Just then, the feared event occurred, and Jiseo inconspicuously and unconsciously checked Yeongwon’s outfit, who had already changed.
Only after confirming his neat attire did Jiseo turn toward those who had suddenly stuck their heads out and gestured as if they were ready.
“Yeongwon, hurry up!”
“Okay.”
Jiseo, who had been silently following the steps passing him, suddenly fell into another thought.
‘Even though they’re elastic waistband pants, is the waist a bit big?’
The pants fitted properly at the waist were tight enough that they wouldn’t easily fall down just from moving. Even so, if he put something heavy in the pockets, they might slide down more than expected.
Had Yeongwon brought his phone?
Jiseo, who had followed Yeongwon with quick steps, stood by his side and spoke.
“Did you put anything like belongings in your pockets by any chance?”
“No? We’re going to go into hot and humid places here and there, so I left everything out in case it would be uncomfortable.”
“The waistband isn’t too big?”
“It’s moderately tight. I may not look it, but my waist is pretty thick.”
“Eat some snacks later and get a bit of a belly. So your pants don’t fall down.”
“I said my waist is thick.”
“I know, but eat and gain more weight.”
“…”
“Eat lots of snacks. Eating and resting is the best.”
It was fine for him to insist his thin waist—which seemed like it could easily be wrapped if Jiseo grasped it with his own hands—was thick, but since it wasn’t true, he couldn’t help but worry.
Since fattening up his thighs all at once was impossible, at least he should get a belly. Though the chances of that were remarkably low, there shouldn’t be any accidental pants-falling incidents.
It wasn’t like he was wearing underwear that would be okay to expose moderately. They clung tightly without gaps, revealing the outline of his body as is.
‘I should have brought separate underwear.’
He didn’t mind since he himself wasn’t uncomfortable, but he should have prepared for potential exposure just in case. If Yeongwon found out he was worrying about pants that wouldn’t even fall down as if they would, he’d probably take it as being treated like a child again.
Still, he thought the thighs inside the unusually loose pants would draw quite a bit of attention because they were whiter than expected. That is, to others’ eyes. It kept bothering him.
“It’s been a while since I’ve really sweated it out. Ahh, refreshing.”
“Have you been to a place like this before?”
“I went to jjimjilbangs and places like that a lot in the old days. Back then my recognition was low.”
“I still come often even now though? Where I go is a secret, but if you go there late at night, there are almost no customers so it’s nice? Should I tell you where?”
“Yes. But first let’s do the jjimjil. I want to go into a hot place quickly.”
“Isn’t it already hot in here? I’m going to eat sikhye and eggs first.”
Unlike other programs, there were no missions they had to perform in a vast space with just them, so movements of freely wandering here and there continued.
While some went around looking at places with temperatures clearly written to choose an appropriate temperature, there were also those who headed straight to the snack bar.
By his memory, Yeongwon had never been to a place like this. Of course he wouldn’t have after debut, and before that he was too young, so he could only stay under a guardian’s accompaniment.
Jiseo, grabbing the wrist of Yeongwon who was sending curious glances here and there, led him to the snack bar following the others.
“Yeongwon and Jiseo-ssi, would you like something too?”
“Please go ahead. We can order after you.”
“We already got what we ordered… Then please go ahead.”
It wasn’t just a place to play, but also a location they’d come to for dating. Thus, suggestions to go somewhere together were often poured toward Yeongwon and Jiseo, but Jiseo naturally kept Yeongwon by his side.
Since it was a place to properly sweat, he wanted to check Yeongwon’s condition first himself before letting him spend time with others. He might carelessly roll up his clothes saying it was hot.
“Let’s order quickly and go outside too. Or we can buy things for the others and go together.”
Originally it would have been sincere, but now he was inevitably following his role. It seemed he needed to show Yeongwon that he wasn’t with him because he wanted to spend time with him.
“Aren’t we eating here among ourselves and then going, hyung?”
“How can we just buy ours? Of course it’s a system where they just give it when you order, but we should eat together.”
“There’s no particular need to… Then let’s take the others’ stuff to them and go into a private room. Quickly. Okay?”
Because of Yeongwon’s urgent tone, Jiseo almost burst out laughing without realizing it. He had expected this kind of reaction. The problem was it showed so clearly on his face.
‘Quickly check what I need to check… I should send him off though.’
This place was as spacious as it had various things to enjoy. If they all used facilities like this together, it would be a bit more fun and he hoped they’d rest while having lots of conversation.
He wanted experiences they couldn’t easily have to remain as enjoyable memories. That way they’d want to do it again, and they’d know that binding themselves was stifling.
“We have to enjoy what there is to enjoy outside before going in. The private room is like a sauna concept where you pour hot water on your body, so how are you going to walk around if your clothes get wet?”
“No…”
“…”
“Hyung knows I want to be with hyung.”
“…”
“Okay. I’ll compromise, so let’s just eat snacks together and go.”
It was just that he’d postponed it because it would be uncomfortable to use the facilities if their bodies got wet, but Yeongwon had become displeased.
Perhaps anxious about whether they would continue to be entangled with others, he set aside his maturity and whined a little. His puffed cheeks made the corners of Jiseo’s lips rise automatically.
Ah, I wish this expression had been captured fully on camera.
Jiseo muttered to himself without realizing it. It was such a cute moment that he wanted to show it to others too.
When he’s like this, he really does seem like a baby.
“Okay. Let’s eat snacks here with hyung and then go out. Okay?”
“I’ll peel it for you. It’s hot, so you can’t touch it.”
“…”
“Oh, it’s not hot. Right, this isn’t boiled but baked. I just brought it from over there.”
“…”
“Still, I’ll peel it for you. Hyung just dip it in salt and eat it deliciously.”
Perhaps thinking it was a freshly boiled egg, Jiseo finally burst out laughing at the momentarily awkward expression.
He hoped this too would be clearly captured on camera. He tried to show maturity, but unfortunately the sloppiness he revealed instead was cute.
Jiseo stepped back as if to say go ahead and let Yeongwon do what he wanted.
“One is enough for hyung. You eat the rest.”
“All of them for me? You want me to eat five by myself? I’m not that hungry.”
“You’ll get hungry when you sweat. I’m going to look for snacks again later when we come out.”
“Then if hyung eats two, I’ll eat four.”
“Okay. Eat while drinking sikhye too. You’ll get indigestion. Or should I get you another drink?”
“It’s fine. Hyung, you drink it.”
In fact, he didn’t mind not eating, but Jiseo had deliberately gotten more eggs than necessary. As he’d resolved, his goal was to moderately fill Yeongwon’s belly.
Eating too much would cause indigestion, but he’d judged this amount wouldn’t be a problem. Contrary to the expectation that he’d eat obediently, Yeongwon, holding the prettily peeled egg, suddenly stood up and headed somewhere.
“Is this for me to eat?”
“Yes, hyung, please have it.”
Whether he’d been coming to the snack bar or not, Yeongwon suddenly held out the egg in his hand toward Jiwoo, who was approaching this way.
“Thanks. Since I received it, I should eat it deliciously while you watch.”
The other party didn’t refuse, and without any sense of incongruity, stuck his head out more than necessary and accepted the egg Yeongwon had personally peeled.
Since he held out his hand, Jiseo thought he’d receive it with his hand, but the parted lips bit right into the smooth egg.
Yeongwon seemed very pleased and in a good mood about the situation, his lips rising unnecessarily high. Watching the scene of filling an innocent guy’s belly, Jiseo inwardly swallowed the displeasure that naturally arose.
Soon he gauged how close Yeongwon and his partner had approached.
…That close was very close indeed. Whether it was because he’d never witnessed it before, or because of the location and attire, keeping distance would be better.
