#201
Dan Joo-hyuk immediately responded with his usual gentle smile, as if not surprised at all.
“Was that so?”
Did I see wrong?
In any case, there was a reason behind Dan Joo-hyuk’s confidence in inviting all the children. Somehow, he had already arranged for the caregivers from the orphanage to join them, which made things much more convenient.
“Yeah. Anyway, thanks. My siblings all look like they’re having fun.”
“I just wanted to do this. Besides, this is safer too.”
The more Yoon Pa-ran thought about it, coming to an amusement park seemed like an excessive undertaking.
Normally, many people would have recognized Dan Joo-hyuk. And lately, too many people had begun recognizing Yoon Pa-ran himself as well, which was becoming a nuisance.
He realized the weight of his skill in moments like these. Feeling as though he might be dumping too many complicated matters on Dan Joo-hyuk, Yoon Pa-ran reflected with slight remorse.
Once the safe zone system became more established, it might become even harder to move around freely like this. So he was genuinely grateful for the opportunity to bring his siblings out while they still could.
“…”
After playing happily all day, his chest felt light and ticklish. In truth, this was Yoon Pa-ran’s first time at an amusement park too, so he had been quite excited.
Later, if he had something else to thank Dan Joo-hyuk for, he would ask what he might need in return. He realized that even if it wasn’t compensation for the Blessing Contract, they could still exchange gifts.
Though he wondered if Dan Joo-hyuk ever needed anything at all.
“If it’s too burdensome, should I ask Minister Byeon to provide some budget? The government should accommodate what Yoon Pa-ran-ssi wants.”
Yoon Pa-ran chuckled at the joking remark. He playfully tapped Dan Joo-hyuk’s shoulder and replied:
“That’s fine.”
“…”
Dan Joo-hyuk relished the light touch on his shoulder.
The fact that such minor contact made his heart flutter confirmed the severity of his condition. His gaze kept returning to Yoon Pa-ran’s bright, joyful face. The genuine pleasure reflected in his cheerful expression all day was wonderful to see.
It made Dan Joo-hyuk want to do even more for him.
“Wait here for a moment.”
“Okay.”
Though Yoon Pa-ran opened his eyes wide as if finding Dan Joo-hyuk’s words strange, he nodded. Whenever Yoon Pa-ran looked at him with such trusting eyes, his heart strangely fluttered again.
The footsteps he meant to take felt oddly heavy, as if stuck to the ground. His hand unconsciously reached out to tap Yoon Pa-ran’s earlobe.
“You might get lost, so wait here. Understand?”
“I said I got it.”
When directly treated like a child, Yoon Pa-ran’s expression immediately turned sulky. Finding that face, so similar to his younger siblings’, almost made Dan Joo-hyuk laugh, so he quickly turned away.
They had passed an ice cream shop earlier. He kept thinking about how he had diligently given ice cream to each of the children, but Yoon Pa-ran himself hadn’t gotten any.
“…”
As he moved, several children he encountered waved at him with bright smiles. Waving back, Dan Joo-hyuk quickly weaved through the crowd.
Though he didn’t look directly due to the contract’s terms, he found the occasional glances cast his way annoying. However, since Yoon Pa-ran didn’t seem to notice, he decided to simply endure it.
Spending time with children was quite a new adventure for Dan Joo-hyuk as well.
Initially, he had been very concerned about an S-rank syndrome outbreak among Yoon Pa-ran’s siblings. The numerous humans roaming about were also potential risk factors.
But after much consideration, he had steeled himself. For the sake of Yoon Pa-ran, who cherished his siblings, he sensed he could endure this too.
Moreover, small creatures usually feared him. It seemed to be due to an instinctual sense they felt despite his efforts to suppress his aura.
Surely that would be the case, but this time was different. Among Yoon Pa-ran’s siblings, Min-woong had clung to Dan Joo-hyuk without any hesitation.
The other children, initially wary, soon began following Min-woong’s example. Even Ju-hee, who had cautiously watched him, eventually asked to be carried when her legs hurt.
Enduring children freely hanging from his arms, Dan Joo-hyuk continuously experienced a strange feeling. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was unfamiliar—different from what he felt when looking at Yoon Pa-ran.
“Here. Have one of these at least.”
He quickly handed Yoon Pa-ran the ice cream he had hurried to get. The blank, white face that received it unthinkingly imprinted itself in his vision again.
Cute.
“Oh, um? Thanks.”
Staring blankly at the ice cream, Yoon Pa-ran carefully took a bite.
It seemed to suit his taste, as Yoon Pa-ran ate it quite well. It would probably be good to keep more such snacks at home.
With one arm resting on the back of the bench, Dan Joo-hyuk observed Yoon Pa-ran. Perhaps finding this strange, after a few more bites, Yoon Pa-ran suddenly glanced at Dan Joo-hyuk.
“Aren’t you having any?”
“I’m fine.”
Then he did something dangerous again.
“Want to share?”
Dan Joo-hyuk’s eyes fixed on the ice cream offered to him. Though he generally disliked sweet things, he slowly lowered his head.
He deliberately took a bite from the part Yoon Pa-ran had been licking. The sweet soft-serve ice cream melted gently in his mouth.
“It’s delicious.”
“…Yeah.”
Yoon Pa-ran’s voice somehow sounded husky. Resting his arm on the bench again, Dan Joo-hyuk observed him.
When Yoon Pa-ran offered the ice cream a few more times with quick glances, Dan Joo-hyuk shook his head. So Yoon Pa-ran looked forward and slowly licked the ice cream given to him.
Each time his red tongue touched the white ice cream, Dan Joo-hyuk felt a heaviness in his lower abdomen. It was a dizzying sight, but being in front of Yoon Pa-ran’s siblings, he could restrain himself. However, his gaze was so completely captivated by Yoon Pa-ran that he couldn’t look elsewhere.
After eating the ice cream a few more times, Yoon Pa-ran suddenly turned to face Dan Joo-hyuk. Perhaps due to the rushed head turn, a white ice cream smudge remained on his lips.
Dan Joo-hyuk’s gaze was drawn endlessly to those plump lips.
Would they taste the same as before if he sucked them?
“Why do you keep smiling like that?”
Dan Joo-hyuk, who had been staring as if entranced, stiffened at Yoon Pa-ran’s suspicious tone.
Unconsciously touching his own lips, he realized Yoon Pa-ran was right. He hadn’t known he was smiling, but he was.
“How am I smiling?”
This time, he consciously smiled while asking Yoon Pa-ran. Given how he asked, Dan Joo-hyuk worried that perhaps his smile looked unsightly.
He had always thought his face wasn’t one to be ashamed of, but suddenly wondered how it appeared to Yoon Pa-ran.
Sometimes when Yoon Pa-ran stared at his face, he didn’t seem to dislike it.
“Just… well…”
Though dying of curiosity, Yoon Pa-ran trailed off without giving a clear answer. For some reason, he quickly turned his head forward again.
But the ear that was now exposed had a slight reddish tint.
“…”
It looked as if the sunset had settled on Yoon Pa-ran’s ear. As Dan Joo-hyuk quietly gazed at that reddish, soft spot, something welled up inside him.
It wasn’t like his usual volcano-like emotions. But it felt like his lungs were filled with balls of fur. An indescribable feeling, as if shaking it out would bring immense relief.
“Oh, it’s starting.”
“…”
Soon the indoor lighting dimmed. It was the signal that the parade was about to begin.
As the surroundings darkened, only Yoon Pa-ran’s sparkling eyes filled Dan Joo-hyuk’s vision.
Dan Joo-hyuk stared endlessly at those eyes that shone just like stars in the night sky. The parade itself had never been of any interest to him from the start.
The two remained seated on the bench as the parade procession approached.
“Wow…!”
“Uwah, that monster looks scary!”
“Dummy, they’re all fake!”
The siblings in front began watching noisily. Their heads, trying to keep their voices down as they conversed, looked like glossy pebbles on a beach.
Yoon Pa-ran’s face changed colors with the parade lights. Dan Joo-hyuk blankly observed how that paper-white face uniquely illuminated.
This was his first time at an amusement park too. In fact, he had never thought he could come to such a place.
Yoon Pa-ran truly fit well into this fantastical atmosphere.
“Did you see that?”
Forgetting to finish his ice cream, Yoon Pa-ran grabbed Dan Joo-hyuk’s arm and shook it. Only then did Dan Joo-hyuk glance at the parade he had no interest in.
The parade consisted of small vehicles mimicking monsters and hunters performing group dances in front of them. To his eyes, it was an utterly clumsy procession.
“That monster there, isn’t it quite convincing?”
However, Dan Joo-hyuk quietly nodded at Yoon Pa-ran’s words. He couldn’t understand why even this brief moment of taking his eyes off Yoon Pa-ran felt so regrettable.
But one thing he did understand.
“It’s fun. …More than I expected.”
That Yoon Pa-ran’s brightly smiling face, enjoying this space more than expected, was truly pleasant to see.
…And that he liked that.
“Yoon Pa-ran-ssi.”
The words burst out before he knew it. Only then did a serious sense of crisis envelop Dan Joo-hyuk.
It’s still too early. Too soon.
He should speak when Yoon Pa-ran had at least some feelings for him.
“Yes?”
But when Yoon Pa-ran turned away from the parade he’d been enjoying and met his gaze, Dan Joo-hyuk couldn’t help it.
Again, emotions welled up in his chest. That impulse, as soft as Yoon Pa-ran’s skin, rushed to his throat without time for restraint.
As if it had just been waiting for this moment, it smoothly slipped out over his lips.
“I like you.”
In front of those sparkling eyes, it was an irresistible force.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
