Different Dreams in the Same Bed (14)
“Hiik… huk huuk… huk… haa. Jaehyuk, stop.”
“…Hm? I can’t hear you. Say it louder. You like it?”
“Uuugh. It’s too deep… huuk… no. Don’t.”
“…Kang Jeongbae, say it properly. I can’t hear you at all.”
“Ahhhhh….”
‘Fuck… they’re going at it from early evening.’
Dogyeom’s brow furrowed as he opened the front door and entered. These days, there was absolutely nothing to make him smile. At the tender age of twenty, he was only gaining wrinkles. Dogyeom roughly yanked open the refrigerator door, took out the water bottle inside, and gulped down the barley tea. His insides were burning.
‘Does that bastard Yoon Jaehyuk have his ear holes blocked? Hyung is telling him to stop but he’s not listening at all….’
This time he threw his bag roughly and kicked open the bathroom door with his foot. He wanted to just throw open the master bedroom door, but thinking of Jeongbae hyung who would be embarrassed, he bit down hard and held back.
“Dogyeom, you’re here?”
Jeongbae came out of the master bedroom with flushed cheeks and eyes, his slender neck covered with kiss marks. An unavoidably embarrassed look crossed his innocent face. Dogyeom unconsciously turned his head away sharply because that appearance looked somehow lewd.
‘Ah shit, what the hell.’
“No sense at all…. Can’t even read the room.”
Jaehyuk grumbled as he walked out scratching his stomach. The short hair that Dogyeom had cut for him today suited him annoyingly well. His abs were clearly visible under his rolled-up t-shirt. Dogyeom’s eyes narrowed.
“Who’s the one with no sense? You know full well it’s time for someone to get off work….”
“How long are you planning to mooch off us?”
“You’re the one who should leave, you viper!”
Leaving Jaehyuk and Dogyeom bickering as usual, Jeongbae checked the rice cooker and then started washing rice with his inconvenient hand. Their fighting wasn’t anything new, so he was used to it by now.
“Move aside. I’ll do it.”
Jaehyuk quickly intervened.
“It’s okay. I can do it.”
“Your arm is uncomfortable. You’ll just extend your cast period doing that.”
Jaehyuk easily pushed Jeongbae aside and stood in front of the low sink, bending his tall frame considerably. His broad back and firm arm muscles were revealed. Just looking at his back made Jeongbae’s heart pound. It was even more embarrassing since until just moments ago he’d been tightly held in that large embrace.
“Ugh, pheromone smell.”
Jeongbae snapped to his senses at the sound of Dogyeom opening the window in disgust.
“S… sorry.”
Jeongbae’s face turned as red as an apple. He was embarrassed to show this side of himself in front of his younger brother Dogyeom. He’d told him not to do this… but Jaehyuk absolutely wouldn’t listen.
On the way back from Dogyeom’s salon.
Dawn jogging, the district office, the dentist, Jaehyuk’s school—there had been too many things to do and he was exhausted. He’d entered through the front door thinking he’d just lie down for a bit… when a large, frightening presence attacked Jeongbae from behind.
‘It’s just the two of us.’
It was like a clown doll from an old horror story.
‘Oh no.’
Jaehyuk easily picked up Jeongbae who’d tried to escape backward. Then he took him to the master bedroom and did various lewd things quite a few times. Until it was almost time for Dogyeom to arrive.
The way he hummed while washing the rice looked just like a well-fed cat. Jeongbae quietly sighed.
Meanwhile, Dogyeom slipped away from between Jeongbae and Jaehyuk preparing dinner together and stood blankly in front of the bathroom mirror.
Through the crack in the door, he could hear their lovey-dovey conversation. They were no different from newlyweds.
‘Ha… is there no place for me here anymore.’
The breath he inhaled bitterly caught in his throat. At first, he’d just thought of Yoon Jaehyuk as a punk who needed to be kicked out. That viper bastard who appeared to ruin Jeongbae hyung’s fate.
But at some point, even Dogyeom himself had to admit that Jaehyuk was protecting and guarding Jeongbae hyung more than anyone else.
When Jeongbae hyung smiled,
When Jeongbae hyung was startled by something,
When Jeongbae hyung looked for somewhere to lean.
His gaze naturally turned to where Yoon Jaehyuk was.
‘Am I not needed anymore.’
Dogyeom came out after just washing his face and sprawled out spreadeagled on the living room floor. He swept his face once with his palm and looked at Jeongbae busily setting the table. Looking somehow troubled yet with slightly upturned corners of his mouth.
‘Hyung… looks happy.’
That fact hurt more. It was good that hyung was happy, but it felt like there was no place for him in that happiness. Dogyeom quietly closed his eyes. The center of his chest tightened hotly.
‘…This won’t do.’
Dogyeom jumped up and put on his slippers. If he kept listening to hyung and Yoon Jaehyuk chattering away setting the table, he felt like he’d get choked up again for no reason.
“Dogyeom, where are you going? You need to eat dinner.”
“I feel stuffy. I’ll be right back.”
Dogyeom quietly opened the front door and ran down the stairs. When the cold air hit his face, he could breathe a little.
‘Ha… I’m seriously going crazy.’
The silver trash can standing at the edge of the apartment flower bed caught his eye. That very trash can he’d kicked for no reason before when he was pissed off. Dogyeom looked around pointlessly. After confirming no one was there, he gave it a good kick.
Clang!
The heavy metallic sound rang through the night air.
“Ah seriously… why is everything so messed up.”
The trash can was fine, but only his foot throbbed. Dogyeom gritted his teeth and shook his toes.
The flower bed in the darkness.
Small insects flew around under the streetlight, and wind rustled through the landscaping trees. Dogyeom sat down on the railing, hugged his knees, and lowered his head.
‘Why am I… hurt like an idiot.’
Dogyeom buried his forehead in his knees. It would be nice if Kim Sejin were here at a time like this. That bear cub who’d stuck to him like gum his whole life was nowhere to be seen when actually needed. He didn’t even know how many hundreds of texts he’d sent saying he’d forget about that stupid lip collision, so just contact him.
“Ha… fuck.”
‘Why does that bear cub like me….’
Dogyeom stared blankly at the back of his hand resting on his thigh.
It wasn’t that he disliked Sejin. No, far from disliking him, he was more reliable than anyone, comfortable, and sometimes a presence so grateful he could breathe freely for the consideration of just being there beside him without saying anything. To Dogyeom, Sejin was his one and only friend and family.
But.
If you asked whether that was love, Dogyeom could only shake his head.
That feeling where your heart lurches, heat rises to your throat, your chest tightens so much you can’t breathe.
He’d only felt that once in his entire life, from just one person.
Kang Jeongbae.
‘If only I were an alpha… then I would’ve already….’
Dogyeom didn’t like his own pretty face or his relatively delicate physique. Not even the image of being called cute by everyone.
He wanted broad shoulders like Jaehyuk or Sejin, strong arms, the stamina that seemed like it could endure anything.
And… to be able to hold Jeongbae hyung….
‘Whoever hyung likes… that’s hyung’s choice.’
Even as he said that with his mouth, somewhere deep in his chest kept screaming.
How nice would it be if hyung leaned on his embrace on difficult days.
How nice would it be if he could pat hyung’s back when he cried.
But it was Yoon Jaehyuk, not himself, who had been there beside him during Jeongbae hyung’s most difficult moments.
Dogyeom rubbed his eyes once with the back of his hand. Tears naturally didn’t come out.
That’s when something rustled in his pocket.
‘…Ah.’
Dogyeom slowly pulled out the envelope with his fingers. The silver logo embedded in the white paper gleamed.
[AETHER Concert VIP Seat — Sunday 18:00]
The moment when Han Siheon handed over the invitation ticket came to mind. That flashy, arrogant alpha who’d licked his lips with his tongue.
‘One million won in one go.’
‘Depending on how you do, even ten million won is nothing.’
Dogyeom bit down hard on his lips. If he put force into his fingers, it seemed like it would tear right away. The edge of the envelope crumpled slightly with a rustling sound.
‘Ten million won?’
An amount he’d never touched before.
‘Hyung won’t be able to keep working at the restaurant… and there’s the monthly utility bills and hospital fees….’
Even though he knew better than anyone that he shouldn’t do this, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the ticket. The ticket hanging from his fingertips swayed slightly. Just when his fingers were about to tear the envelope.
‘Ah, no.’
Dogyeom flinched and stopped his hand. He could have torn it up right away… but his fingers were hesitating.
‘What can I even do for hyung.’
‘This measly body of mine is nothing special….’
Dogyeom slowly folded the envelope in half. His fingertips trembled very slightly. And then….
As if hiding a sin, he gently pushed it back into his pocket. The envelope rustled in his pocket. Dogyeom hugged his knees and buried his forehead.
“Ha… fuck.”
Hot breath leaked out.
