* * *

The expression was different.

The eyes that had always tried to tempt him by squinting slightly and smiling on purpose were unmistakably different.

It was like a bright light. When Jinwoo smiled, it stopped at “I’m in a good mood,” but when Jingyeom smiled, his lips unconsciously lifted too.

He thought it was strange but not unpleasant.

Wonbeom voiced what he couldn’t ask anyone else.

“Do you think I’ve changed too?”

“Is that even a question? Your expression is totally different. When Cheongoh told me about those sunglasses, I thought you had gone completely crazy.”

The sunglasses, which Jinwoo had accepted against his will, were now neatly stored in Wonbeom’s dressing room.

“I couldn’t believe it when they said you, who never wore sunglasses, had worn them.”

At the time, Soohyuk had even scolded Lee Cheongoh for lying. However, Cheongoh, feeling wronged, secretly showed a photo as evidence.

The photo of Wonbeom wearing Boeing sunglasses was a shock to Soohyuk as well.

Since a certain incident, Wonbeom had disliked having his vision obscured. Moreover, despite his appearance of favoring black, his house was decorated more lavishly than expected.

“Are you okay now?”

“No. …But those sunglasses were okay.”

Ironically, those Boeing sunglasses were fine.

Soohyuk’s eyes widened for a moment as he saw the softness in Wonbeom’s eyes.

‘…This is dangerous.’

Soohyuk tightly closed his lips, immediately recognizing it was not a good sign for him.

---

Jingyeom’s recovery was faster than expected. It seemed that always thinking positively had a good effect.

Even though hospital food was not tasty, he ate diligently and took his medicine regularly. He cooperated during examinations.

After the examinations, he met with Kitaek, a psychiatrist, again to see if there were any changes in his memory.

“How have you been?”

“Good.”

“That’s a relief. Have you remembered anything during that time?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“I see. Have you looked at any albums, old diaries, or journals?”

Jingyeom shook his head.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen any albums while organizing his belongings. There were none among Jinwoo’s piles of books either.

As Jingyeom thought deeply, his head gradually tilted to the side.

‘There really aren’t any photos at all?’

It wasn’t just the album.

He didn’t recall seeing any photos at home.

Not even a small framed picture.

Could they have lost them all while moving? He decided to ask Jinwoo about it later.

Kitaek asked various questions about his memory but stopped when he realized there was nothing particularly helpful.

“How have you been feeling lately?”

“…Good.”

“Have there been times when you felt bad?”

Jingyeom, blinking slowly, nodded.

“Why did you feel bad?”

“…Because of my mistake …Jinwoo got hurt.”

Even though it had only been a month and a week, there were too many times he had hurt Jinwoo’s feelings.

Especially this time, Jinwoo seemed very tired.

When leaving the room for the consultation, Jinwoo had smiled at him, but it was clear that he was exhausted both physically and mentally.

Even Jingyeom, who wasn’t very perceptive, could see that.

He didn’t want to touch Jinwoo’s sensitive spot again.

Honestly, this time was a bit ambiguous to say it was entirely his fault.

He hadn’t been startled on purpose; it was because the man had suddenly slammed the table.

Of course, his body had given warnings before that.

He had felt pain the first day he possessed the body, but it wasn’t severe, and he had never been seriously ill except in special circumstances like allergies, so he had been careless.

He thought it would get better soon. It was a ridiculous notion.

Instead of getting better, it worsened, and eventually, he collapsed and was taken to the hospital.

When he regained consciousness, Jinwoo’s appearance in his vision was pitiful. He hadn’t rested properly or eaten, so his cheeks were sunken, and there were dark circles under his eyes.

It was a sight he never wanted to see again.

Jingyeom’s shoulders drooped, and his lips turned downward. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, and his lips moved restlessly. His moist eyes glistened with tears.

The consultation wasn’t long. It wasn’t for psychological treatment, just a discussion about the current situation.

Thanks to Jingyeom’s honesty, Kitaek gave him a few small tips and ended the consultation.

Jingyeom hurried back to the hospital room. Jinwoo, who had been sitting blankly, flinched at the sound of the door opening loudly.

“Jinwoo!”

“Huh? Oh.”

Jingyeom, who had entered the room and closed the door, quickly approached Jinwoo and spread his thin arms.

Jinwoo, not understanding the situation, remained still as Jingyeom took another step closer.

“Thank you.”

He enveloped Jinwoo in his arms. His arms, having been in the air conditioning, were cold.

“I’m so glad you’re by my side. Really.”

“…Hyung?”

“I’m sorry for hurting you …for making you sad. And…”

Jingyeom released his arms and held Jinwoo’s cheeks with both hands, trying to smile brightly despite looking like he was about to cry.

“I’m sorry …and thank you for waiting.”

“…”

“Our Jinwoo is really strong. So cool.”

He put all his sincerity into each word, hoping his feelings would be conveyed. His hands trembled from the nervousness, and the vibrations reached Jinwoo.

Trying to stop the trembling, he applied more pressure, causing Jinwoo’s cheeks to be squeezed harshly.

With his lips protruding and his eyes wide in surprise, it was a funny face.

What can you do if you’re still handsome despite this?

“Why aren’t you saying anything? At times like this, you should say ‘Hyung is cool too’ or ‘Hyung is strong too.’ Shouldn’t there be a give-and-take?”

Jingyeom grumbled. He had expressed his gratitude, apologies, and admiration, using every word he knew, but all he got in return was Jinwoo’s blank stare.

He understood. It was natural to be surprised by such sudden words. But too much silence made the speaker feel a bit discouraged.

‘Maybe this isn’t right…?’

It was a method Kitaek had suggested. He told him to express all his feelings. So he did, but the response was lukewarm.

Could the method be wrong?

As he loosened his grip on Jinwoo’s cheeks and tried to withdraw his hands, Jinwoo urgently overlapped his own hands on Jingyeom’s, causing Jingyeom’s shoulders to tremble.

Jinwoo’s fingers, filled with strength, tightened around Jingyeom’s thin fingers.

His gaze, fixed on Jingyeom, trembled slightly, seeming somewhat fearful.

He had heard Jingyeom went to meet Kitaek, but hearing apologies and gratitude as soon as he arrived felt strange.

Was he referring to not being able to get up for a week, or did he mean the time when he had lost his memory?

Jinwoo couldn’t grasp the situation.

“…Did your memory come back?”

If his memory had returned, he wouldn’t be acting like this towards him. That’s how it had always been.

Could it be that his memory had returned and now he remembered both his old and new memories?

Jingyeom shook his head slowly at Jinwoo’s weak voice.

“Huh? No …Sorry, nothing’s come back.”

Because he wasn’t really Baek Jingyeom. His memories would never return.

He expected Jinwoo to be disappointed by his words. But Jinwoo’s reaction was unexpected.

The trembling in his eyes subsided, and the strength in his fingers holding Jingyeom’s hands eased.

He seemed relieved, despite knowing it was an odd thought.

Watching Jinwoo sigh, Jingyeom tilted his head in confusion.

“…Do you want me to regain my memory?”

It was strange to hear Jinwoo ask if his memory had returned, especially after he had said not to worry about it before.

If Jinwoo wanted him to regain his memory, what should he do?

But contrary to Jinyeom’s worries, Jinwoo shook his head.

“You don’t need to find it. It’s okay to live like this. I’ll take better care of you from now on. I’ll make sure you’re not in pain. I’ll always be by your side.”

Without pausing, Jinwoo spilled out his words, then reached out an arm and wrapped it around Jinyeom’s waist, pulling him close.

Jinyeom naturally ended up between Jinwoo’s legs, as Jinwoo was sitting on the edge of the bed.

Jinwoo brushed the white hand on his cheek over his shoulder and leaned in to place his ear against Jinyeom’s chest.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

He knew it was the sound of a heartbeat, but technically it was the sound of valves opening and closing. And for Jinyeom, who had a weak heart, it was a crucial sound.

The steady rhythm began to speed up, and Jinwoo could feel the change directly through his ear.

Jinwoo smiled slightly and asked, “Why are you nervous?”

“…Me? I’m not nervous.”

“The sound sped up. Isn’t your heart rate going up?”

When Jinwoo tried to check his wristwatch, Jinyeom quickly clasped his hands behind his back.

“Why aren’t you showing me?”

“Me? No, I just felt like putting my hands behind my back.”

As Jinwoo squinted up at him, Jinyeom slowly averted his gaze, then gradually tilted his chin up and turned his head to the side completely.

“You’re not going to collapse again, are you?”

“…No.”

“Even now, I can hear your heartbeat too loudly. …I like it.”

He didn’t care about the sound of other people’s hearts, whether they beat slow or fast, or if they sounded strange. But thinking it was Jinyeom’s heart made him feel at ease.

The week Jinyeom had spent lying in bed was nothing short of hell. He never wanted to go through it again.

If Jinyeom could be healthy, just staying by his side without doing anything would be enough for him.

He wanted to live just the two of them, with no one else by their side for the rest of their lives.

* * *