WANL Ch 25

Fortunately, Nanyeong’s injuries weren’t too severe.

Of course, the foot that had been caught under the car wheel was completely crushed, requiring surgery to remove the shattered bone fragments and insert metal rods. The skin that had been scraped on the asphalt suffered abrasions and severe burns, and the area where the shoe had dug in had lost skin entirely, necessitating a skin graft.

While there might be long-term aftereffects, the injuries weren’t life-threatening. Apart from his mangled foot, his outward appearance was intact. In fact, he might even look better than before being admitted to the hospital.

“Hahaha…”

Despite being hospitalized, Nanyeong quickly recovered his usual demeanor. Hyunjae glanced sideways at Nanyeong, who was casually laughing while watching a TV program.

“Do you want some strawberries?”

“Mm…”

Focused on the TV, Nanyeong didn’t give a clear answer. Hyunjae began silently removing the stems from the strawberries.

Hyunjae was now taking care of Nanyeong in the same VIP hospital room where his mother had once stayed. It was ironic how much had changed in less than a year.

When Nanyeong was first admitted, his condition was dreadful. After dressing and treating his injuries, the results of his blood tests were shocking. No one would have believed that a modern-day chaebol heir could be suffering from malnutrition.

As it turned out, Nanyeong had been brought to this hospital multiple times for gastric lavage due to drug overdoses. Hyunjae finally understood the root of the precarious state he had seen Nanyeong in so many times before.

Before the ambulance arrived, it seemed that Nanyeong had closed his eyes simply due to extreme sleep deprivation and the rapid onset of fatigue caused by blood loss. The explanation sounded oddly anticlimactic.

Thanks to being hospitalized, getting plenty of rest, sleeping well, and receiving forced nutrition through IV fluids, Nanyeong regained his energy. His sharply hollowed cheeks were now fuller, giving him a healthier appearance.

“Haha…”

Seeing Nanyeong laugh absentmindedly at a comedy show, Hyunjae found his relaxed expression both amusing and pitiful. He reached for the remote control and changed the channel.

“Ah…”

Nanyeong looked slightly flustered as his show was interrupted.

“Let’s watch something else.”

“…”

Nanyeong didn’t insist and obediently agreed. The channel Hyunjae switched to happened to be airing the news.

[Next is a story that caused a stir a few days ago. On the 10th, actor Yoo Jihoon, who was booked for drunk driving, was found to have a blood alcohol level high enough to warrant a license suspension. Here’s more on the story.]

The anchor’s voice caught both their attention. Hyunjae, instead of looking at the TV, turned his gaze to Nanyeong’s profile. Listening to Jihoon’s news, Nanyeong’s face appeared detached, as if hearing about a stranger.

Hyunjae abruptly said to him, “I have evidence.”

“Of what?”

“Evidence that he was trying to deal drugs.”

The world had been abuzz with the accidents caused by Yoo Jihoon in recent days. If a drug scandal were added to the mix, it would be the final blow. Hyunjae held the key to ensuring Jihoon’s downfall.

“If you want revenge, you can have it.”

At those words, Nanyeong gave a faint smile.

“I’m doing this for you.”

Though he spoke earnestly, Nanyeong shook his head firmly, still smiling.

“That won’t do.”

“…Why not?”

“You pretended to procure drugs from him to lure him in, didn’t you? If you report him, you’ll get dragged into it too. Don’t dirty your hands for revenge.”

As he said this, Nanyeong locked eyes with Hyunjae.

“I’ll take care of the revenge.”

Hyunjae’s heart thumped loudly at those words. It was the realization that Nanyeong was trying to protect him.

“What could you possibly do in your condition….”

When Hyunjae mumbled while averting his gaze, Nanyeong scoffed lightly. Hyunjae brushed his fingers over the IV needle in Nanyeong’s wrist and sat down beside him.

Even like this, he says he doesn’t like me?

The thought crossed his mind, and Hyunjae chuckled quietly. Somehow, his heart felt at peace. He didn’t need to hear it in words. Every one of Nanyeong’s actions was proof enough.

Ꮺ

[Actor Yoo Jihoon Arrested on Drug Charges]

― This just in: Actor Yoo Jihoon, who caused controversy with a drunk driving incident, was arrested today on suspicion of drug use. According to the Seoul Seocho Police Department….

Hyunjae stopped the YouTube video midway. He wanted to watch it together with Nanyeong. However, as he descended the stairs to the second floor of the mansion, it occurred to him that Nanyeong probably already knew.

“I’ll take care of the revenge.”

Those words he’d said in the hospital came back to Hyunjae. It seemed that Nanyeong had steadily been putting his plans into action. The phrase “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” perfectly fit the way Nanyeong operated, quietly orchestrating everything without even letting Hyunjae, who lived with him, catch on.

After his discharge from the hospital, the two of them had returned to Nanyeong’s home together. Hyunjae had clung to him with the excuse of taking care of him until the bones in his crushed leg fully healed. Nanyeong didn’t refuse, and as a result, their cohabitation began naturally.

The fact that he’d been so easily accepted into the space behind the walls of Nanyeong’s home, which once seemed insurmountable, still felt surreal. Every moment felt like a marvel.

“Come here, Hyunjae. Taste this before dinner,” a warm voice called out as soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs. It was the housekeeper in the kitchen. The scent of something delicious filled the air as Hyunjae approached.

“I’m still full from lunch, though.”

“Still, just try a bite. You’re at an age where you need to eat well to grow.”

“I’m twenty-one….”

“Ay, boys keep growing until they’re twenty-four. Even Nanyeong was like that. Anyway, you’re a joy to feed. Our young master barely eats….”

On the dining table was a plate of kimchi pancakes. Even though he wasn’t hungry, the sight and smell reignited his appetite. Stroking his stomach, Hyunjae sat at the table. When he took a bite, his eyes widened at how good it was. Seeing his reaction, the housekeeper clapped her hands in delight.

When Hyunjae first moved in after Nanyeong’s discharge, he had debated how to introduce himself to the staff. He was too young to simply be called a friend, and saying he was a close younger brother didn’t fit when they were sharing the same bedroom.

But Nanyeong didn’t seem to care about appearances within the mansion. Even when the housekeeper caught them kissing, only Hyunjae had been flustered. Since then, he’d been cautious not to display affection in front of the staff, though he often felt like he was fooling no one.

“Where’s Nanyeong?”

Suddenly recalling why he’d come downstairs, Hyunjae asked. The housekeeper answered readily.

“He’s probably in the garden.”

Hyunjae turned to look toward the garden beyond the living room. It was still February, the air outside chilly and the nights cold. What could he possibly be doing out there?

“I’ll go find him.”

“Alright. Bring this to him,” she said, handing him a plate of neatly sliced fruit. Hyunjae took it and crossed the living room.

As he opened the door leading to the garden, the cool air greeted him. Following the now-familiar layout of the mansion, Hyunjae walked into the garden at night.

Before long, Nanyeong’s figure came into view. He was sitting on a bench by the pool, with his crutches propped up beside him. In the dark night, the pool’s shimmering blue lights illuminated his face, making him look strikingly beautiful.

It was the kind of image that begged to be captured in a photograph.

“Hyung.”

As Hyunjae approached and tapped Nanyeong’s shoulder, the latter looked up at him. Hyunjae felt his heart race just from their eyes meeting as he spoke.

“The housekeeper told me to bring this for you.”

“And you?”

“I already ate inside.”

“Alright.”

With a light smile, Nanyeong poked the corner of Hyunjae’s mouth. When Hyunjae looked down at him with a puzzled expression, Nanyeong reached out toward his face. Then, with his thumb, he wiped something off Hyunjae’s lips.

“Kimchi pancake?”

Nanyeong muttered as he licked his thumb to taste it. Realizing he’d walked out with food smudged on his face like a careless child, Hyunjae’s ears flushed red.

“…You should go eat too, Hyung.”

“I don’t like kimchi pancakes.”

“Really?”

“They probably made it for you.”

Hyunjae found that hard to believe. Why would anyone go out of their way to be kind to someone like him, someone with no known background? It felt more plausible to think they saw him as just some professional hustler like Yoo Jihoon.

Nanyeong tapped the seat next to him. Hyunjae obediently sat down.

“So… do the others know? About you and me?”

“Secretary Jung has probably told everyone by now.”

Nanyeong’s brow furrowed slightly, and Hyunjae let out an awkward “Ah….” The serene, almost saintly smile Secretary Jung often wore when looking at him flashed through his mind.

“Are you okay with that?”

At those words, Nanyeong met Hyunjae’s gaze.

Hyunjae knew exactly how dangerous a scandal involving same-sex relationships could be for someone in Nanyeong’s position. Yet, Nanyeong seemed far less concerned about it than Hyunjae was. Letting him move in under the guise of caregiving, showing affection in front of others who might harbor prejudice—it was all so unexpected.

Turning back toward the pool, Nanyeong finally spoke.

“Who knows.”

As always, his response was brief and ambiguous.

“But I doubt anyone dislikes you.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve shown them plenty of ugly sides of myself. Now that I’m living a bit more… humanly, they probably appreciate the change.”

With that, Nanyeong lifted his leg, still in a cast, to make his point.

“Even if my leg’s a mess.”

It was true—Nanyeong no longer touched alcohol, nor did he take tranquilizers. He’d once claimed he couldn’t sleep without sleeping pills, but now, lying next to Hyunjae, he’d fall asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

It felt as though Nanyeong was crediting Hyunjae for helping him regain his stability. Warmth spread from the core of Hyunjae’s body, radiating outward like a soothing wave.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“A little…”

Without a word, Hyunjae extended his arm and wrapped it around Nanyeong’s shoulders. Nanyeong naturally leaned into him, resting his weight against Hyunjae. The two stayed close, sharing warmth. The strands of Nanyeong’s hair tickled Hyunjae’s jaw and neck, carrying a faint, pleasant scent.

“Your college results are out, right?”

“Yeah, another waitlist offer came through yesterday.”

“…Are you going to go?”

“I’m thinking of trying again next year.”

“Good. Aim for our university this time.”

“…….”

“Until you take the college entrance exam again… if you need a place to study, stay here. The library’s pretty decent. Let me know if there’s anything you need….”

Hyunjae quietly studied Nanyeong’s face. As he spoke carefully, the tips of Nanyeong’s ears reddened slightly. By now, Hyunjae had mastered interpreting the subtext in Nanyeong’s words. This was yet another roundabout confession, another plea to stay by his side.

Once, Hyunjae had likened Nanyeong to an asteroid colliding with Earth.

The collision with an asteroid leaves a massive crater on Earth, causing catastrophic geological shifts that result in the extinction of all living beings. The impact is so immense that it’s impossible to dismiss as insignificant.

Yet, why did he not realize that the rock that crashed into Earth should have shattered into pieces? Unlike Earth, which remained on its original orbit after the collision, the asteroid fragmented and completely lost its original shape. Perhaps, he had urged Nanyeong to become just like that—throwing everything away, even losing himself in the process…

“How about you, Hyung?”

“Hmm?”

Nanyeong’s gaze shifted toward Hyunjae. As their eyes met, Hyunjae asked,

“What will you do when you’re fully healed?”

“I don’t know.”

Nanyeong’s gaze drifted far away.

“Freedom feels so overwhelming. I’ve never lived the way I wanted to.”

“…….”

“What do you think I should do?”

Hyunjae lowered his head in silence as Nanyeong asked. When his lips met Nanyeong’s, the soft flesh pressed against his, soon parting without resistance. As he gently sucked on Nanyeong’s lower lip several times, Hyunjae shivered quietly.

Nanyeong willingly let it happen.

This is love, Hyung.

After their lips parted, Nanyeong nestled back into Hyunjae’s arms. Staring at the gently rippling water, he spoke.

“Do you like swimming?”

“I’ve never tried it.”

“When the weather warms up, let’s swim here. I’ll teach you.”

“Sounds good.”

“The pool’s heated, so if it’s not too cold, we can start in the spring.”

“We’ve got plenty of time, so take it slow.”

From above, the sound of the late winter wind rustled through the branches. While Nanyeong crunched on the fruit Hyunjae had brought, he spoke again.

“About the time we have left… our photos.”

“… Yeah.”

“How many are left?”

“Not sure.”

“If we count once a week, maybe we’ll have ten more years to meet.”

Hyunjae, listening closely to Nanyeong’s words, pulled out his phone from his pocket. It seemed Nanyeong was curious about how many photos they had left, as he stared at Hyunjae without a word. Suddenly, the sound of a camera shutter clicked.

Surprised, Nanyeong’s eyes widened slightly as Hyunjae checked the photo he just took. It showed Nanyeong, with a slight bulge in his cheek from a piece of fruit, gazing at Hyunjae. It was the only photo where Nanyeong was looking directly at the lens.

“One more just added.”

“…….”

“It might keep increasing. Is that okay?”

At those words, Nanyeong’s expression slowly shifted.

…And yet, you say you don’t love me.

You always say you let me go for my sake, yet you show such a joyful expression.

Without saying anything, Hyunjae moved closer to Nanyeong. He then revealed the photo album he had kept hidden.

Though he had secretly taken them, the pure photos filled with his love for Nanyeong passed through Nanyeong’s fingers. Eventually, Nanyeong realized, even after scrolling to the end, that there were no raw, unpolished photos that Hyunjae had feared.

With a blank look, Nanyeong gazed up at Hyunjae. Hyunjae lowered his head and kissed him deeply once more.

We had come a long way.

The collision that occurred as our orbits overlapped caused us to hurt each other, and the impact left scars on both our bodies and minds, some parts of which could never return to their former state.

Inside me, a giant crater formed from the asteroid’s impact.

In that emptiness, I have decided to fill it with you once again. I’ll carefully gather the shattered pieces of you, as you threw yourself into me, and fit them back into the hole.

And as the void is filled, we will finally become whole.

We are not lovers.

You never confess your love to me.

But as time passes, seasons change, and years go by, the one constant will be that I’ll be by your side.

So perhaps we don’t need a name for this relationship. We will be together forever.