JD 101

If it had been a friend or someone familiar, Hajo’s expression wouldn’t have looked so shaken… and it was unlikely he even had acquaintances in Seoul. So then—did he see something that wasn’t real?

It wouldn’t be that strange. Traveling back and forth between the countryside and the city in his tiny body while juggling college prep and video editing had to be wearing him down. Hakyung’s heart filled with concern for his younger brother.

He decided to tell Hajo to stop uploading videos at least until the college entrance exam, and if he could find a decent clinic nearby, maybe he’d even get him some herbal medicine.

Thinking over all the things he’d need to do once Hajo’s class ended, Hakyung sat waiting in a café. Around him were many others who looked like parents waiting for their kids to finish academy classes—a true snapshot of Korea’s private education scene.

Determined to support his brother just as fiercely, Hakyung was in the middle of searching for a good clinic when a new email notification popped up at the top of his screen.

The account that received it was the one he’d made solely for YouTube. He hadn’t expected to get any emails there, so he blinked and tapped the alert.

There it was, sitting suspiciously in his inbox with a very suspicious title:

[Bingo Music] Hello! We’re reaching out regarding a YouTube collaboration opportunity.

Hakyung hadn’t even listed his email address on his channel. And Bingo Music? That was a name even he—someone with no clue about the industry—recognized. It was a hugely popular music channel.

There was no way a place like that would reach out to him. Especially not on a Saturday. Clearly, scammers didn’t take weekends off.

Hakyung stared at the email with deep suspicion for a long moment before locking his phone. He was too afraid that opening it might somehow drain what little precious money he had left in his bank account.

These days, people really had come up with every kind of scam.

But he wasn’t some gullible river dolphin who’d fall for cheap tricks. He was a cautious, savvy river dolphin who could spot spam from a mile away.

Feeling strangely accomplished—as if he’d successfully thwarted a crime—he smiled proudly to himself.

About two hours passed at the café before he spotted Hajo exiting the academy building.

Unlike earlier, Hajo’s face looked more relaxed now, and Hakyung felt a bit more at ease. He handed Hajo the strawberry smoothie he’d ordered ahead of time and asked,

“How was class?”

“It was fine. The pace wasn’t as fast as I expected, either.”

“Really? That’s good. Do you need anything else? Since we’re already out, want to go buy some reference books?”

Shaking his head, Hajo grabbed Hakyung’s arm and urged him to go home quickly. His eyes darted around nervously—it looked like he was still unsettled.

“Hyung… nothing happened while I was gone, right?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Just… I mean, Seoul’s full of weird people and all…”

Hakyung, now uneasy too, pulled Hajo into a nearby alley and stopped him. He looked him straight in the eye and asked seriously. Under that piercing stare, Hajo fidgeted and averted his gaze.

Silence settled between the river dolphin brothers. Hajo opened his mouth to speak several times, only to close it again and again.

“What exactly did you see? You’re really not going to tell me?”

“I-I didn’t see anything—!”

“Then why were you so pale, like you’d just seen a ghost?!”

Frustrated, Hakyung finally yelled. His voice boomed like only a river dolphin’s could.

Hajo instinctively covered his ears. He didn’t like being interrogated when he’d already said it was nothing. But of course, he wasn’t bold enough to actually complain to his older brother.

Finally, picking up on Hakyung’s earlier words, Hajo quickly nodded.

“Y-yeah! I think I saw a ghost on my way to class. It was so real… I’m still scared…”

“…Seriously?”

Hakyung narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced, but Hajo stuck to his ghost story.

Still, even with Hajo insisting, Hakyung remained suspicious. And no matter how scary Hakyung could be, Hajo was starting to get annoyed too. Saying the same thing over and over was getting tiresome.

Eventually, pushed to his limit, Hajo snapped:

“Hyung, do you believe anything people tell you? Why do you keep asking?!”

It was like a cornered mouse biting a cat.

Flabbergasted, Hakyung was left mouthing empty air—just as he had been earlier that day.

Back at his dorm, Hajo locked himself in his room and refused dinner under the excuse of needing to study. Watching his brother act like this even though he was well past puberty made Hakyung feel disheartened.

That night, he poured his frustrations out to Muheon, chattering nonstop.

Muheon listened patiently, nodding along as Hakyung spoke, then reached out and gently stroked his pink hair.

“That must’ve really upset you.”

“Exactly! I don’t know what’s gotten into him! If he’d just answered properly, it would’ve been over!”

Still steaming with anger, the crown of Hakyung’s head puffed up visibly. The warmth rising into Muheon’s palm made him smile.

The fact that Hakyung could get this angry over something family-related only showed how much he cared. And Muheon knew—sooner or later, that anger would melt into quiet worry for his brother.

“But still… I really think Hajo’s running low on energy. I’m thinking of taking him to a clinic for some herbal medicine. But what if he throws a fit and refuses to go?”

“No way. You’d be taking him because you care.”

Muheon’s prediction was right on the mark. Hakyung was already looking gloomy, worried about how exhausted Hajo seemed.

Jealousy prickled at Muheon for a brief moment—his husband was showering all that concern on someone else—but he quickly pushed the feeling down and reached out to gently squish Hakyung’s soft cheek.

Like a stress ball, Muheon absentmindedly played with the pillowy texture for a while before speaking again.

“Actually, I was planning to go too. So that works out.”

“Why? Are you feeling sick?”

Startled, Hakyung immediately hopped up onto Muheon’s firm lap. He reached out and inspected his husband’s handsome face meticulously.

Were his eyes bloodshot? Did he look pale? Was his nose stuffy, or did he have a cold sore on his lip? Hakyung scanned him with hawk-like precision, determined not to miss a single pore.

Satisfied to have all of Muheon’s attention back on himself, Muheon smiled and hugged Hakyung close.

“I’m not sick. I meant you need the medicine.”

“Me…?”

“Yeah. That time you fainted—you’re just too fragile. I think you should be the one to take the tonic first.”

Muheon was remembering the incident before their wedding, when Hakyung had collapsed and ended up in the emergency room. Hakyung’s cheeks flushed red.

“That wasn’t because I’m weak…!”

“Then what was it?”

He hadn’t known sea beastmen could be so intense and overwhelming. If you weren’t a fellow sea beastman—or an imugi—it was nearly impossible not to get steamrolled by their sheer presence.

Hakyung, who was technically a very healthy and average river dolphin, found the whole thing deeply unfair.

Still, saying he’d collapsed because Muheon’s people were too much felt like insulting Muheon’s hometown. So he clamped his mouth shut and just nodded—what else could he do?

Muheon laughed inwardly at Hakyung’s clearly displeased expression.

He knew very well that Hakyung hadn’t fainted from weakness—it was because Muheon’s attendants were unusually intense. A normal beastman like Hakyung wouldn’t have stood a chance against that kind of pressure. Muheon had felt terrible after realizing too late how overwhelming it had been.

In all his long life, Muheon had never once been overpowered by someone else’s energy. Because of that, he had failed to understand what Hakyung was going through.

He’d sworn then to help build Hakyung into a strong and healthy river dolphin. With Hajo as a convenient excuse, this was the perfect opportunity.

“I know a herbal doctor. He works weekends, too—let’s go tomorrow. You and your brother.”

“T-Tomorrow already?”

“Yeah. Since we’ve decided, might as well get it done.”

Muheon’s eyes gleamed like this was some vital quest he had to complete.

Hakyung blinked in confusion. How did this suddenly become about me…?

“Hmm… I guess?”

“Yup. That’s right. By the way—didn’t you forget something?”

Muheon flicked his knee upward, causing Hakyung’s butt to bounce in the air before plopping back down. Realizing what that meant, Hakyung gave a sheepish little smile.

Seizing the moment, Muheon lowered the hand around Hakyung’s waist and gave his butt a firm squeeze. It was even springier than his cheeks, and Muheon couldn’t help but smile. Really, was there any part of Kang Hakyung that wasn’t soft or bouncy?

In a slow, satisfied rhythm—like a contented beast after a good meal—Muheon began to lick along Hakyung’s skin. Watching the places where his tongue left flushed trails of heat never failed to thrill him.

“Hnn…”

Hakyung wrapped his arms around Muheon’s neck, letting out a soft moan. The thought of the night ahead made his hips twitch with anticipation.

Weekend nights are the best, Hakyung thought, as he returned the favor—trailing kisses and wet licks all over Muheon’s face.

It was the awakening of a very frisky river dolphin on a sultry Saturday night.