After the meal, Yoon Jooho showed him how to use the dishwasher.
“This much even Bibitan could do, right?”
“I don’t want to hear that from someone who’s never even fried an egg. If you can do it, then of course I can too. Although washing dishes will mostly be your job anyway.”
“Why?”
“Can you cook?”
“Are you seriously calling kimchi pot rice cooking?”
“For someone who can’t even do that, it’s cooking. And if I cook, then washing up is naturally your part.”
Standing side by side in the kitchen, dividing up the chores, a strangely ticklish feeling washed over him.
Like French toast soaked deeply in sweet maple syrup. In other words, they were just like newlyweds…
Even though it was his own thought, Song Hyunsoo barely managed to contain an inner scream. Rubbing the flushed back of his neck, he cleared his throat repeatedly.
After stacking the dishes neatly and starting the dishwasher, Yoon Jooho rummaged through the capsule pods as if preparing to make coffee.
“Can you give me some clothes to change into? I want to wash up.”
“Shower in the master room bathroom and find something to wear yourself. They’re in the dressing room drawers.”
“Me?”
“Why, do you want me to bring them to you?”
“No, no. I’ll find something. You do your thing.”
He glanced at Yoon Jooho’s back as he fitted a capsule into the machine and looked for a mug, then left the kitchen.
The door to the master room, equipped with a door lock, wasn’t just unlocked—it was wide open.
Though he had showered here a few times before, Jooho always prepared clothes for him in advance.
Being told to pick something out himself from the drawers felt like permission to get closer, and even while brushing his teeth and showering, a quiet smile kept creeping onto Song Hyunsoo’s face.
Following Jooho’s example, he wrapped a towel around his lower body and began searching for something to wear.
Finding unopened new underwear was easy. But aside from that, all the clothes were expensive brands with tags still attached. And they looked barely worn.
If they’re just for home, why are these the only clothes here?
He opened another drawer looking for something more comfortable.
Unlike the neatly organized other drawers, the bottom drawer held a box crammed with random things.
What’s this?
Lip gloss, half-used perfume, sunglasses, a worn T-shirt…
Such a jumble of odds and ends. So Jooho was human after all. No matter how tidy someone is, everyone has a box like this where they just toss stuff.
Among the pristine new things in the dressing room, only the contents of that box looked used. The T-shirt mixed in there looked especially shabby.
Song Hyunsoo recognized it too. A few years ago, a famous brand released this hit series. Fake versions flooded online malls.
The original was a T-shirt priced at around 700,000 to 800,000 won. But since it was from years ago, it looked reasonably worn compared to the others.
He tossed it over his head.
Oh, the size fits pretty well.
Then, he pulled on a pair of pajama pants Jooho always gave him. Their height and build weren’t drastically different, but when wearing Jooho’s clothes, the difference in presence was undeniable.
The pajama pants were a bit loose at the waist and long enough to drag on the floor if he didn’t wear slippers.
Stepping out of the dressing room, he saw Yoon Jooho standing with his back to the table by the floor-to-ceiling window, a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Oh? You showered in the guest bathroom? This is my bathroom. You should shower here.”
“If I started from the bathroom, you’d just complain it’s too much work again.”
Eyes fixed on the papers in his hand, Jooho replied indifferently. What was there to start…?
Fueled by the implication of sex, Song Hyunsoo wiped his cheek with the back of his hand and stepped closer to Jooho, who was organizing a script from another project.
“Is ‘showering together’ the only option in your head? I said I could use the guest bathroom, you know?”
Jooho turned his head to respond, but his face instantly lost color.
“What’s that?”
“What?”
Song Hyunsoo noticed something on his face. Seeing Jooho’s expression twist sharply, he instinctively recoiled.
“That T-shirt. Where did you find it?”
“Find it? It was just in the drawer.”
“Take it off.”
“Huh?”
“Take it off.”
“Wh-why all of a sudden?”
Jooho grabbed the hem of the T-shirt and yanked it up forcefully. Startled by the sudden move, Song Hyunsoo didn’t even have time to guess why.
As the shirt slipped off over his head, Jooho clutched it and strode back toward the dressing room.
What’s with that? Did he treasure it that much?
Standing there bewildered, Song Hyunsoo suddenly felt goosebumps rise on his bare upper body.
Lip gloss, half-used perfume, sunglasses, a worn T-shirt…
He covered his mouth with his hand without realizing it.
These were all traces left behind by someone from Jooho’s past. There was no other explanation.
When Jooho returned to the bedroom, he held a new T-shirt.
“Put this on.”
“……”
Song Hyunsoo lowered his gaze and took the shirt. Standing still for a moment, he passed Jooho and walked back into the dressing room.
He laid the new T-shirt on top of the showcase-style drawer filled with accessories and sunglasses, arranged like a boutique display.
Then, he grabbed the corner of the drawer in the center of the room and stood there for a long time.
The blow was so sudden and harsh he couldn’t even fully grasp the shock.
Like someone robbed of purpose, Song Hyunsoo stood around aimlessly before suddenly moving quickly.
He picked up the clothes he had been wearing, not the ones Jooho gave him. Putting on his faded gray T-shirt and cotton pants in order, he pulled on socks. As he reached for the orange padded jacket hanging on a hanger, tears welled up.
When he learned during the script practice part-time job that Jooho had a serious past, it didn’t hit him this hard.
He was surprised that Jooho had experienced desperate love, but it wasn’t a blow. He hadn’t even realized his own feelings yet.
That night when he brought Monroe home, seeing Jooho asleep and crying, apologizing and begging him not to go, hurt him—but not like this.
Before Jooho’s business trip to Paris, they had argued in the car. Even hearing cold, harsh refusals, he thought it was just because Jooho was clumsy in love.
But now, realizing what it means to stay by someone’s side while aware that someone else still lives in their heart, he finally understood how deep that pain was.
It was a past that had already been neatly put away in his heart, yet Jooho, the invincible Yoon Jooho, kept the other person’s belongings?
Wearing the T-shirt left behind by that person and getting so worked up? It was unbelievable.
There was only one reason.
Because it wasn’t over. Because that person was still precious to Jooho.
More than me…
Turning from the hanger with the padded jacket, he caught his reflection in the large full-length mirror.
You idiot. You didn’t even realize it and thought I cared about you, so you just came rolling in here all excited? — Cursing himself silently, he bit down hard to hold back tears.
Dragging the orange padding in one hand, he returned to the bedroom.
Meanwhile, Jooho was sitting with his back against the bed’s headboard, legs stretched out, still wrapped in only a towel around his lower body.
“What’s with that?”
Jooho frowned as he looked at Hyunsoo’s outfit.
“I’m just going to leave today.”
“Why all of a sudden?”
He showed no idea why. Feeling ridiculous for getting worked up alone, a bitter laugh escaped him.
The legendary boyfriend’s first love, only heard about in rumors.
That amazing beauty, a prodigy, from a good family—his boyfriend’s ‘that person’ who lacked nothing.
No matter how passionately they had loved before, the one he loved now was himself. That was his arrogant belief.
But after meeting her in person, he felt utterly miserable.
Even with me by his side, his eyes trembled when she appeared.
Feeling that way, he just lost the mood to mess around with you now.
“I’m just not in the mood.”
Jooho removed his back from the headboard and grabbed Hyunsoo’s wrist.
“I’ll make you feel that way.”
Sliding up his sleeve with tender fingers, Jooho brushed his lips against the inside of Hyunsoo’s wrist. Hyunsoo resisted the pull as Jooho tried to draw him into an embrace.
“Don’t.”
“I know. You pushed yourself too hard yesterday, so I’ll hold back today.”
Jooho stood, wrapping his palm around the back of Hyunsoo’s neck. Pushing away the arm that reached for a kiss, Hyunsoo turned his head.
“I said don’t.”
This time, Jooho’s stubbornness showed. He yanked harder and faster, squeezing Hyunsoo’s neck sharply.
Their lips crushed together so hard they were nearly bruised, and Jooho’s tongue aggressively tried to invade the space.
Pushing against Jooho’s bare chest with all his strength, Hyunsoo broke free.
“Damn it, don’t do this to me!”
Rejected, Jooho turned his head and licked the inside of his cheek with his tongue. Then, cocking his eyes to the side, he glared up at Hyunsoo.
“Then who should I do it to?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know their face or name.”
Glaring back with tear-filled, bloodshot eyes, he spoke.