* * *

“What, what are you talking about?!”

Startled, Saewoo shouted, but Jibeom didn’t pay any attention and reached for the cheese.

“Alright, let’s give it a try.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…!”

Saewoo, flustered, quickly hung onto Jibeom’s arm to stop him, intending to prevent him from eating if any inappropriate intentions were involved.

“Then should I not eat it?”

Still, it would be disappointing if he didn’t eat it after Saewoo had gone to the trouble of preparing it.

“You… you jerk…”

Jibeom grinned as he watched Saewoo’s face turn as red as a burning ember.

He had always found teasing Saewoo amusing.

His reactions were instant, and although he whimpered as if scared when Jibeom growled a little, he would still stubbornly stand his ground, just like now.

Tap.

“…Just eat it. I’ll make it for you, so just take it in one bite.”

Saewoo arranged the cheese, fruit, and nuts himself and offered them to Jibeom.

“Ah—.”

“…”

This time, Jibeom opened his mouth wide, as if he wanted to be fed.

Saewoo made a face as though he’d bitten into something bitter, but he quickly gave in and fed the food into Jibeom’s mouth.

“…?”

Contrary to what he expected, Jibeom didn’t just chew a couple of times and swallow.

Instead, he mimicked Saewoo, chewing slowly and nodding slightly as if savoring it.

Only after a while did he gulp it down and take a sip of herbal tea, mirroring the final gesture as well.

“Hmm, it’s good.”

“…Really?”

Saewoo, wondering if Jibeom was teasing him again, glanced at him suspiciously.

But Jibeom picked up another piece of fruit from the tray and popped it into his mouth—it was a raspberry.

“Though personally, I prefer something a bit sweeter.”

Saewoo liked sweet things too, but he had to restrain himself due to sugar control.

“Want some?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll eat it all.”

“W-wait…! You can’t do that!”

Saewoo shouted, making it clear that he didn’t intend to give everything up, and they bantered back and forth for a while.

Later, they talked about various topics until the herbal tea cooled.

The conversation mainly revolved around food—favorite dishes, disliked snacks, drinks they couldn’t handle.

Their discussion naturally led to the differences between predators and regular animal-folk, revealing to Saewoo that Jibeom’s taste wasn’t as picky as he’d assumed and that he could maintain his energy even without eating much.

Saewoo couldn’t help but envy Jibeom’s stamina.

Thud.

“What are you doing tomorrow?”

Jibeom lightly nudged Saewoo’s foot under the blanket as he asked.

“Tomorrow? Hmm… Oh, I’m planning to go to the hair salon. I meant to go today but forgot.”

“The hair salon? For a haircut?”

“Yes, it’s gotten a bit messy…”

Saewoo ran his fingers through his hair, which had grown out due to a scar that needed covering.

“Want me to cut it for you?”

“What…? No.”

“What’s this? You’re rejecting me without even considering it?”

“…”

“I’ve cut all the kids’ hair up till now, you know.”

Jibeom rummaged in his pocket as if he had pictures of the hairstyles he’d done saved on his phone, finding Saewoo’s indifferent response frustrating.

“It’s fine; you don’t need to show me…”

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

‘It’s not about belief or disbelief…’

Saewoo recalled the henchmen who had always followed Jibeom around.

Their hairstyles were all the same, regardless of his skill.

“Let me see. I just need to trim a little.”

Jibeom swept Saewoo’s hair away from his forehead, revealing the round, pale surface.

His large hand touching the skin made Saewoo shrink back instinctively.

“Your forehead’s pretty prominent. Did you bump it or something?”

“What are you talking about? Of course, foreheads are… don’t touch… Ahh…!”

When Jibeom’s fingers moved past the hairline to massage the spot near Saewoo’s ear, a high-pitched sound slipped out before he could stop it.

“What was that sound?”

“I-It’s because it hurts! I told you to stop…!”

Saewoo quickly swatted Jibeom’s hand away and turned his head.

His heart pounded so hard it felt like it was beating in his face instead of his chest.

He was sure his cheeks were as red as tomatoes.

“Alright, alright. So, aside from the hair salon, you have no other plans?”

Jibeom backed off as if he wouldn’t push further.

“…Why? Do you want to eat?”

Saewoo, calming down a bit, glanced at Jibeom and sighed softly.

Doing something, anything, seemed better than being swept up in this atmosphere.

Eating could happen now, not tomorrow.

“How about eating now…?”

“Now?”

“Yes, I’ll cook something for you. That way, we can settle a meal.”

Saewoo thought it was a simple way to repay Jibeom.

“…”

But Jibeom just stared at him without saying a word, suddenly looking serious after his earlier teasing.

“Why do you…?”

“It’s still valid.”

“What, what is…?”

“The idea of handling everything in one go.”

“…!”

It dawned on Saewoo that Jibeom hadn’t given up at all.

It wasn’t shocking now, but it felt unfair that Jibeom didn’t seem to take it seriously.

Saewoo wondered if Jibeom had really understood what he’d said.

Or maybe, unlike Saewoo, it hadn’t struck Jibeom as deeply.

Predators were known to be that way—completely self-serving, quick-tempered, and utterly wicked…

[There are evil people other than predators, too. I’m sure you’ve experienced that, Saewoo.]

Thump.

As he reinforced his own bias, Baekseol’s words suddenly came to mind, along with memories of Jibeom’s behavior toward him.

‘Self-serving and hot-tempered… but not really that recently. And wicked… doesn’t quite fit either…’

Thinking back to Jibeom’s face breaking into a laugh, cheeks puffed with playfulness, the idea of him being wicked felt far-fetched.

What did Jibeom really want from him? If they resolved everything at once… then what would happen after…?

‘Could it be… the end?’

If that were the case, Saewoo wouldn’t be able to suggest simple meals together anymore.

Worse, their relationship might become strained to the point of never seeing each other again.

‘Never again…’

The thought brought a sting to his nose.

“…No.”

At that moment, Jibeom, who had been watching Saewoo closely, whispered softly and pulled back.

“Why the long face…? It’s a joke. I don’t force myself on someone who doesn’t want it. Don’t worry. I’m not that type of guy.”

“…”

“I might have thought of trying, but not now.”

Jibeom reassured Saewoo, who was hunched over with tension, that he’d never cross the line again and even pulled tissues from the box by the sofa.

“I’m not going to devour you, so why are you tearing up? Here.”

“…I’m not crying.”

“Yeah, right. You were just about to.”

“…”

Saewoo indeed felt like crying, but not for the reason Jibeom might think.

What really weighed on him was the thought that if they crossed that line, their current relationship might disappear completely.

Perhaps this was because, since being drawn into this world, Jibeom was the first person besides the main characters with whom he’d formed a bond.

Although not quite friends or lovers, they were sharing the same space now.

“Well, since I got some tea from you, I’ll be on my way…”

When Saewoo still didn’t say a word, Jibeom seemed unsure and stood up.

Saewoo reached out and grabbed the hem of Jibeom’s clothes as he tried to move away.

“Uh… Jibeom.”

This time, it wasn’t an unconscious reaction. He simply wanted to do it.

Saewoo swallowed nervously as he met Jibeom’s gaze.

“That… it’s… okay…”

“That?”

“Yes…”

Although Saewoo didn’t specify what “that” was, his lips moved silently.

Jibeom’s gaze shifted to Saewoo’s lips as if understanding the small signal.

Thump-thump.

At that moment, Saewoo could feel his heart racing.

Was it arrhythmia again?

He made a mental note to pick up his medication tomorrow, but somehow it didn’t seem that important.

“Are you talking about… a kiss?”

“…”

“Am I right?”

Jibeom lifted his eyes to look at Saewoo, wanting a clear answer.

Saewoo felt flustered.

Why was he trying to confirm it now when he’d always kissed him suddenly, without warning and regardless of Saewoo’s feelings?

“This… is it not?”

Jibeom reached out to the silently staring Saewoo.

He gently brushed Saewoo’s flushed lower lip and slipped a finger inside the slightly parted mouth.

“Mm…!”

Saewoo’s body flinched as the blunt finger pressed against the soft inner lining of his mouth, and he bit down hard enough to leave a mark on Jibeom’s finger.

But Jibeom seemed unfazed.

Instead, he curled his lips into a smirk and used his fingers to spread Saewoo’s small mouth wider before pressing his lips over Saewoo’s.

* * *