“How did you…”
Matteo rinsed his mouth with water and looked at Kim Ha-yoon in front of him. Lieutenant Park, who always accompanied him, was waiting in front of the car some distance away. Kim Ha-yoon stared intently at Ire’s face and then chuckled. Ire didn’t know the exact reason why he was laughing.
“I should be asking you that. You said you wanted to go home, but have you adapted already?”
“I came with my colleagues…”
“Are you going back in?”
Ire hesitated and shook his head. It was too noisy and chaotic inside. His stomach was upset, and he just wanted to wash up and lie down.
“I’m going back to the unit.”
“Then, let’s go. I’ll give you a ride.”
“It’s okay.”
At his firm refusal, one of Kim Ha-yoon’s eyebrows shot up. Ire had been uncomfortable with the man’s gaze since earlier. Why was he staring so intently? Had he offended him again? As he slowly backed away, trying to get away from Kim Ha-yoon and return to the unit as soon as possible, Kim Ha-yoon put his arm around his shoulder.
“Don’t do that, let’s go together. I have something to talk about.”
When Ire tried to shake off his arm, Kim Ha-yoon wrapped his arm around his neck this time.
“If you shake me off one more time, I’ll break your ankles and take you with me.”
Knowing that he was capable of doing just that, Ire reluctantly followed him. As soon as Lieutenant Park opened the back door of the car, he was pushed inside. Kim Ha-yoon got in next, and the car started as the door closed. The car started driving down the road, and Ire looked out the window.
Videos were being broadcast on a large screen hanging between the glittering buildings. The ever-changing screen showed people in fancy clothes dancing, cars, and a seemingly happy family.
In the past, Ire had a vague longing for District A. He had occasionally heard stories from adults who went there to deliver goods, and every time, he had dreamed of visiting it someday. But even though his dream had come true, he wasn’t happy.
“Was it good?”
At the sudden voice, Ire looked at Kim Ha-yoon. He had his eyes closed and was leaning back in his seat. He seemed so indifferent that Ire wondered if he had even spoken to him.
“Are you asking me?”
“Yeah.”
“What was good?”
Kim Ha-yoon slowly opened his eyes and just moved his pupils. The way the corners of his lips slightly turned up made him look sly, as if he had something up his sleeve. He soon tapped his lips with his finger.
Belatedly, Ire remembered that he had been suddenly kissed by a woman at the club and that the lipstick she had on was particularly red. His neck flushed red in an instant, and he wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
“Could it be, your first kiss?”
Ire felt offended by his subtly mocking tone. It was practically his first kiss, but he didn’t want to tell him the truth.
“Of course not…”
“Was she pretty?”
Ire rolled his eyes upward. Objectively speaking, she was quite beautiful. That’s why he was momentarily distracted and got caught off guard. But he didn’t want to tell Kim Ha-yoon the details.
“So you like pretty faces?”
“Who doesn’t like pretty people…”
“I see. Me too. I like pretty things.”
Why was he staring at him while saying that? What did he want him to do? By the way, the direction the car was going was strange. The unit was a bit far from the city center, but the taller the buildings became, the further they went.
“Weren’t we going to the unit?”
“We’re going to my house.”
Ire frowned openly. “Why?”
“You have tomorrow off. You said you wanted to see your stepfather. I’ll take you.”
Ire’s heart wavered at the mention of Matteo. Was he allowed to visit him now…?
Before he knew it, the car passed through the building’s gate and slid into the underground parking lot. From the entrance, the car was automatically inspected, and after a thorough check at the next gate, entry was finally permitted.
After the car stopped, Kim Ha-yoon got out, and Ire followed, looking around. Cameras installed everywhere were flashing and watching his every move.
“If you tell me where it is, I’ll go tomorrow. I want to sleep at the unit.”
“Why? Do you have some hidden treasure there?”
Ire parted his lips. It was much more comfortable to sleep alone at the unit than to sleep with him, he didn’t want to see his face if possible, and he had no idea how uncomfortable he had been on the way here. There were so many things he wanted to say, but he didn’t want to stir up trouble for no reason.
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t sleep if I change my sleeping environment…”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“……”
“Don’t do that, sleep with me. I’m bored. Let’s hang out and go see your stepfather in the morning.”
Without giving him a chance to refuse, Kim Ha-yoon strode ahead. It was as good as saying that he wouldn’t allow him to return to the unit. So he had no choice but to follow. While riding the elevator, Ire only looked down at the floor. He felt slightly dizzy as they went up quickly.
With a ding-dong sound, the elevator doors opened, revealing a carpeted hallway. There was only one door on the 90th floor. He went to the door and placed his palm on it, and the door soon opened, and Ire was pushed inside.
His mouth dropped open as soon as he entered. It was not only wide but also very high. He looked at the large and ornate chandelier hanging from the ceiling and then turned to the window. His vision was dizzy and almost dizzying. But thanks to that, he could see the cityscape at a glance.
The glittering neon signs and the lights emitted by the cars captivated his eyes like jewels laid on the floor. As he was lost in thought, he heard footsteps behind him. Before he could turn around, Kim Ha-yoon’s hand was on his shoulder.
His nerves were on edge as Kim Ha-yoon stood close behind him.
Their bodies were so close that he could hear his breathing.
“See over there? Our unit is beyond that.”
Kim Ha-yoon pointed to a distant place. A cool scent tickled the tip of his nose, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. He didn’t want to make a fuss, so he stiffened his body and only looked at where Kim Ha-yoon was pointing.
“And over there is the hospital you’re going to tomorrow.”
To be honest, there were so many buildings that he couldn’t tell exactly what was what. Ah, and that, Kim Ha-yoon’s chest brushed against his back, and Ire felt the muscles below his neck tense up. It was so uncomfortable to be so close to another man, especially someone he wasn’t even close to.
“I’m going to go wash up… My clothes are dirty.”
As he turned his body to move to the side, Kim Ha-yoon nonchalantly pointed to the opposite side of the living room. “If you go inside there, you’ll find the bathroom. I’ve put out a new toothbrush for you. I’ll prepare some clothes for you to change into.” Ire nodded and hurried to the bathroom he had mentioned. He felt like his scent had permeated his whole body, even though they had only touched for a moment.
Ire couldn’t close his mouth as he entered the bathroom. Was the bathroom this big? Moreover, the bathroom was also a panoramic window, and he could see outside clearly. After admiring the night view outside, he lowered the blinds and tore open a new toothbrush from the shelf.
While brushing his teeth while looking in the mirror, he touched his canine tooth with the toothbrush, and his body trembled. He unconsciously touched the spot where his lips had been rubbed. When he was young, the girls in his neighborhood would playfully kiss him on the cheek, but it was the first time he had rubbed his lips directly against someone else’s.
The woman’s lips were soft, moist, and squishy…
It wasn’t as bad as he had expected. As strange thoughts came to mind, he felt heat gathering in his lower body. Ire turned on the cold water with a dumbfounded expression and cooled down the heat. What woman for someone like you. He blamed himself and absentmindedly pressed his canine tooth with his tongue.
Then, after drying his body with a towel, he hung it around his waist. He was supposed to bring clothes to the entrance, but no matter how much he looked, he couldn’t find them. He had no choice but to come out of the bathroom with only a towel around his waist. Kim Ha-yoon, who was in the living room, was just turning his head at the sound of someone.
“Did you wash up?”
His eyes scanned him from top to bottom.
He belatedly realized that he hadn’t dried his hair properly.
“Ah… I’m sorry. I should have dried my hair with a hair dryer…”
He squatted down on the floor with the towel he had been using to dry his hair and removed the moisture. The marble floor was shiny. It seemed disgustingly clean, with not a speck of dust. He was dripping water on such a place, so it was no wonder he was annoyed.
After a while, Kim Ha-yoon put his arm on the sofa and laughed.
“I was right.”
“About what?”
“I said that your body would be as pretty as your face. Look.”
“……”
“If you’re trying to seduce me, spread your legs wider. So I can see in detail.”
Only then did he realize that he was squatting down and hadn’t properly taken care of his lower body. What did it matter if he showed it to another man, but the problem was that bastard’s mouth. Usually, even if friends accidentally saw it, they would curse at him, saying it was disgusting.
He quickly got up, fastened his towel, and turned around. As he was going to the bathroom, he heard a laughing voice from behind. “There are clothes in the drawer inside the bathroom. Wear those.”
Ire gritted his teeth inwardly.
That son of a bitch. He should have told him sooner.