He stood still for a moment, as if frozen, then began moving.
He unpacked the things he had bought and unwrapped a new toothbrush.
After placing it next to the razor in the bathroom, he checked the towels.
Unlike the ones at Kwon Taehee’s place, they felt stiff and uncomfortable.
Even such small things… truly, everything started to bother him.
His hand, touching the coarse fabric, dropped weakly.
“Ha…”
Things that once felt ordinary no longer did.
He rubbed his tired eyes, dry from lack of sleep, and turned on the faucet.
While he was checking the water temperature and pressure, Kwon Taehee returned.
He stared quietly at Seo Jeongwon, who stood under the running water with a blank expression.
“I was just checking if the warm water was working well. I usually turn off the boiler in summer and use only cold water.”
“Ah.”
“You have to run it a little before it gets warm. I didn’t want you to end up washing with cold water thinking there was no hot water.”
***
Seo Jeongwon wiped his wet hands on his clothes and stepped out of the bathroom.
His eyes naturally fell on what Kwon Taehee was holding.
“I thought I might be coming here often.”
He lightly shook a spare suitcase and entered the wardrobe.
After confirming that his jacket was hung neatly, he made some space in the closet.
By the time Seo Jeongwon came in to help, all his clothes had already been arranged.
Kwon Taehee examined his sparse wardrobe with a thoughtful expression.
His only winter outerwear was the same coat he had seen in spring and a worn-out long padded jacket.
Most of his clothes were jeans, sweatshirts, and hoodies—all clearly showing signs of wear.
Seo Jeongwon, feeling oddly embarrassed, approached and grabbed his arm while he touched his clothes one by one.
“W-what is this?”
He asked while trying to pull him away gently.
With a curious look, Kwon Taehee handed over what he was holding.
Seo Jeongwon carefully looked inside the small shopping bag he gave him.
It contained several boxes, big and small.
“Watches, tie pins, cufflinks.”
“Oh…”
Hearing the explanation, he quickly placed the bag on top of the dresser.
It seemed like too many things just for one day.
Maybe he wanted to pick what matched best in the morning.
That was his simple thought.
Meanwhile, Kwon Taehee, now changed into loungewear from Seo Jeongwon’s room, asked if he could use the shower first.
“Yes, go ahead.”
Even though it was just a simple request to use the shower, Seo Jeongwon swallowed dryly.
A subtle tension filled the air.
He nodded while avoiding his gaze.
“But Jeongwon.”
“Yes?”
“Will your hand be okay with water?”
Seo Jeongwon didn’t immediately answer, as if uncertain.
He had a waterproof bandage on, so it should be fine… but then again, even a small cut can sting badly with water.
His thoughts were torn between “it’ll be okay” and “maybe not.”
“Then what should we…”
“Would you be able to help me? I happened to hurt my right hand.”
There was a sense of frustration and regret in Kwon Taehee’s gaze as he looked at his hand.
His sincere expression made it hard for him to say no.
“If it’s not too uncomfortable for you. The bathroom’s a little… cramped.”
“That’s fine.”
Kwon Taehee began undressing neatly.
Surprised, Seo Jeongwon tried to stop him.
“Why are you taking off your clothes all of a sudden?”
“You said you’d help me wash.”
“Yes, but… why are you…”
“How else am I supposed to shower with my clothes on?”
Seo Jeongwon had just intended to help a little—maybe with shampoo or something.
His face turned bright red.
When he awkwardly refused, saying it might be too much, Kwon Taehee’s expression dimmed.
“What’s the problem? Why is your face so red? What are you even imagining? Is it because you’re young and full of energy? Does everything have to turn into… that?”
Though his words sounded like teasing, Seo Jeongwon wasn’t very good at picking up on such nuances, making the mood unintentionally tense.
Kwon Taehee tried to hide his laughter.
If he kept pushing, he might end up not helping.
“It’s not like that! Really, it’s not! I wasn’t thinking anything like that!”
He waved his hands firmly, but his face was too red to be convincing, and his wide eyes trembled with emotion.
His transparent reactions were fascinating to someone like Kwon Taehee, who was used to concealing his feelings.
“Then why is helping so hard?”
“I’ve… I’ve never done it before.”
“But you’ve washed your own body before, haven’t you?”
“Yes, but… your body is just… very different from mine.”
His blush spread to his neck.
Their nonsensical exchange continued by the bathroom door, and in the end, Seo Jeongwon got swept into it.
The more he listened to him, the more his own reactions felt silly.
After all, their bodies weren’t all that different. Well, maybe a little.
“Now that you mention it, I guess I was just being weird.”
“Take off your clothes. You’ll just get them wet. Since you’re already here, we might as well just shower together and be done.”
Smiling gently, Kwon Taehee finished undressing and entered the bathroom first.
Seo Jeongwon stopped questioning whether this was right or not.
Every time he hesitated to help, he felt like it made him seem like someone whose mind was fixated on something inappropriate.
Although he walked into the bathroom by himself, he came out leaning against Kwon Taehee.
He had initially been concerned about water getting into his injured finger, but once the shower sponge touched his skin, everything else faded.
The waterproof bandage, once stuck firmly to his hand, had fallen off without anyone realizing.
His plan to set out a new blanket and lay a pad on the floor had faded completely from his mind.
The next thing he knew, he was on the bed, only half-dried.
Kwon Taehee naturally leaned over him, gently making contact.
He coaxed and guided him patiently, easing any resistance as their rhythm slowly aligned.
“Don’t tense up.”
He tried to push him back gently.
Seeing the pain flicker in his eyes, he responded with quiet reassurances and soft kisses.
Though there was initial awkwardness, things became easier with time.
Kwon Taehee moved with careful attention, ensuring nothing felt rushed.
He leaned closer, wanting to see Seo Jeongwon’s flushed and trembling expression up close.
“Even now… tell me if it still hurts.”
“Mm… ha. No… I don’t think so. It’s just…”
The small, narrow bed had been used by Seo Jeong-won since childhood, and its springs were worn out.
Every time Kwon Tae-hee shifted, a squeaky, unpleasant sound came from the mattress.
It was so soft that it felt like the body might sink deep into it.
“Ah…”
“Stick out your tongue.”
Kwon Tae-hee, speaking with determination, gave the instruction.
Seo Jeong-won, trembling and on the verge of tears, barely managed to comply.
The soft rustling of springs and the rhythm of movement filled the space.
It made everything feel distant and dreamlike.
The sound of lips meeting and the warm, tender actions made Jeong-won’s vision blur slightly, his face flushed.
Their bodies moved closely together, and the overwhelming mixture of sensation left a tingling in his stomach.
His body bent slightly, reacting to Tae-hee’s increasingly intense movements.
Jeong-won couldn’t even cry out — his mouth was covered, and he was overwhelmed beneath Tae-hee.
Sparks of light seemed to burst before his eyes.
Like being hit by a jolt of electricity, his mind went blank and his body trembled from the intensity.
The rising sensation felt like water filling a cup to the brim.
“Haa… ah.”
“No… stop. Please, I don’t… want this—!”
Every motion felt deeper and stronger.
His toes curled involuntarily from the overwhelming sensations that ran through his body.
Tilting his chin up, he bit his lip tightly.
Without even a groan escaping, Jeong-won shivered, helpless.
Tae-hee, noticing the peak of the moment, moved as if driven by something deeper.
The sensations were too much.
Jeong-won silently pleaded, feeling like he might fall apart.
The intense pleasure made him cry, afraid of how it seemed to melt his thoughts.
Though Tae-hee comforted him gently, he didn’t stop — instead, he moved with more fervor than before.
Jeong-won gripped the sheet tightly with his damp hands.
His body responded on its own, and the closeness between them left no space untouched.
Tae-hee smiled slightly, thinking Jeong-won looked adorable.
This time, he didn’t forget the pheromone spray.
Holding Jeong-won’s trembling body close, he moved with care but also with a kind of longing, only stopping after a long while.