I don’t know since when he had been there, but Min Siheon was sitting in a relaxed posture. After even being served tea by my mom, he looked quite convincingly like a proper guest.
As I just blinked in surprise, Min Siheon, who had been observing me, let out a small smirk. It was the familiar backdrop of my house, yet with him in it, it somehow felt different.
It seemed Mom had stepped away in case Siheon might feel uncomfortable. I checked the kitchen—it was empty.
Thanks to that, I relaxed a little and let the tension drain from my body. Honestly, Min Siheon had a real talent for startling people.
“What the—since when were you here? And if you came, you should’ve called me first.”
Maybe it showed that my guard had dropped. The moment he heard my voice, Min Siheon rose from the sofa and crossed the distance to where I was standing in one swift stride.
Should I call it bold—or instinctive? Seeing his solid frame right up against me, I instinctively took a step back. Did he grow taller again? I lifted my head to meet the gaze of the face looking down at me.
“Hey, hey.”
I mean, I’m glad to see you too, but still. Min Siheon had an overwhelming presence just by existing.
When I flinched and retreated another step, trembling slightly, Min Siheon tilted his head as if asking what was wrong.
“What?”
His thin hair scattered lightly, and I rolled my eyes away, looking elsewhere—toward my half-open bedroom door.
Not far away, Cha Seung-ah was still there. She hadn’t come out, probably sprawled somewhere inside using her phone.
Feeling self-conscious for no reason, I smacked the back of Min Siheon’s hand as it started to slide up past my waist. True to form—always quick to play up pain—he rubbed the back of his hand with an exaggerated hurt expression.
“What do you mean, what? And if you’re coming over, at least say something.”
I lowered my voice as much as possible, whispering it to him.
“I wanted to see you as soon as possible.”
Ugh. My shoulders twitched at Min Siheon’s words. Thinking it was too dangerous to let this continue, I quickly raised my hand and covered his mouth.
Even with his mouth blocked by my hand, Min Siheon smiled faintly, as if nothing could make him happier. Seeing his eyes curve sweetly, I shook my head, telling him not to.
“You—if you don’t keep that mouth in check, I’m going to keep doing this, okay? You gonna behave? Then nod.”
At my words, Min Siheon lowered his gaze with a nuance that suggested he was considering it. Usually he was docile, but the moment he stepped outside his own house, he pulled stunts like this.
Trying to keep things contained, I urged him with a firm look. When I lifted my chin as if to ask, Well?, Min Siheon gave a sly smile.
“…!”
The moment his warm breath filled my palm, something long and slick slid between my fingers.
Min Siheon had stuck out his tongue and licked my palm. As if that weren’t enough, the thick, soft muscle pressed firmly into the hollow at the center of it.
The damp heat seeping through my skin nearly short-circuited my brain.
Trembling, I lowered my head—and noticed my toes curled tightly inside my slippers. Not here. Absolutely not here. Sensing the danger, I made a quick decision.
No matter what Min Siheon said, I resolved to ignore him for now and pulled my body away from his. My ears were burning—I was sure my face had turned bright red.
“Y-you…!”
“Salty.”
Startled speechless and pointing at him, I watched as Min Siheon stuck his tongue out slightly and licked his lips. Of course it’s salty—what, did you expect sweet? I almost ran a hand over my face in embarrassment, then noticed how damp my palm was from his saliva.
After that, an inexplicable weakness washed over me.
I had no idea what his angle was—coming to pick me up and then pulling something like that to catch me off guard—but first, I needed to at least make myself presentable.
Judging by Min Siheon’s mood, it seemed like we should just leave quickly.
***
Worried he might attempt some other stunt while sitting on the sofa, I hurried to wash up.
After changing into comfortable clothes and roughly organizing the luggage I’d been packing, I headed into the living room. There, I found Min Siheon sitting on the sofa—and next to him, Cha Seung-ah, watching him with an openly fascinated expression.
Oh no. I told her to stay put. The combination of my troublemaking-from-birth younger sister and my slightly-unhinged secret lover made me drop the Boston bag I was holding.
Hearing it thud heavily to the floor, both of them turned toward me at the same time.
“Hey, Cha Seung-ah, what are you doing over there?”
“What do you mean, what am I doing? Oppa, that’s weird. You shouldn’t leave a guest alone~ I was just keeping him company, since I’m such a nice person. Right?”
“Keeping him company?”
At Cha Seung-ah’s words, Min Siheon let out a quiet snort and nodded. What kind of nonsense did that guy spout?
I picked up the fallen Boston bag and pulled my suitcase. Rising from the sofa, Min Siheon came over and took my luggage from me.
“Oh~ Now that I look at you, you’ve even got good manners?”
“Hey—watch it with your elder…. Cha Seung-ah, no matter how much he’s my friend, he’s still way older than you.”
“Seriously, Oppa doesn’t know anything~ Right?”
At her words, Min Siheon gave a meaningful look. He didn’t seem to be smiling, and for some reason, I felt oddly apologetic.
“Sorry.”
I apologized first to Min Siheon, who was holding my luggage for me. Unable to resist even that brief moment, he bent slightly and pressed his lips near my ear.
“…If you’re sorry, give me ten kisses when we get there. Or a real kiss is fine too.”
He whispered in a voice low enough that Cha Seung-ah wouldn’t hear. Is he insane? I was about to smack his back when I locked eyes with Cha Seung-ah over his shoulder.
“Hmm~”
“What. Why?”
She didn’t hear that, right? Uneasy, I grabbed the rest of my things and headed toward the entrance.
With one hand holding an extra bag and the other gripping the sleeve of the uncontrollable Min Siheon, I hurried my steps. Cha Seung-ah rose from the sofa and slowly approached us.
I’d interrogate him about whatever conversation he’d had with her on the way. It felt too precarious to stay any longer, so I decided we just needed to get out of the house.
Unaware of my inner turmoil—or pretending not to know—Min Siheon quietly lowered his head and rested his chin on my shoulder.
Feeling the solid weight pressing down, I let out a sigh. At this point, whatever happens, happens.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Cha Seung-ah only told me to have a safe trip.
“You’re leaving already? But honestly, it won’t even feel weird without you at home anymore. Since summer break started, I’ve barely seen you here.”
“What are you talking about? Cha Seung-ah, behave yourself. Mom! I’m leaving!”
Telling her we’d talk properly later, I shouted toward the master bedroom in the distance.
I’d have to come back often anyway, just to pick up the things I hadn’t packed. The strangely unregretful atmosphere of the house made my feelings complicated.
Just like Cha Seung-ah said, living at Min Siheon’s place almost full-time had apparently been a kind of trial run for living on my own.
Could this be his plan? Even knowing that was ridiculous, I shot him a suspicious glare. Then I grabbed the doorknob and turned it.
Min Siheon, who came out after me, closed the door with a smile.
Click— As the entrance door lock engaged, Min Siheon wrapped an arm around my shoulders. He set the suitcase and bag down beside us and stood pressed close.
Unlike him, who had his back turned from the door, I was facing it. Seeing it shut so firmly stirred a strange feeling inside me.
“What’s with you—why are you smiling?”
In the meantime, Min Siheon buried his head against my shoulder and trembled slightly. He was letting out soft puffs of air, as if holding back laughter.
Annoyed, I smacked his back. Rubbing his cheek once against my shoulder as though nothing could please him more, Min Siheon spoke in a low voice.
Since I’d told him to keep his mouth shut and he’d obediently sealed it until now, his voice came out rough, almost hoarse.
“Just… I’m happy thinking about living with you.”
“Hey, I only moved out today, but technically, since vacation started, I’ve already been living with you the whole time.”
His voice scratched at me like a tickle, and I hurriedly changed the subject.
When I urged that we get going, he still skillfully clung his body to mine, even while carrying all the luggage.
Seriously, he’s talented in his own way, I thought, watching the numbers on the descending elevator. He was truly my boyfriend—but he definitely had his peculiar sides.
***
Reflected in the car window as we sped along the highway, I could see Min Siheon gripping the steering wheel. I hadn’t known he even had a car. And he looked quite adept at driving.
When we took the elevator down earlier, I’d tried to get off on the first floor, but Min Siheon had stopped me with his arm.
When I turned to him, confused, he reached past me and pressed the close button.
As the elevator began moving again, I glanced at his hand—and noticed the basement parking level lit up in blue.
Still blinking in confusion, the elevator doors opened once more.
Beyond the low ceiling of the parking garage, Min Siheon grabbed my wrist and led me out.
“Hey, why are we here?”
“To give you a ride.”
“A ride?”
You have a car? Before I could even ask properly, Min Siheon had pushed me forward and into it. That already felt like a while ago.
I’d known he came from a fairly well-off family. But after hearing that the house he lived in was under his older brother’s name—and now seeing the logo embedded in the center of the steering wheel he was holding—I clicked my tongue.
…This must be his brother’s car too, right? The list of things I was curious about regarding Min Siheon kept growing. It felt burdensome to ask outright, so I chose my words carefully.
“You had your own car but took the bus to school?”
I glanced down, feeling oddly sulky as I took in the clean interior of the vehicle.
“I drove it during freshman year. After I came back from leave, I used it a bit at first too, but after that, it mostly stayed parked. Why?”
“What, did you have a change of heart or something? You were driving it just fine—then suddenly you go around on foot?”
Was I the only one who didn’t know? The thought sparked a flare of jealousy.
Setting aside freshman year—forget even that—during the early days after he returned in sophomore year, I hadn’t paid attention to him. Because of that, I didn’t know much about him at all.
Min Siheon wasn’t the type to volunteer this kind of information himself. The feeling that I was always the last to know didn’t sit well with me.
Why am I complaining to someone who even came to pick me up today? I cooled my simmering thoughts, annoyed at myself for being so ungratefully dissatisfied.
As I lifted my head again to change the subject, I noticed something strange—Min Siheon’s expression looked troubled.
His lips were set stiffly, as if he was deep in thought. Whatever else I didn’t know about him, I’d come to recognize at least these small habits and subtle shifts in his gaze perfectly well.
