“I don’t like not being hyung’s first either.”
Why was that? In that moment, Yuho thought he was afraid of what Inhan would say next. His heart grew anxious, fearing that once again, he would be shaken by words he couldn’t handle.
“Inhan-ah. Wait a moment…”
“Let’s go to the sea together too.”
But what came out of Inhan’s mouth was something completely different from what Yuho had expected.
Yuho thought he didn’t know whether to be relieved or not. At the same time, he felt pathetic for still being swayed by Inhan’s words.
“Okay. Then all together with the members…”
“No. Just the two of us.”
“…When?”
“Today.”
At Inhan’s firmly delivered words, Yuho was at a loss for words.
The fact that he’d been late to their appointment because he’d gone to the sea with Seonchan was information anyone could find just by checking the fan community.
But he couldn’t understand why Inhan cared so much about that fact.
Yuho spoke to Inhan, trying to seem nonchalant.
“It’s winter, so it’s really cold. And there’s not much to do.”
“I’ll accept that as this year’s birthday present.”
Yuho had wondered what kind of amazing thing Inhan wanted that he hadn’t told him about yet, but after hearing Inhan’s answer, he felt a bit deflated.
Still, since he’d promised to grant whatever Inhan wished for, he couldn’t refuse. Yuho soon nodded.
“Okay, fine. Let’s go.”
“Yes. Let’s leave right after we wake up.”
“Huh?”
“Why? Do you have a schedule in the morning?”
On the other hand, Inhan was anxious. He thought he didn’t want to lose Yuho to anyone else, whether it was friendship or love. Even knowing that these feelings were making things difficult for Yuho, he felt that way.
“No. I just hadn’t thought about staying over.”
“I’ll pack everything for you, including clothes to change into. I have several outfits that fit you, hyung.”
Inhan answered immediately, leaving no room for escape. Yuho also thought there wouldn’t be enough time to go back to the dorm and return. In the end, Yuho obediently accepted Inhan’s proposal.
“Okay. I’ll do as you say.”
The meal that followed consisted only of casual conversation. Since it was too late, they finished up quickly and decided to eat the leftover food for breakfast.
“Sleep in my room, hyung.”
As soon as Yuho finished preparing for bed and came out of the bathroom, Inhan suddenly said to him. Yuho asked back, puzzled.
“Then where will you sleep?”
“I can sleep on the sofa. I do that often anyway.”
“No. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“But you’re a guest.”
“And it’s your birthday.”
“You know I can sleep anywhere, hyung.”
The conversation seemed like it would never reach an easy conclusion, so Yuho paused for a moment in thought. Then he soon made a suggestion to Inhan.
“Why don’t we just sleep together?”
“No.”
Inhan flatly rejected Yuho’s suggestion.
“You sleep comfortably by yourself, hyung.”
“…R-right? That would be better, right?”
At Inhan’s unexpected reaction, Yuho was flustered. And he decided to end this situation quickly.
“Then I’ll sleep in your room.”
“Okay, hyung. Sleep well.”
Inhan greeted him with a satisfied expression, and Yuho answered right away.
“Yeah. You sleep well too.”
After saying goodnight, Yuho headed straight to Inhan’s room. And as he lay down on Inhan’s bed, his mood became strange at the familiar scent embedded in the pillow and blanket.
Seonchan – [Are you having fun at the birthday party?] [I just got home now] 12:45 AM
Before falling asleep, Yuho checked Seonchan’s message that he hadn’t been able to reply to because he’d been with Inhan.
Yuho – [Thanks so much for today] [Sleep well, sweet dreams] 1:55 AM
He knew it was too late to reply, but Yuho sent Seonchan a message anyway.
Seonchan – [Yeah, you sleep well too, sweet dreams] 1:56 AM
The reply from Seonchan came back immediately. Yuho was surprised and continued the conversation.
Yuho – [Did I wake you up?]
Seonchan – [No, I couldn’t sleep so I was looking at the script]
Yuho – [It’s 2 AM though?]
Seonchan – [I was just about to go to sleep anyway]
Yuho – [Then hurry and sleep, I’ll contact you again in the morning]
Seonchan – [ㅇㅇ you hurry and sleep too]
Yuho – [Okay, bye]
Seonchan – [Bye]
After finishing his conversation with Seonchan, Yuho put down his phone by his bedside.
And he began mulling over the meaningful words Inhan had said. No matter how much he thought about it, he came to the conclusion that they weren’t much different from the words he’d carelessly uttered in the past.
A childish feeling of jealousy, not wanting his friend to be stolen away—that’s all it seemed to be.
Yuho closed his eyes, pushing away unnecessary thoughts.
The time Inhan woke up was 7 AM.
Inhan quickly shook off his fatigue and hurriedly booked a rental car on his phone. After that, he finished showering and reheated the leftover food from the day before, setting it on the dining table. After finishing all his tasks, an hour had passed. Inhan thought it was about time to wake Yuho.
“Yuho-hyung. Are you still sleeping?”
Inhan carefully knocked on the door of the master bedroom where Yuho would be sleeping. But there was no response from inside the room.
After some deliberation, Inhan carefully opened the door and went in. And he came face to face with an empty bed with no one there.
Inhan was momentarily flustered, but thought there was no need to be disappointed already. He decided to contact Yuho first.
Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang. Inhan hurriedly went out to the living room and checked the wall pad screen. It was none other than Yuho standing outside the front door. Inhan immediately went to the entrance and opened the door.
“Sorry. Did I startle you?”
As soon as Yuho faced Inhan, he asked with an embarrassed expression. Inhan reacted, trying to seem nonchalant.
“Where did you go?”
“I wanted to make you seaweed soup.”
Yuho said that while shaking the bag in his hand.
Looking down at Yuho’s face—his nose tip and both cheeks bright red from the cold—Inhan thought his heart was swelling. To think he hadn’t even known it was love when it felt this good—he thought his past self had been foolish.
“I didn’t know you’d gone out.”
“I snuck out while you were showering, hehe.”
“I thought you’d left.”
“Huh? Why would I? But actually, I tried to go and come back even earlier than you, but I failed.”
Yuho added an excuse with a bright face. In that moment, Inhan impulsively approached Yuho.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I hug you just once?”
“…Sure. You can.”
Yuho nodded, puzzled. While thinking to himself that it was strange for Inhan to ask for permission when he’d done so before without asking.
As soon as Yuho’s permission was granted, Inhan immediately pulled Yuho’s shoulders and hugged him. Because he’d been walking around outside, a chill had seeped into Yuho’s outer clothing, but Inhan didn’t mind.
After returning to Inhan’s home, Yuho headed straight to the kitchen and began preparing instant seaweed soup. He’d wanted to make proper seaweed soup, but because of the early hour, he hadn’t been able to get the ingredients and had come back.
“You go sit down.”
“Okay.”
Inhan tried to help Yuho but was immediately stopped and forcibly seated at the dining table chair.
The cooking time for instant seaweed soup was less than 5 minutes, and Yuho soon transferred the seaweed soup into a soup bowl and headed to the dining table.
“Try it.”
Yuho said with expectant eyes, and Inhan soon picked up his spoon and tasted the seaweed soup.
“How is it?”
“It’s delicious.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s amazing.”
It was bland seaweed soup with a taste of seasoning, but to Inhan’s palate, it tasted better than any other food.
At Inhan’s words, Yuho was pleased and also tasted the seaweed soup. And soon, with a sullen face, he said to Inhan.
“I think I added too much water.”
“It’s not good to eat salty food.”
“But you like eating salty food.”
“I like anything if you make it for me, hyung.”
Seeing Inhan empty his soup bowl diligently while saying that, Yuho felt touched. So without thinking, he reached his hand toward Inhan’s head, but then withdrew it, thinking better of it.
“Next year I’ll make it properly. I’ll buy beef too.”
“And sauté it in sesame oil?”
“Yeah. I’ll practice in advance too.”
“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”
Inhan nodded with a satisfied face. Yuho, who had always been busy avoiding him, was now even making promises about the future—it was a new feeling.
He also thought he hoped it could continue to be like this even after he confessed his feelings.
After finishing their meal, the two people hurriedly changed into outdoor clothes and left the house together.
By Inhan’s doing, Yuho ended up wearing a basic tee with a sweatshirt layered over it, and a fleece hoodie on top of that. On top of that, he wore a scarf and earmuffs, and finally was practically wrapped in an oversized long padding jacket.
“I can barely move.”
“It’s still better than catching a cold.”
Yuho thought it was uncomfortable, but remembering how he’d suffered from yesterday’s sea breeze, he decided to obediently follow Inhan’s words.
The destination Inhan chose was a different area from where Yuho had gone the day before. Since they had to return in time for the evening birthday party, they had no choice but to pick the closest place.
Despite it being Monday morning, the two people’s journey was exceptionally lucky.
The roads were wide open, allowing them to reach their destination faster than the estimated time, and for winter, the temperature was high with even calm winds.
The beach the two people visited had so few people that they didn’t have to be interrupted during the time they ate seafood kalguksu for lunch.
“Hyung. Wait a moment.”
As soon as they left the restaurant, Inhan stopped Yuho.
“Yeah?”
Inhan, who had already approached Yuho, put the hood of the hoodie Yuho was wearing over his head, tightened the strings and tied them in a ribbon. Then he even personally zipped up the padding jacket.
“You zip up too.”
“I don’t get cold easily, you know.”
“Still. The sea breeze is really cold.”
Yuho also zipped up Inhan’s padding jacket. Inhan quietly watched him do so.
Yuho definitely felt puzzled by the different conditions of the sea compared to the day before. The wind was blowing, but not enough to interfere with enjoying the view of the sea.
“Hyung. Aren’t you cold?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Should we walk a bit?”
“Sure.”
The two people began slowly walking along the sandy beach. The weather was nice and the scenery was beautiful.
Yuho thought it was absurd that he’d come to the winter sea with different people two days in a row, but also that it was something he’d never experience again.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Yuho-hyung.”
“What?”
“I like you.”
To receive confessions at the sea two days in a row like this was truly something Yuho had never imagined, not even in his dreams.
