The kiss they had shared before had been nothing more than a fleeting touch of their lips. But now, they were sharing a deep, mature kiss—something Yu-jin had only ever read about in books.
The mere thought of Winston kissing someone else made Yu-jin’s heart ache unbearably. His eyes quickly welled up with tears, and Winston, startled, widened his eyes in surprise.
“What are you talking about? Why would I ever kiss anyone else?”
“B-But…”
Yu-jin sniffled, trying not to cry.
“You’re so good at kissing… You didn’t do it like this before.”
Winston was taken aback by the absurdity of the situation, but when he saw how distressed Yu-jin was, he felt a strange sensation stir within him. Those tear-filled eyes were pitiful yet utterly captivating, shaking him to his core. If he could, he wanted to devour Yu-jin right then and there. His fingers tingled, and he clenched and unclenched his fists several times to suppress the impulse.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the only one for me.”
How could someone be this adorable? Unable to contain himself, Winston pulled Yu-jin into a tight embrace. He then rained kisses all over Yu-jin’s face, making him squint one eye as he spoke.
“R…Really?”
At that trembling voice, Winston sealed his lips over Yu-jin’s again, parting them wide as if he were about to consume him whole. He plunged his tongue inside, relentlessly mingling their saliva together. One hand gripped the back of Yu-jin’s head, while the other arm locked tightly around his waist, rendering him completely immobile. Trapped in Winston’s embrace, Yu-jin could do nothing but surrender to the overwhelming kiss.
Haah… Haah…
Even after they finally parted, gasping for breath, Winston immediately captured his lips again. He sucked on Yu-jin’s tongue, nibbled on his lower lip, and only then did he finally whisper his reply.
“There’s no one else. I don’t want to kiss anyone but you. Just imagining it makes me sick.”
“But… then how did you learn to kiss like this?”
Yu-jin hesitantly asked, to which Winston chuckled.
“Let’s go watch together next time.”
“W-Watch?”
Yu-jin’s eyes widened in shock. His nose was flushed red, his damp eyes blinking rapidly. Seeing that expression, Winston gave no verbal response, choosing instead to smother Yu-jin with more kisses. When he sucked hard on the side of his neck, Yu-jin shivered and let out a faint whimper.
“St-Stop…”
“Does it hurt?”
Winston licked the spot teasingly, and Yu-jin hesitated before answering.
“It’s… not that it hurts…”
His words trailed off uncertainly, and Winston, smiling, silenced him with another kiss. His heart was about to burst from how unbearably adorable Yu-jin was.
“There are so many things I want to do with you.”
“Like what?”
Yu-jin’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Winston simply smiled in response.
“I’ll teach you one by one. You’ve never been outside, have you?”
“Uh… No.”
Yu-jin hesitated before nodding.
“I’ve always been here.”
Yu-jin added in a small voice, and Winston kissed him on the lips.
“Why do you keep kissing me…?”
The moment their lips parted, Yu-jin pouted, grumbling softly. In response, Winston gently nibbled his cheek, careful not to hurt him.
“Do you hate it?”
“N-No… I like it, but…”
Yu-jin hesitated before answering.
“But you keep kissing me, and it keeps interrupting our conversation… I want to talk more with you…”
“You’re right.”
And yet, despite saying that, Winston kissed Yu-jin again. Like doting on a baby, he placed noisy little kisses all over his face, making Yu-jin finally turn his head away to escape.
“Stop, stop! That’s enough for today!”
Yu-jin hastily pushed against Winston’s lips with both hands, trying to fend him off. Winston frowned slightly, looking displeased—then, out of nowhere, he licked Yu-jin’s palm.
“Ahh!”
Startled, Yu-jin immediately yanked his hands away. Winston seized the moment, diving in to steal another kiss. Yu-jin, caught off guard yet again, stared at him with eyes full of exasperation, but Winston only laughed.
“Sorry, but I just can’t help myself.”
Intertwining their fingers, Winston kissed each of Yu-jin’s knuckles one by one. Yu-jin’s face burned with heat. As much as he loved kissing Winston, he also wanted to just sit and talk like they used to—read books together, take a quiet stroll through the garden, maybe even drink lemonade or cook dinner together.
There were so many things he wanted to do that his heart felt like it would burst.
Yet, despite all those thoughts running through his mind, they ended up losing themselves in each other’s kisses once more, exchanging breath after breath as time slipped away.
“It’s time for me to go.”
Before they knew it, hours had passed. Yu-jin knew it was time to let him leave. Even as he said it, Winston rubbed his lips against Yu-jin’s cheek.
“The time always feels too short.”
Yu-jin murmured with a sigh, and Winston kissed him again.
“Don’t worry. From now on, we’ll see each other every day.”
With that promise, Winston kissed him one last time before gently lifting him off his lap. Even though the front door was just a few steps away, it took them ages to get there—stopping countless times to steal another kiss, to hold each other just a little longer.
By the time the door finally creaked open, a wave of sadness was already washing over Yu-jin.
“Don’t make that face.”
Winston’s voice was filled with regret as he cupped Yu-jin’s cheeks and kissed him once more. His hands lingered on Yu-jin’s skin as he whispered,
“Let’s go out together tomorrow. Is there anywhere you want to go? I’ll take you anywhere you like.”
“Really? Ah…”
Yu-jin’s face lit up, his eyes widening in excitement—only for the brightness to fade just as quickly. Noticing the shift in mood, Winston frowned slightly, sensing something was wrong. Yu-jin lowered his gaze and mumbled softly,
“Harold is coming soon… If he arrives while I’m gone and finds out I snuck out, it could be a disaster…”
Words caught in his throat as he spoke. It felt like his vocal cords were being squeezed, forcing each syllable out painfully. Just moments ago, he had been so happy, but the sudden weight of reality crushed him, dragging him back into despair.
Winston, however, misread Yu-jin’s reaction, assuming he was simply reluctant to part.
“I guess there’s no choice. How often does my father visit?”
“About once a month…”
Yu-jin answered in a small voice, and Winston hummed in understanding before pressing a kiss to his forehead.
“Then let’s go out after he leaves. That way, it’ll be fine, right?”
No, it won’t.
Yu-jin looked up at him, feeling as if something was choking him. Winston kissed him again, then took a step back.
“Go get some sleep, Yu-jin. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
With that, he slowly backed away, unable to take his eyes off Yu-jin. He nearly stumbled on the stairs, catching himself just in time. Yu-jin sucked in a sharp breath, pressing a hand to his chest in alarm. Seeing this, Winston let out a chuckle—only to groan immediately after, as if in pain.
Just a few steps away, Winston suddenly turned back and pulled Yu-jin into his arms, capturing his lips in a deep, searing kiss. He licked into his mouth, drinking him in hungrily, arms wrapped so tightly around Yu-jin that it felt like he was trying to fuse their bodies together. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, Yu-jin found comfort in that embrace. He clung to him with all his strength.
“At this rate, we’ll be here until morning,” Winston murmured, finally breaking the kiss, his breath uneven.
I wish we could.
Yu-jin didn’t want to let him go. Stay with me. Don’t leave me alone.
But Winston was already stepping away. This time, he seemed determined, turning his back and walking off. As Yu-jin watched his retreating figure, the warmth drained from his face. His heartbeat, which had been racing moments ago, now pounded with growing dread.
Winston was leaving. And soon, Harold would arrive.
And then… And then, I…
“Don’t go…!”
The fear was unbearable. A terrified cry ripped from Yu-jin’s throat as he ran forward, grabbing Winston’s arm desperately.
Winston, startled, looked down at him. Just a moment ago, this same person had gazed up at him with nothing but love—now, his face was drained of all color, his expression twisted with fear.
“Yu-jin, what’s wrong? What happened?”
Alarmed, Winston immediately pulled him into a protective embrace, stroking his back.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry, I’m here. Tell me—what are you afraid of?”
Yu-jin’s whole body trembled violently, and Winston instinctively tightened his hold, waiting for the shaking to subside.
“It’s okay, Yu-jin. It’s okay. You’re safe. I promise, it’s okay.”
He repeated the words over and over, like a calming spell. Gradually, Yu-jin’s ragged breaths slowed, the tension in his body easing little by little. Only then did Winston allow his own shoulders to relax.
Still cradling him in his arms, Winston placed a soft kiss on the crown of his head. Now that Yu-jin had calmed somewhat, he decided it was safe to ask.
“Did something happen? Why are you so scared? It’s okay, you can tell me.”
His voice was gentle, soothing, as if coaxing a frightened child.
But Yu-jin couldn’t find the words.
What would happen if he said it out loud? Would Winston get angry at him too? Would he look at him the way Madam Campbell did?
The memory of being slapped so hard his cheek burned flashed through his mind, sending a shiver down his spine.
If Winston looked at him like that, too—he wouldn’t be able to bear it.
Tears welled up in his eyes, choking back the words before they could escape.
Seeing Yu-jin trembling like that, Winston couldn’t shake the ominous feeling creeping up his spine. Just what had terrified him this much?
“Yu-jin, please. Talk to me—if you trust me.”
But Yu-jin still couldn’t bring himself to speak. Winston refused to give up, continuing to soothe him with gentle strokes along his back.
“No matter what it is, I won’t blame you. Just be honest with me. There’s something you want to tell me, isn’t there?”
A strangled, whimpering breath escaped from deep within Yu-jin’s throat.
He was so scared.
But Winston was the only hope he had left.
And if Winston turned away from him, too… then he wouldn’t want to live anymore.
“Really…? You swear? You won’t get mad at me…?”
Yu-jin’s voice trembled, thick with unshed tears, as he looked up at Winston, searching his face desperately.
Winston nodded without hesitation and kissed his tear-streaked cheek, then his throat. It was then that he caught the faint scent of Yu-jin’s pheromones, but he forced himself to stay composed, gripping him tighter instead.
“Of course. No matter what happens, I’ll never betray you. Yu-jin, if you care about me—trust me.”
Yu-jin swallowed hard, closed his eyes, and finally let his tears fall.
“Harold…”
His voice was raw, barely more than a whisper, as he forced himself to continue.
“He… does strange things to me…”
