Go Hoon responded without hesitation.
“No. I just stated the facts as they are.”
Ha! A sharp laugh burst out of the man, who quickly smoothed his expression and added,
“I just didn’t like working under someone else.”
What kind of answer was that? The thought barely had time to form before it clicked—he was answering Go Hoon’s earlier question.
“So you decided to become that ‘someone’ yourself?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s impressive.”
“And I’m sweet enough to make a decent romantic partner, too.”
How did the conversation end up there? He’d been the one asking if Go Hoon was flirting, but now he was the one doing it—and not very convincingly at that.
Go Hoon hadn’t forgotten. The last time they met, the man had openly admitted he had an aggravating way of speaking. So rather than reply, Go Hoon simply matched Woo Gun-hyung’s pace and walked in silence.
***
“So, have you figured it out?”
They had finished eating at a nearby tonkatsu place and moved to a café. While sipping his coffee, Woo Gun-hyung threw out the question without warning. Go Hoon tilted his head, unsure what he meant.
“Figured what out?”
“Your confusion about sexual orientation.”
“…Ah, that.”
He murmured and instinctively glanced around. Fortunately, the café wasn’t busy—no need to worry about anyone overhearing. Just as he was forming a response, the man across from him cut in with a cheerful smile.
“If you’re still not sure, want me to help?”
What exactly did he mean by that? Go Hoon shot him a suspicious look, but the reply didn’t disappoint.
“I’m confident I can treat you real nice.”
And he didn’t stop there.
“Oh, and just so you know—I’m always the one doing the fucking.”
Go Hoon stared at him, deadpan. That again. Asking if they should sleep together—and now going as far as to say he’d be on top. Go Hoon had no idea what part of him fit into this man’s preferences.
Still, one thing was certain: Woo Gun-hyung was far from ordinary. As hard to read as Bae Jung-yoon, he was another complete enigma.
“No thanks.”
Go Hoon shut it down without hesitation. Woo Gun-hyung asked with curious interest,
“Why not? Saving yourself for someone you like?”
“I just have zero intention of offering myself to you.”
“What if it wasn’t me, but someone you actually liked?”
“Still probably not.”
Liking Bae Jung-yoon was one thing—this was another matter entirely.
They say men can’t think about dating without also imagining sex, but Go Hoon had never once vividly pictured having sex with Bae Jung-yoon. No matter how hard he tried, no clear image came to mind. More importantly, he had always assumed that penetrative sex with him would never happen.
What was the point of imagining something that would never come true? That would only serve as another cruel form of wishful thinking.
“Hm. That’s a shame.”
Go Hoon found himself letting out a small laugh before he could stop it. There was something funny about how seriously Woo Gun-hyung said it.
Maybe his laugh had struck a nerve—Woo Gun-hyung stared at him intently. Those deep brown eyes locked onto him, and Go Hoon felt an awkward sense of self-consciousness. He hadn’t meant to offend, so he quickly wiped the expression from his face.
“Why do you care so much about me, anyway?”
He asked, partly to change the subject but also out of genuine curiosity. It didn’t feel like Woo Gun-hyung was just asking questions for the sake of sexual appeal.
“And please spare me the ‘because you’re my type’ answer.”
Cutting him off before he could speak, Go Hoon expected the cliché, but instead Woo Gun-hyung let out a quiet chuckle.
“Let’s just say it’s interest—coming from someone older. I went through something similar once.”
Something similar. That meant he, too, had gone through a period of confusion before accepting his identity.
That was unexpected. Based on their conversations so far, Go Hoon had pegged Woo Gun-hyung as someone who’d never doubted himself—a man overflowing with confidence.
Of course, how well could you really know someone through a few conversations? Still, it was clear now: there was more to him than what met the eye. You couldn’t judge someone based on a single impression.
“So what happened with that person?”
Go Hoon sipped his iced Americano and asked. He was curious—what had happened with the person who once threw Woo Gun-hyung into confusion? Leaning back in his chair, Woo Gun-hyung answered with ease.
“We’re doing well. Just friends now. I even got introduced to his girlfriend, and the three of us hang out sometimes.”
His eyes held a calm, distant look as he spoke—like someone staring at a scar so old and calloused that it couldn’t hurt anymore.
Go Hoon quietly looked at Woo Gun-hyung.
It wasn’t like he’d hoped the man’s first love had ended in a happy-ever-after. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have made a move on Go Hoon in the first place. Still, hearing it firsthand left a bitter taste in his mouth. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how long and painful a journey it must have been for Woo Gun-hyung to arrive at that kind of calm indifference.
Though nothing was said aloud, Woo Gun-hyung smiled knowingly and shrugged, as if he could see exactly what Go Hoon was thinking.
“Well, they say first loves never work out.”
That one line struck straight to the chest. Whether he meant it that way or not was unclear.
The conversation naturally shifted to lighter topics. When asked about his major, Go Hoon answered honestly: Business Administration. In response, Woo Gun-hyung asked if he’d consider interning at his company.
It was an appealing offer, especially during such a brutal job market. Having seen the company with his own eyes made it even more tempting. If he could get experience at a place like that, it’d definitely be a good opportunity.
But the way Woo Gun-hyung spoke always left room for doubt—was he serious or just joking? So Go Hoon simply replied, “Thank you for the offer.”
They kept talking for a while until, at some point, Go Hoon checked the time. It was already past 3 p.m.
“I should probably head out.”
He felt they’d covered everything worth discussing, and staying out too long didn’t sit right. It felt like the right moment to leave.
“Already?”
Woo Gun-hyung sounded genuinely disappointed. He checked his watch, frowning slightly.
“It’s only been three hours since we met.”
Three hours was plenty—more than enough time to talk about anything worth talking about. What else did he expect?
“You’re not busy?”
“Nope. Nothing scheduled this afternoon, so don’t worry. I can stay out as long as I want.”
“I see. Well, I’ve got a curfew.”
Go Hoon replied casually, without shame. He had no intention of dragging things out any further. Once he got home, he planned to research language schools, do some laundry, and decide what to ask Bae Jung-yoon to cook for dinner.
“A curfew? At this hour?”
Woo Gun-hyung’s lips twitched. But Go Hoon just nodded without batting an eye.
“Yep.”
“You must’ve had a sheltered upbringing.”
Not even close. Go Hoon considered saying so but let it go. No point dragging this out. As he stood quietly from his seat, Woo Gun-hyung also rose and grabbed his jacket.
“My car’s in the office parking lot. Want a ride to the station like last time? I’m the chauffeur today.”
Go Hoon instinctively began to decline, then paused. It wasn’t like he was being offered a ride home—just to the station. Was there really any reason to say no?
He must’ve let his guard down a bit since their first meeting. The fact that he was even hesitating said as much. On top of that, taking public transit home honestly felt like a pain.
After a brief moment of thought, Go Hoon nodded.
“Alright. I’d appreciate it.”
***
“Thanks for the ride.”
Before getting out of the car, Go Hoon offered a word of gratitude. Woo Gun-hyung, hand resting casually on the steering wheel, gave a smiling nod.
“I really enjoyed our conversation today.”
Go Hoon hesitated, then returned the sentiment with a nod of his own.
“Me too.”
Honestly, he’d gone back and forth about canceling the meeting right up until that morning. He wasn’t sure what good would come out of seeing the guy again. But the second meeting had turned out better than expected.
He couldn’t deny that they connected surprisingly well. No matter the topic, Woo Gun-hyung had this way of never feeling overbearing. In fact, talking with him had somehow eased the tension in his chest.
Maybe they could even become good friends. Meeting up now and then like this might not be such a bad thing.
With that thought in mind, Go Hoon opened the door and stepped out of the car. He bowed slightly, planning to say, Drive safe on your way back. He would’ve said it—if not for the voice that called out from behind him.
“Hoon.”
Startled, Go Hoon straightened abruptly. Turning around, he saw someone he hadn’t expected to be there.
“…Bae Jung-yoon?”
What the hell? Why was he here? Shouldn’t he still be at school at this hour?
“What are you doing here?”
Go Hoon stared at him in disbelief. Bae Jung-yoon responded with a crooked smile.
“What am I doing here?”
His tone made it clear: That’s what you’re going with right now? Seriously? The look on his face caught Go Hoon completely off guard.
“Friend of yours?”
As if things weren’t tense enough, Woo Gun-hyung had already stepped out of the car and now stood beside him.
Bae Jung-yoon’s heavy-lidded eyes shifted to Go Hoon’s right. Reflexively, Go Hoon stepped in front of Woo Gun-hyung, shielding him. It was an instinctive move. The smile in Bae Jung-yoon’s gaze deepened.
“Who’s this guy?”
He asked, voice low and smooth—and that’s when Go Hoon felt it. Something was wrong. The air around him sharpened.
“‘This guy’? Were you talking to me just now?”
But Woo Gun-hyung remained unfazed. He stepped fully beside Go Hoon, even pointing to himself as he responded. Despite the precarious atmosphere, like walking on a frozen lake ready to crack beneath them, he wore a calm expression—almost like he was enjoying the tension.
But Go Hoon couldn’t bring himself to laugh along. Because never, not once, had he seen Bae Jung-yoon act so openly, deliberately rude to someone.
