CNC 246

Niya, niyaaa, nyaang.

“Yes, yes. I’ll give it to you now. I’m coming.”

Responding vaguely to Tiffany’s urging, Lee Hae-sung crossed the hallway. After taking out the cat’s food and dedicated drinking water from the kitchen cabinet, he headed toward the living room where the bowls were.

“……”

A large tree standing at the corner of the L-shaped floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the terrace caught his eye. It was a tree he and Choi Hong-seo had spent three hours decorating together last night after returning home, without anyone’s help. It had taken that long because they had meticulously wrapped the lights and decorated each ornament one by one. Since the tree was well over two meters tall, it took even longer.

The tree had been set up in that spot a week ago, but he simply hadn’t found the time. From November until nearly a month ago, Lee Hae-sung had been incredibly busy. While the end of the year is always busier than usual, this time he was pushing his schedule forward to get things done earlier. All to secure as much time as possible to spend with Choi Hong-seo during Christmas and the New Year.

Even yesterday, Saturday, he hadn’t returned home until after 10 PM. Because he had mentioned he might be able to leave work by 8, Choi Hong-seo had been waiting for him since then. Hong-seo wasn’t the type to get angry over a late return due to work, but whether he was angry or not, Hae-sung felt bad.

Choi Hong-seo had said it was fine to decorate the tree alone. However, knowing that Hong-seo was looking Read on Read BL Novelsstyle="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[Read visit our siteon Read BL Novels]forward to it, Hae-sung had insisted on doing it together. That was why the tree had been left standing there, bare, for a whole week.

By the time they finished decorating and took a round of photos, it was past 2 AM. Exhausted, his lover had fallen fast asleep after a shower.

It was a tree decoration traded for Saturday night sex.

Waking up to a morning greeted by the tree that had sparkled in the same spot all night didn’t seem so bad.

“Well, it is pretty.”

Nyaaaa.

Perhaps frustrated that Lee Hae-sung was just standing there with food and water in both hands, Tiffany expressed her dissatisfaction with a rather irritable sound.

“You’re quite prickly today, aren’t you? Who’s the one who should actually be angry right now?”

Bending down in front of the bowls, Lee visit our siteHae-sung [visit our site]tore open a pre-portioned bag and poured the food into the dish. He also filled the clean water bowl.

Although there was an automatic feeder, the cat never touched the food from it whenever there were people home. Choi Hong-seo praised the cat as a genius, but to Lee Hae-sung, it was just a very spoiled cat.

Wearing only a robe over his pajama pants without a shirt, he checked the wall clock. It wasn’t even 8 AM yet. Checking the time seemed to trigger a headache.

“It’s not even time to be hungry yet.”

He spoke reproachfully, but Tiffany, with her head buried in the bowl, didn’t even pretend to look at him.

“I tried to touch my baby’s sal after three days. Were you that displeased with that?”

A rare day off. Moreover, since they couldn’t do anything last night, Lee Hae-sung had attempted morning sex.

When stimulated while still half-asleep and groggy, Choi Hong-seo reacted much faster and more honestly than usual. He wanted to hug that warm body that smelled so good and push his genitals deep inside. Sunday morning sex suited something slow and sweet rather than rough and intense. In those moments, Choi Hong-seo would moan in a thin, pitiful voice. Hearing that voice, Hae-sung wanted to ejaculate inside that tender belly.

However, far from his genitals, Lee Hae-sung hadn’t even managed to put a finger inside his lover’s belly. He had only [Read on Read BL Novels]Read on Read BL Novels-->managed to slide his hand under the neckline of the [visit our site]pajama top to grope his chest a bit. Because Tiffany had been scratching at the bedroom door from the hallway, he had to get out of bed wearing only his robe.

“No matter how many times I tell you I’m not bullying him… do you not understand, or are you pretending not to, huh?”

Generally, the cat was cute, but at times like this, it was truly annoying. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the cat was intentionally interfering. He bothered the cat by kneading its small head with his hand.

“Honestly, you’re sabotaging me, aren’t you?”

The cat licked its lips and looked up at Lee Hae-sung. Seeing that it stopped eating after just a bit, it clearly hadn’t been that hungry. After having a staring contest with the creature, who tilted its head with a face that said it knew nothing, Hae-sung let out a chuckle, finding his own actions pathetic. He lowered his head, ruffled the cat’s fur, and suddenly stood up.

“No, it’s just that Hyung has been incredibly busy lately.”

As Lee Hae-sung was heading to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, he craned his neck upon hearing Choi Hong-seo coming out of the bedroom at the end of the hallway.

Who? Lee Hae-sung asked using only his lips.

Ji-in Hyung. Choi Hong-seo answered in a low voice, briefly pulling the phone away from his ear.

Ah… Ji-in Hyung. Lee Hae-sung muttered silently so that Choi Hong-seo wouldn’t notice, then disappeared into the kitchen, shoving his hands into his robe pockets.

“Ah, really, Han-i Hyung must be the same. Hotels are incredibly busy around this time too… Yeah, we barely finished decorating the tree yesterday.”

There was no longer any need to pretend to be ‘Hyun-seo’ in front of Jeong Ji-in. Even so, Choi Hong-seo still called the same-aged Yi-han ‘Han-i Hyung.’ Since he had done so from the beginning, he claimed it felt awkward to change the honorific now.

Imagining Choi Hong-seo calling Yi-han “Hey, Yi-han” and speaking informally, Lee Hae-sung burst into fits of giggles.

“But Tiffany loves the tree so much. Is Sam like that too?”

Listening to Choi Hong-seo’s joyful voice, Lee Hae-sung opened a drawer and picked out coffee capsules. For himself, he chose the strong roasting scent of Firenze Arpeggio, and for Choi Hong-seo, he chose a Cozy capsule, which was good for making lattes.

“Are all cats really like that? Should I send you photos and videos? Send me yours too, Sam!”

May of this year. The day he left Paris after a short stay of four days and three nights.

Hoping that Jeong Ji-in might come, Choi Hong-seo couldn’t leave the lobby until the very last moment. He waited until the time when any further delay would make boarding the plane risky.

Seeing him so crestfallen had made Lee Hae-sung’s heart ache.

Regardless of whether he was someone who had helped a lot after Choi Hong-seo left, or a Hyung that Choi Hong-seo cherished and followed, Lee Hae-sung had felt anger toward Jeong Ji-in for all those reasons.

However, Jeong Ji-in appeared. Just before the two of them got into the car, he appeared along with Yi-han.

“Hong-seo.”

Just being called that was enough. He could fully understand Ji-in’s decision.

While patting the back of Choi Hong-seo, who burst into tears like a child, Jeong Ji-in had repeatedly told him that he had come at the right time. Telling someone who was just about to leave Paris that they had come at the right time was somewhat strange. To Lee Hae-sung, those words sounded like they meant he had returned safely to this world.

“You know you can come back anytime, right?”

“Can I really? When I miss you, Hyung, can I come back again?”

“You are welcome anytime.”

While wiping away the tears of Choi Hong-seo, who was no longer ‘Hyun-seo,’ Jeong Ji-in had said that.

But contrary to those thoughts, Choi Hong-seo had been unable to revisit Paris for half a year. This was because he had spent incredibly busy days until recently due to the global success of <Cream Mansion>.

Instead, Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han decided to visit Seoul this December. With a generous schedule that lasted through Christmas and the New Year, Choi Hong-seo had been thrilled since he first heard the news.

“Hyung, you’re definitely staying at our place for at least three days, okay? It’s a promise.”

Behind Lee Hae-sung, who was brewing coffee with the machine, Choi Hong-seo hovered around, rustling. Noticing that Lee Hae-sung was making a latte, he took a carton of milk out of the refrigerator and set it beside him, intending to help.

A mischievous streak struck Lee Hae-sung. To prevent him from escaping, he launched a surprise hug around Choi Hong-seo’s waist and Read on Read BL Novelsshouted [unauthorized copy]loud enough to be heard over the phone.

“Ji-in-ssi, our baby is looking forward to your arrival so much!”

“Ba-baby… we agreed not to do that in front of others.”

His face turning red in an instant, Choi Hong-seo pressed the phone tightly against his chest and hurriedly fled the kitchen.

“No! I don’t usually call him baby that often! It’s just, he does it more on purpose because I hate it. Hyung, please tell him it’s nonsense for him to call me baby.”

Choi Hong-seo jumped around, desperately making excuses.

“What? Hyung, what are you talking about? Have you been brainwashed by Hae-sung Hyung too?”

The voice of Choi Hong-seo, who seemed to be moving away toward the study to avoid Lee Hae-sung, grew louder.

“Where in the world is there a baby who has been through as [visit our site]much as I have and knows the world as well as I do?”

Apparently, contrary to Choi Hong-seo’s intentions, Jeong Ji-in was taking Lee Hae-sung’s side. A satisfied smile played on Lee Hae-sung’s face.

Just because Jeong Ji-in decided to accept ‘Hyun-seo’ as Choi Hong-seo didn’t mean the two of them were comfortable with each other from the start. But they made an effort.

First, they had video calls regularly three times a week at a set time. After about a month of continuing those calls, it became comfortable for them to speak informally again, and after about two months, they were able to laugh while talking about past memories. After three months, they were able to bring up heavier memories and cry together.

In that way, slowly but surely, like the changing of the seasons, they reaffirmed each other. And Lee Hae-sung and Yi-han watched and shared that process. It went without saying that an indescribable bond had formed between the four of them.

At one time, he had hoped that no one would know the truth that Hyun-seo was Choi Hong-seo. He had wanted himself, Lee Hae-sung, to be the only person Choi Hong-seo could fully rely on in that terrible loneliness.

But not anymore. It wasn’t because he had castrated that possessiveness, but because of that laughter. Because of Choi Hong-seo’s laughter echoing from the study.

Having finished one Americano and one latte, Lee Hae-sung moved to the living room sofa. Since calls with ‘Ji-in Hyung’ always tended to take a while, he planned to handle a few simple administrative tasks in the meantime. However, he found it hard to concentrate.

From the study, where the door was left open a hand’s breadth, Choi Hong-seo’s visit Read on Read BL Novelsour site -->visit our sitelaughter could still be heard occasionally.

Every time, Lee Hae-sung’s gaze, while drinking coffee and looking at his tablet, drifted toward the tree opposite him.

There certainly seemed to be something about the flickering of those small lights that made a person feel excited.

He heard the sign of Choi Hong-seo finishing the call and coming out of the study, but Lee Hae-sung pretended not to notice and kept his eyes focused on the tablet screen.

Choi Hong-seo, sneaking up behind the sofa, wrapped his arms around Lee Hae-sung’s neck. Then, he leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against his lover’s cheek. It was an action intended to earn points, having noticed that Hae-sung’s mood was a bit down. It was a very rare display of aegyo that could only be enjoyed at times like this.

“What are you looking at?”

His mood had already lifted, and his lips twitched as a smile tried to break through, but Lee Hae-sung was a cunning adult. With an expressionless face, he set the coffee cup down on the coaster and answered in an indifferent voice.

“Candidates for the next exhibition venue.”

“You said you wouldn’t receive them until next week. Are they out already?”

Speaking in a welcoming voice, Choi Hong-seo came around the sofa and sat closely beside him.

“Can I look too?”

Handing the tablet over to Choi Hong-seo entirely, Lee Hae-sung slid the latte on the side table toward him.

“Drink your coffee.”

“Thank you. The milk foam Hyung makes is the tastiest.”

Even though he knew perfectly well it was an effort to cheer him up, it actually made him feel better. He felt as though he could never win against a lover twelve years his junior for the rest of his life. Not that he had any intention of winning.

“Did the call with Ji-in-ssi go well?”

“We were talking about what to do when Hyung comes to Seoul… stolen content[stolen content]and we decided to visit Hyun-su’s bar together.”

With his knees pulled up and the tablet resting on his thighs, Choi Hong-seo slowly drank the latte, cupping the glass with both hands. Lee Hae-sung toyed with Choi Hong-seo’s hair and asked worriedly.

“With Ji-in-ssi? Will it be okay?”

“It doesn’t mean I’m going to tell Hyun-su right away. Just… we’ll just go together for now.”

Choi Hong-seo’s expression was quite serious as he scrolled through the tablet screen, examining the exhibition venue candidates. Gazing quietly at his profile, Lee Hae-sung pressed his lips to the hair in his hand and inhaled the scent.

“Should we invite Ji-in-ssi and Han-i to this exhibition too?”

“Hmm..”

Choi Hong-seo’s reaction, avoiding his gaze with a reluctant expression, was unexpected.

“I thought you’d like that?”

Choi Hong-seo hesitated to speak, fiddling with the lapel of Lee Hae-sung’s robe.

“About you being Rampas.”

“……”

“Can’t we keep that as a secret between just the two of us?”

He thought that dark possessiveness was his alone.

Of course, compared to his own ulterior motives, Choi Hong-seo’s possessiveness was at a cute level, like one of Tiffany’s toy dolls. Even so, Lee Hae-sung felt strangely reassured.

“You’re saying that since I’m yours, you want to keep me to yourself. Why wouldn’t that be okay?”

“I’m… Ajusshi’s too.”

“Hmm… I wonder.”

Raising an eyebrow and shrugging, Lee Hae-sung turned to pick up his coffee cup.

Feeling that Lee Hae-sung didn’t believe his words, Choi Hong-seo became anxious. When he tugged firmly on the lapel of the robe, the unfastened chest opened wide. The indoors were warm enough, but it was below freezing outside. Thinking he might be cold, Hong-seo tightly closed the open robe.

“Last night, I had a dream about our past.”

“What kind?”

“It wasn’t something that actually happened… we were both our old selves. We went to Khao San Road and Chatuchak Market in Bangkok together… and we went to a rooftop.”

At the mention of a rooftop, Lee Hae-sung slowly set down his coffee cup. Then, he grabbed the hand of Choi Hong-seo, who was fiddling with his robe lapel.

“It’s okay. In the dream, I was happy and joyful without any worries.”

To prove those words, Choi Hong-seo stroked Lee Hae-sung’s cheek and gave a bright, unclouded smile.

“I thought that maybe there really is such a thing as a past life, and that we might have loved each other back then too.”

“……”

“It’s funny, right?”

He felt embarrassed by the words he had spoken. He felt like a child talking about delusions. He tried to drink his latte while rubbing the back of his neck, but he was stopped by Lee Hae-sung.

“You came back even if it meant borrowing someone else’s body. So even if there is a past life and a next life, why would that be strange?”

“…Do you think so?”

“I do.”

“I hope so.”

So that I can love you again. He didn’t say those words out loud, but he felt that Hae-sung understood everything. He could tell by looking into his eyes.

Lee Hae-sung stroked Choi Hong-seo’s cheek. As per his frequent habit, he caressed the cheek with his thumb and spoke with a soft smile.

“Since Hong-seo suffered so much this time, I should be the one to find you first in the next life.”

“What if I look different again in the next life?”

Lee Hae-sung laughed as if it were nothing. But Choi Hong-seo was serious.

“What if Ajusshi is still gay, but I’m a woman?”

Lee Hae-sung used both hands to completely cup Choi Hong-seo’s cheeks. His vision was visit our siteclass="wm-strong" [unauthorized copy]style="position:relative;display:inline;">[stolen content]filled only with his face, and the certainty in his two eyes.

“Nothing else matters. The person who holds the memories of me—that person is you.”

“It’s the same for me.”

In that gaze, Choi Hong-seo could find peace.

Along with the soft yet pungent scent of coffee, their lips overlapped. The lights of the Christmas tree reflected and sparkled on the faces of the two people sharing a kiss. They heard the sound of Tiffany climbing the tree and shaking an ornament. Stopping their kiss, the two of them rested their foreheads together and burst into laughter.

Finally, Choi Hong-seo could say it.

That this ‘comeback’ was not a severe punishment, but the most merciful opportunity.

Not just Lee Hae-sung.

Now, it felt as if the whole world was welcoming him.

Comeback: No Choice But..

Welcome (You’re welcome)

<End>