By Zephyria 
After finishing several more sandwiches, other simple dishes, and the dessert Do Yun-hyeok brought, my stomach was full. I thought I wouldn’t be able to eat much, having eaten dozens of sandwiches during practice, but it was surprisingly edible.
Perhaps it was because Do Yun-hyeok ate it so deliciously. Eating it with him, feeling the gentle breeze, gave it a new flavor.
We spent the whole day lounging on the park lawn, spread out on our blanket, sunbathing. It was my first picnic, and it was quite nice. I enjoyed chatting about the pattern on the blanket he brought, staring blankly at the buildings across the river, and watching families enjoying their outings.
Since the weather was so pleasant, I even dozed off for a nap in the middle.
We had seemed to fall asleep while rolling around together, but when I groggily woke up, Do Yun-hyeok was sitting beside me. His sleepy eyelids blinked slowly. His eyelashes, swaying like reeds in the wind, made my eyelids itch.
He was watching children playing ball in the distance, smiling contentedly.
Suddenly, I realized that the sun had moved, and the tree’s shade had receded significantly. And I also realized that Do Yun-hyeok was blocking the direct sunlight so it wouldn’t be too hot.
‘……’
My chest felt warm. Perhaps it was because I had been in the sun for so long.
I liked seeing him like that, so I pretended to be asleep and closed my eyes, only to fall back asleep.
When I woke up again later, the tree’s shade was cast over us.
Shaking off our laziness, we played a board game that Do Yun-hyeok had brought. I played fiercely, determined not to lose, even smashing Do Yun-hyeok’s hand with mine, but he just laughed heartily like a saint, as if he were delighted.
We sat and talked until the sun began to set, fidgeting around, and only after dusk did we get up and clear the blanket.
“Let’s go. I’ll make dinner.”
We headed to Do Yun-hyeok’s studio apartment.
‘I guess today…’
On the crowded subway, I stole glances at Do Yun-hyeok and swallowed dryly.
Actually, I wasn’t unaware of what ordinary couples did on dates in their apartments. Do Yun-hyeok and I seemed to be the exception.
In fact, no matter how long I wanted to spend with him, I always rushed home at night, saying I needed to sleep in a comfortable place…
‘Today… ha, will it happen?’
Even though it was just a thought in my head, I fumbled with my words out of shyness.
Normally, I couldn’t sleep in unfamiliar places, so I always went home to sleep, but this time it was his birthday…
Also, I had visited his studio apartment often, especially recently when I came over to eat whenever I had nothing else to do, so it had become a comfortable space.
Because of that, I suddenly felt like we could spend the night together.
Of course, it wasn’t a casual thought. I had finally mustered the courage. I had even looked things up and prepared on my own not long ago.
Secretly, I sent a message to my mother saying I was going to sleep over at a friend’s house. My mother replied with a joke, saying she thought my son had no friends, so she was glad to know he did.
When Do Yun-hyeok asked what I was texting, I casually shook my head, saying it was nothing, and then asked impulsively,
“Can I stay over tonight?”
“…Of course, anytime.”
He seemed quite surprised, and his answer, with a hoarse voice, came after a considerable delay. I could feel his agitation, so I tried to maintain a poker face and turned my head.
The rattling subway car was heading towards Do Yun-hyeok’s studio apartment.
“Excuse me—”
As I opened the door and stepped inside, the entryway light flickered on. Stepping into the familiar space, I felt a little more relaxed. As expected, a comfortable place was the best.
I had been quiet the entire subway ride. Even Do Yun-hyeok, who usually talked a lot, was silent. The crowded subway felt unusually quiet, with only the rumbling sound like thunder echoing loudly.
Perhaps it was because I had been so nervous on the way, but I felt much better once I entered Do Yun-hyeok’s apartment.
‘It’ll work out somehow!’
Gathering optimism, I pushed aside my nervousness. I felt less burdened thinking that Do Yun-hyeok wouldn’t harm me.
“Your Monstera is really growing well.”
After washing my hands and tidying my clothes, I looked around Do Yun-hyeok’s apartment. Do Yun-hyeok, who was standing in the kitchen trimming ingredients from the refrigerator, wiped his hands on a paper towel and chuckled.
Unlike me, who lived with my parents, Do Yun-hyeok lived alone in an officetel near the university. Since he had a long commute, I was very envious of his living alone.
Moreover, he lived in a pretty nice building. Even though it was a studio with a separate area, it was large enough to divide the kitchen, living room, and bedroom, and the soundproofing and security were better than most apartments.
Do Yun-hyeok was good at studying, good at cooking, and I wondered what he couldn’t do, yet he lived in a well-furnished home. His interior design was so neat and exemplary that it seemed like it should be submitted to a YouTube channel about studio apartment tours. I thought I’d like to decorate my future home like this, though that was still a distant prospect.
He soon presented a magnificent meal, emitting a spicy and fragrant aroma, and set the table.
The shrimp, sizzling in boiling oil, were plump and firm. Do Yun-hyeok, rummaging through a bread bag, arranged baguettes beautifully. The table was set, looking so good it could be sold.
“Ah, I have a bottle of wine I received as a gift, want to drink it together?”
“Sure.”
Do Yun-hyeok opened the cupboard and brought out a bottle of wine. As the indoor lights were dimmed to only accent lighting, the atmosphere became more intimate. It was as good as any restaurant.
We sat opposite each other, raising our glasses. The clinking of the glasses was as clear as birdsong.
“Cheers.”
“Ah, this is really delicious.”
With the food, which was perfect as an appetizer, and the pasta Do Yun-hyeok had boiled additionally, the drinks flowed easily. I kept exclaiming in admiration as I ate. My stomach warmed up with the delicious food and drinks.
“The group project this time…”
“That professor is really strange.”
“Even professors should do group projects.”
As we talked about various things and drank merrily, I was already feeling pleasantly tipsy.
As the alcohol started to take effect, my guard loosened. I didn’t mind. Do Yun-hyeok was always a trustworthy person to me. That’s why I liked him.
If there was one thing I learned after becoming a university student, it was that my alcohol tolerance wasn’t high. It was about average.
He always talked about reason and intellect, making it seem like he could down a bottle of baijiu and still discuss his thesis. In reality, after about a bottle of soju, I felt cheerful and couldn’t stop smiling.
The only consolation was that my drunken behavior wasn’t unsightly.
“…Hee. Haha.”
After finishing the meal, watching Do Yun-hyeok clear the table, I couldn’t help but smile for no particular reason. My heart pounded, and I felt exhilarated.
I tried to sit as gracefully as possible, but I couldn’t stop my cheeks from lifting.
Do Yun-hyeok finished tidying up and sat beside me. Then he leaned towards me abruptly. A warm presence enveloped me.
His gaze, lowered leisurely, met mine directly. In his eyes, I saw my own face smiling gently, looking so happy.
It was then that I thought the color of his eyes, reflecting me, seemed to deepen slightly.
Do Yun-hyeok reached out and rubbed my slightly parted lower lip.
“You… always have your lips parted like this when you’re drunk.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s funny.”
Laughing foolishly, I also raised my hand and fumbled with my parted lips.
As Do Yun-hyeok said, my soft lips were parted like a baby’s. My fingernail made a clicking sound against my teeth.
As if to imitate my fumbling, Do Yun-hyeok slyly inserted his thumb between my lips and slowly rubbed the moist inside.
I burst into laughter, feeling a ticklish sensation like when I put fluffy rice in my mouth.
“Ah, it tickles.”
“It tickles?”
“Yeah.”
Do Yun-hyeok slowly withdrew his hand. Watching his hand move away, I tightened my lips with all my might.
I thought I had closed them tightly, but Do Yun-hyeok, watching me, let out a suppressed chuckle.
He reached out again, took my cheeks in his hands, and toyed with my lips with his thumb. His neat fingers supported my chin as if caressing it.
“You have to keep them closed. They keep opening.”
“Really?”
“Try closing them again.”
“Okay.”
I obediently relaxed my body and did as he said. I thought I had closed them well, but Do Yun-hyeok pressed my lips, asking why they kept opening.
Why aren’t they closing?
As I wondered, Do Yun-hyeok, who acted as if he would hold my constantly opening lips together, leaned in suddenly.