PSY CH 35

A burning heat flared at the nape of his neck. In contrast, his fingertips were growing cold. The opposing sensations left him dizzy.

“They say there’s a ‘girl role’ and a ‘guy role,’ and no matter how I look at it, you’re clearly the former.”

Jooyoung spoke with a face gone pale.

“…I told you not to cross the line.”

“If you’re pissed, go ahead and report me.”

With a cool expression, Dohyun shot back, then immediately feigned exaggerated surprise as if he had forgotten something.

“Oh, right. You can’t, right? Report.”

He took greater delight than ever in watching Jooyoung’s wide, furious eyes and tightly sealed lips. It was clear to Jooyoung, too, that Dohyun was enjoying this. That made it all the more humiliating.

There were people like that. People who react with excessive sensitivity to others’ sexual orientation. Most of them see it as a weakness to exploit, mocking it without hesitation, like looking down on someone for being poor, or dismissing their background. They draw a sharp line between what they consider normal and abnormal.

Spouting nonsense like “girl role” and “guy role” was a deliberate act meant to insult.

However, reacting more sensitively than necessary always meant they were constantly on edge about that particular thing, because they knew the line could be erased at any moment. People who hid their base curiosity beneath the surface were especially like that.

“…”

As Jooyoung looked at Dohyun, who seemed to be watching him with amusement, he recalled the time the younger boy had nearly kissed him before quickly pulling away. He remembered the gaze that had followed him, too intensely, too often.

So, just how solid was the line he had drawn?

“…Are you curious?”

His lower lip, chewed raw, was now past numb, aching with pain.

“If you’re curious, should I show you?”

Without warning, Jooyoung reached out and wrapped his hand around Dohyun’s neck. Unlike his own hand, which had turned cold, Dohyun’s skin was hot—like it had been under the sun for too long. He gently brushed his thumb over the sharp bone of Dohyun’s jaw. Jooyoung thought Dohyun would either flinch and pull away, or turn red with anger.

But he didn’t react at all. Like he’d frozen solid, he didn’t move an inch. The flicker in his eyes was the only thing that betrayed any emotional shift.

The moment Dohyun’s dark pupils trembled like crashing waves…

“Hwangdo?”

A voice called out from afar. The tension surrounding them shattered like glass.

Jooyoung instantly pulled his hand away, as if he’d never touched Dohyun. He also stepped back, putting space between them.

“Hwangdooo, are you over there?”

He turned toward the direction of the voice. Not long after, Hangyeol peeked his head out from around a corner.

That’s when it happened. In the same instant he felt Dohyun grab his arm, he was yanked backward. There wasn’t even time to scream. Dohyun pulled him behind a protruding pillar and clamped a hand over Jooyoung’s mouth. The hand was large enough to cover both his nose and lips at once, and faintly smelled of cigarettes.

“Huh? He’s not here. Where’d he go?”

Hangyeol, who had somehow wandered into the parking lot, glanced around and scratched his head. Seeing nothing but parked cars, he turned and walked away without a second thought. His footsteps grew fainter in the distance.

“…”

“…”

Jooyoung grabbed the hand covering his mouth. He meant it as a signal for Dohyun to let go, but the other didn’t budge. So he turned his head to look up at him. Sensing his gaze, Dohyun—who had been staring off in the direction Hangyeol had disappeared—lowered his eyes and met Jooyoung’s.

He slowly withdrew his hand. Jooyoung let out the breath he’d been holding, his chest rising just slightly. 

“…Haa.”

It was then he realized Dohyun’s chest was still pressed against his back. The warmth that wasn’t his own and the faint bitter scent of cigarettes, too.

Naturally, Jooyoung stepped back, intending to put some distance between them. But Dohyun wouldn’t let go of his arm. The spot just above his elbow began to throb with a dull ache.

“Let me go—”

“Didn’t you say you’d show me?”

Jooyoung paused mid-motion, arm half-raised. He suddenly remembered the conversation they were having before Hangyeol showed up. 

“How?”

“…”

“How are you going to show me?”

Dohyun clearly had no intention of letting go until he got an answer.

The taut air wrapped around Jooyoung’s body, tightening with each second. The tension he thought had shattered like glass returned to surround them once more. Every glance, every breath, became something he was acutely aware of. Even his fingertips felt hyper-aware, every nerve sharpened.

“…If I show you, do you think you’ll understand?”

For a moment, Dohyun wore a blank expression, then let out a hollow laugh. A strange sound, like air leaking out, escaped from between his crookedly curled lips.

“Yeah, I do.”

“…”

“I don’t forget things easily once I learn them.”

Only then did Jooyoung realize what this prickling, electric sensation crawling up his skin really was—sexual tension. He swallowed hard without meaning to. Dohyun’s gaze dropped, full of interest, to his fluttering throat.

And in that moment, childish as it was, Jooyoung didn’t want to lose.

“But Dohyun-ah.”

He didn’t want to see those eyes gleaming with mischief. He wanted to see them shake, just like before—pathetically, helplessly. He wanted to see him struggle not to cross the line.

“I’ll show you myself.”

Using the grip Dohyun had on him, Jooyoung suddenly yanked the other toward him. With his heels lifting just slightly, closing the distance was easy. He caught a glimpse of Dohyun’s eyes widening.

“Like this.”

Jooyoung stopped right before their lips met. They were close enough to feel each other’s breath.

His black pupils, momentarily hidden by his lashes, now trembled just the way Jooyoung had hoped. But it wasn’t just his eyes. Even the hand braced against the pillar to keep himself upright was shaking.

“So, do you still want to learn?”

Jooyoung glanced down at the hand with its veins bulging and smiled faintly. The flesh of his cheeks lifted, revealing the faintest dimple, a soft hollow dipping into his pale skin.

That was enough. Jooyoung had seen the reaction he wanted. It was only a fleeting thrill, but that was fine. Now Dohyun knew that what he’d thought was a weakness could turn into a weapon at any time. 

Jooyoung lowered his heels. With the distance growing between them, he could see Dohyun’s stunned expression more clearly. A damp summer breeze blew between them, tousling his hair gently.

He felt the grip on his arm begin to loosen. If Dohyun let go, Jooyoung was ready to walk away. But then—

“Ah…!”

A searing-hot hand clamped around the back of his neck. By the time he realized what was happening, their lips were already touching.

Dohyun held Jooyoung firmly by the arm and the nape of his neck, making escape impossible. His lips parted, and a slick tongue slid inside. Eyes flying wide, Jooyoung grabbed desperately at Dohyun’s shoulders.

“Don’t—mmph!”

He twisted his head to get away, but Dohyun was too strong. Their tongues tangled wetly, a sticky sound echoing between them. This was no tease or playful retaliation—it was a raw and unfiltered kiss.

Jooyoung didn’t miss his chance. The moment Dohyun tilted his head and his tongue withdrew slightly, Jooyoung bit down hard on his lower lip. 

“Ah, fuck—”

Dohyun cursed under his breath and pulled back in a rush.

“Gasp, gasp.”

Jooyoung glared at him, breathing heavily. Dohyun brought a hand to his mouth, then gave a dry chuckle when he saw the blood. He sucked briefly at the wounded lip before spitting a mix of blood and saliva to the side.

“You said you’d show me yourself.”

As Dohyun stepped forward, Jooyoung instinctively stepped back. Dohyun’s lips curled into a crooked, incredulous smile. 

“You said it yourself.”

“…”

“You don’t get to take it back now.”

“I just…”

Jooyoung faltered, the rest of his words dissolving on his tongue. He still couldn’t believe that they had kissed. That their tongues had tangled, that they’d bitten at each other like that. Dohyun kissed like he knew how to warm a body from the inside out. Even now, Jooyoung’s nerves buzzed as if a faint current still danced beneath his skin.

Sure, he’d made the first move. But that was only because he’d been absolutely certain that Dohyun wouldn’t cross the line. And yet, Dohyun hadn’t just crossed it—he’d trampled right over it.

“That was a kiss, you know. With me.” 

Jooyoung’s voice was firm, spelling it out like a warning.

“Yeah? So?”

“…”

“You said you’d show me. So don’t fuckin’ back out now.”

“Are you insane?”

The glint in Dohyun’s eyes looked anything but normal, like they were stained with an oil slick.

“…Crazy bastard.”

Jooyoung turned away, no longer finding it worth dealing with him. In truth, it was closer to running away out of fear. But just then, Dohyun, who had been wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb, spoke.

“Then I’ll report you.”

“…What?”

The incident of the stolen wallet had already become a thing of the past between them. Since the CCTV footage had been deleted, Dohyun hadn’t brought up reporting it again. The only piece of evidence was gone, after all. But now, Dohyun was talking about reporting it again. Could it be—the footage he deleted that day hadn’t been the original?

Jooyoung, eyes flushed red, glared at him.

“Don’t tell me…”

“It was the original.”

“…”

“I told you, I don’t lie.”

Dohyun shrugged, as if he’d expected that reaction.

And yet, why was it? Why didn’t Jooyoung feel relieved even after hearing the original was deleted?

“…”

Jooyoung instinctively tried to bite his lower lip, but grimaced when he realized it was still slick and wet. He kept his eyes on Dohyun as he spat and roughly wiped his mouth, causing Dohyun to burst into loud laughter.

Ignoring the deranged man behind him, Jooyoung hurried out of the parking lot.