PHUW 148

Even after hearing the answer he wanted, Jeong Mok’s expression hardly relaxed.

‘Is that really his true heart?’

It was obvious, Haeri was playing up his pitiful side, exaggerating weakness, while at the same time trying to get through the moment with little displays of cuteness. Haeri himself seemed to think he was giving a method performance, or else had resigned himself to all-or-nothing, for he kept trying to soothe Jeong Mok’s anger with cuteness.

He didn’t truly feel he had done wrong, but acted like he did. He pretended full remorse, hung his head low, then kept glancing up to gauge Jeong Mok’s reaction. When it seemed the mood might ease, he added more whining, trying to draw sympathy.

A dog, nothing less. Human on the outside, but through and through a stray mutt who had seen all the hardships of wandering and now wanted to climb up and sit on his master’s head.

Jeong Mok could give his head. But Haeri could nit shake off his fear of abandonment, it was painful to see how cheerful he acted despite carrying scars and wounds.

He recalled that day, when Haeri had run out crying, throwing himself in front of the car to stop him from driving away. What a cruel thing he had done to this kind and sweet boy. If he could, he would beat himself senseless for having triggered Haeri’s abandonment trauma in such a brutal way.

Overcome with guilt, Jeong Mok pulled Haeri into his arms.

“Hyung?”

Feeling instantly that Jeong Mok’s anger had passed, Haeri hugged him back with joy. Not knowing Jeong Mok’s true heart, Haeri wagged the invisible tail only Jeong Mok could see, spinning like a fan.

“Haeri, hyung is really sorry.”

“…What?”

Of course Haeri didn’t know. He had lost those memories of that day. What had once seemed a regret now seemed a blessing. The painful memories had vanished with the good.

Those were Jeong Mok’s to carry alone. Memory or not, Haeri was still Haeri.

“I’ve done wrong.”

“Ah… I don’t really understand what you mean.”

Haeri glanced at him uncertainly, eyes rolling nervously as if afraid of some sign. Seeing them dart about, Jeong Mok leaned down and kissed him.

A kiss on the forehead, then the corner of the eye, and finally on the lips. Haeri, not fully understanding, still lit up with delight, rising on tiptoe and leaning against him.

All dogs were the same. No matter how poorly treated, they always wagged their tails and trusted again.

‘Really… how should I say… it’s good.’

Even after the kiss, Haeri stayed in Jeong Mok’s arms, face buried in his solid chest, feeling his warmth. As always, Jeong Mok smelled good, refined and adult, yet never cloying, always a comfortable scent.

“Then, to mark our reconciliation, shall we grant each other a wish?”

“Okay.”

“You first.”

Would asking for a Gangnam building be going too far? Better not ruin the pot at the finish line. Never cut open the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Haeri hesitated, then gave up the building for the sake of the future and made a bold investment in securing his position.

“A kiss when you leave for work, and a kiss when you come home.”

“Is a kiss the limit?” Jeong Mok asked.

“Include kissing. Anything more than that is banned at the doorway.”

“Alright.”

Ha. He tried. Maybe he really did have talent not just for being cute but for dating. If he had lived as a flower boy earlier, he might have avoided all that suffering. It was those perverts’ fault. If they hadn’t scarred him, he could have dated normally, chasing after rich sisters or brothers without discrimination… Enough of that.

Pricked by his conscience, Haeri asked,

“Don’t you want anything, hyung? If you say it now, I’ll do it.”

“There is something.”

“What is it?”

Inside, Haeri expected the usual crude answer “let’s do it.” Then he could refuse by saying, “here in a house full of people?” Plus they had no supplies. Jeong Mok would say he would endure and sing the national anthem to hold back. Haeri thought that was the little push-and-pull of romance.

“I want you to treat me comfortably.”

“I am treating you comfortably.”

How much more comfortable could it get? They had already stripped bare and done everything.

“Would it be alright if you spoke informally?”

What was this strange request? Haeri lifted his head and looked hard to see if he was serious.

“Instead of saying ‘Yes,’ say ‘Yeah’ or ‘What.’”

“All of a sudden?”

“Yes. Just like now.” Jeong Mok nodded.

“So suddenly?”

“Without ‘so suddenly.’”

At his correction, Haeri asked, “Why?”

“You should say, ‘Why.’”

“Just answer me first.”

“It’s because I want to close the distance between us.”

He suddenly demanded dropping honorifics for that purpose, if anything, that stretched the distance between them rather than closed it. It felt like something an old-fashioned executive would do at work, demanding “no-formality time” out of nowhere with his juniors to act close. Except Jeong Mok was an executive for real. The vibe was just so outdated and corny that Haeri honestly cringed.

“But there’s an age gap. I’m not ready to talk down to you yet.”

“You and I are only six years apart.”

Only six? That was like the gap between a middle schooler and a college student. For him to brush it off as “only six” made the generation gap feel all the wider. But since he was the older boyfriend, the one providing everything Haeri needed, it was hard not to give in. And it wasn’t such a difficult thing.

“Then this means we’re fully reconciled?”

“Yeah.”

Jeong Mok’s eyes lit with expectation. Subtly, it was cute.

“Alright… I mean, okay.”

“Haeri.”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t live a single day without you. Just remember that.”

“Yeah.”

They embraced each other and stayed like that for a long time. Once Haeri let go of all the anxiety he’d been carrying, he felt a deep ease wash over him. Drowsy, wrapped in happiness that seemed it could melt him completely, when suddenly Jeong Mok swayed.

“What’s wrong…?”

“Now that I’m relieved, I think my legs gave out.”

Haeri struggled to support the large body falling forward.

“Hyung, let’s sit over here.”

He guided Jeong Mok onto the bed. Sitting on the edge, Jeong Mok pulled Haeri close and clung to him. An adult who cried without shame even at dinner, was now whining for comfort. He looked like he could wrestle a wild boar barehanded, yet here he was acting cute.

“I’m dizzy.”

“Then lie down and rest.”

At Haeri’s gentle push, Jeong Mok slid back onto the bed as if he had been waiting for it. Haeri helped lift his long legs onto the mattress, then placed his palm against his broad forehead.

“You don’t feel feverish, but I’ll go get some medicine just in case.”

“It’s not bad enough for medicine.”

“Then water? Should I bring cold water?”

“No water either.”

“Then what do you need?”

“You.”

With that answer, Jeong Mok shifted inward and raised an arm, inviting Haeri into his side.

Ha, unbelievable. This hyung was sly. But Haeri liked it.

He slipped into the space and nestled there. Jeong Mok wrapped one arm around him, resting the other across his own forehead.

Despite his calm exterior, he seemed to have taken a real shock. Haeri could clearly hear his heartbeat pounding fiercely against his chest. Outwardly he looked composed, but inside he wasn’t.

But for someone whose legs supposedly gave out from dizziness, his hand was awfully sly. The arm holding Haeri tightened, his hand slipping up into Haeri’s underarm, then cupping his chest.

“…What is this?”

“Talk casually.”

“Why are you suddenly grabbing my chest?”

“I’m trying to calm myself.”

Jeong Mok answered with eyes closed, his hand still against his forehead.

“By groping my chest?”

“Well, I can’t exactly grope your c0ck, can I?”

The shameless reply left Haeri speechless. It was nonsense, ridiculous logic, but when he thought about it twice, it made sense. True, grabbing that would have been more questionable here.

It was awkward, but if it calmed him, fine. Yet the hand that had been lightly teasing soon grew bolder, brushing over his nipple.

“…Hyung?”

“This is chest too.”

Haeri had only called him, but the reply came back instantly. Even over clothes, the light strokes on that sensitive spot made his nipple stiffen right away. At the same time, his cock hardened as well. This really wasn’t the place for it, not in the main house.

“Can you not touch there?”

“Why?”

“It feels weird.”

“What kind of weird?”

Still lying with eyes closed, Jeong Mok didn’t move otherwise. Haeri wasn’t so stupid he couldn’t see the lust behind it.

“Hyung, are you really dizzy?”

“Yeah. Really dizzy.”

He lied without blinking.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Really.”

“Then what’s this.”

Pouting, Haeri suddenly gripped the bulge swelling against Jeong Mok’s thigh.