IPSTDS Chapter 60

Chapter 60

There was no need to hesitate over Kangil’s question of what he thought.

Nahyuk was truly grateful for how much effort Kangil had put in.

“It was the best.”

Maybe he would never forget this for the rest of his life. He swallowed back the words heavy with sincerity, worried they might weigh too heavily on Kangil.

“Better than Daon? Can I be your number one now?”

He was still hung up on that whole favorite-character talk, huh.

Nahyuk nodded. Even if Daon might have felt slighted, there was no helping it. The things Kangil had done today had genuinely moved him.

The way he remembered and carried out each little thing Nahyuk had said, even things that could have been overlooked, was endearing. He had even taken leave from work for it.

Sitting back down, Kangil said,

“Being someone’s favorite doesn’t feel bad at all.”

And that picture-perfect smile was a bonus.

* * *

The date continued with more of the things Nahyuk had wished for.

Kangil had reserved a table at a famous restaurant where they ate lunch together, and afterward he took him to a nearby art museum.

When Nahyuk asked why an art museum—

‘We can’t just fly abroad right now, can we? So we’re here for an exhibition of foreign artists.’

—was the ridiculous excuse Kangil gave.

Even that reason felt so cute and touching that Nahyuk didn’t tease or scold him. After all, it was the first time since Kim Daon that anyone had thought of him this way.

Though he knew nothing about art, Nahyuk still enjoyed himself. It was nice listening to Kangil explain things with surprising knowledge.

It seemed that some places, some experiences, felt entirely different depending on who you shared them with. Had he come alone, it would never have been this enjoyable.

When they left the museum, the sky was still bright. The long summer day showed no sign of ending.

Sitting together in the car, they lingered a while in silence.

“Is there more left to do? Haahm…”

Even as he spoke, Nahyuk let out a yawn without realizing it. They had been moving since early morning, and fatigue was starting to catch up to him.

“You look tired.”

“Yeah, a little.”

“There’s still something left to do, though.”

Nahyuk looked over at him.

Kangil wore a slightly wicked smile, as though harboring some secret plan.

At that moment, Nahyuk suddenly remembered the one thing from yesterday’s conversation that they hadn’t yet done.

“Want to go rest?”

Kangil murmured it in a way that carried a faintly suggestive undertone.

And right then, his words from yesterday came back vividly.

‘But it doesn’t have to be far away. Even just going to a nice restaurant nearby would be good. Then heading to a pretty café for dessert. And if it got late, we’d go to a hotel with a beautiful night view and hold each other close. Just to feel each other’s warmth.’

‘No sex?’

Was Kangil already thinking about what would come after the kiss?

Nahyuk thought about it for a moment, then finally gave his answer.

“It’s not late yet, but I want to rest. Right now.”

* * *

What happened in countless movies didn’t happen in reality.

For instance, the scene where lovers lock in a passionate kiss the moment the hotel door shuts.

Instead, Lee Kangil entered the hotel calmly, only checking out the view.

“Wonder how the nightscape will look.”

He spoke without much energy, then sat on the bed.

“What are you doing, Noah? Come lie down. What if you collapse again?”

“Mm.”

Dragging his feet, Nahyuk lay down on the bed.

Why did he feel so disappointed? Maybe he had just gotten ahead of himself, expecting something the other man never intended.

His eyes stayed fixed on Kangil, who naturally lay down beside him.

“You have something to say?”

“…No.”

“Then sleep a bit. I’ll wake you when the night view’s worth seeing.”

With that, Kangil lightly wrapped his arms around him.

From the moment they lay down to the moment he pulled him into an embrace, every motion was so natural that Nahyuk never thought of rejecting him.

“What was it you said again? To hold each other close and feel each other’s warmth?”

“That’s right.”

“Do you feel it? My warmth?”

“Yeah. You’re really warm. Must have a lot of body heat.”

“On the other hand, you’re kind of cold.”

The weight of Kangil’s hand pressing against his back made it clear—he was pulling him in closer to warm him.

“You know… you’re actually pretty tender. You weren’t like this at first, but at some point you changed.”

“That must have been the moment I got turned on by you.”

“….”

“I told you I was aroused, didn’t I? I don’t say that kind of thing as a joke.”

Are you still aroused by me even now?

Nahyuk bit back the question.

Even as he wanted Kangil’s touch, the exhaustion blanketing his body was too heavy. If he didn’t hold on, he’d fall asleep right there.

Could he really wish for something deeper in this state? He wasn’t sure.

Maybe if he talked, he could keep himself awake. So he forced his lips to move.

“Yeah, you don’t joke, Kangil. Thank you for today. For the first time, I really felt like I had a lover. I even felt like I was loved. You’ll make a good husband one day.”

“You’re dozing off.”

“…No, I’m not. I just… haahm. For dinner, what should we…”

What should we eat? No—more than dinner, I want to know what you’re thinking now. Even here in this hotel room, holding me so close, you act like it’s nothing…

That was the last thought. Sleep swept over Nahyuk like a tide, and he couldn’t resist.

* * *

Once again, Kangil carefully disentangled the sleeping Noah from his arms. He had been holding him too tightly, and worried it might be hard for him to breathe.

Rising only halfway, Kangil glanced down at his pale face and let out a quiet sigh.

‘This is the second time already.’

To be in a state where his desire was burning high, only for the cause of it all to fall asleep—that was the situation. As if he had been forced into abstinence multiple times in a row.

His eyes flicked downward at the tightness straining his pants.

In the past, he would have woken a partner immediately, driven them until his needs were met, leaving them no chance of sleep.

But strangely, with Noah, he didn’t want to do that.

If he were awake, that would be different. But frail as he was, sick as he was, Kangil couldn’t push him now.

Running a rough hand through his hair, Kangil let out a bitter laugh.

‘How did I change this much in such a short time?’

He had been forceful when they first met, but now he was far too gentle to even recognize himself.

And Noah had noticed it too.

‘You know… you’re actually pretty tender. You weren’t like this at first, but at some point you changed.’

At some point, he had grown soft.

Kangil wondered just how much more he would change.

That was when a phone began to vibrate. Not his—few people ever called him. It had to be Noah’s.

He got up fully from the bed and found the phone.

The caller was Kim Daon.

First Seo Dowoong, now Kim Daon. Noah seemed to have grown awfully popular lately.

At first, Kangil thought to ignore it, but then he remembered the last time—when Daon had dared tease him with wordplay. Even now, thinking about it made his blood boil.

No, this couldn’t just be ignored.

A crooked smile curved his lips as his finger pressed the answer button.

Stepping out to the terrace, he lifted the phone to his ear.

“Don’t you dare call my darling again.”

The warning in his tone was heavy, and for a while Daon stayed silent, sounding stunned.

“If you’ve got nothing to say, I’ll hang up. I’m busy with my darling. Need to let him rest, then make sure he eats dinner too.”

Finally, Daon’s voice came.

“…Mr. Lee Kangil?”

“Yeah, that’s me. Noah’s darling, Lee Kangil.”

“…Have you finally gone completely insane?”

“…Sounds like you always thought I might. Did you expect this?”

“Maybe. If you’re not insane, answer me properly. Why are you picking up my brother’s phone? Isn’t he with you?”

“You picked up his phone before, didn’t you? Why shouldn’t I?”

Daon’s voice was clear, firm as he pressed the point.

“Yes, because I’m his brother. You’re not. Put him on.”

The absurdity of it made Kangil laugh out loud. Had he not stepped outside, his laughter might have woken Noah.

“Don’t kid yourself. I’m way closer.”

“…I don’t think so.”

It was time to play his strongest card. This cocky younger man needed a dose of reality.

“I’m dating Noah.”

“…What?”

As expected, Daon sounded utterly shaken. Just what Kangil wanted.

“Listen carefully. I’ll only say this once.”

“….”

“Noah and I are at the point where we call each other darling. Got it, Daon?”