“I’m hanging up.”
– Will you be going to bed early?
Despite Heewoon saying would hang up, Seo Kangwoo continued to ask casually. Heewoon, late to pretend he hadn’t heard that, answered,
“I don’t know.”
– Well, okay then. Warm up your dinner and call me before you go to bed.
“Yeah.”
Heewoon answered vaguely, as if he didn’t care, and then ended the call.
[Seo Kangwoo]
While briefly checking the call log, Heewoon turned his gaze out the window. It was the first weekend after the hectic days following his first day at work.
“….”
Heewoon stared blankly out of the window, watching the familiar scenery pass by, and then suddenly widened his eyes.
“Driver! Wait a moment. Please stop here for a moment.”
Whenever Seo Kangwoo came late, there was something Heewoon always wanted to do. He had been waiting for this for a few months, and today seemed just right.
As soon as the car stopped by the roadside, Heewoon hurriedly got off. He was anxious since they could get a ticket.
“I’ll be back in three minutes!”
“Yes.”
Almost running, Heewoon entered a convenience store. Ding-ding. The bell sound felt lively, and for the first time in a while, Heewoon felt a surge of energy.
Carrying a basket, Heewoon swiftly gathered items from the small convenience store. Extremely spicy cup ramen, sausages, triangular kimbap, sticky rice cake with cream, a sandwich, a few snacks, banana milk, and a peach-flavored drink.
Kangwoo could actually eat these foods, but Heewoon didn’t particularly want to eat these in front of someone who might ask, “Do you really find these tasty?”
After paying, Heewoon quickly returned to the car parked by the roadside. The driver glanced briefly at Heewoon getting into the car, then turned his head without saying anything.
For some reason, the way back home felt longer today. Usually, when he leaned on Kangwoo’s shoulder or chatted with him, it felt like they reached home in a blink of an eye.
Absentmindedly taking out his phone, Heewoon briefly checked his social media for a bit before checking the gallery app. Then, he opened a familiar folder.
A photo of Kangwoo he had taken about two weeks ago appeared. It captured him with a slightly wrinkled forehead, likely due to being focused on work. The next photo showed Kangwoo with closed eyes, taken when they were watching a movie together, and Kangwoo fell asleep. Kangwoo had been on a business trip then, and despite Heewoon saying that they didn’t have to watch together if he was tired, Kangwoo insisted but ended up falling asleep before half of the movie. The blue light reflecting on his nose made it look like a scene from a film, and Heewoon liked that picture.
The few photos in the folder were all secretly taken pictures of Kangwoo. Why did Heewoon take them secretly…? Heewoon also didn’t know the reason. It just happened that way.
Just as he finished seeing all the photos from last year, he arrived home. Passing by the garden and entering the house, the sound of the bag he held rustled.
Placing the bag on the table, Heewoon looked toward the living room. Since everyone at work usually left before dinner these days, the spacious house felt empty.
“I should wash up then eat these…”
After murmuring to himself, Heewoon headed upstairs. When he came back down later, he was in his pajamas, and his hair was still damp.
He spread out the items he bought on the table and ate while watching a variety show on a tablet PC. However, the cup ramen was too spicy, and tears welled up in his eyes. He didn’t understand how people found it tasty. Heewoon almost choked down all the cup ramen. It was only somewhat okay because he also ate sausages and drank beverages and milk.
Crunching on cookies for dessert made him feel much better. Putting cookies into his mouth mechanically, Heewoon stared fixedly at the screen, lost in thought. When will Kangwoo come back? It’s not even past eight. Should I call? It’s not urgent, but calling might disturb him. Kangwoo asked him to call before he went to sleep, so he might only return after midnight.
“Are you really crying?”
Suddenly, a voice rang out, and Heewoon was startled. His eyes widened and he turned his head, finding Seo Kangwoo.
“Are you crying because you’re alone on a Friday night?”
Kangwoo’s eyes crinkled as he went closer. Heewoon rubbed his own eyes and shook his head.
“It’s because I ate something spicy.”
“Ah, what a shame.”
Kangwoo glanced briefly at the empty cup ramen container.
“I thought you might be crying, so I postponed my work and came back, but were you having a party alone?”
When Kangwoo lightly touched the snack bag on the table, Heewoon flinched, and Kangwoo smiled teasingly as he sat next to Heewoon.
“You must be excited because I wasn’t here.”
Heewoon’s shoulder was embraced by him, and he playfully flicked Heewoon’s cheek with his fingers. Heewoon gazed slowly at the messy dining table. Cup ramen and snacks he had wanted to try, his favorite drinks, and the currently popular variety show… Heewoon turned his head to look at Kangwoo and spoke.
“It wasn’t very fun.”
After uttering these words, Heewoon truly realized that it wasn’t enjoyable. Kangwoo continued to stare at the blinking Heewoon.
“Really, it wasn’t fun….”
As Heewoon mumblingly added those words, Kangwoo let out a sigh. With a furrowed brow, Kangwoo embraced Heewoon’s shoulders.
“Sunbae, how about if you just follow me around?”
While placing his lips on Heewoon’s cheek, Kangwoo asked again.
“What do you think about quitting your job? Working at a company is very shitty.”
“Oh, it’s not like that. I’m having fun….”
“Who has fun working at a company?”
Heewoon became a bit uneasy at the thought that Kangwoo might not let him go to work. Kangwoo, looking at Heewoon’s eyes that revealed his emotions, smirked.
“I’m not telling you to quit. I was just asking.”
“Oh….”
“As long as nothing happens, I won’t tell you to quit. Instead, please console me.”
Heewoon looked up at Kangwoo, then he gave Kangwoo a kiss on the lips. Smooch, after their mouths parted, Kangwoo smiled gently.
“You’re doing good.”
You have a knack for this. Tapping Heewoon’s fair neck, Kangwoo praised him. Heewoon felt a bit awkward, but Kangwoo seemed to like even that. With a light laughter, Kangwoo tickled Heewoon’s neck, playfully nibbling and teasing with his lips.
“Oh, right, Kangwoo, there’s a company dinner next week.”
Kangwoo, immersed in nibbling his lips on Heewoon’s neck, made a humming sound that wasn’t a clear answer. Heewoon, for a moment, rolled his eyes, then casually spoke.
“You don’t need to worry. I’ll only drink a little.”
He tried to keep a calm expression, but Heewoon found it a bit difficult when Kangwoo lifted his head and stared at him intensely. Heewoon, avoiding Kangwoo’s gaze, pretended to look at the snacks.
“This one’s delicious. Want to try?”
He held out a snack with chocolate coating, and a large hand wrapped his hand. Although Kangwoo’s grip wasn’t too strong, Heewoon swallowed dry saliva. Carefully lifting his head, Heewoon saw Seo Kangwoo sending a slanted gaze. Although Kangwoo didn’t say anything, Heewoon felt scared for some reason, his feet fidgeting under the table.
Kangwoo, who had been silently gazing, slowly opened his mouth.
“You should ask for permission first. That’s not something for you to decide, Sunbae.”
“Oh, yes. Kangwoo, is it okay if I drink a little? It would be hard to not join them….”
Looking at Heewoon who had a tense face, Kangwoo responded.
“Before that, you should ask if it’s okay for you to attend the company dinner.”
“…Huh? How can you not go to a company dinner if you work at a company.”
Heewoon blinked in confusion. Then Kangwoo, with a wry smile, chuckled.
“You’re really out of your mind.”
“….”
Chilled by the cold murmur, Heewoon froze. Kangwoo pulled Heewoon’s hand a bit, gripping his chin with the opposite hand. A silent voice flowed.
“Should I teach you again?”
“…Ah, no.”
While locking eyes, Heewoon managed to answer. He shouldn’t have tried any tricks on Kangwoo. Things might have gone smoothly if he had just asked first.
“If you tell me not to go, I won’t.”
When Heewoon whispered in a small voice, Kangwoo stared intently and then released his grip on Heewoon’s chin. Stroking the slightly reddened skin, Kangwoo spoke.
“I’ll think about the company dinner a bit more.”
“Yeah.”
It seemed to be over. In fact, having it end like this was really good. He didn’t get hit anywhere, and the words he heard weren’t particularly frightening.
“You said this is delicious?”
Kangwoo finally let go of Heewoon’s hand. The chocolate coating on the snack had melted and was sticky in Heewoon’s palm.
“I can’t eat this anymore. Give me something else.”
Kangwoo said as he wiped Heewoon’s hand with a wet tissue. He batted his eyes gently, as if acting cute, but Heewoon didn’t even look at him properly.
Kangwoo stared at Heewoon’s face. The slightly downturned corners of his mouth, and the lowered eyelashes. It was an expression he used to see often.
“Did I bully you?”
“No.”
Woo Heewoon made a short glance at Kangwoo, but soon turned his head down again. Kangwoo lightly sighed and gripped Heewoon’s arm.
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