By Zephyria Seo Jeong-won, who had been avoiding eye contact the entire time, finally met his gaze as he finished his story.
“I’m sorry for lying about growing up normally.”
“So, you’re not resentful that Hyung left you behind because he protected you, Seo Jeong-won?”
“Even if he hadn’t… I probably wouldn’t have resented him.”
“I’ll let the lie slide. After hearing that, I feel too sorry for you to even be angry.”
Kwon Tae-hee, who had been looking at Seo Jeong-won with pity, removed his hand from the wound he had been gently stroking and asked lightly, as if to ventilate the air, “Any other discomfort?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“We’ll have to keep doing it, what if it hurts like this every time?”
“I’ll try to adapt…”
No sooner had his hand left the wound than it stopped again, reaching out to caress his soft, warm cheek. It wasn’t the answer he had expected.
Kwon Tae-hee had expected Seo Jeong-won to say he wanted to quit. That he couldn’t possibly do it after trying it once.
He felt foolish for even briefly considering how to persuade him, as Seo Jeong-won gave a completely different answer. The confession-like admission was a bonus.
“Alright. Good thinking.”
Kwon Tae-hee chuckled, a sound like air escaping. His large hand caressed Seo Jeong-won’s forehead, nape, and cheeks in turn, before turning off all the bedroom lights. He left only the lamp on the bedside table lit and lay down in the empty space.
“I couldn’t sleep. Your body suddenly got too hot, Seo Jeong-won.”
“Ah…”
“Are you getting a fever just from having sex? Or is it from crying so much?”
It wasn’t a reproachful tone, but Seo Jeong-won couldn’t help but feel awkward and avoided the gaze he had been holding. In truth, he hadn’t expected to get a fever either. He didn’t particularly think it was because of the sex he had with Kwon Tae-hee.
Seeing that his financial situation improved noticeably and someone stayed by his side, he wondered… if he had subconsciously wanted to be cared for by someone, even if it meant being in this kind of relationship.
He had been too busy making money to even get sick until now, so it was a plausible hypothesis.
“It won’t hurt next time. It’s just because it’s the first time…”
“What if it hurts tomorrow too?”
“In advance, painkillers or that…”
Seo Jeong-won moved his lips. He hesitated to speak, drawing out the end of his words.
Kwon Tae-hee, who had been lying straight, turned to his side and pulled Seo Jeong-won closer. Seo Jeong-won burrowed into his arms, feeling the coolness of his broad chest and lower body temperature.
“…I brought muscle relaxants, but I didn’t think to take them. I looked it up and saw that Betas feel better when they take it, so I bought them.”
“You’ve put in quite the effort.”
“…Really.”
“Commendable.”
Kwon Tae-hee slowly stroked Seo Jeong-won’s back before patting it at a steady pace. He told him to get some more sleep and closed his eyes.
Contrary to what he had thought, that it would be uncomfortable to fall asleep with someone, he felt at peace holding the warm body. Then, he opened his eyes when Seo Jeong-won shifted slightly.
“Does it hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt, but it’s uncomfortable. It’s hard to move…”
“It’ll probably take about an hour.”
Seo Jeong-won nodded, listening to Kwon Tae-hee’s low voice. He listened to his steady breathing and remained still, but somehow felt discomfort in his back.
He fidgeted with his fingers, but unable to bear it, he shifted his body, and Kwon Tae-hee, who had been lying with his eyes closed, chuckled softly.
“Should I hold you like this, then?”
Kwon Tae-hee turned Seo Jeong-won’s body around and embraced him. He laid him down so that his back was against his chest and gently stroked his hair.
“I’m sorry…”
“It seems like you’re acting spoiled because you’re in pain, what did you do before?”
“Ah, I didn’t do this.”
Seo Jeong-won, shrinking his shoulders at the fingers tickling the back of his neck as if urging him to keep making excuses, continued, “And I didn’t get sick often. I took medicine when I was sick and it got better quickly.”
“I guess there wasn’t anyone to take care of you or look after you.”
“I was fine on my own…”
He had heard that he had grown up strong, but this was the first time he had heard that he must have been upset. His nose tingled. Seo Jeong-won bit his lip, feeling a pathetic surge of emotion. It was fortunate that he was facing away from Kwon Tae-hee.
“Do you want to keep running the flower shop?”
“I’ve been looking for a buyer. But when I actually think about quitting, I feel like I’ll miss it. Or… will I feel relieved?”
“I wouldn’t know. But it looks nice. The humid air… the smell of soil, the old iron table, the mossy fish tank.”
A pleasant voice continued.
“And Seo Jeong-won walking through the narrow aisles.”
“…”
“It’s not difficult to find a buyer, so think about it slowly.”
Kwon Tae-hee had actually been planning to get rid of the flower shop first. He was going to prepare a place for him to stay near his house and call him to his company or home whenever he wanted.
But suddenly, he felt that Seo Jeong-won working was not bad. Seo Jeong-won in that space was quite nice.
It wasn’t a place that did well, so he wouldn’t meet many people, and he liked that he was trapped in a closed place with all sides blocked.
He wouldn’t wander around, so he wouldn’t encounter strange things.
“I’m sorry for always receiving help…”
He was so naive and kind. Kwon Tae-hee smiled gently and soothed Seo Jeong-won, saying it was okay.
Comforted by the steady patting and the fever reduced by the intravenous drip, Seo Jeong-won quickly fell asleep. Kwon Tae-hee slowly opened and closed his eyelids, listening to his even breathing for a long time.
Before he knew it, it was completely light outside. Kwon Tae-hee, checking the intravenous drip connected to his slender arm, released the arm that had been holding the warm body. He moved carefully so as not to wake Seo Jeong-won.
After removing the needle, he wondered whether to lie down with him or get up. Looking at his sleeping face, he felt that it wouldn’t be bad to sleep with him for a few hours and then wake up.
Kwon Tae-hee couldn’t resist Seo Jeong-won drawing him in and lay down again next to him.
He embraced Seo Jeong-won even more tightly than before and closed his eyes. Unlike his usual self, who couldn’t fall asleep without taking sleeping pills, he soon fell into a deep slumber.
He buried his nose in his neck, seeking out the fresh scent of his skin, and inhaled deeply, as if to fill his lungs.
* * *
When Seo Jeong-won opened his eyes, the bedroom was completely dark with blackout curtains, making it difficult to gauge the time. He lay still, blinking his blurry eyes.
He knew that Kwon Tae-hee was still asleep from the solid, warm heat against his back. He waited a little longer, listening to his even breathing, before moving his body very slowly.
He stopped occasionally, afraid that Kwon Tae-hee would wake up at the sound of the cool bedding rustling. Finally, Seo Jeong-won realized that he had been holding his breath as he successfully pulled his legs out of bed.
A tingling pain spread from his waist. Seo Jeong-won frowned and barely managed to stand on his weakened legs, covering his mouth with his palm to stifle a groan.
Just as he was about to fall, unable to maintain his balance with his legs giving way, an arm shot out and wrapped around his waist.
“Where are you going?”
“I was going to wash up. I thought you were still asleep, so I was being quiet…”
“How’s your body?”
As Kwon Tae-hee intended, Seo Jeong-won sat on the edge of the bed. Before he could open his closed lips to answer the question, he was touched here and there by a large, soft hand.
Even though it was just a movement to check his temperature without any other intention, he felt his temperature rising. Seo Jeong-won rubbed his hot cheeks with the back of his hand and turned his head away.
“I’m better than yesterday. I’m much better.”
“You have a wound, so I need to apply medicine down there.”
The languid voice made him feel strange just by listening to it. Seo Jeong-won nodded, then suddenly realized where the wound was and shuddered.
“I’ll… I’ll do it.”
“You can’t see, can you, Seo Jeong-won?”
“I just, I still…”
“Have you ever put your finger in a hole?”
It was a question that left him speechless. When he couldn’t answer and just blinked, Kwon Tae-hee smiled and reached out his hand. Seo Jeong-won, who had flinched, thinking he was going to touch his body, scratched the back of his hand as he saw the hand pass him by.
Kwon Tae-hee, who had increased the brightness of the bedroom lights, turned his gaze to Seo Jeong-won’s flushed face.
Was he too embarrassed to talk directly at his age? Should he be more roundabout?
Kwon Tae-hee licked his lips as he looked at his reddened neck. He couldn’t tell if he was thirsty because he wanted to suck on it, or if he was simply thirsty.
“Shall we shower together?”
It was a question, but Seo Jeong-won reminded himself that he was not in a position to refuse. He bit back the words he had been about to say, “No,” and nodded.
“I… I don’t mind.”
Kwon Tae-hee got up first and supported Seo Jeong-won. When his slender legs touched the floor, Seo Jeong-won looked up at Kwon Tae-hee with a troubled expression.
Kwon Tae-hee, who was staring at him, not knowing why, let out an “Ah,” after checking the bed sheets and the whitish fluid on the floor.
“I washed you before your fever got too high, but you kept clinging to me, saying it hurt, so I couldn’t get it all out properly. Can you walk? Or should I carry you?”
“I’m, I’m okay. I can walk on my own.”