By Zephyria For the first time, they switched positions while lying down.
Namu, who always slept clinging to Mu-won’s left side, tucked himself under Mu-won’s right arm to avoid the wound on his flank. Mu-won, who had been lying on his back, eventually turned toward Namu under the steady gaze watching him. Loving the feeling of their eyes meeting, Namu gave a little giggle and buried his face in Mu-won’s chest, rubbing against him carefully.
“Customer….”
“Yes, Namu-ssi.”
“Then, are we dating now?”
Unable to hide his fluttering, trembling heart, Namu shivered. Mu-won ruffled Namu’s hair and curled the corners of his mouth upward.
“Is there anyone else you’d date besides me?”
“No…!”
Exclaiming that it wasn’t like that at all, Namu fidgeted and then peeked up at Mu-won. It was a habit he had whenever he had something he wanted to say.
“But, customer.”
“Yes, but.”
“You… uh, I mean….”
Namu hesitated for a long time, his neck turning bright red as he struggled to ask his question.
“Since when… did you like me?”
“Hmm.”
Namu’s tension was palpable as the answer didn’t come immediately. In truth, there was no need to search through his memories. Mu-won now recognized and acknowledged that moment precisely.
“When you saved Meoru?”
“……What?”
Surprised by the unexpected answer, Namu snapped his head up.
“Uh… uh…?”
“You saved Meoru when he was half-dead.”
“……I didn’t do everything, though.”
“I just picked up what you saved.”
“…Then, then…. The first time you saw me was….”
Mu-won let out a laugh as he looked down at Namu, who was becoming more like a roasted sweet potato by the second.
“That’s right. It was love at first sight.”
“…….”
The joy spreading through his moist eyes was transparently readable.
“I-I didn’t know.”
Namu rubbed his eyes, which were about to well up again, against Mu-won’s forearm and met his eyes once more.
“If you hadn’t told me, I would have never known in my life….”
He smiled brightly with a flushed face.
“Thank you for telling me, customer.”
In an instant, unable to resist the impulse, Mu-won pressed his lips to that cheek. Namu’s moist eyes widened.
“Customer…?”
“How about we start by changing that title, Namu-ssi?”
“Huh?”
Mu-won tucked a stray lock of hair behind Namu’s ear and narrowed his brow slightly.
“When you follow me around outside calling me ‘customer, customer,’ do you know how other guys look at me?”
“…Ah.”
“It feels like I’m being treated as a shameless bastard who preys on kids who haven’t even lost their baby fuzz. I don’t mind it, though.”
“…….”
The fingers that had been sliding along the curve of his ear now rubbed under Namu’s chin as if tickling him.
“But it’s quite unpleasant that other bastards look at you that way.”
“Uh… then what should I call you?”
“What do you want to call me?”
“…….”
Namu’s face, which seemed to calm down for a moment as he thought, suddenly flared up again. Finding that boldness cute, Mu-won chuckled softly and pressed down on the hot cheek. He had easily learned how to press without causing pain.
“Hy-Hyung-nim…?”
Mu-won’s brow furrowed at the words Namu uttered after a long deliberation, all while letting Mu-won knead wherever he pleased with his rough, firm hands. Flustered by the reaction, Namu quickly tried another word.
“Hyung…?”
That wasn’t it either. Not knowing what to do with the continuous wrong answers, Namu’s mind raced.
“Uncle…. Ah, no!”
Watching Mu-won’s expression, Namu shook his head frantically before he could even finish the word.
“Hmm… uh….”
This time, Mu-won thought he knew what Namu was trying to say, so he hid a smile and waited in silence.
Perhaps it was because the boy was so fair-skinned, but once he flushed, he turned as red as a ripe apple.
Glancing sideways to gauge Mu-won’s reaction, Namu hesitantly tried again.
“Da-Darling…?”
The expression vanished from Mu-won’s face. Thinking he had become serious, Namu let out a hiccup. Then, in a rush to make up for his mistake, he blurted out the first word that came to mind.
“Honey…?”
It was getting more ridiculous by the second. Eventually, Mu-won couldn’t hold back his laughter and let out a wheezing sound. Namu, staring blankly, realized belatedly with an “Ah” that he was being teased.
“Customer… you’re mean.”
“Since there’s a gap of over twelve years between us, just call me Ajusshi.”
“You already had the answer decided….”
Asking if he was really not going to call him that, Mu-won rubbed Namu’s earlobe. It was a soothing touch. With that one small gesture, Namu’s mood lifted instantly, and he burrowed into Mu-won’s embrace like melting cotton candy.
“How much does it hurt here?”
Even while clinging to Mu-won, Namu had been cautious, but now he very lightly touched the side of Mu-won’s flank where the bandages had been changed.
“It doesn’t hurt much.”
“Liar….”
“Then you can just treat me until it’s all healed, Namu-ssi.”
“I’d love to. I’ll do it.”
Answering obediently, Namu hugged Mu-won, though he barely touched the wound. Because he tried to hug while avoiding the flank, his arms felt full against the thick ribcage. Still, Namu didn’t give up and wrapped his arms around Mu-won’s back, remaining silent for a while.
Spending time processing a mixture of joy, happiness, sadness, and pity, Namu slowly looked up at Mu-won. He hugged the broad back greedily and gently patted the scar-ridden skin. Mu-won found it a bit funny and cute, but it didn’t feel bad.
“But, customer. Ah, no… Ajusshi?”
“Yes, Namu-ssi.”
“Hmm… your Chairman.”
Mu-won looked puzzled when an unexpected person’s name came out of Namu’s mouth. Unaware of this, Namu asked what he had been curious about all along.
“Is it true that the Munhak Clan was named that because of the meaning in ‘literary girl’ and ‘literary boy’?”
“Aha.”
Mu-won, who had been unnecessarily on edge, laughed blandly and answered readily.
“Would he do that? Because he wanted to resolve his own academic complex, he dragged innocent guys in and made them study, so there are surprisingly many highly educated thugs in the Munhak Clan.”
“Wow… really? Then… are you also highly educated, Cu—no, Ajusshi?”
“I did get a college degree.”
“Wow….”
Namu, genuinely clapping his hands in admiration, parted his lips again.
“Then that tiger….”
Whether he had so many things he was curious about or so many things he wanted to say, Namu continued without pause, softly asking trivial questions, laughing, finding things amazing, and admiring. The chattering voice ringing in his ear was quite pleasant, so Mu-won enjoyed the conversation, answering every single one of them.
“Does Meoru know that it’s me?”
“That smart brat? Of course he knows.”
“Wow….”
Small laughter and the sound of their intimate conversation filled the old inn room. Outside the room, which was warm thanks to the boiler being turned up high, the white snow that had been fluttering in the light breeze had turned into heavy, falling flakes.
The winter night deepened.