By Zephyria 
Song Hyun-soo pouted, leaning against the island counter next to Yoon Joo-ho, who was drinking carbonated water.
“But you’ve been buying me things every day lately.”
“What do you think I’m giving you if not money?”
“…Love.”
Song Hyun-soo answered reluctantly, looking at Yoon Joo-ho’s profile as he drank his carbonated water, and said in a sulky tone.
“I even heard people saying I’m the son of a rich family. I never thought I’d hear that in my life.”
“From who?”
“Jang-woo hyung. He said my bag was something he hadn’t seen before.”
Yoon Joo-ho clicked his tongue in displeasure and tugged at Song Hyun-soo’s earlobe.
“Are you going to keep talking about other men? That’s no fun.”
“You’re the one who asked…”
“Why is that hyung so interested in you?”
“It just means you’re buying me too much, sunbae. Seriously, stop buying me things now.”
“It’s not like I’m buying them with borrowed money, or with a card I got from my parents. I’m using the money I earned to buy my boyfriend gifts within my means. Is there a problem with that?”
“It’s not that there’s a problem… it’s just that I can’t do as much for you as you do for me, and I keep receiving…”
Until then, Yoon Joo-ho, who had been playful, became a little more serious. He put his water bottle down on the counter and asked.
“Are we in a give and take relationship?”
No, Song Hyun-soo shook his head several times.
He knew what Yoon Joo-ho was saying, and he knew his heart. But continuing to receive an excessive amount of material things made him uncomfortable. It was even more so because it was from someone he loved. Because Song Hyun-soo also wanted to give because he loved him.
“But living in sunbae’s house, driving the car sunbae bought, wearing the clothes, shoes, and bag sunbae bought… sometimes I think this isn’t right.”
“Are you saying you want to live separately now?”
“……”
“Is that why you’re like this?”
Yoon Joo-ho’s voice became harsh. He looked like a loan shark who had come to collect money. Back in his early twenties, Yoon Joo-ho, who had only been pretty, wouldn’t have been able to make or pull off that kind of expression. Now, it seemed like he could even play the role of a gangster.
“If I said I wanted to, would you let me?”
“……”
Yoon Joo-ho’s face hardened even more harshly. This was no joke. Sensing a threat to his life, Song Hyun-soo instinctively approached him and hugged him from the waist.
“I take back what I just said.”
“Take back? Are you going to kill someone and then say take back?”
“I only said it because I knew you wouldn’t let me, of course.”
“What if I said I would? Then you’d leave?”
Yoon Joo-ho tried to pull Song Hyun-soo’s arms away, but Song Hyun-soo burrowed deeper into his embrace.
“No, that’s not what I mean… I want to be with sunbae too. I like living together. Don’t misunderstand.”
“……”
Only then did Yoon Joo-ho’s expression soften a little. The gesture of trying to pull his arms away also stopped. He looked down at Song Hyun-soo, who was clinging to his chest, and sighed. Then, he put his arms around his lover’s back, hugged him tightly as if he would burst, and then released his strength. He swayed his body from left to right, hugging Song Hyun-soo, and said.
“You knew I was an incredibly rich person, didn’t you?”
“I knew. Everyone in Korea knows that Yoon Joo-ho is rich.”
“But?”
“I never thought about connecting that money to me.”
Up until now, dating Yoon Joo-ho hadn’t been easy for Song Hyun-soo. Winning his heart, disarming his defensiveness, correcting his habits. ― He was overwhelmed just by solving the problems that came up step by step. The fact that they were both men, that it could be a big problem if it was revealed, Yoon Joo-ho’s money… he was too caught up to even consider those things.
“Then start thinking about it now. This is your reality.”
“Why is this my…!”
“Do you think you can date someone, even have a deep relationship, without being connected to that person’s money?”
“I can’t understand if you talk so difficultly.”
Song Hyun-soo looked up at Yoon Joo-ho. Yoon Joo-ho, who was looking down and meeting his eyes, stopped swaying.
“If I moved into a rooftop room and lived with you, would that be fair? On your birthday, we’d eat pork belly, and for birthday presents, we’d exchange gifts with amounts that aren’t burdensome to each other. When you want to relax and go on vacation to a resort, you’d just see me off at the airport. Is that how you’re going to date me?”
“……”
“If there’s anyone who says they can date someone rich without being involved with their money at all, that’s just hypocrisy.”
“That far…?”
Yoon Joo-ho’s words were strangely persuasive. At least, there was something to think about. But at the same time, it sounded somewhat difficult and conceptual to Song Hyun-soo. All Song Hyun-soo wanted was for him to give him fewer gifts.
Yoon Joo-ho’s hand swept up the hair above Song Hyun-soo’s forehead.
“Are you dating me because of my money?”
“…I’m dating you because of your face.”
Yoon Joo-ho chuckled at the immediate answer, as if asking something obvious.
“Or am I trying to do something to you with your money?”
Song Hyun-soo shook his head.
“I’m not trying to control you with money, and you’re not treating me differently because of money. Then that’s enough.”
“……”
Is that really so? He didn’t know if it was enough or not, but Song Hyun-soo reluctantly nodded.
Yoon Joo-ho stared at Song Hyun-soo. His face looked loving, affectionate, and yet resentful, complex.
“Whatever I give you, you’ll be able to buy it with your own strength soon. It’ll be soon.”
His face looked lonely as he said that, so Song Hyun-soo shook his waist and said in a confident tone.
“No matter how much money I make, what sunbae gives me is special because sunbae gave it to me.”
A faint smile appeared around Yoon Joo-ho’s eyes and mouth. He playfully kissed Song Hyun-soo’s exposed forehead and picked up the water bottle he had placed on the counter.
“Then I’ll buy you a bracelet.”
A tone that seemed both playful and serious.
Song Hyun-soo followed him to the living room, almost begging.
“What you’ve done so far is enough. It’s not that I’m telling you not to, it’s just too much.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who was barely listening to Song Hyun-soo’s words, sat on the sofa and calmly drank water while looking out the window. Then, as if he had suddenly remembered something, he turned to Song Hyun-soo, who was sitting next to him.
“Ah, the promotion schedule is roughly out.”
“A, already?”
“Already? The production presentation is right around the corner.”
When he heard that the movie promotion schedule was out, Song Hyun-soo’s attention was completely focused on that.
“Do you want to see the schedule?”
“I want to see it.”
Yoon Joo-ho brought a tablet from the bedroom and handed it to Song Hyun-soo. Song Hyun-soo’s eyes trembled anxiously as he scanned the schedule. The schedule, which started next week and continued until January of next year, was packed without a gap.
“I, is there this much??”
“It’ll increase from there. That’s just what’s scheduled now.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who stretched his arm behind Song Hyun-soo’s back and leaned it against the back of the sofa, said in a nonchalant voice.
There were four or five small media interviews scheduled for each day, and there seemed to be three or four major photo shoots or interviews per week. Of course, interviews with entertainment programs and movie introduction programs on public broadcasting stations were also included. But the thing that made Song Hyun-soo the most nervous was something else.
“‘Chef’s Living Room’?? Do I have to go on this too??”
“I think they requested it? They asked the four of us to come out.”
“This has over 2 million subscribers.”
“So we have to go out and promote it. Promoting on YouTube channels is essential.”
Song Hyun-soo also subscribed to the talk show-style channel where the host prepared the food himself and treated the guests to food and alcohol while talking. And… I’m going on that?
“Can’t just… sunbae and Hyo-jin noona go? You’re the two main characters.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who was playing with Song Hyun-soo’s hair with his arm on the sofa, seemed carefree.
“You told me not to be overprotective.”
“I’ve only done one photo shoot… this kind of big YouTube… I’m definitely just going to say nonsense.”
“Are you scared?”
At Yoon Joo-ho’s provocation, Song Hyun-soo swallowed hard.
“I want to act tough… but honestly, I’m scared.”
Yoon Joo-ho ruffled Song Hyun-soo’s hair wildly.
“Where did the guts you had to tell me to fuck off go?”
“Don’t joke around. I’m really worried.”
“It’s nothing. You’re good at setting the mood at drinking parties. Just do what you usually do.”
“Do what I usually do? Should I sit on sunbae’s lap and do a love shot or something?”
As if he had imagined the scene of actually doing that, Yoon Joo-ho lowered his head and chuckled, shaking his broad shoulders. He lifted his face, which still had a smile on it, and looked at Song Hyun-soo.