# Chapter 23
Yeomin was sleeping very comfortably on the sofa. He had his legs propped up on the backrest.
“He really sleeps well.”
Jiho crouched in front of the sofa and peered at Yeomin’s face. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him sleeping with his mouth wide open.
Jiho felt mischievous. He slightly inserted his index finger into Yeomin’s mouth, but Yeomin continued sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world.
“Hehe…”
Jiho withdrew his finger and covered Yeomin with the blanket that was on the floor. He also gently lowered Yeomin’s legs from the backrest.
That reminded him of that time. The first time he saw Yeomin. No, the first time he started to notice Yeomin.
That day too, Jiho had left the classroom in the middle of the lecture. He’d had no interest in school life for a while.
He was about to go straight home when he remembered leaving his camera in the department lounge. It was a DSLR he occasionally carried around.
Jiho entered the department lounge, thinking it was a hassle. Since everyone should be in their major classes at that hour, the lounge was dead quiet.
As he was picking up his camera from the table, he suddenly heard rustling from the corner.
Jiho’s gaze turned toward the sound. It was a deeply sunken, worn-out sofa.
“Mmm…”
What he thought was a pile of clothes turned out to be a person. A face peeking out above a blanket and department jacket was making all sorts of expressions.
Who sleeps like this in the department lounge? Jiho was about to ignore it and grab his camera when he heard a groaning sound again.
“Hngh… ugh…”
It sounded just like a puppy whimpering in pain.
Jiho’s gaze was drawn back to him like a magnet. His expression was quite a sight to behold, as if he was having a nightmare.
His body was mostly covered by clothes, but Jiho could see he was clutching a half-eaten bag of snacks. He was gripping it tightly as if afraid someone might take it away, which looked comical.
“Pfft.”
Jiho couldn’t help but laugh. Looking more carefully, he vaguely remembered who the sleeping face belonged to.
A senior one year above him whom he’d briefly sat at the same table with during the freshman welcome party he’d reluctantly attended.
‘Joo Yeomin, was it?’
Jiho remembered him because he’d eaten three bowls of rice just during the first round of the party. It was like he was attempting some kind of Guinness World Record.
“Don’t… don’t eat it, it’s mine…”
Was he dreaming about having his food stolen? Jiho burst out laughing.
Yeomin was even smacking his lips as if he was actually eating something.
Jiho had planned to just grab his camera and leave. But his feet moved toward the sofa without him realizing it.
His mischievous side was emerging.
Jiho playfully tugged slightly at the snack bag that Yeomin was clutching tightly with both hands. Immediately, Yeomin reacted by gripping the snack bag even tighter.
Jiho raised the camera he was carrying. Then he framed Yeomin’s sleeping face in it.
‘One, two, three. Smile-‘
Jiho muttered as he pressed the shutter. He almost burst out laughing when Yeomin smacked his lips right on cue with “smile,” as if he were actually awake.
It was amazing that he still didn’t wake up despite all this. Jiho suddenly wondered what expression Yeomin would make if he opened his eyes.
What would happen if he touched him?
Jiho reached his hand toward Yeomin’s face. But just before his index finger touched Yeomin’s brow, he stopped.
These were familiar feelings for Jiho. Curiosity and possessiveness.
Cars, houses, electronics, clothes, accessories. Jiho would sometimes order food he didn’t even want to eat out of simple curiosity. He’d often ordered multiple servings only to throw them away without touching them.
It might seem crazy, but… he did it because he wanted to in that moment. Because he wouldn’t be satisfied until he had it right in front of him.
But this was the first time he’d had such thoughts about a person. It wasn’t exactly a specific emotion.
He just wanted to see Yeomin open his eyes, talk a bit… see those kinds of things.
‘Mmm’
While Jiho was staring intently, Yeomin stirred. He seemed about to wake up.
Jiho stood up abruptly without even realizing it.
‘Who…’
Yeomin rubbed his eyes and raised his upper body.
Although Jiho had been curious about what expression Yeomin would make when he woke up, he left without seeing his face. Even as he was leaving the department lounge, he couldn’t understand his own actions.
And it was only much later that Jiho realized why he had run away at that time.
If possible, wouldn’t it be better if the first meeting was proper? Just as he had accidentally discovered Yeomin, he wanted Yeomin to accidentally discover him too…
Yes, let’s call it a kind of “romance.” A sort of fantasy unique to Seol Jiho.
“You really can sleep well anywhere, hyung.”
Yeomin was sleeping soundly on the sofa, just like back then. Jiho, having finished reminiscing, gently swept aside Yeomin’s disheveled bangs.
It was a delicate touch, as if handling glass. In truth, Jiho tended to treat the objects of his affection quite preciously.
“It’s a shame now that the house is so big. We can’t sleep together…”
Until recently, they had been falling asleep within earshot of each other’s breathing, but now they had to sleep separately—Jiho wasn’t happy about this at all.
Still, he knew that being too forceful would make Yeomin uncomfortable. So today, he decided to let Yeomin do as he wished.
After all, they could sleep together again anytime.
“…”
Jiho leaned his head down toward Yeomin. His dry lips lightly touched Yeomin’s forehead. It was a goodnight kiss.
His lips lingered on the skin for a moment before quickly pulling away.
“See you tomorrow.”
Jiho whispered lazily and then went to his room. Before entering his bedroom, he looked back at Yeomin one more time.
The bedroom door closed, and some time passed. The living room was so quiet you couldn’t even hear breathing.
“Haaa…”
With a bursting sigh, Yeomin suddenly sat up. His face was bright red.
“That crazy bastard, really.”
Yeomin glared at the closed bedroom door, breathing heavily.
Face, ears, neck, toes, and even his forehead where Jiho’s lips had touched. His entire body felt hot.
* * *
The next morning. What woke Yeomin up was the smell of food. Heading straight to the kitchen upon waking was pure instinct for him.
Among Joo Yeomin’s desires, the strongest was… his “appetite.”
“You’re up? It’s best to eat light in the morning, right?”
Is this supposed to be light? The 6-person table was completely filled with all sorts of side dishes. Jiho was already seated.
There’s no way Seol Jiho made all of this himself, but whoever prepared the food was nowhere to be seen.
As Yeomin looked around searching for someone, Jiho explained.
“I told them to just set the meal and leave, since you might feel uncomfortable. Why? Is there something else you’d like to eat?”
“With just this, I could eat for a month.”
As soon as Yeomin saw Jiho’s face, he remembered last night’s forehead kiss, but he pretended not to know anything and pulled out a chair disinterestedly. He deliberately avoided looking Jiho in the eyes.
He already knew Jiho was shameless, but this guy was beyond his imagination. Look at him smiling and greeting him as if nothing happened after what he did yesterday.
“Was the sofa uncomfortable? That’s why I said we should sleep in the bed.”
“It was so comfortable I almost slept forever.”
“Still, sleep in the bedroom today.”
“I’d rather sleep on the balcony.”
“…so stubborn. Fine, let’s eat first.”
After waking up, hunger hit him like crazy.
This beef soup is amazing. Fried sausages and braised ribs too… these are all my favorite dishes. Yeomin’s eyes rolled at the sight of the food.
Jiho watched Yeomin like he was watching TV, as Yeomin began eating furiously as soon as he woke up.
Yeomin gnawed on a rib while grumbling.
“What. Do I look dirty because it’s morning?”
“You’re cute.”
“…What?”
“Hyung is the cutest when eating.”
…I’m suddenly losing my appetite.
“Want to talk nonsense first thing in the morning?”
Yeomin chewed on the ribs with a sour expression.
Jiho, who was grinning at him as if he really found him cute, had clearly lost his mind.
‘It’s a shame now that the house is so big. We can’t sleep together…’
To say such things.
‘What the hell is this guy thinking, bringing me here?’
If it were like before when Jiho was mooching off him, he’d threaten to kick him out. Unfortunately, now that he was the one imposing, he couldn’t make such threats.
Yeomin solemnly gnawed on the rib, making a firm resolution. He would absolutely never sleep with Jiho.
No, before that, he needed to leave this house quickly.
‘For now… I’ll eat this first…’
Contrary to Yeomin’s intentions, Jiho looked very pleased. His expression was like that of a mother bird watching her baby bird eat.
“Hyung really eats well.”
“Just shut up and eat.”
“How can I eat with my mouth shut?”
…Fine, you win, asshole.
* * *
Yeomin received an answer from the landlord that it would take at least two weeks for the house repairs. The landlord asked how he could even think about living in such a mildew-smelling place.
The landlord even offered to waive this month’s rent, which was suspiciously unlike him.
Yeomin sent a message while brushing his teeth.
[What are you doing, Lee Taeyang?]
[Lee Taeyang: I’m on a date]
[Lee Taeyang: Planning a trip for next week lol]
“Ugh… useless bastard.”
‘I was thinking of crashing at Taeyang’s for a few days, but that’s not going to work… should I go back to the jjimjilbang (bathhouse)?’
That might actually be better. He still had money left, and with this month’s rent saved, he could stay at a goshiwon (small studio) for about a month…
“Wow. Amazing.”
Lost in complicated thoughts, Yeomin couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement.
After rinsing his mouth and washing his face, he randomly squeezed something to apply, and it smelled like heaven.
“What is this? It’s incredibly fragrant.”
Just one lotion suddenly improved his mood.
In the mirror, he saw a face that anyone would recognize as completely free from worries and concerns, radiating 100% happiness.
To be honest,
“I don’t want to leave…”
If it weren’t for Jiho who seemed to be plotting something with him, he would want to mooch off here forever, it was that good.
Everything in this house was clean, comfortable, cozy, it had the game consoles Yeomin loved, a great desktop and iMac, a walking trail right in front, and the view from the terrace was killer…
“But I should leave, right?”
But since he’d have to leave once his house was repaired anyway, maybe he could just endure until then.
It’s not like he was going to stay forever…
“Why is my skin so glossy at a time like this?”
Just one day of eating and sleeping well, and his face was glowing.
“Is food, clothing, and shelter really all that matters, Joo Yeomin?”
Yeomin scolded himself while looking in the mirror.
There are so many important things in the world besides food, clothing, and shelter… so many…
“…Yes, that’s all there is.”
What else is important besides food, clothing, and shelter? Yeomin reached an enlightenment through this self-dialogue.
From today, my name is ‘Food-Clothing-Shelter Yeomin’!
