Monday. When Heewoon opened his eyes, the space next to him was empty. These mornings in the past few days had been similar. Waking up to an empty space next to him and feeling a bit chilly when looking at the vacant spot.
Didn’t gangs usually operate at night? Heewoon grumbled to himself.
“You woke up early.”
At that moment, Kangwoo entered the room, and Heewoon’s eyes widened.
“I thought you went to work.”
“Oh, I went to exercise.”
Now that he mentioned it, Kangwoo was dressed in workout clothes.
“Then you’ll be going to work now?”
“I’m taking the day off today.”
After working on the weekend, he must be taking a break today. Heewoon nodded and just stared at Kangwoo without any reason. There was nothing in his gaze or on his face. Truly.
However, Kangwoo looked intently at Heewoon’s face and burst into laughter. He approached and messed up Heewoon’s hair. The hair on the side tickled his cheeks. He hadn’t been to a salon in a long time.
“Are you going to stay like this?”
The smile on Kangwoo’s face, with furrowed brows, was refreshing.
“What did I…?”
Heewoon scratched his cheek while hesitating to speak. Whether it was because his cheek itched due to the hair or because of Kangwoo’s gaze that seemed to find something adorable, he was not sure.
“Are you going to stay unemployed and do nothing?”
With a playful tone, Kangwoo tilted his head. The hand casually resting on Heewoon’s head ran through the strands of hair. The scent of sweat mixed with a familiar fragrance somehow made the area below his chest feel snug.
“I’m hungry.”
Heewoon said. The sensation below his chest felt like a clear sign of hunger.
That day, Kangwoo really didn’t work at home for once in a long time. He took Lexy for a walk, watched a movie with Heewoon, and had an early dinner. After that, sitting tightly on the sofa and drinking wine, he did receive a work call, but it didn’t interfere much with his break.
Heewoon thought it would be nice if Kangwoo rested on the weekend. How tired he must have been to have slept in yesterday. People should be working to eat and live, so there should be some time to rest too.
“I’ll go to the bathroom.”
“Okay.”
Kangwoo, who had his arm around Heewoon’s shoulders, stood up and walked away. As the warmth that had been pressed against him disappeared, his right arm quickly cooled. Heewoon ran his fingers over his arm and looked at the TV.
That’s when it happened.
Something vibrated on the sofa. Heewoon checked his phone, but it wasn’t his. It must be Seo Kangwoo’s. Heewoon casually glanced at the spot where Kangwoo had been sitting.
But.
[Jiyoung♥: Can I call you?]
The message popped up clearly on the black screen.
“…”
Heewoon stared at Kangwoo’s phone without touching it. ‘Jiyoung’ was undoubtedly a female name, and there was a heart next to it. At the end of the message, there was even a smiling emoji. Currently, the time was around 7 PM.
Heewoon placed the wine glass he was holding back on the table. Suddenly, he felt like he sobered up from the alcohol.
“Why?”
“You got a message.”
The confirmation of his suspicion came from Seo Kangwoo’s attitude. Picking up his phone, Seo Kangwoo checked the message, slightly furrowed his brows, and glanced briefly at Heewoon.
It was as if Kangwoo was being cautious of Heewoon, which was very unsuiting of him.
“I’ll make a call and be back.”
With that, he took his phone and went into the study, almost avoiding Heewoon.
Due to a hasty push, the door didn’t close completely and left a slight gap. If one were to get closer, it would be enough to hear the call. The distance from the living room to the study was too far, so Heewoon couldn’t even tell if Kangwoo was really making a call right now. Heewoon hesitated, fingers fumbling. He glanced over the door gap, but eventually, he abruptly stood up.
Carefully muffling his steps, Heewoon approached the study. The house helpers looked at him strangely, but Heewoon didn’t say anything. They generally didn’t talk to him unless necessary.
As he listened closely, Kangwoo’s voice reached him. It wasn’t distinctly audible, and Heewoon moved a step closer, pressing his ear against the gap. Only then did he hear the voice clearly.
“…Can it just be the two of us?”
Two of us? That woman and Seo Kangwoo? Heewoon furrowed his brows.
“Yes. I will do that.”
The nuance of it seemed to be Kangwoo setting up an appointment.
Heewoon fell into a brief contemplation. A woman’s name with a heart, a watchful expression, avoiding the seat for a call. Always coming home late and even going out on a Sunday, precisely at lunchtime. He recalled how appealing Seo Kangwoo looked in his summer-weight suit.
Following that, one word echoed in his mind.
‘Cheating.’
“I understand. Yes.”
For someone cheating, his tone was unusually polite. However, upon further thought, Heewoon found it a little annoying that Seo Kangwoo was using such polite language with her. Using such polite language with her, when he rarely did with Heewoon, even resorting to honorifics when not necessary. Kangwoo had also cursed with him more than once.
“Yes.-“
As the call seemed to be coming to an end, Heewoon headed for the stairs. By the time he had climbed most of the stairs, Kangwoo came out of the study, and Heewoon slipped into his room.
Covering himself with the blanket and lying down, Heewoon gazed at the ceiling. Regardless of whether Kangwoo was cheating on him or not, Heewoon had already introduced Kangwoo as his lover to his mother. Even if they weren’t actually a couple. Even so, this felt a bit too much.
As Heewoom realized that the reason Kangwoo had been coming home late lately was because he was cheating, Heewoon was uncontrollably angry. Kangwoo had locked him in the house and made him unable to do anything without him. But he was going out with another person.
“Why are you here?”
Kangwoo entered the room and asked.
“I’m tired.”
Despite being angry, Heewoon couldn’t express it out loud. He could only respond to the question. clenched the blanket tightly.
“Suddenly?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m finally getting to spend time with you after a long time, but are you going to bed already?”
Maybe Kangwoo didn’t have time for Heewoon because he was busy with someone else. When this thought crossed his mind, he felt a lump in his throat and the anger surged.
“Yeah. I’m going to sleep, so go out!”
Heewoon yelled and covered himself with the blanket. His heart immediately pounded. He had just yelled at Seo Kangwoo. Moreover, he told him to go out. Strictly speaking, this was Kangwoo’s room.
But now, in this situation where he should be the one getting angry, Heewoon felt frustrated that he couldn’t express it, which surged another wave of anger.
“…What’s wrong?”
“…”
Heewoon regulated his rapid breathing under the blanket.
“Have you gone crazy?”
Heewoon bit his lips hard. The thought that Kangwoo might hit him really hard crossed his mind, and he considered going out of the blanket right now and begging.
A bitter sigh escaped.
Heewoon didn’t know anymore. Everything was just too irritating. He recalled himself being alone at home all the time and Kangwoo coming in late at night. Come to think of it, lately, they almost only had sex. Kangwoo left him at home alone and went somewhere nice with that woman.
“If you don’t want to get hit, come out right now.”
“…”
Kangwoo’s voice was chilling. Heewoon bit his lips tightly and exerted force on his hand gripping the blanket. A dreary voice sounded.
“You’ve really gone crazy.”
Then, the blanket was lifted. Heewoon had been holding onto it quite firmly, but it was forcefully pulled away from Heewoon’s fingers.
Kangwoo’s expression became subtle as he removed the blanket. Heewoon stared at the ceiling, breathing heavily.
“Why are you crying?”
Kangwoo asked, looking at Heewoon whose eyes were soaked. Whether it was surprise or something else, a cold atmosphere pervaded his voice.
Heewoon bit his lips, not saying anything. Kangwoo snorted in annoyance.
“If you don’t answer again, I’ll really hit you, Sunbae.”
Why are you crying? Kangwoo asked as if this would be the last chance, and Heewoon opened his mouth. After he exhaled his breath, soaked in tears, exhaled, the words followed.
“…I don’t know. I just suddenly got really annoyed.”
“It’s not like you’re going through puberty, why are you suddenly annoyed?”
Kangwoo retorted coldly as he sat on the bed.
Whether Seo Kangwoo was cheating or whatever, Heewoon shouldn’t care. It was strange that he felt upset, as if they were in a real romantic relationship, liking each other. And since he wouldn’t be drunk yet with just a few glasses of wine, he couldn’t use alcohol as an excuse.
Kangwoo, who had been quietly looking down at Heewoon’s face, extended his hand. Instead of hitting, he wiped away the tears with the palm of his hand.
Heewoon didn’t push away that hand. When he saw Kangwoo’s slightly furrowed face, he couldn’t hold back, and warm tears streamed down again.
“You’re crying because you suddenly got annoyed?”
Mumbling, Kangwoo wiped Heewoon’s tears again. Heewoon avoided Kangwoo’s eyes. While looking at Heewoon like that, Kangwoo spoke slowly.
“Do I need to go easy on you for being like this?”
“…”
“Do I? Tell me.”
Kangwoo’s palm touched Heewoon’s cheek. At that moment, Heewoon faced reality. And he spoke.
“…Hfft, yeah.”
“…”
“Go easy on me…”
Holding Kangwoo’s hand on his cheek, Heewoon sobbed. He looked at Kangwoo cautiously.
Kangwoo’s brow crinkled, and he let out a small laugh. Wincing, Heewoon squeezed the back of Kangwoo’s hand a little harder.
Kangwoo sighed and said,
“You’re like a kid, and it’s kind of cute.”
He pushed Heewoon to the side and lay on the bed. Heewoon felt relieved. At least, he didn’t get hit. But he needed to consider the things that happened today.
“Don’t think too much and go to sleep right away.”
Heewoon nodded and closed his eyes. Kangwoo patted his shoulder in a steady beat. Heewoon closed his eyes, and just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard a voice say, ‘It’s not like you’re really a kid’. Then there was a voice laced with laughter.
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