RB 64

Eunho closed his eyes. His tightly closed lips showed his troubled state.

Yeorok slowly crossed his legs. He sank back into the sofa and ran his gaze over Eunho’s face. It was obvious Sim Eunho’s head was spinning. He let out ‎a ‎mocking laugh.

“That one’s the most effective.”

“…Just the ointment is enough.”

“Are you a pharmacist?”

Only then did Eunho slowly open his eyelids. You’re not a pharmacist either, Chairman… The words rose all the way up his throat. Holding them back made his lower lip jut out.

Yeorok snorted like he was amazed.

“Do you have a complaint?”

“…No.”

“Stop playing tricks and bring it here.”

Eunho walked to the bathroom, drooping like a beaten dog. The black bottle he had hidden in the cabinet ended up in Yeorok’s hand.

It was no bigger than two finger joints. The stomatitis medicine was highly effective but came with pain that felt like the wound was being burned.

Eunho sat quietly on the sofa, as if bracing for his fate. He rarely frowned in front of Yeorok, but this time he did, clearly hating what was about to come.

His palms were already damp with sweat. He rubbed them against his pants, then spoke with difficulty.

“Chairman….”

“Yes.”

“That medicine really hurts. When it’s applied it feels like my flesh is burning. It feels like being cut with a knife.”

“I know. I’ve used it too.”

Yeorok answered flatly as he opened the cap. The small brush attached inside came out soaked with dark liquid. Just seeing it made Eunho’s shoulders twitch. It was a reflex from experience.

“Open up.”

“……”

Yeorok held the brush and waited. Eunho’s repeated looks of refusal had no effect.

Eunho had no choice but to twist his upper body slightly. Facing Yeorok, he opened his mouth a little, and Yeorok grabbed his jaw. Then his thumb pried down Eunho’s lower lip.

The mucous membrane that should have been smooth was a mess. Yeorok clicked his tongue.

“You’ve started slacking off.”

“I never…ahh!”

As he tried to protest, the small brush pressed against his lower lip. The dark liquid soaked into the wound. The agony made him scream instantly.

“Ahh, haa, hhhah!”

“Don’t exaggerate.”

When Eunho flailed too much, Yeorok simply climbed onto his thighs. His solid legs easily pinned Eunho’s body. The position looked indecent, but Yeorok did not care. While stirring the brush in the bottle, he used both legs to hold Eunho down.

The body under him thrashed in pain. Eunho scratched at Yeorok’s thighs with both hands.

“…Haa, hh, stop, I don’t want it.”

“Hurts enough to cry?”

“It really hurts.”

Tears welled at the corners of his eyes. This was no ordinary pain. His lower lip felt branded with a hot iron.

Even Eunho’s sincere plea only made Yeorok smile. Holding the bottle, he lightly tilted Eunho’s jaw.

“I’ve never taken care of anyone like this except you, Sim Eunho-ssi.”

“……”

“So open your mouth properly.”

Meeting his eyes while pushing the brush forward, Yeorok looked like the devil. Eunho swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth. The taste was bitter from the medicine already on his mucous membrane.

When his lips parted, Yeorok bent forward and searched inside. The small brush touched every corner of his tongue and inner cheeks, spreading the liquid evenly. He was more earnest and focused than usual.

The whole time, Eunho shook from the pain. The strokes themselves were gentle, but the aftermath was unbearable.

His hands, which had shrunk back pitifully, ended up clutching Yeorok’s waist and tugging at the rough shirt. That was the most Eunho could resist.

Even his breathing came out in ragged pants. Sweating heavily, Eunho forced himself to endure. How could that sight not be pitiful? While coating the inflamed tongue carefully, Yeorok spoke.

“The more it hurts now, the faster it heals. No need to suffer long.”

When there was no spot left to treat, he slowly screwed the cap shut.

Only then did Eunho’s head flop backward. He looked like someone released after torture. Even the hands gripping Yeorok’s shirt fell away limply.

“Don’t drink water for about an hour.”

His voice was calm as he gave the warning.

Eunho barely lifted his head to look at Yeorok. He was straightening his body. Because of Eunho clutching him, his shirt was creased.

“In an hour… will you do it?”

“I don’t think I can kiss you in this condition.”

Eunho closed his mouth slowly. The bitterness was intense. His mouth felt numb, almost paralyzed. He wondered if his tongue would even move properly.

“Then something else at least….”

“I have no intention of troubling someone who’s unwell.”

Wasn’t what he just did already troubling?

Eunho mulled over the words and suddenly realized that it meant Yeorok would not touch him any further tonight. All his waiting alone in the empty house for Yeorok became meaningless in that instant.

Yeorok turned away from Eunho’s pleading gaze. Fortunately, he didn’t seem about to leave. His steps carried him to the study instead. He opened the door and went into his own space.

When the door clicked shut, Eunho let his whole body go slack. Washing and preparing himself for Yeorok’s arrival now felt foolish. He wondered what exactly he had been expecting.

His head was impossibly tangled, but the truth was he didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger.

He thought an hour of rest would be fine. Eunho closed his eyes. For now, he decided to set aside the clutter in his mind and accept the rest given to him.

An hour later, after resting enough, he became conscious of the person inside the house.

The sting of pain had faded, and with the bitterness gone from his mouth, his steps naturally drifted toward the study. He knocked softly on the closed door. From inside, a familiar voice answered yes.

Eunho opened the door without a sound. Peeking his head in, he saw Yeorok sitting at the desk. His eyes stayed on the laptop as he spoke.

“What is it?”

“…Chairman, until what time are you staying today?”

“Do I need to report to you when I’m in my own house, Sim Eunho-ssi?”

Yeorok’s voice was casual.

Eunho waved his hand. No, that’s not it…. He quickly added a timid excuse.

“I just wanted to wait and see you off.”

It was already well past 11 p.m. As long as Yeorok was here, Eunho could not rest comfortably in the house. If he at least knew when Yeorok would leave, his mind would feel lighter.

Yeorok finally lifted his gaze. His eyes on Eunho were no different from when they had been on the monitor. Eyes that always held the same dry look, whether at people or objects.

“I’ll probably be up all night…. Don’t mind me and go to sleep first.”

“……”

Eunho’s eyes wandered over the laptop and the stack of documents spread on the desk. Choi Yeorok looked busy. He wanted to help, even a little, but there was nothing he could do.

Yeorok too read Eunho’s troubled expression. He could not miss it. Drooping eyes, a face whining like a dog.

Yeorok let out a small sigh and leaned his head back against the chair. Then he called shortly, “Sim Eunho.”

“Come here.”

Eunho stiffened and walked forward. When he reached the desk, Yeorok tilted his chin. It meant come closer. Eunho stepped in again. Before he knew it, he had entered Yeorok’s space between desk and chair.

“Are you afraid of me?”

Yeorok stretched out his arm and held Eunho’s cheek. His already rigid body grew even stiffer at the touch.

“Why do you seem more and more distant?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You’re really difficult.”

Shouldn’t someone cling to and pester the person like?

Even Yeorok, skilled at dealing with people, found it hard to know how to handle Sim Eunho.

He showed with his whole body that he cared, but the moment they were alone in the same room he looked about to wither from nerves. Yeorok could not understand it.

Each time he touched him, Eunho shrank back, yet when their lips met he went limp, wrapping his tongue his tenderly. Like a secret he would take to the grave, he refused to voice a single piece of his feelings, but when skin met skin, his affection for Yeorok poured out helplessly.

That was why he was hard to read. His overly cautious, timid personality was frustrating, and at the same time it kept drawing Yeorok’s attention. Always having been met with open, aggressive affection, Yeorok found this a new type altogether.

He brushed Eunho’s eye area gently with his thumb. Dark shadows were cast under the pale face. He looked just as sleepless as Yeorok himself.

“Sleep early. Then your mouth ulcers will heal faster.”

“…Yes.”

“Take one of these first.”

Yeorok opened the desk drawer and took out a brown plastic bottle. He had brought some of the sleeping pills Ahn Jaehwan gave him to the officetel too.

He held out a small pill. Eunho glanced at him repeatedly, then lowered his head. He accepted it with his mouth straight from Yeorok’s hand, which made Yeorok snort.

“I meant for you to take it with your hand.”

“What? Ah… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry again? That word is stuck in your mouth?”

At the stern rebuke, Eunho rolled his eyes, flustered. He didn’t know what else to say, and just sighed.

“Enough, just go. Don’t come back in here unless I call you.”

“Yes. Good… night.”

Eunho bowed his head and stepped back. It wasn’t the right thing to say to someone planning to work all night, but with no gift for words, it was the best he could do.

Fortunately, Yeorok did not correct him. He straightened his posture and went back to focusing on his work. Eunho watched carefully, then slipped out of the study.

The bitter taste of the medicine was melting in his mouth. He suddenly realized he had swallowed it without even knowing what it was.

Eunho sucked the pill like candy. More than suspicion, what stuck in his mind was the feeling of Yeorok’s fingers when he had taken it.

He thought he was hopeless.

Three or four hours later, Yeorok stepped out to drink some water. The living room was silent, as it was long past midnight.

Crossing the room without thinking, his steps stopped.

He saw figure slumped in the sofa corner.

Eunho was dozing, nodding off. Sitting alone in that wide space, curled up, it was irritating to look at.

His steps, which had been headed for the kitchen, turned on their own. Yeorok walked up and nudged Eunho’s shoulder.

“Sim Eunho.”