By Zephyria His original bedroom, which he had returned to after a long time, was filled with a chilly air. And more than anything, there was no trace of Ryle’s pheromones. He realized that he had been unknowingly enveloped in those pheromones.
“……”
Hae-jin, huddled in the dark room, buried his face in his knees. Mark had offered to switch him to a room further away, but he had refused. It was an impulsive decision, even after hearing that Ryle was in his rut.
And now he had finally heard the reason why Ryle had been avoiding him for a while.
‘……It’s not your fault…….’
Ryle at the moment of collapsing, and Mark, who was anxiously taking care of him, both said it wasn’t Hae-jin’s fault. The servants, at a loss, told Hae-jin not to worry about it.
But Hae-jin knew. That he was the cause of Ryle’s collapse. He couldn’t not know.
He had read several times in the documents that his negative pheromones affected Ryle. However, what he had overlooked was that he didn’t know the effect would manifest in this way. Thanks to that, Hae-jin had to curl up on the bed like a child who had done something wrong, even though no one blamed him.
Seeing the horror of imprinting, which he had only read about in texts, so clearly made him feel a sudden sense of weight.
The sight of Ryle, who always seemed so strong, collapsing was strangely shocking. When he asked why this was happening, and why they weren’t taking him to the hospital but just moving him to the bedroom, Mark’s face was very serious. After much deliberation, Mark briefly told him what had happened.
Why hadn’t he said something sooner?
That was the question Hae-jin unknowingly thought of. And this question went back to the fundamental part.
Why had Ryle tried to hide the fact of imprinting? While he was so afraid of Hae-jin leaving this mansion, why did he caress his broken leg as if he was the one in pain?
If he hadn’t jumped into the lake, it seemed like he would have kept the imprinting a secret. Strangely, even though he didn’t ask out loud, he had that conviction.
For the past few days, Hae-jin had desperately wanted to avoid it. He knew that running away like this wouldn’t solve anything, but he just wanted to. He felt obligated to reject his kindness and warmth.
When he thought of his family, it seemed like he should.
But in fact, he knew. That his family would hate him hurting himself with such foolish acts more than anyone else. It was all just self-consolation. Just, because he was sorry.
As he had sorrowful thoughts, he naturally thought of pheromones that resembled a forest.
No longer able to ignore it, Hae-jin slowly got up. Without even thinking of using his crutches, he moved his leg, heavy with the cast. The dull sound of it dragging across the floor continued for a long time.
As he went out to the drawing room and approached the bedroom where Ryle was lying, he could feel his pheromones more intensely. As if he was suffering without being able to control them.
Unlike when he had crawled here before, Hae-jin staggered but walked firmly on two feet. Then, without ringing the bell, he burst open the door to his bedroom. The pheromones that rushed in were already too familiar.
“……Hae-jin.”
“…….”
“Who sent you here?”
Ryle, who was lying down without even changing his clothes, asked in a hoarse voice. He clearly felt Hae-jin approaching, but he couldn’t do anything. Because he was insisting on delaying the administration of the pheromone suppressant a little longer. He was afraid that if he lost consciousness like this, his body would move towards Hae-jin again.
The pain created by the pheromone suppressant was stabbing through his blood vessels like needles, but he intended to endure it. He was going to exhaust himself with pain like this before falling asleep.
Even to Hae-jin, who didn’t know the circumstances, the pain was felt in his deeply furrowed brow. As befitting an Alpha in rut, his pheromones, which roamed in the air, were quite rough. But when they touched Hae-jin’s skin, all the energy became quite soft. It was a ticklish sensation.
So at that moment, Hae-jin blurted out without realizing it.
“I came on my own.”
Ryle, who had been enduring the pain with his face covered, suddenly raised his head. The expression of disbelief was unfamiliar. Even in the darkness, Hae-jin quietly stared at his blonde hair, which gave off a subtle light. From just two steps away from Ryle.
After a long time, Ryle asked again. His voice, even more subdued than before, was almost ominous.
“……Why?”
“I thought you might need pheromone release.”
He took another step towards the bed where Ryle was. Ryle, startled by his staggering gait, raised his upper body. The expression on his face contained even more intense emotions.
“……Hae-jin, don’t regret it and leave. And if you’re uncomfortable with me wandering around again, I’ll have them tie me up.”
“…….”
Hae-jin silently took another step closer. Now his toes were almost touching the bed. Ryle, backing away, finally looked at him with fearful eyes. As if he was a huge fireball.
Ryle, who was looking at Hae-jin in confusion, suddenly hardened his face. The ominous energy, not yet fully contained, was revealed on the surface.
“Did someone, perhaps, force you to come here? Telling you to say you came on your own?”
Once he said it, it was a plausible assumption. Had someone around him finally oppressed Hae-jin again? He would rather shoot himself in the head than see him swallow another bitter misunderstanding. His heart became anxious. He was afraid that if he sent Hae-jin out like this, his safety would be in danger.
But even if Hae-jin stayed in this room, he was in danger. Because of himself. In the complicated situation, Ryle looked up at him with despair.
But Hae-jin, who had been quietly looking down at his sudden speculation, simply blurted out.
“Because my heart is uncomfortable.”
“……Don’t worry about this.”
Ryle slowly lowered his head in self-reproach. It was a mistake to collapse in front of him. He struggled to figure out how to fix this with his heavy head, but it was too difficult right now.
Because the best thing to do was not to reach out to him in front of him.
“Hae-jin, for now, right now…….”
“What if something goes wrong with Ryle like this?”
Just as he was about to send Hae-jin away in a hurry, a firm word cut through the space. Ryle stiffened, fearing that he would spit blood again at that fierce reaction. If he showed such a sight, it would only upset Hae-jin more.
“I……, I…….”
But contrary to his tension, this time his body didn’t feel any pain. He was mesmerized, exploring Hae-jin’s pheromones that were rushing towards him.
Hae-jin’s trembling voice felt a little wet at the end.
“……Don’t try to put something heavy on me.”
It was a vague statement with the middle omitted. But Ryle dared to guess what Hae-jin couldn’t bring himself to say.
Because he could clearly feel the worry in his pheromones.
While Ryle couldn’t bring himself to speak, Hae-jin took a deep breath. He could now realize how dangerous imprinting was. If he refused a few more times like this, Ryle might really never open his eyes again.
He didn’t want anyone else to die because of him. It was terrible to think of his Hyung, who had died hugging him in the crushed car. If Ryle ended up dying because of him, he would never be able to go to heaven where his family was waiting.
Because his heart would be too heavy.
“Hae-jin, I…….”
As if in pain, Ryle covered his face with both hands. Hae-jin, looking at Ryle with a slightly lowered gaze, just carefully reached out his hand.
At that moment, his body was suddenly pulled forward.
“……No, Hae-jin. Not like this…….”
Ryle, who had unknowingly pulled Hae-jin into his arms, spoke fearfully. In the blink of an eye, his hands, which had placed Hae-jin on his body, were shaking terribly. He was afraid of hurting him again, like that day, like the days Hae-jin had been through.
“Do it.”
At the mercilessly falling permission, Ryle’s Adam’s apple bobbed greatly. The reason was gradually disappearing from his slowly blinking eyelids. The breath of Hae-jin, who was close to his nose, was so sweet that he felt like he was going crazy. Even though there was clothing between them, his body, which touched his palms, was so happy.
That’s why he was even more scared.
“Tie me, tie me up.”
“……Pardon?”
“Tie my hands. Please. Don’t let me, treat you roughly again like this. Please.”
Ryle, whose whole body was trembling, couldn’t hide his fear. The feeling of exposing everything to the bottom of his heart swept eerily over his nape.
Feeling Ryle’s pheromones, which were gradually sticking to his skin a little more than before, Hae-jin looked down at him, who had buried his face in his shoulder, expressionlessly. He carefully raised his hand, grabbed his nape, and pulled.
Ryle, who was pulled in as if he had no strength at all, was looking up at him fearfully. Hae-jin, who was kneeling, hesitated and moved his hand to his neck. The feeling of the soft tie touched his fingertips.
Pulling down the tie was a subtle feeling. As he awkwardly untied it all, Ryle pulled his hands and held them out in front of him. Hae-jin frowned in bewilderment at this familiar situation. Because he never thought he would be doing the opposite of what he had been subjected to for the past five years.
With complicated feelings, he clumsily but diligently tied Ryle’s hands. He thought of his wrists, where faint white lines still remained in places. Before long, a tight knot was tied.
At that moment, Ryle’s arm moved quickly. Somehow, he moved his tied hands over Hae-jin’s head and pulled his body as if hugging him.
At a distance where their eyelashes were touching, their eyes met with blue eyes.
The pheromones that had only been shedding fear were now swirling with a sticky lust. He felt a heat rising between his legs. In those blue eyes, which were so close, there was a very heavy desire.
As he was mesmerized and just staring at it, his breath rolled like silver beads on his skin.
“I’ll just, kiss you.”
While having fierce eyes as if he wanted to devour him right away, Ryle squeezed his self-control. His will to endure like this until permission was given was vivid.
Hae-jin, who was watching his golden eyelashes moving rustlingly, nodded slightly.
At that moment, their lips met.
“Hmm…….”
Hae-jin was startled by the very hot sensation. The sensation of his tongue suddenly invading his mouth was also unfamiliar. He now realized that even though he had mixed bodies with Ryle so much, it was his first kiss.
The arm that had been wrapped around his waist gained more strength. Because of the constant pulling force, Hae-jin broke down the posture he had been supporting with his knees. His butt fell heavily onto Ryle’s thighs.
At that moment, Ryle turned his head and delved even deeper into Hae-jin. In Hae-jin’s vision, who was blinking his eyes flutteringly, he could see his beautiful forehead, which was slightly furrowed. And his pretty eyes, which he was seriously closing.
Inadvertently, the moment he thought it was a pity that he couldn’t see his blue eyes, Ryle opened his eyes with a flash.
Strong eyes captivated Hae-jin. His waist trembled. Without realizing it, he grabbed Ryle’s shoulders fiercely with both arms. Ryle reacted sensitively to that small movement. His vision gradually went backwards. Ryle’s pheromones continued to pour into his neck.
“Heu…….”
It was a pheromone that made his body heat up on its own. Before he knew it, he saw the ceiling with a splendid engraved pattern. His body completely fell backwards with Ryle, who was kissing Hae-jin as if he would devour him.
After that, the posture was quite subtle. Ryle’s penis, which had been firmly stabbing him since earlier, pressed strongly against his thigh. A sticky sound was already leaking from his mouth. He certainly thought he was used to being with him, but he was mistaken. Strangely, heat rose from his solar plexus.
“Ah, I can’t breathe…….”
Hae-jin quickly ran out of breath because of Ryle, who was relentlessly pushing him. When he unknowingly pushed his shoulder away, Ryle slightly fell away. His waist trembled again at the sensation of his nose touching. Ryle, who was looking down at him with feverish eyes, pressed his lips moistly a couple of times and said.
“Just a little more. Huh?”
Every time he spoke, Ryle’s pheromones, which were almost desperate, poured down on his face. Before he knew it, his dazed eyes captured Hae-jin. Hae-jin, who was embarrassed to see his face as if he had jumped into a lake, nodded habitually. His lips touched again hastily.
This time, it was a lip that penetrated strongly from the beginning. His tongue licked the roof of his mouth and teased the hard part behind his front teeth. Even so, pheromones poured into his throat without rest. He had never exchanged pheromones like this before, so he was quite embarrassed. It felt like his mouth was ticklish to death.
He ran out of breath again and unknowingly pushed his shoulder away.
“I’m sorry.”
“Ugh, ha…….”
“Sorry, just a little, huh? I’m sorry.”
Ryle, who was constantly muttering, started begging Hae-jin like a half-crazy person now. He pressed his soft cheek against his nose and rubbed his cheek there altogether. He continued to pour out pheromones that gave off a sweet scent in his ear.
Even in the midst of all this, the hand that had gone behind Hae-jin’s back remained motionless. As if only this much was allowed.
With Ryle’s strength, he could actually untie the tie without any difficulty.
“Hae-jin. I like you.”
At that time, a pitiful confession was mixed into the pheromones that were dripping like honey into his ear. Hae-jin’s eyes, which had been bloodshot to catch his breath, widened greatly. He raised his head again and met Ryle’s eyes.
After reading the expression on Hae-jin’s face for a long time, Ryle fiercely explored his lips again and struck. The sensation of their tongues touching was chillingly hot. Hae-jin, who had eventually closed his eyes, had to frown in bewilderment.
Something new had intervened in this act, which had only been scary.
* * *
The next day, Hae-jin, who woke up with a dazed face, couldn’t leave the bed for a long time. It was strangely bustling outside, but he didn’t dare to look out.
Yesterday, he had kissed Ryle like that for a long time. For so long that his pheromones seemed to fill his entire body. Then, when he felt something gushing up from below, he was startled and came to his senses and ran away. When he pushed him away because he sincerely wanted to get out, Ryle willingly moved aside.
Even if Ryle restrained and operated his pheromones, he was Dominant. It was a feat that the inferior gene Hae-jin had endured so much without being swept away. Because Hae-jin hadn’t imprinted on Ryle either.
However, even this assumption was quite confusing. Because he doubted whether he had really not been swept away. The sensation that still made his lower body tingle with moisture was chilling. He had mixed bodies with him so much, but it was the first time he had experienced such longing.
So he had to spend the night almost like a shrimp, unable to sleep.
It was troublesome. Just because he had stopped vaguely running away didn’t mean that this distance, which was so close that it was hot, was immediately understood. He could still hear Ryle’s voice pouring out desperate pleas in his ear. The pheromones, which were absurdly full of affection, were still sticking to his body even now, after he had barely escaped.
The sound of a bell pierced Hae-jin, who had spent such a chaotic dawn.
“…….”
When he was silent, the bell rang again. Following that, Ryle’s voice, which was cracking in a similar tone to yesterday.
“Hae-jin.”
At that voice, which was intertwined with guilt, Hae-jin unknowingly got up. Strangely, the steps he took to open the bedroom door felt stuffy today.
The moment he burst open the door like that, a huge bouquet of flowers that filled his vision greeted Hae-jin.
“Uh…….”
He didn’t even have time to ponder the question of why he had opened the door so hastily. Ryle’s perfect attire and red roses, which were larger than Hae-jin’s body, rustled and poured into him.
Hae-jin, who had inadvertently received the bouquet, which felt heavy, couldn’t come to his senses. When he saw Ryle’s face, which was looking at him anxiously, his heart suddenly dropped.
It was no use turning his gaze away as if running away. It was because he was even more surprised to see the flowers filling the drawing room behind him.
“……Why?”
After a long silence, Hae-jin barely managed to ask. He thought that a doctor had come because it was bustling outside, but it seemed that they had been moving so many flowers.
He felt strange. It was as if someone was stretching Hae-jin back and forth like a rubber band. Hae-jin, engulfed in an indescribable feeling, barely met Ryle’s eyes as if seeking an answer. Then, as if he had been waiting, the answer came out.
“Because it’s your first kiss.”
“…….”
It was a reason as sudden as the situation. Hae-jin, who had unknowingly and slightly opened his lips in bewilderment, lowered his head in embarrassment. It was, as expected, a futile gesture. Only the luscious red roses flaunted their existence to the fullest.
“I know it might not be a good memory, but I don’t want to leave it as just a bad memory.”
“……That…….”
“Not for me, but for you.”
Even with the sincerity he carefully conveyed, Hae-jin remained silent for a long time.
After sending Hae-jin away like that yesterday, Ryle fell asleep as if he had fainted. His tie was loosened in vain, but he had to tie one hand to the bedpost, fearing he might chase after the guy.
When he woke up again, thankfully, he was on his bed. And his body felt strangely light. Even though he should still be in his rut, his head was clear. He was so happy that his body was jumping around with joy from just a kiss.
And the moment he recalled the cause, he had to jump up, forgetting the pain.
He first remembered Hae-jin’s pheromone, filled with worry, as he came into his room. Even if it was mostly guilt, he also remembered Hae-jin’s action of coming here on his own two feet. That fact made his heart ache, yet it also seemed like a glimmer of hope.
This made him even more anxious and restless because of what he had done. He should have just apologized, but he unknowingly blurted out the emotions that were swirling around in his chest, as if about to burst. Hae-jin had clearly warned him not to give him anything heavy.
So, he hurriedly prepared the flowers. He couldn’t just brush it off because he was bothered by the fact that Hae-jin had lived his life giving up so many things he deserved to experience. Especially when he thought about the guy’s awkward reaction, saying that he hadn’t had his first kiss yet, he couldn’t just let it pass.
However, even while preparing like this, Ryle was prepared to accept it if Hae-jin said again that it wasn’t a kiss.
But unlike yesterday, when he expected Hae-jin to say something sharp, Hae-jin remained enveloped in silence. He anxiously scanned the guy’s entire face, worried that he might be too angry to speak.
But strangely, he noticed that the guy’s cheeks were subtly red. As if roses were cast on his white skin.
“Hae-jin?”
Hae-jin thought it was a disaster because his whole body was shaking with his heartbeat.
After hearing the sudden reason, Hae-jin recalled the day he had babbled unnecessary things to him. It was a trivial sound that could have just passed by. He could have just laughed it off like his Hyung, who used to tease him.
But Ryle, as if feeling sorry, tried to leave last night as a good memory for him. Not for his own sake of avoiding responsibility, but just for Hae-jin’s sake. Even though he must still be suffering from the aftereffects of the rut, he tried to consider Hae-jin first.
Right. Your kindness was like this.
The bouquet he was holding was too heavy. He had clearly pleaded with him not to give him anything this heavy, but Ryle ended up handing it to Hae-jin.
No, actually, he shouldn’t have accepted it. As usual, Ryle would have taken the bouquet back with a single word, “Okay.He accepted it for no reason. But, it was a disaster because he didn’t dislike this feeling of receiving the bouquet and holding it full in his arms.
This was really a disaster.
“……”
Hae-jin’s blush, which started on his cheeks, spread to his neck. Ryle stared as if mesmerized at the scene of that pinkish aura traveling down his beautiful white neckline, leaving traces behind.
Then, the moment the guy’s ears turned explosively red, Ryle took a big step forward. The roses trapped between them rustled, scattering the scent of roses everywhere.
“If I’m, perhaps, making a big mistake, then hit me.”
Hae-jin reflexively raised his head at Ryle’s voice, which echoed lowly like a cave. Ryle, not missing that moment, lowered his head. He supported himself on the doorframe with both hands, as if something terrible would happen if he grabbed the guy’s body. The moment their lips met, the crushed roses flowed down with a rustling sound.
Hae-jin just kept his eyes tightly closed.
“……”
Pheromones intertwined wildly in the air. Those containing joy and subtle fear silently matched their rhythms, bickering with each other.
Hae-jin, unable to grab Ryle, quietly gasped for breath, clutching the roses in his arms so tightly that they were crushed. Along with the overwhelming realization that he could no longer just reject this warmth that was pouring in.
Ryle finally caught up with Hae-jin.
* * *
“Hae-jin.”
“……”
Ryle approached with a face that seemed to radiate light in all directions. Hae-jin, who had unknowingly looked at his eyes, quickly turned his head away in embarrassment.
Ignoring that avoidance, Ryle approached. And he lightly rubbed his lips against the crown of Hae-jin’s head.
“Haha. You two have gotten closer.”
“Go back now.”
Only then did Hae-jin realize that the doctor was still in the room, and he turned around with wide eyes. Then, as if wanting to block that gaze, Ryle stood in the way. Before he could say anything, his body suddenly floated into the air.
“……I can go on my own.”
“I know.”
It was Ryle who had returned without fail after today’s consultation was over. He always had the pager in his hand without fail, but he couldn’t understand what he was so worried about.
While he was lost in thought, this time Ryle’s lips brushed past his eyes. Hae-jin, flustered, awkwardly twisted his head away from him.
“Don’t do this, don’t do things like this.”
“Do what?”
“……”
He was clearly doing it on purpose, but it was really ambiguous to say anything.
Ryle had become strange since the day he received so many flowers that filled the reception room. He wasn’t very normal to begin with, but he became even stranger after falling asleep and waking up throughout the remaining rut period. From time to time, he acted as if he couldn’t stand it.
He still carried Hae-jin around so that he couldn’t walk on his own two feet. Then, as if something was surging up from time to time, he kissed the crown of his head or his ears. If he had done something openly, he would have stopped him right away, but it was always a fleeting kiss that passed by when he was off guard.
Behind those sweet actions, these sweet pheromones poured out. Thanks to that, Hae-jin was gasping for breath, feeling like he was suffocating. It was fortunate that Ryle quickly gathered his pheromones.
As if resigned, he was carried back to his room in his arms, and the bed, which had its bedding changed to match the season, welcomed them.
Since they had gone to the lake at the end of winter, the weather was steadily heading towards spring. The thick blanket had been replaced with a slightly lighter weight.
It seemed that he was gradually getting used to falling asleep next to him awkwardly. This was because he always woke up in Ryle’s arms in the morning. Even before that, he had used the same bed because Ryle said he was too scared to be apart, but somehow the feeling was quite different.
It seemed that too much had changed due to the roses he had received that day. The bouquets that had filled the reception room were now placed in vases and decorated throughout the mansion. Hae-jin could see those flowers no matter where he moved. It was as if an early spring had come to this mansion alone.
“How was today’s consultation?”
“……It was similar.”
Ryle was asking about his condition every time. Hae-jin subtly avoided his gaze again at the sight of him looking up at him as if coaxing him. As if not caring, Ryle lifted his casted leg onto the bed so that Hae-jin would be comfortable, and then brought him a glass of water.
Judging by his attire, he seemed to have come back from work, but he was home too early again today. From time to time, the sound of a helicopter came and went from behind the mansion.
“There’s something I want to know.”
“What is it?”
While feeling embarrassed, Hae-jin brought up the words he had been planning to say. This was because the doctor who had been consulting him had given him some advice after seeing his condition. The advice was to listen to how the painful events of the past had been resolved. Only then did he remember that Ryle had said he would file charges against the former servants who had been oppressing him.
“I’m curious about how the lawsuit you said you would file is going.”
“……Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“Yes.”
Ryle, who had been contemplating with his gaze lowered for a moment, swept back his hair. Then, because he was sending him a gaze as if he was worried, Hae-jin had to briefly add that it was the doctor’s recommendation.
“First of all, everything is progressing well without any problems. They will pay the price for what they did.”
Ryle, who had been hesitating, finally began to tell the story. Hae-jin could only nod awkwardly at the truths that were being revealed one by one. Especially when he heard that they were deliberately dragging out the lawsuit, he had to stroke his arm without realizing it.
“Are you cold?”
He misunderstood what it meant and was surprised, bringing a blanket. Even though the weather was getting warm enough to say it was getting warm, Ryle couldn’t shake off his worries.
Hae-jin, who was staring blankly at the blue blanket that was covering him, couldn’t help but ask in the end. He felt that he had to ask out loud even though he knew the answer.
“……Why did you try to hide the imprinting?”
The hand that was wrapping the blanket around him paused for a moment. But soon, as if naturally fastening it tightly around his neck, Ryle answered. As if it was a sincerity that hid nothing.
“Because I didn’t want to burden you.”
Even though he knew that, Hae-jin tried to create doubt. But unlike before, it wasn’t easy. In his eyes, he looked like someone suffering from a strange obsession these days. It was as if he was a person making a last-ditch effort to deny himself, who had already melted into the warmth.
“How did you know I liked blue?”
He asked Ryle, who had picked up the blue blanket out of the many blankets, as if he was blaming him. The scarf he had received as a gift also floated in his memory. But he twisted his lips slyly, and then bent one knee slightly to match his gaze, as if he understood everything.
“I just, naturally came to know.”
“……”
But inside, he was uneasy, and his pheromones leaked out slightly.
“Oh, sorry.”
A quiet apology returned as Hae-jin shifted his gaze as if he could see those things coming out into the air. The trajectory of those pheromones being quickly gathered back into his body caught his eye today.
“Don’t do that.”
He had clearly thought that it was fortunate that Ryle had quickly gathered his pheromones earlier, but he couldn’t help but feel an absurd impulse.
“……That?”
Ryle, who had been contemplating with his eyes slightly lowered, asked back after much deliberation. He had an anxious face, wondering if he was telling him not to take care of Hae-jin.
“Don’t gather your pheromones, ……at least in front of me.”
However, once he had said the words, he suddenly thought that this was right. Hae-jin couldn’t gather his own pheromones, which flowed out naturally in response to his emotions. Even if it was possible to do so with repeated efforts even if he had an inferior gene, it wasn’t easy because it had manifested too late.
But Ryle, even though he had imprinted, was able to control the pheromones that flowed out like that. He had clearly read in the documents that it was almost impossible.
This wasn’t fair. If Ryle tried just a little harder, he would be able to hide his pheromones to the point where Hae-jin wouldn’t even notice. Just like how he had forgotten what his pheromones smelled like until recently.
If this happened, wouldn’t he be the only one whose emotions were exposed every time?
“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“Yes.”
Hae-jin nodded as if making a resolution. He didn’t know what Ryle’s gaze, which was subtly looking down at him, meant. His complex and subtle feelings must already be spreading around him, but it was still unfair.
“Okay.”
At that moment, a familiar forest invaded the bed.
“……If you’re uncomfortable, tell me.”
This time, Hae-jin, who hadn’t been able to answer, nodded again. He suddenly felt a burning sensation in his ears at the affection that was naturally reaching out to him. The part right below where his heart was located was strangely hot.
Ryle, who was carefully examining Hae-jin’s complexion as if gauging it, carefully moved his body and headed towards one place. And he picked up a box that was placed on a small table and handed it to Hae-jin.
“And this. Use it comfortably.”
As soon as he saw the box, he knew what it was. It was the item he had been going to give Ryle on the day he had collapsed.
Hae-jin, who was gauging his feelings at that time, carefully opened the small box this time. It contained a brand-new model of a cell phone that he had never seen before.
Had he seen his old and frustrating cell phone again and been bothered by it?
“……I don’t need it.”
The words popped out again as if he was grumbling. Because he didn’t know how to express these complex feelings.
But unlike that time, Ryle didn’t collapse. He didn’t even think about taking out the cell phone because he was afraid to raise his head for no reason, and he just looked down at it. He could have said something more, but Ryle remained silent. And he carefully stroked his head.
All his nerves were focused on that side, so it was as if he could hear the sound of his hair rustling. The fingers that had been messing with his hair for a long time gradually turned downwards. At first, he stroked the back of his neck deeply once, and then he lightly brushed past his ears.
It didn’t even take a few hours from then for Hae-jin, who had refused, saying he didn’t need it, to be fiddling with the new cell phone all day long.
“What is this room?”
“It’s a place that my mother used to use as a hobby room. Now, we’re just preserving it.”
Recently, Hae-jin had been wandering around inside the mansion out of boredom. The weather was slowly getting warmer, but he still couldn’t do outdoor activities because of his cast. And Ryle, who mentioned the excuse of the cast the most, didn’t seem ready to be apart for long yet. He wanted to hide his condition, but after deciding not to control his pheromones, he could understand his feelings inside and out.
The last resort he chose was to explore the mansion. He wasn’t ready to go outside yet, so he decided to look at the main building, which he still didn’t know the structure of.
But as soon as he took a step, he was struck by the thought that it was too much of a private space for the Vermouth family. Mark and Ryle didn’t stop him at all when he said he wanted to look around, so he thought lightly of it, but the private space continued more than he had expected.
“……”
Even now, as he entered a room where all the furniture was covered with white cloth, he heard unexpected information. Hae-jin looked at Ryle, unable to say anything. The air in the room, where people hadn’t been in for a long time, was very calmly settled. On one side, there was a large window with fluttering curtains, and he could see hazy dust floating in the sunlight coming in from there.
Ryle was the most enthusiastic when he said he wanted to look around the mansion for once. He even volunteered to be a tour guide and took Hae-jin here and there. He didn’t know why he was so excited.
Hae-jin, who was observing his pheromones that seemed to be subtly rising, turned his gaze away in embarrassment.
“I used to read books next to my mother, who was painting in this room.”
“……When you were young?”
“Yeah.”
As he went around the private space, he had many opportunities to hear about his past stories. And the stories that came out were all in the past tense.
Thanks to that, he even felt like he had discovered something he hadn’t thought of. He was surprised to learn so strangely the very obvious fact that Ryle would have parents.
“Why are you making that face, Hae-jin?”
“Just because.”
The person who had come to visit was also clearly called Uncle. Judging by the nuance, it seemed that both of his parents had passed away. Considering Ryle’s young age, he must have lost both of his parents early.
Hae-jin became strangely depressed for some reason. He didn’t know what the circumstances were, but if he had known that he would have to make Ryle recall the past like this, he would have been a little more careful.
Because Hae-jin knew better than anyone else that it was a very longing and painful thing.
“……I think I’ll rest for today.”
Ryle, who approached with a faint smile, carefully stroked his cheek. Every time his large hand, which covered his entire face, touched him like this, Hae-jin had to stiffen his neck. If he relaxed even a little, he felt like he would lean on that warmth and act cute.
Ryle, who had a hint of laughter in his eyes, calmly suggested.
“Why don’t we go see just the next room?”
“Yeah, well…….”
It seemed that there was even a plan for this mansion tour. It wasn’t a difficult task, so he nodded readily. The pheromones of each other, which were densely clustered in the air, felt strangely ticklish.
“This is the room.”
“Oh……, here……?”
Ryle, who headed to the room right next door, carefully opened the door. In this area of the main building, rooms of the same size were lined up. Each room had a different interior design depending on its purpose each time the door was opened.
This time, the room that was opened was also filled with sunlight. Thanks to that, the scene inside was imprinted in Hae-jin’s vision like a photograph.
Sofas and beanbags were lined up everywhere in the room for comfortable seating. A refrigerator with a transparent glass front stood on one side, emitting a cool pulsation so you didn’t have to go far to get a drink. It was filled with simple water and drinks.
Several large monitors were installed on the front wall, and as if that wasn’t enough, a screen for a beam projector was rolled up and attached to the ceiling. And in front of it was a machine that Hae-jin knew well.
After repeated protests, Hae-jin, who was finally allowed to walk on his own, entered the room as if possessed, leaning on his crutches. Ryle, who followed him in, answered his question.
“This is your hobby room, Hae-jin.”
Although he clearly said he didn’t need it, Hae-jin played with the new cell phone that Ryle had given him very well. He knows that he wants to pretend he doesn’t like it. But whenever he had a little time, he would explore the newly acquired machine with interest.
According to Mark, he had been careful but played well with the tablet he had given him before. It seemed that Hae-jin was very interested in these kinds of things.
But yesterday, he found him looking at a review of a game console. He was tidying up the sleeping guy on the bed when he caught a glimpse of the still-on cell phone screen.
In fact, Ryle knew very well that this mansion was stuffy and boring. He even knew that the reason he didn’t say he wanted to go out was because of Ryle’s anxiety.
Originally, he wanted to skillfully hide his feelings and let him go out, but he couldn’t because he had promised not to hide his pheromone anymore. This anxiety was not something that could be controlled by Ryle’s will.
So he prepared something. He wanted to give Hae-jin a hobby, even if it was just a little.
Fortunately, Hae-jin seemed to like his gift more than he thought. Before he knew it, he was sitting blankly in front of the game console, touching them.
Looking at his youthful profile like this, Ryle approached him in time with his pounding heart.
“Do you like it?”
“…….”
Hae-jin’s hand, which was unknowingly holding a palm-sized game console and pressing it, stopped. He was looking down, but Ryle knew that his round eyes were rolling around in embarrassment. Trying to hold back the rising laughter, he opened the wall near the monitor to the side. It was a storage cabinet installed to look like a wall.
Inside, there were game cartridges compatible with the game console, literally filling the wall.
“I don’t know your game taste yet, so I just prepared everything.”
“…….”
A strange heat can be seen in Hae-jin’s shaking eyes. While capturing his honest appearance, Ryle carefully approached Hae-jin. Like a child, Hae-jin couldn’t let go of the game console he was holding and stood there with a tearful face.
And he didn’t back down until Ryle slowly pulled him into his arms.
For some reason, he had a feeling that he could get an answer now. Like the day he gave him roses. So Ryle whispered in Hae-jin’s ear, who was nestled in his arms.
“Do you like it?”
“……Yes.”
Hae-jin didn’t show his face because he was embarrassed. However, Ryle could clearly see his ears, which were as red as that day.
“Master told me to make sure you eat before you do anything. You understand, Mr. Bright.”
“……Yes. I’ll be careful.”
Mark put a juice made from ground fruit next to him and said sternly. Thanks to him, Hae-jin, who was engrossed in the game, nodded embarrassedly.
In just a few days since receiving this hobby room, it had become Hae-jin’s favorite space.
It seemed that he had been caught looking up information on his cell phone. He didn’t intend to buy it, he was just bored and browsing the internet when he unknowingly clicked on a post.
Ryle, who is with him every day and takes care of Hae-jin’s every move, knew it. It was even a little embarrassing that he was looking at it on the cell phone he had received as a gift. He was using it too well for someone who said he didn’t need it.
After a long time, a spark of fire was revived in his heart. The game console that Ryle had prepared was something that anyone with even a little interest in games would welcome. And Hae-jin was, if anything, a person who had a great interest in games.
And game cartridges filling the wall. It was almost irresistible for the will that he thought was dead to suddenly raise its head.
“…….”
Hae-jin, recalling the memory of arguing with his Hyung over this game console’s old model, carefully put the fresh fruit juice that Mark had brought to his mouth. The fragrant strawberry scent passed smoothly down his throat. As he continued his counseling, Hae-jin was learning how to hold sadness so calmly.
Ryle, who had been watching him enjoy his hobbies so enthusiastically for a few days, gradually increased the time he spent working at the company. It seemed that he had neglected too much work.
“Oh, yes. Master said that you can watch TV broadcasts here, but I don’t know how to connect it. Do you know, Mr. Bright?”
Mark explained politely that it was to manage whether all the items were working properly. Hae-jin nodded and quickly put down the juice he was holding and approached the screen.
Then he changed a few connection lines and fiddled with various settings with the remote control. The screen, where characters were bouncing around in an instant, changed to the news.
“You can do it like this.”
“……Could you write it down for me later?”
“Yes.”
“You’re very good at handling machines.”
“……No.”
Mark, who adjusted his glasses, looked down at the remote control that Hae-jin was holding with wonder. His gray eyebrows were frowning in embarrassment. Hae-jin pretended not to know and reached for the drink, as if he had been caught spending too much time here all day.
He heard a familiar name in the news that was on.
[Vermouth Corporation has announced that it will abandon family management. Today, Chairman Ryle Vermouth held a press conference and revealed his feelings. He also showed his will to break away from the anachronistic management methods that have been continued until now. Meanwhile, some say…….]
It was a strange feeling to see a familiar face on the screen. Every time Ryle’s eyes blinked as he calmly read the prepared data, Hae-jin slowly blinked his eyes and fell into the screen.
He heard a loud heartbeat that drowned out the noise of the buzzing reporters.
“Uh…….”
“Hmm. I guess I’ll finally feel relieved.”
Mark, who was watching the news with him, said cynically. Hae-jin, who had only seen his kind appearance, was a little surprised and habitually looked at him.
“Is it a good thing?”
“Of course.”
Mark smiled again, showing the wrinkles around his eyes, as if he had noticed him looking at him. It was the most smile he had shown him recently. Ryle, Mark, and all the servants smiled warmly at Hae-jin when they saw him. As if they knew he was still wary.
“Mr. Bright. Please continue to feel comfortable here like home. Everyone wants that.”
As if it was true, Mark repeatedly asked Hae-jin in a quiet voice. As if he didn’t have to look at him like this.
Hae-jin, who was looking up at him with his black eyes, nodded quietly.
“……Thank you.”
It seemed that his ears were tingling too often these days.
The day to remove the cast was finally approaching. This cast was more burdensome than the last one, so the moment it was removed was particularly refreshing. Ryle used this as an excuse to prevent him from walking, and he made a fuss when he washed.
Hae-jin, recalling Ryle suddenly taking care of him even in the bathroom, secretly blushed. It was strange that he hadn’t cared about it like dry hay until recently.
“Mr. Bright. Chairman originally intended to come to pick you up, but he left a message saying that he would be a little late due to an urgent matter.”
“Ah……, yes.”
The Secretary, who had been waiting, approached him as he came out of the doctor’s office. It felt very unfamiliar to step on the ground without a cast. He even felt lighthearted enough to forget that his ankle hurt.
“He said he would be here soon if you wait here for a moment. If you are uncomfortable at the hospital, we will arrange for you to return to the mansion first.”
Ryle was supposed to be busy from the start. It must have been more difficult for him to bring Hae-jin here and pick him up.
But strangely, he missed his presence. He must have become unnecessarily used to being together too much. For some reason, he also thought of Ryle avoiding him just before Hae-jin was about to leave the mansion again. He now knew that it was because his body was breaking down due to his rejection, but he even felt nauseous because of this empty space, just like then.
Hae-jin, who was quietly lost in thought, impulsively asked the Secretary.
“Um, can I wait at the company?”
The Secretary seemed a little surprised, but nodded willingly.
“You can wait here.”
“Yes.”
Hae-jin, who was sitting quietly on the sofa, soon regretted it. He regretted doing something unnecessary after coming into his office.
He had never thought of visiting Ryle’s company before. It wasn’t that kind of relationship in the first place.
But the words that came out like a whim naturally popped out because of the thoughts that had been lingering in his head these days. Surely Ryle had asked him to stay by his side without a contract now.
He wondered if he could visit the company as he had invaded his private space, the main building. There was also a plausible excuse that this place would be better than the uncomfortable hospital if he was going to wait anyway. He deliberately ignored the option of returning to the mansion first.
However, now that he had come, he thought it was too impulsive. He felt a little pathetic for acting as if he was testing how far Ryle would accept him.
At that time, he heard hurried footsteps from outside.
“Hae-jin.”
Ryle, who entered the office, had a very surprised expression. Hae-jin also opened his eyes wide and faced him because he had never seen him make such an expression.
Ryle walked urgently towards Hae-jin almost at the same time as he opened the door. He was trapped in his wide arms while he was blank.
“Why didn’t you contact me sooner?”
“……I didn’t have to.”
He asked the Secretary not to tell him that he had come as soon as he came here. It was because he was worried that Ryle, who was already busy, would not be able to concentrate on his work and would rush over right away.
As expected, Ryle’s pheromone shook uneasily as he did something unusual.
“Did something happen at the hospital?”
“No.”
Hae-jin answered mumbling because he was still trapped in his arms. His heart beat at the sensation of his breath touching Ryle’s stiff suit fabric and softening. He could back away as much as he wanted, but Hae-jin chose to stand firm in this spot. It was two legs that knew how to endure like this as a habit since when.
“Hmm…….”
Ryle still had a suspicious look on his face even though there was no real reason. Perhaps Hae-jin’s pheromone wasn’t feeling very stable because of this close distance.
He tried to examine his expression in detail by lifting Hae-jin’s face with his large hands. The more persistent the gaze that touched his cheek became, the more Hae-jin’s heart fluttered, so it wasn’t a very effective interrogation.
“Just. I was curious……. Was I bothering you?”
“No. Not at all.”
Ryle’s eyes folded slightly as if it was true that he wasn’t bothering him. Hae-jin unknowingly looked up at the golden outline.
Ryle, who must have noticed his gaze, smiled even more and grabbed Hae-jin’s cheeks with both hands.
“How’s your leg?”
“It’s light.”
“That’s good. Is there anywhere you want to go to celebrate?”
Ryle asked Hae-jin the same thing when he removed the cast before. Hae-jin hurriedly racked his brain because he hadn’t thought about going out. Perhaps because of the similar situation, the lake they had gone to together suddenly flashed through his mind.
The snow must have melted now. With a vague feeling, Hae-jin decided on a place to go out for the first time in a while.
“I want to go to the lake.”
But at that moment, Ryle’s pheromone suddenly took on a dark color.
“Uh…….”
“…….”
Ryle stopped as he habitually tried to control his pheromone after seeing Hae-jin, who was embarrassed and making a silly noise. Then, he began to release the things that were shaking without being able to express them.
Hae-jin also became anxious, wondering if he had said something wrong. In an instant, the soft atmosphere broke like slush ice.
“That’s…….”
He had asked first, so he wouldn’t have a negative feeling about going out itself, so why was he doing this? Hae-jin looked at him, wondering if the lake was the problem. Ryle’s stiff eyes were shaking finely.
Then, the end of the words that came out after a long time was terribly torn.
“I need, I need some time……. It’s not too long, about 3 months. I think I need that much because there are so many things in progress.”
Now his pheromone was flowing down to the floor with black despair. His words, as if he was suddenly calmly organizing everything, were also strange. Now that he saw it, his arms, which had been gently hugging him, were also trembling slightly. As if Hae-jin was afraid.
Hae-jin, who finally came to his senses, grabbed his collar and asked back.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said you wanted to go to the lake. I can’t send you alone this time.”
Ryle, who was speaking palely like a sigh, looked down at Hae-jin with his eyes narrowed. The trembling seemed to touch his skin sharply today. Enough to say that it wasn’t what he was thinking right now.
“I just wanted to see the lake.”
“Really?”
The sound of despair as if he couldn’t believe it made Hae-jin stagger. Even though Ryle was holding him with his strong arms because he was afraid that Hae-jin would disappear somewhere like this.
Hae-jin nodded again, feeling inexplicably choked up.
“I just, I wanted to go on a picnic together…….”
“Picnic?”
“Yes.”
Only after putting the embarrassing sound of picnic into his mouth did his raging pheromone gradually subside. Ryle asks again and again with a slightly shaking expression.
“Really just, a picnic?”
“Yes. Just, a picnic where we spread out a picnic mat, eat sandwiches, and stuff like that.”
“…….”
“The snow has all melted……, so…….”
He was about to say that he should just go somewhere else. Ryle slowly nodded his head.
“Okay.”
Ryle was able to calm down only after seeing that his quiet black eyes never left him for a moment.
He thought that Hae-jin’s heart was still running towards the lake, even though he had tried so hard.
Despair covered him more fiercely because it was the day that Hae-jin was curious about his space for the first time. The height of being thrown to the floor was deep as his heart floated more than usual.
Ryle pulled Hae-jin, who he was holding with both hands, into his arms to hide his uneasy heart. He controlled his body, which was trying to hide this anxiety reflexively, in the opposite direction to reveal it honestly. That was the promise. Perhaps because of that, Hae-jin willingly left him like this.
Only after burying his face in the guy’s hair and inhaling for a long time did Ryle realize one thing. That Hae-jin was asking to do something together for the first time.
The throbbing that had been on the floor floated in the air again.
“I should have checked the weather before deciding.”
The sound of the pouring rain was so loud that it drowned out each other’s voices. Only after realizing what Hae-jin’s proposed outing was did Ryle not be able to control his impatient heart. He wanted to come that day, but there were many things to prepare. He was worried about Hae-jin, who was still coughing easily in the cold wind.
Eventually, he received a call the next day that the preparations near the lake were complete. The weather was fairly cloudy when they left, but as soon as they arrived, this fierce rain fell. Heavy Rain’s weather was originally like this, but Ryle had to swallow his curses inwardly. He should have waited for a sunny day.
“It’s okay.”
But when Hae-jin sat close to him and said this, his heart melted at once. Perhaps it was because he couldn’t hear his voice well because of the rain, but his heart fluttered.
He silently picked up the blanket without showing any sign of the distance that had closed between them. As he draped it over Hae-jin’s shoulders, he meticulously checked the ceiling for any leaks.
Near the lake, he had prepared a massive tent. Although it was called a tent, it was a sturdy structure with steel framework inside. The lake where Hae-jin had come with his family was sparsely populated, making it easy to control. Thanks to that, it was a relief that they didn’t have to worry about people’s attention like the lake they had gone to together before.
Then, Hae-jin’s gaze suddenly fell on the opposite side of the lake, where he had strode so confidently.
The elated feeling plummeted back down to the damp grass. Reflexively, Ryle tightly gripped Hae-jin’s hand beside him.
“…….”
The pressure on his hand was quite intense. Not enough to hurt, but still. Hae-jin, noticing Ryle’s sudden and uneasy agitation, couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
Throughout the picnic, Ryle had been strangely excited. Then, suddenly, he was emitting these turbulent pheromones again. The change was so extreme that Hae-jin furrowed his brow in discomfort.
Then, he followed Ryle’s gaze to the spot he had been staring blankly at since earlier. Only then did he realize he had been a bit insensitive.
Hae-jin stared endlessly at the very spot where he had regretted being just one step short not long ago.
The place they were was exactly where his family had sat. He hadn’t even mentioned that, but surprisingly, Ryle had prepared this wonderful tent here. It was equipment that his father would have coveted. It was probably a coincidence since it was the best spot to sit at this lake, but Hae-jin liked this coincidence very much.
The two of them remained silent for a long time, listening to the sound of rain pouring onto the tent.
The lake surged and rippled incessantly. Since there was no wind, the sound of the rain resonated on the ground very regularly. The moist grass showed signs of gradually turning green. It wasn’t just the snow that had melted; the lake was preparing to shine green again.
Even while being drenched by this heavy rain.
“Hae-jin.”
“Yes.”
“May I ask why you have so few belongings left?”
It was Ryle who broke their strange silence. As if it were a question he had been contemplating for a while, he even accurately described the shape of Hae-jin’s trunk as he asked the reason.
Hae-jin, who was also reminded of the small trunk his Hyung had left him, pondered for a moment before giving an intentionally lighthearted answer.
“I just didn’t have the mental space to sort through my things back then. I needed money right away, and I couldn’t leave my parents’ side.”
Even though he had just been discharged from the hospital, he couldn’t bear to leave his parents alone in that cold hospital room. The only time he could manage to sign the contract to sell the house was when a friend of his parents watched over them in the hospital room. But even that favor could only be asked once or twice; he couldn’t just rely on their kindness forever.
If he didn’t stay by their side, he felt like the doctors would neglect his parents. From the beginning, they had looked at Hae-jin’s youthful face and said there was no hope. Hae-jin, who had been thrown into a sudden tragedy, was not an adult even though he had grown in body, so he couldn’t make rational decisions.
“I found out about storage rentals later. Actually, selling the house was also something an acquaintance arranged for me with a company.”
Hearing that he had to dispose of his belongings all at once, they ran around and diligently gathered information. And even if he had known about storage rentals, he probably wouldn’t have been able to use them. He wouldn’t have been able to afford to sort through his belongings and pay the monthly rental fee.
“The insurance company told me to file a lawsuit if they objected to the compensation, but I don’t know how to do that… Those belongings were probably destined to be lost anyway. I received more money because of it, so it can’t be helped.”
“…….”
As always, Ryle listened intently as Hae-jin began to speak. That focus was a comfort to his heart. Thanks to that, he reminisced, recalling one by one the things he regretted not taking from the house. One of them was an old game console of the same model that Ryle had recently given him.
Hae-jin continued to talk until he had dredged up all the memories he could. As the story subsided, Ryle, who had been listening silently, quietly asked at the end.
“Do you perhaps want to get your things back?”
“Of course, if I could.”
Hae-jin replied immediately, letting out a sigh-like laugh. He knew it was impossible, but if he could, Hae-jin wanted to get the house back. After selling it, he deliberately avoided that neighborhood. He was afraid it would break his heart too much if a new family was living there.
“I see.”
Throughout this long conversation, Ryle had been holding onto Hae-jin with one hand. As if he was still uneasy. Only now aware of it, Hae-jin looked down at their clasped hands, and Ryle’s emotions fluctuated again. Hae-jin, quietly gauging his own fluctuating feelings, casually said a word.
“It’s cold.”
“Yeah.”
As if it were natural, Ryle wrapped another blanket around Hae-jin. Still, as if it wasn’t enough, he carefully examined Hae-jin’s complexion.
He was worried because Hae-jin rarely said he was cold. Anxious that he might not like it, he carefully lifted Hae-jin and pulled him into his arms. It was also a posture that included a desire to hold him tightly with his whole body.
Instead of struggling to get away, Hae-jin familiarly rested his head on his shoulder. Ryle somehow felt tears welling up at that docile gesture.
“Actually, I bought up this entire area… You might hate it.”
He whispered in his ear in a tone as if making a confession. Saying he was cold was just an excuse, but now that he was in his arms, he felt so cozy.
The rest of the words were omitted, but Hae-jin could suddenly understand why Ryle had bought this place.
“I hope you’ll preserve it as it is.”
“Yeah.”
“Please don’t make it like that pretty lake.”
“Yeah. I will. I’ll make sure it stays as it is.”
Even at the sudden request, Ryle understood perfectly and repeatedly promised.
The sound of rain seeped between them again. The rain, which had been pouring down as if to flood the lake, gradually subsided.
“Here.”
As if he was still worried about him being cold, Ryle pulled over a makeshift cart that was within reach. It contained sandwiches and cocoa, things that could be eaten easily, packed in a thermal bag.
Hae-jin stared silently at the cocoa cup in his hand. The rich cocoa, which exuded sweetness from its scent, had a rabbit-shaped marshmallow floating on top. Hae-jin, watching the face of the sinking rabbit, quickly took a sip. After savoring the sweetness several times, the marshmallow quickly disappeared.
When he drank cocoa at the mansion, marshmallows had always been added as a matter of course. While drinking it, Hae-jin had never once felt that the marshmallows were lacking. But today, he felt sad about them disappearing.
Ryle, who had been watching Hae-jin all along, carefully added marshmallows to the cocoa cup.
“Want more?”
“…….”
He hadn’t even said anything, but how did he know?
It felt as if the marshmallows he had placed were not falling on the cocoa but on his heart. The picnic on a rainy day, which he had thought would only make him dwell on his gloom, felt strangely warm.
Ryle’s affection, as countless as the falling raindrops, filled the tent. As if he would always pour his affection on Hae-jin like that heavy rain.
A huge impulse, like the lake, engulfed Hae-jin.
“Kiss me.”
This time, without answering, Ryle slightly lowered his head. With one hand gently holding Hae-jin’s chin, he tilted his head. The sound of the cup being placed on the table was heard between the raindrops as the cocoa cup in his hand was somehow transferred to Ryle.
The moment their lips met, the sound of the cup being placed on the table was heard between the raindrops.
The anniversary of Hyung’s death was approaching. From the moment he realized that fact, Hae-jin felt his body calmly sinking.
“Hae-jin.”
A light kiss landed on his cheek. He was embarrassed, but Hae-jin just lowered his eyes slightly. Since the impulsive act by the lake, Ryle’s expressions of affection had become increasingly natural.
No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Hae-jin had become more natural in accepting them. Even now, he had unconsciously buried his face in Ryle’s chest, who was hugging him as if he was worried.
“Are you okay?”
It was as if he knew why Hae-jin had suddenly become depressed.
As always around this time, heavy rain fell for days. The rain that heralded spring fell particularly hard in this city. Thanks to that, Hae-jin had to spend this time of year painfully every year since the accident, because of the ankle and chest that ached because of the rain.
He thought he had gotten a little better, but when he thought about the night of the accident, he kept losing energy. Since entering the mansion, Hae-jin had always had to endure this pain alone. If Ryle’s rut happened to overlap with this time, it was even more painful.
However, Ryle, who had always made Hae-jin feel more and more isolated, was now focusing all his energy on warmly embracing him.
At the sudden realization, Hae-jin suddenly wrapped his arms around Ryle’s waist and hugged him back. He could feel his body flinching beneath his skin, but he didn’t care. A desire to not miss this kindness suddenly surged.
He never wanted to go back to those dark days again.
“Hyung’s death anniversary is coming up soon.”
“……I know.”
Ryle answered honestly, hesitating. Seeing Hae-jin, who had never hugged him first, doing this, he guessed that he must be having a hard time.
“Please go to the columbarium with me.”
“Okay.”
He put strength into his arms, which were holding Hae-jin as tightly as he could. With the determination to lift him up as if he was sinking somewhere.
Because of Hae-jin’s depressed mood, which had sunk for the first time in a while, Ryle also felt like he was being swallowed by the rain.
“This way.”
Hae-jin, who seemed to be suffering from nightmares all night, followed Ryle’s guidance with a listless face. Since there was nothing he could do but be by his side, Ryle had to be on tenterhooks. When he found Hae-jin sweating from nightmares, he had to struggle not to suffocate from the rising fear.
One good thing was that Hae-jin didn’t need to dwell on familiar sorrows because the location of the columbarium had changed.
“Is it here?”
“Yeah.”
A faint but puzzled look appeared on Hae-jin’s face as he found his way to the new path. When he imagined how lonely he must have been when he visited his family alone, Ryle naturally felt a surge of self-loathing.
Following Hae-jin’s footsteps as he held his parents’ funeral alone, he naturally learned that he had placed his family’s remains separately. Financial problems must have been the biggest reason.
So, he asked for permission to try to move them so that the family could be enshrined together in advance. Hae-jin looked at him with an unreadable expression for the first time in a long time. Pheromones mixed with complexity lingered, but Hae-jin finally nodded.
Small buildings were scattered throughout the quiet park. It was a memorial park designed so that each building could house one family. Ryle, who had chosen the most elegant place among them, had moved Hae-jin’s family here.
Hae-jin’s words that he wanted to go to Hyung’s death anniversary together were so pitiful that Ryle nodded immediately. But when the day came, he suddenly became afraid. He wondered if he was qualified to see Hae-jin’s family.
What if he dwells on the sadness of that day again in front of them?
But that was also a burden that Ryle had to bear. Recalling the memories of that day that he couldn’t even excuse, he came here with Hae-jin with the heart of a prisoner receiving his sentence.
“…….”
He couldn’t even ask Hae-jin, who was slowly looking around the inside of the columbarium, how he felt. It was hard to even raise his eyes towards the side where the Bright Family’s urns were gathered. He could only desperately hope that the raw desperation wouldn’t leak out too much.
“It’s pretty.”
“……Yeah.”
The inside of the columbarium, which was filled with a subtle light, was very neat. It was a completely different atmosphere from the unnecessarily fancy wreaths that had arrived alone at the funeral hall. So, Hae-jin could tell that Ryle had put a lot of thought into it.
Slowly, Hae-jin moved to this new space. Seeing the urns of his family gathered together, his bruised heart ached.
Even as he moved, Ryle stopped abruptly at the entrance. After hesitating, Hae-jin turned around and held out his hand.
“You said you’d come with me.”
“…….”
Only then did Ryle carefully move his feet and stand next to him.
Hae-jin, wondering what to say as an introduction, just brushed the back of his neck once and held back his words. In fact, it was hard to part his lips because he felt like he would burst into tears if he opened his mouth.
Carefully stroking the second family photo placed next to Hyung’s urn with his fingertips, Hae-jin silently wished for their peace for a long time.
He was very worried because Hyung and his parents were all cremated on a day when the rain was heavy. He was worried that the smoke wouldn’t reach the sky properly because of the heavy rain. But it would be okay. They were all shining people like their names, so they must have easily found their way to the sky.
He felt a little comforted that there was someone breathing with him by his side, unlike when he came alone.
“Next time, when Ryle goes to see his parents, I’ll go with you too… If you need me to.”
He carefully brought up the topic that he had been trying to ignore until now. He was just grateful that he had walked this sad and scary path with him. He was grateful that he had helped his family reunite.
However, Ryle looked at Hae-jin’s expression with a slightly troubled look and said something unexpected.
“……I don’t celebrate my parents’ death anniversary separately. There are many places I have to show my face because it happens to be the day I was born.”
“Ah…….”
Hae-jin, who had widened his eyes without realizing it, looked at Ryle in astonishment. What on earth had happened that he had lost both of his parents on his birthday?
“That doesn’t mean I think of that day as my birthday.”
The added words felt a little cold. He had touched another unnecessary pain. Hae-jin, feeling dejected by his own carelessness, looked at the tips of Ryle’s shoes and apologized.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
The subtle light inside the columbarium was reflected on his spotless shoes. Hae-jin, who had lowered his eyes in embarrassment, repeatedly thought of and erased clumsy words of comfort in his head for a long time. Then, a strange thought suddenly occurred to him.
Ryle was also someone who didn’t have a birthday.
“I don’t know when my real birthday is either.”
“…….”
“So, I decided to make the day I met my family my birthday.”
“Good job.”
He had said unnecessary things and made Hae-jin look dark. Ryle bitterly twisted his lips and carefully stroked the head of the boy who was bowing.
He was really okay. The fact that it had affected him even a little was only when he was younger. Now, his birthday was nothing more or less than a day when annoying parties were held.
However, he was just grateful for this heartfelt comfort. As if a wound he didn’t even know he had was being embraced.
“Ryle, set a new birthday. It’s too lonely to pass by without one.”
“Should I?”
His body, which had been stiff and tense, relaxed a little. He kept wanting the soft touch on his palm. Ryle greedily pushed his fingers into the hair covering the back of Hae-jin’s head and gently stroked his white cheek with his thumb.
But in the midst of enjoying that warm touch in a daze, Hae-jin was making a troubled expression again.
“Ah… But the other family members might not like it.”
It was an expression that clearly showed that he had given presumptuous advice. His eyebrows twitched because he was even saying strange things.
“Other family? Mine?”
“……Uncle is there.”
Damn it. Curses immediately swirled inside him. He had thought of that kind of guy as family, so Hae-jin had been so hurt, he realized much later.
The anger towards Daniel, whose existence he had forgotten until now, flared up again. Afraid that he would misunderstand again, Ryle made it clear on this occasion.
“He’s gone now. In the future, ignore any guys who come to you claiming to be my family or relatives. Of course, I won’t let those guys appear in front of you again.”
Even though he had said a lot, Hae-jin had a confused look on his face. Narrowing his eyes, he carefully organized his feelings and pointed out the fact that he knew well.
“Just because you share blood doesn’t mean you’re family.”
“……That’s right.”
Hae-jin carefully nodded, mulling over Ryle’s words. Because it sounded like family needed something more than just blood ties.
So Hae-jin’s family was even more special.
As he obediently nodded, Ryle’s large hand, which had been withdrawn for a moment, stroked his head and passed by. It was a gesture as if to say he would be quiet now.
He quietly turns his gaze back to the small place where Hyung is laid to rest. Although there are a few polite decorations, it still looks barren with only a family photo. There was nothing more that could be added to where his parents were, so it was empty.
Can I fill that place up more? I should ask later. With that resolution, Hae-jin once again bid farewell to Hyung in his heart.
In the process, he made an effort to skirt around Ryle’s story. Because he kept thinking that it was still difficult to explain this ambiguous relationship. Thanks to that, his attention was only directed to the side the whole time he was talking to Hyung, which was a big problem.
A faint emotion continued to stir in his heart.
A few days flew by like an arrow. It felt like fast-forwarding time because he wanted to see spring quickly. Perhaps he felt that way even more because of the somewhat heavy mood that had settled since visiting the columbarium.
Mark, who had seen him blankly doing nothing even with the game console in his hand several times, suggested a walk. Hae-jin readily agreed, feeling like he was causing unnecessary worry. He planned to spend some time in the greenhouse and return.
The atmosphere was still chaotic on the way. One of the exterior buildings was said to be undergoing major construction. As he looked at that side for a moment and unknowingly frowned, another construction site occupied his view.
“That place is still under construction?”
“Yes. I think it will be finished soon.”
Beyond the mansion’s high walls is a green meadow. It was a wide meadow that crossed the boundary between the city and the mansion. The lushness has not yet fully come to life, but in the summer, the open scenery is worth seeing.
For some time now, a high cloth has been wrapped around one side of the meadow. It looked like something was being built, but the inside was not visible due to the carefully wrapped construction cloth. When he asked Mark out of curiosity, he only said that a necessary building was being built.
“Would you like to have lunch in the greenhouse?”
It was the air of the greenhouse that now felt a little warm. Hae-jin, who realized that the weather had warmed up a lot, carefully moved inside. He thought Mark had come with him to keep him company, but it turned out that it was because lunchtime was near.
“Hmm…”
He hadn’t even checked the time because he wasn’t hungry at all yet. Hae-jin, who was quietly observing his stomach condition, decided to skip lunch.
“I think just a glass of juice will be enough for lunch. I ate too much breakfast.”
“Hmm. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. You saw it, didn’t you? I really ate a lot.”
The pancakes that came out for breakfast today were strangely delicious. Perhaps because of the newly changed syrup, Hae-jin was greedy for the remaining pancake, even though he was full. Thanks to that, his stomach felt bloated for a long time.
Mark, who knew that, smiled faintly and said he would prepare juice with milk instead. Hae-jin, whose mood improved along with that kind smile, picked up a book he had tucked under his arm and took a seat on the chair. When he said he liked the blue arched decoration inside, Ryle put a fluffy sofa there.
“Oh, and please tell Ryle not to worry too much.”
“I will.”
Mark, with a slightly subtle expression, joked that he would convey it that way for now. Hae-jin felt embarrassed, as if everyone in the mansion knew about Ryle’s excessive state.
The sound of the sprinkler turning was cool as it soaked the ground.
“He also added that you shouldn’t worry too much.”
“…Is that so.”
Ryle, who had paused for a moment at the Secretary’s report, continued to move his hand. A signature in elegant handwriting drew a black trajectory on the document he was holding.
Every lunchtime, the Secretary reports on calls from the mansion. Of course, all the reports were mainly about Hae-jin. Today, he received a report that Hae-jin had skipped lunch, so the Secretary also had a troubled face. It was because Ryle’s recent unstable appearance was vivid in his mind.
However, Ryle, who received the report, unexpectedly continued to process the documents on his desk silently. Just when the Secretary was about to leave, thinking he was okay, and was organizing the documents he was holding.
Ryle, who slammed the last document shut, jumped up.
“Chairman?”
“Organize the rest of today’s schedule.”
Just as he thought. The Secretary suppressed a sigh inwardly behind Ryle, who was immediately preparing to return to the mansion. Not forgetting to quickly contact the helipad on the roof.
Hae-jin, who was lying on the sofa in the study and fiddling with a tablet, looked at Ryle, who had returned in a hurry, with embarrassment. From the moment he heard the helicopter overhead, he thought it was a mistake.
He only spent time in the hobby room, so he felt like his spine was becoming limp, so he sometimes visited the study like this. Even when he came here, he ended up not looking at books and just playing with the tablet, but he liked this unique atmosphere anyway.
Hae-jin, who was secretly lying down and rolling around by himself, had to face Ryle with a slightly flustered face. He came back in such a hurry even before the sun had set.
“Hae-jin.”
He naturally approached and sat down on the floor in front of the sofa where Hae-jin was lying. He hurriedly tried to get up and sit him on the sofa, but he stopped him.
“You really don’t have to worry. It’s because I haven’t digested breakfast yet.”
“I know.”
He could tell without asking why he had returned in such a hurry. It becomes clearer when he faces that anxiously fluctuating pheromone.
Ryle answered briefly and took his hand, pressing his lips on the back of his hand. A tickling sensation suddenly started on the back of his hand at that affectionate expression. In the end, Hae-jin couldn’t even take it out and awkwardly raised his body.
He really wasn’t hungry, but Ryle still seemed worried. Hae-jin, who had stiffened in a posture with his hand outstretched, had no choice but to say this carefully.
“I’ll eat dinner well.”
“Thank you.”
Of course, Ryle knew too. That Hae-jin didn’t refuse the meal today because he didn’t have much of an appetite. However, what he was concerned about was Hae-jin, who had been feeling slightly depressed for the past few days.
Since visiting the columbarium, Hae-jin had been eating well, enjoying his hobbies, and often taking walks. He also learned to spend time in various places like this, instead of being cooped up in the bedroom every time.
However, this faint gloomy energy constantly lingered near him. He must have recalled many painful memories again because of Hyung’s death anniversary. So he knew it couldn’t be helped, but he was worried that this thin, veil-like gloom would become a habit for him.
“There’s something I want to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Actually, I wanted to tell you when the preparations were more complete…”
Thinking that he needed an opportunity to lift his spirits, Ryle opened his mouth a little prematurely. He still needed more time, but it seemed good to tell him one thing in advance.
“I’m trying to establish a welfare foundation now. A foundation that does volunteer work and provides support for the underprivileged.”
“Yes.”
Hae-jin looked down at Ryle with wide eyes at the unexpected words. His posture of naturally hugging Hae-jin’s waist and burying his face in his lap felt strange, as if he was acting spoiled.
Thanks to that, his blond hair fluttered in front of his eyes. The blond hair, which received the light from the splendid chandelier in the study, was very dazzling today. It was usually perfectly swept back in the morning, but now it seemed to be disheveled by the strong wind of the helicopter.
Hae-jin, who was staring intently at that hair, impulsively reached out his hand. The blond hair, which was softer than he thought, wrapped around his fingers.
“…I want to name the foundation the Bright Welfare Foundation. What do you think?”
“……”
Hae-jin’s hand, which had been playing in his hair, stopped abruptly.
Ryle was disappointed that the hand that had naturally approached had stopped. The hand that had stopped once did not move, but he was relieved that the small hand remained on his head. He didn’t have the courage to raise his head and check his face. Hae-jin’s complicated feelings were being expressed through pheromones again nearby.
In fact, he was thinking of giving Hae-jin the position of chairman of the foundation when more time had passed. It would be good to entrust it to him from the beginning, but it was difficult to get a sense of how he would accept it. Perhaps he would find such a title burdensome, given Hae-jin’s nature, who still doesn’t recognize the enormous wealth Ryle gives him as his own.
He didn’t want to put any pressure on him, so he was planning to fix the name like this for now. And it would be a good way to promise the distant future.
“Why?”
After a long time, Hae-jin asked this. He was terrified because the end of his words was slightly wet. Still, Ryle carefully raised his head and looked up at him. The hand that had awkwardly failed to leave his head naturally fell to his shoulder.
“So that people will continue to remember the name Bright.”
Just, because I thought you would want that.
Hae-jin stared at Ryle with shaking eyes for a long time. His black eyes gradually filled with tears. Just when he thought it looked like a smooth pebble on the lake shore, he whispered softly.
At the same time, Ryle helplessly lost his soul to the faint smile that gently landed on his lips.
“Thank you.”
Hae-jin realized that his heart was throbbing at the pure affection that reached him. While discovering that the scattered heart was now shamelessly sparkling to the fullest.
“The place you instructed has been completed. The interior layout is also finished, so it can be opened to the public today.”
The preparations he had been waiting for were finally over. Ryle, who was sitting in his office receiving the report, inadvertently looked at his cell phone. There was no new contact from Hae-jin except for the short reply he had received earlier.
Recently, if he deliberately sent trivial texts, he would get an awkward reply after a long time. Knowing that clearly, Ryle continued to send trivial texts. Because he liked Hae-jin, who would worry about replying for a long time.
Ryle, who was about to contact him again out of habit, soon put away his cell phone. He suddenly thought that he shouldn’t bother him too much.
He decided not to hide his pheromones in front of him, but it was still difficult to show this obsession and longing as it was. Because Hae-jin seemed like he would throw it all away again and run away if his heart was heavy.
Ryle, who gently swept his face with his palm, leaned deeply into his chair.
“Tell them I’ll go see it tomorrow. When the sun is brightest.”
“I understand.”
Originally, it was a place he had prepared to talk about along with the Bright Foundation. The timing was a bit off, but if Hae-jin was happy, he could adjust the schedule as many times as he wanted.
His heart beat strongly as he remembered the moment when he smiled beautifully and said thank you. He tries to soothe the feeling of excitement that he can’t control. Since it could be a sensitive issue, it is never enough to prepare for the worst.
Still, he hoped he would like it this time too.
* * *
“Where are you going?”
“Do you remember the place that was under construction in the meadow in front of the mansion?”
“Ah…”
The place surrounded by the high tent immediately came to mind. He had breakfast together without fail, but today he didn’t go to work and stayed by Hae-jin’s side. He failed the game several times because he was conscious of him sitting awkwardly next to him. It was because Ryle was watching his play intently that he put strength into his shoulders for no reason.
Then, when the sun was at its highest, Ryle wrapped his arm around his shoulder and whispered. Hae-jin had to unconsciously rub the ear where his breath had touched because his voice was so ticklish.
His cheeks were flushed for no reason, but he felt a little drained at the news that he was going outside. He wondered if it was something to say so secretly. When he thought about it, Ryle had been increasing his physical contact, but he never asked for anything excessively first.
Come to think of it, was his pheromone release okay? The belated question was pushed aside by curiosity the moment he reached the meadow.
“…What kind of building is it?”
He thought the mansion was deserted, but all the servants had come out to watch. Some were exchanging opinions busily, as if preparing for a huge event. There was a long rope on one side, and it seemed that if you pulled it, all the tents would come down at once.
Hae-jin asked, raising a strange tension at the more grandiose situation than he had expected, but Ryle only wore a suspicious expression. His pheromones were going back and forth between tension and excitement so quickly that he was dizzy.
“Don’t be too surprised when you see it.”
“……”
The words not to be surprised only heightened the tension. At that time, Ryle sent a signal to one side, and the person who was preparing pulled the rope forcefully. At that moment, the cloth fluttered and fell to the ground.
Then a small house appeared on the meadow.
“……Ah……”
Hae-jin unknowingly exclaimed at the familiar appearance. Ryle, who was standing behind Hae-jin, who had stiffened, carefully supported his shoulders with both hands.
“I wanted to buy back the original house, but… unfortunately, it was completely demolished.”
“……”
I see. While he was making an effort to avoid that neighborhood, his memories had already evaporated cleanly.
Hae-jin, who had complicated feelings, frowned with difficulty. Ryle was looking at him with such excitement next to him, but he couldn’t smile. It was an indescribably subtle feeling.
The house clearly retained the same appearance that Hae-jin remembered. Enough to recall the family that would be there right away. However, this place was too new to contain his faded memories. The warehouse door that Hyung had crashed his bicycle into and dented was also gone, and the door frame where Hae-jin used to measure his height was clean with newly painted paint.
Only then did Hae-jin realize that what he wanted to regain was not this shell. What he wanted was just the time of the past. He couldn’t regain it in this way. On the other hand, Ryle’s sincerity in trying to give him something, even in this way, was warm.
As Hae-jin hesitated without saying anything, Ryle put a little more strength into the hand that was holding his shoulder again.
“Go inside.”
As if he knew what Hae-jin was feeling.
The energy in that voice was so strange that Hae-jin entered inside as if possessed. As he went up the new stairs that didn’t creak, the sense of incongruity deepened.
However, the moment he stepped inside, Hae-jin stopped abruptly.
“It was difficult to find the data, so the internal structure may not be accurate.”
“……”
“If it’s too bothersome, you can change it as much as you want, so let’s fix it little by little when you have time.”
Ryle gently pulled Hae-jin, who was stiff, and carefully led him to the sofa inside. At that touch, he staggered and sat down on the familiar sofa. His gaze trembled endlessly and was fixed on the object placed on the familiar table.
There was an old baseball glove with Hyung’s initials and Hae-jin’s initials engraved together.
“This, all of this…, how did you get it?”
The inside of the house was a mess, even though he had confidently shown it. The living room was full of boxes of miscellaneous items piled up like mountains.
However, Hae-jin couldn’t hold back the emotions that were welling up. It was because the miscellaneous items placed there were the family’s cherished items that Hae-jin was so sad about.
“The company that bought the Bright Family’s house went bankrupt. So the warehouse they used was also confiscated and left unattended for a long time.”
“……”
“I wanted to tell you sooner, but I wasn’t sure if there were any items left inside.”
Ryle had been holding back his words because he was afraid of giving him false hope and then disappointing him again. Originally, he wasn’t even thinking of building a similar house recklessly like this. However, he recently miraculously recovered the items that had been stuck inside the warehouse for a long time, so he changed his plan a little.
Of course, all the valuable items were gone. But Ryle knew that these trivial things were more precious to Hae-jin than anything else, so he held onto hope. He pondered for a long time where to put these things to deliver them. Then, he thought of the old house, and after realizing he couldn’t get it back, he chose the next best option.
Even if this house felt unfamiliar, he believed that seeing what was inside would cheer him up.
“……Hngh……”
Hae-jin, who was sitting blankly and stroking the old glove, suddenly made a choked sound. Ryle reflexively knelt on one knee and examined Hae-jin’s complexion.
“This, like this……, hng……”
“Come here.”
The hand holding the glove trembled uncontrollably. Ryle knew he wasn’t just sad, but seeing him take deep breaths as if trying to swallow his tears, his heart ached. Ryle straightened his back and pulled Hae-jin into a full embrace.
He hoped he wouldn’t hold back his tears anymore.
As soon as Ryle’s warm embrace touched his face, Hae-jin finally burst into tears. The sorrowful sobs of a child echoed through the house filled with bright sunlight for a long time. Hae-jin called out indistinct names until his throat was hoarse, pouring out all the remaining sorrow, and Ryle’s embrace became completely soaked.
“Hng, hngh…… Hng, hngh……”
“Shh…… It’s okay.”
Unlike last time, Hae-jin couldn’t say thank you out loud. But Ryle could clearly feel that the two hands gripping his waist were conveying the words of gratitude.
“Ah…… This is here too. Thank goodness.”
For a while, Hae-jin repeated the act of crying like a madman every time he came to this house. It was as if he was trying to release all the remaining sorrow from his body. After returning to the mansion in Ryle’s arms, half-fainted, several times, he was finally able to leave the house on his own two feet after some time.
From then on, he began to organize his belongings little by little. Ryle allowed Hae-jin to use this space as he pleased. So, he decided to restore the old appearance while reminiscing about his family’s memories. Since it was already a built structure, he didn’t intend to touch the interior structure.
Thankfully, the numerous items in the box were all neatly organized. He had heard that it had been left neglected in the warehouse for a long time, but it was spotless without a single cobweb.
This time, Hae-jin picked up the old game console that he used to sit side by side with his Hyung and argue over, and a faint smile appeared on his face. It seemed that it had remained intact because it was an old model that was no longer worth selling.
It seemed that computers and TVs had already been disposed of. He decided to be grateful for what remained rather than regretting what was gone.
It still hurt, but he was able to move forward somehow.
Thanks to the gently passing thoughts, a faint smile flowed again. He was connecting the game console to the power, wondering if it would work. That’s when he suddenly noticed that his physical condition was a bit strange.
“Uh……”
He even made a dazed sound and touched his forehead with his hand. His warm skin was gradually covered with cold sweat. Because Hae-jin tensed up whenever Ryle’s complexion turned dark when he was sick, he nervously kept touching his cheeks and neck. It didn’t seem like a cold, but he felt strange.
At that moment, Hae-jin realized that this was the prelude to a heat cycle.
“You’ll be going into heat soon. It’s best to be careful as you’ll continue to feel body ache-like symptoms for the time being.”
Ryle knew that Hae-jin was going into heat even before Hae-jin, whom he had met, could say a word. His terribly hardened expression held such stiff tension that Hae-jin had to nod unconsciously at the suggestion of going to the hospital.
“Ah…… A suppressant prescription……”
Until now, the Butler at the mansion had taken care of handing over the suppressants. Hae-jin, recalling that moment, stiffened his body for the first time in a long time.
The doctor, who was simultaneously observing Ryle’s face turning pale next to him, was sweating inwardly. Ryle’s pheromone doctor was very nervous when Hae-jin came to receive his treatment as well. Only the doctor knew for sure that the Recessive Omega in front of him was Ryle’s imprinting partner. Even his close aides only knew that he was unusually ill because his pheromone release hadn’t been completed.
If the two were on good terms, there would be no problem. However, Ryle was extremely averse to proper pheromone release for some reason, so the difficulty of the treatment increased infinitely.
“……Please excuse us for a moment. I need a private consultation.”
It was especially difficult to convey this message to Hae-jin, who was asking for suppressants. However, Ryle, wary of the Alpha, did not easily leave his seat. Hae-jin, who was staring at the person next to him, betrayed the doctor’s expectations.
“It’s okay.”
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
As soon as permission was granted, Ryle asked the doctor urgently. He subtly turned his head away from Hae-jin to hide his gaze, but the gaze directed at the doctor was sharp.
The doctor, who felt like collapsing, gave up and continued the story.
“It’s best not to prescribe suppressants this time.”
“Why?”
“You’ve been prescribed suppressants continuously for the past few years.”
“……Yes.”
The doctor was, of course, the one who had prescribed and delivered the suppressants to Hae-jin. Until now, he had only been told to give them to the Omega at the mansion, but there couldn’t be another Recessive Omega next to Ryle.
The former Butler, who had to convey that, hadn’t explained this, so Hae-jin didn’t know. And Ryle, who hadn’t paid attention to that, wanted to shoot himself in the head for the first time in a long time.
“Besides, your hormone balance is particularly unstable this time. It seems to be affected by the presence of a Dominant Alpha next to you.”
“……”
“If the levels are this high, the chances of pregnancy are significantly reduced. Have you had pheromone release together recently?”
“……No.”
He had suspected it, but it seemed that the two still had no intention of having proper pheromone release. It would have been better if they had. Hae-jin’s body could have gradually adapted and become stable. However, if it ended with just interfering with each other like this, the body’s balance would be even more disrupted.
The doctor, who couldn’t bear to see pheromone problems arise in Hae-jin following Ryle, hardened his face resolutely.
“Just as a general Alpha can develop pheromone gland congestion, similar problems can occur in Omegas. However, unlike just feeling dazed, Omegas have a greater chance of developing more serious problems such as infertility.”
“Yes……”
“So, it’s best to have proper pheromone release this time. ……If the person next to you can’t do it, you should look for another Alpha.”
The doctor had said it, bearing in mind Ryle’s strong resistance. However, surprisingly, the two were silent. Rather, they had faces that showed they had greatly realized that such an option existed.
Thanks to that, the doctor finished the treatment with a bewildered face.
* * *
A heavy silence fell in the bedroom. According to the doctor, the heat cycle would begin in the next day or two.
He didn’t know how he had returned to the mansion in such a state of mind. Hae-jin, who had mechanically washed up, lay down on the bed with a blank face.
“Hae-jin.”
It was then that Ryle, who had just entered the bedroom, called him. For some reason, he felt a strange chill at the sound of that low, cracked voice.
Only then did Hae-jin realize that this was originally Ryle’s bedroom, and he was very embarrassed. He had been too unguarded for someone about to go into heat.
“……Ryle.”
In reality, Ryle had been unable to touch Hae-jin at all. The heat pheromones that were leaking out little by little were so insanely sweet that his Adam’s apple kept bobbing. He had poured cold water over himself to the fullest extent in the face of a desire that felt like he was going out of his mind. Even so, he felt the illusion of a faint haze rising from Hae-jin’s skin after he had washed up.
He had originally intended to avoid Hae-jin for a while near him until he took the suppressants before going to the hospital. But because of the unexpected fact, he couldn’t leave his side at all. He had never dreamed that suppressants would be bad for his body. At that time, Ryle had just been indifferent to Hae-jin.
And, another Alpha.
The moment Ryle heard that, he felt like he was being thrown into an endless Abyss. Why was he so stupid that he only realized it now? He no longer cared about anyone other than Hae-jin. But Hae-jin was different. He could leave him and find another Alpha at any time.
The more he thought about it, the more the black hole in his heart grew.
“……That……”
Then, Hae-jin, who was hesitating while looking at him, carefully opened his mouth. He couldn’t help but feel that his attitude would be endlessly uncomfortable. He was afraid that he would tell Ryle to leave and call another Alpha.
He felt like he was going crazy with anxiety.
“Hae-jin.”
With a rising urgency, Ryle carefully approached Hae-jin. With each step he took forward, a fierce conflict passed through him. Still, he finally approached his feet and carefully knelt on one knee in front of Hae-jin.
Hae-jin’s gaze, who was sitting awkwardly on the bed, immediately turned downwards. He was afraid that contempt would settle in that gaze. But he was even more afraid of Hae-jin disappearing.
“Please……”
“……Yes?”
His voice, cracked with exhaustion, couldn’t be more desperate. Hae-jin widened his eyes at the sudden plea and observed his golden eyelashes fluttering.
“Please, ……don’t go anywhere else.”
“……”
“I know I don’t have the right to say this to you. ……But still……”
Ryle, unable to finish his words, slowly buried his face in Hae-jin’s lap. His fluctuating pheromones had been restlessly shaking with frustration since earlier.
Unlike his misunderstanding, Hae-jin had never thought about finding another Alpha. In the first place, he had never been very pleased with the pheromones of other Alphas.
But on the other hand, Hae-jin knew that Ryle would endure it even if he were to meet someone else right now. Even if he were to fall to the ground in a miserable state again.
He must still be suffering from pheromone congestion. But until Hae-jin’s heat came, he had never mentioned that fact first.
Even now, he couldn’t bring himself to ask for a chance and was just begging like this.
The heat of the heat cycle was gradually seeping out of his skin. It felt like a ripe fruit, full of moisture, ready to overflow at any moment. The area below his navel was tingling slightly. The swirling energy gradually increased in size, devouring his torso.
“Ryle.”
“……Yeah.”
Like a person waiting for a sentence, Ryle raised his head. His pitiful blue eyes were filled with faint moisture. Just like that day when it was snowing heavily.
Even though he had the power to imprison him right away, Ryle didn’t choose that path.
So, Hae-jin decided to entrust himself to his impulses.
“Please help me. ……I need pheromone release.”
He deliberately said it clearly in case he misunderstood it as some other kind of help. But Ryle, who raised his head, froze as if he had turned into a statue.
Hae-jin, wondering if his expression was still a bit lacking, awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. He could now clearly feel the flushed skin on the palm of his hand.
But his lips wouldn’t fall. It was because he had no immunity to this kind of thing, not knowing how to say it more clearly. He bit his lip slightly in embarrassment.
At that moment, Ryle approached and licked the white, bitten lip.
“Really?”
“……Yes.”
Hae-jin was momentarily stunned by the sudden action. Then, he soon realized the sensation that had passed and blushed.
Ryle, who was staring at that face, gently brought his lips to his again. A tingling sensation spread across his lips. Ryle’s pheromones, which were slightly smeared there, were strangely erotic.
“……”
“……Really?”
As if he couldn’t believe it, Ryle kept asking for an answer. A large hand that had approached slightly groped Hae-jin’s wrist. As if the scar there was painful, as if the protruding bone was bothering him.
“Hngh.”
Ryle’s thumb traced the wrist line and moved upwards. His breathing quickened with tension. The more it did, the more pheromones scattered into the air.
Only then did Hae-jin realize that the heat cycle had begun in earnest.
Ryle, who had been stroking his wrist for a long time, lowered his head. Seeing his hot lips slowly descending along the scar, his skin felt very hot. The ticklish sensation was too much. The moment he tried to pull his arm away without realizing it, Ryle pulled it towards him more carefully. Then, he gently set his teeth and gnawed near the protruding bone.
“Uh, that……”
The sound of telling him not to do that was stuck in his throat and wouldn’t come out. Hae-jin was surprised and widened his eyes at the strange feeling. Only after boldly unfolding his impulses did he belatedly realize that he had never had a proper experience.
Was he going to do the act that he had always endured and only felt pain from again?
His mind, which had slightly escaped from the heat, turned cold. As if to scare him, Ryle moved his lips along his arm again.
“Hae-jin.”
“Uh……”
The hand that slipped between his clothes and wrapped around his bare waist was very stimulating. Hae-jin was newly realizing that the feeling of his bare skin being touched was so ticklish. Ryle, who had slightly raised his body, burrowed deeper into Hae-jin’s arms. Still looking up, he kissed Hae-jin’s chin and nose in order.
“Are you really okay with this?”
Ryle was gradually increasing the weight he was putting on him. Naturally, Hae-jin collapsed onto the bed. By the way, why did he keep asking this when he had told him not to go anywhere else earlier?
Hae-jin twisted his body slightly, reading the faint anxiety that still remained within him. He even felt like he was teasing him for no reason.
“I’m okay, I told you……”
“Hae-jin.”
“……Please do it.”
At that moment, Ryle frantically brought his lips to his.
“Hngh……”
His hot tongue roughly stirred inside his mouth as if all the restraint he had shown so far had been a pretense. It seemed to tease the tip of his front teeth, then quickly burst in and scratched the roof of his mouth. Hae-jin helplessly gasped at the sudden, rapid movement. His wrist, which had been held since earlier, was lifted above his head.
Ryle, who had briefly taken his lips away to give him time to breathe, pulled Hae-jin’s arm straight up.
“Hngh……!”
Hae-jin, who was now lying properly on the bed, writhed in the rising heat. Ryle’s pheromones, which filled the surroundings, became so sensitive that he could now feel every single particle. The pheromones, each with immense affection and desire, caressed his entire body like thousands of fingers. As if responding to that, a thick heat cycle pheromone leaked out from Hae-jin as well.
“Hae-jin.”
Ryle called Hae-jin desperately in a voice with a cracked end. Sometimes as if he couldn’t believe this situation, sometimes with a face that was frowning as if he was restraining himself somewhere.
Meanwhile, a hand that had completely invaded between his clothes moved up his protruding ribs to his chest. Hae-jin flinched in surprise, having lived without ever thinking that someone would touch there.
Contrary to the worries that had briefly flashed through his mind, it was full of unfamiliar sensations. Ryle treated Hae-jin’s body as carefully as if it were cotton candy. And as if he couldn’t get enough of that sweetness, he couldn’t keep his mouth still for a moment. It wasn’t painful, but ticklish and desperate.
“Hah, hng, it’s strange, it’s strange……”
“Yeah.”
He answered faithfully, but he didn’t seem to be listening at all. Hae-jin, who discovered that his top had disappeared amidst his hazy mind, twisted his head and grabbed the pillow.
Meanwhile, Ryle, who had been greedily exploring his chest, raised his head with a blank face. As if he couldn’t believe the sight of Hae-jin panting beneath him.
Hae-jin even felt like something was gushing out from below as he felt his fingers pulling down his pants. Strangely, he felt like crying. After all, these changes in his body had always led to bad results.
While Hae-jin was at a loss due to worry, Ryle finally took off all of his underwear. His persistent gaze was directed straight at his pink genitals.
“Hah, hngh, don’t, look……”
Ryle looked like he would get angry and leave at any moment. Hae-jin was afraid he would frown like the first day he went into heat. Suddenly, a wave of sorrow washed over him. Memories of that time surfaced one by one, and Hae-jin trembled slightly.
At that moment, he felt a wet sensation on his genitals.
“Ugh… Heuh!”
Greatly surprised, he looked down. The sight of golden hair burrowing between his legs couldn’t have been more sensual. Overwhelmed by a pleasure he had never experienced before, Hae-jin thrashed his legs wildly. Ryle, nonchalantly gripping his thighs with both hands, simply raised his gaze to meet Hae-jin’s.
As their bright blue eyes met, a strong pressure was felt during a brief moment of stillness.
“Ha…!”
Hae-jin shuddered, throwing his head back. His body responded madly to this hot, wet pleasure. Each time Ryle moved his head up and down, his high nose boldly invaded the hair below.
The large hand that subtly caressed his pelvis and the fingers that naturally roamed near his chest were all stimulating. Eventually, Hae-jin burst into tears.
“Ah, heuh…!”
At that moment, a gush of semen poured out from below. As if drinking in deep rainwater, Ryle greedily swallowed it all. Staring blankly at the scene, tears welled up again.
So this was the real sensation of mingling bodies. Hae-jin, newly aware of his own recklessness, trembled from the lingering aftereffects of the pleasure.
“Hae-jin, don’t cry. Did you not like it? Huh?”
He definitely liked it during the last heat.
Unlike Hae-jin, Ryle had a vivid memory of that time. He grew anxious at Hae-jin’s different reaction this time. He felt Hae-jin staring at his fingers, which were carefully wiping his lips, with a look of shock.
“Hng, too, strange, it was strange, ugh….”
Hae-jin, his cheeks flushed red, fumbled on the bed as if unsure where to place his arms. Ryle, reminded of his bound hands by that action, forced a wry smile and completely straightened his body. After shaking off his clothes, he finally climbed on top of Hae-jin as if to devour him.
“It was strange? How?”
“Ah, down there, hot, heuh, there too, strange….”
As he gently nibbled at the tip of his ear, Hae-jin twisted his body, saying it was strange again. As if chasing after that lovely neckline that was trying to escape, Ryle continued to press his lips against Hae-jin’s skin. He didn’t like the way his hands kept awkwardly clutching the blanket. So, Ryle naturally lifted the boy’s arms and wrapped them around his neck.
“Hold on. If I hurt you, scratch me.”
“Ugh, there, it hurts.”
As he sucked on his collarbone, leaving a mark, he felt fingers fidgeting behind his neck. So enamored by that, Ryle chuckled and continued to focus on leaving marks as if teasing him.
Each time a red mark landed on Hae-jin’s white body, he felt an immense sense of fulfillment that made his mind go blank. Ryle struggled to maintain his reason and gently controlled his pheromone.
“Ugh, heuh….”
However, it seemed that he couldn’t completely control this raw desire, as a bit of his crude, lewd feelings leaked out. Hae-jin, in heat and sensitive to Dominant pheromones, gradually became languid and limp below. The sight of him panting with flushed eyes was very stimulating.
“Down there, strange, it’s strange down there, heuh, it’s itchy….”
He hadn’t realized it since earlier, but Hae-jin continued to tighten his arms around Ryle’s neck. As if trying to pull Ryle closer to him. His thighs were already stained with the fluids that had been leaking out since earlier. As if he could swallow him whole at any moment.
He carefully traced the opening with his fingers. He watched the body flinch with each movement, carefully entered inside. As expected of an Omega in heat, his lower region was already ready to receive.
At this point, neither Ryle nor Hae-jin could endure any longer. So, he licked the boy’s ear intimately and burrowed between his legs.
The tip of his aroused member touched the moist entrance. He almost lost his mind at that moment, but barely managed to grit his teeth. After a bit of resistance, the moment his member suddenly entered inside, a crisis arrived. It felt like every nerve in his brain was burning white.
“Ha….”
“Ah…, too, big, isn’t it, heuh!”
Hae-jin’s lower region, which was biting his member, pulled him in as if to devour him. Even though he was pushing in somewhat hastily, the boy swallowed him whole as if delighted. He felt as if his entire mind was sinking into Hae-jin. No, in fact, he realized anew that he had been constantly consumed by Hae-jin like this all along.
“Ah…!”
Soon, the moment Ryle’s massive member was fully inside, Hae-jin gasped and froze. Even amidst the lust of his heat cycle, the tightly filling member was almost too much to bear.
The heavy, hot sensation that reached near his navel made it difficult to breathe. Ryle’s pheromone, which had been filled with sticky lust since earlier, kept causing strange things to gush out from below.
Surely, an act that should be familiar couldn’t feel more foreign.
“Heuh, ugh…. Ryle.”
“Yeah.”
Ryle, breathing roughly, hunched his upper body like a huge beast. He lowered his head so that Hae-jin could easily hug him.
As if comforting his surprised heart, a light, moist kiss landed on the corner of his lips. Tears welled up and poured out each time he blinked. As if Ryle’s member had pushed up all the rainwater that had been filling Hae-jin’s inside.
“Can I move?”
“Heuh, ha, ugh….”
“Huh? Hae-jin.”
Just being inside him made his whole body tingle. Hae-jin, entrusting his mind to the addictive pleasure, nodded as if possessed.
At that moment, a huge wave of pleasure struck his brain.
“Ah…!”
“Ha….”
Starting with that, pleasure relentlessly consumed Hae-jin, bang, bang. Each time Ryle moved his hips greatly, his firm iliac bones collided with his buttocks. The member, filled to the end, roughly stirred inside as if it would pierce through his stomach. All those shocks and contacts felt like endless pleasure.
“Ha, heuh, Ryle, strange, it’s strange. Ryle, Ryle.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Look here. Hae-jin. Huh?”
Saliva dripped from his widely opened mouth, as if he had forgotten how to close it. Hae-jin, without the mind to clean it up, kept calling Ryle’s name as if muttering. He felt with his whole body, to the bone, that Ryle was on top of him.
This member that filled his belly, the hot arms that embraced him, and the warm pheromone that filled the room to the point of suffocation.
He realized that his awkwardly draped arms were already desperately clinging to Ryle’s neck. But he didn’t feel like letting go. He just wanted to touch skin with him a little more, a little more.
“Hoo….”
Ryle, who had pushed his arms behind his back, supported Hae-jin as if lifting him up. Thanks to that, Hae-jin, who had easily become so close that their chests were touching, continuously let out moans in his ear.
As if responding, Ryle continued to kiss Hae-jin’s cheeks, ears, and jawline incessantly. He stared, possessed, at the fluttering black eyelashes that flickered dimly.
“Ah, ah, heuh…! Ugh, ah!”
His eyes spun. They spun until the ornate pattern on the ceiling blurred, and then turned completely white. At that moment, Hae-jin felt a sensation of ejaculation similar to what he had felt earlier. Without even trying to resist, semen gushed from his member. This was because Hae-jin’s member, which had been shaking each time Ryle thrust deeply inside him, was rubbing recklessly against his firm belly.
“J-just now, stop, heuh, ah…, too, heuh….”
Even though he had reached his climax, Ryle did not stop moving. Even though he rubbed his face against Ryle’s shoulder as if begging, somehow his movements only became rougher. He felt a sudden fear that something might go wrong. The pleasure that had filled him to the top of his head did not subside and continued to stimulate Hae-jin.
“Heuh, heuh, ah, Ry, le, heuh, ah….”
He was unfamiliar with himself, uttering words almost like an idiot. He was also afraid that the pleasure running down his spine would eventually suffocate him.
Even as he thrust his hips like a madman, Ryle poured out confessions in his ear with a voice that was, unlike his actions, all the more sweet. It was as if he wanted to trap Hae-jin thickly with words like honey.
“Hae-jin, I love you. Hae-jin, ugh, Hae-jin.”
At the same time, that intense pheromone of affection that he had experienced before filled the space. It even felt like the world was filled with light centered around Ryle. Even though pheromones couldn’t possibly be visible.
While he was blankly shaking, he sent his gaze to Ryle. His hair, which had been endlessly disheveled with sweat, was shaking wildly. But those blue eyes were constantly directed at Hae-jin.
Receiving the hot gaze that fell on him, Hae-jin blinked. Tears fell with a plop, as if pleasure had actually pushed them out. At that moment, Ryle moved even more fiercely, as if he had gone mad. Then, at some point, he slightly furrowed his brow and poured hot affection into Hae-jin’s inside. His pheromones enveloped Hae-jin even more thickly.
As his shaking body stopped, he felt like he was sinking into the bed.
“…I love you.”
Ryle, who had not taken his eyes off Hae-jin until that moment, slowly smiled. It was a smile so bright that it could be called beautiful. The golden eyelashes that folded softly, and the lake-like eyes contained within, shouted affection to Hae-jin.
In that fleeting moment like falling raindrops, Hae-jin felt Ryle’s sincere affection. Like the rain that poured deeply into his soul.
* * *
“Ah….”
“Are you awake?”
His eyes were dry. As if he had been crying all night. As Hae-jin groped for the unfamiliar sensation, he realized that he was actually in this state because he had been crying all night.
At that moment, explicit scenes quickly passed through his mind.
“Ah! Ugh…!”
“Stay still. You seem to have some muscle pain.”
“Ugh….”
Hae-jin, who was a little flustered and moved his body, was surprised to finally turn around at the hard sensation touching his back. Ryle’s blonde hair, which seemed somehow fresher, came into view.
Surely, they had mingled bodies mindlessly for almost a day, and then….
“Hae-jin. Wake up.”
The laughter that touched his nape was ticklish. Only then could he tell that Ryle was hugging him from behind.
“Th, why, is Ryle….”
Hae-jin, unable to hide his embarrassment, wondered why he was in this position. He was the one who had been endlessly clinging to him due to the aftereffects of the heat, and this time he remembered it clearly. Had something else happened while he was sleeping?
“Your arm seemed to hurt, so I was massaging it a little. It’s also almost time to wake you up.”
You need to eat, Ryle whispered carefully in his ear again. Hae-jin, who had shrunk his neck in an instant, stiffened his body awkwardly. Ryle, unconcerned, laughed softly again and lifted his arm.
After that, he really massaged his arm diligently. His arm definitely had severe muscle pain. What was worse was his leg, but Ryle, who had noticed that fact like a ghost, made excuses that he was planning to massage his legs soon.
Only then did Hae-jin realize that there was a selfish motive in this position and relaxed. Ryle’s firm chest that touched the back of his head was familiar.
The affectionate pheromone that surrounded him was now familiar as well.
A sigh of relief unknowingly flowed out. Although a slight fever remained, it seemed that his heat cycle had passed well.
It was the first heat cycle he had ever spent properly.
“….”
“….”
Hae-jin, who suddenly felt stuffy, fell silent. Ryle also remained silent, trying hard to relieve his stiff arm. As Ryle moved as if to look after his legs, Hae-jin unknowingly shook his head to dissuade him.
Ryle thoughtlessly thought that the way Hae-jin’s hair swayed on his chest was just like when he made eye contact with him.
“Ryle.”
“Yeah.”
“Will we continue to live like this in the future?”
“I hope so.”
Even to Hae-jin’s voice filled with anxiety, Ryle answered more calmly than expected. Although he couldn’t even hide the slightly shaking pheromones.
Hae-jin, who had been breathing in his great affection that touched his skin, poured out the lump that had been building up in his heart for a long time. He just felt like it was okay to do so now.
“I keep feeling guilty towards my family. …I know that my misfortune is not entirely Ryle’s fault, but still, …it’s hard to act like nothing happened.”
The fact that his parents had become like that was not actually Ryle’s fault. In the first place, Hae-jin had entered this mansion broken by misfortune.
However, even if those who had abused him had paid a proper price, the scars would not disappear immediately. But now, he couldn’t just resent him anymore.
Because it was none other than Ryle who was paying the biggest price.
“It’s okay.”
“….”
“Just think that I imprinted on you without permission and saved a guy who was about to die, and that I’m looking after you out of pity. Whatever makes you feel comfortable.”
Even though it was his own story, Ryle continued to speak lightly. It was as if the heavy stone that Hae-jin was carrying was more important than him.
As if he was ready to chase after Hae-jin and make an effort at any time.
“…So, let’s live together. Hae-jin.”
But there was an undeniable tension in the words that followed. Ryle, still seemingly afraid, tightened his arms and pulled Hae-jin in deeper.
As Hae-jin gradually became soaked in his affection as he pulled him in, he eventually felt his heart melt.
The desire to grasp his warmth in his hands had finally arisen.
“Okay.”
This one word had been so difficult all along.
His stuffy heart, as if filled with rainwater, throbbed heavily. Hae-jin smiled with a face that looked like he was about to cry and nodded his head once. As if making a promise.
“…Thank you.”
Ryle, who had been silent for a long time even after answering, slowly lowered his head. He felt Ryle’s eyelashes flickering on his bare shoulder. Hae-jin, who had been hesitating, quietly grabbed Ryle’s hand that was holding him.
He thought that he could hold this firm hand whenever he was scared in the future.
“Thank you.”
Listening to his slightly trembling voice, Hae-jin quietly cast his gaze out the window. It was definitely raining when the heat cycle started, but by now the bright sunlight was shining on the garden. He thoughtlessly thought that he could now open that window wide. Then a cool breeze would be able to enter the room.
Hae-jin decided to believe in this hope that he had barely grasped.
He was able to look back on the fact that the rain was not just a depressing thing thanks to Ryle. Because the rain in the forest smells fresh.
Heavy rain will eventually stop. Hae-jin, who had been wandering in the rain for a long time, finally realized.