Shin-jae’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
“Alright.”
“……What?”
What do you mean? If even his confused expression was endearing, then it was already over.
Sa-yoon lowered his head again. He lightly bit down on those slightly parted lips before releasing them slowly. Then, without breaking contact, he whispered,
“I made a promise, so I’ll let it slide just this once.”
Because you’re adorable.
How could he not forgive someone who clung to his lap, crying and begging for forgiveness? When he unfolded the letter, filled with sincerity pressed into every word. When he saw the cake, remembered in passing. When he watched him waiting in the rain, shielding that cake under his coat to keep it from getting wet.
All those moments stacked up like a perfect combo in a game—leaving no room to escape.
***
He was tasting the broth, checking the seasoning, when a loud crash rang out, followed by the door swinging open.
The cat, which had been rubbing against Sa-yoon’s calf, sniffing at the scent of food, leaped up and pinned its ears back, letting out a threatening growl.
Sa-yoon turned his head slowly from the stove. Standing at the entrance to the kitchen, looking as if he’d just had the soul knocked out of him, was Shin-jae.
“Hyung?”
“You’ve got a bird’s nest on your head.”
On the left side.
He only mentioned it because he found it cute, but Shin-jae, ears burning red, quickly covered his head before striding over and pulling him into a tight embrace. Then, he started rubbing his face all over the crook of Sa-yoon’s neck.
“I thought you left again.”
“This is my home. Where would I go?”
“Still….”
It must have been a real shock, being left behind that day. As he held the whining boy close, Sa-yoon reached out with practiced ease and turned off the stove.
“You know, I nearly threw out my back moving you yesterday.”
Last night, Shin-jae had struggled to believe he was truly forgiven.
He had begged so desperately, yet when it actually happened, all he could do was stare in confusion and repeat, “Why?” and “Really?” over and over.
When Sa-yoon told him it was because he was cute, so he should behave from now on, Shin-jae burst into tears like a squashed cherry tomato.
And when Sa-yoon finally listened, he spilled everything—how he’d tried to confess back then, and back then, and even on that day too. The confessions kept pouring out, with no end in sight.
Shin-jae mumbled incoherently, repeating three things over and over: “Thank you,” “Hyung, I like you,” and “Happy birthday.” Like an eager puppy, he burrowed into Sa-yoon’s embrace, searching for his lips.
After a few more kisses, they ended up sprawled across the couch.
At some point, the silence became so profound that Sa-yoon glanced down—only to find Shin-jae had fallen fast asleep in his arms, as if he had completely passed out.
Judging by his state, it was clear he hadn’t eaten or slept properly for days.
With the alcohol he’d consumed and having run around in the rain, moving his nearly 190cm frame to the bed drained every last bit of Sa-yoon’s energy. Exhausted, he collapsed beside his freshly reconciled young lover and immediately fell into a deep sleep as well.
***
“……I thought it was a dream.”
“Is that why you kept kissing me like that at dawn?”
Early in the morning, Sa-yoon had woken up to something repeatedly brushing against his face.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Shin-jae hovering over him, pressing soft kisses onto his skin.
“Hyung, you were awake……?”
“No, I woke up for a moment, then fell back asleep.”
The kisses had been so delicate, like the ticklish brush of fine feathers, as if afraid to wake him. His lips had touched his eyebrows, eyelids, nose, cheeks, lips—gently landing and retreating. Half-asleep, Sa-yoon had simply basked in the sensation before drifting off again.
“When you suddenly smiled, I thought you were having a nice dream.”
Finding his sheepish expression adorable, Sa-yoon rose onto his toes and planted a firm kiss on the tip of Shin-jae’s nose.
Shin-jae’s ears turned even redder, and he immediately tried to respond with another kiss—but before he could, a light thwap-thwap sound from the foot of the bed caught Sa-yoon’s attention.
“Uuuuung.”
Sesame, seemingly thinking Sa-yoon was under attack, was swatting at Shin-jae with its little paw.
“Sesame, no.”
“Uuuuung.”
“Oh, right—your allergy. Are you okay?”
After putting the limp cat in another room, Sa-yoon belatedly asked.
Like any cat owner’s home, his bedding was covered in a fine layer of fur. He cleaned regularly, but for someone with allergies, it was probably nowhere near enough.
“I took medicine.”
Shin-jae answered as if it was no big deal.
When? He hadn’t eaten, hadn’t slept, hadn’t even charged his phone—yet he had the presence of mind to take his meds? Sa-yoon gave him a look of disbelief, and Shin-jae averted his gaze.
“I always carry it with me. Just in case I might run into you.”
How does his love manage to tickle at my heart every single time, like a soft foxtail brushing against it?
Sa-yoon absently rubbed at his sternum, then his eyes landed on the half-set table. He had been preparing breakfast, planning to feed Shin-jae once he woke up.
“Breakfast is almost ready. Do you want to wash up first or eat first?”
Given the choice, Shin-jae quickly declared he’d wash up first and disappeared into the bathroom.
A second later, there was the sound of a mirror cabinet opening, followed by an exasperated “Ah, shit,” and then the loud rush of water.
Sa-yoon chuckled to himself.
If even that was cute, he was seriously in trouble.
“Hyung, you should be grateful to your parents for blessing you with such good skin.”
“Yeah, I always live with gratitude.”
After washing his face, Shin-jae asked for skincare products. When Sa-yoon replied that he didn’t use anything, he was immediately treated like an alien.
As a quick fix, he handed over his father’s alcohol-scented toner, which was promptly rejected. His mother’s products were deemed too oily.
In the end, Sa-yoon had to sneak into his younger sister’s room and steal some lotion. Luckily, Hye-yoon was traveling in Europe with their parents after finishing her college entrance exams.
When he mentioned it was his sister’s, Shin-jae hesitated, looking reluctant. But with no other options, he eventually accepted it.
“What is this?”
As soon as they finally sat down at the table, Shin-jae pointed at the soup.
“Spinach doenjang-guk (soybean paste soup).”
Shin-jae tilted his head. “Spinach doenjang-guk…?” he mumbled, as if doubting those two ingredients could even go together.
“Just try it.”
Shin-jae hesitantly scooped up a spoonful.
Sa-yoon, without realizing it, stared as the spoon slipped past those thick lips.
After a cautious first taste, Shin-jae immediately took a bigger spoonful.
“It’s good.”
Then, as if he had truly taken a liking to it, he started eating nonstop.
Only after seeing that did Sa-yoon finally pick up his own spoon, feeling relieved.
“I didn’t really make any side dishes, though. Just used whatever was in the fridge.”
“I’m really happy with this.”
And he wasn’t just saying it—his spoon didn’t stop moving.
The side dishes were nothing special: seasoned dried squid, stir-fried anchovies, black beans, burdock root, and stir-fried fish cakes—typical homemade fare.
Yet, in no time, Shin-jae’s rice bowl was empty. His enthusiasm, something even Sa-yoon had never seen when they ate out, left him bewildered.
“Want more?”
“Yes.”
Wanting him to eat well, Sa-yoon filled the bowl to the brim.
Shin-jae accepted it without a word of protest.
“It’s been a really long time since I had a proper home-cooked meal like this.”
Then, perhaps feeling a little self-conscious, he briefly paused before adding, almost as an excuse,
“I usually eat out.”
“What do you eat, then?”
“I used to have someone come over just to cook, but since I started living alone, I didn’t bother calling them anymore.”
As far as Sa-yoon knew, Shin-jae had been living alone for quite a while.
Considering his meticulous nature, it was unlikely that he’d go to some random homestyle diner on his own.
“Then from now on, let’s eat together often.”
After finishing the meal, they lit the birthday candle—a day late. It was so practical it almost killed the mood, but the cake still tasted amazing.
When Sa-yoon complimented it, Shin-jae’s face flushed as he admitted he had reserved it over a month in advance. Then, as if expecting something, he subtly leaned in.
His cute younger lover got exactly what he wanted—a kiss in return.
After both the meal and dessert, Sa-yoon naturally headed toward the front door.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah.”
Shin-jae, who had been sticking close to him all morning, immediately showed signs of distress.
It really felt like he had gained another clingy little pet.
“I’m going out for a smoke.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“Alright, then.”
The rain that had started yesterday was still falling today.
When Sa-yoon handed Shin-jae an umbrella, he blinked in surprise. His expression made it obvious he was wondering why they weren’t sharing one.
“I can’t share an umbrella with you—I’ll be smoking.”
“Ah……..”
So, they each took their own umbrellas and stepped out into the yard.
“That persimmon tree was planted when I was born.”
“It’s grown a lot.”
“Right? It bears good fruit in the fall. The one next to it was planted when my sister was born.”
While Sa-yoon smoked, Shin-jae wandered the yard, admiring the trees. The sight of him holding an umbrella in the rain was breathtaking. And maybe it was just because he was wearing Sa-yoon’s clothes, but he somehow looked even more enticing.
“The weather is really nice today.”
“Huh…?”
Completely unaware of his boyfriend’s inappropriate thoughts, Shin-jae was off spouting nonsense. It was only their first day back together—clearly, the world looked like a flower-filled paradise to him.
The distance from the trees at the far end of the yard to the house was less than seven steps.
And yet, Shin-jae couldn’t wait that long. He squeezed under Sa-yoon’s umbrella, despite the lingering cigarette smoke.
As a result, they both ended up with one damp shoulder each—giving them no choice but to shower together.
And after taking care of each other’s… situations, they finally came out, only to be met with Sesame’s fury, demanding why they had taken so long.
“Hyung, I love this so much…….”
Even afterward, Shin-jae refused to let go.
How the hell do you cure separation anxiety in humans?
Oh well. He was cute, so Sa-yoon let it slide.
The two spent the entire weekend glued together.
***
[Guild Master ‘Chasa’ has logged in.]
[Temporary Guild Member ‘Killer’ has logged in.]
[Guild] Chasa: Hello.
[Guild] Killer: hihi
[Guild] Swakkoong: Wow, I really thought you quit.
[Guild] Furple: Where’d you disappear to without saying a word?
