WYK 29

Something of a subtle trick. Was he pleased to support him? All those were just baseless fantasies.

“Phew… Ah, damn.”

Jeong-yoon arrived in front of the door to 1101, panting heavily. He barely managed to suppress the urge to curse.

Goodness, Chae-heon was heavy. He should have realized it when he was this tall and his shoulders this broad.

He’d be heavy normally, but he’d be even heavier while drunk and unconscious. There was no room for personal feelings. Rather than being excited, dragging Chae-heon with him leaning on his shoulder felt more like intense physical training than anything else.

Jeong-yoon took a deep breath and caught his breath. His cheeks were flushed red from alcohol and exhaustion. After roughly pushing Chae-heon’s body against the wall, he rummaged through for the key wallet. Unfortunately, there was no key for the front door lock.

“Chae-heon, wake up.”

“…”

“What’s the password for the front door?”

“…1208…07…”

Chae-heon muttered without even opening his eyes. Jeong-yoon gently lowered his head to the right and entered the password. By sheer coincidence, the first digits matched his own birthday.

Jeong-yoon pushed open the door and dragged Chae-heon inside. He was sorry, but there was no other way. His strength had its limits. Chae-heon lay there like a sleeping prince in the middle of the forest after Jeong-yoon threw him to the floor.

Jeong-yoon panted and looked at Chae-heon softly after closing the door. His perfectly curled eyelashes were charming. Even though he was being handled like luggage, he looked like a jewel, sleeping peacefully.

‘I never thought I’d end up at Chae-heon’s house. And I even entered the password myself.’

A bitter laugh escaped him. He examined the inside while patting his flushed right cheek with his hand.

The first thing Jeong-yoon noticed was the large living room window with a panoramic view of Seoul at night. Next to it was a large bed right by the balcony window. While it seemed unusual for a bed to be in the living room, it didn’t surprise him much considering Chae-heon lived alone in such a spacious apartment.

The late-night cityscape unfolded beyond the window. The scattered lighting of buildings and lamps in the distance, as well as the headlights of passing cars. All sorts of glimmers intermingled, casting a shimmering glow through the translucent curtains.

Jeong-yoon moved his gaze away from the window to see the interior. It was surprisingly clean for a place where a single man lived alone. This cleanliness indicated meticulous cleaning while also conveying a sense of emptiness. This space seemed more like a resting place than a living one.

Even that was very Kang Chae-heon-like.

“Kang Chae-heon. I’m going.”

He greeted the seemingly unconscious person with a brief farewell.

Perhaps he heard the greeting. Chae-heon, who had just been lying there like a lifeless body, quietly got up. Jeong-yoon involuntarily tensed his shoulders. A sense of guilt pricked at him.

‘I was just a righteous citizen helping a drunkard, you know?’

Chae-heon got up and walked into the living room without even looking at Jeong-yoon behind him.

‘Maybe I should say something to let him know I’m here.’

Jeong-yoon watched him with a puzzled expression. For some reason, it was a bit awkward to talk to him. He felt as if he had intruded into someone else’s home, and Jeong-yoon feared that if questioned why he was here, he would blush awkwardly rather than decisively say he was here because was drunk and brought him home. That wouldn’t be appropriate.

For a drunk person, Chae-heon’s actions were surprisingly neat. He arranged his wallet, lighter, cigarettes, and other items neatly on the table.
‘Is he really drunk?’

Chae-heon, who had neatly arranged the items, went straight into the bathroom while Jeong-yoon looked. It happened in a very short moment. The sound of running water from the bathroom soon followed. He seemed to be having a shower. The sound was loud in the quiet night.

There was something peculiarly suggestive about the sound. Jeong-yoon stood there stiffly, imagining a beautiful garden he had seen in Versailles. It was an attempt to dispel the ridiculous delusion. However, what came to mind was Chae-heon standing naked in a flower garden.

‘Crazy…’

Jeong-yoon awkwardly retreated after standing in the darkness for a bit. It was time to go. Although he wanted to bid Chae-heon goodbye and leave now that he had gotten up, the drunkard didn’t even notice his presence and just went into the bathroom.

He couldn’t help it. Jeong-yoon let out a low sigh and grabbed the cold metal front door handle. Afterward, he pushed it with force but soon hesitated. The reason was that he had been forgetting a crucial fact until now.

‘Oh? I don’t have my wallet.’

Right, at this moment, he was brutally reminded of the fact that he was penniless.

He rummaged through his pockets, and all he found was a single 5,000 won bill. Due to leaving his wallet at home in the morning, this was the only money he had in hand.

The last train had already left, and there was no money for a taxi. Moreover, his only savior, his older sister, was away on a trip. If he were to call his mother and say, ‘Mom. I missed my train because I was drinking. Please cover the taxi fare when I arrive at the apartment,’ he was sure to get an earful. After all the hard work she put into raising him, if he became a good-for-nothing son who spent money on alcohol and asked for a taxi fare, it would be a disaster.

After a brief contemplation, Jeong-yoon nodded.

‘Let’s take some money from Kang Chae-heon. I’ll just grab it while he’s in the bathroom.’

Since he had brought Kang Chae-heon here this far, he wouldn’t say anything about taking some money. That’s how Jeong-yoon rationalized it, intending to take advantage of the situation.

In the silence, there was a clatter as the bathroom door opened.

Surprised, Jeong-yoon pressed himself against the entrance wall. At the moment when he decided to take the money, Chae-heon appeared, and he froze like a thief caught in the act.

Chae-heon didn’t notice Jeong-yoon and walked toward the bed. Then he collapsed on it, causing the sheets to ripple.

Jeong-yoon was beginning to feel awkward. Chae-heon, who was said to lose self-control when drinking, seemed to be losing not only self-control but also eyesight and observation skills. He still hadn’t noticed Jeong-yoon’s presence.

‘I could’ve taken everything from this house without him knowing.’

After observing Chae-heon’s chest rising and falling gently, Jeong-yoon entered further into the room. Now that it had come to this, he thought he should just take the money and leave.

Jeong-yoon sneakily approached the table and took out 50,000 won from his wallet. He should leave right now. Jeong-yoon scratched the back of his neck and returned his gaze to Chae-heon.

He had intended to slip away, but it bothered him a bit. After thinking about it while stuffing the money in his pocket, he decided to at least bid farewell. Even though the person was unconscious, he might hear subconsciously.

Jeong-yoon carefully approached Chae-heon’s side. After that, the peacefully sleeping face was so gorgeous that he stared at it blankly without realizing it.

‘No, this is not right.’

He almost licked him with his eyes just now. Suddenly coming to his senses, Jeong-yoon murmured softly over Chae-heon’s head.

“I’ll borrow 50,000 won, okay?”

Feeling somehow guilty, he offered a self-defense-like excuse. The only thing that came back was still silence, but he felt a slight relief from the guilt.

“I’m leaving.”

He delivered a clean farewell. Now, all that remained was turning around and leaving this house.

However, Jeong-yoon couldn’t bring himself to move away from him or leave the house. He just stood still and continued to look down at Chae-heon’s face.

The long straight nose and beautiful eyelashes that he had glimpsed sneakily before were now right in front of him. Perhaps because of this, his eyes didn’t easily look away.

“…”

Staring blankly at the healthy smooth skin and rosy lips, Jeong-yoon found himself squatting down and admiring his face. It was an impulsively provocative act.

In the midst of his doze, Chae-heon’s eyelashes twitched slightly. Startled, Jeong-yoon leaned back and then straightened up again.

Chae-heon frowned and licked his lips slightly. He seemed to be thirsty. It was an unconscious action, yet it seemed oddly intriguing and very seductive, making Jeong-yoon sigh deeply.

He should leave quickly. It’s a bad thing to harbor such bad thoughts and observe like this. But he kept stealing glances. Even if it was due to the intoxication from the alcohol, it was fine. Even if it was because of the vague darkness that enveloped them, it was also fine. He just wanted to see him like this for no particular reason for a brief moment.

‘Even his eyebrows are also handsome.’

Adjusting his upper body, Jeong-yoon brought his face close to Chae-heon’s. After observing for a while, he dropped his body again and glanced at the clock.

Already 10 minutes had passed. The time he spent observing his face like a pervert. Goodness, how shameless he could be.

Jeong-yoon let out a sigh of regret and said his final farewell.

“Kang Chae-heon. Sleep well.”

That’s when it happened.

The moment the words ‘Kang Chae-heon’ left his mouth, Chae-heon’s eyelids slowly lifted.

Jeong-yoon was so surprised that he couldn’t even move. He just stood there stiffly, his mouth slightly agape.

Chae-heon, who was lying down, stared at him quietly. His eyes were on him, somewhat translucent from alcohol.

Chae-heon’s gaze seemed to strip away even his innermost thoughts. Jeong-yoon tried to avoid his gaze, but he couldn’t even turn his head because of the strained tension that felt like a taut spider’s web.

Jeong-yoon opened his mouth to say something. However, before he could utter the short phrase, “Don’t misunderstand. I brought you here,” his body was suddenly pulled into the bed. His wrist was gripped so tightly that it hurt.

There was no time to struggle since the drunk man was so strong. His body abruptly raised and moved. When he came to his senses, he found himself in Chae-heon’s arms.

Chae-heon’s broad chest felt comforting and warm even in his panicked state. No, it was hot instead of warm. He couldn’t tell if it was because Chae-heon had been drinking or because their bodies were so close.

What kind of situation is this? His breath became short, and his heart pounded fiercely. He could only hope that his embarrassment and racing heart didn’t get through to Chae-heon.

Jeong-yoon’s waist was hugged even tighter as he panicked. Their bodies were pressed together. Jeong-yoon became dizzy at the scent of soap wafting from him.

Two bodies overlapped in the shimmering night lights and darkness. The scorching heat hovered between them.

Jeong-yoon was afraid that Chae-heon would wake up, so he just held his breath and held him still.

“… Sleepy.”

Kang Chae-heon’s drowsy voice rang in his ears.

It seemed like it was becoming unbearable. Jeong-yoon’s body was becoming hot for causes other than the effects of drinking. He was in big trouble. Jeong-yoon took a breath and slightly twisted his body. It was to free his trapped body. Then Chae-heon strengthened his arm and pulled him closer.

Instead of their bodies separating, they crushed against each other with barely any space between them. Jeong-yoon has never been in such close contact before, whether with the opposing or same sex. Furthermore, because the object of his unrequited love was the one he was stuck with, his embarrassment and fluttering heart intensified. It seemed as if his heart was going to burst out of his body.

Soon Chae-heon gently pulled Jeong-yoon’s waist and gently rubbed his face on the back of Jeong-yoon’s neck. It was as if a big beast was teasing him by rubbing its forehead and pressing its cheek against him.

Jeong-yoon’s heart sank again. Chae-heon’s forehead pressed on his neck, and the warm breath that settled between his shoulder and collarbone created an intimate feeling. The touch of his hair against the skin tickled, causing his shoulder to involuntarily shrink.

Chae-heon slowly inhaled as if he was savoring Jeong-yoon’s scent and then lightly kissed the back of his neck. In the darkness, the sound of soft kisses echoed quietly. It was incredibly subtle and weirdly enticing for someone drunk. Jeong-yoon raised his chin slightly and let out a sigh-like sound unconsciously.

“Ah… Kang Chae-heon, you… uh…”

Even though he pushed him, Chae-heon didn’t move, so he merely broke out in a cold sweat. No, it would be fortunate if it were just cold sweat. His entire body was melting away due to the strange sensation, to the point where the soft hairs all over his body felt like they were standing on end.

Even in the midst of this, Chae-heon’s kisses continued incessantly down his neck. The gentle descent of his lips was soon stopped as Chae-heon gently pulled down Jeong-yoon’s shirt. Soon Chae-heon kissed the exposed skin again and gently slid his tongue along the collarbone.

Jeong-yoon’s body stiffened at that unfamiliar sensation. He pushed Chae-heon’s chest with trembling hands, but the hot and firm body refused to budge. A shudder ran down his spine every time Chae-heon kissed his neck and licked his shoulders.

Jeong-yoon frowned and closed his right eye tightly. Meanwhile, Chae-heon’s kissing became a bit more intense. The wet sounds resonated in the dark as Chae-heon sucked fiercely on Jeong-yoon’s neck. It was a bizarre act that encompassed him in both pleasure and pain.

Jeong-yoon grabbed Chae-heon’s forearm with trembling hands. He was feeling an unfamiliar heat in his lower body. Something that wasn’t his was poking at his body, and Jeong-yoon knew very well what it was. His tense body stiffened even more.

Kang Chae-heon was so drunk right now that he might not even know what he was doing. No, even if he was aware of his current actions, he would not know who the person in front of him was. The idea that the person he was tightly clutching was a man and that the man was Jeong-yoon, someone he had known for years, was something Chae-heon definitely couldn’t even imagine.