice calm, his grin effortlessly disarming. "It's alright, you can buy a new one today."

I tightened my grip around the cup, forcing a nod. "Yeah... it wasn't that important," I mumbled, the words feeling hollow even to me.

What's with this situation?

If you wanted to get rid of it without me knowing, at least you could've thrown it somewhere I wouldn't find it.

Or maybe... you don't care if I find out or not...

Yet, here you are, pretending like you have no clue.

The silence between us thickened, heavy and suffocating, gnawing at my insides. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears, each thump a reminder of the questions swirling in my head. Haru, on the other hand, sat there with a composed ease, as if nothing was wrong. As if he hadn't just erased something that wasn't his to touch.

He must have seen it that day when Eunsoo handed it to me...

But why?

Why does it bother you so much?

I lowered my gaze to the steam rising from my coffee, hiding the storm brewing in my chest. The lingering question burned inside me, demanding an answer Haru clearly wasn't willing to give.

I think...

That was the first sign I failed to see back then.

The first whisper of something shifting beneath the surface, subtle yet unsettling. A warning that things were beginning to veer off course... that I was stepping into unfamiliar, dangerous territory without even realizing it.

If only I had looked closer... if only I had questioned it instead of letting it slip through my fingers like it meant nothing. Maybe then, I wouldn't have found myself standing in the middle of a mess I never saw coming.

But that's the thing about red flags—when you're desperate for warmth, you ignore the fire.