S#11

Issue | Ji Hyeon, from grabbing a fan by the collar to throwing punches? The real reason behind the top actor’s character controversy.avi

Anonymous https:https://www.todayspring.com/jihyeon/2394401255

↓ https:https://www.wetube.com/watch?v=a8lyT-1idS5

[▶∥ 05:48]

Three-line summary

Someone threw a raw egg at the manager on set

Ji Hyeon saw it and got pissed, grabbing them by the collar

Turns out the culprit was a Ji Hyeon anti (Everything’s in the video)

Comments 1,001

1 Holy shit… 2 Wtf 3 Wow crazy 4 Damn… ugh crazy bastard 5 Crazy fucker 6 ??? That’s not acting, right??? 7 I thought it was acting because Ji Hyeon’s wearing a suit; └ Guess he ran out while filming └ I was saying the suit fit is fire and then this shit └ Ah… 8 What’s with the post title?? Totally shocked me └ -d └ Just copied the Wetube title as is └ Those fucking paparazzi fucks should all die 9 Calling it a character controversy when it’s against an innocent person, guess they only get into controversies at home huh 10 They weren’t even a fan to begin with, why “fan collar grab” lol └ They say anti-fans are fans too lol 11 Which fucking bastard is pulling this shit on whose face right now???? 12 Holy shit… did that hit his eye? └ If you look closely, thankfully it seems to have hit next to it, check 01:33 └ Ah you’re right ㅠㅠ I thought it hit his eye because the manager covered his face right away └ If that hit his eye at that distance, seriouslyㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 13 There are still people throwing eggs these days…? └ There are… └ Remember that male idol who got tomato terrorized before └ Holy shit fr? └ -g??? └ Sunset, right? └ Don’t remember well but anyway there are quite a few cases like that yeah 14 He had every right to grab that collar └ 22 └ 333 └ 4444 Even if it were me └ 5555 15 Is he Buddha for just grabbing the collar? What if that hit wrong?? How dare they throw like that?? Even if it’s a raw egg, if it hits you it really hurts. └ If it were me, I would have beaten the crap out of that bastard. Thank goodness the manager isn’t hurt. Even so, throwing punches is a bit much… └ ? └ Didn’t watch the video? └ Ugh fuck └ Seems like they didn’t watch └ He didn’t throw punches, watch again, he raised his fist but the manager stopped him so he just let go and left └ It’s because of bastards like these that rumors start 18 What are the bodyguards doing letting guys like that come in? └ How could bodyguards block something thrown from that distance… └ The bodyguards did what they could └ Mj where else would they catch them so they can’t run away 19 The filming is such a mess. Last time an actor got hurt, this time the manager? If they’re going to manage like this, they shouldn’t film at all. └ Honestly true… It hasn’t been that long since Actor Ji got hurt 20 But honestly it’s unsettling; if the manager got hit by an egg there, it means the actors are in danger too; the set management is so bad └ Don’t think that’s it, usually when filming staff control people so they can’t come in, the manager was standing near people when he got hit so it’s unrelated to the actors 21 How the hell did that YouTuber film that???? They filmed from when the egg was thrown??? └ I’m curious about this too └ Those bastards are obvious, probably followed Ji Hyeon around with a telephoto lens until they got caught └ Ugh fuck;;; └ No, they didn’t film it themselves and also bought footageㅇㅇ Probably edited together videos people who were watching uploaded, the manager’s popular so there are lots of direct shots these days └ Huh?? Isn’t the manager a civilian? └ Right but… after “My Manager” came out he got popular so people go around filming with telephoto cameras └ Ah shit… Then they probably bought and collected those kinds of videos └ Yeah probably? If you look closely the quality is slightly different at each edit point 22 The guy who threw that is creepy and the people filming are creepy too… └ Why are you suddenly hitting the people who filmed └ It’s right that it’s creepy, imagine if someone was filming one of the filming staff all along, how is that different from a stalker? └ This is right, it was overkill how people treated him like a celebrity from before just because the manager is handsome 23 Please don’t forget the manager is a civilian… └ 22 There are too many crossing-the-line posts └ 333 24 (This comment has been deleted.) └ Huh overreaction └ Don’t think he’d quit just because they’re friends though… └ I get that you’re saying it out of worry, but isn’t this kind of speculation a bit much? There’s no talk about the manager changing └ Hmm right, I deleted it sorry └ Yeah…ㅠ I understand your feelings, I’m worried too 25 03:02 Look at Actor Ji’s expression here…… └ Seriously looks pissed └ Of course he’d be pissed; his friend got hit by an egg right in front of him └ This is the first time Ji Hyeon’s making this expression, seriously looks like he’s about to kill someone 26 Wait… wasn’t the beer poured on Park Tae Soo last time because of the manager too? Seems like Ji Hyeon really cherishes the managerㅜ └ Holy shit you’re right └ Fr └ Looks like it for sure └ You can tell just from watching “My Manager” └ He’s the only one, rightㅠ 27 Ji Hyeon must be so upset too… because his friend got humiliated like that because of him └ That’s what I’m sayingㅜㅜ └ ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠAhㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ └ Ah fuck,, my heart’s breaking,,,, └ Meanwhile he lets go immediately when the manager stops him…ㅠ 28 …??? Am I the only one who doesn’t get it? Why is it because of Actor Ji?;; └ Because the culprit is a Ji Hyeon anti └ No I know; but still, you shouldn’t say it’s because of Actor Ji └ It’s not that Ji Hyeon did anything wrong.. └ If he didn’t do anything wrong then you shouldn’t say it like that, Actor Ji is a victim too 29 Meanwhile the manager runs over super fast worried Ji Hyeon might cause trouble damn ㅠㅠ >> 03:15 └ Ah ㅋㅋㅋㅋ ㅠㅠㅠ └ Damn what’s so laughably tragic about this └ A true manager └ Social selfㅋㅋ큐ㅠㅠ └ >>If you throw punches you’re screwed<< 30 The manager is an angel... stopping him like that └ Seriously stopping him like that... └ Probably because things shouldn't escalate └ If Ji Hyeon had hit him there, it would've turned into a huge fight 31 Honestly I thought when the manager stopped Ji Hyeon, he was going to stop him and hit him himself... └ 22Fuck... I'm the only one getting worked up again · · · 655 Real-time doxxing of the bastard who threw the egg [RawEggManGrabbedByCollarByJiHyeon.jpg | https:https://www.todayspring.com/jihyeon/2394401301] └ Huh he graduated from S University? └ Why would a guy from a good university do that? └ What does university have to do with itㅋㅋㅋ └ Mj what does university matter └ His face looks like shit too └ Ugh stupid bastard just go die 656 Please sue him... └ 22 He needs to experience real consequences └ 333 └ 4444 · · · * * * Since there was news of rain from late afternoon, the sky was already filled with dark black clouds. The weather was muggy and the air was heavy with humidity, making it the kind of day where just walking down the street made your mood feel damp and heavy. Naturally, the expressions of people coming and going weren't very good either, and Eun Ho sitting in the driver's seat was no exception. “…….” Eun Ho kept his mouth firmly shut, staring at the congested road. The way to the filming set of . Inside the car with the air conditioning blasting, an icy atmosphere flowed that was suffocating. Neither Eun Ho holding the steering wheel nor Ji Hyeon sitting in the back seat reading his script opened their mouths.

Normally it would have been a comfortable silence, but today the circumstances weren’t so good. He was trying hard to maintain a blank expression, but even Eun Ho looking straight ahead kept feeling self-conscious. Even though Ji Hyeon was just quietly reading his script without any complaint.

“Why is the road so jammed…….”

Eun Ho, who muttered irritably, slightly furrowed his brow. A dark blue bruise remained from his left eyebrow bone to his temple. He had to meet the “My Manager” filming team when they arrived at the set, but this damn injury showed no signs of disappearing easily.

Eun Ho let out a stifled sigh and leaned back comfortably against the seatback. As he did, he checked the rearview mirror and saw Ji Hyeon still focused on his script. Even if it was just talking to himself, normally he would have responded with at least a word, but this time he didn’t even pretend to look at Eun Ho.

‘……How long is he going to keep this up.’

The reason they had become this awkward goes back to a few days ago, the day Eun Ho got the bruise on his face. During an outdoor shoot for , the day he got hit by a raw egg from some strange man. Starting from those words Ji Hyeon, who had been acting strange all along, said in the underground parking lot.

‘I……’

‘……’

‘I like you.’

Who could have imagined? That such words would come from Ji Hyeon’s mouth. From that mouth that usually only spoke annoying words, such a subdued voice would emerge.

‘I don’t want to make things difficult for you.’

For a moment, the words he said didn’t make sense. The talk about quitting being a manager didn’t even remain in his head, and even the words about being difficult weren’t considered very important. What was important was the heart that had been thrown out while they were just quietly making eye contact.

‘……What did you just say?’

So after asking back without thinking, Eun Ho also instantly thought ‘oops.’ His voice came out too serious, and he thought it might seem like a stupid reaction.

Fortunately, instead of pointing those things out, Ji Hyeon quietly lowered his eyes and avoided his gaze.

‘Lee Su Ah said it. That it’s natural not to want to make things difficult for someone you like.’

So that’s all he heard. He knew he hadn’t heard everything, but he only found out then how much he had heard. Before he could feel relieved that he hadn’t heard the rest, Ji Hyeon curled up the corner of his mouth with a deeply self-mocking expression.

‘But you got into trouble because of me too.’

‘……’

Was this the part he had been worrying about all along? It seemed that was the reason he had been acting like a sinner all this time.

‘I don’t want to do that anymore either.’

It was an excessively calm confession, and Eun Ho couldn’t say anything for a long time. Even if he could dismiss the first time as mishearing, he couldn’t possibly do that with the second time. So now, wasn’t he saying that after hearing Su Ah’s words, he realized something?

‘……What kind of talk is this.’

Although he had a mountain of things he wanted to say, Eun Ho swallowed all of them down. Because he judged that grabbing him and arguing here would only make his feelings more complicated. There were no appropriate words he could say to Ji Hyeon, who couldn’t even make eye contact now.

‘Stop talking nonsense and let’s go up.’

‘……Nonsense?’

Ji Hyeon asked back a beat late after hearing Eun Ho’s words. He even quietly raised his head while raising his eyebrows sharply.

‘What’s nonsense about it?’

He acted as if there was nothing wrong with what he said. Naturally, Eun Ho answered without blinking.

‘You said it in a way that could be misunderstood.’

‘It’s not a misunderstanding.’

‘……’

‘It’s not a misunderstanding but……’

As if he couldn’t find the right words, Ji Hyeon hesitantly moved his lips. Watching that, his flustered heart calmed down considerably. Eun Ho continued looking at him without breaking eye contact and spoke calmly.

‘If it’s not a misunderstanding, then it must be a delusion.’

‘……’

At the firm tone, Ji Hyeon’s lips snapped shut. His gaze sank heavily, but Eun Ho didn’t mind and added.

‘How could you like me.’

He didn’t know what wind had blown over him, but he knew that those feelings were different from what he felt. Even if he claimed they were the same, he had no intention of taking them at face value. Because Eun Ho knew Ji Hyeon too well to naively believe him.

‘You don’t like men, Ji Hyeon-ah.’

Even if it was just a passing remark, he was the kind of guy who used vocabulary like ‘fucking gay bastard.’ Even if it wasn’t completely sincere, it could have been a kind of aversion hidden unconsciously. There’s no way a guy who hates other guys would like him, who’s also a guy.

Yeah, so that means this guy’s ‘I like you’ can’t possibly mean the same thing as mine.

‘Get out. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.’

For the next few days, Ji Hyeon maintained this subdued attitude. He obediently did as Eun Ho told him, but he wouldn’t make eye contact or say anything to him. This attitude of openly not engaging was different from before when he acted like a sinner while being cautious.

Well, Eun Ho wasn’t much different either. Normally he would have spoken up long ago, but Eun Ho had been pretending not to know and ignoring that behavior until now. Not because he didn’t have anything appropriate to say, but because his own feelings were also subdued.

He heard ‘I like you’ from someone he likes. Even if he doesn’t believe those feelings, he couldn’t possibly be completely unaffected. At the very least, he was shaken enough to lose sleep at night, and there was enough lingering discomfort to make seeing that face awkward.

It was natural. Even if it was a feeling he had buried with no intention of revealing, Eun Ho had been hiding it for the past 4 years. He didn’t know how long Ji Hyeon had been worrying, but he didn’t think it would have been that long. But to readily bring up his own feelings. Even if his reflection was light, wasn’t it excessively light?

“…….”

Eun Ho, who had grimaced sharply, tightly gripped the steering wheel. Because he knew that the stream of thoughts ultimately amounted to nothing more than taking out his anger. Even if he wanted to handle it with rational judgment, if he kept repeating it to himself, something would well up inside.

‘I shouldn’t be like this too.’

But that only goes so far. Today wasn’t just but also “My Manager” filming day. Maybe when acting, but in his normal state, viewers couldn’t possibly fail to notice something was wrong. At the very least, an awkward atmosphere would flow, and if that happened, rumors of discord would only be a matter of time.

“……I decided to sue that person.”

So as soon as they arrived at the parking lot, Eun Ho slowly opened his mouth. He planned to first correct the lawsuit issue he had argued with Ji Hyeon about. It was also an intention of saying, since he did as he was told, to lighten his mood a bit.

“Like you said, it seemed better to catch them early. I handed over the power of attorney, so the company will handle it.”

“……”

Ji Hyeon only glanced at the rearview mirror and didn’t give any response. The gaze that had stayed on Eun Ho for a while immediately returned to the script as soon as their eyes met through the mirror. Because it was openly avoiding behavior, Eun Ho spoke in a slightly clearer tone.

“We’re filming ‘My Manager’ today.”

What’s with that damn ‘My Manager.’ After saying it, he suddenly felt irritated. People shouldn’t do things they don’t normally do. It felt like everything had gone wrong after filming just one variety show.

“You’re not going to keep that up, right.”

At the quietly asked question, Ji Hyeon hesitated for another long while. The only thing that changed was that deep wrinkles formed on his smooth brow. It would have been better if he had just cursed, but the words that came from his mouth were different from what Eun Ho expected.

“……Nothing good comes to mind.”

“……”

“But I don’t want to say the wrong thing to you.”

It was such a rational answer that it left him speechless. It seemed the guy who normally acted without thinking had his own reason for silence. If he could have been purely happy about that fact, it would have been good, but unfortunately the welling up feeling came first.

“You should have had that thought before saying you like me.”

“……”

Only then did Ji Hyeon’s gaze reach Eun Ho. It was because of the cold remark Eun Ho spat out. If he didn’t want to say the wrong thing, he shouldn’t have said that either. As soon as that thought came, his lips moved impulsively.

“I was going to quit anyway after ‘My Manager’ ends.”

Eun Ho planned to leave Ji Hyeon when the period ended. It was a grace period for both him and Ji Hyeon, and there was absolutely no need to move that time forward.

“You didn’t need to say that kind of bullshit.”

“……That kind of bullshit?”

Ji Hyeon’s eyebrows shot up sharply. He stared intently at Eun Ho and curled up the corner of his mouth as if sneering.

“You said thank you to Lee Su Ah.”

“……”

“But did I do something wrong again?”

The openly teasing appearance looked quite unfair. Although the words ‘Did you do it because you wanted to hear thank you?’ rose to the tip of his tongue, instead of saying that, Eun Ho firmly spat out.

“You’re mistaken about that.”

It was something he had already said once. Eun Ho parked the car in the empty spot and slowly continued.

“You think you like me because you need me.”

That was the reason he dismissed Ji Hyeon’s confession as not sincere. He might think he’s sincere, but from Eun Ho’s perspective, he couldn’t take those words at face value. It was more realistic that the guy who had no human relationships other than him was mistaken than that he actually liked him.

“Make sure. Whether you need me because you like me, or you like me because you need me. Don’t make people feel like shit.”

Without realizing it, emotion seeped into his last words. Eun Ho had been completely turned upside down after hearing Ji Hyeon’s confession. He had even been alone enough to think this far.

‘The soundproofing there isn’t good, you know.’

I wonder if he heard everything that day. So he just blurted out whatever came to mind to try and persuade me somehow. Thinking that if he said he liked me, I’d waver.

Of course, Eun-ho knew that Ji Hyeon wasn’t that cunning. If he had really heard it, Ji Hyeon would have come running to him, demanding to know if it was true. It was just that the resentment that had built up along with the feeling of being betrayed made his emotions take precedence over rational judgment.

“So, stop it…”

“I don’t think you know who’s being a fucking asshole right now.”

Ji Hyeon, who had been quiet until now, suddenly cut Eun-ho off. His voice, heavy and low, was distinctly different from his usual gentle tone. Just as Eun-ho flinched without realizing it, Ji Hyeon chuckled and said coldly.

“There’s a limit to how much you can ignore someone, Eun-ho.”

Various emotions welled up in his wavering eyes. The emotion contained within wasn’t simply the unfairness of not being believed. It was something more complex, more fundamental, a more high-level anger, perhaps.

“A misunderstanding… you think this is a misunderstanding.”

“……”

“Do you think I haven’t thought about it?”

There was no way he could answer that. Whether he affirmed it or denied it, Eun-ho would be the one in trouble.

“You must think I’m a complete idiot.”

Ji Hyeon, coldly biting out the words, swept his hair back. He squeezed his eyes shut as if trying to suppress his anger, then opened them and spoke in a heavily suppressed voice.

“If I liked you because I needed you, how do you explain me telling you to quit being my Manager?”

“……”

“You’re the one who needs to be sure. Don’t you know who’s misunderstanding things right now?”

His mind went blank, and he couldn’t think of anything to say in rebuttal. He hadn’t thought he would be outmatched in logic, but Ji Hyeon’s tone was much more assertive than Eun-ho had expected. And to top it off, he added a question without a hint of playfulness.

“Do you want me to find a new Manager so you’ll believe me?”

“It’s not about believing or not right now…”

Eun-ho, who was about to say that wasn’t the point, frowned deeply. What’s the use of all this? He suddenly had that thought. Squealing, he roughly stopped the car and turned around, and Ji Hyeon flinched in surprise, wrinkling his eyes.

“Ah, fine. Let’s be blunt. I believe you, what are you going to do about it?”

His head was boiling, and rational judgment was impossible. He felt betrayed, of course, and even wronged, so even Eun-ho, who wouldn’t normally get angry, spoke sarcastically.

“What, are you going to date me or something?”

“……”

“Are you going to have a relationship with me? Do you want to?”

Ji Hyeon’s eyelids fluttered, as if he hadn’t thought that far. Seeing that no words were coming from his trembling lips, Eun-ho let out a deep sigh without realizing it.

“Ji Hyeon-ah, how can you and I date?”

Liking him and dating him were separate issues. The reason he couldn’t purely rejoice at the words “I like you” was not only because he couldn’t trust his feelings, but also because their relationship was in a state that couldn’t be changed. Rather than being disappointed by premature expectations, the fact that he couldn’t even expect that situation was more despairing.

Whether he had obsessive-compulsive disorder or not wasn’t important. A relationship wasn’t just about physical contact, so even if they couldn’t do most of the things that couples do, it didn’t matter. He might get hurt from time to time, but Eun-ho didn’t give up on him for such a trivial reason.

They had been friends for a long time, and they had been actor and Manager for a slightly shorter period. Eun-ho’s feelings had gradually changed, but Ji Hyeon’s attitude had never changed. They knew each other’s flaws too well, so even if they tried to change things now, nothing would change.

Yes, it would be a relief if they didn’t ruin everything.

“You don’t want to be rumored to be sleeping with your Manager, do you?”

“……”

As soon as he heard those words, Ji Hyeon’s expression hardened. His coldly frozen face made the atmosphere between them chilling. While even breathing became conscious, Ji Hyeon suddenly yanked open the back door.

“Hey, what are you…”

Eun-ho didn’t even have time to stop him. He got out of the car without looking back. He hadn’t even turned off the engine, and he hadn’t even finished parking. Slam! He closed the back door with a bang and strode across the parking lot.

“……That little shit.”

His receding figure looked angry at first glance. Eun-ho sighed quietly and leaned his forehead against the top of the steering wheel.

Instinctively, he had a feeling that today’s filming would be a complete disaster.

In conclusion, Eun-ho’s prediction was correct. The ‘My MaeSo’ filming crew had already arrived at the set, and even after filming began, Ji Hyeon showed a cold attitude with an uncomfortable expression. It wasn’t a problem when he was acting, but the problem was that he ignored Eun-ho during every break.

To make matters worse, rain started falling in the afternoon, causing various problems with the scheduled filming. It was supposed to be a simple scene to be shot outdoors on the set, but the lighting equipment malfunctioned, making it impossible to even start filming. The previous accident had also involved a lighting tower, but ominously, the same equipment was acting up again.

In the naturally tense atmosphere, Eun-ho and Ji Hyeon didn’t exchange a single word. All they exchanged was a water bottle that he handed over in the middle, and not even the slightest glance passed between them. It was so obvious that even the stylists nearby were subtly watching them.

This is going to be a disaster if it airs. Even while thinking that, Eun-ho couldn’t bring himself to take any active steps. He wasn’t in a good mood either, as angry as Ji Hyeon was. He thought he had said harsh things, but the reason he had said those things in the first place was ultimately Ji Hyeon, wasn’t it?

He could just say they had a fight. Friends can fight, and if that didn’t work, he could just say they weren’t feeling well. He would trust PD Yoo Hye-sun’s editing as much as possible and then try to fix things with an interview somehow.

“……Reshoots?”

However, when all the schedules were over, PD Yoo cautiously approached Eun-ho and brought up an unexpected story. It seemed difficult to get enough footage from today’s filming, so he asked if it would be okay to film for another day if possible.

“We don’t need to reshoot everything, but I think we need to do some supplementary filming.”

Eun-ho couldn’t immediately say no because PD Yoo, who was saying those words, looked very troubled. He knew that he always tried to accommodate the cast’s circumstances as much as possible (especially since Ji Hyeon had made it clear that additional filming was difficult), so he wondered how hopeless it must be for him to bring up this story.

“If it’s really difficult…”

“……No.”

Eun-ho, who replied slowly, slowly turned his gaze. In the place where his gaze reached, Ji Hyeon was sitting on a chair, wiping off his makeup. He still had a blank expression, but because his eyes were closed, he didn’t feel as sensitive as before.

“I’ll adjust the schedule.”

It was an issue that he had to discuss with Ji Hyeon as well, but he answered that way first. Eun-ho was also caught up in the thought of ‘How do I fix this?’ all day long. Even if he comforted himself by saying that he could just gloss over it, the fact that it could become a source of controversy didn’t change.

PD Yoo apologized, saying that he was counting on him, and withdrew the filming. Originally, they had to put a camera in the van while moving to Ji Hyeon’s apartment, but it seemed that today wasn’t the right atmosphere to do so. Eun-ho also had to talk to Ji Hyeon about the additional filming, so it was easier to talk without a camera.

With all the schedules over, Eun-ho headed to the parking lot with Ji Hyeon. The neatly parked van was the one that Eun-ho had parked on his own after Ji Hyeon got out of it nervously.

Even after getting in the car and putting on his seatbelt, Ji Hyeon kept his mouth shut. Closing his eyes while wearing a neck pillow was an indirect expression that he didn’t want to talk to Eun-ho. Normally, he would have let him sleep comfortably, but unfortunately, today he had something to say.

“PD Yoo said we should do some additional filming tomorrow.”

When he opened his mouth while starting the car, Ji Hyeon slowly raised his eyelids. No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t ignore work-related stories. Eun-ho knew that fact, so he readily brought up the story.

“They’re not throwing away all of today’s footage… it seems like they need more cuts because there’s not enough footage.”

The light from the streetlights seeped in through the car window, clearly illuminating Ji Hyeon’s face. When his calm gaze was fixed on Eun-ho, Eun-ho forced himself to continue in a calm voice.

“I’ll talk to President separately…”

“……Amazing.”

Eun-ho stopped talking at the sudden remark. Ji Hyeon blinked his eyes and spoke slowly.

“You’re worried about the broadcast in the midst of all this?”

“……”

It wasn’t even a prickly or gentle tone, but one question that wasn’t a big deal made him speechless. It felt like there was more resentment in this one word than in all the angry words he had heard before.

“……I have to worry about it. It’s work.”

Eun-ho gripped the steering wheel tightly and answered in a calm tone. He felt like his chest was sinking, but he couldn’t show that he was shaken.

“You’ve been a Manager for a day or two?”

To be honest, until he heard PD Yoo’s words, he hadn’t even thought about the amount of footage. He was in a state of mind where he didn’t care what happened, and he even felt the urge to quit being a Manager and everything else. He was endlessly replaying the conversation he had with Ji Hyeon, so he didn’t even remember what scenes he had filmed today.

“You should separate work and personal matters. Don’t be emotional for no reason.”

Is this really the advice I should be giving? Even while thinking that, Eun-ho spoke calmly first. He kept getting emotional when he was with him, and he was sick of this side of himself.

“I know you’re angry at me, but don’t show it when we’re filming. If you can’t treat me like nothing happened, then at least pretend to be friendly.”

Eun-ho was more confident than anyone else in pretending like nothing was wrong. If he had a personality that was shaken by everything, he wouldn’t have been able to be his Manager for the past four years. Because his feelings had dulled as much as he had liked him for a long time, it wasn’t difficult to fake his expression.

“You’re not going to quit being an actor, are you?”

I shouldn’t get angry. Like he did in the car earlier, like he did when he heard his confession a few days ago. He couldn’t make the mistake of losing his temper like that again. No matter what else, he couldn’t ruin Ji Hyeon’s image as an actor. He was a normal person, so it was okay, but this guy had a career that he had built up for his whole life.

“……That’s good, you’re good at separating work and personal matters.”

Ji Hyeon, who spoke as if to himself, let out something that was neither a laugh nor a sigh. The sound of the wind flowing out sounded somehow self-deprecating. And to top it off, even the question that followed was cautious.

“Do we just have to look like we’re getting along?”

“……Yeah.”

Why did he suddenly have a bad feeling? Even in the darkness, his bright eyes were staring straight at Eun-ho. At the same time as Eun-ho answered awkwardly, Ji Hyeon continued in his usual gentle voice.

“Then let’s do it. I’ll act like you said, so tell them to film as they please.”

It was a more obedient reaction than he had expected, and yet a subtle uneasiness remained. Whether that uneasiness was just a feeling or not, Ji Hyeon brought up a warning-like preface.

“But think carefully, Eun-ho.”

What about? There was no need to ask that. Because Ji Hyeon added without a pause.

“You’re the one who can’t act.”

“……”

Why is he bringing up something so obvious all of a sudden? It’s true that he can’t act, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to make a mistake like today. Strictly speaking, this was closer to managing his expression than acting.

However, Eun-ho realized the meaning of those words when the ‘My MaeSo’ filming started the next day.

The floor was still soaked because it had rained overnight. Most of the outdoor filming was canceled, but the schedule was packed with scenes to be shot on the set. Eun-ho headed to the filming set with Ji Hyeon early in the morning, and there he greeted PD Yoo again.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

PD Yoo, who he met again after only a day, had even prepared a script that he didn’t have yesterday. It had the actions that had to be done during the break time, such as eating together or fixing his hair.

When Eun-ho looked at him with an apologetic expression, PD Yoo winked and answered.

“We can’t do additional filming again, can we?”

Well, he knew it. He must have thought that they were quite unstable yesterday. No matter how much they filmed in the same state, they would only show more of their bad relationship. It was much easier for Eun-ho to have a guide, so he had no intention of ignoring the sincerity of writing a script.

“……What’s with the script?”

However, Ji Hyeon, who was in the waiting room, looked at the script that Eun-ho had brought and made a dumbfounded expression. Unlike Eun-ho, Ji Hyeon even had a few lines, and he looked at each one of them and then dropped the script carelessly.

“I don’t need this kind of thing.”

“……”

Isn’t that different from what you said yesterday? I thought you said you would cooperate. Whether he knew that Eun-ho was sending him a dumbfounded look or not, Ji Hyeon was still insisting without changing his expression.

“It’ll be more obvious if we have something like that.”

Especially for a newbie like you, it’s better not to have it, Ji Hyeon said, snatching Eun-ho’s script and pushing it aside. It was a relief that there was no camera in the waiting room, or he would have been too embarrassed to face PD Yoo.

Just as Eun-ho was about to say something, Ji Hyeon opened his mouth in a firm voice.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure there’s no talk of discord.”

He was trustworthy, but he also felt an inexplicable sense of unease. But Eun-ho suppressed that feeling and just adjusted his hat once. Ji Hyeon said he would, so he couldn’t say anything more on his side.

Thus, filming for ‘My MaeSo’ began along with the waiting. A camera was installed in the waiting room where they were staying, and Eun-ho also attached a small microphone to his clothes. In the same environment as yesterday, Ji Hyeon called Eun-ho as soon as the camera turned on.

“Eun-ho-yah, sit here.”

“……What?”

Eun-ho, who was standing awkwardly, frowned and asked back. It was an unnecessarily affectionate call, and the words that followed were also abrupt.

“I said sit here.”

“……”

What’s going on all of a sudden? Even while thinking that, Eun-ho sat on the sofa that Ji Hyeon was pointing to first. It was an extremely camera-conscious action, and Ji Hyeon smiled faintly as if he had guessed that fact. And he rummaged through his bag and took out a tube of ointment.

“Take off your hat, I’ll put some medicine on you.”

“……You’re going to put medicine on me?”

“Yeah, medicine to get rid of the bruise.”

When he looked at it later, he saw that what he was holding was the ointment that Eun-ho had applied to Ji Hyeon before. The very ointment that he had given him like giving medicine after giving him the disease because he had been bruised by Eun-ho’s fist.

“You have to put that medicine on.”

As he said that, Ji Hyeon pointed to the left side of his eye, which was hidden by the shadow of his hat. The wound was bigger than he thought, and the blue mark was still clear. Why is he doing something he doesn’t usually do, while thinking that, Ji Hyeon took off Eun-ho’s hat and smiled softly.

“Close your eyes for a second.”

“No……”

He didn’t close his eyes right away. He just looked back and forth between the hat that had been taken away and Ji Hyeon with a flustered face. Ji Hyeon, who had put Eun-ho’s hat on the table, opened the ointment cap and squeezed a long line of contents onto the middle finger of his right hand.

“You’re going to put it on for me?”

“Then?”

An indifferent answer came back to the question he asked with a flustered face. He would know if he put it on for Ji Hyeon, but Ji Hyeon had never put medicine on him before. In the first place, he had only been injured a handful of times while working as a Manager, but even if he was injured, he would treat it himself and not show it to Ji Hyeon.

“Should I get someone else to do it?”

Ji Hyeon asked that, closing the ointment cap. Unlike his words, he didn’t seem to have any intention of getting someone else to do it. He could just look in the mirror and apply it himself. At the moment he was thinking that, a long finger approached his face.

“……”

“……”

His face, which was visible up close, had a serious light as if he was concentrating. His lowered eyelashes cast a long shadow, and Eun-ho’s face was reflected in the eyes below. Just as he felt that their eyes had met for a moment, Ji Hyeon covered Eun-ho’s eyes with his hand that didn’t have ointment on it.

“……I told you to close your eyes.”

The sudden blocking of his vision made Eun-ho flinch and close his eyes. At the same time, a cool sensation touched the bruised area right next to his eye. The hand that spread the ointment was very careful and delicate.

“Why do I have to close my eyes…?”

It wasn’t like he was applying ointment to his eye, nor was it close enough to warrant closing them. If it were near the corner of his eye, it would be natural to close it, but he was applying it near his temple.

But Ji Hyeon answered curtly, as if saying something obvious.

“You told me to close mine back then.”

“I did?”

As he asked, a scene came to mind. The day he applied medicine to him, he couldn’t stand the persistent gaze and blurted out a word.

‘Don’t look, close your eyes.’

That was… because he was too embarrassed by the situation. On the sofa where they kissed, his face, facing him at a similar angle, was too conscious.

“……”

It was similar now. Perhaps because his eyes were closed, his throat felt parched even though the atmosphere wasn’t particularly special. He even felt so defenseless that he had to clench his fist tightly to avoid flinching from the touch.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

The kind words he offered were followed by a belated realization. Ah, he’s doing this because he was told to act friendly. He was determined not to cause any rumors of discord, and it seemed this was the result of that determination.

“…You ask that so late.”

Eun-ho deliberately answered curtly and swallowed a sigh inwardly. The hand applying the ointment paused at that moment. He wondered if he thought it would hurt while applying it so gently. He seemed like he wouldn’t touch it again if he didn’t correct him.

“It doesn’t hurt. It just looks like it does.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah, when have you ever seen me say it hurts?”

He kept his eyes closed and tried to sound as nonchalant as possible. Only then did Ji Hyeon carefully spread the ointment again. Starting from the temple, the touch eventually reached the area below his eyebrow. Before long, a barely audible voice murmured softly.

“The problem is that you don’t say it even when it hurts…”

It was too small to be picked up by the microphone, and of course, Eun-ho pretended not to hear it and didn’t respond. He knew where he was upset, but there was nothing he could do about it. It contained a bit of annoyance and dissatisfaction towards Eun-ho.

“All done.”

Only after the clumsy touch disappeared could Eun-ho slowly lift his eyelids. Ji Hyeon wiped the ointment from his hands with a tissue and handed Eun-ho his hat back. He had forgotten about the camera for a moment, but he felt awkward again when he put on the hat.

‘You’re the one who can’t act.’

Was that what he meant? As he said, he couldn’t control his expression well. He tried to be expressionless to avoid showing awkwardness, but he thought that appearance would look even more awkward.

Still… this much should be natural.

Leaving aside the commendable effort, Eun-ho thought this was also not a bad picture. Any more than this would be a bit excessive, but anyway, once filming started, there wouldn’t be much time to be with him. In fact, once he changed his clothes, Eun-ho would only have to stand among the staff and watch Ji Hyeon blankly.

Yes, he thought so until then.

What Eun-ho learned while spending time with Ji Hyeon was that he was surprisingly persistent and meticulous. Perhaps because he had a good memory, he didn’t forget trivial things, and once he made up his mind, he rarely changed his mind.

What this meant was that once he said, ‘I’ll even act,’ he would definitely take responsibility for that statement. He was the type to see things through once he started, so it was a miscalculation to think that one attempt would be all.

‘Kwak Eun-ho, come here for a second.’

Contrary to Eun-ho’s expectations, Ji Hyeon tried to show friendliness in minor ways even after filming began. He would get him water when eating, make him play the opposite role in the next script, or even take Eun-ho’s hat and joke around.

‘You always wear this. Why don’t you wear the hat I bought you?’

The words he said while spinning the hat subtly showed off his friendship with Eun-ho. It wasn’t the first time he asked, and he had already answered it himself. When Eun-ho replied that he was comfortable with the one he always wore, he nonchalantly asked if he should buy him a new one, which was the same.

‘Give me this one since you’re wearing the one I bought.’

‘…Why would you have it.’

There was no need to go this far. He didn’t know how many times he had that thought. His expression kept changing strangely, so he often deliberately hardened his expression. At such times, Ji Hyeon would send him a brazen look as if asking what was wrong, acting as usual.

Then, when afternoon filming began and a short break was given, Ji Hyeon headed to the bathroom to wash his hands. Since he wasn’t going to the bathroom, Eun-ho and the camera with the MBS mark followed behind Ji Hyeon.

“Be careful not to get water on your clothes.”

As soon as he entered the bathroom, Eun-ho looked up and down at Ji Hyeon and spoke. Ji Hyeon, who played the role of a prosecutor in , always wore a three-piece suit except when playing ‘the real Jun-hyuk.’ Most of them were sponsored, and some were products with shockingly high prices. Sometimes the tie was more expensive than the shoes, which Eun-ho, who had no interest in fashion, couldn’t understand at all.

“Give it to me, I’ll roll up your sleeves.”

And today, that incomprehensible expensive product was this dress shirt. He had already taken off his jacket in the waiting room, but it was difficult to take off and put on the dress shirt again because the lines were pinned with clothespins. So, when he carefully folded up his sleeves, Ji Hyeon finally turned on the faucet and washed his hands.

Ji Hyeon, who usually washed his hands until his skin was chapped, finished washing his hands in just two tries today. He must have been conscious of the camera, but instead of pointing out that fact, Eun-ho handed him the handkerchief he had prepared. While Ji Hyeon wiped the water, he also carefully washed his hands at the sink next to him.

After that, Eun-ho wiped the water with a paper towel and took out the hand cream he had brought from his pocket just in case. Then he nodded lightly towards Ji Hyeon.

“Hand.”

He expected him to hold out his palm, but Ji Hyeon obediently held out his hand with the back of his hand facing up. Eun-ho thought it was unusual for him to do something nice, so he squeezed hand cream on it without any nagging.

But the words that followed were ridiculous.

“Apply it for me.”

“……”

It wasn’t the first time he heard it. However, the problem was that it was a story from when they were on good terms. He knew it was an absurd request, but Ji Hyeon even urged him, flicking his wrist.

“Hurry.”

“Hey……”

He’s asking me to do all sorts of things because the camera is here. Thinking that, Eun-ho swallowed the words back. Sighing like that, he made deep wrinkles between his eyebrows.

“Get into the habit of applying it yourself.”

With a light scolding, Eun-ho grabbed Ji Hyeon’s hand. Ji Hyeon, who had asked first, flinched and trembled his eyes as soon as his fingertips touched. His fingers also seemed to tremble slightly, but Eun-ho didn’t care and rubbed his back of his hand on his.

“It’s not like you’re a kid, why do you always ask me to apply hand cream?”

The thin cream was crushed between his hand and his. The hand cream gently permeated the touching skin. The intertwined fingers also felt soft all over. It was worth choosing a moist formula without oiliness as he hated sticky things.

He hates other people’s hands touching him to death, but does he even know that he’s acting like a spoiled child to him? From one to ten, there’s no place that doesn’t touch, but he’s making unnecessary demands. Maybe he’s not feeling uncomfortable because he washed his hands together next to him.

“You always need so much attention……”

Eun-ho deliberately said one more word because he thought it would feel strange if he kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t like applying hand cream was a one- or two-day thing, but he always became conscious of the process whenever his hands touched. Unlike him, his straight fingers, his slightly cold skin, and even the increasingly soft touch all felt strangely sensual.

“Left hand.”

“……”

This time, Ji Hyeon obediently held out the back of his left hand to Eun-ho. As he squeezed the hand cream and repeated the same action, he felt a persistent gaze on the top of his head. So, he inadvertently raised his head, and his eyes met with eyes that were lowered beyond the brim of his hat.

“……”

“……”

It was as if electricity was flowing. It was a brief moment that others wouldn’t notice, but only two people, Ji Hyeon and Eun-ho, would have clearly felt it. The emotions contained in his clear eyes, and even the heart that was slowly being dyed.

The moment Eun-ho widened his eyes with a dazed face, Ji Hyeon unnaturally pulled his hand out.

“…I’ll do it now.”

The warmth in his hand disappeared in an instant. To make matters worse, Ji Hyeon turned his head away to avoid Eun-ho’s gaze. He roughly rubbed the less applied hand cream with his own hand, and broke the awkwardly rising silence with a light cough.

How long had it been like that? After being silent for a while, Ji Hyeon clenched his fist tightly and passed by Eun-ho and left the bathroom.

‘He’s now……’

Eun-ho, who was left alone, blankly looked at his back. The camera director was watching him, but he couldn’t even follow him, let alone open his mouth. He couldn’t forget the fleeting expression, and it felt like he was going to scream as if he had been hit in the back of the head.

‘…His face turned red, right?’

If his eyes weren’t wrong, his ears, which were barely visible, were definitely flushed red. It was like a shy reaction, and it was the first expression he had seen since he knew Ji Hyeon.

Eun-ho quietly clenched and unfolded his slippery hand. Along with the sensation left on his palm, the events of today began to replay backwards in his head. The action of quickly pulling out his hand. The reaction of flinching when his fingertips touched. The moments when their eyes met from time to time, and the time when he covered his eyes to apply ointment.

‘I……’

‘……’

‘I like you.’

He didn’t know why Ji Hyeon’s words came to mind again. That confession that he had just dismissed as a delusion and was convinced couldn’t be true. To make matters worse, even the question he had thrown at him in an aggrieved tone towards him, who was coldly cutting him off.

‘Would you believe me if I said I’d find a new manager?’

“……”

Eun-ho swallowed hard, keeping his mouth shut as he thought he might laugh in vain. He also slowly moved his steps to follow Ji Hyeon, thinking that he would really look strange if he stayed any longer. The hand that pressed down on his hat was trembling faintly, barely visible.

Ji Hyeon, who had left the bathroom first, was fixing his clothes in the waiting room. After confirming that Yeonju was tidying up his tie and cuffs, Eun-ho silently watched them from a corner of the waiting room. Before long, filming resumed, and Ji Hyeon and Yi-chan worked together in the prosecutor’s office set.

“Ah, Prosecutor Kwon, please! Please don’t fight with Detective Kim.”

“Hey, what did I do? This guy is increasingly picking on me. Am I your friend? Huh?”

“You always tell me to treat you like a friend. And Prosecutor Kwon is always the one who’s wrong.”

Because Min-hyuk and Seung-gyu became close in the drama, the bickering between Ji Hyeon and Yi-chan also looked very friendly. When Ji Hyeon flapped his jacket and put his hand on his waist, Yi-chan imitated the same gesture and glared. Yi-chan was initially said to have an overlapping image with Ji Hyeon, but when placed side by side, Yi-chan was still much younger.

‘Come to think of it, people don’t say they have similar images these days.’

Judging that it would be a big risk to be seen as having similar images even when appearing in the same drama, Yi-chan’s agency stopped noise marketing at some point. It was a good thing, but Yi-chan looked too young when he was actually next to Ji Hyeon. If they continued to push a similar image, it would probably have backfired.

“That’s because Prosecutor Gung, Gunggungsa-nim……!”

Yi-chan, who was about to say his lines again, stopped abruptly. He had to pronounce it as ‘Prosecutor Kwon,’ but he stuttered his lines because he spoke in a hurry. The moment Eun-ho even chuckled at the word ‘Gwon Gunggung,’ Ji Hyeon responded without a beat.

“Don’t talk like Gunggungsa-nim. Yes, Prosecutor Kwon Gunggungsa-nim is all wrong, and Detective Kim Hyung-hyungsa-nim is not at fault at all, right?”

It was a natural tone as if it were the original line, and the PD, who was about to send a cut signal, also stopped moving for a moment. Even after seeing Yi-chan’s face turn red, Ji Hyeon continued the rest of the words in Min-hyuk’s unique swaggering tone.

“I’m too scared of this Gunggungsa-nim to speak. Is it okay to disregard a Sunbae like this, Prosecutor Gunggungsa-nim? Yes?”

“…Aish, do you want to make fun of that now?”

“I want to make fun of that now?”

The way he openly teased him was extremely hateful. Thanks to Yi-chan naturally agreeing, it would have seemed like a planned act to those who didn’t know the script. Soon, Yi-chan, who sighed and calmed his face, began to nag.

“Anyway, that’s Prosecutor Kwon’s fault.”

The filming that followed continued until the scene where Ji Hyeon kicked Yi-chan out the door. Ji Hyeon, who roughly pushed Yi-chan’s shoulder, slammed the door shut as soon as he went out of the prosecutor’s office. And at the same time, a loud voice came from the PD’s mouth.

“Cut!”

Yi-chan, who had gone outside, opened the door slightly and came in. The way he looked around, only showing his eyes, was clearly nervous. While Eun-ho was also waiting for the okay sign, before long, the PD shouted loudly.

“Okay!”

“……!”

A look of delight spread across Yi-chan’s face. He soon looked at Ji Hyeon with a moved face. Perhaps because he was conscious of the ‘My MaeSo’ camera, Ji Hyeon, who would have ignored him otherwise, nodded at him.

“Good job.”

That one word wasn’t a big deal. Yi-chan looked at Ji Hyeon with eyes full of respect. Even the voice with which he greeted, “You worked hard, Sunbae-nim!” seemed very emotional. The way he looked so pure made even those who were watching soften their expressions.

“Is ‘Gwon Gunggungsa’ going to become a buzzword?”

“Ah, PD-nim……. Please don’t tease me, PD-nim.”

Perhaps the detailed situation would be edited out of ‘My MaeSo’ and only superficial content would be shown. The lines in the drama might be cut and only Ji Hyeon’s ad-libs might be shown. Either way, it was clear that it would amplify the anticipation for .

“Prosecutor Kwon Gunggungsa-nim, you worked hard too!”

“No, it was nothing.”

In the midst of the friendly atmosphere, Ji Hyeon stopped smiling for a moment and approached Eun-ho. It was a big improvement that he didn’t leave right away, as he wasn’t a very sociable person from the start. Eun-ho handed Ji Hyeon, who had come close, a bottle of water and spoke in a calm tone as usual.

“Good job.”

It would have been nice to praise the role of a Sunbae that he had played in a long time, but unfortunately, Eun-ho didn’t have that talent. Ji Hyeon took the bottle of water instead of answering, and drank about half of it in one gulp on the spot. He had to make a rough voice when playing Min-hyuk, so his throat seemed to be much more tired than usual.

Ji Hyeon, who wiped his mouth and sighed, glanced at Eun-ho and asked.

“No additional filming, right?”

“Yeah, it’s over. You can go home.”

Since the scene he had just filmed was the last one, all that was left was to change his clothes and go home. He had taken enough footage for ‘My MaeSo,’ so there was no need to do anything else. Since there was filming from dawn tomorrow, there was little chance that the filming team would recommend a dinner.

After returning to the waiting room, he removed his makeup with the help of a stylist. He usually went around with a bare face, but Ji Hyeon couldn’t stand it and took Eun-ho’s hat and wore it. He wondered why he was so obsessed with that old hat, but he couldn’t scold him because the camera was there.

“Sunbae-nim!”

When he came out of the waiting room like that, Yi-chan approached from afar. Whether he had remaining filming, Yi-chan was still wearing a suit unlike Ji Hyeon. Yi-chan, who also greeted Eun-ho with a nod, asked with a bright face.

“You’re going home now, right?”

“Yes, what about Yi-chan-ssi?”

“I still have additional filming so I’m not…….”

He’s really improved a lot. Eun-ho thought to himself as he listened to the two of them talk. Normally, he would have just brushed it off with a quick reply, but the fact that he was asking about Yi-chan’s situation was different from usual. Of course, there might be something wrong with being impressed by such a trivial thing.

“It’s not that different… I wanted to give you this as a gift.”

With that, Yi-chan held out a long, vertical shopping bag. It looked like alcohol at first glance, and as expected, Yi-chan said with a bright voice,

“It’s wine.”

“…Wine?”

At the word ‘wine,’ Ji Hyeon reflexively glanced at Eun-ho. He seemed to think that Eun-ho would stop him since it was alcohol, but even the strict Eun-ho had no intention of saying unnecessary things in front of the person who gave the gift.

“I think you said in an interview that you liked wine, Sunbae. My leader Hyung likes alcohol, so I got a recommendation and bought it. You don’t hate sweet stuff, do you…?”

“The taste doesn’t matter, but…”

Ji Hyeon ambiguously trailed off. He looked like he was wondering if he had ever done such an interview. Even Eun-ho was hazy about it, so it was clear that it was an interview from quite a while ago.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

Anyway, Ji Hyeon smiled and accepted the shopping bag from Yi-chan. Watching that, Eun-ho realized that it was also a kind of acting. He really does things when he sets his mind to it. Even the playful addition at the end was clearly a question conscious of the camera.

“But are you giving this because I didn’t cause any NGs?”

“No, no! I was going to give it to you from the start. We can’t drink when we’re actively promoting. But this wine…”

Pleased that Ji Hyeon had accepted it, Yi-chan began to explain with an excited face. After the incident with Park Tae-soo, Yi-chan was showing a subtly more friendly attitude. Normally, he would have intervened and separated them, but Eun-ho casually spoke and passed them by.

“I’ll start the car.”

It was half consideration for Yi-chan and half a test for Ji Hyeon. Now that he had acted socially, it would be good to see him go all the way. If you wear a mask, it becomes your face, so even if it’s acting now, it will eventually become a habit.

It was a long time later that Ji Hyeon came down to the parking lot. He didn’t know what he had talked about with Yi-chan, but fortunately, his expression didn’t look too bad. Eun-ho, who was waiting for him in the driver’s seat, fastened his seatbelt as he watched Ji Hyeon approaching through the car window.

But the problem was that he opened the passenger seat door instead of the back seat.

“…What?”

“I’m going to sit next to you.”

It was a nonchalant reply, and of course, Eun-ho blinked with a bewildered face. He hadn’t done anything like this all day, and now he was going to act coy even in the car. Eun-ho, feeling absurd, let out a hollow laugh and spoke in a firm voice as if warning him.

“Go to the back while I’m asking nicely.”

“You’re being really picky…”

Whether he was just trying it out or not, Ji Hyeon readily closed the passenger seat door. After confirming that he had safely gotten into the back seat, Eun-ho slowly started the car. As the car slowly began to move, Ji Hyeon spat out in a sulky tone.

“What’s wrong with sitting next to you when we’re friends?”

“Separate work and personal life when you’re working.”

When was it? Was it when he had just started working as a Manager? There was a time when Ji Hyeon kept insisting on sitting in the passenger seat. His reason was that he wasn’t a driver, so why should he sit in the back, but Eun-ho found it absurd. That’s because, as far as Eun-ho knew, it was natural for a Manager to also act as a driver.

“What’s the point of riding in a van if you’re going to sit in the passenger seat?”

“Then drive something other than a van.”

Ji Hyeon retorted without giving in, but Eun-ho didn’t reply any further. He knew that the unnecessarily picky guy couldn’t even look at the script when he sat in the passenger seat. He was picky about the car and the seat, but he had to be recognized for his stubbornness.

“You have an early morning shoot tomorrow, right?”

Fortunately, Ji Hyeon quickly changed the subject. He took out the wine and looked at the label, asking in a casual tone. Ji Hyeon’s schedule was all in Eun-ho’s head, so Eun-ho answered without much thought.

“Yeah, I’ll pick you up early.”

“Why bother?”

But the answer that came back from Ji Hyeon was different from what he had expected. Wondering what he meant, he looked in the rearview mirror and saw him talking without taking his eyes off the wine.

“Just sleep over. You often sleep over, don’t you?”

“….”

When did I ever? The words almost reached the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them. That’s because the car camera in front of the driver’s seat was blinking.

“We can have a glass of wine together and sleep in my room.”

“….”

Does he even know what he’s saying right now? He wondered if he was deliberately speaking ambiguously, but he probably hadn’t thought that far. He must be talking casually because he can’t refuse since he’s filming.

“…Okay, I should sleep over for once.”

Eun-ho suppressed his bewildered feelings and answered as nonchalantly as possible. If Ji Hyeon was going to act like this, he also had a plan. Showing a flustered appearance would only lead to editing, so it would be much better to just go along with it.

“I’ll wear your pajamas.”

“….”

Ji Hyeon was silent for a moment, as if he hadn’t expected Eun-ho to go this far. Even if it wasn’t obvious on the outside, he was probably very flustered on the inside. It wasn’t too bad, so Eun-ho deliberately added a brazen word.

“Get some sleep. You’ll be tired if you’re going to drink wine.”

“…Wow, Kwak Eun-ho, really.”

Ji Hyeon, unable to bear it any longer, spoke in an absurd tone. He seemed to want to express his bewildered feelings, whether it would be edited out or not. He had an expression that said, ‘How can you even lie like that?’ but Eun-ho just shrugged without answering.

After that, Ji Hyeon kept his eyes closed without saying anything until they arrived at the apartment. He wasn’t really sleeping, he just seemed to be avoiding conversation because he had nothing to say. He occasionally made a sound like air escaping, which clearly meant that he found the conversation with Eun-ho absurd.

“You two really worked hard today.”

After arriving in front of the house, PD Yoo greeted the two with a satisfied face. Thanks to the sufficient amount of footage, there would be no need for additional filming. The cameras installed in the car had also been safely recovered, so the filming of ‘My MaeSo’ was over.

“I’ll see you next time for the interview.”

“Yes, go in.”

Eun-ho shook hands lightly with PD Yoo and sent them away. In the underground parking lot where all the staff had left, only Ji Hyeon and Eun-ho remained in quiet silence.

Ji Hyeon finally took off the hat he was wearing and handed it to Eun-ho.

“Go in. Take a taxi if possible.”

He was acting as if it was obvious that Eun-ho would go home. He was also avoiding eye contact while fixing his pressed hair, showing an awkwardness that he hadn’t shown in front of the camera. Instead of receiving the hat, Eun-ho put his hand in his pocket.

“I’m not going home.”

“…What?”

Ji Hyeon’s eyes widened. It was a reaction he had expected for a long time. He shouldn’t have said things he couldn’t handle. Eun-ho thought to himself and let out a relaxed laugh.

“You said I could sleep over, right?”

“….”

“Let’s drink wine, Ji Hyeon-ah.”

He deliberately imitated Ji Hyeon’s tone. Ji Hyeon made a somewhat stiff expression at the words he asked softly while curling up the corners of his lips. He wondered what he was up to. Eun-ho quickly erased his smile and just nodded his head.

“Let’s go up and talk.”

All the way up to the house, Ji Hyeon nervously watched Eun-ho. He could tell by the way he was holding the hat that Eun-ho hadn’t taken back and secretly glancing at the mirror in the elevator. Eun-ho silently stared at the control panel, and when they arrived in front of the house, he opened the door lock first and went inside.

“Take a shower and come out. I’ll be waiting.”

To be honest, he didn’t really intend to sleep over. He was planning to go home as soon as they finished talking, whether he drove or took a taxi. He used to take the car when there was an early morning shoot, so he could use the van he had brought today.

“…Aren’t you going to shower?”

But Ji Hyeon asked with a somewhat uneasy face. He didn’t know if it was because he was afraid that Eun-ho would go back, or if he had misunderstood that he meant he would sleep without showering. Before Eun-ho could answer that he would just talk and leave, he turned his body and said,

“You know where the pajamas are. Take out whatever you want and wear it.”

There was no time to say that he didn’t need it. He immediately moved towards the bathroom. Eun-ho, who was left alone in the living room, frowned a beat late as he watched his disappearing back.

“Where did you hear my words…”

Did he forget that he said he couldn’t sleep together because he was gay last time? He didn’t intend to do anything (and shouldn’t), but he was a little embarrassed that he was acting so defenselessly. He even said with his own mouth that he liked him, but he didn’t seem to mind sleeping in the same house.

Eun-ho hesitated for a moment before letting out a thin sigh. He suddenly felt that everything was annoying. He didn’t have the luxury to worry about such things in his already complicated head.

So Eun-ho just went upstairs, took out the pajamas, and headed to the bathroom on the second floor. As Ji Hyeon said, he already knew where the pajamas were. No, he probably knew the location of most things much better than Ji Hyeon.

Throughout the shower, Eun-ho organized the things he had to say today. There wasn’t really anything special, he was just washing away the occasional stuffiness with the flowing water. About all the things he had been constantly worrying and hesitating about from the filming set until now.

What he felt while filming ‘My MaeSo’ today was that Ji Hyeon’s attitude was too confusing. Even though it was only one day, he felt like he really liked him. Not just as a friend, but with a romantic feeling beyond friendship.

It was only after his head cooled down that he had that thought. Sooner or later, he would need to have a ‘conversation’ to resolve this issue. If he was really serious, he needed to know how much weight it carried, and if he had a light heart, he needed to give up quickly. If things continued like this, it was clear that a bad situation would arise for both him and him.

“…We’re not going to date in the first place.”

Ji Hyeon clearly couldn’t answer readily when asked if he wanted to date. He was clearly just blurting it out without knowing how this relationship would change. He might have been serious about telling him to quit being a Manager, but he didn’t know that he wouldn’t even be able to be friends anymore if he quit like that.

‘So I don’t want to make it difficult.’

Does he even know that those words are making Eun-ho difficult? His heart was a kind of embarrassment that shook even Eun-ho, who usually doesn’t waver easily. From the day he suddenly kissed him, he felt a sense of crisis that everything he had worked so hard to build would collapse.

“Should I have just gone home…”

He regretted it belatedly, but it was already water under the bridge. If he said he was going home after finishing the shower, it would be even stranger. He could go home whether it was strange or not, but the fact that it was a conversation that had to be had someday didn’t change.

“….”

Eun-ho turned off the shower and roughly swept back his wet hair. His neat forehead and distinct eyebrows were revealed under his jet-black hair. His worried face was now tinged with an inexplicable tension.

“Are you done showering?”

When he came down to the first floor, Ji Hyeon had already placed wine and wine glasses on the living room table. He had a towel around his shoulders, but unlike him, Eun-ho had neatly dried his hair. He thought about nagging him to dry his hair, but chose to just swallow it.

“Come and sit down. There’s not much to snack on.”

“Snacks are…”

There should be ham or bacon in the back of the refrigerator. Even while thinking that, Eun-ho didn’t bother to tell him. There was still a bit of awkwardness left to start a full-fledged drinking session.

More importantly, Eun-ho didn’t intend to drink in the first place.

“Are you really going to drink that?”

There was no need to drink it today. It was early, but he still had a shoot from early tomorrow morning. But Ji Hyeon stuck an opener in the cork as if he was saying something obvious.

“I should drink it on this occasion since I received it as a gift. I can’t drink it all alone.”

If you can’t drink it, you don’t have to drink it. Or you can drink it with someone else later.

But instead of stopping Ji Hyeon, Eun-ho nodded. He thought it would be easier to talk if there was at least some alcohol. If he was going to sleep over anyway, there would be no need to drive again.

Thus, the two sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the sofa, not on the sofa. Ji Hyeon skillfully opened the wine and first poured about half of the contents into Eun-ho’s glass. After filling his own glass, he suddenly lowered his eyes and muttered,

“It’s been a while since we’ve eaten like this.”

“…Ah.”

As soon as he heard those words, a memory flashed through his head. When was it? The time when they drank beer side by side in the same place and in the same position as now. It was before Grandmother had passed away, and Eun-ho at the time was unaware of his feelings for Ji Hyeon.

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

Did they watch a drama after clinking cans? Or did they watch a movie? Either way, it was a work that Ji Hyeon appeared in, and from the middle, only Eun-ho was focused. Ji Hyeon, who was incredibly good at acting, was quite interesting in every work he appeared in. Well, that might have been because Eun-ho chose all those scripts.

“It’s the first time since Grandmother passed away.”

In an everyday life that wouldn’t have changed if he didn’t like him, it might have been himself, not Ji Hyeon, who had changed. He realized his feelings for him, and he unknowingly kept his distance, which seemed to have caused Ji Hyeon anxiety. Because Eun-ho gradually stopped accepting the childishness that he would have accepted otherwise.

He must have wondered why he was suddenly acting like this. He must have felt upset and annoyed. The fact that he was a guy who was harboring anxiety was likely the reason why he became more and more irritable.

“Let’s toast for the first glass. We’re not going to do it from the second glass.”

As Ji Hyeon raised his wine glass and spoke, Eun-ho lightly clinked his glass against his. The clear sound unique to glass seemed to relieve his tense heart a little. Ji Hyeon seemed to feel the same way, as his hardened face seemed to soften a little.

“Should I turn on the TV?”

“Do whatever you want. Watch a movie you’re in.”

“Don’t you get tired of watching movies I’m in…”

As they drank wine back and forth, the two had a meaningless conversation as usual. Whether the work they were filming this time would be successful, or whether they liked the atmosphere on set. Gradually going back to the past, they even talked about small episodes that happened during their school days.

“When are you going to go to counseling again?”

“I should go soon. President has narrowed down a few places.”

Although they had been awkward for a while, this was normal for them. It wasn’t awkward even if there was silence, and even if they ran out of things to talk about, another topic would naturally come up. They had seen each other every day for the seven years he worked as a Manager, so there was no reason to feel awkward.

“How’s your insomnia?”

“….”

At the casually asked question, Ji Hyeon stared at Eun-ho intently. As if asking, ‘How do you think it is?’ Since it was a question with a set answer even in his opinion, Eun-ho just took a sip of wine with an awkward face. Ji Hyeon also put his lips to the wine glass and let the words slip by as if passing by.

“But I’ll sleep well today.”

Ji Hyeon tended to sleep soundly on days when Eun-ho slept over. It was probably a psychological issue, but he couldn’t figure out exactly what the effect was. It would be good to ask about it during counseling, but Eun-ho couldn’t force him since he wasn’t the person involved.

Even though they were drinking wine without snacks, it didn’t seem like it would be too difficult to finish a bottle. Both of them weren’t bad at drinking, and the fragrant red wine was as sweet as a drink. After drinking one or two glasses, they had already drunk more than half a bottle, but they weren’t getting drunk at all.

“This must have a really low alcohol content.”

“What…”

As Eun-ho spoke to himself, Ji Hyeon trailed off. He seemed to be glancing at the label, but he didn’t tell him how many degrees it was. Instead, he touched the thin part of the wine glass and casually opened his mouth.

“Now, tell me.”

What? There was no need to ask like that. Ji Hyeon, glancing at Eun-ho, continued his words.

“Let’s go upstairs and talk.”

‘You, let’s go upstairs and talk.’

Eun-ho hadn’t forgotten the reason this drinking session started. He just hadn’t found the right timing to bring it up. Ji Hyeon, seeing Eun-ho’s eyes twitch as he avoided his gaze, nodded as if he understood.

“You came all the way here because you had something to say, right? If it was just to chat like this, we would’ve talked in the car, not here.”

“……Um.”

Why was it? Now that the conversation had started, Eun-ho was the one who was nervous. Ji Hyeon, who had been wearing a stiff expression since the parking lot, was talking as if it was nothing.

“Do you hate me liking you that much?”

“…….”

Straight to the point. Was the reason he suggested drinking to gain the courage to say those words? It was a similar topic to what Eun-ho had been planning to bring up, but it wasn’t about whether he liked it or hated it.

“It’s not that I hate it.”

“Then do you like it?”

“…….”

Is he really drunk? It was such a direct question that Eun-ho couldn’t help but wonder. Not only that, but Ji Hyeon slowly blinked his eyes and smiled.

“If not… is this a misunderstanding, so I made you feel like shit?”

“……Stop drinking.”

Every word was his, but definitely not in this nuance. By this point, Eun-ho was convinced he was drunk, so he snatched Ji Hyeon’s glass and pushed it aside. Ji Hyeon, surprisingly compliant, urged Eun-ho again.

“Then what is it?”

Unable to open his mouth, Eun-ho picked up his wine glass and gulped down the remaining wine. It was as if he was drinking soju, but instead of pointing that out, Ji Hyeon calmly waited for Eun-ho.

Eun-ho, placing the glass on the table, frowned and moved his lips.

“Hey, I’ve……”

Eun-ho then covered his face with both hands, letting out a long sigh. It was a good thing he finished the remaining wine. As if the alcohol was finally kicking in, his face started to feel hot. It was thanks to that that he readily spoke words he wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

“I’ve liked you for over four years.”

He said it knowing it could sound like a confession. He felt like his nerves had been thinning since earlier, so he didn’t have the luxury to think any deeper. Ever since the day he heard the confession, it had been difficult for him to remain calm in front of Ji Hyeon.

“Even though I liked you that much, I couldn’t confess, and I don’t plan to in the future either.”

He hadn’t planned to confess in the first place, but the result was closer to not being able to. Eun-ho had been constantly trying to restrain himself whenever he felt the urge to pour everything out. Because he knew that a sudden confession would hurt both him and Ji Hyeon.

“But……”

Should he say this? He hesitated for a moment. But despite that, the reason he spoke was because something, perhaps the alcohol, surged up from within.

“But why do you bring it up with such clumsy feelings and make people uncomfortable?”

The first emotion he felt when he heard his confession was definitely embarrassment. But the more he thought about it, the more that emotion gradually turned into anger.

It was a simple reason. How long did he think those feelings would last? What if it was just a momentary whim? What was he supposed to do then? On what basis, with what confidence, was he supposed to believe Ji Hyeon’s feelings?

“You haven’t decided what you’re going to do with me, have you?”

“…….”

“You didn’t even think about how I would react, did you, Ji Hyeon-ah?”

Was it possible that he didn’t know the weight of the words ‘I like you’? That he didn’t know how it would change their relationship, that he just blurted it out without knowing the seriousness of it? What if, just maybe, they really did end up dating? What would happen at the end of that relationship?

Yes, Eun-ho liked Ji Hyeon. Including wanting to touch him, wanting to feel him, and the lust that arose.

But that didn’t mean he could assume that Ji Hyeon felt the same way. Because he knew that Ji Hyeon would be scared or disgusted if he knew his true feelings. In a narrow sense, it was distrust, but in a broader sense, it was closer to self-deprecation. He had been with Ji Hyeon for more than just a day or two, so he could fully expect that kind of reaction.

“Anyone can say things irresponsibly.”

Even though he knew that Ji Hyeon didn’t have any malicious intent, he couldn’t help but feel resentful. He couldn’t understand how he could be so reluctant to let go, yet be prepared to end their relationship with just one word. No matter how much he tried to convince himself that he didn’t want to date him, the fact that he was secretly scared and hiding didn’t change.

“You can’t even take responsibility……”

“Then how responsible are your feelings?”

Ji Hyeon spoke quietly before Eun-ho could even finish his sentence. Fortunately, or perhaps not, it seemed like he hadn’t realized who the other person was. When Eun-ho frowned, Ji Hyeon added sarcastically.

“So, you liking that bastard is real, and me liking you is fake?”

“……That’s not what I’m saying.”

“That’s how it sounds to me.”

“It’s not that……”

Afraid that it might turn into a fight, Eun-ho paused and chose his words carefully. He had come all the way here to have a conversation, but it felt like they were going back to square one by raising their voices again. Of course, there weren’t many things he could say to him.

“We’ve been friends for 11 years.”

“…….”

Ji Hyeon didn’t say anything in response to his bitter words. He just raised one eyebrow with a sullen look. Looking at that, Eun-ho felt a wave of emptiness wash over him.

“But now you’re saying you like me.”

Now. Yes, it was literally now. How many years had they been together already? Was it even possible to feel romantic feelings now? He had only given him bad memories lately, so what part of him did he even like?

“Don’t you think that’s too much, even for you?”

When he asked out of anger, Ji Hyeon moved his lips. After staying like that for a while, Ji Hyeon looked at Eun-ho with heavy eyes.

“What am I supposed to do if I realized it just now?”

He was the one who sounded wronged. He was also agitated, his eyes wide with anger. In the moment that Eun-ho hesitated, he poured out his words.

“I didn’t know either. I didn’t know if this was liking or not until now. Do you think I wanted to not know? No, if I was going to not know, I should have never known.”

His tone, which was usually gentle, was now very agitated. Perhaps realizing that he was too excited, Ji Hyeon paused for a moment, closed his eyes tightly, and then opened them. And then, he spoke in a heavily suppressed voice.

“But what am I supposed to do if I realized it?”

“…….”

He looked like he was about to cry. Of course, tears hadn’t formed yet. But the sound of his voice breaking was enough to make Eun-ho feel like his throat was tightening.

“If that’s the case, you shouldn’t have told me you were gay.”

“……That’s now.”

So, was he saying it was his fault now? He couldn’t even ask that. Because Ji Hyeon, raising the corners of his lips in a mocking smile, muttered while rubbing his face.

“Suddenly…… Yeah, it must be sudden for you.”

Perhaps because of the alcohol he had drunk earlier, his eyes were red. The way he kept letting out hollow laughs seemed both absurd and dejected.

“But I’ve always liked you. I think it’s been like that from the beginning.”

Because he said it so calmly, Eun-ho didn’t understand his words for a moment. The tone was as monotonous as everyday speech, and that was the same for the following words.

“When you said you were gay…… No, from when I saw you getting close to Shin Yi-chan. No, even before that, when you disappeared on your graduation day.”

“…….”

“I liked you back then too.”

It was closer to a confirmation to himself than words to Eun-ho. That was also how he was chewing on the fact that that was why he felt so terrible.

“Do you think I brought it up to you because I thought this made sense?”

This time, it was definitely a word towards Eun-ho, but Eun-ho couldn’t answer. Perhaps it wasn’t a question that expected an answer in the first place, because he didn’t wait for Eun-ho either.

“I just thought you were a good friend in the past. Because you were the only human relationship I had, I thought everyone wanted to see each other this much. When you came back after getting beaten up by that CEO bastard, I felt so fucking terrible that I thought I had finally gone crazy……”

He brought up the now faded past as if it was nothing. He distorted his face and trembled his lips, and then let out a hollow laugh.

“But it was liking.”

It was a self-deprecating confession that made his heart sink. The emptiness that Eun-ho felt couldn’t compare to the expression that Ji Hyeon was showing now.

“You said you liked that bastard for four years. Eun-ho, I couldn’t even throw away the digestive medicine you gave me at our first meeting.”

“……You.”

The reason Eun-ho was surprised wasn’t because of the content of those words. It was because at that very moment, the tears that had formed in his eyes fell.

He had never seen him cry, except when he was acting. Before he could even realize that tears had formed, a teardrop rolled down from the end of his eyelashes. The tear that rolled down left a long mark on his cheek.

“You might think of me as your 11-year-old friend, but you’ve been the only person for me for 11 years. You’re so kind to me, like you’d give me your liver, how can I not like you? You do everything I ask and cherish me more than my family, how can I not like you?”

“…….”

“Aren’t you being too much?”

His voice, which he spat out with a sob, was unknowingly mixed with tears. Ji Hyeon covered his eyes with one hand and lowered his head. His lips, which had been breathing heavily for a long time, made a thin voice that seemed like it would break at any moment.

“I don’t want to like you either.”

Eun-ho knew too. How unfair unwanted feelings were, and how unjust they were. The emotions that suddenly came were practically despair.

“But I still like you.”

So, this wasn’t a confession, but just a complaint of long-standing injustice. It was a long-accumulated emotion, and a wound that had festered because he hadn’t realized it until now. All of those things burst out at once, and were contained in the tears that were falling.

“I like you, Eun-ho……”

He had already heard the words ‘I like you’ several times. But this was the first time that the sincerity had been conveyed so much. The heartfelt feelings were so sincere that they infected even Eun-ho, who was listening. Ji Hyeon bit his lip and spoke as if chewing, as if he was also overwhelmed by the confession he had made.

“I won’t tell you to like me, because I have a conscience.”

The words that had been cut off didn’t continue for a long time. Ji Hyeon, who had finally lowered the hand that had been covering his face, looked at Eun-ho with his eyes full of tears. His trembling eyes looked more pitiful than ever.

“……Can’t you just trust me a little?”

This time, Eun-ho really couldn’t say anything. Firstly, because Ji Hyeon looked genuinely sad when he said that, and secondly, because he was finally overwhelmed with a bitter sense of guilt.

“Am I wrong again this time?”

“…….”

He felt like he was doing something he shouldn’t be doing. Knowing how bad it was to denigrate other people’s feelings. Not knowing how much he had worried before he said those words.

But, still, but even so, it was hard to believe. Even Eun-ho, who was so indifferent, had things he was afraid of, and he couldn’t pretend not to know the Ji Hyeon he had seen so far. The chronic disease he had, the deep-rooted distrust and fastidiousness towards others.

“I’m you……”

The moment he barely opened his mouth, an inexplicable emotion washed over him. It was because he suddenly felt sad in the midst of his mind going blank. As if Ji Hyeon’s feelings had been transferred to him, his heart, which had been so full, revealed his innermost thoughts.

“……Have you ever imagined me dating you?”

“…….”

“Do you think we could do things like kissing?”

The question he threw out carelessly was one of the fundamental anxieties that Eun-ho had. Even Eun-ho, who had brought up the topic, didn’t expect a definite answer, and Ji Hyeon, who heard those words, also had a blank expression for a moment. Just as Eun-ho was about to say something more, their eyes met in the air.

“…….”

“…….”

Time seemed to have stopped. Just like when he had applied hand cream in the bathroom earlier, his heavily sunken eyes began to be stained with different emotions. With a tingling sensation, Ji Hyeon approached quickly in the blink of an eye.

“……!”

It was a moment that his wrist was grabbed and his upper body fell over. The moment Eun-ho laid his back on the floor, the wine bottle on the table fell to the floor with a thud. The wine that poured out soaked the soft carpet, and the wine bottle that rolled around stopped when it got caught on the leg of the sofa.

And, their lips met.

“Hmph……”

Warmth was conveyed through their lips that were overlapping without any gaps. Eun-ho, surprised, tried to push him away, but Ji Hyeon didn’t let go of Eun-ho, pressing both wrists down on the floor. It wasn’t enough to hurt, but it was enough to prevent him from escaping.

‘What strength……’

He had been exercising diligently even in the midst of his busy schedule, so it seemed like he had only increased his grip strength unnecessarily. He clenched his fists and raised one knee, but instead, their intertwined legs only got closer. It seemed like he could push him away if he used all his strength, but before he could do that, Ji Hyeon slightly twisted his head.

“……Ugh.”

Because his soft lips were being rubbed against his, Eun-ho unknowingly moved his Adam’s apple. His face flushed, and heat soared from his stomach. Unable to overcome that sensation, he trembled his eyes, and he felt his touching lips slightly open.

‘Ah…… crazy.’

He had swung his fist without hesitation before, but this time, he couldn’t do that at all. First of all, his wrists were being held, and Eun-ho had also gotten excited, so he couldn’t just reject him. He wondered if he was drunk on the wine late, or if he was drunk on the atmosphere. It was the same even when Ji Hyeon bit his lower lip and pushed his tongue in.

A soft tongue pushed in through the slightly opened lips. Eun-ho clenched both fists tightly at the hot and wet sensation. The tongue that had invaded his mouth without any hesitation rubbed its body against Eun-ho’s tongue, which had been quietly there.

“Hmph……”

His mind went blank, and he no longer felt like he had to push him away. Half of him thought he was crazy, a little bit of him thought he should just let it be, and a handful of him was overwhelmed with an impulse that surged up.

Perhaps realizing that Eun-ho had become quiet, Ji Hyeon let go of the wrist he had been holding. Instead, he supported himself on the floor with one hand and brought Eun-ho’s wrist to his face with the other hand. He didn’t know what his intention was, but it was exactly the part that Eun-ho had hit.

But this time, Eun-ho instinctively stroked Ji Hyeon’s face slightly. When he stroked his smooth cheek with his trembling fingertips, the tongue that had been subtly rubbing stopped abruptly. Ji Hyeon raised his eyelids and slowly pulled out his tongue.

“……You’re not going to hit me?”

“…….”

Because he asked without taking his lips off, he could feel his rasping breath vividly. In the two eyes that met up close, various unknown emotions were rippling. A desperate heart of someone who couldn’t gauge Eun-ho’s inner thoughts, which seemed to be doubt, and also seemed to be expectation.

“You’re now……”

Could it be that he had offered his cheek, telling him to hit him if he didn’t like it? As soon as he realized that fact, his chest tightened. There were a mountain of words that came to his mind, but he couldn’t say any of them.

Ha, Eun-ho, who let out a complicated sigh, wrapped his hand around the back of Ji Hyeon’s head. Before closing his eyes again, it seemed like a realization had flashed in his wet eyes. In the moment that his fine hair was wrapped between his fingers, Eun-ho pulled Ji Hyeon in as he was and kissed him again.

“…….”

It was a moment that their lips met again and their tongues mixed. The slightest bit of hesitation that had remained disappeared in the moment that Eun-ho stroked Ji Hyeon’s neck. Ji Hyeon, who had pushed his tongue in more deeply than before, began to rummage through every part of his mouth while twisting his head.

His palate, his tongue, and even the secret parts under his tongue. Every part that Ji Hyeon touched felt very sensitive. At first, he thought it was ticklish, but after a while, it became a sensation that was accumulating in his lower abdomen. The only thing he could do was awkwardly raise his knees, as if a shameful situation might arise if he wasn’t careful.

“Hoo…….”

Eun-ho’s situation was either unknown or ignored by Ji Hyeon, who relentlessly pushed Eun-ho further. He not only ensnared his tongue and sucked it, but also drank in Eun-ho’s breath as if quenching a parched throat. Both of their breathing grew ragged, yet their locked lips showed no sign of parting.

Ah, why is he so good at kissing, too?

He was learning for the first time in his life that a kiss could be so sweet. Perhaps it was because he had been drinking sweet wine, making even the saliva taste sweet. The squelching sounds echoed in his ears, and the heated breaths made the air increasingly buoyant.

It was Eun-ho’s first time kissing, but even considering that, it was unbelievably good. He was filled with unfamiliar pleasure, even to the point of feeling uneasy. The satisfaction of pressing his lips against someone he liked also played a part.

Their lips parted long after. When Eun-ho restlessly grabbed Ji Hyeon’s shoulders, and Ji Hyeon, as if driven mad, grabbed Eun-ho’s wrists. When both of them, faces flushed red, gasped for air.

“……Haa.”

With a soft, embarrassing sound, their lips separated. The thin strand of saliva didn’t stretch out for long before breaking off. From their already wet lips, heavily excited breaths flowed out.

“…….”

“…….”

Neither of them spoke. Only the panting breaths filled the silent living room. Both Eun-ho and Ji Hyeon simply stared at each other with lowered eyes.

Among them, Ji Hyeon was the first to speak.

“……Since when was it.”

Unlike his usual tone, his voice was subdued, growing huskier towards the end. There was not a trace of composure, and instead of being gentle, he was filled with anxiety. There was no need to ask what he meant; he growled, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“Since when was that bastard me.”

It felt like sparks were flying before his eyes. The gaze directed at Eun-ho didn’t contain the same confused emotions as before. Perhaps belated realization, a hint of betrayal, and the pleasure and elation that overshadowed everything else.

“Fuck, and I didn’t even know…….”

“……Ha.”

There was no changing things now with excuses, and Eun-ho had no intention of hiding it any longer. The moment he caressed his cheek, the moment he pulled him in for a kiss, the water had already been spilled.

Yes, it meant it was already too late to turn back.

“Hey, I…….”

Eun-ho covered his face with one arm and exhaled deeply, his breath catching in his throat. After steadying his rapid breathing a couple of times, the words tumbled out with a sense of resignation.

“I even masturbated thinking about you.”

‘Do you think I’m a joke?’

The day Ji Hyeon kissed him while practicing his script. Eun-ho couldn’t fall asleep when he returned home. He spent the whole night tossing and turning, trying to sort out his thoughts, and when he couldn’t calm down, he ended up doing something he couldn’t bring himself to say. To be honest, it wasn’t the first time, and because it wasn’t the first time, he felt both shame and guilt.

Could Ji Hyeon even imagine how he felt?

“I’ve liked you for four years, Ji Hyeon-ah.”

“…….”

“The person I like is you.”

This wasn’t how he intended to say it. No, he hadn’t even thought of saying it in the first place.

“This is also included in me liking you.”

It was a feeling he had intended to hide for life, fearing that they could never return to their original relationship. It was a feeling he hadn’t even considered being reciprocated, as he didn’t have the confidence to treat him well. He had thought he could just keep it to himself and throw it away where no one could see it.

“11 years of friendship? Bullshit…… I’ve never seen you as a friend for four years.”

Four years was just a number; in reality, he had liked him for longer, and he hadn’t been able to see him as a friend for even longer. Whenever an inexplicable frustration welled up inside him, he didn’t even realize it was love and desperately tried to ignore it.

“It’s not a matter of believing your feelings or not.”

“…….”

“I believe it, I believe it now…….”

“…….”

“But I’m anxious.”

Eun-ho couldn’t help but be cautious, as irresponsible expectations were followed by disappointment. What if he confessed his feelings after only hearing that he liked him, and Ji Hyeon turned away, saying he didn’t feel the same way? All the sudden situations that had come crashing down were nothing but excessive fear in an unprepared state.

“You didn’t know anything and asked me to put on hand cream for you. Every time, I thought to myself…… Ah.”

Eun-ho swallowed the rest of his words with a sigh, feeling like he might curse. He couldn’t tell if the overwhelming feeling was due to the kiss from earlier or some inexplicable sorrow.

“Do you know what I felt every time you told me to stay over? Do you even know what I thought every time you came out wearing only that fucking gown?”

Ji Hyeon probably never would, and Eun-ho had no intention of telling him in the future. It wasn’t that liking someone always had to be in this direction, but Eun-ho felt ‘that’ kind of impulse towards Ji Hyeon. He thought that even if he liked him, he would feel repulsed by such explicit desires.

“Can you still say you like me even knowing that? A guy with the same thing dangling between his legs is looking at you like that, does that really seem okay?”

He didn’t know how he would take it, but it was a story Eun-ho had already thought about countless times. Even if he was anxious and afraid, he had to seek understanding for these parts in order to convey his feelings to him. If Ji Hyeon found it disgusting, then it was a feeling he would have to fold away before he could even stretch it out.

“You’re also a germaphobe…….”

“……You masturbated thinking about me?”

“…….”

Eun-ho shut his mouth. It was because of the one question Ji Hyeon suddenly asked back. When he belatedly removed the arm that had been covering his eyes, Ji Hyeon was looking down at Eun-ho with a completely flushed face. He looked at Eun-ho with trembling eyes and slowly moved his lips.

“You’re turned on by me?”

Why did he feel like he had said something wrong then? Was it because he was wearing an impatient expression, or was it because their lower bodies, which had somehow come into contact, felt heavy? He didn’t know when the distance had become so close, and the weight pressing down from above felt different than before.

“Keep talking, Eun-ho-ya.”

“…….”

“You’re also a germaphobe, so what.”

He was going to ask if he could endure all of this. He was also going to confirm if he really wouldn’t find it disgusting.

But Eun-ho let out a hollow laugh without asking him anything. It was because he could already anticipate the answer he would get, no matter what he confirmed now. As expected, Ji Hyeon spoke in a much calmer voice than before.

“You asked if I could kiss you. So I answered.”

He had asked if he could, not if he should. He had the face of someone asking what the problem was, even though he had kissed him without permission. Of course, Eun-ho, who had also responded, couldn’t blame him.

“Then I’ll ask, what do you think what we just did was?”

“…….”

Right, what was that just now, really?

His head was spinning so much that he couldn’t even think about anything deeply. The sensation of their lips touching was still vivid, and their bodies, which were equally excited, brushed against each other in embarrassing places with the slightest movement. Amidst his heightened senses, something suddenly caught his eye.

“……Won’t you regret it tomorrow after you sober up?”

He saw the wine bottle lying on the floor in the distance. Come to think of it, he had seemed drunk for a long time already. Wasn’t he already tipsy when he had asked if he hated him liking him so much?

So if, if all of this was due to alcohol.

“Right now, you’re under the influence of alcohol…….”

“……Ah, alcohol.”

Ji Hyeon, who had replied slowly, curled up the corners of his lips at an angle. His eyes, which had been vaguely blurred, suddenly shone with a clear light and looked at Eun-ho. Eun-ho frowned at the unsettling feeling for a moment, and then a calm voice flowed from Ji Hyeon’s lips.

“That’s non-alcoholic.”

“……What?”

He didn’t understand his words for a moment. When Eun-ho blankly asked back, Ji Hyeon looked down at Eun-ho silently. Then, he spoke again in a firm tone.

“It’s non-alcoholic.”

Was it déjà vu? Or was it betrayal?

He felt like he had been hit in the back of the head and was at a loss for words. He had thought the alcohol content would be low, but he never imagined it would be completely non-alcoholic. He had thought that Ji Hyeon was definitely drunk, even if he wasn’t, but wasn’t that just grape juice they had been drinking?

“Shin Yi-chan gave it to me and said that when they were actively promoting, they couldn’t drink alcohol, so they drank wine to just get the feeling.”

‘When we’re actively promoting, we can’t drink alcohol. But this wine…….’

The rest of the sentence must have been that it ‘doesn’t have any alcohol content.’ Or, as Ji Hyeon said, it could have been that it ‘makes you feel good.’ Either way, only Eun-ho, who hadn’t heard that part, had been completely fooled.

“No…….”

Eun-ho stared blankly at Ji Hyeon with a dumbfounded expression. He still had an excited look on his face, but it no longer looked like it was due to alcohol. Looking at him, his lips moved involuntarily with a bewildered feeling.

“What were you drunk on earlier, then?”

“I pretended to be drunk.”

“…….”

“I didn’t think I could talk otherwise.”

He’s using his acting skills in the wrong place. He doesn’t even deny that he did it. The way he quickly admits it and replies is brazen to the point of being shameless.

“And even if it was real wine, I wouldn’t get that drunk from that much. It’s the same for you.”

The meaning of those words was obvious. So both you and I are in our right minds. Or it was a warning not to think about making excuses with alcohol.

“Now say it again.”

“…….”

“What else are you anxious about?”

It was as if he was going to get rid of anything he was anxious about right away. His expression was that confident, and the following words sounded a bit suspicious.

“You don’t think you’ll regret it tomorrow, do you?”

“……What do I have to regret?”

Eun-ho replied in a slow tone because he had a genuinely upset look on his face. Ji Hyeon was the one with the germaphobia, and Ji Hyeon was the one who would regret it, not Eun-ho. He thought that even if he felt embarrassed for blurting out his confession, he wouldn’t go as far as regretting it.

“It’s not like I made a mistake…….”

“That’s true. What did we even do to regret it? We haven’t even done anything to regret yet.”

Ji Hyeon frowned and muttered to himself as if he was talking to himself. The nuance of the word ‘yet’ was quite subtle. Eun-ho thought it seemed somehow unfair. As expected, Ji Hyeon suddenly became annoyed, as if he was getting more and more dumbfounded the more he thought about it.

“What, you masturbate thinking about me? Hey, I…….”

He brought up the story mockingly, but the rest of the words didn’t continue for a long time. He just pressed his lips shut with a look of realization. And then, with a light sigh, a low, subdued voice asked.

“……Do you think you’re the only one who’s turned on by me?”

It was a seemingly frustrated tone, and Eun-ho actually knew the answer to that question. The gaze that was looking at him intently was different than before, and it was full of desire. The emotions, which were more intense than Eun-ho had thought, didn’t subside even while they were having a calm conversation.

“You’re smart, too…….”

Ji Hyeon, who had muttered irritably, leaned his upper body towards Eun-ho. It looked like he was going to kiss him, so Eun-ho reflexively turned his head. At the same time, Ji Hyeon, who had stopped moving, curled up the corners of his lips with a crooked face.

“I’m the one with the germaphobia, but it seems like you hate touching me more.”

“…….”

Right, you seem like someone without germaphobia today.

“Hey, first of all…….”

Eun-ho swallowed those words and first pushed Ji Hyeon’s shoulders away. He knew that he wasn’t drunk, and he had confirmed that Ji Hyeon didn’t feel repulsed by him. However, even if he understood it with his head, his emotions weren’t resolved, so he still had an unsettling feeling. Besides, now that the tension had subsided, he was starting to be overly conscious of his current position.

“Why, you don’t have germaphobia.”

But instead of moving away from Eun-ho, Ji Hyeon pressed his body even closer. He pressed down hard on their intertwined legs and buried his face in Eun-ho’s neck. He stiffened his body at their tightly pressed lower bodies, and then hot breaths began to tickle his neck.

‘……I’m going crazy.’

A man’s body is so honest that he couldn’t hide the fact that he had reacted to the other person. He had already been swollen from earlier, and now he had been completely caught. He wondered how this guy could be so confident when they were both equally excited, and Ji Hyeon, who was almost hugging him, let out a shrill curse.

“Fuck, that damn germaphobia……. It’s never been helpful in my life.”

It was just a passing comment, but he didn’t know why it stayed in his mind so much. Was it because there was unfairness in his annoyed tone, or was it because his rubbing felt like he was whining?

“…….”

Now, belatedly, the words he had said flashed through his mind. The words he had carelessly thrown out for self-defense, not knowing that he had a chronic illness. The words he had thrown at him, blaming him for being too busy resolving the anxiety in front of him.

‘You’re misunderstanding that.’

‘Ji Hyeon-ah, how can you and I date.’

‘You’re also a germaphobe…….’

Eun-ho secretly swallowed a sigh and hesitantly placed his hand on Ji Hyeon’s back. Before his palm touched him, he didn’t forget to habitually check his complexion. His face was covered so he couldn’t see it, but fortunately, Ji Hyeon only flinched for a moment and didn’t show any particular repulsion.

He really seems okay. Eun-ho, who had thought to himself, slowly stroked his broad back.

“Sorry.”

“…….”

“I misspoke.”

Ji Hyeon didn’t reply to his cautious apology. He just buried his face in Eun-ho’s neck and let out a faint breath. It was incredibly ticklish, but he didn’t want to push him away.

“I won’t make excuses. I’m sorry.”

There was no need to say again that he was anxious. There was no point in asking if he wouldn’t have believed him even if he were him. He was still a bit lacking in reality, but he had confirmed everything he could confirm, anyway.

“I believe that you like me.”

“…….”

“I believe it…….”

This was such an embarrassing thing to say. He felt like his throat was constantly tightening when he actually tried to say it properly. Still, now that he had come this far, there was no need to run away.

“I like you too.”

The confession he had calmly uttered was the perfect end to Eun-ho’s anxiety. It was bigger than he had thought when he said it out loud, and it was also a feeling that he had newly confirmed that he couldn’t fold away in the first place.

Sometimes, realization doesn’t require a great opportunity. Just like Eun-ho had realized his feelings for him now. Just like he had come to know that his anxiety was ultimately a futile kind.

And just like he was becoming aware of a part he had been ignorant of for a long time at Ji Hyeon’s following answer.

“……I’ve never hated touching you.”

That was true. Except for the time when Ji Hyeon had first confessed his germaphobia a long time ago, he had never shown any repulsion to Eun-ho’s touch. He just hadn’t been able to think that way because Eun-ho was careful when he wasn’t feeling well, and he didn’t touch him unless he had to.

“You’re okay with me now, too.”

It was a déjà vu-like statement. The day Ji Hyeon stayed over at Eun-ho’s house a while ago. Ji Hyeon had told Eun-ho this on that day too. He had turned his insides upside down with a face that didn’t know anything, saying how many years he had spent with him and how could he hate it.

‘But I’ve always liked you. I think it was like that from the beginning.’

Did he like me even back then? Now that he thought about it, every moment was suspicious. The reason he hadn’t believed that he liked him was because his attitude hadn’t changed. Was the reason his attitude hadn’t changed because of that?

“…….”

“…….”

For a while, only silence fell in the living room. Ji Hyeon was in Eun-ho’s arms, and Eun-ho had his hand on Ji Hyeon’s back. The heartbeats, which he didn’t know whose they were, were transmitted from their touching chests. In the quiet and calm atmosphere, the excitement that had welled up unfortunately showed no signs of subsiding.

“……How long are you going to stay like this?”

“Just a little…….”

Eun-ho said cautiously, but Ji Hyeon didn’t seem to have any intention of moving away from on top of him. Rather, he folded his broad shoulders and dug even deeper into Eun-ho’s arms. After rubbing his nose against his neck for a long time, Ji Hyeon suddenly raised his upper body and said.

“Do it one more time.”

“What?”

“You asked if I could do things like kiss you.”

That conversation ended earlier, didn’t it? I showed you I could do it with actions rather than words. But before Eun-ho could even ask that, Ji Hyeon lowered his eyes and whispered softly.

“Like you said, I’m not sure if I’m okay because I have a severe case of mysophobia, so let’s do it one more time.”

“No, hey, what the… Mmph…”

Before Eun-ho could even ask what nonsense he was spouting, Ji Hyeon, cupping Eun-ho’s chin, fearlessly pressed his lips against his. The moment he bit down on Eun-ho’s lower lip and pushed his tongue in, heat surged below Eun-ho’s navel once again.

“…Uht.”

Their lower bodies, pressed together, rubbed slightly. Eun-ho’s ears burned, but the more he moved, the more only the embarrassing parts brushed against each other. Ji Hyeon, blatantly pressing down on Eun-ho’s swollen area, mumbled, biting Eun-ho’s tongue.

“…Just stay still.”

His pronunciation was slightly slurred because he didn’t take his tongue out of Eun-ho’s mouth. When Eun-ho frowned without answering, Ji Hyeon sucked on his soft tongue. It was a more explicit sensation than before, but this time, Eun-ho didn’t avoid him, instead gently caressing his face.

It didn’t take long for saliva to mix and breathing to become ragged. It was heat that had never cooled down in the first place, so it quickly flared up with just a little contact. The hand that had been holding Eun-ho’s chin moved down to his neck, and now he didn’t even feel ashamed of his waist, which was unknowingly swaying.

“……”

Chu, lips parted, exhaling a long breath. Ji Hyeon, wiping his lips to prevent saliva from dripping, blinked hazily and looked at Eun-ho. Eun-ho, confirming the darkly wet eyes, quietly began.

“……So.”

It was just one syllable, but it felt like his breath was caught in his throat. Because they still hadn’t widened the distance, their lips brushed every time they spoke.

“Now, haa… do you know if you’re okay or not?”

“……No.”

Ji Hyeon answered almost inaudibly, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. The hand that had been touching Eun-ho’s neck was now slightly digging into the neckline of his T-shirt. Ji Hyeon, tracing the area around his collarbone with his fingertips, whispered in a breathy voice.

“I think I need to do it more to know.”

Anyone could tell it was a line, but there was no one to point it out. The moment Eun-ho closed his eyes, Ji Hyeon bit his lips with his own once more. Eun-ho expected him to insert his tongue right away, but this time, different words popped out of his parted lips.

“But Eun-ho.”

As he said that, Ji Hyeon subtly moved his lower body. His already sensitive lower region began to be rubbed explicitly. Eun-ho frowned, fearing he might moan, and Ji Hyeon narrowed his eyes.

“You’re hard.”

“……”

Without a doubt, he was the last person who should be saying that. The heaviness he was feeling now was by no means just Eun-ho’s problem. As expected, he had something else he wanted to say, and a pleading voice flowed from his lips.

“……Can I touch it?”

It was a sudden request, and of course, Eun-ho couldn’t answer. For a moment, he doubted whether he had understood correctly. Judging from the situation and the nuance, there was no other way to interpret it, yet…

“……Touch what?”

So he asked, but instead of answering, Ji Hyeon quietly lowered his eyes. Because they were so close, Eun-ho could clearly see him lost in thought. Ji Hyeon, lowering his head and parting his lips, then slightly raised only his eyes to look at Eun-ho.

“Can’t I?”

“……”

There was no way he could answer no to that gaze. His reddened eyes were enough to make Eun-ho feel a strange sense of guilt. Perhaps because his pupils were moist, he looked particularly forlorn today, which made it even worse.

“Uh, touch… do whatever you want…”

After giving permission as if possessed, it was already water under the bridge. Giving up, Eun-ho tried to calm his trembling breath and compose himself. It wasn’t that he wanted to say no, and in reality, he didn’t really dislike it.

Ji Hyeon watched Eun-ho like that for a moment, then slowly lowered the hand that had been caressing his shoulder after a slight pause. His long fingers began to move slowly down Eun-ho’s upper body. Because he was only wearing a thin T-shirt, the sensation felt particularly explicit.

“……”

Why was he so nervous about this? He felt excited enough to make his lower abdomen tingle, and at the same time, his chest felt tight. He didn’t mind Ji Hyeon touching him, but he wasn’t sure if he could actually touch him. He shouldn’t care even if he said he couldn’t do it later. Thinking that, Eun-ho pressed his lips shut as soon as Ji Hyeon’s hand reached his waist.

The touch tracing the waistband was extremely cautious. Ji Hyeon, pausing in place as if gauging the location, blinked his eyes and quietly examined Eun-ho’s expression. When Eun-ho met his gaze with an uncomfortable face, he tentatively asked.

“……Do you not like it?”

“……”

It’s not you who should be worried about me not liking it, it’s me. What man wouldn’t like being touched by someone he likes? Maybe Ji Hyeon doesn’t know, but very occasionally… really occasionally, Eun-ho had imagined such a thing.

“I don’t not like it… Uht.”

So, just as he was about to answer, Ji Hyeon slipped his hand into his pants. He didn’t know that asking if he could touch it meant touching his bare skin. The fingers that slipped in quickly invaded the intimate area inside his underwear. After passing his firm lower abdomen and going down to his groin, he hesitated slightly before grasping his hotly erect penis.

“……!”

Startled, Eun-ho grabbed Ji Hyeon’s wrist. It was an area that had never been touched by anyone else’s hand, and even that light contact felt unfamiliar enough to send shivers down his spine. He had given permission, but even so, this felt too strange.

“Hey, wait a minute…”

“……Why?”

Ji Hyeon slowly asked back, lightly moving his hand up and down. He slowly stroked it as if gauging its size, then wrapped his palm around the shaft and let out a suppressed breath. Then, he protested in a somewhat aggrieved voice.

“You said I could touch it.”

“No, it’s not that I don’t want you to touch it…”

It wasn’t that he wanted him to stop, but that he wanted him to wait a moment. Just having it resting there was sending a spine-tingling pleasure that made his hair stand on end. To be honest, he almost ejaculated like a premature ejaculation as soon as his body temperature touched him.

“It’s too sudden…”

But before Eun-ho could finish speaking, Ji Hyeon squeezed his throbbing penis tightly. It didn’t hurt, but it was enough to make him speechless for a moment. The moment Eun-ho shrugged his shoulders, Ji Hyeon began to move his hand more actively.

‘Ah, shit…’

Eun-ho covered his face with one hand and bit his lip tightly, fearing he might accidentally curse. Every time his long fingers caressed his penis, his lower back trembled. It was a touch that had no skill whatsoever, but he didn’t know why it felt so stimulating.

“……Why are you covering your face?”

Ji Hyeon whispered softly, lightly bringing his lips to the back of Eun-ho’s hand. Below, he was still carefully caressing Eun-ho’s penis. Starting from the root, to the shaft with its bulging veins, and even the smooth Glans. As if he was literally going to ‘touch it’, it even felt academic in a way.

“Eun-ho.”

“……”

“Kwak Eun-ho.”

“……Why.”

Barely answering, Eun-ho swallowed hard. He hadn’t looked in the mirror, but he figured his ears and neck must be bright red. So Ji Hyeon must have said this in a cracking voice.

“You’re… really hot right now.”

He couldn’t say that you’re hotter. At the same time, Ji Hyeon pressed his thumb against his urethra. Eun-ho, barely suppressing the urge to arch his back, let out a suppressed groan. Ji Hyeon, looking at Eun-ho like that, tentatively asked.

“……Are you going to keep doing that?”

The quiet question sounded somehow dissatisfied. The same went for rubbing his lips on the back of Eun-ho’s hand or gently scratching the tip of his Glans. Wondering why he was doing this, Eun-ho lifted his eyelids, and Ji Hyeon’s face was visible through the gaps in his fingers.

“……”

“……”

He was staring intently at Eun-ho with deeply sunken eyes. The pupils that he usually thought were pretty now felt threatening because of the surging desire. Ji Hyeon, who had also reddened the tips of his ears like Eun-ho, chuckled and muttered softly.

“Your mysophobia seems to be with you……”

His tone was playful, but his expression wasn’t smiling at all. Not because he was upset with Eun-ho’s attitude, but as if he couldn’t bear the overwhelming excitement. The gaze that persistently scrutinized Eun-ho seemed precarious, as if he would lose his mind at any moment.

“You……”

I’m the one being touched, so why is he more excited? Eun-ho, opening his mouth to say something, reflexively squeezed his eyes shut the moment Ji Hyeon tightened his grip on his palm. It wasn’t painful, but the way he was kneading had become more blatant than before.

“……Ji Hyeon-ah.”

Eun-ho slowly moved his lips, suppressing the rising moan. He removed the hand that had been covering his face and took a couple of ragged breaths. The question he finally uttered was so small that it wouldn’t be heard unless you were paying attention.

“Do you want me to do it for you too?”

It was Eun-ho’s way of mustering courage. If he asked if he could touch him like Ji Hyeon did, he would have a hard time refusing even if he didn’t want to. It was meant to respect his wishes as much as possible, but Ji Hyeon nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

“Yeah… touch me.”

The drawn-out end of his words sounded like a plea. His fluttering eyelashes also seemed so fragile at that moment. Half the thought that he was doing something bad, half the thought that he wanted to torment him even more. At the end of the mess of mixed desires, Eun-ho also reached out to him.

He didn’t immediately go into his pants like Ji Hyeon had done. He just tentatively touched the swollen lower area with his palm first. Eun-ho, gently rubbing the bulging mound, glanced at Ji Hyeon’s face.

‘……He doesn’t look like that on the face.’

He had thought this when he was touched above his thigh before, but the volume felt through his pants was no joke. Eun-ho was also big because he was bulky, but Ji Hyeon’s face was so pretty that it was a bit unexpected. The people who used to criticize Ji Hyeon for lacking a masculine image probably wouldn’t be able to ignore him anymore if they knew this fact.

“Are you just going to touch it like that?”

“Ah.”

Snapping back to his senses, Eun-ho grabbed the swollen object. At the same time, Ji Hyeon startled and buried his face in Eun-ho’s shoulder. The hand that had been caressing Eun-ho also stopped, so Eun-ho was able to put his hand into Ji Hyeon’s pants with a little more ease.

“Ah……”

A thin sigh burst from Ji Hyeon’s lips as he wrapped his hand around his hard, erect penis. Because Ji Hyeon was leaning on Eun-ho, his hotly flushed breath touched his neck explicitly. When Eun-ho stimulated Ji Hyeon’s thing strongly, he rubbed his face against Eun-ho as if asking him to touch him more.

“……Eueung.”

Unlike Eun-ho, who was forcibly suppressing his moans, Ji Hyeon didn’t seem to want to hide the feelings he was experiencing. He could tell by the way he draped his body over Eun-ho and buried his nose in his neck. Ji Hyeon’s hand also gained strength, so Eun-ho also flinched and bit his lip tightly.

“Haa……”

“……”

“……Heut.”

The sound of bare skin rubbing against each other gradually began to get wet. It was because Precum had been flowing out of both of them for some time. The touch that had been cautious at first gradually became more skillful as time went by.

‘Ah, something……’

It certainly wasn’t bad. On the contrary, it was a pleasant feeling that made his hair stand on end. However, even so, he felt like something was missing. Should he say he was disappointed, or should he say this wasn’t enough? A feeling that he wanted to get closer, to touch more……

“……Kwak Eun-ho.”

Tuk, Eun-ho stopped moving. It was because Ji Hyeon whispered softly and pulled Eun-ho’s hand. He wondered what he was doing, but he grabbed both his and Eun-ho’s at once, then covered the back of Eun-ho’s hand with both hands. And he pleaded in an impatient voice.

“Do it harder.”

“……”

As if possessed by something, Eun-ho gripped the two penises together. Since it was impossible to wrap them with one hand, Eun-ho had no choice but to grab the shafts with both hands. As the flesh crushed in his hand began to rub against each other, he could no longer suppress the rising moan.

“Ha……”

It couldn’t even be compared to when they were touching each other’s things. Unlike before, when he was careful not to hurt him, this time he could put strength into it and knead it as much as he wanted. If Eun-ho tried to take a little strength out, Ji Hyeon, covering it, pressed Eun-ho’s hand down harder.

“Eut, eu……”

“……Haa.”

Every time their penises rubbed against each other, a wet and obscene sound was made. The thought that he was ashamed, the thought that he had to hold back, no longer came to mind. He simply arched his back according to his instincts and tried to touch him more.

“Ah…… Eun-ho-ya……”

Ji Hyeon was no different from Eun-ho. Rather, Ji Hyeon was more anxious and clingy than Eun-ho. He rubbed his face wildly as if he was going crazy, and when he thought he couldn’t do it, he suddenly raised his head and even kissed Eun-ho.

“Heu, eueup……”

His tongue touched first before his lips touched, and saliva came over first before he could even inhale. It was a gluttonous kiss, but the sensation that climbed up his spine was so intense that he didn’t even care.

“……Ha, eu.”

“Eueung……”

Ji Hyeon made a groaning sound whenever Eun-ho tried to turn his head slightly because he was out of breath. Even in the chaotic situation, Eun-ho’s heart softened at that sound, so he had no choice but to give his lips as Ji Hyeon wanted. As the increasingly chaotic act went on, Ji Hyeon sucked on Eun-ho’s tongue and squeezed his hand tightly.

“Ah……!”

The pleasure that had filled his head seemed to overflow in an instant. His vision flickered black and his lower abdomen tightened. The moment he curled up his body and stiffened his shoulders, his writhing penis gushed out semen.

“……”

Ji Hyeon stopped moving slightly later than Eun-ho. It was when Eun-ho, who had ejaculated first, was trembling from the afterglow of pleasure. Ji Hyeon, who had been watching Eun-ho reach his climax, suddenly blushed and squeezed his eyes shut.

“……Eut.”

The gushing semen splattered on Eun-ho’s upper body. The semen of the two was messily mixed on top of the T-shirt that was rolled up halfway. Now he couldn’t even tell whose it was.

“Haa, haa……”

His heart was beating like crazy, so it was hard to even breathe properly. When he masturbated, the heat cooled down rapidly as soon as the ejaculation subsided, but now the afterglow continued for too long. Everything that touched was burning, and even the lips that had been touching seemed to be burned.

“……Kwak Eun-ho.”

Ji Hyeon opened his mouth before he could even catch his breath. He slipped his lips and moved to his ear, and hugged Eun-ho’s waist tightly. He didn’t seem to care about the clothes that were covered in all kinds of bodily fluids, and he draped his whole body over Eun-ho.

“You asked me if I’ve ever imagined dating you.”

It was what Eun-ho had said earlier. The biggest question that he had blurted out in a fit of anger, but it was sincere. Of course, he had never imagined that Ji Hyeon would return such a question.

“Honestly, you haven’t either. I know your imagination.”

“……Um.”

Without a doubt, it was a direct hit. He had made a few passing assumptions, but that imagination had never continued to the end. As Ji Hyeon said, Eun-ho’s imagination was terribly shallow, and he thought that there was nothing more futile than drawing a future that would not come true.

“So you have?”

“No.”

Ji Hyeon answered confidently and shook his head. His fine hair tickled the area around Eun-ho’s chin.

“I haven’t imagined it. But I think it’ll be okay. No, it’s okay. What wouldn’t be okay if I’m doing it with you.”

That sweet voice was now extremely anxious. He didn’t know what he had realized from that act just now, and it seemed that the excitement hadn’t subsided yet. But the reason why he thought those words weren’t impulsive was because the chest that was touching was throbbing as if it would burst at any moment.

“So, Kwak Eun-ho, why don’t you tell me?”

Ji Hyeon, who suddenly blurted that out, slightly raised his head. Eun-ho’s face was fully reflected in the two eyes that met at a close distance.

“What are you going to do now?”

“……”

He knows what he’s asking. In other words, what are we going to do about this relationship? He was telling me that the choice was not mine but yours, and he was desperately hoping for an answer with such earnest eyes.

There were still many things I wanted to ask. Are you really okay with dating a guy? Was the act just now really not unpleasant? The eyes of society, the position of actor and manager, and all the uncertainties that would come from the changing relationship.

But among those countless questions, the only words that came out of my mouth were these.

“……Do it, that.”

Blink, our eyes met. Eun-ho tried to keep his voice from trembling and calmly added.

“Let’s date.”

I guess I was actually greedy. Seeing how expectations arose as soon as the possibility appeared. While soothing myself that it was not a desired relationship, I was clearly putting the brakes on myself so as not to dream of a hopeless future. Now that the heart that I had been suppressing had finally burst, I think it’s too late to turn back.

“We can’t be friends anymore anyway.”

That remark was almost a joke. I was so nervous that I just blurted it out in a light tone to ease the atmosphere. But for some reason, Ji Hyeon’s face was tense as he moved his lips.

“Then……”

Once he started, he didn’t say anything for a long time. Eun-ho didn’t urge him, but instead just stared into his eyes. After a long time, Ji Hyeon asked in an insecure voice.

“Am I the only one for you now too?”

Should I call it expectation? The end of his words was trembling slightly. Eun-ho, who had been blank for a moment, ended up letting out a hollow laugh without realizing it. It wasn’t for any other reason, but because I thought I had hidden my feelings so well.

“You’ve always been the only one for me.”

I’m saying all sorts of things now. I’ve been showing him my entire bottom since earlier. I thought I had liked him for a longer period of time, but in fact, the size of that anxiety was not even comparable.

“It wasn’t ‘now,’ it was like that from the beginning.”

After Grandmother passed away, Eun-ho only had Ji Hyeon. He may have been a friend on the surface, but he was more precious to me than family. The reason I distanced myself from him and tried to give up on this relationship was because my feelings for him were the fundamental problem.

“I……”

Before Eun-ho could finish speaking, Ji Hyeon kissed Eun-ho again. The rest of the words were more important. Even while thinking that, Eun-ho hugged Ji Hyeon’s back tightly without saying a word.

With the body heat that touched each other, there was no more hesitation towards each other.