Love Me More Side Story 5
“Wow…”
To think that even Kwon Yuwon would show such a side. Si-yul had only heard about meeting an alpha, but seeing it with his own eyes was more shocking than he could have imagined. He walked down the hill with his mouth agape, unable to close it.
“Oh.”
At the edge of the slope, he saw a familiar figure. Si-yul narrowed his eyes, then opened them wide like full moons. It was Woo Hyun-se.
He said he’d wait.
Woo Hyun-se, who had been leaning against his car, straightened up when he spotted Si-yul. He spread his arms wide. Si-yul gradually picked up speed and then ran with all his might. He practically rolled down the hill and threw himself into Woo Hyun-se’s arms, hugging his waist tightly. His voice was full of joy as he called out, “Hyung!”
“I didn’t know you’d come yourself, hyung.”
“I missed you.”
Woo Hyun-se’s pronunciation was muffled as he brushed up Si-yul’s bangs and kissed his fair forehead. Even that was good. Si-yul’s lips curved into a bright smile.
Suddenly realizing they might be a spectacle for passersby, Si-yul cleared his throat and pulled away from Woo Hyun-se’s embrace. Looking up at him from half a step away, his eyes sparkled like they were filled with stars.
“Hyung, I think I’ve won the bet.”
Kwon Yuwon’s heat wouldn’t end in just one night, and with Park Hae-jung added to the mix like oil on fire. Even if the method was a bit underhanded, a win was a win.
“So now we can live together.”
Even without the bet, Si-yul had intended to live with Woo Hyun-se someday. He didn’t want to be apart anymore. He had needed time to persuade Kwon Yuwon, but seeing him today, it seemed he wouldn’t have to make much effort.
As if the smile was contagious, the corners of Woo Hyun-se’s lips turned up like Si-yul’s. They curved like a crescent moon before he burst into a clear laugh, picking Si-yul up in his arms. Feeling his feet leave the ground, Si-yul hurriedly wrapped his arms around Woo Hyun-se’s neck. Even as he struggled, saying people might see and asking to be put down, Woo Hyun-se was unyielding.
“Let’s go today. We’ll come back for your things later. You just need to bring yourself anyway. I have everything.”
Woo Hyun-se spoke without hesitation, as if he had prepared everything in advance. To think he’d be this happy at the suggestion of living together. Si-yul looked down at his flushed face and ended up smiling the same way. As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot – today was officially day one.
As Si-yul had predicted, Kwon Yuwon backed off after his heat. He didn’t admit defeat outright. He first argued that the bet should be extended due to unavoidable circumstances, but finally raised the white flag after getting an earful from Si-yul.
“If that’s how it is, I’ll help you find a place. I’ve saved up some money, so I can chip in for the deposit too.”
Feeling like he couldn’t shake off the feeling of abandoning Kwon Yuwon, Si-yul tried to help as much as he could. But Kwon Yuwon snorted and refused.
“Use your own snot-nosed money. Use that to buy yourself some candy. I have a place to stay.”
“Where?”
Kwon Yuwon was silent for a moment. Si-yul inferred the answer from the silence.
“Park Hae-jung… ssi?”
Unsure of the proper honorific, he hesitated before adding “ssi”. Kwon Yuwon responded with a quiet “Yeah,” barely audible to Si-yul.
“Kwon Si-yul.”
“Yes?”
“If Woo Hyun-se mistreats you even a little, come to me immediately. No matter what anyone says, you’re my only brother.”
Although they were from an orphanage, they had been closer than blood brothers. To Si-yul too, Kwon Yuwon was a brother and family. His throat choked up, unable to answer immediately. He sniffled unnecessarily and spoke a beat late.
“You too. If anything happens, contact me anytime. Even if nothing’s wrong, call me. Don’t disappear again.”
Bringing up past events, Kwon Yuwon shouted from the other end of the line that he wouldn’t do that again. Thinking that Park Hae-jung would be sticking close to him, Si-yul set aside his worries and ended the call.
This was truly independence. Although he had experienced living apart from Kwon Yuwon before, he hadn’t considered it complete self-reliance. Now, at last, it was genuine independence.
He left the bedroom with his phone in hand. Woo Hyun-se, who had been looking at his tablet on the living room sofa, looked up. As Si-yul approached, he naturally spread his arms. Si-yul buried himself in that embrace.
“Did the call go well?”
“Yes.”
Resting his head on Woo Hyun-se’s chest, he looked at the tablet. Various windows were open, showing documents, news, and more. Not interested in those fields, he looked up at Woo Hyun-se instead. At his strong jaw, ears, and cheeks, as if drawn with bold, confident brush strokes.
Then suddenly, it occurred to him that Woo Hyun-se probably already knew everything about Kwon Yuwon and Park Hae-jung’s relationship. Just look at how he deliberately sent Park Hae-jung, who he said was on a business trip, to the inn. Come to think of it, from the moment he brought up the bet, he had suggested tormenting Park Hae-jung.
“Hyung, you knew everything, didn’t you?”
He asked, narrowing his eyes. Even though he must have clearly noticed the suspicious gaze, Woo Hyun-se feigned ignorance, asking “Knew what?” playfully. Only after Si-yul directly mentioned Kwon Yuwon and Park Hae-jung’s names did he grin mischievously.
“More or less.”
As expected. Si-yul straightened his posture. Woo Hyun-se pulled Si-yul back as he tried to escape, sitting him on his lap. He rested his chin on Si-yul’s soft crown to prevent him from running away.
“How did you know? Did that ajussi tell you?”
“No, not that. It was because Park Hae-jung didn’t think about coming back after I sent him to Kwon Yuwon.”
“What? Just from that?”
“Yeah.”
Woo Hyun-se put down his tablet and wrapped his arms around Si-yul’s waist. He buried his nose in Si-yul’s exposed neck through the loose clothing and inhaled, rubbing against it. The faint scent of wisteria wafted up.
How could he focus on work while smelling such a scent? He leisurely slid his hand under Si-yul’s top. He savored the scent while gently caressing the soft skin.
While he didn’t know about his personal life, Park Hae-jung was meticulous when it came to work. Once he finished a task, he rarely looked back. Yet, even though matters related to Kwon Yuwon were clearly finished, he kept lingering. The reason was so obvious that Woo Hyun-se didn’t even need to ask why.
‘I told you to protect him, not to stick to him.’
Even when he teased him like this, Park Hae-jung, true to his blunt nature, didn’t even make excuses. In any case, thanks to that, he had gotten rid of a bothersome person, so he had no intention of scolding him.
“Oh, it’s Jeju Island.”
Just as he was about to slip his hand into Si-yul’s waistband, Si-yul, who had been watching TV, looked up. Woo Hyun-se also turned his gaze to the screen. Deep blue seawater rippled on the large screen. It was a blue sea they hadn’t seen when they traveled together.
Back then, due to a snowstorm, they couldn’t even properly see outside, let alone the sea. While he didn’t regret the time spent only in the villa, seeing Si-yul entranced by the scenery on TV made him feel bad for not having taken him on a proper trip.
Moreover…
“…”
They couldn’t fully enjoy themselves in Jeju. How must Si-yul have felt coming to the villa, knowing full well about the engagement news?
“Shall we go on a trip?”
Changing his mind, he removed his hand from Si-yul’s pants and hugged him. Si-yul, who had been quietly nestled in his arms still unable to take his eyes off the screen, finally turned to look at him.
“This time, let’s go abroad instead of Jeju.”
“I’ve never been abroad.”
His heart ached at Si-yul’s mumbled words. He had never felt this way about anyone before, making it feel unfamiliar. Woo Hyun-se hugged Si-yul tightly and deeply inhaled his scent to calm his stirring emotions.
“Let’s get your passport first.”
He resolved to create only good memories this time. As if understanding Woo Hyun-se’s feelings, Si-yul nodded and smiled brightly.
* * *
Si-yul took the photo out of his pocket and sighed deeply. No matter how he looked at it, he came out ugly. If he had known, he should have searched for a place known for taking good photos. In a hurry to get his passport photo, he had entered the first photo studio he saw, not realizing they didn’t do any retouching.
He wanted to ask them to at least fix his hair, but when the elderly photographer with white hair put his hand to his ear saying “What?” he couldn’t bring himself to speak up.
‘Oh my, I forgot my hearing aid today. What did you say?’
‘…It’s nothing.’
‘The photo came out well, right?’
How could he honestly say it didn’t come out well when the old man was chuckling and looking so proud? Si-yul reluctantly nodded.
Even looking at it again after returning home from applying for his passport, he could only think how ugly it was. His hair, which he had combed neatly, was puffed up like a magpie’s nest, probably due to static electricity, and his eyes looked dull. His lips protruded like a goldfish’s, making his already blank expression look like he was about to drop his head and fall asleep.
Still, it was going in his passport – maybe he should have taken it somewhere else one more time. But he had already applied, so he couldn’t take it back.
He should destroy the remaining photos quickly before Woo Hyun-se saw them. Just as he was getting up, thinking he should throw them in the trash, he heard the sound of the keypad being pressed before he could even leave the living room.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
