IPSTDS Chapter 93

Chapter 93

“What’s wrong? You don’t look well.”

Kangil’s gaze never left Nahyuk’s face.

“…It’s just… I suddenly don’t feel so good.”

“Do you want to rest a bit before breakfast? I’ll take care of you.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Unable to bear the anxiety, Nahyuk spoke more curtly than he meant to.

The moment the words slipped out, he regretted them, but it was too late to take them back. Nahyuk glanced up at Kangil, as if checking his reaction.

Thankfully, Kangil neither hardened his expression nor furrowed his brows. He simply ruffled Nahyuk’s hair.

“I don’t know the reason, but don’t overthink it.”

“…”

“Because of my work, I end up seeing a lot of patients whether I want to or not. Some looked like they might die any day, and others looked perfectly healthy. But regardless of how serious the illness was, those who thought they were going to die recovered more slowly. On the other hand, those who believed they could live, who thought positively, improved faster.”

Nahyuk understood what Kangil meant by those words. He was telling him not to dwell on dark futures.

“…Yeah. Sorry for being sharp. I’ll try to think positively, like you said.”

“It won’t be easy, but let’s give it a try.”

Nahyuk forced strength into the corners of his lips, pulling them into a smile. He didn’t think Kangil was wrong, but there was something Kangil didn’t know.

‘But Kangil… I feel like I’m trapped in some kind of inevitable fate, something that’s already been decided.’

The unspoken truth lingered bitterly in his mouth.

“Then… maybe I’ll just lie down for ten minutes.”

Fearing he might cry if their conversation went on any longer, Nahyuk lay flat on the bed and closed his eyes.

He could feel Kangil’s hand gently stroking through his hair the whole time.

* * *

After breakfast, Nahyuk and Kangil were still lying on the bed, idling away their time. It was because Nahyuk had said he wanted to rest.

Kangil couldn’t bring himself to touch Nahyuk’s body, so instead he fiddled with Nahyuk’s hand, his touch carrying a trace of longing.

“Noah, should we stop by the hospital before meeting Park Sangcheol?”

“No, it’s fine. I already took my medicine.”

“Still, you really don’t look well today. Is it because I pushed you too much yesterday?”

“That’s not it… it was too good. What I regret is just that I kept dozing off in the middle.”

“You horny wildcat.”

“There’s an old saying that people gather with their own kind. You’re just as horny, aren’t you?”

Nahyuk meant to strike back with those words, but instead of being offended, Kangil one-upped him.

“Of course I’m horny. Even if you said let’s do it right now, I’d be ready.”

“…Y-you really don’t hold back with your words.”

“Want me to prove it?”

“Are you crazy? Stop saying weird things.”

“What’s so weird about making love…”

Kangil smacked his lips and sighed.

Nahyuk thought it was impossible to win against him in a battle of words.

Still, after exchanging a few silly remarks back and forth, his mood had noticeably lightened. Maybe it was simply because Kangil’s hand, playing with his, felt good.

For a while, it seemed like he wouldn’t have to think about death.

At that moment, the sound of a servant calling for him reached his ears.

“Young master! A guest has come to see you.”

Nahyuk jumped up from the bed as if he had never been lying down sick at all. He knew right away that the visitor was Kim Daon, who was supposed to come today.

“Kangil, I’ll go greet Daon. You stay and rest.”

“Hm.”

Instead of replying, Kangil made a strange noise but didn’t try to stop him. Nahyuk quickly left the room and went straight to the front door.

The moment he opened it, Daon was there, smiling with his eyes crinkled prettily.

The gentle curve of his eyes, the alluring beauty mark beneath them. Even though Nahyuk had seen that face plenty of times before, he once again found him both handsome and beautiful.

“Hyung, I missed you.”

And his words were just as heart-stirring.

“Did you miss me too?”

As if hypnotized, Nahyuk answered.

“…Yeah, me too.”

Daon strode forward without hesitation, lowered himself a little, and carefully examined Nahyuk’s face.

“You don’t look pale today. That’s a relief.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You didn’t forget what you promised, right? That if anything hurts, even the slightest, you’ll tell me right away?”

How could he forget?

He remembered clearly the day when he trembled with fear over the uncertain future, and Daon embraced him gently, offering words of comfort.

‘Even if I can’t cure your illness, hyung, I want to share your anxiety. If you tell me all your fears and pain, maybe I can take some of them away.’

It was a different kind of comfort from Kangil’s.

At the same time, Nahyuk remembered Daon’s inexplicable kiss from that day—something he had completely forgotten until now.

“Hyung, your answer?”

“I… I didn’t forget.”

Because that memory had surfaced, he hesitated slightly before replying, even avoiding Daon’s gaze.

“Good.”

Daon’s voice slipped into his ear, tinged with laughter.

Then came the soft sensation on his cheek. Smack.

Just like before, Daon’s sudden kiss startled him again.

“Huh?”

Startled, Nahyuk stared at him. Daon just smiled brightly, shoulders lifting.

“What?”

“You just…”

“You weren’t looking at me while talking, so…”

“…”

“But now you’re looking at me just fine. Too bad.”

Strangely, it sounded as if he were saying he wanted to kiss him again.

Nahyuk rubbed at his cheek where the warmth of Daon’s lips lingered. Lately, every time he was with Daon, his heart tickled strangely.

Whether Daon knew of those feelings or not, he naturally slung an arm around Nahyuk’s shoulders.

“What were you doing? That lust-crazed Kangil is here too, right?”

“Yeah, he’s been here since last night.”

“Since last night? Ha… hyung.”

Daon’s cheerful face stiffened a little. His voice even lowered when he called out to him.

Had he said something wrong? Nahyuk blinked up at him.

“Yeah?”

“Then of course you should’ve called me too. How could you share a bed with Kangil alone? I was home last night too…”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. From now on, invite me often too. Sleeping alone is too lonely. I even have terrible nightmares all the time.”

Daon’s pitiful expression made it impossible to refuse him. His drooping eyes looked so forlorn.

“Alright, I got it. Next time I’ll definitely call you too.”

“You promise?”

“And if I break it?”

“If you break it… then you have to grant me one wish.”

What kind of wish did someone like Daon hold onto? Nahyuk didn’t think he’d want something like sudden riches.

“But nightmares, really? Did you always have them?”

“Yes, ever since my parents suddenly passed away. But you know what’s strange? On the nights I slept with you, I never had a single nightmare.”

“Of course I’m glad you didn’t, but maybe that’s just a coincidence?”

“We’ll find out whether it’s coincidence or not if we keep sleeping together for a long, long time.”

Before Nahyuk could reply, Daon continued.

“Ah… I suddenly remembered the nightmare I had last night. I feel dizzy.”

He leaned into Nahyuk, warm breath brushing against his neck.

“Hyung, can I hold you for a while?”

“You’re already holding me…”

“So, do you not like it?”

“No, if I didn’t, I would’ve pushed you away already. It’s just… I had no idea you carried such pain. You’ve always been helping me and caring for me.”

“Then from now on, just know it. That’s enough.”

Daon’s hand slid down from his shoulder to gently wrap around his waist. The natural gesture didn’t feel uncomfortable.

But the peaceful embrace didn’t last long. Kangil, coming down from the second floor, shouted.

“Hey, Kim Daon, aren’t you letting go?”

“Nope.”

Kangil strode up to them and stopped in front.

“I saw you acting pitiful, then smirking to yourself.”

“Hyung, don’t believe him. It’s all lies.”

Was Daon really pretending to be pitiful just to hug him?

Nahyuk couldn’t fully doubt Kangil, yet he also couldn’t believe Daon would act so cunningly.

“So you’re saying you won’t let go of Noah, huh?”

Kangil’s voice carried a playful threat.

Before long, he spread both arms wide and pulled them both into an embrace. He even rubbed his cheek against the back of Daon’s head.

“Then let’s all hug together.”

It was Daon who surrendered first. With a grimace, he wriggled free from between them.

“Are you insane?”

“Why? We already shared a bed, so why not hug too?”

“Ha… I’m done talking.”

Nahyuk, used to their bickering, quickly stepped in to mediate.

Strangely enough, the more they argued, the more they seemed to grow closer.