By Zephyria 
Holding the plate of cake with both hands, Jae-gyeom spoke while sweating profusely.
“It’s a yogurt fresh cream strawberry cake.”
When Jae-gyeom opened the door, Yoon Tae-hee was sitting on the bed with his phone pressed to his ear. He seemed to be in the middle of a call with someone. Their eyes met. Yoon Tae-hee froze, his gaze locked onto Jae-gyeom standing there with the cake.
“…….”
“…….”
A brief silence fell as if time had stopped, and then Yoon Tae-hee suddenly spoke.
“……All of a sudden?”
Just as Jae-gyeom managed a small, awkward smile, a faint voice could be heard speaking from the other end of Yoon Tae-hee’s phone.
“No, I didn’t tell the Head of department.”
Yoon Tae-hee spoke into the phone.
“Yes, I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow. Yes.”
Keeping his eyes fixed on Jae-gyeom, Yoon Tae-hee ended the call, then tilted his head and asked, “Why the cake?” Jae-gyeom read his expression and spoke hesitantly.
“I heard you like cake.”
“Did you go out and buy this for me?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because you seemed to be in a bad mood.”
“…….”
After a moment of silence with an expressionless face, Yoon Tae-hee simply admitted it.
“Yeah. I’m in a bad mood.”
At that, Jae-gyeom approached Yoon Tae-hee, who was sitting on the bed. He sat down on the edge of the mattress and slid the plate of cake toward him.
Jae-gyeom smiled as wide as he could.
“Here, go ahead and try some cake.”
Yoon Tae-hee looked at the cake, then at Jae-gyeom, and said with narrowed eyes.
“Feed me.”
“What?”
“You feed me.”
“…….”
“If you don’t feed me, I won’t eat it.”
Jae-gyeom paused for a moment at the cringeworthy request, unsure if it was a test or a protest.
“…….”
Feed him? Is he serious?
Looking at Yoon Tae-hee’s expression, he didn’t seem to be joking. After thinking for a moment, Jae-gyeom hesitantly gripped the fork resting on the plate. He then broke off a bite-sized piece of cake and held it up to Yoon Tae-hee’s lips. Yoon Tae-hee opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.
“U-um, how is it? Is it good?”
After eating the cake, Yoon Tae-hee neither confirmed nor denied. Instead, as if asking to be fed more, he simply closed his eyes slowly and left his mouth half-open.
One bite, then another…….
In the quiet silence between them, the occasional clink of the utensils echoed. The cycle continued several times: Jae-gyeom scooping up cake and Yoon Tae-hee opening his mouth to receive it. It felt like gently soothing a very sulky child.
It was when they had eaten about half the cake.
This time, the timing was off by a beat as he extended the fork, and he ended up smudging fresh cream on Yoon Tae-hee’s lip. As he hurried to wipe it off with a tissue, Yoon Tae-hee spoke in a pouty voice.
“Don’t wipe it with a tissue. Lick it off with your mouth.”
“……What?”
“Lick it off with your tongue.”
He was baffled by such a request, but he decided to do as asked for now. As soon as he tentatively stuck out his tongue and licked the cream away, a new request followed immediately.
“Not just the outside, lick the inside too.”
Only then did Jae-gyeom realize. Yoon Tae-hee was using this situation as an excuse to act completely spoiled. He almost laughed, but Jae-gyeom set the plate aside, held Yoon Tae-hee’s cheek—who was now quietly closing his eyes—and slowly brought his lips forward.
The moment their lips met, Yoon Tae-hee opened his mouth as if he had been waiting. Jae-gyeom carefully licked the inside of Yoon Tae-hee’s mouth with his tongue. Then, Yoon Tae-hee slid his arms under Jae-gyeom’s armpits and hoisted him up, seating him on his thighs.
The kiss, which began with the act of licking cream, gradually transformed into a deeper kiss. As their tongues entwined softly, the pleasant, characteristic sweetness of the fresh cream transferred from Yoon Tae-hee’s mouth to Jae-gyeom’s. It was a refreshing, sweet, and soft kiss.
After kissing for a while, Jae-gyeom eventually pulled his lips away and gazed quietly at Yoon Tae-hee’s face. Yoon Tae-hee slowly opened his eyes and looked back at him. Jae-gyeom opened his arms and pulled Yoon Tae-hee’s head against his chest in an embrace.
“How about now? Are you not angry anymore?”
Jae-gyeom asked while holding Yoon Tae-hee’s head tightly in his arms.
“…….”
Yoon Tae-hee didn’t answer.
In truth, his anger had vanished long ago.
It had been gone from the moment Jae-gyeom appeared before him holding the cake in both hands.
Without a word, Yoon Tae-hee wrapped his arms around Jae-gyeom’s waist and rubbed his nose against his chest. He loved the flat, board-like chest unbearably. Being held like this gave him a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, as if he had finally become something precious to Jae-gyeom.
“Do you like me?”
Jae-gyeom answered by burying his nose in Yoon Tae-hee’s hair.
“Of course I do.”
“Then give me a kiss.”
No sooner had he spoken than Jae-gyeom pressed a kiss to Yoon Tae-hee’s forehead.
“On my eyes too.”
Chu.
“On my cheeks too.”
Chu.
“Do my lips too.”
Chu.
“Stroke my hair.”
Jae-gyeom continued to hold Yoon Tae-hee’s head while softly stroking his hair.
Yoon Tae-hee buried his face in Jae-gyeom’s chest and took a deep breath. A unique, languid body scent—both comforting and stimulating—filled his lungs and captivated him. Yoon Tae-hee suppressed a strong urge to slide his head under Jae-gyeom’s t-shirt and suck on his chest. After slowly catching his breath, Yoon Tae-hee spoke quietly.
“Besides taking photos, what else did you do with Im Hyo-mun?”
“Nothing much. We just talked at a cafe.”
“About what?”
“Hmm, about how he’s studying for the GED and….”
It seems he cooled down faster than I thought. When Yoon Tae-hee asked about Im Hyo-mun, Jae-gyeom realized that he had finally softened. After Jae-gyeom gave a brief summary of the conversation he had with Im Hyo-mun, Yoon Tae-hee, who had been listening silently, offered his critique.
“It’s annoying.”
“Why is it annoying?”
“I’m jealous.”
“I’m the one you like, so why are you jealous?”
Yoon Tae-hee asked while slumped limply in Jae-gyeom’s arms.
“Who do you like more, me or Im Hyo-mun?”
“You, obviously.”
“Who’s more handsome, me or Im Hyo-mun?”
“Why are you asking? You are.”
“Who’s prettier, me or Im Hyo-mun?”
“Are you kidding? You’re prettier.”
Jae-gyeom said, patting Yoon Tae-hee’s head. Only then did Yoon Tae-hee seem satisfied, hugging Jae-gyeom tightly and burying his face in the crook of his neck.
“Do you wish I wouldn’t meet Im Hyo-mun?”
At Jae-gyeom’s question, Yoon Tae-hee was silent for a moment.
If he were to answer honestly and without reservation, the answer would be ‘yes.’ He wanted to say that he wished Jae-gyeom would look only at him, think only of him, and that he wished he were the only one in Jae-gyeom’s world.
However, he couldn’t bring himself to answer that way.
Because he wanted Jae-gyeom to be happier and freer than anyone else. He wanted Jae-gyeom to meet many people, experience many things, and have a wider world. Jae-gyeom’s life belonged to Jae-gyeom. No matter how much he wanted to possess it, even if Jae-gyeom were to offer it to him first, it was something Yoon Tae-hee should not take.
So, after much deliberation, Yoon Tae-hee answered.
“No. Not really.”
In truth, Yoon Tae-hee didn’t even know what made him so anxious and feel so small. He didn’t know why he constantly felt as if Jae-gyeom would leave him behind.
Like a bird that perches on a branch for a moment only to fly away into the vast open sky, or like someone who stays for only one season before departing for a place beyond reach, Yoon Tae-hee suffered from an inexplicable anxiety that Jae-gyeom would simply disappear somewhere.
“You can do whatever you want.”
At those words, Jae-gyeom unconsciously smiled.
“Okay.”
Jae-gyeom spoke, affectionately patting Yoon Tae-hee’s back.
“Then let’s go take four-cut photos together tomorrow.”
“I don’t think I can tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“I agreed to meet Seok Ju-ryeon.”
Jae-gyeom looked puzzled at Yoon Tae-hee’s words.
Ah, come to think of it, he seemed to be on the phone with someone earlier… was that Seok Ju-ryeon?
“How did he know you came to Seoul?”
“I know. Maybe he put a tail on me.”
“What did Seok Ju-ryeon say? Why are you meeting him?”
Yoon Tae-hee, who had been lounging comfortably in Jae-gyeom’s arms, straightened his posture. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, casting his gaze somewhere, before slowly meeting Jae-gyeom’s eyes and speaking.
“That man… he’s taking office as the Head of the Narye Bureau next month.”