Chapter 52

Surviving was good. Succeeding in the mission was good too. But the problem was what came next. Well, actually, the problem had been brewing long before, but amidst the chaos, Haon had momentarily forgotten about it.

Back at the center, Haon underwent a thorough medical examination to check if there were any issues with his body. Fortunately, considering his near-death experience, there were no major problems. Haon received just one IV bag and was discharged.

As he was about to return to the dorm, Cha Yugeon was waiting for him outside the hospital. Only after seeing him did Haon recall the events of last night that he had forgotten.

“…I’m such an idiot.”

The memory of last night, filled with high-level intimacy, turned Haon’s face crimson. He couldn’t bring himself to approach Cha Yugeon. It seemed better to act like he hadn’t seen him at all. He quickly turned his body the other way, thinking it was better to pretend not to see him.

“Park Haon.”

However, Cha Yugeon couldn’t just let Haon run away. Haon hesitated for a moment whether to go forward as if he hadn’t heard Yugeon’s call or turn back. He didn’t realize that a single second could feel so long.

“Park Haon.”

The second call was even firmer. Haon made up his mind. Just run for now. As for what comes next? Leave it to the future him.

Haon bolted away. Even though Cha Yugeon called out to him louder from behind, Haon knew. He had already decided to run away, so looking back was pointless. It would only make things more awkward. Well, it might have been pitiful to run away like this, but what could he do? It had already happened.

“Park Haon! Are you not gonna stop?!”

Cha Yugeon was still Cha Yugeon. By now, he could have given up, but his threatening shout made Haon close his eyes tightly and run even faster. Haon was confident in his running ability, having never neglected physical training. How far, how long he could run, he didn’t know, but he wasn’t going to be caught that easily.

“Do you think you can escape?”

But that was Haon’s misconception. Cha Yugeon flew towards him with deadly agility, blocking Haon’s path. Compared to Haon, Cha Yugeon’s gravitation-defying telekinetic flying rendered Haon’s running useless.

“How can you come flying so shamelessly?”

“Shameless? Park Haon, is that what you call me now?”

“…”

Haon quickly shut his mouth at Cha Yugeon’s seemingly incredulous words. He had no rebuttal. Haon thought he himself was shameless, childish, brash, and scummy.

After spending a night together and then having no memory of their night together, to suddenly bolt like this?

It was his own fault, there was simply no excuse.

“Sorry…”

Haon apologized in a subdued voice. Even though he thought he was wrong, all he could do was apologize for now. What comes next? Well, who knows. Future him will take care of it.

“What are you sorry for? You forgetting everything we did last night? Or are you embarrassed because you remember and just ran away?”

“…Both.”

He felt sorry equally for both, to the point where Haon couldn’t distinguish between them. If he could, he’d rather disappear into the ground right now. If he still had the ability to turn invisible, he would have done it immediately. Enduring this situation was too difficult. And because he felt so sorry and it was so difficult, unjustified feelings of resentment began to spread.

Why did he provoke someone who drank a lot of alcohol and couldn’t tell what’s left and what’s right? Doing such embarrassing and lascivious things to someone who wasn’t even sober! Come to think of it, Cha Yugeon was as shameless as him.

Once resentment took root, it quickly grew. Unlike Cha Yugeon, who liked to sleep around, Haon was still a virgin who hadn’t even have his ‘first kiss’. And doing such things to someone who was drunk!

Isn’t that scummy?!

“What’s with that look?”

Seeing Haon’s eyes full of resentment, Cha Yugeon asked in disbelief. But Haon’s resentful gaze only grew sharper.

“Hey! Cha Yugeon!”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it a bit much to do that to a drunk person?!”

“Huh… Who’s the one who asked to see it first?”

“I only asked to see it, not put it in!”

“That’s why I asked. You give consent!”

“How could you take what a drunk person said seriously?!”

Haon yelled in frustration. Of course, Cha Yugeon asked, and he gave permission. But wasn’t a drunk person supposed to lack decision-making abilities? It was Cha Yugeon’s fault for taking Haon’s drunken words at face value.

“Huh, I can’t believe this. So what do you want me to do?”

“Well… I don’t want you to do anything… I’m just saying it’s not all my fault.”

At the unexpected question, Haon lowered his tail. Cha Yugeon kept blaming him so much that Haon raised his voice out of unfairness. He didn’t want anything. And it wasn’t a problem he could solve.

Haon scratched his cheek in embarrassment. Then Cha Yugeon burst into laughter as if he were amazed, then looked directly at Haon’s face. In that gaze, Haon instinctively felt a sense of danger.

“Then just do it when you’re sober.”

“Huh?!”

As expected, his instincts never failed. Haon paled at Cha Yugeon’s words. Perhaps he misheard.

Yes, that’s what it must be.

“Let’s do it again when you’re sober.”

“Hey, why is it going like this?!”

As soon as he realized he hadn’t misheard, Haon shouted in panic. He couldn’t comprehend Cha Yugeon’s thought process at all. How could the conversation flow in this direction?

And in his memory, Haon felt pain. Of course, he enjoyed it to that extent… he admitted it. Nevertheless, he cried out in agony. But the thought of doing that again sent shivers down his spine.

“Why would I… no, why did I naturally assume I’d be the bottom? Hey, if we’re gonna do it, this time, you should be on the bottom.”

“What?”

“We’re both in the same position after all.”

Haon shot back at Cha Yugeon with whatever came to mind. It was strange. They were both male, but why did he have to be the bottom? The more he thought about it calmly, the more he could not understand or accept it.

“Of course…”

“Of course?”

“I was originally a top.”

“What on earth do you mean by that?!”

Haon was flabbergasted. How could he shamelessly say he was ‘originally’ a top… Then, on one hand, he was worried that regardless of the reason, he had been the one to bottom for his first experience, and he was concerned it might continue like that in the future.

“Anyway, don’t say ridiculous things. I don’t have any intention of doing it with you again. So, let’s talk with that in mind.”

Although the conversation veered off track due to Cha Yugeon’s attempt to cloud the issue, ultimately, what Haon wanted to say was this. Yes, he had done such things yesterday while drunk and out of his mind, but it wouldn’t happen again in the future. Unless he was crazy, he wouldn’t sleep with Cha Yugeon again.

“So, you and I are just done?”

“Huh…?”

“Was it just a one-night stand thing?”

At Cha Yugeon’s strangely calm words, Haon couldn’t readily reply. His conservative mindset wouldn’t allow him to simply call it a one-night stand, yet suggesting they become a couple after sleeping together once was equally odd.

As he was hesitating because he had nothing to say in response, Cha Yugeon opened his mouth once again.

“You and I, is that all?”

“…Uh, what else would there be?”

Haon stammered after a brief hesitation. He had no idea what Cha Yugeon was thinking. He didn’t even know what significance there was in asking such a question. So he could only ask.

Cha Yugeon looked at Haon. His gaze was unwavering. It felt like his cheeks were burning just from receiving that gaze. Finally, Cha Yugeon’s lips parted slowly.

“…Because I don’t want that to be all.”

Haon was at a loss for words at the unexpected confession. His cheeks felt even hotter. Unable to respond to his call, Cha Yugeon called Haon’s name once more.

“Park Haon.”

“…”

“Park Haon.”

“Uh…”

“I think I like you.”