#59
Feeling that this wouldn’t work, Hajun dashed away as if escaping while Imun was off guard. After searching for a suitable spot and discreetly attaching a lock, he returned to find that Imun had also completed his assignment elsewhere, showing empty hands.
“What did you write on the lock?”
“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you.”
“You’ll see it all on the broadcast anyway.”
“Then watch it then.”
“Hyung, you’ve changed.” After consoling Imun, who was pouting with half-closed eyes, they went up to the observatory.
After finishing their tour of the exhibition hall and the cityscape view, the sun had completely set. Just as they were wondering what to do next, the production team suggested ending the filming with the tower show. Hajun, checking the awkwardly remaining time, looked around as if searching for something.
“Aren’t you a bit hungry?” “Yeah. Shall we buy something to eat?” Could this be what they call telepathy? Taking Imun, who understood his words perfectly, Hajun entered a nearby hot dog shop.
The two, holding food they had finished paying for in both hands, sat on the stone steps in front of the tower.
“They say this is a hidden gem with few people.”
“I see, just as you said, hyung, the tower is clearly visible. There are few people too. Perfect for couples.”
“Huh? Ah! Y-yes, that’s right.”
“Are you still in business mode?” When Hajun whispered while glancing at the production team resting in the distance, Imun embarrassedly muttered, “I just… said what came to mind.” Feeling awkward for no reason, Hajun poked his side and looked at the surrounding scenery.
The spot was quite good, making it worth researching in advance. Taking a bite of his food while using the tower, softly glowing under the dark night sky, as eye candy.
Perhaps because food had entered his stomach, the more he ate, the hungrier he felt. Around the time he devoured one hot dog in the blink of an eye, Imun smiled faintly and wiped the corner of his mouth.
“If you were hungry, you should have said so. Have mine too.”
“Aren’t you going to eat? You didn’t eat much tteokbokki either…”
“Haha, I’m used to an empty stomach, so I’m fine.”
You’re good at saying things that upset people. Hajun looked Imun up and down as if displeased and sighed. His outfit, focused on style regardless of the winter weather, looked cold just by looking at it.
“I know your body is your asset, but… you shouldn’t eat too little either. Every time I ask, you seem to eat poorly. Now, I’ll have to check on you.”
“Even though you often skip dinner because of your broadcasts… When you say you’ll check, do you mean you’ll fatten me up? Don’t tell me… you want to fatten me up to eat me…!”
Hajun stared stupidly at Imun, who startled and covered his chest with both arms. It seemed he wanted to keep joking even during the break time. “Fine, don’t eat then.” He snatched Imun’s hot dog, devoured it instantly, and then silently licked the sauce that had gotten on his hand.
Throughout eating, the incident at lunch kept coming to mind. The reason he was so hungry his stomach hurt was that he hadn’t eaten lunch properly.
He must be just as hungry as I am, yet far from blaming me, he readily offers his hot dog. I’m just grateful.
He wanted to belatedly convey what he couldn’t say properly earlier due to being flustered. After hesitating several times, he stammered.
“Earlier, I was very taken ab-“
“Just a moment.”
Imun put his finger to Hajun’s mouth and turned off the microphones one by one. “Is this okay?” “It’s fine, I’ll just say it broke.” Hajun looked at Imun, who spoke calmly as if nothing was wrong, with rabbit eyes for a moment before frowning.
Imun’s hand was gently stroking his thigh. It was as if he was saying it’s okay, don’t worry about it. Tears welled up at this silent consideration.
I must be crazy, really. He couldn’t make a spectacle of himself twice in front of Imun. To prevent an emergency, he hurriedly raised his head.
“Shh, stop. You’ve already cried a lot.”
“…I’m not crying because I want to, I don’t usually cry much, you know? But today, I’m being especially like this…”
While listening to Imun’s affectionate tone, as if soothing a child, Hajun strained his eyes. If he didn’t do that, tears would fall at any moment. While enduring, using the stars in the night sky as a lifeline, a memory from some day crossed his mind.
‘Can you see the sky outside the window?’
‘…I’m looking at it now.’
At that time, I really wanted to see you. Watching the night sky, no different from what he had seen looking out from his room’s bed, he gently placed his hand on top of Imun’s. Perhaps because his mood had become quite sentimental, courage he didn’t usually have suddenly sprang forth.
“I don’t think I’ve ever properly said this, but thank you. Being able to come to Korea like this is all thanks to you. Really… thank you.”
He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and covered his face with both hands. Although he had prepared to some extent, actually saying his true feelings brought on a wave of embarrassment.
The heat rising to his face was vividly felt through his palms. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. The sudden silence seemed to be his fault, making him even more ashamed. He grumbled needlessly and urged Imun to answer.
“Say something, please.”
The awkward silence that made him anxious continued to linger. Finally, unable to bear it, he slightly parted his fingers, and Hajun inadvertently caught his breath.
He could fully sense the warm affection and liking in Imun’s eyes as he stared at him. It was a gaze of a different dimension from what they had faced in the cable car. He could hardly blink, as if nailed to his gaze.
Just as his entire body was heating up in this unexpected situation, Imun burst into a deflated laugh. As if he couldn’t help it, he nodded lightly and came closer.
“Hyung…” Calling him softly, Imun took his hand and pulled it down. It was the moment when his reddened face was fully exposed to Imun.
“I’m the one who should be grateful. You came to Korea to see me, filmed a broadcast with me. You don’t know… what you mean to me, hyung.”
After finishing with a serious face, Imun suddenly playfully interlaced their fingers. “You, you, business again…!” Ignoring him, Imun fiddled with his hand for a long time before suddenly making a displeased expression.
“Hyung, why are your hands so cold?”
“Huh?! We’ve been outside for a long time…”
“Hmm.” Imun glared at his hand with hazy eyes. Wondering why he was acting like that, Hajun held his breath and watched for a few seconds. Then Imun pulled their joined hands and began blowing warm breath on his fingertips. Although Hajun belatedly got serious and made a fuss, Imun stubbornly refused to let go of his hand.
Imun, who was enthusiastically warming his hand, the hot breath felt from his fingertips, kept tickling his heart. “Please let go of my hand.” When he pleaded while twisting his body, Imun slowly curved the corners of his eyes and smiled.
“Why, are you embarrassed again?”
Imun from the video call, who had asked him to come to Korea, came alive in his memory. Despite seeing a smile so pretty it made his heart race, he couldn’t easily give a definite answer. The distracting thoughts that had filled his head disappeared, and the pounding, excitement, regret, and apology from that time took their place.
I really didn’t know I could come like this back then. Chewing over the complex emotions that couldn’t be described in words, he gazed steadily at Imun.
“You, Imun, you… if it weren’t for you, I would still… every moment I spend with you is… like a miracle to me.”
One of the many people passing by in the game. Different countries, different fields of activity, no points of contact whatsoever, complete strangers.
Somehow meeting by chance, revealing names and faces, and now facing each other in reality suddenly felt dreamlike. Thinking of the changes in his daily life that wouldn’t have happened without Imun, his vision blurred again.
He raised his head and desperately bit his lower lip. Though he was long past adolescence, his emotions were especially uncontrollable today. It was as if his tear ducts were broken.
Please, no more. Taking deep breaths, he tightly grasped Imun’s hand. When he looked up at the night sky again, as if it was the only place to lean on, Imun’s hand pulled down his chin.
Plop. A tear fell, unable to overcome gravity. After glaring demurely at Imun, feeling resentful of the unintentional mark that adorned the ground, he tilted his head.
Imun’s pupils, as he carefully extended his hand, were somehow dazed. While silently watching him, the hand that wiped his eyes moved down his cheek. Soon, the sensation felt from an unimaginable place made his tears disappear.
Imun’s fingertip was pressing gently on his lower lip. As soon as he relaxed his jaw, a subtle trembling was felt without filtration. His eyes, subtly directed downward, seemed to be looking at Hajun’s lips.
While it was impressive that Imun could act with his gaze and trembling hands, Hajun couldn’t understand why he would do this before filming. As he moistened his lips with his tongue out of nervousness, Imun’s face slowly approached.
He recalled Imun’s words about only going as far as a delicate line, but as the distance narrowed, the tension escalated. If he moved wrong, it felt like their lips would touch immediately.
When they got close enough to hear each other’s breathing, Imun slowly closed his eyes. It was difficult to dismiss it as a joke anymore. Just as Imun’s head tilted, all thought stopped.
“Wa-Wait a second!”
He reflexively pushed Imun’s chest away. Despite not using much force, unlike usual, Imun easily fell back, which was surprising.
By now, it would be the timing for him to apologize with a smile. Thinking he might have acted insensitively a beat too late, he examined Imun’s condition.
Imun remained motionless in an awkward, off-balance posture. Standing there blankly staring at him, he looked like someone who had lost his mind.
“Sorry, are you okay?”
As soon as Hajun put his hand on Imun’s shoulder, his body jerked greatly. After blinking for a long time, Imun put on a faint smile.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
