Seo Hae’s bar was just the same as ever.
It hadn’t really changed since the first time Song Hyunsoo followed Yoon Jooho here.
So every time he descended the narrow staircase into the basement, Song Hyunsoo would recall his feelings from back then and smile quietly to himself.
The day Yoon Jooho had asked him to go for a second round, just the two of them.
The thrill of feeling like he’d been invited into Yoon Jooho’s secret world.
He followed Yoon Jooho, who was opening the thick iron door to the basement.
Every time he saw it, the grandeur of the massive Gin Tower modeled after Singapore’s famous Atlas Bar was still impressive.
Inside, Seo Hae was wiping down glasses at his own section of the bar.
“Hyung, we’re here.”
“Oh, Hyunsoo, come on in! How long has it been since I last saw you?”
Somewhere along the way, Seo Hae had dropped the ‘Mr. Hyunsoo’ and started speaking more casually to him.
“You’ve been well?”
“I’m always the same.”
“Always the same and always dynamic, right?”
For Yoon Jooho, this was a kind of greeting. As Yoon Jooho perched on a stool, Seo Hae shot him a glance and then offered a seat to Song Hyunsoo as well.
“What do you two even do at home all the time?”
“We’re learning this and that, so we’re actually pretty busy.”
“Ever since you two got together, you never show your faces around here.”
“Haha… it’s not that…”
Song Hyunsoo scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, and Yoon Jooho tugged his arm down.
“No need to make excuses. Did you commit a crime?”
Seo Hae stared at Yoon Jooho, unable to close his mouth. He looked speechless.
“Who even are you? Hyunsoo, who are you dating? No matter how I look at it, this can’t be Yoon Jooho.”
“How about you just take our order?”
When Yoon Jooho impatiently tapped on the bar, urging him on, Seo Hae nodded.
“So it is Yoon Jooho.”
“He’ll have a Kiss of Fire, and I’ll take a Cuba Libre—without the rum.”
“What do you mean, a Cuba Libre without rum? That’s just Coke with lime.”
“I brought the car. I don’t want to call for a driver.”
Listening to the two, Song Hyunsoo chimed in.
“Hyung, I just want to have some whisky.”
“Let’s get you something with a lower ABV.”
“Still…”
“Listen to him. If you get a hangover, a long flight will be tough.”
“I can handle my drinks. You know that.”
“You’ll be photographed at the airport, so you should look nice.”
“Hmm… fine, then.”
When Song Hyunsoo turned forward with a face of acceptance, Seo Hae was making a face that said he didn’t understand at all.
As if he’d just witnessed something horrifying, his expression was twisted.
What’s with him? It’s not like we just did anything couple-y…
Watching Song Hyunsoo’s confused face, Seo Hae pressed his temples and shook his head before starting to make the cocktails.
He first brought over some macadamia nuts and water for them, then, as he rubbed a lemon around the rim of the glass for the Kiss of Fire, he glanced their way.
“So, newlywed life must be pretty fun, huh?”
“Don’t ask if you already know.”
Yoon Jooho crushed the shell of a macadamia in his hand and tossed it into his mouth, answering bluntly.
“It’s been almost half a year, and you’re still enjoying it?”
“They say you’re newlyweds until you have kids.”
“So are you showing off that you two will be newlyweds forever, right in front of me?”
“Yeah.”
“If it weren’t for your bar tab, you’d be banned for life.”
Seo Hae wiped his hands on a dry cloth and reached out, gently lifting Song Hyunsoo’s chin.
He looked him over and clicked his tongue.
“You look exhausted, just at a glance.”
“……”
“You must be suffering from that bastard’s libido night and day.”
Yoon Jooho, chewing on his macadamia, slapped Seo Hae’s wrist away. The message was clear: don’t touch.
For a moment, Seo Hae’s eyes sparkled. He looked like he’d found a fun new toy.
“Hyunsoo, did I ever tell you?”
“About what?”
“When I heard you were staying at my place, that jerk barged in and made a scene.”
Yoon Jooho frowned.
“You plan to milk that forever, huh?”
“Yoon Jooho, without a shred of dignity, ran after the guy who dumped him and whined to his roommate. Of course, it’s worth teasing him about.”
“Who said I was whining?”
“You couldn’t even say anything to Hyunsoo himself, so you took it out on innocent me… that’s what I call whining.”
Yoon Jooho turned to Song Hyunsoo, who sat beside him.
“Now you know why I hate coming here, right?”
Then, as if amused, he popped a few more macadamia nuts into Song Hyunsoo’s mouth.
“Sorry about back then, hyung.”
“I was more than a little sacrificed in your lovers’ quarrel.”
Like a seasoned bartender, Seo Hae finished two cocktails almost at once and set them on coasters.
“Here you go: your Kiss of Fire. And the Cuba Libre, without rum.”
Song Hyunsoo peered with admiration into the ruby-colored drink in the triangular glass.
“Hyung, the Kiss of Fire you make always looks so beautiful.”
“Our Hyunsoo has such a sweet way with words. Unlike someone else.”
As Yoon Jooho sipped on his Coke with lime, he suddenly cut in.
“Why is he ‘our Hyunsoo’? He’s mine.”
“Hyunsoo, doesn’t it seriously annoy you when he acts like that?”
Seo Hae shuddered, but Song Hyunsoo just smiled. By now, he understood that this was just how Yoon Jooho and Seo Hae played around with each other.
Yoon Jooho, having already finished half his drink, set his glass down and urged Seo Hae.
“You said you had something for us. Hand it over already. We have to leave after this.”
“Why do you always have to say things in such a killjoy way? If you don’t fix that habit, Hyunsoo will dump you again.”
“I don’t talk to him like that.”
“You’re insufferable.”
“So, what is it? Did you call us here for nothing?”
“I liked you better when you were mopey after Hyunsoo dumped you. Now that you’re full of yourself, I can barely stand you.”
Grumbling, Seo Hae disappeared behind the inner curtain and returned with a Shopping Bag.
It was a suspicious-looking black Shopping Bag, with no logo or lettering at all. Passing it over the bar, Seo Hae wore a face full of anticipation.
“It’s your first trip together. Kind of like a honeymoon, you know. For some extra energy.”
Song Hyunsoo accepted the Shopping Bag and peeked inside. Out came a neatly wrapped box.
“Can I open it?”
“Of course.”
There were several items in the box.
Racy underwear, Pink Faux Fur Handcuffs, a Pink Ribbon Blindfold, and a Pink Feather Stick… Not quite hardcore SM gear, but just the sort of playful toys that ordinary couples might try for a fun event.
“Hyung, this is…”
Song Hyunsoo picked up a jockstrap, which would clearly expose his backside.
Yoon Jooho, who had been watching with feigned indifference until now, grinned and came closer, intrigued.
“If you whip that out on your honeymoon, you’ll end up with a honeymoon divorce.”
“You two only call it a honeymoon. You’ve already done everything anyway.”
Yoon Jooho picked up the silly pink feather stick and swept it back and forth across Song Hyunsoo’s chest.
“Want to try it out tonight?”
Song Hyunsoo recoiled, snatching the stick away and shoving it back in the box.
Yoon Jooho shook his broad shoulders, chuckling.
At that moment, Song Hyunsoo’s phone, left on the bar, started to vibrate. The caller was Jin.
Song Hyunsoo glanced quickly at Yoon Jooho, then said confidently,
“It’s Jin. I’ll step outside to take it.”
Yoon Jooho placed his hand firmly over Song Hyunsoo’s and pressed down.
“Just take it here.”
“I’m out of cigarettes. I’ll step outside and take the call while I’m at it.”
It wasn’t because he felt uncomfortable under Yoon Jooho’s gaze—so don’t worry needlessly.
To convey this, Song Hyunsoo deliberately spoke in a brighter tone.
He stood up from the stool, glanced briefly at Seo Hae, and even quickly kissed Yoon Jooho on the cheek, as if to prove his feelings.
Embarrassed by showing affection in front of others, Song Hyunsoo almost ran out, and left alone, Yoon Jooho pressed his lips together to hold back a smile as he stirred his alcohol-free drink with the muddler.
“What did I just witness?”
“Don’t make a fuss. You see this kind of thing every night, don’t you? And worse, even.”
“I’m not talking about Hyunsoo kissing you.”
“……”
“I’m just amazed at how Yoon Jooho melts when his lover gives him a little kiss.”
Instead of denying it, Yoon Jooho pulled out a cigarette and put it between his lips.
Watching in the direction where Song Hyunsoo had disappeared, Seo Hae said with a tone of relief,
“Anyway, Hyunsoo looks much better now.”
Yoon Jooho exhaled the first puff of smoke, transferred the cigarette to his fingers, and frowned.
“Looks better?”
“Heard he was struggling after Crank-Up.”
“Ah…”
Yoon Jooho took a sip of his drink and mumbled, cigarette at his lips,
“Well, that’s because I’m by his side.”