Haon hid behind a large hackberry tree after parking his bicycle. This spot offered the best view of the village hall entrance.
The area in front of the hall was bustling with people, even though the sun had not yet set. Everyone seemed comfortable, sitting together and chatting. Aunt Kyung was among them.
Haon pressed himself against the tree, narrowing his eyes. He was certain that Inho would be there, which is why he had come looking for him.
“Maybe not…”
He scanned the crowded platform carefully but couldn’t see Inho. Could he have been taken to the field at this hour? The sun was about to set.
Haon got back on his bicycle with a serious expression. He planned to check the nearest Kim’s uncle’s field first. Uncle Kim always praised Inho’s strong arm muscles and wanted him as a worker. He was one of the uncles who were eager to have Inho work for them.
“Chairman, stop working and come out to eat some watermelon!”
Haon’s ears perked up at the mention of watermelon. He had dreamt about watermelons, which made his feet feel heavy. Before he knew it, he got off his bicycle and swallowed hard. He had just eaten two ice creams, but the thought of watermelon was still tempting.
“Our Inho should have some watermelon too before he goes!”
Inho? Haon’s mouth slightly opened as he rubbed his belly. Just then, a familiar face emerged from the village hall.
“You go ahead. I can eat later.”
Inho held the door open for the chairman while taking off his work gloves. He had been helping the chairman move sacks of rice delivered to the hall, and his forehead glistened with sweat from the hard work.
“Come on, it tastes better when we eat together. Hurry up!”
“Make sure to give Haon’s family the biggest watermelons, two of them. He helped with the work.”
The chairman, who had come out of the hall, personally picked out watermelons for Inho while sweating profusely. Aunt Kyung stood up from the platform and handed Inho a slice of watermelon. However, Inho just held the large, freshly cut watermelon without eating it.
“Why aren’t you eating? Don’t you like watermelon?”
“No, I want to eat it with Haon at home.”
Inho’s words made the aunties on the platform burst into laughter. The chairman, who was tying two watermelons with a rope, looked puzzled.
“How romantic! Haon’s mouth must be sweet without even eating watermelon!”
“Where did you learn to talk like that? Can you teach our husbands too?”
Inho smiled along with the laughing aunties. Some of them even pretended to faint, clutching their left chests. Everyone was full of jokes and laughter.
“Just eat one piece. We won’t tell anyone.”
Aunt Kyung winked at Inho as she handed him another slice of watermelon. She told him to take it home and feed it to Haon right away. Inho thanked her with a smile and held the two slices of watermelon together. He seemed determined not to eat any.
“Are you really not going to eat any?”
“Haon wanted to eat watermelon. I have to feed him first.”
The aunties burst into laughter again, and the chairman covered his ears, complaining about the noise. Inho, with a happy face, helped the chairman pack the watermelons.
Haon watched the scene from behind a distant tree, his mouth curved into a wide smile.
“If you’re not going to eat that, put it in a bag to take home.”
The chairman personally packed the watermelon Inho was holding into a plastic bag, adding a bottle of cold rice punch as well.
“Thank you for your help today. If I had done this alone, my old back would have given out.”
He had initially lured Inho with the promise of watermelon but ended up feeling guilty for making him work. Inho wasn’t bothered; he had achieved his goal of getting the watermelon and was satisfied.
“I’ll be going now. Thank you for the treats.”
Inho, with his arms full of watermelon and snacks, bid farewell to the aunties, reminding them not to stay out too late.
Just as the aunties were about to cheer again, Aunt Kyung’s eyes widened.
“Isn’t that Haon over there?”
In the distance, a small figure was running towards the hall. Haon, often seen with the tall Inho, had somehow gained the image of being short.
“Why are you eating watermelon without me?”
Haon rushed over, smiling brightly, and placed his hands on his hips. The laughing aunties assured him that his partner hadn’t eaten any watermelon yet.
“He said he wouldn’t eat until he fed you first.”
Aunt Kyung laughed the loudest and wiped the sweat from Haon’s forehead. Haon looked affectionately at Inho, who was handing him a towel soaked in cool water.
“Why did you come out? It’s hot.”
“I came to find Inho.”
“Eat some watermelon.”
Inho placed a piece of watermelon in Haon’s mouth and wiped the sweat from his neck with a cool towel. Haon took just one bite and then offered the rest to Inho. The ripe watermelon was sweet as honey.
“Take my car. The watermelons are heavy.”
The chairman reached into his pocket for his car keys, but Haon quickly shook his head.
“It’s okay! I brought my bicycle.”
“You have two big watermelons. How are you going to carry them?”
As the chairman tried to hand the car keys to Inho, Haon stretched out his arms to block him. They had borrowed the car before and ended up being roped into work.
“We’ll be going now! Thank you for the watermelons!”
“Drink this before you go!”
While Inho was putting the watermelons in the bicycle basket, Haon was held back by the aunties and made to drink some rice punch. He intended to take just a sip, but it was so refreshing that he ended up drinking more.
“Wow, Haon is really enjoying that. Take another bottle home.”
Aunt Kyung sat on the wooden platform, fanning herself as she watched Haon’s retreating figure. She observed him eagerly accepting snacks from the aunties, like a little sparrow. Suddenly, she scratched her chin, her eyes narrowing as she studied Haon’s back. She seemed to have something on her mind, her lips moving slightly, but then she shook her head as if dismissing the thought.
“Nah, it can’t be,” she muttered to herself, then waved enthusiastically at Haon and Inho.
“Be careful on your way home. Come for dinner tomorrow night!”
“Yes! You all should head inside too! Thank you for the watermelon, Chairman!”
Haon hugged a watermelon and perched sideways on the bicycle’s rear rack. He leaned his cheek against Inho’s back, holding the watermelon tightly to keep it from falling.
“Shall we go for a drive?” Inho asked, his voice filled with laughter as he began to pedal. Haon’s answer was ready.
“I’d also like to go for a walk.”
“Then let’s get off and walk halfway.”
“Sounds good!”
“Isn’t the watermelon heavy?”
“Not at all.”
Haon tapped the ripe watermelon and smiled brightly.
Inho felt Haon’s warm body against his back as he pedaled leisurely. He thought it would be good to walk more before it got even hotter. Inho was starting to worry about the countryside summer, not for himself, but for Haon.
“Ouch.”
Inho let out a soft laugh as Haon playfully bit his back.
“Are you hungry?”
Instead of answering, Haon bit Inho’s back again, pretending to take a big bite.
“I want some too.”
“Have a little.”
Haon offered his hand to Inho, leaning in closer. Inho pretended to bite the hand.
“Mmm, delicious.”
Haon’s soft hand smelled of watermelon. Inho suggested they eat properly at home, and Haon laughed like a child, withdrawing his hand.
As the late afternoon cooled slightly, Haon felt relieved that Inho wasn’t suffering from the heat. He tilted his head back, gazing at the back of Inho’s head and gently touching the ends of his hair.
Inho’s hair was no longer light. Last winter, when his dark roots became too noticeable, he dyed his hair completely black using the same dye Haon’s grandmother used for her gray hair.
His light hair had suited him, but his black hair was strikingly handsome. If he had once looked like a foreign model, he now had the aura of a famous actor.
Even in a simple outfit of a thin short-sleeved tee, sports shorts, and slippers, Inho stood out. His sweat-drenched appearance was captivating, drawing all eyes to him. Even Jin Seong-gu had taken notice, wondering where Inho bought his clothes.
“How about pajeon for dinner?”
Inho suggested, mentioning they could have it with the rice punch. Haon eagerly agreed, his mouth watering at the thought. Despite having eaten plenty of snacks, the idea of more food made him hungry again.
“Oh, Inho, did you hear? Hyo-jeong has a boyfriend now.”
“Really?”
Inho replied casually, but it was clear he was interested. Haon chattered on, sharing all the news he had heard from Hyo-jeong over the phone. He also brought up Inho’s younger brother.
“Joo-han grew 10 centimeters and gained a lot of weight too.”
They rarely talked about Inho’s family, and Haon thought it might stay that way.
Inho already knew the news and responded with a relaxed, “That’s good to hear.” Joo-han occasionally sent Inho text messages, especially when he had good news to share.
“I think he’s going to manifest as an Alpha.”
Haon murmured supportively, and Inho nodded calmly.
“Even if he doesn’t manifest, he’ll do just fine.”
Inho’s confident tone made Haon recall the last time he saw Joo-han. He remembered the confident messages Joo-han sent and nodded slowly in agreement with Inho.
Haon imagined a future where they could all have a meal together. He looked forward to getting to know Joo-han better, as well as Hyo-jeong and his colleagues from the pub.
He hugged the heavy watermelon tightly, picturing them all sitting together in a circle. Then, he remembered what he had wanted to tell Inho when he first woke up. He had briefly forgotten in his rush to find Inho.
“I had a really interesting dream during my nap.”
