Jinki turned around. He was about to leave when he remembered why he was there in the first place. He turned back to Key, who still looked a bit embarrassed about getting caught in such an embarrassing situation.

“Do you know how to cook ?”

“Yes, why ?”

“The cook has taken a day off, and I can’t use the kitchen.”

“Oh… I can do it.”

“It’s not a problem, is it ?”

“Not at all.” Key answered, a smile on his lips.

“I’ll go an tell Sohye she can leave then. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

Key nodded and Jinki headed for Sohye’s room. She apparently was happy that Key knew how to cook and hurriedly prepared to leave. The young woman had lived and worked at Jinki’s for many years already and he understood how impatient she was to have a night off. Her work was very time-consuming.

Jinki was heading for the kitchen when his phone rang. He took it out of his pocket and answered.

“Jonghyun.”

“Jinki ! I was just calling to know if you have received your present…”

“My present ?” Jinki repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Your birthday present !”

“My birthday’s in December.”

“Yeah well, you got your present a few months early. Lucky you !”

“I didn’t receive anything.”

“Hmm… Are you sure ? Blond hair, pretty feline eyes, heart-shaped lips, porcelain white skin, perfect body… ‘Rings a bell ?”

He remembered the conversation he had with Key earlier and he tried to pretend he wasn’t aware of Jonghyun’s implication in this.

“So you’re the one responsible.”

“I admit it, I’m guilty.”

“You’re calling only to say that to me ?”

“No, actually, I’m calling to see if you put my money to good use.”

“Put your money to what ?” Jinki repeated, surprised.

“Jinki, I’m not like you. My wallet isn’t filled with bars of gold. He cost me a fortune ! Like, really, I think I’ll be eating only bread and water for the next six months. You need to make the most of it !”

“You should have thought about that before hiring him.”

“I challenge you to look at him and tell me without lying that you don’t want to sleep with him at all.”

“That’s not what this is about, I-”

“Jinki, one night with him isn’t gonna kill you. That’s what he’s there for.”

“No way.”

“If you won’t do it for yourself, at least do it for me and my wallet.”

Jinki rolled his eyes.

“Bye, Jonghyun.”

“Hey ! You better not h-”

Jinki hung up on him and sighed. Jonghyun would probably call him back, so he decided to turn off his phone. It was the only way to be alone. He knew Jonghyun wasn’t as persistent as Taemin, but he still could be a pain in Jinki’s neck when he wanted to.

Jinki entered the kitchen and saw Key standing in the front of the open fridge. His eyes fell on his lithe silhouette, covered by the silk robe he always wore, the small silk belt tied firmly to show off his small waist and the curve of his back. His legs were bare and Jinki looked away when he thought back of the conversation he just had with Jonghyun. As strong as his attraction to Key was, he didn’t want to use him that way. He knew very well that it was part of his job description, but Jinki just found it wrong.

Key turned around, closing the fridge, and smiled at Jinki when he saw him.

“What do you want to eat ?”

“Everything works for me. You choose.”

Key went through all of the shelves with a thoughtful expression, to see what ingredients there were in the kitchen. He had already looked at what was in the fridge.

“Maybe...Some kimchi jjigae !

Jinki smiled.

“Works for me.”

Jinki moved closer to the counter and just watched Key make dinner. The latter grabbed the kimchi in the fridge and cut it into small pieces, then did the same for the pork and vegetables. He put everything in a deep frying pan and made everything brown on the stove. He started by washing the rice and Jinki was impressed at how good he was at cooking. Key put the rice in the cooker and checked the frying pan on the stove before adding some broth, spices and tofu. He covered the frying pan with a lid and turned to Jinki.

“We have to wait for it to cook.”

The delicious smell of homemade food lingered in the kitchen air.

“You’re a good cook.”

“I know a few things.” Key said, shrugging.

“How did you learn ?”

Key seemed to hesitate.

“My grandma taught me.”

He looked a bit reluctant to speak about his personal life and Jinki felt guilty for asking. He knew Key wanted to keep his private life and his professional life separate. Giving personal information about himself to a customer was against his principles.

“I’m sorry, it was inappropriate of me to ask that. I know you want to keep as much space as possible between your job and your private life.”

“I answered because I wanted to answer.”

Jinki couldn’t help but notice how Key avoided looking at him.

“Has a customer ever asked something like this ?”

Key shook his head.

“No, but you’re not really the usual customer type either…”

“Because I don’t want to sleep with you ?”

Key looked down at Jinki.

“Amongst other things…”

Jinki was about to answer when Key continued.

“Talking about… that. Your friend, the one who hired me, Jonghyun... was it ? He told me you were attracted to me, and said he doesn’t understand why you won’t sleep with me.”

“He told you a lot, it seems.”

Key had a guilty smile.

“Maybe.”

“You want to know why ?” Jinki said, sighing.

“I was wondering if…”

He hesitated to say it. It was a sensitive topic and the last thing he wanted was to upset Jinki.

“Is it… because it’s not possible ?”

Jinki looked at him questioningly and Key glanced at his wheelchair.

“Oh. No ! No, no that’s not it. I can…” Jinki started, blushing slightly. “But that’s not about that at all !”

“Then, why… ?”

Jinki took a deep breath and looked down at his lap.

“That’s what I’m constantly trying to explain everyone. It’s just not what I’m looking for.”

“Oh. You want a serious relationship then ?”

“No, I don’t want that.”

Key frowned. He looked confused, to say the least.

“Then what's holding you back from sleeping with me ?”

Key’s voice was neutral and soft, almost soothing. He clearly didn’t want to judge Jinki in any way and just wanted to understand. Jinki, who had stiffened because of the conversation, relaxed a bit.

“It seems… wrong. To use you that way.”

Key walked closer and crouched before Jinki, taking his hands in his.

“Firstly, you shouldn’t feel guilty. It’s part of my job… If I didn’t want to sleep with people for money, I wouldn’t have become an . And secondly… If there is one person who shouldn’t feel guilty, it’s you. Most people see me as an object that they have rented and that they can use whenever they want. And I’m okay with that, I mean, I chose that job. But it’s kinda rare to be treated like a human being, and… It feel kinda nice, to be honest.”

Jinki didn’t know what to say to that. He didn’t want to exploit Key like those rich erts who hired him, he found it so wrong. And that, even if Key had chosen to be an . A small part of him didn’t want Key to see him as one of those arrogant customers who treating him like he was their property.

“That’s what I’m paid for, you have my consent, and I won’t be mad at you if you want to sleep with me.”

Jinki just nodded, squeezing his hand. Key stood up.

“I think dinner will be ready soon… I’ll set the table.”

He grabbed two plates and two pair of chopsticks and walked to the dining room.

Key’s words kept ringing in his ears. Now he knew that Key didn’t see him as one of his erted rich customers, but he couldn’t help but be afraid. Afraid that things changed between them if he ever asked Key to spend the night with him.

 

……………………..

Minho was on the phone with Jonghyun while his boyfriend was watching TV, a small bottle of banana milk in his hands.

“What do you want me to do ? It’s not my fault he hung up on you.”

“I can’t reach him, I’m sure he turned off his phone !”

“Why are you even surprised ? It’s Jinki we’re talking about.”

Jinki’s behaviour was not unusual and he knew Jonghyun was aware of that. He was just calling Minho to complain, not because he was surprised.

“And to think of all the money I spent for him ! He’s not even thankful !”

Minho smiled. Sometimes, Jonghyun really reminded him of Taemin.

“What did you say, exactly ? I’m sure he didn’t hang up without a good reason.”

“I just told him to put my money to good use.”

“So you told him to have with Key.”

“Hey, it was a lot more subtle than that !”

“But that’s what you meant. I’m not surprised he hung up on you.”

“Maybe I could pay him more so he could seduce Jinki…”

“It doesn’t work like that, it’s all about what the customer wants.”

“How would you know ? Do you perhaps have some experience with escorts ? Does Taemin know ?!”

Minho rolled his eyes and chose to ignore Jonghyun.

“Even if you could, Jinki’s stubborn.”

“Oh, believe me, after spending a few days with a gorgeous creature like that, his stubbornness will only be a memory. I don’t know how he managed to spend an entire weekend without touching him, if I were him I-”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I don’t want details. We’re not all like you, Jonghyun.”

“That’s rich coming from you ! I remember when you and Taemin came to one of our basketball games and when you suddenly disappeared in the middle of the game…”

He really had hoped Jonghyun had forgotten about that.

“You were so lucky I was the one who caught you and not someone else ! Oh, the faces you made that day !”

“Jonghyun.” Minho warned.

He totally got why Jinki had hung up on him. He really wanted to do the same thing.

“There were more clothes on the floor than on your bodies, if I had caught you a few minutes later I’m sure you would have been nak-”

“Okay, Jonghyun ! I get it !”

“Aaww, you’re still embarrassed about that. It’s cute. I must say I didn’t expect you to wear pink underwear.”

“Jonghyun !” Minho shouted. “If you don’t shut up, I’ll hung up on you like Jinki did.”

“Okay, okay… God, you’re so touchy ! Let’s talk about something else. I wanna go and see Jinki tomorrow morning, ‘wanna come ?”

“Do you really want to see Jinki or do you just want to see if he ‘puts your money to good use’ ?”

“Oh, I see ! Who do you think I am, huh ? I’m shocked ! So I’m not allowed to go and see one of my friends without a reason ?”

Minho raised an eyebrow and stayed silent.

“Okay, you got me. You know me well, Choi.”

“You’re too predictable.”

“So, you’re coming or not ? I need a driver.”

“That’s why you’re asking us to come with you ?”

“Well, how do you think I’m gonna get there ? In my wheelchair ? I live super far away from Jinki’s !”

Minho sighed and walked to Taemin.

“Jonghyun wants to go at Jinki’s tomorrow, you want to come ?”

“Why not…” Taemin said, shrugging.

He had had a rough day and he was too tired to be his motivated and joyful self. Minho brought the phone back to his ear.

“Taemin’s okay with that. We’ll be at your place at nine.”

“Okay ! See you tomorrow, good night and kiss Minnie for me.”

“When are you going to stop calling him Minnie ?”

“Hmm… Never. Why, you jealous ?”

Minho rolled his eyes, a small amused smile on his lips.

“See you tomorrow.” He said, hanging up.

…………………………..

It was by far the best kimchi jjigae he had ever eaten. He didn’t eat it often, but it was still the best. It was so delicious he just ate it silently, while Key sent amused glances his way.

When he had finished eating, he put down his chopsticks and looked up. Key was still eating and Jinki felt a bit embarrassed of devouring food like that.

“Have you ever thought of becoming a cook ?”

Key laughed at that and Jinki smiled.

“It’s not that good.”

“It is to me.”

Jinki had always had two weaknesses : coffee, and homemade food. His mother had always been very good at cooking and she had been the one making the meals. As for his father, he had been an absolute disaster in the kitchen. Jinki took a bit after his father in that aspect, which was why he had hired a cook.

“My grandma taught me everything I know when it comes to cooking. She loves Kimchi jjigae so she makes it often.”

If his grandmother’s kimchi jjigae was in the slightest bit like Key’s, Jinki understood why she made it often.

“I understand her.”

Key smiled and started clearing the table.

Jinki would usually go in his office or in the library after dinner, since it was still too early to go to sleep. But today, Jinki didn’t feel like leaving Key alone and he suggested that they watched a movie in the living room. The latter accepted with a smile, and they both found themselves in front of the TV a few minutes later. Key was sitting in an armchair, Jinki next to him. They had decided to watch Léon : the professional, a French movie. Key was totally engrossed in the movie, just like that time when they had gone to the cinema with Taemin and Minho. Jinki liked to watch his expressions changing as they watched the movie. Key didn’t just watch it, but he lived it. Ten minutes before the end of the movie, Key had started crying and he thanked Jinki when the latter handed him a tissue. Jinki took his hand in his and Key unconsciously squeezed it, his eyes fixed on the TV.

The movie ended and they bid each other goodnight. Key’s eyes were still wet and a bit red from the tears he had shed. It was the first time Jinki saw him crying, and he thought that even with tear-stained cheeks, he was still the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

…………………….

The next morning, Key got up around eight forty and went straight to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. Sohye and the cook were there, talking, and the young woman turned to him when he walked in. They both froze for a few seconds when he walked in and Key saw their eyes staring at his outfit. Oh, right. The robe. He was so used to wearing it that he sometimes forgot it was not exactly appropriate. Most people wore pyjamas to go to sleep, but he would much rather wear something light and easy to take off. Not to mention that many customers loved this outfit, including Jinki. He had noticed how the older stared more insistently at him when he was wearing it, and Key loved being the center of the attention.

Sohye seemed to go back to her senses.

“H-hello Key ! I’m sorry, I didn’t have the time to properly say hello yesterday.”

“Hello, Sohye. Don’t worry about it, I understand.”

“You got up unusually late today.”

“Yes, I stayed up late yesterday.”

He had stayed to watch a movie with Jinki and he had stayed awake in his room for a few hours afterwards. He didn’t usually need much sleep and he didn’t mind waking up early, but yesterday, his thoughts had kept him awake late at night.

He was happy to be back at Jinki’s. Happier than he should have been. He had expected Jinki to be angry when he saw him, since the decision had been taken by someone else one more time, but he hadn’t been angry at all. He had almost seemed… happy to see him.

“Oh, can I ask you a favor ?” Sohye asked, out of the blue.

“Of course.” He politely answered. “What can I do for you ?”

“Could you go and wake Jinki up ? The physio will be here in ten minutes and I still have a few things to do.”

“I can, but… Won’t it bother him ?”

“Not at all ! Although I must warn you that Jinki is a heavy sleeper and he is often grumpy when people wake him up. You might have noticed that he isn’t a morning person…”

They laughed at that. Sohye left the room and the cook went back to work to prepare breakfast, while Key headed for Jinki’s room. He really hoped the latter wouldn’t mind.