DD 7.2 Side by Side

Someone is blowing a bubble gum.

A bust of a person blowing a bubble gum was drawn to fill a rectangular canvas, about 110 centimeters tall and 80 centimeters wide, but the person’s face was not visible due to the very large size of the bubble gum. The intense pink of the background, which seemed to emit a sweet scent like a lollipop if one were to sniff it up close, and the blue of the bubble gum, were colors far from natural or healthy, reminiscent of the artificial coloring of junk food, highlighting Choi In-woo’s characteristic bizarre cheerfulness, an uncomfortable cheerfulness.

“The artworks, they’re all sold already, aren’t they?”

Shushu, who had been lingering for a long time in front of the canvas depicting the bubble gum, one of the three pieces Inwoo was presenting at this exhibition, finally spoke.

“He has quite a few fans now. There are even two or three enthusiastic collectors.”

“Your solo exhibition was certainly impressive. And all your subsequent works were good too.”

Shushu nodded as if to say it was understandable.

At his solo exhibition, which was also Phantom’s first exhibition since its reopening, Inwoo had presented a total of eighteen pieces. He received critical acclaim for carrying over his unique individuality while also showcasing a deepened self, world, and serious contemplation of art, and the exhibition was a great success. All the works were sold within the exhibition period, surprising Rau and Manager Han. It was a remarkable outcome considering the time when Inwoo’s paintings were among the last remaining pieces at the Hong Kong art fair.

“He spends almost all his time working outside of his clinic hours, so it’s hard to see him these days.”

Shushu smiled at Rau’s words, which sounded as if he were talking about his wayward son’s unbelievable transformation. The two moved away from Inwoo’s artworks to look around the last exhibition room.

Phantom’s second-floor exhibition space, after the recent remodeling, had its original concrete wall, which divided the hall into two large rooms, demolished. This made it more flexible than before to rearrange the space according to the exhibition’s theme and scale. The positions and sizes of the windows were all changed to effectively display both works that suited natural light and those that did not.

This exhibition divided the hall into three rooms. Each room was connected by a maze-like corridor, allowing visitors to feel as if they were embarking on an interesting short journey. This was a departure from Phantom’s previous exhibitions, which focused solely on the artworks themselves.

On the walls of the maze-like corridors, various faces of visitors who had come to Phantom over the past three months were projected. Rau had personally taken photos of visitors who had explained the purpose of the shoot and agreed to it, and then compiled them into a video. It was Rau’s idea to express the exhibition’s theme, ‘Each to Their Own.’

People striking confident, model-like poses; people covering their mouths shyly and smiling; people stiff and rigid; people making comical expressions; people gazing comfortably into the lens…

As one slowly walked, following the sights of people whose personalities, as much as their appearances, were revealed to be so different, one could arrive at the final room, where sunlight poured in brightly, like meeting light at the end of a cave.

This was the only exhibition room that received natural light in this exhibition. The summer sunlight pouring from the high, obliquely slanted skylight was dazzling. The eyes, having just emerged from the dark corridor, needed a brief moment to adjust. The structure was designed to condense the journey of exiting a tunnel or cave and reaching a final destination.

“The exhibition planning is great. You really put a lot of effort into this last exhibition.”

Rau did not deny that he had indeed poured his energy into preparing this exhibition over the past five months, so that he would have no regrets after deciding to leave Phantom.

“I’m glad I came to see it in advance today. Once the exhibition starts, it won’t feel like this.”

Shushu, captivated by the serene exhibition room itself, which was filled with a white light that felt almost unreal, walked slowly towards the center of the room and marveled.

“……”

As he turned his gaze to appreciate each artwork, his eyes gradually fixed on one piece. It was a work sent by Lee Hyun, who had obtained permission from ‘The Hands’ to submit it for Rau’s final exhibition at Phantom.

The large-scale artwork, occupying one entire wall of the exhibition room, depicted a bright sky adorned with countless stars and suns.

The coexistence of things that could not coexist. Each existence, whether one liked it or not, whether one acknowledged it or not, already coexisting as a component of the world.

Lee Hyun’s work, which resonated with the theme of this exhibition, brought to mind his collaborative work with Ben that was released last winter. Just as the moon and stars are not the only rulers of the night sky, the stars had not disappeared from the daytime sky simply because they were invisible.

It was no coincidence that the theme for Rau’s first and last exhibition planned and executed solely by him at Phantom was chosen as ‘Each to Their Own,’ nor that Lee Hyun’s works, which showed flexible changes in technique and style, consistently demonstrated a respect for diversity and coexistence in terms of theme.

Experiences that had shaken his self and relationships to their roots were changing his very perspective on himself and the world.

Shushu glanced back at Rau, who was standing a few steps behind, so as not to disturb his contemplation. Rau felt a sense of foreboding. Seeing his expression, where he pressed his lips together to suppress a smile and shook his head, it seemed like teasing remarks would follow.

“What’s it like dating someone who draws things like this?”

“Hmm… a feeling you wouldn’t understand even if I told you?”

“Boring guy.”

After his relationship with Lee Hyun was restored and they officially revealed their status as a couple to those around them, Rau had been the target of teasing. The reason was that he was in an unusually passionate relationship, which didn’t seem to suit him.

Feeling unfairly teased every time, Shushu retorted as if feigning ignorance, and turned back to the painting with a sulky expression.

“You really shouldn’t let go of Lee Hyun, both as a partner and as a gallerist…”

Rau nodded emphatically, as if to say he knew very well. Then, he walked a few steps forward and stood beside Shushu.

“I was dying to own it. It was really a close call this time.”

Shushu chuckled, as if telling him not to pretend to be distressed, but Rau was sincere. Not just out of possessiveness as a lover, but as a collector who cherished art, he had an exceptional desire to own this particular piece.

“So, it’s already sold?”

“He’s an artist causing controversy in Paris, and this is his first exhibition in Korea. Many people wanted to purchase it without even seeing the work.”

“And yet you held back? That’s admirable. It’s patience worthy of praise.”

Shushu, slinging an arm over his shoulder, playfully patted his shoulder.

“I’m just waiting for it to appear on the secondary market, what patience?”

Rau laughed, nudging him with his elbow, as if to say ‘tsk.’ When the playful mood had mostly subsided, Shushu moved towards other artworks and said casually,

“Actually, about two weeks ago? Seonyu visited my studio once.”

“……”

“She came to say hello with a piece of artwork, thanking me for connecting her so she could have an exhibition.”

Hong Seonyu, who had been looking for a gallery to hold an exhibition after returning to Korea, had eventually disappeared quietly without any success. After Lee Hyun left for Paris, Rau was no longer in a state to expend energy on others’ affairs, and Shushu had also stopped mentioning Hong Seonyu’s name.

Then, after more than a year had passed and the name Hong Seonyu, along with the unfavorable impression the Korean art world held of her, had faded, her first exhibition as ‘Hong Seonyu,’ not ‘SEONEW,’ was held at a small private gallery in the Seoul metropolitan area. It was arranged by Shushu.

“She said she wanted… to start over with me. She said she’d thought about it a lot.”

“……”

Unintentionally, Rau’s steps halted.

“Don’t make that face. I refused.”

“What? It’s your life, and your decision. I won’t interfere with whatever choice you make now.”

Rau, avoiding eye contact and rubbing his lower jaw awkwardly, smiled faintly at Shushu.

“Seeing the downfall of someone I once passionately loved… it was bittersweet, not that I had lingering feelings for Seonyu.”

When he first heard the story, he hadn’t believed it, nor had he understood it. He had focused only on the fact that Hong Seonyu had betrayed Shushu and criticized Shushu for being foolishly persistent in trying to help him even after being betrayed. Even now, he probably couldn’t say he fully understood.

However, he could nod his head in agreement that relationships that become deeply entangled are not issues that can be clearly judged by a few clues observed from the outside.

“Perhaps because she lost everything and hit rock bottom, her work has changed a lot too. If not, I wouldn’t have connected her. Although I made the introduction, the exhibition wouldn’t have happened if the owner hadn’t liked her work.”

“It’s a good thing, I guess.” Shushu added, deliberately in a casual tone, and before completely exiting the exhibition room, he stopped and looked back.

It felt like the end of an adventure and a journey, leaving a sense of longing, yet also a sense of anticipation for the coming everyday life that would help him adjust to reality, like watching a movie. Regardless of the quality of the individual pieces, he thought it was a good exhibition, and Shushu patted Rau’s back and smiled. Rau, who had been leading the way, stopped and looked back. After taking another look at Lee Hyun’s artwork over Shushu’s shoulder, Rau checked his watch and signaled that they should go down.

Descending the stairs, the two naturally headed towards the cafe inside on the first floor without any prior arrangement. Unlike in the past, when Rau’s studio was often visited for work-related matters, Shushu’s visits to Phantom had increased, and the cafe played a significant role in that. Sometimes he visited personally just to have coffee.

Although all of Phantom’s exhibition halls were closed for viewing due to the ‘Each to Their Own’ exhibition, there were only a few empty seats in the cafe. With the entire south and west walls facing the outside replaced by windows, offering excellent views and natural light, it had quickly become a so-called ‘Hot Place’ on social media. As a result, for a month or two, the cafe had more customers than exhibition visitors, but it had now reached a stable phase, and the gallery itself was no longer paralyzed.

As Joo-han, who had originally pushed for this cafe, intended, many customers who visited the cafe to take pretty pictures ended up touring the exhibition, and many customers showed interest in the pamphlets on display. At this point, it seemed Joo-han’s goal of lowering the barrier to entry for the gallery had been successful.

“Joo-han is completely in charge of the cafe now, isn’t he?”

“Surprisingly, customer service seems to be his calling. He’s like a fish in water.”

Looking at Joo-han, who was skillfully handling orders and making drinks alone behind the counter, the two chuckled. While Shushu took a seat at the last remaining window table, Rau ordered drinks. Originally, pickup was self-service, but Joo-han personally brought the tray to their table.

“Artist, you’re coming tonight, right?”

Joo-han said this as he placed down an iced coffee with clinking ice. His wide eyes and raised eyebrows seemed to be urging attendance.

Lee Hyun and Yuni were flying in from Paris to see Lau Wikun’s final exhibition at Phantom. Except for Yuni’s brief visit in December two years ago due to visa issues, this was the first time for both of them to return to Korea. Joo-han had invited acquaintances to a dinner party to welcome them.

“You’re so excited to see your soulmate after so long, Kwon Joo-han.”

“I think I met my real soulmate over there, though.”

Joo-han, tucking the tray under his arm, responded indifferently, but a hint of disappointment could be seen.

“Anyway, Artist, don’t even think about backing out. You must come. Understood?”

Joo-han, seeking repeated assurances, was met with a nod from Shushu. Only then did Joo-han relax his expression, boasted that he had prepared an especially delicious coffee, and left the table. Although he pretended to be displeased that Yuni had found a partner, his retreating figure looked quite cheerful.

Before touching his coffee, Rau glanced at Shushu, who checked his watch again, and Shushu lightly stirred his drink with a stainless steel straw.

“You should have asked for it in a takeout cup.”

“Huh?”

“The flight. It’s arriving at 5 PM, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“You should go.”

“…I still have time.”

“Your mind is already at the airport, though. You’ve been looking at your watch since earlier.”

Rau, who had been trying hard not to show it, let out a chuckle at the thought that his efforts were in vain. In fact, he felt more like his feet were off the ground than Joo-han did. He had been in this state since hearing Lee Hyun say he would come to Seoul to see the exhibition.

Lee Hyun had said that after he finished his work at ‘The Hands’ soon, they would tour European museums, and since they would continue to be together as part of the same group afterward, he didn’t need to rush his schedule. However, Lee Hyun had insisted on coming, a rare display of stubbornness.

“You see him every month, but you’re still this happy?”

“It’s different for me to go there, and for Seo Yi-hyun to come here.”

Shushu, with an expression that suggested he didn’t understand what the difference was, chided Rau to hurry up and leave. Rau picked up the glass cup of coffee and stood up.

As if waiting for the right moment, a visitor cautiously approached Shushu and asked if they could take a photo together. Shushu readily agreed. To avoid disturbing them, Rau only exchanged a glance with Shushu.

Holding the iced coffee that Joo-han had transferred into a takeout cup, Rau left Phantom. The sky he looked up at was clear, like a blank canvas. Rau put on the sunglasses he had tucked into his left chest pocket and got into the driver’s seat. They were the same sunglasses Lee Hyun had gifted him once.

■ ■ ■

The two stood slightly away from the center of the downpour from the rain shower faucet. White foam slid down their bare bodies. The abundant water, pouring with strong water pressure like a waterfall to provide a massage effect, continuously washed Lee Hyun’s left shoulder as he stood facing the wall, his back to Rau.

Rau kissed Lee Hyun’s nape and shoulders, and gently rubbed his back with a sponge that produced rich lather. The stream of water that flowed down from his left shoulder along the curve of his back washed away the foam as soon as it touched Lee Hyun’s skin.

Looking down at the sight of the white foam flowing along his lean body, devoid of any excess fat, and disappearing between the curves of his buttocks, Rau buried his lips in Lee Hyun’s nape and lightly bit his skin.

“Mmm, you can do that part… yourself.”

Lee Hyun’s voice was tinged with laughter. The sponge, skipping the order of wiping his entire back and moving downwards, was gently pushed between his legs, rubbing the inner thigh.

Rau leaned his head over Lee Hyun’s shoulder and asked shamelessly,

“Really? Truly?”

Lee Hyun wiped the water from his face with his palm and turned around. Rau’s face was within inches of his nose. He lowered his eyelids and looked at Rau’s lips. His wet lips looked sexier than usual. Perhaps it was because they hadn’t seen each other for five weeks for this return to Korea.

Lee Hyun tilted his head back further and pressed his lips against Rau’s. The time spent rubbing their soft, yielding flesh was short, but it was stimulating enough to make him crave deeper contact.

“Even if you can do it yourself, isn’t it better when I do it for you?”

Lee Hyun burst into laughter at Rau’s words, which asked for agreement with a serious expression, and nodded. Rau followed with a low laugh and lightly bit his earlobe. The sponge, moving backward from his buttocks, pushed up his testicles and widely massaged the inner flesh of his thighs. Although his movements were seemingly casual, his touch was more akin to caressing than showering.

“Mmm….”

The feeling of his bare hands, not a sponge, caressing the skin slick with foam and moisture made Lee Hyun bite his lip and close his eyes. The sponge rubbed his lower abdomen, and Rau’s right hand stroked his buttocks in wide circles. As he unconsciously tensed his gluteal muscles, his fingers dug into the cleft between his buttocks. He knew immediately that he wanted the anus.

Lee Hyun felt his own pheromones.

Now, he could clearly detect not only Rau’s pheromones but also his own. Just as a solid bath bomb slowly dissolved in warm water, spreading a deeper color and scent. The more his desire and arousal were stimulated, the more active the movement of his pheromones became.

But even though his fingers pressing and rubbing around his anus were dripping with desire, Rau didn’t immediately move to full-on sex. He seemed to be conscious of the sex they’d had earlier, almost throwing themselves at each other, before attending the dinner party.

It was the first time they had seen each other in person in five weeks. As soon as they entered the living room, without a word, they had embraced, kissed each other’s lips, and torn off each other’s clothes.

Holding Rau’s shoulders as he thrust his hips, grinding their lower abdomens together to stimulate their penises, Lee Hyun had first encountered hanging on the sofa over his shoulder. It felt strange to be having sex in front of his own painting.

Once they started full penetration, Changing could not be stopped, and that would create limitations on going out because of Rau’s eyes. He couldn’t wear sunglasses at a dinner table with acquaintances. They exercised restraint, engaging in high-level foreplay and reaching orgasm with each other’s hands, but even without penetration, climaxing three times had been a significant drain on his stamina.

Lee Hyun, who had been a Beta, could never have imagined this. Even if he had somehow climaxed three times in a short period, it would have been impossible to feel desire and get an erection again that same day.

But he knew that just the brush of skin, or meeting his hot gaze, would instantly re-stimulate his desire. It had been like this since Didi’s pheromones had been stimulated upon meeting him.

Rau, who had been gently cleaning his penis with a sponge while massaging his anus with his right hand, seemed satisfied with just that for now and withdrew. Turning to face him, Lee Hyun took his shoulders to turn him around, saying he would rub Rau’s back this time. Rau turned back with a hesitant, reluctant expression, his back looking even firmer than before.

Lee Hyun wiped the water from his face with his palm and added more shower gel to the sponge. Even with his arms hanging loosely and his body completely relaxed, the contours of Rau’s muscles were clear on his back.

He pressed the sponge firmly against the spot where his nape met his back. The rich foam, saturated with water, flowed down in a rush along the grooves around his sunken spine.

His own pheromones were intensifying against his taut, firm, well-balanced body. It was still embarrassing to have such naked communion, as if his inner thoughts were being read. While rubbing the back of his defenseless shoulder with the sponge, Lee Hyun forced himself to bring up another topic.

“Were you bothered by the conversation you had with In-woo Hyung earlier?”

“No. I didn’t even know you two talked separately?”

His immediate, stiff reply proved his jealousy, and Rau couldn’t be unaware of that. He was probably indirectly expressing his displeasure right now.

“Then, I guess you don’t have to tell me what you talked about.”

“……”

Because his back was turned, Lee Hyun couldn’t see Rau’s face, but he could imagine a dejected expression. Lee Hyun cleared his throat, swallowing a laugh. Stroking his sleek, firm waist with the sponge, he rested his chin on Rau’s shoulder.

“As you probably expected… it was to apologize for that surprise kiss back then.”

At the time, everything had exploded at once without a proper chance to apologize, and by the time the shockwaves subsided, Lee Hyun had already left. Choi In-woo had said that he had wanted to apologize in person continuously. He had met In-woo again after about two years, and his impression had changed quite a bit.

Although they had exchanged occasional messages to check on each other during that time, he felt a certain distance, unlike his usual easygoing approach. Lee Hyun hadn’t tried to bridge that gap, thinking it was probably because he felt sorry to both him and Rau.

Rau tilted his head, washing his face with the stream of water. Turning to face Lee Hyun, he bent down and gave him a short kiss. He snatched the sponge and began to rub Lee Hyun’s chest again, which Lee Hyun had already wiped himself.

He wanted Rau to just express his emotions. Whether trivial or significant, he wanted to accept them. Lee Hyun placed his hands on Rau’s shoulders and stroked them gently outwards.

“I don’t hate you being jealous. You don’t still misunderstand that I hate you… do you?”

He looked up, his eyes that had been cast down.

“Wanting to interfere, control, and confine me… thankfully, it’s not to that extent, but. Yes, honestly, I care. It doesn’t feel good.”

“You’re not still uncomfortable about the kiss, are you?”

Rau, wiping the water from his face, shook his head playfully.

“No, that’s not it. I just hate even mentioning that kiss… that incident.”

At another unexpected moment, Rau’s lips approached. It might be an over-speculation, but he was pressing his lips together every time the word ‘kiss’ came up. As if trying to overwrite the memory of kissing In-woo with his own kiss.

Lee Hyun could no longer hide his laughter.

“Why.”

He wrapped his arms around Rau’s neck, trying to hide his embarrassment at having his feelings acknowledged.

“Do you know why I like a jealous Awi?”

“……”

“He’s really… cute.”

Rau, who was considerate in every aspect, never throwing a childish tantrum, would become sensitive only when it came to others’ affection towards Lee Hyun, which made Lee Hyun smile.

Rau bit his lower lip as if trying to suppress a laugh and wrapped his arms around Lee Hyun’s waist. He looked awkward at being called cute, yet he didn’t seem to dislike hearing it from Lee Hyun.

“Now that I think about it, it’s strange.”

What’s strange? Lee Hyun asked with wide eyes, substituting for a question.

“Choi In-woo is Hyung, but why am I ‘Representative-nim’?”

“I don’t really call you ‘Representative-nim’ anymore…”

“Hmm, and you don’t call me Hyung either.”

Lee Hyun’s playful side was piqued.

“Should I call you Hyung from now on?”

“I don’t want to be called by the same title as Choi In-woo.”

He shook his head firmly, his face contorted. Lee Hyun found these expressions, which he had likely never shown anyone else, endearing. He wanted to see more of them.

Lee Hyun cupped his cheeks in his hands and toyed with them.

“I don’t know about Awi, but I like these moments too. Just… us talking nonsense…”

He pulled Lee Hyun’s waist tighter. The gaze from beneath his lowered eyelids was warm.

“I like you, so how could I not like this?”

“Don’t just give me the right answers like that.”

“……”

He looked down at Lee Hyun with a face that seemed to not understand what he meant. Lee Hyun pulled his wrist towards the pouring water. Embracing each other, their bodies still covered in foam, they kissed. Even the water seeping into their mouths was stimulating.

They finished their shower, deliberately ignoring their half-erect penises. Their bodies, slightly warm from the humidity in the shower stall, quickly dried in the cool air upon leaving the bathroom. Without even needing to rummage through the small suitcase he’d brought from Paris, Lee Hyun’s underwear and pajamas, which he had left downstairs, were neatly arranged in Rau’s dressing room.

Under the pretense of drying each other’s hair, they tangled and played for a long time with one hairdryer between them. By the time their hair was dry, they were parched.

“I want to drink some beer, how about you, Awi?”

“There’s no beer in the bedroom fridge right now. I’ll get it for you.”

Lee Hyun urgently grabbed Rau’s shoulder as he turned directly towards the door.

“I’ll go get it.”

“……”

“You’ll get spoiled…”

Rau chuckled and ruffled Lee Hyun’s dry hair.

“It might be okay to get a little spoiled.”

Even as he muttered this, he let Lee Hyun go willingly.

The living room, bathed in moonlight, was bright enough without the lights on. Before leaving the living room with two bottles of beer, Lee Hyun turned back as if drawn by something. The space was almost the same, except that had taken the place where had hung.

It felt as if he had started the day here just this morning, and yet it also felt like he had been away longer than the time he’d actually spent in Paris. There wasn’t a corner of the house that didn’t hold memories. In a place like this, he had waited for him, maintaining his silence.

Lee Hyun suddenly realized he was standing where he had first discovered . He looked up at hanging on the sofa. He felt there was no need to count what had been lost or gained, or what had been replaced by what, in the flow of time.

Smiling faintly, as if reminiscing about a pleasant past, Lee Hyun left the spot and hurried up the stairs. He passed through the hallway, where sensors detected his presence and turned on indirect lighting, and opened the bedroom door.

“……”

Lee Hyun, about to step into the room with his bare feet, paused. Rau was sitting loosely against the headboard, not wearing a shirt. Reminded of a similar scene from the past, Lee Hyun approached the bed with a smile.

Rau scooted further inside and patted the spot next to him. As Lee Hyun was about to climb onto the bed, his gaze fixed on the framed picture on the nightstand.

“This… is actually a bit embarrassing.”

“Huh?”

Rau, who had been taking the beer, bent down and looked where Lee Hyun’s gaze was directed. A smile spread across his face upon spotting the frame. He reached out an arm towards Lee Hyun, who had stopped awkwardly.

“Why? I like it as much as or .”

“Are you serious?”

Rau’s arm wrapped around Lee Hyun’s waist and pulled him in. Lee Hyun, losing his balance abruptly, sat down on Rau’s thighs. Rau took a bottle of beer from Lee Hyun’s hand and grinned.

“If is a painting of Seo Yi-hyun before he knew me, then ‘Mr. Rabbit’ is how Seo Yi-hyun saw me.”

Lee Hyun smiled at his face, which was laughing like a child. He got off Rau’s lap and sat facing him. They lightly clinked their beer bottles, which they had twisted open, and quenched their thirst after the shower. As he drank the beer, so cold it made his head tingle, Lee Hyun glanced at the painting in the frame.

When he had discovered the ‘Mr. Rabbit’ painting in the bedroom before going out for the evening appointment, Lee Hyun had doubted his eyes. It felt as if someone had cast a spell, transcending time and space. The next moment, his face flushed, feeling as if his past private whims, made while conscious of Rau’s presence, had been exposed.

Rau had explained that he had gone to Bali for a vacation last summer. He had met Morae on Seminyak Beach, confessed his Changing to the two of them after Lee Han joined, and even been punched in the face by Lee Han.

“I felt so relieved that the people who stayed by your side while you were in silence were those two… You have every right to hit me.”

Rau had said this with a smile to Lee Hyun, who didn’t know what to do.

His plan was to go to Bali for a few days of vacation after finishing his European museum tour, and this had already been discussed with Morae and Lee Han. Even when Lee Hyun had discussed plans to visit with Rau several times, neither of them had mentioned meeting him and hearing about his Changing. That’s why Lee Hyun was even more surprised.

Rau placed the beer bottle on his lower abdomen. He looked down at the green bottle and spoke cautiously.

“Morae was a Golden.”

“…My sister?”

“Though rare, there are people who master self-control. People who can objectively externalize their condition or emotions and are skilled at controlling them.”

If that were the case, it was perfectly understandable if Morae had become a Golden without her even knowing it. Lee Hyun nodded.

“I suggested she get tested. If she’s officially diagnosed as Golden, things become easier in various ways. But Morae just… laughed.”

Lee Hyun could almost picture how Morae had laughed at his suggestion. For her, official certification as a Golden would be merely an administrative distinction with no real significance. Whether recognized as Golden or not, her life wouldn’t change to accommodate it.

Rau reached out and wrapped his hand around Lee Hyun’s nape. Then, he pressed his forehead against Lee Hyun’s, smiling.

“It won’t take Seo Yi-hyun long to become a Golden either. Your ability to sense your own pheromones was also very fast.”

Gently massaging his nape, Rau pressed his lips together. Like gentle animals confirming and connecting with each other, they rubbed their noses and lips, expressing affection. With their lips still touching, Lee Hyun whispered.

“I missed you.”

“……”

Rau’s face looked like someone who had received an unexpected gift. Watching him brush his face, trying not to show how moved he was, Lee Hyun felt a tremor of pain. He felt his own expressions were insufficient, unable to emotionally satisfy Rau.

He never forced or demanded affection, but Lee Hyun knew that this consideration wasn’t just due to the guilt of his Changing. That was simply how he loved him. Even if he hadn’t made a mistake, he would have cherished him in the same way.

“I missed you a lot.”

It was an awkward, direct method. Recognizing Lee Hyun’s intention to express his feelings, even in this way, Rau smiled and rubbed his nose.

“I missed you a lot too, Seo Yi-hyun. I was happy you were coming, but I was also frustrated that I had to wait an extra week longer than usual.”

A relatively chaste kiss, more fittingly called a peck than a kiss, followed. With a light smacking sound, their lips, which had briefly separated, met more deeply. They were slowly moving away from chastity.

Rau, savoring the sensation of soft flesh, changed the direction of his jaw and rubbed his lips, then slowly and firmly sucked on Lee Hyun’s lower lip.

“Ugh, mmm…”

Lee Hyun moaned from deep within his throat and placed his hands on Rau’s bare chest. Rau slowly pulled his face back without releasing his lips. With a wet sucking sound, Lee Hyun’s lips returned to their place. The bitter taste of beer on their lips was gradually being overtaken by the scent of pheromones.

Tapping Rau’s bare chest with his fingertips, Lee Hyun murmured in a slightly uncertain voice.

“Tomorrow, our schedule is free…”

“……”

Rau took the beer bottle from Lee Hyun’s hand and placed the two glass bottles on the nightstand.

“What are you trying to do, coaxing me like that?”

He sighed, running a hand through his bangs, and gave a playful smile. Then, he wrapped his arms around Lee Hyun’s waist and pulled him onto his thighs again, just as before. It was the time alone together that he had longed for all evening.

Sharing a deep kiss, Rau pushed Lee Hyun’s t-shirt up over his chest. Lee Hyun raised his arms to cooperate, making it easier for Rau to remove his clothes. His sharp, darkened eyes instantly became predatory. He felt his own pheromones intertwining with the pheromones emanating strongly from Rau. Even that alone made his lower body, pressed against Rau’s, twitch.

Stroking Lee Hyun’s bare back with both hands, Rau pressed his lower body against him, rubbing suggestively. The firm bulge of his already erect penis within the training pants was clearly palpable even through the thin pajamas.

“You kept glancing at this during the shower, didn’t you?”

Instead of remaining silent or denying it, Lee Hyun gave a slight smile. Without hesitation, he moved his hips, pressing firmly against the bulge pressing against his groin.

“And you, Awi, were also… rubbing there… Hngk.”

Lee Hyun’s response was cut short. Rau’s hands, which had been stroking his back, suddenly plunged into his pajamas and gripped his buttocks.

Nibbling at Lee Hyun’s earlobe, Rau suppressed his wet voice and whispered quickly.

“That’s right. It was like that. I was pretending to be dignified, but honestly, I thought I was going to die from the moment we were at the airport. I was anticipating it. I even took my medicine secretly after coming home, without Seo Yi-hyun knowing.”

After first becoming aware of his pheromones in February of this year, Lee Hyun had been taking the suppressant for Omegas as prescribed. The doctor had said that the possibility of pregnancy was very slim before Lee Hyun fully manifested, but Rau had been consistently taking birth control pills since then. It was an oral contraceptive specifically for Alphas that acted on the acrosome and tail of sperm for a certain period, preventing them from penetrating the egg itself.

However, regardless of the suppressant for Omegas or the contraceptive for Alphas, the attraction between Ghost and Didi remained. The two still detected each other’s pheromones and were completely unable to resist the other’s pheromones when they intensified beyond a certain level.

How the situation for Ghost and Didi would change after the Changing was completed was unknown, as there were no related materials or literature, so they could only wait and see. Even Marcus could not speculate further at this point.

But the outcome was not a particularly important issue for the two of them.

Whether it solidified as a relationship solely between an Alpha and an Omega, or if the attraction between Ghost and Didi remained and was added to it. In any direction, the two were prepared.

“Ugh, hmmm…”

Lee Hyun let out a low groan at the pleasant kiss that alternately held his upper and lower lips, making soft, wet sounds that eased his tension. He looked down at Rau from beneath his languidly drooping eyelids.

Even while showering, drying each other’s hair, and playing around. He had gotten an erection and released pheromones, but he hadn’t tried to resolve it. Thinking that his insides were actually taut with desire for him, Lee Hyun couldn’t help but laugh. At the same time, he felt an erotic thrill.

Rau’s hands were pulling down the waistband of his pajamas. Lee Hyun slightly lifted his hips and whispered in his ear.

“You don’t have to stop, no matter what I say. Pheromones… don’t lie.”

Although he had warned him beforehand, Lee Hyun never uttered a word of restraint during the two ejaculations and knotting. Instead, he endangered Rau’s composure and self-control with his honest expression of desire and bold positions.

As he became able to properly sense his own pheromones, Lee Hyun found himself reveling in liberation rather than hesitating before sexual acts. The problem was that the sexual desire, which was outside the normal range due to pheromones, could also hit the limits of his stamina.

Of course, it was Rau who was actually caressing his entire body, lifting Lee Hyun’s body, thrusting his hips, and exerting himself, burning his muscles. However, feeling pleasure throughout his body for an extended period in a state of extreme sexual sensitivity could also lead to exhaustion.

Even after two knotting and ejaculations over several hours, Rau was still inside Lee Hyun. He would occasionally withdraw to expel the bodily fluids that filled him to the point where inserting his penis was difficult, but as soon as there was just enough space to move back and forth within the insertion, his glans would block the entrance.

Lee Hyun, exhausted, sprawled on the mattress, but Rau was still not satisfied. Kissing Lee Hyun’s cheeks, neck, and shoulders as he lay face down, Rau embraced Lee Hyun’s abdomen and pulled his upper body up.

They were connected, chest to back, while on their knees. As the position changed, he felt Rau’s penis shift and squirm inside him, finding a new spot.

“Heeu, kh… euheu…”

Lee Hyun’s insides were still trembling faintly from the residual sensation of the second knotting. When new stimulation was added on top of that, Lee Hyun couldn’t handle it.

He felt like he didn’t have the energy to feel anything more, yet his pheromones were still reacting. His head and cells were excited, but he no longer had the strength to support his body with his knees and hips.

“It’s okay. Relax and lean on me,” he whispered. Even his whisper sent a shiver down his spine. His anus tightened on its own, and his pheromones tangled with Rau’s. Lee Hyun was almost sobbing.

He thought it had gone all the way in, but it wasn’t the end. Rau was slowly penetrating the inner walls, which had become narrower due to being coated in semen and arousal fluid. He wished Rau would thrust harder. He wanted him to go wild like he did during the knotting just now, shattering this agonizing anticipation. Rau’s slow entry, as if embracing the stiff body of a male Beta who couldn’t get wet, made Lee Hyun’s mind burn.

“Haak. Kh!”

Lee Hyun’s head, which had been limply hanging, was suddenly thrown back as if someone had grabbed it from behind. It felt like sparks were flying from below. Rau’s glans slammed against the dead end, the very end of the inner wall.

Lee Hyun thought he was finally free. He expected the insertion to continue, as if to break his body, now that it had gone all the way in. He would rather be driven into limitless pleasure than be tormented.

But it wasn’t.

Rau thrust halfway and then began to move his hips in small, rapid motions. Then, with a thud, and then several shallow thrusts, he drove all the way to the base with a thud. Moreover, the rhythm of his pounding was unpredictable. It was different every time. Lee Hyun felt almost anxious about when he would thrust deeply.

The empty space inside him, left by Rau, was unbearably itchy and hollow. Only knotting seemed like it could satisfy this thirst. He wished for the powerful pulse of his penis, rapidly repeating expansion and contraction, to pound against his inner walls.

It was precisely because of that knotting that he had become so sensitive that his whole body ached, losing complete control of his body to the point where he couldn’t even manage his own saliva.

Yet, he was longing for knotting again.

Lee Hyun panted, lowering his head. His penis, visible in his sight, was fully erect, unrelated to his mental exhaustion. Rau, pressed tightly against his back, vibrated his hips, causing Lee Hyun’s penis to bob erratically.

“Ugh… ugh.”

Lee Hyun twisted his shoulders and bit at Rau’s hands, which were holding his chest.

“Seo Yi-hyun, what is this? What did you do… how did you do this?”

“Heeu… heeu, kh… haa…”

Rau, who had stopped thrusting, spoke in an agitated voice. But Lee Hyun couldn’t even properly grasp the content of the question. Only his own sobs, sounding like a plea, were vivid.

Rau slowly pulled back once more, creating a gap between his glans and the inner wall. He knew about the Omega’s instinct to stimulate an Alpha who wasn’t satisfying their sexual needs enough, to induce ejaculation and knotting. He just hadn’t experienced it before. Just as the Alpha’s instinct had been theoretical for Rau until now.

The arousal fluid this time was somehow different from Lee Hyun’s previous arousal fluid. It wasn’t the clumpy fluid that had come out in spurts. It was much thinner and much warmer, drenching the glans and quickly seeping between the inner walls and the penis. And it was flowing continuously. Inside Lee Hyun’s body, not through his urethra, but through his anus, it felt like he was being given a golden shower.

Rau’s passion boiled over.

“Ngh… no, this… there…!”

With the onslaught that no longer held back, Lee Hyun waved his hands in the air as if trying to chase a mirage.

“Can you feel it? You’re completely…”

“Don’t… don’t say it…”

Lee Hyun shook his head and sobbed. He was clearly aware of what the arousal fluid pouring out, soaking not only the inside of his body but also his groin, thighs, and the sheets, was reminiscent of.

Rau shook his head and rubbed his face against Lee Hyun’s shoulder. It was as if he was expelling his pheromones through the pores of his entire body and inhaling Lee Hyun’s pheromones. He had no choice but to move his hips in response, as Lee Hyun was guiding him, as his pheromones demanded.

“Seo Yi-hyun, what are you? How do you know how to do this? Huh?”

“Heeu, kh… I didn’t do anything…”

Even though his upper body was firmly held and supported, Lee Hyun’s thighs trembled. Rau lowered his hips, spread his knees, and pulled Lee Hyun’s hips onto his thighs.

“Lean on me more.”

“It’s deep… this is deeper…”

As Rau gently rocked his body up and down to comfort Lee Hyun, who was crying like a child, the internal stimulation made Lee Hyun cry even more pitifully.

“Again… it’s knotting again. I don’t like it…”

“It’s not knotting, Lee Hyun. I’m the one moving.”

Rau kissed Lee Hyun’s ear several times to calm him down. Lee Hyun’s pheromones, with their overwhelmingly strong scent, indicated that he desired stronger sexual pleasure, yet Lee Hyun’s lips denied it.

Meanwhile, thin arousal fluid continued to leak along the rim of the penis filling the junction. Rau’s taut thighs were completely wet and glistening lewdly. To prevent Lee Hyun from slipping, Rau had to hold him tighter around the chest and lower abdomen.

As the inner wall pushed outwards, making his insides swell, Lee Hyun’s eyes widened, and his limbs flailed.

“Hup! Ht! It’s knotting, you said…!”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It really wasn’t just now… Lee Hyun, I’m sorry.”

“Kun… hugh.”

Lee Hyun fumbled for Rau’s ringed left hand and grasped it. As he intertwined their fingers and repeatedly called out Rau’s name, Rau repeated his answers several times. Kissing his ear, stroking his chest, and caressing between his legs, they went through the knotting together.

Being pulled deeper inside, his control crumbling, drawn by irresistible pheromones that guided him into the desired form of copulation.

This is what it means to be an Alpha.

Rau found it amusing that he was only now, well past thirty, having such thoughts. His impressive title of Golden Alpha was meaningless, as he had lived his life without truly knowing the reality of being an Alpha. Believing that suppression and concealment were the only best ways. These rigid beliefs would never have been corrected if he hadn’t met Lee Hyun.

Rau felt an infinite affection for the being in his arms anew. Like the sea’s longing for the land, repeatedly throwing itself onto the shore to break and be absorbed, he knew his affection for Lee Hyun would never dry up. Rubbing his lips against the bare shoulder in front of him, Rau silently spoke his love.

■ ■ ■

When he opened his eyelids, his vision was blurrier than usual.

Recognizing that the hazy foreign sensation was the result of last night’s Changing, Rau closed his eyes again and reached his arm to the side. But nothing met his hand.

Rau sat up. His bare body, exposed outside the sheets, felt cool from the air conditioner running in sleep mode.

He wanted to linger in bed, caressing Lee Hyun’s warm body, but he rubbed his face several times to chase away the sleep. Then, with a displeased expression, he rested his chin on his hand and looked at the empty space beside him.

“……”

As if the owner of the spot had left only a short while ago, a piece of paper lay on the pillow, which had not yet fully regained its shape. It was a page torn from a drawing notebook.

I’ll be in the garden.

I was watching you sleep,

and you were so handsome I had to draw you.

Isn’t it better than ‘Mr. Rabbit’?

Flipping over the note, which seemed to have been written in large letters with a permanent marker specifically for Rau’s eyes, the back showed a sketch of Rau, captured with bold, broad strokes.

Forgetting the emptiness in his chest from Lee Hyun’s absence, Rau chuckled and got out of bed. He planned to make Lee Hyun pay for stealing the happiness of starting the morning together by showering him with kisses.

After a quick shower, he went straight downstairs. The front door, visible directly from the stairs, was wide open. Unlike the bedroom where the air conditioner was running, the air blowing in from outside was quite humid, even in the morning.

“Hmm…”

The desk clock he had checked before going to the bathroom showed it was well past 11 o’clock, so it was quite late for morning. It was understandable that he slept in. Recalling the special intimacy that had lasted until dawn, Rau chuckled again, running a hand through his uncombed hair.

As expected, Lee Hyun was watering the garden.

Postponing his plan to punish Lee Hyun with a kiss, Rau leaned against the doorframe of the entrance.

The garden had been neglected for a while after Lee Hyun left. Then, he couldn’t bear to see the space he had watered and tended become desolate. He had periodically watered it and trimmed the branches with pruning shears, but it never bloomed as brightly as when Lee Hyun cared for it.

Watching Lee Hyun’s back, who was more engrossed in creating rainbows with his Aqua Gun than watering, Rau realized it wasn’t just a matter of gardening technique. He probably knew it subconsciously back then too. He had just buried it, fearing he wouldn’t be able to cope if he examined every single reason.

It was early summer, before the peak of the heat had begun. The plump green leaves and Lee Hyun’s back, shooting rainbows with his Aqua Gun. Although the distance was about 10 meters, blurring all the silhouettes, the freshness that emanated was as clear as a border drawn with a permanent marker.

He remembered himself standing in this very spot, watching this very scene, before he had to let Lee Hyun go someday. At that time, Rau had been unable to smile in front of Lee Hyun’s back. That’s why this moment felt even more special.

It was a scene he could gaze at forever.

He walked into that scene. It was dazzling, but he didn’t want to wear sunglasses. It was a kind of privilege. Rau, approaching with quiet footsteps, embraced Lee Hyun’s bare upper body tightly.

“Was I ugly when I was sleeping? Draw me when you’re awake next time. I’m confident I can do better than Kwon Juhan.”

Lee Hyun smiled and stroked Rau’s arm.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Mmm. I slept well, thanks to working out in bed until dawn, but I was lonely because Seo Yi-hyun wasn’t next to me…”

Rau’s voice, as he talked with Lee Hyun’s body in his arms and his chin resting on his shoulder, suddenly cut off. The only sound in the garden was the water falling on the grass from the arc of water.

“Lee Hyun…”

Rau’s voice, calling Lee Hyun’s name, trembled. If he didn’t utter the name, he felt like he would suffocate from the scent that had suddenly taken over his lungs. No, the scent was an illusion. Lee Hyun wasn’t releasing pheromones.

Lee Hyun stopped the Aqua Gun and turned to face Rau. A few drops of residual water dripped from the nozzle before completely stopping.

“I’m sorry I can’t express my decision in eloquent words, like Awi did.”

Lee Hyun was concerned about his difficulty in expressing affection. However, contrary to Lee Hyun’s worry, Rau didn’t see it as a flaw. Love wasn’t deep just because it was whispered every moment. Moreover, Lee Hyun never remained silent or evasive about truly important matters that needed to be conveyed clearly.

On the snow-covered streets of Paris, Lee Hyun had clearly said, “Don’t go.” To Rau, who had visited him with his father’s painting, Lee Hyun had properly conveyed, “If I had to see this painting alone, I wouldn’t have been able to bear it. Thank you for being here.”

Most importantly, Lee Hyun had forgiven him and accepted him again. He felt there was no greater love than that.

“Still, if I’m being a little greedy… this ring itself is my heart, my love… so I hope it’s conveyed to Awi.”

Rau touched Lee Hyun’s cheek with a forced smile on his stiff face.

“See? He’s the type to make sure things are clear when they need to be said.”

“……”

Lee Hyun, tilting his head, asked with his expression what he meant.

“It means that Seo Yi-hyun is fine just as he is now, and there’s no need to change anything.”

“I don’t think that’s quite right…”

Even though he had already given him the greatest love imaginable, Lee Hyun was giving him something even greater. Not wanting to show tears, Rau turned Lee Hyun around and embraced him from behind again. Smiling as he kissed the crown of his head, Lee Hyun asked,

“Why are you smiling?”

“I remembered something that happened at our restaurant a long time ago.”

“Ah…”

Lee Hyun, who understood with just a simple hint, burst into laughter.

In early spring, when new buds began to sprout in Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, where they had walked together, the two had a meal at the restaurant in the hotel where Rau had proposed. It was to celebrate Lee Hyun’s birthday. As it was lunchtime, bright light streamed in through the restaurant’s greenhouse-like ceiling.

The next table seemed to be having a business lunch combined with a meeting. The tables weren’t that far apart, so at first, they didn’t pay much attention, but one of the men felt like he kept glancing their way.

Perhaps it wasn’t just a feeling, because while his companions briefly stepped away, the man approached them with an almost solemn formality.

He said he had been searching for the ideal wedding ring for weeks. The wedding was less than a month away, but his partner was unwilling to compromise on the ring.

The man’s earnest gaze fell upon Rau’s left hand. Then, he very cautiously asked if they could tell him the brand and model name of the ring.

Rau and Lee Hyun looked at each other. Rau’s reaction, delaying an immediate answer, seemed to be taken as awkwardness by the man.

The man apologized multiple times, saying he knew it was highly impolite to ask for information about a wedding ring, of all things, but he was too desperate and had made a mistake.

“No, it’s not exactly that…”

They had had a few episodes related to rings, but this was a first.

Rau, drawing out her words, gently took Lee Hyun’s left hand resting on the table and asked,

“What do you think? Is it okay to tell him?”

The man couldn’t hide his surprise and openly looked back and forth between Rau’s hand and Lee Hyun’s hand. It was likely an involuntary reaction born of shock. Since only one of them was wearing a ring, it wasn’t unreasonable to assume Lee Hyun, sitting opposite, was Rau’s partner. It made sense.

“I wonder if that person managed to get the ring safely back then?”

“Hmm, I don’t know.”

Rau rubbed her lips against the top of Lee Hyun’s head and answered dismissively. She was laughing while mentioning old memories, trying to avoid showing tears, but her thoughts were scattered.

Lee Hyun, who had been leaning his back against Rau’s chest, gazing up at the oak tree, quietly opened his mouth.

“The diary… Did Awi read it all the way to the end?”

Rau answered after a brief pause.

“I had to grasp at straws back then. I reread it several times, thinking I might find a clue to undo things. Though there was no antidote I was looking for.”

“Did he and Erich meet in Florence?”

“……”

Rau swept Lee Hyun’s bangs aside with her left hand. She pressed his forehead, tilting his head back slightly, and kissed him on the forehead like a stamp.

“I don’t know…”

Lee Hyun sat up, pushing off Rau’s chest, and lightly nudged Rau’s side with his elbow as he turned to look. His face was full of laughter.

“Are all your answers ‘I don’t know’?”

“Ask me if I love you.”

Rau presented her chest with a confident expression. Lee Hyun shrugged and laughed, as if it were absurd.

Whoever had maliciously implanted the identity of a Ghost, which he never wanted, into him had, ironically, hidden Didi somewhere in this vast universe. For a time, Rau remained alone in this house, resenting that person as much as herself. But if Lee Hyun had forgiven her, she had to show tolerance to that person as well.

Lee Hyun suddenly moved closer. They were close enough for their faces to be clear.

“Kun.”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“……”

Rau stood with her hands dangling, stunned. Lee Hyun tilted his head and smiled, perhaps shyly. A sweet pain spread from her chest, where Lee Hyun had nudged her. It was a scene she could gaze at forever.

Diamond Dust Extra, The End.