Heewoon lingered in front of the front door. Even though Kangwoo should have received a message of his card usage, Heewoon wanted to earn a few more minutes.
He hadn’t often encountered situations where he had to seek permission from Kangwoo. It was a mistake to think easy of it. Should he have just said he ate with his study group members? He belatedly regretted it.
Five minutes had passed. Worried that the situation might worsen if he delayed further, Heewoon opened the door and went inside. He hesitated for a moment in front of the entrance, but reluctantly took slow steps forward. Each step felt exceedingly heavy.
Could Kangwoo possibly break his other leg this time?
Heewoon, walking in slippers, stopped in his tracks. Should he just sleep at his mother’s house and come back tomorrow…? He slightly raised his head, glancing at whether Kangwoo was in the living room.
“You’re here standing with your two feet.”
Kangwoo, sitting inside the sofa, said. Heewoon had expected Kangwoo to be there, but when Kangwoo came into view, his heart sank.
“I thought you’d come crawling in.”
Hearing the sarcastic tone, Heewoon’s heart rate increased. Swallowing dryly, he approached Kangwoo. Standing beside the sitting Kangwoo, he didn’t say anything as Kangwoo changed the TV channel without looking at him. Heewoon nervously fidgeted with his fingers.
“Sorry, Kangwoo.”
Finally, Kangwoo turned his head. His gaze, looking down at Heewoon, seemed particularly piercing. Heewoon felt a dryness in his throat as he looked at Kangwoo’s hand, lazily placed on his thigh. At that moment, he thought Kangwoo might not hit him.
Then, Kangwoo raised his hand.
“Aaaaah…”
At the same time, Heewoon made a strange noise and flopped down.
“…What are you doing right now?”
When he opened his eyes, Kangwoo was p looking at him with an expression of confusion, his hand paused in the air. Heewoon, feeling a bit embarrassed, stammered.
“I thought you were going to hit me.”
Kangwoo let out a dry laugh. He put his arms on his knees and bent at the waist to stare down at Heewoon, and then he let out another laugh.
To Heewoon, it sounded oddly unsettling. Heewoon, who had been rolling his eyes, slowly got up from his seat and walked over in front of Kangwoo.
“About that, Kangwoo.”
Kangwoo, tilting his head slightly, looked up at Heewoon.
Heewoon gathered immense courage.
As he reached behind the sofa with one hand, there was a sound of leather friction, and faintly, a smooch noise.
Heewoon, who had pressed his lips to Kangwoo’s cheek, blinked. Heewoon discreetly glanced at Kangwoo’s reaction and lightly brushed Kangwoo’s lips before stepping back.
“….”
“Don’t get angry.”
Heewoon said in an awkward tone. It seemed like Kangwoo might get angrier now that he thought about it.
“Haaaa….”
As expected, Kangwoo let out a sigh. He touched his forehead as if he had a headache and gestured his hand. It was an indication for Heewoon to come closer. Heewoon, wary that the beckoning hand in the air might turn into a fist, cautiously approached.
“Try that again.”
“Huh?”
“You told me not to get angry, right?”
Kangwoo didn’t smile, making Heewoon unsure if his anger had calmed down or not. Was the previous comment not sarcastic? Now that he thought about it, it seemed more likely to be so.
“Sorry. I won’t do that again…”
“What are you saying? You stupid.”
Mumbling to himself, Kangwoo grabbed Heewoon’s wrist and pulled him closer. Off-balance, Heewoon placed one knee between Kangwoo’s legs and gripped Kangwoo’s shoulder.
“I said try that again.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Looking at Kangwoo frowning, Heewoon lowered his head this time. This time, their lips touched a bit longer, and when they separated, there was a smooch sound.
The large hand that had been holding Heewoon’s wrist brushed up, embracing his waist. Heewoon widened his eyes. When his eyes met Kangwoo’s, the intimidating gaze had softened.
Heewoon slowly lowered his head again, kissing Kangwoo’s cheek this time. There was a confident smooch sound this time. Kangwoo laughed with a deep voice.
“Are you not angry anymore?”
As Kangwoo sat Heewoon on his thigh, Heewoon asked hesitantly.
“I wasn’t really angry.”
“….”
“If you do something that makes you a lost cause, I can just lock you up at home.”
While patting Heewoon’s head, Kangwoo laughed.
Kangwoo didn’t like Heewoon wandering outside, but he allowed it because Woo Heewoon had been acting incredibly cute recently. Always sticking by his side when they’re at home, subtly glancing at him, and talking about his day while subtly prying into Kangwoo’s day.
That’s why Kangwoo thought it was okay. Sending frequent messages, calling, and reporting on what happened throughout the day, he was being cute.
“But I should be job hunting….”
Heewoon muttered, as if letting Kangwoo know.
“Then, Sunbae should do better.”
“Yeah.”
The gaze that looked at Heewoon, who nodded quietly, carried warmth. The hand supporting his waist caressed his back gently.
“Oh, Kangwoo. Starting next month, I changed my academy class to morning.”
“In the morning?”
“Yeah, I’ll attend that before lectures. So, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, I can come home early.”
“Wouldn’t that be tiring for you?”
Kangwoo looked at Heewoon lovingly.
“No, I can just wake up with you for your morning exercise.”
“Sure. I’ll wake you up then.”
Kangwoo’s nose lightly brushed against Heewoon’s neck. He held Heewoon for a moment before suddenly asking,
“Sunbae, how about if you just work at our company?”
“….”
“I’ll give you a high salary.”
Heewoon awkwardly changed the subject.
“Do you not want to be with me?”
“Not that.”
At Heewoon’s immediate response, Kangwoo chuckled a bit. Heewoon glanced at him and spoke cautiously.
“Your company does some scary stuff.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“I saw it myself.”
Heewoon weakly argued against Kangwoo’s words. Kangwoo laughed lightly and playfully stroked Heewoon’s cheek.
“Well, what is not scary to a scaredy cat like you?”
“….”
Heewoon couldn’t say anything. He felt terribly embarrassed thinking about how he had jumped and flopped down earlier. Probably sensing Heewoon’s red ears, Kangwoo mumbled as if lost in thought.
“What good comes from Woo Heewoon crying?”
When Heewoon looked at him cautiously, Kangwoo met his eyes, seeking agreement. Heewoon nodded.
“Do well. Because I want to cheer for you.”
“Huh?”
“I’m cheering for you. For now.”
“Oh… Yeah.”
While watching Heewoon nod, Kangwoo said,
“I’m a bit worried that you don’t listen well when I’m being nice, Sunbae.”
“No, when have I….”
Heewoon’s words trailed off, and he leaned against Kangwoo. Kangwoo chuckled softly and gently stroked Heewoon’s nape. Heewoon received Kangwoo’s pat and said,
“When you get a job, I’ll buy you something delicious.”
“Yes, please buy me something expensive.”
Kangwoo laughed and replied.
They briefly discussed what to eat when Heewoon got a job. It had to be something expensive, so pork belly and chicken were ruled out. After considering it, Heewoon suggested tuna sashimi but Kangwoo shook his head. His reason being Heewoon didn’t like it.
Heewoon disliked it, but he would still eat it fine. The place they went to eat tuna sashimi together before had delicious fried food, so that would be a good option.
When offered other choices besides tuna sashimi, Kangwoo said he was fine with anything, causing another dilemma. “Sure, that’s great,” Kangwoo continued to agree in a soft, low voice.
“Oh right, it seems like Jihwan is having some trouble with his girlfriend these days.”
“So?”
The hand that was caressing Heewoon’s head playfully flicked the nape of his neck. Heewoon winced and said,
“No, just in case you were curious.”
“Why would I be curious about that?”
At Kangwoo’s bewildered tone, Heewoon cautiously asked,
“…Are you not curious anymore?”
“What?”
Heewoon remained silent. It seemed like he had talked too much just a moment ago. This chattering might have been a bit too boring for the listener.
“Why are you suddenly quiet?”
When Heewoon unexpectedly went silent, Kangwoo pushed his thigh upward, asking, “Don’t you want to know anymore?” Heewoon’s body twitched on Kangwoo’s thigh.
“I thought I was talking too much, so I won’t talk anymore.”
Heewoon said a bit dejectedly. Kangwoo stared at Heewoon, then twisted his lips and said stiffly,
“You must be doing this on purpose.”
“Huh?”
“Pretending to be upset, playing hard to get with me.”
Kangwoo lightly tapped Heewoon’s chin from below. Heewoon made a wronged expression.
“How did I play hard to get with you?”
“You’ve become good at playing hard to get.”
“I’m not doing that…”
The words at the end faded out and he rolled his eyes. Then, he mumbled quietly,
“I’m hungry.”
“See? You’re changing the subject.”
Kangwoo furrowed his brow slightly. Just then, a round ear caught his eye and he stuck his head out to nip it.
“Ouch!”
Heewoon screamed. It wasn’t painful at all, but he was making an exaggerated reaction. Annoyed, he chewed on the earlobe, and Kangwoo snickered. The bite induced goosebumps in him, making his neck flinch.
“Woo Heewoon.”
Turning his head at Kangwoo’s soft voice, Heewoon cowered slightly. Those innocent, downcast eyes seemed incapable of harbouring any sneaky thoughts. Kangwoo burst into a smile.
“Oh, I really don’t know you.”
Kangwoo playfully slapped Heewoon’s shoulder and chuckled.
Heewoon couldn’t figure out what was so funny. After a while, Kangwoo, while gently caressing Heewoon’s waist, asked,
“Did you not finish your meal?”
“I did. I guess it’s because it was rice noodles, my hunger came quickly.”
“Let’s eat something.”
Kangwoo nudged Heewoon to the side.
While Heewoon sat quietly, contemplating what to eat, Kangwoo got up first and headed to the kitchen.
Heewoon watched as the broad back headed to the kitchen. It seemed like he was going to prepare something to eat.
Lately, due to returning home late, Heewoon often had dinner late. However, Seo Kangwoo had never made him eat alone. He would prepare and heat up the food that the house helper made before she went back, then he set the table and sat across from Heewoon.
Then they would engage in conversation. Sometimes, Heewoon would share so much about his day, and Kangwoo would listen without showing any signs of annoyance.
It felt like he was the most important person to Kangwoo.
Heewoon was confident that this thought was close to the truth. Just as Kangwoo was the most important person to Heewoon, Heewoon was likely the same to Kangwoo.
“What do you want to eat?”
Kangwoo turned back.
“I don’t know.”
With a faint smile, Kangwoo looked at Heewoon and reached out his hand. Heewoon gazed blankly at that large hand. It was about an inch bigger than Heewoon’s own hand, with more prominent bones and veins.
Observing Heewoon silently, Kangwoo tilted his head in confusion. Their eyes met.
“Nothing.”
Heewoon shook his head and took Kangwoo’s hand. The large hand wrapped around his hand warmly, applying just the right amount of pressure.
It was their peaceful daily life.
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