IPSTDS Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Nahyuk repeated Daon’s words.

“All day today? You don’t have any other plans?”

He wanted to ask why he wasn’t meeting Seo Dowoong, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He didn’t want to spoil the good atmosphere.

In the meantime, Daon twisted a strand of Nahyuk’s slightly fallen hair around his fingertip. Even that touch, playful as if teasing, felt strangely seductive.

It seemed the remnants of the indecent thoughts he had had about Kim Daon still lingered.

Daon, as if unaware of Nahyuk’s turmoil, curved his eyes into a bright smile.

“Why would I make other plans when hyung came to see me?”

“……”

“I only need you. Besides, there are things I wanted to ask you…”

“Ask me?”

“Yes.”

But the conversation broke off at that moment, because Garam and Heechan, who had been bickering, suddenly called out to him.

“Noah hyung! Why are you only hanging out with our brother? Play with me too. It’s my first time having a rich hyung, so I think it’s really cool and I like it.”

“You like me because I’m rich?”

Of course, the words didn’t offend him. Nahyuk was grateful for anyone’s affection, no matter the reason.

So what if it was because of money? It wasn’t as though Heechan was demanding it from him. Everyone had different reasons for feeling drawn to others.

If, someday, money were demanded or that affection twisted into something malicious, then he could reconsider the relationship. There was no need to worry about it yet.

But Heechan seemed flustered by his response. His eyes went wide, and he jumped up from his seat.

“Don’t misunderstand! It’s not because you’re rich… even if you weren’t rich…”

He wanted to explain, but he was clearly no good with words.

Seeing Heechan fumbling, face red with embarrassment, Nahyuk burst into laughter.

“Heechan, I understand what you mean. I was just joking earlier. Even if I weren’t rich, you’d still like me, right?”

“Yes! Of course. I just meant that I like Noah hyung.”

“Thank you. Oh, by the way, aren’t you two giving Daon a present?”

“Oh, right! The present!”

Heechan shouted, then scurried off somewhere. A short while later, he came back holding a neatly wrapped gift and handed it to Daon.

“This is something Garam and I picked out together.”

“Thanks, Heechan, Garam.”

“And Noah hyung helped us choose it too.”

“Then thank you too, hyung.”

How many times was Kim Daon going to say thank you? Nahyuk looked at him warmly. That kind of gratitude for even the smallest things was something he wanted to learn from.

Daon opened his brothers’ gift right then and there.

It was a brand-new headset, perfectly suited for him, who looked best in casual clothes.

On a whim, Daon even put it on and acted as though he were listening to music. The ridiculous sight made everyone burst into laughter.

In Daon’s home, where the warm summer sunlight poured in, the sound of laughter never stopped.

Nahyuk was simply happy, soaking in this warmth that surrounded him.

* * *

After the lively birthday celebration ended, Garam and Heechan left the house just as they had promised.

They even said they had plans today and wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.

Since they had celebrated with him and kept him company during the day, the brothers explained in unison that the evening should be time just for him and his hyung.

Nahyuk couldn’t tell if Daon had deliberately sent them away, or if they had simply used their brother’s birthday as an excuse to go out.

Either way, the only thing Nahyuk knew for certain was that now he was alone with Kim Daon.

He wondered how he should spend the rest of the day with him. The weather was nice—should they go out somewhere?

But after finishing cleaning the kitchen perfectly, Daon spoke up.

“Hyung, let’s not go out today. Let’s just stay home.”

It seemed Daon wasn’t fond of the idea of going outside. It also looked as though he had something in mind.

“How about we start with a movie?”

Since Nahyuk liked movies, he didn’t refuse the suggestion.

“Yeah, sounds good.”

The two settled onto the living room sofa and began watching the film Daon had chosen.

It turned out to be a romance movie, perfectly suited to Nahyuk’s tastes.

A man who had lived an unfortunate life meets a bright and cheerful woman, who saves him from despair and leads him into love.

The story was set in winter, with Christmas just around the corner, which made the man’s misfortune all the more striking, and the film’s atmosphere even more moving.

Nahyuk found himself wondering if he might not have to spend this Christmas alone.

Almost every year he had spent Christmas by himself, so he didn’t know what it was like to share the day with someone else. But this year—perhaps he would learn.

He stole a glance at Daon’s profile as he focused on the screen. For a moment, Lee Kangil also came to mind.

Besides these two, he couldn’t think of anyone he might spend the end of the year with.

When the film reached its climax, as with most romances, the two protagonists confirmed their love physically.

Unbidden, Nahyuk thought of his time with Kangil—the heavy gaze, the warmth of those large hands as they gripped him.

What was Kangil doing now? Had he gone off to see someone else since Nahyuk wasn’t with him today?

His thoughts drifted back briefly to their conversation at the hotel the night before.

‘Do you have plans tomorrow?’

‘Tomorrow’s Daon’s birthday. I want to celebrate it with him.’

‘You’re saying you’re celebrating that bastard Daon’s birthday?’

‘Bastard Daon?’

‘You even knew his birthday in advance?’

‘Well…’

Back then, Nahyuk had explained in detail how he had known and why he wanted to celebrate it, not wanting Kangil to misunderstand.

Though Kangil listened as if he understood, his expression made it clear he wasn’t pleased.

He hadn’t said so outright, but the fact that Nahyuk already knew Daon’s birthday seemed to bother him the most.

It almost looked like Kangil was… jealous.

Anyway, even when they parted ways that night, Kangil had grumbled, saying he still wanted to see him on Sunday. Nahyuk had simply found his whining cute, like that of a child.

But that same Kangil had sent him a message this morning, as if he’d never been sulky at all.

– Did you sleep well? Go ahead and meet that bastard Daon, but make sure you eat and take your medicine.

It was a message that felt so much like one from a real lover. Nahyuk had replied that he would.

While he was thinking of Kangil, the movie ended. Its final scene was the wedding march of the two protagonists.

“Hyung, have you ever thought about marriage?”

Daon finally spoke after watching the whole film in silence.

“No. Marriage? I think just truly falling in love with someone is already a miracle.”

Before entering Yoon Noah’s body, he had learned well enough how miraculous it was for two hearts to truly meet.

Daon looked straight at him, his face clouded with bitterness. The smile was gone.

“…So are you experiencing that miracle with Lee Kangil?”

His quiet voice was unusually low, but it didn’t sound angry.

Daon simply looked serious.

“A miracle with Kangil and me? What do you mean?”

“Yesterday… I spoke with Lee Kangil. He said he was dating you.”

“…”

Nahyuk hadn’t known that. Kangil hadn’t mentioned answering his phone, not even before they parted.

It must have happened while he had dozed off at the hotel.

“We…”

Nahyuk hesitated. He wasn’t sure if he should tell Daon the truth about his relationship with Kangil.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Daon. He just feared Kangil would dislike him for speaking carelessly about it.

But Daon, reading his hesitation, spoke firmly.

“Tell me the truth.”

“…”

“I couldn’t sleep a wink last night because I kept thinking about it.”

Daon’s hand fumbled toward his, wrapping around it where it rested on his thigh.

The touch felt so natural he couldn’t bring himself to resist.

Daon lifted their joined hands to his face and leaned lightly against the back of Nahyuk’s hand, his eyes filled with a pleading look.

“Hyung…”

Calling him so desperately, Daon blinked slowly. From between his lips came words impossible to refuse.

“Will you keep me awake tonight too?”

“…”

How could anyone be this captivating?

Was there even a person in the world who could tell him no right now? Even Lee Kangil, who loathed Daon, would probably fall for him in this moment.

As for Nahyuk, who already liked him, he was helplessly swayed. Enchanted, he answered.

“N-no… If you can’t sleep because of me, that wouldn’t be right.”

“Then hyung.”

“Yeah.”

“Tell me the truth about what you and Lee Kangil are.”

Despite the sweetness of his voice, the words struck sharp.