IDSEGI Chapter 96

Chapter 96

When Yeoul came out after washing, Eunha was nowhere to be seen.

Yeoul looked around the room, searching for him.

“Where did Eunha hyung go?”

“Looked like something urgent came up. He got a call earlier and went out.”

Ihan’s expression was so innocent that Yeoul believed him without suspicion.

What could have made him leave? Worried, Yeoul called Eunha. The ringing tone continued, but Eunha didn’t answer.

‘Is it something so serious he can’t even answer the phone?’

Normally, Eunha replied to Yeoul’s messages within a minute and picked up his calls in less than three seconds. If someone like him couldn’t answer, it meant something really urgent had happened.

“He’s not answering. I think I should go out and look for him.”

“Now that I think about it, when he was on the phone, it sounded like he mentioned a funeral or something.”

“Really?”

Could it be that a close friend’s parent passed away? The thought made him feel sorry, but at least it didn’t sound like anything had happened to Eunha himself.

“Then let’s go to sleep first.”

“Are we sleeping together?”

“You can take the bed, Ihan.”

‘If it were Eunha hyung, he definitely would’ve given the bed to Ihan.’

He probably would’ve been thrilled. He would’ve bragged to everyone that the scent of a great hero had lingered on his bed.

Yeoul glanced at Ihan. With the wide bed, Ihan was already making moves to suggest they sleep together, like any ordinary guy his age.

Not a hero, but just a person who cried when sad and smiled when happy—just like him.

“I don’t like sleeping with someone I don’t know well.”

When Yeoul refused firmly, Ihan’s face noticeably fell. Even that expression looked cute and endearing. Yeoul turned away so as not to let him see his smile.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“No, I’ll sleep on the sofa. You should take the bed, Yeoul.”

‘Yeoul-ssi.’

Yeoul could never get used to Ihan calling him “Yeoul-ssi.” He could still clearly hear the affectionate voice that used to call him simply “Yeoul-ah.” Swallowing down the bitter feeling, he pointed at the sofa.

“Look at the size of that sofa. It’s not going to fit someone your height.”

“I can curl up.”

“Why bother? Just use the bed.”

“I don’t want you to sleep uncomfortably.”

After bickering back and forth, they finally agreed—Yeoul would sleep on the sofa, and Ihan would sleep on the living room floor.

What were they doing, leaving a perfectly good bed empty? Yeoul shot Ihan a look of disbelief.

When their eyes met, Ihan smiled again. What was so funny?

Ihan lay down on the bedding Yeoul had set up and pulled the blanket over himself quietly. Seeing Ihan’s feet sticking out from under the blanket, Yeoul suddenly burst out laughing. He tried to cover it with a fake cough, but Ihan never let anything slide.

“Yeoul-ssi, are you laughing?”

“I wasn’t.”

“Yes, you were.”

“So what if I did? Is there a problem?”

“No. I like it.”

Yeoul’s lips, which had been pouting, froze in place. Ihan turned his head toward him and smiled beautifully.

“It’s nice when you smile, Yeoul-ssi.”

Unable to resist the impulse, Yeoul blurted out the question he had been holding in.

“Why do you like me?”

The current Ihan didn’t even have any memories of Yeoul and hadn’t known him for long. So why was he so obsessed? Yeoul couldn’t understand.

It had always been that way—being loved by Ihan left Yeoul confused. He wasn’t someone worthy of being loved. All he ever did was cause Ihan pain.

Ihan quietly answered his question.

“I think you’re my Guide, Yeoul-ssi.”

Only then did he begin to understand a little. So, he had realized that Yeoul was the Guide he had imprinted with.

“I can’t be your Guide, Yoo Ihan.”

At least, not yet. Maybe in two months, or two years, after everything was resolved—but not now.

“It’s not only because you’re my Guide that I like you.”

A playful smile appeared on Ihan’s lips.

“Your face is exactly my type. Even if you weren’t a Guide, I would have fallen for you.”

The playful grin soon softened. His gaze flowed toward Yeoul, calm and steady.

“I can’t deny that being a Guide made me more interested, but even if you weren’t, I still would have chased after you.”

“I know.”

Seeing Ihan’s surprised, wide-eyed expression, Yeoul realized he had just made a mistake. He had accidentally spoken his true feelings.

“Go to sleep now.”

Yeoul shut his eyes tightly and turned his body toward the back of the sofa, making sure Ihan couldn’t continue speaking. A low chuckle followed, along with that deep, pleasant voice.

“Good night.”

Only after the clock’s second hand had made dozens of rounds did Yeoul turn back toward Ihan.

‘Come to think of it, Ihan has loved me from the very first time we met.’

No matter when they met, even if Yeoul turned into a stone, Ihan had said he would still love him. Yeoul knew better than anyone that Ihan’s words were true.

Ihan had always been someone who loved him without conditions. He didn’t know why, but Ihan’s love was endlessly deep and without limit—enough for him to die for Yeoul three times over.

Yeoul looked down at Ihan’s sleeping face. He didn’t dare reach out, only holding his breath as he watched him for a long time. Even the moonlight that had settled on Ihan’s cheek made him jealous. I want to touch you too.

He filled his mouth with the name he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud. Ihan… Ihan… He called him over and over in his mind.

Just looking at those closed eyes beneath their delicate lashes made his heart swell. He pictured the eyes sleeping beneath those lids—light brown most of the time, but the color of rippling wheat fields whenever they looked at Yeoul.

Very carefully, Yeoul reached out and held his fingers just beneath Ihan’s nose. Only when he felt those steady, even breaths against his hand did he finally feel at ease.

No longer cold. No longer sealed away in a small jar.

Ihan was alive.

‘I missed you, Ihan.’

The words remained trapped in his mouth, perhaps forever unspoken, fading from his tongue. Until the sun’s head began to peek over the edge of the night, Yeoul kept Ihan’s image full in his eyes.

Morning sunlight streamed through the window into the living room. When Ihan frowned in his sleep, showing signs of waking, Yeoul quickly closed his eyes.

He heard Ihan getting up, and a few minutes later, Yeoul also sat up, pretending he had just woken.

“Did you sleep well?”

Ihan was shirtless—when had he taken it off? Yeoul’s gaze drifted to his well-toned abs and broad shoulders. Ihan noticed him staring and smiled slyly.

“If you like what you see, you can touch it.”

“That’s not it!”

Lowering his eyes to avoid Ihan’s bare torso, Yeoul suddenly froze.

‘Why is it… standing?’

Above Ihan’s loose sweatpants, the long, thick outline of something was clearly visible. Ihan, catching exactly where Yeoul’s gaze had landed, squinted mischievously.

“You can touch here too, if you want.”

Pervert! Flushing red, Yeoul recoiled in shock.

“Why the hell are you hard?”

“It’s morning. And I’m a healthy man?”

“Go to the bathroom, now!”

Yeoul shoved Ihan toward the bathroom, pressing him forward until he was inside. Ihan went in with a small laugh. Once the door shut, Yeoul clutched at his pounding chest.

Then he glanced downward—damn it.

His own crotch was bulging. What now? With Ihan in the bathroom, he would have to take care of it elsewhere. It would be nice if it went down on its own, but from behind the door came Ihan’s moan, along with his name.

“Hnn… Yeoul-ah…”

He’s definitely doing this on purpose.

Looking down awkwardly at his still-unyielding arousal, Yeoul made up his mind and pulled himself free from his pants. He bit his lip hard, determined not to say Ihan’s name aloud.

‘Ihan… Yoo Ihan…’

As he moved his hand up and down, sticky pre-cum dripped onto his underwear. Ihan must be doing the same in there right now—gripping that thick, hard length in his hand and stroking…

The faster Ihan’s breathing became, the faster Yeoul’s hand moved. And when Ihan let out a sharp breath, Yeoul’s own release filled his palm with hot liquid.

Wiping away the small trail running down his thigh with a tissue, he went to the kitchen to wash his hands.

Only after he had hidden all traces did Ihan emerge from the bathroom.

“I was going to shower, but do you know where the towels are?”

“They’re not in the cabinet?”

“No. They’re gone.”

“Guess Eunha hyung didn’t do the laundry again. Just shower later.”

They spoke casually, but then Yeoul suddenly realized something strange.