#150
Dan Joo-hyuk finally found a reason to explain his uncomfortable feeling. It was after he glanced at the necklace that Yoon Pa-ran had been tightly holding since earlier.
He never intended to receive anything in return for giving a gift to the child. That would be nothing more than extortion of a different dimension directed at the orphanage.
He simply didn’t want to waste time. If the orphanage became even slightly safer, then Yoon Pa-ran wouldn’t feel the need to stay confined there. It was just that simple of a judgment.
After finishing his thoughts, Dan Joo-hyuk gradually released the strength from his grip. A vague realization followed that he couldn’t keep Yoon Pa-ran any longer today. Forcibly holding him now and causing Yoon Pa-ran to flee in surprise would be a greater loss.
“I don’t intend to do more. You pushed yourself enough yesterday.”
“Really…?”
Despite making an objective judgment, strangely, it was hard to let him go. Dan Joo-hyuk forced himself to remove his lingering hand and stood up.
When he deliberately spoke firmly, Yoon Pa-ran immediately looked puzzled. Seeing those reddened eyes, Dan Joo-hyuk had been feeling a heaviness in his lower body since earlier, but he ignored that sensation. Instead, he extended his hand to Yoon Pa-ran.
“Huh?”
Though looking bewildered, Yoon Pa-ran obediently took Dan Joo-hyuk’s hand. Grasping at least that hand, Dan Joo-hyuk pulled him to his feet.
Despite their somewhat different heights, Dan Joo-hyuk easily met Yoon Pa-ran’s eyes as he stood before him. Just earlier, Yoon Pa-ran had seemed resigned as if he had no choice but to let Dan Joo-hyuk do as he pleased, yet now he naturally took the offered hand.
While fondling that soft hand, Dan Joo-hyuk suddenly thought.
He wished Yoon Pa-ran could just naturally be by his side.
“…”
“What’s wrong?”
Before he could even understand his own incomprehensible desire, Yoon Pa-ran’s voice created a small ripple in Dan Joo-hyuk’s chest.
Unrefined, raw desire swirled increasingly larger in his chest. Like a river flowing well until meeting a massive rock, like an ocean with twisted currents.
Barely maintaining his center in that vortex, Dan Joo-hyuk made an urgent judgment. If he didn’t provide an answer quickly, the hand he was holding would soon slip away.
If Yoon Pa-ran didn’t know how to receive, he could simply teach him.
“It’s about the equipment you wore yesterday.”
“Yeah.”
Yoon Pa-ran’s reaction wasn’t bad when he handed over the item today. He also seemed to like the safety measures taken at the orphanage so far.
Perhaps he could just keep giving him more helpful things like this. If there were definite benefits without risk factors, wouldn’t Yoon Pa-ran consider it at least once more?
After organizing his thoughts slightly, Dan Joo-hyuk pulled Yoon Pa-ran without force. Yoon Pa-ran approached with a still puzzled face.
Wearing a painted-on smile, Dan Joo-hyuk dropped a bomb.
“From now on, they’re all your equipment, so take them whenever you need them.”
“What? Why?”
He wouldn’t mind giving everything immediately, but he knew Yoon Pa-ran wouldn’t accept. It was just to build up excuses for Yoon Pa-ran to naturally come looking for him again.
With lingering touches, Dan Joo-hyuk caressed Yoon Pa-ran’s earlobe. Then he slowly bent his upper body completely and whispered.
He also felt a bit like teasing Yoon Pa-ran, who kept trying to leave.
“You’ve marked your territory on them, so I have no choice.”
“Urgh.”
Yoon Pa-ran hunched his shoulders, looking puzzled at first before gradually becoming flustered.
Observing that change with delight, Dan Joo-hyuk smiled.
“The equipment reeks of an erotic smell, so I don’t think I can use them. I can’t have an erection the entire time in the gate, you know.”
“Damn…”
Now with a completely angry face, Yoon Pa-ran jerked his body away. The naturally separated hand felt regrettable indeed.
“That’s because of you, so clean them and use them!”
Still, Yoon Pa-ran strode toward the entrance as Dan Joo-hyuk intended. He moved unhindered, like someone who had been thinking only of going home since earlier.
“I’m leaving!”
Yoon Pa-ran, who had quickly put on his shoes, promptly got into the elevator.
Without realizing that Dan Joo-hyuk had given him two gems without receiving anything in return.
“…”
The sound of the elevator door closing echoed emptily. With lingering regret, Dan Joo-hyuk watched until Yoon Pa-ran’s figure disappeared completely.
Still, seeing the red gem swinging from that white ankle, he felt somewhat satisfied.
After staring at the closed elevator for a while, Dan Joo-hyuk slowly ran his hand through his hair. His parched mind seemed to regain moisture for once, beginning to recall postponed matters one by one.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Damn it.”
While returning to the orphanage, Yoon Pa-ran kept wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand. Dan Joo-hyuk had touched him so much that his cheeks and earlobes still felt ticklish.
It was all Dan Joo-hyuk’s fault. Saying such strange things, clearly enjoying his reactions.
‘You seem hard this morning, should I take care of it?’
The handsome face looking up at him from between his legs flashed through his mind again.
Remembering when those deep eyes directly gazed at him, his heart strangely felt constricted. It seemed he was so angry that he was even experiencing pain.
Is he crazy, really? Why does he keep saying such things? Especially about those equipment he deliberately threw out.
After fuming thoroughly, his anger subsided a bit. The cold winter wind seemed to remind him that this wasn’t worth getting so worked up about.
That’s just how Dan Joo-hyuk is. Nothing to worry about.
Whether because he had calmed down a bit or was simply tired, Yoon Pa-ran’s steps slowed accordingly. Thinking about it, Dan Joo-hyuk had just acted like his usual self, and maybe he had overreacted a bit. Why had he done that?
As he vigorously rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand one last time, he belatedly remembered what he had been gripping tightly.
“Ah.”
Seeing the necklace shining in his hand, his mind became crystal clear. Only then did he realize that in his haste to leave that house, he had walked out still carrying both the necklace and ankle bracelet.
After being momentarily surprised by this fact, Yoon Pa-ran soon slightly furrowed his brow.
“…”
So, why did he give these things?
Wasn’t it payment for wanting to extract another skill?
He thought they were given as compensation for tormenting someone all night with the intention of extracting more skills. After all, Dan Joo-hyuk was someone who didn’t skimp on financial support, even if his conscience was somewhat compromised.
However, Dan Joo-hyuk had stated quite firmly that he didn’t intend to do more. If skills had been his objective, he would have obtained what he wanted regardless of Yoon Pa-ran’s will, so that statement was likely true.
As his thoughts flowed, Yoon Pa-ran suddenly questioned.
“…”
Was that really the case?
Even as reason shouted that it was, he felt strangely lukewarm. Because Dan Joo-hyuk hadn’t seemed to treat him that badly, even without material compensation. Especially more recently.
To be honest, after deciding to just enjoy it moderately, mixing bodies hadn’t seemed so bad. Though the constantly clinging giant was a bit tiring.
His thoughts streamed endlessly before suddenly plunging to the bottom like a waterfall. This startled Yoon Pa-ran back to his senses, and he crumpled his expression abruptly.
Because his recent thoughts seemed foolish.
“Damn it.”
Ruffling his hair wildly, Yoon Pa-ran looked down at the necklace in question.
Anyway, it was strange that Dan Joo-hyuk had given equipment without stating what he wanted. Especially since the A-grade ankle bracelet currently on his ankle was not an ordinary valuable.
Was it because an additional skill was created yesterday? If so, he would likely have mentioned it while showing off.
No, then why did he make that lewd joke?
His thoughts were too excessive, especially when he was already tired. Overwhelmed by extreme fatigue, Yoon Pa-ran tilted his head far back.
“Haah…”
The clear sky filled his vision, making yesterday’s messy memories embarrassing.
“I don’t know…”
Soon with a resigned feeling, Yoon Pa-ran started walking again. If Dan Joo-hyuk wanted compensation, he would say so eventually.
If not, he planned to just slyly swallow this gain. Given how he always teased people that way, a small revenge should be acceptable.
Unlike his grand resolution, his ankle felt unusually heavy.
“…”
Anyway, after finishing his rationalization, Yoon Pa-ran headed slowly to the orphanage. Originally, he had planned to go to his studio apartment and sleep first, but after seeing Ju-hee’s message, he felt worried and wanted to check on her.
On his way to the orphanage, Yoon Pa-ran deliberately stopped by a nearby park. At this time, Ju-hee often played here with her friends.
Sure enough, when he arrived, he immediately spotted Ju-hee playing with her friends.
“Ju-hee.”
“Oppa…!”
Ju-hee quickly turned her head at the voice calling her. Her hair braided in two pigtails swung lively along with the child’s movements.
After recognizing Yoon Pa-ran, Ju-hee jumped into his arms with a bright smile.
“Hello, Saerom too.”
“Hello!”
While hugging Ju-hee, Yoon Pa-ran also greeted her friend who had run over together. As his sister’s best friend, she was a child he often met.
“Oppa, about the text I sent earlier…”
Clinging to him, Ju-hee urgently began speaking as soon as she saw Yoon Pa-ran. Seeing the faint shadow on his sister’s face, Yoon Pa-ran immediately understood. It seemed Ju-hee regretted asking for something earlier.
When he quickly shifted his gaze, he saw the necklace on Saerom’s neck too. Though no strange energy was felt, it truly resembled that stone in shape.
Seeing his sister’s drooping eyebrows, the slight worry that had remained vanished lightly.
“Ah, right.”
Quickly starting the conversation, Yoon Pa-ran crouched down in front of Ju-hee. Then he deliberately exaggeratedly searched his pocket and took out the necklace Dan Joo-hyuk had given.
After some consideration, he decided to honestly tell the source of the necklace.
“This is a gift for Ju-hee from Oppa’s friend. It’s an item from the gate, isn’t it pretty?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
