By Zephyria 
“Pardon…?”
Answering blankly, Yeon-rok only then realized that this was not his room. Everything around him was utterly unfamiliar. He was lying in a hospital bed. He had been hospitalized a few times before because he got injured or broken so often, but unlike those times, everything from the bedding to the interior was incredibly luxurious. The medical staff’s attitude toward him was also extremely polite.
“We were told you hit your head quite hard. Fortunately, the test results showed no signs of bleeding, but just in case, it would be best for you to stay hospitalized for a while. Are you currently experiencing any headaches, dizziness, or nausea?”
“I mean, I am, but…”
Still dazed, Yeon-rok answered the doctor’s questions without even knowing what the situation was.
“What is your name?”
“Lee Yeon-rok…”
“Do you know where you are right now?”
“A hospital…?”
“What is today’s date?”
“December 24th…?”
Because he had been particularly lonely and miserable since it was Christmas Eve, he remembered it clearly. At the final answer, the atmosphere in the room froze. Choi Hwan, who had been watching the Q&A with concern, let out a gasp. Now that he looked, the other’s clothing was far from suitable for winter. As the sleepiness completely vanished, Yeon-rok began to realize that the situation was unusual. The doctor asked with a serious expression.
“What season is it now?”
“Isn’t it winter?”
“Do you happen to remember what happened before you lost consciousness?”
Feeling as though he had been giving nothing but wrong answers, Yeon-rok hesitated and answered slowly.
“I worked late, came home, lay down in bed, and slept.”
The doctor groaned, knitting his brows. Choi Hwan approached with a pale face. With a look of disbelief, he pointed to himself and asked in a trembling voice.
“Ye-Yeon-rok-ah. Do you… do you know who I am?”
“Aren’t you the actor Choi Hwan?”
It didn’t seem to be the answer the other wanted, but Yeon-rok answered hesitantly.
“Ac-Actor? Did you hear that? Lee Yeon-rok just called me ‘Actor’…”
He had been so distracted by Choi Hwan’s dazzlingly handsome face that he hadn’t noticed, but now he saw there were large-framed men present. They quickly supported Choi Hwan, who was staggering from the shock. Everyone’s expression was grim.
“Yeon-rok-ah, does this not bring back any memories?”
As he asked, Choi Hwan hurriedly lifted his T-shirt, revealing a clover pattern identical to Yeon-rok’s engraved on his chest. Yeon-rok’s eyes widened. It was a mark that was impossible not to recognize. The name partner he had waited for throughout four whole years was Choi Hwan?
By this point, it was impossible not to understand the situation. Yeon-rok asked in a still-confused voice.
“Am I… suffering from amnesia right now?”
Surprisingly, Yeon-rok had lost nearly a year and a half of his memories. In a state of mixed joy and bewilderment, Yeon-rok kept glancing at Choi Hwan. He was talking to the doctor with a serious face. As his name partner, he was currently Yeon-rok’s legal guardian. A legal guardian—to think he actually had someone like that. Yeon-rok’s heart fluttered.
“I looked it up and read that aftereffects of an accident can appear after some time; is that true?”
“There are such cases.”
“Amnesia can be recovered from, right?”
“Usually, in most cases, it is not recovered. However, since name manifestors are often very different from general cases, it’s best to keep the possibility open.”
After mentioning various precautions, the doctor gave one final, cautious piece of advice.
“Therefore, I suggest you have as much contact with the patient as possible.”
Perhaps it was just a feeling, but Yeon-rok thought Choi Hwan’s eyes seemed to sparkle upon hearing those words. After a deep discussion with the bodyguards, Choi Hwan finally closed the door and returned. Left alone with his name partner—and Choi Hwan of all people—Yeon-rok froze, not knowing what to do.
“Yeon-rok-ah, does your head hurt a lot? If you feel like throwing up or if your condition suddenly worsens, you have to tell me immediately.”
The tone of his voice, the touch of his hand stroking him, and the worried look in his eyes were so tender that Yeon-rok couldn’t believe the current situation. Just yesterday, he had been thinking about spending Christmas alone and lonely, but suddenly, overnight, he had a sweet lover. Thinking that memory loss might not be such a bad thing, Yeon-rok answered.
“I feel a bit better than before.”
“It feels so strange hearing you use formal speech, Yeon-rok-ah. Speak comfortably. We’re the same age.”
We were the same age? Although Yeon-rok was generally sociable, the other person was so famous that informal speech didn’t come easily. He wanted to get up and take a closer look at his name partner, but he was currently a patient with a ‘fall hazard’ warning. As he lay still and looked up at Choi Hwan, he realized the man’s face was stunningly handsome even from this angle.
“Are we really… name partners?”
Even seeing it, he couldn’t quite believe it, so Yeon-rok asked again. A strange light sparkled once more in the eyes of Choi Hwan, who was holding his hand tightly. Smiling mischievously, he guided Yeon-rok’s hand toward his chest.
“If you can’t believe it, do you want to try touching my chest?”
With that handsome face tilted and a tender, low voice tempting him, Yeon-rok—who was already dizzy from the concussion—felt his mind go hazy. To think that the Choi Hwan was inviting him to touch his chest; it felt like he was having a very strange dream.
“Is… is that okay?”
“What does it matter? We’re lovers.”
Yeon-rok had already read the scandal articles about himself and Choi Hwan and listened to the radio broadcast they had appeared in together. Although the photos were blurred and there were only voices, he could tell it was him. It was so fascinating because none of it remained in his memory.
Yeon-rok cautiously slid his hand under the hem of the shirt Choi Hwan had lifted. His trembling fingertips passed over the abdomen, where sculpted muscles were etched, and slowly moved up toward the chest. Finally, his hand touched the pectoral muscle. The moment his slowly fumbling fingers touched a certain spot, Yeon-rok’s eyes widened.
An incredibly pleasant sensation surged through his body. He felt the unbearable dizziness slowly improving. While marveling at it, he suddenly looked up to find Choi Hwan’s face flushed red. He was staring at Yeon-rok as if possessed, with an expression that said he was too embarrassed and happy to bear, and his cheeks reddened further when their eyes met.
“Do you think it’s confirmed now?”
“Mm-hmm…”
Yeon-rok’s face flushed as well. His heart was pounding so hard his whole body trembled. He had thought only women could feel this way, but he realized for the first time that he could be aroused by a man.
A silence hung between the two for a moment. Both Choi Hwan and Yeon-rok were too embarrassed to know what to do. After half a year, they should have been quite used to touching each other, but Choi Hwan seemed strangely and intensely nervous. The hand holding him felt exceptionally hot and damp.
“Yeon-rok-ah, I don’t know if you know, but the more intimate the contact between name partners, the faster the recovery.”
“Ah, I think I heard that.”
“I want to hold back as much as possible because I’m worried it might be burdensome for you, but the injury is to your head, of all places. Shouldn’t I help your recovery as much as possible?”
Realizing the intention behind those words, Yeon-rok flustered. He couldn’t adapt to the things happening to him at all.
“That way, the possibility of regaining your memories will also increase.”
“T-That’s true. I have to get my memories back…”
Choi Hwan’s eyes sparkled with that strange light again. A longing was visible, like a child standing before a sweet dessert that was usually forbidden.
“Then, if you’re okay with it, I’ll touch you a bit.”
“Okay…”
Having nodded as if entranced, Yeon-rok regained some composure. He looked around in panic and spoke.
“But this is a hospital, will it be okay?”
“Ah, you really don’t know. This is a hospital that primarily treats name manifestors. It’s fine as long as we put up a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Choi Hwan stood up. Surprisingly, there really was a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign. After hanging it on the door and returning, Choi Hwan dimmed the lights. Seeing that Yeon-rok had frozen up, Choi Hwan smiled.
“Don’t be so nervous. We’re lovers.”
As Choi Hwan sat on the bed, one side sank slightly under his weight. He leaned over, casting a shadow over Yeon-rok’s body. With eyes that were still sparkling, he tilted his head and asked for permission in a very tender and soft voice.
“Can I kiss you?”
Yeon-rok nodded silently. At that answer, the smile on Choi Hwan’s face actually faded. A tension was visible in him, as if this act were the first time for him as well. Yeon-rok wondered.
‘Did we date quite platonically?’
Then again, when Yeon-rok had dated his ex, they had only progressed as far as kissing… As he thought this, Choi Hwan’s face approaching him felt like a close-up shot from a movie. Soon, their lips slowly overlapped. The other’s trembling breath felt ticklish.