# Chapter 151
Back when he first became aware of his first love, he never imagined that such a day would come eight years later. The feelings he had denied, ignored, and killed under his own judgment of inappropriate emotions were now overflowing with happiness so intense that he could feel it in every cell of his body.
Mo Eunje felt newly grateful to Tae Igyeol for not giving up on him and liking him for 10 years. If Tae Igyeol had closed his heart midway like he had, they wouldn’t be enjoying today’s happiness.
“Thank you for continuing to like me. I really feel so good. I’m not dreaming right now, am I?”
“Want me to confirm it for you?”
“Huh? Um…”
Tae Igyeol cupped Mo Eunje’s cheek with his large palm. Their eyes, filled with each other, met, and their faces drew closer. Flustered by the obvious intention given the atmosphere, Mo Eunje quickly pushed his face away with his palm.
“Hey, are you in your right mind?”
“Why? We already got permission.”
“Stop being reckless and come to your senses. We got caught earlier because we were being careless and inconsiderate. Even though we got permission, we’re not the only ones here.”
“Haa…”
Shit.
Tae Igyeol muttered a curse in a voice so low it was barely audible. Mo Eunje pretended not to hear and drank his beer. Now that they had the environment and conditions to love each other comfortably, and time was all they had, there was no need to rush.
“It seems like I’m the only one going crazy and anxious about liking you.”
“No delusions of grandeur allowed.”
“I don’t mind either way. You just receive the love I give. I’m happy just with you accepting it. I’ve achieved my wish in this life, so there’s nothing more I want now.”
“You crazy bastard, what do you mean ‘just receive’? I like you too.”
Mo Eunje pretended to give in and quickly gave Tae Igyeol a peck on the lips before swiftly pulling back. Tae Igyeol’s lips softened at what happened in the blink of an eye.
“And what do you mean there’s nothing more you want? I have a lot of things I want to do with you.”
“What do you want to do with me?”
“Just this and that.”
“What this and that?”
“Mmm… sexy things, and sexy things too, and now that we’re lovers, sexy things seem okay too, or maybe sexy things?”
As soon as the words fell, Tae Igyeol faced him again. Mo Eunje, who had burst into laughter after saying this while counting on his fingers, pushed Tae Igyeol’s face away with both palms together. Tae Igyeol frowned, narrowing his eyes, looking displeased.
“No impressionist giants allowed.”
“You said you wanted to do sexy things. I’ve built up a lot.”
“You think you’re the only one who’s built up?”
“So I’m saying let’s at least kiss, why do you keep pushing me away?”
“Now that we’ve got permission, there’s nothing to fear. But I’m sexually frustrated, so if we kiss, I can’t stop. Since I can’t trust myself, be satisfied with this until we get to Korea.”
Once more, Mo Eunje grabbed both of Tae Igyeol’s cheeks and suddenly kissed him, running his tongue around inside his mouth. Before Tae Igyeol could properly entwine his tongue, Mo Eunje pulled away quickly as if escaping. Tae Igyeol’s hand, which belatedly tried to grab the back of Mo Eunje’s neck, stopped lonely in the air.
‘Friends? I imagine rolling around naked when I see you, can we still remain just friends?’
Suddenly, Tae Igyeol’s words flashed like an auditory hallucination. Because Tae Igyeol was pure and innocent, he probably literally imagined them rolling around touching each other’s bodies while naked. So if he knew what Mo Eunje had done with him in his dreams, his face would probably turn bright red, about to burst, and he wouldn’t know what to do.
Later, when he got the chance to tease him, he should bring it up. Somehow, Tae Igyeol seemed like he would be more embarrassed when expressing things verbally than when physically engaged in the act itself. Anyway, they were both inexperienced, but since he at least had dating experience compared to Tae Igyeol, who was a lifelong single, he felt the heavy responsibility of having to take the lead.
“Igyeol. If you knew what your hyung has done with you in his head, you’d be so shocked that you’d fall backward. You don’t know, but I’m actually a beast inside.”
“…Ah, this is really…”
Can’t pounce on him here either…
Tae Igyeol, muttering the latter part inaudibly, covered his mouth with one hand and hunched over. Even under the dim lighting, Mo Eunje could see the back of his neck and ears turning red. Tae Igyeol, despite his imposingly large build and prickly demeanor, was truly innocent, and the more Mo Eunje looked at him, the more cute aspects he discovered. The sight of this cold-looking guy who seemed like he could chew through steel blushing at the tips of his ears was incredibly lovable. Mo Eunje made Tae Igyeol lift his face, and while maintaining eye contact, he narrowed his eyes and smiled brightly, causing the light-colored irises to ripple deeply.
“Our Igyeol’s face is red? What were you thinking to make your face turn red?”
“Shut up.”
Tae Igyeol, frowning, gulped down the rest of his beer. Then he snatched the beer Mo Eunje was holding and drank it all before crushing the can with his large hand.
“Phew… Eunje. Shall we go for a walk?”
“At this time of night?”
“I’m more sexually frustrated than you. I feel like I’m going crazy. If I go inside like this, I won’t be able to sleep.”
“Oh, okay. Let’s walk. If we both can’t sleep from holding back, let’s walk until sunrise. Let’s walk until our legs feel like they weigh a thousand pounds from exhaustion.”
“Damn. When does this vacation end? From winter, we’re skipping family vacations.”
“Who decides that? Don’t wait for the vacation to end, but enjoy the moment we’re together now.”
Mo Eunje got up and extended his hand to Tae Igyeol. Tae Igyeol grabbed Mo Eunje’s hand to stand up and interlaced their fingers.
“Just wait until we get to Korea.”
“I’m telling you I’m looking forward to it. So, Tae Igyeol. You look forward to it too.”
The days we’ll spend more intimately together under the name of lovers…
Mo Eunje and Tae Igyeol started walking, tightly holding their interlaced hands and matching their steps. The half-empty waning half-moon, shining brightly in the dark night sky, illuminated the path for the two men. They vowed not to let go of the hands they had been holding from the beginning until now.
Still, they didn’t know exactly what love was. But they believed they could learn step by step if they were together. Mo Eunje couldn’t die for Tae Igyeol, but without Tae Igyeol, Mo Eunje would also lose the meaning of life and couldn’t continue living.
The story of these two, who finally fully acknowledged and accepted each other’s hearts and began to love, has just begun.
# Epilogue
The heat was suffocating. I only realized I hadn’t packed sunglasses when I faced the blindingly bright sunlight outside Incheon Airport, even though I had checked the Korean weather before boarding the plane. My eyes narrowed instinctively from the discomfort that felt like sparks flying inside my eyelids.
“I figured this would happen, so I brought sunglasses.”
You pulled out a sunglasses case from the eco bag hanging on one shoulder. With neat movements, you opened the case, took out the sunglasses, and put them on me. I raised the corners of my lips slightly and draped my arm over your shoulder.
Why do your actions become more endearing as time passes?
With one layer of light blocked, the discomfort was somewhat alleviated, and I could hear the adults talking. Since we had brought Grandmother and Grandfather along at the end of the summer vacation, opinions were leaning toward all having dinner together.
Unlike the average 4-night, 5-day vacations, we had spent a week living together at Grandmother’s house during this extended summer vacation, yet the adults were reluctant to part and decided on a dinner menu. After deciding on the menu, we would split up into taxis and meet again at the agreed location for dinner.
Even in this scorching heat where just standing for a moment would make one drenched in sweat, I didn’t remove my arm draped over your shoulder as if in a friendly embrace. The adults didn’t seem to mind this light embrace, as it was something we had always done.
You turned your head toward me as if you had something to say while listening to the adults’ conversation. I tilted my head slightly to focus only on your voice.
“Let’s slip away from here.”
My hair stood on end from your voice whispering in my ear, with your face so close that I could feel your breath. As the lazy breathing brushing my ear momentarily made my chest tingle and heat gather in my lower abdomen, I quickly thought of something else.
“I can’t wait any longer.”
But my efforts were rendered futile as you continued your words by placing your lips right against my ear. Whether intentional or accidental, the soft touch of your lips grazing and then leaving my earlobe was unbearably spine-tingling. Unnecessary impatience and anxiety arose, making me swallow dry saliva and moisten my lips.
“I’ll pretend to be sick.”
I doubt anyone will fall for that.
I deliberately swallowed the words lingering on the tip of my tongue. Your desire to be alone with me even a second faster, even through such a feeble trick, matched my own desire without the slightest deviation. Rather, your behavior, suggesting we quickly be alone together by lying to the adults, excited me.
You frowned and took several deep breaths, pretending to have indigestion in earnest. Even though the adults didn’t seem to be fooled at all despite my pretense of supporting you, thanks to Grandmother stepping in and pretending to believe us, we were able to slip away safely, just the two of us. After sending the adults and Tae Iden away in two call vans due to the amount of luggage, we also lined up to get a taxi.
“Let’s order pork kimchi stew as soon as we get home.”
“No. There’s something we need to do first.”
I opposed your opinion with a determination that suggested I would do what needed to be done even if the sky split in two, the earth rose up, and the world collapsed.
“What are you going to do that’s so grave?”
“The vacation is over, and this is Korea.”
“I know the vacation is over and this is Korea. But what are you going to do that can’t even wait for a meal? Is there something more urgent than eating?”
You deliberately pretended not to know, tilting your head at an angle and asking playfully. Your shiny black eyes were filled with my image. Every time you blinked your playful eyes, your long, thick eyelashes fluttered neatly.
I took off the sunglasses, placed them on top of your head, and unexpectedly stepped back. Then one step, another step, and yet another step back, I fixed my gaze on you as you watched me.
Countless rays of sunlight poured down only on you.
Do you know how beautiful and wonderful you are?
You were so dazzling that it seemed like you might disappear just like that. As soon as I felt this mysterious anxiety, I quickly approached you and put my arm around your shoulder again, keeping you in my embrace. I heard a light chuckling sound near my ear.
“What did you just do?”
The wave circle pendant around your neck reflected light from the one on my wrist. Perhaps because you couldn’t hold my hand, you fidgeted with the pendant on my wrist.
“I love you.”
I whispered in your ear, tilting my head so only you could hear. You hunched your shoulders and burst out laughing. Just seeing your innocent, bright smile made my heart swell.
I don’t remember exactly when I started liking you. If someone asked what prompted it, or why I liked you… I could only counter-question how I could not like you. From the moment I became aware of the emotion called love, my heart has always been directed only toward you.
And fortunately, my heart, which has become the recipient of your love, was completely satisfied and happy.
<The End.>
