# Chapter 170
“…Isn’t that normal?”
How many hunters who kill people could there be, besides illegal contractors?
“So I’m not normal, then.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“I guess you saw me as something like a murderer.”
“…”
Iyeon closed his mouth with a wince. M-my thoughts have changed now… His timid mumbling grew quieter and quieter. Seeing this, Sano’s gaze grew equally cold.
“Um, you said earlier we should keep pretending to date.”
Iyeon quickly changed the subject. Sano tilted his head, his face showing he would listen despite not being pleased.
“I was thinking, then we should, um, act more… like a c-couple, shouldn’t we?”
He wanted to speak confidently, but his pronunciation kept getting tangled due to nervousness. Ah, damn. Iyeon tried to ignore his heating nape and made an effort not to look at Sano. …Does this seem too forward? For saying something like this… He was too afraid to make eye contact, worried about what expression Sano might be making.
“What does acting like a couple even mean?”
The quietly dropped answer surprisingly didn’t sound very displeased. It even seemed cooperative, which made Iyeon, who had brought up the subject first, stammer in surprise.
“Uh, huh?”
“I’m asking what that means.”
Iyeon closed his mouth, unable to answer easily. It was impossible for someone who had never dated before to give a proper answer to this.
In fact, what Sano asked was also what Iyeon had been worrying about. Throughout the meal, he had continuously racked his brain to figure out how to act like a convincing couple, but when it came to actually doing it, he kept hesitating and giving up because it felt awkward.
At the very least, he had been watching for opportunities to take care of Sano like in romantic movies, but that didn’t work well either. Sano had impeccable dining etiquette, so there were no gaps. He didn’t spill or stain anything while eating, his posture wasn’t strange, he wasn’t clumsy with chopsticks or knives, and he didn’t have any particular favorite food… Iyeon just ended up watching him eat.
After battling alone for more than an hour, he was completely drained. Almost in a state of resignation, Iyeon kept watching for cues and eventually blurted out what he thought would be the most reasonable option. An action that wouldn’t earn contempt when proposed…
“…Holding hands?”
Even as he said it, he had no expectations. Would Je Sano be willing to engage in such a childish, meaningless act? And for such an absurd reason as improving the quality of a small lie?
But surprisingly, a willing hand was extended.
“Go ahead.”
“…Really?”
At those words, Sano raised his eyebrows.
“You’re the one who suggested it.”
“That’s true, but…”
Although he hadn’t expected something this specific, this was indeed what Iyeon had wanted. Nevertheless, feeling like he’d fallen into a trap, Iyeon stared at the large hand extended in front of him with a confused face. What is this? Is this right?
As Iyeon hesitated, Sano extended his hand further with an indifferent face, as if urging him. Having suggested it himself, Iyeon couldn’t back out now. After hesitating a bit more, he carefully placed his hand on Sano’s palm.
As soon as their hands overlapped, Sano’s fingers curled to wrap around Iyeon’s hand. The size difference in their hands was as apparent as their body size difference. When clasped together, the comparison was stark.
Iyeon lasted only 10 seconds against the warmth that completely covered his hand and overflowed.
“Th-this won’t work.”
“Why not, when you suggested it?”
“I have hyperhidrosis. It’s uncomfortable when it gets damp.”
As Iyeon quickly pulled his hand away while spouting nonsense, Sano raised his eyebrow slightly but let go willingly. Iyeon didn’t know what to do with the lingering warmth on his hand, which remained so hot it still burned even after their skin had separated. It was as awkward and embarrassing as it was pleasant.
Still, he’d gotten to hold hands once, so that was enough… There were no regrets at this point. Iyeon was satisfied and was about to step away from Sano when Sano seemed to have more to say.
“Then what should we do?”
“Huh?”
“You said we should act like a couple.”
…Why is he being so proactive? A somewhat confused Iyeon stared at Sano, but he seemed to have genuinely taken Iyeon’s advances seriously. N-no. Iyeon stuttered and shook his head, saying it was fine, but Sano silently stared at him, his face pressuring Iyeon to answer quickly.
I have no idea what he wants. What else is there besides holding hands? Is he suggesting we hug? In response to Sano’s incomprehensible behavior, Iyeon grumbled:
“I don’t know either. Do you have any good ideas?”
“We just need to look like a couple, right?”
“…I guess?”
As Iyeon mumbled reluctantly, Sano stepped closer. A large shadow fell over his head. Before Iyeon could dodge, startled by the strangely familiar atmosphere, Sano bent down.
A warm sensation touched him.
For a moment, time seemed to stop. Frozen like a stone, Iyeon stared with wide eyes at the handsome face right in front of him. His vision was filled with the distinct texture of thick eyebrows, deep eyes, smooth cheeks. Iyeon’s own image was reflected in those eyes with their clear green tint.
Come to think of it, when he first pretended to date, he just suddenly kissed me too…
Iyeon thought blankly, unable to gather his muddled thoughts. Looking at it that way, it somehow seemed like a very Je Sano-like action. But why a kiss, a kiss… It would certainly make them look like a couple, but…
Even as he escaped reality through these random thoughts, the kiss with Sano continued. When the well-textured lips slightly delved inward, Iyeon instinctively froze completely.
Feeling like his heart might jump out of his throat if he moved even slightly, he couldn’t even breathe deeply. Meanwhile, the soft sensation pressing against Iyeon’s lips slowly rubbed against them. As Sano slightly tilted his head, their lips pressed together more firmly. The delicate angle of his nose bridge touched Iyeon’s.
Technically, this wasn’t the first time he had kissed Sano. Counting incidents, it was already the third.
But why was his heart pounding like this?
He had no idea how much time had passed. Somehow, their lips were separated again, and Sano was maintaining the exact same distance as when they had been talking earlier. …Was it a dream? As Iyeon blinked with a blank face, Sano glanced at him and casually said:
“Now does it seem like we’re dating?”
Iyeon, still half out of his mind, answered carelessly.
“But there’s no one watching right now, so why…”
“Then we’ll do it again next time.”
“…That’s not what I meant!”
Hearing a voice that sounded strangely amused, Iyeon snapped back to reality. He shouted and strode away. With large steps, Iyeon overtook Sano and walked home without looking back. His hands were busy vigorously rubbing his burning ears.
Sano, who had been staring at the back of his head, also belatedly moved to follow Iyeon.
*
After the kiss incident on the way home, Sano occasionally brought his face close to Iyeon when they were alone. The reason was that if Iyeon froze like a lightning-struck chick every time, no one would believe them, so he should get used to it.
Honestly, Iyeon thought it made no sense, but the reason he didn’t firmly refuse despite his flushed face and racing heart was because… he enjoyed it too.
‘Well, how could I not like it?’
Kissing someone you like! Even if it was for the purpose of maintaining a lie, even if it was like a childish game, what was good was good. Moreover, Sano had suggested it. There was no reason to refuse.
In truth, he had worried a bit at first. Sano was probably doing it without any feelings, just to go along with the act, so Iyeon wondered if it was okay for him to selfishly enjoy it.
But no matter how much he tried to compose himself, he inevitably crumbled whenever Sano bent his head toward Iyeon. The sensation of soft lips lightly touching and parting was thrilling and ticklish every time. By now, Iyeon had grown too fond of Sano’s straight forehead, where his bangs cast a deep shadow as he bent down to Iyeon’s height, his straight brow bones, and his slightly downcast eyelashes. His tiny conscience was helplessly pushed aside by his enormous self-interest.
“…Are you okay with this?”
Before it could be completely crushed flat after being rolled over and pressed down, his conscience made a final struggle. Sano raised his eyebrows at Iyeon’s vague question.
“With what?”
“Well, this kind of thing is usually done with someone you like…”
This was something that had been bothering him all along. The lie about them dating was just an improvisation he had carelessly blurted out to Hyeseong. Though Sano had initiated it, there was absolutely no need to go this far. Pressing their lips together just to pretend to be fake lovers, what benefit could this possibly have for Sano?
