MDQ Ch 12
by LuluI slowly raised my body from the bed. Park Saebit’s gaze clung to me, sticky and persistent.
“By the way, hyung, why are you acting like nothing happened?”
Come to think of it, I really didn’t feel much at all. I would surely have blushed if it had been Jung Yohan’s lips instead of Park Saebit’s. Even though it was a situation that could have been awkward, I just felt tired. My swollen eyes still felt unbearably heavy, and all I wanted to do was fall asleep right there in bed.
“Ah…”
However, I couldn’t answer honestly, so I hesitated.
“Hyung, don’t tell me you’re gay? You’ve been messed with by guys so often that you don’t even flinch anymore?”
“What nonsense. It’s not that. It’s… I just let it go because it’s you.”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Because it’s you, I didn’t dislike it.”
I didn’t have the energy left to make excuses, so I changed the subject.
“Your lyrics are pretty good. But I think this part would be better if you used a different word—something a bit more specific.”
So your lyrics won’t get flagged for plagiarism. I didn’t say that part aloud, but I figured Park Saebit would understand.
“…”
But instead of answering, Park Saebit just stared at me for a while. I could feel his eyes shifting between my face and my neck. His gaze carried a heat I wasn’t used to.
“Saebit?”
“Got it. I’ll do as you said.”
“Good, nice work.”
“…”
“Can I rest now? I’m really tired.”
“Yeah, rest.”
But Park Saebit didn’t budge from the bed, even though there were no more lyrics to review. Knowing he wouldn’t leave just because I told him to, I lay back down.
If I could, I would have gone home—or at least to a nearby motel—to be alone, but I didn’t even have the energy for that. My eyelids had grown too unbearably heavy to lift again. All I longed for was a nap.
As soon as I shut my eyes, sleep surged in. Before long, slumber swallowed me whole.
Before long, Park Saebit quietly looked down at Lee Hyunseok’s sleeping face. His complexion was paler than usual, and his lips were even redder in contrast. He knew their manager was handsome enough to be scouted as an actor, but today he seemed almost dripping with sensuality. Maybe it was because of the accident where his lips had brushed against Lee Hyunseok’s neck,
Park Saebit touched his own lips. He could still feel the soft, warm, pliant sensation of Lee Hyunseok’s skin against them.
‘This is strange. Why did such a light touch surprise me this much?’
It wasn’t like he had never dated during his idol career.
Maybe that could have happened back when he had just debuted. However, after a few years, he learned how to date skillfully without getting caught by the media. Out of Given’s members, he was probably the one who had dated the most.
In other words, Park Saebit wasn’t so naïve that he’d be startled by such childish physical touch.
He might have had the “cute” public image in the group, but that didn’t mean he was cute inside.
And yet, for some reason, Lee Hyunseok stirred a strange feeling in him. More than that, it was the first time he felt a ticklish thrill from a man.
Maybe because, like it or not, they had spent three years living together,.
At first, he only disliked Lee Hyunseok, but had his feelings changed after three years of Lee Hyunseok patiently looking after him?
Of course, he was starting to feel comfortable with Lee Hyunseok and was even considering using him as his manager for solo activities…
‘But it’s weird to feel my heart flutter because of him, isn’t it?’
Maybe it was affection born from knowing that no one else cared for him as sincerely as Lee Hyunseok did.
Even while lost in thought, Park Saebit’s eyes lingered on Lee Hyunseok’s lips.
If just brushing against his neck had felt this good, what would it be like if their lips met?
Maybe a kiss would reveal the truth of this strange excitement he felt earlier.
Curiosity quickly turned into action.
Park Saebit began to lean his head over Lee Hyunseok’s face, who was sleeping soundly like a child.
Their lips brushed as he felt the gentle breeze of Lee Hyunseok’s breath. The ticklish sensation made his heart race.
But at that moment—
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
The voice, like someone opening an unlocked door, shattered the mood.
Park Saebit lifted his head and looked toward the owner of the voice.
“Come out.”
Jung Yohan stood there with an unusually stern face.
Unable to hide his disappointment, Park Saebit stepped out of Lee Hyunseok’s room.
Jung Yohan almost forcibly dragged him into his own room. Once they were alone, Jung Yohan’s voice cut like ice.
“What were you trying to do to Hyunseok hyung just now?”
Since he’d been caught with his lips practically touching, there was no use making excuses. Park Saebit answered honestly.
“I was going to kiss him.”
“Are you insane?”
“No, I’m perfectly sane. I just had something I needed to confirm.”
“What to confirm?”
Look at that—Jung Yohan actually getting angry.
Park Saebit smiled instead of answering.
They had known each other for eight years: three years as trainees, five years in Given.
But they were never close enough to confide in each other. Despite the long years, their relationship had always been strictly business.
And perhaps because of that, they had never once fought.
Jung Yohan was taciturn. He rarely showed his emotions, which was why he was chosen as group leader.
But now he was angry—over something involving Lee Hyunseok? That was deeply suspicious.
Park Saebit looked up at Jung Yohan’s face, contorted with anger he couldn’t contain.
‘Come to think of it, lately, Yohan and Manager hyung would vanish together after performances.’
At first, he thought it was a coincidence. But when it kept happening, he had started to suspect.
Still, he hadn’t felt the need to pry.
However, it was different now.
“Yohan hyung, do you have special feelings for our Manager hyung? If not, why would you be mad about this?”
“I just want you to know that what you did was wrong.”
Jung Yohan’s words were sharp and final, but they still sounded like an excuse.
His face, usually as expressionless as if sculpted by a god, was noticeably twisted.
Seeing Jung Yohan like that made Park Saebit want to provoke him further.
“Alright then. After he wakes up, I’ll ask for his consent and kiss him properly.”
“…”
“I thought I wasn’t into men, but it’s different with him. That’s why I want to confirm how I really feel about him.”
“Stop it.”
“Why should I? Who are you to tell me what to do? Are you his boyfriend or something? If you’re only saying this because you’re the leader, then I don’t see why I should listen.”
“Enough. You’d better stop while I’m still asking nicely.”
“Oh? Now you’re even threatening me? Never thought our leader hyung was this kind of person…”
Park Saebit’s tone dripped with mockery.
Jung Yohan looked down at him with eyes devoid of warmth.
The air between them grew suffocating, but Park Saebit pressed on with more provocation.
“Don’t tell me… is there really something between you and manager hyung?”
For a split second, Jung Yohan’s mask cracked. It was as if there truly had been something.
Park Saebit didn’t miss it.
“No way… really? Do you have any idea how shady you two look right now? You’re always acting like the clean, righteous one, but in the end, you’re just another piece of trash.”
The backlash was instant. Jung Yohan’s clenched fist slammed into Park Saebit’s cheek.
“Hyung! Wake up! Now’s not the time to be sleeping!”
It was Kang Junhyuk’s voice that broke my sleep. He was shaking me urgently, as if something had happened.
I forced open my heavy eyelids.
“What’s going on…?”
My voice came out rough and bitter. But Kang Junhyuk didn’t care and pressed on, panicked, “Our Leader and maknae are going at it! They’ve completely lost it. Hurry, get up and stop them!”
Leader and the youngest—did he mean Jung Yohan and Park Saebit?
The shock cleared my drowsiness like a splash of cold water. The idea of those two fighting was almost impossible to believe.
They weren’t exactly close friends, but they had never even argued before. So what on earth could have driven them to a physical fight?
I jumped out of bed and rushed after Kang Junhyuk.
As soon as we entered Jung Yohan’s room, I saw the two of them tangled up in a brawl.
Unbelievable as it seemed, Kang Junhyuk had been telling the truth. The two really were fighting. Their faces were already wrecked, as if they’d exchanged blows several times.
Jung Yohan was the one with the upper hand. He had Park Saebit pinned down, his hostility written plain on his face.