FLIA 45

“Uh—!”

The moment Yohan was seized by a firm grip, he was pulled straight into a solid, warm embrace. Lying on the soft mattress with his back against Lee Hyunmook’s chest, he jolted up in shock.

“You weren’t sleeping!”

“…I never said I was.”

Hyunmook replied with a faintly amused voice. Yohan had come to realize over time that he was much more playful than he seemed.

“Well of course you can’t talk if you’re asleep!”

“Yohan-ah, don’t be so certain. In the Abyss, nothing is impossible.”

…Oh. Is that so? Can someone really talk in their sleep…? Yohan pondered that seriously, only to realize moments later that he’d been teased. His face flushed, and unable to offer a retort, he just lay there in silence. Hyunmook gave his back a gentle pat, treating him completely like a child.

“You were scared because of Hoyoung, weren’t you?”

“Excuse me, Seungryong-hyung and everyone else keep forgetting, but I’m twenty-three.”

Not only did Hyunmook and Seungryong constantly keep him out of danger, but they also looked out for him in so many other ways, it didn’t seem to be just because he was a purifier. Yohan often felt like they treated him as if he were far, far younger. Was it because, unlike them, he’d never lived a real adult life?

“Mm, twenty-three.”

Even now, after he said his age again, Hyunmook stared at him with that strange look. Feeling as though he was being interrogated for the truth, Yohan shrank back.

“…Well, it’s true I was scared of Mr. Ju Hoyoung.”

He mumbled awkwardly and sighed inwardly. Yeah, maybe it was only natural they treated him like a kid. Hyunmook and Seungryong had spent three whole years in the Abyss, he could feel their experience in everything they did.

…Maybe the only way to stop being treated like the baby of the group is to rescue Hoyoung and get him to join us!

“You’re allowed to be scared. I’ll keep watching over you, so go ahead and sleep now.”

“Good night…”

With a second goodnight, Yohan closed his eyes again. Unlike before, there was no eerie gaze, no unsettling whispers, it was much more peaceful.

…But now that his body was relaxed, something else started to bother him.

Rather than relaxing, his body stayed stiff. He was overly conscious of the man lying just behind him. Hyunmook’s body always radiated heat during contact, and that warmth now pulsed against Yohan’s back. He tried to convince himself inwardly.

‘This is just fan admiration. Just fan admiration. That’s all…But wait. Was I… into both women and men after all?’

Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t exactly felt bad when they kissed. No, in fact, it had felt good. Even if they went further, he was pretty sure it would still feel good. Further, huh… Yohan, without realizing it, let his mind wander into a hazy fantasy about the man lying so close. Not only did it seem possible, it seemed…Too possible.

After trying to dismiss Hyunmook from his thoughts, Yohan came to a shocking realization about his own sexuality. He squeezed his eyes shut, determined to sleep. But Hyunmook’s calm breaths tickled his ear and the back of his neck, making it impossible to ignore. Unlike his frozen body, the heat pooled rapidly in his ears. His gaze flicked downward, then he clamped his eyes shut again.

Now that he thought about it… ever since falling into the Abyss, he hadn’t even touched himself, not once. Maybe he really was just going crazy with pent-up desire.

“Mr. Hyunmook. I… I’m not scared anymore. I’ll go back and sleep now, so you can rest peacefully…”

He spoke as nonchalantly as possible and tried to get up. But Hyunmook’s next words hit him like a slap to the back of the head.

“Yohan-ah… should I pretend I didn’t notice?”

Yohan’s heart jumped and then dropped like a rock. He noticed! He totally noticed! I wanna die… Just as he was about to nod furiously, screaming inside, Hyunmook spoke again, his words crashing down on Yohan like thunder.

“Or… should I pretend I did?”

Yohan couldn’t think straight anymore. Am I dreaming? Like, a wet dream or something? There’s no way someone like Hyunmook would say that to me… But it all felt far too real.

He sat up halfway, awkward and flustered, unable to speak as sweat beaded down his face. His cheeks turned redder by the second.

Obviously, he should say “pretend you didn’t.” But his deranged desires surged dangerously. He couldn’t even pretend it was just fanservice anymore. Biting his lips hard, he finally managed to whisper with a trembling voice,

“If… if you pretend you did, then… what happens…?”

“You just have to lie back down.”

His voice was so low and tender. Yohan clutched at the mattress with his sweaty hand, then slowly, hesitantly lay back down. He couldn’t even bring himself to face Hyunmook. In a barely audible mumble, he managed to speak.

“Then… then please… pretend you did.”

Just saying that left him breathless. Maybe he should have asked him to pretend he didn’t. Already he was starting to regret it, a tangled mess of emotions swirling in his chest, when Hyunmook’s hand gently settled on his stomach. As it rested there lightly, he murmured softly,

“If you don’t want this, just say so.”

“Yes…”

Yohan answered in a voice trembling like a goat’s. At that, Lee Hyunmook pulled him even closer. As Yohan stiffened in his arms, Hyunmook gently stroked his lower abdomen. The touch was like a soothing hand used to calm a stomachache. As Yohan gradually relaxed, that hand slowly slipped between his legs.

“Ah…!”

He gasped in surprise before clamping his mouth shut. The sensation of the hand slipping inside his sweatpants didn’t feel real. It was a place no one else had ever touched, and the tension made his heartbeat pound so loudly it rang in his ears.

The touch brushing over his pubic bone felt incredibly strange and tingling. When the hand went deeper and gently grazed his half-hardened cock, a shiver ran through him. While he was still flustered and unsure what to do, Lee Hyunmook’s large, firm hand completely wrapped around him.

It felt strange, hot, like his heart might burst. Heat rose to his eyes, and his lips went dry. Yohan instinctively licked them. Just a single touch and he already felt like he was going to die. Lee Hyunmook stopped, almost as if waiting for Yohan to say he didn’t want this, or to ask him to stop. The hesitation was torturous. Yohan barely managed to hold back his hips from jerking up. Seeing that, Hyunmook praised him like he’d done well.

“Good, that’s it. I’ll keep going.”

…Was it possible for someone’s voice to sound this gentle, this tender? Then Hyunmook’s hand began to move again, and Yohan could no longer think straight.

With just the right amount of pressure, the hand stroked him up and down. The sensation was so good it gave him goosebumps. It was far sweeter than the fruit shaved ice he’d eaten earlier that day, his mouth filled with saliva. Swallowing hard, Yohan reflexively curled his legs. His hips twisted on their own, pressing himself into the heat of that palm.

“Hhngh, mm…”

He couldn’t bring himself to do anything rude, so Yohan groaned quietly and endured. Shk, shk, shk… The sound of fabric rubbing against skin grew louder. As pre-cum leaked out and wet Hyunmook’s palm, the noise gradually turned wetter, filthier.

More and more moans threatened to spill out, and Yohan slapped a hand over his mouth. His panting breaths leaked through his fingers. His whole body was so hot it felt like he was melting. It was embarrassing and humiliating, but even more overwhelming was the pleasure.

As his tip and shaft slid between those fingers, the pressure felt unbelievably good. The pace quickened, and Yohan’s hips twitched in response. In the midst of that heaven-and-hell blend of stimulation, his reason shattered. His thighs and butt clenched tight, and after climbing higher and higher, he finally crashed into a blinding climax.

“Hah… haah…!”

The breath he’d been holding in burst out in gasps. His body, rigid with tension, slowly relaxed in the warm aftermath. Only when Hyunmook began wiping off the release coating his hand did Yohan finally come to his senses. He shot upright in a panic.

“Mr. Hyunmook! I’m sorry. I should clean, where did I put the wipes…”

“It’s fine. I already wiped it up.”

Yohan’s face turned beet red. He reflexively tried to purify Hyunmook’s already-cleaned hand. In his flustered state, it didn’t even register that bodily fluids probably weren’t something purifiable. Without the slightest hint of embarrassment, Hyunmook gently pushed the dazed Yohan back down.

“You didn’t feel bad, did you?”

“Of course not…”

In fact, it was the best thing he’d ever experienced. No, more than just good. It was like a sweet, fleeting hallucination, still so surreal it left his legs weak.

Curled up under the blanket, Yohan peeked at Hyunmook. His gaze drifted to the space between Hyunmook’s legs as he returned from wiping his hand, and what he saw stunned him. Unlike Yohan, who’d been left a panting mess, Hyunmook didn’t look the slightest bit aroused…

Realizing he’d been the only one flushed and panting like he was in heat doubled his embarrassment. After some hesitation, Yohan cautiously spoke up.

“Um… should I return the favor…?”

“No.”

The immediate response caught Yohan off guard. The rejection hit harder than he’d expected, and he floundered, speaking in a jumble.

“O-oh, right. I just… I felt like it wasn’t fair if I was the only one. So…”

“Yohan-ah, you really don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine, truly.”

With a gentle firmness, Hyunmook laid Yohan back down. Yohan opened his mouth like he wanted to say more, but then buried himself under the blanket. His voice, small and timid, emerged from within.

“Then… I’ll go to sleep now.”

“Okay. Don’t worry about anything. I really am fine.”

His voice was as calm and composed as always. But even after hearing “I’m fine” three times, Yohan didn’t feel fine at all. …Why wasn’t he fine? Was it because he hadn’t fully understood the reason, or because his body was still buzzing from the lingering arousal? Sleep wouldn’t come easily.

Only when drowsiness finally started to settle in did Yohan realize what had been gnawing at him, that maybe Hyunmook had done it just because Yohan was a valuable purifier. That the whole thing had been one-sided service. The fact that Hyunmook hadn’t been even a little aroused, or that he’d so flatly rejected Yohan’s offer, seemed like proof.

…Maybe I should’ve asked him to pretend nothing happened. Regret sank in as Yohan let out a silent sigh, trying to soothe the weight in his chest.