Gentle Giant Chapter 68
“I apologize for what I said earlier. I overstepped my bounds. I didn’t know you were thinking about it this seriously.”
“Yes…”
Unlike his sharp retort from before, Sujeong offered a clean apology, and after hearing Dain’s small response, he said nothing more. Dain also didn’t want to make any more excuses that weren’t really excuses to him.
A quiet stillness flowed between the two once again. Unable to bear that uncomfortable silence, Dain picked up the bags in both hands and was the first to stand up.
“I, I’ll be going now. I have a lot to do.”
“Yes. Get home safely.”
“Oh, yes. You too, Sujeong hoobae-nim.”
Dain, who politely bowed his head to the end, disappeared toward the cafe door with quick steps.
Sujeong frowned his thick eyebrows as if he didn’t like the sight of Dain’s retreating figure. All he could think was that compared to Lee Juho, that person was too precious to waste.
Talking with Jung Dain, who passionately went on about Lee Juho, made him go a bit overboard too. He had never cornered someone else this much before.
He’s not going to cry on his way home, is he? He felt unnecessarily uncomfortable… Why did I do that? Sujeong pondered while tapping the table.
Probably, it was because he felt it was a waste. It wouldn’t be easy to meet a beast-man like Jung Dain who was diligent, kind, gentle, and seemed like he would quietly do his best for his partner. It was probably because he felt it was wasteful and envious.
Sujeong looked at the cafe door where Dain had disappeared with an expressionless face again.
Hoping that if by any chance something happened that would hurt Dain later, he might be able to comfort him.
* * *
*Beep beep.*
At the sound of the short electronic tone, Juho’s gaze turned toward the entrance. He said he was meeting a hoobae because of a group project, so he must be coming in now.
Juho looked at Dain with his lips pulled up high, ready to greet him with the aegyo-filled face that Dain loved to death.
“Hyung, you’re home?”
Dain’s shoulders flinched at the sound he heard as soon as he opened the door.
Considering Juho’s usual commute time, it wasn’t time for him to arrive home yet. However, even seeing Juho’s face, who had arrived earlier than usual, Dain wasn’t happy to see him. Instead, he hesitated and couldn’t cross the entrance, only putting strength into the handles of the bags he was holding in both hands.
“What did you buy so much of? I told you we’d go together later, but it’s heavy.”
When Dain showed no sign of moving even after seeing him, Juho quickly walked to the front of the entrance. It seemed like it was difficult to move because the bags were heavy.
Just as he was about to reach out to take the luggage from Dain, the bag in Dain’s hand fell to the floor with a loud noise.
“Hyung…!”
Before he could even say “What’s wrong?”, Dain ran into Juho’s arms. With all his strength from his large frame.
Juho stepped back one step from the weight, but soon stably held Dain in his arms.
Dain hugged Juho’s waist tightly as if he would break it. As if that wasn’t enough, his shoulders shook as he kept rubbing his head against his chest, looking unstable at a glance.
Juho quickly patted Dain’s back and tried to stabilize him. It was frustrating that he wasn’t saying anything and just doing this, but it didn’t seem like a situation where he could speak properly even if pressed.
How many minutes had he been quietly stroking Dain’s back like that? Dain slightly lifted his head and looked at Juho.
Dain’s narrowed bronze pupils were shaking restlessly.
What happened, really? What made him so scared?
Juho kept sending Dain looks that said everything was okay.
Jung Dain was originally timid and small-hearted. But since he usually tried not to show it, he had almost never acted like a cat with its fur standing on end like this.
“Who made you upset?”
“…”
At Juho’s gentle question, Dain’s mouth clamped shut even more tightly.
His eyes, which had briefly turned to the side, captured Juho’s face again. Then he shook his head slightly.
Even in that fleeting moment, Juho could glimpse that Dain was contemplating what to do.
Juho waited for an answer while gently rubbing Dain’s reddened eyes.
“Juho.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“I’m going to study really, really hard.”
The answer that actually came from Dain’s mouth was something he couldn’t understand the meaning of at all.
Juho’s eyebrows rose and fell. From his position, it was such an unexpected statement that he could only ask back after a few seconds.
“…What?”
Hearing Juho’s response, Dain let out a deep sigh and spoke again as if making a resolution.
“I’m going to study really, really hard and pass the exam in one go, and I’ll work hard to save money and get established quickly. Got it?”
“Oh, yes yes. Hyung can definitely do it…?”
“Mm! Actually, I’ve been consistently applying for housing subscriptions since I was young, and when I earn money, I’m thinking of making two savings accounts. How about it?”
“It sounds good.”
Juho responded half-heartedly but with gentle touches, stroking Dain’s hair and playing along. However, he had no idea what this conversation had to do with the current situation.
“Hyung is good at studying and frugal, so you’ll be able to keep all the promises you made to me just now.”
“I, I suppose so?”
“Of course.”
A confident answer flowed from Juho’s mouth. At that answer, Dain’s pupils, which had been narrowed from being extremely tense, finally became as calm as usual.
Only then did Dain release the strength from his arms that had been tightly hugging Juho’s waist. Even though it must have been stuffy to breathe from the tight grip on his arms, Juho’s face remained only gentle. So Dain could also raise the corners of his mouth, albeit awkwardly.
“When I succeed, I’ll feed you meat as a side dish every day!”
“Really?”
“Of course! I’ll even buy a three-room house…!”
Ah, I don’t want that though. Gentle Juho’s face wavered for a moment but quickly returned to normal.
After confirming that Dain’s drooped shoulders had somewhat returned with his response, Juho began a proper twenty questions.
“But, hyung.”
“Mm.”
“Why are you suddenly saying such things? Did someone say something?”
“Uh… No, no!”
Someone said something.
“Then? Don’t you like this house? Do you prefer a three-room place?”
“No! No way! This house is so nice?!”
Dain jumped up.
Well, if he didn’t like this house, he wouldn’t have bought so many interior items.
Juho’s eyes narrowed. The statement that he liked this house was a somewhat credible reaction.
“Then is it that you don’t like that I’m still an intern? So hyung wants to make money as soon as possible?”
“Gasp! What are you talking about, Juho? Why would I not like that you’re an intern! As I said from the beginning, just getting accepted as an intern at any company is something to be incredibly proud of!”
“Hmm.”
“Really! It’s not because of the house or because of you, Juho.”
“Then there must be another reason? If it’s not because of me?”
Dain’s mouth clamped shut like a clam again. However, this time Juho just watched Dain with a humorless face, as if he wouldn’t let it slide.
Seeing Juho’s serious expression, Dain tried to slowly back away like a crab. If only it weren’t for Juho’s hand that was firmly holding his waist and not letting go.
I knew this would happen. Juho chuckled. He had been holding Dain’s waist since earlier when Dain glanced toward the bathroom.
“Won’t you tell me?”
“Um, well…”
“Well?”
Dain turned his head to avoid Juho’s face getting closer and closer.
The effort was admirable, but it was useless as he just leaned against Juho’s chest with his head turned.
“This is, yes. Mm! It was a matter of pride as a beast-man!”
“…?”
“So, so whether I can take responsibility for you, Juho, or not, that kind of ability…? I was thinking about something like that.”
“The ability to take responsibility for me? You don’t need to worry about such things. But why were you so depressed?”
“Why, why shouldn’t I worry! I should naturally worry about how to feed you well enough to show off to others!”
From Dain’s expression after finishing his words, it seemed like reproach poured out saying ‘How can you say such harsh things!’
To say there’s no need to worry about taking responsibility! Dain stiffly raised his head and glared at Juho again as if feeling wronged.
No, shouldn’t he quickly succeed and become a reliable adult beast-man who takes responsibility for Juho so he can proudly continue their relationship to other people! Yes, for example, like Kim Sujeong.
The face of Kim Sujeong, who had turned his insides upside down with words like companion and such at the cafe, came to mind.
Dain’s lips naturally pouted.
Just wait and see, really! I’ll study so hard that you can’t say such things again next time!
Watching Dain’s ever-changing expressions, Juho thought carefully.
Jung Dain went to meet hoobae for a group project today. But he came home and was depressed for a while, then suddenly mentioned beast-man pride and whined about taking responsibility for him…?
I can guess who the hoobae he met for the group project was.
Juho’s mind was gradually organizing. That dog… Kim Sujeong, not satisfied with meddling with him, seemed to have said something to Dain too.
Dain definitely couldn’t bring himself to badmouth that bastard to him and was trying to dig into the ground alone before running out.
Juho finished organizing his thoughts while still looking at Dain’s protruding lips. If he kept pestering him here, it would only provide Dain with an excuse to think about that bastard, so now was the time to coax and soothe Dain.
“Hyung, what do I have to worry about? I just need to trust hyung.”
Juho enchanted Dain with his prettiest eye smile. Dain’s nose bridge twitched, bewitched by Juho’s shining smile and praise.
“Do, do you really think so?”
“I told you earlier. That hyung can do everything. Among all the beast-men I’ve seen, you’re the smartest, coolest, cutest… Look, hyung has all the good things.”
At Juho’s continued praise, Dain’s ears turned red and his shoulders began to rise. It meant he was in a good mood.
When Juho was about to continue soothing him and take Dain inside, seeing that he seemed much calmer than before.
“Juho!”
“Yes?”
“I, I have something much better than what you said!”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
