DPGR 117

“Y-Yeah?”

“You seemed curious about it.”

Dojin smiled gently and reached out toward Jiho.

As if it were second nature, he tucked Jiho’s hair behind his ear and continued,

“Dr. Cha said it would be better to approach the guiding issue a little more carefully for now. He suggested we first take time to talk properly, build trust gradually, and increase physical contact step by step.”

“Trust…”

“Of course, there’s already plenty of that.”

He placed a piece of jangjorim on top of Jiho’s rice bowl. Like a habit, Dojin kept looking after Jiho from start to finish.

And Jiho liked being cared for like that by Dojin. The mood that had been sinking moments ago lifted instantly. It felt like he was floating.

He pushed his worries aside and scooped up a big spoonful of rice, just as—

“It’s true we need to talk. I told you I liked you, and you said you liked me too… so I think we should talk about what comes next.”

“Cough!”

Jiho coughed instinctively at the sight of Dojin saying “I like you” in his usual calm and composed tone, as if it were nothing.

How could that guy say “I like you” so easily like that?

Apparently, the embarrassment was Jiho’s burden alone.

It was Jiho’s first time ever hearing someone say they liked him, and it sent chills up his spine and made his whole body itch.

Dojin moved closer to Jiho, who was coughing uncontrollably as if something had gone down the wrong way.

He rubbed Jiho’s trembling back, offered him a glass of water, and helped calm him down.

“You okay?”

“Y-Yeah— cough— I’m okay…”

Jiho barely managed to swallow the food in his mouth and took the cup, draining the water.

The coughing finally subsided, and he could breathe again.

“Phew…”

Next to him, Dojin spoke in a teasing tone, clearly trying to hold back a laugh.

“Is hearing ‘I like you’ really that embarrassing?”

Jiho’s heart, which had only just settled, started pounding again. The sound was so loud even Dojin’s sensitive ears could probably hear it.

Seeing Jiho react so honestly to every single word made Dojin feel overwhelmed with affection. He hugged Jiho tightly.

“H-Hyung?”

“Just for a second.”

He buried his face in the nape of Jiho’s neck, taking a deep breath. Jiho’s scent filled his lungs.

It had a similar effect to being guided, his tension melted away, his expression softened, and even the headache that had been tormenting him seemed to ease.

With his lips still resting against Jiho’s neck, Dojin whispered low,

“I like you.”

“…!”

Jiho stiffened in his arms. Dojin almost burst out laughing from joy.

See? He reacts to everything I do.

He eats what I give him, accepts my touch without resistance, blushes at every word I say.

How could I not love someone like this?

“I like you. Earlier this afternoon, I really wanted to confess properly.”

“H-Hyung…”

“Guide Jiho, can you say how you feel again? You said you liked me too. I want to hear it again.”

“I-It tickles…”

Every time Dojin spoke, his lips brushed against the sensitive skin of Jiho’s neck. Jiho shivered and flinched.

Dojin pressed a loud kiss to that soft skin before pulling his upper body away from Jiho.

Jiho, face flushed red like he was about to explode, floundered helplessly.

He was so embarrassed he couldn’t even meet Dojin’s eyes, hanging his head low.

Seeing this, Dojin gently urged him again.

“I like you, Guide Jiho. I can’t say exactly when it started… but I’ve liked you for a long time. Much longer than you probably think. What about you?”

“I-I-I like you too, hyung…”

Jiho let out a tiny groan and covered his face with both hands. Then he peeked one eye through his fingers and stole a glance at Dojin.

“When I’m with you… I-I’m happy. I like you…”

I like you, hyung.

The feeling behind those words might’ve been different from Dojin’s, but it was enough. His heart swelled like he had the whole world.

He nearly blurted something stupid out of impulse.

‘Should we start dating?’

But somehow, the conscience he thought he’d long discarded still remained. He couldn’t say it.

Jiho’s face, blushing madly from a simple “I like you,” looked so young and innocent.

So the words got stuck in his throat and were swallowed back down.

Now you’re feeling guilty? At this point?

It was absurd. But at the same time, maybe it was a good thing.

Yeah… putting conscience aside…

Confessing in the middle of a meal and suddenly suggesting they start dating, there was no mood for that.

With such a big age gap, he couldn’t let things get sloppy with a lame, half-baked confession.

Even if he had no dating experience either.

Still, this isn’t right.

At the very least, he wanted to confess with a ring, or at least some flowers, and make it romantic.

Right now, he looked like a mess from lack of sleep. He wanted to clean up and offer his hand looking his best.

“Hyung?”

Jiho called out when Dojin opened his mouth as if to say something but then stopped. His hands had dropped from his face, and he was watching Dojin with concern.

Dojin snapped back to his senses and quickly shook his head.

“Um. Should we finish our meal?”

“…All of a sudden?”

Although Dojin’s mind had calmed down after racing through several thoughts in a short span, Jiho, unaware of all that, looked dumbfounded.

He had mustered up the courage to confess because Dojin had kept nudging him to say it, and now he wanted to just go back to eating?

Jiho’s expression soured. Dojin realized his mistake and clamped his mouth shut.

Maybe just blurting out a cheesy “Let’s date” would’ve been more romantic.

Jiho glanced between Dojin’s now-empty bowl and his own, which was still mostly full, then finally spoke.

“I don’t want to eat anymore.”

His lips stuck out in a pout as he said it. Dojin froze with a faint smile on his face.

He’s sulking…

It was the first time Jiho had ever shown such open disappointment and irritation.

It was nice that he no longer walked on eggshells around him, but that didn’t stop the cold sweat running down Dojin’s back.

Okay, I’ll just apologize…Say sorry. And even if it’s cheesy, just go ahead and confess.

“Let’s date,” “Let’s be together,” “I’ll treat you right,” and all the other common lines that float around in your head when you’re trying to confess.

But before Dojin could open his mouth, Jiho suddenly lifted his head high and thrust his face forward.

His face came so close that their breaths mingled. At that distance, Jiho declared again,

“I like you too, hyung!”

“……!”

“I’m happy when I’m with you. That’s why I like you!”

Whether it was a confession, a complaint, or a challenge, it was loud and heated. Jiho shouted and huffed, clearly annoyed that his earlier confession had been brushed aside.

Dojin couldn’t hold it in anymore. Seeing Jiho glaring as if to say Just try ignoring it again, he burst into laughter.

“Ha, ahahaha!”

It had been a long time since he laughed like that. As he wheezed and wiped away tears, Jiho’s face scrunched up in disbelief.

He ignored his confession and laughed to his face?

“Don’t laugh!”

Jiho was so mad he even dropped his usual polite tone and started hitting Dojin’s shoulder with his fists.

Of course, it was Jiho’s hands that hurt more.

“Ugh… Hyung, I hate you… I hate you! I don’t like you anymore!”

Grabbing his now bright-red fist, Jiho began to whimper. Still chuckling, Dojin pulled him into a tight hug.

“Yeah? Is that so? But I like you, Guide Jiho.”

“You’re the worst. I hate you…”

“Then, should we head to bed now that we’re done eating?”

“No. I’m sleeping apart from you tonight.”

He pouted like a child, lips pressed tight with frustration. He looked so adorably upset that Dojin felt like teasing him just a bit more, just to make him go Waaah! and cry.

But he didn’t have the courage to actually get hated by Jiho, so he kept that impulse in check.

Instead, he stood up with Jiho still in his arms and walked toward the bedroom.

As they went, Jiho rubbed his face into the crook of Dojin’s neck, sniffling the whole way. Dojin responded by peppering soft kisses onto Jiho’s head.

Even as Jiho said “No,” and “Go away,” he snuggled deeper into Dojin’s embrace.

“I’m sorry. I won’t laugh anymore, okay?”

“Hmph…”

“Let’s sleep together. I think I’ll be able to rest if I’m lying next to Guide Jiho.”

When Dojin used his insomnia as an excuse, Jiho finally peeked his head out a little.

His eyes still held a bit of fire, but Dojin could tell his heart had mostly softened.

Jiho had a gentle nature, he couldn’t stay upset for long.

As Dojin fought off another fit of laughter, Jiho’s pouty lips twitched like he wanted to say something.

Dojin adjusted his hold and brought his ear close to Jiho’s mouth.

Then—

Chu!

Something soft and warm brushed against Dojin’s cheek and quickly pulled away.

Dojin froze in place. Jiho peeked up again, then gave another light peck on his cheek.

“Did you just…”

“I-I don’t hate you, hyung. I like you… And… I’m sorry for guiding you back then. I don’t think I ever properly apologized…”

His voice grew smaller with each word. Even though Dojin had told him it was fine, Jiho still believed he was responsible for Dojin’s insomnia.

“I-I won’t guide you recklessly anymore. I won’t do anything stupid. I’ll listen to you, hyung.”

“…You’ll listen to me?”

“Yes.”

Jiho nodded. His innocent face looked especially bright. Dojin laughed with a furrowed brow.

You say that like you know what I’ll ask of you… that’s dangerous talk.

Thinking Dojin didn’t believe him, Jiho wriggled his fingers and suddenly held out his pinky in front of him.

“Promise.”

Dojin swallowed hard. He couldn’t hold back anymore.

Chomp.

He gently bit down on Jiho’s pinky and let go, then started walking again toward the bed.

“Uh, uh—hyung? Hyung?”