Voices drawing out Jiseo’s participation could be heard from here and there, as if they had no intention of leaving him out.
Jiseo knew he couldn’t refuse and leave here. He should naturally blend in; if not, the atmosphere could be disrupted because of him.
Fortunately, since the spot next to Yeongwon was empty, Jiseo smiled and nodded, then naturally lay down.
‘The timing is about right, and if pheromones flow even a little, I can take him straight to a private jjimjil room.’
He couldn’t leave Yeongwon here and go out alone anyway. If it were the dorm, it wouldn’t bother him this much, but because of the location, he had to sharpen his senses.
The fire of emotions igniting and the body starting to… catch fire were strictly different.
“Everyone’s really lasting a long time. Is it doable?”
“My eyes won’t open, because of the sweat.”
“Me too. It stings a bit.”
“Use this towel. It’s clean.”
As time passed, sweat gradually started to appear on everyone’s faces, and groaning sounds could be heard from various places.
Among them, Yeongwon, who alone maintained a slightly fresh face, held out the towel he’d been holding.
Those who had already thrown away their towels with many wet marks from wiping their faces several times each exclaimed in admiration and quickly received the towel.
“If you look carefully, Yeongwon is really sweet.”
“He’s actually the most considerate and sweet among us. Just look at how he quietly helps with making meals every time.”
“He’s really kind, really.”
“You’re making me embarrassed to get me to leave first, right?”
“Not to that extent, but to make you sweat a bit. You look the least hot among us.”
Behind Yeongwon, who joked as if the sincere compliments were embarrassing, a joke followed.
To others’ eyes he would seem embarrassed, and actually half of it might be that feeling, but Yeongwon immediately looked at Jiseo.
He seemed to be showing off slightly that the evaluation directed at him was very good.
Jiseo smiled lightly and secretly flicked Yeongwon’s earlobe. It meant to boast without blushing.
At that, Jiseo silently let out a deflated laugh at the quick hand that rubbed his own ear.
If it had stopped there, Jiseo would have won hands down, but Yeongwon lightly grabbed Jiseo’s wrist and brought it to his own earlobe.
Jiseo’s hand was hotter than Yeongwon’s deeply colored ear. It seemed to protest that it wasn’t because he was embarrassed about lightly sending an eye signal, but because he was hot.
Jiseo, watching Yeongwon who had turned his head away from him just like that, suddenly lightly covered his own nose and mouth with his fingers.
It wasn’t to hold back laughter, but to check if any scent had gotten on his fingers.
‘Still okay.’
After confirming there was still no scent, Jiseo immediately stretched his arm over toward Yeongwon as if stretching.
Just then, he saw the person lying next to Yeongwon turn their head toward him. Jiseo, who had quickly moved his hand pretending to be nonchalant, lightly swept up Yeongwon’s forehead.
It wasn’t particularly a special touch, and since it passed briefly, no one seemed to notice. Of course, it was clear he’d reached out first in case the person facing him tried to wipe Yeongwon’s forehead.
It was because he was a bit bothered by whether they kept touching Yeongwon’s face and leaving their body scent on him.
“But what’s good about winning?”
“Getting out of tomorrow morning duty and sleeping in?”
“Oh, that’s good.”
As soon as the benefit that the winner of the contest that had been flowing along without any reward would gain was decided, Yeongwon fell into brief contemplation.
It was a meaningless reward for Yeongwon anyway. He had no intention of skipping any meal preparation during the retreat.
He could endure longer, but if he won here, even if he said he’d help, it seemed the others would stop him, telling him to rest.
He needed to feed Jiseo at least one more meal he made with his own hands. Though it couldn’t compare to Jiseo’s cooking skills, he wanted to show that he could do just as well.
Once that became familiar, maybe later he could occasionally make boxed lunches and send them to the filming location. He also wanted to make him quickly adapt to his food so he could eat it deliciously then.
Just as Yeongwon had overeaten only Jiseo’s food since childhood, he hoped the same thing would happen to Jiseo. Since delicious things make you want to eat a lot, the wish bloomed that it would be good if it was food he made.
“Ah, I can’t do this. I’m too hot, so I’m going out. My throat is parched, I really can’t stand it.”
“Really? You don’t look hot at all though? We’re already soaking wet, but Yeongwon, your clothes are perfectly fine.”
“Does sweating less make you feel hotter?”
“Liar. I think it’s because you feel awkward about skipping duty and sleeping in, isn’t it, Yeongwon?”
“Is it because of the maknae position again?”
“It’s not that… Actually, I like cooking. If what I get from forcing myself to endure is resting, I’d rather help the hyungs and noonas.”
“…”
“I’m going out. I lost.”
Yeongwon, as if worried someone might hold him back, hurriedly opened the door and stretched his legs outside. As soon as he did, Jiseo also moved his body as if to immediately follow.
“Can’t hyung stand it either?”
“Jiseo-ssi doesn’t seem to like the heat. He seems to have gotten a bit feverish?”
“Or could it be Jiseo-ssi also wants to do morning duty?”
“Huh? Yeongwon, why are you coming back in?”
It was when those who hadn’t noticed that Jiseo was deliberately leaving his spot spoke up at the unexpected result. Yeongwon, who had gone outside, came back inside and approached Jiseo closely, standing on tiptoe.
His lips, unable to control their speed, touched Jiseo’s ear as if bumping into it. Despite the brief contact, Yeongwon didn’t care and whispered.
“Hyung, endure just a bit more. You can sleep in tomorrow.”
“…”
“Since you’re a baby, you need lots of morning sleep, so you have to win.”
Jiseo, who was the first to learn the reason why Yeongwon had returned inside the steam room, let out a deflated laugh and replied.
“Me? When you know hyung wakes up at the crack of dawn.”
“You might be tired today, so sleep in and wake up tomorrow. I’ll make something tastier than usual.”
“…”
“Look forward to it and sleep in. Got it?”
Yeongwon hoped the person excluded from meal duty would be Jiseo. Because when he participated, most of the food was made under his hands.
“What. Is Yeongwon cheering for Jiseo?”
“He wants everyone to be fair except himself.”
“Or does he want to make breakfast with someone else?”
Those who had roughly caught the whispered content added on while joking. Thinking about it belatedly, it seemed too conspicuous to only cheer for Jiseo in a place where everyone had gathered.
Yeongwon, who wore a somewhat embarrassed smile, continued as if making an excuse.
“It’s not that—cooking with Jiseo hyung isn’t fun. Because hyung is so good at it. And also to keep Jiwoo hyung in check. I actually got eliminated quickly.”
“Then do you want to be the judge, Yeongwon?”
“I’ll make biased judgments. I might even secretly give water.”
Knowing it was an intention to deliberately give him a role so he wouldn’t be bored, Yeongwon smiled and blended in among them.
“Really? Whose side will you be biased toward? Mine?”
“Hyung is a rival, so of course not.”
“Too bad. Can’t be helped, but still I should be able to get a sip of water. Yeongwon, just one sip for hyung.”
“If you drink water, you’re eliminated.”
“Aw, so harsh. Okay. I’ll get some after it’s over.”
“…”
“Jiseo hyung, win first place for Yeongwon’s sake if nothing else. He’s enduring like that because he wants me to win.”
Jiwoo, who had been playfully teasing Yeongwon, laughed as if sulking and burned with will. Jiseo, who had ended up keeping his spot because of Yeongwon by accident, could only laugh along in resignation and lie back down.
It wasn’t to the point he couldn’t endure, and he had no intention of winning first place, but since Yeongwon sat right by his side and watched over him, and even the others were watching him, he had no choice.
Those who were forcing themselves to endure naturally didn’t catch his eye, but from Yeongwon came a slightly anxious gaze.
“If you’re hot, go outside. I’ll win first place and come out like you said.”
“No. I came out on purpose. I can endure a bit more.”
Yeongwon, who had clearly stated his intention while whispering, immediately had to withdraw his attention from Jiseo. It was because people were talking to him from here and there.
Somehow Jiseo felt that even if he gave up and left here, Yeongwon wouldn’t follow him out.
