Before starting the coastal gate suppression operation, the vacation that had been given like a reward for their hard work up until then came to a lackluster end.
‘Come out and eat.’
After that day when they’d each raised their voices at each other, Cha Haseong repeatedly prepared meals in secret as if he’d become some kind of ureong gaksi. When mealtime came, he would unfailingly come knock loudly on the door and leave.
‘I’ve prepared everything.’
It would be really nice if they could pick up their spoons together and have a candid conversation, but only a neat nine-dish royal table setting and an apron were left sitting there on the table while he had completely evaporated.
During the remaining time, Cha Haseong clung to printed text more than any decent exam student. Since he’d been holed up in his room reading books throughout the vacation, there weren’t many opportunities to wander around nearby.
Yeo Dowoon, who didn’t receive his attention, just scratched the back of his head and turned away.
‘Right, Belle Jar…. I need to go buy it.’
When he recalled the title of the book Cha Haseong had been reading on the plane to Yeongjong Island, one desire arose.
He’d planned to casually ask if he’d like to go to the bookstore together if he ran into him by chance in the hallway, but Cha Haseong really avoided him like a ghost.
Thanks to that, Yeo Dowoon had to suffer feeling like he’d become a virus. If he went outside to even drink some water, he’d hear the sound of a door being pushed shut with a tap.
Kwon Jeonghoo didn’t return from his own officetel, and Yoon Minoh was confined to the hospital, so a somewhat empty feeling came as a bonus.
‘To think I’d feel the emptiness left by that crazy bastard.’
Though it was only a few days, perhaps that noisy time had been impressive—Yeo Dowoon could only worry while facing a longing he didn’t want to acknowledge. Strangely, his pride was scratched and his nerves became sensitive.
His solar plexus just became heavy as if reinforced with rebar, and the vacation ended like that.
“Dowoon, you’re already at work?”
Yeo Dowoon, who’d stamped his attendance carelessly to calm his complicated feelings, raised his head at the voice calling him. A slender shadow fell over his body stretched out in the middle of the training ground.
A face that seemed easygoing yet foolish appeared.
“What brings you here.”
It was Cha Uihyeon, whose skin was tanned darkly as if showing off that he’d traveled to Boracay, famous as a resort destination. Yeo Dowoon lowered his eyelids as if completely erasing the fact that he’d spoken to him.
Remembering how Cha Uihyeon, who’d gone on a trip with Baek Seonwoo, had mass-transmitted useless landscape photos, annoyance surged in.
Since he’d definitely recite incidents and accidents that occurred in foreign lands in succession, he absolutely didn’t want to deal with him. However, Cha Uihyeon didn’t back down and warmly asked after him.
“Did you have a good vacation?”
Perhaps because it was still early, there were few people who’d come to work, so there was no one to stop him either.
“Looking at your expression, it seems not.”
Inside the training ground where a chill resembling Yeo Dowoon gently wafted. Thud, Cha Uihyeon, who’d plopped down, gently placed Yeo Dowoon’s head that had been using the floor as a pillow onto his thigh and said.
“Looking at how they gave us vacation this time, it seems like they’re saying to work like slaves for a few years, so you should have at least stopped by somewhere close.”
“…….”
“People need to get some fresh air sometimes to gain more drive to work.”
Cha Uihyeon meddled while comparing his bronze-toned skin to Yeo Dowoon’s white cheeks.
He who’d been expounding on how happy a day of lying under the sun drinking cocktails had been clicked his tongue at Yeo Dowoon’s non-response. The sight of him not even opening his closed eyes looked extremely bored.
“Did you just stay home?”
Yeo Dowoon, who hadn’t particularly responded even while having his wrist grabbed, snapped back sharply when he asked warmly.
“Whether I stayed home or not is none of your business, so live your own life properly, hyung.”
This was why murmurs occasionally leaked out among the Espers that he and Yoon Minoh were spitting images of each other. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say someone had already mistaken them for real brothers.
Even if their features didn’t resemble each other anywhere, the two people were fundamentally similar in personality. Brazen, blunt, and delinquent.
“…My life is reasonably okay. Livable.”
Cha Uihyeon answered with effort, then awkwardly put down Yeo Dowoon’s wrist. Yeo Dowoon, who’d been lying stretched out in the middle of the training ground with his legs extended just staring at the ceiling, soon flapped his top several times as if his outfit was uncomfortable.
Perhaps because he was wearing full training gear for the first time in a while, the chest area kept bothering him. He understood it was a tight-fitting functional outfit, but his chest muscles stood out particularly prominently, drawing attention.
‘I heard Yoon Minoh was discharged too.’
It wasn’t because he disliked showing his pectoral muscles to others, it was just that he was already worried about what kind of perverted antics Yoon Minoh would attempt this time.
One more thing. Not only his own chest but others’ chests were also concerning. Especially if he were to encounter Yoon Minoh’s chest that he’d personally touched last time, he’d probably be unable to find a place to look from embarrassment.
That appearance, as if he’d only pumped chest muscles after eating, still remained vividly at the edge of his memory. It would be curved tautly like a rocket just before launch.
“The guys are late…….”
As soon as Cha Uihyeon muttered, noisy voices spread from the entrance side. Ko Ijae and Baek Seonwoo, similarly dressed neatly in full training gear, were moving their steps leisurely.
They too had their chest muscles fully exposed as if showing them off.
Yeo Dowoon, who’d been conflicted about whether to additionally wear a short-sleeved shirt like wearing shorts over something, turned his attention to Cha Uihyeon grabbing his shoulder.
For some reason, Cha Uihyeon’s expression had become solemn like during actual combat training.
“Dowoon.”
He who’d leaned his lips toward Yeo Dowoon’s ear asked in a deliberately lowered voice.
“…Do you need nipple patches by any chance?”
It was because he’d noticed Yeo Dowoon stealing glances at the men’s chests here and there.
Yeo Dowoon swallowed empty air in embarrassment. The touch patting his shoulder saying there was nothing to be ashamed of was disgustingly gentle.
“It’s okay. It can happen. You didn’t just spend your vacation at home, you must have frequented hotels a lot too?”
“…….”
“I guess Espers’ chests are really firm. My girlfriend particularly likes chests too.”
He who’d sluggishly brought up his own love life that no one asked about sneakily examined Yeo Dowoon’s chest. A contemplative humming sound could be heard. Cha Uihyeon said with a quite serious face.
“It doesn’t seem to show that much…, but if you’re worried, I’ll lend you nipple patches right now.”
“…….”
“They don’t hurt when you take them off, and the coverage is large, so it’s a product I use regularly too. Should I go get them right away?”
“When did I ever ask about your chest situation, hyung?”
Sharp contempt lingered in Yeo Dowoon’s eyes. Cha Uihyeon asked back “Huh?” as if flustered. Then Yeo Dowoon knocked away Cha Uihyeon’s chin that had been leaning toward him at an angle and growled.
“Who the hell would be curious about hyung’s chest, ruining people’s mood from the morning, causing a ruckus.”
“…Weren’t you just alternating between looking at their chests and your chest?”
When Cha Uihyeon hastily rebutted, Yeo Dowoon wrinkled his face even more grimly.
“I did that wondering why the outfit was like this crap, not because I wanted to look at chests.”
“Isn’t that the same thing…? Anyway, you looked, that’s the same point.”
“I wasn’t looking because I needed nipple patches. Did I say something difficult?”
“…….”
“You go ahead and stick them on to your heart’s content, hyung.”
Since he was indeed currently using nipple patches on a daily basis these days, Cha Uihyeon didn’t particularly take a hit. But Yeo Dowoon looked considerably offended, so he thought perhaps he’d shown kindness the other didn’t want.
“Are you embarrassed? You don’t have to be. Just because there’s a bulge doesn’t mean you have a physical defect….”
“Won’t you shut up?”
Cha Uihyeon, who’d been rambling out of excessive concern, closed his mouth at the fierce blow. It’s not like playing around with chests is wrong, but why is he so touchy?
However, he tactfully refrained from arguing back. Anyway, the Esper who would do pair training with Yeo Dowoon today seemed like they’d have to roll around in a muddy training ground.
“Hyung, Ko Ijae, Baek Seonwoo…, I wish you’d all disappear from my life.”
Yeo Dowoon muttered as if his irritation hadn’t subsided. Originally, if he received retirement permission, the problem would be cleanly solved, but the damn base bastards wouldn’t easily let him go.
Cha Uihyeon watched with bewilderment the back of Yeo Dowoon leaving his spot as if he didn’t want to breathe the same air as him.
“Hey, hey, Dowoon!”
Baek Seonwoo, who’d been sitting on the training ground bench chatting with Ko Ijae, spotted Yeo Dowoon first. He waved his palm to also make a gesture to come over here, but Yeo Dowoon completely passed him by.
It was conduct heavily concentrated with the meaning that he wouldn’t even deign to notice such a bastard, but Baek Seonwoo didn’t understand. Just as he was about to open his mouth again, thinking perhaps his voice hadn’t been heard.
“It’d be better not to talk to him.”
At the slowly creeping murderous energy, Ko Ijae cleared his throat and muttered.
“Especially if you talk to him, he’ll hate it more.”
It was advice that would become blood and flesh, but Baek Seonwoo asked back obliviously.
“If I talk to him? Why?”
Ko Ijae chose his words for a moment. He was troubled over how extremely he needed to explain for him to understand. If he had to tell the honest reason, he could list about 72 things.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
At the question thrown with minimal possibility, Baek Seonwoo grumbled while loosening his stiff muscles.
“I’m asking because I don’t know. Why would I bother asking if I knew.”
“Right. Since you still don’t know, he’ll hate you more than anyone, so slowly shut your trap.”
“What kind of absurd nonsense is that?”
