“Studying together would be nice. We could go to the academy together too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You’ll switch to a different academy next year, right? I can’t keep attending here.”
“Yeah, I’m just going here until the end of this year, then I plan to transfer.”
“I won’t cause any trouble there.”
“Promise.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
With a heart melting at the absurdity of the promise, Yuwon smiled as he entered the apartment complex. Walking like this together made him nervous and excited at the same time, but ironically, it also felt the most comfortable. Because he was someone he could trust and rely on in any situation.
“You were home today?”
“I was home for a bit. Just for about an hour?”
“You didn’t smell cigarette smoke today.”
“I’ve almost quit. Oh, come to think of it, I didn’t even smoke once today.”
Yuwon, who had turned his body towards Hyun Gyujin in the elevator, was startled when he suddenly leaned back, causing him to move back. It wouldn’t have made a difference since he was blocked by the wall anyway.
“Smell it. It’s not that it’s not coming out, but that it won’t come out. I deliberately sat near the entrance even at the smoke zone earlier. The spot where I usually sit is next to the smoking room. The owner knows we’re minors, so he doesn’t allow smoking there. But every time the door opens, the smell sticks to my uniform, causing misunderstandings for no reason.”
Yuwon couldn’t help but tilt his head slightly forward and press his nose against his shoulder, holding back a sigh. Hyun Gyujin was right; there was no smell of cigarettes today, and there was always a pleasant scent emanating from Hyun Gyujin’s room.
“No smell?”
“Yeah… There really isn’t.”
“Compliment me.”
“Why should I compliment…”
“If you don’t, I’ll…”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Even in his playful tone, there was mischief in his eyes that momentarily turned serious. Yuwon, suppressing his trembling, met Hyun Gyujin’s gaze. He knew all too well that avoiding eye contact here would look strange.
“… Qtja?”
“P’ii nlrla sbe lc sbeg vgfjwr?”
Gfrqlaf atf qijsoei abcf, Tekbc’r tfjga mbeivc’a tjcvif la. Llr qeqlir rtbbx klivis, jcv tf wlrrfv atf alwlcu ab gfrqbcv ilutais klat j rwlif. Ktf bcis obgaecjaf atlcu lc atlr mglrlr kjr atja tf ilnfv bc atf 6at oibbg. Tekbc delmxis uba boo atf fifnjabg eqbc tfjglcu atf oglfcvis nblmf jccbecmlcu tlr jgglnji bc atf 6at oibbg. Lf mbeivc’a fnfc afii lo tf kjr kjixlcu qgbqfgis.
“Are you going out tomorrow? It’s Saturday.”
“Uh… Well… I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Oh, then let’s decide tomorrow. See you.”
“…Yeah, bye…”
“Bye.”
As Yuwon watched the closing door awkwardly, he lowered his hand, which had been held up, and sighed deeply.
“I’ll visit you in your dreams?”
It was probably just a joke, but he couldn’t take it as a joke, not with his heart, not with his feelings. He shouldn’t have shown such a confused reaction, but perhaps Hyun Gyujin sensed something was off. He must be showing a different reaction than usual these days.
“… ”
Even going to Yoon Sung’s house to avoid Hyun Gyujin became futile. Avoiding him in the future and keeping a suitable distance wouldn’t be easy. Yuwon sighed again as he lifted the cap to enter the password. Then his phone vibrated.
[Gyujin: I’m coming down now, wait for a moment]
[Gyujin: I’ll bring the bag lol]
Ah… Only now did Yuwon realize how light his shoulders felt. He had forgotten to take the bag while hastily getting off the elevator to avoid Hyun Gyujin.
The elevator, which had stopped on the 12th floor, began descending again. Hyun Gyujin was coming to him. Despite knowing that he was just coming to give him the bag, Yuwon found himself tensing involuntarily. The pleasant scent from Hyun Gyujin still lingered at the tip of his nose.
[6th floor.]
As the elevator doors opened again, Hyun Gyujin appeared before him. Yuwon gestured as if telling him to lower his head, accepting the hefty bag from Hyun Gyujin. His hand reached over Hyun Gyujin’s head, who tilted his head with a puzzled expression. One time, two times, three times… Hyun Gyujin realized that Yuwon was complimenting him with his stroking hand.
“What’s up with you? Why the compliment?”
“…Yeah. So, you…”
Hyun Gyujin wanted to brush off what Yuwon said as just a joke. In reality, he could joke about it as much as he wanted, saying it wasn’t that big of a deal… He wanted to show that. Yuwon timidly gathered scattered fragments of courage from here and there.
“…Don’t appear in my dreams.”
What should I do… I told him not to appear. Yuwon, feeling awkward, slid his hand up and down his thigh and glanced at Hyun Gyujin, who was staring at him quietly. Just as Hyun Gyujin, who had been quietly observing Yuwon all along, burst into laughter, the sound of the elevator stopping on the 6th floor echoed.
“God, seriously. You’re so cute, adorable.”
Hyun Gyujin, who held Yuwon’s cheeks from both sides and widened them as if saying he was cute, barely managed to stop laughing intermittently and took a step back.
“I’m really going now. Seriously, stop dreaming about me. If you’re going to, ask for permission first. Otherwise, write an essay about dreaming and submit it.”
“You’re annoying. Hurry up and go.”
“I’m shameless, what can I do, Jung Yuwon.”
With a smirk, Hyun Gyujin headed towards the stairs this time. Yuwon waved his hand again to say goodbye and quickly entered his house, entering the password.
“… ”
And as soon as he entered, he placed the bag on the floor in a random manner and wrapped his hands around both cheeks that Hyun Gyujin had touched. The smiling face of Hyun Gyujin flashed before his eyes. What should I do, really… Yuwon felt like crying. Hyun Gyujin, who never left his mind no matter what, was too… nice.
***
[Gyujin: Are you awake?]
[Still rolling around in bed]
[Gyujin: Wow, you’re lazy]
[What about you?]
[Gyujin: I came to exercise]
Hyun Gyujin always made time to do martial arts or boxing on weekends if there was nothing special. It seemed he went to exercise early this week. Yuwon held an extra pillow and quietly absorbed the arriving messages.
[Gyujin: I’ll probably finish around twelve, wanna join?]
[Gyujin: I’ll treat you to lunch]
Normally, Yuwon would have agreed, but today the answer didn’t come easily. Yuwon, hesitating to send a response, finally managed to form the words.
[I just want to keep rolling around today.]
[Sorry.]
[Gyujin: Sorry for what?]
[Gyujin: Then I guess I’ll have to do a few more hours. I’ll text you when it’s over.]
Sending a dog emoji exercising, Yuwon put down his phone and closed his eyes. Perhaps because he had been troubled by dreams all night, sleep came easily whenever he closed his eyes.
So sleepy… I just want to sleep deeply. Within moments of being shrouded in darkness with no one around in the quiet room, the sound of even breathing soon filled the air.
***
Yuwon closed his eyes and leaned in slightly towards Hyun Gyujin. Peck, peck… The tickling sound echoed for a long time, but Hyun Gyujin didn’t stop kissing. Yuwon didn’t stop him either, and they exchanged countless kisses throughout the night.
Stroking his hair, touching his cheeks, and brushing his arms felt good. When his lips were pressed a little harder, Yuwon looked forward to the “next.” But even though he had dreamt of kissing several times already, the Hyun Gyujin in his dreams only kissed and didn’t do anything else.
“… ”
Yuwon, startled by the vibration, woke up and checked several messages from Hyun Gyujin in order. It was already past two o’clock. Hyun Gyujin seemed to be going home now after exercising.
[Gyujin: On my way home now. Feels good after the workout.]
[Gyujin: I won all three rounds in sparring today.]
[Gyujin: Are you sleeping?]
[I just woke up.]
[Gyujin: Feeling unwell?]
[No, I’m just still sleepy… Actually, I’m sleepy even now.]
[Gyujin: Are you a newborn baby? haha Seems like you’re tired. When that happens, you gotta keep sleeping.]
Just seeing the words “you gotta keep sleeping” made his eyes close involuntarily. While looking at the oblivious reality of Hyun Gyujin, as soon as he closed his eyes, two hands pressed on his shoulders. Yuwon hugged the approaching Hyun Gyujin with both arms. A weak sense of guilt mixed with pleasure made Yuwon feel light-headed from head to toe.
The Hyun Gyujin in the dream smiled. Yuwon, who had been staring blankly at that face, closed his eyes. Peck, peck… Within the echoing tickling sound again, Yuwon’s Saturday afternoon passed.
***
Yuwon, who had been sitting blankly, remembering the kisses with Hyun Gyujin in his dream, stood up from the chair. Doing nothing at home made him keep thinking about Hyun Gyujin, and it was too exhausting, feeling like the kissing sounds from their dreams echoed in his ears.
Since he had to do his academy homework, Yuwon quickly packed his bag with problem sets, notebooks, pencil case, earphones, and wallet and left the house. It seemed like a good idea to go to a café and change his mood.
Leaving the apartment complex and heading towards the academy area, Yuwon went to a big franchise café where he usually didn’t go with Hyun Gyujin and took a seat by the window. There were also seats in the corner, but he deliberately chose a bright spot because he felt like his mood would sink even more if he sat in a dark place. After leaving his bag and ordering a mango yogurt smoothie at the counter, Yuwon waited absentmindedly holding the round vibrating bell until he received his drink and returned to his seat.
