He had nothing to say. Chaeho had told Soohyun several times to live together. Each time, Soohyun avoided answering. Unable to face the resentment in his eyes, Soohyun lowered his head.
“Hyung. Let’s live together even now. I… won’t say anything about you working.”
“I already rewrote the contract, and living with you doesn’t seem like a good idea.”
“Hyung… please…. Please, hyung….”
Soohyun was held in Chaeho’s arms without any resistance. Even knowing he was sobbing, Soohyun couldn’t even comfort him.
“Is it because I confessed? If so, I’m sorry. But it’s too hard for me when you keep distancing yourself from me like this. Just let us be like before.”
“Chaeho-ya, that’s…”
Should he say it was already too late? Should he say no? The speed of the heart was always like that. It never went the way he wanted. He knew Chaeho’s heart would be the same. They might be able to hold each other in their arms and fall asleep feeling warmth like before, but because he was by his side, he would gradually become lonelier.
Because of sick, inadequate me.
“When I get a bit better, I’ll find a place to live and move out. Don’t worry too much.”
“Hyung!”
“It’s already decided. I can’t stay long. I’ll go up. You have to go to work.”
Soohyun pulled up the corners of his mouth toward the sky as much as possible. Smiling more brightly than usual, he patted Chaeho’s shoulder.
“I asked them to just dispose of the stuff originally at the house. There wasn’t much that was mine anyway. It’ll all disappear when they demolish it.”
Looking at Chaeho, who just stared at his face without saying anything, Soohyun shifted his gaze to his tightly closed lips. He’s angry. It didn’t seem like Chaeho had ever been this angry before….
“…I’ll be going.”
Though he was originally soft-hearted, it was even more difficult to be harsh to Chaeho. He hoped the child who was always like a rock standing in that place would now have feelings for someone other than him. Soohyun got on the elevator without looking back.
“I’m a bit late. I’m sorry.”
He was concerned that time had been delayed while arguing with Chaeho. In any case, since he was in a working position, he wanted to keep good track of time and appointments.
“It’s fine. Did you meet the person you were supposed to meet well?”
“…Yes.”
Soohyun went into the utility room to start working again.
Seojun looked at his back and recalled the image of the two people he had secretly stolen a glance at earlier.
‘So that man was Chaeho.’
After Soohyun left, Seojun couldn’t bear his curiosity about who he was meeting. Worried someone might recognize him, he pulled a hat low over his head and even wore a mask, avoiding others’ eyes as he paced the officetel lobby. Seojun watched everything—a man with a bigger build and excellent looks saying something to Soohyun, then pulling him into an embrace and sobbing. He couldn’t hear well what the two were saying, but Seojun could hear Soohyun calling him “Chaeho.” Soohyun might think of Chaeho as just a younger brother, but the man called Chaeho was definitely in love with Soohyun. Even to Seojun’s unknowing eyes, it clearly looked that way.
‘It would be strange not to like Lee Soohyun-ssi.’
He had a neat face memorable enough to never forget after seeing it once, and though he seemed stiff on the outside, Soohyun actually had quite an affectionate side. Even Seojun, who had seen countless people rumored to be pretty and handsome while living in the entertainment industry, found Soohyun very attractive.
“Choi Seojun-ssi, will you eat now?”
“Huh? I will.”
Seojun came to his senses at Soohyun’s call and sat at the dining table. Sitting before the table he had carefully set, holding his spoon and chopsticks, looking at the freshly made warm rice, soup, and side dishes, he exclaimed inwardly in admiration.
‘Really… this is like being newlyweds.’
Unlike Seojun’s face full of excitement, Soohyun’s face was full of shadows.
**3. Scarred Romance (1)**
“Do we… really have to sleep like this?”
“We agreed to.”
“But this is too…”
Seojun had waited for night to come. He took out a pillow that had never been used and prepared it, putting on a fluffy pillowcase before placing it on the bed with a pleased smile. Soohyun looked at the pillows placed side by side like a married couple’s bed and sighed quietly. Moreover, Seojun had already lain on the bed first, even spread his arms, and tapped his arm, gesturing for him to lie there.
“Quickly, right here. I’ll give you an arm pillow.”
Even if he was interested in him, did they really have to go this far? It seemed it would be more comfortable mentally to moan mindlessly intoxicated by pheromones and fall into a deep sleep.
“Soohyun-ssi. You worked so hard today.”
“It wasn’t different from usual.”
“That’s not true. You moved your luggage, cleaned, and made my meal, so it was hard, right?”
“It’s my work.”
Soohyun sat on the edge of the bed. It had been so long since he’d slept with someone other than Chaeho, and in a bed at that. Seojun looked at his back and very slowly stroked his back with his fingers. A neat back with no curve at all—knowing how beautiful and pretty the pure white naked body inside was made him burn with desire.
“Choi Seojun-ssi, what are you…?”
“What?”
From Soohyun’s nape to his earlobes turned bright red. Seojun, who had been lying down, subtly raised his body and gently embraced Soohyun’s body from behind.
“Don’t tell me… it tickles?”
Enchanted by Soohyun’s face, flushed as if flower petals had been placed on it, Seojun ended up kissing his nape.
“Anyone would be ticklish if you touch them like that.”
“I’m fine though?”
When Soohyun turned his head, the face of Seojun he encountered was exactly that expression he’d seen on screen. Eyes full of warmth and a boyish smile. Soohyun’s head, which had been tilted for a moment, straightened again.
“Does it… tickle here?”
Seojun’s fingers traveled down Soohyun’s back once more. Soohyun let out a short moan and hunched his shoulders. Hugging tightly the waist of him trembling, Seojun rested his forehead on his shoulder.
“Soohyun-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“…Lie down quickly. I’m sleepy.”
Seojun lay back on the bed and spread his arm. Soohyun obediently lay down using his arm as a pillow. With the refreshing alpha pheromones mixed with the body wash scent, both body and mind became languid.
“Soohyun-ssi, do you know you smell really good?”
“That can’t be.”
“I’m not talking about pheromones.”
Seojun put his nose to Soohyun’s hair and breathed slowly. The shampoo scent, body wash scent, and Soohyun’s body scent harmonized to create his unique fragrance. It wasn’t something that could be compared to pheromones or anything like that.
“It smells good and it’s soft. I think I’ll fall asleep soon.”
“If you keep your arm like this while sleeping, it’ll go numb. Just let me use the pillow…”
When Soohyun subtly tried to pull his head away, Seojun pulled his body into an embrace. Soohyun, whose face ended up buried deep in Seojun’s chest, rolled his eyes rapidly with a very awkward expression.
“Just stay still for a bit. Do you know how long I’ve waited?”
“Waited?”
Would Soohyun feel burdened if he said he’d been waiting just for the time to lie in bed together with him? In truth, he was already feeling sufficiently burdened. Even though he was lying in bed, he couldn’t relax, so much so that you could feel the tension throughout his entire body.
“Relax. We’re just sleeping.”
“……”
“We’ve done even more than this.”
Seojun closed his eyes. He could feel Soohyun flinching in his arms. Even without checking with his eyes, he could picture his face. He must be flushed bright red from his cheeks to his earlobes.
“Sleep well, Soohyun-ssi.”
“You too, Choi Seojun-ssi. Good… night.”
* * *
Seojun woke up feeling a chilly sensation. He couldn’t feel the warmth of the person who should have been in his arms. Because he’d gone to bed earlier than usual, the clock showed it was only 2 AM.
“Lee Soohyun-ssi….”
When did he escape from my embrace? He could dimly see him curled up like a shrimp with his head resting on the edge of the pillow. Seojun pulled his body back into his arms. He wanted to see the face of him sleeping deeply, making adorable sounds like a child. But with only the faint beam of light coming in from outside the window, it was difficult to see his sleeping face satisfactorily.
“Even if it’s uncomfortable, please bear with it a little.”
Seojun stroked Soohyun’s forehead with his fingers. He traveled down the forehead that drew a gentle curve, stroked the bridge of his nose, and fiddled with the plump, soft lips positioned below his prominent philtrum.
