IPSTDS Chapter 74

Chapter 74

“That bastard knows you sacrificed for him, yet he still goes out of his way to flaunt how close he is with someone else. If that’s not two-faced, then what is?”

“…Shut up.”

What hurt more than anything were words that struck at the truth. Yoon Noah didn’t want to hear them.

But Park Sangcheol, oblivious to his place, kept talking.

“Don’t you want revenge? Not something grand, but at least to knock Seo Dowoong down a peg? You must have plenty built up inside you too, right?”

“…”

At that moment, Noah remembered Seo Dowoong yelling at him. He hadn’t done anything wrong, yet Dowoong had lashed out in anger.

Noah felt wronged. Shouldn’t he be grateful instead of dismissive?

Catching his hesitation, Sangcheol eagerly pressed on.

“I’ll help you. I’ve been planning something lately. You don’t need to get directly involved—just help me with one thing.”

Should I even listen to this?

Noah knew he shouldn’t get tangled in something like this, yet he couldn’t turn away from Sangcheol’s tempting whisper.

Fine, at least hear him out first…

If it turned out to be something dirty, he’d warn Seo Dowoong and stop any trouble before it started.

With that thought, Noah’s lips finally parted.

“…What is it?”

The dream ended there. Park Sangcheol’s snickering face shattered, and Nahyuk awoke.

He lay there for a while, only blinking.

Though awake, he felt strangely hazy, perhaps because he had been too immersed in the dream.

‘So what exactly is Park Sangcheol plotting?’

It was frustrating to wake up just when something was about to happen. Would he see the rest of it in the next dream?

Or perhaps, when he met Sangcheol in reality, he’d find out first.

Pulling his thoughts together, Nahyuk finally noticed Lee Kangil sleeping peacefully at his side. Just looking at his face brought back flashes of the previous night.

That hot night when Kangil, lured by Nahyuk’s invitation to his room, had ceaselessly devoured him.

Nahyuk had been so overwhelmed with excitement that he passed out as if fainting.

He regretted that deeply. If only he had stayed clear-headed, wouldn’t it have been a blissful experience?

Even just recalling last night made his face burn. Nahyuk cupped his heated cheeks with both hands.

And then a question struck him. What had Kangil been thinking as he touched him, wanting more?

Nahyuk knew well that the reason hadn’t been love.

For someone like him, who longed to share a bed with a handsome man even for just one night, the reason behind it shouldn’t have mattered.

At least, that’s what he thought.

But now, the idea that Kangil had touched him with no feeling, just to satisfy desire, left him oddly disappointed.

He should be glad to have done something he never could as Lee Nahyuk…

Yet Nahyuk worried he might start wanting more.

That as his intimacy with Kangil deepened, he’d begin craving love as well. That, just like Yoon Noah with Seo Dowoong, he too might cling desperately to Kangil.

Of course, Kangil seemed to like him. But that affection didn’t feel like it could become love.

Nahyuk doubted Kangil was capable of truly loving anyone. Kangil and love—was there ever a worse fit?

Before his thoughts could sink him further into gloom, Nahyuk forced himself to think of something else.

‘Anyway, it’s Monday today. Doesn’t he have work?’

He reached for his phone on the nightstand to check the time.

It was nearly dawn—no need to wake Kangil in a rush. But then, he noticed a message he must have missed from the night before.

The sender was Kim Daon.

And the message was a shocking one.

– Hyung, I’m completely done with Seo Dowoong.

The fact that Kim Daon had completely ended things with Seo Dowoong was hard to believe.

Nahyuk wanted to call him immediately and ask what had happened.

But he didn’t want to disturb Daon’s sleep with a call in the middle of the night. He must already be troubled enough. Perhaps he hadn’t even slept well.

For that reason, he couldn’t bring himself to send a message either. Nahyuk lay awake, waiting for the morning light.

About an hour passed. It was now around seven in the morning.

Even when taking time off work, Daon always woke early to prepare breakfast for his younger brothers. He should be awake by now.

Through all that time, Lee Kangil had remained peacefully asleep, not stirring even once.

Nahyuk quietly began writing a message, careful not to wake him.

– Daon, are you okay? I don’t know what to say… but if you ever need my help, please tell me.

Even after sending it, Nahyuk kept holding his phone, too worried about Daon to do anything else.

Kim Daon was the main character of this world, the one promised a happy future with Seo Dowoong. Nahyuk couldn’t shake the guilt that his existence had stolen that happiness away.

But Daon was strong, unlike him, and straightforward in his thoughts. He would surely overcome the pain of a breakup quickly. Thankfully, he and Seo Dowoong hadn’t even fully started a relationship yet.

‘Still, I can’t help but worry whether Daon will stay happy.’

Nahyuk wished for him not to be weighed down by sadness.

“Even in Ruins, Flowers Bloom” had once been his anchor in a life full of unhappiness.

And Daon’s presence in that story was a big reason why.

Daon, who cared for his younger brothers so well after their parents’ sudden death. Daon, who was always kind and gentle to others, yet never a pushover—always protecting what was his. Tall, striking Daon…

A perfect figure who could never exist in reality.

Nahyuk had loved every part of him, cheering for him, even wanting to be more like him.

Daon had been a source of strength in a life that had nothing but misery. At the very least, he couldn’t allow Daon to become unhappy because of him.

Then, the phone in his hands buzzed. A reply from Daon.

– Hyung, if you have time, could we meet for a bit?

Nahyuk immediately asked where would be best. Being unemployed, meeting Daon was hardly difficult.

Daon replied quickly, as if he already had his phone in hand. He suggested lunchtime at his own place.

‘By then Kangil will be at work, so it should be fine.’

When Nahyuk agreed and sent his reply, Kangil—who had slept like the dead all night—stirred at last.

Stretching out his long arm, he wrapped it around Nahyuk’s waist where he sat on the bed.

“Baby, why are you up so early…”

The way he mumbled like a child wasn’t annoying at all. In fact, when he scooted closer and clung tightly to him, it seemed almost cute.

Nahyuk gave a small laugh, as if he had never been serious moments before.

“What time do you have to go to work today?”

“…Whenever.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

“What time is it now?”

“A little past seven.”

“Then let me sleep another thirty minutes.”

Kangil tightened his arm around Nahyuk’s waist, pulling him down onto the bed and locking him in his embrace so he couldn’t escape.

Being held so tightly he could hardly breathe wasn’t unpleasant. Kangil’s body ran a little hot, and the warmth felt good.

In his arms, it felt as if all the world’s worries melted away. Nahyuk thought he could end his life peacefully just like this.

Though he wasn’t sleepy, he closed his eyes and simply savored that warmth.

“I had a hard time last night, cleaning you up. Give me a pat.”

In the darkness behind his eyelids, flashes of the night before replayed. Even the heat of Kangil’s gaze, as if he wanted him and no one else, left him thirsty.

He felt warmth pooling low in his body even this early in the morning. Clearing his throat, Nahyuk gave a small smack to Kangil’s back.

“Don’t say weird things first thing in the morning.”

Kangil’s voice, full of laughter, didn’t sound like someone who could feel pain.

“How is that weird?”

“It’s embarrassing…”

Again Kangil chuckled, as though he enjoyed Nahyuk’s embarrassment.

His legs hooked tightly around Nahyuk’s, making sure he couldn’t slip away, and he murmured something suggestive.

“Now you’ve given me a clear reason why you need to get healthy.”

…Surely he didn’t mean because they hadn’t gone all the way last night.

Nahyuk guessed that was exactly what he meant.

“W-what reason?”

“I want to fuck you.”