Go Hoon tried to keep his composure. He needed to respond casually. There was no reason to overreact to every little thing Bae Jung-yoon said.
“I told you—I’m not allowed to shower today.”
To be fair, Jung-yoon probably already knew that. He had to know that Go Hoon wouldn’t be able to shower for a while—especially not today. The nurse had made it crystal clear: he had to avoid getting the wound wet at all costs, and showering was strictly off-limits for the time being.
So Jung-yoon had probably just been joking, and he’d tensed up more than necessary. Feeling awkward, Go Hoon quickly pushed himself up.
“I’ll wait outside.”
“I’ll help you.”
Jung-yoon stepped forward to assist, but Go Hoon hastily raised a hand to stop him.
“It’s fine. I can walk. Just go shower.”
He limped out of the bathroom.
Jung-yoon watched him go, then seemed to resume undressing. Go Hoon deliberately avoided looking back.
He sat down on the couch and picked up his phone, forcing himself to focus on the tiny screen. From the bathroom came the rustle of movement, followed by the sound of the door closing.
Only then did he exhale quietly.
Even if he managed to get through today, at some point he’d have to shower too. But with a body like this, how was he supposed to do that?
The thought already weighed heavily on him. He’d better hold off on it as long as he could. It’s not like he’d start smelling just because he skipped a few days, right?
Just to be sure, he lifted an arm and gave himself a sniff. Thankfully, there was only the faint scent of skin.
After sitting around idly for a while, Go Hoon figured he should let the factory know what was going on. He pulled up the Factory Manager’s number.
He gave him a call and briefly explained the situation. He’d worried the Factory Manager might blow up the moment he heard about the accident, but surprisingly, he sounded concerned.
The man told him not to worry—he’d speak to the company on Go Hoon’s behalf. For now, he suggested taking a week off to rest and to reach out again once he had a better idea of how he was healing.
Still, it was unpaid leave. Even with a valid excuse, he wouldn’t be earning anything. No income again, at least for the time being. And he’d already lost a good chunk of money to medical bills.
Go Hoon shook his head. There was nothing he could do. For now, all he could do was pin his hopes on worker’s comp.
Even after collecting his thoughts, the sound of water continued from the bathroom. Then, finally, it stopped.
He sat quietly, listening to the silence beyond the door, and suddenly felt strange. Like something was tightening around his throat. Unable to sit still, Go Hoon shot to his feet.
He walked straight to the kitchen and grabbed a mug from the drying rack. Just as he was heading for the water purifier, he heard the bathroom door open behind him.
Reflexively, he turned toward the sound.
Bae Jung-yoon stepped out, wearing nothing but a shower gown.
Seriously? No shame at all. Even if they were both guys, walking around like that? …Well, knowing Bae Jung-yoon, he really was the type who didn’t care about modesty.
As Go Hoon debated it silently, Jung-yoon tossed his clothes into the laundry basket. Then, drying his soaked hair with a hand, he strolled into the kitchen.
“What are you doing?”
“Just getting some water.”
“You could’ve asked me.”
“How was I supposed to know when you’d be done?”
It’s not like pouring water was some complicated task.
Go Hoon stepped up to the purifier and set the cup down. As the touch buttons lit up, he pressed one, and with a soft stream, cold water filled the mug.
He waited for it to finish, then took a sip. As he turned around, his eyes met Jung-yoon’s.
But Jung-yoon was giving him a strange look.
“…What?”
Go Hoon felt a sudden sense of unease. He looked at him warily, and saw one corner of Jung-yoon’s mouth curl into a smirk.
“For someone who’s never been here before, you seem really familiar with the place.”
Go Hoon’s eyes darted in panic.
“…Me?”
“Yeah. You seemed really comfortable using the water purifier.”
That’s when Go Hoon realized what he’d done.
“Most people ask how to use it the first time they see it.”
He remembered the first time he came here. He’d been surprised at how weird the purifier looked.
It was terrifying how automatic muscle memory could be. His body had moved instinctively. How could I make such a stupid mistake in front of Bae Jung-yoon?
While he stood frozen, rattled, Jung-yoon looked completely at ease. He stepped in closer.
Go Hoon’s lips parted. Jung-yoon hadn’t even accused him of anything, but all he could think about was explaining himself.
“…Someone I know has the same one.”
“Who?”
With that sly smile still on his lips, Jung-yoon tilted his head.
“Yoon Seong-gon.”
“Ah, Seong-gon?”
Bae Jung-yoon nodded, humming low in his throat. The way he said Yoon Seong-gon’s name sounded oddly familiar—too familiar.
Go Hoon stiffly moved his aching body and managed a slight nod.
“Apparently, a lot of people are using this model these days.”
He let out a short laugh, then cleared his throat awkwardly.
But Jung-yoon didn’t respond. He simply stared at him in silence—then suddenly jerked his chin toward the mug.
“You finished your water?”
“Yeah.”
Relieved by the shift in topic, Go Hoon quickly nodded. Jung-yoon took the mug from his hand and drank down the remaining water in a few steady gulps. Then, as if it were second nature, he rinsed it and set it on the drying rack.
He didn’t press any further. Still, a cold sweat trickled down Go Hoon’s spine. Was Jung-yoon doing this on purpose, knowing the truth about him being Kkongddeok? Or was he completely in the dark, and Go Hoon was just panicking on his own? He still couldn’t tell.
But one thing was crystal clear—living in this house wasn’t going to be easy. That unsettling feeling came crashing down on him all at once.
***
He was right.
Living with Bae Jung-yoon hit a wall on the very first night.
As it got late and time to sleep approached, the passive-aggressive dance began.
Trying to read the room, Go Hoon gauged where he might reasonably sleep before stepping up and offering, “Just give me something to lay on—I’ll sleep in the spare room.”
But Jung-yoon immediately shut it down.
He insisted that with Go Hoon’s condition, sleeping on the floor was out of the question. And he wasn’t wrong—Go Hoon needed to avoid bending his injured knee as much as possible.
So he conceded that point. Then suggested a compromise. “Fine. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
But even that didn’t fly. Jung-yoon said he couldn’t let a guest sleep on the sofa.
Then what the hell do you want me to do, you bastard?
When Go Hoon shot him a look full of disbelief, Jung-yoon came right back with a clear and unapologetic answer.
“Let’s just sleep in the bed together.”
“…What?”
The word slipped out in sheer reflex, voice caught somewhere between shock and dismay. Sleep together? Absolutely not.
Sure, they’d shared a bed once before—but that was when Go Hoon was still a cat. Now he was human, and the idea felt instinctively off.
“Two grown men sharing a bed? That’s messed up.”
“What’s the big deal? It’s a big bed. Grown men can sleep in the same bed, you know.”
“No thanks. I’m good here.”
Ignoring him, Go Hoon sprawled across the couch. It was a bit too small—his legs stuck out over the edge—but he could make do.
Truth be told, he wouldn’t have been this adamant if it were anyone else.
But this was Bae Jung-yoon.
And Bae Jung-yoon, lest anyone forget, was someone who used to sleep with other men.
Say what you will about overthinking—discomfort is discomfort.
Besides, who knew how many people had rolled around on that bed? Kang Soo-yeon, whom he’d seen just days ago, probably wasn’t an exception.
Sure, Jung-yoon was the type to keep everything meticulously clean. Still—it felt gross.
So this spot, right here, was his.
Resolved, he lay there staring up—and met Jung-yoon’s gaze. The standoff dragged on in eerie silence.
Then suddenly, an arm slid beneath his knees. Another under his back. And Go Hoon was lifted clean off the couch.
“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
Of course, Go Hoon struggled.
But Jung-yoon walked on, completely unbothered. Even as Go Hoon squirmed and thrashed, he carried him with effortless stability. He was tall too, so Go Hoon wasn’t exactly light—but his arms didn’t so much as tremble.
“Careful, you’re gonna fall.”
“Then put me down, asshole!”
“Nope.”
That infuriatingly smug tone made Go Hoon want to scream. The more he resisted, the more amused Jung-yoon seemed—so in the end, Go Hoon gave up.
If he kept flailing, he’d only end up hurting himself. Falling from this height wouldn’t be pretty.
Jung-yoon strode into the bedroom and gently set him down on the bed.
Now unexpectedly in Jung-yoon’s room, Go Hoon gave him a dirty look and started to sit up.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
But Jung-yoon pushed firmly on his chest.
“I told you, I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“Not happening.”
With a stern voice, he applied pressure with his palm and pinned him to the bed.
When Go Hoon tried to get up again, Jung-yoon climbed right onto him—straddling his waist and pressing him down.
“Get off—!”
In the struggle, pain shot through the stitched part of his arm.
“Ghh…!”
He groaned and clutched his forearm. Jung-yoon immediately pulled back and checked on him.
Thankfully, the wound hadn’t reopened. The pain faded quickly.
“…Sorry.”
Jung-yoon spoke quietly.
But what he said next made Go Hoon want to punch him.
“See? Things go a lot smoother when you just listen to me.”
