By Zephyria I put down the spoon, having barely eaten a few bites. Then, I stared blankly at the rice that wouldn’t seem to decrease. Jeon Mi-nam, returning after feeding Jaguar, gazed at Ju-wan with concern. Lately, he seemed to have completely lost his appetite.
“Is the food not to your liking?”
“Oh, no! Not at all! Everything Mi-nam makes is delicious!”
Ju-wan flinched in surprise and shook his head desperately. For someone saying that, the food remained exactly as it had been served.
“It’s really delicious… but strangely, I don’t have much of an appetite. I’m sorry.”
“Are you perhaps feeling unwell…?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Then please tell me if there’s any specific food you’d like to eat. I will prepare it.”
“There’s no need to go that far…”
“The less appetite you have, the better you must eat.”
Jeon Mi-nam responded quite sternly. Ju-wan scanned the food on the table with a troubled expression and smiled awkwardly.
“I know that, but nothing comes to mind right now. If you worry about it, I’ll only feel more sorry, so I’d prefer if you didn’t. I’ll get up now.”
Ju-wan apologized repeatedly, drank some water, and left the kitchen. Jeon Mi-nam watched him leave with eyes full of worry. He had finally started to put on some weight, but if he kept barely eating, he would return to how he was before. A solution was needed one way or another.
Around then, an unexpected presence was detected near the front door. Soon after, the sound of someone exchanging casual greetings with Ju-wan could be heard. He could guess who it was without even looking. As far as Jeon Mi-nam knew, there was only one person who would needlessly provoke the eating Jaguar and make him growl.
“You’ve arrived?”
Stopping his cleaning of the table, he went into the living room to greet Baek Do-un. When he greeted him first, Baek Do-un smiled with satisfaction. He seemed to have no intention of hiding his feelings.
Jeon Mi-nam cleared his throat and tried to return to the kitchen to finish cleaning. Baek Do-un followed him in and took a seat. Then, he snatched the utensils Mi-nam was about to clear and nonchalantly ate the food Ju-wan had left behind.
“Did Ju-wan not eat today either?”
“He says he has no appetite.”
“I suppose. Is it because the weather is so hot? I’ve had no appetite lately either.”
“……”
Jeon Mi-nam was lost for words and looked at Baek Do-un. He claimed to have no appetite while his mouth and hands were moving incessantly.
“Shall I scoop some rice for you separately?”
“No. This is fine. It’s clean, after all. It would be a waste to throw it away.”
He scooped a spoonful of rice and put it in his mouth. Then, scanning the side dishes with his eyes, he asked in passing.
“Where’s Kwon Su-hyeok?”
“He left early. This is the busiest time for the company.”
“Hmm… then would it be too much to go cool off for a bit?”
Baek Do-un put food in his mouth until his cheeks were bulging and unhesitatingly moved his spoon toward the cold soup. Watching this, Jeon Mi-nam took the bowl away before the spoon could touch the soup. Then, he turned the heat back on for the pot he had turned off. Having his soup suddenly snatched away, Baek Do-un simply let his lips curl into a satisfied smile, having realized Jeon Mi-nam’s intention.
While the soup was heating, he went back to the living room. Ju-wan was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Normally, he would be so immersed that he wouldn’t even notice someone approaching. Yet today, he seemed unable to concentrate. He soon glanced at Baek Do-un and put down the newspaper. He hadn’t even touched the puzzles he loved so much.
Jaguar also stopped halfway through eating a piece of meat, licked his lips, and approached Ju-wan. It was rare for him to leave food behind. Had he also lost his appetite?
Jaguar rested his chin on Ju-wan’s lap and stretched his body out long. His tail, which usually wagged gently, remained still against the seat cushion.
“Ju-wan, how many times a day do you shower?”
“Three… no, maybe four times?”
Ju-wan murmured uncertainly. No matter how hot the weather was, once a day, or twice at most, should have been enough.
Baek Do-un reached out and patted Jaguar’s rump. Jaguar, who would have bared his teeth threateningly at any other time, only twitched his eyes as if annoyed.
“How many times does Su-nam bathe?”
“Twice a day.”
“Twice?”
“Even with the air conditioner on, his body keeps feeling sluggish. Su-nam seems to be feeling the heat more lately.”
Although the scorching heat was rampant every day, it seemed they were suffering from heatstroke quite seriously. Of course, if it was this hard for humans, it must be even worse for animals. Thirst originating from inside the body could not be cooled by air conditioners or cold food. They needed a change of scenery.
Baek Do-un soon thought of a solution and grabbed Jaguar’s front paw and Ju-wan’s hand.
“Why don’t we all go on a summer vacation somewhere?”
It was a suggestive tone, but his excited expression already seemed to be floating on water.
With a kissing sound, something soft and squishy pressed against the warm nape of the neck. Ju-wan, who had been nodding off on the sofa while waiting for Kwon Su-hyeok, shrugged his shoulders. However, the other person continued to bother Ju-wan, licking thickly from the nape where he had repeatedly pressed his lips up to the back of the ear, even nibbling on the earlobe.
Whether it was hard to shake off the heavy drowsiness, Ju-wan couldn’t open his eyes immediately and only squirmed. Because of this, Jaguar, who had been sleeping beside him, snapped his head up. Glaring at the person bothering Ju-wan with glowing yellow eyes, the beast soon relaxed his guard and just let out a wide yawn. Then, he dropped his head back onto his front paw and closed his eyes.
Only when the other person nibbled on his sensitive earlobe did Ju-wan lift his heavy eyelids. Even without looking back, he could guess who it was by the characteristic scent. A thin smile spread across Ju-wan’s lips.
“…You’re here?”
His sunken voice was full of languor. Kwon Su-hyeok lightly brushed Ju-wan’s cheek with the back of his hand as Ju-wan smiled happily at him. Ju-wan expressed his affection by rubbing his cheek against that hand. Even when told to sleep first, he always sat huddled there, waiting endlessly for Kwon Su-hyeok. Such a Ju-wan was adorable and deeply precious.
While repeatedly nibbling on Ju-wan’s earlobe, Kwon Su-hyeok slid his hand inside his t-shirt. Then, he slowly stroked his abdomen, which had become even thinner lately. It felt as if it might crumble if he pressed too hard.
Ju-wan slowly looked back at Kwon Su-hyeok. His round eyes were full of pure longing. Slowly lowering his head, he overlapped his lips onto the plump ones. He also gently caressed the soft cheek with his thumb.
Ju-wan closed his eyes tight and slowly accepted Kwon Su-hyeok’s tongue as it pushed in roughly. Then, he reached out with both arms to embrace him around the neck. The two tongues intertwined sweetly inside the humid mouth.
As if they were thirsty, they sucked on each other’s tongues sweetly. Their lips, which had been locked tightly, repeatedly pulled and sucked with kissing sounds. Even though they were already craving each other desperately, they wanted to touch even more thoroughly. After a long while, they reluctantly parted their lips.
Kwon Su-hyeok didn’t stop there and pressed his lips firmly onto Ju-wan’s eyelids. He followed by pressing his lips to Ju-wan’s cheeks, then suddenly pressed both cheeks to push his tongue back into the slightly opened mouth. Ju-wan’s head tilted back accordingly, swallowing Kwon Su-hyeok’s tongue whole. It was only when his jaw began to feel stiff that Kwon Su-hyeok withdrew.
He licked Ju-wan’s lips, which had become glossy with saliva, and kissed his jaw, neck, Adam’s apple, and collarbone in turn. Perhaps it was an illusion, but the parts where his lips landed seemed thinner than yesterday. The abdomen he stroked with his hand felt as if it would eventually touch his back.
“What happened? I heard you haven’t been able to eat much lately.”
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk about.”
Ju-wan started cautiously. It seemed he had something important to say. Kwon Su-hyeok stared at him intently, firmly gripping and pulling away Jaguar’s tail, which was wrapped tightly around Ju-wan’s waist. Ju-wan continued speaking while gently stroking the head of Jaguar, who had woken up in surprise.
“Dr. Baek asked if we could go on a summer vacation together early next week. He said it seems like Su-nam and I have heatstroke… Apparently, the doctor owns a villa. It’s a villa in a secluded place, and since it’s by the water, he said I could swim with Su-nam.”
“That’s a nice excuse.”
“Pardon?”
“No. Not you.”
Kwon Su-hyeok suspected Baek Do-un’s intentions. He was certain that the man was simply bored of playing alone and had created a pretext to play together.
He had already received a report from Jeon Mi-nam regarding Ju-wan and Jaguar. Since then, he had been contemplating how to help improve their condition. He wondered if they had indeed suffered from heatstroke, as Baek Do-un suspected, and whether a simple getaway to a cooler place would be enough to fix it.
However, Ju-wan seemed to secretly hope for that as well. Preferably, together with Kwon Su-hyeok.
Kwon Su-hyeok picked up the jacket he had tossed aside. He pulled out his phone from inside and checked his schedule.
Around this time of year, work always became busier. Trading volumes increased, and there were many things to prepare for, such as accounting audits and special crackdowns. Sure enough, his schedule for this week and the next was packed. There was no distinction between weekends, day, or night.
Still, if he pushed his schedule forward bit by bit, he might find some breathing room next week.
“If it’s just for one day.”
“Really? Are you pushing yourself too hard?”
“If it’s what you want, I have to do it—no matter how hard it is.”
Ju-wan smiled brightly, revealing his neat teeth. His T-shirt had rolled up to his armpits, yet he seemed completely unaware of how provocative he looked. Kwon Su-hyeok let out a low sigh. He had intended to have proper sex after they showered, but it seemed that would be impossible.
Kwon Su-hyeok pulled Ju-wan’s legs, laying him completely flat on the sofa. Then, gripping his pants and underwear in one hand, he stripped them off in one swift motion. Since Ju-wan’s waist was draped over the armrest of the sofa, undressing him was much easier.
He bit deeply into Ju-wan’s exposed white thigh. As the sharp teeth sank into the skin, Ju-wan flinched, his waist trembling as he curled his body.
“Ngh….”
Kwon Su-hyeok languidly stroked Ju-wan’s groin. His long fingers softly pressed and rubbed against the still-soft penis and scrotum. He then delved deeper inside, caressing the crease of the buttocks. Leaning his upper body down, he buried his face in the crook of Ju-wan’s neck—who had his eyes tightly shut—and savored his scent. He then opened his mouth to bite deeply into the tender skin. Or rather, he tried to. That is, until Jaguar, who had fully awakened by then, suddenly snapped his head up and stared intently at the two of them.
“…….”
Jaguar, eyes flashing a bright yellow, slowly tilted his head toward Ju-wan. Then, out of nowhere, he stuck out his tongue and began licking Ju-wan’s flushed cheek frantically.
“Ngh, Su-nam….”
Ju-wan’s concentration was broken. Displeased by this, Kwon Su-hyeok grabbed his jacket and flicked it over Jaguar. As the suddenly flying jacket blocked his vision, Jaguar struggled, shaking his head from side to side. However, the jacket did not fall off easily.
Kwon Su-hyeok slowly lowered his upper body to kiss Ju-wan, his fingers tracing the area around Ju-wan’s hole. But in the end, his lips never reached Ju-wan.
It was because Jaguar, having thrown off the jacket in the meantime, abruptly thrust his snout between the two of them. Kwon Su-hyeok and Jaguar’s gazes locked in mid-air. It was a tense stare-down, as if they were engaged in a battle of wills. Then, Jaguar suddenly stuck out his tongue and gave Kwon Su-hyeok’s face a long, sweeping lick.
Ju-wan, who had been watching the scene blankly, finally burst into laughter. Jaguar, unaware of the reason, continued to lick Ju-wan as much as he could. Ju-wan’s hearty laughter didn’t stop.
Another one of their absolutely abnormal days was passing by.
* * *
“Ju-wan, are you ready?”
Baek Do-un, who appeared early in the morning, had an inflated tube tucked under one arm and a straw hat hanging around his neck. He was so excited about the trip that his voice was several times louder than usual. His Hawaiian shirt and knee-length shorts looked incredibly breezy.
Baek Do-un approached Jaguar, who was lounging in the living room, and placed the straw hat on his head. Jaguar shook his head as if annoyed and repeatedly brushed his head with his front paws. However, because the collar was tightened just right, he couldn’t get the hat off.
“Shall we take a photo to commemorate our Su-nam’s trip? Smile!”
Baek Do-un leaned toward Jaguar and turned on his phone camera. He didn’t hesitate to perform the dangerous act of pulling up the corners of Jaguar’s mouth with his fingers. As soon as the shutter clicked, Jaguar stood up and swung his front paw. Consequently, the innocent phone went flying and landed on the floor. Baek Do-un picked up the phone nonchalantly.
“Hmm, it came out well.”
He looked at the photo and expressed his satisfaction with a peaceful air.
“Is the teacher here?”
Shortly after, Ju-wan walked out of the bedroom and greeted them. He, who usually insisted on dressing like a high school student, was wearing a breathable summer shirt and shorts today. They were clothes he had picked out while shopping with Baek Do-un. As soon as Ju-wan saw Jaguar in the straw hat, he showered him with compliments on how cute he was and kneaded the animal’s cheeks. He even took several photos with his phone.
Unlike how he had treated Baek Do-un a moment ago, Jaguar merely wagged his tail slowly. It was almost unfair how his attitude differed from person to person.
Baek Do-un looked around for Kwon Su-hyeok and Jeon Mi-nam. Judging by the occasional voices coming from a nearby room, they seemed to be discussing urgent business.
When the two finally finished their conversation and came out, they were dressed as usual. Baek Do-un’s brow furrowed immediately.
“What’s with those clothes? Who goes on a summer getaway dressed like that?”
At Baek Do-un’s disgusted tone, Ju-wan’s gaze immediately shifted to Kwon Su-hyeok. Kwon Su-hyeok watched Ju-wan in silence for a moment before bringing up the thing he had feared.
“Go on ahead.”
“What?”
“There’s a problem with the warehouse inventory that I need to check. Don’t wait for me; you two go first.”
“Ha, still talking about work even when we’re going on a trip? Are you possessed by the ghost of a workaholic?”
“It’s better than going there and constantly worrying about work.”
“I bet it is. Seriously, Kwon Su-hyeok, you really have a knack for killing the mood.”
Baek Do-un grumbled openly. He had thought things were going smoothly. Of course, it wasn’t that he hadn’t anticipated this kind of development. There were always many variables in the work Kwon Su-hyeok did. In fact, if an unavoidable situation like this arose, he intended to take at least Ju-wan and Jaguar.
“Let’s just go by ourselves, Ju-wan.”
Baek Do-un quickly resigned himself and pulled Ju-wan by the hand. Jeon Mi-nam stepped in front of them.
“What is it now, Mi-nam?”
“Will it be alright to leave the driving to someone else? The road there will be rough.”
“Someone else who? Mi-nam, you’re going with Su-hyeok.”
“If the two of you don’t mind, I will call a suitable person.”
“You think we won’t mind? Of course we’ll mind. Forget it. It’s my villa and my car. It’s better if I drive myself. Where else can you find a best driver like me?”
Baek Do-un looked back at Ju-wan as if seeking agreement. Ju-wan merely gave an ambiguous smile instead of an answer.
“Move. Every single minute and second wasted like this is a shame.”
He led Ju-wan and strode toward the entrance. Jaguar followed them leisurely. It was almost automatic now. No other dog would follow its owner as persistently as he did.
As Baek Do-un was putting on his shoes, his body was suddenly jerked back. To be precise, it wasn’t him, but Ju-wan, who was being held by him, who was pulled backward.
Kwon Su-hyeok scrutinized Ju-wan, who was looking back at him with a puzzled expression. He seemed to be checking to see if Ju-wan was disappointed.
“I’ll come, even if I’m late.”
At the following promise, Ju-wan nodded readily.
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“You don’t go anywhere dangerous either.”
Ju-wan nodded again. Then, Kwon Su-hyeok smiled faintly and toyed with Ju-wan’s lips. Ju-wan instinctively closed his eyes. Kwon Su-hyeok didn’t hesitate to lean down and press his lips firmly against Ju-wan’s.
A flustered Jeon Mi-nam whipped his head away. Baek Do-un, along with Jaguar, stared intently at the kiss. However, because Kwon Su-hyeok reached out and forcibly turned his head away, he missed the decisive moment.
Baek Do-un irritably brushed off Kwon Su-hyeok’s hand. Then, he led Ju-wan, who was hesitating, outside. The wide-open front door closed with a loud thud. There was some commotion outside for a moment, but soon the presence faded.
Kwon Su-hyeok and Jeon Mi-nam also hurried their preparations to leave. Before stepping out the front door, they scanned the house once more because the interior was exceptionally quiet. It felt as if the ticking of the second hand could be heard clearly. Without Ju-wan and Jaguar there to see them off at the door, it felt incredibly empty and chilly.
As Jeon Mi-nam had feared, Baek Do-un had been wandering for quite a while. He himself didn’t feel much of a crisis and hummed along to the music playing from the audio system, but the fact that the road was getting narrower was ominous. It felt as if they were going deeper and deeper into the forest. Both the navigation and the phone signal were very poor.
Ju-wan, in the passenger seat, kept looking around.
“Teacher, is this the right way?”
“Yes. I’m sure of it.”
“It’s just that the road seems to be getting narrower. It’s not even paved… and the navigation is dead.”
“Do you really think I wouldn’t know where my own villa is? Don’t worry, and if you’re tired, take a nap, Ju-wan.”
Baek Do-un was completely carefree throughout. The car jolted as it drove along the unpaved road, causing Jaguar in the back seat to repeatedly hit his head against the ceiling, and dense branches kept scratching the car body, but he insisted it was fine. There wasn’t a single sign of human habitation, let alone a person passing by.
“Huh? What’s that?”
Before long, Baek Do-un stopped the car. A large tree had fallen, blocking the road ahead. At a glance, it looked like it had been that way for a long time. This meant that almost no one traveled through there. Otherwise, it would have been reported to the relevant authorities and cleared long ago.
Baek Do-un got out of the car and examined the area around the tree. He seemed to be looking around to find the way. Ju-wan turned toward the back seat and gently stroked Jaguar’s forehead. Jaguar had no energy at all. He looked completely exhausted by the heat. Even with the air conditioner on high, his fundamental thirst didn’t seem to subside.
Soon, Baek Do-un, who had gone to check the situation outside, returned. He scratched the back of his ear with a troubled expression.
“It looks like we’ll have to walk.”
“What?”
“We’re almost there, so it’s not that far. Maybe a 30-minute walk? I can’t believe the road became like this while I was away.”
“How long has it been since you last came?”
“Seven or eight years? Now, pack your things.”
They had to find the villa relying on memories from seven or eight years ago. It was a distant memory, but because Baek Do-un was humming as he took out the luggage, Ju-wan couldn’t bring himself to suggest turning back. For Ju-wan, it was a trip he had secretly looked forward to, so he felt it would be a shame to go back like this.
Ju-wan first opened the back door to let out Jaguar, who must have suffered in the cramped space. As soon as Jaguar stepped onto the dirt ground, he prowled around the car as if exploring an unfamiliar area. At the sudden appearance of a predator, animals like squirrels scurried away. Birds also fluttered and flew up.
Ju-wan and Baek Do-un shared the luggage and walked with brisk steps. He didn’t entirely dislike the feeling of the damp, spongy soil. Jaguar, who had been looking around warily, quickly followed the two. While the two struggled to climb over the fallen tree, he leaped over it as if to show off. Ju-wan instinctively let out an exclamation at the agile movement. When Baek Do-un clapped for him, Jaguar became immensely triumphant and lifted his chin.
The path was not as rough as expected. The densely intertwined branches and deep green leaves blocked the sunlight, making the air cool. They walked as if taking a stroll along a path emitting phytoncides. Meanwhile, birds chirped everywhere. The sound of clear water winding and flowing played softly like background music. Even though they were lost, their hearts became infinitely relaxed.
He had said it would take around 30 minutes, but the actual time taken was increasing. Yet, because they were enjoying the forest bath, there was no time to be bored or anxious. It seemed the saying that even the road to the destination becomes part of the journey was true.
“Hmm. I think it was around here.”
Baek Do-un, who was walking ahead, stopped for a moment. Ju-wan also stood beside him and looked around. Judging by the fact that the sound of water had grown closer, it was clearly nearby, but for some reason, the villa was not in sight. Was it hidden by the lush trees?
Just then, Jaguar, who had been pricking up his ears and concentrating on something, began to search the area busily.
“Su-nam, why are you… Su-nam!”
Leaving behind Ju-wan, who was asking what was wrong, Jaguar suddenly kicked off the ground and ran quickly somewhere. At his sudden action, Ju-wan reflexively chased after him. Baek Do-un also hurried after them with a startled “Oh!” There was a risk they might get scattered and lost.
Jaguar leaped over large and small stones and trees. Because of this, the distance between him and Ju-wan grew wider and wider. Eventually, he disappeared entirely into the brush.
“Su-nam, wait a second!”
It was when Ju-wan, breathing heavily, pushed through the thick brush. Jaguar was nowhere to be seen, and a magnificent villa appeared.
“Haa, haa… Huh?”
It was so sudden that he wondered if it was a mirage. As Ju-wan stared blankly, he pointed the villa out to Baek Do-un, who had run up behind him. Then, Baek Do-un shouted in an excited voice.
“That’s it!”
“Uh, if it’s over there, I don’t think we could have reached it by car anyway.”
“No. The last time I came, I drove right up to the front. There’s a place to park back there….”
Baek Do-un, who had replied with confidence, tilted his head. He seemed to be matching his old memories with the actual appearance of the villa.
“…Should I have gone down at that fork in the road?”
Soon, he muttered to himself and walked toward the villa. It seemed he had indeed taken the wrong turn. They had almost become lost in the forest, but thanks to Jaguar, they had arrived safely.
By the way, where was Jaguar? Ju-wan suddenly realized he had lost him and looked around frantically. Around that time, Baek Do-un, who was walking ahead, waved his hand toward the water.
“Is Su-nam swimming first? He’s good at it.”
As he went beside Baek Do-un, a large lake filled his vision. The water was so clear that the bottom was visible. From the way the dense trees surrounded it like a folding screen to the villa on the opposite side, it looked like a painting.
Making his brief worry seem pointless, Jaguar was swimming leisurely, splashing in the water. Ju-wan knew from books that unlike typical felines, Jaguars liked water. Still, he was surprised by his high-level swimming skills, as if he were born for it.
Jaguar approached the shore as if to show off and swam in a circular motion. His movements were so smooth that even a dolphin would be envious. Every time he pushed the water with his large front paws, a huge ripple was created. Water droplets splashed in all directions.
Watching the unusually lively animal, they continued their walk toward the villa. Jaguar also followed the two leisurely in the water.
The villa was structured such that if the windows were opened wide, a cool breeze would blow into every corner. The attic on the top floor had a large window, making it seem as if the stars would be clearly visible on a clear night.
“How is it?”
“It’s great. And it’s much cleaner than I expected.”
“It’s because I don’t come often, but I have a separate caretaker. Now, let’s go out.”
Baek Do-un tossed the bags he had painstakingly carried inside the entrance. Then, he led Ju-wan, who was about to set the luggage down carefully, straight outside.
Jaguar was still floating in the middle of the lake. It seemed he was trying to cool off the heat that felt ingrained in his body.
“Now, Ju-wan, go swimming. I’m going to catch some shut-eye here for a bit.”
“What? You’re not going in the water, teacher?”
“Sleep first for me.”
“Then this tube….”
“Ah, I specially blew air into that so you wouldn’t drown, Ju-wan. I worked hard to bring it, so use it well.”
Baek Do-un went to a beach bench placed under a sunshade and lay down. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep while feeling the breeze. It seemed he had no intention of immersing himself in the water from the start.
Ju-wan stared blankly at the empty beach bench next to Baek Do-un. It seemed like it would be nice to take a nap while smelling the cool breeze and the scent of greenery. However, since he had come to the water after so long, he felt he should at least dip his feet in. With the tube on his arm, he walked toward the lakeshore.
Jaguar, who had been swimming in the distance, spotted Ju-wan and cut through the water toward him. Then, just as Ju-wan was taking off his shoes, Jaguar grabbed his pants in his mouth and abruptly pulled him into the water. He didn’t even give him a chance to put the tube around his waist.
“Ah! Wa-wait a second! Su-nam!”
Before he could even think about getting into the water, let alone doing warm-up exercises, he was plunged into the lake. In an instant, his entire body was soaked. The sensation was chilling enough to make him shiver to his very bones.
The problem was that Ju-wan had never learned how to swim. The tube around his arm merely bobbed uselessly by the shore.
Jaguar tried to pull Ju-wan toward the center of the lake, but as Ju-wan repeatedly sank and surfaced, unable to stay afloat, the animal let go of his clothes. Predictably, Ju-wan disappeared beneath the surface. Jaguar dove deep and used his body to prop Ju-wan up, pushing him back to the surface.
Ju-wan recalled seeing a trained dolphin swimming with its trainer on TV once. He had wondered what that felt like, and now his situation was no different. Relying on Jaguar’s dependable back, Ju-wan glided leisurely through the current.
He reached out and wrapped his arms around Jaguar’s body, resting his head gently on the animal’s back. Jaguar glanced back at Ju-wan and began to push through the water with more vigor. The faint breeze became a distinct rush against his skin. It felt wondrous and exhilarating to roam freely across the water, greeted by the refreshing, cool wind.
He explored the vast lake with Jaguar until he was exhausted. The water was so clear that he could see the fish swimming beneath his legs. If only his stamina had held up, he felt he could have enjoyed swimming like that all night.
As the sun began to set, the entire lake took on a brilliant orange hue. After gazing up at the sky, which changed by the second as it was dyed by the sunset, he led Jaguar back to shore. Jaguar shook his drenched body, thoroughly spraying the water from his fur. Despite the long swim, he looked energetic and showed no signs of fatigue. If anything, he seemed excited to have played in the water to his heart’s content after so long.
In contrast, Ju-wan didn’t have the energy to lift a single finger. Even though all he had done was cling to Jaguar, he was completely spent. Sprawled out on a beach bench, Ju-wan pulled Jaguar’s face—which was staring intently down at him—into an embrace. He knew he should get up quickly and take care of the animal’s food, but his body refused to budge.
Just then, Baek Do-un stirred and let out a long stretch.
“Ugh, I slept well. Did you get plenty of swimming in?”
“Yes.”
“You’re soaked. Here’s a towel. Su-nam, you too.”
Baek Do-un handed over large towels. Ju-wan draped one over himself and used the other to dry Jaguar’s fur. Jaguar sat obediently, accepting Ju-wan’s touch.
“Rest for a bit. I’ll get dinner ready quickly.”
“I’ll help you.”
“No, it’ll be fast. We’re grilling meat.”
Baek Do-un lit the barbecue grill and lined up the ingredients, including the meat, on the outdoor table. He tore off a thick piece of raw meat and tossed it to Jaguar. Perhaps hungry from swimming all day, Jaguar lunged at it instantly and began to tear into the meat. It was a level of proactiveness rarely seen lately.
Baek Do-un placed meat, mushrooms, corn, and sausages on the properly heated grill. A mouth-watering aroma gradually spread. As complete darkness fell, the lights around the villa flickered on. With Baek Do-un turning on a camping lamp, the tranquil atmosphere was complete.
Baek Do-un and Ju-wan sat opposite each other at the table and shared stories from their childhood. Baek Do-un mentioned that this was his first time truly coming away for a summer vacation. Considering his peculiar family environment and his twenties, which he had spent practically living in a hospital, it wasn’t a surprising confession. He said that even when he happened to have a lover, they often spent their time inside a hotel rather than traveling to enjoy a vacation like this.
The primary speaker soon shifted to Ju-wan. Ju-wan told stories of how he used to flock with his friends every summer to the streams to catch crayfish, small fish, and snails. He became so immersed in the conversation, sharing even the funny anecdotes, that he failed to notice a strange presence.
“Aren’t you going to flip them?”
Baek Do-un and Ju-wan both flinched at the sudden, booming voice. Turning toward the sound, they saw Jeon Mi-nam and Kwon Su-hyeok walking toward them. It seemed they had come straight after finishing some urgent business. Jeon Mi-nam practically ran to the grill, which was reeking of burnt food, and skillfully flipped the charred meat.
However, the food that had already missed its window had turned into black charcoal. Baek Do-un awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck and approached Jeon Mi-nam.
“It’s all burnt. I thought it wouldn’t cook so fast because it was thick.”
“You must not get distracted when preparing food. The same goes for grilling meat. I’m afraid this must all be thrown away. I will prepare it again for you immediately.”
“I really can’t do without Mi-nam-ssi.”
Jeon Mi-nam tried his best to ignore Baek Do-un’s flattery as he placed meat and mushrooms back on the grill. Baek Do-un helped him by adding sausages and corn.
Ju-wan patted the seat next to him for Kwon Su-hyeok. Kwon Su-hyeok sat down there without hesitation. Without needing to decide who went first, they shared a quick kiss.
“Your body is cold. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“Ah, I was swimming with Su-nam until a moment ago… More importantly, did you finish all your busy work before coming?”
“Yeah. I didn’t see the car when I arrived, though.”
“Well, I got a little lost. But thanks to Su-nam, I found my way easily. After that, I just swam. Actually, I don’t know how to swim. Su-nam let me ride on his back, so I got to see all the way to the end. The water is so clean that I could even see the fish swimming.”
Ju-wan chattered excitedly. Kwon Su-hyeok gazed at Ju-wan’s face, which looked genuinely excited for once, and kissed him again. Then, he slid his hand inside Ju-wan’s t-shirt. As expected, his skin was far too cold.
“Everything is fine, but change your clothes first. You’re soaked. You’ll catch a cold at this rate.”
“…Ah, is that so? Then I’ll go change quickly.”
Ju-wan immediately stood up and hurried toward the villa. Kwon Su-hyeok, who had been watching him, soon stood up as well.
Baek Do-un, who had been watching the meat grill appetizingly beside Jeon Mi-nam, quietly followed the two with his eyes. After confirming they had disappeared in the same direction, he let out a small chuckle and turned away.
“They’re at a good age. I’m jealous.”
“Aren’t you?” Baek Do-un said, leaning his head on Jeon Mi-nam’s shoulder and looking up at him. Jeon Mi-nam stiffened. His gaze remained stubbornly fixed on the grill. Eventually, a hearty laugh burst from Baek Do-un.
It was around the time Ju-wan was taking out a change of clothes from the bags huddled in front of the entrance. Kwon Su-hyeok, who had followed him, closed the door. Then, he slid his hand around Ju-wan’s waist and hugged his back tightly. A chilly sensation rushed in as he touched Ju-wan, but even that felt refreshing, as if it were cooling down the heat. They say when you fall in love, everything about the other person seems wonderful; this was exactly that.
Kwon Su-hyeok hugged Ju-wan’s body more firmly and licked the back of his ear with a thick stroke of his tongue. Ju-wan let out a small moan and shrunk his neck. It was only natural, given that a hot tongue had touched him while he was soaked and exposed to the wind. Tiny goosebumps rose on his smooth skin.
“Su-hyeok-ssi, wait a moment.”
Ju-wan took Kwon Su-hyeok’s hand, which was squeezing him almost painfully, and slowly pulled it away. Then, interlocking their fingers, he turned to face Kwon Su-hyeok. There was something he really wanted to do together now that he had arrived.
“Do you want to go upstairs? I think the stars should be out by now.”
He actively pulled Kwon Su-hyeok’s arm. Kwon Su-hyeok, not knowing the reason, followed Ju-wan’s lead.
The two used the stairs in the living room to go to the second floor. Then, they opened the door in the center and lowered the ceiling ladder. It was a ladder leading to the attic.
Kwon Su-hyeok climbed the ladder first and opened the ceiling hatch. Then, he grabbed the arm of Ju-wan, who was following, and hoisted him up with his strength.
In the attic, there was a large, slanted window. As Ju-wan had expected, the lake and the night sky were visible through it. The two stared blankly at the moon and stars embroidering the pitch-black sky.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had gazed at the stars so endlessly. It was a life where neither Kwon Su-hyeok nor Ju-wan had the luxury for such things. In that suffocating and tedious life, they had met just one person. Yet, it felt as if that single small inflection point had completely overturned their entire lives. It felt as if vivid, full-color light was pouring into a life that had once been grey.
Kwon Su-hyeok lay down on the floor without hesitation and spread his arm. Then, he motioned toward that arm with his eyes. Ju-wan smiled faintly and approached, lying down with his head on the arm. Kwon Su-hyeok pulled Ju-wan into an embrace and kissed his forehead.
“I didn’t really know before, but the stars are truly beautiful.”
Ju-wan murmured drowsily, burrowing into Kwon Su-hyeok’s warm chest. Kwon Su-hyeok repeatedly pressed his lips to Ju-wan’s hair and forehead, whispering, “You are more so.” A ticklish laugh escaped Ju-wan.
They lay side by side, gazing up at the sky until they were sated. No conversation passed between them, but it was a moment of absolute fulfillment.
Before long, the meat was grilled to perfection. Baek Do-un looked enchantedly at the golden-brown meat emitting a delicious scent. A desire to shove as much of it into his mouth as possible surged within him. Jeon Mi-nam took off the gloves he was wearing. It seemed he intended to bring back Kwon Su-hyeok and Ju-wan, who had gone into the villa and not returned.
Baek Do-un stopped him, saying, “Just leave them.” Then, he shrugged at Jeon Mi-nam, who looked puzzled.
“They’re probably full even without eating right now.”
“But….”
“You’d better listen to me. If you go to get them now, you’ll only hear a lot of complaints.”
Baek Do-un spoke with certainty while gently stroking Jaguar, who was stretched out on the log bench. Jaguar’s ears flickered, and he soon began to exhale deep breaths, his back undulating. He seemed exhausted from swimming all day.
“I can eat now, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
Humming a tune, Baek Do-un picked up a perfectly cooked piece of meat and put it in his mouth. As soon as he chewed, savory juices burst forth. A satisfied smile spread across Baek Do-un’s face.
“This is really delicious. Mi-nam-ssi, hurry up and sit down and eat.”
Jeon Mi-nam looked back and forth between the villa and Baek Do-un with a troubled expression, then eventually sat opposite him. Baek Do-un pushed some of the meat toward him and asked,
“Is there anyone who enjoys the food you make more than I do?”
“Why do you ask such a thing?”
“There isn’t, right?”
Jeon Mi-nam didn’t respond. He seemed to suspect that Baek Do-un was trying to play another strange prank. Or perhaps a provocation disguised as a joke.
“So, marry me. I’ll treat you well.”
There was no hesitation. Baek Do-un smiled mischievously and observed Jeon Mi-nam’s expression. He seemed to be expecting him to break into a cold sweat from embarrassment.
However, Jeon Mi-nam simply handed him a tissue with a calm expression, no different from usual.
“Eat slowly. You’ll get indigestion.”
“Tsk.”
Baek Do-un clicked his tongue and stuffed his mouth full of meat. Jeon Mi-nam clenched his fist resting on his thigh.
The black lake water embraced the night view, making it look as if two moons had risen. The gentle sound of water, the countless stars that seemed ready to spill over, the sound of the wind shaking the quiet forest, and the fresh air that refreshed the depths of the lungs. It was a night where one could easily be swept away by the dreamlike atmosphere. His heart fluttered strangely.
The sound of insects crying could be heard in the distance. A perfect midsummer night was passing by.