By Zephyria 
Eun-ha was exhaling a puff of air when Yeon-jun spoke, as if something had suddenly occurred to him.
“By the way, Hyung. He’s not a Count. He just came as a guest.”
It was a point Eun-ha had been wondering about.
“I don’t usually spend time alone with guests like this.”
Eun-ha replied nonchalantly, and Yeon-jun paused. He fixed a clear gaze on Eun-ha, asking if he was serious, and Yeon-jun looked increasingly dejected. His face clearly showed that he was worrying about all sorts of things.
If coming as a guest only counts as one time, does that mean he shouldn’t come here anymore? That would be a little sad. He really looked sad, like someone who was thinking something along those lines.
“…Okay. I get it. I won’t count it. You said we were going on a date or something. I can’t really call this a date.”
Eun-ha reluctantly corrected himself, and Yeon-jun immediately brightened up. He looked as lively as if he had never been sad, and Eun-ha felt somehow cheated.
What is this? He asked, a bit disgruntled, as he began to touch the flowers again.
“So, when are we going to do it? The date.”
“Hmm. I’m thinking about it.”
“You have to think about it?”
“I have to use them carefully.”
“Don’t be so careful and use them quickly. Within a month.”
“…Really? A month?”
“Yeah. A month. Within a month.”
He had to add that condition, Eun-ha said firmly, and a chattering voice came from behind his shoulder. You’re joking, right, Hyung? You’re just saying that, right? I have to go to school. Finals are coming up soon… And there’s something I want to do during vacation. Vacation is still a month away, but if you tell me to use them all up in a month, what am I supposed to do?
He ignored him, and the persuasion, or perhaps whining, showed no sign of stopping. Had he always been this talkative? It seemed like he had become a little more comfortable around him. Or maybe he was just excited. Ever since he had joined in on that bet, or whatever it was, yesterday, he had seemed happy.
And Eun-ha pretended not to hear anything. He didn’t know what kind of dreams he was nurturing, looking ahead to vacation, but Eun-ha wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible. That way, he could go back to meeting men without worry.
Eun-ha, who had been consistently ignoring him, added a correction that yesterday should also count as one time. So that meant there were nine left. Yeon-jun disagreed again and kept talking. Eun-ha waved his hand dismissively.
“If we ate and held hands, that’s a date.”
“I grabbed your wrist, not your hand.”
“Same difference.”
The feeling was similar. Roughly, he had felt as elated as when he first held Kim Ji-woon’s hand. But that was a feeling he felt himself, and yesterday’s contact was different in that he vividly received Yeon-jun’s emotions.
Was that why he felt so strange for a moment?
And because he saw his past self overlapping with him again.
“……”
He was about to recall the unknown feeling he had received yesterday.
Suddenly, a presence came closer. Yeon-jun, who had approached, squatted right next to him. Eun-ha stared at him blankly, and he took the arm on the side that was touching him. Then, he nonchalantly took Eun-ha’s hand, which was dirty with soil, with his own. Confidently.
Oh… Eun-ha said, watching him with interest, and Yeon-jun, who was receiving that gaze, turned his head sharply to the other side. The lobe of his ear, which was propped up, was bright red. Eun-ha, who had scanned the piercing on his earlobe and the redness spreading to his neck, said, “What is this supposed to be?”
“…You said eating and holding hands is a date.”
“So?”
“…Well, yesterday I grabbed your wrist.”
“……”
“If I do this, will you count yesterday as one time too?”
He said it as if he was doing him a favor. Of course, Yeon-jun didn’t look like someone who was doing a favor at all. If he had to define it, he would be someone who was selfishly fulfilling his desires because he saw an opportunity.
“Okay. Thank you so much.”
Unbelievable. Unbelievable… Eun-ha muttered inwardly, and Yeon-jun replied, “Right… You’re welcome.” His neck was even redder. He could feel the heat from Yeon-jun’s large hand, where he could feel all the knuckles. That’s how the absurd morning passed. Holding hands, sitting side by side looking at the flowerpots, having meaningless conversations.
“I don’t want to go to school.”
“Are you an elementary school student?”
“Hyung, your hands are so small and soft.”
“……”
“How can they be like this?”
“…You’re just big.”
“Ah. I guess so. I’ve heard a few times that I would have been good at playing the piano.”
Piano. Suddenly, he thought of that kid’s Noona. Come to think of it, does he know? That there’s such a connection between us. He made up his mind to ask him about it in detail next time.
“Do you like concerts, Hyung?”
“I watch them well if I’m told to.”
“You said you like going to exhibitions.”
“Did I?”
“Yes. When we met at the art museum.”
Ah. That time. Eun-ha nodded. Yeon-jun even took his remaining hand and slowly stroked the tips of Eun-ha’s fingers. He seemed to be doing it unconsciously.
“When I found you from afar back then… I really thought it was a dream.”
“……”
“I thought, is this fate? And stuff.”
“It was a coincidence.”
“Let’s go see one together next time. A concert or an exhibition.”
“Sure, whatever.”
“What are you doing this afternoon?”
“I’m going to sleep, after I go home…”
You should go to school soon… Eun-ha said in a slightly annoyed tone, and Yeon-jun hung a subtle smile on his lips. It seemed like an unpleasant meaning, so when he asked why he was smiling like that, he shook his head with a suspicious look that clearly showed he had thought of something. Eun-ha became even more displeased, but he didn’t ask twice.
After Yeon-jun, who had been playing futile and cute tricks, went back to school, Eun-ha cleaned up and organized the warehouse in turn. He was brushing off the dirt on his body and leaving the terrace. He saw a piece of paper on the table where Yeon-jun had been sitting.
Eun-ha approached and picked it up absentmindedly, and for a moment, he slightly raised his eyelids. He stood still and stared at the picture in the paper for a long time. It was a picture of himself tilting his head slightly, closing his eyes, and basking in the sunlight.
All the lines were expressed thinly and delicately, as if he had put a lot of thought into it, and the overall atmosphere was very gentle. It was as if a lukewarm breeze was blowing in the picture. A picture that made it seem like a breeze was rising within him as well, coming from it.
…I was like this. That can’t be right.
“He beautified it too much…”
Eun-ha let out a faint laugh, not knowing if it was out of bewilderment or some other emotion. How could he express the moment when he was so tired that he was clinging to sunbathing like this? Should he be allowed to do something like this?
Eun-ha, who had become disgruntled, soon changed his mind. He decided that he shouldn’t allow him to draw pictures from now on.
Somehow, this was too… It felt like an ardent and blatant declaration of love.