The Day I Forgave Him

Kang Chaehee was kneeling on the floor again.
Today it was the living room.
In front of him, I leaned back into the sofa, sipping my drink.
After a long while—when Kang Chaehee started squirming, his legs probably falling asleep, having held out quite impressively—I finally spoke.

“I didn’t say you should never knot. I said don’t force it. Only when you’re ready. Understood?”
“Yes……. I think I went a little crazy for a moment…….”
“You won’t do it again?”
“I really won’t ever do it again. I’m sorry, Director.”

Only then did I set down my glass.
For the past month, I hadn’t seen Kang Chaehee.
During that time, he’d come to the hotel every day with a bouquet, sent long text messages, and even left handwritten letters.
His paychecks had started coming in—not much yet, but apparently enough to buy flowers every day.

Well, buying flowers for me with my own card would have looked strange anyway.
I gestured lightly for him to get up and sit beside me.
He watched my mood as he carefully sat down, then asked in a small voice.
“Are you…… not mad anymore?”

I gave him a glance and nodded.
Kang Chaehee’s face lit up instantly.
Like a puppy meeting its owner after a long time—though he was a bit big to call a puppy…….

Well, it wasn’t really that big of a mistake.
When an alpha and an omega have s*x, knotting is generally natural.
I was just surprised and flustered because I’d never done it with Jeon Seongwon.
Not to mention that same day, I was even more shocked when Jeon Seongwon knotted me at home.

So today, I had him kneel first, then roughly forgave him.
With that in mind, I patted his head—and Kang Chaehee, with a face like a giant dog, broke into a full smile.

“Oh, I almost forgot to mention this. It’s about your school. First, don’t tell anyone.”
“School……? Ah, yes. I never intended to talk about it anyway.”
“Hm. Why?”

It was funny that I told him not to talk about it and then asked why, but stories like that are heartwarming.
The kind that can build a good image.
If it had been Jeon Seongwon, he’d have told everyone for three days straight.
“Because if I talk about it, it could hurt that person.”
“Ah…….”

Well, that was true.
There would be plenty of people trying to dig up that omega’s identity.
He really meant to protect them to the end.
I stared at Kang Chaehee.
“Why are you looking at me like that……?”
“Are you sure you weren’t actually dating that omega?”

At that, Kang Chaehee literally jumped.
“No! There’s no ‘dating’ or not—we were just acquaintances.”
“And you went that far for someone you barely knew……?”

I didn’t even know why I was asking this myself.
Was I jealous?
Nah, no way.
Just as the atmosphere was getting a bit awkward, an alarm went off at perfect timing.
It was Kang Chaehee’s phone.

“Really, Director. Honestly, I barely even remember their face now. I only remembered the name because you told me back then.”

Kang Chaehee said as he turned off the alarm.
I lowered my eyes and said, “I see.”
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to reveal it all later. I want to use it. At the best timing.”
“If that’s what you want, I don’t mind.”
“What, that’s different from what you said just now?”
“Because you’re…… a good person, Director. I know you’ll make sure that kid doesn’t get hurt.”
“…….”

If you wanted to twist it, you could twist it any way.
But coming from Kang Chaehee, it sounded utterly pure.
At that age, having been through so much, to still be innocent—in a way, that’s a talent.
Of course, he probably wasn’t as innocent as I thought…… but at least what he’d just said was clearly sincere.
This giant dog called Kang Chaehee trusted me unconditionally as a reliable protector.
Trusting enough to hand over his leash without hesitation.
“Turn on the TV.”
“Ah, yes.”

He quickly found the remote.
His alarm was set to the drama’s airing time.
Today was finally the day Kang Chaehee would appear for the first time.

Originally scheduled for episode 8, his scenes had been moved up—he’d also appear once more in episode 6.
A short scene where he bumps into the protagonist while buying art supplies and drops his things.

Commercials were still airing.
Since Seochang sponsored the drama, ads for Seochang’s phones and tablets naturally played as well.
“Have you read the synopsis and script for the next project?”
“Yes, I’ve memorized it all.”

I turned my head in surprise.
I’d only left that script at the hotel yesterday.
And that was in the evening.
Today, we’d met at the hotel around 8 AM, and the script was quite thick—up to episode 3.
“Just your lines?”
“No, the entire script.”
“……Hm.”

I quietly admired that.
Was this Glass Mask or something?
Kita—no, Kang Chaehee…….

He also had a good reputation at the company.
Maybe only good reports reached my ears, but generally, people said he was talented and worked hard.

The commercials ended, and the drama began.
Kang Chaehee’s appearance came fairly early.

The female lead went to an art supply store, bumped into Kang Chaehee who was wearing a cap, and he dropped what he was holding—a few brushes and paints.
The flustered female lead picked up the items, and their eyes met.

Kang Chaehee tilted his head slightly, glanced at her, then picked up his things and headed to the counter.
A brief tension passed.
The final shot showed his back as he left the store, from a distance.

That was all of his appearance in episode 6.
Still, it was his first drama appearance.
I glanced at Kang Chaehee—he was biting his lip, holding his breath, watching his own scene.
“You did well. You said you’ll appear properly in episode 8, right?”
“……Yes. I still can’t believe it…….”
“You’ve already had your first broadcast—how can you still not believe it?”
“It’s all thanks to you, Director. Thank you so much.”

If he’d had a tail, it would definitely have been wagging.
Kang Chaehee looked at me with eyes as innocent as a child’s, completely unlike the cold gaze I’d just seen on screen.

I patted his head again—he narrowed his eyes, smiling as he quietly looked at me.
A face that seemed overjoyed and unable to contain itself.
Was he really that good at acting…….
“You can kiss me if you want.”

I said it playfully, feeling a little cocky for no reason.
But Kang Chaehee, as if he’d been waiting, pounced on me.
Our lips clashed roughly, and both my wrists were pulled up and pinned by one of his hands.
“Open your mouth.”

As if out of habit, he pushed his saliva into my mouth, and I swallowed it obediently, feeling my stomach tremble.

For just over a month, Jeon Seongwon, preparing for a new car launch, had been on business trips or working late, barely coming home.
So this was my first time meeting Kang Chaehee in a month.
Meaning, I hadn’t done this with anyone during that time.

The deep kiss continued.
Kang Chaehee sucked on my lips greedily and persistently, like a man who’d found water in a desert.
After a long while, he quietly pulled back.
Still holding my wrists, he brushed my cheek with his other hand and said.
“Director……. Shall we go to my place?”

Home.
I’d given Kang Chaehee two homes.
One was a spacious apartment for him and his family.
The other was an officetel where he could stay alone.

I was tired of meeting in this hotel room every day, and I was a bit uneasy after realizing Jeon Seongwon had a key to this room.
At first, Kang Chaehee had seemed uncomfortable.
But as he kept coming home late due to filming and practice, waking up his family, and finding it increasingly difficult to practice at home, he’d eventually decided to move out to the officetel.

I nodded slowly, and Kang Chaehee brought my coat from the dressing room and helped me put it on with practiced ease.
After he put on his own clothes, we went down to the first floor together—the car was already waiting at the front entrance.
“Manager Han, take us to Chaehee’s officetel.”
“Understood.”

The officetel was about a ten-minute drive from his family home.
Kang Chaehee had protested that it was too spacious for one person, but considering his build—and the inevitable accumulation of his belongings, clothes and shoes—the bigger, the better.

It wasn’t like I’d gotten him some vast 65-pyeong place anyway.
It was only 40 pyeong.

From the hotel to Kang Chaehee’s officetel took about twenty minutes.
“Oh, by the way……. You have a license, don’t you?”
“A license? Yes, I do.”
“And you’ve driven a lot?”
“Yes, during my part-time jobs…….”

I spoke to Han Youngjun.
“What was that dealer’s name again? Jeong Seunga?”
“Yes, that’s right—Jeong Seunga, the branch manager.”
“Call her to Chaehee’s place tomorrow.”

Sensing something ominous, Kang Chaehee grabbed my arm.
“Wai, wait, Director.”
“Wai, wait, what? Why are you stuttering? You’re going to need a car soon.”