The two of them arrived at the rocks and took off their robes, each settling into their own spot.
As they moved away from the beach, the sunlight became almost dizzying.
Staring at the shimmering waves right in front of them, it felt as though they might be drawn into an unreal world.
“We’re starting the shoot.”
Song Hyunsoo looked down at Yoon Jooho, who sat in a fishing chair, and at Baek Kang’s bare shoulders.
“Rolling.”
“Speed.”
“Scene number 32, cut 1, take 1.”
“Action.”
Two fishing rods rose and fell gently, casting shadows over the sea.
The midsummer sunlight, hazy enough to steal away all sounds from the world.
Underneath it, Baek Kang sat with his legs stretched out, eyes closed.
Even standing with feet planted on the rocks, it felt like the two of them were floating above the sea, swaying in this strange world.
“Hey, look at this. My muscles got bigger, right?”
Baek Kang squinted at the sound of Lee San’s voice coming from overhead.
Lee San had gotten up from his little fishing chair, flexing his arm and showing off his biceps.
Lee San, who looked up to his older brother.
He hadn’t wanted to become a man like their violent father—he’d grown up wanting to be like his brother.
“Yeah. Our Lee San, you’re all grown up now.”
“Ah, don’t tease, look properly! They really did get bigger. I’m the strongest in my class, you can ask noona. I don’t even pick at my food anymore.”
“Oh wow, is that so? Not picky with your food and all grown up, our little San.”
“So you’re just gonna keep ignoring me, huh?”
Lee San puffed up and retorted provocatively.
“I bet I can swim faster than you now.”
Baek Kang just chuckled, changing his posture and resting his chin in his hand as he gazed out at the sea.
Growing impatient, Lee San clung to Baek Kang’s back, peering over his shoulder.
“Wanna bet who reaches the buoy first?”
“If I win? You gonna cry again?”
Lee San bit Baek Kang’s nonchalant, muscular shoulder.
“Ah, how long are you going to keep bringing that up?”
“It’s not just a story from ages ago. Even last year, you lost at Drunken Sword Style and almost—”
“Are we betting or not?!”
“You sure you’re not gonna complain when you lose?”
Baek Kang glanced at Lee San hanging from his back, then stood up.
“The winner gets one wish granted!”
With a face full of mischief, Lee San shouted and leapt into the water with a splash.
Baek Kang burst out laughing at Lee San’s childish cheat.
He always wanted to show off his muscles and beat his brother, but at heart, he was still the same kid. That comforted Baek Kang.
Drawing a gentle arc, Baek Kang dove into the sea after Lee San.
Stretching out his arms and body, he moved forward in smooth, supple motions.
Up ahead, he saw Lee San’s back.
Grinning, Baek Kang began to paddle in earnest.
The gap between them closed rapidly.
Lee San, glancing back at Baek Kang catching up, wasn’t anxious—he was smiling.
The pleasant feel of the seawater.
To these two, the sea was as familiar as land.
It was a mother, a friend, the safest home.
Maybe, when their feet weren’t on the ground, they felt even more free in the water.
Baek Kang came right up beside Lee San.
By now, the competition was meaningless.
In the embrace of freedom, the two of them moved forward, looking at each other.
They passed the buoy, swam past it, and kept going—heading toward the unknown, the so-called future, which was all the more exciting because they didn’t know what awaited them.
It felt as if, together, they could reach the far side of the sea, all the way to a New World that no one had ever discovered before. As long as they were together.
■
This collar’s all stretched out. Trash.
This one’s… fine, but I don’t think I’ve worn it for a year. Donate.
Sitting on the floor of the dressing room, Song Hyunsoo was sorting through t-shirts from a box, one at a time.
This was already the last box.
“Almost done?”
He looked up at the voice from above.
Yoon Jooho stood at the entrance to the dressing room, hugging Monroe.
“Just a few t-shirts left.”
“Sangho and Jungho left.”
“Huh? Without saying anything?”
“I sent them.”
“Why…”
Song Hyunsoo was about to ask why he sent them off before he could even say goodbye, but the words faded and he pressed his lips together.
The very first day they finally got to live together.
He realized—it was because they wanted to be alone, even a little bit sooner.
Yoon Jooho came over and sat down beside him.
“Even if it’s moving, there isn’t much to do. I told them we’d do a proper housewarming later.”
It was true.
Most of Song Hyunsoo’s stuff was already in the Guest Room on the second floor of this house, and the belongings stored at Seo Hae’s place weren’t much.
No need to call a moving company, of course, and all Jungho and Bang Lee San, who had come to help, ended up doing was playing with Monroe and eating jjambbong.
“It just feels like unpacking after a trip.”
“It’s not a trip, it’s running away from home.”
“Why would I run away from home?”
At his teasing, Yoon Jooho sheepishly rubbed his cropped hair and smiled awkwardly. So he does know he was at fault.
Yoon Jooho reached out and gently held Song Hyunsoo’s hand as he folded the t-shirts.
Then, he handed Monroe, who he’d been holding, over to Song Hyunsoo.
“Don’t run away again. We have a kid now, too.”
Song Hyunsoo petted Monroe with a face full of affection.
“I’ll never run away.”
“Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.”
“Next time, I’ll kick you out.”
“……”
Even at the mention of being kicked out, Yoon Jooho looked pleased. Seeing the barely-suppressed, but not fully-hidden, smile on his face, Song Hyunsoo suddenly felt shy.
Nyaang.
Monroe, having found something interesting, squirmed out of Song Hyunsoo’s arms and scampered off somewhere.
With so many places to hide, the dressing room must’ve seemed like a playground.
As Song Hyunsoo reached for another t-shirt, it wasn’t fabric but Yoon Jooho’s hand that he grabbed.
Sitting beside him, Yoon Jooho hunched over and rested his chin on his hand, weaving his fingers between Song Hyunsoo’s.
“Want to shower together?”
“Ah… um… You go ahead first. I’ll finish up and then wash.”
Yoon Jooho looked up with a mischievous grin. It was the kind of look that suggested he might say, ‘Why? Need to get ready for later?’
But, for once, Song Hyunsoo’s prediction was off.
Yoon Jooho brought their entwined hands to his lips and kissed the back of Song Hyunsoo’s hand, then stood up.
“I’ll use the Guest Bathroom, so you use the Master Room.”
“I-it’s fine. I still have a bit left to—”
As he hurriedly tried to explain, Song Hyunsoo looked up to see an unusual expression on Yoon Jooho’s face.
It was a disappointed look. Ah, did he look like he didn’t want to do it?
Rubbing the back of his neck, which must have turned red, Song Hyunsoo ducked his head and muttered as casually as he could.
“Okay. Go ahead and wash.”
It had been quite a while, so even getting ready wasn’t easy.
It wasn’t because of any cumbersome procedure, but because he was nervous.
The first day of truly living together.
He tried not to put too much weight on it, but he couldn’t help it.
They’d already lived together in this house, showered together in this bathroom, and even had their first time on his bed.
But somehow, this time, it felt different.
“Talking about starting our newlywed life and all… It’s your fault for saying that, sunbae…”
With his right foot propped on the edge of the tub, legs spread, he reached back and slid his fingers inside his own entrance.
He could feel his clean, empty inner walls clenching around his fingers.
Sunbae’s fingers would cling just like this.
Like a mouth sucking on a tongue during a kiss. Greedy, just like this.
“Ugh… Hngh.”
Once he started thinking like that, he couldn’t stand it.
The moment he became aware that he was getting ready for their night together, it felt as if sex had already begun.
In the process of loosening himself up enough, he’d gotten half-hard a couple of times already.
Even he thought he was overly sensitive today. His probing fingers and his arm trembled lightly.
He didn’t remember being like this even the first time he slept with sunbae…