I am not a Yandere EPILOGUE 9

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As he took his time savoring it, Jihoon commented,

“If you eat that slowly, it’ll melt in no time. The weather’s brutal.”

Sure enough, under the blazing sun, the ice cream began to succumb to the heat.

As the melting vanilla dripped stickily onto his hand, Yeongdeok grimaced.

“Annoying,” he muttered.

Watching him struggle, Jihoon suddenly scooted closer, narrowing the gap between them.

“Hyung, can I have a taste too?”

The ice cream, now losing its form, didn’t exactly look appetizing.

As Yeongdeok hesitated, wondering why Jihoon would even want a bite, Jihoon grabbed his wrist and pulled it toward him.

Leaning in, Jihoon began licking the melted ice cream from Yeongdeok’s hand.

The ticklish sensation on his skin made Yeongdeok’s shoulders flinch.

As he tried to pull away, Jihoon tightened his grip, preventing any escape.

The sound of Jihoon’s deliberate licks filled the air, sending shivers down Yeongdeok’s spine with every stroke of his soft tongue against his hand.

Jihoon’s sultry gaze flickered up at him, smoldering with intensity.

With calculated precision, Jihoon cleaned up the sticky mess before finally pulling back.

What remained in Yeongdeok’s hand was no longer ice cream but a lingering electric tingle.

“You paid for it. Wouldn’t want it to go to waste. Hurry up and finish,” Jihoon said casually.

“It’s not like I’m broke,” Yeongdeok retorted.

“Well, I don’t like wasting anything you drop, hyung,” Jihoon teased with a sly grin.

There was something so tempting about Jihoon’s actions that Yeongdeok felt a tug deep within, only to realize it was all because Jihoon hated wastefulness.

Feeling oddly deflated, he shot Jihoon a pointed look.

“If you want another ice cream, just say so. I’ll buy you a fresh one. Don’t go eating what other people drop.”

“…Now I’m pissed.”

In the end, Yeongdeok couldn’t finish his melted ice cream and tossed it away.

They spent the next while relaxing under the parasol until it was time for dinner.

Watching the beachgoers leaving the water one by one, Jihoon suggested,

“Shall we grab dinner now?”

“That sounds good.”

They returned the parasol and mat, then looked up the location of the seafood restaurant they’d picked out during trip planning.

Walking along the sandy shore, they watched the sun dip below the horizon.

“Beautiful,” Jihoon murmured, snapping photo after photo with his phone.

The vibrant crimson hues blanketing the sky seemed overwhelming, almost apocalyptic.

Yeongdeok offered his own interpretation.

“It feels like watching the world end.”

“…You always say the weirdest things,” Jihoon replied, shaking his head, though a small smile tugged at his lips.

“It’s a shame this is only a two-day trip,” Jihoon added wistfully.

“There’s still over six hours left today. But next time, let’s plan a longer trip—maybe overseas.”

“Really? You promise?” Jihoon extended his pinky finger.

Yeongdeok, knowing such gestures lacked the binding weight of a contract, still entwined his pinky with Jihoon’s.

“…Want to walk to the restaurant holding hands?” Jihoon asked cautiously.

“Do as you like,” Yeongdeok replied with feigned indifference.

Jihoon let their pinkies separate only to clasp Yeongdeok’s hand fully.

Together, they strolled along the shore, waves lapping against the backdrop of cheerful chatter.

For Yeongdeok, the scene felt unexpectedly heartwarming.

At the seafood restaurant, they ordered a medium sashimi platter and a bottle of soju.

The sashimi was firm and tender, the perfect balance of flavors.

They ended their meal with a hearty bowl of spicy fish stew before leaving the restaurant, content.

“You’re becoming quite the commoner, Cha Yeongdeok. Eating fish stew like it’s nothing,” Jihoon teased, playfully patting his shoulder.

Yeongdeok narrowed his eyes, suspicious that half a bottle of soju might have gone to Jihoon’s head.

“Are you drunk?”

“This is nothing. Oh! How about one last drink by the sea before heading back to the hotel?”

Spotting a convenience store ahead, they agreed. Jihoon picked out an apple-flavored beer, while Yeongdeok opted for a soju pack.

Outside, beneath a now-dark sky illuminated by a brightly lit rainbow bridge, they sat on a bench near the sand.

“Cheers, hyung,” Jihoon said, cracking open his can.

“You really think of everything,” Yeongdeok muttered, punctuating his words with a clink of their drinks.

The crisp sea breeze, paired with the quiet lapping of the waves, made for a serene atmosphere.

“Hyung.”

“What is it now?”

“I like you.”

Startled, Yeongdeok turned from the sea to face Jihoon, who wore an earnest expression.

“What’s with the sudden confession?”

“Maybe it’s the mood. I just felt like saying it.”

Jihoon’s unfiltered admission sent a ripple through Yeongdeok’s chest.

Though caught off guard, he found himself softening.

“I like you too.”

Jihoon’s eyes shimmered with emotion, a moment coinciding with fireworks blooming over the sea.

“Really, hyung, I love you,” Jihoon said, his voice thick with feeling.

“You’re full of surprises tonight,” Yeongdeok replied, though a rare, gentle smile graced his lips.

With their drinks finished, they stood to leave.

As they disposed of their trash, Yeongdeok reached for Jihoon’s hand.

“Let’s head back now.”

“…Okay.”

Jihoon entwined their fingers, the gesture firm yet tender.

“…You’re really something,” Yeongdeok said with a resigned chuckle.

Jihoon simply grinned, silently promising to hold on tighter, and they walked back to the hotel, hands still clasped.

As soon as they returned to the hotel, Yeongdeok headed straight to the shower.

The lingering salt on his skin left him feeling uncomfortable.

The warm water from the showerhead enveloped his body as he turned it on.

Yeongdeok slowly reflected on the events of the day.

Memories of Jihoon’s touch on his hair and the sensation of his tongue on his hand made those feelings resurface vividly.

In an attempt to shake off the unnecessary thoughts, Yeongdeok switched the water to cold, jolting himself awake.

After his shower, he stepped out, ruffling his damp hair.

Jihoon was seated by the window, gazing at the night view.

The melancholic air around him gave off a certain charm, and Yeongdeok found himself staring before finally walking over.

“Seo Jihoon. The bathroom’s free.”

“Oh, you’re out.”

Jihoon grabbed a change of clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.

Yeongdeok sat exactly where Jihoon had been, taking in the view.

The hotel boasted the best scenery, and it lived up to the claim.

The large bridge they had seen earlier from the beach was now visible in its full glory beyond the massive window.

As Yeongdeok admired the view, Jihoon, now done with his shower, approached him.

Yeongdeok gave him a fleeting glance before returning his gaze outside.

“Good thing we chose this hotel, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, it’s great.”

Despite the identical chair opposite Yeongdeok, Jihoon stood near him.

Curious about his reluctance to sit, Yeongdeok was about to ask when Jihoon broke the silence first.

“Hyung.”

Jihoon’s deep voice carried an unusual seriousness.

His gaze, like that of an anxious puppy, compelled Yeongdeok to respond.

“What is it?”

“Can I… kiss you?”

Though they’d already kissed before, Jihoon was tense, as if it were their first.

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