DOTH Volume 1 Chapter 3.8

“No.”

He was curious about it, but he didn’t necessarily want it.

“You have the look of someone who does.”

“No, I don’t…”

Director Yeon chuckled quietly. Jung Heeyeon claimed he didn’t, but his expression said otherwise. If he didn’t want it, he wouldn’t have been so captivated by it. Even if Jung Heeyeon didn’t truly want it, Director Yeon felt it would look perfect in those small hands, it would be quite satisfying in its own way. The mere fact that the ungreedy Jung Heeyeon’s gaze lingered on it, however briefly, was reason enough to deem it valuable.

“Are you sure you don’t want it?”

Once again, Jung Heeyeon shook his head.

“Heeyeon.”

“Yes?”

“It’s not good to lie.”

At the mention of lying, Jung Heeyeon hesitated a little longer. Perhaps it was because he’d never thought about wanting anything before, but he struggled to form an answer. It felt like another difficult question, just like determining what he liked or disliked.

In the end, he chose to answer honestly.

“I’m not sure.”

“If you’re not sure, just have it.”

Director Yeon spoke as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

“Once you have it, you’ll know whether you wanted it or not.”

“What if I didn’t actually want it?”

“If you don’t want it later on….”

The Alpha’s large hand pulled Jung Heeyeon closer.

“Then you can just throw it away, Heeyeon.”

Following Director Yeon’s lead, Jung Heeyeon walked inside, where the store was filled with all sorts of snow globes.

“Pick anything you want.”

It felt odd to refuse now that they had come inside. After glancing around the store, Jung Heeyeon eventually picked up one snow globe.

“You want that one?”

“Yes, it’s pretty.”

Director Yeon glanced briefly at the snow globe Jung Heeyeon had chosen. Among so many larger, more ornate ones, he couldn’t fathom why Jung Heeyeon picked something so small and simple. When Director Yeon had been nineteen, he would have gone for the flashiest and most eye-catching option. Then again, he wouldn’t have considered something like a snow globe for a Christmas gift in the first place.

“What about the others?”

“This one is enough… I think this one is the prettiest…”

“You really have no greed, even when I told you to indulge a little.”

As Director Yeon approached the counter to pay, the clerk smiled and asked.

“Would you like it wrapped?”

Instead of answering, Director Yeon glanced at Jung Heeyeon. Understanding the man’s silent cue, Jung Heeyeon answered on his own.

“No, just as it is.”

“All right, I’ll pack it up for you so it’s easier to carry.”

The clerk handed over the small paper bag containing the snow globe. It wasn’t even a handspan in size, swaying lightly in Jung Heeyeon’s small hands.

“Director.”

As they stepped outside, the snow grew heavier. By tomorrow, it seemed the ground would be covered.

“Yeah.”

“Thank you.”

Jung Heeyeon’s eyes curved as he offered a polite thank-you. He had an expression Director Yeon hadn’t seen before.

Observing this unfamiliar expression, Director Yeon’s lips curved slightly. Unconsciously, his hand tightened on the cake box he was holding.

–

When Jung Heeyeon lightly shook the snow globe, the white powder settled inside scattered chaotically. Sparkling flakes in various colors showered over the tiny log cabin in the globe. It was only then that Jung Heeyeon realized he had wanted the snow globe after all.

“Heeyeon.”

Director Yeon called out, poking Jung Heeyeon’s fair cheek. His long finger retreated only after catching Jung Heeyeon’s gaze.

“Why are you making me feel left out?”

“…I am?”

Startled, Jung Heeyeon opened his eyes wide, his eyelashes trembling like a startled bird’s wings.

“You don’t even pay any attention to me.”

Director Yeon leaned his chin on his hand, his voice exaggeratedly forlorn, making the other’s smooth face flush with visible discomfort.

“Oh… I’m sorry. I’ll go put this in the room.”

Holding the snow globe, Jung Heeyeon quickly scampered away. Director Yeon, as if he’d never looked upset, chuckled softly before opening the cake box and cutting it. The strawberry shortcake, layered perfectly with whipped cream, was sliced with precision, not a single edge out of place.

He’d reserved this Christmas cake specifically for Jung Heeyeon.

‘Heeyeon, what kind of cake do you want to eat?’

‘Cake?’

‘You’re supposed to eat cake on Christmas.’

Of course, Director Yeon had never cared for Christmas, nor had he ever eaten cake for the occasion.

‘I’ll get whatever you like, Director…’

‘I don’t particularly like sweet stuff. Should we skip it?’

Director Yeon had teased, watching Jung Heeyeon’s plump lips twitch like a startled goldfish.

‘Hmm?’

’No. I want to have cake.’

‘What kind of cake?’

‘The one you bought last time. The strawberry one—it was delicious.’

‘Alright.’

Once Director Yeon figured out what Jung Heeyeon wanted, he immediately instructed Kim Chulwoo to reserve a strawberry cake.

There was no real need to celebrate the day, but Director Yeon had insisted on marking Jung Heeyeon’s first Christmas for one simple reason. Because he wanted to.

“Things have been quite fun lately.”

Jung Heeyeon required a lot of attention, and the more attention he needed, the more enjoyable it was.

Director Yeon placed a slice of cake onto a white plate. His skillful hands worked so delicately that the rather large slice stood upright without toppling. The layers of strawberries and cream stood perfectly intact, proudly displayed. Just as he finished plating the cake, Jung Heeyeon returned.

“Where did you put it?”

“By the window. The snow outside makes it look prettier there.”

“Ah, really?”

“Yes.”

Director Yeon placed a fork directly into Jung Heeyeon’s hand.

“What about you, Director?”

“The baby should eat a lot of the cake.”

Jung Heeyeon looked at Director Yeon, then at the cake, before cutting a small piece with the fork. As expected, the moment Jung Heeyeon touched it, the cake toppled to the side, smearing the whipped cream. Yet Jung Heeyeon, unfazed and used to this outcome, casually extended the fork toward Director Yeon.

“Ah.”

Director Yeon let out a faint, exasperated laugh as the cake was brought right in front of his face.

“Heeyeon, did you just say ‘ah’ to me?”

Looking as though he was merely doing what came naturally, Jung Heeyeon calmly replied.

“Pardon? Yes. …Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? Director, you treat me like this too.”

“You’re going to feed me?”

“Yes. It’s delicious.”

Director Yeon’s eyes narrowed slightly, as though trying to figure something out. He lightly grasped Jung Heeyeon’s slender wrist and took a bite of the cake. At the same time, his fingers slid along the pale underside of Jung Heeyeon’s wrist. The unexpected ticklish touch made Jung Heeyeon reflexively try to pull away, but Director Yeon’s firm grip left him no room to escape. He was drawn closer instead.

The soft, creamy cake disappeared between Director Yeon’s lips.

“It’s delicious…”

The words slipped out lazily after he swallowed. His long fingers, which had ventured under Jung Heeyeon’s sleeve, now traced the delicate veins from his wrist to his arm.

Director Yeon’s gaze wasn’t on the plate of cake. It was locked entirely on Jung Heeyeon.

The sharp, almost predatory focus made Jung Heeyeon swallow hard.

He felt as if he were being devoured by the Director.

Just like the soft cake that had been crushed and melted in Director Yeon’s mouth.

***

Outside, snow was still falling heavily. Jung Heeyeon gently tapped the snow globe sitting by the window. The snow, which had settled at the bottom, swirled and scattered inside the tiny glass dome.

His pajamas were loose, making his wrist become exposed every time he raised his arm to touch the snow globe. His gaze naturally fell there, and the memory of what had happened earlier came to mind. The spot where Director Yeon had touched felt ticklish, so Jung Heeyeon rubbed his wrist absentmindedly.

“It was just cake…”

It had been his favorite strawberry shortcake—sweet, fluffy, and tangy. He had only fed it to him because he wanted to share something delicious. Similarly, Director Yeon had simply eaten the cake, nothing more.

“But why…?”

He felt strange. It was as if something deep in his heart was tingling or as if heat was pooling in his stomach. It was a strange sensation he had been experiencing frequently lately. Was it because Director Yeon was an alpha? After pondering for a long time, Jung Heeyeon shook his head.

“If I don’t know, I should ask Director Yeon…”

But it seemed too odd to ask him such a question. And he couldn’t very well ask another alpha, leaving him feeling frustrated.

In the end, Jung Heeyeon decided to bury his feelings and gazed out the window. 

The snow was falling even more furiously than it had been before they had come inside. By tomorrow, it might pile up so deep that it would bury his feet.

Jung Heeyeon stared at the dark night and white snow for a long time. It was his first time experiencing so many things: feeling the snow, eating food spiced with wine, spending Christmas, and eating a Christmas cake.

‘I guess I’ll be the one to teach you all your firsts, Heeyeon.’

Director Yeon’s words echoed in his mind. Every day since meeting him had been a first for Jung Heeyeon. It was a world he had never known, one he had never even wished for, yet it felt like an unexpected gift—just like this snow globe.

Jung Heeyeon tapped the snow globe again and leaned closer. Beyond the sparkling glass dome, he could see the scene of a real sky. The deep darkness, the white snowflakes, and the starlight inside the snow globe all overlapped.

It was a breathtaking moment, as if not snow but an entire galaxy were cascading down.

–

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