Beneath the Surface I Seungsung

Chapter 15

The days that followed were a delicate balancing act.

Seungmin threw himself into his work with renewed focus, his meticulous attention to detail ensuring that his company remained a step ahead of the competition. But no matter how hard he tried to bury himself in business deals and reports, he couldn’t shake the memory of Jisung’s touch, the weight of their shared secret pressing against his chest.

Every glance exchanged in meetings, every brush of their hands when passing documents—it all felt charged. But they were careful, so careful, not to give anything away. Seungmin kept his face neutral, his demeanor cold as always, but beneath the surface, the tension simmered.

It was maddening. Knowing that Jisung was only a phone call away, knowing that he could slip away into the night and lose himself in those stolen hours they shared, yet still having to pretend that nothing had changed. It felt like living two lives—one as the CEO, the professional, always composed and always in control, and the other as the man who lost that control the moment Jisung kissed him.

The nights were their only reprieve. Under the cover of darkness, Seungmin could forget the rivalry, the business, the pressure. He could give in to Jisung’s touch, allow himself to be vulnerable in a way he never was in the daylight.

But even then, the uncertainty lingered.

One particular evening, Seungmin found himself at Jisung’s penthouse again, the city lights glowing softly outside the large windows. They had just spent hours tangled together, and now Seungmin lay next to Jisung, staring up at the ceiling, his mind spinning with thoughts he couldn’t quite suppress.

Jisung was beside him, his arm lazily draped over Seungmin’s waist, his breathing steady. But Seungmin could feel the weight of Jisung’s eyes on him, studying him in the dim light of the room.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Jisung murmured, his voice low and rough with sleep.

Seungmin tensed slightly, not wanting to reveal the turmoil in his mind. “Just thinking.”

“About work?”

“About us,” Seungmin admitted, his voice quieter than he intended.

Jisung didn’t respond immediately, and Seungmin could feel the shift in the air between them. It was rare for them to talk about what was happening between them—outside of their physical connection, they tended to avoid deeper conversations. But tonight, something felt different.

“You’re wondering how long we can keep this up,” Jisung said, reading Seungmin’s thoughts effortlessly.

Seungmin sighed, turning his head to look at him. “You’ve thought about it too, haven’t you?”

Jisung’s expression was unreadable, his sharp features softened by the faint glow of the city lights. “Of course I have. But I don’t see why it has to end. We’re careful. No one suspects anything.”

“For now,” Seungmin pointed out. “But secrets don’t stay hidden forever.”

Jisung shifted closer, his hand sliding up to cup Seungmin’s face, forcing him to meet his gaze. “Are you worried about what people will think? Or are you worried about what happens when you can’t pretend to hate me anymore?”

Seungmin’s breath caught in his throat. It was a question he’d been asking himself more and more lately. What would happen when the lines between them blurred so much that he couldn’t remember where the rivalry ended and the feelings began?

“I don’t hate you,” Seungmin whispered, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Jisung’s eyes softened, and for the first time since this all started, Seungmin saw something in them that resembled hope. “I know,” Jisung said quietly. “That’s what scares you, isn’t it?”

Seungmin didn’t respond right away. He wasn’t sure how to. Because yes, it scared him—more than he wanted to admit. What they had was supposed to be simple, physical, with no room for anything else. But the more time they spent together, the more Seungmin realized that nothing about this was simple anymore.

“I don’t know what this is,” Seungmin finally said, his voice wavering. “But it’s dangerous, Jisung. We’re playing with fire.”

Jisung leaned in, pressing his forehead against Seungmin’s, his breath warm against his skin. “Maybe we are,” he murmured, his voice steady. “But that doesn’t mean I want to stop.”

Seungmin closed his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the truth of Jisung’s words in the way he held him, the way his touch lingered as if he didn’t want to let go. And Seungmin knew, deep down, that he didn’t want to stop either.

But the fear was still there—nagging at the back of his mind, reminding him that they were walking a tightrope, one wrong move away from disaster.

“What happens when someone finds out?” Seungmin asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jisung’s hand tightened on Seungmin’s waist, pulling him closer. “Then we deal with it. Together.”

Seungmin opened his eyes, staring up at Jisung, searching his face for any hint of hesitation. But there was none. Jisung looked at him with a quiet determination that made Seungmin’s chest ache.

“Do you really think we can keep this up forever?” Seungmin asked, his voice wavering.

Jisung’s gaze didn’t falter. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I know I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to lose you.”

The words hit Seungmin harder than he expected, his heart stuttering in his chest. It was the first time Jisung had said something like that, something that went beyond their usual banter and stolen moments. And hearing it now, in the quiet of the night, made everything feel so much more real.

Seungmin swallowed hard, his throat tight. “Jisung…”

Jisung pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment before he pulled back, his eyes locking onto Seungmin’s. “We’ll figure it out,” Jisung said softly. “One step at a time. But I’m not letting you go. Not yet.”

Seungmin’s heart twisted, the weight of Jisung’s words settling deep in his chest. He knew they were walking a dangerous line, knew that eventually, something would give. But right now, with Jisung’s arms around him, it felt like they could handle anything.

Maybe they were playing with fire. But for the first time in a long time, Seungmin didn’t mind getting burned.

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