By Zephyria As always, the exam period passed quickly.
Ki Young-han’s exams finished on Thursday, with two major subjects and one elective. He didn’t know what happened with Yoon Ye-jun. The two sat apart on exam days. Even so, it was only a single seat’s distance, but he didn’t like the feeling. Yoon Ye-jun didn’t give him a chance to speak. He buried his head in papers he’d presumably organized separately and kept reading until just before the exam.
There was no opportunity to meet either. There were no reports to submit that week due to exams. So, for the two of them to meet again, they would have to wait another week.
Ki Young-han lay on his bed. With all his exams finished, there was nothing else to do. Normally, he would have indulged in rolling around to his heart’s content or slept all day to compensate for the past, but today was different.
Ki Young-han lay there blankly, gazing at his mobile phone. What he was looking at was Yoon Ye-jun’s Messenger profile. His profile picture was still a forsythia, fully drenched in hopeful, brilliant yellow. His own profile picture was the same.
Don’t people usually message each other if they set the same profile picture? He had spent the past week thinking that. It wasn’t something he thought about constantly. Ki Young-han was clear about his public and private life. When he studied, he studied, and in his free time, he thought of Yoon Ye-jun.
This guy has a class tomorrow afternoon, so his exams must be until tomorrow.
He couldn’t actually ask. It would be strange for a student taking the same elective class to suddenly pry into someone’s exam schedule. There would be no reason unless he was being dragged to some religious group.
“…….”
It was only for a moment that he was racking his brain. Ki Young-han belatedly let out an “Ah” sound. Even if he wasn’t being dragged to a religious group, he could ask now. He belatedly realized that they had become people who should formally ask about and adjust schedules.
Yoon Ye-jun had said he would let him kiss him as many times as he wanted if he behaved. And Ki Young-han had faithfully kept his promise. He hadn’t offended Yoon Ye-jun since then. Although, it was also because they didn’t run into each other. But, whatever.
He, who had been pressing his lips together firmly, naturally entered the chat window with Yoon Ye-jun. Moving both thumbs, he sent a message.
Me
Do you have time today?
5:29 PM
As soon as he sent the message, Yoon Ye-jun read it. He usually barely read messages, so why today? It must really be exam period. This guy is sending replies quickly too.
Yoon Ye-jun
Why?
5:30 PM
Ki Young-han looked at the reply, which seemed to have been sent without much thought, with a crooked expression. If I ask if you have time, you should reply accordingly, why “why”? He was about to send a clear reply, “Why what?”, but he revised the sentence several times.
I asked first.
If I say this, he’ll get annoyed. Even if someone is sensitive, there’s a limit; he always snaps back, making it impossible to say anything properly, so Ki Young-han was more cautious than usual.
Despite exchanging mere short messages, Ki Young-han repeatedly typed and deleted before finally getting straight to the point.
Me
Because I want to kiss you.
5:33 PM
It’s okay to send it like this. He waited for a reply with a satisfied expression.
“…….”
However, after five minutes, Yoon Ye-jun hadn’t read the message. Ki Young-han was alone, bracing himself and focusing on his mobile phone. His pride was chipped away again. His lips twitched as he glared at the mobile phone, then he tossed it onto the bed and looked up at the ceiling.
Normally, I wouldn’t associate with someone like that. I don’t know why I care so much. Is it just caring? I want to kiss him, I want to talk to him for no reason. But the problem is that the other person doesn’t feel that way at all. That’s why my pride is hurt even more, yet all my senses were directed towards him, even as my pride was hurt.
After looking at the ceiling for a moment, Ki Young-han squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them. Then, he fumbled around on the bed for the mobile phone he had tossed somewhere. He picked up the mobile phone that came into his grasp again.
In case a message arrived and he couldn’t hear it, he changed the setting from silent to vibrate. And, because there was a possibility he might not hear the vibration either, he set it to sound. Even after doing that, he thought he felt a little more at ease, but that didn’t last long either.
“Ah, damn it.”
Finally, Ki Young-han sat bolt upright. Kka-kkak. At the same time, his mobile phone rang. His heart, which had been boiling like a pot, instantly cooled down. Without a moment’s hesitation, he snatched the mobile phone and checked the contents.
Ki Young-hyun
Hyung, you know
5:48 PM
What do you mean, “you know”? Just get to the point, you always beat around the bush.
Ki Young-hyun
Can I go on a college tour at your school?
5:48 PM
Even though his mood was already bad, his only brother had to come and provoke him. Ki Young-han sent a brief reply. Look elsewhere. And as he was about to toss the mobile phone again, kka-kkak, it rang once more.
“This bastard…”
Ki Young-han, who was ready to fight, roughly picked up the mobile phone.
Yoon Ye-jun
Not today. I’m in the apology reading room right now. I have an exam tomorrow afternoon.
5:50 PM
“…….”
This made him speechless again. Holding the mobile phone with one hand, he stroked his jaw with the other, lightly biting and releasing his lips. He wanted to continue the conversation but had nothing to say.
Yoon Ye-jun
Did you do well on your exam?
5:51 PM
Even before he could reply, another message arrived. Ki Young-han raised the hand that was stroking his jaw and tapped under his nose. He felt inexplicably ticklish, but he let out a groan and held it in. He didn’t speak to me during the exam, but now he must see me as a rival.
Who am I? You seemed to have studied in a hurry. If you had contacted me the day before, we could have studied together, or organized important things together…
Ki Young-han, who had always thought of studying as something done alone, shook off the thoughts that came to his mind. He tried not to even think about regret.
He touched his molars with his tongue and sent a reply.
Me
Yes.
5:52 PM
Should I ask if he did well on his exam, or not?
His thumb, touching the screen, paused in mid-air. As he slowly moved his finger, which felt heavy, Yoon Ye-jun replied.
Yoon Ye-jun
Okay.
5:54 PM
Then I need to study now, so let’s find time again next week.
5:55 PM
Rest well.
5:55 PM
He was a person who drew a line by pretending to be nice until the very end. Ki Young-han’s nose twitched at the stiff message, devoid of any emoticons. I won’t reply. It was childish, but he finally came to a conclusion, tossed the mobile phone, and lay down on the bed.
“…Damn it, I’m so annoyed.”
He didn’t know who he was annoyed at. He cursed to himself and closed his eyes. He would try to fall asleep. He forced his closed eyes shut. But his insides only felt more suffocated.
The major subject, Journalism Analysis, proceeded with student discussions. It was difficult to study separately if one didn’t pay attention in class. Yoon Ye-jun transferred the pre-printed papers onto the handouts he received in class, organizing them. Which group presented this? The mechanical pencil in his hand spun fluidly through his fingers.
Leaning his chin on one hand, he wrote on the paper with a scratchy sound. He highlighted important-looking words, and the ink bled slightly. Still, Yoon Ye-jun didn’t pay much attention. It always happened.
Blink.
The mobile phone screen lit up. Yoon Ye-jun, having finished a section with a period, stretched and checked his mobile phone. Is it Ki Young-han again?
Putting aside the annoyance, he found it difficult to reply to the useless messages he sent. Even out of courtesy, he could say “Have a good weekend” or “Good luck on your exam,” but what kind of reply is a stiff “Yes”? Still, considering the previous Ki Young-han, it was a big improvement, but sometimes it was awkward when they exchanged messages like this. Of course, phone calls were even more so.
Especially when he saw the changed profile picture, he broke out in a cold sweat. He worried if they had any mutual acquaintances. Ki Young-han might not think much of it, but it was different for him. If even the slightest suspicion arose, only he would be ruined.
Still, the reason he couldn’t ask Ki Young-han to change his profile picture was that he didn’t want to reveal his peculiar side to Ki Young-han. Whether they kissed or did anything else, Ki Young-han didn’t know he only liked men. So, he didn’t even acknowledge the profile picture at all.
Yoon Ye-jun, who assumed it was Ki Young-han, checked the message with a blank expression, but his face stiffened as soon as he read the contents.
Kim Jae-ui
Ye-jun, do you have a moment right now?
7:19 PM
The professor might have told you, but I thought it would be better to meet and talk.
7:19 PM
My number is 010, please save it for now. When do your exams finish?
7:21 PM
This guy, and that guy, their timing was perfect. Yoon Ye-jun replied with a scrunched-up expression.
Me
My exams are until tomorrow, and I have a part-time job on the weekend.
7:23 PM
Email is fine too. It must be a hassle for you.
7:24 PM
The hassle is more on my side. I don’t want to meet. Because I’ll feel bad again.
Kim Jae-ui
What’s a hassle about meeting you? It’s also because I want to be friends again.
7:26 PM
Then when are you free on Monday? Even a little bit is fine.
7:27 PM
Pretending to be nice.
Yoon Ye-jun felt awkward, embarrassed, and displeased, wanting to end the contact quickly. Let’s just meet once and be done with it. We’ll see each other anyway.
Me
I finish at 4:30 PM on Monday.
7:28 PM
Kim Jae-ui
Then shall we meet in front of the College of Agriculture building at 4:30? Let’s grab a quick bite.
7:29 PM
Me
Yes. I’ll see you then.
7:29 PM
Sending a reply like this, he understood Ki Young-han’s feelings. When someone you don’t want to contact keeps messaging you, how can that be good? Sigh. Yoon Ye-jun swallowed a sigh.
He read Kim Jae-ui’s message, which was a simple reply with just one emoticon, and ended the conversation. He was annoyed, but hunger was greater. Even in this situation, he was hungry. He had only eaten a light lunch-dinner to have a late-night snack, so he was quickly feeling hungry.
Should I go out and eat something? He casually shifted his gaze. Kim Dong-hoon was sleeping face down. I think he said he had two exams tomorrow. Or not? Yoon Ye-jun stared at Kim Dong-hoon for a moment before looking away. Is someone else’s exam the problem? My own exam comes first. Still, as a courtesy, he tried to wake him by tapping his back. He thought he would wake up, but Kim Dong-hoon turned his head the other way and focused on sleeping.
Ki Young-han watched television with a bored expression. He had no appetite and couldn’t sleep. With his exams over, he was simply lethargic with nothing to do.
Holding the remote, he endlessly changed channels like an anxious person. Click, click, click… His fingers, pressing the channel button with force, like when he sent a reply to Yoon Ye-jun, stopped for a moment.
“…….”
A chicken restaurant appeared on the television, near the school. It seemed to be doing well, as it was crowded with people. Ki Young-han, who preferred going to a less delicious place rather than waiting in line, clicked his tongue as he looked at the people queuing.
Come to think of it, the store Yoon Ye-jun had looked into a few days ago was also this crowded. Does that guy also eat while waiting in line? He tried to recall Yoon Ye-jun’s appearance, but it was hard to imagine. He soon gave up on that too and focused on the television.
The customers ate as if exaggerating for the camera. Who eats chicken like that? He couldn’t easily shake off his twisted feelings, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the television. Looking at the chicken, golden brown and fried, coated in a shiny batter, he suddenly felt tempted, even though he hadn’t thought of it before.
There’s nothing much to eat, so should I order chicken? Or should I get it packed from there and take it home? Ki Young-hyun would probably eat it happily.
Although his appetite was piqued, his expression was the same as usual.
Does Yoon Ye-jun… like it too…?
The curiosity, which had been rising like a heat haze, finally surfaced.
He checked the time; it was past eight o’clock. There was no way of knowing if Yoon Ye-jun had eaten or not. But it wouldn’t be a big problem even if he had eaten. It seemed like the perfect time for a late-night snack. It would be even better if he hadn’t eaten dinner. He said it was the Social Sciences building reading room, right?
Do I really need to care this much? Awkwardness washed over him. Ki Young-han touched the back of his neck, even though no one was watching. Then, he finally grabbed the remote and turned off the television. With a sheepish expression, he got up from his seat.
Ki Young-han found the store’s name on his mobile phone and called. While listening to the connection tone, he tried to rationalize it.
It was because it was near the school. It would be lonely to eat alone, and it would get cold if he took it home. And at the same time, Yoon Ye-jun was studying at school.
Ki Young-han’s hand dangled a plastic bag from a chicken restaurant. There were more people at the store than he had seen on television. Fortunately, because he had reserved it, it didn’t take long to get the chicken and leave.
However, the real problem was when he arrived at school. He lingered in front of the College of Social Sciences building, but it was difficult to call Yoon Ye-jun out.
I bought chicken, let’s meet and eat. I was lonely eating alone.
He knew he would be ridiculed. He would ridicule himself too. He would surely think, “What kind of pathetic attempt is this?”
For nearly ten minutes after arriving in front of the school, he just wandered around the building. He deliberately sought out the smoking areas that students had implicitly created. In case Yoon Ye-jun was there. Wouldn’t it be better to pretend to run into him by chance? But that didn’t happen.
Ki Young-han finally walked towards a corner of the parking lot. It was the last smoking area. But there was no one there either. He raised his head from where he was standing. He could see the railing of the outdoor terrace. The outdoor terrace connected the second and third floors and also led to the reading room. Students would come out for fresh air while studying, smoke cigarettes in the corner, or eat.
Normally, it was crowded with students, but there were none today. It seemed to be because the exams were mostly over. Even yesterday, there were people leaning on the railing and smoking.
Looking up at the railing of the outdoor terrace, Ki Young-han smoked two cigarettes in a row. He couldn’t bring himself to make the call. Although the days had passed enough for the cherry blossoms to bloom and fade, it was still chilly. Ki Young-han, with his hands in his coat pockets, had a determined look on his face.
I’ll just call. Since I begged him to kiss me, I’m already a bastard.
He tightly gripped his mobile phone and slowly took it out.
Embarrassment was only temporary. He found Yoon Ye-jun’s name in his phone book. Then, he took a deep breath and immediately called.
It’s a reading room, so he won’t answer right away. He might not even have his mobile phone on and not answer. He tried to console himself. He felt like it would be bitter if he didn’t answer. It was more comforting to list a few reasons why he might not be able to answer.
As the call repeated a couple of times.
Hello?
Yoon Ye-jun answered the phone. His calm voice sounded as serene as spring. Ki Young-han forgot the words he had prepared. He just held the mobile phone as if he had lost his speech. He repeatedly gripped and released the handle of the plastic bag in his hand. Rustle, rustle. Only the sound could be heard.
Hello? Young-han, why did you call?
When there was no answer from him, Yoon Ye-jun asked again. He decided to admit it. It wasn’t that he was pretending to be nice; he was genuinely nice.
“…Did you eat dinner?”
Ki Young-han suppressed the surging emotions that were about to lash out and asked. Yoon Ye-jun, who was silent for a moment, then spoke with an “Ah.”
I haven’t eaten yet.
“…….”
Why?
When he couldn’t answer, Yoon Ye-jun asked. Ki Young-han stood there like a mute. “That…” He continued his words vaguely, biting his lips.
“I’m at school right now. I bought food. I don’t have anyone to eat with, so I ended up buying a lot. So…!”
As he continued speaking, his voice grew louder. I’m so embarrassed, damn it. I want to bang my head against the wall. I’ve never been told I can’t say things, but in front of Yoon Ye-jun, I was making a fool of myself. And as soon as he finished speaking, Yoon Ye-jun burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing?”
Already feeling guilty, and then to be laughed at, my heart surged up. Finally, my voice burst out.
“Young-han-ah.”
“What is it?”
“Look up.”
Ki Young-han, who had decided to hang up if Yoon Ye-jun started spouting nonsense like “The moon is beautiful” or “The dark night sky is like your future,” and then throw the chicken he was holding into the trash, raised his head without hiding his crumpled expression.
“…….”
Yoon Ye-jun was leaning against the railing of the outdoor terrace. Holding his Mobile phone, he waved his free hand slightly to greet me. Ki Young-han stood still, Mobile phone in hand. He didn’t know what expression to wear or how to stand. He couldn’t even return the greeting. He just kept looking up at Yoon Ye-jun, who was smiling brightly.
Yoon Ye-jun raised his voice a little higher than when he called.
“Your voice was so loud, I could hear it all the way up here.”
“…….”
“Do you want to come up and eat? Can I eat too?”
Ah, annoying.
It was one thing to suddenly appear and startle someone. Ki Young-han, who had been standing blankly for a moment, finally hung up the phone in a hurry. Yoon Ye-jun also put his disconnected Mobile phone into his pocket. Ki Young-han watched him stand there blankly for a moment before speaking.
“Wait there.”
Ki Young-han couldn’t wait for the elevator and ran up the stairs. Every time he ran, the plastic bag made noise. But Ki Young-han didn’t have time to care about such noise and rushed to the terrace where Yoon Ye-jun was. He hadn’t run this fast in a long time, and his breath was ragged. His calves felt stiff. His heart was pounding, so hard it felt like it would burst.
Bang-! Ki Young-han burst through the door leading to the terrace as if to break it down and met Yoon Ye-jun’s eyes. Haa… haa…. He breathed heavily. His throat was dry and parched.
There were a couple of other people on the terrace besides Yoon Ye-jun, but for some reason, they didn’t bother him. Ki Young-han strode towards Yoon Ye-jun with long strides.
“Did you run?”
Ki Young-han didn’t answer Yoon Ye-jun’s question. He thrust the plastic bag in his hand forward. Yoon Ye-jun tilted his head and took the bag. He looked inside and his eyes widened. I always thought his eyes were sharp and pointed, but looking today, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“Isn’t this a famous place? People are always lining up, so I’ve never been able to eat it.”
“…….”
“You surprisingly like places like this.”
“No, I don’t. I just bought it because I was passing by.”
“It looks delicious. Let’s sit and eat.”
Yoon Ye-jun pulled Ki Young-han to a portable chair. He spread the contents on a table under a large parasol. Ki Young-han, thirsty, drank some cola.
“I was hungry.”
Yoon Ye-jun muttered to himself. He tore open a pair of chopsticks and handed them to Ki Young-han. Then he said, “Let’s eat,” and ate the chicken.
Ki Young-han watched him intently. When their eyes met by chance, he quickly averted his gaze. It was hot and stuffy. He had thought it was chilly just a moment ago.
“It’s delicious.”
Yoon Ye-jun said, chewing chicken. Ki Young-han, watching his puffed-out cheeks, twitched the corners of his mouth. He had never once thought about filling someone else’s stomach and being satisfied.
“But….”
Yoon Ye-jun, who had been eating well, opened his mouth.
“Couldn’t you eat with your friend? That, who was it. The one who came on the retreat.”
“Ah, he went down to his hometown because his exams are over.”
Yoon Ye-jun was probably talking about Lee Yun-hak. Ki Young-han actually didn’t know when Lee Yun-hak’s exams would end. What did it matter? Thinking he had handled it quite well, Ki Young-han tore into the chicken drumstick Yoon Ye-jun handed him.
Yoon Ye-jun, who had received the answer, twitched his brow.
“I ran into him in front of the reading room earlier. His exams are until tomorrow.”
Ki Young-han, speechless at Yoon Ye-jun’s words, pretended not to have heard him. Then he glared at the people who were chatting amongst themselves and eating well. Why were they playing music next to the reading room? Even though he had finished his exams early and it shouldn’t matter much to him, he felt a surge of anger.
“Tell your friend to come here and eat this.”
Why was he looking out for Lee Yun-hak, who was just sitting there? Ki Young-han scanned Yoon Ye-jun up and down. He was not just displeased, but disgusted. That guy hadn’t done anything for Yoon Ye-jun. Wasn’t he interested…? Hearing that his exams were until the end was enough reason to believe so. He had said he didn’t like men, but you never know. Seeing how he kissed me without hesitation, maybe he suddenly liked men, right? His expression turned cold. Unable to hold back, he shot back.
“I bought it, so why are you telling me what to do?”
Yoon Ye-jun swallowed some cola. Ki Young-han’s tone was just like this cola. It was so sharp it scratched his throat. It wasn’t followed by sweetness, though. Normally, he would have added more words, but today, he said nothing.
“If you don’t like it, don’t. I’m telling you to call him because he’s your friend.”
For now, I’ll let him eat. Yoon Ye-jun finally shook his head and focused on the chicken in front of him.
Without any special conversation, they had almost finished the chicken. While Yoon Ye-jun ate enthusiastically to satisfy his hunger and relieve the stress that had been building up during his studies, Ki Young-han picked at his food. He ate as if being forced to eat when he had no appetite.
Yoon Ye-jun watched Ki Young-han, who repeatedly picked up and put down his chopsticks, only eating the fried coating, with his chopsticks.
‘He doesn’t seem to have an appetite, so why did he buy chicken and bring it all the way here?’
Students living alone inevitably get used to eating by themselves. Ki Young-han would be the same. But why? Even though he had his own friend, why contact me?
The excuse of good weather didn’t make sense either. It was still chilly at night. And even if the weather was good, why would he want to meet me and eat chicken?
“…….”
Ki Young-han threw down the chopsticks he was holding, shoving them into the chicken box. Yoon Ye-jun tilted his head and then straightened it.
The reason Ki Young-han, whose exams were over, had come all this way. There was only one conclusion. The purpose of the call he received earlier. “I want to kiss you.” The message, blunt like Ki Young-han’s personality, flashed in his mind.
‘He came because he wants to kiss.’ He reached a conclusion to the nagging thoughts.
Ki Young-han drank the cola from the large plastic bottle. He looked at me with half-closed eyes. If it hadn’t been cola, it would have been a seductive gaze, enough to make me feel like he was trying to seduce me. However, Ki Young-han’s eyes were naturally deep-set, so it was far from seductive. As Ki Young-han swallowed the cola, his Adam’s apple moved, and he asked casually as he put down the plastic bottle.
“When do your exams finish?”
“Tomorrow.”
“So, shall we meet on Monday then?”
He tried to act nonchalant. But he couldn’t hide the fact that he was sneakily glancing at my expression. Seeing that, Yoon Ye-jun let out a small laugh but forced himself to hold it back by tightening his lips.
It was definitely not a laugh of mockery. It was just funny how Ki Young-han threw out words as if he were being casual. Making plans as if nothing had happened.
He could see the pattern of his actions, knowing his purpose. He clearly wanted to ask to meet on Monday, and as he prepared to say it, his mouth went dry, so he drank cola.
‘It’s like he’s possessed by a ghost who died kissing.’ He seemed a little cute. But if I laughed here, that prim person would surely get angry and lash out again.
When Yoon Ye-jun didn’t answer, Ki Young-han asked again, like a child begging.
“What time does it finish on Monday?”
“Young-han-ah.”
“Why?”
“I’m not free on Monday. I have plans.”
However, separate from reading Ki Young-han’s actions, Yoon Ye-jun was indeed busy. Monday was the day he had planned to meet Kim Jae-ui. If it weren’t for Kim Jae-ui, he might have been able to meet Ki Young-han, but the plans had already been made. He was genuinely busy.
Ki Young-han, unaware of this, frowned the moment Yoon Ye-jun finished speaking.
“Plans? With whom?”
He asked again, even though he had clearly heard. Yoon Ye-jun nodded. Then he picked up the plastic bottle Ki Young-han had been drinking from. It was a 1.5-liter bottle, so it was surprisingly heavy. Thinking it wouldn’t matter anyway, he drank directly from it. Ki Young-han lowered his voice.
“Why are you drinking from it?”
“Ah, seriously.”
‘I’ve already touched my lips everywhere, and you’re making a fuss because I drank from it?’ It was a constant argument. But Yoon Ye-jun decided to let it go. It was too much of a hassle.
Ki Young-han tapped the table with his fingers.
“Excuse me.”
The way he started sounded like a neighborhood thug extorting money.
“Who do you have plans with on Monday?”
How much did he want to kiss to be scratching at me like this, in a threatening tone?
Yoon Ye-jun couldn’t hide his indifferent expression and tilted his head. He felt a strong urge to snap back, “What’s it to you?” just like Ki Young-han’s usual tone. He, who always shot back like a bee, asking “What’s it to you? What are you going to do with it?” if asked even a little, was full of curiosity. Should I just close my eyes and try it? In any case, Yoon Ye-jun already held the advantage. He bit the soft flesh inside his cheek, not hard enough to hurt.
He maintained his usual calm voice.
“Young-han-ah.”
“Why?”
“It’s none of your business. In any case, I’m not free that day.”
Then he casually raised his head. Even in the darkness, Ki Young-han’s twitching nose came into view. Ki Young-han clenched his fist tightly on the table. He bit his lower lip hard, suppressing his anger. But it didn’t last long.
“Ah, whatever. It’s fine. I’m not that curious anyway.”
“…….”
“I just asked once. It’s really absurd…”
He pressed on with a sharp tone, like someone who was clearly angry. Grumbling, his upper lip quivering, he glared at Yoon Ye-jun, but he remained still.
After all. If the goal was to kiss, there was no need to make plans and meet. Ki Young-han didn’t seem to grasp that.
Yoon Ye-jun gathered the chopsticks Ki Young-han had placed down and put them in a plastic bag. He had eaten enough, and it was time to clean up.
“If you’re done eating, let’s go down. I’ll buy you a meal later too. Let’s set a time.”
Come to think of it, even though I’m older, I’ve been treated by Ki Young-han several times. Maybe I should just buy him delicious food when we meet. He made a simple plan and slowly cleaned up the trash.
While Yoon Ye-jun was cleaning up the trash, Ki Young-han stood with his arms crossed, scanning Yoon Ye-jun up and down. He couldn’t not feel that gaze. ‘Why does he always look at people like that?’ Yoon Ye-jun put the trash into a plastic bag one by one and tied the opening tightly. He’d throw it in the trash can on the way.
Was there a trash can on the terrace? He looked around and spotted a tall blue trash can near the entrance. He could throw it there.
“Let’s go.”
Yoon Ye-jun picked up the trash and stood up from his chair. By then, only the two of them remained on the outdoor terrace. Yoon Ye-jun, who had half-stood up, tilted his head.
The stubborn one, unlike me, remained seated. He was incredibly obstinate.
“Aren’t you going?”
He asked Ki Young-han, who was standing like a statue, one more time. Ki Young-han lowered his chin, giving a silent command. ‘What is it now?’ Yoon Ye-jun lowered his body, which had been awkwardly standing. He placed the trash in his hand back on the table.
“When?”
Ki Young-han said abruptly. Confused by the meaningless question, Yoon Ye-jun raised his eyebrows in lieu of an answer.
“When are we going to eat?”
“When you’re free.”
“I’m free tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, all weekend, Monday, Tuesday, well, I’m free for everything?”
He seemed to be trying to speak calmly, but by the end, he seemed out of breath, as if excited. ‘Why is he like this, really?’ His mouth felt sealed, and words wouldn’t come out easily.
Yoon Ye-jun’s mouth felt dry. He wondered what kind of disaster this was, coming out for chicken. Looking at Ki Young-han’s expression, it felt like they had to set a date right now. He hinted at it.
“…Tuesday?”
“That’s too late.”
‘What am I supposed to do?’
“I have to work part-time tomorrow and on the weekend. I have plans on Monday.”
“Plans, huh, are you drinking?”
“Maybe.”
Ki Young-han’s expression twisted. He was dissatisfied with everything. He would try not to drink with Kim Jae-ui, but he was such a sly person, he didn’t know what would happen. Also, it felt a bit off to meet Kim Jae-ui and then immediately meet Ki Young-han.
In any case, Ki Young-han would have to wait indefinitely. Given his personality, he would surely complain. Making two appointments in one day seemed excessive even to him. It was the least he could do out of courtesy.
“You’re not someone who lives in alcohol, so it’s either work or drinking.”
As expected. Ki Young-han muttered to himself. Yoon Ye-jun narrowed his eyes, looked at Ki Young-han, and shook his head at the grumbling that was clearly meant to be heard.
He couldn’t waste any more time. Instead of bickering with Ki Young-han here, he needed to prepare for the exam tomorrow.
Yoon Ye-jun stood up, picked up the trash from the table, and walked away without a word. He walked to the trash can in the corner of the terrace and threw away the trash he was holding. Scrape, scrape, the legs of the chair scraped against the wooden floor, and the sound of hurried footsteps followed.
“So when are we meeting?”
Yoon Ye-jun walked on silently. Ki Young-han followed Yoon Ye-jun’s steps the entire way. ‘I asked when we’re meeting?’ ‘Wow, are you ignoring me?’ He was frustrated by Yoon Ye-jun’s silent response. He acted like he would devour him until they got to the elevator and arrived at the underground parking lot.
Only when they reached the underground parking lot did Ki Young-han quiet down. Everything was quiet. It was late at night, so there weren’t many cars, and as they reached the entrance, Ki Young-han’s car came into view, having seen it a few times before. Yoon Ye-jun walked up to it. This time, Ki Young-han followed without saying much.
“…….”
Ki Young-han stood at an angle, looking down at Yoon Ye-jun, who had escorted him to his car. He was surprisingly short and slender. Maybe because his face was small, he didn’t seem that short, but looking at him now, his bones seemed thin, and his body lines were quite graceful. As he unconsciously scanned him up and down, Yoon Ye-jun, who had been unresponsive for a long time, openly scowled.
“Don’t look at people like that.”
“It’s my eyes, what does it matter?”
Yoon Ye-jun lowered his voice, replying in his usual tone.
“Hey.”
“Ah, I’m just saying.”
Ki Young-han threw out the words and turned his head to the side. He scanned the parking lot, where most of the cars had already left. It was quiet, almost silent. The lights seemed dim for no reason.
Ki Young-han rubbed the back of his hand and looked somewhere in the empty parking lot. It was then.
“Young-han-ah.”
Yoon Ye-jun called Ki Young-han one more time. Unlike a moment ago, his voice was a little softer. Ki Young-han, who had been avoiding his gaze and looking only at the parking lot, slowly turned his head back.
“Let’s eat sometime next week. Okay?”
“…….”
If it were me, even if I had plans on Monday, I would have broken them and met Yoon Ye-jun if he asked me to make an exception because he wanted to kiss. That’s how powerless he was in the face of the sexual desire he was feeling for the first time. ‘I hate this.’ He had no right to say anything even if he felt like an animal.
Still, didn’t Freud say that sexual instinct is energy? Ki Young-han was merely going through the oral stage. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have wanted to bite and kiss Yoon Ye-jun’s lips so much.
“…Well, okay.”
Ki Young-han said indifferently. His anger wasn’t appeased by the soothing voice. Still, he was relieved that the person realized he needed to meet him. It was good that he bought him chicken to eat. What should they eat next week? He thought he should look it up a bit when he got home, when Yoon Ye-jun grabbed Ki Young-han’s wrist.
A jolt of electricity shot up from his wrist, sweeping through Ki Young-han’s entire body. His held hand stiffened as if paralyzed, and heat immediately rose to his face. Ki Young-han looked at Yoon Ye-jun with a surprised expression that rarely showed.
Yoon Ye-jun tiptoed slightly and kissed Ki Young-han’s lips silently. In the empty underground parking lot, where only sparse light filtered in.
Startled by the sudden kiss, Ki Young-han’s breathing faltered. Gasp, he covered his mouth with his hand, but hiccups burst out. Hic, hic!* Ki Young-han brought the back of his clenched fist to his mouth. He held his breath.
“But, didn’t you come today because you wanted to kiss?”
Yoon Ye-jun, with his usual face, smiled, his eyes crinkling. Ki Young-han held his breath, trying to stop his hiccups. Fuck, what did he think I meant? I said I came to eat chicken. The sentence swirled in his mouth but wouldn’t easily escape. Stopping the hiccups was the priority for now.
“It doesn’t have to be on a specific day. If the kiss was the goal.”
Yoon Ye-jun finished speaking and took out his mobile phone to check the time. He really had to go in now. He figured he could stay up all night and take the exam. Kim Dong-hoon had messaged asking where he was. Yoon Ye-jun put his mobile phone in his pocket without replying.
“Go home safely. I’m going in too. Thanks for the meal.”
He spoke to Ki Young-han, whose face was flushed red even in the darkness, his shoulders shaking. He crossed the parking lot and headed for the building entrance to go inside. Ki Young-han watched his receding back, placing a hand on the car’s bonnet.
“Haa….”
He finally let out his breath.
“Is that guy crazy….”
He muttered to himself and grabbed his burning ears as if to rip them off. The hiccups had already stopped.
It was a leisurely Saturday morning.
Ding-dong. The doorbell shattered the silence. At the same time, deep wrinkles formed on Ki Young-han’s brow, which had been smoothly relaxed.
He wanted to spend his Saturday mornings after exams refreshingly, without anyone bothering him, but that wasn’t happening. He briefly wondered who the uninvited guest could be, but there was no one he expected. It must be a door-to-door salesperson, or someone from the security office. He felt like going out and unleashing all his irritation, asking why they were waking him up so early, but even that felt like too much effort.
Ki Young-han pulled the blanket on his shoulders up over his head. It was cozy, like being inside a cocoon. He closed his eyes deeply again. Thinking that he could sleep in today, his irritation from just moments ago subsided.
Kakao. The notification sound rang out simultaneously.
“Lee Yun-hak, that bastard….”
It was definitely Lee Yun-hak. Lee Yun-hak always came to his house, rang the doorbell, and then sent a message later. Besides, he was the only one among his classmates who would come all the way to his home.
Ki Young-han took out his mobile phone with an annoyed expression. He had resolved to ignore it, but the sender was an unexpected person.
Ki Young-hyun
It’s not your house? ㅠㅠ
7:38 AM
“…….”
A curse rose to the back of his throat. Ki Young-han irritably kicked the blanket away and got out of bed. In the meantime, the doorbell rang again. Ki Young-han muttered a low curse and went to the living room.
Looking at the eyes staring intently at the intercom lens on the video phone, his irritation flared further. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, then went to the front door and opened it.
“Ah….”
He met eyes with the person holding the doorknob and pressing the doorbell. Ki Young-hyun was standing there. They looked so different, it was hard to believe they came from the same womb. Ki Young-han was the only one in the family with lighter hair and eye color. His younger brother, Ki Young-hyun, took after their parents with hair and eyes as dark as pitch. He was also considerably shorter and slighter than Ki Young-han.
To put it nicely, he was gentle; to put it badly, he looked easy to push around, and his personality was foolish, so Ki Young-han had always been concerned about him since they were young.
It was the same now. Ki Young-hyun, despite coming all the way here in the morning, couldn’t say anything and fidgeted with his fingers. The shopping bag he was holding clearly looked like it was packed by their parents. It would contain side dishes, no doubt. Ki Young-han looked away, pretending not to see.
As they stood facing each other, Ki Young-hyun finally spoke, very cautiously, as if afraid of upsetting him.
“Can I come in?”
Ki Young-han looked Ki Young-hyun up and down. What good was his tone if his manners were like that?
“Don’t you have any sense of time? What time do you think it is, coming here so early in the morning?”
“Ah, Dad drove me…”
Ki Young-hyun grumbled, sounding inwardly wronged. Ki Young-han bit his lip. What was the point of driving here? It wasn’t the Joseon Dynasty where people rode horses; he could just take the bus or subway when it was time. Frustration washed over him. Ugh. Ki Young-han ran a hand through his hair and pushed the door open.
“Hey, come in.”
Ki Young-hyun smiled sheepishly at the words and carefully stepped inside. He immediately placed the shopping bag he was carrying on the dining table. As expected, he took out glass containers of side dishes one by one.
“Mom told me to give this to you.”
Ki Young-hyun put all the containers he took out into the refrigerator. Then, without being asked, he took out water, drank it himself, and came out to the living room. He sat on the edge of the sofa, placed both hands on his knees, and moved them, tapping like he was playing a piano. Whether he played the piano or not, Ki Young-han pursed his lips and looked up at him.
“…….”
Ki Young-han, speechless at his brazen demeanor, stood there stunned for a moment before turning away. Talking to him would only make him more annoyed, so he ignored Ki Young-hyun and went into the bathroom. He planned to at least wash himself.
Ki Young-hyun said he hadn’t eaten breakfast. Ki Young-han gave him some of the rice he had and the side dishes Ki Young-hyun brought. Ki Young-han expected him to pick at his food, but surprisingly, Ki Young-hyun ate well.
Ki Young-han had showered, but he was still exhausted. He chose rest over eating and lay down on the sofa, watching Ki Young-hyun eat.
“Didn’t you used to be a picky eater?”
At his words, Ki Young-hyun, whose cheeks were puffed out with food, opened his eyes wide. He wiped his mouth, which was full of food, with the back of his hand. After swallowing, he picked up kimchi with his chopsticks and placed it on his rice.
“My appetite has increased lately…”
After finishing his sentence, he emptied a bowl. Well, he was a third-year high school student, after all. He might be coping with the subtle stress he felt internally by overeating. The words “Ki Young-hyun” and “overeating” didn’t quite fit, but it was better than not eating, wasn’t it? He was frail, so eating anything was better.
Ki Young-hyun, having eaten almost all the side dishes his mother had packed for him, cleared the table and came out to the living room. He sat on the very edge of the sofa, barely covering the seat.
“Hey.”
Ki Young-han sat up and called out to Ki Young-hyun. “Yeah?” Ki Young-hyun replied briefly. Ki Young-han asked him,
“Why did you come?”
“I came for a university tour?”
Now that he thought about it, he might have sent a message. But he hadn’t replied properly, and he had rushed out to find Yoon Ye-jun in a daze. University tour or whatever. Ki Young-han tilted his head.
“Hey, with a 3rd grade, what are you…”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ki Young-hyun waved his hand.
“It’s not a 3rd grade for me…”
He knew who it was without being told. After finishing his sentence, Ki Young-hyun fidgeted, even though no one had asked him to. Ki Young-han turned his gaze away with a somewhat displeased expression. It was much better not to pay attention.
He seemed to have gotten used to writing reports. Usually, he would be writing reports on a weekend, so having nothing to do felt boring.
Ki Young-hyun took out the books he brought from home and memorized English vocabulary. With his mumbling voice as background music, Ki Young-han watched television with a bored expression. His gaze drifted to the mobile phone placed beside him. He reached out and pressed the power button. The lock screen appeared, showing several notifications. He swiped away the pop-up windows naturally. They were all useless messages.
“…….”
He pretended not to be interested and held the mobile phone. He let out a small grunt and glanced at Ki Young-hyun’s face. He was reading words, seemingly uninterested in him. Ki Young-han tilted his head slightly and carefully opened the messenger.
He scrolled through the screen, scanning the chat rooms, and then stopped. There had been no further conversation with Yoon Ye-jun since the messages exchanged a few days ago. Ki Young-han tucked his thumb under his other fingers. He applied pressure, suppressing his thumb. He recalled the scene where Yoon Ye-jun kissed him.
He couldn’t forget the shiver that ran through his body, even though he didn’t want to. Zing, zing… It happened several times a day. He even recalled it while half-asleep, and it even appeared in his dreams.
Ki Young-han, like a shy boy, touched his neck and focused on the mobile phone in his hand. His and Yoon Ye-jun’s profile pictures were still forsythias. Forsythias were common, and he usually paid them no mind, but seeing them now, their bright yellow hue seemed pretty. It was definitely better than cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms were weak; a little wind would scatter them, which he found rather unpleasant.
Ki Young-han entered the chat window with Yoon Ye-jun. Then he tapped the keypad.
What are you doing.
“…….”
He moved his fingers, then deleted all three words. He stared as if to pierce the blinking cursor in the chat window, then held the mobile phone with both hands. He poured all his effort into writing the message.
What time do you go to your part-time job today?
It wasn’t “Let’s meet,” but if they met, it would be good. However, it was also fine if they didn’t.
Ki Young-han revised the message several times.
We can’t always meet on Fridays. I have a schedule too. If we can meet on weekends, I need to know your schedule. What time do you work part-time on weekends?
Meeting on Fridays felt like some kind of date. Ki Young-han’s face was filled with dissatisfaction. He added a little more content.
I’m contacting you about the group project. We usually meet on Fridays. But I might suddenly have a schedule conflict, so I thought meeting on weekends would be okay. But you work part-time on weekends. Of course, I don’t intend to wait, but it would be good to know. What time do you work part-time on weekends?
The word “we” in “we usually meet” bothered him. Suddenly, his chest felt uncomfortably tight. It was enough to give him goosebumps. If Yoon Ye-jun misunderstood after he sent it, it would be a big problem. What else could he use instead of “we”? The space between Ki Young-han’s eyebrows furrowed deeper.
I am contacting you about the group project. Sunbae Yoon Ye-jun and I usually meet on Fridays for the group project. However, I have a free period that day, so I might have a schedule conflict. I can’t exactly drop my schedule for Yoon Ye-jun Sunbae. If such a day arises, I thought meeting on weekends would be fine. But you always work part-time on weekends. Since a schedule conflict might arise at some point, it would be good to know in advance. What time do you work part-time on weekends?
This way, there would be no room for misunderstanding, and it was reasonably okay. Ki Young-han read it through one more time and sent it.
After sending it, he let out a faint sigh. He tilted his head back. He had exerted too much energy for something like this. He rested the back of his head against the sofa backrest.
He raised his index finger and pressed down hard between his eyebrows. He felt a lingering gaze. Ki Young-han lowered his head, following the gaze. Ki Young-hyun, who had been memorizing English words and mumbling, was looking up at him.
“Hyung, who are you fighting with?”
“Stop talking nonsense and just study.”
“…Okay.”
Ki Young-hyun buried his nose back in his book.
It was called a university tour, but it was just a day trip. He didn’t even intend to go to Hankuk University. Ki Young-hyun sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window.
“The school is really big…”
Ki Young-hyun muttered to himself. Ki Young-han shifted his gaze to the mobile phone mounted on the holder. It had been nearly three hours since he sent the message, but there was no reply.
Ki Young-han pretended not to care and casually shifted his gaze. Then he parked the car in the Social Sciences building parking lot.
“Hey, go look around.”
“Won’t you introduce me, hyung?”
“What introduction are you talking about? Get out, quickly.”
He planned to smoke a cigarette and check his messages again. He wondered if he had sent it strangely. No, it was perfect. It felt perfect when he sent it, but as time passed and there was no reply, he became a little anxious.
Ki Young-hyun, who was practically kicked out, took a step and began looking around. Then, from a distance, he glanced back at Ki Young-han. Why is he acting up again? Ki Young-han pretended not to see. Realizing Ki Young-han wasn’t paying him any attention, Ki Young-hyun fiddled with his mobile phone and made a call. Ki Young-han shook his head, knowing who it was without looking. Then he got out of the car late to smoke a cigarette. He opened the cigarette pack, but there wasn’t a single cigarette left.
“…Is nothing going right?”
He leisurely slipped out the back door, where apartments lined the street, and headed for the convenience store. On the way, he checked his mobile phone, but Yoon Ye-jun hadn’t even read it. He hasn’t woken up yet? Why is he so lazy? Thinking this, he entered the convenience store and saw a familiar person at the checkout.
It was Yoon Ye-jun, who hadn’t even read his messages. He took his card from the convenience store clerk and made brief eye contact.
“…….”
Normally, he wore shirts, but today he was dressed casually. He was wearing sporty clothes. A hat cast a shadow over his face. It would have been easy not to recognize him, but he stood out strangely. Ki Young-han approached him with long strides, not hiding his crooked smile.
“…What is it?”
As he spoke, standing beside him, Yoon Ye-jun looked up. He opened his eyes wide, looking a little surprised. But soon, he returned to his usual indifferent, uninterested expression.
“What are you doing here on a weekend?”
That was all he asked. Ki Young-han didn’t bother to hide his visibly stiff expression. He followed Yoon Ye-jun, who was walking away with his bag, not even remembering he had come to buy cigarettes.
“Why aren’t you looking at KakaoTalk?”
“Ah.”
Yoon Ye-jun patted his pocket then.
“My mobile phone is at home. I just came out after waking up and washing my face. What did you send?”
“Uh, well…”
He felt embarrassed after saying that. Ki Young-han looked Yoon Ye-jun up and down again. Yoon Ye-jun, who usually dressed quite formally, looked quite good in his casual attire.
“Do you live around here or something?”
He asked, probing subtly. Yoon Ye-jun replied, “Yeah,” and stood in front of the convenience store.
“Well, go home safely. I’ll check KakaoTalk and reply.”
Ki Young-han felt a sense of disappointment for some reason. They didn’t meet on weekends, and if anything, this was a connection. Meeting Yoon Ye-jun in casual clothes at a nearby convenience store, a place he rarely visited except when he was at school, at this hour.
Disappointment was disappointment, but he didn’t want to show it. He couldn’t exactly stop him either. Yoon Ye-jun, with a face showing no hint of regret, turned to leave. Ki Young-han hastily spoke up.
“I have my car, should I give you a ride?”
He raised his thumb and pointed towards the school building. Yoon Ye-jun, who was halfway turned, smiled cautiously. He shook his head slightly. Regardless of his expression, it was a clear refusal.
“It’s a 3-minute walk. Go home safely. See you next week.”
He’s making a fuss even when I offer a ride. Ki Young-han’s expression clearly soured. However, Yoon Ye-jun turned and walked away without even noticing his expression.
“…….”
Left alone, Ki Young-han glared at Yoon Ye-jun’s retreating back. He took a deep breath and then averted his gaze. Glaring wouldn’t bring him back. It was a waste of emotional energy. At the same time, the mobile phone in his pocket buzzed, buzzed. Ki Young-han roughly shoved his hand in and pulled out his mobile phone.
Hyung, where are you? I saw everything, but you weren’t there…
“Hey, if I wasn’t there, you should have just waited, why are you calling and making a fuss?”
He took out his frustration on the innocent Ki Young-hyun.
When he got to the parking lot, Ki Young-hyun was waiting for him idly. Their eyes met, and he subtly avoided Ki Young-han’s gaze. Ki Young-han pressed the remote key button. With a beep, the car doors unlocked.
“Get in the car. I’ll give you a ride home.”
He knew he would get annoyed if they talked. Ki Young-hyun also glanced at him cautiously and got into the passenger seat. Ki Young-han tossed his mobile phone with a dismissive gesture. Ki Young-hyun, his gaze falling on the mobile phone, spoke up subtly.
“Hyung, what came?”
It’s probably just useless messages again, Ki Young-han grumbled inwardly and took out his mobile phone. It was a message from Yoon Ye-jun.
Yoon Ye-jun
It varies every day, but today I have a tutoring session from 3 PM to 6 PM. From 8 PM to 10 PM, I’m helping with another part-time job. On Sundays, it’s from 6 PM to 12 AM. ^^
12:29 PM
I felt a bit embarrassed because I left in such a hurry earlier… haha I don’t think I even said goodbye properly, sorry.
12:30 PM
Ki Young-han’s lips twitched. He bit his lip and stared at the message. He left in a hurry because he was embarrassed.* It felt strange that such a trivial thing could lift his mood.
Yoon Ye-jun
Let me know when you’re free about dinner next week. I can skip the beer house on days I want to. Let’s meet on a day that’s convenient for you. I’ll skip my part-time job that day.
12:32 PM
He gazed at the last sentence about skipping his part-time job.
“Hyung, aren’t you going?”
Ki Young-hyun asked from beside him, but it didn’t register. Ki Young-han eventually brought his clenched fist to his mouth. It was hard to hide his laughter.
Me
Yes.
12:35 PM
lol
12:35 PM
Ki Young-han sent his reply and let out a deep sigh. Ah. His heart felt like it was twisting, completely unruly. How could a single message make him laugh? He felt a pang of annoyance, knowing Yoon Ye-jun wouldn’t be like this. Ki Young-han squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
“Hey, Ki Young-hyun.”
“Yeah?”
“Anything you want to eat? Let’s grab lunch before we go home. I’ll buy you anything.”
Seeing Ki Young-han’s mood change in an instant, Ki Young-hyun scowled. “What’s up with him….” He said it loud enough to be heard, but Ki Young-han didn’t react. He had heard it, but pretended not to. This was one of the things Ki Young-han could easily laugh off today.
Monday, as soon as the last class ended, a message arrived.
Kim Jae-ui
Ye-jun, where are you?
4:30 PM
That persistent guy.
Yoon Ye-jun gazed at his mobile phone screen. He still sent messages right at the end of class, leaving no room for escape. His plan to pretend he didn’t see it if possible was thwarted. Twisting his lips, Yoon Ye-jun looked at the screen and let out a soft sigh, “Ah.” Then, in the nearly empty lecture hall, he packed his bag and sent a reply.
Me
I just finished.
4:33 PM
If you’re on the first floor, I’ll come down.
4:33 PM
Let’s try to avoid getting involved as much as possible. It’s not like we’re working together, but since I got this part-time job, let’s keep it strictly professional and avoid any personal entanglements.
Yoon Ye-jun, having steeled his resolve, packed his bag. He navigated through the few students taking afternoon classes who were quickly heading to their next lecture and descended to the first floor. He considered smoking a cigarette, but couldn’t, as someone was waiting. He walked out to the lobby. Kim Jae-ui, whom he expected to be right there, wasn’t. Was he somewhere else? Just as he was about to check his mobile phone, a familiar voice called out, “Ye-jun.”
“…Hello.”
Yoon Ye-jun made brief eye contact. Kim Jae-ui, who had approached, was impeccably dressed today as well. Why dress like that just to come to school? Ki Young-han was fine wearing something like sweatpants. He caught himself thinking of Ki Young-han and stopped. He didn’t know why he thought of Ki Young-han, even though they weren’t people to compare. Perhaps it was because they had met so often recently.
“Do you want to go out to eat? What should we eat?”
Kim Jae-ui started the conversation naturally. Yoon Ye-jun looked around. He would have preferred to just go to a cafe and then part ways, but Kim Jae-ui would likely talk at length about how they hadn’t seen each other in a while. Let’s just eat quickly and leave. His gaze fell on a restaurant inside the building.
“Shall we eat there? They seem to have a variety of dishes.”
“Ah, yes. This place just opened. I’ve been here a few times with professors.”
Kim Jae-ui kept the conversation flowing. Yoon Ye-jun had also been there a few times. It had opened around the time he returned to school. Since his home was close, he usually ate at home, but he’d gone out sometimes. Still, the food they sold was definitely tastier than what he made at home. The two headed towards the restaurant together. They didn’t exchange many words.
It was an awkward time, neither quite lunch nor dinner, so there were no other customers. In the rather spacious restaurant, it was just the two of them. Kim Jae-ui ordered pork cutlet, and Yoon Ye-jun ordered bibimbap. While waiting for their food with the vibrating pager, they sat facing each other in silence.
Yoon Ye-jun felt strangely uncomfortable making eye contact. Perhaps it was because of the awkwardness. Normally, when the atmosphere was awkward, he would try to break the ice with conversation, but with Kim Jae-ui, there was no need for that. Kim Jae-ui was also silent for a moment. But as if nothing had happened, he soon smiled with his kind face.
“Ye-jun, you know I asked the professor about your part-time job, right?”
“Ah.”
Although Kim Jae-ui spoke to break the awkward silence, Yoon Ye-jun only felt more uncomfortable. If he had known Kim Jae-ui had asked, he definitely wouldn’t have taken the job. It was work he could do at home, and it was easier than physical labor, but he would have rather worked a few more hours at a beer house.
“There aren’t many people I know at school anymore. Dong-hoon is a bit… well, he’s a bit scattered. I thought you, Ye-jun, would follow instructions well, like paying attention to spelling. You always did well when given tasks, remember when we wrote that report together?”
Why bring up old memories now…
Despite his thoughts, Yoon Ye-jun slowly nodded. “Even Kim Dong-hoon can do that much.” He tried to defend his friend, but Kim Jae-ui merely raised the corners of his mouth in silence.
The conversation was mostly led by Kim Jae-ui. He talked about his university days. Even now, stories about his girlfriends were conspicuously absent. Still the same. Doesn’t he think I know? Yoon Ye-jun scoffed inwardly.
Soon, the pager vibrated, and they brought their food, eating in silence. Yoon Ye-jun wanted to focus on his meal, but it wasn’t easy. He couldn’t feel at ease. No matter how much he criticized him inwardly, he was someone he had liked once.
Unaware of Yoon Ye-jun’s inner turmoil, Kim Jae-ui kept talking between bites. When he ran out of stories from university, he shifted the topic to when they were close friends. Yoon Ye-jun didn’t want to recall that time. At first, he had been thrilled, and he thought Kim Jae-ui had felt more than just friendly interest, but ultimately, it hadn’t ended well.
If it weren’t for work, they wouldn’t even be sitting here eating together. Yoon Ye-jun suddenly wanted to ask. Why, when you had a girlfriend, did you accept feelings beyond friendship from me and other students? Isn’t that wrong when you have a girlfriend? Even if he asked gently, it would inevitably sound accusatory. Still, even after years, he couldn’t understand it. But Yoon Ye-jun ultimately couldn’t ask.
After the meal, which felt awkward only for him, they walked out side-by-side. It felt like they had been together for hours, but only 30 minutes had passed. They had eaten and talked a bit, so maybe it was okay to part ways now. Standing hesitantly in front of Kim Jae-ui, Kim Jae-ui pointed to a cafe.
“Want to grab a cup of coffee? I need to explain some things you need to do.”
He wanted to refuse, but since it was about work, he couldn’t. Yoon Ye-jun lightly replied, “Let’s do that.” As they walked towards the cafe, Yoon Ye-jun glanced sideways at Kim Jae-ui walking beside him.
Was he always this tall? Kim Jae-ui was taller than him, but only by about 2-3 centimeters. Maybe around 180 cm. He usually didn’t pay attention to height or build, but it seemed to be because of Ki Young-han. Ki Young-han was at least 10 centimeters taller than him.
He didn’t want to think of Ki Young-han, but with Kim Jae-ui beside him, he kept thinking of him. Kim Jae-ui’s gait was a bit arrogant, but his long legs made him look like a model. And…
As he walked, thinking of Ki Young-han’s build, they arrived at the cafe. Given the time, there wasn’t a single person there. Standing at the counter, Kim Jae-ui asked,
“What do you want to drink?”
“I’ll pay here.”
Yoon Ye-jun took out his wallet. “It’s okay. I’ll pay.” Kim Jae-ui was being friendly, but Yoon Ye-jun shook his head.
“What would you like?”
“Uh, then, could I have a coffee?”
“Cold?”
“No, hot.”
The weather had become quite warm, yet Kim Jae-ui ordered a hot coffee. Yoon Ye-jun ordered an iced americano and a hot americano from the staff. While waiting for the coffee, he subtly shifted his gaze. Directly in front of him was the terrace where he had eaten chicken with Ki Young-han.
He remembered Ki Young-han running up the stairs quickly. He seemed like someone who would hate running, so it was surprising he had run so hard that he was even out of breath. Both had bad tempers, but Ki Young-han was better than Kim Jae-ui. At least Ki Young-han didn’t seem two-faced. If anything, Ki Young-han was completely straightforward, both front and back. That was a compliment, in a way.
“Your order is ready.”
Yoon Ye-jun took the coffees in takeout cups with both hands and approached Kim Jae-ui. Kim Jae-ui, who had been looking out the front window, turned his gaze to Yoon Ye-jun. “Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.” He said as he took the cup.
“Isn’t it strange how much the school has changed, Ye-jun?”
“It is.”
“They suddenly started construction, and I wondered what it was for, but now it’s all changed. It feels like everything except the buildings has changed.”
Is it that much…?
Yoon Ye-jun sipped his coffee through the straw. He found it hard to agree. He wasn’t particularly attached to the school, and it was natural for things to change over time. It wasn’t just the school, was it? His heart had changed too.
“Ye-jun, aren’t you uncomfortable going to school with younger students?”
“What… It’s not that bad. There’s Kim Dong-hoon too.”
It might have been a joke, but Yoon Ye-jun said it with a frown. Ha, Kim Jae-ui laughed out loud. Yoon Ye-jun gazed at Kim Jae-ui, who was smiling broadly in front of him. Did he always look like that…? Has he aged…? Kim Jae-ui, whom he would have found mature in the past, now felt a little distant.
“That’s good then.”
After that, Kim Jae-ui talked about the work. It wasn’t as difficult as the professor had said. He just had to read documents lightly, check for difficult words or parts that might need additional explanation, and fill them in.
He was shown what another student had done on his mobile phone, which helped him understand quickly.
Yoon Ye-jun handed his mobile phone back to Kim Jae-ui. He nodded, as if he understood. Ah, I want to leave now. He looked around the empty cafe. The staff member at the counter was also looking at their phone, not paying attention to them.
Yoon Ye-jun silently raised his cup and put the straw to his lips. He took a mouthful of the ice-cold coffee, which jolted him awake, and swallowed.
Unlike what he had told Ki Young-han, he didn’t think he’d be drinking alcohol. And one more thing. At first, he had been anxious about running into Kim Jae-ui, but meeting him had actually made him feel a little more at ease. The feelings that had once felt like a fever had now quieted down. Before him sat only a man who pretended to be kind and was boring.
He used to exercise a lot when he was a student, but it seemed he didn’t anymore. Kim Jae-ui slowly scanned him, then put down his cup. He was just about to say they should leave.
“Ye-jun.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve changed a lot from how you used to be.”
Kim Jae-ui, who had been quiet, suddenly said something unexpected. As soon as he heard that, Yoon Ye-jun felt like his meal was coming back up. His stomach tensed. His expression, unable to hide his surprise, turned to one of bewilderment as he waited for Kim Jae-ui to continue.
It was inevitable that he would change. Yoon Ye-jun had never liked anyone else after liking Kim Jae-ui, and he hadn’t dated anyone. What happened back then was, in its own way, a wound. Kim Jae-ui must have known his feelings. But it was selfish of him to expect him to remain the same.
“You used to be so affectionate. Not anymore.”
Yoon Ye-jun thought he was glad he bought coffee, if not the meal. Why would he have been affectionate? It was because he liked him back then. He wanted to argue that. Who acted like trash first?
Kim Jae-ui cleared his throat for a moment. Hmm… He felt hesitant listening to his drawn-out voice. It felt like he was about to say something he shouldn’t hear. Yoon Ye-jun unconsciously straightened up.
“Ye-jun, you knew I had a girlfriend, right?”
Yoon Ye-jun’s eyes darted around in a short moment. Should he listen, or avoid it? He couldn’t even answer.
“But I broke up with my girlfriend.”
Kim Jae-ui quickly added, unable to bear the silence. At the same time, Yoon Ye-jun’s face hardened. He shouldn’t have heard this. He didn’t know what Kim Jae-ui expected now. If it were his past self, he might have used the excuse of comforting him to stay close to Kim Jae-ui. But that was then, and this was now.
You damn piece of trash, what do you want me to do? He barely managed to suppress the words that were about to come out of his throat. He lowered his head. Don’t curse, don’t ask what I want. He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them. He slowly raised his head.
He wanted to say nonchalantly, ‘Oh, really? You’ll meet someone good,’ but it never left his lips. It wasn’t lingering attachment, but even a good person was too good for Kim Jae-ui.
He ultimately couldn’t choose his words and let out a long breath. Unable to face Kim Jae-ui, he turned his gaze back inside the building. And in front of him…
“……”
“……”
“…What are you doing here?”
Ki Young-han was standing there.
* * *
Ki Young-han had never experienced a weekend as happy as the previous one in his life. Not even the weekend after his college entrance exams had been this good. He felt ecstatic. There was no other way to describe it.
Ki Young-han tried to find reasons for the happiness bubbling up inside him. For example, the weather was nice, or Ki Young-hyun had stocked the refrigerator. He forced a few reasons, but in truth, he knew the reason for his happiness.
It was because Yoon Ye-jun, who had always made excuses like, “I can’t because of my part-time job,” or “I have plans,” had swallowed his pride and said he would skip his part-time job for their date.
Ki Young-han, who had never met anyone like Yoon Ye-jun, felt more than just happy; he was ecstatic. Even though he had groveled, asking for a kiss or whatever, and even though it had only happened once, he had clearly won.
That feeling carried over to Monday. Even though he had the worst possible schedule, with morning classes, a two-hour gap in between, and then more afternoon classes, it was fine. It didn’t matter if it ended at 6 PM. He felt like he was walking on air, not quite humming, but light.
As if luck breeds luck, Ki Young-han’s good mood continued. It was also fortunate that the professor for his elective, which was supposed to end at 6 PM sharp, ended class at 5:30 PM.
Ki Young-han left the lecture hall. As he walked towards the College of Social Sciences to get his car, Yoon Ye-jun was all he could think about. When should he ask Yoon Ye-jun to meet? Should he ask him for tomorrow since he said no to today? Last week, Yoon Ye-jun had said Tuesday was too late, but tomorrow was Tuesday.
Normally, he would have gone straight to the underground parking lot, but he turned towards the smoking area. He intended to smoke a cigarette before going to his car. He planned to message Yoon Ye-jun at the smoking area. Since they were meeting tomorrow, he wanted him to skip his part-time job and everything else.
“……”
His steps, which had been leisurely walking out of the building, came to an abrupt halt. He was in front of the campus cafe. It was a place students frequented during their breaks. Yoon Ye-jun, who had said he had plans, was in that cafe. And what’s more, he was with a man Ki Young-han had never seen before.
The man talking to Yoon Ye-jun didn’t look like he was Yoon Ye-jun’s age. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. He looked familiar, like he had seen him somewhere, but he couldn’t recall where. Furthermore, Yoon Ye-jun’s demeanor was different from usual. He looked uncomfortable looking at the man. It was a different kind of discomfort than when he was with Ki Young-han, but still, it felt different.
Ki Young-han stood frozen, watching Yoon Ye-jun. Yoon Ye-jun, who had been looking at the man’s mobile phone, handed it back to him. Their fingers brushed slightly. Ki Young-han’s frown deepened. The excitement he had felt all weekend, and up until now, evaporated in an instant.
Ki Young-han, who had been heading to the smoking area, turned back. Strangely, the cafe felt far away. It was only a few meters, at most. He widened his stride. As he got closer, the two men’s conversation became clearer.
“Ye-jun.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve changed a lot from how you used to be.”
“Go to hell.” Ki Young-han’s usually serene face contorted with displeasure. Judging by the fact he called his name, he seemed like someone from school, but it wasn’t the kind of conversation usually had between seniors and juniors. Not in broad daylight, either, and while sober. Unless he was looking for a fight, what business was it of his if things changed or not?
“You used to be so warm. Not anymore.”
The man even went that far. Warm, my ass. It was all an act. The feelings he’d acknowledged as affectionate just a few weeks ago twisted. He wouldn’t be affectionate only to him, after all. And even if he were, Ki Young-han wanted to dismiss it without a second thought. But he couldn’t.
“But you broke up with your girlfriend.”
Even if a breakup was something friends could discuss, it wasn’t something to say to Yoon Ye-jun, who looked visibly uncomfortable. Ki Young-han approached the two men, his face contorted in a grimace.
Yoon Ye-jun had his back turned. He was staring intently at the man. Ki Young-han couldn’t see his expression from his vantage point. Yoon Ye-jun’s head, which had been facing forward, soon turned towards the ground. After lowering his head and flinching a few times, he eventually turned his head to the side, unable to lift it. Just then, Ki Young-han arrived.
Seeing Ki Young-han approach, Yoon Ye-jun’s eyes slowly widened.
“…What are you doing here?”
Ki Young-han asked, despite having overheard their conversation. Yoon Ye-jun let out a soft gasp.
“Ah…”
His face looked as if he’d seen someone he shouldn’t have. Ki Young-han’s grip tightened as if someone had grabbed him by the nape of his neck. He unconsciously parted his lips before speaking.
“…Weren’t we supposed to meet today?”
“……”
“You said we should meet for the group project.”
After impulsively spitting out a lie, Ki Young-han shifted his gaze to the man. The man, after looking at Ki Young-han who had suddenly approached, turned towards Yoon Ye-jun with a questioning look. Yoon Ye-jun bit his lower lip. He looked flustered, even though he could have immediately said yes or no.
They didn’t seem like close friends. If they weren’t close, how did this happen by chance? Ki Young-han glanced at the man again. The man drew out his words with an “Ah—” sound and spoke to Yoon Ye-jun.
“Ye-jun, you had a group project? You should have told me earlier.”
Yoon Ye-jun’s lips trembled. Without looking at anyone, he pulled his chin in and nodded.
“…Yes. We were supposed to meet at 6…”
Yoon Ye-jun looked back at Ki Young-han. Pretending to be pitiful. The corners of his eyes, which were always sharply upturned, seemed to have gained weight and drooped. Was he looking at the man with that kind of expression? Ki Young-han glared. Yoon Ye-jun, forcing a smile, turned his face towards him.
“You’re early?”
In this situation, Ki Young-han felt like an unwelcome guest. He shouldn’t have come. Ki Young-han immediately regretted it, but he knew that even if he had ignored them and gone to the smoking area, he would have returned soon to demand what they were doing. Although Yoon Ye-jun spoke as if welcoming him, his expression suggested otherwise.
“……”
Ki Young-han just looked at Yoon Ye-jun without a word. An inexplicable emotion tangled within his heart. There were more than one or two things he wanted to ask.
Are you his senior? Why are you telling him about your breakup? You don’t seem close, is he the one you were supposed to meet today? If you’re going to sit there so uncomfortably, wouldn’t it be better to meet me instead?
A long silence ensued. The man facing them picked up his Mobile phone.
“Then I should go see the professor. Ye-jun, I’ll be in touch. Let’s meet again.”
The man then stood up and left. Ki Young-han glared at the man’s retreating back before pulling up a chair. Not even wanting to sit in the chair the man had occupied, he pulled up another chair and sat down.
“What’s his deal?”
Yoon Ye-jun, unable to answer immediately, lowered his gaze. His eyelashes, which curved upwards at the ends, stretched out long.
“He’s a senior. Someone I used to be close with.”
He said that and nothing more. Ki Young-han bit his lower lip hard. Yoon Ye-jun, who had been silently staring at his half-finished coffee, raised his head.
“Ki Young-han.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to go do the group project you suggested?”
The meaning was clear. The group project was just an excuse. Ki Young-han hesitated for a moment. It wasn’t something he could readily agree to. The man who had been next to Yoon Ye-jun until just moments ago bothered and preoccupied him. And Yoon Ye-jun’s attitude was the same. As if nothing had happened, he had his usual expression, but the discomfort remained.
Yoon Ye-jun had clearly said he didn’t like the man. So, was the man alone in liking Yoon Ye-jun? Yoon Ye-jun was afraid to refuse because the man was his senior, so he was pretending not to know. If that were the case, was the man dating his girlfriend while liking Yoon Ye-jun?
“What a fucking scumbag…”
“Are you talking about me?”
Yoon Ye-jun’s eyes widened as he asked. Ki Young-han, more surprised, shook his head slightly.
“What kind of bullshit are you talking about?”
“Ah…”
Yoon Ye-jun let out a low gasp. Ki Young-han shoved his hands into his pockets and stood up.
“Let’s do it.”
Yoon Ye-jun looked up at Ki Young-han. Ki Young-han yelled.
“I said, let’s go do the project!”
Ki Young-han observed Yoon Ye-jun’s expression the entire way home. His expression was openly displeased. He maintained a stiff face, looking straight ahead. He hadn’t seen such an expression even during the two months they’d bickered and spoken, so his heart felt heavy. Ki Young-han concluded it was because of that guy he’d just been talking to.
“……”
He stole a glance at Yoon Ye-jun’s profile before focusing on the road ahead again. He pursed his lips and tapped the steering wheel with his fingers.
Should I ask why he told that guy about breaking up? Would that be too much? Should I ask why his expression hardened so much when he said he was an old senior?
Various thoughts tangled in his mind, but his lips felt as if a heavy bridle had been attached, making it difficult to open them. His chest felt tight. Normally, he would have blurted out the words that bothered him without a second thought.
Lost in complex thoughts, Ki Young-han furrowed and then relaxed his brow. Who cares? All that mattered was the kiss.
“…Can you relax your expression a bit?”
Finally, Ki Young-han casually dropped the remark. At his words, Yoon Ye-jun, who had been staring straight ahead, turned his head. Ki Young-han felt the gaze but maintained his forward-facing posture. Then, he casually turned the steering wheel back and forth before entering the parking lot.
It was the same even after they entered the house. It was clearly his home, yet Ki Young-han felt uncomfortable. Yoon Ye-jun didn’t seem particularly interested. Ki Young-han unnecessarily went to the kitchen to drink water and rubbed his shoulders, though they weren’t stiff.
“……”
Yoon Ye-jun, sitting quietly on the sofa, watched Ki Young-han fidgeting alone with his eyes.
Why is he acting like this… Even after hearing from Kim Jae-ui that he broke up with his girlfriend, I’m staying quiet, and he’s acting like this on his own.
Yoon Ye-jun felt nothing. Rather, he thought it was fortunate he met Kim Jae-ui. He found it pathetic how the person he liked was acting so pathetic and lingering, and he had lost all affection for him.
Ki Young-han, who was restlessly and erratically moving around in front of him, was very distracting.
Could it be that he’s worried about missing the right timing for a kiss?
Usually, they did it after drinking, so that seemed likely. Ki Young-han wasn’t a heavy drinker either.
Reaching a brief conclusion, Yoon Ye-jun finally stood up. He approached Ki Young-han, who was standing by the dining table.
“……”
Ki Young-han’s nervous gaze, etched with a deep frown, met his. Regardless, Yoon Ye-jun stepped forward without hesitation and stood facing Ki Young-han.
“Young-han.”
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you going to kiss me?”
“Ah…”
Starting the conversation seemed to soften his eyes a little. Yoon Ye-jun eventually pulled Ki Young-han closer. Then, their lips met. Ki Young-han’s eyes widened again at the kiss that locked without hesitation. You came here for this, so why are you so surprised? Yoon Ye-jun slowly closed his eyes.
Ki Young-han gripped the edge of the dining table with his hands, clenching his fists tightly. His free hand hovered in the air before cautiously settling on Yoon Ye-jun’s waist as the kiss deepened. He slowly tilted his head, pressing his lips against him. Following the steps like completing a quest in a game, their kiss quickly intensified.
Ki Young-han’s mind, which had been troubled just moments before, became blank. Now, he focused only on the kiss. Because of the height difference, his shoulder felt stiff as they continued kissing while standing. Their tongues naturally mingled, and he twisted his head from side to side.
As they took small steps, their positions changed. Yoon Ye-jun leaned against the dining table. Ki Young-han braced himself on the table with both arms, as if trapping Yoon Ye-jun. Their bodies drew closer. Yoon Ye-jun sat on the edge of the table, spreading his legs slightly.
As Ki Young-han unhesitatingly moved into the gap, his heavy erection touched Yoon Ye-jun. Yoon Ye-jun let out a low groan, pretending not to know that he got hard every time he kissed. Goosebumps prickled his skin every time Ki Young-han’s aggressively probing tongue brushed against the roof of his mouth.
Yoon Ye-jun placed his hands on Ki Young-han’s sides. Ki Young-han, who had been sucking his tongue relentlessly, pulled away with a sigh. His lips, wet with saliva, became a deeper shade. They were already a reddish hue, but they glistened with moisture.
“……”
Ki Young-han stared intently at Yoon Ye-jun. The sharp corners of his eyes trembled slightly. His eyes seemed a little glazed. Yoon Ye-jun met his gaze. Biting his lower lip slightly, Ki Young-han lunged again. He continued the deep kiss, tightly grasping and squeezing Yoon Ye-jun’s neck, back, and forearms.
“Mmm… Ugh…” Ki Young-han seemed to miss even the slightest pause. He just bit and sucked with his lips and tongue as he pleased. When they first kissed, he hadn’t felt this way. Had he been drunk then? He didn’t know. Even as he analyzed every detail, Ki Young-han’s hand rested on his thigh, which was on the dining table. As if intending to suffocate him, he felt like Ki Young-han’s tongue was going to reach the back of his throat, wondering how far he planned to go.
Yoon Ye-jun raised both arms to Ki Young-han’s neck, frowning. He playfully licked the roof of his mouth with his tongue, pressing his own erection against it and teasing him.
Ki Young-han shivered. At the same time, their lips slowly parted. Ki Young-han blinked his eyes open and closed, catching his breath. His already broad chest heaved. Yoon Ye-jun slowly lowered his gaze. He looked down at Ki Young-han’s visibly aroused lower body.
“Ki Young-han.”
“…Yes?”
He could have simply said yes, but as expected, he shot back a sharp retort. Ki Young-han lowered his head, rubbing his erection against Yoon Ye-jun’s lips, then buried his forehead on his shoulder. He smelled a faint mix of soft fabric softener and a cool cologne. Yoon Ye-jun unconsciously turned his head slightly towards Ki Young-han. He inhaled as if exhaling. It felt like intimacy between lovers.
But it wasn’t.
Yoon Ye-jun repeatedly bit and released his lips, then slowly reached out his hand. He traced the long outline on Ki Young-han’s right thigh with his fingers. He could feel Ki Young-han’s muscles stiffen in his embrace.
“…Do you want to do that again?”
It was true that he was also aroused. Before the words were even finished, Ki Young-han’s head shot up. Then, he stared intently at Yoon Ye-jun. What was he thinking? His face was sullen. Did he dislike it? Just as Yoon Ye-jun was about to withdraw his gaze, Ki Young-han spoke.
“Let’s go somewhere comfortable.”
“……”
“Like the sofa or the bed.”
Yoon Ye-jun turned his head. The door, clearly visible from the dining table, was shut tight. That was the bedroom. He thought Yoon Ye-jun would never let him into the bedroom, but this was unexpected.
Yoon Ye-jun slowly moved from the dining table. His fingertips, which had been touching Ki Young-han’s wrist, moved to brush lightly against his hand before pulling away.
“…Shall we go to the bedroom?”
Ki Young-han’s teeth clicked as he answered the question.
Ki Young-han must have been possessed by a ghost who died without kissing.
Yoon Ye-jun thought this as he watched Ki Young-han relentlessly thrusting into him, despite feeling utterly drained. The bedroom was as neat as Ki Young-han. Perhaps it was because the house was large, but it was distinctly different from his own studio apartment.
Ki Young-han, now on top of Yoon Ye-jun, was rough, as if he were trying to eat his lips. If Yoon Ye-jun tried to turn his head, Ki Young-han would grab him by the nape of his neck to hold him still. When he struggled to breathe and pushed Ki Young-han’s chest or shoulders, Ki Young-han would grab his wrists with his free hand.
Slurp, slurp… The wet sounds and heavy breathing filled the room. His feet rubbed against the comforter, squirming, but it only made things more stimulating.
Yoon Ye-jun had only engaged in casual, perfunctory physical contact until now, so this aggressive approach was new. He could only try his best to receive Ki Young-han’s tongue, which licked every corner of his mouth as he gasped for breath.
As Ki Young-han continued kissing, he pressed his own erection heavily against Yoon Ye-jun’s lower body. He moved his hips, rubbing against him. When Yoon Ye-jun tried to lift his hips, Ki Young-han used his body weight to hold him down.
“Haa… Ah, just a m-moment…”
Not only his own, but Ki Young-han’s significantly enlarged genitals were clearly felt below. Yoon Ye-jun, barely managing to soothe Ki Young-han, twisted his head. He reached out and touched Ki Young-han’s jaw. Yoon Ye-jun’s fingers brushed against Ki Young-han’s lips. He didn’t stop there, but nibbled and released his fingers as if caressing them.
“Just a moment, just a moment…”
Yoon Ye-jun, barely managing to calm Ki Young-han, sat up and leaned against the headboard. Looking at Ki Young-han kneeling between his legs, he swallowed hard. He really wasn’t his type, but looking at his face made his thoughts race. Objectively, he was handsome, so his mind was filled with various complex thoughts.
“I have s-something to say…”
“What is it?”
Ki Young-han’s voice was lower than usual, as if holding his breath. The lack of inflection made it sound even more sensual. Yoon Ye-jun stared at Ki Young-han for a moment, then reached for his zipper. Click. It seemed to open slower than usual. Perhaps it was because of Ki Young-han, but his own movements were also hurried. Ki Young-han watched Yoon Ye-jun unzip his pants right in front of him. Yoon Ye-jun hesitated, holding the waistband of his pants.
Ki Young-han, looking at Yoon Ye-jun hesitating with his pants waistband in hand, raised his head and met his eyes.
“…Aren’t you taking yours off?”
As soon as Yoon Ye-jun spoke, Ki Young-han grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it up. He only needed to take off his pants, why was he taking off his shirt?! Yoon Ye-jun, flustered, stared at Ki Young-han. Ki Young-han tossed his t-shirt aside and, lowering his own zipper, lunged at Yoon Ye-jun again. He thought his lips would be swollen by tomorrow if this continued. He didn’t want to do anything that would cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
Nevertheless, Yoon Ye-jun accepted Ki Young-han. He fumbled, touching each other’s bodies. What if this went all the way? No, surely not. He said himself he didn’t like men, so that was unlikely. But if he continued like this, would the brakes even work? Yoon Ye-jun thought as he passionately kissed Ki Young-han’s lips.
* * *
Once they took off their clothes, the next actions flowed naturally. The two held each other’s genitals and caressed them. Yoon Ye-jun held Ki Young-han’s hot erection and moved it up and down, stroking it. Ki Young-han, unable to contain his strength, tightly gripped Yoon Ye-jun’s shaft and pulled it upwards forcefully. Each time, Yoon Ye-jun bit his lips tightly.
“Ah, ah…”
Ki Young-han buried his lips in Yoon Ye-jun’s neck. In his mind, he thought, ‘Fuck, is this okay…,’ but he was doing it anyway. He buried his nose in Yoon Ye-jun’s skin, which he had always thought smelled good, and surprisingly, he felt no revulsion. Of course, what use was revulsion when he was holding and stroking his cock right now?
Ki Young-han bit Yoon Ye-jun’s neck, not hard enough to hurt. He wanted to suck it dry, but he managed to hold back. His lips moved lower. He wanted to taste more of his skin, but the t-shirt was in the way.
A black knit. The feel of the knit in his hands was not to his liking. He wanted to take it off quickly.
Ki Young-han sat up abruptly. Yoon Ye-jun, who had been holding and playing with his own genitals, looked up.
“Take off all your clothes.”
“Can’t I keep the top on?”
“Ah, quickly. Fuck, it’s not like I have a striptease fetish and took it off for show.”
There was no need to say so much, but Ki Young-han, in his haste, shot back. Yoon Ye-jun was looking at him with a sullen expression. Ki Young-han ignored that lukewarm gaze and pulled up the hem of Yoon Ye-jun’s shirt. As he took off the shirt, Yoon Ye-jun’s body was revealed, looking just as it always did, like milk with a lot of cocoa mixed in. Yet, his nipples had a faint pinkish hue. Perhaps because it was so different from his skin tone, his gaze kept drifting there.
“…What are you looking at?”
And Yoon Ye-jun, noticing Ki Young-han’s stare, casually threw out a remark. Startled, Ki Young-han immediately raised his voice.
“Looking at what? Me?”
“You were just looking.”
“Overactive self-consciousness? Does having your gaze directed there mean you’re looking at everything? You’re treating me like a pervert.”
Despite his words, Ki Young-han fiddled with Yoon Ye-jun’s nipples with his fingertips. If you’re going to look, just look. It’s not like we’re playing house right now. Yoon Ye-jun clicked his tongue inwardly, but soon calmed his breathing. The way Ki Young-han pressed and released his nipples with his fingers was, to lie, not at all suggestive. He twisted his shoulders.
“It’s… ticklish….”
Ki Young-han continued to tease Yoon Ye-jun’s nipples, gazing intently at his face. Yoon Ye-jun, perhaps from the heat rising in his body or the ticklishness, blinked, closing and opening one eye as if winking. He disliked saying things were tempting, finding it old-fashioned, but he felt it might be acceptable for Yoon Ye-jun’s body. Ki Young-han casually brought up the topic.
“Can I suck on them?”
“What?”
Yoon Ye-jun’s surprised voice popped out. Ki Young-han, feigning disinterest, pointed to somewhere on his chest with his chin. Yoon Ye-jun’s mouth felt dry. He didn’t dislike it, but the thought, ‘Is it okay to be doing this with him?’ crossed his mind. Then again, it felt strange to have done everything else but draw the line at sucking on his chest. His mind was a mess.
Yoon Ye-jun looked up at Ki Young-han, who was staring intently at his face, for a long time before finally nodding.
“Do as you please.”
Whatever he had said about it being dirty was clearly a smokescreen.
Before the words were even finished, Ki Young-han lowered himself. Without any sign of resistance, he immediately buried his lips on Yoon Ye-jun’s nipples. Honestly, he didn’t know what to do, so he just put them in his mouth and licked them with his tongue. He also sucked on them, applying pressure with his lips. Yoon Ye-jun comfortably laid his head back and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Ah….”
Ah, I wonder if I can masturbate. Even so, is it a bit much?
As Ki Young-han caressed his nipples, the urge to ejaculate swirled around his lower half, which had already grown larger from their touching. Yoon Ye-jun stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. He let out a breath and looked at the round crown of Ki Young-han’s head. Slurp, slurp… the sucking sounds were quite suggestive.
As his sensitive body parts were touched by a wet tongue and hot breath, Yoon Ye-jun finally couldn’t hold back and lowered his hand. He grasped his stiff genitals in his hand. It was embarrassing, but his body was honest.
Not that he didn’t know, but to avoid making things awkward for each other, Yoon Ye-jun subtly moved his genitals. However, with Ki Young-han on top of him, he couldn’t hide it. As he shook his genitals, they brushed and rubbed against Ki Young-han’s skin.
“Hhh… Ah……”
Yoon Ye-jun exhaled a soft breath and focused on the act. While persistently sucking on his nipples with his mouth, Ki Young-han raised his head, having used his other hand to rub the small nipple and narrow areola.
“Ah….”
Yoon Ye-jun bit his lower lip. Ki Young-han’s gaze drifted downwards. Specifically, to the area between Yoon Ye-jun’s legs where he was masturbating. The gaze felt persistent, so Yoon Ye-jun held his breath and released his hand from his lower half. Though he let go, his lower half still held heat, so he slightly tensed his thighs.
I felt like I was about to cum if I just held on a little longer.
Yoon Ye-jun grabbed Ki Young-han’s arm and pulled him closer. We’re past the point of no return anyway. He wanted to cum while kissing again. But Ki Young-han remained firmly in place. It wasn’t the behavior of someone who, just a few minutes ago, couldn’t get enough of kissing. Why is he acting like this again… Ki Young-han was simple but easily annoyed, so he couldn’t just ask.
Ki Young-han’s gaze shifted to Yoon Ye-jun’s wet glans. It was glistening and unusually dark in color. The thought that he was masturbating while sucking on his nipples made it even more erotic. Ah, this is annoying. He cursed inwardly. He rarely lived so simply and impulsively. It felt like a late-blooming puberty.
“Haaah….”
Ki Young-han squeezed his eyes shut and slowly calmed his breathing. This would be the first and last time. He never thought he’d want to see and suck on a guy’s glans in his life. He had tasted Yoon Ye-jun’s lips, nipples, and neck, and now he wanted to suck on his glans too. Ki Young-han couldn’t resolve this situation. Not unless he did it.
Ki Young-han finally placed his hands on Yoon Ye-jun’s thighs and moved down. Yoon Ye-jun’s unstable eyes flickered and met Ki Young-han’s.
“What are you….”
Before he could even ask what he was doing, their lips met firmly. Ki Young-han’s lips bit down on Yoon Ye-jun’s genitals. He must be crazy. He’s a madman. In the surreal situation, an alarm blared in Yoon Ye-jun’s head.
But it was the same for Ki Young-han. He never imagined he’d be sucking on a man’s cock in his lifetime. He thrust Yoon Ye-jun’s genitals deep into his mouth without any technique. Having never received it, nor ever done it, he just sucked rhythmically, occasionally gripping Yoon Ye-jun’s genitals with both hands and pressing them with his tongue.
“Hhh, ah, wait a minute….”
Yoon Ye-jun reached out to push Ki Young-han’s head away. But Ki Young-han didn’t budge. Yoon Ye-jun, whose strength had drained to the point where his fingertips trembled, couldn’t possibly push him away. Ki Young-han firmly held Yoon Ye-jun’s thighs, anchoring him, and just moved his head.
It was hot and wet. His mouth was narrow, making it even more difficult. His genitals went in and out of his mouth repeatedly. Seeing this, Yoon Ye-jun arched his back and stuck out his tongue to lick his dry lips.
“What are you doing, ah… Hhhuu….”
It was obvious Ki Young-han didn’t know how to do it properly. He could feel him sucking with sheer force. But the bigger problem was that Yoon Ye-jun’s genitals were getting hot because Ki Young-han was thrusting them into his mouth without any technique. He felt a surge of power, as if he were about to release something at any moment.
“Nn… I can’t….”
Yoon Ye-jun lifted his lower body. Because Ki Young-han was holding his thighs down, his feet slipped on the bed. Even as Yoon Ye-jun writhed desperately, Ki Young-han continued his crude movements.
Watching his head move back and forth, Yoon Ye-jun finally lifted his upper body. His abdomen tightened to the point of rigidity, and his body trembled. Hhhuuk… Yoon Ye-jun breathed heavily. His back, which had been curved like a parabola, sagged.
“Haaah, ha….”
He breathed deeply, his chest heaving. Ki Young-han, who had shuddered, lifted his head from between Yoon Ye-jun’s legs. Yoon Ye-jun, who had been biting his lips to quell the heat, had to meet Ki Young-han’s sharp gaze. Ki Young-han’s eyes narrowed fiercely.
“……”
“……”
“Wait, just a moment….”
Yoon Ye-jun stammered uncharacteristically. He pulled out a tissue from the tissue box on the nightstand next to the bed and offered it to Ki Young-han. Ki Young-han immediately spat out the semen. Spitting out the semen he still held in his mouth with a roll of his tongue, Ki Young-han looked at Yoon Ye-jun with an annoyed expression.
“Ah, fuck… I can’t believe I’m spitting out semen….”
Ki Young-han spoke without filter. Yoon Ye-jun was dumbfounded. He hadn’t asked him to suck, and he hadn’t let go even when he said ‘wait a moment,’ but it was him.
“You… ha, you never told me to suck.”
Hearing that, Ki Young-han seemed to have nothing to say, only grumbling once. Yoon Ye-jun subtly observed Ki Young-han’s expression. After ejaculating, his own lower half had subsided, unlike Ki Young-han’s sturdy one, which still made its presence known.
…I feel a little sorry.
Ki Young-han moved to Yoon Ye-jun’s side and sat leaning against the headboard. Yoon Ye-jun looked down at his wet, glistening pink genitals. They were standing so erect, as if he were about to cum. Ki Young-han had large hands, a large body, and a large cock, so watching him masturbate would be the end of me.
“Why?”
As expected, Ki Young-han asked, noticing Yoon Ye-jun’s gaze. Yoon Ye-jun, who had been lost in a perverted thought without realizing it, opened his eyes wide. What would be the point of watching him masturbate? Yoon Ye-jun pretended not to know and slowly lowered his eyes.
“Young-han.”
“Why. Speak without dragging it out.”
“Should I suck you too?”
For a moment, two thoughts clashed in Ki Young-han’s mind. He was already annoyed to death by the semen he had spat out, and now a guy was offering to suck his cock. Even though what he had done to him was impulsive and he wanted to lose his mind, he was honestly tempted. But he had his pride. To immediately offer his cock to be sucked wasn’t his style.
Ki Young-han shifted his gaze to Yoon Ye-jun. He had already tasted his lips, which were swollen more than usual from the intense kiss, and the moist tongue nestled within. He involuntarily pictured Yoon Ye-jun sucking his genitals with those lips and moving his head.
Dripping saliva, he tilted his head back towards the ceiling. Even so… The semen that had spurted into his mouth brought him back to his senses, but the scales had already tipped. Ki Young-han placed a hand on the back of Yoon Ye-jun’s head and pulled him towards him.
“Suck me.”
Yoon Ye-jun moved to sit between Ki Young-han’s legs. He lay down long and kissed Ki Young-han’s throbbing, enormous genitals from the glans with a slurping sound. Then he moved down to the base of the shaft and licked upwards. A thrilled, metallic sound escaped Ki Young-han’s lips. Yoon Ye-jun took the glans into his mouth and slowly lowered his head. Even with his mouth open as wide as possible, it was difficult. His jaw ached.
“Umm… Uoop….”
With every movement of his tongue and lips, a wet saliva sound could be heard. Yoon Ye-jun wanted to take the genitals deeper into his mouth, but he couldn’t. Even when it reached his throat, the shaft remained, making it difficult to accommodate.
“Ah….”
Ki Young-han softly calmed his breathing.
Yoon Ye-jun sucked well. As if he had experience. Blood rushed downwards, and he almost ejaculated the moment his lips touched. Even in his daze, Ki Young-han’s eyes scanned Yoon Ye-jun’s backside as he knelt between his legs. It was firm flesh. He looked thin but healthy, and despite not having much fat, his buttocks were plump. His waist was hollowed, and his calves were particularly beautiful. He never thought he’d spend his life evaluating a man’s body piece by piece.
Then, he suddenly wondered.
…How do men do it?
“Nn, umm….”
Unaware of Ki Young-han’s thoughts, Yoon Ye-jun took Ki Young-han’s genitals deep into his mouth. It reached the back of his throat, and his breath hitched at his neck. As his airway was blocked, he finally lifted his head and spat out the genitals. Cough, cough. He coughed. His eyes were moist. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and looked up.
“……”
“…Why aren’t you sucking more?”
“My jaw hurts.”
Yoon Ye-jun rubbed his jaw. He blinked, his eyes still moist.
Ki Young-han, watching Yoon Ye-jun, reached out. He cupped Yoon Ye-jun’s lower face in one hand. His hand was large enough to encompass Yoon Ye-jun’s entire lower face.
Ki Young-han held Yoon Ye-jun’s lower face and slowly pulled him closer. Yoon Ye-jun obediently followed his touch. He got up and knelt between his legs. Placing his hands on Ki Young-han’s thighs, they kissed. Their lips parted, and they took each other into their mouths.
Their tongues met and rubbed. Yoon Ye-jun lowered his hands and grasped Ki Young-han’s genitals. He slowly moved them. As he rubbed the genitals, already wet with saliva and pre-cum, a deeper sound was made. One hand was not enough, so he held them with both hands and applied pressure. He moved his hands in a circular motion, thrusting them up and down like masturbating.
Ki Young-han continued kissing without breaking contact. With his hands, he teased Yoon Ye-jun’s nipples. It felt like he was obsessed with kissing, and now he was obsessed with nipples, touching them incessantly. He would pinch them and then pull them slightly. When Yoon Ye-jun gasped for breath, he would briefly pull away, kiss the mole under his eye, and then return to his lips.
Slap, slap……. The sounds continued for quite some time. Yoon Ye-jun knew Ki Young-han was about to cum. His breathing became rougher than before, and veins stood out on his neck. Red and blue veins stood out on his genitals as if they were about to burst. If Yoon Ye-jun tried to pull away even slightly, Ki Young-han would grab his buttocks and pull him closer.
Is he…
Yoon Ye-jun accepted Ki Young-han’s kisses and glanced behind him. The way he was gripping his buttocks tightly felt strange. Is he doing this on purpose? He doesn’t know the first thing about how to do it with a man. Meanwhile, he didn’t stop moving his hands.
Ki Young-han’s fierce tongue rolled around inside Yoon Ye-jun’s mouth. Yoon Ye-jun playfully bit Ki Young-han’s tongue, not hard enough to hurt. Ki Young-han’s tongue retracted with a ssok and then latched onto Yoon Ye-jun’s lower lip.
“Hhht….”
Ki Young-han exhaled a soft breath and pulled Yoon Ye-jun firmly towards him. It felt like his buttocks would bear the imprint of his palm. Yoon Ye-jun scowled. Why was he so strong… While thinking this, he put more force into his hand movements. His palm felt like it was cramping. After a few more strokes, semen spurted out of the genitals in Yoon Ye-jun’s hand.
“Nn… Haaah….”
Ki Young-han exhaled a long breath and threw his head back. Then, as if nothing had happened, he urgently bit Yoon Ye-jun’s lips. The long kiss didn’t break easily.
Yoon Ye-jun felt sticky from the semen that had soaked his palms, fingers, and even the back of his hand. He rubbed his hands on a tissue tossed somewhere on the bed. The amount of semen was also large. Are all white uteruses like that? He knew it was a lame joke to generalize, but he decided to mention it to Ki Young-han later. He thought his shocked expression would be funny.
* * *
“Ah….”
“Haaah….”
The two lay on the bed, panting heavily. The heat in their bodies repeatedly left and returned. Although there was no penetration, it could be said they had done almost everything possible with their bodies. Ki Young-han stared at the ceiling in front of him.
“Fuck….”
A curse escaped him, even though nothing had happened. Yoon Ye-jun breathed out, “Ah…,” and turned his body to the side. He had ejaculated multiple times to this extent without penetration, and it was the first time. Yoon Ye-jun looked at Ki Young-han, who was only staring at the ceiling, and slowly closed and opened his eyes. Although it wasn’t a deep enough suck to leave a hickey, there was a bite mark on Ki Young-han’s shoulder. It was because he had ended up biting him during the last ejaculation.
“Young-han.”
“……”
“You really cum a lot. I thought you were peeing.”
Yoon Ye-jun made a lame joke. Ki Young-han closed his eyes without answering. Even though Ki Young-han was unresponsive, Yoon Ye-jun continued talking.
“Do all white uteruses cum a lot like you? And have a high sex drive?”
“Ah.”
Finally, Ki Young-han sat up abruptly.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about, it’s annoying?”
Yoon Ye-jun burst into laughter. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand and laughed, eventually burying his face in a pillow and laughing. Yoon Ye-jun’s laughter filled the bedroom, which had only moments before been filled with moans. Hearing his laughter, Ki Young-han felt frustrated. He was good at making people angry. Unlike his sex drive, his anger simmered. He also felt a bit thirsty.
Frustrated, he finally got out of bed. Then, naked, he walked outside. He brought back water from the refrigerator. Normally, he would have shown the courtesy of pouring it into a cup, but this time he brought back a 1.5-liter bottle of water. He collapsed onto the bed and gulped down the water. Yoon Ye-jun, who had been laughing to himself, glanced at Ki Young-han and then also got up. He reached out to Ki Young-han.
“Me too, water.”
Ki Young-han, who had tilted his head back to drink, glanced at Yoon Ye-jun. There were marks on Yoon Ye-jun’s shoulders, chest, and neck, which had dark skin. His nipples were also severely sucked, to the point where they were red and swollen.
“Here you go.”
Ki Young-han handed him the plastic bottle. He thought it would be inappropriate to ask about his nipples, so he just averted his gaze. He had sucked his cock and his nipples, done it all. Honestly, it was sex. Is this how men usually do it?
Haaah…. A sigh rose to his throat and barely subsided. Yet, the person next to him seemed unfazed, even making sexual jokes. Is he thoughtless, or what? His mind was troubled.
Yoon Ye-jun drank the water and handed the plastic bottle back. Ki Young-han screwed the cap back on the water bottle and tossed it onto the bed. Yoon Ye-jun flopped back down.
“It’s going to hurt.”
“What will?”
Ki Young-han asked, feigning disinterest.
“Here….”
Yoon Ye-jun casually pointed to his nipple. A crease formed between Ki Young-han’s eyebrows. Was he crazy? After all that lewdness just moments ago, he was doing it again? But Yoon Ye-jun, with a perfectly serene expression, turned back to look at Ki Young-han.
“This is tough, when can I go home….”
Yoon Ye-jun ran his fingers over the soft bed sheets. They were different from the cheap bedspread in his room, bought randomly online. The bed he was lying on was comfortable, but his body felt like it was dying. He felt as if all the moisture had been squeezed from his body. His nipples and genitals were throbbing. The skin he had bitten and licked felt the same.
Ki Young-han gazed at Yoon Ye-jun, who was sprawled beside him, then shifted his gaze. He pretended to look out the window. It was already night. Though, being a bustling city, it wasn’t completely dark.
“Well, you can stay the night,”
Ki Young-han said, pretending to offer a favor he wasn’t particularly interested in.
“No. How can I stay over again?”
“Oh, what are you saying? Just stay when I tell you to stay.”
He spat the words out curtly, but it felt wrong to send him away like this. There was no special reason. He hadn’t been drinking, and though he wasn’t sure, it seemed late. Honestly, even if it were night, there wouldn’t be much danger. Nevertheless… he just didn’t want to let him go.
Unaware of Ki Young-han’s feelings, Yoon Ye-jun let out a short laugh, like a sigh.
“You’re going to tell me to sleep on the sofa again today, aren’t you?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ki Young-han shot Yoon Ye-jun an annoyed glance. He was really good at irritating people. It wasn’t even him who told him to sleep on the sofa. He decided to sleep on the sofa on his own, so what did he take him for?
Ki Young-han grumbled without hesitation.
“Who told you to sleep on the sofa? You just decided to sleep there all by yourself.”
I’ll let it slide just for today. Yoon Ye-jun decided to overlook Ki Young-han’s mean words. In truth, he didn’t have the energy to argue. His body felt heavy and limp. The thought of going home made his vision go dark.
“If you say I can sleep in the bed, then I’ll stay.”
After speaking, Yoon Ye-jun gave Ki Young-han a moment. Ki Young-han sat there with a sulky expression. He didn’t want to say this to someone who was twenty-four years old, but Ki Young-han was a bit childish. And Yoon Ye-jun wasn’t nice enough to accommodate a twenty-four-year-old child. If he had been nice enough to tolerate Ki Young-han’s personality in the first place, he wouldn’t have lectured him like a nagging elder, telling him to listen, to speak nicely, and so on.
Ki Young-han ultimately gave no answer. Yoon Ye-jun sat up.
“Then I’ll go wash up….”
The moment he stepped off the bed and onto the floor, Ki Young-han grabbed Yoon Ye-jun’s wrist and yanked him back. Yoon Ye-jun’s body tilted and he fell back onto the bed. The stark white ceiling was visible even in the dim light. Ki Young-han’s face suddenly appeared within his vision, as white as a canvas.
“Sleep in the bed.”
It would have been nice if he had said that sooner. Ki Young-han would be popular if he were just a little more honest. He was handsome, too. Yoon Ye-jun placed his hand on Ki Young-han’s cheek, who was still maintaining a sullen expression.
Ki Young-han flinched. He scowled, squinting one eye. The corner of his mouth, which was slightly upturned, twitched. His reaction was amusing. Yoon Ye-jun smiled silently and said,
“I was going to sleep in the bed anyway because my back hurts.”
“Then why pretend to be coy instead of saying so from the start?”
Instead of answering, Yoon Ye-jun slowly closed and then opened his eyes. Ki Young-han maintained the silence, gazing intently at Yoon Ye-jun.
Yoon Ye-jun also carefully examined Ki Young-han’s face. He had a handsome face, yet his lips were always pouting. Seeing this face every day, he was sometimes creeped out or startled when Ki Young-han occasionally smiled.
And sure enough, Ki Young-han shook his head. Yoon Ye-jun’s hand, which had been on his cheek, dropped. Just as expected. He couldn’t stand to see him obedient. A brief silence followed. He’s so handsome. Yoon Ye-jun wondered what Ki Young-han’s parents looked like. How could they have had a son like this?
As the silence stretched on, Ki Young-han moved his lips.
“Are you feeling okay?”
An out-of-the-blue question. Yoon Ye-jun tilted his head slightly.
“Feeling what?”
“You don’t need to know.”
He asked the question himself, yet gave a curt reply. Yoon Ye-jun almost said something but held back. And he didn’t have time to think deeply.
Ki Young-han, who had been in his field of vision, drew closer. Ki Young-han’s eyes shone even in the darkness. His pale skin did too. And below, it felt like a weapon. It was strange. Everything about him was contradictory, yet it suited Ki Young-han.
While Yoon Ye-jun was meticulously examining Ki Young-han’s face, Ki Young-han had already come within inches of him. Their lips were so close they looked like they would touch at any moment. Instead of closing his eyes, Yoon Ye-jun met Ki Young-han’s gaze. Ki Young-han’s perfectly straight eyelashes slowly lowered, and his voice, a low whisper, settled by his ear.
“Let’s do a little more before you wash up.”
Yoon Ye-jun met his lips instead of answering.