Pyeonghwa Apartment 801 (1)
“Here, this is it.”
“What? I obviously thought it’d be a goshiwon or a studio apartment, but you live in a nice place. It’s perfect for a newlywed home, isn’t it?”
Newlywed home. Jeongbae was flabbergasted, but he didn’t even have the energy to get angrier. He’d tried to pretend to take him home then run away midway, but it all failed. It seemed the story about him being a base-stealing king wasn’t entirely false. They’d bickered the whole way there, but he absolutely couldn’t win against the illogic of a madman.
“How long have you and I even known each other to live together? Please stop with the nonsense and go home already.”
“I told you, I got kicked out.”
“You, you… if you keep this up, I’m calling the police. This is stalking!”
But Jaehyuk just snorted.
“So last night—were you just playing with me then?”
“Playing with you? That was consensual…”
“Right, consensual sex then dumping me after?”
When the tall, handsome man raised his voice in the middle of the street, all the surrounding gazes turned to them at once.
“What, looks like they’re fighting.”
“The tall one’s too good for him…”
Jeongbae was horrified and covered Jaehyuk’s mouth.
“Lower your voice. People are staring.”
Jaehyuk shamelessly raised his voice even louder without batting an eye.
“When did you say you liked me! Are you abandoning me because I have nowhere to go? A doctor is better than a poor working student, is that it?”
Poor, my ass. Jaehyuk was pulling a designer suitcase while dressed in clothes that obviously reeked of money. But perhaps his appearance added credibility, as the surrounding murmurs were taking Jaehyuk’s side.
“He traded up, looks like. Can you believe it?”
Jeongbae quietly glared at Jaehyuk and started walking toward his apartment. Jaehyuk followed excitedly. Jeongbae was full of regret. If he’d known it would be like this, he never would’ve had a one-night stand with Jaehyuk in the first place.
‘What wealth and glory was I trying to enjoy? I’m crazy. Crazy. What’s so great about Korea University anyway?’
Whether Jeongbae’s insides were burning up or not, Jaehyuk threatened him.
“It’s useless trying any tricks—you’re in the palm of my hand. I can make it so you can’t show your face at that rice soup place you work at or the casino pub.”
Seeing Jaehyuk narrow his eyes and threaten him, Jeongbae quietly sighed.
‘Is he really a law student? He’s completely reckless and resorting to threats.’
After several more escape attempts and arguments, Jeongbae ultimately had no choice but to let Jaehyuk into his home.
“I’m going to work, so stay put. We’ll talk when I get back.”
“Yes, husband.”
Jeongbae glared daggers at him, but Jaehyuk waved his hand as if to say not to worry. He was already quite late for work and had been on the phone with the manager for a while. Jeongbae closed the door with a distrustful expression and pressed the elevator button, thinking:
Somehow, please let my home be safe until I get off work today.
“Jeongbae, what are you thinking about so intently?”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“No, there’s nothing to be sorry about, but you’re usually all smiles and today your mood is so different.”
The neatly dressed manager spoke to him with concern. Jeongbae couldn’t bring himself to say that a crazy bastard had barged into his house, and anxiously waited only for quitting time. Mechanically proceeding with the games and forcing his lips into a smile was especially burdensome today.
‘I really shouldn’t have brought him home.’
But regret was already too late. It was a small apartment without much to steal anyway, but once he knew the address, there was no telling what harm he might do. But…
‘Harm? Honestly, what does he even have to gain…’
Honestly, from Jeongbae’s perspective, he couldn’t really understand why Jaehyuk was acting this way.
The one night he’d spent as tutoring payment and last night’s heated chaos. And meeting at the rice soup restaurant—that was all. He could understand if he himself had chased after someone saying he liked them, but the other way around?
There had definitely been alphas who’d thrown themselves at him claiming they were serious. But if Jeongbae kept even a little distance, they were all the same. A brief passion. A brief obsession. In the end, feelings cooled and contact ceased.
It was exactly that level of interest.
But this was the first alpha who’d barged in saying let’s live together.
‘No. This won’t last long either. For sure.’
Jeongbae had clung to someone once before. And the end of that was painful, so painful. After that, he’d lived keeping his distance from everyone. Just brief encounters to receive tutoring payments. But even in those fleeting relationships, he couldn’t be cold-hearted. Even knowing he’d get hurt, he couldn’t ignore that warmth. He couldn’t just pass by Jaehyuk’s childish expressions of interest either.
“Player wins.”
Jeongbae organized the cards and chips while diligently putting on his business smile. A week, no—three days at most. He was probably just briefly attracted to something novel.
It wouldn’t take long for him to get bored.
It was always like that.
He just needed to not share his heart too much. That was always the hardest part.
Jeongbae arrived home, his body especially exhausted today.
‘Is he asleep?’
Come to think of it, he hadn’t prepared dinner either, so he was thinking of quickly making something or at least ordering delivery. He busily unlocked the door and opened it to the smell of rice.
“You’re late. Do you come home this late every day?”
A large presence approached with heavy steps. A comfortable outfit of a gray hoodie and track pants. When Jaehyuk tilted his head slightly, shadows formed on his prominent nose bridge, making him look even more handsome. Like a sports clothing photoshoot. Jeongbae, who’d been momentarily captivated by that face, looked around the house.
The brightly lit living room lights. The table full of prepared food. Thick books piled on his low study desk as if he’d been studying.
“…You cooked?”
“Of course, you have to eat dinner.”
“You know how to cook?”
“If an adult can’t cook, how do they eat?”
It made sense, but somehow it didn’t suit Jaehyuk. Jeongbae was speechless for a moment.
But on the table was kimchi stew, prettily rolled egg rolls, and side dishes from the refrigerator arranged nicely.
“I’ll heat it up for a bit, so go wash up.”
“Mm.”
Jeongbae obediently headed to the bathroom. Warm water flowed down his shoulders, but his head became more complicated. He felt like he was possessed by a fox spirit. When he came home from work, it was always a dark, empty house. Not just no food—cold air greeted Jeongbae. After so long, the savory smell of rice wafting through the house made Jeongbae’s chest feel fluttery and ticklish. Come to think of it, he knew nothing about Jaehyuk. Only that he was a tall, well-built, handsome law student alpha.
‘Why is he so naturally at home? No. This definitely won’t last long either.’
He finished showering while consoling himself like that. He cleaned up the moisture in the bathroom and came out drying his hair with a towel when Jaehyuk quietly approached.
“Hmm. You have good habits. You should wipe down the moisture after washing.”
“I live alone. It’s easier to clean up as I go.”
“Good job.”
Jaehyuk’s hand lightly stroked Jeongbae’s wet hair.
Praise like he was treating a child. He was clearly the older one though. Jeongbae froze and smiled awkwardly. For some unknown reason, heat seemed to creep up from where his fingers had touched, from an inexplicable embarrassment.
‘What’s with him?’
But he was happy to be praised for bathroom maintenance. He was always alone, or at most the orphanage kids visited. No matter how much he swept and scrubbed, there was never anyone to tell him it was clean.
“The food will get cold. Come quickly.”
“…Mm.”
Jeongbae awkwardly sat in the dining chair and quietly picked up his spoon.
“I’ll eat well.”
“Yeah, eat a lot.”
With that, the two ate in silence. Jeongbae wasn’t the type to initiate conversation, though he answered diligently. Although they hadn’t known each other long, Jaehyuk was also always expressionless and quiet.
Last night was probably when he’d talked the most.
‘Look here, it’s completely spread open. The color is really lewd. Every time I push in, you clench down properly. See?’
‘Moan more. I like the sound of your moans. Ah, what’s with this pheromone? It’s so sweet I’m going crazy.’
That low voice that had constantly whispered dirty words in his ear.
‘Am I crazy? Why am I thinking about this?’
Jeongbae’s face turned red up to his neck. He almost dropped his chopsticks. Jaehyuk’s face was deceptively calm and peaceful.
“Want some scorched rice water?”
“Mm. You have that too?”
“Yeah, some rice got scorched in the cooker. I poured hot water over it.”
Jaehyuk naturally scooped and handed over the scorched rice water. When he lowered his head, his long eyelashes were too visible. From any angle, he was truly pretty.
‘Why would someone like this want me…’
Jeongbae quietly wrapped both hands around the hot rice bowl. Then he slowly drank the warm, savory scorched rice water.
“Go brush your teeth. I’ll clean up what we ate.”
“Ah, I’ll do the dishes. The food was so delicious, thank you.”
Jeongbae hurriedly stood up and cleared the dishes. Jaehyuk silently helped beside him. He put the dishes in the sink and was wiping the table with a dishcloth when he already heard the sound of dishwashing water. The large frame was hunched over doing the dishes.
“Ah, I’ll do it. Stop.”
“There aren’t many. It’ll be quick. You just came home from work.”
A firm, decisive tone. When Jeongbae was flustered and didn’t know what to do, Jaehyuk quietly gave him a task.
“You go lay out the bedding. Get my pillow ready too.”
“Mm.”
He cautiously retreated after reading the room.
‘…Strangely, I end up doing what he says.’
Jaehyuk was somehow attentive yet authoritative. He laid out two sleeping mats in the bedroom and nicely placed fluffy blankets and pillows. Jaehyuk was watching that scene from right behind.
“You said you live alone, so why do you have so many pillows and blankets?”
“Yeah, my younger brothers sometimes sleep over.”
At the somewhat accusatory tone, Jeongbae quietly answered.
“Younger brothers? Sisters? Brothers?”
“Yeah, younger brothers.”
“How many?”
“Two.”
“Two. What a blessed family.”
He hid the fact that they were orphanage brothers because he didn’t want to create an unnecessarily uncomfortable atmosphere. He didn’t want to needlessly reveal his parents’ absence.
“I have things to do. You sleep first.”
“Things to do?”
Jeongbae carefully nodded.
“Now is my study time.”
Jaehyuk’s eyebrow rose slightly crookedly.
Past midnight. Light descended on the small low desk. Jeongbae had a problem book open, gripping his pencil tightly. His gaze barely moved. In the quiet room, only the occasional scratching of pencil could be heard.
Right beside him, Jaehyuk sat leaning against the wall. On his knees sat a thick major textbook. His fingers turning pages were slow. Neither said anything to each other, but it was strangely comfortable.
How many hours had passed? Jeongbae, who’d been stretching for a moment, glanced at the seat next to him and chuckled. Jaehyuk had fallen asleep with his head leaned against the wall. Hair slightly fallen over his neat forehead cast shadows, and his long eyelashes and distinct features made his appearance shine even more.
‘Even sleeping, he’s cool.’
Jeongbae carefully laid Jaehyuk down and brought a blanket to cover him well. Then he picked up his pencil again and slowly began to concentrate. The wheezing breathing sounds from beside him. At the cozy, warm presence, Jeongbae slowly smiled. As always, the night was long, and Jeongbae’s eyes had no sleepiness.
***
Sunlight seeped through the curtain gaps. Jaehyuk slowly opened his eyes. An unfamiliar ceiling, unfamiliar smell. It seemed he’d fallen asleep just like yesterday. A soft pillow was placed under his head, and his body was thoroughly wrapped well in the blanket.
“You’re already awake?”
When he sat up, he could see Jeongbae’s back standing in the narrow kitchen at the end of the living room.
A worn short-sleeved shirt with a stretched neck and shorts. The ends of his wet hair weren’t completely dry yet. His eyes naturally went to his slender, white ankles and ankle bones. I grabbed that in one hand, spread him open, and pounded into him for ages. Jaehyuk licked his lips slightly.
