By Zephyria 
Fortunately, the sky was clear for the first time in a while. After a long stretch of gloomy weather with overcast skies, a brilliant blue expanse had finally unfolded.
The weather was so beautiful that more than half of the people walking the streets were taking photos of the sky. Haon was one of them.
“Do you want to step out for a moment to take a picture?”
In-ho asked Haon, who was continuously letting out exclamations of awe while snapping photos from the passenger seat. Even to In-ho, the sky looked unnervingly beautiful. There was a reason why people were stopping in their tracks to take photos.
Grand clouds floated across the deep blue sky as if they had been painted there. Even if asked to paint it, it seemed impossible to capture such beauty.
“I’ll park nearby, so you can get out for a bit to take some photos.”
The two had decided to have lunch in the area. Since they hadn’t decided on a restaurant yet, they intentionally came to a street with many options. This was because Haon wanted to see the places himself before choosing.
“No, I’d rather look at them with you, In-ho.”
Haon smiled prettily and spoke words as lovely as he was. In-ho pressed a deep kiss onto the lips of the man who only chose pleasant things to say, then gently turned the steering wheel.
Just like the clear weather, Haon and In-ho’s expressions were bright. They looked as if a spotlight were shining only on the two of them.
Haon continued to admire the sky while preciously holding In-ho’s hand—the one not gripping the wheel.
They were planning to see a musical this evening. They had decided to come out early to eat out beforehand.
“I’m looking forward to the musical.”
Haon, who had never been to a theater before, was very excited. He had recently watched a musical movie that left a strong impression, and he had been wanting to see a live performance. In-ho, knowing this, had suggested going. It was because Haon had been constantly humming melodies without lyrics.
“It’ll be fun.”
“Is it a piece you’ve seen before, In-ho?”
“A long time ago. In America.”
In-ho replied with a smile, tapping the steering wheel lightly. Haon gazed intently at In-ho’s profile as he searched for a parking space.
“How long did you live in America?”
He knew that In-ho had lived abroad, but this was the first time he had asked for details. Since In-ho hadn’t brought it up first, Haon hadn’t asked until now.
“I lived there for quite a while. I went as a child and came back after becoming an adult.”
He lived there longer than I thought. Haon acquired another piece of information about In-ho with a look of wonder.
“Then your English must be amazing.”
In-ho gave a light laugh at the simple question and shrugged one shoulder. Even though it was a gesture he did often, it felt like a foreign mannerism for some reason. Haon admired him secretly, etching the image of In-ho—who looked sophisticated even in the way he breathed—into his mind.
He must look so cool speaking English. While he was thinking this, In-ho murmured casually.
“It’s average. I didn’t speak much.”
Haon wanted to ask more, but for some reason, the words wouldn’t come. He simply nodded, acknowledging it.
Wearing a deep smile, In-ho naturally shifted the topic, asking how hungry he was.
“I think I can eat a lot. How about you, In-ho?”
“Me too.”
After parking the car in a public lot, they looked at each other and smiled before sharing a light kiss. Just as it was about to lead to a deeper kiss, a gurgling sound came from Haon’s stomach. It was the sound of his breakfast digesting.
In-ho looked lovingly at Haon, who was rubbing his stomach in embarrassment, and suggested they head out. Hand in hand, they walked down the street under the bright sunlight. The beautiful sky and the cool breeze tickled the corners of their lips.
They found themselves smiling even without any particular conversation. They smiled just by making eye contact, and In-ho chuckled whenever Haon playfully squeezed his hand. Walking side by side, Haon and In-ho looked incredibly happy.
“Shall we eat outdoors?”
“Takeout?”
“No, at an outdoor table.”
In-ho led Haon into a fancy restaurant and pointed to the tables outside the glass windows. Naturally, Haon agreed. It was too beautiful a day to stay only indoors.
Guided by a server, they sat at an outdoor table. Among the long row of restaurants, they had chosen a Western-style eatery that looked the cleanest and least crowded.
The moment he opened the menu, Haon immediately realized why there were so few people. The prices were not for a light lunch. No wonder the atmosphere was so good.
“We still have plenty of time, so how about a course meal?”
“Yes, that sounds great.”
Haon, who had been scanning the menu items he couldn’t quite identify, nodded quickly. Then, he slid the menu toward In-ho, leaving the ordering to him.
In-ho modified some parts of the course menu, asking Haon in between whether he preferred seafood or meat. Instead of saying everything was fine as he usually did, Haon tried his best to pick one. Because of this, it took a bit longer.
The experienced server took the order skillfully without losing his smile. If it had been a typical restaurant where turnover was key, he might have shown some frustration, but such things didn’t matter here.
“I will have that prepared for you immediately.”
The server bowed and returned inside. Haon sipped on sparkling water with a slice of lemon and whispered to In-ho.
“I’m sorry. I was too slow.”
Though the server didn’t show it, Haon felt certain the man must have been frustrated.
“There’s no need to rush. Just go at your own pace, Haon.”
In-ho lowered his voice to match Haon’s and whispered that there was absolutely nothing to be sorry for. Then, he comforted Haon with a soft voice and held his hand.
Haon beamed, feeling good from the grip that filled the gaps between their fingers perfectly. Seeing this, the corners of In-ho’s mouth lifted effortlessly.
“I’m glad we decided to eat outside. It’ll get cold soon.”
In-ho stroked the back of Haon’s hand and spoke about the approaching winter.
“Do you get cold easily, Haon?”
“I think so. But I still like winter.”
When Haon asked how In-ho was, the answer came a bit late. He said he didn’t like winter much because he tended to feel the cold.
“But I think I’ll like it from now on.”
In-ho spoke in a gentle voice and playfully shook their joined hands. Haon smiled, holding In-ho’s hand with both of his. Haon, too, felt that he was starting to like the slowly approaching winter. Because this year’s winter didn’t feel like it would be cold.
“Shall we go on a trip for your birthday, Haon? Is there a country you want to visit?”
“A country?”
Haon hesitated, blinking his eyes. He had never once thought about going abroad. Naturally, he didn’t even have a passport.
“Take your time thinking about it. Anywhere is fine.”
In-ho’s fingertips brushed over Haon’s delicate hand. He told him it was okay not to answer right away. There was more than enough time.
So, it was fine to be a little slow. In-ho wanted Haon to enjoy a lazy time to his heart’s content, to play or rest as much as he wanted. Only if it was with him.
Their hands, which hadn’t parted for a single moment, briefly separated when the appetizers arrived. Haon looked very happy as he slowly savored the dishes that whetted his appetite.
Haon ate well today. Although it took a long time because he chewed the food until it was almost liquid, he finished every dish that came out.
Watching this with satisfaction, In-ho asked the server to bring the food out slowly to match Haon’s pace. He also gave separate instructions to reduce the portions moderately.
The staff might have considered him a demanding customer, but he didn’t care at all. As long as Haon was comfortable, that was all that mattered.
While they were in the middle of eating dessert, In-ho’s phone screen lit up. It seemed he had a call. He always kept his phone on silent when he was with Haon.
“…….”
After checking the lit screen, In-ho indifferently flipped the phone over. It seemed he didn’t intend to answer.
Seeing this, Haon, who was letting a chocolate mousse cake melt in his mouth, suddenly took out his own phone. Then, he called out, “In-ho.” In-ho responded with a smile in his eyes.
“Please send me the photos you took at the aquarium.”
“Ah, I haven’t sent them yet, have I?”
Haon remembered the task In-ho had forgotten.
With a bright smile, In-ho immediately sent the photos. It had been a while since he looked at them too. In-ho’s smile deepened as he looked into his phone. He chuckled, saying he thought he looked strange.
“No way.”
Haon disagreed, taking in the photos one by one. As expected, he looked as handsome as ever.
“This one.”
After staring at the last photo for a long while, Haon held out his phone to In-ho. It was the photo where they made a hand-heart together. This was his favorite.
“I want to set this as my wallpaper.”
He meant he wanted In-ho to do it for him. Haon didn’t know how to handle phones at all.
In-ho rested his chin on his hand, smiled, and nodded. He placed Haon’s phone next to his own and changed both wallpapers to the same photo. He set the lock screen to the same photo as well. Now, every time he turned on his phone, he could see Haon.
While smiling happily, In-ho slightly raised an eyebrow as he looked at himself in the photo.
“Do you really like this one?”
“Yes!”
To In-ho, it didn’t seem like a particularly great photo. Of course, Haon looked as cute and lovely as always, but he felt he was smiling a bit too excessively. He didn’t usually smile that much, yet he was laughing quite broadly in the photo.
“The heart is pretty, and I like it more because you’re smiling so brightly, In-ho.”
Haon stared at the phone screen and wore a smile as radiant as In-ho’s in the photo. It was a smile that seemed to hold all the sunlight of the sky.
In-ho rubbed the corner of his mouth, looked back and forth between Haon and the photo, and replied that he liked it too. This time, he meant it.