📢 Clear your Cache Browser For New Site Update

    Loves Balance
    Chapter Index

    Chapter 110

    Strange. Why was Daon speaking as if he liked him? Nahyuk felt a little unsettled.

    Because of that, he couldn’t answer right away. Silence lingered between them over the still-connected call.

    “…Shall we meet first? I have something I want to say too.”

    -Yes. Where are you? I’ll come to you.

    Nahyuk told him he was near the company. Daon said he’d be there soon and hung up.

    Even after the call ended, Daon’s words kept circling in his head.

    ‘Because of you, my head is a mess. What am I supposed to do?’

    With what kind of feelings are you coming to meet me today?

    Nahyuk thought of how often Daon’s touches had become lately.

    * * *

    The once clear sky had grown overcast. Sitting on a bench beside the crosswalk, Nahyuk looked up to see dark clouds gathering overhead.

    Maybe that was why the air felt cooler than usual.

    The light jacket he wore out of courtesy didn’t feel hot today. Instead, he thought it fortunate to be wearing it.

    He tapped his toes a few times while waiting for Daon. They had agreed to meet at the intersection crosswalk near the company.

    Daon had suggested he wait inside a café, but Nahyuk chose to stay outside.

    The weather wasn’t too hot, and above all, after spending most of his days shut inside the house, he didn’t want to walk into another enclosed space alone.

    Of course, he didn’t mind going to a café if it was with Daon or Kangil. He just didn’t want to go in by himself.

    Even though lunchtime had passed, cars continued to stream through the intersection. Nahyuk watched them aimlessly, as though they had nothing to do with him.

    He thought idly about selling off the many foreign cars in Noah’s garage.

    In that moment, the day grew darker at an alarming pace. It was as if everything around him was being washed in gray.

    He was just thinking that if it started to pour, he’d have no choice but to move indoors, when he noticed a man running from a distance.

    Even from afar, the man’s tall figure was striking. His long legs carried him quickly, and before Nahyuk realized it, the figure had grown close.

    The man stood across from the bench, dressed in a plain white t-shirt and slightly loose jeans. Nothing about him was flashy, but in the gray-tinted world, he shone the brightest. Nahyuk couldn’t take his eyes off him.

    Almost at the same moment, the man spotted him. He raised his right hand and waved. At that familiar gesture, a smile tugged at Nahyuk’s lips.

    The man was Kim Daon.

    Daon, looking a bit anxious, waited for the signal. As soon as the light changed, he sprinted toward Nahyuk.

    That was when raindrops began to fall on his forehead. Surprised by the sudden chill, Nahyuk lifted his head. The storm clouds had grown even darker.

    By the time he lowered his gaze again, Daon was right in front of him. Nahyuk looked up at his clear face.

    “I told you to wait inside.”

    Even though it sounded like nagging, it didn’t bother him. Maybe because Daon was smiling as he said it.

    A shadow fell over Nahyuk’s face. Daon’s large hand shielded him from the thickening drops of rain.

    “Let’s go.”

    “Where?”

    “Anywhere’s fine as long as it’s with you. But first, we should get out of the rain, shouldn’t we?”

    Daon helped him up and led him to a nearby café. In the meantime, the rain fell harder.

    The spacious café was nearly empty. Daon seated him in a corner and went to order warm drinks.

    When he returned, he also carried a blanket in his hands.

    “You got wet. Cover yourself with this.”

    “What about you?”

    “I don’t catch colds easily. I can count on one hand the times I’ve had one in my life. I’m sturdier than I look.”

    Nahyuk nodded and sipped at his drink.

    He didn’t dislike Daon’s protectiveness—it was true his health was fragile, especially after coughing up blood.

    “Being here with you on a rainy day reminds me of before.”

    Nahyuk remembered that day too.

    It had been not long after they had grown close. Daon had invited him to his house, cooked for him.

    It had rained then as well. And almost by accident, their bodies had pressed close together.

    The umbrella had slipped to the ground, leaving them damp as their bodies leaned against each other.

    The image of Daon’s sleek neck and the raindrops sliding down it floated before Nahyuk’s eyes, vivid as though within reach.

    Back then, Daon had spoken to him with that same sensual beauty.

    ‘Feels like I’ll think of you every time it rains.’

    Had he really thought of him on every rainy day since?

    Was that why he wore such a nostalgic look now, reminiscing about the past?

    “I remember that day too.”

    “Every time it rained, I thought of you.”

    Daon’s words came out easily, without the slightest awkwardness.

    “Do you remember me saying I wanted to take care of you then?”

    “Of course I do. Looking back, you really did look after me—a little more than I could handle.”

    Enough to make me almost mistake your kindness for love.

    So much so that I even overlooked my own vow not to mistake affection for romance.

    “What if you can’t handle it? I still have a lot more care to give.”

    “You can give even more? Daon, aren’t you overdoing it?”

    At Nahyuk’s serious reply, Daon only laughed, as if finding his earnestness endearing.

    “But what can I do? Even if it means overdoing it, I still want to treat you well.”

    “……”

    Though he spoke with a smile, Nahyuk couldn’t stop worrying about him.

    This was someone who should have found love with Seo Dowoong, but hadn’t. Someone being harassed by Park Sangcheol. Maybe it was Nahyuk who needed to overextend himself to protect Daon.

    But the more serious Nahyuk’s expression grew, the brighter Daon’s became.

    Not because he found it funny, but because he seemed to find him adorable.

    “Don’t keep smiling. I’m being serious because I worry about you.”

    “Sure, there might be hard times ahead. But if you’re by my side, I can get through anything. You’ll stay, won’t you?”

    “…Yes.”

    Staying by his side wasn’t hard.

    Nahyuk’s favorite in Ruins in Bloom had always been Daon, and that hadn’t changed. It was separate from his feelings for Kangil.

    “Ha. I can’t help but envy Mr. Lee Kangil right now.”

    “Kangil? Why?”

    “Because he must’ve seen so many of your cute sides.”

    “I’m not cute.”

    “People who are cute never realize it themselves.”

    “……”

    “You don’t even know how lovable you are.”

    Even though he had told him not to smile, Daon wore a languid grin. He even reached out to poke Nahyuk’s cheek lightly with his finger.

    The light touch made Nahyuk shiver.

    Maybe it was because he still wasn’t used to being called lovable. Kangil’s voice, confessing his love, echoed faintly in his ears.

    “L-let’s change the subject.”

    In the end, Nahyuk awkwardly redirected the conversation.

    “Alright.”

    “You said you’d handle things on your own, but I was too worried. So today, I went to Grandfather and asked him to help you.”

    He didn’t mention the deal he had struck. Instead, he lied, saying Yoon Taesik had readily agreed to help.

    “Why’d you do that? I told you, you didn’t need to worry.”

    “How could I not, when it’s about you?”

    “……”

    For the first time, Daon’s smile faded. He seemed unhappy that Nahyuk had helped him.

    “I’ll look after you too. I don’t want you to be sick.”

    “Guess I owe you a debt now.”

    “Debt?”

    “Yes. From today on, I’ll have to work hard to repay it.”

    Daon turned his gaze to the window, where the rain still poured.

    “We can’t go far in this weather…”

    Then his eyes returned to Nahyuk.

    “Want to come to my place? I’ll cook you dinner.”

    * * *

    At Daon’s house, Nahyuk called Kangil to explain.

    Kangil didn’t get angry.

    He only said that he had already asked his father to keep Park Sangcheol in check, so Nahyuk didn’t need to worry.

    Kangil wanted to come over too, but complained that leaving work early today would be impossible.

    Before hanging up, he added one last warning: don’t let Daon get to you. Nahyuk reassured him and ended the call.

    The moment he hung up, Daon came out of his room carrying dry clothes for him to change into.

    “What did Mr. Lee Kangil say?”

    “He did leave me a message for you. Want me to say it exactly as he did?”

    Daon nodded, looking as though he could handle it.

    Taking a deep breath, Nahyuk repeated it.

    “Hey, Daon, if you mess around with Noah, I won’t let you off, got it? …That’s what he said.”

    The rough tone felt awkward on his tongue—words he’d never normally use.

    Daon’s reaction came instantly.

    “Wow… even when you talk tough, you’re really attractive.”

    His face was full of admiration.

    “….”

    Was that the right reaction?

    Nahyuk was left speechless.

    🌸 Hello, lovely! If you’d like to support me, feel free to check out my Ko-fi! 🌷💕

    Note

    This content is protected.