After a deep sleep, Inho was the first to suggest that Haon take a shower. He even filled the bathtub with warm water himself, then lifted Haon up and gently placed him in it. Naked, without even a pair of underwear—
“I-I can do it myself…”
If he stayed still any longer, it looked like Inho would start washing him too. As if he really intended to do so, Inho picked up the shower puff but then set down the body wash reluctantly.
“Isn’t it hard for you? I can help.”
“No, it’s fine. I can do it alone.”
Emphasizing alone, Haon bowed his head low. His eyes darted around, unable to settle on where to look. No matter how much he tried not to, his gaze kept straying between Inho’s thighs.
‘Something that big… was really inside me.’
Even after seeing it with his own eyes, Haon still couldn’t believe it. Thinking maybe he saw it wrong, he glanced once more to confirm—and his face only turned even redder.
“Then call me if you need help.”
“Y-Yes, thank you.”
Trying to hide his face that was burning like it would explode, Haon ducked his head even further.
Though they had grown accustomed to each other’s naked bodies, Inho quickly stepped out of the bathroom, mindful of how embarrassed Haon seemed. They had spent the last four days completely intertwined, skin to skin, so he hadn’t considered how Haon might feel now.
Left alone in the warm bath, Haon began blowing bubbles with his mouth. Even after Inho left, the heat in his body refused to subside.
“Ah…”
He tried lifting his hips to lower the water temperature a bit, but a sharp ache made him clench his teeth. There wasn’t a single spot on his body that didn’t hurt, but his lower back and hips were especially sore.
“Haon-ssi, are you okay?”
While spreading his legs slightly to check between his cheeks, he was startled by Inho’s voice and quickly drew his knees together. He hadn’t realized Inho was standing at the door.
“W-Why are you there?”
“I brought your clothes. Need a hand? Are you sure you can wash on your own?”
“I’m fine!”
Startled by how close his voice had gotten, Haon even waved his hands to stop him. Only after confirming one last time that Haon was really okay did Inho finally leave.
Haon splashed water onto his flushed face and blew more bubbles into the bath. He was grateful and sorry for how carefully Inho looked after him, but also so embarrassed it made his stomach ache.
Being moved while completely naked, and showing Inho such an aroused state—it was mortifying to the point of death. He thought it might not be as bad since Inho had already seen him like that before, but he’d been completely wrong.
‘How pathetic must I have looked.’
Burying his face into his knees, Haon tried to imagine what he must have looked like—doing things he couldn’t even remember. The theater had been full of food smells, a place completely unsuited for dignity. In other words, the perfect setting for him to act like a complete mess.
He let out a string of sighs, then caught a glimpse of his reflection in the showerhead—and his eyes widened.
“Uh…”
‘What… is this?’
There was a dark bruise on his left cheek. Haon hadn’t looked in the mirror yet, so he had no idea what his face currently looked like. He’d fallen asleep in Inho’s arms, unaware that he’d injured his cheek at some point.
Panicked, he rushed over to the sink and looked into the mirror—only to freeze in place. His lips were scabbed and swollen, and the entire left side of his face was puffed up badly. He’d assumed the swelling was from sleeping too long or crying too much, but judging by the mess in the mirror, it looked like he’d been struck.
When he gently pressed the bruised area, a pain far sharper than what he’d felt in his hips or back shot through him. It hurt so much his eyes welled up with tears.
‘No way…’
Haon glanced nervously at the tightly shut bathroom door, then shook his head almost immediately. He had no memory of it, but he couldn’t believe Inho would ever hit him. Absolutely not. No way…
Staring at his reflection for a long while, Haon finally turned back to the bathtub with an exhausted expression. The fact that there was a mark on his face left him upset.
If he hadn’t seen it, he probably would’ve gone on like nothing ever happened.
“Haa…”
A long sigh escaped Haon’s lips, weighed down by gloom.
***
‘Isn’t he taking a little too long?’
Inho paced around the living room, stealing glances at Haon’s bedroom door. He’d intentionally left the door slightly ajar so he could hear what was going on inside.
It had been well over two hours since Haon went into the bathroom, and he still hadn’t come out. The faint sound of running water reassured Inho that Haon hadn’t collapsed or anything. But still—why was it taking this long?
Just as his worry reached a boiling point, he heard the bathroom door creak open. The slow, dragging footsteps that followed eased the deep furrow in Inho’s brow. With a visible sense of relief, he headed to the kitchen.
He poured hot water into a teacup he’d already prepared and waited for the tea to steep. He was planning to use the tea as an excuse to go into Haon’s room.
Creak. But before he could, Haon opened the door himself.
“Do you need anything?”
Haon stepped out without even drying his hair, and Inho quickly walked over to him. Shaking his head, Haon insisted he didn’t need anything—smiling. A little too brightly. It was awkwardly cheerful.
“I…”
Haon looked up at the approaching Inho, then subtly took a step back. At the same time, he lowered his head and pulled his wet hair forward—as if trying to hide his face behind it.
“Um, so… the truth is, I don’t remember anything from my heat period.”
Inho’s gaze briefly faltered as he looked down at Haon. But with his eyes fixed on the floor, Haon didn’t notice and earnestly continued explaining his condition.
“I really don’t remember anything. Not even the smallest details.”
“I know. You mentioned that before, Haon-ssi.”
‘Does he even remember the things he said while sober?’ Inho found it odd but motioned for him to go on.
“Ah…”
Blinking quickly, Haon cleared his throat. His eyes darted nervously, and he clenched his fists before continuing with words he’d carefully pieced together.
“The last thing I remember is washing my hands in the bathroom. I… I just wanted to know what happened after that…”
“Haon-ssi.”
Listening intently, Inho suddenly stepped forward. The moment his gaze landed on the bruised side of Haon’s face, his first instinct was to explain.
“I didn’t do that.”
He then recounted what had happened. Though he didn’t go into detail.
He explained that Haon had taken a bit of food from a stranger, and that man, enraged, had resorted to violence. That was the extent of what he shared. He left out the part where he’d beaten that man unconscious.
“Ah…”
Haon’s expression subtly lit up as he listened. He nodded repeatedly, then cautiously asked,
“Then… that man…?”
“I reported him to the police. You don’t have to worry.”
“P-Police?”
Inho gave him a look, as if wondering why he was surprised, and reached out to touch the cheek mottled with bruises.
“Of course I reported it. You were hurt this badly.”
“But still… I was the one who did something wrong first…”
The fact that Haon was worried about a man who had beaten him until his face bruised made Inho momentarily speechless. He ran a hand wearily over his tired face, then gently said,
“Haon-ssi, that’s a very dangerous way of thinking.”
After confirming Haon wouldn’t shy away, he widened his palm and fully cradled the side of Haon’s face. Judging by the bruise, it wasn’t just one hit—he’d been struck multiple times in a row. Inho regretted not hitting that guy harder.
“Stealing a few snacks doesn’t give anyone the right to do this to someone’s face.”
Inho’s frustrated expression—saying violence was wrong—made him look almost harmless. Like someone who had never raised a hand to anyone in his life.
“Just focus on getting better, Haon-ssi. Don’t worry about anything else.”
He guided Haon back to the bed and helped him lie down. Turning on the bedside lamp, he handed him the tea meant to help him rest and urged him to relax.
“You can’t catch a cold. Especially since you can’t take any medicine right now.”
Haon didn’t refuse. The warmth of the tea Inho gave him slowly spread through his body. Inho had told him not to worry—and for some reason, Haon just wanted to do exactly that. In truth, he was so drained that he had no energy left to ask more or dwell on anything further.
“Are you hungry?”
“No.”
After tucking the blanket over Haon, Inho dimmed the bedside lamp by one level. When he asked if it was okay to stay until Haon fell asleep, Haon answered yes again and pulled the blanket up to cover the lower half of his face.
The sleepiness brought on by the warm tea started to slip away. The pounding of his heart chased the drowsiness away with each heavy beat.
“Haon-ssi, just imagine…”
Inho, now perched at the head of the bed, gently patted Haon’s chest as he continued speaking.
“If something like that ever happens again, never apologize first.”
“……”
“If you don’t want to do something, and someone tries to force you—start by cursing them out.”
Haon blinked his wide eyes, intently listening to Inho’s soft voice.
“And then just call me.”
When Haon didn’t respond, Inho leaned slightly closer, his tone firm.
“Got it?”
Haon could only nod in reply. He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, the thunderous sound of his heartbeat would come spilling out.
Seeing Haon nodding so earnestly made Inho chuckle. He gently placed his hand over Haon’s round eyes and coaxed them shut.
“Sleep well.”
His palm, resting on Haon’s eyelids, was warm. Haon pressed both hands to his chest, lips sealed tight, trying to muffle the pounding inside him.
If he opened his mouth now, he feared all the emotions welling up inside him would come pouring out.
