Obsession | TAEKOOK FF

​Chapter 13: Snowflakes and Stolen Confessions

KRING!

KRING!

KRING!

​The sharp, relentless blare of the alarm clock suddenly sliced through the heavy darkness. Tae’s eyes snapped wide open, the bright morning sun streaming through his small window. It was exactly 6:30 in the morning.

​"Waiiiiit..." Tae breathed out heavily, his chest heaving as he sat up abruptly in bed, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He stared blankly at the wall, his face burning a bright crimson. "What... what on earth was that?!"

​He pressed his trembling hands against his glowing cheeks, his mind completely trapped in a loop replaying the scorching, heavy touches from his sleep.
​Shit... why did I dream those kinds of things about my boss?! Oh, shoot! Tae panicked, frantically shaking his head. "Argh! Erase, erase, erase! TaeTae, completely erase it from your mind! Ahhhh!"

​Desperate to clarify reality, Tae scrambled out of bed to check himself. He tentatively checked his lower half, but there was absolutely no lingering soreness or pain. He lunged toward the vanity mirror, pulling his collar down to inspect his neck—there wasn't a single hickey or mark on his fair skin. It had all been an incredibly vivid, intoxicating illusion.

​"Arghhhhh... why did I dream something so wildly scandalous?!" Tae groaned loudly, mocking himself in the glass as he ruffled his messy hair. Realizing he was going to be late, he quickly threw himself into a cold shower to wash away the lingering heat, dressed in his professional office uniform, and rushed out the door to work.

​Whispers at the Firm

​The moment Tae stepped out of the morning rush and into the grand lobby of JK's Company, he noticed a massive crowd of employees gathered near the main directory boards. Curious whispers and excited giggles echoed through the marble hallway. Intrigued by the sudden commotion, Tae adjusted his bag and quietly slipped into the back of the crowd to see what was going on.

​"Who on earth is that stunning guy Mr. Kook is talking with over by the executive lounge?" Girl 1 whispered excitedly, standing on her tiptoes.

​Girl 2 clutched her cheeks, completely swooning. "Omg... he is so incredibly hot!"

​"Yes, girl! He is so insanely handsome, ahhhh!" Girl 3 squealed under her breath.

​Girl 4 leaned in closer, dropping her voice to a dramatic whisper. "I overheard the HR department saying that he's actually the long-lost half-brother of Mr. Kook!"

​"Wow, no wonder... the family genetics are unreal. He's handsome too, but honestly, Mr. Kook is still more my type," Girl 1 mused, crossing her arms.

​"Are you blind? I think that new guy is way more attractive than Mr. Kook, omo... I'm literally in love already! Hihihi," Girl 2 countered, batting her eyelashes.

​Girl 3 scoffed dramatically. "Duh... Mr. Kook is the ultimate fine man, period."

​"Tsk. Mr. Kook is such an unattainable, intimidating playboy," Girl 4 pointed out, watching the distant figures walk down the VIP corridor. "I'm definitely going to try my luck with his half-brother. He looks so sweet and innocent... oh my gosh, he's my future hubby, I swear..."
​Hearing their dramatic corporate gossip, Tae couldn't help but let out a quiet, secret laugh. He shook his head playfully, stepping away from the crowd and heading straight for the executive elevator, completely missing the chance to catch a glimpse of Kook’s mysterious new sibling.

​When Tae unlocked the doors to Kook's private office suite, his eyes instantly landed on his workspace. Sitting prominently in the center of his desk was his missing corporate ID badge, exactly as promised. But resting right beside the silver clip was a neatly folded, elegant piece of stationery.