ETP Ch 19
by soapa“Already?”
Sungyeon was startled by the grumpy response to his suggestion to go home. It was already well past 9 p.m. The first part of the performance on the stage in the next zone was nearing its end.
“Um, Sunbae? Even though I won it, people keep staring at this teddy bear, and it’s embarrassing. Also, I thought you might be tired.”
“I’m not tired.”
So resolute. Sungyeon gave an awkward laugh as he looked at Yoohyun, who insisted he wasn’t tired.
Hwang Yoohyun, staring intently at him, turned around and headed towards the parking lot.
Wonder what he’s upset about, he’s leaving without saying goodbye again. Sungyeon clicked his tongue inwardly.
The way to Bokseung’s house was in that direction anyway. Pouting, Sungyeon followed behind Yoohyun.
Soon after arriving at the parking lot, Yoohyun glanced back. He was checking to see if Kim Bokseung was following him properly.
“Wait.”
Sungyeon, who was about to head towards the bus stop at the fork in the road, stopped at his words.
Strangely, he found it hard to refuse Yoohyun. Was it because of the appealing pheromones, or because he was a respected Sunbae?
Pondering this internally, Sungyeon turned away from the rightward path.
What could he do? He had to wait when told to wait.
Only after seeing Bokseung obediently standing in place, satisfied, did Yoohyun head towards his car.
Even though Bokseung’s face had been full of discontent while following him from the playground to the parking lot, he had obediently trailed behind without complaint. It was rather endearing how well he understood Yoohyun’s intentions without needing explanations, despite having met only a few times.
Upon reaching the car, Yoohyun first placed the teddy bear Bokseung had won in the back seat. The fluffy mass occupied more than half of the back seat.
Yoohyun chuckled, recalling Bokseung’s serious expression while holding the toy gun. As Bokseung had said, if he went to the military, he’d probably sweep up all the reward vacations.
He wasn’t tired, and now that the teddy bear was taken care of, there was no reason for Bokseung to go home.
Yoohyun walked towards Bokseung with light steps.
Bokseung was still waiting for him in the same spot. The sight was strangely satisfying, making Yoohyun’s throat tickle.
Clearing his throat, Yoohyun approached Bokseung.
As if catching a whiff of his pheromones, Bokseung wrinkled his nose slightly and lifted his head. From bottom to top, his brown hair fluttered slightly with the movement of his round head.
“Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
“I’m hungry, buy me dinner.”
What? Sungyeon’s eyes widened. Was this rich sunbaetrying to empty the wallet of a poor student like Kim Bokseung? A man who even owned a baseball team?!
Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.
Bokseung’s neat eyebrows crumpled. Yoohyun, amused by the real-time change in his expression, continued.
“I saved you, aren’t you going to repay the favor? Even a magpie knows how to repay a kindness, but Kim Bokseung is apparently worse than a magpie.”
“No! That’s! But!”
It was true that Hwang Yoohyun had rescued Bokseung from the trio. However, it was also true that he was dragged back to the festival afterwards!
“So, you’re saying no?”
The more Bokseung felt wronged, the more emboldened Yoohyun became. Sungyeon cursed his inability to defy him.
Damn Sunbaeity!
Sungyeon inwardly cursed the rotten structure of Korean society. The memory of conveniently exploiting that very Sunbaeity system with Yoohyun earlier had long since evaporated.
“No, how could I say no! I, Kim Bokseung, am not a man who forgets a favor! I was just worried that the pubs might be closed since it’s late. Let’s go, Sunbae!”
Bokseung led Yoohyun towards the festival grounds with exaggerated gestures. This time, Hwang Yoohyun obediently trailed behind Bokseung.
Kim Bokseung was indeed manly. He walked with confidence, despite his short legs. Unaware that Hwang Yoohyun was secretly lifting the corners of his mouth at the cuteness of those quick steps.
While dragging Yoohyun along, Sungyeon desperately wished the festival was winding down, but contrary to his earnest desire, the pubs were still bustling. Some even had waiting lists due to lack of space.
Seriously, is it okay for the future leaders of this nation to be so dedicated to drinking?
Sungyeon narrowed his eyes and looked around with displeasure.
Yoohyun, witnessing the same scene from behind, was also slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected so many people to still be around.
However, it was too late to turn back. As if he’d anticipated this, Yoohyun tapped Bokseung’s shoulder with an indifferent expression.
“There’s an empty table over there.”
Hwang Yoohyun’s long finger pointed towards a pub/cafe run by the botany club.
The inside of the pub was decorated with all sorts of trees and flowers, creating an atmosphere like a forest campsite. Unlike other pubs with a boisterous, drink-all-you-can vibe, it was perfect for a quiet, relaxed time.
The two entered a white teepee placed at the entrance.
Inside the teepee were a small table, even smaller camping chairs, a camping lamp, and an unidentified flower as decoration.
Even Bokseung, who wasn’t particularly tall, found the camping chairs uncomfortable, and given Yoohyun’s long legs, sitting was quite the challenge. He was more squatting than sitting.
Sungyeon couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at Yoohyun’s pathetic yet cute appearance.
Hearing the laughter, Yoohyun’s eyebrows twitched. However, Sungyeon could tell it wasn’t from annoyance but embarrassment.
“Sunbae, are you very uncomfortable? Should I see if there are other seats?”
“It’s fine, I’m not uncomfortable.”
After a short reply, Yoohyun rummaged through the menu. At this point, the best course of action was to eat quickly and leave before his legs cramped.
True to its camping concept, the pub’s menu mostly consisted of camping food. They ordered assorted skewers, fish cake soup, and grilled pork neck.
“Sunbae, what about drinks? Beer?”
“I drove, so I won’t drink.”
“Ah, then I’ll just order one beer!”
Hwang Yoohyun nodded.
Sungyeon ordered a beer from his favorite brand. Technically, alcohol was the reason for his soul-swapping predicament, but it was also something he couldn’t quit. From his previous experience, Bokseung’s body seemed to handle two or three beers fine.
The food arrived quickly. The appetizing-looking snacks, cold beer, and the music drifting from afar – this was paradise.
Best of all, being inside the tent shielded them from the stares of others. Even now, Sungyeon felt a cold sweat trickling down his back as he recalled the attention Hwang Yoohyun had attracted earlier.
“Oh, this is good!”
Bokseung mumbled while chewing on a skewer of alternating pieces of green onion and chicken. Watching him, Yoohyun picked up a piece of grilled pork neck with his chopsticks. As Bokseung said, the food was surprisingly good for a university festival pub.
As he watched Bokseung eat with gusto, Yoohyun’s gaze shifted to the flower on the table.
It was a peach blossom.
Small blossoms were densely clustered on the branches. Looking closely, only the inside of the white petals was tinged with a pale pink. Although artificial, it was quite intricately made.
Yoohyun compared the peach blossom to Kim Bokseung sitting next to him. They had a similar feel. White and pure, yet hiding a pretty pink inside.
Come to think of it, their names were similar too. Bokseung, peach. Such similarities suited the round-faced Kim Bokseung, making Yoohyun chuckle.
Clueless to Yoohyun’s thoughts, Bokseung simply stared longingly at his dwindling beer.
🍑‧₊ ⋆˙
Once they finished the food, silence filled the tent.
It was true. This was only their third time meeting outside of formal settings, and neither of them were particularly talkative. Even more unfortunate was the lack of common topics to discuss.
At first, they exchanged a few comments about the food being delicious. But they couldn’t keep talking about that now that they were almost finished eating.
And since they weren’t familiar with the idols performing outside, a heavy silence settled upon their table.
Just as Sungyeon was about to suggest going home, unable to bear the silence any longer, a countdown began from the distant stage. Along with everyone’s cheers, fireworks began to explode in the sky.
Bang, boom, bang!
Along with the loud, resounding noises, colorful fireworks were embroidered across the sky.
It was Sungyeon’s first time seeing fireworks this close. He stared blankly at the exploding spectacle, unable to lower his upturned head. It was as loud as a warzone, yet as dreamlike as a fantasy.
“Wow.”
Exclamations continuously erupted from Bokseung’s small mouth.
Yoohyun also glanced up at the sky for a moment, following the younger man’s gaze, but quickly lost interest. He hated loud noises, no matter what they were.
Instead of looking up at the sky, he looked at Bokseung’s face. The younger man’s white face was brightly illuminated by the fireworks.
The constantly changing colors were all reflected in Bokseung’s fair face. Thinking how well those colors suited him, a sweet, cozy scent wafted into his nose.
It was Kim Bokseung’s pheromones.
It was only for a moment, but the scent was so sweet it paralyzed his thoughts, so delicious he wanted to devour it immediately.
He felt a pang of hunger, and his mouth filled with saliva. Overwhelmed by an unfamiliar urge, he roughly ran a hand through his hair.
Anxiety suddenly surged.
He wasn’t the only one smelling this scent. What if the person next to him was an alpha?
Yoohyun wanted to hide Bokseung away, preferably in his own home.
For a moment, Yoohyun’s rational thoughts were replaced by the concretization of his primal desires.
The pheromones the younger man emitted were sweet and lovely, but Yoohyun’s mind was increasingly filled with violent and aggressive fantasies.
Finally, Hwang Yoohyun grabbed Bokseung’s wrist.
Bokseung, engrossed in the fireworks, looked at him with surprised eyes.
“Let’s go.”
Hwang Yoohyun said as he pulled Bokseung out of the tent.
“Ah, no! Sunbae?! The fireworks are still…!”
Even as he was being dragged along by Yoohyun’s hand, Bokseung’s gaze remained fixed on the sky. Yoohyun wanted to grab the younger man’s head and force him to look at him.
Yoohyun’s insides began to churn even more.