“Hyung. After we buy Dongtae’s raincoat, do you want to go to a cafe? They sell my favorite coffee there and I think you’d like it too.”
Seonwoo, who had been holding the steering wheel while lost in other thoughts, finally came to his senses at Yoonjo’s words. The car was already moving slowly. Realizing this, Seonwoo pressed the accelerator again and quietly answered, recalling Yoonjo’s question.
“Let’s do whatever Yoonjo wants to do.”
“What about you, hyung?”
Wondering what he meant, Seonwoo glanced over briefly before turning his eyes back to the windshield. Yoonjo furrowed his brow tightly as if thinking about something, then moved his lips.
“Do you want to do it too, hyung?”
It was a question no one had ever asked before. At that unfamiliarity, when Seonwoo said nothing, Yoonjo sat up straight in his seat and muttered.
“You might not want to do it, hyung.”
“…Why would buying clothes and drinking coffee be such a big deal.”
At the answer that came back with a slight silence, Yoonjo fidgeted with his fingers. It was because he felt his vague intuition was correct. Clearly, when they went to the fireworks festival, Seonwoo had hesitated. He had broken out in a bit of cold sweat and his palms were even damp as if he was nervous.
He was someone who had secluded himself for five years. Yoonjo didn’t know how agonizing it would be to suddenly mix in with people, but he could sense that Seonwoo was uncomfortable. Still, how grateful he was that Seonwoo had gone along with him without showing much… Even so, he couldn’t just drag Seonwoo around doing whatever he wanted. Yoonjo fidgeted with his fingers for a while before smiling awkwardly.
“Then let’s buy the clothes and get the coffee to go. I know a really quiet observation deck. How about we take a walk there with Dongtae and then come back?”
Asking with his ears drooping as if gauging the reaction made him look just like Dongtae when he’d done something wrong. Seonwoo stroked Yoonjo’s head again at that cute appearance. His fingertips touched the fluffy hair and soon slipped through between his fingers. The sensation was strangely regretful, so Seonwoo lightly clenched and unclenched his fist.
Yoonjo’s face as he stood in front of the display of colorful clothes looked more serious than ever. Next to him, Dongtae was panting with his red tongue hanging out long, then passed between Yoonjo’s legs swaying gently.
The display had not only plain yellow ones but various types of raincoats including bee patterns, floral patterns, pink ones, and polka dots.
After standing there deliberating for a while, Yoonjo looked at Seonwoo. He had already put on a mask and was covering his face.
“The bee would be cute, right?”
“The yellow polka dot seems better though.”
“Isn’t that too plain? I think the bee would be cuter on Dongtae.”
Dongtae, who had been panting and going back and forth at their feet, slightly raised his head when his name was called, then plopped down on the spot. The smoothly constructed tile floor must have felt cool as he pressed his chin firmly to the floor and only slightly raised his eyes to watch Seonwoo and Yoonjo.
“Think about it, hyung. Dongtae with fluttering wings attached, wouldn’t that be super adorable?”
I think you with wings attached would be more adorable, Yoonjo.
Swallowing his inner thoughts, Seonwoo touched the corner of his lips and slowly looked over the hanging clothes. After deliberation, he picked up five or six hangers and headed straight to the register.
“I’ll take all of them.”
“No, what are you talking about!”
Yoonjo jumped up and took out the yellow raincoat, pink one, and floral pattern to hang them back up neatly. Did he think dog clothes only cost a penny or two? It was the countryside so prices were inflated, making pet supplies twice as expensive. Yoonjo put only the bee pattern and yellow polka dot on the counter and raised his head.
“Two is enough. Still, I’ll buy the bee one. I want to see Dongtae with wings.”
It was money like his own blood, but he could spend it if he could earn even 0.1 points with Seonwoo. Yoonjo casually pulled out a check card with a pink peach drawn on it from his pocket and held it out to the clerk. Seonwoo tried to stop him belatedly but he didn’t budge. Looking down, Yoonjo was firmly gripping both of Seonwoo’s wrists.
“Please accept it. I can spend this much. I even tutor during the semester so I have a lot of money.”
Yoonjo had shed tears even when swiping his card for a 2,500 won school meal, but right now he needed the power of money. Insignificant kindness to start with, smoothly, gift attack, no burden. He repeated the three things in his head, repeated them again, and smiled brightly.
At Yoonjo’s pure smile, Seonwoo tilted his head sideways, then bent his waist slightly. He tapped Yoonjo’s round forehead with his own forehead, then said.
“I was only going to buy a gift for Dongtae.”
It was a brief moment, but Seonwoo’s body temperature stuck to his forehead before scattering. It happened so quickly that Yoonjo blinked his eyes stupidly, unable to collect himself, then added.
“Hyung, I think you need to hit my head once. Like earlier.”
In the meantime, whether his strength had loosened, Seonwoo skillfully twisted and pulled out his wrist, then snatched Yoonjo’s card from the clerk’s hand. Quickly putting it in his shirt’s front pocket, he held out his own card.
“Please ring it up. Quickly.”
At the urgent-sounding words, the clerk finished the payment with Seonwoo’s card. While the receipt was printing, she quietly observed the two. The tall one was wearing a mask, but his nose bridge and eye shape looked like what you’d call a city person. Maybe because of his white skin and slender height, he exuded the image of a refined young master.
In contrast, the shorter one had a striking impression. Tousled black hair because of its curliness, prominent brow bones, a well-proportioned nose bridge, and even a refreshing smile. A face that would make quite a few girlfriends. His skill at making hearts soft with his eye-smile, grinning so wide his eyes weren’t visible, was quite something.
“Would you like the receipt?”
“Please throw it away. Let’s go, Yoonjo-ya.”
Seonwoo, who only received his card back, placed his hand on Yoonjo’s back and gently pushed forward. At the gesture to leave, Yoonjo’s mouth was jutting out sulkily. Then he suddenly sparkled and smiled as if something had occurred to him. His expression change was extremely distinct.
“Hyung! Should we go drink coffee now?”
Yoonjo grabbed Dongtae’s leash as if saying let’s go quickly and fluttered out. At Yoonjo’s excited-looking back, Seonwoo smiled faintly without realizing it. He simply wondered why he was such a smiley child.
The moment Seonwoo was about to leave the store following Yoonjo, a call came in with perfect timing. Confirming the name on the hard screen, Seonwoo pressed his eyes firmly. It was because he was rapidly getting tired.
CEO Jeong Suyeon
The six characters signified the person who had believed in and waited for Seonwoo all this time. It was someone he hadn’t contacted at all. Even when he received news, he only received it through his manager, and he was someone who tried to spare direct words as much as possible. So this call also meant it was the kind of call Seonwoo absolutely couldn’t refuse. After hesitating for a long time, he finally moved his hand.
“Hello, CEO-nim.”
– Have you been well, Seonwoo?
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Yoonjo, standing outside, was stuck to the glass wall asking why he wasn’t coming out. Seonwoo slightly pointed to his phone and adjusted the shopping bag in his hand. Yoonjo, who understood the gesture that he was on a call, plopped down in front of the store. The midday sunlight shone brightly, but as if Yoonjo didn’t care at all, he fiddled with Dongtae’s face this way and that and stroked his back.
– Let’s see your face.
“…CEO-nim. As I’ve told you, I’m not doing activities.”
Yoonjo suddenly jumped up from his spot and opened the glass door. Saying in a whisper that he had somewhere to go briefly, he handed Dongtae’s leash to Seonwoo. Dongtae, who entered the store together, must have liked the cool floor as he stretched out his body fully.
– Who said to do activities? I’m saying let’s see your face and have a meal. Do you have time this weekend? I have a lot of overseas business trips these days. I know you’ve gone to the countryside, but isn’t there room to adjust your schedule?
The cautiously asked question had no meaning of coercion, but at the same time had weight. She wasn’t an agency president who didn’t know that she was assuming Seonwoo couldn’t refuse no matter what. Today was Wednesday. Calculating the dates, it wasn’t impossible, so Seonwoo reluctantly answered that he would. CEO Jeong Suyeon said delightedly at Seonwoo’s response.
– Then I’ll make a reservation at the Korean restaurant you like. Let’s decide the time by text. I’m all excited thinking about seeing our Seonwoo.
“Please contact me at a convenient time.”
When the call ended, Seonwoo stared at his phone blankly, then ruffled his hair to shake off his thoughts. With his hair now disheveled, he immediately pushed open the glass door and gave his attention to Yoonjo, who was stuck by the door having returned at some point. Yoonjo received the leash from Seonwoo and giggled.
“Are you done with your call?”
“Yeah. Let’s go drink coffee.”
“Uh uh…. Wait a moment, wait a moment. Hyung.”
Yoonjo, who stopped him by slightly grabbing Seonwoo’s sleeve, stood on tiptoe. Raising one hand high to fix Seonwoo’s thoroughly disheveled hair one strand at a time, he seemed to think it wouldn’t work and passed over Dongtae’s leash. With both hands now free, Yoonjo diligently fixed Seonwoo’s hair and nodded, lowering his feet.
“You were born with a handsome face, so since you have it anyway, you should use it well.”
Yoonjo, who giggled, held out his hand to receive Dongtae’s leash back. In that moment, Seonwoo’s hand came over Yoonjo’s hand. Soon he grabbed his wrist and began to fix Yoonjo’s hair too.
“By that logic, Yoonjo should also live being careful.”
“What do I need to be careful about?”
“You’re quite lacking in objectivity, Yoonjo baby.”
Yoonjo obediently closed his eyes and received his touch. Seonwoo’s body temperature touching his wrist was hot. Even though Yoonjo’s wrist wasn’t thin from farm work, Seonwoo casually held it in one hand. His hands are big…. Hyung’s scent is nice too…. Thinking idly while staying still, Yoonjo raised his head at the sunlight that came pouring in. Seonwoo had stepped back one step. Dongtae’s leash was already wrapped around Yoonjo’s wrist.
“Let’s go.”
At the words “let’s go,” Seonwoo could see Yoonjo stuck close beside him with only his ears dyed red. When Yoonjo, who had been walking pitter-patter, suddenly raised his head, their eyes meeting was a natural sequence.
