Just the brush of lips, but the scent was so fragrant and sweet that his eyelids closed softly. There was no will to resist.
A hand with a slightly lower body temperature swept and rubbed the back of his neck.
Lips brushed over his lips teasingly before pressing gently. The tip of a tongue flicked between his upper and lower lips, as if wanting to enter.
Song Hyunsoo unconsciously twisted his jaw and parted his lips.
“Mm…”
The feeling of his tongue pushing into his mouth was always new.
A low moan escaped from deep within his throat as the tongue filled his mouth, scratched the roof, and traced the inside of his cheek, tickling him.
“Shall we go to the bed?”
At that whisper, Song Hyunsoo barely held onto his sanity.
Yoon Jooho rubbed the back of Song Hyunsoo’s neck and rubbed his nose against his temple, then nodded toward Munro’s Room.
“We never did it that day I brought that guy here. We have to keep the promise.”
Munro, who had been playing energetically on the cat tower, was now gnawing on a Carrot Doll inside the spaceship at the top.
If the Carrot Doll had been alive, it would have been covered in scratches by now. Even though Munro was just playing.
Yoon Jooho’s lips touched Song Hyunsoo’s temple as he looked at Munro. The lips moved to his ear and softly enveloped the tender ear rim, lightly biting with his teeth. Just like how Munro treated the Carrot Doll.
Following the hand that started at the back of his neck and traced down over his back above his T-shirt, Song Hyunsoo’s sensitivity awoke. He wasn’t usually that sensitive on his back either. Just because it was Yoon Jooho.
He was just pretending not to notice, trying to pass it off as if nothing had happened.
How could lips so sweet accompany such cruel pain at the same time? Life’s hardships really do come in all forms.
Yoon Jooho’s hand slipped under Song Hyunsoo’s T-shirt at his lower back, and his lips descended on his neck, about to kiss deeply.
Song Hyunsoo pushed that hand away and turned his head to avoid those lips. Yoon Jooho would never know how much restraint that took.
“I have to go.”
“Now?”
Frowning, Yoon Jooho raised the pitch of his voice. His expression looked like he’d just heard something unbelievable.
You want to leave now? Even though I’m openly tempting you like this?
“I have an appointment.”
Tapping the knuckles on his knee, Song Hyunsoo stared intently at that hand. He avoided eye contact, fearing he might succumb to temptation.
“What appointment?”
“I’m going to look at a new place.”
“A new place?”
“The landlord of my rooftop room is raising the rent and deposit. So, I’m planning to move out.”
“Is it an appointment you can’t cancel?”
“……”
He couldn’t help but look at Yoon Jooho.
Why was he speaking as if desperate? Anyone could tell he was trying to make him stay.
No, don’t be fooled by those eyes. If he just pretended to be a little disappointed, he’d be sure Song Hyunsoo would throw away his promise with Jung Ho and choose him instead.
When Song Hyunsoo seemed hesitant, Yoon Jooho seized the opportunity and touched him again immediately.
Draping his wrist over Song Hyunsoo’s shoulder, his fingers brushed his cheek.
“Are you still mad because I fell asleep first that day?”
“Stop it.”
He turned his head away, but Yoon Jooho quickly followed, grabbed his chin, and made him look back.
“I thought you said you wanted it too. Not anymore?”
He was the one who got rejected after confessing, and it was him who hadn’t seen the person he liked for days.
Yet, Yoon Jooho’s eyes looked even more unsettled, as if making it impossible to be angry.
“I do want it.”
“But.”
“You know I want more than that now, don’t you, senior?”
“……”
That silence was his second answer. Song Hyunsoo pushed away the arm holding his chin and stood up.
“Move aside. I have to go.”
“How much are they asking for the increase?”
“……”
“Deposit, rent.”
“Do I really have to tell you all that?”
“I’m your representative now.”
Sighing as he recalled the contract terms, Song Hyunsoo answered reluctantly.
“Ten million won for the deposit, and a hundred thousand won for the rent.”
A crack appeared on Yoon Jooho’s forehead. It seemed he couldn’t understand why Song Hyunsoo had to move from a ‘house no better than a cat’s room’ to somewhere even worse over that much money.
Though he didn’t say it aloud, his strangely contorted face spoke volumes.
“Who are you going with?”
“What?”
“You said you promised to go look at the house. Aren’t you going with someone?”
“With Jung Ho.”
“Jung Ho?”
“He’s the guy I work part-time with in Daehakro. He does my hair and picks out my clothes…”
“You two close?”
“Yeah.”
“Is he handsome?”
“Why, are you going to put Jung Ho into acting classes?”
“Just asking if he’s handsome.”
“He’s neat and well-dressed… looks manly.”
Pulling his phone out of the jumper pocket he’d tossed on the sofa, Song Hyunsoo checked the time. If he wanted to take a bus to Wangsimni now, it was really time to leave.
“I’ll go.”
Putting on his jumper and grabbing his bag, he turned around, and Yoon Jooho was already heading toward the door, as if he’d just gotten up.
“I’ll take you.”
“No need. Why should you?”
They had rejected each other’s confessions; why would he?
“As your agency representative, I’m offering transportation. Is that a problem?”
■
Going down to the underground parking lot, Yoon Jooho opened his garage shutter with the remote.
Then, grabbing Song Hyunsoo’s jumper sleeve and practically dragging him, he released him in front of the Porsche’s passenger seat.
“Get in.”
Even after opening the passenger door for him, Song Hyunsoo stood sullenly. Yoon Jooho sighed as if restraining his temper, then placed his palm on Song Hyunsoo’s crown and pushed him into the car.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Song Hyunsoo glared at Yoon Jooho as he walked around the hood to the driver’s seat.
Does he think I can’t run away and have to do whatever he says?
Because the guy I’m into is a criminal. And since I won’t see him starting tomorrow, I’m holding it in. Okay?
Even after Yoon Jooho sat in the driver’s seat, Song Hyunsoo’s gaze ignored him, fixed instead on the center screen.
The home screen was divided into date and time, navigation, car status info, and even showed the last played song.
“This is the song I played when we went to Myeonghaeri.”
“Is that so?”
As they drove out of the parking lot’s circular driveway, Yoon Jooho feigned ignorance casually. Wow, acting skills. A born actor, truly.
But denying it was useless. It was clear he hadn’t known the song back then, and since he’d heard it again in another car later, it was certain he had looked it up on purpose.
That small fact made him feel a little better.
Just knowing he deliberately listened to the song we heard together in this car. It made Song Hyunsoo think he could forgive the earlier kiss. He didn’t even dislike the kiss itself.
Song Hyunsoo played the song.
As soon as the car left the parking lot, a scream-like cheer erupted. Fans must have been waiting nearby the mansion. Song Hyunsoo looked back.
Just seeing Yoon Jooho’s car made them cover their mouths and jump up and down. They hugged each other, and some even collapsed to the ground.
Coming all the way to the house was an invasion of privacy no matter the reason, and stalker fans weren’t really fans.
Yet sitting in the passenger seat of Yoon Jooho’s car, passing by them, Song Hyunsoo strangely felt guilty.
For someone, this very moment must be a dream they long for. Even if they weren’t Yoon Jooho’s lover.
He glanced at Yoon Jooho, who showed no reaction, just focused on the road ahead.
Song Hyunsoo turned up the music volume a little.
Resting his elbow on the window and propping his chin on his hand, he looked outside.
The lyrics of the song he had been half-listening to suddenly stuck in his ears. A story about being tossed around helplessly by the one you like. A familiar story he’d heard many times.
No wonder people in love. Hearing song lyrics that sounded just like his own story. He smiled wryly at how embarrassingly typical it was.
Turning his head, he stared intently at Yoon Jooho, the cause of it all.
His profile focused solely on driving was flawless. Maybe that’s why he wanted to shake him so much. To make even the smallest crack, to throw a stone.
“Why did you kiss me earlier?”
“I said it was a gift. I was giving you what I promised.”
“Then why did you give me that expensive padding?”
“It’s not expensive to me.”
“Why did you give me strawberries every time I went to practice?”
“As you know, I’m a generous employer.”
Damn. A man who has an answer for every question.
The car passed the bus stop in front of the Resident Center where Song Hyunsoo usually got off. Turning right toward the Department Store, Yoon Jooho asked a question this time.
“Then why did you come to my place on my birthday and kiss me and roll around?”
“……”
“Same reason. I wanted to, and I thought you did too, so I made a move. Was I wrong?”
“I’m right… but also wrong.”
“You know it makes no sense, don’t you?”
“Do you really think what you did was reasonable?”