It had already been a few months since they had moved away from the borders of District 5 to a place where the days were longer than the nights. Vin didn’t like drawing attention, but for Seo-yul, who had been struggling with depression, he chose a house near the village.
At first, the villagers watched them warily upon hearing that a Shining had arrived. But Vin’s utter indifference to their suspicion eventually put them at ease, and before long, they started visiting under the pretense of offering help.
Vin never welcomed them, but Seo-yul was different. The more he interacted with people, the brighter he became. That alone was enough for Vin to suppress his irritation, though that didn’t mean he could tolerate everything.
The entire time he prepared a late lunch, Vin’s gaze remained fixed outside the window—specifically, on Seo-yul, who was smiling and chatting with the boy next door.
The boy’s freckled cheeks were flushed red the entire time he faced Seo-yul, his feelings blatantly obvious. But Seo-yul, oblivious as ever, simply found him adorable.
“He feels like a little brother,” he’d say.
Vin couldn’t understand why Seo-yul felt such affection for someone he wasn’t even related to by blood. And because of that, he couldn’t kill the boy. If he did, Seo-yul would be sad.
“Ah, hyung, wait a second…”
As if merely standing face-to-face wasn’t irritating enough, the boy suddenly reached out and touched Seo-yul’s cheek. Technically, he was just brushing something off, but even that brief contact of skin against skin was enough to make Vin seethe.
Should I just kill him?
The urge to pull out his gun and blow that little head clean off was overwhelming. He barely held himself back—not because he lacked the desire, but because Seo-yul would grieve.
First, I should finish cooking.
They had spent the whole morning rolling around in bed, and neither of them had eaten anything substantial yet. Seo-yul had said he wasn’t hungry, but that didn’t sit well with Vin.
Seo-yul is fragile as it is.
This village, being close to District 1, was warm for more than half the year. The frequent walks he had taken Seo-yul on had improved his health significantly compared to before.
But that didn’t mean Vin could relax. Every now and then, Seo-yul would spike a fever, and no amount of medicine would help. The only thing he could do was strengthen him little by little, helping him build the stamina to withstand it on his own.
Vin, who had briefly paused to look out the window, quickly resumed moving his hands. In the meantime, Seo-yul finished his conversation with the boy and stepped inside, his arms full of what appeared to be potatoes the boy had given him.
“Vin, look at this! Evan gave them to me.”
Completely unaware of his own effect on others, Seo-yul beamed, marveling at how the potatoes were as big as his own face. Vin found it infuriating that he had been chatting so familiarly with another man, but that radiant smile was just too damn lovable.
Shaking off the water from his hands, Vin strode toward Seo-yul. Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm tightly around Seo-yul’s slender waist and pulled him close, pressing kisses all over his small face.
“That tickles,” Seo-yul giggled, wrapping his arms around Vin’s neck.
Vin was barely holding on to his self-control. Seo-yul was so unbearably endearing that he had no idea how much longer he could restrain himself. His kisses trailed naturally from Seo-yul’s face to his lips. As Seo-yul’s mouth parted without resistance, Vin slipped his tongue inside, sweeping over the delicate inner walls.
“Mmph…”
The soft kiss quickly deepened into something consuming. Seo-yul staggered back, his retreat halted only when his back hit the wall.
Having to bend uncomfortably due to their height difference, Vin grew impatient. Without thinking, he lifted Seo-yul up. Startled by the sudden shift, Seo-yul’s eyes widened before he instinctively wrapped his legs around Vin’s waist.
“We… need to eat.”
Seo-yul caught Vin’s wandering hands before they could slip under his clothes. Panting, Vin reluctantly withdrew, knowing full well that if he started touching him now, they wouldn’t eat anything until nightfall.
“It’s almost done. Just sit and rest.”
Swallowing his frustration, Vin pressed a kiss to Seo-yul’s forehead before carefully setting him down. He even took the time to smooth out Seo-yul’s rumpled clothes before returning to the kitchen.
Seo-yul, always obedient, trotted over to the dining table and took a seat. He was probably planning to sit there and watch Vin until the meal was ready.
“Should we make potato soup tomorrow?”
“With the ones that bastard gave you?”
“Not ‘that bastard.’ Evan.”
“…With the ones Evan gave you?”
“Yeah. I think it’ll be delicious.”
Completely unaware of Vin’s simmering jealousy, Seo-yul even went so far as to correct him, happily talking about how tasty soup made from Evan’s potatoes would be.
Originally, Vin had planned to toss out those damn potatoes as soon as Seo-yul fell asleep, but now that plan was ruined.
I’ll just make a full spread of all of Seo-yul’s favorite dishes tomorrow.
That way, he wouldn’t even think about those damn potatoes—or Evan, for that matter. As always, his plan was flawless. Seo-yul was simple and easy to please.
It’s kind of hot…
Vin was about to resume cooking when he suddenly noticed the heat rising in his cheeks. Pressing the back of his hand against his face, he frowned.
What’s wrong with me?
At first, Vin thought maybe he was still just aroused, but it felt different. His entire body was burning, as if he had been standing in front of a fire for hours.
Like a fever about to consume him.
“What’s wrong?”
Seo-yul, noticing the serious expression on Vin’s face, asked with concern. Forcing a smile, Vin shook his head. “It’s nothing.” He didn’t want to worry Seo-yul over something so trivial.
Maybe I’m just tired.
***
“Is Seo-yul hyung here?”
That clueless brat from next door had come looking for Seo-yul again. Having spent the entire night being ravaged, Seo-yul was still fast asleep even though it was already midday. Naturally, that meant Vin was the one to greet the boy.
Leaning lazily against the doorframe, Vin looked down at the boy, who was a full head shorter than him. His gaze dropped to the bundle of carrots the boy had brought—just another flimsy excuse, much like yesterday’s potatoes.
Yesterday, it was potatoes. Today, it was carrots. What will it be tomorrow? Did this kid’s parents even realize their son was trying to woo someone’s lover with vegetables?
For that matter, did the brat even know that Seo-yul already had a lover? If he did and was still acting like this, then he was a fucking bastard.
Shit, I want to kill him.
Vin’s fingers twitched with the urge to snap the boy’s neck right then and there, but outwardly, he remained indifferent. The oblivious brat didn’t even notice Vin’s growing hostility.
“Hey, kid.”
“…I’m not a kid.”
The boy’s face twisted in irritation at the nickname. Of course. He only pretended to be naive and innocent in front of Seo-yul. This must be his real personality.
So he knew exactly what he was doing all along.
Vin let out a low chuckle. It had been a while since he’d laughed at something that wasn’t Seo-yul. Not that it was a good kind of laughter.
“Don’t come here again.”
“Wait a sec—”
Before the boy could say anything else, Vin shut the door in his face.
Left standing outside, the boy blinked in stunned silence for a moment before muttering a small curse and walking away. Only after the sound of his footsteps completely faded did Vin let out a deep sigh, running a hand roughly through his hair.
This was exactly why he hated places with too many people. No matter where they went, Seo-yul would always attract them.
Vin quietly made his way back to the bedroom and sat at the foot of the bed. Seo-yul was still fast asleep, one pale ankle peeking out from beneath the blankets.
He reached out and gently grasped it, his fingers curling around the fragile bone.
With just a little more pressure, he could break it.
I really am insane.
After everything he had endured, after everything Seo-yul had given him, he was still this easily shaken by some random brat hovering around.
By now, he should have complete faith in Seo-yul. But it seemed he was still lacking.
Even though Seo-yul was his, the thirst never faded. If anything, it had only grown worse. His possessiveness—this overwhelming need to keep every fragment of Seo-yul’s gaze, breath, and presence to himself—wasn’t love. It was obsession.
Disgusting.
He loathed himself for it, but he couldn’t change. No matter how much he tried to look away from it, this was who he was.
From the moment Seo-yul had opened that dark cellar door and saved him, he had belonged to Seo-yul. And Seo-yul had belonged to him.
So, of course, it was only natural to want to lock Seo-yul away somewhere no one else could see him. To keep him entirely for himself.
Even if that was impossible.
Knowing it could never become reality was the only reason he allowed these destructive fantasies to remain just that—fantasies.
Lowering his head, Vin closed his eyes and pressed a soft kiss to the delicate ankle in his grasp.
Because no matter how much time passed, he would never break it. Kissing it was the only thing he could do.
“…Haa.”
A shaky breath slipped from his lips as he opened his eyes.
The heat in his body was getting worse.
