Taming the Obsessive Attachment

A hectic few days had passed, and they decided to start with moving preparations. They couldn’t stay in a house with a ruined living room forever, so the plan was to pack only the essentials and move to a temporary residence.

Since it would take time for the new house to be fully completed, they would stay in a suitable home in the meantime. Of course, by Seo Eui-woo’s standards, a “suitable home” would mean a luxurious mansion.

Perhaps because Kwon Jae-jin had mentioned that he liked mountains, Seo Eui-woo swiftly purchased a private villa at the very top of a secluded mountain. He paid the full balance in a lump sum the moment the contract was signed.

Watching him buy a house as if he were picking up snacks at a convenience store, Kwon Jae-jin just blinked in silence.

In any case, the move had already been decided, and now that they had a place to go, all that was left was to pack.

Jae-jin was in his second-floor room, sorting through the impulsive purchases he had made. He planned to take all his exercise equipment, including the treadmill, but the ridiculously overpriced items—like the 2.7 million won**(approximately 2,000 USD)** red dog leash or the 1.6 million won**(approximately 1,200 USD)** dog water bowl—were going to be donated to a good cause.

While Kwon Jae-jin was organizing his belongings, Seo Eui-woo stuck to his side without hesitation. At one point, he picked up the dog leash and casually placed it against Jae-jin’s neck, only to receive a sharp reprimand. Despite that, they spent a relatively peaceful time together.

“I want to try making more challenging dishes. What’s your favorite food, Jae-jin?”

“I don’t really have any particular preferences. As long as the ingredients are expensive, almost anything tastes good. Ah… I’m not great with spicy food, though.”

“Spicy food, huh? Got it. But still, you must have a preference between Korean and Western cuisine.”

“If I had to choose, I’d say Korean food… On rainy days, I crave jeon**(savory pancakes, often eaten on rainy days in Korea)**.”

“Jeon, huh? I’ll give it a try.”

Kwon Jae-jin sprayed a cologne he had never used before. The scent wasn’t to his liking, so he set it aside.

Seeing this, Seo Eui-woo slyly asked, “Well, now I know your taste in food. What about your other preferences?”

“Other preferences?”

“You know… like preferred scents, disliked colors, things like that.”

“Ah.”

Kwon Jae-jin averted his gaze ever so slightly. For a brief moment, he thought it was going to be another weird question. Considering it was Seo Eui-woo, that seemed entirely possible.

“Hmm… Back when I was in the 6th Residential District, I used woody-type men’s cologne. As for colors… I suppose neutral tones are the safest choice.”

“What about the weather? Do you prefer sunny days, cloudy days, rainy days, or snowy days?”

“Obviously, either sunny or cloudy days. On days when something falls from the sky, commuting becomes a hassle. The traffic gets terrible.”

“What? You don’t even have to commute anymore.”

“…Then, I suppose any weather is fine.”

“What about seasons? Which one do you like best?”

“…Spring. Or fall.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s no need for air conditioning or heating costs.”

Seo Eui-woo burst into laughter at Jae-jin’s monotone reply. Chuckling, he leaned against the wall, propped his elbow up, and rested his chin on his hand.

“Ah, that’s such an unexpected answer. You’re a really practical person, Jae-jin. Come to think of it, you even asked for payment for guiding from the very start.”

With that carefree smile on his face, Seo Eui-woo really looked like any other twenty-year-old. An ordinary young man who had lived an ordinary life.

“That was just a fair compensation request.”

Kwon Jae-jin realized he was actually going along with Seo Eui-woo’s conversation and inwardly shook his head at himself.

Just a few days ago, his mind had felt like it was going to explode from the chaos, and his future had seemed completely blocked. But now, here he was, relaxed and indulging in idle back-and-forth banter with Seo Eui-woo. It was strange.

“I know. By the way, the card I gave you has no spending limit, so feel free to use it however you want.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m already using it plenty.”

“Right now? But when I checked the statements, you barely spent anything. Just a little?”

“I don’t have the same extravagant and refined tastes as you, Seo Eui-woo. I don’t know much about art or wine. And I have no interest in jewelry either. There’s no point in spending.”

“Oh? So you know my tastes?”

“…….”

“How much do you know? Do you know everything about me?”

Seo Eui-woo tapped the hinge of his jaw lightly with his index finger. The movement was slow and rhythmic, his long eyes curving slightly in amusement.

“I don’t know if it’s everything, but…”

“But?”

“But I know enough.”

Ignoring the gaze fixed intently on him, Kwon Jae-jin busied himself, shoving his collection of flashy luxury watches into their cases.

“I see. Then tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“About Seo Eui-woo. Tell me as much as you know.”

“Why are you making me do that? You already claim I know.”

“Go on, let’s hear it. If there’s something about me you don’t know, I’ll fill you in. So, tell me.”

“That won’t be necessary. Let’s stop this.”

“Hah, you know what? I’ve figured something out for sure. The second most common thing you say is probably ‘That won’t be necessary.’”

“…….”

“And the first is ‘I don’t like it.’”

Seo Eui-woo tilted his head back and gazed at the ceiling. His neck, long and smooth, looked as graceful as a white birch tree.

For a moment, his gray eyes cooled, turning dry and unreadable. But then, as if nothing had happened, he spoke again in a sweet, casual tone.

“Jae-jin, can I lick your eye? Just the inside of your eyelid, for a second.”

Kwon Jae-jin swallowed hard and answered without hesitation.

“Absolutely not.”

“But the mucous membrane of the eye is really—”

“Yes, I know. It’s an extremely efficient guiding spot. I get it. I still don’t like it. Even if the world turns upside down, I don’t like it.”

Something about Seo Eui-woo’s demeanor felt off.

Luckily, they had just about finished packing, so Kwon Jae-jin dusted off his hands and got to his feet.

“We’re done here. Let’s go. All that’s left is to move these things.”

As Jae-jin stepped out of the room, Seo Eui-woo leisurely followed. Like it was the most natural thing in the world, he slipped an arm around Jae-jin’s waist and intertwined their fingers. It was automatic.

“But in the future, you would’ve let me, right?”

“No. Never. I refused until the very end. If you wanted it that badly, I told you to cut off my eyelid and lick it.”

“So, did I cut it off?”

“Are you insane?”

“Oh, I was just wondering.”

With Seo Eui-woo practically glued to his side, Jae-jin trudged across the second-floor hallway. As he stepped onto the stairs, Seo Eui-woo suddenly came to a stop on the landing.

Since his arm was still wrapped around Jae-jin’s waist and their hands were still locked together, Jae-jin had no choice but to stop as well.

“What now?”

Was he actually planning to forcefully lick it?

Jae-jin shot him a sharp glare. His own dark pupils were filled with Seo Eui-woo’s presence. A sense of danger prickled at the edges of his nerves.

Seo Eui-woo was looking at his eyes like a dog salivating over a piece of meat. The burning intensity in his gaze said it all.

“…….”

Seo Eui-woo’s lips curled into a slow, playful smile. Then, without warning, he grabbed Jae-jin’s chin and pulled him in, sealing their lips together.

His tongue slipped between Jae-jin’s parted lips, pushing deeper.

Caught off guard by the sudden kiss, Jae-jin grimaced and turned his head away.

“The hell was that?”

When he pressed for an answer, Seo Eui-woo responded casually, as if nothing had happened.

“I get it, you don’t like the eye thing. But a tongue isn’t the same, is it? You don’t mind me sucking on your tongue, do you?”

Seo Eui-woo backed Jae-jin up against the landing. The space was relatively narrow, and the entire wall behind him was covered with a large glass window.

With Jae-jin’s back pressed against the cool surface, Seo Eui-woo studied his face from an almost unsettlingly close distance. He could probably count each of his eyelashes if he wanted to.

“I know at least a little,” Seo Eui-woo murmured. “I know how you react when I do certain things.”

He pressed a kiss to Jae-jin’s cheek. His soft, well-shaped lips sank against the skin just beneath his cheekbone, lingering there as he whispered.

“You don’t really resist when I rub my lips against you. Especially in spots like this.”

After his cheek, Seo Eui-woo’s lips trailed down to his jaw, his neck, and finally his ear. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he kissed Jae-jin’s hair, took his hand, and pressed his lips to his palm and the back of his hand.

Lifting his head, Seo Eui-woo scrutinized Jae-jin, as if checking his answers against a key. Jae-jin stood still, his lips tightly pressed together.

“But if I bare my teeth or lick you, you flinch a little. Or should I say, you tense up?”

Seo Eui-woo bit down on Jae-jin’s nape. Not too hard, but enough to make him jolt.

Damn it. Jae-jin felt irritated that he had reacted exactly as Seo Eui-woo had described. It was only because he was startled by the sudden bite, not because he had intended to flinch.

“…Fine. Impressive. Congratulations, Dr. Seo Eui-woo. Now can you quit—”

“Not yet. It’s different when I touch you with my hands. There are certain places you instinctively avoid.”

As Jae-jin spoke, Seo Eui-woo shoved two fingers into his open mouth.

His index and middle fingers pressed down on Jae-jin’s tongue, applying gentle pressure as he rubbed the wet, soft flesh.

“Like inside your mouth. Whenever I slip my fingers in, you always try to pull away. Are you sensitive here? You especially struggle when I rub your tongue like this.”

“Ugh, mmph!”

“Strange, isn’t it? You don’t mind me sucking on your tongue, but you reject it when I touch it with my hands. Even when I’m being this gentle.”

Still playing with his tongue, Seo Eui-woo used his other hand to push up Jae-jin’s hoodie. He slipped his hand underneath, pressing his palm against his ribs and running his fingers along the firm muscles and the solid bones beneath.

Slowly, he slid his hand up between Jae-jin’s chest and arm, wedging his fingers into the sensitive flesh of his inner armpit.

The touch was unbearably slow, teasing.