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Before Siwoo could properly see Geonho, he first felt coarse fur against his bare chest and stomach. Thick black fur. A sleek muzzle. Pointy ears and red gleaming eyes.
Siwoo stared at Geonho without blinking. For a very long time, he carefully examined his true form.
As expected, he was right. The black dog from his dream was indeed Kang Geonho.
“Amazing…”
Geonho exhaled through his moist nose and very slowly licked Siwoo’s face. His cautious attitude, as if worried about hurting him, was exactly the same as when he was human. Though his tongue was much larger and his body heavier.
As if being forcibly washed, Siwoo’s face became damp. He cautiously reached out his hand. Adopting Geonho’s careful demeanor, he gently stroked just the tips of the black fur. In response, Geonho made a soft sound and nuzzled his face against the small palm, as if asking to be petted properly.
“You’re huge.”
Muttering his impression aloud, Siwoo stroked the large face upwards. The sensation was softer than the fur on his body, and he couldn’t stop touching it.
Kang Geonho’s true form was truly enormous. He looked more like a wolf than a dog. Even though he was wagging his tail gently, he exuded an intimidating aura that seemed to weigh down the air. His appearance was enough to frighten anyone.
The young Kang Taebeom must have been smaller and weaker than his current self. Wasn’t he scared? The more Siwoo looked at Geonho, the more he thought of Taebeom.
“Open your mouth.”
He wondered what Taebeom had thought while watching his brother become violent. How he had endured those moments.
Siwoo examined the canine teeth, which were larger than both his hands put together. His mouth was as enormous as his body. If Geonho opened his mouth fully, it seemed he could swallow Siwoo whole in one gulp.
Geonho whined softly.
When Siwoo leaned his head into Geonho’s mouth, a startled Geonho backed away slightly. Siwoo immediately straightened up and stroked his surprised neck.
“You’re awesome. Like a dog from a movie.”
At the compliment, Geonho’s tail wagged vigorously from side to side. Each time his tail moved, it stirred the air, making Siwoo’s hair flutter.
“I want to touch your tail.”
Geonho immediately presented his tail, wiggling his rear. His excited mood was evident throughout his body. Geonho looked happy and comfortable.
“Your tail is awesome too.”
As the compliments continued, Geonho seemed overjoyed, wiggling his rear so much that Siwoo’s body shook with him. He lay down close, resting his chin firmly on Siwoo’s chest.
Siwoo pet Geonho’s large body firmly and met his eyes. Beneath the soft, fluffy fur, he could feel a muscular, solid body. It seemed his muscle mass was similar whether in human or true form.
“Are you okay?”
After checking Geonho’s pulse, Siwoo hugged him tighter. Although he seemed fine, Siwoo worried if his body was straining, given how long he had hidden his true form.
However, nothing problematic occurred. Except for his extraordinary size, Kang Geonho showed behaviors identical to ordinary dogs. Expressing joy with his whole body and observing human expressions.
He’s so gentle. Why did Kang Taebeom prevent him from transforming into his true form? Another question mark was added.
“You’re really okay?”
Geonho nodded vigorously and burrowed deeper into Siwoo’s embrace. Siwoo chuckled and petted him freely, as if he were a real dog. With a dog like this, he felt he’d really want to raise one.
“If you’re sleepy, just sleep like this.”
He held Geonho’s muzzle, which was tickling his armpit, with both hands and pressed gently. Then, hugging him again, he stroked his tail at length.
“Do whatever is comfortable for you.”
Geonho showed no reaction. Cradled in Siwoo’s arms, he just stared silently at his own tail being gently stroked. Siwoo couldn’t see Geonho’s expression. Even if he could, he probably wouldn’t have been able to read a dog’s emotions.
Only Taebeom knew him inside out.
“Kang Geonho?”
Siwoo tilted his head, startled by the moist sensation on his chest. For a moment, he thought Geonho was drooling. But it wasn’t saliva.
“Are you crying?”
He was tying the black tail fur when he immediately lifted Geonho’s face. He had been so engrossed in playing with the tail that he hadn’t noticed his eyes getting moist.
“Why? Are you not feeling well? Are you in pain?”
He examined Geonho, who was crying silently, while using guiding. Outwardly, he seemed fine. It seemed impossible to know his condition unless he spoke directly.
Eventually, Siwoo told him to return to his human form. He had wanted to let him be more comfortable, but…
Geonho immediately changed at Siwoo’s words. Even after returning to human form, he kept trying to bury his face in Siwoo’s chest.
“Hey, lift your face.”
Siwoo held both of Geonho’s cheeks and forcibly met his gaze. As expected. He was indeed crying.
His reddened eyes were full of moisture. Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, trembling precariously as if about to fall. Geonho wiped them away with his arm.
“Why are you crying?”
Siwoo asked gently as he watched Geonho wipe his tears.
Geonho shook his head, burying his face in Siwoo’s chest again.
“I don’t know.”
“…”
“I guess this is what happens when you’re happy.”
Idiot. You should smile when you’re happy. Why are you crying?
Siwoo replied only in his mind as he gently stroked the back of Geonho’s black head. His chest continued to feel the moist sensation. Geonho cried for a long time in Siwoo’s arms. Without shrugging his shoulders or making a sound. Just silently shedding warm tears.
Siwoo, opening his deeply closed eyes, looked around blankly. Huh? When did he fall asleep?
Dim dawn light was coming through the window, and he was lying in bed. Judging by the freshness of his back, it seemed the sheets had been changed. His body was no longer sticky.
“Sleep more. The sun hasn’t risen yet.”
Geonho, who had been watching Siwoo wake up, covered his seemingly heavy eyelids. He had been lying next to Siwoo, staring at his sleeping face. Siwoo turned towards him and yawned widely. He hadn’t slept for long, but his body felt heavy.
“Ugh…”
“Does it hurt?”
As Siwoo frowned, Geonho immediately pressed close and massaged his waist. He had already massaged every part of his body while washing him, worried that he might be in pain. He swore to his brother that he only gave a massage, nothing else.
“Massage it properly.”
Siwoo turned his back to Geonho and pushed out his waist. His waist, his buttocks, everywhere ached. Even lying still, his whole body throbbed.
“Ah, be gentle.”
“Like this?”
“A bit harder than that. Oh, that’s good.”
Geonho carefully massaged his waist, slightly pulling back his lower body to avoid contact. Perhaps because he was still half-asleep, Siwoo pushed out his buttocks without a care, despite being naked. Geonho tried his best not to look at the plump buttocks.
“Does it hurt anywhere else?”
He had been terrified when Siwoo’s face showed no color as he slept like he had fainted. Even while washing him, there was no sign of waking, so he frequently checked if he was breathing by putting his ear to his nose.
He must have been tired just from the matching rate test, and then dealing with him on top of that would naturally strain his body. Geonho massaged Siwoo’s nape while checking again if his body temperature had risen. Fortunately, there was no fever.
“I had a strange dream a few days ago.”
Siwoo suddenly muttered, looking at the bedside table. On the table was a picture book covered with newspaper.
“What kind of dream?”
“A dog dream.”
Geonho chuckled and naturally provided an arm pillow as he massaged Siwoo’s neck.
“Sounds like a good dream.”
While pressing his slim waist with his thumb, he subtly caressed his pelvis. Siwoo just lay still, staring at the picture book. Thinking Siwoo had fallen asleep again, Geonho kissed the top of his head and massaged his smooth thighs.
“Kang Geonho.”
“Yes.”
Geonho moved his hand up from kneading the thighs and focused on the massage again. Regardless, Siwoo’s attention was fixed on the picture book.
“What’s that book about?”
“What? That book?”
“Does it end with finding family?”
Geonho smiled at the unexpected question and wrapped his arm around the slender waist. He was pleased that Siwoo was showing interest in his treasure. So much that his chest felt tight. Overwhelmingly so.
“No. They don’t find family.”
“They don’t?”
Siwoo turned his head to face Geonho. Surely a children’s picture book wouldn’t end with a sad ending.
“Instead, they meet a new friend.”
Geonho kissed Siwoo’s half-closed eyelids with a soft peck. Siwoo just opened and closed his lips for a moment. They part from family but meet a new friend. Pondering the ending of the picture book, he leaned into Geonho’s embrace and succumbed to the approaching sleep.
He wished he could dream of Kang Taebeom again. With that prayer, he fell asleep, but on this night, Siwoo had such a deep sleep that there was no room for dreams to intervene.
After this, whenever he had the chance, Siwoo sought Kang Taebeom’s memories in his dreams. He wanted to know more about him. Much more than he did now.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
