RB 112

Eunho opened his eyes only after 5 hours had passed. His head felt hazy from the lingering effect of the sedative, and his limbs were as heavy as soaked cotton. Furthermore, he was perpetually depressed. A suffocating and sticky sensation clung to him as he had dipped his head in stale mud.

“……”

Eunho sat on the bed, clutching his head for a long time. An inexplicable feeling of irritation and helplessness clumped together, pulling him down endlessly. He wanted to shake off this filthy feeling but had no idea how.

He grabbed his nape and slowly rolled his neck. It was no longer surprising that he’d been moved to Choi Yeorok’s bedroom without realizing it. He lifted the blanket, stood up, and took a heavy step forward.

The sound of plodding footsteps echoed through the room. He opened the door out of habit, passed through the dressing room, and headed toward Yeorok’s private study.

“…Ah.”

Eunho sighed, he was sure he had meant to go to the bathroom, but only after spotting Choi Yeorok did he realize that he had unconsciously come to the study instead.

“You’re awake?”

Choi Yeorok slowly pushed himself up from the sofa. He must have been napping here, his movements were slow and languid.

As he approached, he had a certain refined quality. Though his appearance was a little disheveled, his clothes and combed hair suggested he had just returned from an important event.

Was today the inauguration ceremony? Eunho thought absentmindedly. Ah, maybe it was.

“Why are you at home?”

Shouldn’t he be busy right now? Why is he holed up at home like something useless? Isn’t that supposed to be his role? Eunho looked at Yeorok with confusion.

Yeorok didn’t answer. He brought a bottle of water and opened it in front of him. With a clack, the plastic cap twisted off.

“Drink some water.”

It was a subtle way of showing he wasn’t plotting anything. Eunho snatched the bottle and took a sip. His throat was dry, so he quenched his thirst first.

“Should we go out for dinner?”

“……”

“What do you want to eat? Say anything that comes to mind.”

“Why would I eat with you?”

Eunho spoke as if it was absurd. His sarcastic gaze followed without fail.

Lately, Choi Yeorok was really strange. Like someone who’d come loose somewhere. He was still thorough as ever, but the way he acted toward him was entirely different from before. Since Eunho couldn’t figure out what he was thinking, everything about him felt suspect.

“Get out the way. I’m going to take a bath.”

Not wanting to face him any longer, he pushed Yeorok aside. Yeorok didn’t stop him and quietly stepped out of the way.

The bathroom door closed. There were loud noises from inside.

Yeorok listened closely to the sounds, then lay back down on the sofa. His upper body collapsed limply. A bitter laugh escaped his lips.

He had fallen asleep for a moment and dreamed. The memory of the time he spent with Eunho at a shabby street stall was still vivid. Maybe that was why he’d briefly allowed himself to hope. Because in that dream, Sim Eunho had looked at him with eyes full of love. Maybe he had wanted to be looked at like that again.

But his hopes were dashed, and reality was bitter. What he encountered now was hostility and disgust.

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It had been quite a while since Eunho went in to bathe. Yeorok absentmindedly glanced at his watch while working. Two hours already? That was too long. Then he suddenly realized it had also been quite some time since he last heard any sound from the bathroom.

He jumped up from his chair. The tablet he’d been holding crashed to the floor. Unpleasant images flooded his mind. For example, Eunho fainting and slipping under the water, or hitting his head and bleeding out.

What was he thinking, being so careless? Yeorok rushed to the bathroom. To make matters worse, the door was locked.

“Sim Eunho!”

At that moment, it felt like his heart plummeted into the abyss. Goosebumps ran down his spine, and cold sweat broke out.

He turned the handle several times, before Yeorok ramming the door with his shoulder. After a few tries, he managed to force it open.

The bathroom was filled with steam. The running water had overflowed from the tub and spread across the floor. Yeorok stepped inside without hesitation, his feet getting wet. His eyes were bloodshot as he moved forward.

When he pulled aside the light curtain, he saw Eunho inside, soaking leisurely in the bath. Eunho met his gaze, his blank eyes looking at Yeorok as if he was pathetic.

“…What?”

Yeorok’s hand dropped. Seeing Eunho unharmed, his constricted throat finally opened. He could breathe freely, and the blood flowed back to his face. The strength drained from his body in a instant.

“You’ve been… bathing for hours.”

Yeorok spoke with a frown. Eunho slowly straightened up.

“I could’ve been napping for a bit. Is that a reason to break down the door?”

He looked at him like he couldn’t understand what the fuss was about. Yeorok didn’t answer, only tried to calm his rough breathing.

Eunho grabbed the edge of the tub and stood up. After being in the water for so long, his fingertips had shriveled. The sedative must’ve been strong. Even after sleeping for hours, his head still felt hazy.

When he tried to step out of the tub, his leg faltered. If Yeorok hadn’t caught him, he would’ve fallen right over. Eunho let out a breath of relief and stood up properly. Even after he steadied himself, Yeorok didn’t let go of his arm. His grip was strong enough to make Eunho frown.

“Enough, let go.”

“……”

“Get your hand off me.”

Only then did Yeorok release him. But instead of stepping back, he reached toward the shelf. He unfolded a soft towel and began wiping the water off Eunho’s body, carefully from his head to his arms, underarms, and back.

Eunho found his behavior absurd. Choi Yeorok personally tending to him? The world must be ending. He laughed, but Yeorok’s face remained rigid. Without hesitation, he even knelt down to wipe Eunho.

“Stop being ridiculous.”

“If you still feel dizzy, hold onto the wall.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

The humid air already made his head spin. Eunho frowned and asked.

After wiping the water off Eunho’s ankles, Yeorok straightened up. His face was as unreadable as ever. Only his eyes flickered darkly, his expression cold as usual.

Eunho stared at him. He could tell Yeorok’s gaze was fixed on his bare body and wouldn’t move away.

“……”

Before Eunho could say anything, Yeorok wrapped a thick bathrobe around him. He tied the belt and grabbed Eunho’s wrist, pulling him out of the bathroom.

Eunho sat down on the sofa, turning over the strange feeling that had lingered since earlier. Something he couldn’t describe sat stuck in his chest.

Meanwhile, Yeorok brought a hairdryer and began gently drying Eunho’s wet hair. His excessive care wasn’t over yet.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“……”

“If there’s something you want to eat, I’ll have it brought.”

His words were kind, but his tone was stiff. It was the same tone Eunho had always known from Choi Yeorok. That made the feeling of alienation even more intense.

Eunho lifted his gaze without saying anything. Between the hum of the dryer and the fingers running through his hair, he couldn’t think straight.

Then the noise stopped. Yeorok set the dryer down and quietly smoothed Eunho’s now-dry hair. He never met his eyes, as if looking into them would expose some weakness.

Eunho looked down. His eyes lingered on Yeorok’s left hand, wrapped in white bandages.

On the day he hurt that hand, Yeorok had acted out of character. He’d lost control like a man blinded by jealousy. Even after that, he treated Eunho like something fragile that would break if touched, or like something dangerous to lose sight of. Sometimes his eyes were unbearably tender, and his attention suffocating.

Is this really the Choi Yeorok I knew? Or is he the one who’s become someone else?

Eunho reached out and took Yeorok’s bandaged hand. The long, straight fingers were unmistakably his.

Then he pressed his thumb hard against Yeorok’s palm. Yeorok didn’t make a sound, but Eunho could feel his body flinch.

“Does it hurt?”

“It hurts.”

Eunho looked up at his quiet face and smiled.

“Why do I like it when you’re hurt?”

The eyes he finally met were dark. Yeorok neither smiled nor got angry. His face only showed a faint trace of pain.

“Do whatever you want. But take your medicine.”

Yeorok took a packet of pills from his pocket, tore it open with his teeth, and pushed several small tablets into Eunho’s mouth.

Eunho swallowed them obediently. In return, he played with Yeorok’s injured hand. His brown eyes sparkled, seemingly enjoying causing pain.

As the wound reopened, the white bandages turned pink. The healing was slow.