Go Hoon flinched before he even realized it.
Why would he say something like that while helping him put on shoes?
“So what?”
Not understanding the intention behind the words, Go Hoon answered stiffly. Bae Jung-yoon smiled and replied.
“I was just wondering if you’d end up wearing those shoes and running away with someone else forever.”
Despite the implication, his tone was light and teasing. It was obviously meant as a joke, so he should’ve brushed it off and let it go.
“That was a long time ago… and we’re not even dating.”
Still, for some reason, he found himself explaining it to him.
Meanwhile, Bae Jung-yoon—who had brought it up in the first place—seemed completely unbothered. He continued moving his hands, helping Go Hoon with the other shoe. After tying the laces into a neat bow, he stayed crouched and looked up at Hoon.
“How is it? Does it fit?”
As he asked, Bae Jung-yoon lightly pressed on the toe and heel with his thumbs. The touch felt strangely ticklish, and Go Hoon scratched his cheek and wiggled his foot a bit.
“Yeah, I think it’s fine.”
“Don’t just say that—get up and walk around. You’ve gotta check if they’re really comfortable.”
Pressed by his insistence, Go Hoon stood up and took a few steps.
The shoes fit perfectly—almost like they’d been custom-made. They were incredibly comfortable too. So this is what people mean when they say something’s worth the price, he thought, nodding to himself.
“Yeah, they’re perfect.”
Then quickly added,
“But I really don’t need these. The ones I’ve been wearing are still totally fine.”
“Even if you don’t need them, take them. I wanted to give them to you. That’s all.”
His answer was firm. And then, with a bright expression, he flashed a smile.
“Besides, I already paid.”
“What? You bought them without even telling me? Get a refund. I seriously don’t need stuff like this.”
Go Hoon frowned as he sat down, quickly reaching for the laces to change back into his old sneakers. But Bae Jung-yoon let out a soft laugh and grabbed both his hands. Then he leaned in, pressing closer as he looked up at him.
Go Hoon suddenly found himself trapped between the sofa and Bae Jung-yoon.
“There’s only one way to make someone happy when they give you a gift—wear it well, and look good doing it.”
Staring directly into his eyes, Bae Jung-yoon continued.
“Make me happy, Hoon.”
He tilted his head to the side, narrowing his eyes in that fox-like way of his.
Go Hoon was completely at a loss for words.
How was he supposed to say no when the other person acted like this? Bae Jung-yoon was a master at playing on people’s soft spots.
As he stared at him in conflicted silence, he suddenly realized how close they were. His eyes darted toward the entrance to the fitting room. What if a staff member suddenly walked in? The thought made him tense.
He needed to create some distance between them. But before he could even try, he felt a hand at the back of his neck, gently pulling him forward. His upper body tipped forward, almost collapsing.
Jet-black eyes stared up at him from mere inches away.
His startled heart pounded loudly in his chest.
Holding his breath, Go Hoon kept his eyes locked on Bae Jung-yoon, who blinked slowly and whispered in a low voice,
“Hoon, a superstition is just a superstition. Right?”
It took him a second to realize what he meant—he was talking about that old superstition about giving shoes as a gift and the recipient walking away.
He had acted so casually when Hoon brushed it off earlier… but maybe it had really stuck with him. Or maybe he was still anxious. That Hoon might suddenly disappear again, without warning.
As Go Hoon studied his face, trying to read his emotions, the hand on his neck slowly caressed his skin.
“Say it’s just a superstition.”
You said you wouldn’t leave me again. You meant that, didn’t you? That’s what Bae Jung-yoon seemed to be asking.
“Superstitions are just that—superstitions. Don’t worry about something so silly. It doesn’t suit you.”
In the end, Go Hoon gave him the answer he was hoping for. And it wasn’t a lie either. He had no intention of leaving Bae Jung-yoon. On the contrary—he’d already made up his mind to spend his life with him.
He met Bae Jung-yoon’s gaze head-on, making it clear that there wasn’t a single shred of doubt in his words.
Satisfied, a smile lifted the corners of Bae Jung-yoon’s mouth. Then he tilted his head up just a little, and in a flash, the distance between their lips vanished.
For a split second, Go Hoon considered pushing him away. He couldn’t stop thinking about the staff just outside.
But in the end, he accepted him.
He could never push Bae Jung-yoon away. The first thing that came to mind wasn’t embarrassment or hesitation—it was the fear of seeing that hurt look in his eyes if he did.
Their lips touched, and a soft tongue slid in between them.
Tilting his head, Bae Jung-yoon deepened the kiss, slow and lingering.
“Haa…”
As the kiss dragged on, unsteady breaths slipped out of Go Hoon’s mouth.
The intense suction that had almost made his tongue go numb gradually eased. Their lips finally parted, and hot breath mingled between them.
Still catching his breath, lips slightly parted, Go Hoon tried to calm down—when Bae Jung-yoon suddenly said,
“Thank you.”
“…For what?”
“For showing up in front of me.”
Go Hoon’s lips parted, but no words came out. He only mouthed the air, stunned by the whisper and the sly smile in the other man’s eyes.
Maybe he was the one who should’ve said thank you. After all, Bae Jung-yoon had given him feelings he’d never experienced before—not once in his life.
When Bae Jung-yoon picked him up off the street that day… maybe, just maybe, he hadn’t just taken in a person, but the shattered pieces of Go Hoon’s life, too.
As the urge to kiss him welled up, a sudden realization shot through Go Hoon’s mind like lightning.
Ah… I really, truly like this guy.
I like him. The words lingered on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them aloud.
Because once desire is put into words, it tends to grow beyond control. That vague feeling of “I think I might like him” had quietly taken shape, gaining weight, becoming something certain and undeniable.
He half-expected Bae Jung-yoon to slip in a mention of Kkongddeok-i if he waited long enough, but no such name came up. And Go Hoon was deeply grateful for that. If that name had surfaced in a moment like this, it would’ve left a bitter taste in his mouth.
His eyes warm, Go Hoon looked at him. As if responding to the emotion in his gaze, Bae Jung-yoon leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, then stood up.
“Let’s go home.”
It was the best thing he could’ve heard. Leaving this place now felt right. If they stayed alone together in this confined space any longer, Go Hoon knew his desire for Bae Jung-yoon would spiral out of control.
Just as he was about to ask him to step aside so he could change, Bae Jung-yoon spoke first.
“Just wear that home.”
His voice dropped to a mischievous whisper as he added,
“I bought you those clothes, so I should be the first one to take them off.”
There he went again—shameless as ever. It was getting to the point where it was almost impressive that he could say things like that in broad daylight with a straight face.
Still, he had bought the outfit. Go Hoon couldn’t completely ignore the gesture. After a moment’s hesitation, he stood up. He gave up on changing clothes but at least wanted to take off the tags.
Luckily, the pants tag was attached with a safety pin, so removing it was no problem. The shirt, however, had a tag stitched into the back of the neck—completely out of reach.
“I’ll do it.”
Bae Jung-yoon, quick to notice his struggle, stepped in.
His fingers moved carefully. Go Hoon stood still, letting him work, but just as he let his guard down, he felt lips press softly against the nape of his neck.
Startled, he turned around—and locked eyes with Bae Jung-yoon, whose gaze was full of playful mischief.
He still hadn’t adjusted to these teasing touches. His neck, his ears, even the corners of his eyes flushed hot. He didn’t need a mirror to know his face was glowing red.
He narrowed his eyes and stared at him. He expected a cheeky grin in return—but instead, Bae Jung-yoon’s smile had vanished.
His gaze was intense, the sparkle gone, replaced by a murky depth.
“Hoon, that tie you gave me…” he said quietly. “I was hoping you’d wear it for me today.”
Me? Go Hoon gave him a puzzled look. Bae Jung-yoon reached out and took his wrist gently.
“Here.”
Then began rubbing the inside of it.
It didn’t take long to figure out what he meant.
“Fuck off, asshole.”
Go Hoon couldn’t hold back anymore. The words burst out of him. Only then did Bae Jung-yoon crack into laughter, his playful self returning like nothing had happened.
He looked so delighted that Go Hoon couldn’t even bring himself to scold him anymore.
After all, it was his birthday today. If Bae Jung-yoon was happy, wasn’t that enough?
That thought alone made Go Hoon relent once they got home, giving in to every one of his relentless demands. But truthfully, it hadn’t been a bad day for Go Hoon either.
***
With just five days left until Christmas, the streets were already lined with store windows decorated with Christmas trees.
Go Hoon walked past them, quietly taking in the festive scene. When he arrived at the store, he headed straight for the toy section and started tossing things into his cart without thinking. Then he moved to the snack aisle and loaded up on every treat he saw.
It was the first Sunday after finals. Bae Jung-yoon had gone into the office again, and Go Hoon was planning to spend the day home alone.
Normally, he would’ve used this precious time to find something productive—something he could add to a self-introduction or résumé. But these days, he was starting to accept that he no longer needed to live that way.
So now, like someone on sabbatical, he was allowing himself to relax.
He counted the days. There really wasn’t much time left. It was time to start bringing his life to a close.
And the first step, he decided, was to visit the orphanage where he’d grown up. At the very least, he wanted to say goodbye to the director—the woman who had been like a mother to him.
But to go out, he needed permission from Bae Jung-yoon.
His separation anxiety had been getting worse. Whenever Go Hoon left the house—whether it was to throw out the trash or run the smallest errand—he would get a call almost instantly.
And the moment he answered, the first question was always, “Why did you go out?” He didn’t even try to hide the fact that he was keeping tabs.
So that morning, just as Bae Jung-yoon was about to leave for work, Go Hoon told him honestly: he planned to visit the orphanage today.
“Should I come with you?”
And just like that, Bae Jung-yoon gave the response Go Hoon had expected.
