LS Ch 41

Kimchi fried rice topped with a fried egg, nicely arranged in a deep dish.

“It looks like something you’d get at a restaurant.”

Yiwon, sitting at the table, genuinely admired the dish in front of him.

“You’ll be even more surprised when you taste it.”

Jewoo said confidently. Yiwon, not taking his words lightly, smirked and took a large spoonful into his mouth. After chewing for a few bites, his eyes widened and turned to Jewoo. Jewoo smiled back as if to say, “See?”

“Is it good?”

When asked confidently, Yiwon nodded.

“I didn’t expect you to have such a skill.”

He found it hard to believe that Jewoo had made this while eating.

“I’ve been living alone for a long time. You do what you need to survive.”

Jewoo answered nonchalantly while taking a bite of his own rice.

“How long have you been living alone?”

“Since I was twenty.”

“Surprising. You seem like the type who grew up loved by your parents.”

At Yiwon’s words, Jewoo laughed, asking what that meant. But Yiwon really thought so. Considering Jewoo’s sociability, positive personality, and frequent smiles, he seemed like someone who was loved a lot while growing up.

“My parents both worked, so they were hardly home since I was young. Until elementary school, we had someone to take care of the house, but from middle school, I handled things myself. After I started working as a child actor, I might have spent more time with managers or other actors than with my parents.”

“Then why did you choose to live independently?”

Yiwon wondered if there was any need to move out if no one was home anyway.

“There was no one at home anyway. If that was the case, I wanted to have my own proper space. Plus, commuting from my parents’ house to the agency was inconvenient.”

“Where is your parents’ house?”

“Yangpyeong.”

“Oh…”

If that was the case, living separately in Seoul certainly made sense.

“Actually, around the age of twenty, I had almost no work, but I started living alone using the excuse of going to university.”

Yiwon sensed Jewoo was somewhat avoiding talking about his family, so he didn’t press further.

“What else are you good at?”

“Something else?”

Jewoo laughed out loud at the word ‘else.’

“You’re good at acting, good at cooking, and you’re handsome. How can one person have so many talents?”

Yiwon spoke honestly what he thought.

“Getting called handsome by you is embarrassing.”

He said that Yiwon was the one everyone called a face genius. Instead of responding, Yiwon stared intently at Jewoo’s face. Why don’t others see it? Jewoo was truly handsome in a pretty way. Maybe he hasn’t been noticed yet, but once this drama airs, his looks would definitely get attention.

For a moment, just a brief moment, he hoped others wouldn’t notice. Once Jewoo’s face gets attention, his acting would be even more recognized, leading to more work. People who didn’t know him well would start to remember him. Even if it’s different from an idol fandom, his fanbase would grow significantly. Then, he wouldn’t be just Yiwon’s Jewoo anymore. They wouldn’t be able to spend time together as easily as they do now, maybe not even see each other’s faces easily.

While it was good for Jewoo, as his boyfriend, Yiwon felt a sense of loss. Even he, who could hardly find time, wouldn’t know how often they could meet once they started dating.

He had barely won his heart, and if they couldn’t see each other often, wouldn’t they naturally drift apart? When the drama filming ended, the thought of not having as much time with Jewoo made him feel a surge of emotion. When a staff member asked if he was crying because the shoot ended, he quickly shook his head no, but he indeed had become emotional.

“When I was talking to my manager earlier, they asked if we could sing for the drama OST. Did you get the call?”

Jewoo asked, and Yiwon shook his head. He hadn’t received any call yet. He was planning to go to the practice room in the afternoon, so maybe they would talk then.

“Do you know any vocal trainers you could introduce me to?”

Jewoo made an unexpected request.

“Don’t you have any at your agency?”

“Ours only has actors, so we’re not like yours.”

Jewoo explained that his agency was small, only managing a few actors, so they didn’t have a vocal trainer.

“Or you could teach me.”

“Really?”

Yiwon’s eyes sparkled with genuine expectation. Jewoo let out a chuckle and shook his head.

“Do you even have the time?”

When Yiwon said he’d make time even if he didn’t have any, considering how busy they’d be once the drama ended, Jewoo suggested:

“If I’m going to record anyway, I’ll have to practice, so I’ll make time. We can practice together then.”

“At your company’s practice room?”

Jewoo asked with a look that said it was ridiculous. When Yiwon wondered what the problem was, Jewoo firmly said no.

“That’s a perfect way to start rumors.”

“Considering we did the drama together, people would just think it’s that level of friendship. You’re just too conscious of it.”

“Because I have something to feel guilty about.”

Having answered concisely, Jewoo, who seemed to have finished his meal, stood up with his empty bowl. He placed the bowl in the sink and then sat back down in front of Yiwon, resting his chin on one arm on the table, looking at him intently.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m admiring. You really are handsome.”

Yiwon felt awkward by the calm, unchanging expression with which Jewoo spoke, and he cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment. He had heard he was handsome so many times, but when Jewoo said it, it felt different. It made his heart tingle.

Jewoo, on the other hand, had a face that looked like a painting when he looked at Yiwon like that. His features were peculiar yet perfect – not a single flaw, sometimes even prettier than a woman. His small face had well-defined features. During the drama shoot, since it was a historical drama, he had long hair, which made him look even more beautiful. Even now, without the wig, Yiwon kept seeing him in that previous look.

“You’re really pretty.”

At the words that slipped out unintentionally, Jewoo flinched.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He tried to laugh it off lightly, but his ears turned red with embarrassment. It was true, though. He really was pretty, but Yiwon swallowed those words.

“Is that your ideal type?”

Instead, he mumbled something else, making Jewoo tilt his head.

“Me? I’m your ideal type?”

When he asked back, Yiwon nodded.

“Hmm.”

Jewoo let out a long nasal sound.

“You said you’ve never dated anyone before, right?”

To this confirmation, Yiwon just nodded again.

“Maybe you’ve always been inclined this way…?”

Jewoo cautiously asked, raising one eyebrow.

“I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it. I’ve never liked anyone specifically, except for Jewoo.”

At Yiwon’s calm response, Jewoo blinked, looking at him. Then, a moment later, feeling awkward, he scratched his neck and turned his gaze away.

“Really.”

“Okay, okay, that’s enough of that.”

Not just his ears, but even his neck turned red. Seeing Jewoo embarrassed made Yiwon realize his feelings were getting through, and he smiled. ‘Han Jewoo’ was definitely conscious of ‘Kang Yiwon.’

🎞️✮⋆˙

After cleaning up, they moved to the living room where Jewoo was flipping through TV channels. He stopped on a channel showing a movie.

“Want to watch this?”

“Just.”

“Isn’t it another horror movie?”

“No way, not at this time.”

It was just past 10 AM. Too early for a horror movie, Yiwon thought as he sat beside him. It was a Hollywood movie, and from the glimpses, it seemed like a romance. Watching Jewoo’s profile as he focused on the screen, it still felt surreal. The idea of Jewoo sitting in his house watching TV was unimaginable just a few months ago.

“You’ll burn a hole in my face.”

Jewoo spoke, sensing Yiwon’s gaze, although his eyes were still fixed on the TV.

“I’ll stop looking if you let me borrow your lap.”

Before even waiting for an answer, Yiwon rested his head on Jewoo’s lap. Jewoo looked down at him but didn’t push his head away.

“Going to sleep?”

“Just closing my eyes for a bit.”

Having barely slept and gone to and from Incheon Airport early in the morning, the fatigue was now catching up.

“Sleep in the bedroom properly.”

“Will you come and lie down with me there?”

At this ridiculous request, Jewoo chuckled.

“This is enough.”

With his eyes closed, Yiwon mumbled, and Jewoo didn’t say anything more. Instead, his fingers gently stroked Yiwon’s hair. The sensation of fingers moving through his hair felt strange but comforting.

If I wanted to do something naughty now, he’d probably hate it. He’d tell me to just sleep.

Knowing Jewoo’s personality, Yiwon could predict his reaction.

Let’s not rush. Since Jewoo had already taken the initiative by holding his hand, there was no need to hurry. Just having him here was enough for now.

“You won’t run away if I fall asleep, right?”

To this cautious question, Jewoo lightly tapped Yiwon’s forehead.

“I’ve told you several times I won’t leave. Just sleep, quickly.”

Then he even patted his chest, like soothing a child to sleep. Though it felt like he was being treated like a kid, the comforting touch made his eyelids grow heavy.