It was impossible to tell whether Min Yugeon had always been hiding his feelings that thoroughly, or if I was only now able to recognize them. His gaze lingered in my mind—a look that didn’t seem to hold the kind of emotion one would expect from a long-time friendship.
But looking back, Min Yugeon hadn’t been completely successful at concealing his emotions. The way he’d tug at my wrist, saying how he liked being with me, almost like a habit. The way he’d suddenly flush during casual touches, even though he used to be so comfortable with physical affection.
Now that I think about it, it’s not like he flawlessly masked his feelings. There were clearly moments when they showed—unavoidably so—and yet I hadn’t realized. I had felt confusion and awkwardness, but never questioned it further.
“……”
After Min Yugeon’s hands had gone over me one more time in the bathroom, I had passed out in exhaustion and fallen into a deep sleep. My entire body ached as I forced my heavy eyelids open. Surprisingly, I felt like I could move.
Thick arms wrapped tightly around me from behind as I lay on my side caught my eye. There was a scratch on his skin that hadn’t been there before. I remembered grabbing him hastily during one of our rougher moments last night and slipping—my nails must have dug into him then. The torn skin had probably bled at first. I carefully brushed my fingers around the area. It must’ve hurt. Why the hell did I have to scratch him…? So annoying.
“That tickles.”
His sleepy voice rumbled from behind me. I flinched as Min Yugeon buried his face into the nape of my neck. His freshly awakened body radiated warmth.
“How long have you been awake?”
“…Just now.”
“You can go back to sleep.”
I gently shook my head and lifted his wrist.
“Didn’t that hurt?”
“Hm?”
Lifting his head, Min Yugeon rested his chin on my shoulder and looked at the wound.
“Ah… this? Not at all.”
“Looks like it’d sting.”
“It doesn’t.”
His laid-back voice tickled my ear.
“If anything, it got me even more turned on. I liked it.”
What the…
I was momentarily speechless. Noticing how red my face had become, Min Yugeon let out a low chuckle.
“I kind of want more of your marks on me. Want to bite me somewhere, right now?”
Absolute nonsense. Asking to be bitten when completely sober? Anyone overhearing would think he had a damn masochistic kink. Letting out a sigh, I ignored his suggestion and pushed his arm away, trying to get up.
“……?”
As I moved slightly, something thick brushed against my lower back. It had become so familiar overnight that I instantly knew what it was—standing firm, poking into me.
Well, he just woke up… that can happen. I forced myself to accept it as normal and cautiously lifted the blanket to glance down. Compared to Min Yugeon’s erection, mine was only half-hard, which hurt my pride a little—but it wasn’t intolerable.
“I tried scooting back a bit, but you caught me.”
Min Yugeon said sheepishly. I nodded and started lifting my upper body.
“Go use the bathroom. I’ll use the one in my room—!”
But Min Yugeon climbed on top of me as I moved. Under the covers, he pulled my legs straight down, forcing me to lie back again. My head landed against the pillow with a soft thud, and I blinked in surprise.
“Do we really need to go to the bathroom?”
He bit my collarbone with his front teeth as he asked in a low voice. Our erections rubbed together, heightening the sensation. I let out a faint moan, lips parting slightly. If stamina could be measured, I’d want Min Yugeon’s numbers tested first. It’s not like he’s done it that many times, but the duration—damn.
“I’m tired.”
I gently pushed his face away. Grabbing my palm, Min Yugeon began planting kisses on it like a sulking child.
“You don’t have to do anything. Just lie there—I’ll take care of everything, okay?”
“……”
Honestly, I hadn’t done much of anything yesterday either. Maybe that’s why my body wasn’t completely wrecked. His rich, dark brown eyes stared directly into mine, heat flickering within them. How was I supposed to resist that look? His eyes sparkled with a desperate, radiant longing.
Come to think of it, I’d known that gaze for a long time. Whenever Min Yugeon looked at me like that—whenever he spoke to me, reached out to me with that expression—I could never bring myself to say no. It might’ve started back when we were kids.
The difference now was that his gaze wasn’t so innocent anymore. And the funniest part? I was getting aroused, too. After sleeping together once, it felt like whatever unknown self-control we’d had had already started to crack.
I silently pulled his face down to mine. As our lips met slowly, the wide-eyed Min Yugeon broke into a joyous smile.
***
The holiday vanished in the blink of an eye. Team members who greeted me warmly upon seeing me at the lab stopped mid-sentence.
“T-Team Leader, were you sick over the break?”
“You look kind of drained…”
When I’d looked in the mirror while washing up that morning, even I had to admit I looked haggard. But there was no way I could explain the reason, so I simply shook my head in silence. Still, thanks to getting some rest after yesterday evening—and the massage Min Yugeon had given me—I was functional enough to get through the day.
“Let’s get to our tasks before the Colonel arrives.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Got it!”
Starting today, Sun Woosung was scheduled to visit the research lab. I reviewed the advisory notes we’d previously secured from the ship’s medical team in preparation for the morning’s agenda, then headed to the observation room to check on Cat’s condition. After that, I met with the Equipment Team to confirm that the devices we’d soon be using were functioning properly. Time flew as I moved from place to place, and before I knew it, Sun Woosung’s arrival was imminent.
“Ah, good morning, sir!”
I turned my head at the sharp, resounding voice that rang through the building. I’d been speaking with the Equipment Team Leader in the lobby. It was the voice of one of the soldiers stationed at the lab. From the tone—reserved for high-ranking officers—it was obvious Sun Woosung had arrived.
Sure enough, not long after, the entrance doors slid open and Sun Woosung strode in. The Equipment Team Leader drew in a short breath and nudged me gently.
“That’s him, right? He looks scary as hell. Something get under his skin?”
“…Hmm.”
That’s just his default expression, I thought. I debated whether to say it aloud, but before I could decide, Sun Woosung spotted me and approached.
“Welcome.”
“……”
Sun Woosung responded with a curt nod. The Equipment Team Leader blinked in surprise, glancing between us. I hoped he didn’t get the wrong impression and assume there was bad blood between us.
After exchanging a brief greeting with the Team Leader, who had come out to meet him with me, Sun Woosung began walking with us toward Building B. The team members would already be in the exam room, waiting with everything prepared.
“How are you feeling today? No discomfort like a headache or anything?”
“None.”
“Did you manage to sleep the amount I recommended last time?”
I had advised him to sleep significantly less than usual for the brainwave test. If he’d followed that instruction, then his current appearance—with no signs of fatigue—was frankly impressive.
“I didn’t sleep.”
“Pardon? You mean not at all?”
“Correct.”
His sharp profile turned toward me.
“I’m used to it.”
“……”
Given the nature of reconnaissance units, operating on little to no sleep might be a necessity. If not, then it meant he regularly didn’t sleep—or couldn’t.
My mind began forming natural conclusions, drawing out possible reasons for that, but I mentally waved those thoughts away. I wasn’t a psychiatrist. Delving too deeply into someone else’s sensitive matters wouldn’t help, and it might show in subtle, unintended ways that I’d been speculating.
Better not to get involved at all.
“Man… must be insomnia.”
Of course, not everyone thought like I did. The Equipment Team Leader, walking beside us, furrowed his brows in pure pity, clicking his tongue.
“It’s tough not getting sleep. Your brain just stops working, and your body feels like a sack of bricks… You can’t get anything done. No efficiency whatsoever.”
“……”
“Sometimes I can’t sleep either. When that happens, I feel like I’d do anything for some prescription meds. But I’ve heard pills aren’t a permanent fix.”
Though they’d only just met, the Team Leader spoke with genuine empathy, shaking his head with heartfelt understanding. That kind of sincerity might have comforted someone—just not Sun Woosung.
“……”
“……”
Sun Woosung’s icy gaze shifted from me to the Team Leader. The latter had just opened his mouth to say more but immediately froze up when their eyes met. The air fell silent.
It genuinely felt like a cold wind had blown through from somewhere.
