* * *
There wasn’t actually a problem, aside from how absurdly childish the reason for the scolding was.
“…Was it jealousy.”
Considering the sulky expression, the twitching brows, and everything else—it all added up.
Wonho had been jealous.
And he didn’t deny it, either.
Haebom felt his ears heat up instantly.
He knew Wonho liked him.
He’d even gotten jealous when Haebom was with Jin Seyoung.
But this?
Getting jealous over something this trivial?
It was kind of… embarrassing.
“Why aren’t you saying anything.”
“…Huh? Well, I mean… We already agreed on how I’d call her.”
“Then call me something even more familiar. Right? I’m your boyfriend. The person closest to you in the world.”
Wonho’s brow furrowed deeper.
His determined expression made it clear he wasn’t backing down.
Haebom let out a groan.
And then—he suddenly felt wronged.
“No…! You call me ‘Yoon Haebom’ too…!”
The moment he said it, he felt even more indignant.
He was the one drawing lines with “Yoon Haebom” or just “hey,” and only calling him “Haebom” when he wanted something.
So why was he the one getting scolded?
Haebom glared at him, and Wonho nodded.
“That’s my bad. I’ve never really called anyone that way before. I won’t anymore. So you stop using surnames with me, too.”
The immediate apology made Haebom groan again.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to—calling him that wasn’t hard—but there was something that got stuck in his throat every time he tried.
“What’s that look for.”
Wonho’s pout had shifted into full-on frustration.
Haebom groaned again.
As lovers, it made sense not to use surnames.
And yet… the reason why Haebom couldn’t bring himself to say Wonho’s name without the surname was—
“…It’s just.”
“What? I didn’t hear that. Haebom. Say it louder.”
Even though they were close, he’d murmured so softly that Wonho leaned in closer.
Haebom flinched at the approach but didn’t back away.
Slowly, he raised his head and met Wonho’s fiery red eyes.
“Guide Choi Yoonseo calls you ‘Hoya’… So it doesn’t feel special.”
In the end, he blurted out what he’d kept to himself.
His face flushed with embarrassment.
But he didn’t look away—he hadn’t done anything wrong.
At Haebom’s words, Wonho furrowed his brows.
To be honest, he’d never realized Yoonseo called him that.
Only now that it was pointed out did he remember it.
He hadn’t even noticed—because he never paid attention.
“Then I’ll tell her to stop. That works, right?”
“Huh? You’ll tell her not to?”
“You said it wasn’t special. So I’ll make it special. Only you can call me that—from now on.”
Chup.
A soft sound followed.
Haebom was still dazed by Wonho’s blunt response when warm lips pressed against his forehead, snapping him back to reality.
“You don’t like that?”
Haebom groaned again and shook his head.
It’s not that he disliked it.
He’d considered other nicknames too, but this was his first relationship, and everything he thought of felt too embarrassing.
Even the most common ones wouldn’t come out of his mouth.
“If you don’t like it, call me something else.”
“…Something else?”
As if reading his mind, Wonho’s suggestion perfectly matched what Haebom had been thinking—and it startled him.
“Yeah. Something else. You know… what people call each other when they’re dating…”
Wonho hesitated, lips parting and closing, before finally clamping shut.
He brought it up, but saying it aloud was just too embarrassing.
His face reddened just like Haebom’s, and the two of them ended up darting their eyes around, faces bright red.
“Then… I’ll call you—without the surname… Ho…”
“…Yeah, Haebom.”
For some reason, the atmosphere had grown awkward, and Haebom eventually raised his hand high, as if surrendering.
If he stayed any longer, he felt like his face might actually explode.
Wonho, his own face flushed bright red, clicked his tongue regretfully.
“Come out and eat. A drunkard needs hangover soup.”
He wanted to watch Haebom fidget and purse his lips shyly, but he figured he wouldn’t be able to handle it himself, so he postponed the pleasure for another time.
Instead, he ran his hand through Haebom’s already tousled hair, messing it up even more.
Then, he got off the bed and helped Haebom up.
“I’m not a drunkard…!”
“Oh, please. You totally messed up last night. I should’ve taken some evidence. I was too busy looking after the drunk to record anything.”
Wonho grumbled playfully as he held Haebom’s hand tightly and led him out of the room.
Haebom let out a quiet sigh of relief at his words.
He clearly remembered getting scolded by Wonho on the bed, but his own memories of being drunk were hazy and broken.
Even if it hadn’t been that bad, the idea of seeing evidence of his drunken self made him cringe.
Haebom silently swore he’d never drink that much again.
Meanwhile, Wonho silently swore he’d definitely film drunk-Haebom next time.
“Okay, now you’re the only person left in the world who calls me ‘Wonho-ya’. So go ahead—call me.”
Haebom, who hadn’t visited the Guide Office in a while, looked bewildered as the door suddenly slammed open and Wonho walked in.
He was sure Wonho had said he was going on assignment—so why was he here?
And what was he even talking about?
“Why aren’t you answering? You’ve been avoiding calling me that because it bothered you, right? Hey—no, wait—Haebom.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Haebom realize what Wonho meant.
He remembered how a few days ago, when he was drunk, he had called Kim Jihyun something overly familiar, even going as far as calling her noona.
Wonho had gotten sulky about it. It wasn’t like he had intentionally stopped calling him that, but Haebom blinked his wide eyes repeatedly, flustered.
“What’s wrong, are you sick? Why are you so spaced out?”
When Haebom didn’t give the answer he wanted, Wonho furrowed his brows and approached with concern.
He pressed his large hand to Haebom’s forehead.
“No fever.”
“I’m not sick. You just surprised me. Mmm… Were you really that bothered I stopped calling you by name?”
He hadn’t said anything about it for days, so Haebom thought he’d let it go.
He hadn’t realized Wonho had been stewing on it all this time.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Haebom reached up, gently brought the hand on his forehead to his cheek, and leaned into it—his way of saying sorry for making you worry.
“Of course I was. And look at this.”
With a smug smile tugging at one corner of his lips, Wonho extended his other hand—his phone.
Wondering what this was about, Haebom shifted his gaze to the screen.
[Choi Yoonseo Guide, I’d appreciate it if you could maintain clear boundaries from now on. We don’t have a personal relationship, and I think you understand what I mean.]
[Huh? Hoya, what’s this all of a sudden? Hoya. – Choi Yoonseo]
[Hoya, please pick up your phone. – Choi Yoonseo]
[Can you at least tell me why you’re doing this? I’m already having a hard time because of Hyunjoon oppa. I can’t take it if you shut me out too. Please. – Choi Yoonseo]
[Take care of your Esper yourself. Also, don’t call me that. Don’t contact me unnecessarily. If you keep calling, I’ll block you. Don’t reply either.]
[This is because of him, right? He told you not to talk to me? Isn’t that a bit much? I’m your friend. Even if you’re paired, this is crossing a line. Hoya, please. – Choi Yoonseo]
[You’re blocked.]
* * *
