Why was he suddenly asking for his hand? Though puzzled, Haon obediently extended his arm.
“I’m just going to hold it for a second.”
Inho carefully took hold of Haon’s wrist, then used his other hand to rummage through his pants pocket. Startled by the light touch, Haon calmed his fluttering heart and quietly observed Inho.
“Uh…”
Then, the moment he saw what Inho pulled out, his eyes widened in surprise.
“This isn’t a gift,” Inho said firmly as he fastened a silver watch around Haon’s wrist.
“I’m giving it to you because you don’t have a watch at home. I figured it might be inconvenient while you’re working.”
He let out a light laugh, calling it an employee benefit, and quickly stepped back—leaving before Haon had a chance to refuse.
It had only been a brief glance, but Inho thought the watch really suited Haon. For something he’d ordered in a rush that morning, it was a satisfying choice.
“Uh…”
Stunned by the unexpected gift, Haon couldn’t even thank him. There wasn’t even a moment to do so—Inho had disappeared before he could say a word.
In the end, Haon stood there blankly, staring at the wristwatch until Inho returned from upstairs with an armful of new workout clothes. Contrary to Inho’s worries, Haon had no intention of turning down the watch.
Unlike with clothes, receiving the watch didn’t weigh heavily on his conscience. He simply felt grateful—and happy. It made him feel like Inho had remembered the moment he’d asked why there were no clocks in the house.
Still, there was no need to give him something this nice.
“Maybe around five hundred thousand won…?”
For Haon, that was a considerable amount. He scrutinized the shiny watch intently. It was the first time in his life he’d worn something this heavy on his wrist.
Ever since moving in with Inho, Haon found himself experiencing a lot of firsts—perhaps because their worlds were so vastly different. And those firsts filled him with an unbearable sense of excitement. Just like now.
Maybe his feelings would change if he knew how much more expensive the watch was than the clothes. But for now, his heart was simply pounding with joy.
***
Before getting in the car, Inho checked Haon’s complexion.
“You’re really okay?”
Even on the elevator ride down, he had asked Haon if his stomach felt alright. He seemed concerned since Haon had eaten even though his digestion was still a bit off.
“It’s totally fine now. I’ll tell you if my stomach starts hurting.”
“You have to tell me.”
“Okay.”
Haon patted his perfectly fine stomach with a confident thump and got into the car. He rested the eco-bag slung over one shoulder on his lap, but when the coolness of it brushed against his legs, he quietly set it down on the floor.
Inside the eco-bag were bottles of sparkling water that Inho liked to drink and orange juice that Haon preferred. Haon had packed everything himself. Just in case, he had also filled a tumbler with cold water and brought along a few snacks.
Inho watched Haon with amusement as he busily prepared, almost as if getting ready for a picnic. Honestly, everything could’ve been bought at the convenience store in the park, but Haon looked so excited while packing that Inho held back any comments. Seeing Haon so bubbly made him think that suggesting they go out had definitely been the right call.
“Haon-ssi, look at the sky.”
Inho gestured with his eyes toward the clear blue sky, which looked as if it had been painted with bright watercolor. It was far too beautiful a day to stay cooped up indoors. After several days of gloomy overcast skies, the brilliant blue felt all the more refreshing.
Haon stared up at the clear sky as if mesmerized, soaking in the view.
Back when he lived in the countryside, he used to sit alone on hillsides and gaze at the scenery for hours. Losing himself in beautiful things had become a habit since then.
“Haon-ssi.”
Suddenly, a large hand entered Haon’s dazed field of vision.
Startled, Haon blinked rapidly and turned to look at Inho, entirely unaware that Inho had been calling his name multiple times.
“Look at me too, will you?”
Inho gave him a drowsy smile as he spoke. It was meant as a joke—though there was a touch of sincerity to it.
“Ah, yes. I’ll look.”
Haon responded diligently and fixed his wide-open eyes on Inho. Even though Inho laughed and told him he was just joking, Haon didn’t take his gaze off him for a single moment—not until they arrived at the park’s parking lot.
His eyes felt more delighted than when admiring any scenic landscape. He couldn’t look away. If he could just look at Inho all day, he thought, he wouldn’t mind if it rained every single day.
Unfortunately, the road was clear, and they arrived at Hangang Park rather quickly.
It seemed Inho came here often; he didn’t even need the GPS. When Haon expressed his surprise, Inho explained that he sometimes came out early in the morning to jog.
So he really does love exercise, Haon thought, once again impressed. He quietly made up his mind to start liking exercise too—anything to have more in common with Inho.
Before getting out of the car, he took a sip of the water he’d brought and tilted his head left and right. It was his version of warming up.
Seeing this, Inho initially thought Haon might have a sore neck and was about to ask if he was alright—but stopped himself. Since Haon was also twisting his waist, it looked like he was stretching. Inho wanted to ask why he was doing it while seated, but figured there must be a reason and simply watched in silence.
“All done?”
When Inho asked, Haon, still squirming slightly, gave a confident nod. His face looked as serious as someone about to run a marathon.
“Today we’re just going to take it easy and walk.”
Inho waited patiently until Haon had finished his quirky version of stretching, then said this in a gentle tone.
Even though Haon was dressed in proper workout clothes, Inho had only planned for a light stroll, taking Haon’s condition into account. Haon hadn’t been able to eat properly for the past few days, and Inho didn’t want to push him into anything too strenuous.
“Why not?”
But Haon, on the other hand, looked like he actually wanted to exercise. Maybe he felt it would be a waste to wear athletic clothes just to walk.
“I’m just feeling a bit tired today.”
Inho used his own condition as an excuse and suggested they come back another day to really work out.
“Or, Haon-ssi, is there a particular kind of exercise you want to do today?”
Seeing Haon’s slight disappointment, Inho asked gently. But the answer came back without a moment’s hesitation.
“Walking is nice too.”
Haon, hiding the fact that he actually preferred walking the most, picked up the eco-bag and headed out. He just wanted to feel the warm sunlight on his skin as soon as possible.
“Sss—haah…“
Ever since they arrived at the park, Haon’s breathing had grown louder. After only seeing tall, sharp-edged buildings, the sight of lush grass and the wide-open view of the river felt like a breath of fresh air that cleared his lungs.
“Not bad, right?”
Inho asked as he watched Haon looking around constantly, his head turning in every direction. Seeing his bright smile, there was no need for an answer.
Maybe he should’ve brought Haon to a park instead of a department store in the first place. Watching how visibly happy he was now, Inho regretted not coming sooner. But with all the gloomy weather lately, there hadn’t really been a good chance.
“Inho-ssi.”
Hearing his name called unexpectedly, Inho paused and responded a beat late.
“Yeah?”
“Look at this.”
Haon, crouched on the ground, had picked something up and stood to show it to Inho. It seemed that was why he’d called him over. Even before seeing what it was, Inho’s face lit up in anticipation.
“Isn’t it pretty?”
What Haon had picked up was a white cosmos flower. Its stem had been cleanly snapped, likely blown over from a nearby flower bed.
Someone had probably plucked it because it was pretty, taken a bunch of photos, and then tossed it aside. It was peak season for autumn cosmos, and many people nearby were posing for pictures with the flowers in the background.
“The petals are huge.”
Haon examined the simple flower for a long while, admiring it with generous praise. He cradled the flower in his hands as if it were precious, committing every detail to memory.
“It really is.”
Inho smiled gently and looked down at the lifeless flower along with Haon. The two stood with their backs to the blooming flower bed, gazing down at a single fallen blossom on the ground.
“It’s really beautiful.”
But when Inho added that final comment, his eyes weren’t looking at the flower—they were fixed on Haon.
Haon simply smiled brightly, then carefully tucked the pretty flower into his coat pocket. He even slung his eco-bag over the opposite shoulder to make sure it wouldn’t get crushed.
His grandmother would’ve loved this.
With that thought, Haon smiled again and sank back into the scenery around him. After spending so much time in the city, being surrounded by familiar elements of nature brought him a sense of relief he couldn’t quite put into words.
“Um…”
Haon, who had been admiring his surroundings for a while, suddenly came to a stop as if something had just occurred to him.
Inho glanced over with a silent “What’s up?” and was met with a bright smile that lit up Haon’s pale face even more. It was the first time he’d seen him smile like that—so radiantly. What could he be about to say that made him smile so sweetly?
“I’m really good at riding bikes.”
Haon spoke with a shy but confident expression. It was one of the few things he could honestly say he was good at.
“I’ve never fallen off, not once.”
He emphasized it on purpose, proud of the skill. Growing up in the countryside where bikes were a necessary mode of transportation, he’d ridden them often since he was young.
“I can even give someone a ride on the back.”
But right after boasting, he grew bashful, and his smile grew even wider. Inho’s amused “Oh?” and attentive expression only made Haon laugh more freely.
“Then shall we go ride bikes?”
“Yes! I’d love that.”
Haon’s brilliant smile seemed to seep into Inho as well.
“I’d love that too.”
Looking at Haon’s face, glowing as if it had absorbed the sunlight itself, Inho naturally reached out and took his hand.
Using the excuse that the bike rental station was on the other side, he led the way, holding Haon’s hand firmly as they walked at a leisurely pace.
