“You want me to wash up?”

“Yeah.”

“How heartless.”

“I’ll make you a hangover soup tomorrow.”

Yeon Woojeong grinned, playfully narrowing his eyes, before gently touching my cheek and heading into the bathroom. I retrieved his underwear and clothes from the closet, placed them outside the bathroom door, and then returned to my room.

The drowsiness had dissipated completely at some point. After lying down on the bed on my stomach, I resumed the book I had left aside. I flipped through the pages, lightly tapping my toes on the bed. As I read for a while, Yeon Woojeong entered the room. He had taken an unusually long shower today, and when he got by my side, some scent came from him. I moved aside so that Yeon Woojeong could lie down beside me. He then lay down facing down next to me.

“Is it fun?”

“Yes.”

“Which part?”

“Well, I’m just curious about the end.”

“It must be bad then.”

“Mmm, the foreign names confuse me.”

I mentioned the name of the character that confused me the most and turned to the next page. However, Yeon Woojeong’s hand rested on my ass. I initially ignored it, but the way he touched me bothered me, so I removed his hand. Not long after, however, his hand came back. Despite pushing it away once more, Yeon Woojeong’s hand continued to reappear persistently.

I couldn’t concentrate on the story. After a moment’s contemplation, I asked him.

“Do you want to do it?”

“No?”

“…”

I asked not because I wanted to do it either, but it annoyed me to hear him say no. When I closed the book and turned my head, he was looking at me with a smiling face.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Just because.”

After setting the book aside, I lay on my side. He also followed me to lie down facing me. I reached out my hand and played with Yeon Woojeong’s ear. While I fiddled with his soft hair and his soft earlobe, he scanned my face with a soft expression.

“Mr. Yeon.”

“Mhm.”

“Should I apply for a lot of vacations?”

“But you’ll get a longer duty period instead.”

Yeon Woojeong furrowed his brows and then pinched my cheek. It wasn’t painful, but I mirrored his frown.

“Kim Jiho.”

He called my name before staring intently at me. He called my full name with a low and somewhat cold voice. Moreover, his expression was serious without any hint of playfulness, so I lowered my gaze, feeling frustrated yet knowing what he was trying to say.

“I got you.”

He was certainly telling me to not worry about him. I know it well. Even in my absence, Yeon Woojeong would manage well. I stared at the threads sticking out of the plain blanket, and he suddenly kissed me on the lips. When I looked up, I met his eyes, which were filled with a gleam of laughter.

“A kiss after a punch?”

A question that came out unintentionally sharp made Yeon Woojeong open his eyes wide.

“When did I give you a punch?”

“…”

“Jiho.”

I blocked his mouth with the back of my hand, which then led him to squint his eyes playfully and lick my fingers. I immediately withdrew my hand, and he shamelessly waggled his eyebrows.

Taking his hand, I guided it under my face, pressing it down. He moved his thumb, which wasn’t pressed down, and poked my lips. When I shook my head, his finger quietly slid down.

“Jiho.”

“Hmm.”

“I’ll tell you again when it’s time for you to leave, but all you need to do is return safely.”

“… Hmm.”

“For me, what would you like me to do?”

A few answers were ready to come out at his question, but they scattered off. It took me a few moments before answering him since I needed to pick out the most important ones among them.

“I want you to eat and sleep well.”

“And?”

“And…”

As I maintained eye contact with his determined gaze, the jumble in my mind dissipated. What was I worrying about? The time apart from Yeon Woojeong. But that time would eventually end, and upon my return, Yeon Woojeong would surely await me with this same expression. He might or might not fare well during our separation, but he undoubtedly knew I wouldn’t be gone forever.

I shook my head. Feeling that more words would be meaningless, I pulled him into my arms. Yeon Woojeong was a strange and amazing person. We only had a short conversation, but I felt everything would be okay. When I realized it, the vague worries I didn’t know had taken up place in my mind, had already begun to fade.

“Mr. Yeon.”

“Mhm.”

“I ate pizza today.”

“With whom?”

“Ham Yoonah and Yoon Suyoung.”

“It’s been a while since you met them. Was it good?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good.”

Yeon Woojeong lifted his hand and played with my earlobe. Letting him play with my ear to his fullest, I asked him.

“Are you sober now?”

“I wasn’t even drunk in the first place.”

“But you drank too much anyway.”

“Hmm, I drank moderately, and later, I only pretended to drink.”

“Did that work?”

“I should make it work.”

He laughed and leaned his head on my chest. I chuckled as I pictured Yeon Woojeong pretending to drink the alcohol. Yeon Woojeong’s fingers slid to the corner of my lips.

“I’m tired.”

“Sleep.”

“Are you not sleeping? Your eyes are wide awake.”

“I slept a bit earlier.”

“Then I’ll fall asleep first today.”

Yeon Woojeong closed his eyes as he said that. I observed him for a moment, then switched off the light and returned to bed. He snuggled into my arms. I hugged him back after pulling the blanket up to his neck. Yeon Woojeong’s body was warmer than usual. I touched his forehead and nape, ensuring he didn’t have a fever, before closing my eyes.