It was around sunset when Jaegyeom returned home.
“My lord—! You’re home?”
As soon as he opened the front door, Mesani jumped up and greeted his belly button. Everywhere he stepped, it was wet. Jaegyeom’s eyebrows twitched and took off his shoes. It was obvious. He went out to play in his bare feet again and it looked like he had just washed his dirty feet. He seemed to have learned his own tricks to avoid Jaegyeom’s scolding.
As the effort was commendable, Jaegyeom decided to be kind. Pretending not to notice Mesani’s wet feet, he put down the small shopping bag he was holding in one hand. Mesani widened his eyes and snooped around the entrance of the shopping bag.
“My lord, what is this?”
“Ah, that… a necktie.”
Jaegyeom stopped by the school uniform shop near the school to buy a tie. Because of that tie, he even had to sort out books that he shouldn’t have to. Mesani held the shopping bag and stared at Jaegyeom. Jaegyeom’s mood was slightly different from that in the morning. He seemed exhausted, and strangely subdued.
He went to the kitchen, grabbed scissors, and headed straight to the bathroom. Mesani watched Jaegyeom with a bewildered face. After what felt like a long time, when the bathroom door opened again, Mesan, who had been sitting quietly in the living room, jumped up from his seat. After taking a shower, Jaegyeom changed into comfortable clothes and brushed his damp hair with a towel. Even at a glance, his hair length was clearly shortened. It had been cut randomly and was ragged at the ends. Mesani, who had been observing Jaegyeom the whole time, hesitantly approached.
“M- My lord.”
“Mhm.”
“Are you… perhaps mad?”
Jaegyeom wrapped a wet towel around his shoulder.
“Why?”
“It’s just… you look like you’re in a bad mood.”
Mesani added in a crawling voice.
“Did something happen?”
What happened was that a lot happened. It was a headache since he didn’t have a tie in the morning, he got a penalty points for talking back to the dean, he got a nosebleed from being hit in the face by a flying soccer ball, and he was held up in the library with a tie as an excuse and he was forced to help out. The day was too long.
“…”
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.
Jaegyeom looked down at Mesani without a word. The way he twisted his body while looking at him was funny and cute. The reason he had to go to school he had no business going to was because of this little child standing in front of his eyes.
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‘Mesan-ah, are there any problems? I’m sorry I couldn’t come after I said I’d come last week.’
‘It’s alright. Don’t worry, Jeongju. I’m always by my lord’s side.’
‘I’m busy with work these days… Even if I’m not there, Mesani, you take good care of Jaegyeom.’
Jaegyeom sometimes wondered. What was the reason for Mesani not returning to his hometown, and why was Jeongju apologizing for not being able to come down to Seoul often… He never thought that it could be because of him. It was only by chance that they ended up living together, but he never wanted them to live together. He didn’t wished for anything like that. That wasn’t what Jaegyeom wanted.
The boy, who had been lying in a daze, thought for the first time that he should go outside. He wanted to meet anyone. Do anything. Even if it’s just in pretence… Even for those poor guys who pity him.
“No, nothing happened.”
Jaegyeom smiled and shook his head. At last, it was the same as usual. The relieved Mesani smiled brightly. Jaegyeom went into the room and took his wallet and came out. Mesani followed him closely. Heading to the front door, he tucked his feet into his slippers, combing through his wet hair.
“My lord, the sun has set. Wh- where are you going?”
“The store in front.”
The only store nearby was an old hole-in-the-wall store in front of the bus stop. He had lived here for several years, but Jaegyeom had never been to the store before. Surprised, Mesani’s eyes widened. A person who was terribly bothered going outside took his own wallet and left the house… Could it be that while attending school, he came to like life outside? Mesani’s eyes were colored with joy.
“W- w- what do you need?”
“I’m overheated and need something cool to eat.”
“Yes?”
“Why. Do you want to come with me?”
When Jaegyeom playfully asked, Mesani, not understanding what he was saying, tilted his head.
“I asked if you would like to go to the store together?”
“Gasp… R- Really?!”
“If only you want.”
Mesani’s face brightened at once. Mesani was afraid of all humans except for Jaegyeom, but he couldn’t stop looking outside. Until now, Jaegyeom was always at home, and Jeongju was living in a faraway place. He did not have the courage to leave the yard alone. His little head shook vigorously up and down, creating a slight breeze.
He hurriedly slipped on his tiny shoes. Then Jaegyeom opened the front door and gestured for him to go out first. Mesani stepped into the yard with a flushed face.
By now, it was getting dark. The two passed through the yard, opened the creaking gate, and came out. In the evening, the wind was a bit chilly.
After walking on a narrow and bumpy mountain road, they came across a paved road. They saw a hole-in-the-wall shop in the distance. Mesani, who was walking side by side with Jaegyeom, noticed it and raised his hand. Jaegyeom held his hand without saying a word and held the small warmth that came to him. As he got closer to the store, a nervous Mesani tensed and tightened his grip.
In front of the store was an old wooden table. The table was empty when Jaegyeom got off the bus, but now there were two or three elderly with hunched backs sitting there.
“You’re here?”
The one who greeted them seemed to be the owner of the store. Even though it was the first time they met the owner, he greeted them as if they had met a few times before. The rest of the elderly were drinking rice wine with kimchi in the middle of the table.
Jaegyeom didn’t say anything, just lowered his head slightly. Mesani let go of his hand and hid behind him while clutching on to the hem of his T-shirt. The store owner showed a benevolent smile with a wrinkled face.
“Lil brother?”
“Yes?”
“The child is your little brother?”
Others, who were tilting their glasses of rice wine at the owner’s words, glanced at Jaegyeom and Mesani. Startled by this, Mesani stuck out his nose behind Jaegyeom’s back. He was silent for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“No, he’s not my brother.”
“Isn’t your brother? Then who is it?”
“Not my brother… Just someone I know.”
“I see.”
The owner nodded slowly without asking further. Jaegyeom whispered, “It’s okay,” in a voice that Mesani could barely hear. Mesani swallowed dryly instead of answering. As he was about to open the sliding door to enter the store, something caught Jaegyeom’s eyes. It was an old freezer lying outside. Instead of entering the store, Jaegyeom headed for the freezer.
The height of the freezer was approximately the same as that of Mesan. Jaegyeom recalled the popsicle he had for lunch, opened the freezer door and bent down and looked inside. A cool breeze blew out. Mesan, with his short stature, also lifted his tiptoes and peered into the freezer. Contrary to Jaegyeom’s expectations, however, no matter how much he looked, he could not see the popsicle.
Jaegyeom had no choice but to choose an ice cream bar. It must have been in the freezer for a long time, as the wrapper was covered with cold frost. He took out his wallet, paid for it, and removed the wrapping paper. The elongated rectangular ice cream was light green. Jaegyeom passed the stick into Mesani’s hand.
“My lord, what is this?”
Mesani glanced at the elderly people sitting on the bench and asked quietly.
“The wrapper said Meruna.”
“This, will eating this take away the heat?”
When Mesani asked with a serious face, Jaegyeom burst into laughter.
“Yeah, man.”
Mesani hesitated for a moment, but then, as if he had made up his mind, he took a bite of the ice cream. The sweet and cold feeling made his eyes widen like they were going to pop out. “Is it delicious?” He frantically nodded his head. Jaegyeom, who had been staring at the scene, opened his mouth in a low voice.
“Later, when you return to your hometown.”
“Yes?”
“Show off to your friends.”
“What?”
“That you ate something like this.”
Mesani looked up at Jaegyeom with a bewildered face.
“Hey. It’s going to melt. Eat at once.”
Jaegyeom pulled Mesani’s flailing hand. As promised to Jeongju the other day, once the month ended, Jaegyeom planned to talk about his wish without any regrets. For them to leave him and each find their own life.
Jaegyeom and Mesani went back the way they came, swinging their hands.
This is just too sweet I love it ^^, can’t wait for more, thank you for uploading this
Ikr jaegyeom is a big softie.
Thank you! His wish is a little sad.
❤️
He is so soft…. I can’t 😭
Hello??? This chapter was so cute, Jaegyeom has my heart and Mesani too