Kim Yu-shin was with a young man. He smiled and enjoyed himself throughout. The man stroked Yu-shin’s hair without hesitation. Unhideable affection overflowed from the eyes and touch looking at Yu-shin.
“The course will be most satisfying. I’ll also order a few à la carte items suited to popular tastes. For wine, Pinot Noir would be good, but let’s also get a recommendation.”
Jun-wan asked for permission and ordered skillfully. He straightened his back and showed courtesy. He hadn’t expected to see Kim Yu-shin here, but ignoring him was enough.
Wine was served first. At the table, talk related to the upcoming academic conference was in full swing. Mainly the distinguished professor led the conversation while the others listened.
Jun-wan tilted his glass while glancing sideways. Contrary to his thoughts, his eyes found Yu-shin on their own.
What could be so enjoyable?
Kim Yu-shin generally smiled often, but he didn’t smile at just anyone. In crowded places or uncomfortable situations, his face especially became cold.
An expression that looked so aloof you’d think he’d never let anyone close—when such a person smiled with his eyes, your brain temporarily stopped. It was a smile that made you think he was beautiful regardless of gender.
And he was scattering such smiles freely. And to a rather clean-cut young man at that.
Was he forgetting he was a married man? Everyone in the world would know he was a taken person. It was too unguarded and unprincipled behavior.
The fingertips holding the wine glass turned white. Jun-wan glared fiercely without realizing it. The couple sitting far away was spending quality time together, completely unaware of this gaze.
“Huh? Isn’t that your wife?”
Choi Seon-jong sitting next to him also discovered Yu-shin while following Jun-wan’s gaze. Though they’d never properly exchanged words, he was as pleased as if meeting a close acquaintance.
“What, is it a coincidence?”
“Seems like it.”
“Aren’t you going to go say hi?”
“Not particularly. He seems to be having a good time over there.”
Jun-wan replied coldly and drained all his remaining wine. Choi Seon-jong didn’t think much of it.
“This place must be famous.”
It was a deflating assessment. To Choi Seon-jong’s eyes, that cozy scene apparently didn’t look suspicious. Jun-wan exhaled a long sigh through his nose. For some reason, the back of his neck kept tingling and his palms were sweating. Even the wine taste remaining in his mouth felt only bitter.
“I didn’t really like the escargot.”
“Really? I liked it.”
Yu-shin expertly extracted the snail with the dedicated tongs and fork. The escargot soaked in herbs and butter was just delicious.
He regretted the past days when he’d avoided it because of his poor stomach. Yu-shin diligently picked at the snails.
“I understand why you don’t like it, hyung.”
“Mm?”
“It’s because we didn’t order wine.”
Song Hyun-woo’s eyes went round. He then laughed as if dumbfounded.
“A guy who just got a checkup is asking for alcohol?”
“That’s why I’m asking permission, doctor.”
Yu-shin smiled, curving his eye corners prettily. Song Hyun-woo had no intention of resisting the deliberately deployed aegyo. Fortunately, the test results weren’t bad.
“If you’re going to drink anyway, have champagne. Just three glasses.”
As soon as permission was granted, Yu-shin called the sommelier and ordered the champagne he usually enjoyed. Seeing the alcohol filling the pretty glass, he hummed with anticipation. He lightly clinked glasses with Song Hyun-woo.
“So, how’s your married life? Is it bearable?”
The interrogation began as soon as the glass touched his lips. Yu-shin gazed intently at Song Hyun-woo while taking a mouthful of carbonated champagne.
“What are you curious about, our Song Hyun-woo?”
“Living with a complete stranger can’t be comfortable.”
“……”
Yu-shin had nothing to say and drank champagne repeatedly. As his drinking speed increased, Song Hyun-woo gently tapped the table to caution him.
“Isn’t it because hyung married Kim Sara that I ended up like this? Now that I think about it, I’m pissed.”
One glass emptied quickly. The quick-handed sommelier immediately refilled the glass. Thirsty Yu-shin put the glass to his lips again. Seeing this, Song Hyun-woo began to fret.
“I get it, so drink slowly.”
A baguette slathered with jam approached his mouth. Yu-shin opened his mouth with a displeased face and accepted the bread.
“I feel bad about that part too.”
“If you’re sorry, you pay for the drinks too, hyung.”
“…Do I really have to?”
Yu-shin narrowed his eyes. No matter what, he didn’t look hateful. Perhaps because they’d grown up seeing each other since childhood, Song Hyun-woo felt Yu-shin was like his own younger brother.
That’s why he worried all the more. Both that he’d married a man and Yu-shin’s weak body.
From what he’d heard, they planned to keep it secret to the end, but as his attending physician, it was an uneasy matter.
“I think Park Jun-wan should also know about your condition.”
“Then he’ll treat me like a patient.”
Yu-shin pouted his lips. He scratched the innocent tablecloth while propping his chin. Soon he grasped the champagne glass with his bare hand. It was the promised third glass.
“Honestly, living with Park Jun-wan isn’t comfortable. But that person at least sees me as a normal human being with healthy limbs. That’s why I like it.”
Park Jun-wan was the only person who scolded him for being lazy. People around him didn’t say anything even if Yu-shin lay down all day. Park Jun-wan was also the only person who reproached him for spending money like water.
He was sick of a life of being cherished and cared for. What Yu-shin truly wanted wasn’t independence in the simple sense of living apart from his parents, but living as a complete human being without the frame of being a patient with an incurable disease.
His principle-oriented personality was sometimes tiring, but he wanted to respect it. Come to think of it, Jun-wan always only said the right things. He was a man with many things to learn from.
“Hyung, I want at least that person to treat me normally. I have even less intention of using Park Jun-wan as my caretaker. I feel bad about lying, but it’s not particularly harming anyone either.”
“Yu-shin, there’s a limit to hiding it.”
“If I get caught, there’s nothing I can do, but not now.”
Yu-shin stated firmly. From his eyes meeting his directly, his determination was resolute. Song Hyun-woo, who’d watched Yu-shin battling illness up close since childhood, understood such feelings.
His family probably felt the same way. Worried and anxious, but it would have been difficult to break Yu-shin’s will. In the end, they had no choice but to watch over him with anxiety.
“Don’t make such a troubled face. I’m healthy these days, aren’t I? You should know that best, hyung?”
“That’s why I’m doing this. If your condition was bad, it wouldn’t even be a consideration, dude.”
“In that sense, let me drink one more glass.”
Yu-shin had already emptied his glass. He shook the empty glass gently and smiled with his eyes.
Perhaps because of his slightly flushed cheeks and disheveled smile, Yu-shin’s face was full of vitality. Song Hyun-woo scratched his forehead and reluctantly agreed. This time he personally filled the champagne.
“This is really the last one. No more.”
“Hyung, I love you.”
He lightly clinked glasses and brought the glass to his lips. Yu-shin’s head tilted back as he took a big gulp. At the edge of his slightly raised vision, a striking face appeared.
“……”
Jun-wan stood there with an icy face. One of his smooth cheeks was puffed out and his lowered gaze dissected Yu-shin’s face piece by piece.
Startled, Yu-shin spat out champagne while holding his glass.
“Kugh, kuhup! Cough!”
Half the champagne went down his throat and half flowed out of his mouth. Yu-shin’s chin, shirt collar, and the tablecloth below were all a mess from the champagne he’d spewed while coughing violently like someone who’d choked.
“Yu-shin!”
Song Hyun-woo quickly stood up holding a napkin. The napkin approaching Yu-shin’s mouth was blocked by Jun-wan’s hand. Jun-wan picked up a nearby napkin and personally wiped Yu-shin’s face.
“Did you commit a crime? You look like you saw a ghost.”
“No, you suddenly stood there, mmph.”
The napkin rubbed his face vigorously so he couldn’t speak properly. He was clearly wiping carefully, but the touch was oddly careless. It was just like washing a child’s face.
Song Hyun-woo turned pale at the sight. His hand, wanting to help but unable to reach out readily, uselessly stirred the empty air.
Jun-wan didn’t even glance in that direction. With an expressionless face, he only stared down at Yu-shin intently.
Even Jun-wan hadn’t anticipated barging into this situation. His resolution not to get involved in Kim Yu-shin’s private life at all had crumbled in just half a day.
The friendly eye smiles had been endless. And that wasn’t all? He’d nibbled away at dessert he wouldn’t even glance at when with him. Jun-wan had kicked back his chair and stood when Yu-shin accepted bread like a baby bird. He couldn’t bear to watch the disgraceful behavior in a public place.
Even while he closed the distance in an instant, the two people absorbed in their own world hadn’t noticed the situation at all. Finally, when Yu-shin wheedled for alcohol while acting cute in a distasteful way, a scoff escaped Jun-wan’s lips.
