***
The bright sunlight made him blink several times before he could finally open his eyes properly. He stared blankly at the ceiling. What time is it? Today’s class… uh, what time… His foggy mind reflexively cycled through his usual thoughts. He turned his head toward the clock and froze. Yunjae was kneeling beside the bed, his head bowed. Jeonghyeon’s mind raced, piecing together the fragments of last night: the intrusion, the kneeling figure, the desperate confession, the pale expression, the messy, intense sex.
“Ugh…”
He tried to sit up but collapsed back down in pain. A sharp, chilling agony shot up his spine, leaving him gasping. He couldn’t even form the words he wanted to say. Yunjae, now aware that Jeonghyeon was awake, fumbled with an apology.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! Uh, ugh, sorry!”
Jeonghyeon didn’t know how long Yunjae had been kneeling there. The repeated apologies and the look of someone about to cry made him recall last night’s tearful confession. He let out a bitter laugh.
“What are you sorry for?”
The question, laced with amusement, made Yunjae panic. His frantic expression searched for words.
“Uh, I, the alcohol… Ah, forcing you… sorry… ugh…”
“Wait, wait, wait!”
Jeonghyeon furrowed his brows, cutting Yunjae off. A surge of irritation welled up. This is ridiculous. So now he’s going to—
“You don’t remember?”
Yunjae’s blank, blinking expression was answer enough. Jeonghyeon sighed, groaning as he sat up. The sharp pain shooting up his spine made him gasp, but once he was upright, it was bearable. He wiped the sweat from his brow and asked resignedly,
“So… why did you like me?”
“Huh? Uh, yes?”
“I liked you from the first time I saw you, right? So why? Why did you like me?”
“Did I say that… Shit, ah, no, I’m sorry, I mean…”
Yunjae paused, squeezing his eyes shut to clear his confused mind. His voice took on a resigned tone.
“I just thought you were fucking beautiful… No, I fell for you at first sight. At the villa entrance, the first time we met, the stark black of your hair and coat stood out against the white snow. The bright blue scarf caught my eye first. Then I saw you—your hair, your face, everything about you just… entered my heart. I just… liked you.”
“So you waited every day just to see me?”
Jeonghyeon tried to suppress the smile tugging at his lips, asking gruffly. Yunjae’s face flickered with self-reproach, as if realizing he’d said too much, before continuing.
“Yes… I left my door slightly open, checked when you left and came home, tried to match your schedule. I wanted to walk down the stairs with you when it was slippery… Just that. I wanted to be there. I left my bedroom wall thin so I could hear your TV, know what you were watching, and turned to the same channel. I left the bathroom door open so I could hear the water running through the pipes when you showered, and I made sure to shower at the same time… Ah, if you came home late, I’d wait on the rooftop and come down to meet you. That’s all I did. I was satisfied with just that. I really didn’t know our door codes were the same until now. I never intentionally broke in. And I barely even talked to you.”
As Yunjae finished, Jeonghyeon shivered, goosebumps rising. Is this guy really a stalker? But at the same time, he thought, How much did he have to like me to do all that? But he never caused any real trouble or committed any crimes. He shook his head. No, this isn’t right! Yet, he couldn’t help but feel a strange comfort in Yunjae’s desperate confession and pale expression. He glanced at Yunjae, and their eyes met.
The moment their gazes locked, fragments of last night’s memories flooded Yunjae’s mind.
“Huh?”
As the shock set in, more memories surfaced—the earnest confession, Jeonghyeon’s responsive body, the way he had pulled Yunjae into a kiss. Wait? What? What? His confused expression brightened as the pieces fell into place.
“Jeonghyeon! Last night, you said you liked me too, right? It wasn’t a dream?”
The excited voice made Jeonghyeon panic. He had been trying to close his heart to this stalker, but the desperation on Yunjae’s face was too much. Yunjae, however, mistook his expression for shyness. He must be upset that I don’t remember after confessing and everything. He smiled brightly and reached out to hug Jeonghyeon, but his legs, numb from kneeling, gave out. Whoa! He collapsed toward Jeonghyeon with a cry.
“Ack!”
The sudden weight pressed against Jeonghyeon’s waist, sending a sharp pain through him. This is ridiculous. I’ve been played by a stalker. But in the midst of the pain, one thought stood out: Against all odds, his long crush has finally come true today.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
