Side Story Chapter 7
Today, Song Ji-hyeok and I submitted early leave requests side by side. This was because we were going on an early vacation to our home, that is, to my family home where my family lives. During summer vacation season, we usually take about a week off, and like any company, it was important to balance between team members and between teams. Simply put, advance coordination was absolutely necessary to ensure that A-rank or higher Espers and Guides wouldn’t all be absent on similar dates.
After discussing our summer vacation period, we decided to take time off twice – at the end of June and the end of August – instead of during the peak weeks. During the June vacation, the idea came up to visit my home, as we thought we should arrange a formal meeting with my family before it got any later, since we had even filed for domestic partnership registration at the beginning of the year.
Time flew by quickly. When the idea first came up, we had about ten days left, but before we knew it, today had suddenly approached. It was natural to feel good about a vacation period where we could rest comfortably, especially since we were going to see my family for the first time in almost a year and a half. On the other hand, Song Ji-hyeok showed an uncharacteristically somewhat unconfident appearance.
“Is it really okay for me to go with you?”
“Of course. Everyone’s really looking forward to it.”
Not long after we became lovers, I had gone with Song Ji-hyeok to visit my sister in the hospital. At that time, my sister had welcomed Song Ji-hyeok enthusiastically with a gummy smile, and her beaming laughter never faded throughout.
I was certain that other family members would welcome him several times more. I didn’t mention this because it might be burdensome, but I’d be grateful if he didn’t step backward in surprise at the intense hospitality.
“You want to go home quickly, right? As expected, we should skip the afternoon lecture…”
“No. Go back.”
When I refused with a smile, Song Ji-hyeok grumbled as usual but checked the time. I smiled slightly at this sight. If he threw a tantrum saying he wouldn’t go, there really wouldn’t be any way to handle it, but his effort to listen to what I said was both grateful and admirable.
“Are you going to stay here the whole time?”
“No. I’m going to go sweat it out for about an hour.”
“Don’t exercise too sexily while sweating.”
Before I could react to his shocking words, Song Ji-hyeok lifted my chin and kissed me lightly. Seeing my dumbfounded expression, he chuckled and left another bird kiss before straightening his back.
“I’ll contact you right after I’m done.”
“Wait a moment.”
“Yes?”
Song Ji-hyeok, who had turned his head, immediately looked back at me. I had something I wanted to do, but in an instant I changed my mind and deflected inconspicuously.
“No, see you later.”
Song Ji-hyeok laughed as if it was bland, and this time really left the guiding room. Regret showed in my eyes as I looked at the closed door.
The real reason I had just stopped Song Ji-hyeok was because I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck and give him a deep kiss. But the moment our eyes met, that thought quickly disappeared. If he got turned on, I felt like I’d really contribute to him skipping the afternoon lecture.
‘I should rest for 10 minutes before going out.’
The guiding room, left alone, was soon filled only with silence. After briefly enjoying the languid tranquility, I slyly raised my hand and lightly touched it to my lips. The cotton-soft sensation instantly revived, making my lips tingle.
***
The car that had been moving quickly along the lane stopped momentarily at a traffic light. I didn’t miss that opportunity and poked a piece of dakgangjeong with a stick and held it out to Song Ji-hyeok.
“Say ah.”
The baby bird was immediately summoned. Song Ji-hyeok’s action of naturally opening his mouth felt completely natural. After feeding him one more piece timed with the movement of his Adam’s apple, I personally served the straw from the cola cup as well. It was courtesy toward the driver who had to hold the steering wheel for over three hours to reach our destination.
Even though the sun was still fierce, the time was already past 6:30 PM. Since we had promised my parents to have dinner together even if we were late, I had packed dakgangjeong from a chicken restaurant near the guild with the intention of just slightly satisfying our hunger.
“Give me one more?”
“Yes.”
Perhaps quite hungry, Song Ji-hyeok grabbed my wrist simultaneously with his answer and took the dakgangjeong into his mouth. With the feeling of ‘Here, I’m in a good mood,’ I picked up another one in succession and held it out, and the lips possessed by baby bird beaks promptly came out to meet it. While chewing contentedly, I heard Song Ji-hyeok say.
“I almost got in big trouble if I hadn’t listened to you, senior.”
“Right? If you listen to your hyung well, you get something to eat even while driving.”
I was the one who prepared the snacks. While watching me hurriedly order through an app on the way home from work, Song Ji-hyeok said we should just go, but I insisted I had already ordered and quickly completed the payment.
Earlier at lunch, Song Ji-hyeok had come up to the guiding room in almost 10 minutes. Unless he had literally drunk his meal, it meant he had eaten hastily and roughly, and considering the distance to my family home, there was almost a 100% probability he’d get hungry on the way. So I invested some time to pick it up, and looking at it now, it was a very good decision.
After emptying a container of dakgangjeong in the blink of an eye, talking about the road situation, and continuing sporadic conversations on other topics, at some point a familiar intersection appeared.
From then on, my gaze was fixed beyond the car window. The street scenery where neon sign billboards attached to buildings everywhere and traffic light illumination exquisitely harmonized evoked fresh emotions. Even though it was scenery I was seeing for the first time in a year and a half, I felt the stability and intimacy of ‘Right. This is our neighborhood.’
After driving a little more, the car finally entered the villa’s main gate. Getting out of the car, I first opened the trunk door. It was to gather the family gifts I had earnestly prepared. While fumbling to grab the shopping bag handles, Song Ji-hyeok, who had somehow followed behind, said “I’ll carry them” and took them all away as if taking turns.
Thanks to that, I rode the elevator with only a backpack containing my belongings on my back. As I quickly pressed the close button like a typical Korean, Song Ji-hyeok suddenly spoke to me.
“Senior.”
“Yeah?”
“Could you hold these for a moment? I want to look in the mirror.”
When I obediently received the shopping bag he held in one hand, Song Ji-hyeok immediately began checking his appearance. He was trying to fix his hair while looking at the mirror attached to the wall, but unfortunately, right then the elevator stopped and the doors opened left and right. It was because our home happened to be on the 3rd floor.
As if this was another unexpected event, Song Ji-hyeok’s momentarily flustered appearance made me laugh.
“Let’s get off first.”
Coming out to the public corridor, I immediately turned around. Instead of Song Ji-hyeok who had lost his mirror, I began checking his appearance by scanning his entire body from top to bottom. But well, at a glance there was nothing to touch up.
“Perfect, right?”
It wasn’t a careless remark but sincere. Thanks to setting with spray, his hair was firm, his face went without saying, and the summer formal wear he had newly tailored for today fit perfectly and looked good. Similarly, his new shoes shone so much that a fly wouldn’t dare to land on them – from head to toe, there was truly nothing to find fault with.
At this point, I rather needed to look at myself.
“Am I okay?”
“Senior is always pretty.”
The answer without even a second’s hesitation rather doubled my embarrassment. Unlike Song Ji-hyeok, who had put great effort into his outfit, I was dressed in a short-sleeved polo t-shirt and comfortable jeans, saying I was coming home. It was fortunate that I was at least wearing sneakers instead of slippers.
Perhaps reading my belated regret, Song Ji-hyeok took back the shopping bag from my hand while adding a few words.
“Don’t worry. You’re really pretty.”
Embarrassed by the mindless praise attack, I scratched my nape unnecessarily and said sheepishly.
“If anything, please say I’m handsome.”
“I’m the handsome one.”
“The modifier ‘pretty’ suits you better.”
“Then I’ll make it handsome and pretty.”
Yes, you take all the good things, Ji-hyeok. Nothing is too precious for you.
Only then did I walk down the corridor again. When I reached the front door where the familiar room number plate was neatly attached, I spoke once more while pressing the doorbell.
“Don’t be too surprised.”
I couldn’t hear Song Ji-hyeok’s question. Before the doorbell sound faded, the front door opened loudly with a bang. An even louder and more spirited voice burst out from inside.
“Hyung Su-hyeon! Welcome!”
“Oppa’s here? Hello!”
The owners of the voices were our family’s fourth and fifth children, whose order was determined by a 3-minute difference at birth, and who were fraternal twin siblings. Glancing back at Song Ji-hyeok, I couldn’t help but laugh. He looked obviously tense again, as if he had never joked just moments ago.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
