While talking with the training supervisor, Captain Kim Ha-yoon discovered Ire staggering around, drunk. He was leaning his forehead against the hallway wall, muttering to himself. He’d told him not to drink too much, but he’d gone and done it anyway… As he headed over, Seo Young-jun came out and supported Ire. Kim Ha-yoon went forward and blocked their path, causing Seo Young-jun’s eyes to widen.
“I’ll take him back.”
“No, I…”
Seo Young-jun, looking unsure, hesitated before handing Ire over.
He bowed and quickly disappeared into the cafeteria.
“Sleepy…”
His mumbling voice was thick with sleepiness. All the way back, Ire muttered incomprehensible things, not forgetting to throw in curses at Kim Ha-yoon. Son of a bitch. Bad bastard. Should’ve splattered it all over his face. And so on. Kim Ha-yoon, who had been listening silently, smiled.
They arrived at the dorm, and he opened the door and laid Ire on the bed. He took off his shoes and sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at his face as he slept soundly. His chest rose and fell with each breath, and his even teeth were visible between his slightly parted lips.
He stared for a while before touching his plump lips with his fingertip. Despite the grueling training, his lips were soft. He slowly inserted his finger into his mouth, parted his teeth, and traced his upper teeth. Kim Ha-yoon’s eyes gradually darkened as he rubbed his canine tooth.
“Umm…”
Ire made an uncharacteristic moan.
“Ha…”
Just in case, he touched the same spot again, and he moaned without fail. He was used to seeing only a sullen expression, so seeing his face flushed with arousal was strange. With his finger still in his mouth, he moved his lips to Ire’s ear.
“Do you like it here?”
He scratched his canine tooth with his fingernail, and Ire moaned and slightly arched his back.
“Fucking hell, if I rub it more, you’ll spread your legs, won’t you?”
Despite the cold tone, Kim Ha-yoon’s gaze traveled from Ire’s smooth forehead, down his nose and lips, to the nape of his neck exposed above his shirt. The veins were visible beneath the pale white skin, and it looked as if blood would pour out if he cut it with a knife.
As he slowly admired him, his eyebrow cocked up. Ire, who had been closing his eyes until a moment ago, had his eyes half-open and was staring into space.
“Are you awake?”
When he removed his finger, Ire reached out and twitched his lips.
“Huh?”
Curious about what he was going to say, he lowered his head, and Ire hugged his neck. Kim Ha-yoon’s face contorted at the unexpected action. With their upper bodies pressed together, Ire rubbed his face against Kim Ha-yoon’s neck. Kim Ha-yoon smiled at the affectionate gesture.
“Are you acting like this because of what I said earlier? It’s too late.”
“…Matteo…”
“Huh?”
“…Matteo… Run away…”
Ire’s voice was neither desperate nor tragic. Rather, it was frighteningly calm. That’s why it felt even more sincere, not just drunken rambling.
As he released his arms from his neck, his eyelids closed, and his gray-blue eyes disappeared. Watching Ire breathe evenly, Kim Ha-yoon was overcome with an unknown emotion. Why was he so twisted and angry? He had only found his stepfather.
He sat on the chair next to the bed and rummaged through his jacket pocket. He took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, then opened the lighter. Instead of lighting it, he just kept opening and closing the silver lid. The sensation of the canine tooth was still sharply on his fingertips.
Then, he belatedly noticed something sparkling on Ire’s neck and slowly reached out his hand.
Waking up, Ire frowned and buried his face in the pillow. He had a slight headache, probably from the alcohol. How did he get here yesterday…? He tried to remember, but it was cut off as if with scissors.
Looking to the side, he saw his other colleagues fast asleep. He quietly got up and went to the bathroom to wash up. In the mirror was a haggard face. He felt like he’d had nightmares all night, mostly about Matteo. Bad guys were wielding huge knives at Matteo, and later, they pierced his heart.
Could something have happened to him? He thought he should go this weekend and went to take a shower, but suddenly felt empty and groped his neck.
“Oh, no…”
Realizing his necklace was gone, he looked around the bathroom floor. It was a gift Matteo had given him on his 10th birthday, but it had completely disappeared. He changed his clothes and hurried out, running into Seo Young-jun.
“You’re up? Is your stomach okay? How can you pass out after three beers?”
“Young-jun, have you seen my necklace?”
“What necklace? Oh, that cross? Why? Is it gone?”
He wondered if it had gone under the bed and got down on the floor, but Seo Young-jun yawned and muttered.
“Did you drop it in the hallway…?”
“Huh?”
“Captain Kim Ha-yoon took you back yesterday. Maybe you dropped it on the way?”
Ire froze with his mouth open. Kim Ha-yoon had taken him back, but he didn’t remember anything. Fucking hell. The dream belatedly came to mind, and a chill ran down his spine. Had he said something strange while drunk?
“I’ll be back in a bit.”
He hurried out and headed to Kim Ha-yoon’s dorm. He went to the end of the hallway and knocked on the door, but it was quiet. Was he sleeping somewhere else? He knocked harder, and then he heard someone stir and Kim Ha-yoon appeared. He had just showered, with a towel around his lower body and wet hair.
“What’s wrong?”
“I came to ask you something… By any chance,”
Before he could finish, Kim Ha-yoon went inside, and Ire followed him. The door closed behind him, and the sound of the lock engaging felt heavy. Kim Ha-yoon’s room was large and had all sorts of things, unlike the other rooms.
Ire noticed the empty bottles and glasses on the table and stared at them.
“What’s the reason for chasing me from the morning?”
He finished drying his wet hair and then untied the towel around his waist. For a moment, Ire saw what was dangling between his legs and doubted his eyes, but he didn’t show it. Kim Ha-yoon nonchalantly began to put on his clothes, and Ire quickly looked away.
“Did you happen to see my necklace yesterday…?”
Even as he talked about the necklace, he couldn’t get the shocking scene he had just seen out of his head. Was that even a possible size for a human…?
“What necklace?”
“A cross… The one I always wear…”
“I don’t know.”
His answer was strange. Was he saying he saw it or not? Confused, he was about to describe the shape a little more accurately when Kim Ha-yoon buttoned up his shirt and approached him. At that moment, Ire saw something sparkling on his neck and couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Huh?”
“What.”
“That’s mine, isn’t it?”
When he pointed at Kim Ha-yoon with his finger, he smiled.
“Me? Am I yours?”
Fuck, what a joke. He barely swallowed the curse that was about to come out and pointed exactly at his neck.
“The one you’re wearing around your neck right now. That’s mine.”
“That’s strange. This is mine.”
Ire frowned. He tried to get closer to see, but Kim Ha-yoon buttoned up his shirt. He looked at him, dumbfounded. Seeing his so calm and brazen expression, he was confused himself.
Was it really his necklace? Or was it just similar? But since when had Kim Ha-yoon been wearing a cross necklace? Did he have a religion? He asked to see it because his name was engraved on the back.
“I’ll check, so show it to me.”
“Why should I?”
“No matter how I look at it, it’s mine.”
“It’s a common necklace.”
Ire felt a surge of anger.
“It’s not common, it’s really important to me! Give it to me when I’m asking nicely.”
“Asking nicely? Am I your friend?”
Didn’t you tell me to speak comfortably anytime…? Who was it that threw a fit every time I showed respect…? He didn’t know what had upset him so much, but Kim Ha-yoon’s face was more annoyed than usual. He came closer and looked down with an overbearing gaze, and Ire also stubbornly raised his head, not wanting to lose. If necessary, he was going to beat up Kim Ha-yoon and take the necklace back.
“Okay, then. What will you do if it’s not yours?”
Ire scoffed. He didn’t know why he was being so brazen, insisting that his own thing was his.
“I’m asking. What are you going to do if it’s not yours? Will you do whatever I tell you to do? Huh?”
Kim Ha-yoon touched Ire’s chin with his fingertip. He frowned at the playful touch and avoided it. The words ‘Stop flirting and hand over the necklace’ rose to his throat.
“Okay. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. But if it’s mine, don’t ever talk to me again. Got it?”
Kim Ha-yoon licked his front teeth with his tongue and moved his hand back to unfasten the necklace. Soon after, he held it out. ‘Here, check it.’ Ire, panting, checked the back of the necklace, and his face turned whiter than flour. Conversely, a strange smile spread across Kim Ha-yoon’s face.
“You’re in big trouble.”