Chapter Text
Cha Eui-jae stood behind the counter of the hangover soup restaurant, absentmindedly wiping down a stack of clean bowls.
It was still quite early. Only a few hunters were scattered across the tables, slurping their soups or scrolling through their phones. The usual clatter of utensils and low chatter filled the background, but he barely heard any of it.
His hands moved on autopilot while his mind was elsewhere. To be more specific, it was stuck to the moment from a week ago, when he grabbed Lee Sa-young by the robe and kissed him like he wanted to kill him. And then again. And again.
Memories of the things that followed kept flashing back. The heated touches, whispered curses, the weight of Lee Sa-young pinning him down- and that damn stupid pink apron…
Cha Eui-jae gritted his teeth, scrubbing the same spotless bowl harder.
Worse off, he used a healing potion a week ago, but the marks and discoloration remained. He was stuck wearing a long-ass turtleneck in the middle of summer to hide the evidence. His sleeves were practically swallowing his hands since he couldn’t roll them up.
Cha Eui-jae sighed and thunked the bowl down a little too hard on the counter. Some of the hunters turned to look at him from the sudden clatter.
“Ah- oops!” he said quickly, forcing a smile and bowing slightly to apologize.
Leaning against the counter, he dragged a hand through his hair and let out a frustrated breath.
Boyfriends, huh?
He couldn’t even believe it… The memory of Lee Sa-young’s smug grin flickered across his mind, the words-
‘You’re mine now.’ Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And then the bastard just vanished.
Cha Eui-jae slammed his forehead gently against the counter. This time he just ignored the curious glances from the hunters.
He groaned quietly to himself. God- his mind was a huge mess.
All because they hadn’t even talked since… Lee Sa-young had only sent one short, dismissive text after he left.
‘Busy with work. Don’t cause trouble.’
That was it.
No calls. No messages. Not even a stupid emoji.
Cha Eui-jae hated how much it bothered him. Hated how often he checked his phone between shifts like some pathetic, lovesick idiot. Hated that he missed that arrogant bastard at all.
So he threw himself into work instead. Wiping down tables. Serving soups. Pretending he wasn’t losing his mind every time the restaurant door opened and it wasn’t Lee Sa-young walking through.
He sighed heavily and picked up another bowl to wipe furiously.
The door slid open once more as new customers entered. Cha Eui-jae didn’t even bother to look up, too absorbed in his sulking.
The background chatter and clinking spoons evaporated instantly, like someone had pressed mute. Cha Eui-jae frowned and glanced up.
He froze.
There, striding casually into the restaurant like he owned the place, was Lee Sa-young with Bae Won-woo trailing behind, looking cheerful as ever.
Lee Sa-young’s faint hiss through the gas mask filled the silent air. His presence alone shifted the atmosphere like a storm rolling in.
The other hunters shrank back into their seats like cornered prey. Almost all of them even hurried their soups to leave as fast as they could.
Sa-young didn’t even glance around. His eyes flicked straight to Cha Eui-jae who was standing behind the counter.
Their gazes locked.
Something low and hot twisted in Cha Eui-jae’s gut. He gritted his teeth. How could this guy shamelessly walk in after ghosting him for a week?
Then, without missing a beat, Lee Sa-young turned away, sliding into a seat like he didn’t just casually wreck Cha Eui-jae’s entire day. Bae Won-woo plopped down across from him and immediately started chattering about some raid they were planning.
Cha Eui-jae stood there longer than necessary, staring.
God, Lee Sa-young looked unfairly handsome. His black t-shirt clung to broad shoulders and muscular arms, making the restaurant chairs look almost too small for him. His biceps flexed slightly as he took off his mask to show his pretty- insolent face.
Cha Eui-jae groaned internally. He knew Lee Sa-young was doing it on purpose. Snapping himself out of it, he grabbed two glasses of water, stomped over, and slammed them down on the table.
“Welcome.” He said flatly while glaring daggers at Lee Sa-young.
Bae Won-woo beamed. “Hello, part-timer~!”
The younger male didn’t say a word. He just lounged lazily in his seat, fixing Cha Eui-jae with a slow, lazy smirk. His gaze raked brazenly over the smaller male like he was thinking about very, very inappropriate things.
Cha Eui-jae narrowed his eyes in response. But inside… he felt stupidly relieved… Stupidly happy. As if a heavy weight got lifted from his shoulders.
[Poker Face B activated]
Cha Eui-jae’s expression stayed indifferent. He was definitely not going to show Lee Sa-young how glad he was.
“The usual?” He asked with the best monotone voice he could manage as he scribbled down their orders without even waiting for an answer. He slapped the notepad closed, and marched back to the kitchen with an exaggerated huff.
Behind him, he heard Bae Won-woo’s confused voice. “Why is he so grumpy today?”
“I don’t know… Maybe I didn’t pay him enough for his services last time…” He said in a low and amused tone.
Cha Eui-jae almost tripped over the counter. That… that bastard!
Back in the kitchen, he muttered curses under his breath as he threw together their orders.
It wasn’t hard. Lee Sa-young always ordered the same thing while Bae Won-woo liked his extra spicy with extra rice.
Cha Eui-jae worked fast, moving with a kind of irritated efficiency, but even as he chopped and stirred, his mind kept drifting back to the table where Lee Sa-young sat, lounging like a king surveying his territory.
He hated how his heart kept doing these stupid little leaps every time he thought about it. Shit- even cooking doesn't calm him down!
Focusing harder, he plated the food, and balanced the trays on one arm with practiced ease.
As he stepped out of the kitchen, the door rattled open again. Cha Eui-jae didn’t even have to look. The sudden spike in energy said it all.
“Honeybee…” Someone muttered.
He rolled his eyes but didn’t stop walking. Of course it was her. Striding into the restaurant like she was walking onto a stage was Honeybee with her blond hair pulled into a high ponytail.
Her bright amber eyes scanned the restaurant like she was looking for someone. The hunters, already on edge by Lee Sa-young’s arrival, visibly flinched under her gaze.
Cha Eui-jae ignored the chaos she brought and headed straight for Lee Sa-young and Bae Won-woo’s table.
“Your orders.” Cha Eui-jae said, setting the bowls down with a firm thud.
Bae Won-woo immediately dug in, grinning. “Thanks, part-timer! This smells amazing, as always!”
Lee Sa-young, meanwhile, didn’t move. He just picked up his spoon leisurely, eyes still fixed on Cha Eui-jae like he was trying to eat him.
He glared at him briefly, then spun on his heel to head back to the counter- Only to almost crash into Honeybee.
“Hey, part-timer! Busy as always?” She said brightly, blocking his way with a hand on her hip.
He half-smiled. “Oh- Hello, Honeybee! The usual?”
She flashed him a grin, her eyes twinkling. “You know me too well. But this time I need it to go. Got a busy day ahead of me.”
Cha Eui-jae walked over to the counter and grabbed take-out containers and started preparing the order in the kitchen. Honeybee watched him cook for a bit, before she spoke again.
“By the way, I got these for you,” She said, pulling out a small envelope from her jacket pocket. “VIP tickets to my meet-and-greet this weekend. I know you’re a fan.” She said proudly.
Cha Eui-jae hesitated, looking over at the envelope in her hands. He could tell from the playful glint in Honeybee’s eyes that she still thinks that he’s a fan. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks, but I don’t really-”
“It’s okay” She cut him off, a playful smirk on her lips. “I know you’re just pretending to be all cool and all.”
Cha Eui-jae raised an eyebrow, but felt too tired to argue. At this point everyone thinks he’s a fan of all the hunters. “You really think so?”
She shrugged, leaning a bit closer. “You should come. It’s gonna be fun. Meet some other fans, get a picture or two. You deserve a little break from this place anyway.” She said excitedly while waving the envelope in his direction.
Cha Eui-jae wiped his hands and walked over to check the envelope, revealing the tickets. They were genuine VIP passes for the meet-and-greet with her.
He saw it on the news that it was one of the hottest up-and-coming events this year. He could already picture Ha-eun’s face lighting up when he showed her the tickets.
Cha Eui-jae smiled inwardly at the thought. She would go crazy for this. “Thanks, Honeybee…” He said, tucking the tickets into his apron.
Honeybee’s grin widened, obviously pleased by his response and let him continue to prep her order.
“I’ll see you at the event. You never know, maybe I’ll even let you take a picture with me.” She raised an eyebrow, her voice a bit more teasing now.
Cha Eui-jae finished the order and walked back to the counter. Honeybee placed some money on the counter and gave him a wink.
He rolled his eyes and gave a dry chuckle. “Yeah maybe…”
“Don’t be so unsure~” She replied with a grin before grabbing the bag of goodies and turned to leave, her boots clicking loudly against the floor.
Cha Eui-jae watched her go, a small, genuine smile forming on his lips. His thoughts immediately turned to Ha-eun again, the image of the little girl’s excited face in his mind. He hadn’t expected to be handed the tickets, but at least now he had a way to make her happy.
Then, as the door closed behind Honeybee, Cha Eui-jae felt a gaze on him. He turned his head slightly, only to find Lee Sa-young watching him from across the room, his sharp eyes narrowed with a slight frown.
The younger male had been observing the entire interaction with noticeable knitted brows in his expression, but it wasn’t just that.
His posture suggested that whatever he was feeling was more than just irritation. There was an edge to it.
For a split second, the two men’s eyes locked, and Cha Eui-jae could feel the tension of Lee Sa-young’s stare from across the room. His jaw was set, and his violet eyes flashed with something that didn’t sit well with him…
The discomfort twisted in Cha Eui-jae’s gut, and he quickly broke the gaze, huffing under his breath as he turned back to the counter.
He had no idea why Lee Sa-young was so damn irritable- but he couldn’t help but feel so excited to show Park Ha-eun the tickets.
Cha Eui-jae deliberately focused on stacking bowls behind the counter, pretending he didn’t feel Lee Sa-young’s glare burn a hole through the back of his head.
He didn’t need to look to know that the other was still watching him. Still looking like he was two seconds away from storming over and pin him down.
Cha Eui-jae clicked his tongue and continued to aggressively organize chopsticks and spoons.
He didn’t owe Lee Sa-young anything. Not after getting ghosted for a week. Not after being left with nothing but bruises, a stupid turtleneck, and way too many questions.
Whatever. Cha Eui-jae didn’t care anymore and wanted to let him think whatever he wanted.
At least he had plans this weekend. Plans that didn’t involve being pinned under a moody, muscle-bound asshole.
...Even if part of him stupidly wished they did.
When they were finally done eating, Bae Won-woo wiped his mouth with a satisfied groan and bounced up to pay at the little booth near the entrance. Cha Eui-jae, of course, walked over to ring them up.
Bae Won-woo placed a few bills on the counter, grinning. “Thanks for the food, part-timer. You’re the best.” He chirped as he walked off toward the door.
Cha Eui-jae managed a thin smile and waved him off. “Come again.” He put the money in the register, feeling the weight of Lee Sa-young’s gaze the entire time.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw it.
A crisp bill fluttered down from Lee Sa-young’s hand, landing neatly on the floor somewhere behind his feet. The younger male was standing there, right in front of the counter, with one arm folded across his broad chest while the other was extended.
His black T-shirt stretched obscenely tight over his muscles. He leaned in a little, dropping his voice as he made a soft, fake little tsk sound and shrugged exaggeratedly. All while his expression looked unapologetic. "Oops."
Cha Eui-jae narrowed his eyes. Really?
He leaned over the counter slightly to glare at Lee Sa-young, but the man just gave him the laziest little half-smirk that was telling him to ‘go pick it up’.
“Ah- it’s okay, I’ll get it.” Cha Eui-jae gritted between his teeth as politely as possible.
‘Customer is king. Customer is king.’ He chanted in his mind, trying his best not to make his fists fly.
Reluctantly he turned around, to bend down and pick up the fallen cash. This reminded him of the moment when he picked up something from the ground a week ago… He knew he was doomed because the moment he bent over-
A large, solid hand slid over the counter and grabbed his ass.
Cha Eui-jae froze.
The touch was shameless. Bold. Lee Sa-young’s large hand molded to the curve of his ass like it was second nature, fingers flexing just enough to dig in slightly through the thin fabric of his sweatpants.
Cha Eui-jae’s heart hammered against his ribs like a war drum.
He squeezed his eyes shut, cursing silently. You son of a bitch-
Lee Sa-young wasn’t rushing it, either. His touch lingered.
His palm pressed firmly, possessively. His thumb made a slow, almost tender stroke along the underside of the curve- getting awfully close to what was in the middle, right where Cha Eui-jae was most sensitive.
They were still in public. Still inside the restaurant. Anyone could look over the counter and see.
He snatched up the dropped bill with a jerky motion and turned around to move his ass away from the prying hand. He straightened up so fast that he banged his head on the underside of the counter with a loud thud.
He was too distracted being flustered to be bothered about the pain.
Lee Sa-young leaned in closer across the counter, lowering his head until his mouth was barely an inch from Cha Eui-jae’s ear, his breath a soft, dangerous whisper.
“You’re lucky I’m behaving-" He said, voice so low it was practically a growl. "... or I’d do a lot more than just touch.”
Cha Eui-jae's ears turned scarlet.
Lee Sa-young quickly leaned back and looked completely unbothered with his hands up like he didn’t do anything.
When Cha Eui-jae finally dared to look at him, Lee Sa-young was already moving away, casual and lazy, pulling his mask back up like nothing at all had happened.
Without another word the door rattled as it swung open, letting in a gust of summer air and then he was gone.
Cha Eui-jae stood rooted behind the counter, absolutely wrecked, his face burning and his legs shaking slightly under him.
He wanted to scream… or maybe sink into the floor and never come out.
Instead, he dragged a trembling hand through his hair, let out a long sigh, and thunked his forehead against the counter again.
He quickly glanced at the remaining customers who didn’t seem to have noticed anything since Cha Eui-jae has been acting like this all day. He let out a relieving huff.
Lee Sa-young was going to be the death of him.
Later that night
Cha Eui-jae sat cross-legged on the floor in Grandma’s small living room, the sound of a fan whirring steadily in the background. Across from him, Ha-eun practically vibrated with joy, clutching the VIP tickets to Honeybee’s meet-and-greet like they were the crown jewels.
“I can really meet Honeybee with these?!” Park Ha-eun’s voice was high-pitched with excitement as she waved the tickets in front of his face. “You’re the best! Thank you, thank you!”
Cha Eui-jae laughed under his breath as she ran around the room like a tiny storm. Her energy was contagious. A sharp contrast to the heavy, tangled thoughts that had been weighing him down for days.
Watching her like this made it all worth it.
Still, no matter how much he tried to shake it off, the memory of Lee Sa-young’s gaze that was so cold and intense when he accepted the tickets from Honeybee. Cha Eui-jae knew the other had been watching closely, his eyes tracking every little twitch of the muscle.
His thoughts were interrupted when his phone buzzed on the floor. It was a message from Lee Sa-young.
Lee Sa-young: ‘Are you going?’
Cha Eui-jae frowned at the screen. Going where?... Then it clicked- he was talking about the meet-and-greet…
He thumbed back a reply without thinking.
Cha Eui-jae: ‘Yeah.’
Almost immediately, irritation prickled under his skin. Seriously? After a week of silence, and disappearing without a word, now he cared about where Cha Eui-jae was going?
Seconds ticked by. Then minutes. No response. Cha Eui-jae stared at the screen. But his phone remained silent.
Cha Eui-jae sighed, pushing it aside, not allowing himself to feel anything. He was used to this. Lee Sa-young’s unpredictable behavior. One minute, they were practically devouring each other’s lips in heated, desperate kisses. The next, Lee Sa-young was giving him the silent treatment.
He had no idea how he’d gotten himself into this mess that exhausted the living daylight out of him.
Lee Sa-young was definitely pissed about the meet and greet. But even if the younger male ruined his day, Cha Eui-jae couldn’t help but feel a little guilt in his stomach. The other had obviously come all the way over to see him. Yet he kind of acted like an ass…
Maybe he'd text him later. After the event.
Maybe.
For now, Cha Eui-jae forced himself to focus on the bright-eyed little girl still twirling around the room. Ha-eun deserved to have the best day of her life, and he wasn't about to let anyone- not even Lee Sa-young, ruin it for her.
He smiled, and called out to the little energy ball. "You better go to bed before you’re too tired to wake up for school tomorrow."
She immediately pouted but couldn’t hold in his excitement, clutching the tickets close to her chest.
The day of the event
Cha Eui-jae adjusted the hem of his hoodie for what felt like the hundredth time.
There he stood in the long queue outside the event center. It was packed. Fans in colorful merch, waving lightsticks and handmade signs, roared with joy.
The air was thick with chatter and the faint scent of street food from nearby vendors.
The chaos almost felt too overwhelming. Cha Eui-jae exhaled slowly, trying to ground himself.
Beside him, Ha-eun clung tightly to his sleeve, practically vibrating with excitement as she craned her neck trying to peek at the main entrance.
“Stay close, okay?” Cha Eui-jae reminded her firmly, resting a protective hand on her head.
[Trackers Eyes S+ activated]
His instincts prodded him to scan the crowd for anything suspicious, a prickle of alertness crawling up his spine.
“I know, I know!” she chirped, flashing him a huge grin. “I’m not a baby, Uncle Eui-jae!”
Cha Eui-jae blinked his eyes to deactivate the skill as he ruffled her hair affectionately. "Still."
They began weaving through the clusters of fans, slipping between groups of fans and occasional cosplayers dressed as famous hunters.
The closer they got to the VIP check-in, the more the air felt... heavy. Tense with excitement. Or maybe it was just his own nerves.
As the line inched forward, Cha Eui-jae fished the tickets from his pocket. He gave one to Ha-eun who accepted it excitedly and double-checked his own.
Then-
A sharp bump against his shoulder sent him stumbling a step to the side.
"Ah-" Cha Eui-jae automatically shifted, planting a foot back and shielding Ha-eun with his arm. "Sorry." he mumbled with a slight bow.
He looked up and stared at the man before him.
The man standing there was huge. Tall. Broad. Suspiciously hidden under fan gear. Head down under a glaringly bright Honeybee cap pulled low over his eyes, oversized sunglasses, a black mask, torn jeans, a bomber jacket and shoes that looked expensive.
The kind of outfit that screamed ‘Don’t talk to me. Or do. I’ll punch you either way.’
Cha Eui-jae’s eye twitched.
If he didn’t know better, he thought he had just walked straight into a thug. A weird, unbothered Honeybee-loving thug. Poor Honeybee- having fans like this…
The man gave a small nod. No apology. No reaction. Just stepped back, hands in his pockets, letting them pass.
That attitude reminded him of a certain someone that he definitely didn’t miss… Or maybe just a little.
Ha-eun tugged urgently on the hem of his shirt, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Uncle Eui-jae, hurry! The line is moving!” Cha Eui-jae smiled as they pressed forward to the registration booths.
While they waited, he watched Ha-eun strike up a conversation with a boy about her age standing in front of them.
They were both babbling a mile a minute about their favorite hunters facts and arguing excitedly about who was stronger. She argued passionately that Honeybee could wipe the floor with The Shield Guy any day. The boy insisted otherwise.
Cha Eui-jae couldn’t help but chuckle. Their joy was infectious. A man standing with the boy turned around. Tall, clean-cut, and probably just a few years older than him, he offered an apologetic smile.
“Ah, sorry if my little brother’s being too loud.” The man said, scratching the back of his neck.
“No, it’s fine-” Cha Eui-jae replied, smiling politely as he waved it off. “They seem to be getting along well.”
The man laughed, soft and genuine. “That’s a first. I’m Yoon Ji-ho.”
“Cha Eui-jae.” He introduced himself with a small bow.
They slipped into easy conversation- the event, the chaos of kids, hunters. Just small talk. Nothing groundbreaking.
But… It felt good.
Normal.
Cha Eui-jae hadn’t realized how long it had been since he had talked to someone who wasn’t a hunter, or didn’t want something from him. Yoon Ji-ho wasn’t trying to impress or analyze him. Just… sharing space.
Then came the glance.
A quick, sheepish one from Yoon Ji-ho as he fumbled with his phone. “Would it be okay if… I got your number? You know, for the kids. They seem like they’d get along.”
Cha Eui-jae blinked. His first instinct was wariness- years of reading too much into things. But then he saw the way Ha-eun was laughing, completely at ease. And it was true- it’d be good for her to have more friends.
“Sure.” Cha Eui-jae said with a smile, reaching for the phone.
But before he could even touch it-
A hand clamped around his wrist.
Large. Gloved. Familiar.
Cha Eui-jae’s heart dropped.
He turned- and every cell in his body locked up.
No way.
No fucking way.
The suspicious thug. The fake fanboy in Honeybee gear.
Up close, there was no mistaking him.
The sharp tilt of his eyes, the infuriating confidence hiding behind absurd layers of disguise- like a child playing dress-up with too much budget and zero shame.
Lee Sa-young.
In a full, horrible disguise.
Cha Eui-jae’s mouth fell open in shock. He stared. A fake neck tattoo? Even Studs in his ears?! Oh my god- who the fuck let him out like this?
Before he could form a single coherent thought, Lee Sa-young’s arm slipped around his waist like it belonged there. He didn’t even hesitate and very calmly dropped the bomb. “I’m his boyfriend.”
Cha Eui-jae’s entire body tensed. His face flushed instantly, a slow burn crawling up his neck.
Some people in line that heard it, turned around to stare. Even the kids paused mid-argument.
“Oh-” Yoon Ji-ho stammered, backing up slightly. “I- I didn’t know.”
Lee Sa-young ignored the reply and kept his hand firmly on Cha Eui-jae like he was staking his claim in front of the entire damn crowd. Yoon Ji-ho was awkwardly trying to look anywhere else, obviously intimidated by the mysterious presence.
Cha Eui-jae, still in shock, finally managed to whip his head to glare at the masked man and hissed between his teeth, voice strangled with horror. “What the hell are you wearing?!”
Lee Sa-young leaned down, close enough for only Cha Eui-jae to hear. His voice was a low growl, laced with jealousy. “You thought I’d just sit back after you accepted a gift from someone else?”
Cha Eui-jae failed to get his heart to calm down.
[Poker Face B activated]
He jabbed his elbow into Lee Sa-young’s stomach, trying to breathe through the fire in his face. “I didn’t- I wasn’t…shut up.” He muttered, doing his best to ignore the lookers. Damnit there was no way to escape the line.
Lee Sa-young didn’t even flinch. His sunglasses slid slightly down his nose, just enough for Cha Eui-jae to see the wicked curve of his grin. “Sure you weren’t, babe.”
He nearly combusted and ground his teeth to restrain himself from punching the younger male into another dimension.
A tug on his hoodie pulled his attention down to Ha-eun. “Uncle Eui-jae… who is this?” She asked, eyes narrowing as she took in Lee Sa-young’s get-up with the wariness of a small, judgmental cat.
Before Cha Eui-jae could say anything, Lee Sa-young crouched slightly to meet her suspicious gaze. "Name’s... Kang Dae-hyun." He said smoothly, offering a gloved hand.
Cha Eui-jae barely resisted the urge to bang his forehead against the protective barriers. Kang Dae-hyun?! Is that what he was calling himself now?!
Ha-eun didn’t budge. She peered at the offered hand, then grabbed Cha Eui-jae’s instead and hid behind his legs. "That’s a weird name for a thug." She said flatly
"I’m reformed." Lee Sa-young said with a wink. He barely suppressed a strangled noise in the back of his throat. Reformed, my ass.
Before he could threaten murder for the Xth time, the line moved forward again.
Cha Eui-jae muttered curses under his breath as he did his best to regain composure. Park He-eun waved her ticket excitedly as they were getting closer and closer.
Lee Sa-young trailed behind him like an ominous shadow, towering over the crowd.
He could feel Lee Sa-young’s eyes burning into the back of his head the whole time. He didn’t even have to look to know the bastard was probably enjoying this. No- he knew he was.
He didn’t want to imagine how smug the other man was feeling right now. Yet somehow, despite the public humiliation- and the sheer audacity of it all- Cha Eui-jae's heart pounded painfully fast in his chest.
He had a thousand questions but decided to save them for later.
“You know…" Lee Sa-young said lazily, wrapping his arm around his shoulders. "You look cute when you’re about to have a heart attack."
Cha Eui-jae glared at him over his shoulder. "You look like you mugged someone on your way here."
Lee Sa-young grinned. "All for you, hyung."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. Divine intervention. That’s what he needed. Preferably now. "At least behave while Ha-eun’s here."
"I am behaving," Lee Sa-young replied innocently, though his hand tightened slightly around Cha Eui-jae’s neck, flexing the thick muscle beneath his sleeves. "Mostly…" He muttered.
He exhaled slowly, trying to maintain composure. "One more word, and I’ll start digging your grave."
They finally swept into the venue itself, swallowed by the roaring ocean of fans. Despite coming two hours earlier, they were still pretty far from the stage- even in the VIP section.
Cha Eui-jae barely had time to adjust before The lights dimmed as loud music filled the darkness.
Honeybee burst onto the stage, making it rain color and glitter, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Park Ha-eun shrieked in pure excitement, clutching onto Cha Eui-jae’s arm as she bounced on her toes, her entire face glowing with joy.
It was so infectious, even he couldn’t help but smile- a rare, genuine smile he doesn’t show often.
But he wasn’t the only one watching someone.
Lee Sa-young, still stubbornly glued to Cha Eui-jae's side like a parasite, wasn’t looking at the stage. He could feel it. That gaze- intense, burning, fixed on him.
Ha-eun kept bouncing, struggling to see past the taller crowd. He noticed immediately. "Come here," he said, kneeling down slightly. "I’ll lift you."
Ha-eun squealed happily as he hoisted her onto his shoulders. Her face covered in delight at her new height, waving frantically at the stage. He steadied her small hands gripping his forehead.
Suddenly large arms wrapped around his waist from behind. Firm. Familiar.
Lee Sa-young’s chest pressed flush against his back, radiating heat through the thin fabric of their clothing. Cha Eui-jae let out a resigned sigh, but there was a small, traitorous smile tugging at his lips.
But lower…
His entire body stiffened.
He bit down on a curse as his face turned crimson. The hard, very distinct bulge pressed firmly against the curve of his ass was impossible to ignore. A physical reminder of the things they had done just a week ago.
His head snapped back, whispering fiercely. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Lee Sa-young just hummed slowly, a deep sound in his throat that vibrated through Cha Eui-jae’s spine. "Making sure everyone knows you're mine." He murmured.
He wanted to crawl into the earth and die. Or launch himself off the nearest railing.
Ha-eun, thankfully oblivious, screamed joyfully and waved every time Honeybee so much as looked their way.
And then- oh god-
Honeybee saw them.
Her sharp gaze locked right onto their little section of the audience. Recognition exploded across her face.
Cha Eui-jae didn't even have time to brace himself.
Honeybee waved enthusiastically with big, bright movements that made it impossible to pretend it wasn’t directed straight at them.
Ha-eun waved back, bouncing enthusiastically on his shoulders. “Uncle Eui-jae! She waved at us! She waved at us!”
Cha Eui-jae, on the other hand, wanted to evaporate on the spot.
Lee Sa-young’s arm only tightened, daring the world to make a comment.
He hunched his shoulders, face burning so hot it could melt steel. Maybe if he ran fast enough, he could escape this nightmare.
The show finally came to a close with a grand finale of flashing lights and booming music. Honeybee performed her final signature twirl, and the stage went dark.
The crowd erupted into applause, the energy in the room still buzzing with excitement.
Then came the announcement from event organizers. “Tier 1 VIPs, please line up for entry into the private room!”
Cha Eui-jae put Ha-eun down and took a moment to breathe, the tension in his shoulders finally easing as the stage lights turned on.
He glanced at the tickets that crumpled slightly in his pockets. They were Tier 1, the most expensive and exclusive ones that Honeybee herself had personally handed them to him. The ticket felt like it weighed a ton now, reminding him of the bizarre situation he found himself in.
And Lee Sa-young- still plastered to his back- wasn't going anywhere.
"Uncle Eui-jae! We’re next!" Park Ha-eun squealed, her tiny voice bursting with excitement as she tugged at his sleeve.
Cha Eui-jae finally felt Lee Sa-young's arm around his waist let go as they walked toward the line. He couldn’t even focus on the impending meet-and-greet .
His mind was too preoccupied with the fact that Lee Sa-young in his god-awful disguise, looking like some criminal cosplaying a fan.
But…
Damn.
He looked hot.
The black jacket, the oversized sunglasses, the fake tattoos peeking out, the studs… every inch of it screamed trouble, danger, and Cha Eui-jae was horrifyingly into it.
Even though He wanted to kick the guy for being such a pain in the ass, he couldn't help but notice the way Lee Sa-young’s usual intimidating vibe remained with this ridiculous outfit. The contrast of his ‘usual looks’ with the ‘thug look’ was... well, it was undeniably attractive.
Cha Eui-jae nearly choked on his own thoughts. Shit were bad boys really his type?!
But then again, Lee Sa-young went all out of his way to get sold out tickets. And on top of that, he’s wearing Honeybee merch… Knowing the younger male, he must have some pride- so wearing that and going outside just to see him…
Lee Sa-young caught him staring and his eyes curled upward- he gave that one smirk that made Cha Eui-jae's heart skip a beat.
"This is your idea of a disguise?" He muttered under his breath, but even as he said it, he couldn’t fight the part of him that was still... affected.
As they shuffled along, Lee Sa-young leaned into Cha Eui-jae, smirk deepening, his voice a low rumble. "You were checking me out earlier though."
"I was not." Cha Eui-jae snapped, voice cracking slightly. All his anger dissolved into a tingly sensation in his stomach. He would be lying if he said he didn’t miss bickering with Lee Sa-young.
“Should I dress like this more often hyung?" The younger male said with a smug tone.
Cha Eui-jae opened his mouth- and then closed it again.
He swallowed thickly.
"...You always just… look ridiculous… ly good." He muttered quietly, staring ahead, ears burning. Lee Sa-young looked devastatingly good. And it was becoming harder and harder to deny
The younger male chuckled, deep and dark. “I see.”
Cha Eui-jae’s stomach tightened, but before he could respond, they were ushered toward the private room for the meet-and-greet.
The moment they entered, Honeybee was already there, waiting for the next group. When her eyes landed on Cha Eui-jae, her entire face lit up. “Part-timer!” She called, her voice filled with warmth.
He nodded, and gave a half smile back, but her smile quickly faltered when her gaze shifted to Lee Sa-young. Her expression dropped several degrees.
Lee Sa-young’s presence, of course, didn’t help. He didn’t say a word, merely standing slightly behind Cha Eui-jae, his sunglasses still in place, his posture relaxed but unreadable.
“Ah- I saw you from the stage. You must be...?” Honeybee’s voice trailed off as she gave the taller male an obvious once-over.
Lee Sa-young was never one to shy away from confrontation. He luckily managed to keep his identity hidden with that ridiculous disguise, but he still radiated the same intimidating vibes.
His voice was calm, controlled, and definitely not what you'd expect from someone who looked like they were one bad decision away from starting a street fight.
“I’m his boyfriend.” Lee Sa-young said simply and shrugged like it was the most natural thing.
Cha Eui-jae’s soul nearly left his body. He stammered, completely unsure how to answer. “I uh- sort of… Well- I mean… yeah…”
[Poker Face B activated]
Honeybee’s eyes narrowed, her skepticism clear. “Never seen him before…Your boyfriend? ” She asked, arching an eyebrow. “I don’t know... he doesn’t exactly seem like your type.” She muttered almost to herself.
Cha Eui-jae faltered, caught off guard by her directness. She was not wrong at all. Lee Sa-young was definitely not his type… Until recently… “Ahaha- well, we uh, kind of like to keep it priv-”
“Hmm,” Honeybee cut him off with a knowing glance.
“Listen, if he does anything weird, just say the word.” She said sweetly as she tilted her head toward Lee Sa-young, her gaze cold but calculating.
“I can take care of him in no time! Can’t let anyone mess with my favorite part-timer!” She said proudly, not realizing she was challenging the former no.1 hunter.
“Hmmm…” Lee Sa-young hummed slowly as he lowered his mask to his chin, revealing his lips that were curled into an almost predatory grin. “Are you sure you’d wanna try that?” He asked, his tone low and dangerous.
Cha Eui-jae noticed that Lee Sa-young even covered the beauty mark under his lips with a bandaid- making him look even more menacing. Honeybee wasn’t fazed and raised a brow. He could feel the tension between them thickening.
He quickly stepped between them, trying to defuse the situation. What did he call himself again?
“Kang- Uh…. Dae-hyun.” He said in a warning tone as he placed his hand on Lee Sa-young’s large chest. Uhg he hoped that Honeybee didn’t notice the little hiccup there.
The last thing he needed was two super hamsters fighting… And Honeybee finding out who he was really with.
Before Cha Eui-jae could say more, Ha-eun nervously tugged the hem of his sleeves “Uncle Eui-jae are you done talking?” She asked, not entirely sure what they were bickering about.
Right. He was here for Ha-eun. He smiled and as soon as he nodded, she practically exploded with excitement, grabbing Honeybee's attention.
“Honeybee! You are so cool! Can I get your autograph? And a picture?” The shift in the room was instant. Honeybee’s face softened, her eyes sparkling with the same warmth she’d shown on stage.
“Come on over, sweetie.” Honeybee said kindly as she crouched down to Ha-eun’s level, giving her all the attention she could have wanted. The change in her demeanor was almost comical- one second, she was icy, the next, she was the epitome of sweetness.
Cha Eui-jae let out a relieved breath, but just as he was about to approach Honeybee, Lee Sa-young stepped forward. The younger male was completely unfazed by the earlier exchange, casually moving into his personal space.
With a swift motion, Lee Sa-young stepped in front of him, shielding him with his broad back, making it clear he wasn’t finished.
"Hey-" Cha Eui-jae started, but before he could get another word out, the younger male tilted his head, hand curling lightly around the back of his neck as he leaned forward.
The kiss was slow, deliberate as a familiar sweetness entered his mouth.
Cha Eui-jae’s heart slammed against his ribs. He should’ve pulled away. Should’ve shoved Lee Sa-young back and scolded him for doing this in public- infront of Ha-eun and Honeybee-
But he didn’t.
His hands instinctively clutched at Lee Sa-young’s jacket, anchoring himself as the other deepened the kiss just slightly, mouth warm and coaxing. Large gloved hands sliding down to hold his ass, squeezing tightly.
For a split second, the risk of being seen- it all melted away.
When Lee Sa-young finally pulled back slowly. He lingered just a second longer, their breaths mingling, the air between them crackling with a thousand unsaid things.
He pulled back as Cha Eui-jae stood frozen, eyes half lidded, mouth slightly parted, his entire body humming with leftover electricity.
Lee Sa-young’s lips curled into a wicked smirk, eyes gleaming under his sunglasses.
"There. Now, go do your thing." He said lazily, voice low and rough.
Cha Eui-jae blinked, his face burning with a mix of irritation and something else that pooled dangerously south.
[Poker Face B activated]
How many more times was he going to use this skill today?!
“You’re unbelievable.” He muttered, though the feeling in his chest was anything but anger.
Still, he pushed all those feelings aside and made his way over to Honeybee, who was now chatting with Ha-eun. The little girl was practically glowing as she rattled off facts about Honeybee’s latest achievements.
Cha Eui-jae couldn’t help but smile at the sight. “Sorry about that,” He said to Honeybee, his tone more sheepish now. “It’s... been a bit of a day.” God he just knew that Honeybee watched them kiss. There was no way she wouldn’t have seen them in this small room.
Honeybee gave him a soft smile, though there was still a little wariness in her eyes. “I don’t know why you’re into… thugs?” She teased, eyeing Lee Sa-young’s towering figure.
“But hey, your niece is adorable.” Cha Eui-jae just chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, she’s a handful sometimes.” He said, ignoring her first comment.
After a few more exchanges, it was time to snap a picture. The photographer who watched everything unfold, positioned everyone awkwardly, including Lee Sa-young, who was still acting aloof and indifferent. His arm naturally wrapped around Cha Eui-jae’s waist, pulling him in close.
With a snap and a flashing brightlight, Cha Eui-jae couldn’t help but realize that this wasn’t so bad after all. Spending time with Ha-eun and Lee Sa-young. Even if he was being an absolute menace.
Cha Eui-jae looked at the other, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his life had just gotten a lot more complicated.
He felt the large hand massage his sides intimately. Before Lee Sa-young could do more, he cleared his throat roughly, yanking at the hem of his hoodie as if he could somehow scrub the heat off his skin.
He shot Lee Sa-young a death glare but he just chuckled under his breath, radiating smugness.
Thankfully, Ha-eun was too starstruck to notice the grown-up drama swirling overhead.
They wrapped up quickly after a few more pictures, a signed poster, and a pinky promise from Honeybee to keep “Training hard and being awesome.” Ha-eun was practically vibrating with joy, clutching her newly signed poster like it was a holy treasure.
With one last polite bow, Cha Eui-jae made their excuses and led them out of the venue.
The cool night air outside slapped him in the face, grounding him slightly. The crowds had thinned out, the buzz of excitement lingering like static in the streets.
They walked quietly for a while, Ha-eun chattering nonstop about how pretty Honeybee was up close, how she waved at them, how she was even cooler in real life. Cha Eui-jae nodded and hummed responses, but his mind was spinning.
Lee Sa-young, unusually quiet, trailed just a half step behind them, his presence still burning along Cha Eui-jae’s skin like a brand.
When they reached Grandma’s neighborhood, he hesitated outside the front gate. Ha-eun gave him a big grin before darting inside to excitedly show off her poster.
Cha Eui-jae turned to Lee Sa-young, raising an eyebrow. "You didn’t have to follow me all the way here, you know."
He shrugged lazily, hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets. "Had to make sure you didn’t follow another man home." He said, tone easy but eyes intense.
Right on cue, Grandma popped her head out from the doorway, squinting suspiciously at Lee Sa-young. "Who’s this?" She asks, voice sharp like a whip. "Why are you hanging around with thugs, Eui-jae?"
Cha Eui-jae gave an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "Just a... friend…" He mumbled quickly.
Before Grandma could launch into a lecture, Ha-eun piped up, cocking her head innocently. "Grandma! Uncle Eui-jae's boyfriend came with us!"
Dead silence.
Cha Eui-jae felt his soul physically leave his body.
Not wanting to dig his grave any deeper, he hastily walked over and crouched down, patting Ha-eun’s head a little too hard. "Ha-eun! Don’t joke around like that!" He hissed under his breath.
Lee Sa-young, of course, said nothing but Cha Eui-jae could feel his shit-eating grin even without looking.
Grandma's eyes narrowed dangerously, clearly not buying his panicked denial. She muttered something about ‘young people these days’ and walked back inside, grumbling about thugs and bad influences.
Before more damage could be done, Cha Eui-jae grabbed Lee by the wrist and pulled him away from the gate.
"I swear to god if she pulls out the holy water next time, I’m blaming you." Cha Eui-jae grumbled as they rounded the corner.
Lee Sa-young just laughed- a low, rough sound that sent a shiver down his spine. "Worth it."
They walked in comfortable silence, the sounds of the city bustling around them. Cha Eui-jae felt the warmth of the evening air, but his thoughts were occupied with the figure walking beside him- Lee Sa-young. There was something about tonight that felt… different.
The younger male nudged him with his elbow, breaking the quiet. "Hey. Wanna go on a date?"
Cha Eui-jae blinked, turning his head slightly to meet Lee Sa-young's eyes. "A date? Now?"
"Yeah," The other said casually and shrugged, hands in his pockets again. "You, me. Somewhere nice. I’ll even behave. Maybe."
Cha Eui-jae almost opened his mouth to decline, to make some excuse. But the words got caught in his throat. The idea of spending time with Lee Sa-young, just the two of them was… tempting. It sounded fun.
Even if he had to look ridiculous in that awful disguise… A date sounded nice. No hangover soup, no guild business, just… them.
He wasn’t sure if he would ever get another chance to do this. Before he could stop himself, he found himself muttering. "...Okay."