The hall was spacious. It smelled like champagne. These corporate gatherings always had the same flavor: arrogance on ice.
Kang looked perfectly at ease. Dark blazer, controlled smile, the stance of someone who knows exactly where he stands. Me? Light shirt, no tie, hands in my pockets, eyes scanning every emergency exit.
— Good evening — he said, walking up with that husky voice, lower than usual. — Didn't know you cleaned up so well — he added.
— Don't start.
I took a sip of champagne that barely made it down.
— Start what? Talking? Complimenting you again? Kissing you in the middle of this place full of hypocrites?
— It's just a shirt. The idea is to look boring enough that no one tries to chat.
— And yet, you still look interesting.
— Stop. You're flirting.
— No. Just stating facts.
I looked away. The main stage was already being prepped. The name of our project lit up the screen: "Hiddenline Integrated Security & Mingell Corp."
I sighed.
— Starting to think I got tricked — I murmured. — This isn't just a presentation. It's an ego showcase.
— And you don't want to show off yours?
— My ego or the system?
— Both.
I scoffed, but climbed the stage with him when they called our names. The plan was clear: "You present, I stand beside you."
But that's not what happened.
Kang started speaking. Confident. Clear. Powerful. But when the slide showed the core code, he looked at me and said:
— This section falls under the lead developer. Johan, mind explaining?
Frozen.
Two seconds. Long enough to feel like an eternity. That kind of silence that clings to your skin.
But I breathed. Stepped forward.
— …This code tracks suspicious behavior patterns. It doesn't just block threats, it learns from them. The integrated AI can detect even subtle anomalies inside the internal system.
Silence. But the good kind. Focused.
— This wasn't made to look pretty in slides. It was built because companies are more vulnerable than they admit. This is to prevent the next scandal. The next loss.
A few nods. Some murmuring. One older exec even took notes.
In the end, applause. Reserved, but real.
I walked off the stage in a daze. Heart pounding. I made my way to the side garden, leaned on a marble pillar, and took a deep breath. Trying to understand why I was still there.
— You set me up.
— Of course — Kang's voice came from behind. — And you were brilliant.
— You exposed me.
— I showed you. Big difference.
He gave me that damn half-smile. The one that always hits where it hurts.
— Johan... do you still think about him?
I closed my eyes. The question landed like a silent punch.
— You really wanna open that door now?
— I want to understand. I need to know if, when you look at me, you see him. Or if you see... something new.
I swallowed hard. Because it was true. The way he talked, the name, the family... all familiar. But the Kang in front of me was different. He felt things. He showed them. And now, he was diving into a hole I wasn't sure I wanted to dig again.
— I don't know what I see when I look at you — I admitted.
— What if I told you I can't help it anymore?
— Then don't say anything. Just...
And in that silence, his hand touched my arm. Gentle. Not pushing. A question. Not a command.
Slowly. Giving me the chance to pull away.
But I didn't. I let him.
He pulled me into the darkest corner of the hall, away from cameras, directors, fake smiles.
— If I kiss you now... will you hate me?
I should've said yes. I should've walked away.
But the "no" escaped before reason caught up.
His palm burned where it touched me.
And then he kissed me.
Hungry. But also scared. Like he was kissing something fragile.
And maybe... he was.
But it was gentle. It was solid. Pure want, held just enough.
I felt everything he was holding in that kiss. The way he held me to him. Like he needed to prove this was real. That I was real. That no one would break me this time.
And I kissed back.
Raw. Intense. That moment... we were just that.
D*mn. It felt good.
When we pulled away, he was still holding my face like I might fade away.
— Kang... — I said. Not sure if it was for him or for me.
— I don't regret it.
He stepped back. One step. Two. Like he was giving me space to run.
And I knew that after tonight... running wouldn't help anymore.
He was still looking at me. Maybe about to say more. But instead, he said he had to use the bathroom.
Coward. He ran again. But this time, with the posture of someone who'd already won.
I grabbed a drink. Didn't care who saw. That had been surreal. It was...
— Johan.
The voice came from behind. Drawled. Familiar. Vile.
I turned slowly.
Felt the sting in my chest, but didn't crumble.
Kemun.
Gray hair, custom suit, and that same smug look.
— Knew you couldn't ignore me forever — he said, with a sick half-smile.
— Thought you were out of the country — I said.
— I was. Came back the second I heard you were working with Mingell. You swore you'd never come back.
— Changed my mind.
— Because of him?
My fists clenched. My body locked up.
— That's none of your business.
— He's my son, Johan. My blood. And I know a broken toy when I see one.
I stepped closer.
— You don't know a d*mn thing about me.
— I know you're just as pathetic. Kissing my son? Chasing a younger version of me? That's sick.
Disgusting bastard.
He stepped in, voice low and poisonous:
— And you know he'll never be me. Because deep down, that's what you want. To be mine again.
My throat tightened. My body screamed to run. But my legs wouldn't move.
Until...
— Step away.
Kang's voice sliced through the air. I glanced over, he set his drink down and stepped between us. Full body. Unshaken.
— Talk to him again, and you'll regret coming back.
Kemun laughed, cynical.
— You never stop impressing, Kang. Taking everything that was mine now?
— You never had anything. Your presence is irrelevant. You don't scare anyone anymore. Least of all me.
The silence after that was thick. Kemun stared at Kang for a few seconds, assessing.
Then turned to me one last time.
— Careful, Johan. Repeating old mistakes has a price. And you never knew how to pay.
He vanished into the crowd.
And suddenly... I could breathe again.
Kang didn't touch me. Just stood beside me. Still. Like he was saying, "I'll be here if you fall."
And part of me... wanted to fall.
— I'm sorry. He shouldn't have been here — he said.
— I'm leaving.
I turned my back. I needed to get out before I fell apart.
— I'll take you. You've been drinking.
— Let me go, Kang.
— At least take my driver, okay?
I nodded. A bit lost. He opened the car door. I got in without thinking. By the time I noticed, I was already outside my house.
I breathed.
And even after all that, I still wanted Kang beside me...