WANL Ch 3

Hyunjae woke up first beside Nanyeong and checked the time.

Only a couple of hours had passed since their intense, drug-fueled sex. Hyunjae sighed deeply, knowing he hadn’t gotten enough sleep. Yesterday’s sex hadn’t ended with just one round. He knew he needed to sleep before his morning part-time job, but…

It was all because Nanyeong had willingly taken the aphrodisiac.

His mind was still hazy, and even with his eyes open, the images of Nanyeong from last night kept overlapping with reality, flickering in his vision.

The most memorable moment was when Nanyeong was going down on him. Although he tried to act skilled, Nanyeong was incredibly clumsy. He struggled to take it deep into his throat and gagged several times but kept trying to take it in. If that was the effect of the drug, it was amazing. Until now, Nanyeong had never done this even once.

The problem was that Hyunjae found even those clumsy movements incredibly arousing. He never imagined that Nanyeong, of all people, would do something like this. Nanyeong had a significant gap between his fully clothed appearance and his completely naked body beneath Hyunjae.

The sight of a man with a dignified demeanor taking a younger man’s penis in his mouth and lifting his butt was incredibly stimulating for Hyunjae.

As Hyunjae tried to control his excitement, covering his mouth with one hand and taking deep breaths, Nanyeong looked up and said, “Fuck me.”

In his mouth? Or from behind? Hyunjae’s confused and dazed mind struggled to comprehend, but he remembered Nanyeong finally opening his throat and taking it all in.

That’s when he lost control.

He grabbed Nanyeong’s hair and did whatever he wanted. He couldn’t even tell if this was what he truly desired, but he became endlessly aroused. Even as tears streamed down his face from the physical strain, Nanyeong moaned desperately from deep within his throat.

The conclusion from last night was that Nanyeong would accept anything Hyunjae did to him. Having reached this conclusion, Hyunjae began to think quietly again.

Why?

Was it because of the sex? Or…

Because he liked him?

If so, why didn’t he say it clearly?

There could be many reasons. Maybe it was the age difference, fear of defining a relationship with a man, or perhaps because Hyunjae was too poor and the gap was too large.

Thinking this far, Hyunjae silently shook his head. It was a meaningless speculation.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time Hyunjae had tried to define his relationship with Nanyeong. They were not lovers. Certainly not friends, but not just simple sex partners either.

In Hyunjae’s opinion, it was all because of Nanyeong. Nanyeong hid his feelings ambiguously. If Hyunjae had known Nanyeong’s feelings from the start, he might have been the one to step back.

But now, he started to feel that it didn’t matter. Maybe his feelings had shifted a little. It could be physical attraction.

However, Hyunjae had reservations about having serious romantic feelings for a man, so he decided not to define this relationship for now. Right now, they were just in a ‘process’ stage, and it was difficult to even guess what they would become in the future.

Thus, the relationship with Nanyeong was the most complex and deep human relationship Hyunjae had ever experienced. Although it started simply, the complexity might be due to the nature of the other person.

Unable to fall back asleep, Hyunjae put on his pants and got up.

Perhaps because he had slept soundly for a moment, his condition wasn’t bad. The reason he could sleep so comfortably in someone else’s house was that this place was more pleasant than his own home. Hyunjae lived with his mother in a one-room rental, and since his sick mother used the only room, Hyunjae kept his belongings in the living room and kitchen area.

The refrigerator, the rice cooker, the hanger holding a few clothes, the roughly folded bedding—everything was crammed together without distinction. Perhaps because he was so used to such scenes, spaces like this officetel, devoid of any signs of life and with specific uses for each room, felt almost alien to him.

Of course, having lived that way since he was very young, he had adapted, but being poor didn’t mean he was unaware of better living conditions.

Nanyeong’s bedroom had a large bed and blackout blinds that completely blocked the light. There was even a refrigerator that dispensed ice, something Hyunjae had never personally used in a home before. He liked it so much that whenever he came here, he deliberately drank water with ice.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

A voice came from behind Hyunjae as he drank water. Turning slowly, he faced Nanyeong, whose voice was still thick and low from sleep.

“Come here and sleep with me.”

Without a word, Hyunjae walked toward him. Nanyeong’s eyes, still swollen and slightly red, were half-closed with drowsiness. Squinting against the sunlight streaming in, Nanyeong looked utterly exhausted.

As Hyunjae lowered his head, he noticed that Nanyeong’s lips were cracked. When he reached out after realizing it, Nanyeong, his face still heavy with sleep, asked again.

“When do you have to leave?”

“In a little while.”

“How will you manage without sleep?”

If not for his scheduled part-time job, Hyunjae would have stayed by Nanyeong’s side and gone back to sleep. Maybe they would have lazed around and eaten breakfast together, especially since it was the weekend.

“Take taxi money with you when you leave.”

Nanyeong gestured toward the spot where his wallet was placed. On occasions when he couldn’t drop Hyunjae off, he would prepare crisp bills and hand them over. Sometimes, Hyunjae found it strange how naturally he had come to accept the money.

“Alright.”

Hyunjae answered obediently.

Hearing his response, Nanyeong closed his eyes again. Curling up under the blanket, he quickly fell back into a deep sleep, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Hyunjae sat by his side for a while, waiting for him to wake up again, but that was the end of it.

It was as if he’d forgotten the unexpected confession of “I like you.”

Scratching his head, Hyunjae thought simply. Maybe it was just something said under the influence of alcohol.

Even so, he couldn’t shake off his lingering feelings. Staring quietly at Nanyeong’s sleeping face, Hyunjae took out his phone and snapped a picture.

Click.

In the vivid photo, Nanyeong’s face, bathed in sunlight, looked clear and serene. Instead of touching Nanyeong’s actual lips, slightly chapped and just within reach, Hyunjae traced them with his finger on the screen.

Why did he suddenly feel this impulse?

But then again, Hyunjae often photographed things that caught his eye, like keeping a diary. Wildflowers, stray cats, a teddy bear abandoned near a trash can—things like that. He never really looked back at those photos; he just wanted to capture the moment’s impression. Perhaps Nanyeong’s sleeping face was no different.

A little later, having finished getting ready to leave, Hyunjae took a fifty-thousand-won bill from Nanyeong’s wallet. As he did, he thought that if he weren’t the breadwinner for his family and instead a university student supported by his parents, maybe he could refuse this taxi money.

Or if their age gap weren’t as wide and he had even a little more financial stability…

Would Nanyeong treat him differently then?

As he stepped outside, Hyunjae found even the sunlight irritating. He was sure he’d regret not having slept enough last night.

“Still, it’s okay to have a day like this once in a while.”

Even if he could turn back time, he would probably still choose sex with Nanyeong over sleep. Stifling a small yawn behind his hand, Hyunjae started walking.

Ꮺ

When Hyunjae arrived at the bar for his evening part-time job after finishing his morning shift, a light drizzle was falling. Even his sturdy body, resistant to most conditions, felt heavy with dampness from the persistent humidity.

“Hey, how was my gift?”

As soon as he entered the cramped temporary locker room to change into his uniform, Woochan, a coworker from the night before, rudely tapped him on the shoulder. Hyunjae frowned slightly but quickly masked it with a neutral expression as he turned around. He had something to ask.

When Hyunjae left the house earlier, Nanyeong had already fallen into a deep sleep again. Resting his hand briefly on Nanyeong’s forehead, he had noticed a slight fever that weighed on his mind. Their physical stamina had always differed, but it still left him uneasy. What if…

“That drug… It’s not harmful to the body, right?”

As soon as Hyunjae asked, Woochan’s expression changed, and a delighted look spread across his face.

“What the hell, you bastard. I knew it.”

“…”

“Don’t pretend otherwise. Damn, acting all noble on your own. Did you try it right away? Who was it?”

“…It’s not like that.”

Hyunjae regretted asking and turned away. He felt like an idiot for expecting Woochan, who always showed excessive interest in his relationships, to talk honestly about the dangers of the drug.

Even though Hyunjae tried to end the conversation and ignored him with silent gestures, Woochan clung to him persistently, interrogating him, especially about the woman involved.

“Does she have a nice body? How old is she? Huh? Is she pale? Is she the innocent type or…?”

The fact that Woochan was particularly curious about her appearance made Hyunjae indescribably uncomfortable because it was obvious he would use Hyunjae’s answers to fuel his own fantasies. What Hyunjae hated most was the image of Nanyeong that inevitably came to mind because of those questions. Hyunjae’s eyelashes trembled as he resolved not to give Woochan even the slightest hint.

“You’re unbelievable, man. You take the gift and have all the fun for yourself?”

Woochan’s expression soured. He seemed to think Hyunjae was keeping his mouth shut to protect his girlfriend.

“In the end, you’re the same. Just another guy who takes what he can get. Why do women even think you’re different? Must be fooled by your looks. They should look at what’s inside, what’s inside…”

“…”

“You’re just like me, you know? Isn’t that right? Huh? Aram. All men are∼ the same.”

Woochan walked out of the locker room with an exaggeratedly loud voice, trying to act tough in front of Hyunjae, who maintained his silence. At the same time, Hyunjae caught sight of Aram, a female part-time worker, standing by the kitchen, beyond the disheveled curtain Woochan had left behind. Their eyes met unexpectedly.

She only worked on weekends, and the expression on her face—a mix of disdain and pity—made it clear to Hyunjae what she was thinking. He let out a short sigh.

From the day Aram started working here, Woochan had been hitting on her inappropriately. It wasn’t out of genuine interest, especially since he already had a girlfriend. His behavior was transparent and unpleasant, and anyone would find such advances repulsive.

Whenever Woochan bothered her, Aram silently showed her gratitude to Hyunjae for saving her. Over time, her attitude toward Woochan and Hyunjae shifted. Woochan likely compared this and grew envious of Hyunjae. It was clear he wanted to ruin Hyunjae’s reputation among women.

Although Hyunjae’s mood had soured, it was true that he had ultimately given Nanyeong the drug. Instead of offering excuses, he decided to focus on his work and returned to the floor.

A little while later, Hyunjae went out alone to take out the trash.

“Hyunjae, hey…”

Someone followed him outside and called out. Turning around, he was surprised to see none other than Aram standing there.

“You had a girlfriend, huh? I knew it.”

“…”

“It didn’t make sense otherwise. Anyway, you hid it well.”

Unlike Hyunjae’s stiff expression, Aram deliberately put on a bright face, trying to lighten the mood. She even offered to take the trash bag from his hands to throw it away with him.

Hyunjae thought about denying he had a girlfriend but decided there was no need to be overly honest. He felt an inexplicable sense of helplessness, even as the misunderstanding that he had used an aphrodisiac on his girlfriend grew. He didn’t feel like explaining.

As they quietly sorted the trash, Aram, noticing Hyunjae’s darkened expression, spoke again.

“You know… that’s probably not a drug.”

Startled by the sudden topic change, Hyunjae looked at her.

“It’s just regular probiotics, apparently.”

The unexpected information made Hyunjae’s eyes widen slightly. He stammered a bit, uncharacteristically.

“H-How do you know?”

“I overheard them chatting earlier,” Aram said, shrugging once. After finishing sorting the trash, she dusted off her dirty hands and smiled at Hyunjae, who still looked a bit dazed.

“They always talk nonsense about pretty female customers. I was worried it might actually be an aphrodisiac or something and thought about reporting it to the police… but thankfully, it’s not.”

Ꮺ

Placebo effect.

That day, what Nanyeong felt might have been something similar. The so-called placebo effect…

Knowing that the pill wouldn’t harm Nanyeong’s body should have put Hyunjae at ease, but he couldn’t shake an uncomfortable feeling. The unease lingered, and until he met Nanyeong again, Hyunjae spent time reflecting on his emotions, trying to pinpoint what was quietly gnawing at him.

One thing was certain: if he could turn back time, he wouldn’t have recklessly given Nanyeong the pill.

While Hyunjae was mulling over whether to come clean about what happened, Nanyeong unexpectedly reached out to him first. The meeting came much earlier than the usual two-week interval.

[We need to talk. Can you come over today?]

Relieved yet uneasy about what might come up, Hyunjae headed to Nanyeong’s studio apartment.

“Is it about the pill? Or maybe…”

Could it be about the confession?

When Hyunjae arrived, Nanyeong was brewing tea.

“Care to join me?”

At the invitation, Hyunjae took a seat across from him. Nanyeong set out a teacup for him as well—a luxurious cup with a translucent glass body adorned with swirling patterns and a thin gold rim. It looked comically small in Hyunjae’s hand, but he quietly held onto it.

“It turned out to be probiotics.”

When Hyunjae abruptly brought it up, Nanyeong slightly raised his eyebrows. White steam rose over his face as he deftly brewed tea with a gaiwan in one hand.

“What are you talking about?”

“That thing you took last time…”

“Oh.”

Nanyeong poured just a single sip of tea into Hyunjae’s cup. Hyunjae fiddled with the cup, unable to bring himself to drink, and spoke.

“I was worried something might happen to you.”

“And here I thought it was something serious.”

Unlike Hyunjae, who spoke with a slightly anxious expression, a faint smile appeared on Nanyeong’s face. Seeing how nonchalantly he brushed it off, Hyunjae blinked in surprise. What Nanyeong said next was even more unexpected.

“I already knew.”

“What?”

Startled, Hyunjae straightened his back so quickly that a bit of the hot tea spilled onto his fingers. Noticing this, Nanyeong handed him a tissue with a slightly alarmed look.

“You knew?”

“Well, not that it was probiotics. But I knew it wasn’t an aphrodisiac.”

Saying this, Nanyeong took a sip of his tea. Hyunjae sat there for a moment, unsure how to react. Had he been duped not only by Woochan but also by Nanyeong? Why would he take the pill, knowing it wasn’t an aphrodisiac, and even go so far as to pretend to be affected by it?

At the same time, Hyunjae realized what had been bothering him.

When Nanyeong found out that Hyunjae had brought the pill, he hadn’t seemed disappointed or hurt. He had only been intrigued. Perhaps that was what Hyunjae disliked. If Nanyeong had been his boyfriend rather than just a casual partner, he might have felt hurt or repulsed by Hyunjae’s actions…

“So I wanted him to criticize me?”

Hyunjae knew that his expectations were misplaced. After all, they were meeting for the purpose of sex. It made more sense for Nanyeong to play along rather than be disappointed when offered something like that. And yet…

As his thoughts progressed, Hyunjae found himself overwhelmed by a vague sense of despondency, regardless of whether Nanyeong had known about the pill or not.

It was then that Nanyeong quietly spoke up.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

“I just…”

“You had certain expectations, didn’t you? I just wanted to meet them.”

“You didn’t have to. Why go that far?”

Hyunjae trailed off and lowered his head. Absentmindedly, he stroked the teacup containing tea that had already gone cold and murmured.

“If you didn’t like it, you could’ve gotten angry.”

“I would never do that.”

“Why not?”

At Hyunjae’s question, Nanyeong replied, “Because I’ll do anything you ask.”

It was an answer so matter-of-fact that it carried no discernible emotion. Hearing it, Hyunjae felt his face grow faintly warm.

Even when treated like a plaything, he never got angry, and he went along with any unreasonable request. So was his earlier confession just a product of lust? Thinking simply, it might just be a habit when he was overly immersed.

Hyunjae, lost in thought, unknowingly gripped his cup tightly. But if it really was just a habit during sex, that would be problematic. If he acted that way with anyone, some might misunderstand.

“Do you see other guys besides me?”

The question escaped Hyunjae’s lips before he could stop himself.

But the moment he asked, he realized he didn’t really want an answer. If Nanyeong said yes, he might not be able to hide his reaction.

It was strange. They weren’t in an exclusive relationship.

While Hyunjae averted his gaze, unable to look at Nanyeong’s face, a firm voice cut through.

“No.”

When he looked up, Nanyeong’s face was slightly stiff.

“You don’t?”

“I don’t.”

He denied it twice, his expression serious.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Hyunjae couldn’t help but wonder about Nanyeong’s sharp response.

Is it because he has feelings for me?

If someone he liked questioned him like this, it would understandably upset him. Feeling a bit guilty, Hyunjae studied Nanyeong’s hardened expression.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Are you mad?”

“How could I be okay with being treated like a slut?”

“I wasn’t treating you that way. Honestly, I know I don’t have the right to interfere even if you did act like that.”

“…….”

“I just… if someone had bad intentions, wouldn’t it be dangerous? You’re not good at saying no. Like with the pill… what if you run into someone worse?”

As Hyunjae rambled, Nanyeong’s face gradually softened.

Hyunjae felt a bit relieved.

“So are you claiming you’re not one of the bad guys?”

“I wouldn’t do anything weird.”

“Alright.”

“Seriously, be careful. You’re way too trusting.”

As he said this, Hyunjae recalled taking a picture of a sleeping Nanyeong not long ago. He had done it simply because Nanyeong looked beautiful while sleeping, but if someone truly malicious came along, they could do something much worse. Like capturing explicit photos of an unconscious man.

“With all the spy camera crimes these days… what if someone filmed you…”

“Why is your mind jumping to that? Are you planning to take one?”

Nanyeong suddenly asked. Of course, Hyunjae had no such intentions. The only picture he had was a single, innocent shot of Nanyeong’s sleeping face. Yet the unexpected question left him flustered.

“What? Really?”

Nanyeong’s expression turned cold again. This time, it wasn’t just annoyance. His eyes sharpened, and Hyunjae instinctively started explaining.

“It’s just… you looked so pretty while sleeping.”

“Delete it immediately!”

Even though it was nothing serious, Nanyeong’s harsh tone made Hyunjae instinctively pull out his phone. Honestly, it was just a meaningless photo, and if he had known it would provoke this reaction, he wouldn’t have taken it in the first place.

Feeling slightly wronged, Hyunjae glanced at Nanyeong’s face. His complexion had paled, and he didn’t look angry anymore—more like he was frightened.

Hyunjae opened his photo album and showed it to him directly.

“Look. I only took one picture. I’ll delete it.”

“……”

“Now. Satisfied?”

Hyunjae scrolled down the screen to show that there were no other photos.

Nanyeong pressed his lips tightly together and said nothing. The atmosphere grew awkward.

Hyunjae, unsure of what to say, fidgeted with his phone screen. It was just a picture of him sleeping peacefully, but honestly, Hyunjae felt that Nanyeong was overreacting.

Well, maybe he’d had a bad experience before.

If that were the case, it would make sense. He looked like someone who had achieved a certain level of success. If it were revealed that he slept with men, he would have much to lose. It wasn’t like he was a proud homosexual in a society full of prejudice, openly dating someone. If he was just regularly meeting some guy he happened to come across, there would inevitably be some unease.

“I’m sorry,” Hyunjae apologized first. Nanyeong seemed to realize then that he might have overreacted. He returned to his usual calm expression, erasing all traces of agitation, and said, “No, I’m sorry too. I admit I’m not cautious enough. I forgot that this could actually be a dangerous situation. Maybe I should thank you for reminding me.”

“……”

“As for the photo, more than anything else…”

Nanyeong ran a hand over his face and let out a deep sigh before continuing.

“I’m sensitive about my face. I really don’t like having my picture taken.”

It sounded like an excuse tacked on at the last moment, but Hyunjae pretended to agree, figuring it was Nanyeong’s way of easing the tension.

“So why did you call me today?”

“Ah, I wanted to apologize for last time. I got drunk and made a scene. I’m sorry.”

“……”

“For calling you out of the blue again too…”

“……”

“I didn’t do anything weird, did I?”

Nanyeong asked.

It seemed he only remembered bits and pieces of what had happened, having blacked out from drinking. That’s probably why he was apologizing, despite the wild encounter they’d had. Judging by the marks left on Nanyeong’s body, Hyunjae should have been the one apologizing instead.

Hyunjae lowered his gaze, lost in thought. Something was off.

“I love you, so much, I love you.”

Could he really not remember that tearful confession?

The look in his eyes at that moment had been filled with overwhelming affection. But his indifferent demeanor the next morning, and even now, showed that Nanyeong was surprisingly capable of suppressing romantic feelings, as if to keep his promise of “not getting emotionally entangled.”

In the polished surface of the teapot, Hyunjae caught a glimpse of his own face. Realizing there wasn’t even a hint of a smile, he observed himself anew.

“No. Nothing happened,” Hyunjae replied smoothly, wondering what he’d been expecting on his way here.

“I see. Want more tea?”

Nanyeong stood up, refilling the kettle. Hyunjae nodded silently in response.

Ꮺ

If he truly liked him, then why didn’t he say, “Let’s date”?

Of course, as Hyunjae had already considered, there were plenty of reasons. Still, wasn’t love supposed to be strong enough to overcome all of that?

Hyunjae had always thought of Nanyeong as a very mature person. Unlike himself, who had just become an adult, Nanyeong was much older. There were times when Hyunjae felt a gap between them, especially in the way Nanyeong acted and thought as an “adult.” It wasn’t a bad thing. Nanyeong seemed to let conflicts flow smoothly, and his emotions were rarely extreme.

Even when Hyunjae teased him, saying that the ten-year age gap made him seem like an old man, Nanyeong would only smile gently, without reacting much. Perhaps it was only Hyunjae who felt his stomach churn when faced with someone who didn’t flinch at the provocations of “kids these days.”

Was this what relationships in one’s thirties were like? Hyunjae imagined a world of thirty-somethings he hadn’t yet reached. Maybe by that age, confessions weren’t even necessary. Such promises might just seem like outdated formalities.

For some reason, that way of thinking felt oddly fitting for Nanyeong.

It was to the point where the idea of Nanyeong throwing himself into love felt strange.

Hyunjae found himself reflecting on how his previous relationships had unfolded. Had they ever been this ambiguous and uncertain? The affection he’d received from others had usually been so clear that it was almost visible. Choosing to date someone he was drawn to had felt as straightforward as solving a problem with an obvious answer.

But Nanyeong was different. While he seemed to recite answers himself, they didn’t really feel like the correct ones. It was as if the examiner had an ulterior motive, testing whether the wrong answers could be weeded out.

Was it so difficult because he was ten years older? Or because he was a man? Or maybe because he was more successful and smarter than him…

Hyunjae let out a deep sigh.

No, maybe there was nothing being hidden at all. Perhaps what was visible was all there was. If Nanyeong truly liked his face and body, didn’t feel the need to carve time out of his busy life for the hassle of dating, and was satisfied with merely fulfilling his physical desires, then it made sense why things didn’t progress further.

“But then why does he sometimes look at me with eyes that seem so sincere?”

Hyunjae thought.

Nanyeong sometimes drank alone, as if the sole purpose was to get drunk. He had done so when they first met, and again recently, when he had confessed that he liked him. Hyunjae was curious about what troubled him so much that he needed to forget reality by getting drunk.

He also recalled the face of Nanyeong, clutching the toilet and bowing his head, crying. Claiming he felt sick and using it as an excuse to let his tears fall—only to turn coldly away the moment he realized he had been seen crying and rinse his face with cold water. The fact that he needed an excuse to cry also made Hyunjae wonder.

Why did he spill his true feelings only on the days he drank himself into oblivion?

As Hyunjae spent day and night pondering over this unknowable man, he found himself gradually becoming sincere about Nanyeong.

Ꮺ

Lately, they had been meeting more frequently. This was because Hyunjae had been trying harder to make time.

Between work and his part-time job, there were often days when all he had left was time to sleep. But now, he found it better to cut into his sleep to see Nanyeong. Hyunjae had realized that as long as he wanted to meet, Nanyeong was always willing to make time. When he figured that out, he thought it had made him a little happy.

It was a day when they had promised to meet again, just one day after their last encounter. Standing by the roadside near his part-time job, Hyunjae saw a familiar, sleek black car appear. The car smoothly rolled toward him and gave a light honk.

As the window slowly slid down, Nanyeong’s face came into view.

“Hi.”

With his head slightly tilted to meet Hyunjae’s gaze, Nanyeong greeted him. His face looked as if he had completely forgotten the slightly awkward argument they had last time. Relieved, Hyunjae opened the car door.

“Are you tired?”

Nanyeong asked, pulling the corners of his lips into a smile. His dimples became prominent as he did so. While fastening his seatbelt, Hyunjae remarked,

“You have dimples?”

“You’re only noticing now? You really don’t pay attention to me.”

Nanyeong chuckled in disbelief. Hyunjae quietly stared at his smiling face.

Though he had once thought that Nanyeong’s facial structure created a mysterious allure, he had never looked closely enough to identify the specific features responsible.

But now, every detail seemed to strike him. From the side, his lips appeared fuller than they did from the front. Because of that, the line that connected his philtrum, lips, and chin seemed almost as if it had been drawn. His eyes always looked deep and moist, probably because his lower lashes were so long.

“What are you staring at?”

“…I’m just starting to pay attention.”

“To what?”

“To you.”

Nanyeong laughed aloud, as if amused, resting his hand on the car window. Hyunjae turned his gaze forward, looking straight ahead. The cars behind them honked impatiently as Nanyeong slowly pulled out of the alley.

As Hyunjae kept thinking about Nanyeong, he suddenly realized how little he actually knew about him. While Nanyeong freely revealed his personal tastes, he didn’t share much beyond that. Where he worked, what he did exactly… Despite sharing trivial personal aspects, he seemed to be overly guarded about information he didn’t want to disclose.

At the same time, Hyunjae wondered if it was also his fault for not asking. It was true that while he had fallen for Nanyeong’s body rather quickly, his interest in the man himself had come later, after a delay.

Perhaps their timing had simply been off.

“Is it my fault, then?”

Hyunjae thought bitterly.