TSSDNE Story 3 – Do Not Look into the Eyes (1)

Story #3

Do Not Look into the Eyes by Green Tangerine

The first impression was this.

“Isn’t this a haunted house?”

At Dohun’s blunt remark, his head whipped around. Jaeseong, his eyes hollow, silently rolled them toward Dohun.

“Why are you reacting like that?”

Jaeseong was unusually quiet. Was he actually nervous?

Well, considering everything, today was the day he was showing his home for the first time. It was also the first time he was bringing his lover inside. Understandable. Completely understandable. Dohun grinned and followed behind Jaeseong through the entrance of the villa.

He glanced around the old villa. Compared to the peeling paint on the outer walls, the streaks of rust-like stains dripping down, and other unidentifiable marks making the building look even more eerie… this was nothing.

“The inside is cleaner than I expected.”

The overall feel was old, but for this type of place, it was fairly neat. It didn’t even look like the paint had been redone that long ago.

So the exterior was the real problem. Well, the villa management would probably take care of that. Not Dohun’s concern.

As he glanced down, he noticed Jaeseong’s smooth hand. Dohun looked at the ring on his own hand. He wore it when they were alone, did he forget to put it on today?

“Jaeseong.”

Dohun took the ring off his own finger and slipped it onto Jaeseong’s. Then he paused. It caught at the knuckle and wouldn’t go in further. Still too small, huh? Dohun considered pushing harder, then withdrew his hand. Either way, seeing the ring on him made him satisfied. If he liked it, that was enough.

“All right.”

He clasped their overlapped hands into a fist and smiled. Jaeseong stared at it blankly, then simply started walking again. Acting shy, as always.

He hesitated briefly in front of the staircase of the old villa with no elevator, but it was only a few floors. Dohun wasn’t the only one who’d been excited for today.

He followed behind Jaeseong. Then he finally voiced a question he’d had since earlier. As Jaeseong stepped heel-first and met his eyes…

“Why are you walking backward?”

Does he want to look at me that badly? He’s acting unusually cute today. But he shouldn’t get hurt. Dohun climbed two steps at once, wrapped an arm around Jaeseong’s shoulder, and walked beside him. It even felt a bit natural. Normally, Jaeseong would complain it was gross, but now he was quiet.

The inside of the apartment wasn’t much different. The door had some scratches, but the freshly applied white wallpaper inside made it obvious the place had recently been redone.

Since the building was old, they must have at least replaced the wallpaper.

After taking off his shoes, he stepped inside and looked around. It was fairly ordinary. The only thing that stood out was an old-fashioned decorative item placed in front of the mirror, something that didn’t match at all.

Especially since he hardly ever looked in mirrors.

But Dohun was a considerate lover who respected preferences. Something like this wasn’t important. To him, the only thing that mattered was Jaeseong. He’d been looking forward to this day so much. Even focusing on Jaeseong alone didn’t feel like enough.

Even as he picked up his spoon, he couldn’t hide how excited he felt. Naturally, his gaze drifted to Jaeseong again.

“Hm?”

Come to think of it, Jaeseong was unusually quiet today. He only realized it now and felt foolish.

Watching quietly, he noticed Jaeseong’s spoon movements were sluggish, and he barely ate before putting the utensil down. Then his lips parted.

“Don’t open your eyes at night.”

“My eyes?”

“Your eyes.”

Dohun waited for an explanation, but instead, Jaeseong only repeated the words with absolute firmness. He liked talking, so why was he being like this? The sense of wrongness grew. Was he nervous? Really? Jaeseong?

Dohun looked at him, but Jaeseong simply turned his head and stared without moving at all. It was enough to make him flush. He swallowed at the unwavering gaze directed at him. No way. No way, right?

Was he sending a signal?

“Let’s sleep.”

“Huh?”

Jaeseong abruptly stood up, leaving his meal unfinished. Without looking back, he let his arms hang loosely and walked straight into a room with the door already open. Dohun saw the wrinkled blankets being dragged inside.

Not only were the sheets crumpled, but the room itself was messy. A small doubt crept in.

Wasn’t he usually tidy?

But more than that, another question began taking over his thoughts.

“You want to sleep now?”

“Yeah.”

Dohun stared at Jaeseong in disbelief as he straightened the blanket. It was only seven. He hadn’t even eaten properly yet.

Still, the purposeful shake and smoothing of the blanket made it clear, he was serious. Was this a different kind of meaning? It was a bit early, but Dohun was already prepared.

He even wore clean underwear for today, and if Jaeseong wanted it, of course he should offer himself right away. Wouldn’t anyone?

And even if it wasn’t a proper bed and only a blanket on the floor that would hurt his back, he could endure that much for sex. People in the Joseon era probably did it on blankets too. Think of it as a traditional ritual, or something like that.

But Jaeseong lay down neatly and closed his eyes as if he really meant to sleep.

“Jaeseong?”

“Yeah.”

A plain reply came back.

“You’re going to sleep?”

“Yeah.”

That clear voice only made him resentful. He’d been looking forward to today, even bringing condoms in both pockets. How could this be happening.

Lying on his side, he stared holes into Jaeseong. Should he just pounce on him? The thought flashed through him. But Dohun was a gentleman. And he’d put so much effort into getting this far. He couldn’t ruin their relationship here.

In the end, all he could do was sigh, lie flat, and close his eyes.

When he shut them, complete darkness settled. For a moment he felt stillness. Then the ticking of the second hand echoed far louder than usual.

As he listened to the only sound reaching his ears, other thoughts invaded. For example, was Jaeseong really planning to sleep like this?

He’d worked so hard for today. Dohun tried his best to act like a proper boyfriend. All because he wanted to have sex, he had even coaxed his childhood friend all the way here. And yet, Jaeseong was heartless again today. Not that he planned to give up.

No, never.

“Haa…”

A deep sigh slipped out. Keeping his eyes closed, Dohun turned his body. The ticking continued in his ear.

“….”

…Huh?

Dohun noticed something had slipped between the ticking sounds. A small noise.

A soft rustling. A faint scraping. Something tapping the floor. The sound of a body brushing the blanket. Something crawling…?

What was that sound? It kept growing louder. As if getting closer. As if something was moving right in front of him. It felt wrong. Alien. Confused by the unknown sensation, Dohun opened his eyes.

“You opened your eyes?”

It was so close it nearly filled his entire vision. His breath caught.

“Your eyes.”

The whispering voice was right in front of him. He didn’t even seem to care that their breaths were touching; he just whispered. Bloodshot eyes stared down at him, wide open.

So he did know how to be playful. Was he trying to get under the blanket with him? This was an obvious attempt to seduce him. Was he saying, let’s do it? Good. Perfect.

Dohun gathered his courage, intending to lean in and kiss Jaeseong, who was lying right beside him. But instead, Jaeseong lifted his face from the floor, rose slowly, and quietly returned to where he’d been lying before.

“…Jaeseong?”

“Yeah.”

A perfectly normal voice answered. His back was coldly turned toward him. After all the effort he put into seducing him and becoming lovers, why this? A sudden wave of injustice hit him.

Dohun planted a hand on the floor and slowly crawled toward him.

“Hey.”

Even shaking his shoulder didn’t get much of a reaction. His limp body tilted loosely.

“Huh?”

Jaeseong’s body rolled back without resistance. He ended up lying flat. But his head was facing straight upward. Were his eyes open?

It seemed he had never closed his eyes at all, he had been staring at the ceiling the whole time.

“Why aren’t you answering me?”

His bloodshot eyes didn’t blink. Not even once.

A heavy wrongness settled over him. Something was off, deeply, fundamentally off. Dohun looked quietly at Jaeseong’s face. Then blurted out:

“Baby?”

“Yeah.”

The reply came instantly. Did his mouth even move?

There was no way the real Jaeseong would react like this. Normally, he would shove him away saying he was being gross.

His forehead showed no tension, no expression, only those black pupils fixed completely still.

“Ah…”

A groan escaped him.

He remembered how earlier, Jaeseong hardly ate and just sat there silently at the table. One by one, he retraced everything.

The messy room, the way he walked backward, the sluggish and empty behavior.

And finally, he was certain.

This wasn’t Jaeseong. No wonder everything felt wrong.

The moment he reached that conclusion, his eyes stung.

“How could…”

Tears clung to his lashes and fell.

“How could you trick me like thiiis…”

It was unbearably miserable. Why today, of all days?

How hard he had prepared for this.

Sniffling, Dohun searched his pockets. His hand brushed against a crumpled condom. Even that was useless now. He tossed the packaged condom onto the floor.

“Haa…”

But it wasn’t at fault. He picked it back up and shoved it into his pocket.

“Jaeseong…”

How did things end up like this? Dohun hugged him tightly.

“Ugh.”

Poor Jaeseong. Maybe he was possessed by a ghost or something.

His hand touched Jaeseong’s chest. The thick chest filled his palm. He grabbed it from below, feeling it full in his hand. Softer than expected. His fingers kept brushing over a nipple, and it irritated him. On impulse, Dohun scratched the flat nipple with his fingertip. It felt like the body flinched. Was that his imagination?

Yet he could’ve sworn he felt Jaeseong’s waist brush against his arms.

Dohun unconsciously let out a breath.

“Haa…”

“Mmh…”

Even when he squeezed his chest, he didn’t push him away. Yes, this definitely wasn’t Jaeseong. With a miserable face in the darkness, Dohun grabbed his chest again through the clothes.

This time, Jaeseong’s body didn’t even twitch.

“Jaeseong…”

“Mmh… yeah…”

Whatever was pretending to be Jaeseong answered with its neck pulled in. The pronunciation was slurred. By the end, the voice turned faint.

The reaction was far too meek. Following the hunched neck, Dohun buried his face into the hollow of Jaeseong’s neck. He slid his hand under the clothes and caressed his stomach. His fingers traced and explored the body slowly.

From the stomach to the chest. Along the curves of the body down to the firm waist. His thumb brushed along the bone as he dragged it downward. Their bodies fit perfectly together. He tangled his legs with the other’s from behind.

This was definitely Jaeseong’s body. The feeling he remembered hugging so many times. But there was still no reaction. Normally, he would have shoved him away or told him to get off.

As he kept kneading the body in his arms, he felt himself growing hard. There was no way Jaeseong couldn’t feel the bulge pressing against him.

“Haa…”

What should he do.

Of course he was sad. His lover had ended up like this, how could he not be upset? Even if the only reason he became lovers with him was to get sex by coaxing his virgin friend into saving him. Still… he hadn’t realized Jaeseong’s body was this sturdy and thick. Dohun thought as he touched his thigh.

Had he ever felt him this clearly before? No way. Jaeseong always shoved him off, and usually hit him too.

If he asked for it now… would he give it to him? Dohun swallowed without meaning to. His breath grew excited as he moved his hips. His hardening length rubbed against Jaeseong’s backside. So infuriating. Taking over this body, pretending to be Jaeseong, this was unforgivable behavior for a boyfriend.

“Dohun.”

“Huh?”

Dohun lifted his head instinctively, fully absorbed in the body beneath his hands.

He heard Jaeseong’s voice. From beyond the room.

Strange. He was right here freely touching him. He needed to check. Just in case, he slipped his hand into the raised shirt and gently stroked the skin with his fingertips. He felt the shape of the muscles beneath them.

“Dohun.”

Again, the voice came from the darkness. His eyes, which had gotten used to the dark, froze.

That spot felt completely black. No matter how he looked, only darkness, nothing else discernible.

Dohun slowly turned his head. It seemed pitch black, but once his eyes adjusted again, he could make out the silhouettes of the furniture. He turned his head back. Again, pitch black. Even blinking didn’t help, he couldn’t tell what was there.

Eyes.

He thought he saw eyes.

“Dohun.”

Once more, the voice called him.

A ridiculous thought crossed his mind for a moment.

Could Jaeseong be over there?

Somehow, the voice sounded closer this time.

Dohun stared into the darkness. Still nothing. Maybe he imagined it.

“….”

The voice didn’t come again. Complete silence filled the room. Come to think of it, why was the Jaeseong here so quiet?

“Jaeseong, did you hear that?”

This Jaeseong also remained silent.

“Just now, that was you calling me, right?”

Silence again. Not even trying to answer.

He stroked the inner thigh playfully. His fingertip flicked the center lightly. He couldn’t complain even if he were kicked for that. But Jaeseong’s reaction remained the same.

“Jaeseong, if you don’t answer, I’m going to keep going.”

“….”

“Jaeseong? Jaeseong…?”

“…”

“Do you really want me to do it?”

Dohun slowly let out a breath. Maybe it came out a bit rough. But did that matter? At this point, shouldn’t he take this as permission?

Finally? Was he really allowed?

He had already asked several times. It had basically started as teasing, but if he still refused to answer even now, didn’t that mean he wanted it too? That was how Dohun chose to interpret it.

“J-Jaeseong.”

Dohun pressed against him with no space in between, lifted the hand he had slipped inside earlier, and tugged lightly at the waistband of his pants.

“Ah…”

A faint sound leaked from Jaeseong. It sounded like a groan, or maybe a moan. In Jaeseong’s voice.

A moan… from Jaeseong?
Dohun shut his mouth quickly. If he didn’t, his rough breathing would spill out.

The corner of his mouth twitched. Good thing Jaeseong couldn’t see.

After inhaling and exhaling through his nose a few times, he finally managed to speak.

“‘Ah’ is not an answer, you know?”

His breath trembled with excitement he couldn’t contain.

At this point, it was fair to assume he wasn’t planning to answer. A grin spread across Dohun’s lips. A silly, fluttering laugh slipped out. He already knew from all the groping how thick Jaeseong’s body was beneath his arms. Soon he’d feel all of it against him.

“Grandma.”

“Huh?”

The sudden word made his eyes widen.

“I have to find her.”

Jaeseong mumbled. But still, his body didn’t move. He only murmured. Even though he clearly had the strength to push him away. Dohun knew, he’d been shoved, hit, and kicked enough times while trying to touch him. Jaeseong had more than enough strength to stop him from getting close. Yet now he was acting as if the thought didn’t even occur to him.

“Hyung.”

At this point, Dohun had to think about it.

What was this, some kind of event?

Had he just been obliviously swept along, and this was some sort of boyfriend-surprise scenario he was supposed to play along with? Should he be matching the mood?

Wait. That wasn’t the important thing now.

Dohun released his grip and flipped Jaeseong’s body over.