By Zephyria 
“I’m going to make Monroe pizza today.”
Meow?
“That’s right, pizza. Dads order it sometimes, don’t they? Pi, zza, say it, Monroe. Pi, zza.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who was kneading the dough, snorted as if he was dumbfounded.
“Isn’t it too simple to act like you’re doing a big favor by making it?”
“Well, actually… Dads are handsome, but they’re not good at cooking. Even though it’s a meal kit, it’s all good for you, okay? Dads are doing it all for you… Hey, Yoon Marilyn, are you listening to Dad?”
Half-listening to Song Hyun-soo’s excuses, Monroe fixed his gaze on the dough Yoon Joo-ho was playing with and struggled to be let down.
“Not yet. Wait a little bit? I’ll make it pretty and give it to you soon.”
Song Hyun-soo put him back on the floor. He seemed very dissatisfied, judging by the continuous high-pitched cries, but there was nothing he could do.
As he was about to put his hand back in the bowl, Yoon Joo-ho shook his head.
“Okay, there’s nothing much for us to do.”
“Then I’ll go get Monroe’s favorite snack.”
“Why?”
“He eats better if I mix his favorite snack in with the dough.”
After washing his hands, Song Hyun-soo took out Monroe’s favorite snack and squeezed the wet food into the dough in the bowl.
Yoon Joo-ho’s gaze was fixed on Song Hyun-soo’s hand. It had been bothering him for a while, but he had been waiting for the right moment, so he casually threw out a question as if it were nothing.
“By the way, what’s that?”
“What is?”
“On your wrist.”
“Ah.”
Song Hyun-soo raised his left wrist. A simple silver bracelet jingled on his wrist.
“This is nice, right? Sang-ho Hyung gave it to me yesterday.”
“Why would that hyung do that?”
“He said it was a birthday present?”
“……”
Yoon Joo-ho closed his mouth, but he looked displeased.
“Say something if you have something to say.”
“What would I have to say?”
“You look like you have a lot to say?”
“The dough’s ready, shape it.”
It was a clear attempt to change the subject.
While taking the dough out of the bowl and making small pizza doughs, Song Hyun-soo watched Yoon Joo-ho carefully.
“Why are you sulking again?”
“Don’t say I’m sulking.”
“If you’re not sulking, then what is it?”
“I’m not sulking, I’m pissed.”
“Oh my. Okay, then what are you pissed about?”
Yoon Joo-ho stopped what he was doing and turned to look at him. He leaned against the counter, his hands on his hips. His expression seemed to be silently pressing him, asking if he really didn’t know.
“Isn’t accessories a bit much?”
Song Hyun-soo looked down at the bracelet on his left hand.
“Why? It’s not too flashy, and it looks good, doesn’t it?”
“If I were wearing a bracelet or necklace from another guy, would you be happy?”
“Ah…”
Only then did Song Hyun-soo realize what Yoon Joo-ho meant, and he added an excuse in embarrassment.
“It wasn’t given with that kind of meaning…”
“Whether it was given with that kind of meaning or not, would you be happy if I wore it?”
“I wouldn’t… be happy, I guess.”
Song Hyun-soo, muttering with a dejected face, took off the bracelet and placed it on the counter. Yoon Joo-ho, who had been watching him, sighed. Then he came over and pressed his forehead against Song Hyun-soo’s forehead. A light tap, as if scolding him.
“Don’t shrink back. It doesn’t suit you. It’s better when you’re squawking.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think. It’s just… he gave it to me as a birthday present… without thinking much…”
“I know. I’m not blaming you.”
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m just narrow-minded.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who let out a self-deprecating sigh, turned his body. Song Hyun-soo grabbed his arm, which was revealed under his rolled-up sleeve.
“That’s not true!”
“What’s not?”
“I wouldn’t feel good either.””
“……”
“If the senior wore accessories that someone else gave him…”
Yoon Joo-ho stared down at Song Hyun-soo. With his head lowered, Song Hyun-soo’s voice also crept inward. He mumbled and added.
“So, the senior isn’t narrow-minded.””
“……”
“So, don’t wear anything, no matter who gives it to you. Okay?”
Yoon Joo-ho, who had been silently watching, burst into a hollow laugh.
“Don’t just laugh, answer me. Why aren’t you answering?”
Song Hyun-soo urged him, pulling on his arm. But Yoon Joo-ho just kept laughing. He looked happy.
“Are you trying to avoid answering right now?”
“……”
“You got mad at me, but you’re being unfair.”
Yoon Joo-ho gave Song Hyun-soo, who was rushing at him with the determination to get an answer, a quick kiss. In the daze, their lips overlapped more deeply this time. Song Hyun-soo became docile as if he had been given a tranquilizer.
“What, what was that all of a sudden… I really don’t understand the point that gets to you?”
Yoon Joo-ho smiled as he looked at Song Hyun-soo’s bewildered face. He looked happy.
Monroe, who had been playing in the box, tilted his head as he looked up at the two of them.
■
“Ooh, he’s eating well.”
As soon as the bowl was placed on the floor, Monroe rushed at the pizza like a hunting dog unleashed on its prey. He stepped on the pizza with his front paws and devoured it, burying his nose in it.
Yoon Joo-ho clicked his tongue and pulled him out of the bowl, hugging his belly.
“Calm down a bit. It’s not like someone’s going to steal it from you?”
“He didn’t have much of an appetite at first, though. Right?”
“Because of you, Sang-ho Hyung always suspects us of starving you. Hey, Yoon Marilyn, can you hear me?”
Yoon Joo-ho teased him, scratching the little guy’s head with his fingertips. But the cat, who was completely absorbed in the new snack, didn’t seem to hear anything.
Song Hyun-soo captured a picture of Monroe’s profile as he devoured the cat pizza.
“It’s hard to believe there was a time when he wouldn’t even come out of his room.”
“Now he’s completely in his own world.”
“Except for the bathroom.”
The two chuckled as they looked at each other. Yoon Joo-ho, looking down at Monroe’s small, moving head as he ate the pizza, stroked his back.
“It feels like only a few days ago that he was sitting on the wall getting snowed on. He’s grown a lot. And we got his peanuts taken care of.”
The two fell silent for a moment.
Naturally, the events of that night came to mind. The night they brought Monroe here.
Song Hyun-soo was working at ‘Jessica,’ and a message had come from Yoon Joo-ho. The location for ‘Myung Hae-ri’ had been decided. Wouldn’t he like to go with him now?
A spontaneous meeting in the middle of the night. A spontaneous short trip.
The excited anticipation for the movie they would be making together.
The exhilarating connection they felt as they spontaneously exchanged acting without rehearsal, more thrilling than sex.
Every moment he shared with Yoon Joo-ho that night was vivid like a movie.
The night when snow was falling heavily.
Yoon Joo-ho’s profile, as he struggled to concentrate on driving, thinking about the cat who would be left alone in the vacant lot next to the restaurant without his mother or other siblings.
Monroe, who had finished the pizza cleanly, licked his lips and looked up at the two of them.
Bbyang. Bbyaaang.
“What, do you want more?”
Bbyaaang.
He approached Yoon Joo-ho, who was stroking his head, and placed his front paws on his lap. His face and voice were pleading for something. Yoon Joo-ho picked up the little guy, who was still so small, and put his face against his.
“You ate a lot. Look how full your belly is.”
Niyaang.
Still, he seemed to be saying he wanted to eat more. It sounded like he was begging to be able to eat more.
This time, Song Hyun-soo captured a video of Yoon Joo-ho rubbing his cheek against Monroe’s small face.
“Doesn’t he sound like he’s chirping?”
“It’s a strategy to act cute and pitiful to get more snacks. Right?”
Bbyaaang. Bbyang.
Monroe, who was crying loudly as if something unfair had happened, struggled. When Yoon Joo-ho put him down, he looked up at him as if protesting and ran quickly toward the hallway.
Yoon Joo-ho, who had been watching Monroe’s back, picked up the empty bowl and stood up.
“Shall we get ready to go out?”
“Already? We can stay for another hour or two.”
They had a dinner appointment with Shin Hyo-jin and Han Joo-young, the other two actors from <Dissolve>. They had met once after returning from Paris to give them souvenirs, and this was their first meeting in about two months.
“I was thinking of leaving a little early.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who had gotten up first, reached out his hand to Song Hyun-soo. Taking his hand, Song Hyun-soo also got up, relying on the force of his pull.
“Is there somewhere you want to stop by?”Should we go to a department store or a boutique?””
Song Hyun-soo’s steps faltered as he followed Yoon Joo-ho.
“Why… there?”
“……”
“You’re going to buy something for me again, aren’t you?”
Yoon Joo-ho, who had put the bowl in the sink, shrugged and denied it.
“No, I’m not?”
“Yes, you are. I really don’t have anything else to buy now. Stop buying me things.”
“If you don’t have a bracelet, you wear one given to you by another guy.”
Song Hyun-soo muttered to himself behind Yoon Joo-ho, who opened the refrigerator door and rummaged for a drink.
“You said you weren’t sulking, but you’re holding a grudge.”
Yoon Joo-ho, holding a small bottle of sparkling water, strode over and grabbed Song Hyun-soo’s cheeks with one hand.
“What did you say just now?”I, senior… said you’re a really amazing man.””
Only after giving Song Hyun-soo’s lips, which were protruding like a goldfish, a quick kiss did Yoon Joo-ho let go of his cheeks.