Yeonjun, who followed him inside the house, looked around here and there as if finding it somewhat fascinating. With those uniquely interested eyes of his.
Even so, there wouldn’t be much to see. The house where Eunha’s belongings were crammed was separate. This place was merely a second home for convenience. He’d lived here for several years but had never thought to increase his possessions, so it was rather cluttered and bare. As if he hadn’t moved in long ago.
It was a topic that had come up at least once from the mouths of countless people who had come and gone from here. Asking why it was so empty.
At least the living room had a sofa and TV placed in it, so it felt roughly furnished, but the inner room had nothing but a bed sitting there alone. Yeonjun’s eyes, discovering the bedroom visible through the open door, were soon tinged with bewilderment. As always, what he was thinking showed plainly on the outside. To a fascinating degree.
Eunha naturally diverted his attention.
“What’s that?”
Indeed, Yeonjun had an opaque white bag hanging on his wrist. Ah, he looked down.
“I thought you wouldn’t have eaten, hyung.”
As he handed it over, Eunha inadvertently took it into his arms. What was contained inside were three packs of wrapped sandwiches. He knew the source as soon as he saw them. They were from a shop he’d frequently gotten takeout from recently. He’d sent photos a few times as proof to Yeonjun who would contact him asking if he’d eaten. He remembered replying when asked where it was from.
Eunha, who had been staring down into the bag as if glaring at it for a moment, soon moved his steps. Should I tell him not to worry about whether I eat or not from now on…… Isn’t it a bit much to be curious about whether I’ve eaten every single day without fail…… Thinking such defeated thoughts.
After a brief exchange of a few words, they decided to watch a movie. Since what they could do at home was limited. Eunha sat Yeonjun on the sofa and handed him the remote, telling him to choose what to watch, then wandered around the kitchen. He took out the sandwiches and put them on a plate, and as he rummaged through the upper cabinet to gather more snacks, he sensed someone approaching. He tried to continue what he was doing without paying attention, but a voice asked from behind.
“Is there anything I can help with?”
“Mm. Go sit down.”
He spoke curtly, but Yeonjun didn’t go. He leaned against the island table and began watching Eunha. Distractingly. However, instead of repeating himself, Eunha finished gathering the snacks. Then he inadvertently grasped the refrigerator handle and had to stop his motion as if freezing. Because if he opened it as is, Yeonjun would clearly see everything inside the refrigerator.
But it was also strange to pull back after grabbing the handle ready to open it. Well…… strictly speaking, there was no particular need to hide it. Eunha let out a faint sigh and opened the refrigerator door. The inside was as miserable as always. A few ion drinks and expired yogurt were all there was.
Eunha took out one ion drink and placed it on the tray. Just as he lifted it and was leaving the kitchen, Yeonjun, who had been standing in the way, received it as naturally as flowing water. Since he hadn’t handed it over, strictly speaking, the expression “snatched it away” would be correct. It was such an extremely natural gesture that he was robbed of it without time to process the thought. Eunha, who had been watching Yeonjun’s back as he moved away, had to feel halfhearted for a moment.
Because it was somehow a strange feeling. There had been many partners and one-night stands who had come and gone from here, but this was the first time for an experience like this.
That is, the sight of that kid being contained in this familiar household scenery.
Because that scene like a fragment of peaceful daily life brought a churning sensation that had now become somewhat familiar.
Eunha deliberately ignored it as if clouding his eyes. He tried not to feel regret.
They sat side by side with their backs against the base of the sofa. It wasn’t much different from the composition when they’d eaten at Yeonjun’s house last time. They decided what to watch and started the movie. What they selected was Eunha’s favorite blockbuster action type. The movie had a tense development from the beginning. Thanks to that, he could quickly forget complicated thoughts and immerse himself. His attention was automatically drawn to the rapidly changing scenes and the banging sounds.
Yeonjun wasn’t much different. They focused purely on watching for a while. It was a movie that had been quite a hit in Korea at the time of its release. At two hours and ten minutes, the running time was quite long, but time passed quickly. Enough to be buried in it without leisure to think of anything else for a while.
It was about 30 minutes after being absorbed like that when Eunha suddenly felt discomfort.
It started with their arms, which had been touching as they sat next to each other, becoming more deeply intertwined. Yeonjun, who leaned comfortably against him as if relying on him, began making small skinship. Things like touching Eunha’s knee that his fingertips reached, leaning his body more toward this side while adjusting his posture, fiddling with his fingers, or gripping them tightly.
“Ah. He shouldn’t go……”
“……”
“Protagonists always make choices like that.”
Yeonjun clicked his tongue as if he couldn’t understand. It was criticism toward the protagonist who foolishly threw away an objectively beneficial choice with his own hands and acted foolishly because of his companion. While doing so, he deeply intertwined their arms and pressed his temple against the edge of Eunha’s shoulder. Eunha chewed on his complexity while tensing his body.
It wasn’t skinship that felt like it had some kind of intention. There was no sexual nuance at all. However, perhaps because of that, it seemed rather worse. Casual skinship without any particular intention. Things that weren’t precursor acts leading to sex.
That kind of thing was just, too much…….
Because it seemed like acts that only lovers would do.
“……”
A weekday afternoon. A house where moderately lukewarm air flowed. A movie watched side by side with food spread out.
That leisurely scene was the same. It bothered him much more than hanging out outside. It seemed partly because he was still in the cute duck pajamas that were embarrassing to be seen in. Because they were spending time together sharing such an extremely private part.
If this isn’t dating, what is it?
That level of awareness had always existed faintly in one corner of his consciousness, but this was the first time it approached in such a vivid form. So afterward, he couldn’t concentrate at all. He had to let the remaining running time flow by with his nerves on edge as if having his attention stolen. Yeonjun offered light opinions about the movie here and there, but nothing really registered in his ears. He appropriately answered while focusing on calming his flustered insides.
After the movie ended, it was quiet for a while. The sound of the TV tuned to some channel was all that filled the space. Eunha, who had been quietly immersed in complicated thoughts alone, realized it at some point and glanced to the side. Even if he was like that, he wondered why Yeonjun had also gone silent.
The person he confirmed like that had an expression as if he had something to say. An air as if he’d become slightly attentive while mulling over that topic.
Then their eyes met as if by chance. Yeonjun slightly moved his lips, then asked lightly as if it wasn’t a big concern.
“Hyung, you don’t live here?”
Ah. Eunha, understanding, nodded inwardly. It was a part he’d been curious about anyway. Why hadn’t he asked after seeing everything?
Eunha, who had paused briefly, turned his gaze to the TV and explained indifferently.
“I don’t exactly live here.”
“……Don’t exactly?”
“Literally an officetel? The house I stay in is separate.”
Since he visited maybe once a quarter, it was actually inaccurate to say he stayed there. It might be more correct to call here his home, but Eunha didn’t correct himself.
“Is your home far from here?”
Yeonjun asked casually. Normally one would think that much. That the distance was far, so he got a new place for convenience.
“Well…… there’s that too.”
“……”
“Because I don’t want to go back.”
Yeonjun, who tilted his head curiously, looked at Eunha. Eunha twisted his head slightly to meet that gaze. After a moment’s hesitation, he blurted out.
“I used to live with someone.”
