A large marble countertop held two sinks side by side. Yoon Jooho turned halfway around and leaned against it.
With a toothbrush in his mouth, he nodded toward Song Hyunsoo’s feet and asked, “Isn’t it hot?”
“Um, yeah, kinda,” Song Hyunsoo replied, wiggling his feet clad in slippers.
“But what’s with the stubbornness?”
Spitting the foam into the sink, Song Hyunsoo tapped his slippered foot and said, “It’s not stubbornness. Since I brought them anyway, I wanted to try wearing them. Plus, Monroe reacts well when I wear these.”
Rinsing his mouth with water from the toothbrush cup, Song Hyunsoo’s phone rang outside the bathroom.
He instinctively glanced at Yoon Jooho, who was pretending to brush his teeth casually, but for a brief moment, the atmosphere tensed noticeably.
“Who could it be? No one really calls.”
Muttering to himself, Song Hyunsoo wiped the water from his mouth with the back of his hand and quickly stepped out of the bathroom.
After living together for about a week, one new thing Yoon Jooho had discovered was just how possessive Song Hyunsoo could be.
For some reason, Jooho had expected a cool, no-strings-attached kind of relationship that maintained distance.
But once they started dating and living together, even a single phone call or message to Song Hyunsoo would put him on edge.
“I hope it’s just Jin hyung… It’s probably not, since he shouldn’t be up yet,” Jooho thought anxiously as he picked up the phone on the nightstand.
Thankfully, it was Jung Ho.
“Hey, Ho!”
He deliberately raised his voice so it could be heard even from inside the bathroom.
[Ugh, so noisy. Why are you yelling like that, hyung?]
“Just happy to hear from you.”
[What are you talking about? Have you eaten something bad? Must be all that living the rich life, making you weird.]
“Of course, I’m doing great here. Haha.”
Turning slightly to look back, he saw Yoon Jooho leaning against the bathroom doorframe, watching him with a bored expression while lazily brushing his teeth.
[Sounds like Jooho hyung is monitoring you, huh?] Jung Ho chuckled knowingly before his tone suddenly shifted.
[Actually, that’s not the problem. Hyung, I’m going to be a manager.]
“Have you made up your mind?”
Song Hyunsoo’s face brightened at the good news.
[Well, honestly, I was more than half-decided that day already. I kept worrying about the shop. But yesterday, when I brought it up casually, do you know what the manager said?]
Apparently, the manager—who everyone expected to try and stop him—didn’t even ask why and just readily agreed, which upset Jung Ho.
He vented his frustration for a while since he never liked the manager in the first place. Meanwhile, Yoon Jooho, who had been leaning in the doorway, quietly disappeared inside the bathroom.
[Anyway, I’ve decided to invest my youth in Look Planning. Honestly, I like supporting others, so I guess being a manager suits me, just like Jooho hyung said.]
“That’s great. Working together will be fun.”
“Right? It’ll be fun, won’t it?”
The anger Jung Ho had felt about the manager seemed to have vanished, replaced by excited anticipation in his voice.
“I’ll let the senior know.”
[For now, I’ll work at the bar until I find someone to replace me. Tell him that too.]
“Okay.”
Ending the call, Song Hyunsoo wiped his mouth with a towel and met Yoon Jooho’s eyes again as he stepped out of the bathroom.
“That was Jung Ho.”
“Then why do you answer so cautiously? Like you’re taking a call from someone you’re cheating with.”
“Well, every time I get a call, your mood suddenly bottoms out.”
“Cautious? Me? Never. Oh, Jung Ho said he’s going to be a manager!”
“That’s good news.”
I thought you’d be happier since you worked so hard to persuade him. But he just seemed like he expected Jung Ho to accept it all along.
“I told the shop, and the manager was really mad he didn’t try to stop him. Said he was worried about the shop, but like you said, he didn’t have to consider the shop’s position.”
No matter who contacted Song Hyunsoo, it was always the usual suspects—Grandmother, Grandfather, Jung Ho, Chaeyoung, Jung Jin, Director Bang, occasionally Seo Hae who sent check-in messages, and Yoon Jooho. There was no one Jooho had to be wary of.
Still, for his sake, Song Hyunsoo never hid any calls or messages and always whispered every detail to him, just like now.
Looking down at Song Hyunsoo’s lips as he recounted the call, Yoon Jooho took the towel he was holding and wiped the water from the corner of his mouth. Apparently, there was still some moisture left.
“Jin, what time did he say he’d be back?”
“Around five. He said he’d call before leaving.”
“Don’t go to the gym—how about we organize the stuff together?”
“It won’t take long. I’m okay doing it alone. You don’t like skipping workouts, right?”
“Sometimes it’s okay.”
“Do you want to spend time with me that badly?”
Yoon Jooho draped the towel he had been using to wipe Song Hyunsoo’s mouth over his neck, grabbed the ends of the long cloth, and gave it a tug.
Song Hyunsoo’s body was pulled close until their lips were almost touching.
Expecting some romantic reply, Song Hyunsoo looked up intently, but Jooho suddenly changed the subject.
“Or we can organize the stuff later and go shopping today.”
“If you need anything, I’ll come with you.”
“No, your stuff. We have to get some things ready before the shoot. The seaside night shooting is cold even until April. We need a few paddings, Ugg boots, and some winter gear.”
Squinting slightly as he looked up at the ceiling, he rattled off a list of items. Suddenly brimming with enthusiasm, he grabbed Song Hyunsoo’s hand and pulled him out of the room.
Going downstairs, the two followed their usual routine and stopped by Monroe’s Room first.
While Yoon Jooho emptied the automatic trash can and caught the little one scampering around to check its weight, Song Hyunsoo prepared fresh water and food by the drinking fountain.
They had gotten up a bit late today, so Monroe had already finished eating from the automatic feeder. Song Hyunsoo shook the plastic container of snacks apologetically.
“Sorry, we overslept a bit. Tomorrow, I’ll make sure to feed you on time, okay?”
Monroe approached and jumped up against his calf.
“See? I told you he likes these slippers.”
“He’s probably just excited about the snacks.”
Yoon Jooho laughed softly as he washed his hands and returned to the room.
“No, really. Look at this.”
Setting the snacks on the shelf, Song Hyunsoo backed away slowly. Monroe glanced up at the treats with longing eyes, flattened himself on the floor, and then suddenly lunged toward the slippers.
If Song Hyunsoo ran, Monroe chased after him. After a few rounds of this game of tag, Song Hyunsoo finally gave in and offered his foot.
Monroe grabbed one of the long ears of the slipper with his front paw, sprawled out, flipped over, and started chewing it vigorously.
“Looks like our guard’s completely down now, right?”
“That’d be bad if he was still like this.”
“But why hasn’t he come out of the room yet?”
“He’ll come out when he’s ready.”
While tidying up the toys Monroe had scattered overnight, Yoon Jooho tossed a blue ball into the toy box and picked up the snack container on the shelf. Monroe immediately perked up.
“Give it here. I’m supposed to give the snacks today.”
“When?”
“Yesterday you gave them. Only the person who gives the snacks gets liked. Hurry up and hand it over.”
Monroe lunged for the container, but Yoon Jooho pulled his arm back just in time and stepped away. They had to play a chasing game around the open room.
With a playful smirk, Song Hyunsoo suddenly charged at Yoon Jooho, grabbed his waist, and began biting the bare skin revealed between his open gown, tickling him.
Only then did Jooho burst out laughing and hand over the snacks.
“Why tease me if you’re going to give it anyway?”
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Song Hyunsoo sat down heavily on the floor, panting.
“I was playing with you, just like you play with him.”
Yoon Jooho sat down beside him and nodded toward Monroe.
“Am I Monroe now?”
Ignoring Jooho’s continual giggles, Song Hyunsoo started feeding the impatient Monroe, who had been waiting for so long.
The little one buried his head in the freeze-dried cube-shaped treats and greedily devoured them.
At this time, petting him as much as they wanted was allowed.
“Your beauty just keeps shining, Marilyn Monroe. You could be a celebrity.”
Watching Song Hyunsoo shower Monroe with praise as if the little one could hear, Yoon Jooho commented with a hint of wonder.
“You really like him that much?”
“Then don’t you like him?”
“I’m different from you. You like everything—me, Sang-ho hyung, Seo Hae hyung, Jung Ho, even the restaurant owner.”
Yoon Jooho’s hand moved from the floor behind his back to Song Hyunsoo’s nape and began massaging gently, causing his shoulders to tense.
“You just don’t know. When I’m cold, I’m really cold.”
“With someone you like, you’re blind. So obvious.”
“But since there aren’t many I like, it’s okay.”
Jooho pressed his chin firmly against Song Hyunsoo’s shoulder. His nose rubbed back and forth beneath the cheek.
“Where do I rank?”
His voice a whisper.
The hand massaging the back of his neck tugged Song Hyunsoo’s head to look at him. Then, with a slightly colder tongue than usual, he licked his lips.
“We agreed not to do this kind of thing in Monroe’s Room.”
“I never agreed.”
Song Hyunsoo tried pushing him away with his elbow, but Jooho was stubborn.
Turning his face to avoid the lips only made the kisses trail along his jawline and skin, moving to his ear, heating his body all the more.
“Tell me. Where do I rank?”
Not just lips this time—his hand slipped under the T-shirt. As Song Hyunsoo struggled to pull it away, his body gradually tilted backward.
“Hy, hyung… you won’t even say I’m your first.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.