F Side Story 2-4

“You look like a celebrity. You’re just… really handsome.”

“Thank you.”

Even drunk, Yeonho never lost his manners. But he wasn’t warm to just anyone. As if he refused to give unnecessary room for misinterpretation, he closed his mouth and went straight to sleep.

When they arrived home, Yeonho was completely out, not even twitching in his sleep. Siwoo crossed his arms and looked down at him from the back seat. What would’ve happened if I hadn’t been there? Maybe they really did need to rethink this whole separation idea, for Yeonho’s safety.

Siwoo lowered his body and scooped Yeonho into his arms. As soon as he got close enough to smell Siwoo’s scent, Yeonho wrinkled his nose in his sleep and instinctively wrapped an arm around Siwoo’s neck. Siwoo lifted him like a child and carried him into the elevator.

Had Yeonho ever gotten this drunk in front of him before? On the way up, Siwoo cradled him tight and covered his forehead and hair with gentle kisses.

A little while later, Yeonho yawned and slowly woke up, his mouth slightly open. It took him a moment to come to his senses. He blinked slowly, then realized he was soaking in warm water.

Across from him in the tub sat Siwoo. Judging by the situation, he had washed Yeonho’s entire body and even shampooed his hair. How hard must it have been to bathe a fully grown, drunk adult?

“Hyung, how did I get home?”

Siwoo couldn’t answer. His mouth was currently full of Yeonho’s toes.

Blushing, Yeonho looked down at him and mumbled shyly.

“You really like my feet, don’t you?”

Only then did Siwoo let go of his toes and press a deep kiss into the sole of Yeonho’s foot. He studied each toe with great care and said,

“They’re just so cute. All round.”

“Toes are all round.”

“Are they? I’ve never had to look at anyone else’s. Not even my own. Some people might have… un-round toes.”

Yeonho, very pleased with the bold reply, gently stroked Siwoo’s cheek with his foot. Then he moved to sit in Siwoo’s lap, facing the same direction. As he settled in, Siwoo began licking his fingers. Yeonho watched and his eyes softened with emotion. And he spoke the truth he’d been holding in since that night out.

“Being with you really is the best. I don’t want to go out like that again. It was uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry. That must’ve been tough.”

Siwoo apologized for pushing him into something that made him unhappy. If Yeonho didn’t enjoy being with friends, he wouldn’t encourage it again. Some dumb palm reading couldn’t change that.

The next morning, Yeonho woke up a little later than Siwoo. For the first time in a long while, he noticed a familiar mark on his palm.

Both he and Siwoo had carved heart lines crossing their palms, said to indicate an intense attachment to one’s partner. Siwoo had taken a water-based pen and traced Yeonho’s line, making it thicker and darker.

***

They both agreed they should try to find hobbies of their own. To get used to spending time apart, Yeonho stepped out on his own that weekend.

Currently, Yeonho’s only hobby was Kim Siwoo. He had long since moved past photography and gaming. But he wanted to set Siwoo aside for a moment and pick up the camera again.

His destination was a mountain trail near Seoul, known for its beautiful scenery. He hoped to develop a hobby of hiking and taking photos. Maybe he’d meet new people, too. Not romantically, but friends who shared his interests.

Connections that formed naturally, not forced. People you could talk to through shared passions. That might be okay.

At the start of the trail, he spotted a tall young man. He looked about Yeonho’s age, and he was handsome. Drawn to him at first sight, Yeonho took the initiative and approached.

“Hi. Are you here to hike?”

“Oh, yeah. Want to go up together?”

“Sure.”

The man, who had started climbing around the same time, responded kindly to Yeonho’s greeting.

As the incline steepened, the man picked up his pace and walked ahead. Then he turned around and offered Yeonho his hand. Yeonho gladly took it.

His hand was warm and soft, grounding Yeonho in an unfamiliar place. It felt like he could enjoy this new hobby together with this man.

Holding tightly to his hand, Yeonho smiled and said,

“Let’s go to the top together.”

The man glanced up and down at Yeonho, then gave a confident answer.

“You look a little fragile. But if you get tired, I can carry you up. It wouldn’t be hard for me.”

“What makes you think I’m weak? I used to be first place in long-distance running as a kid, you know.”

The man snorted.

“You’ll tire out before me. I’ve had plenty of chances to assess that already.”

Yeonho flushed with embarrassment, eyes darting. Then he asked,

“Will you go hiking with me again sometime?”

The man met his gaze and laced their fingers together.

“Sure. If it gets tough, just hop on. I’ll take you to the top.”

Yeonho smiled and kissed the back of his hand.

Well… what now? It just so happened that this man was Kim Siwoo.

Total coincidence. What could anyone do?

Apparently, Siwoo had recently taken an interest in hiking. Who was Yeonho to tell him not to find his own hobby?

They stopped to rest near a water fountain. Yeonho, camera in hand, captured Siwoo standing with the lush greenery behind him. He looked more relaxed and content than ever before. The sight made Yeonho’s eyes sting with emotion.

“It’s been a long time since I came up here to photograph flowers. I used to go around a lot when I had assignments back in school.”

Hearing him, Siwoo did a full spin on the spot and scanned the area. Not a single flower in sight. He tilted his head in confusion, then let out a soft laugh as he noticed the camera lens aimed straight at him.

Lowering the camera, Yeonho stared off into the distance and spoke quietly.

“I wish every day could be like this.”

Siwoo walked straight over to Yeonho, who was having the most perfect day of his life, and placed a whole bouquet in his arms.

***

The next day, Siwoo decided to spend time on his own too. He headed to a nearby baseball stadium. As someone whose only hobby was Joo Yeonho, sports had never interested him. He’d watched a few baseball and football games in the US because friends had asked, but he had never gone to a game of his own accord.

Spending Sunday away from Yeonho’s side felt a little scary. But once he did, it felt refreshing, like opening a window. Maybe this separation really could work. Maybe he could become an independent self again.

That Yeonho sat in the seat right next to his, out of the tens of thousands of available ones, was purely coincidental. The table had only two seats, and Yeonho, too, had come out for a baseball game. He had every right. He was a free citizen of South Korea, after all.

With a coffee in one hand and beer in the other, Siwoo handed Yeonho the beer and grinned.

“Yeonho-ya, what a surprise. You look kind of new to me in this setting.”

“I know, right? I had no idea you’d be here.”

Yeonho handed him one of the two pairs of chopsticks he had been holding. Siwoo opened the chicken box on the table.

“You and I really are one.”

“Exactly. What kind of donut do you want? Milk cream or Earl Grey?”

“Earl Grey.”

Siwoo accepted the donut from Yeonho and held out a piece of chicken to him.

Yeonho quietly chewed the bite Siwoo fed him and thought to himself, There was one thing the Moon Sea Fairy didn’t know.

That Kim Siwoo and Joo Yeonho loved each other enough to want to kill each other, but could never bring themselves to actually do it.

Yeonho smiled and tilted his head back, he looked up at the sky.

“The weather’s perfect. I’m glad we came out today.”

“The sky’s so blue. Even the clouds look nice.”

“Yeah. I see it too. That really clear, sky blue.”

Two in the afternoon on a September day. Not too hot, not too cold. Beside the one who would live as a part of him forever, Yeonho looked up at the blue sky, free of even a wisp of gray.

Fin.