#Side Story 26
“Hyung!”
“It’s itchy. Do something about it.”
Saheon started whining. I looked at him in disbelief. I couldn’t believe he was saying such mischievous things first thing after waking up, so I put down the wax I was holding.
“I think it’s because the hair is growing back. When I looked yesterday, it was already getting dark.”
“Please stop saying things like that…”
“Want to see a photo? I have one from the first day of hair removal.”
“No thanks! And why did you take pictures of that?”
“I took it as a memento because it was so smooth and bare, wondering when it would get like this. When it gets prickly, it might hurt Cheongmyeong… Oh, right. Your back went out… Because of me…”
I quickly fled from the bedroom, my face bright red, to avoid Saheon who was mumbling nonsense, still not fully awake. But judging by the vibration of my phone soon after, it seemed he had really sent something. I quickly tried to ignore the message that said “(Photo) (Photo)”. Then I sent a message back to the pervert who carelessly showed his private parts.
“Me: Hyung”
“Me: You shouldn’t carelessly show your penis like that!”
A reply came from the pervert who didn’t seem to know basic common sense that even kindergarteners would understand.
“Saheon Hyung♥: ㅇ0ㅇ….”
Since neither of us was in the habit of eating breakfast properly, we made do with just a cup of coffee. The aroma of machine-brewed coffee filled the living room richly. Saheon’s eyes were gradually coming to life as the caffeine entered his system.
Despite my early preparations to go alone, we ended up leaving a bit later than expected due to the time Saheon took to get ready. This was partly because every time Saheon tried to do something, he would nuzzle against my head, rub against my shoulder, kiss my fingers, and shower me with all sorts of affection.
By the time we were finally able to leave the house, we were about an hour behind schedule. Still, thanks to Saheon driving, we were able to go comfortably.
Although I felt a bit self-conscious as a new employee of only one year, my sick leave was accepted. The time given according to the medical certificate was one month.
After successfully taking leave, our next destination was the orthopedic clinic. As instructed in the emergency room the day before, we found an orthopedic clinic in the neighborhood and I received physical therapy. I got a prescription to come once a week, or anytime if it hurt, and by then the sun was already high in the sky.
While I was receiving physical therapy, Saheon, who had finished writing his incident report on his laptop, was waiting for me, drinking coffee from a vending machine. Perhaps due to the continuous intake of coffee, Saheon, who seemed to have escaped fatigue to some extent, asked:
“Are you done? How does your back feel?”
“It still hurts a bit, but I’m okay. Did you finish writing?”
“Yeah. I’ve submitted it. I’ve already paid, so let’s go.”
Saheon, crumpling up the empty paper cup, picked up his coat and laptop and turned his shoulder as if to say let’s go. I was about to head towards the nurse based on Saheon’s words that he had completed the payment, but quickly changed direction.
I slipped past Saheon, who held the door open for me, and quickly pressed the elevator button. It was a rhythm that matched perfectly without needing to be said. While waiting for the elevator to arrive, Saheon spoke:
“Cheongmyeong gets a month off. I get 4 days off. It’s a vacation.”
“Yeah. It would be nice if we could go on a trip somewhere.”
I responded without much thought, but then remembered that it would be impossible right away due to my injured back. Worried that Saheon might have negative thoughts again as he kept blaming himself for my injury, I quickly changed the subject.
“What should we eat for lunch?”
“Do we have anything at home? Did we go grocery shopping?”
“No. We should buy something, I guess?”
“Then shall we eat somewhere nearby and go home? Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Well… But come to think of it, we had some side dishes left at home. Let’s just eat at home.”
I’m not sure what was so funny about what I said, but Saheon chuckled and patted my head. Used to these inexplicable pats, I obediently offered my head.
“Yes, husband.”
However, if there was one thing I had overlooked, it was that Saheon and I had just returned from a 2-night, 3-day flight to England. I was flustered to find that we only had side dishes and no rice. Saheon was busy laughing at the sight of the empty rice cooker.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I’m laughing because you’re cute, because you’re cute. Your expression just now was like a raccoon washed in cotton candy water.”
“…We should have just eaten out.”
I measured out the rice with a sulky face. Saheon, perhaps trying to soothe my sullenness, gently stroked my shoulder and whispered:
“We’re not hungry, so let’s take our time. What should I do? Should I make some soup?”
“No. Let’s just eat something simple. I’m done.”
I quickly pressed the cook button and roughly wiped the remaining moisture on my clothes. Saheon, who had been fidgeting beside me, hugged my shoulder and kissed my temple.
The rice cooked on quick mode was ready soon after. Saheon and I, changed into comfortable clothes, finished our meal with side dishes sent by our parents and some we had made ourselves.
It was an ordinary day. After the meal, I took red ginseng in front of Saheon. We brushed our teeth together, played around poking each other in the bathroom, and I received a deep kiss from Saheon when some strange switch was flipped. After smooching in the bathroom for a while, I quickly ran away when Saheon said it might get dangerous if we continued.
But even if I ran away, there was only one place to return to. I grabbed a bunch of comics I had bought at the airport bookstore but hadn’t read yet, and lay down using Saheon’s thigh as a pillow on the sofa in the living room.
Saheon, who was leaning on the sofa and exchanging messages with someone, gently stroked my hair. The touch that ruffled my hair here and there was gentle.
“Who are you texting?”
“A junior I used to fly with in the US is getting married, and I had something to ask.”
Oh, I nodded in agreement and made myself more comfortable. After wriggling my shoulders a bit to find the perfect position, I opened a comic book featuring a little detective. Seeing the cover, Saheon asked:
“Is that still being published?”
“Yeah. I bought it out of curiosity.”
“I remember watching this on TV when I was in elementary school or middle school. It’s been going on for a really long time.”
“Really? I heard it’s been serialized since before I was born?”
“Baby. Should you hit me like that?”
The unexpected vacation that fell on both of us was leisurely and peaceful. Finally having some free time, I could reflect on the tranquility of time. Thinking back, it seemed like it had been a very long time since we had been this relaxed.
“Why are you reading the book so sexily?”
I turned my eyes up slightly to look at Saheon. There was Saheon with a face I couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious.
“What are you talking about.”
“Don’t read books wearing shorts in front of other people. They’ll all fall for you.”
I looked down at one of my legs slightly raised, wearing comfortable shorts. It was just a normal human leg. Concluding that it must only look strange to Saheon’s eyes, I decided to lightly ignore it.
Saheon’s hand gently pushed aside the comic book I was reading, and he kissed my exposed forehead with a soft “chu”. As he came closer, the scent of his cologne and the cool mint smell became stronger. I lifted my head a little more and kissed him back as he kept making kissing sounds.
After a while, Saheon, who had been satisfyingly fiddling around, pulled away. In his eyes looking down at me, there was an undisguisable tenderness dripping.
At some point, I reached out towards the fine lines that appeared around Saheon’s eyes when he smiled, and patted his cheek. Saheon pressed his cheek against my hand. A faint smile crept up at the corners of my mouth at the warm sensation.
“Cheongmyeong.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you free next weekend?”
“I’m on leave anyway, so I don’t have anywhere to go. Why?”
“This junior who’s getting married. I agreed to meet him when I receive the wedding invitation. Want to come along?”
I opened my eyes wide. It was a sudden proposal. Placing the comic book I was reading on my chest just as it was, I asked curiously:
“Is it someone I know?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Then is it okay for me to go together? Is it alright for me to join such an occasion?”
I stared at Saheon with a blank expression at this inexplicable suggestion. Saheon’s hand started to fiddle with my hair.
“If you’re okay with it.”
I couldn’t hide my bewildered feelings. Although I had been introduced to Saheon’s acquaintances a few times before, I had never met them in such a formal setting. It was usually when Saheon was drunk, or when I went to pick him up after a late flight and he happened to be flying with a colleague.
“But Cheongmyeong.”
Saheon’s hand that had been caressing my hair came down. The hand that gently cupped my cheek was warm. After taking a breath, Saheon continued with a soft smile:
“Although it’s an occasion to receive a wedding invitation, the main topic will probably be something else.”
“What is it…?”
“Changing jobs.”
I sat up abruptly without realizing it. Although the comic book fell with a thud and a dull pain shot through my injured back from getting up so quickly, that wasn’t important right now. Saheon hugged my waist with surprised eyes.
“You should be careful. Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Changing jobs? Where to?”
My voice had gotten louder. Saheon continued speaking while gently patting my sore back:
“To a foreign airline. For now, I’m thinking about the US. Or maybe France, since you can speak French too.”
It was such unexpected news. After opening and closing my mouth several times, not knowing what to say, I asked with a feeling of disbelief:
“Is this because I hurt my back?”
“…Um, yeah.”
Saheon admitted it after hesitating a bit with a slightly troubled face. I widened my eyes. I had seen him blaming himself for my injury caused by his landing, but I didn’t think he would consider it to this extent. I hastily tried to stop him.
