Yeon Yiseo wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly—the words had popped out of Alexander’s mouth in a light tone, but they made him hesitate. Was it a joke? But for Alexander, it had sounded unusually firm.
“…Excuse me?”
Yeon Yiseo looked down at the salad bowl. The Caprese salad had been prepared by Alexander himself. Hadn’t he eaten a double cheese bacon burger the last time they went to the burger place together? And now he was saying he hated cheese?
“It feels like chewing rubber.”
Yeon Yiseo stared at him, forgetting even to blink, as Alexander continued in a serious voice.
“I told my tutor that once. That I secretly threw out the cheese from lunch because it tasted awful. And somehow, that story made its way to my father. What do you think he said to me?”
“…I’m not sure.”
“‘The eldest son of the Scott family must accomplish everything. That includes not being picky with food.’ Then he had cheese prepared just for me. He only said one thing—‘Eat it.’ And so, I ate cheese every single day. I promise you, if you knew how many types of cheese there are, you’d be shocked.”
Yeon Yiseo stayed quiet, listening closely.
“From then on, every meal had cheese set aside just for me. It started when I was seven. Even now, whenever I have a meal with my father, there’s still a separate plate of cheese for me.”
Yeon Yiseo’s brow furrowed instinctively. Every day? Sure, being a picky eater isn’t great. But this went way beyond discipline. Forcing someone to eat something they clearly said they hated? And even now? That felt… like abuse. It didn’t come across as a lesson—it felt like misplaced punishment.
They say one small thing can reveal the bigger picture. If that was how Alexander’s father handled a seven-year-old’s complaint about cheese, how did he respond to everything else? Just imagining it made Yeon Yiseo’s forehead tense again, this time harder to suppress.
“So then, now you…”
“I can eat it just fine. I’m actually grateful to him for that part. I’ve stopped complaining about food altogether.”
Alexander gave a soft tap on the surface of his water glass with his fingers before continuing.
“Until now, no one’s ever noticed. Not until you did, Yiseo.”
He flashed a grin at Yeon Yiseo and playfully winked. That mischievous smile was a kind Yeon Yiseo had never seen before. Even though the whole story had been shared lightly, that one example made it painfully clear what kind of environment Alexander had grown up in.
In SickVill, wasn’t Ethan the one who’d grown up under harsh conditions, constantly compared to his brother? Yeon Yiseo had assumed only Ethan had suffered. But that wasn’t the case. Alexander, too, had endured a harsh upbringing. Yeon Yiseo tried hard not to let his emotions show. Some people found pity offensive—it could come across as condescending or undermine their dignity.
“I’ve never talked about this before. Honestly… it doesn’t feel good. Makes me uncomfortable, showing this weak side of myself. And yet, I don’t know why—I feel like I can tell you these things, Yiseo.”
It was a cautious confession. Alexander scooted his chair back slightly and opened his arms toward Yeon Yiseo. The gesture seemed to ask for a hug. Drawn like opposite poles of a magnet, Yeon Yiseo stood and walked into his arms.
He let Alexander’s arms wrap around him, resting his head against the man’s chest as he gazed down at him. Slowly, he brought a hand up and ran it gently through Alexander’s hair. Fine, smooth strands slipped through his fingers. Looking down on that round head from above—oddly enough—it looked… cute, even if it didn’t suit the atmosphere.
Thinking that was probably inappropriate in this moment, Yeon Yiseo tousled his hair gently instead. If Alexander had been that small at seven, how much more helpless must he have been back then? Just imagining that tiny child being subjected to something akin to punishment made Yeon Yiseo’s blood boil.
What must it have felt like, seeing a separate plate of cheese served only to him at the table? What expression had he worn as he ate it in silence? The very thought made Yeon Yiseo’s chest ache. He hadn’t known it was possible to feel this angry at someone he’d never even met.
“…Thank you for sharing that with me.”
“Heh.”
Alexander laughed softly, as if Yeon Yiseo’s words amused him. He tilted his head, lifting his face from Yeon Yiseo’s chest, and kissed him. A gentle brush of lips that pulled away just as lightly—until Yeon Yiseo leaned in again and kissed him back.
“You really don’t have to eat food you don’t like. I’ll eat it for you. …Well, if you’re okay with that, Alex.”
His words were quiet but sincere. Alexander’s eyes widened slightly before curving gently in response.
“You’re dependable. Will you stay by my side when the thunder and lightning come, too?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Yeon Yiseo didn’t hesitate. Then added softly—
“…If that’s what you want.”
“I’d love that.”
A charming curve played across Alexander’s lips. He cupped Yeon Yiseo’s cheek, gazing at him like an explorer trying to decipher a page filled with strange symbols. When Yeon Yiseo turned his head in embarrassment, Alexander finally let go, as if coming to his senses.
Rising from his chair, Alexander gently brushed his finger through Yeon Yiseo’s bangs. The light touch, hovering just close enough to feel, pulled all of Yeon Yiseo’s attention to the tips of his fingers.
“I think it’s time to wash up. Want to shower together?”
That invitation wasn’t easy to respond to. Yeon Yiseo liked being with him—but there was still something about the flow, the timing. Taking a shower together could quickly shift the mood into something more intense. Not that he’d mind if it did… But tomorrow was a weekday, and he had work.
“…No, I think it’d be better if we showered separately.”
He ended up declining, not wanting a repeat of last time.
“Fair enough.”
Alexander backed off easily, as if respecting the decision. Yeon Yiseo thought he might push again, but he didn’t. It was almost as if he’d expected the answer. Yeon Yiseo felt a mix of relief and faint disappointment.
“Then… sharing a bed is still okay, right?”
“Uh… …yeah.”
It was rare for Yeon Yiseo to be at a loss for words, but he paused before answering. It wasn’t an unexpected question—they’d come to Alexander’s place assuming they’d sleep in the same bed. But having it laid out so directly like that—that made it feel uncomfortably explicit.
“Got it. Hurry and wash up. I’ll see you in bed.”
Pleased with the answer, Alexander pressed a gentle kiss to Yeon Yiseo’s cheek and led him by the hand to the master bathroom.
“Don’t take too long.”
He added that Yeon Yiseo could use whatever he liked, then closed the bathroom door behind him. Left alone, Yeon Yiseo let out a short laugh, amused and a little overwhelmed by everything that had just happened. He turned on the shower, resolving to finish quickly.
***
When he came out of the shower, a neatly folded set of pajamas waited for him. Judging by the perfect fit, they’d been prepared in his size. He paused, unsure if he should really just accept them like this—but it’s not like he could walk out naked. He slipped them on.
Heading to the bedroom, he found Alexander already there, freshly washed. Yeon Yiseo had tried to be quick, but apparently, he’d still been slower.
“Looks like I took longer.”
“No, I just rushed a bit. I didn’t want to leave you waiting in an empty room. Hmm, your hair’s still damp. Could you wait a second?”
He figured Alexander was going to hand him a towel—he’d returned from the bathroom with a fresh one. Yeon Yiseo reached out to take it. But Alexander’s words caught him off guard.
“Come here.”
“I can do it myself.”
“I’d like to dry your hair for you, Yiseo.”
Someone else drying his hair? He’d never even considered that. He declined again, gently—but this time, Alexander didn’t seem ready to back off. In the end, Yeon Yiseo sat down across from him.
Alexander wrapped the towel around his hair and began drying it with soft, attentive hands. Yeon Yiseo had never realized how good it could feel to have someone else dry your hair. The firm, rounded tips of Alexander’s fingers massaged his scalp, coaxing a sleepy calm from him. His eyes drifted shut.
He wished this could last longer. When Alexander finally pulled the towel away, Yeon Yiseo slowly opened his eyes, eyelids heavy with pleasant drowsiness.
“That should do it. Your hair’s black, so when it’s wet, it really catches the light. All smooth and shiny—it makes me want to touch it.”
Alexander smiled as he said it, and Yeon Yiseo replied—
“You can.”
“Then I won’t hold back.”
It was as if Alexander had been waiting for that moment. He gently ran his fingers through Yeon Yiseo’s hair, his touch cautious and tender. It felt so good that Yeon Yiseo sat perfectly still, letting his hair be played with. If he were a cat, he’d probably be purring like crazy. When Alexander’s hand finally pulled away, he almost felt… disappointed.
