Probably if he was making a mistake right away, Jiseo would have noticed first. They’d been together a long time, and even when he was young, Jiseo often quietly pointed out wrong behaviors.
Yeongwon had never rebelled against Jiseo’s criticisms. Only when hurt or faced with unreasonable misunderstandings would resentment arise.
Perhaps thanks to being in a situation where he had to quickly read the room since childhood, Yeongwon belonged to the side that obediently accepted wrongdoings.
Yeongwon didn’t think he was behaving wrongly either. He’d already been in this industry for several years. Even if celebrities had an excellent ability to hide their likes and dislikes, he could recognize sincerity.
They kept telling him… that he was so kind and good. Embarrassed pride pooled on Yeongwon’s cheeks.
“The other hyungs and noonas say I’m kind and good.”
Jiseo read the transparently gleeful laughter contained in Yeongwon’s voice.
“Kind and good?”
Though he asked calmly, it was a boast he could confirm with his own eyes. It must be a boast. It seemed like he was talking about it shyly.
A boast… Jiseo, mulling it over again, muttered to himself, He’s boasting because he’s happy.
“They say I cook well and organize well. They came to my room to hang out and saw me unpack and everyone complimented me.”
“I figured you’d do well, but the clothes. Did you hang all your clothes on hangers, or fold them in the suitcase?”
“I hung them all on hangers. I also lined up things like lotion on the shelf.”
Seeing how proud he was, the compliments must have been quite satisfying. More than that, it seemed they’d already become close enough to freely come and go to the bedroom and show their rooms without hesitation.
…Right. That’s how they build rapport for now. Since it was an insignificant experience, Jiseo reacted calmly.
“If your skin gets itchy from the blanket, bring it over. They said we can use the washer and dryer.”
“Got it. Oh, then I’ll do hyung’s for you.”
“Doing someone’s laundry isn’t part of looking mature. The person who mentions it first does it.”
Though cleaning or housework wasn’t a measure of maturity, Yeongwon reflexively jumped at the opportunity as soon as he caught it.
At the same time, Jiseo felt he’d spoken unnecessarily. Honestly, while he could help with other things, he was worried Yeongwon might try to wash other people’s bedding too.
He could tell him he didn’t need to go that far. It was closer to work he didn’t need to do than kind help.
Jiseo, who had been lost in thought for a moment, changed direction. This wasn’t really what he needed to talk to Yeongwon about.
Like today, there might be many occasions where Yeongwon would travel alone with others. Though the fact that they were filming was underlying everything… Yeongwon was in a period where he couldn’t skillfully control his newly emerged instincts.
He wondered when there would be a time when the mics were off and cameras weren’t rolling. There was almost no such opportunity at the dorm. It was probably also influenced by spending time separately every evening.
He thought Yeongwon would handle it on his own, but… Because it was stimulating, the words he wondered if he should say kept circling in his mouth.
You never know. It hasn’t been long since he manifested.
Though everyone looked fine on the surface, honestly Yeongwon was also an adult… Just in case, really just in case, various things could happen while hanging out together.
It wasn’t that it actually was happening, but he wanted to tell him to be careful.
Yeongwon still hadn’t experienced, for instance, a heat cycle or the experience of another designation’s pheromones feeling stimulating. Others had already been coming and going to his room.
When we shower and change clothes would be appropriate.
As luck would have it, today’s scheduled location was a jjimjilbang. It seemed like a good opportunity to create an appropriate timing.
If he had a plan, he would suggest going in one person at a time to get ready. Or these days, there were many places with individual shower facilities. Still, they’d have to share the changing room though.
He himself would be fine showering with others, but not Yeongwon. Just because they’re the same gender, strangers usually go to public bathhouses too… But not Yeongwon.
Yeongwon had just become an adult. If you asked what that had to do with anything… There was nothing he could refute, but the discomfort wasn’t insignificant. To summarize, he was slightly displeased with others seeing his bare body rather than himself.
For now, and perhaps even in the future, even if he had no interest in Yeongwon whatsoever, honestly Yeongwon wouldn’t welcome others’ gazes either. Having to see bodies he didn’t want to see wouldn’t be very pleasant either.
Anyway, once you see it, it remains in memory. Once captured by the eyes, it would naturally be engraved in memory too.
Though they appeared to have good impressions, were kind and sweet as a group, anyway once they saw, it would remain in their heads. Jiseo kept repeating those words.
So… he seemed to dislike that. Others remembering Yeongwon’s bare body.
“You can return your mics here after changing clothes and then enter the changing room. We’ll put them back on once everyone gathers.”
While lost in his own thoughts, Jiseo found himself standing at the destination with Yeongwon.
Following the guidance before entry, those who removed their mics one by one returned them to the basket the staff was holding.
“You’ll just shower briefly and change, right?”
“I just showered at the dorm. I’ll sweat from the jjimjil, so I’ll shower after filming ends.”
“I’m going to shower and change. I already washed but I want to wash one more time.”
“Aren’t you too clean?”
Excited, those who were constantly exchanging jokes naturally headed toward the changing room first.
Jiseo naturally held back Yeongwon, who was about to follow them, kept him by his side, and dragged his feet as nonchalantly as possible.
“Hyung, did you shower at the dorm? Are you going to change right away?”
“You?”
“I’m going to change right away. I have to shower again later anyway.”
“Hyung will change right away too.”
If he had said he’d shower, he would have needed to stall more, but fortunately that wasn’t necessary. As he said, they’d have to shower after sweating, so he just had to worry about how to go in last somehow.
“Let’s change here.”
Since they’d rented the entire facility for filming, the structure was six men sharing the entire changing room.
Since there were private jjimjilbangs and spacious communal facilities together, it wasn’t cramped. Thanks to this, in one space lined with numbered lockers, there were only Jiseo and Yeongwon.
Relieved, Jiseo first took off his top and quickly removed his bottoms before putting on the jjimjil uniform he’d received at the counter.
It seemed to take less than a minute to change clothes. Naturally approaching Yeongwon, who was organizing his belongings, Jiseo held out the jjimjil uniform hanging on the door.
“Hyung will finish organizing, so change your clothes first.”
“You don’t need to organize. I was just taking out toiletries to have them ready for washing later. Use this when you wash later since hyung manages his hair. Is this a good one?”
“Got it. Take off your top and give it to hyung.”
Rather than focusing on Yeongwon’s words taking care of him, Jiseo extended his hand first. While he couldn’t exclude the fact that they needed to change and go without delay, there was another intention.
If they didn’t change quickly, it seemed others would come looking for them. Jiseo used the locker door to shield Yeongwon’s body and naturally overlapped his own body next to it to block the remaining space.
Probably from outside, all they’d see of Yeongwon would be a bit of his legs. Jiseo’s gaze turned downward.
Calves being exposed was fine, but not thighs. He deliberately kept his legs together and changed to a composition more convenient for covering more of Yeongwon’s body.
“…”
Jiseo, watching Yeongwon change clothes nonchalantly, judged that he’d done well to block him with his body.
The moderately firm but slender body was pure white with beautiful lines. Up to there, it was obvious even from his clothed appearance so it didn’t matter, but below the waist was a bit much.
First, since he was wearing triangular underwear, in that his white, smooth thighs that had never been exposed anywhere were fully revealed, Jiseo praised his choice as correct.
Thanks to that perhaps, his long legs looked particularly elongated. The line rising from his ankles was also beautiful. So whatever pants he wore, they couldn’t help but look pretty.
“Hyung, I’m done changing.”
“Nothing missing? Your belongings. Did you check?”
“Yeah. Ah, but um, hyung, if you don’t want to carry the locker key, put it in mine.”
“Knock knock, we’re all ready! Jiseo-ssi, Yeongwon, are you done changing?”
