Baek Iseon cupped Jang Juwon’s cheek, then lightly kissed his crown and opened the front door. Jang Juwon quickly ran outside. He wanted to get some cool air right now. His face felt like it would burst.
* * *
All the exams were over. The close trio of third-years came trudging out of the lecture hall looking like zombies. It was finally the moment of liberation.
“I want to sleep, I want to sleep, I want to sleep…….”
Choi Yeonho muttered. The other two felt exactly the same. Normally they would have gone to drink in celebration of exams ending, but today they decided to go home and supplement their lack of sleep. Jang Juwon also collapsed on his bed as soon as he returned to his studio apartment and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, it was late afternoon close to evening. When he checked his phone, there was one text from Baek Iseon.
*Did you do well on the exam?! >< I did well lol*
Jang Juwon unconsciously grinned and sent him a reply.
*Yes, well, thanks to you. Want to have dinner today? I’ll treat you.*
*Oh no~ I’m busy today so I can’t ㅠㅅㅠ Even if you’re disappointed, bear with it ^^lol*
“Ha, who’s disappointed?”
Jang Juwon muttered. Even though he said that, his face was full of regret. He just wanted to buy him a meal and quickly clear this feeling of being indebted, that’s all. Jang Juwon’s fingers moved busily.
*Who said they’re disappointed?*
However, after that, no reply came from Baek Iseon. It seemed what he said about being busy was true. Since it’s Friday today, most exams should be over. Fourth-years must have exams until next week, he thought.
He was hungry and tried to satisfy his hunger with what was roughly in the refrigerator, but today this cramped studio apartment felt extremely spacious. He tried contacting Shin Jisu and Choi Yeonho for no reason, but both didn’t reply. They were probably still sleeping.
“…….”
With exams over, he had time to spare, and because he slept well during his afternoon nap, he wasn’t sleepy, but he had no friends to hang out with.
“Ah, you really have no answer. Jang Juwon…….”
Words emptily spoken circled in the air. Jang Juwon knew well what was needed at times like this. It was alcohol. Right, let’s drink. Jang Juwon roughly put on any jumper he could grab and went outside.
When he arrived at the convenience store and went to the liquor section, he saw a man who had arrived before him and was occupying a spot choosing alcohol. Wearing a black baseball cap, it was someone Jang Juwon knew very well.
“Youngjae sunbae?”
“Oh, Juwon-ah. Hi.”
Come to think of it, he realized that Hyun Youngjae lived in the building right next to his house. Why hadn’t he thought of him earlier?
“Sunbae, want to drink together at my place?”
“With, with me……?”
“Yes. You helped me a lot. I’ll treat you.”
Jang Juwon smiled brightly. Hyun Youngjae also smiled shyly and nodded his head slightly.
The two tilted their glasses cheerfully not knowing how late into the night it was. The pleasantly risen intoxication enhanced the atmosphere.
“So that bastard Donghyuk confessed to Shin Jisu in the group chat, right?”
“Hahaha! Really? Donghyuk?”
“Yes. So then Shin Jisu said to Donghyuk…….”
Jang Juwon and Hyun Youngjae excitedly chattered using their common enemy Donghyuk as snacks. Even Hyun Youngjae, who seemed only timid, unexpectedly matched his rhythm actively. Jang Juwon thought he got along with Hyun Youngjae better than expected.
But their alcohol tolerance didn’t match. Unlike Jang Juwon who was fine even after emptying several bottles of soju, Hyun Youngjae was already passed out with his head on the floor.
“Sunbae, are you sleeping?”
Jang Juwon tried to shake him awake, but he didn’t budge.
“…….”
Once Hyun Youngjae fell asleep too, silence visited the room again. Jang Juwon glanced at his phone for no reason. It was 2 AM. The bland status bar with no contact coming felt more empty today.
*’Is Baek Iseon sleeping now? Or is he studying?’*
He didn’t know why he kept thinking of him. He remembered the last time he saw him a few days ago. Baek Iseon who hastily bumped lips as if he would devour him right away, his large hand that cupped his cheek, the lips that touched his crown kept coming to mind. And he recalled himself with his body heated clinging to his neck and the moments when he almost asked to be held.
*’It’s because it’s been a long time since we did it.’*
Come to think of it, almost two weeks had passed since the last time they’d done it. Was that why? Because it had been so long since they’d done it. Out of habit, Jang Juwon picked up his phone and logged into Tintin. He scrolled down, quickly skimming through the profiles, but soon irritably turned off the screen.
Jang Juwon sensed he was fucked. Now, no matter how many of these idiots he met, he wouldn’t be satisfied. He thought of him again. His face grew hot and his body heated up.
“Fuck……”
Jang Juwon carefully got up so as not to wake Hyun Youngjae and went into the bathroom.
He thought dousing himself in cold water might help, but it was completely useless. The unrelenting heat kept wanting something, wanting more.
“Hhng……!”
Jang Juwon clenched his teeth to keep any sounds from escaping. His own fingers were too thin and short compared to his. So they weren’t enough. Fuck, really not nearly enough.
“Baek Iseon……”
Without realizing it, he let his name slip out. His head was dizzy.
After finishing a quick shower and coming out, he saw Hyun Youngjae still sleeping sprawled face-down on the floor. To be doing this kind of thing while having a guest over. He felt self-loathing along with guilt. Jang Juwon brought over a spare blanket and covered Hyun Youngjae’s body with it. When he turned off the lights and lay down on the bed himself, perhaps due to drowsiness, sleep quickly came over him.
He ended up waking from sleep due to the phone ringing. Seeing how bright the room was, it seemed to be morning. Coming out of the room with his eyes barely half-open and looking around, Hyun Youngjae wasn’t visible—he must have left first. Jang Juwon barely blinked his sleepy eyes as he picked up the continuously ringing phone.
The moment his eyes focused on the screen, sleep fled instantly. The three-character name displayed on the screen was the very name he had secretly uttered last night.
“……Sunbae?”
– Jang Juwon. Did I wake you?
“Mmm…… What is it?”
– I think I have some time today. Want to meet?
“What for……”
Jang Juwon responded gruffly for no reason. Remembering what happened during the night made him feel unsettled.
– You said you’d buy me a meal.
“Ah.”
– Come out. I’ll wait in front of your house.
“Okay……”
After roughly washing his face and going downstairs, Baek Iseon was standing there leaning against his car. Unlike usual, he was dressed neatly in a suit with his hair—clearly touched by someone’s hand—styled cleanly swept back. Looking at him again, his appearance was truly flawless. When Baek Iseon spotted Jang Juwon who had just come down, he smiled brightly and waved his hand.
Again. His heart started pounding again. This time he wasn’t even surprised. That strange, inexplicable displeasure began to creep up again. Jang Juwon frowned for no reason.
As he approached closer, he could smell a light fragrance. He really dressed up properly. Jang Juwon looked up and down at his unfamiliar outfit and spat out words.
“Did you have an interview today or something?”
“Haha, no. Well, just…… I did some part-time work.”
He answered with a light shrug. Jang Juwon wanted to ask what kind of part-time work someone with so much money would do, but decided against it since it seemed too rude. Besides, Baek Iseon was brushing it off vaguely, and it didn’t seem like he wanted to talk about it further. Now that he thought about it, while Baek Iseon seemed to talk a lot, he had never actually talked about himself first.
Would it be okay to ask just a little bit? Not that he wanted to know everything, but really just a tiny bit. They’d even slept together, so wouldn’t it be stranger not to know anything? Wouldn’t he have the right to ask things like what food he liked, why he was busy last week, what kind of part-time work he did?
‘Should I ask during the meal?’
As Jang Juwon stood there blankly, lost in thought, Baek Iseon gestured for him to get in the car. Jang Juwon naturally got into the passenger seat.
“I’ve found a place. Should we go there? The address is……”
“Let’s eat at my place today. I’ll cook for you.”
Just as he was about to tell Baek Iseon the restaurant address while fastening his seatbelt, something very unexpected came out of his mouth.
“What? But wasn’t I supposed to be the one treating you?”
“I can’t eat regular food for a while.”
“Why? Does it have to do with what you dressed up for today?”
“Mm…… You could say that.”
When Baek Iseon brushed it off vaguely again, Jang Juwon responded gruffly without realizing it.
“Then eat by yourself, why did you call me out?”
“Because you seemed disappointed.”
