“…Ah, yes.”
“See, I told you!”
The women clasped each other’s hands and giggled. They’d been stealing glances at Jun-wan and Yu-shin for a while before gathering courage to approach. And for good reason—even comparing with the photos circulating on the internet, they were filled with uncertainty. The photos didn’t capture even half of the real thing.
“Congratulations on your marriage!”
“…Thank you.”
Jun-wan closed his eyes tightly and opened them. In his troubled mind, he rubbed near his eyebrows with his fingertips. However, he soon composed his expression and returned to his inherently cold face.
His gaze naturally turned toward Yu-shin. Though his lazy posture remained unchanged, his white toes were tightly curled. He was just pretending to sleep, but clearly he was listening to this entire conversation.
“Um… could you take just one photo with us? We’re fans.”
“I’m a civilian.”
Jun-wan refused flatly. He wasn’t a celebrity, so calling themselves fans was nonsense. Since it was the other party who was being rude, there was nothing to feel sorry about.
As if not expecting such a cold response, the other party’s faces hardened stiffly. Yu-shin wiggled his toes. Regardless of how the two women felt, Jun-wan’s attention was only on that side.
“We’re sorry. We were too rude.”
Fortunately, the women had proper sense. They took one more look at Jun-wan and Yu-shin to imprint them in their eyes, told them to have a good time, and withdrew.
Jun-wan nodded in response. He let out a long breath through his nose and focused on his book again. However, he couldn’t read a single word. It was unusual for Jun-wan.
The spot where they sat was the best spot among the best, with a view of downtown Seoul. It was a place that any guest entering the rooftop would inevitably look at least once.
Moreover, attention was concentrated because of the people who’d made a fuss earlier. More and more people were surreptitiously recognizing Jun-wan and Yu-shin.
Jun-wan eventually closed his book.
“Kim Yu-shin ssi.”
As soon as he called, Yu-shin lowered his sunglasses to the bridge of his nose. Sure enough, there was no sleepiness in his large eyes.
“Let’s go have dinner.”
As if he’d been waiting, Yu-shin lowered his bare feet below the chair. After quickly slipping on his leather mules and standing up while holding the chair, his knees wobbled.
Jun-wan, who was organizing his seat, quickly caught him. His face turned pale with shock. Jun-wan checked Yu-shin’s condition while firmly gripping his arm.
“What’s wrong?”
“My foot got caught on the chair…”
Yu-shin lied shamelessly. He didn’t want to say for the life of him that his head spun because he got up suddenly. Fortunately, Jun-wan seemed to believe the clumsy lie. He let go of his arm and turned around first.
Even in the hotel’s fine dining, the stares didn’t cease. Both were accustomed to others’ attention, but they had no immunity to blatant gossiping behind their backs.
Yu-shin was especially uncomfortable. There wasn’t even a trace of a smile on his face, and he hadn’t said a word since sitting down. The speed at which he cut his appetizer was also slow.
The table without conversation was filled only with silence. Just as discomfort was building instead of the food’s fragrant flavor, Jun-wan opened his mouth first.
“Is it burdensome?”
“It is, I suppose.”
“What is?”
“Usually… they don’t stare this openly. Since so many eyes are watching, I feel like I should do something…”
Jun-wan lightly swirled his wine glass. His gaze scanning the surroundings became sharper. Indeed, the curiosity toward the same-sex couple was excessive. It was no different from watching monkeys at a zoo.
A short breath escaped his lips.
“Anyway, everyone will know that we had a political marriage. There’s no need to act like lovers who truly love each other.”
Yu-shin slowly lifted his head. Jun-wan’s words, which were cold to the point of being chilly beyond just bland, were strangely reassuring. He put down the cutlery he was holding and picked up his wine glass following Jun-wan.
“How long do you think the attention will last?”
“At most a week? We just made the first start, but soon couples getting married will pour out. Whether it’s men together or women together, couples sticking together will be commonly seen. It’ll become a general phenomenon.”
“I really hope so.”
“Let’s get along reasonably well.”
Jun-wan extended his glass first.
Yu-shin also relaxed his stiff expression and clinked glasses. At the clear clink, his tense body relaxed considerably.
Now he could properly taste the food. Yu-shin cut the soft octopus flesh into small pieces and put it in his mouth.
His gaze suddenly went to his left ring finger. The ring was so splendid that it sparkled with brilliant light at the slightest movement. Yu-shin examined the ring closely with his left hand fully extended.
“The ring… did you choose it yourself?”
Jun-wan, who was cutting in front, paused. He carefully rolled his tongue and said.
“No, the staff recommended it.”
“It looks like it’s order-made.”
“……”
“Isn’t my ring too fancy?”
Jun-wan didn’t even respond. He feigned ignorance saying it wasn’t his concern and focused only on his own food.
Yet his gaze sneakily turned forward. Yu-shin was still examining the ring with his fingers extended. As expected, it suited him well. It wouldn’t be easy for a diamond ring comparable to a crown to suit someone that well.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I never said I liked it.”
“……”
“I’m joking. Why are you staring so fiercely?”
Yu-shin’s eyes folded smoothly. As if his eye smile was his secret weapon. It was clear he knew its effect was considerable. Jun-wan deliberately looked away.
“How’s the watch? I chose it according to my taste.”
“It’s a design you’d wear when you want to show off having money. It’s heavy and cumbersome, not a watch to wear while working.”
Jun-wan spoke honestly. He wasn’t the type to give pleasant comments for others to hear anyway. He was just being his usual self, but Yu-shin’s expression was unusual. When he met those round eyes, Jun-wan’s brow furrowed on its own.
What do you expect? My tone is naturally stiff.
Should you make that hurt face?
“There are professors older than me in the research lab and I often give lectures too. I mean it doesn’t look good to the students.”
Jun-wan said while rubbing his furrowed brow. Uncharacteristically, he was adding supplementary explanations.
“So I tend to avoid excessive luxury goods.”
“Ah.”
Yu-shin made a sound close to a sigh as if gaining enlightenment. He nodded and started cutting again.
The conversation cut off once more. Somehow the silence flowing over the table was more uncomfortable than people’s stares.
Kim Yu-shin wasn’t very sociable to begin with. He wasn’t talkative nor eloquent. Park Jun-wan wasn’t much different. For a researcher busy with his own work, conversation was just a means to exchange necessary communication.
However, seeing the increasingly sinking dinner table, the one with somewhat better social skills should step up. Jun-wan swallowed the rest of his wine.
“Is there anything you can’t eat?”
“…Spicy food.”
He looks like that. Jun-wan rubbed his lips.
“I don’t think spicy food is the only thing you won’t eat.”
“I don’t like mushy textures like stir-fried eggplant. Seafood is okay, but I don’t like seafood with strong scents.”
“Because it’s fishy?”
Yu-shin nodded. As if embarrassed to recite his picky eating tendencies, a slight redness appeared on his cheeks.
“It’s not severe, but I also have a peanut allergy.”
“How bad does it get?”
“Just my throat swells up? It goes down quickly if I take medicine.”
Isn’t that severe? Jun-wan frowned without realizing it.
“What about you, Jun-wan ssi?”
“I’m not picky about food.”
“I thought so.”
Yu-shin, who had been humming low, suddenly laughed silently.
“Shouldn’t we have had this conversation when we first met?”
“Whether the order is right or not, it’s fine that we know now.”
“…Right.”
The conversation broke off again. Jun-wan knew that his cold tone was the main culprit cutting off the conversation’s flow. However, he had no intention of fixing it.
“I heard you draw.”
“Yes, I’m taking a break now.”
“Must be comfortable. Being a freelancer.”
“……”
Yu-shin stared intently at Jun-wan while resting his chin on his hand. His soft lips soon burst into light laughter.
“Don’t you get a lot of misunderstandings normally?”
“What misunderstandings?”
“Like whether you’re angry or in a bad mood.”
“……”
“Park Jun-wan ssi is usually expressionless. On top of that, your tone is cold so it sounds even sharper.”
Yu-shin’s voice as he said that was gentle. In reality he was pointing out his manner of speaking, but it didn’t sound offensive at all.
“I’m okay. I won’t misunderstand.”
He smiled as if to say really and raised his wine glass. Jun-wan didn’t feel like it, but he toasted with him. The second clinking sound was lower and more friendly than before.
