HARD 15

Now, Go Woonha squinted his eyes, looking at the nerdy white skin that clearly hadn’t seen sunlight, its complexion now subsided.

“Good to eat, too.”

“……”

Lost in thought, Cha Gyuwon didn’t hear Go Woonha’s not-quite-a-compliment.

He was recalling what his brother had said. That even though Go Woonha was surrounded by flashy people, Go Woonha was always the only one who stood out.

He understood those words, of course. A light seemed to radiate from him. He drew people’s gazes. He was sure he wasn’t the only one who felt that way. After all, his own brother had slept with Go Woonha…. No, but how could he call someone he had dated, even if they weren’t in a relationship, a slut? My brother is so disappointing…. He must have hung out with those department head Misters too much….

Cha Gyuwon acted like someone who, for a long time, had barely communicated with anyone other than Cha Gyu-han and a few of the department head Misters. He was lost deep in his own thoughts right in front of the other person.

Go Woonha found it funny that Cha Gyuwon, standing stock-still with his head bowed low, looked like the large coffin from that movie he had seen on the plane to Korea, the one about digging up a coffin. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice Go Woonha taking a picture of him with his phone.

You have to respect someone’s alone time.

Leaving Cha Gyuwon to his thoughts, Go Woonha peeled and ate a banana, and then made coffee.

“I’ll cut it.”

And finally, having finished his thoughts, Cha Gyuwon lifted his head with a grim determination.

“Cut what?” Go Woonha, who had naturally forgotten what he had said in the meantime, asked back.

What is he cutting? He shouldn’t say he’s going to cut that. Frowning, Go Woonha thought for a moment before remembering his own words and smiling.

“Ah. Your hair. Oh. Okay.”

“But I heard you have to make appointments for everything these days….”

“Just a moment. I’ll ask someone I know. He’s a good stylist.”

Go Woonha rummaged through his phone and found a contact. Thank goodness. The number of the hair designer he had slept with once and hung out with six times was still the same. When he called, the person on the other end answered after a long pause, his voice sleepy.

—Hello….

“Hey. Long time no see, right? Hyung, are you still doing hair?”

—What the. Who is this. …Go Woonha?!

“Yeah. Hyung, are you still at that place you used to work at? I want to get a haircut right now.”

—Hey, you crazy bastard. No way. I don’t work there anymore. And do you know how much crap I got after you came last time…. Those crazy bitches, acting like I was monopolizing you or something when I told them I wouldn’t give them your number.

He started chattering away immediately. It sounded like it was going to be a long conversation, so Go Woonha peeled another banana, stuck it in his mouth, and waited. Cha Gyuwon’s gaze fell on his lips. Feeling that intense stare, Go Woonha took what he was holding out of his mouth.

“Ah.”

Smiling brightly, he pointed the banana at the space between Cha Gyuwon’s legs.

“The shape is similar. Right? The curve seems a bit similar, too.”

“……”

“It’s okay. Yours is much bigger.”

—…What are you doing?

“Oh, nothing, talking about pants. The waist is too big.”

Go Woonha lied smoothly. The sound of his low laughter was very pleasant to hear. Cha Gyuwon was ready to capture that voice in his mind and play it over and over. Go Woonha waved his hand at him, as if telling him to go change his clothes. After entering the dressing room, Cha Gyuwon immediately replayed that low laugh. So he even chuckles like that. He’s so cute….

“So. Can you do it?”

—I opened my own shop. It’s my day off today, but since it’s you, I’ll do it for you.

He said, sighing and making it sound like a big favor. Go Woonha thought he should buy a grand opening gift, albeit a late one, and asked him to send the address. Then, he immediately contacted his personal shopper and asked them to set aside a bag so he could pick it up right away.

“Mr. Gyuwon, are you all ready?”

“Ah, not yet. Just a moment.”

They’re all the same shirts and pants anyway, so what’s taking so long?

Go Woonha gathered his own clothes and headed to the dressing room. Just then, Cha Gyuwon, who was running a hand through his hair, turned around in surprise.

“Wow… Mr. Gyuwon… you had clothes like these?”

At those words, Cha Gyuwon smiled shyly.

Go Woonha scanned him with a strange expression.

So many pockets on the pants…. What’s with that jacket? Why is it so shiny? And what’s with the dragon embroidery on the back?

Go Woonha, unaware that Cha Gyuwon had mustered his courage and pulled out clothes he had worn in high school, felt a sense of dismay.

However, considering he had to go pick up the gift first, there wasn’t enough time to fix him up. Besides, if it wasn’t this outfit, Cha Gyuwon would just wear a black hoodie or a black short-sleeved t-shirt.

“Hmm. You look cool. It looks like you’d never get mugged.”

“That’s a good thing… right?”

“Of course. Better than getting mugged. Let’s go.”

Go Woonha patted Cha Gyuwon’s back. Then he snatched away the comb Cha Gyuwon was using to ineptly slick back his hair and set it down.

“Why did you put gel in? We’re going to get it cut anyway. Let’s go.”

Go Woonha quickly ruffled the stiff hair, which looked like something out of a 1980s college graduation photo, before it could set completely. Thanks to that, it didn’t harden as it was, but the hair that fell back down looked as if it hadn’t been washed in days—no, months—which, combined with the bizarre outfit he was wearing, made him look even stranger… like a very large… handsome homeless person. And that was a detail only a brave soul with the courage to look at his face up close would notice; in reality, he just had the appearance of someone you should definitely avoid if you passed them on the street.

“Cute. So cute,” Go Woonha said without much sincerity and led Cha Gyuwon to the entrance.

Cha Gyuwon hesitated there for a long time again. Not because he was choosing shoes, but because he was repeating a routine of breathing out and in several times before going out, shaking his hands and doing little jumps to loosen up, and then sighing again.

“……”

Go Woonha, who had taken lightly the comment that Cha Gyuwon rarely left the house, felt a bit strange watching him.

“I’m sorry.”

Beads of sweat had formed on the apologizing Cha Gyuwon’s forehead.

“It’s okay.”

Though it was becoming clear that they were not just pressed for time but would be late, Go Woonha didn’t rush him. Instead, he rummaged through his pocket and took out a handkerchief.

“Take your time. You can never warm up too much.”

Go Woonha’s voice was already very soft and pleasant to listen to. But now, it was especially tender. Cha Gyuwon clenched and unclenched his fists. The handkerchief touching his forehead smelled nice. And Go Woonha smelled of the body wash he himself used at his own house.

“Turning into a grapefruit again? What did I even do?”

“……”

Go Woonha laughed softly. His face was very close. Cha Gyuwon suddenly felt an intense urge to kiss him.

Go Woonha really was an angel.

Cha Gyuwon became certain of it again. No matter what anyone around him said, he wouldn’t believe them. Sometimes he said strange things, and sometimes he seemed genuinely crazy, but as you could see from his own state, people are always a little strange and have many flaws. If Go Woonha hadn’t had those strange parts, they would have never even met. He would have been in heaven.

“Let’s go.”

Cha Gyuwon breathed out.

“I think I can go now.”

“Hmm.”

His face, set with that determination, was quite cute, like a child pretending to be an adult as he entered the dentist’s office.

Go Woonha admitted it. He was still not fond of the fact that Cha Gyuwon was younger, but he was a younger guy who had aspects he could like.

“Good boy.”

It was the kind of tone one might use to praise a puppy. Go Woonha, smiling, lightly tapped Cha Gyuwon’s cheek.

Then he opened the door and stepped out.

Cha Gyuwon, now a grapefruit, lightly pressed his own cheek. Then, as if mesmerized, he took a step forward. Following Go Woonha.

👟

“Mr. Gyuwon, this is the first time you’re in a car I’m driving, isn’t it?”

“Yeees.”

Cha Gyuwon said, trying hard to hide his excitement.

Go Woonha tossed the car keys up and down as he walked toward the car.

“I’m a good driver. Don’t worry just because I’m a foreigner.”

Then he went to the passenger side. In front of the bewildered Cha Gyuwon, he opened the door and then made a flustered expression.

“Ah, right. It’s on the left….”

“……”

“It was a joke. You look like you’re about to cry. Come here. Get in here.”

For a brief moment, Cha Gyuwon’s face had gone pale.

Go Woonha pressed his lips together, holding back a burst of laughter. Still, he couldn’t help the amusement that lingered in his eyes.

Cha Gyuwon got into the passenger seat with a creak. Unlike Cha Gyuwon’s car, Go Woonha’s was a sedan, so with him in it, the car felt cramped and full.

“I guess I’ll have to get a new car if I’m going to be taking Mr. Gyuwon around.”

Go Woonha muttered, almost humming, as he got into the driver’s seat. Cha Gyuwon was startled and waved his hands in dismissal.

“Ah, no, it’s fine. You don’t have to change it because of me.”

“Hmm? I’m not going to change it, though?”

“……”

“Let’s go. Make sure to fasten your seatbelt.”

Right… he didn’t say he was going to take me around.

Cha Gyuwon dazedly fastened his seatbelt. He didn’t know why he felt so blindsided when Go Woonha hadn’t said anything wrong. But thanks to that, he also didn’t realize that he had smoothly exited the villa complex.

By the time he came to his senses, they were already in a different underground parking garage.

“Just a moment. I need to pick something up before we go.”

Go Woonha parked the car and made a call. Not long after, an employee appeared as if they had been waiting.

“Thank you. I asked on such short notice, but you had it ready right away. You saved me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“I’ll stop by next time.”

Go Woonha, who had lightly shaken hands with the bowing personal shopper, placed the shopping bag in the back seat. Then he immediately drove out of the parking garage.

“It’s a grand opening gift.”