RB 138

After showering, Yeorok changed into clean clothes and opened the cupboard. He took out a white plastic medicine bottle from inside. He shook the bottle to gauge the contents, there were about five or six pills remaining.

Yeorok opened the bottle and poured the pills onto his palm. They weren’t strange medicines, but sleeping pills that allowed him to sleep deeply for three or four hours. Lately, he had been seeking sleeping pills frequently. It was because sharing a bed with Eunho had become exhausting.

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to suggest sleeping separately. How could he give up such a precious moment? It was a sleeping arrangement that was both happy and painful, a place where he felt ultimate comfort yet suffered a terrible lack. It was a highly contradictory situation, even in his own eyes. Yeorok had chosen forced sleep to castrate his sexual desires.

The sleeping pills Yeorok took were clean and left no aftereffects. Not only were they non-addictive, but they also didn’t cause any side effects the next day, such as headaches or difficulty concentrating. Furthermore, he could drink a glass or two of alcohol. True to the nature of medication taken by a perfectionist, they had very few downsides.

He hid the pills in his palm and came down the stairs. Since it would take a while for the effects to kick in, he planned to wait for the right time to take them.

Dinner preparations were still in full swing in the kitchen. Yeorok asked about the menu, then took out a bottle of wine from the display case that would pair well with it. Of course, there was only one glass.

He dropped the sleeping pills into the beautiful, rounded glass. The capsules sunk to the bottom, their shapes completely obscured by the dark wine.

He swirled the glass. He intended to drink this wine over a very long period of time. By the time the effects of the medicine had taken hold, he’d be fast asleep with Eunho in his arms.

“Chairman, how is the rice? Isn’t it too mushy?”

“It’s not bad.”

It had been a while since they’d had Korean food. Eunho had prepared a dinner laden with carbs, enough to make the table legs bend. He even added that he would skip his early morning study session today and just organize his schedule before going to sleep. Yeorok responded with a gentle smile and piled a generous amount of meat on top of Eunho’s rice.

“Why aren’t you drinking the wine?”

“I want to drink it slowly.”

Eunho nodded. Then, he put the meat and rice Yeorok had prepared into his mouth and chewed thoroughly. He was so excited that his feet were bouncing under the table. Not content with just shaking them by himself, he even tapped Yeorok’s long, outstretched legs.

“Why are you acting so cute today?”

“I’ll restrain myself.”

“It’s nice, so why not? Go ahead and mess around more.”

Yeorok rested his chin on his hand. He even put down his chopsticks to admire Eunho.

“…Hurry up and eat.”

Eunho’s face turned bright red, as if it would bleed if he were pricked.

Although some time had passed since they became lovers, Eunho still found Yeorok’s displays of affection overwhelming.

Would the day ever come when he got used to it?

It seemed he would need a considerable amount more time.

Just as Eunho’s cheeks were turning redder, the phone rang.

Yeorok immediately checked his phone. It was Hong Namyeong.

Since he wasn’t the type to call needlessly at this hour, Yeorok grabbed his phone and stood up.

“Eat up. I’ll be right back.”

He ruffled the crown of Eunho’s hair. It was warm, even up to his scalp.

“…….”

Eunho’s eyes followed Yeorok’s retreating figure. He was in the living room taking a call. He sat on the armrest of the sofa with his legs stretched out.

The voice on the phone reached Eunho’s ears as well. Yeorok took even important business calls where Eunho was present. It meant he trusted Eunho.

Perhaps because the caller was Hong Namyeong, Yeorok’s voice was more relaxed than usual. His pleasant low voice continued the conversation in a stiff tone. Eunho liked this way of speaking from Yeorok.

His smileless face was cold beyond measure, yet his features were delicate. His unkempt bangs cascaded down softly. As if bothered by this, Yeorok swept his hair back during the call. His fingers, with their prominent joints, were straight and long.

“…….”

Eunho swallowed the saliva that had pooled in his mouth. He had resolved to put his impure thoughts aside for the time being, but whenever he saw Choi Yeorok, his mouth would go dry. It was nearly impossible to look at him with an innocent gaze. Even a slight touch, or sometimes just the way he looked at him, would make his whole body tingle.

Thanks to the affection and attention Yeorok gave him, Eunho was currently experiencing the happiest period of his life. Although studying late was a bit overwhelming, he could endure it because he had a goal.

Sudden impulses that came unexpectedly were also one of the things he had to endure. Eunho took a deep breath and reached for the wine glass in front of him.

“Okay. Then come home by 8 tomorrow.”

The call didn’t even last ten minutes. Yeorok roughly shoved his phone into his pants pocket and turned around. He took a step forward, mentally reviewing his updated schedule as he walked. The moment he returned to his seat and grabbed the backrest, he froze.

“…….”

Eunho was holding the wine. Half of the glass was gone in the meantime. As Yeorok stood with a surprised expression, Eunho sensed something was wrong and gulped down the wine in his mouth.

“What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

“That… I poured that?”

“Yes. I was thinking of having just one glass… Was I not supposed to drink this?”

As the silence dragged on, Eunho began to look around nervously. His eyes moved back and forth between Yeorok and the wine glass he was almost done with.

“I’ll pour you another one. I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Yeorok covered his forehead. His left hand slid up and ruffled his bangs. He laughed in disbelief.

“Eunho. There are sleeping pills in there.”

“…Huh?”

“I dissolved sleeping pills in the wine so I could drink them and sleep.”

Yeorok took the wine glass, gulped down the remaining liquor, and showed Eunho the remnants of the sleeping pills stuck to the bottom. Eunho stared silently at the glass, then furrowed his brow.

“Chairman, have you always taken sleeping pills?”

“Yeah.”

“…Since when? No, why didn’t you tell me? Have you been having trouble sleeping lately?”

Is this medicine safe? Did you get a prescription from the hospital? A barrage of questions flew at him. Eunho no longer felt intimidated by Choi Yeorok. Even while speaking respectfully, he didn’t hold back what he wanted to say.

“Who mixes sleeping pills into alcohol? Don’t you know how dangerous that is? Do you have five or six lives, Chairman? What if something goes wrong!”

“Eunho.”

Yeorok grabbed Eunho’s arms. The trembling vibrations were transmitted to his palm. It had been a long time since he had seen an angry Sim Eunho. He found himself laughing, completely out of place in the situation.

“Calm down. It is not something to get so worked up about.”

“Why are you laughing? Is what I’m saying funny right now?”

“Do you think I would just pick up any medicine and take it? Am I really that careless?”

The interrogation paused for a moment. Eunho pursed his lips; he couldn’t bring himself to deny it. Choi Yeorok was the most meticulous person Eunho knew, a perfectionist who grasped even the smallest details.

“It’s a commercially available medicine, and there’s no problem taking it with alcohol.”

“…Do you have insomnia?”

Eunho’s voice softened slightly. His pale face was filled with worry. Yeorok rubbed his cheek and gave him a kiss.

“I can’t sleep because of you. I’m dying to touch you; how am I supposed to endure it?”

Eunho blinked, unable to believe what he was hearing.

“You mean it’s that bad?”

“Didn’t you hear heavy breathing next to you while you were sleeping?”

“No, then… you should have suggested we sleep separately.”

“That’s nonsense.”

Yeorok made Eunho sit back down in his chair. He also returned to his seat and prepared to resume his meal.

“The dinner is getting cold. Just eat for now.”

“Chairman.”

Yeorok picked up his chopsticks as if nothing had happened. It seemed as though nothing mattered to him.

“Sim Eunho. I promised I wouldn’t lay a hand on you until your college entrance exams were over. The sleeping pills were just a slight aid in suppressing my sexual urges.”

“…….”

“Thanks to the sleeping pills, I’m sleeping deeply and it hasn’t affected my condition. I plan to take them often in the future. Otherwise, I feel like I would really lay a hand on you.”

“If that’s the case… just do it.”

“I made a promise. And it’s my principle not to break any promise I make to you.”

Yeorok’s attitude was so firm. There was nothing more to add to it. For his resolve was built upon experiences comparable to physical suffering. Instead of trying to persuade Yeorok, Eunho chose to slowly move with his chopsticks.

“Chairman. …you know.”

“Speak.”

“Once the CSAT is over… I’ll repay you for everything.”

Yeorok smiled silently. He picked up the braised lotus root that Eunho liked and piled it on top of the white rice.

“I’m already waiting for that day. So eat a lot and put on some weight. I plan to pick you down to the bone.”

“…That’s scary.”

“Just for this? It would be even more terrifying if I told you all the thoughts I’m having right now.”

The sound of Eunho swallowing reached Yeorok’s ears. He pretended to be unaffected, but he couldn’t hide his flushed face.

On the other hand, Yeorok ate with relish. He didn’t forget to give Eunho the wonderful smile he loved so much. No matter how restless he felt, he had to act like an adult. For the end of such agonizing endurance would be sweet.