Heung Soo ♥ Nam Soon || Let Us Just Love by Jenny Ben

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Namsoon's POV

I stretch, groan, and my whole-body wakes up singing. I roll over and smile. HeungSoo is still sleeping. He still sleeps on his stomach, that hasn't changed. His hair falls over half of his face, and I slide it off just so I can see him. I scot closer to him and pull the covers that had drifted to the end of the bed over us. I glance at the clock and if I don't get up in the next hour, I'll be late for my first meeting with author Hwa Chul-Moo. I don't care, I just want to watch him wake up. I lay my head on the pillow facing him and just count his breath. Namsoon, that's so creepy, I tell myself.

"I thought you have an important meeting today," HeungSoo says a few minutes later, eyes still closed.

"You're awake!" I run my fingers over his morning stubble.

"Mmm". He stretches and rolls on his back. "Good morning. I'll kiss you but you know, morning breath," he smirks.

"Morning. I appreciate it," I grab his chin and shake it back and forth to match my words.

He jerks out of my hold and hops out of bed. I eye him from his sexy stubble to his buffed chest and mauve nips. I want to lick him from chin to chest. My eyes move to his trim waist, past his boxers, to his firm thighs and I want to...

"... Namsoon, are you listening to me," HeungSoo yells.

"I'm sorry, what?" I shake my head, coming out of my reverie.

"I asked if I could have some clothes to wear to work."

"Sure. Help yourself. I'll make breakfast. I can drop you off at work," I offered.

"That's okay. I'll call a taxi. How about we meet at my house tonight? I'll like us to both go see Noona. Are you up for it?"

"Sure. As long as you're there, I'm good."

"Okay. I'll be ready in about fifteen minutes," and he walks to my bathroom.

I hear the shower running and I remember our shower together last night. We soaped each other down, laughing like children. We rinsed off but no hanky-panky. We got into bed and he spooned me, only to find him in his favorite sleeping position in the morning, face down.

Snap out of it, Namsoon.

I jump out of bed and raced to the kitchen. I make breakfast and coffee. I go back into my room and HeungSoo looks good in my clothes. A little tight, but good.

"Breakfast is ready, I'll be down in fifteen."

Fifteen minutes later, I find him at the dining table. I sit down and gobble down my food. If I don't leave the house in ten minutes, I'll be late for my first meeting with Author Hwa Chul-Moo.

My doorbell rings and I scowl, wondering who's at my door this time of the morning.

"That's my taxi. I'll see you later. I should be home by five," he says.

"Hmm," I walk him to the door, hand him his coat, and quickly hug him before I change my mind.

"See you later," I whisper.

He looks at me, lifts my chin, and kisses me.

"It feels right to give you a kiss before I leave for work," and he leaves.

I lean my head against the door, take deep breaths to steady my heart rate, and walk back to my dining room to finish breakfast.

Five minutes later, I get in my car to meet one of our favorite manga authors.

                                          ― ☾ ―

Author Hwa Chul-Moo lives in a secured residential high-rise apartment, one of the new towers. I followed directions to the second of six towers in the wealthy area of Seoul. I parked in the visitor parking area and make my way to the reception desk.

"Namsoon, hello. Just in time." I turn towards the voice and my editor is sitting on one of the backless couches placed around the room.

"Kim Eun-Kyun, good morning. How long have you been here?" I ask.

"About five minutes, not long."

She walks up to me, and she gestures toward the security desk. We make our way there and let the security guard know we're there to visit Hwa Chul-Moo. The man called and after confirming our information, gives us the floor and apartment number, and buzzes us through another set of doors.

"This place is nice and secured, I like it."

"And very expensive. Not only the purchase price but maintenance fees are a killer, too." She points out.

I can only imagine. We get on the elevator, and I press the fiftieth floor. The tower has sixty floors. We get off, turn right per the instruction of the security guard. He told us there are only two apartments on each floor and Hwa Chul-Moo's is to our right. We stand in front of his door and I'm too shaky to press the doorbell. Kim Eun-Kyun looks at me, smirks, and presses the bell.

I rock back and forth on my heel as we wait. The door opens and a man in his early forties, sleek black hair on a small slightly overweight body, smiles at us.

"Sunbae, good morning," Kim Eun-Kyun greets the man.

"Good morning, Eun-Kyun. You must be Go Namsoon. Come on in, come in," he waves us inside.

We follow him into a contemporary apartment. Every piece of furniture is white and set against the sun is blinding. This is too, too much white. The only other color is on the walls; grey.

"I always seem to miss you when you come by the office. Please have a seat. Hwa Chul-Moo will be out in a minute. He's in a meeting and should be done in a few minutes."

I am hesitant to sit on any chair, scared that I might stain the white untouchable sofa. My editor sits and I do the same beside her.

"Will you two like something to drink?"

"Water please, Sunbae. Namsoon?"

"Nothing for me, thank you."

"I read your work and it blew me away. It's very now and engaging. You know Namsoon, I was hoping to be your editor but I'm sure Kim Eun-Kyun is doing a splendid job," he adds.

"I'm flattered," I reply.

My butt is on the edge of the sofa, feet tapping, looking all around me. A door slams and a gorgeous man rushes out of a room. He nods at us, walks out the door without saying a word. In those few seconds, my mouth dropped in shock! That's Oh Jiwoo, the K-pop star, and idol. Shit! I wish I could have gotten his autograph. He looked angry; I wonder why? Well, that's not my business.

"Hmm, that was..."

"... I don't think they need an introduction, Sunbae. Everyone knows Oh Jiwoo, right? And you are Go Namsoon, Misul's newest manga star," Hwa Chul-Moo says as he walks towards us right behind his fleeing guest.

I have seen pictures of Hwa Chul-Moo in magazines and newspapers, but he looks a lot different from the dark-haired, smiling, good looking pictures I saw. The man in front of me, in his open robe, has greyish hair, is short, and hawk-like eyes. His appearance throws me for a loop.

"Yes. Good morning. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." I get up and nod slightly.

"I'm told that we will work together. That's wonderful." He side-hugs me too tightly for my comfort. He smells like cigarettes and alcohol. I discreetly move out of his hold and sit back down beside my editor.

"I'm excited to launch my first manga with your newest one. I am a fan of your works," I tell him.

"Good to hear. Five years ago, I don't think the industry would dare publish your work. I read it and I'm impressed. I hate to admit it, but it's way better than my first published work," he winks at me.

"Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you. In a few months, I'll be honored to launch my book with yours," I tell him and get up to leave. My vibe is not working well with this man.

"No hurry, Namsoon. Relax, let's get to know each other. That's the whole idea, right? So, we're flawless when those reporters badger us with questions," he chuckles.

"I'm sure Namsoon can stay a little bit longer. Sunbae and I will leave you two to get to know each other and I'll call you later, okay, Namsoon?" My editor says. She gets up and heads toward the door.

What is she doing? I thought we were to leave together. She just pissed me off and I won't stay longer than thirty minutes.

"I can stay a few minutes longer, sir. But I have another appointment in an hour," I tell them.

Maybe people are right, be careful meeting your idols. Some are not as good as you imagined them to be. Case in point, Hwa Chul-Moo. His appearance and interviews differ vastly from what I'm seeing. Only thirty minutes Namsoon, and you get the hell out of here until we both show up for my book launch in a few months.

After the two editors left, he got himself a drink, put on some music, and sits down beside me where my editor was sitting before, she ran off. I move back a little for two reasons: away from the overwhelming smell of cigarettes and alcohol and his touchy attitude.

He leans back and tells me about the items in his home, their value, and which country he bought them from. He drops names of actors, models, and singers he knows and how they all want to hang out with him. How old is this guy? I thought he was in his early thirties and he talks like a teenager showing off his latest toys. As he talks, he moves closer to me, and I move further away. When my back hit the end of the couch, I get up and tell him I must leave.

"So, are you gay?" He blurts out.

I reel back from the change in conversation and intrusiveness of the question. To be honest, he's not the first to ask but after coming to terms with my feelings for HeungSoo and last night, yes, I am gay. But this twit need not know that.

I smile at him, not answering his question.

"I figure you must be from your work. Authors write what they know, most of the time, so you must be gay. Do you have a boyfriend?" He asks, leering at me.

Okay, enough is enough time to get the hell out of here, Namsoon, I tell myself.

"I have that appointment to keep. It's been hmm, nice meeting you." I walk towards the door, ready to get the hell out of this weird man's home.

Suddenly, he grabs me from behind and palms my dick. What the fuck!!! Instinctively, I turn around, twist his hand, and flip him over my shoulder onto the floor.

"Ouch, shit! Ow, ow, ow. What's wrong with you?" he cries, laying on the floor. "What was that for?"

"What's wrong with me? How dare you touch me without my permission? What is wrong WITH YOU?"

He sits up, his hand on his back, and glares at me.

"You know what? This collaboration will not work," I tell him and continue to the door.

"YOU ARE DONE! DO YOU HEAR ME NAMSOON? WHEN I GET THROUGH WITH YOU, NO PUBLISHING COMPANY WILL WORK WITH YOU AGAIN!"

I slam the door and lean against it.

Namsoon, what have you done? When are you going to learn to curb your anger?

                                      ― ☾ ―

I get in my car, pull out of Hwa Chul-Moo's tower. I bang my wheel a few times, cursing to high heavens. Who does he think he is? How dare he touch me? I just met him, for God's sake. Who does that? Just because he's famous doesn't give him the right to harass anyone.

My work phone rings, and I smile. It's Joong Ki. It's been a while since he called me. I wonder why? I pull over to the side of the road, take a few deep breaths and pick up the call.

"Hello, Joong Ki. How have you been?" I ask.

"Wonderful Soo Min. I'm sorry I haven't called you in weeks."

"I know it worried me. I mean we used to talk almost every day and then, nothing. Are you okay?" I ask.

"yes, I'm doing great. A lot has happened since we last spoke. Remember my ex-best friend?"

"Yeah. What about him?"

I lean back in my car. Talking to Joong Ki may just make this day bearable and calming for me.

"Well, we've patched things up and..."

"... so, you will dump me? Stop calling me? I'm just joking Joong Ki. I'm thrilled for you. What happened? The last time we talked you were still hesitant," I prod.

He tells me they have cleared some miscommunication, and both agree to start again. Now he says he is open to taking their relationship to the next level.

"Are you telling me you are gay? And in love with your best friend?" I ask in shock.

Silence.

"Joong Ki?"

"I guess I am," he whispers.

"Good for you. I guess we both reached certain realizations these last few weeks. I also made amends with my friend so we're in a wonderful place."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Will you call again," I ask?

"Yes. I still need an ear to talk to, and you're it," he laughs.

"I'm glad to hear that because I enjoy talking to you too."

"I'll call you again," he says. "Bye".

A few minutes later my phone pings with the charges for this thirty-minute call, ₩138,718.28. This should make my boss happy. He's been hassling me about not making any money for him for a few weeks now.

That call was much needed. But sooner rather than later, I must tell HeungSoo about this job and say goodbye to JoongKi. And get out of my collaboration with Author Hwa Chul-Moo.

I am still fuming from Hwa Chul-Moo's inappropriate touches. How dare he? Just because I said I am gay doesn't give him the right to touch me. Fuck! What will the company say about this complete mess, now?

My phone chimes, and it's a text from HeungSoo. He's running late and will meet me at his house. That's good. I need some time to suppress my anger before our visit to see Noona and her family.

                                          ― ☾ ―

I am mentally and physically exhausted from this entire day. Seeing Noona was awkward at first but then, the old Noona who sort of raised HeungSoo and I came roaring back. She surprised me by apologizing for blaming me for HeungSoo's injury all these years. It was so good to be in good standing with her again. We had dinner with them and left around nine at night.

I lean back and tried to fall asleep on our way to HeungSoo's house. Once we got home, I follow him slowly into the house still pondering what I will do about this mess I've found myself in.

"Are you going to tell me what is eating you? You have been somber and inattentive all day," HeungSoo asks me.

I take a deep breath.

"I think I just screwed my chance of debuting with Author Hwa Chul-Moo's today."

"It can't be that bad. What happened," he turns to face me, his brows raised in question.

"He touched my dick, I kicked his ass, and he threatened to destroy my career," I sigh.

"I'm sorry, will you repeat what you just said," HeungSoo growled, "he did what to your what?"