* * *
“No! It wasn’t intimate at all!”
Jingyeom shouted, denying it as desperately as he could, but Wonbeom barely listened.
Watching Jingyeom’s red lips move endlessly, Wonbeom withdrew the hand that had been supporting his back.
Jingyeom wobbled and flopped down onto the bed.
“I want to take things slow, but it feels like it might be too late for that…”
As Wonbeom’s eyes narrowed, Jingyeom hastily covered his mouth with both hands.
Wonbeom raised an eyebrow, smirking at the gesture.
‘It was just meant to be playful teasing, but he’s so honest I almost feel obliged to go along.’
Softening his gaze, Wonbeom grasped Jingyeom’s hands and gently pulled them away.
Jingyeom struggled, but to Wonbeom, it was a feeble attempt.
Beneath his hands, Jingyeom’s lips, pressed tightly together, revealed his tension.
“I don’t think I can hold back anymore.”
Jingyeom, sensing what was about to happen, tried to retreat, but his eyes froze as he met Wonbeom’s face up close.
It was the same face from that night at the bar, the one he’d thought he’d never see again—so brilliant and bright that Jingyeom’s face turned red.
As Wonbeom moved closer, Jingyeom quickly turned his head away.
Seeing Jingyeom’s whole body tremble as he recoiled, Wonbeom frowned.
He had no desire to force him, especially if it meant Jingyeom might clutch his heart and collapse from the shock.
‘It’s as if I’m draining my patience.’
Reflecting on how long he’d been restraining himself, Wonbeom took a deep breath and rose, exerting almost superhuman self-control.
“Get a grip. If you’re this rattled already, how are you going to handle what’s coming?”
“…”
“If you’re this startled every time, your heart might not survive.”
“Hic!”
Watching Jingyeom hiccup once more, Wonbeom laughed brightly.
Mesmerized by his smile, Jingyeom continued to hiccup uncontrollably.
“Adorable.”
Once Wonbeom’s smile broke free, it refused to fade.
Meanwhile, Jingyeom’s heart raced far beyond its usual beat.
‘That smile should be illegal!’
Jingyeom felt like crying.
He was furious at his own endless hiccups and inability to reject him outright.
But most of all, that face was impossible to tolerate.
He’d never considered himself easily swayed by appearances, but watching Wonbeom’s radiant smile made it impossible to utter anything harsh.
‘Jinwoo, hurry and get here!’
Silently pleading, Jingyeom desperately wished for Jinwoo to arrive.
Seeing him nervously clutch his hands together, Wonbeom frowned slightly.
Assuming it wasn’t a negative reaction, he hadn’t realized how much Jingyeom was on edge.
When Wonbeom perched on the bed, Jingyeom’s leg twitched.
Wonbeom, sitting close, felt he was verging on being labeled a scoundrel and finally spoke.
“See? I didn’t do anything.”
But even he knew that his words weren’t exactly comforting or reassuring.
He shut his mouth and exhaled shortly.
“…I guess I’m always scaring you. That wasn’t my intention.”
“…”
“But don’t hate me for it.”
“…I wouldn’t go that far.”
Jingyeom cast a glance at Wonbeom’s back.
His wide shoulders, always held upright, seemed to slump ever so slightly.
It might have been his imagination because Wonbeom still maintained perfect posture.
“Still, from now on, please don’t handle things so forcefully… It’s… scary.”
He spoke his mind clearly, despite glancing at Wonbeom’s expression as he did so.
Acknowledging this, Wonbeom gave a small nod.
He couldn’t deny it—he had, after all, held Jingyeom’s arm firmly enough to keep him from moving.
“I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“…Okay.”
“But still, send me ten photos.”
Wonbeom added that this had nothing to do with what just happened, clearly wanting those photos badly.
He emphasized, yet again, not to send any to Director Sun.
Jingyeom unlinked his clasped fingers and stood up.
“Alright. I’ll send them only to you, hyung.”
“Good.”
Jingyeom instinctively clenched his fingertips as he noticed the lingering smile on Wonbeom’s face.
It was nothing like Soohyuk’s usual smile.
Not long after, Jinwoo returned, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
Though Jingyeom tried not to show it, his body relaxed the moment Jinwoo entered the hospital room, and his tension melted away.
Surprisingly, Wonbeom rose to his feet as soon as Jinwoo stepped in.
He walked briskly toward the door, even taking the coffee cup from Jinwoo’s hand before Jinwoo had a chance to come in fully.
“Get some rest.”
“Are you leaving?”
Jinwoo, looking a bit taken aback, had expected him to stay longer.
Still, he moved aside to let Wonbeom pass, only managing a brief farewell.
“Take care.”
“Yeah.”
As Wonbeom left, a few bodyguards outside followed him.
Jinwoo, watching his exit with a puzzled expression, turned back into the room.
Jinwoo approached Jingyeom, who was still sitting on the bed, and reached out, startled to see Jingyeom’s flushed cheeks.
Feeling the warmth against his cool fingers, Jinwoo quickly pulled his hand back.
“Jingyeom, are you feeling unwell? Your face is so red…”
“Huh? My face?”
Since Jingyeom couldn’t see his own face, he blinked in surprise, then rubbed his cheeks with his palms, guessing they’d reddened from the recent exchange, and fanned his face.
“Maybe it’s just a bit warm.”
“I was worried… If you were that hot, you should’ve told the President.”
Jinwoo had lowered the heater a bit, but it took a while for Jingyeom’s face to return to its usual color.
“Jingyeom, are you going to shower now?”
“No, I’ll watch this first and then shower.”
Jingyeom was watching a drama that was currently topping the ratings.
Insisting on watching it live, he wouldn’t budge from the couch.
Jinwoo, sitting alongside him, didn’t quite understand the appeal.
The plot was filled with one unbelievable event after another, yet he focused hard, analyzing it to engage Jingyeom in conversation.
Jinwoo’s gaze softened as he watched Jingyeom, unable to take his eyes off the TV.
A faint smile touched his lips before slowly fading.
‘He doesn’t seem to be on his phone much these days…’
He used to be inseparable from it, yet now he barely touched it, aside from occasionally messaging a couple of friends.
Even mobile games seemed to hold no interest anymore.
‘If I’d known, I would’ve asked for help sooner.’
While it was a relief not to worry about Jeong Sanho and Baek Myungjun anymore, there was still an unsettling feeling.
The matter had already ended, but had he involved Wonbeom sooner, Jingyeom might never have ended up like this.
‘…Though I wouldn’t have been able to express my feelings.’
Not that he ever intended to share them in the first place.
‘Maybe it’s for the best.’
He would’ve never had the courage to confess, not in his lifetime.
‘It seems like he’s more aware of me now, though.’
Jingyeom’s every action hinted at his growing awareness.
He tried to be discreet, but his clear, expressive eyes and open expressions were impossible to mask.
‘How is he supposed to get by with such innocence?’
Before, he worried Jingyeom might get taken advantage of, but now, he feared he’d trust others too easily and end up hurt.
‘Guess I’ll just have to watch over him forever.’
Jinwoo reached out, lightly ruffling Jingyeom’s hair.
Jingyeom, absorbed in the drama, blinked in surprise and turned to look at him.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just watch your show.”
As Jinwoo continued to gently play with Jingyeom’s hair, Jingyeom, momentarily puzzled, returned his attention to the TV.
However, the piercing gaze from the side made him turn around again.
“What is it?”
“Just… your hair’s grown out. I thought maybe it’s time for a trim.”
“Oh, right. It is a hassle to dry.”
“I always help you with that.”
“…I meant it’s a hassle for you.”
Jingyeom, pouting slightly, responded curtly.
Jinwoo chuckled and leaned his forehead against Jingyeom’s shoulder, casually wrapping an arm around his slender waist.
Jingyeom fidgeted, clearly unused to such close proximity now.
“It’s no trouble at all. Even if you grew it down to your toes, I’d dry it for you.”
“I wouldn’t grow it that long. I’ll cut it if I have to go out.”
“Got it. I’ll stop distracting you—go on, watch your show.”
This time, Jingyeom didn’t bother to respond, instead bumping his head firmly against Jinwoo’s.
Jinwoo, despite letting out a pained noise, didn’t pull away until Jingyeom adjusted his posture.
Even while his eyes stayed on the drama, Jinwoo’s words lingered in his mind, unable to fade.
‘…Forever.’
He’d tried to keep his distance, convinced that was the right thing to do.
Yet every time he attempted to pull back, Jinwoo’s sad eyes made him waver, unable to bring himself to move away.
He felt frustrated with himself.
‘What am I supposed to do?’
The answer was obvious, but reaching it felt so unbearably difficult.
* * *
Thanks
Poor gyeomm, he must be confused
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