“Making a show of it.”
Inhan bristled and said to Yeomin.
“Yuho hyung. I’ll win at the 200th episode and give you something better. Sell that ugly turtle.”
At Yeomin’s sudden victory pledge, Yuho was flustered and immediately refused.
“Why would you give it to me? You should keep it.”
“There’s no possibility of winning, so I’m just saying it. Just let it go in one ear and out the other.”
And Inhan neatly wrapped up the situation. Ah. When Yuho agreed, Yeomin looked incredulous and challenged Inhan.
“Hey. I’ve also won and received a golden key before, you know?”
“Got it. Hyung. Then if you really place first at the 200th episode, you’re giving the prize to Yuho hyung?”
“Didn’t you just hear me? I’m going to get rid of your golden turtle and put my gift in that spot.”
By whose authority? Yuho felt déjà vu at the situation where his opinion still wasn’t being reflected.
Right now there’s no Seonwoo hyung setting the stage, no Jeonga noona catching the wind, and no PD agreeing, so why? Yuho was confused, but to avoid getting swept up in an elementary school fight, he kept his mouth shut and watched the quarrel.
“Inhan still has four hours left until his next schedule call time, right? Let’s wash up and rest at a nearby motel first before heading over. When Juseung comes, Yeomin and Yuho will get in the car and head straight to the dorm.”
Suhyung started the car and spoke to the three people in the back seat.
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
“Yes?”
Yeomin and Inhan answered briefly, and only Yuho was flustered and showed an oversensitive reaction.
“Why, Yuho? Do you need to go somewhere?”
“No. It’s not that. When is Juseung hyung coming?”
“He said it’ll take at least two more hours. Or should hyung take you right away?”
“No. I was just asking. I can go later too.”
Yuho answered reluctantly. He didn’t want to make Suhyung work hard with unnecessary words.
Juseung had gone back to Seoul for Taylor’s personal schedule, and because the variety show filming ended earlier than expected, there was a gap in between.
Suhyung got a twin room at a relatively nice-looking motel nearby and sent the three of them up.
Throughout the walk to the room, Yuho grabbed one of Yeomin’s sleeves with a face that looked half soul-departed. At least he felt relieved that Yeomin was with him.
As soon as they entered the room, Inhan headed to the bathroom first. After Inhan, Yuho was pushed by Yeomin’s back and became second in line to wash up.
When Yuho quickly finished his shower and came out of the bathroom, having thoroughly dressed in his jeans and outer clothes, Yeomin said with displeasure.
“Just come out in a robe. Hyung, are you being formal with us?”
“No. It’s just a bit cold inside.”
At Yuho’s words, Inhan picked up the remote and turned off the air conditioner that had been on.
Inhan, who had finished drying his hair and preparing for sleep, was wearing only a robe over his bare body. Surely he’s wearing underwear. Yuho desperately kept his gaze only on Inhan’s upper body as he approached the vanity where the hair dryer was.
Yeomin headed into the bathroom, and Inhan got up from his seat to make room for Yuho. Yuho sat in the vanity chair and picked up the hair dryer, trying not to be conscious of Inhan.
“Lotion.”
Inhan stopped walking toward the bed, turned to look at Yuho, and spoke.
“Huh?”
“Put on lotion first. Your face will crack.”
“Ah. Okay.”
At Inhan’s suddenly delivered words, Yuho put the hair dryer back down.
Your natural looks are momentary. You need to take care of yourself from now on. Even though Yuho had heard this from Inhan at least a hundred times, he forgot every time. He was grateful that Inhan’s nagging didn’t continue to verses 2 and 3.
Yuho checked the cosmetics placed on the vanity. They were products Inhan had brought separately, and he couldn’t distinguish which was the lotion. In the end, Yuho randomly picked one and squeezed it onto his hand. And roughly rubbed it on his face.
“That’s body lotion.”
“It’s fine. The ingredients are similar anyway.”
At Yuho’s answer, Inhan let out a light sigh. Then he approached the vanity and pointed to the cosmetics already arranged in order, one by one.
“Starting from here, it’s toner, lotion, cream. Apply them in order with 30-second intervals.”
At Inhan’s words, Yuho instinctively frowned. Seeing Yuho’s expression that clearly showed his annoyance, Inhan resignedly picked up the last round container. Doesn’t this obviously look like cream to anyone? Inhan thought to himself as he scooped up some cream with his finger and put it on the back of Yuho’s hand. He had to forcefully suppress the urge to apply it directly to his face.
“Then just apply the cream.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
With his thanks, Yuho immediately brought the back of his hand with the cream to his face, but his wrist was immediately caught by Inhan. Yuho asked curiously.
“Why?”
“30 seconds haven’t passed yet.”
At Inhan’s answer, Yuho made a disgusted expression once more. Inhan awkwardly and obediently let go of Yuho’s wrist.
The reason Inhan became particular about cosmetics was simple. Inhan was born with skin as white and smooth as Yuho’s, but his skin turned over several times due to a combination of repeated heavy makeup, lack of sleep, and nutritional deficiency.
After that, Inhan not only realized the importance of care but also started nagging Yuho, chasing him around because good things should be shared.
Of course, each time, Yuho didn’t even listen with one ear.
Yuho was the type who seemed docile but absolutely wouldn’t do what he didn’t want to do, even if it killed him.
Inhan resignedly headed back to the bed. Yuho, making sure Inhan wouldn’t see, brought the cream on the back of his hand to his face and started roughly rubbing it.
The bed Inhan chose was not the double bed on the left but the single bed on the right.
In the past, he would have had a war of words with Yeomin about using the same bed as Yuho. Yuho found it unfamiliar to see Inhan obediently heading to the single bed.
“I brought shorts separately, so if you need them, change into these.”
Inhan placed the shorts he took out of his bag on the nightstand between the two beds as he spoke. Yuho was confused by Inhan’s endless care. Did he forget that our relationship is over? He even wondered if that was possible.
“It’s okay. I don’t need to change.”
“Won’t the jeans be uncomfortable?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
“Inhan.”
“Yes?”
“Why do you keep being nice to me?”
Yuho eventually created an uncomfortable situation again. He knew his heart would waver even at the small kindness Inhan thoughtlessly showed. For the past five years, Inhan had been terribly affectionate and simultaneously terribly indifferent to Yuho.
“We’re not even filming the variety show right now.”
At Yuho’s words, Inhan’s completely relaxed face instantly hardened. It seemed he had finally properly faced reality.
“Yeomin hyung is also in this room. He’ll worry if I suddenly change my attitude.”
“Is that all?”
“…It’s like a habit. When I see you, hyung, I keep becoming like that.”
Inhan conveyed his excuse to Yuho with a sad expression. Yuho’s gaze kept facing the mirror.
“Still. I’d like it if you didn’t do that from now on.”
At Yuho’s words, Inhan didn’t answer.
Yuho was about to say one more thing but closed his mouth. Instead, he got up from his seat and rummaged through his bag. And from inside, he took out a navy blue box and headed toward Inhan.
Inhan closed his eyes tightly in despair. The joy of being in the same space as Yuho didn’t last long. Inhan regretted not asking Suhyung to get a separate room.
Yuho held out the box in his hand to Inhan without hesitation. Inhan watched this with mixed feelings.
“No matter how much I think about it, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to accept it.”
“Why are you doing this? What sin does an object have?”
“Still. You said it was a meaningful item.”
“Then what about me? I’ll be upset every time I see this now.”
Saying that, Inhan smiled bitterly. Yuho didn’t react to Inhan’s words.
Where did things go wrong? Why do we care about each other yet act like people desperate not to hurt each other? Yuho’s heart ached, but since he had decided not to be held back anymore, he couldn’t act weak.
“Fine.”
At Yuho’s cold response, Inhan obediently accepted the box.
“You give things like this to someone you like. Not me.”
Finally, the words that had risen to Yuho’s chin came out of his mouth. Without giving Inhan a chance to answer, Yuho turned around and headed to the vanity.
“You would have accepted it if Yeomin hyung gave it to you.”
Eventually, words of resentment also came out of Inhan’s mouth.
“You would have accepted it even if that actor Joo Seonchan, whom you haven’t known for long, gave it to you. Why do you hate only what I give you so much?”
“Because it’s you.”
Yuho turned back to Inhan and spoke firmly.
“Because it’s you.”
“…Saying it like that makes me understand at once.”
Inhan said that with a forcedly smiling face. Yuho turned around without reacting further.
Inhan stared at Yuho’s back for a long time before placing the box on the nightstand beside the bed. Since it was an item the owner had abandoned, he thought it wouldn’t be bad to conclude by losing it like this.
Soon Yuho started drying his hair with the hair dryer, and Inhan lay on the bed and tried to sleep.
“Inhan must have fallen asleep already.”
“Yeah. He must have been tired.”
At Yeomin’s words after coming out of the bathroom, Yuho replied nonchalantly. Until all the lights went out and Yuho and Yeomin fell into a deep sleep, Inhan couldn’t fall asleep easily. When Inhan opened his eyes and looked at the opposite bed, he couldn’t see Yuho because Yeomin was blocking him. At the situation that was just like his own position, Inhan smiled bitterly and closed his eyes again.
When Inhan woke up again, the bed next to him was empty. Half-asleep, Inhan packed his luggage following Suhyung’s guidance and headed out of the room.
“Hyung. Wait a moment.”
Inhan, who had suddenly stopped at the door, moved back into the room.
Inhan immediately went to the nightstand beside the bed and looked on top of it, but the box that should have been there was not visible.
“Why? Did you leave something behind?”
Suhyung asked Inhan curiously, and Inhan answered nonchalantly.
“I was checking if the hyungs left anything behind.”
“There’s nothing, right?”
“No. I guess they packed everything well on their own.”
It seemed the golden key had found its owner well. Inhan clenched and unclenched his tingling fingertips several times again. Even though they had just been together, he missed Yuho again.
