IPSTDS Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Jealousy? Seo Dowoong didn’t think it was something as lowly as that.

It wasn’t jealousy—just irritation. He didn’t like the look on Yoon Noah’s face as he shyly nestled into Kim Daon.

He hadn’t even spared a glance at the macarons Seo had given him, yet he stared holes into Kim Daon’s face.

It was when he got to that point in his thoughts that Seo Dowoong realized something strange.

The reason he was in a bad mood didn’t seem to be because of Kim Daon—it was because of Yoon Noah.

Seo Dowoong had always been appalled by Yoon Noah, who treated him as his number one priority. The more the guy confessed his love, the less Dowoong wanted to accept it.

And yet, every time Noah showed interest in someone else, it made his insides boil.

It had been the same when it was Lee Kangil. And now again, with Kim Daon.

Why was that?

Was it because it felt like someone else had taken away his favorite toy?

Seo Dowoong felt frustrated, unable to gauge his own heart.

And yet, what was clear was that Yoon Noah’s blushing face, as he clung to Kim Daon, wouldn’t leave his mind.

Would he find the answer if he saw Yoon Noah’s face?

Seo Dowoong scrapped his plans to meet with Kim Daon and gripped the steering wheel tightly. The car, cutting swiftly through the rain, was heading straight to Yoon Noah’s house.

When he arrived—having driven like a madman—he saw Yoon Noah getting out of a taxi, even though he’d left much earlier.

Seo Dowoong parked his car haphazardly and got out of the driver’s seat.

Without an umbrella, he trudged over and yanked Yoon Noah by the wrist.

“…S-Seo Dowoong?”

“Come with me.”

Seo Dowoong marched across the yard of Noah’s house, heading straight for the front door. Yoon Noah stumbled as he was dragged along but Dowoong didn’t care.

“Open it.”

“What’s with you? If you’ve got something to say, say it tomorrow. It’s late and raining…”

“Better open it while I’m being nice. Unless you want things to get ugly.”

“…Haah.”

With a habitual sigh, Yoon Noah opened the door. The moment it opened, Seo Dowoong pulled him toward a room he was well-acquainted with—Noah’s bedroom.

Only once they were inside did Seo Dowoong finally stop walking.

“W-What’s wrong with you? My wrist hurts.”

Seo Dowoong cornered the frightened Yoon Noah in front of the closed door.

Noah tried to wriggle free, but the more he resisted, the more Dowoong pinned him in.

Soon, they were standing so close their knees were touching.

Seo Dowoong quietly looked down at Noah, who was drenched and disheveled.

His wet shirt clung to his skin, and in his hand was Kim Daon’s jacket, gripped tightly.

His terrified face was pale, but in contrast, his lips looked especially red today.

Even the sound of his ragged breathing sounded unbearably provocative.

There wasn’t a single thing Dowoong liked about him.

“You couldn’t get your way with me, so now you’re trying to seduce Kim Daon instead?”

Looking like that, wouldn’t anyone—man or woman—fall for him?

He didn’t want to admit it, but the rain-soaked Yoon Noah looked undeniably erotic.

Why hadn’t he tried seducing him like this from the start? The bitter remark hovered on the tip of his tongue.

“Seo Dowoong. What are you talking about?”

Noah answered in a stiff voice, as if he genuinely had no idea what he was being accused of.

“You’re all wet… You were trying to seduce Kim Daon with that trashy look, weren’t you?”

“I think you’ve got it wrong again. It’s not like that. Daon’s just a little brother to me.”

“A little brother? So you go around hugging your little brother now?”

“Huh? …Wait, were you watching earlier?”

Panic flashed across Noah’s face. He pressed his lips inward, like someone with something to hide.

“Did you want Kim Daon to fall for you and leave me all alone?”

“No… I don’t like you anymore. I won’t like you again.”

Liar. Seo Dowoong didn’t believe a word of it.

For Yoon Noah to stop liking him—it was like saying the sun would rise in the west.

In other words, it was something that could never happen.

Even the voice that claimed he wouldn’t like him anymore trembled. The way he spoke, halting and unsure, was far from convincing.

“So you thought, once I was alone, then you’d be there for me?”

“I said no!”

“Why not just say it like you used to? That you’re going crazy because you want me.”

“Seo Dowoong… Please, just listen to me.”

Noah pleaded, gazing up at him.

In those innocent eyes, shimmering with tears, Dowoong felt an unbearable thirst. He couldn’t tear his gaze from the small, red lips breathing out hot air.

Seo Dowoong used his free hand to grip Noah’s face tightly.

His mind was a mess—too much anger, too much rain. He couldn’t hold on to reason.

Where reason disappeared, only instinct remained.

“D-Dowoong…”

By the time he realized it, he was leaning toward Noah. The damp breath from his lips was growing thicker.

“D-Don’t… Mm!”

His unfinished protest was swallowed by Seo Dowoong’s breath.

Dowoong’s lips finally landed on the red lips that had been tempting him all along.

Yes, this was all Yoon Noah’s fault.

For meddling with the people around him, for looking so damn seductive, for stirring up his emotions.

This guy had been dying for physical contact all this time—he wouldn’t resent him for this.

But as Dowoong kissed him roughly, Noah’s body tensed up.

Trapped against him, Noah’s body squirmed more than before.

As if that would do anything.

Smaller than Dowoong, there was no way Noah could escape his arms.

Seo Dowoong cornered him even more, pushing heated breath through the gap between Noah’s lips.

Just as the unexpected surge of lust began to peak, a metallic taste filled his mouth.

“…Ah.”

Letting out a short groan, Seo Dowoong pulled away. It seemed Noah had bitten his tongue—hard enough to draw blood.

“What the hell was that?”

His voice was laced with annoyance. Why interrupt something so good?

But then he noticed it—something was wrong with Noah’s face.

Tears streamed down his cheeks in silence. His reddened eyes didn’t evoke pity—they still looked provocative.

Seo Dowoong couldn’t understand why Noah was crying. Was it because he was so touched to be kissed by someone he liked?

But if that were true, why did his face look so utterly crushed?

“Get out…”

The words scraped out of Noah’s throat like metal.

“…What?”

“I said, get out.”

In the brief moment of hesitation, Noah yanked Dowoong’s wrist and shoved him out of the room.

Kicked out just like that, Seo Dowoong tried to open the door again. But it was already locked.

“Say it to my face.”

He spoke forcefully, but there was no response.

He licked the lingering warmth of Noah’s lips from his own, then finally turned away.

But even as he descended the stairs, he kept glancing back, hoping Noah might come running after him.

Yet until he left that cold, empty house, Noah never appeared.

Even after getting back in the car, he couldn’t stop thinking about the sight of Noah crying.

As if lashing out, he slammed his fist down on the steering wheel.

“What the hell don’t you like about me?”

That kiss just now—it had been a chance. A chance to like him again. An apology, even. He couldn’t kneel, but it had still meant something.

Yet the fact that Noah rejected it all was something Seo Dowoong hadn’t even considered.

The frown on his face showed no signs of softening.

“…Haah.”

With a deep sigh, Seo Dowoong checked the time. It was midnight.

His birthday had just begun.

As if possessed, he turned on his phone screen. For the past ten years, he had always received an annoying message at midnight on his birthday.

From Yoon Noah.

Whether Seo replied, insulted him, or ignored him, Noah had always been the first to say happy birthday.

The wording changed each year, but sincerity always shone through.

He realized now—of all people, Noah had celebrated his birthday most earnestly. Even more than his parents.

But not this time.

Even after waiting ten minutes in that same seat, no message came.

Well, of course. After what just happened, why would he get a birthday wish?

A bitter smile curled at the corner of Seo Dowoong’s lips.

He had wished, in some twisted way, that Noah would come to hate him. But now that it had happened, he couldn’t accept it.

It was a strange thing.

---

Nahyuk washed his lips over and over—the same lips that had kissed Seo Dowoong. It felt absurd, considering how much he once craved physical affection from others.

He hadn’t felt any discomfort when he had physical contact with Lee Kangil or Kim Daon. So why did the kiss with Seo Dowoong feel so utterly revolting?

After splashing cold water on his face, Nahyuk stared intently at his reflection in the mirror.

His lips were swollen and red from the forceful kiss, the skin beneath his eyes was still flushed from tears, and his face had gone pale.

His gaze lingered on his swollen lips. He brushed his fingertips over them, deep in thought.

“Why is Seo Dowoong acting like this…?”

He had no idea why Seo Dowoong would kiss someone he claimed to despise like Yoon Noah—but there was one thing he did know for certain.

“Seo Dowoong… really doesn’t care about Yoon Noah’s feelings.”

TL/N: Mass release till chap 100 wait till I do bulk upload