SMW 59

― A story Yeo-reum doesn’t know.

When he opened his eyes, Yeo-reum was there.

It was the Yeo-reum he had longed for so desperately. The fact that he was within arm’s reach still felt like a dream. Or perhaps, it really was a dream. On a winter day where the cold seeped into the very marrow of his bones, perhaps he was seeing a hallucination born of longing.

That was why Choi Seol always stirred whenever the dim light of dawn arrived, just to confirm Yeo-reum’s presence. The sound of the deeply sleeping Yeo-reum’s breathing, his tossing and turning, even the occasional incomprehensible sleep-talking. As Choi Seol sharpened all his senses to ensure not a single detail was missed, the time when the silence awakened would eventually return. Choi Seol always loved that time.

It was a bit earlier than that now. Instead of following his impulse, Choi Seol pushed himself up. Touching him was something that could only be done while Yeo-reum was conscious, and only within permitted boundaries.

Choi Seol carefully peeled back the blanket, trying not to wake Yeo-reum as he attempted to raise his upper body. Then, he suddenly realized his right hand felt heavy. He thought Yeo-reum would have let go in his sleep, but the weight holding onto him hadn’t lightened in the slightest. It was so poignant that Choi Seol unconsciously tightened his grip. At that, Yeo-reum let out a small moan in his sleep, as if uncomfortable.

Choi Seol narrowed his eyes. Impulses were always light, while patience was always a grueling task. The latter always won, but since his original nature was not so, he had to give in to his impulses very occasionally, if only to reduce the internal friction.

Instead of releasing the pressure, Choi Seol brought their joined hands to his lips. Unable unauthorized copyto touch Yeo-reum [stolen content]directly, he kissed the back of his own hand instead. Then, he carefully set the hand down and finally stood up and headed outside.

Whether the typhoon had subsided or not, the path toward the wooden veranda was silent. It was still dawn. The bluish light of early morning shone faintly through the paper doors. The scent of old wood, which had absorbed the coolness of the night, wafted strongly. It was surprising that the chirping of birds from the forest felt peaceful rather than irritating.

Choi Seol truly liked this place. Above all, Yeo-reum was here. Therefore, no impurities were needed within this tranquility.

“—Yes. I will head up as soon as the typhoon ends.”

As he stepped onto the veranda, he heard a man talking to someone on the phone. After leaning against a pillar for a moment, the man finally finished the call and looked over. A smile unfailingly appeared on his eyes, which seemed slightly surprised.

“Is Yeo-reum still sleeping?”

“…….”

“Your friend is the silent type, isn’t he?”

Choi Seol looked at the man indifferently. He didn’t even need to deliberate whether to respond or not. The man was a being who didn’t merit his interest. It would have been a different story if Yeo-reum had shown even a sliver of openness toward him.

“The typhoon hasn’t ended yet, so please go back to your room. I recommend you don’t [stolen content]step a single visit our sitefoot out of there if possible.”

“That sounds more like a threat than a recommendation.”

“It is a threat. My patience isn’t infinite either.”

“My, it seems the things I said during mealtime have been weighing on you.”

The man sighed as if pitying him and approached Choi Seol.

“I didn’t intend to disparage you on purpose. I was just so worried about Yeo-reum that in my attempt to make him face reality, I ended up ruining the mood. I apologize for that.”

“Is this another professional habit of yours?”

“Pardon?”

“I believe I clearly stated that I dislike physical contact with people.”

Choi Seol remained with his arms crossed, Read on Read BL Novelscasting his gaze downward. The man was extending his hand [Read on Read BL Novels]as visit our siteif requesting a handshake of apology.

“Ah, did you?”

“If making someone repeat themselves is also a habit, you’d better fix it. That makes you look truly incompetent.”

The man’s smirk, which had been there the whole time, wavered for an instant. But only for a moment; erasing the fleeting unpleasantness, he withdrew his hand.

“……Thank you for the advice. But have we really never met? You look very much like someone I know.”

“If you can’t even distinguish the face of someone you know, then they aren’t really an acquaintance.”

“That’s true. But why do you suddenly seem to be speaking so informally?”

“Because I’m young.”

“……What?”

“I’m quite young, so I lack manners.”

The man looked confused by Choi Seol’s brazen claim.

“I understood that you were the same age as Yeo-reum.”

“I’m younger.”

“……How old are you, exactly?”

“Seventeen.”

The man’s face distorted in a way that was quite worth seeing. However, even that recovery was fast. Much like the expensive things draped over his body, a mask created for survival would not be easily stripped away. Which made it boring.

“It seems your feelings are quite hurt. But it’s not entirely wrong, is it? It’s a fact that you aren’t of much help to Yeo-reum.”

“That is a fact.”

At least for now.

“Why? Did you admit it too quickly?”

Choi Seol straightened his body from the pillar and uncrossed his arms. Then, he took a step toward the somewhat flustered man and leaned in.

“But you know as well, don’t you? That those ‘unhelpful’ standards actually work much better when it comes to getting Han Yeo-reum to open up.”

He wasn’t saying Yeo-reum was a pushover. Ignoring things moderately, empathizing moderately, and providing the necessary amount of help from a moderate distance. Han Yeo-reum was an ordinary person with individualistic tendencies, the kind one could see anywhere. That was likely why he could ignore a classmate who had an accident, yet could not ignore Choi Seol, who had lost his memories.

Because of that, Choi Seol had no choice but to be even more cautious while staying here. In that regard, this guy was utterly foolish.

“Don’t tell me… are you taking advantage of our Yeo-reum?”

Just like that. Choi Seol’s smile deepened at the man’s trivial acting, which had suddenly turned serious.

“Even if I were, I don’t see what that has to do with you.”

“Of course it does. Yeo-reum is my…….”

“Your?”

“……He is a college junior I cherish. Anyway, I don’t know why I have to explain my relationship with Yeo-reum to you, but Yeo-reum and I have had a special bond since—”

The man’s rambling words cut off abruptly. As if realizing something, the man’s eyes slowly widened.

“Don’t tell me, did you know?”

Choi Seol frowned at the incomprehensible remark.

“Know what, exactly?”

“This is unbelievable. Yeo-reum clearly said you wouldn’t know.”

The man let out a hollow laugh, continuing as if Choi Seol’s answer didn’t matter.

“You knew, didn’t you? The first person Yeo-reum liked—”

“Shh.”

A large hand suddenly reached out and covered the man’s mouth. The flustered man raised his arm to push Choi Seol’s hand away, but before he could, a low voice bound him once more.

“Shh. Is it right to let your tongue wag so lightly? You never know, do you? What kind of relationship I might have with this ‘acquaintance’ of yours, whom you can’t even distinguish from me.”

The man’s movements froze instantly. Against the pressure so strong he could barely breathe, a cool voice whispered again into his reddened ear. It was a very small voice, but sufficient to pierce the listener like an arrow.

“Isn’t that right, Mr. Nam Seo-woo?”

The downside of the old house was that the doors were very thin. So, one had to be careful. If Yeo-reum happened to hear, he might be surprised. He couldn’t afford to make him wary, especially since he was unexpectedly quick-witted and sensitive in certain areas.

With those words, Choi Seol lowered his hand. The man gasped for air and staggered backward. The sight of him trying to create distance was quite amusing.

“I’ll say it once more: return to your room and do not step a single foot out. Just stay quiet and disappear silently after the typhoon ends. And since this is indeed a threat, I suggest you only act within the limits of what you can handle.”

“You clearly… said [unauthorized copy]you weren’t that person, but are you changing [visit our site][stolen content]your words now?”

Having caught his breath, the man glared at Choi Seol.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t.”

“…….”

“I said I’d never seen you.”

At Choi Seol’s answer, a look of bewilderment rose again on the man’s disheveled face. After a moment, the man let out a hollow laugh and muttered.

“I see. I apologize for the intrusion late at night. Goodnight.”

Leaving the man, who had even offered a polite greeting, indifferently behind, Choi Seol stepped over the threshold. However, he stopped shortly after at the man’s calling words.

“By the way, did I tell you my name?”

Choi Seol stopped for a moment and replied, turning only his head.

“That’s why I already know it.”

“Is that so?”

The man, having recovered in the meantime, was smiling quite brightly. Choi Seol passed by the man, who was no longer of any use to him, and headed back to the room.

By the time he stood before the door where Han Yeo-reum was sleeping soundly, he heard the sound of the wind. The door leading to the porch, which was merely reinforced with thin paper, was precariously enduring the fierce winds of the typhoon.

Choi Seol turned toward it and reached for the door handle. The wind leaking through the gaps was cold. This side was the inside, and that side was the outside. He was the one who defined it.

Where is he standing? To Choi Seol, that was a very important matter. If he set his mind to it, he could pull the firmly closed door handle and bring the things from the outside in. Then, this place would be swept away by the fierce typhoon.

Perhaps that would be better for Choi Seol. At least, his twenty-seven-year-old self welcomed it. That was why he was constantly knocking on the boundary. To invade. No, he thought it was inevitable in order to find his original place.

But, it’s not time yet.

Choi Seol withdrew his hand, which had been hesitating before the door handle. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his chest heaving. The unauthorized copyfierce wind was incessantly [visit our site]knocking on the door. The rough, cold wind filled his lungs. Within that chill, there was a glimpse of winter. A smile played on Choi Seol’s lips.

“The wind is nice.”

It was a perfect day to devour Yeo-reum.