Chapter 18
Recently, hyung-nim has been strange.
Taeju glanced at Jeonghyeok visible in the rearview mirror. There was no expression on his face as he looked out the window. As always, it was an unreadable face where you couldn’t gauge what he was thinking.
However, even if others couldn’t tell, he alone could know. That hyung-nim had changed somehow.
Starting with this situation where they were heading home even though the sun hadn’t set yet. Since work had ended earlier than usual, he thought they’d grab a light drink while satisfying their hunger, but Jeonghyeok had gotten into the car as if it were natural.
With that look in his eyes that said “why aren’t you grabbing the steering wheel quickly?”
He had served this hyung-nim for eight years. He could be confident that he knew Moon Jeonghyeok as a person better than anyone else. But lately, Jeonghyeok wasn’t the hyung-nim he knew. What kind of change had happened to hyung-nim, what was he thinking about, and what amazing honey pot was he hiding at home that made him want to leave work so punctually like this? He had no idea.
Since asking wouldn’t get him an answer anyway, Taeju chose to wait silently. However, today he absolutely couldn’t stand it. It was because of what happened during the day.
[I want to eat pizza for dinner today.]
A brief sentence that appeared on hyung-nim’s phone screen that he glimpsed. Below it, a sparkling-eyed rabbit emoticon. And hyung-nim chuckling as he typed and sent a reply.
He saw it clearly with his own two eyes. Unless he was an idiot, he could tell. It was certain. So this was…
“Hyung-nim. Are you dating someone?”
After boldly throwing out the question, Taeju bit his lips tightly. He was worried that a cold rebuke might come flying.
“Yeah.”
“Yes… what?”
“I said I’m dating.”
It was a very brief answer. Brief enough to make further questions meaningless.
Taeju gripped the steering wheel tightly. While receiving the signal and smoothly applying the brakes, he couldn’t help but turn his head sharply.
“Really, you’re really dating someone?”
“Didn’t you hear?”
“I heard, but…”
The problem was that he couldn’t believe it. From what he had observed for a long time, the seat next to Jeonghyeok kept changing. There wasn’t any particularly memorable woman, but anyway, that’s how it was.
But never before had Jeonghyeok affirmed the word “dating.” In his dictionary, there were only meetings, not dating. At least that’s what Taeju thought.
“Then the reason you haven’t been having dinner lately is all… because you’re dating?”
“Right.”
Rather than being relieved by the straightforward answer, Taeju was flustered and couldn’t continue speaking properly.
“Hyung-nim is dating, wow…”
When he still showed a reaction like he couldn’t believe it, Jeonghyeok chuckled and leaned his head back. It wasn’t that he hadn’t expected this reaction, but seeing it in person was quite an amusing sight.
“If you understand, hurry up and go?”
“Ah, yes.”
Looking at the traffic light that had turned green, Taeju hurriedly drove the car. Sweat inexplicably seeped into the palms gripping the steering wheel. Hyung-nim’s girlfriend – it felt like he had gained another boss.
What kind of woman would she be? Taeju tried to imagine a woman standing side by side with Jeonghyeok in his mind. A tall, slender woman with a cool impression. Though it was his own arbitrary imagination, it was a perfect match for Jeonghyeok.
Could he be considering marriage? It must be such a serious relationship that he was putting this much effort into it. If that was the case, he should also think of her as a future sister-in-law and serve her faithfully.
“Please go in.”
Receiving Taeju’s greeting, which had somehow become solemn, Jeonghyeok got out of the car.
Taeju’s reaction, stiff and rigid to the end, was amusing. Was the word “dating” that shocking? Well, he himself had never imagined uttering that word either.
However, there was no more suitable word to describe what he was doing with that guy now.
Yuwon came to Jeonghyeok’s house every day. He didn’t just come. He settled right into the kitchen and produced a new side dish each day. The variety was diverse, from seasoned vegetables to steamed and stir-fried dishes. Jeonghyeok, who ate everything without being picky, always finished the food completely.
After getting fed like that for several days, Jeonghyeok handed Yuwon a card one day. Yuwon, whose eyes widened upon seeing the card placed in front of him, adamantly refused it, but when Jeonghyeok said to use it to make plenty of side dishes, he reluctantly accepted the card.
After that, Yuwon bought not only ingredients but also alcohol and fruit in abundance. Every time he saw Yuwon coming back with groceries filling both hands, it was absurd yet strangely satisfying, making Jeonghyeok think he had done well giving him the card.
Before long, the empty refrigerator was filled with side dishes Yuwon had made, and recently, unable to withstand Yuwon’s pressure, he even purchased an electric rice cooker. The plates and bowls increased too. This happened after Yuwon grumbled that there were no small dishes for soy sauce when making pancakes.
Now, every evening in the once-barren house, the smell of rice and stew wafted through. Since this was the first time in his life experiencing such a home atmosphere, Jeonghyeok still found his changed daily routine unfamiliar. Still, he was gradually adapting to his daily life with Yuwon.
Entering the officetel building, he took out the phone he had put in his pocket. He noticed a message from Yuwon.
[What time do you get off work?]
[I’ll order pizza timed to that and come over]
He had been singing about pizza since the afternoon, so he must really want to eat it.
Though he already looked young, Yuwon’s age really hit home through his food preferences.
Since he was good at most cooking, he would make delicious stews and braised dishes, but when it came to actually eating, he would just pick at them halfheartedly. Yet when he occasionally grilled ham, he would devour it in no time. He was exactly like a little kid.
Jeonghyeok adjusted his grip on his phone and typed a message.
[I’ll order it, so just come straight to the house]
Since he wasn’t busy, the reply came immediately.
[I’ll buy it and come. Ajeossi, you must be tired]
What about him, wasn’t he tired? Even after standing all day grilling meat and carrying side dishes, Yuwon didn’t show signs of being tired. He was already displeased with him going grocery shopping faithfully after work.
Jeonghyeok didn’t think long and immediately made a call.
―Ajeossi?
“I already got off work. So don’t bother coming with pizza.”
―Ah, really? You got off work already.
Even though he jumped straight to the point without any proper greeting, Yuwon’s voice was excited.
Actually, every time Jeonghyeok suddenly called like this, it felt like his heart dropped with a thump. It wasn’t that he didn’t know ajeossi’s nature of calling when texting was bothersome, but anyway, it made him feel good.
“What do you want to eat? Just tell me the menu.”
―Anything is fine with me.
“That’s the most complicated. Pick one specifically.”
Jeonghyeok, who had pressed the elevator button, waited for Yuwon, who was making a thoughtful “hmm” sound. Obviously, he would choose something loaded with ham and sausage. Even without him saying it, he could tell, so a chuckle escaped.
―Umm, then I want to eat pepperoni.
As expected, just as predicted. Jeonghyeok maintained his smiling expression as he got on the elevator.
“Pick one more.”
―One more? That’s enough for me.
“Okay, then.”
Without adding anything more, Jeonghyeok hung up the phone.
He could picture Yuwon staring down at his phone blankly. Would he be making a disappointed face? Would his lips be pouting? Though he momentarily felt sorry, his principle was to end calls once he had said everything he needed to say.
Entering his house and taking off his shoes, he opened the delivery app. Looking around nearby pizza places, there was one that sold pizza topped with whole sausages. Jeonghyeok added pepperoni to that menu and placed a delivery order.
He’ll like it.
Since he wanted it so much, he would definitely like it. Imagining him with sparkling eyes, smacking his lips and moving those plump lips, his lower body tightened without fail.
When was the last time he held that guy? Counting back, it was three days ago.
Since their first sex, the number of times they had relations could be counted on one hand because Yuwon had complained so much about pain. He didn’t want to do it with someone who said it hurt, so he hadn’t touched him until now, but waiting felt endless.
He thought he had been patient enough. He planned to let him eat the pizza he wanted to his heart’s content, and when night came, lay him down and hold him to his satisfaction.
When he undid one shirt button with a pop, his phone briefly rang.
[I’ll run over when work ends!!]
A chuckle escaped.
Yeah, run over here. Every minute and second was precious to him too.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
