Not just that day— The day he came to see me when I was alone in the ER. He hates hospitals. So why did Bae Jung-yoon come find me there? If, like he said, he only cared about himself, then showing up didn’t make any sense.
“If you hadn’t come to me, none of this would’ve put you in danger.”
He didn’t specify exactly when “that time” was, but the context was enough to figure it out. As expected, Bae Jung-yoon seemed to grasp what Go Hoon meant right away. But his answer caught Go Hoon off guard.
“Because I didn’t want to see you get hurt.”
Go Hoon raised an eyebrow. Was that really coming out of the same mouth that just said he was the most important person to himself? There was something off about that line.
It sounded like… like I was more important to him than he was to himself. But the one who said it didn’t seem to notice the contradiction at all.
Go Hoon debated pointing it out, but shook his head instead.
No. No need to take it seriously. The only reason Bae Jung-yoon’s acting all tender is because he needs me. He has no other motive. He needs Go Hoon—the one who can be Kkongddeok-i.
Settling on that thought, Hoon stared at him. His gaze landed on Bae Jung-yoon’s forehead.
“You must’ve been annoyed, ending up in the hospital because of me.”
He dropped his eyes toward the edge of the table and spoke with a half-joking tone, trying to ease the sudden awkwardness in the air.
“What pissed me the fuck off was waking up and not seeing you next to me.”
But Bae Jung-yoon didn’t miss a beat. Hoon flinched and looked up. Those glossy, sharp eyes were locked onto him.
“At first I was angry. But after a while, there was only one thing on my mind.”
“……”
“I missed you.”
His voice, low and direct, made Hoon’s fingertips tremble before he even realized.
His heart pounded harder.
Thump. Thump.
The deep thudding grew louder, and suddenly, Go Hoon questioned it.
Why does my heart race like this when I see him? At first, I thought it was fear—but maybe it’s not just that.
Just as the thought started to settle, Bae Jung-yoon leaned in, resting his chin on one hand.
“I think I’ve completely fallen for you.”
Watching him smile with his eyes, Hoon repeated the thought over and over.
That’s not meant for me.
That line was for Kkongddeok-i. Not for Go Hoon the person—but for his cat, Kkongddeok-i.
He never imagined he’d have to split himself into two like this. It was absurd—and a little bitter.
In the end, both of them are me. So why do I feel like I have to see them as separate?
It’s because of the person sitting right in front of me.
Go Hoon moved his hand. He tapped the kiosk and added a bottle of soju to the order. Maybe because of the sudden action, Bae Jung-yoon furrowed his brow.
“You’re gonna drink?”
“Yeah. But not you. You have to drive.”
He nodded shamelessly. Out of nowhere, he was craving alcohol. He just wanted to wash away this vague, tangled feeling building inside him.
“No. Don’t drink. You had blood drawn today.”
Naturally, Bae Jung-yoon tried to stop him. But Go Hoon had no intention of listening.
“What does that have to do with anything? I’ll just have one bottle.”
Ignoring the warning, he quickly hit the order button.
***
He was getting drunk. After two bottles of soju, his face—and even the back of his neck—were burning hot.
Normally, that much would’ve been just enough to get pleasantly tipsy. But today, the alcohol was hitting harder than usual.
After pairing a bite of grilled eel with another shot, he felt the urge to pee and headed to the bathroom. By the time he returned, Bae Jung-yoon had already paid the bill.
Probably just a cheap move to stop him from drinking more.
Go Hoon didn’t bother asking why he paid. He was too weighed down—his body heavy with alcohol, his mind sluggish—to argue.
“Go wait in the car,” Bae Jung-yoon said, then disappeared somewhere.
Hoon sat blankly with the window open, eyes blinking slowly. Then, suddenly, a hangover drink appeared in front of his face.
“Drink this.”
Bae Jung-yoon looked down at him, blank-faced. So that’s where he went—probably a convenience store nearby.
“…You really go all out with these hangover drinks.”
Hoon grumbled, sounding annoyed, but still took the bottle without protest. He unscrewed the cap and gulped it down.
When he finished, Bae Jung-yoon shoved a massive bottle of water into his arms.
“Drink all of this too.”
All of this? Was he serious? Did he really expect him to drink this whole thing?
Hoon stared in disbelief at the 1.5-liter bottle of raisin tree tea.
“Dude, this size is excessive…”
“Finish it before we get home. Sober up.”
Ignoring the complaints, Bae Jung-yoon gave the command in a firm, no-nonsense tone.
Harsh. Just because I drank alone, does he really have to go this far?
He was already full from eating so much meat. And now they expected him to fill up on water too? With a furrowed brow, he glared at the water bottle. From the driver’s seat, Bae Jung-yoon was watching him.
Left with no choice, Go Hoon sluggishly reached out and unscrewed the cap. At that moment, Bae Jung-yoon shifted gears and suddenly started the car.
Water spilled out and soaked him—his T-shirt and even his pants were drenched. Hoon stared blankly at the scene of the “accident,” too stunned to react right away. When he finally did, it came out a beat too late.
“…Hey.”
His glare practically said, You did that on purpose, didn’t you? When he turned to him with a scowl, Bae Jung-yoon pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile. As if that weren’t enough, he added in a completely unapologetic tone:
“Ah, sorry.”
This bastard totally did it on purpose. Still squinting, Hoon let out a short, dry laugh.
He debated closing the bottle in protest, but he was thirsty and gave up the idea. Gripping the bottle with both hands, he tilted his head back and drank. The water had a nutty aftertaste as it poured into his mouth and down his throat.
After wiping his damp lips with the back of his hand, he leaned his cheek against the cold window. Letting his body sway with the moving car, the world around him began to feel unsteady.
“…I’m not usually like this. Why am I getting drunk so fast today?”
It was strange. Unlike usual, the alcohol was hitting him hard. It was enough to make him wonder if someone had spiked his drink.
“Probably because you had blood drawn.”
Somehow, Bae Jung-yoon managed to catch his mumbling and responded, eyes fixed on the road. Hoon turned to him, brows drawn together.
“Okay, but how does that even make sense? What, is there some urban legend that blood donation lowers your tolerance?”
“Not exactly. But when you donate blood, your overall fluid volume drops, so your blood alcohol concentration rises more easily.”
“…And you’re telling me this now?”
“You’re the one who ignored me and insisted you’d be fine. You drank anyway, Hoon.”
That annoying mouth of his always had a point. Hoon let his head fall back against the headrest and let out a deep breath.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s all my fault. My own ignorance… is what’s screwing me over.”
The screws in his brain were coming loose, and with them, his mouth, too. Words spilled out with no filter.
Slumped into the leather seat, he blinked slowly. He’d hoped cold water might sober him up, but his head still felt sluggish and heavy. Hugging the bottle, he nodded off, and before he knew it, the car was pulling into the parking lot of Bae Jung-yoon’s officetel.
After parking, Jung-yoon turned off the engine, got out, and walked over to the passenger side.
“Stop dozing off and get out.”
He opened the door and gave a curt command. Hoon looked up at him through heavy lids.
Only now did he realize—he seemed genuinely pissed. Maybe it was because Hoon had downed all that alcohol while Jung-yoon was stuck driving… and then had the nerve to act drunk on top of it.
But for some reason, seeing him like this put Hoon in a good mood. Maybe it was because he’d seen plenty of Bae Jung-yoon’s relaxed, cocky attitude—but rarely this stiff, uptight side.
In fact, this suited him more. Better than that ever-gentle, unreadable face.
Hoon stepped out, clutching the water bottle to his chest. Jung-yoon slammed the door shut and locked the car before walking ahead. Hoon followed him quietly.
Even in the elevator, they didn’t exchange a word. Not until the door lock clicked and they stepped inside did the silence continue.
Watching the silent figure in front of him walk down the hallway, Go Hoon suddenly quickened his pace.
“Hey.”
As Jung-yoon turned around, Hoon leaned in and blew softly in his face. It was something he would never have done sober. Hoon wasn’t the kind of person who pulled stunts like this on others.
But right now, he didn’t care. He felt good. A while ago, he’d been heavy and sluggish, but now his body felt like it was floating—light as air.
Bae Jung-yoon’s face hardened immediately. Hoon didn’t look away. Instead, he flashed a grin.
He’d had two bottles of soju—no doubt he reeked of alcohol. No wonder the guy looked so irritated.
Honestly, he wished Jung-yoon would snap at him more. It was strangely satisfying to see cracks in that always-composed expression. Better this version of him—angry, irritated—than the endlessly gentle one.
Locking eyes with those deep black irises, Hoon eventually turned and headed toward the dressing room.
“…I’m tired.”
I should wash up and get to bed.
As he moved, lost in that easygoing thought, a sudden tug stopped him.
Thunk!
The heavy bottle in his arms fell and hit the ground with a loud thud. It was heavy enough that it almost crushed his foot.
Eyes wide in surprise, Hoon looked at Bae Jung-yoon.
“I almost got hurt, you son of a—”
He stopped himself mid-curse.
They were too close. His face was only five centimeters away. In those pitch-black eyes, framed by long lashes, he could see his own reflection.
