Chapter 63
[Once called a drug-free country, but that’s now a thing of the past. As the call for stronger measures grows amid increasing drug incidents, actor Kim was arrested on charges of drug use and is under police investigation. This is reporter Kim Hyun-sung.]
The footage alternated between the reporter and actor Kim with his head bowed low. Though brief, it was a field Si-yul had once been involved in, so his attention was naturally drawn to it.
[… arrested Kim on charges of drug use. Kim is known to have used various drugs including methamphetamine and Herma, and the police stated that Kim has admitted to all charges.]
Si-yul’s blood ran cold. Herma was the drug he used to sell. He had personally divided and dealt those salt-like granules.
[As recent drug-related incidents have come to light, concerns are rising that drugs may have become more accessible to ordinary citizens.
– Herma is a synthetic drug that can be used by both Traits and non-Traits individuals, and is highly addictive, requiring special caution.
In response, the Anti-Drug Movement Headquarters pointed out that the government should abandon its lukewarm attitude and actively work to eradicate drugs…]
Startled by the sound of the front door opening, Si-yul quickly pressed the power button with lightning speed. He threw the remote control far away as if he had never been watching TV and stood up. At the same time, Woo Hyun-se entered.
He had already been caught during their first meeting, so what was there to hide now? It wasn’t like he could improve his image at this point, but watching drug-related news made him feel like a thief with a guilty conscience. His hands and feet felt cold, as if the police might come with handcuffs to arrest him right away.
“You’re back?”
Si-yul wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and stretched his neck out. Woo Hyun-se’s distinctive scent was wafting in from the entrance. It was a scent with a pulling force. Si-yul quickly ran over, grinning and tiptoeing.
As he buried himself in those wide-open arms, hands cupped his cheeks. His face was lifted, and as expected, their lips met. Their lips collided, then rubbed against each other, and when they parted like fish gaping, the inside was briefly explored. It was a kiss that tickled from fingertips to toes. A fragrance of wisteria flowers in full bloom fell gently from Si-yul as well.
“What were you doing?”
“I came early, so I was playing games and watching TV… Did you have any trouble, CEO- I mean, hyung?”
Woo Hyun-se’s eyes and lips curved gently at the word “hyung.” Si-yul narrowed his eyes. Though the only light was the reddish glow from the entrance lamp, somehow a soft halo seemed to shine behind Woo Hyun-se’s head. Thinking his eyes must be malfunctioning, he rubbed them with the back of his hand.
“Nothing in particular.”
Woo Hyun-se slipped his arm under Si-yul’s bottom and lifted him lightly. At first, Si-yul had flailed in surprise, but now he was so used to these sudden actions that he wrapped his arms around the other’s neck and leaned his upper body against him. Woo Hyun-se patted Si-yul’s plump bottom, seeming to find it endearing and cute how Si-yul nuzzled against his neck.
“Shall we shower together?”
Come to think of it, he had only washed his hands since coming home and hadn’t showered yet. Si-yul quickly answered, “Yes.” As he wriggled to get down, Woo Hyun-se hoisted Si-yul up once more and strode across the living room after taking off his shoes.
“Am I not heavy?”
“Not at all. Kwon Si-yul, why aren’t you gaining weight even though I’ve been feeding you so much?”
“That can’t be. I’ve gained a lot. My weight has increased from before. If I gain any more, won’t I become obese? That would be terrible.”
Fat had accumulated on his once slender stomach even without separate exercise. Though the store staff took care of him, the primary and absolute cause of his weight gain was Woo Hyun-se standing before him. Thanks to this, he had recently started doing push-ups and sit-ups, exercises he hadn’t done since his military service.
Woo Hyun-se only put Si-yul down when they reached the bathroom. He lowered his hands to knead Si-yul’s sides and furrowed his brows.
“Is this what you call gained?”
“Look at this.”
He lifted his top with both hands to show his stomach. The fair skin of his belly was still flat, but to Si-yul’s eyes, it looked more protruding than before. His slender, toned physique had been one of his prides, but now… Mimicking Woo Hyun-se’s expression, he put on a serious face and pointed to his stomach with his chin.
“I’ve gained weight, haven’t I?”
“I’m not sure I see it.”
His hand slowly caressed Si-yul’s waist. He covered the stomach with his palm, then traced the ribs with his fingers and moved up to the chest. He lightly touched a nipple hidden under the clothes, and when Si-yul flinched and shrank back, he removed his hand.
“No, look closely. I’ve gained so much weight that I think I can stop taking health tonics now.”
His true feelings slipped out unintentionally. Feeling a sudden pang of regret, he quickly looked at the other’s reaction, but Woo Hyun-se just let out a short “Ha.” As if hearing something ridiculous, he bent his index and middle fingers, gently pinched Si-yul’s nose between them, and shook it lightly.
“So Kwon Si-yul had a grand plan. But absolutely not.”
Perhaps Woo Hyun-se was also shocked by his increased belly fat and would stop giving him health tonics, but that hope was extinguished like a candle in a downpour with the other’s words.
“I’ll give you one packet later.”
He didn’t want to leave the shower. He couldn’t understand why everyone was so eager to feed him health tonics. Si-yul grimaced as if he had already swallowed a whole packet, and warm water poured over his head.
Si-yul leaned his back against the bed’s headboard and stretched his legs out long. He was between Woo Hyun-se’s legs. The hot air from the hair dryer tousled his hair inside and out.
Woo Hyun-se had developed a new habit recently. After showering together, he always dried Si-yul’s hair with his own hands. This too was something Si-yul hadn’t gotten used to at first, trying to snatch the dryer away saying he could do it himself, but he had failed repeatedly in the face of Woo Hyun-se’s much larger build.
After losing every time, Si-yul had given up now. From feeding him, putting him to bed, washing him, and even sometimes dressing him, Woo Hyun-se seemed to want to completely strip away the words autonomy and independence from Si-yul. Even though he wasn’t a terminally ill patient, Woo Hyun-se insisted on taking care of him even when he could do things on his own.
Having lived without relying on anyone else’s help since he was old enough to hold a spoon, every day felt new, strange, and unfamiliar.
His body felt languid. It wasn’t just from showering under hot water. Sitting on the bed, Woo Hyun-se had completely stripped Si-yul earlier and had his fill of him. When Si-yul complained, asking if this was why he suggested showering together, Woo Hyun-se slyly retorted, asking if he didn’t know. Whether it was sincere or just playing along, in any case, semen had splattered on the bathroom walls and been washed away by water several times.
The air from the dryer had turned lukewarm, probably because his hair was mostly dry. Si-yul’s head nodded off under the caressing touch on his scalp. Only when the motor sound of the hair dryer, which had been like white noise, suddenly stopped did Si-yul snap his eyes open.
“I want to dry your hair too, hyung.”
He looked up at Woo Hyun-se, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Woo Hyun-se’s hair had already mostly air-dried while he was drying Si-yul’s, leaving it only slightly damp. Si-yul crawled up onto the bed. As he picked up the hair dryer, Woo Hyun-se lowered his head, like a large beast matching eye level with a small person.
The whirring sound was peaceful. Back at the inn, he had to roughly dry his hair with a towel, afraid of complaints from other rooms.
Si-yul ran his fingers through Woo Hyun-se’s hair, ruffling it. Not only was his appearance top-notch, but even the back of his head was perfectly round. Weren’t most Asians supposed to have flat front and back heads? Even if everyone in the military had the same chestnut-like head, Woo Hyun-se must have stood out alone.
“I’ll be coming home late next week. I’ll try to come, but if I’m busy, I might not make it back.”
“Do you have that much work?”
The sound of the dryer stopped. After smoothing down the silky hair, he put away the dryer. Even now Woo Hyun-se came home in the early hours, but if he came back even later, they might only see each other briefly in the morning, or if not even that, just before bed. His heart already felt empty.
“It’s a special crackdown period for drugs. Our side is also subject to inspection.”
The drug-related news he had seen earlier flashed through his mind. He couldn’t help his expression darkening. Even as he tried to shake it off, thoughts of Kwon Yuwon surfaced above all, and his worries grew like bamboo shoots in the rain.
Kwon Yuwon had said he wasn’t involved in that kind of work, but how could he trust that? He worried that Yuwon might have fallen back on familiar work due to lack of money and end up in handcuffs.
“Is something wrong?”
There was no way Woo Hyun-se wouldn’t notice the shadow cast over his face. Si-yul’s lips trembled. He didn’t want to dig up and display his past of selling drugs. But at the same time, his heart was heavy, and he wanted to confide in someone.
“It’s okay to tell me.”
As if understanding Si-yul’s feelings, Woo Hyun-se gently wrapped his arm around Si-yul’s waist and rested his head on top of Si-yul’s smaller one. Under the gentle caressing touch, Si-yul’s lips loosened. Ignoring his reason telling him not to speak carelessly, his tongue moved on its own.
“I’m worried about Yuwon.”
“Kwon Yuwon? Why?”
“He’s been hard to reach lately. He says it’s because of his phone plan, but I’m worried he might have gotten involved with drugs. Even though he said he hasn’t, it’s hard to believe.”
“You think he’s lying?”
“Yes. We’ve never been out of touch like this before in all the time I’ve known him. And what he said last time is bothering me.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he wouldn’t do anything to be sorry for anymore. But I don’t know what he meant by ‘sorry things’…”
Woo Hyun-se hummed and looked at the ceiling for a moment. The silence was brief. Straightening his head, Woo Hyun-se put on a gentler smile than usual and pinched Si-yul’s cheek.
