WYK 41

Chae-heon didn’t say anything while eating. Perhaps this was why, as nightfall fell, the spacious house felt even more silent.

The pasta, pizza, risotto, etc. were plentiful and delicious. Jeong-yoon looked up while rolling the pasta with a fork.

“This place is delicious. Where is it?”

“If it’s delicious, let’s go together next time.”

Instead of telling the name of the place, Chae-heon suggested going together. Jeong-yoon nodded absentmindedly. Come to think of it, did he bring all of this? The thought of him ordering these dishes at the restaurant and waiting to prepare them made Jeong-yoon feel grateful once again.

After they finished eating, Chae-heon began to neatly organize the plates and carry them to the kitchen. Jeong-yoon tried to do something and grabbed a tissue to help Chae-heon dry the dishes, but Chae-heon stopped him.

“Guests should relax.”

At those words, Jeong-yoon had no choice but to sit there awkwardly.

Taking advantage of the time, Jeong-yoon brushed his teeth, and while he was at it, he also opened the bathroom drawer. There were no feminine products or extra toothbrushes. Oddly enough, that made him feel somewhat relieved. He washed his hands once and applied hand cream from the drawer. When he sniffed the back of his hand, he caught a whiff of the rose scent that came from Chae-heon. It was the hand cream he always used. The hand cream that Chae-heon typically used was scented with roses. Nonetheless, it suited him very well.

‘I came to Kang Chae-heon’s house, washed my hands, and applied cream with the same scent.’

For some reason, it felt strange.

***

When he came out of the bathroom, the living room was already engulfed in darkness. It seemed like the evening was approaching.

On the large wall-mounted TV, a famous black-and-white romance movie that Jeong-yoon was familiar with was paused and turned on. As Chae-heon placed two wine glasses neatly on the table, he called Jeong-yoon.

“Have a seat.”

“Are we going to watch a movie?”

“I have to write a report on visual culture for next Thursday.”

After saying that, Chae-heon added.

“If you don’t want to, I can watch it alone tomorrow.”

“There’s no reason not to like it.”

Jeong-yoon quickly sat down next to him.

Chae-heon pressed the play button on the remote control with a somewhat happy expression on his face. The main characters on the black and white screen began to move. Jeong-yoon watched the faint light from the screen flickering in Chae-heon’s eyes before focusing on the screen himself.

After drinking about two glasses of wine, he started to feel a bit tipsy. Maybe it was because of the dim and drowsy atmosphere of the house. He felt quite content eating the strawberries he had washed and sitting comfortably watching a movie.

Strangely enough, he found himself wishing that this time spent doing nothing but being with Chae-heon could continue. It wasn’t about holding hands or kissing; it was just about being together. Jeong-yoon chuckled at his simple wish.

***

<Roman Holiday> The movie Chae-heon and Jeong-yoon were watching was a classic title.

‘Audrey Hepburn is so pretty.’

Jeong-yoon lay down lazily, nibbling on the popcorn Chae-heon had generously shared. At first, the darkness inside the house and a vague tension made him sit stiffly, but as the alcohol kicked in, his tension eased, and his body relaxed. The large sofa was also very comfortable.

‘When Kang Chae-heon told me to come to his house, I thought something would happen.’

Although he was invited to the house, he ended up being fed like a pet, eating and eating. Eventually, he found himself lying down like this.

Jeong-yoon turned his gaze from watching the movie and stared at Chae-heon. Like Jeong-yoon, Chae-heon was also half-lying on the sofa across from him. When Jeong-yoon was lying down, he looked like an unemployed man with no money, but when he looked at Chae-heon, he looked like a drowsy Roman emperor.

‘It looks like we’re not going to do anything today.’

The truth was, he had expected something when Chae-heon invited him over. Although it wasn’t clear whether their relationship was that of sex partners or lovers, the intention behind inviting him over seemed clear. It was Chae-heon, who had whispered suggestively after kissing in the car that day, ‘Let’s continue.’

The sensation of Chae-heon’s lips brushing against his earlobe and the sound of his breathing was still vivid in Jeong-yoon’s mind. It was unimaginable to think of him in his current composed state. Even the excited gleam in his eyes was clear in his mind.

‘Ah. Let’s watch the movie.’

When he remembered that day, his body felt feverish again. Jeong-yoon couldn’t believe he had such lowly fantasies about such a noble person. But somehow, the idea of that serene figure transforming into something more aggressive felt even more enticing.

Jeong-yoon tried to think of Cheolsu and Deoksu. The white-furred puppy that lived at Mi-hee’s house. When he thought of those innocent-looking black eyes, his heart sank a little. Just being together was enough, but it was still somewhat unsettling. However, he soon accepted that good things are good things.

The screen was filled with the image of the movie’s female lead riding a scooter with the male lead.

Jeong-yoon munched on the last strawberry, swallowed it, and spoke to Chae-heon.

“Kang Chae-heon. Have you ever ridden a scooter?”

“No.”

Chae-heon answered without taking his eyes off the screen. Jeong-yoon threw the strawberry stem onto the plate. Of course. He didn’t expect him to have ridden one. It was funny to call him a ‘guy who doesn’t look like he rides a scooter’, but Kang Chae-heon didn’t look like he’s ever ridden a scooter anyway.

“I’ve ridden a scooter before. It was a scooter that my sister bought with money from her part-time job. It was scary riding on the back though, more than I thought.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. My sister told me not to hold her waist too tightly because it was gross, so I just grabbed onto her clothes lightly, but later she hit me on the head because her clothes got stretched out… Thinking about it now, it’s ridiculous.”

When he remembered that day, a sense of bitterness crept in. She suggested riding together because she was scared to ride alone. But then she wouldn’t even let him hold onto her properly and ended up hitting him because the clothes got stretched out. Last in the household hierarchy, being the youngest is so pitiful.

Only then did Chae-heon take his eyes off the screen and stare at Jeong-yoon. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he looked at Jeong-yoon. Jeong-yoon asked questions again.

“Kang Chae-heon, then have you been to Rome?”

“I’ve been there.”

“What was your favorite part?”

“Museums, definitely. I love looking at paintings and sculptures. I liked the Pieta sculpture. There were so many people, so I couldn’t see it properly… But ever since I saw it in an art magazine when I was young, I really wanted to see it. And the ice cream shop was nice too. The ice cream there was really delicious.”

“I see.”

Chae-heon answered faithfully with a smiling face. Jeong-yoon immediately closed his mouth. He liked talking with him, so he asked him questions and chatted without realizing it, but the movie was still playing in front of them.

‘No, I shouldn’t disturb him. Chae-heon has to finish his report by Thursday.’

Jeong-yoon nodded to himself and focused his gaze back on the screen. Chae-heon also turned his head towards the screen. Audrey Hepburn was smiling broadly and her eyes were sparkling.

***

Jeong-yoon opened his heavy eyes. The sofa was so soft and cozy that he seemed to have fallen asleep. He remembered the scene where Audrey Hepburn puts her hand into the mouth of truth, but everything after that was vague.

He discreetly turned his head and saw Chae-heon sitting on the sofa, holding a glass with crossed legs and resting his arm on the armrest. Even his relaxed posture looked cool, like the protagonist in a movie. It felt like the person next to him was a movie as well, just like the movie playing on the screen. It was a pleasing sight.

‘He said he had to write a report, but he really watched at it with great concentration.’

Jeong-yoon slowly got up. He stretched silently. However, perhaps because the surroundings were dim, his body felt sluggish, and it seemed perfect to just lie down on the sofa and drift off to sleep. Jeong-yoon turned his creaky neck and smoothed the cushion on the sofa. The fur that touched his fingertips was very soft.

After a while, the movie ended.

‘THE END’. Even the subtitles in the last scene were old-fashioned. Jeong-yoon blinked blankly as he stared at the black and white screen, while Chae-heon finished his wine and got up to turn on the lights. The dim light felt warm rather than bright.

Jeong-yoon looked at the wall clock decorated with flower pottery. Knowing Chae-heon’s personality, he wouldn’t have deliberately bought a clock full of ceramic flowers. Like other decorations in the house, it had undoubtedly aged with the house. The clock hand was already pointing towards ten. It was time to go home.

After roughly organizing the table, Chae-heon went to the kitchen with two empty glasses. It seemed like he had the intention to tidy up what was laid out. Jeong-yoon left Chae-heon, who looked busy alone and took out his coat from the hanger. He heard the sound of water and something rattling from the kitchen. He glanced at the kitchen, picked up the bag he had roughly thrown under the sofa, and stretched once more.

Meanwhile, Chae-heon came out of the kitchen. He looked at Jeong-yoon, who had already prepared to leave, and his expression changed slightly. Jeong-yoon smiled quietly, putting his clothes back on his forearm.

“It’s getting late. I’ll leave now.”

But Chae-heon didn’t say he understood or bid him farewell. Instead, he just quietly walked in front of Jeong-yoon. While Jeong-yoon stuttered, their bodies suddenly became very close, and then, without any warning, Chase-heon’s arm wrapped around his waist and swiftly pulled him closer.

Jeong-yoon stumbled and was hugged. Surprised, he raised his head and supported himself on Chae-heon’s chest. The warmth under his palm beneath his shirt was slightly comforting. Jeong-yoon looked at Chae-heon with a puzzled expression. Chae-heon was right in front of him. Their bodies were so close that it felt overwhelming.

Meanwhile, his heart was beating wildly, and the same was true of Chae-heon’s heart, which was under his palm. While his face seemed relaxed, smiling casually, his chest pounded rapidly. Because of that Jeong-yoon also became so nervous. His heart felt like it was going to explode.

In the dimly lit living room, only the low lighting filled the space. Chae-heon slowly lowered his face. Their lips got so close that they almost almost touched. It was a distance where Jeong-yoon could even feel his breathing.

Chae-heon gently pulled down Jeong-yoon’s bag. There was the sound of a bag falling on the marble floor. Jeong-yoon swallowed his saliva. Chae-heon even grabbed the clothes that were hanging on Jeong-yoon’s arm and threw them behind him, bringing his face closer to him. Chae-heon gave him a light, playful kiss. Jeong-yoon flinched.

Chae-heon’s hand, which was wrapped around his waist, reached up and wrapped around Jeong-yoon’s neck. A shiver ran down his spine. Those hands smelled like the roses in the hand cream he had used earlier. Soon Chae-heon’s other hand came up and cupped Jeong-yoon’s cheek. The slightly rough and large hands were very hot.

Kang Chae-heon with a relaxed expression, looked down at Jeong-yoon’s eyes.

“Where are you going?”

“Since… it’s late, I’m going home. I’m going home…”

Jeong-yoon barely managed to speak. His mind was blank and he couldn’t think straight. Perhaps because their faces were so close, their lips brushed lightly against each other’s, sending a shiver down her spine once again.

Chae-heon whispered in a playful voice.

“Jeong-yoon-ah. This is what I meant when I asked you to come to my house.”

At the end of those words, their lips slowly touched.