* * *

No matter how much he wanted to escape the cold, this was too much.

“What’s this? You walked in like you’ve been waiting for this moment.”

“I-I was just too cold! I’ll leave in a bit….”

Saewoo couldn’t bring himself to look Jibeom in the face.

He mumbled while practically burying his head into Jibeom’s warm chest.

The warmth, likely thanks to his larger frame, was unlike anything else, even wrapping around his back.

“You were going to call a cab, right? Did you decide where you’re going?”

“Not yet… Wait a second. Where are we right now…?”

Peeking out from between Jibeom’s coat, Saewoo cautiously glanced around.

“Huh? This place…”

He hadn’t noticed before, but the surroundings seemed familiar.

It wasn’t an area he frequented, so he was confused until he saw a high-rise building across the street and turned to Jibeom.

“That’s… where you live, right?”

“Hmm, seems so. Looks like we ended up here.”

Judging by Jibeom’s indifferent tone, it didn’t seem like he’d led them here on purpose.

‘Well, he’s not some thug or anything… It’s not like he’d intentionally shut down a bunch of perfectly fine restaurants.’

Saewoo, who not long ago had thought of Jibeom as a delinquent, had conveniently forgotten his past misgivings and easily accepted the situation.

Sniff, sniff.

As he took in the surroundings, a savory scent tickled his nose.

If his memory was correct, it was a very familiar and nostalgic smell.

“Oh…!”

Sniffing around like a dog, Saewoo suddenly wriggled out of Jibeom’s arms as if he’d discovered something.

“Over there, over there…!”

At the end of the street, where the sidewalk gave way to the road, Saewoo spotted the source of the delicious smell.

“What is it?”

“Fish-shaped bread! Bungeoppang!”

Saewoo grabbed Jibeom’s arm and dragged him toward the stall.

“Wow, they sell bungeoppang in this world too!”

“This world?”

“Ah, nothing! I’m just so happy… Ha ha….”

Realizing his slip, Saewoo quickly changed the subject.

“Hope they have custard ones too. Do you like custard or red bean paste, Jibeom?”

“…Are you planning to make this your dinner?”

“No, not really….”

He had some sense of decency. He wasn’t planning to call it a meal.

“They just look so tasty….”

Saewoo’s gaze was fixed on the golden-brown bungeoppang lined up neatly on the grill.

“Well, if something looks good, you’ve got to try it.”

Even as Jibeom agreed, his eyes weren’t on the bungeoppang—they were on Saewoo.

“Right?”

“Mm.”

“Now, where’s my cash…?”

Preoccupied with the thought of eating bungeoppang, Saewoo rummaged through his pockets, oblivious to Jibeom’s lingering gaze.

When he pulled out a small coin pouch embroidered with a tiny sparrow, Jibeom chuckled softly.

Of course he carries something like this.

“Where’d you get that?”

“What? Ah, excuse me! Sir, can I get four bungeoppang? Wow, only 200 won each! Then I’ll take five.”

“Excited, aren’t you?”

“Totally!”

Just as Jibeom said, Saewoo was completely thrilled.

Back in the human world, bungeoppang sometimes cost as much as 1,000 won each, so the affordable price had him practically bouncing with joy.

“What do you like, Jibeom? I got half custard, half red bean because I like both. Oh, and one more red bean!”

As Saewoo handed over the payment, he asked Jibeom about his preference.

“I like custard. Not a fan of red bean.”

“Wait… You don’t like red bean?”

Saewoo hadn’t expected Jibeom to have such a sweet tooth.

He regretted his decision to buy a mix. If he’d known, he would’ve gotten all custard ones.

He silently scolded himself for not checking Jibeom’s preferences beforehand.

That’s unexpected.

He’s got such a babyish taste….

When Saewoo tried to offer Jibeom the custard bungeoppang he had set aside for himself, Jibeom firmly declined.

“Give me a warm one.”

“A warm one? Hold on… This one’s red bean, so… Oh!”

As Saewoo fumbled with the paper bag, his fingers brushed against a hot piece of bungeoppang, and he yelped in pain.

“See? I told you it was hot.”

“I-It’s fine… Wait, this one’s… Oh no!”

Just as Jibeom reached out to help, a custard-filled bungeoppang burst, splattering hot cream onto his palm.

“Your hand…!”

Startled, Saewoo grabbed the bungeoppang by the tail and threw it aside.

He felt bad for the wasted treat but couldn’t risk Jibeom getting burned.

He quickly tried to wipe off the cream with his sleeve, but a red mark had already formed where the hot filling had landed.

Saewoo’s heart sank.

“I’m fine.”

Despite what Saewoo expected, Jibeom didn’t overreact.

He casually slid his hand into his coat pocket as if it was no big deal.

Seeing this, Saewoo raised his voice.

“Hey, don’t just stick it in your pocket! Give me your hand! It’ll get worse if you leave it like that!”

Jibeom already had one hand bandaged from a previous cut.

Saewoo couldn’t bear the thought of his other hand getting hurt too.

“Let’s go quickly!”

“Where to?”

“To your place! We need to rinse it and make sure it’s okay!”

Saewoo’s voice, trembling with worry, grew louder as his eyes began to glisten with unshed tears.

But Jibeom, watching him with an unreadable expression, asked in a low voice.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Huh?”

Saewoo blinked up at him, his innocent eyes completely oblivious.

“…Never mind.”

Jibeom gave a curt reply and finally followed Saewoo’s lead.

°❀•°❀°•❀°

Once they reached Jibeom’s apartment, Saewoo headed straight for the kitchen.

Turning on the faucet, he started rinsing Jibeom’s hand under cold water.

In his haste, he splashed water everywhere, soaking both of them, but Saewoo didn’t care.

“Looks like it’s just a bit red, but… Does it hurt?”

“No. It wasn’t even that hot.”

“How could it not be hot?! Custard filling is practically molten!”

“Okay, okay. Let’s say it was hot.”

“Don’t just brush it off like that….”

If it hurts, it’s only natural to feel upset….

The unspoken words swirled in Saewoo’s mind.

It wasn’t just unnecessary concern.

He knew firsthand how miserable it felt to be in pain.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have insisted on bungeoppang….”

As Saewoo regretted his earlier excitement, Jibeom noticed how wet his clothes were.

“What about your clothes?”

“Huh? Oh….”

Saewoo finally realized his sleeves and shirt were soaked.

“I’ll lend you something. Go change.”

“Thanks… Wait, change and go where?”

“You said it yourself—everything’s closed. Doesn’t seem like today’s your day. Or do you not want to go home?”

“I-I didn’t mean it like that! I just wanted to eat together, but fine. Where’s the closet?”

“Near the front door, on the right. Take whatever you like.”

“Got it. Don’t complain later if I take anything!”

With that, Saewoo stomped off toward the closet, trying to sound confident.

Why do I feel so….

He stopped in his tracks, his chest tight and his face warm.

Even his breath came out in quick, frustrated huffs.

Frustrated?

Saewoo froze in place. Why would he feel frustrated?

He shook his head, muttering to himself.

“It’s because I wasted so much time coming here just to get nothing done.”

Saewoo, having come to his own conclusion, stepped into the dressing room and pulled open the first wardrobe drawer in sight.

From the pile, he quickly picked out a plain T-shirt and changed without hesitation.

°❀•°❀°•❀°

“That kid… completely oblivious, as always.”

While Saewoo was in the dressing room changing clothes, Jibeom clenched and unclenched his lowered hands, letting out a deep sigh.

[Let’s eat, then. Together.]

He hadn’t gone to see Saewoo with the intention of eating in the first place, but seeing the younger man look so bewildered left him no choice but to suggest it.

“And yet, here comes this reckless little bird…”

The image of Saewoo fussing over Jibeom’s hand just moments ago flashed in his mind.

Seeing him in his wet clothes, half-transparent and clinging to his skin, Jibeom couldn’t shake the feeling that something had to be done.

It wasn’t like he was in heat or anything that might make him lose control, but for Saewoo’s sake—having wandered into the predator’s den, no, the leopard’s lair—he needed to be sent out quickly.

Jibeom firmly resolved to keep his self-control, at least for today.

“…Uh, Jibeom.”

As Jibeom wiped down the surrounding surfaces and dried his hands, Saewoo’s hesitant voice reached his ears.

“What? Are you done changing…?”

Turning without a second thought, Jibeom froze in place.

“This shirt… It’s a bit much…”

Peeking into the kitchen, Saewoo wore a large, pink T-shirt—so oversized he didn’t even remember owning such a garment.

The shirt, much bigger than Saewo’s slight frame, slid off his shoulder, exposing the pale skin beneath.

The sleeves were so long they completely covered his hands, and the hem hung low enough to reach just below his hips, making pants unnecessary.

“Don’t you have… anything smaller?”

Saewoo awkwardly tugged at the exposed shoulder, his expression embarrassed as he spoke.

Jibeom’s earlier resolve shattered completely.

Without thinking, he took a step toward Saewoo.

* * *