IPSTDS Chapter 59

Chapter 59

By nature, Nahyuk was someone who paid attention to other people’s eyes.

On top of that, having once been forcibly outed to his family because of his younger brother, he carried a lingering hesitation when it came to being in a relationship with another man.

He did like men, but he didn’t have the confidence to show it openly. Just because he was used to being despised didn’t mean he welcomed it.

Yet, when Kangil declared firmly that he didn’t care about others, Nahyuk somehow felt courage stir within him. Suddenly, all his hesitation seemed meaningless.

He tightened his grip on Kangil’s hand, which he had only been holding loosely.

“I’ll try not caring too, like you.”

Kangil smiled, as though pleased with his answer.

“Good idea.”

Together, they entered the café.

The place was so pretty that it seemed like it would attract plenty of people, but as Kangil had said, it was early on a weekday and there were almost no customers.

Worried about his heart, Nahyuk ordered juice instead of coffee, while Kangil ordered an Americano, saying he couldn’t stand anything sweet.

They sat at the terrace on the second floor, where the view was best.

Nahyuk couldn’t take his eyes off the scenery outside. He wanted to live long and healthy, long enough to grow tired of looking at such beautiful landscapes.

“Darling, looks like you really like it here?”

“Hey, are you going to call me that even outside?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll restrain myself when it’s crowded. You think I’m insane sometimes, but I am at least somewhat socialized.”

“…Was that obvious?”

“Wouldn’t it be stupid not to notice?”

Nahyuk snickered and downed his juice. He heard Kangil sigh next to him.

And then, completely out of the blue, he said something strange.

“So what should I eat for lunch on Monday?”

“Huh? Not today’s lunch, but Monday’s?”

“Yeah. We’re eating together today anyway. But on Monday I’ll be eating alone.”

Nahyuk blinked, not following.

“Noah, think seriously about it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime issue.”

Why is he so serious about this?

…Still, Nahyuk understood the value of that small, precious lunch break from his own working days.

“Do you eat spicy food? Or sweet things?”

“I’m bad with spicy food…”

That really didn’t suit him.

“You just thought that doesn’t suit me, didn’t you? What’s wrong with not eating spicy food? Even toothpaste is too spicy for me, so I only use mild ones.”

“….”

Nahyuk scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“And I don’t really like sweets either. But that set meal I had at your house was amazing.”

“Oh, right. Our food at home is good.”

“Great. I’ve decided. Monday’s lunch is at your place. Our darling should be at the table too.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll pay.”

“Uh, sure. Anyway, come eat. I’d rather eat together than alone.”

“Good.”

For a while, their conversation fell silent. Kangil only sipped his coffee, looking lost in thought.

Then suddenly, he spoke again—another odd remark.

“I don’t really have a boss.”

“…What? A boss?”

“Yeah, at work. We use flat titles, so there aren’t any ranks. But there is one researcher I don’t like.”

It wasn’t easy to follow, but Nahyuk decided to go along with it.

“Why don’t you like him?”

“Sometimes he tells obvious lies. Not about research, but other things.”

So Kangil hated liars. Nahyuk kept that in mind.

“What about you, Noah? Nobody bothering you these days? …No, probably not.”

“Like you said, nobody. If I had to say, Seo Dowoong has been giving me a bit of trouble.”

“That bastard Dowoong…”

At that moment, Nahyuk’s phone began to vibrate. He took it out and checked the caller.

To his surprise, it was Seo Dowoong.

Considering what had happened yesterday, he hadn’t expected him to reach out so soon. Was it work-related?

But Nahyuk not going to the office didn’t hinder anything. If anything, it might even be better without him there.

As if reading his hesitation, Kangil spoke up.

“Who is it?”

The laziness in his voice disappeared in an instant. The man who had been joking idly now wore a hardened expression, his head tilted slightly, face sharp.

The same Kangil who didn’t care about holding another man’s hand in public was now visibly reacting to nothing more than a phone call.

Nahyuk repeated the words he’d just heard.

“That bastard Dowoong?”

“…Are you going to answer?”

“No. I won’t.”

“Should I pick it up for you?”

Nahyuk shook his head.

“There’s no need to fight. Ignoring him is best.”

“Why would I fight with that bastard?”

“Because you look like you’re about to.”

Looking sheepish, Kangil rubbed his face and forced his expression back into order.

Meanwhile, the vibration stopped. Nahyuk worried another call might come, but it didn’t.

Still, Kangil stared at the phone lying on the table, as though glaring at Seo Dowoong himself.

“Want to mess with him together?”

“How?”

Without answering, Kangil picked up the phone and opened the camera. Casually, he draped an arm over Nahyuk’s shoulder.

“Smile.”

Nahyuk gave an awkward smile while Kangil flashed a picture-perfect grin, snapping the photo. He sent it straight to Seo Dowoong.

Only after getting his phone back did Nahyuk see the message Kangil had written.

–We’re on a date right now ^^ Bother us and you’re dead ^^ㅗ

It was such a typically Kangil-like message.

There was no reply, no call back from Seo Dowoong. He had simply ignored it. Maybe that was for the best.

Pushing aside thoughts of Seo Dowoong, Nahyuk looked at the photo he had suddenly taken with Kangil.

‘It’s been a really long time since I took a picture with someone else…’

The face of Yoon Noah in the photo already felt like his own.

The awkwardly smiling expression looked so familiar now. These days, he could barely even remember what his original face had looked like.

Maybe one day, he would forget his life as Lee Nahyuk completely.

Just then, a large hand landed on his head.

“Noah, stare at my face in that picture for a bit. I’ll be right back.”

“Suddenly? Why?”

“Oh, I got a call about parking. I need to move the car.”

“Okay. Take your time.”

“If Seo Dowoong calls again, let me know right away.”

Nahyuk nodded in agreement.

How long had he been staring at the photo? No matter how much he waited, Kangil didn’t return.

Worry crept in. Had something happened? A fight, maybe?

Just as he was thinking of going outside, he heard the few customers around whispering in surprise. Most of them let out little gasps.

Naturally, Nahyuk turned his head. What he saw explained their shock.

“…K-Kangil?”

He couldn’t help reacting the same way as everyone else.

Because in Kangil’s hands was a bouquet that looked to hold nearly a hundred flowers.

Half his face was hidden behind the bouquet. The man who was always so confident looked just a little awkward.

Striding forward on his long legs, Kangil finally stopped in front of Nahyuk.

“There’s no way I can kneel down. You’ll have to forgive me for that.”

With that, he held the bouquet out toward him.

“Make sure you experience love before you die.”

Only then did Nahyuk understand the reason behind Kangil’s strange and suspicious behavior since that morning.

He had been trying—clumsily, perhaps, but sincerely—to fulfill the things Nahyuk had said the night before.

‘What would you want to do if you ever had a lover?’

That was the question. And Kangil had set out to make those answers real.

Things like holding hands, chatting about little things, complaining about bosses, debating lunch menus, going to a pretty café, and even receiving flowers.

Nahyuk’s heart swelled strangely. He didn’t cry, but it felt as though his chest had gone soft and damp.

It was no exaggeration to call it moving.

“Are you not going to accept it just because I didn’t kneel?”

At last, Nahyuk took the bouquet. People were still sneaking glances at them, but by now, he truly didn’t care.

“Thank you…”

He buried his face in the fragrance. The first bouquet of his life was so beautiful, so precious.

“Kangil, you went this far because of what I said yesterday, didn’t you?”

“Took you long enough to figure it out.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t even ask how much I struggled. I didn’t sleep last night, spent hours at dawn looking up cafés and florists. I don’t usually brag about myself, but I really worked hard.”

The way he rambled on about his effort was nothing short of adorable.

Looking straight into Nahyuk’s eyes, Kangil spoke quietly.

“At this point, I think I’ve earned a perfect score as your lover.”

“…”

“What do you think?”