Meanwhile, Taesan strolls through the bustling city streets, his expression calm but his mind alert. He knows Jaewon will snoop—he always does. But Taesan isn't foolish enough to leave anything incriminating behind. Every suit, every sign of his growing connection to Joshua, is kept elsewhere, far from prying eyes.
He pauses outside a polished, high end café, the kind of place reserved for the city's elite. The glass doors glide open as he steps in, the air rich with the scent of coffee and quiet luxury. Taking a seat in the corner booth, he slips his phone from his pocket and types out a brief message. Within minutes, Joshua walks in, his presence calm yet commanding, drawing attention without even trying as he makes his way toward the table.
"You're late," Taesan teases, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
Joshua chuckles, sliding into the seat across from him. "Traffic. You know how it is." His gaze softens as he studies Taesan.
"You look tired."
"Did you seriously forget what happened last night?" Taesan mutters under his breath, his ears already turning red before the sentence even finishes. "You left me unable to walk, remember?"
Joshua's smirk spreads slowly, lazy and knowing, like he has all the time in the world. He leans back in his chair and folds his arms across his chest, eyes shining with mischief. "Forget?" he says lightly. "With the way you were clinging to me, that would be impossible."
Taesan chokes on his own breath. "I wasn't clinging."
"You were," Joshua replies, far too pleased with himself. "Like a koala."
"That is not romantic at all."
Joshua laughs softly, the sound warm and low. He leans forward this time, resting his chin on his hand while studying Taesan's face like it is the most fascinating thing in the café. "Still cute, though. Especially when you get all defensive like this."
Taesan quickly looks away, pretending to read the coffee menu even though he has not processed a single word on it. His fingers tap nervously against the table. "Stop saying stuff like that in public. People are literally sitting right there."
"So?" Joshua asks.
"So it is embarrassing."
Joshua reaches across the table to poke his hand teasingly, but Taesan tries to swat him away. Joshua ends up catching his fingers instead. His grip is gentle, thumb brushing absent circles over Taesan's skin. The teasing fades just a little. "I am not trying to embarrass you," he says more quietly. "You just looked really beautiful last night. I kept thinking about it all morning."
The sincerity catches him off guard. His heart stumbles. "You cannot just say things like that out of nowhere," he whispers.
"Why not?"
"Because then I forget how to function."
Joshua grins. "Good. Mission accomplished."
"You are impossible," Taesan says, but there is no bite to it. Only affection.
"And yet you love me for it," Joshua shoots back.
Taesan finally meets his eyes, trying to look unimpressed even though his smile keeps slipping through. "Who said anything about love?"
Joshua clutches his chest dramatically. "Ouch, Tae baby. You wound me."
Taesan laughs, soft and helpless. "I did not say I do not love you either. Stop acting like you are in some tragic movie."
Joshua's expression changes then. The joking melts into something gentler. He leans closer so only Taesan can hear him. "I love you, though. Dramatic or not."
For a second Taesan forgets how to breathe. The noise of the café fades into the background. He rubs the back of his neck, cheeks burning. "You are really laying it on thick today, aren't you?"
Joshua shrugs, still smiling. "What can I say? You inspire me."
Taesan squeezes his hand once before letting go, trying to steady himself and act normal again. "Alright, Romeo. Let's talk about the plan before you make me too flustered to focus."
Joshua laughs, but the playful glint in his eyes shifts to something more serious. "Alright, alright. Business now, romance later. But don't think you're getting out of another compliment tonight."
Taesan groans dramatically, but the smile on his face tells a different story. "You're lucky you're cute," he mutters, pulling out his phone to go over the details of their next steps.
"And what about hot?" Joshua inquires, a sly smirk curling at the corners of his lips, his tone dripping with playful arrogance.
Taesan freezes for a moment, blinking at Joshua, before smirking slyly. "Hot? Mmm, I don't know about that."
Joshua gasps dramatically, placing a hand over his chest as if Taesan's words physically strike him. "Excuse me? Did you just—? After everything I did last night?" His voice is mock offended, but the twinkle in his eyes gives him away.
Taesan chuckles, leaning back in his seat. "You areee alright, I guess," he says, feigning nonchalance. "You've got your moments."
"My moments?" Joshua leans forward, narrowing his eyes. "Baby, I don't think you were calling me 'alright' when you were—"
Taesan reaches across the table and clamps a hand over Joshua's mouth, his eyes wide with embarrassment. "Don't you dare finish that sentence!" he hisses, glancing around the café to make sure no one overheard.
Joshua's muffled laughter vibrates against Taesan's hand as he pulls it away, shaking his head. "You're lucky you're cute when you're flustered, Tae," he says, leaning back in his chair with a smug grin.
Taesan glares at him, though his lips twitch with the effort to hold back a smile. "You're impossible."
"And yet you keep me around," Joshua replies smoothly, shrugging as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. He tilts his head, his expression softening. "Admit it—you think I'm hot."
Taesan sighs dramatically, rubbing his temples. "If I say yes, will you stop talking?"
Joshua grins, leaning forward eagerly. "Maybe."
"Fine." Taesan looks him dead in the eye, his expression serious. "You're hot. Like, annoyingly hot. Happy now?"
Joshua's grin spreads even wider. "Ecstatic," he replies, his tone smug. "Though, I'm pretty sure you're even hotter when you're under—"
"Joshua Hong!" Taesan nearly chokes on his coffee, his face turning bright red as he glares at the man. "I swear, I will throw this cup at you."
Joshua bursts into laughter, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright! I'll behave. For now."
Taesan shakes his head, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "You're such a pain."
"And you love me for it," Joshua says, his voice softer now. He reaches across the table, his fingers brushing against Taesan's hand.
Taesan sighs, his expression fond as he intertwines their fingers. "Unfortunately," he mutters, but the warmth in his eyes betrays the words.
Joshua chuckles, leaning in. "Fortunately for me, though. Now, tell me what's next with our little plan, my handsome mastermind."
Taesan smirks, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable. Alright, work now!"
And Joshua, ever the charmer, simply smiles like he's won. Because, as far as he's concerned, he has.
Taesan asks, "Did you get everything sorted?"
——————— TO BE CONTINUED