It was early dawn. Yuho woke up from sleep due to the boiling heat inside the room. He nearly caught heatstroke instead of a cold.
Yuho hurriedly lowered the temperature of the electric heating pad and the room, and cooled off his sweat.
Then, suddenly worried about Inhan who would be sleeping on the sofa, he headed to the living room. Inhan was sleeping soundly, seemingly not uncomfortable at all.
Yuho crouched down in front of Inhan and quietly looked at his sleeping face.
The thought that if he tried not to love, he would stop loving was too one-dimensional.
Though he pretended otherwise, Yuho had continuously been conscious of Inhan and was forcibly acting like a close hyung.
He thought if he forcibly suppressed it like that, he would truly stop loving him.
It was a delusion. In the end, it was flimsy self-defense that would crumble again at just one word saying he liked him.
In the end, he had come to Inhan like this again. Yuho hoped that this time, that choice wouldn’t be the wrong answer.
It was after dawn broke.
Inhan saw Yuho sleeping in front of him and thought he might be seeing a vision.
Then, realizing it was reality, he hurriedly pressed Yuho’s forehead to check his temperature, then lifted him up again and moved him to the bed in the big room. Fortunately, Yuho didn’t wake up.
Inhan carefully brushed Yuho’s hair back and thought it felt like a dream that he was by his side like this. And he hoped that this time, this dream-like reality wouldn’t shatter.
Perhaps because he was tired from the previous day, Yuho woke up only when it was close to lunchtime. His body felt stiff, but fortunately he hadn’t caught a cold.
Inhan – [Did you sleep well? When you wake up, make sure to eat the porridge and take the cold medicine]
There was a message left from Inhan on Yuho’s phone. Inhan had left early for a morning schedule and was away from home.
Yuho immediately got out of bed and headed to the kitchen. On the dining table, there was a mini cake decorated for Christmas, cold medicine, and a post-it note with a message written on it.
– Merry Christmas. There’s porridge in the pot so heat it up and eat. If your appetite is okay, eat the cake too.
p.s. Can you contact me once to let me know if you’re feeling okay? –
Yuho immediately called Inhan. The call connected quickly.
– Yuho-hyung. Did you wake up?
“Yeah. I just woke up.”
– How’s your body? Are you okay?
“Yeah. Maybe because I took medicine before sleeping yesterday, I’m totally fine. It’s all thanks to you.”
– That’s a relief.
“What about you? Wasn’t it uncomfortable sleeping last night?”
– No. I can sleep well even on bare ground.
“Still. Next time I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
At Yuho’s words promising next time, Inhan’s heart swelled. He had absolutely no intention of making Yuho sleep on the sofa in the future, but he didn’t bother to correct that statement. Instead, he conveyed a different wish.
– Then next time, come a bit earlier and stay longer before you go.
“……Okay. Got it.”
– What about the porridge? Did you eat it?
“I’m about to eat it now.”
– I made it while looking at a recipe, but the taste is a bit bland. If it’s too plain, add some soy sauce.
“Really? You didn’t buy it yesterday?”
– No. I wanted to make it for you myself.
“Thank you. Next time if you get sick, I’ll nurse you too.”
– Really? I suddenly want to get sick.
“That won’t do.”
At Yuho’s words, Inhan let out a pleased laugh. He had been afraid whether he could face Yuho again, but at his unexpectedly favorable attitude, he felt moved beyond just happiness.
– Are you going to sleep at your family home in Jamsil today?
“No. I’ll just have dinner with my family and go to the dorm. I’m supposed to do a live broadcast later while eating chicken and beer with the members, you know?”
– Right. I saw Raul-hyung posted the schedule.
“Isn’t it too late for you to come?”
– Should I go?
Unlike other members who became free at year-end, Inhan was busy being called to various award ceremonies. Today he had to stay until the end as a candidate for the Entertainment Grand Prize Excellence Award with Yeomin, and tomorrow he was even hosting the Music Festival MC, so he had no time to spare.
Still, Yuho thought he’d like it if Inhan came to the dorm.
“It would be nice if you came. But don’t push yourself.”
– I’ll go. To see you, hyung.
When Yuho said to come, Inhan felt he could go anywhere. He was barely holding back the desire to go home immediately, never mind award ceremonies or whatever.
“Okay. Then see you later.”
– Yes. Hyung, hurry and eat and take your medicine too.
“You do well with filming too.”
– Hyung.
“Yeah?”
– I’ll call you again later.
“Okay. I’m hanging up.”
– Okay.
The call ended and Yuho heated up the porridge in the pot as Inhan said and took the medicine.
Then after neatly finishing the cleanup, he washed up and changed clothes before leaving Inhan’s house. He took the cake he couldn’t eat because he was full, still packaged, in his hand.
After that, Yuho headed straight to the company practice room. The second audition for Director Yoon Seongjin’s work that he had been looking forward to so much was scheduled two days later, so he needed to be fully prepared.
During the first round, assistant directors conducted the audition so he couldn’t meet the director face-to-face, but he had heard that from the second round, the director would attend in person. So right now, he needed to calm his excited heart.
Y LIVE – [Seven Spot (7SPOT) ● Live Started]
It was when Yuho was in the midst of acting practice, even filming himself. Suddenly, a notification appeared on his phone screen that a Seven Spot live broadcast had started. When he checked who it was, Taylor was conducting a Christmas commemoration live from the studio inside the company.
< LIVE ｜Live Broadcasting
Seven Spot (7SPOT)
Members 675,582
- LIVE ｜Christmas Commemoration Tae-shin Live
< Taylor – Merry Christmas. ONESPOTs everyone. Yes. This is Taylor who came to the company to work on this wonderful day. You’ve all been well, right? Unfortunately, my solo album that was scheduled for December has been postponed to the end of January. If you wait just a little, I’ll come to see you in perfect form. Ah. And if there are any members who came to the company as pitifully as me today, please come to my studio. I think Yuho or Raulie might be here. Someone please relay the message for me. >
Yuho thought Taylor was impressive for wanting someone else to relay the message because even that was too bothersome when he could just send a personal message.
Raulie – [Yuho-hyung, you’re still at the company, right? Taeyoon-hyung is doing a live broadcast and wants you to come to the studio. I’m at a friend’s place]
After seeing Raulie’s message, Yuho contemplated for a moment. It was from the thought that he didn’t want to reveal he was a member who pitifully came to the company, and the judgment that his appearance was too shabby to show fans after a while.
But he soon left the practice room and headed to Taylor’s studio. He had been planning to visit Taylor sometime soon anyway, so he thought it actually worked out well.
[It’s Yuhoㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ]
[Our Seondaeng has been well, right? Long time no seeㅜㅜㅜㅜ]
[How long has it been since we’ve seen Yuho talkㅜㅜㅜ Welcome baaack]
[Why is our Yuho-gging at the company? Don’t you have plans today]
[Is our Hyo-dubu growing his hair out?]
Since it was Yuho’s first appearance in a live broadcast since the jam session live, the fans’ reaction was intense. Yuho felt embarrassed as he greeted them.
< Yuho – Hello. I’m Seven Spot’s Yuho. It’s been a while since I’ve greeted you.
Taylor – Since you’re here, please talk about what you’ve been up to lately. ONESPOTs are all saying you’re only playing around too much with Seonchan-ssi.
Yuho – Ah. I’ve decided to do a drama this time, but it hasn’t been officially announced yet, so I’ll tell you properly later. And I’m also diligently going around to auditions for my next project.
Taylor – What? You’re doing a drama?
Yuho – Yes. But I’m appearing as a child actor, so there won’t be much screen time.
Taylor – Hmm. So that’s how it is. What about singing? People are asking if you’re planning to do another jam session live?
Yuho – I’m planning that too, so I’ll show you soon.
Taylor – Will you just sing one song now before you go?
Yuho – What? Suddenly? >
Due to Taylor’s disjointed hosting, Yuho ended up singing three songs without any preparation. He thought about running away in the middle, but thanks to Taylor who seemed to have no intention of letting him go, he had to continue a free-for-all of random talk amidst the continuing awkward silence.
The live broadcast ended only after filling a full hour.
“Hyung. Next time, could you let me know in advance via personal message?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Yes.”
Taylor’s “I’ll think about it” was exactly the same as saying he had no such intention at all. Yuho realized it was meaningless to protest to Taylor about contact issues and decided to quickly state the purpose of his visit.
“Hyung. I have something to tell you.”
Lest Taylor kick him out after finishing his business, Yuho carefully broached the subject. If it was a mountain he had to cross anyway, he thought it would be more comfortable to face it in advance.
Even before Yuho could bring up the main point, Taylor glared and sent a suspicious look.
“Why? Are you leaving the group?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Yuho waved his hands and answered urgently. He had long ago given up the thought of leaving the group. No matter how hopeless it seemed, he planned to stay together until the end as long as the team didn’t abandon him first.
“Then don’t. I don’t need to hear it.”
Taylor cut off Yuho’s words at once as if he didn’t need to hear more. At that reaction, Yuho was bewildered, but he thought he couldn’t just go back after bringing it up with difficulty.
“Ah. That’s……”
“Just don’t make it obvious.”
At the words without a clear subject, Yuho was even more confused. He couldn’t tell if it meant not to make it obvious that things had been awkward with Inhan recently, or not to make it obvious that he liked him.
“I don’t know what will happen when the contract period ends, but for the remaining year and a half, be careful. That doesn’t mean hold it in until then though.”
“What?”
“Whether you like each other to death or fight and split up, just act consistently. You’re pros, aren’t you?”
“……”
“Anyway, even if I could stop you, could I stop Jung Inhan?”
At Taylor’s increasingly clear words, Yuho gasped in surprise. He was just amazed at how Taylor knew what was going on when he didn’t appear much at the dorm or in the group message room.
