It was the first time Beom Do-il had ever suggested grabbing a drink, so Min Yu-hyun agreed without a second thought.
Sure, he’d put it off for a while because of the Catdog and the research lab mess, but soon he’d be filming with his third partner. After that, he’d have to Pair up and shoot season two of A Pair is Born.
And Yu-hyun had already made up his mind: no matter what it took, he was going to be in season two. Looking at things realistically, the only person who could stand beside him there was Beom Do-il.
Not that it mattered—he genuinely liked Do-il anyway.
Maybe he’d liked him from the very beginning. Even back during the Black Gate incident, Do-il had been the one who stood out.
He’d once suggested stirring up some jealousy using Lee Jun-hyung as bait, but if he was being honest, the real reason behind it had always been that he wanted a reason to get close to Do-il.
Under the glittering night sky, stars so bright they looked ready to fall, Yu-hyun let the buzz of a few beers loosen his tongue and carried on an open, honest conversation with Do-il.
“You’re actually a pretty good Esper.”
“Huh? Where’d that come from?”
Do-il blinked at him, beer halfway to his mouth.
“I thought so from the very start.”
“Oh? Well, I’m honored.”
Remembering how Yu-hyun had sneered at him for being “just” an A-rank when they first met, Do-il didn’t buy that claim at all.
But caught up in the atmosphere, he let it slide and simply nodded along, accepting it as one of those easy compliments that come out over drinks.
And then, as if reading his mind, Yu-hyun rubbed the edge of his beer can with his thumb and said softly,
“Sorry for looking down on you just because you’re A-rank.”
Do-il’s expression stiffened, caught off guard.
Yu-hyun was not the type to apologize so easily.
Maybe not quite as bad as Hyun Tae-oh, but still—Yu-hyun’s personality was close. He didn’t admit mistakes. He didn’t apologize first.
“Well, damn. A little alcohol and even the Min Yu-hyun apologizes.”
Do-il teased.
“I’m not joking.”
Yu-hyun’s lips puckered into a pout.
On a face already striking, the pout made him look disarmingly cute.
Cute? Do-il nearly shook the thought away. But yeah—good looks really did come with their own advantages. He felt a pang of envy.
“Yeah, I get it. Who could joke with a face like that?”
Do-il met his eyes as he said it.
Yu-hyun tilted his head, pressing his cheek with the back of his hand.
“A face like this?”
“A face that looks dead serious.”
“…Ah.”
Do-il, who had been staring at him too intently, turned away and took a drink of his beer, tilting his head back. His Adam’s apple bobbed with the swallow, and Yu-hyun found himself watching it, transfixed.
“Well, you’re a damn good Guide too. Feels kind of funny, saying that to the country’s most popular S-rank Guide.”
“…”
“Honestly, at first I didn’t like your personality. You rubbed me the wrong way.”
“……”
“But then I realized that confidence of yours—that arrogance—comes from knowing exactly who you are. Of course it comes out that way.”
“……”
“And now? It kind of looks cool. Impressive, even. Anyway, I think you’re genuinely a good person.”
“…I’m a good person?”
“Yeah.”
Do-il nodded without a shred of hesitation. Yu-hyun couldn’t help smiling, lips curving into a playful pout.
Then, suddenly, a thought struck him. He turned to Do-il.
“…So, could you Pair with me?”
Do-il blinked, eyes widening a fraction.
“I have to do season two. No—of course I do. Why? Because I’m Min Yu-hyun.”
“…Haha.”
“Seriously, if I don’t film season two, who else would?”
Do-il thought about it, then nodded.
“True. It’s either you or Hyun Tae-oh. But Tae-oh and Kang Chi-yu already flat-out refused, so that leaves… just you.”
“Exactly.”
“Yeah, you’re the only one.”
“So I’d like it if you’d choose me as your Pair.”
“There’s Yoon Do-jae.”
“Yoon Do-jae’s not a match.”
“But I am?”
“Of course. Your work style suits mine perfectly.”
“……”
“And besides, with you…”
Yu-hyun hesitated, cleared his throat, then finished,
“…I think I could even handle saliva-contact Guiding.”
Do-il nearly dropped his beer, his eyes going wide.
Flustered, Yu-hyun quickly covered his face with the can.
“You think you could do saliva-contact Guiding with me?”
“Yeah.”
The answer came instantly, without even a flicker of hesitation.
Do-il stared at him in shock.
From behind the can, Yu-hyun peeked at him, then lowered it and turned his head, locking eyes with him.
“…Couldn’t you?”
“……”
“I know you like Guide Lee Jun-hyung. But this has nothing to do with feelings—it’s about compatibility. Don’t overcomplicate it. Just think simply. Could you not do saliva-contact Guiding with me?”
Do-il faltered, completely unprepared for the question.
“If you’re not sure… want to try it right now?”
That challenge blindsided him even more.
Yu-hyun chuckled low at his startled look.
“Ah… guess you really can’t.”
His muttered words carried a hint of disappointment.
But then Do-il’s hand shot out, seizing the back of Yu-hyun’s neck, and Yu-hyun’s eyes widened.
“No—I can.”
And then their lips touched.
Beom Do-il’s first kiss. No—his very first peck.
***
While bathing the Catdog, Yoon Do-jae kept sneaking glances at Lee Jun-hyung. Jun-hyung’s expression hadn’t softened once.
Eventually, Jun-hyung noticed, forced himself to smooth his face, and pasted on a smile.
“What?”
“Nothing. You just looked worried.”
“Worried? Me? …No. Not at all.”
Of course he wasn’t worried.
If Beom Do-il found someone good, that was something to be happy about.
It wasn’t that he specifically wanted it to be Min Yu-hyun, but Yu-hyun did seem to relax around Do-il more than anyone else. Maybe that meant he wasn’t a bad match after all.
And with season two of A Pair is Born coming up, Hyun Tae-oh and Kang Chi-yu had already refused, and Jun-hyung himself had no desire to continue past season one. Which left Yu-hyun locked in.
The only question was whether Yu-hyun’s Pair would be Yoon Do-jae or Beom Do-il. But Jun-hyung knew Do-jae didn’t suit him.
Besides, Do-jae had clearly joined the show because of Kang Chi-yu. With Chi-yu out of season two, there was no reason for him to stay.
Which left only Do-il.
Yu-hyun would almost certainly approach the man he already liked—or was beginning to.
And realizing that, Jun-hyung felt he’d done the right thing by giving the two of them time alone.
Yes, it was the right call.
But some trace of loneliness or disappointment must have slipped through his expression.
Still, what could he do?
Do-il’s presence was the only reason he hadn’t been consumed by loneliness.
If not for him, Jun-hyung would have spent countless nights crying over Jeong Moo-young.
Even now, sometimes tears welled up when the memories resurfaced—but that was just the weight of accumulated longing.
In the end, he had to admit it: his life had been steadied, even salvaged, because of Beom Do-il.
So all he wanted was Do-il’s happiness.
Of course, some selfish part of him whispered, don’t let him go. But Jun-hyung forced himself to ignore it. If Do-il ever circled back to him, that would be the real proof of his heart.
He could wait.
No—he had no choice but to wait.
Because it had to be Do-il.
He had no will, no courage, no desire to love anyone else.
So he believed it wiser to let Do-il fall in love, to be loved desperately by someone else, and if after all that he still felt Jun-hyung was the one at his side—only then would Jun-hyung reach out.
Forcing a bright smile, Jun-hyung lifted the showerhead and rinsed the suds from the Catdog’s fur.
“Alright, rinse time—”
***
Chi-yu gently stroked Tae-oh’s hair as he slept in his arms.
As a child, Tae-oh had hated even the slightest touch from others. Yet now he clung to Chi-yu as he slept.
Was it just age?
Or had his obsessive aversion to contact really faded?
No—he still stiffened whenever anyone else came close.
So maybe this was something reserved only for Kang Chi-yu.
The thought sent a rush through his chest, a tingling, aching warmth that spread through his whole body.
Gazing at Tae-oh’s unguarded, sleeping face, Chi-yu leaned down and brushed a kiss against the sharp line of his jaw.
Then he pulled back slightly, wanting to take in his features more closely.
At that moment, without even opening his eyes, Hyun Tae-oh cupped Chi-yu’s cheek and pulled him down into a kiss.
His eyelids lifted slowly, revealing eyes still heavy with sleep.
“…Did I wake you?”
Chi-yu whispered.
Tae-oh didn’t answer—he just pressed their lips together again.
Chi-yu’s arms slipped around his neck.
***
The next morning.
At breakfast, seated around the table, Min Yu-hyun very obviously avoided Beom Do-il’s gaze. So bold the night before, now he looked utterly mortified. Do-il couldn’t help smiling faintly at how cute it was.
“Huh? Today’s mission is… support?”
Jun-hyung, scanning his tablet as he ate, tilted his head. Since Do-il was his partner, he leaned in to check the screen too. Yu-hyun darted a glance their way.
“Oh, you’re right. That’s strange. Are you guys support too?”
Do-il looked up, asking Yoon Do-jae—only to lock eyes with Yu-hyun instead. Yu-hyun immediately turned away, shoving his own tablet toward Do-jae.
This time, it wasn’t the shy avoidance of before.
No—this time it felt edged with anger.
