Precious Thing

So, it seemed that after his backside had burst, he had still insisted on showering. Apparently, he had some kind of obsession with cleanliness. Tae Woowon silently stood up, tossing his book and phone onto the bed, and followed him into the bathroom deep inside the room.He stopped Lee Yesin from bending over the sink and pushed him into the dry bathtub. Then, he grabbed a small metal chair from in front of the vanity outside the bathroom and brought it inside.“Head this way.”He placed the chair in front of the tub and gestured for Lee Yesin to move. Tae Woowon took a towel from the cabinet, rolled it up, and placed it at the edge of the tub, resting Lee Yesin’s small head on it. He pulled out the showerhead, adjusted the water temperature, and sat down. He gently swept back the fine hair covering Lee Yesin’s forehead and began wetting it, starting from the ends. As he went through the motions, Lee Yesin, showing no hint of embarrassment, quietly watched Tae Woowon with his eyes open. Once his hair was thoroughly soaked, Tae Woowon turned off the showerhead. Every time Tae Woowon moved, Lee Yesin’s dark eyes followed him. Before squeezing out the shampoo, Tae Woowon flicked the water from his fingers onto Lee Yesin’s face. Startled, Lee Yesin quickly shut his eyes.“Don’t stare.”“I’ll do what I want.”Half-lidded, Lee Yesin stubbornly kept his eyes on Tae Woowon. Without glancing at him, Tae Woowon squeezed out the shampoo.“Then don’t take your eyes off me.”“…”With an odd expression, Lee Yesin furrowed his brows before quietly closing his eyes. Tae Woowon briefly glanced at Lee Yesin’s neat eyelashes, then rubbed the shampoo between his hands to lather it up and began washing his hair. In the quiet bathroom, the soft sound of the lather working through his hair was the only thing that could be heard.“Who did it?”“…What?”“Your hand.”“My Sunbae.”Lee Yesin’s tense expression relaxed as if he was starting to enjoy Tae Woowon’s touch. It was Tae Woowon’s first time washing someone else’s hair, but it seemed he had a knack for it. Maybe he should open a salon one day. He brushed off the silly thought, shook off the excess foam from his hands, and picked up the showerhead again.“Does his family have a lot of money?”“I don’t know.”Although he said he didn’t know, it was obvious the guy wasn’t as wealthy as Lee Yesin. At the university Lee Yesin attended, it was rare to find someone as rich as he was.“Did you do something wrong to him?”“…I don’t know.”Tae Woowon adjusted the water temperature again and rinsed the foam from Lee Yesin’s head, gently rubbing his rounded scalp with his fingertips.“Is there anything you do know?”“…Your touch feels nice.”Tae Woowon lifted his gaze from the hair he had been focusing on and looked at Lee Yesin’s slender face. His face, relaxed with his eyes closed, was peaceful. Then, Lee Yesin opened his eyes.“Don’t stop, keep going.”“You really say anything you want to a bodyguard, huh.”“Why not become my maid from today?”After saying that, Lee Yesin closed his eyes again. Tae Woowon resumed washing his hair.“No thanks. Taking care of a kid is too much work.”“I’m an adult.”“You’re a kid at twenty-five.”“How old are you, then?”Lee Yesin opened his eyes again and raised his voice in irritation, narrowing his brows. Tae Woowon wiped the smug look off his face by swiping his wet hand over it, forcing him to close his eyes. Unfazed, Lee Yesin opened his eyes again.“Close them, or I’ll squirt conditioner in them.”“How old are you?”“I’m older than you.”“That much I already know.”“You sure know a lot.”In a nonchalant tone, Tae Woowon shut off the showerhead and squeezed some conditioner into his hands, spreading it through Lee Yesin’s hair. What are you doing right now? The same question he had asked himself earlier popped into his head again.“What about your body?”“What?”“Can you wash your body by yourself?”“…I can just raise my hand up high and do it.”He imagined him taking a shower naked with one hand raised. It was too funny, and a snicker slipped out.“Can I watch?”“Are you crazy?”Despite the sharp tone, Lee Yesin didn’t open his eyes, perhaps because he had gotten used to Tae Woowon’s teasing. Looking down at the high bridge of his nose, Tae Woowon turned on the water.“You know what happens when I go crazy, don’t you?”Lee Yesin didn’t respond, seemingly out of retorts. Tae Woowon rinsed his slippery hair thoroughly and turned off the showerhead. In the now-quiet bathroom, the only sound was the steady drip of water. Tae Woowon grabbed a fresh towel and pressed it against Lee Yesin’s hair to soak up the moisture. Once the water stopped dripping, he stood up.“Where’s the hairdryer?”“It’s fine. I’ll handle the rest.”Rubbing the back of his neck, Lee Yesin stood up and stepped out of the tub. Before he could fully leave the bathroom, Tae Woowon grabbed him by the shoulder and roughly toweled his hair dry.“It’s a service. Just accept it.”“…On the vanity.”Tae Woowon tossed the two used towels into the laundry basket and left the bathroom. He switched on the hallway light and easily found the hairdryer in the vanity drawer. Unraveling the cord, he plugged it into the outlet next to the mirror and gestured to Lee Yesin, who was standing awkwardly near the bathroom door.“The cord’s short. Come here.”With a reluctant expression, Lee Yesin stood in front of Tae Woowon. Turning his back, Tae Woowon grabbed his arm and made him face forward. Then, he turned on the hairdryer and began drying Lee Yesin’s wet hair. Is this why people enjoy raising kids? A small sense of satisfaction washed over him. As he tousled the small, fragrant head in front of him, drying the hair until it was soft and fluffy, he switched off the dryer.The sudden cessation of noise left the quiet hanging heavily in the air. Tae Woowon gently combed through Lee Yesin’s hair with his fingers to tidy it up. He then reached past him, unplugged the dryer, and placed it neatly back in its spot. Looking down at Lee Yesin, who remained silent, Tae Woowon asked:“What else?”“…What?”Lee Yesin lowered his gaze and muttered softly.“What else do you want me to do?”“That’s enough. Now get out.”Tae Woowon nodded and left the room. That night, Lee Yesin didn’t ask Tae Woowon to return his sleeping pills.٠ ࣪⭑Every week, Tae Woowon had to submit a report. From the lack of feedback, it didn’t seem like the report was reaching Chairman Lee, but regardless, Tae Woowon diligently noted down the details about Lee Yesin and emailed them to his supervisor, Park Jonghyeon. Tae Woowon didn’t have access to the company’s intranet since, although he had been officially hired, he was considered an external contractor. Sitting in the sunlit living room, Tae Woowon reviewed the email he had sent before closing his laptop.On Monday morning, after staying home all weekend, Lee Yesin went to the hospital to remove the bandages from his hand. Only a few thick bandages remained on the inside of his index and middle fingers and palm, along with some minor care instructions. Tae Woowon expected him to head straight back home, but instead, Lee Yesin went to school. It was as if the lecture hall had something irresistible because Lee Yesin attended school with unwavering dedication. In truth, it wasn’t the school itself he was committed to but his studies. Even when he was home, he was constantly at his desk. Despite his major being related to fashion, he rarely touched his textbooks and spent most of his time sketching clothes in his notebook, as if preparing for a major exam.While ensuring that Lee Yesin ate—since the guy seemed to have no concept of meal times—Tae Woowon occasionally glimpsed inside his notebook. Yesterday, he saw a neatly drawn shirt and skirt in a cool blue hue. The shirt had a cleanly cut neckline, the hem of the skirt was crisp, and the long legs drawn beneath it were particularly striking.“That’s pretty. Did you use yourself as a model?”He asked while glancing at Lee Yesin’s legs in his shorts. Lee Yesin, who had been sitting there with his mouth agape, finally yelled after a delayed beat.“Shut…! Get out!”Tae Woowon wasn’t annoyed; by now, he was used to Lee Yesin’s temper. He simply thought to himself, He’s got a good set of lungs.Tick, shh. Tae Woowon lit a cigarette, leisurely smoking as he waited for Lee Yesin to emerge from his room a few minutes later. With bruises on both sides of his hips and now an injured hand, Lee Yesin stuck to commuting between school and home. Unlike before, Tae Woowon could now take breaks while Lee Yesin was in class, but the thought of the Sunbae who had hurt Lee Yesin kept him nearby. Judging by the wounds on his hand, it didn’t seem like an accident. Unless Lee Yesin had deliberately grabbed glass shards with his bare hand, someone had likely scattered them on his belongings. What kind of grudge did they have against him?“Stop smoking already.”Lee Yesin stepped out of his room, frowning. Although Tae Woowon didn’t smoke often, it seemed like every time he did, Lee Yesin caught him. Even though he himself would occasionally puff on a cigarette out of boredom, he always had something to say when it came to Tae Woowon smoking. Following behind Lee Yesin toward the front door, Tae Woowon stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray by the shoe cabinet.“You have a family gathering tonight, right?”“…”Without a word, the ever-arrogant Lee Yesin opened the door and left. Earlier that morning, Park Jonghyeon had contacted Tae Woowon with a weary voice, asking him for a favor.“There’s a family dinner scheduled for seven. I’ve informed the young master, but since he often skips these things… please make sure he attends.”At this point, he was less of a bodyguard and more of a secretary—and even part housekeeper. Tae Woowon thought this to himself as he climbed into the car next to Lee Yesin.“They want you to attend.”“I’m not going.”“Just go, eat quietly, and then leave.”Lee Yesin furrowed his brow irritably. Then, rummaging through his bag, he pulled out some earbuds and plugged them into his ears, effectively shutting Tae Woowon out. He had a real talent for getting under people’s skin.“I’ll come get you at six when your class ends.”“…”“I’ll drag you out and put you in the car if I have to.”He clearly heard, but stubbornly continued staring out the window without any reaction. By now, they had clashed a few times, and though they still didn’t know everything about each other, they had gotten a feel for each other’s personalities. That’s why Tae Woowon knew that Lee Yesin would show up at six. If not, Tae Woowon really would barge into the lecture hall, toss Lee Yesin over his shoulder, and carry him out.As expected, just after six, Lee Yesin came down the stairs with a disgruntled expression. Tae Woowon, waiting on the first floor, stood up from where he had been leaning against the railing and gestured for him to hurry.“Hurry up. Traffic’s gonna get bad soon.”Lee Yesin scowled as if he were fed up, smacked Tae Woowon’s arm, and walked ahead of him. Every time he acted like this, Tae Woowon had the urge to grab him and spank him. He wasn’t genuinely angry, but that arrogance needed to be corrected. He thought about how satisfying it would be to hear a tearful apology from Lee Yesin after putting him in his place. What do you call this feeling? Tae Woowon suppressed the strange urge as he followed him.The venue for the dinner wasn’t a typical restaurant but more of a banquet hall in a hotel. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, a large lobby came into view, with round tables sparsely placed around the room. Most of the people sitting there were dressed in simple suits, like Tae Woowon. They were likely chauffeurs and assistants of the Yeho Group family members. The table for the Lee family was through the large doors in the center.“You’re late.”“The class ran long.”Tae Woowon spoke, standing slightly behind Lee Yesin, to Park Jonghyeon, the family’s secretary. Lee Yesin pretended not to hear the exchange and slowly made his way toward the door. Park Jonghyeon opened it for him. Chairman Lee, sitting at the head of the table, turned his head to look at Lee Yesin.“You’ve arrived.”Without responding, Lee Yesin sat at the farthest seat from Chairman Lee. After confirming his presence, Park Jonghyeon bowed and closed the door politely.As soon as Lee Yesin entered, the quiet lobby began to fill with conversation. Several people stood up to visit the catering area. A driver, who had just parked his car and recognized someone inside, announced that he was going to grab a bite and left. Left alone, Tae Woowon quietly scanned the room. Then Park Jonghyeon approached him with a light sigh and started speaking.“Thanks for your effort. I honestly thought he wouldn’t come again, but I’m glad he did. You can wait here until the meal ends. There’s food over there, so feel free to help yourself. Do you have any questions?”“May I step out for a moment?”He was planning to go home briefly. With all the attention on Lee Yesin’s injured hand, Tae Woowon hadn’t been able to check on the safe he had been assigned to. He wasn’t sure how long the family dinner would take, but it didn’t seem like it would end soon. Plus, Lee Yesin always ate slowly, chewing everything twice as much as everyone else, possibly due to his small jaw. Tae Woowon figured he could use that time to check the safe and make some progress with his assignment.“The restroom’s over there.”Misunderstanding Tae Woowon’s question, Park Jonghyeon pointed to the far corner of the lobby.“No, there’s somewhere I need to stop by. Since security isn’t needed right now, I was thinking of heading out for a bit.”“Hmm… They’ll probably be out soon.”Scratching his cheek, Park Jonghyeon glanced awkwardly toward the door before continuing.“In fact, Mr. Ji Geonwoo’s meals rarely last longer than thirty minutes. That’s usually the max.”“What do you mean by that?”“The youngest master doesn’t like family meals. It’s quite common for him to run off, shouting. So, please hold off on your personal matters for now. Today is especially a good day for him to cause a scene.”Park Jonghyeon spoke smoothly as if he knew Lee Yesin inside out, raising his eyebrows. He then gestured toward Tae Woowon while walking toward the food.“Shall we eat?”What could be happening inside? Tae Woowon looked at the ornate door before following Park Jonghyeon.He placed the beautifully arranged food on his plate and sat in an empty seat. The person sitting across from him slightly bowed their head. Tae Woowon also returned the greeting and picked up his spoon.“You must have been through a lot. I heard you’ve been staying with the youngest master.”The man sitting next to him nodded quickly as if to agree.“It’s manageable.”“Wow, that’s the first time I’ve heard someone say that.”At this point, Tae Woowon started to get curious about the source of all the rumors. There were many differences between the public’s perception of Lee Yesin and the reality. Of course, he was spoiled and had his unruly moments, but he wasn’t as terrible as many people made him out to be.“In fact, there was no one who took care of the young master at home like you do. He recently caused such a big incident that the chairman had to take special measures. Ah, I’m the personal assistant to Director Lee Yejun. And this is our driver.”Lee Yejun was Lee Yesin’s older brother, the eldest grandson of the Lee family’s third generation. Tae Woowon didn’t care whether they were Lee Yejun’s assistants or drivers. He wasn’t interested at all. So he just answered with a disinterested “Yes” while moving his chopsticks lazily.“It seems things have been quiet lately. You must be quite capable.”Tae Woowon wanted to throw a piece of raw beef at the man’s ever-smiling face. It was irritating how casually he struck up a conversation, and he had no desire to discuss an unwanted topic. As he stuffed a piece of beef into his mouth, thinking about how to make them shut up, Park Jonghyeon sat beside him with a plate piled high with food.“What are you talking about?”“Oh, we were just discussing how the youngest master has been quiet recently. We were evaluating the skills of the newcomer.”The personal assistant, who had been grinning mischievously, raised his glass. Park Jonghyeon nodded in agreement.“Ji Geonwoo’s skills are certainly impressive, but considering the scale of the previous incident, it’s no wonder things have been quiet. The chairman had to spend over a hundred million won to resolve the situation. Oh, this is probably your first time hearing about Ji Geonwoo, right?”These men, who were known for keeping their lips sealed, couldn’t stop talking now. This was the only place where conversations that couldn’t be shared elsewhere were freely allowed. Perhaps that’s why they started revealing secrets to Tae Woowon, even though he hadn’t asked.“He drove under the influence. Even stole a car.”The personal assistant lowered his voice out of courtesy. Tae Woowon, who had been eating indifferently, stopped moving his chopsticks and looked up. Seemingly mistaking this for interest, Park Jonghyeon swallowed the food in his mouth and took over the story.“Luckily, no one was hurt, but when the police knocked on the window, they found him slumped over the steering wheel, barely able to open his eyes.”“It’s fortunate the chairman heard about it immediately and managed to settle things. Otherwise, it would have become a bigger issue.”The people at the table clicked their tongues, giving the kind of disapproving looks one would reserve for a troublesome child. Tae Woowon lost his appetite and set down his spoon, reaching for water.“He doesn’t seem that bad to me.”The people who had been conversing among themselves turned their gaze to Tae Woowon. The noise from the nearby table gradually crept over the now silent table. No one could find the words to speak until Park Jonghyeon, seated next to Tae Woowon, broke the silence.“You haven’t been here long, so it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know.”Tae Woowon didn’t respond. The personal assistant, watching him closely, curled his lips into a sly smile.“You must be on good terms with the young master. Otherwise, could it be that…?”“Please, eat. The soup is getting cold.”Park Jonghyeon cut off the personal assistant’s words. Tae Woowon thought he was in the thick of it, but it seemed he was just at the edge of the bamboo grove. What could be worse than driving under the influence?“Oh, it’s been twenty minutes.”Lee Yejun’s driver, who had been nodding along the whole time, glanced at his watch and grinned as he stretched out his hand.“Alright, pay up.”The personal assistant grumbled as he pulled out fifty thousand won from his pocket. Park Jonghyeon did the same. Tae Woowon brushed his hair back as he watched them.Then, bang! A loud crash came from behind the door. Moments later, Lee Yesin burst through.“Ah, if only he’d come out one minute earlier.”The personal assistant clicked his tongue. Tae Woowon let out a small, incredulous laugh.“Aren’t you going to follow him?”Park Jonghyeon glanced at Lee Yesin’s rapidly retreating back and spoke to Tae Woowon. Tae Woowon replied, “I will,” and stood up. The driver, who had hastily gotten up from the other table mid-meal, fumbled to pull his car keys out of his pocket. Tae Woowon approached him.“Finish your meal and then go home. What floor is the car on?”“Uh… but…”“What floor?”“Uh, basement level 2.”Tae Woowon snatched the car keys from the driver’s hand and hurriedly followed Lee Yesin, who had chosen the stairs. Tae Woowon’s steps mingled with the sound of Lee Yesin’s hurried descent down the stairs. Lee Yesin didn’t stop. He didn’t even look back, gripping the railing and rushing down as if he might fall.“Take it slow.”Having finally caught up, Tae Woowon grabbed Lee Yesin by the arm as he rounded a corner, stopping him. Lee Yesin, breathing heavily and still silent, slowly raised his head. The first thing Tae Woowon noticed was the cut on the corner of his mouth.“Did you get into a fight?”Lee Yesin didn’t scold Tae Woowon for his nonchalant question. Instead, he bit down hard on his lips, his eyes reddening. When even the tip of his nose turned red, he took a deep breath and finally spoke.“I told you I didn’t want to come.”Barely managing to get the words out, Lee Yesin shook off Tae Woowon’s arm and continued down the stairs. Fortunately, his pace had slowed to a more normal speed.The uneven sound of their footsteps echoed in the emergency stairwell. Lee Yesin, his head bowed low, exposed the pale skin of his neck as he continued descending. When they finally reached the second basement level, Tae Woowon grabbed his arm again. It seemed like Lee Yesin didn’t even know what floor they were on. Exhausted either from the dinner or from rushing down the stairs, Lee Yesin quietly allowed Tae Woowon to guide him into the car.The roads were still congested, as rush hour hadn’t quite ended. After stopping and starting at every light, they eventually reached a quieter street. Tae Woowon cracked open the window and glanced at the silent Lee Yesin.“Who did this to you?”It was the same question he’d asked a few days earlier. Tae Woowon waited for Lee Yesin to respond, recalling his calm face as he lay in the bathroom that day. But Lee Yesin only shook his head in silence.“Who did it?”They turned into the lane for a left-hand turn, the blinker flashing as Tae Woowon asked again. Still, no answer. Tae Woowon tapped the steering wheel with his fingers as they waited for the light, then turned the wheel and pulled into the villa complex, softly illuminated by lights. He parked in front of Lee Yesin’s home, turned off the engine, and watched as Lee Yesin quickly got out of the car, unfastening his seatbelt in record time. He hurried inside without even turning on the living room lights, disappearing into his room. Tae Woowon, a step behind, entered the house and knocked on Lee Yesin’s door. There was no response this time, though Lee Yesin usually answered.“I’m coming in.”Tae Woowon opened the door and walked in. By now, Lee Yesin knew better than to lock the door, having realized that Tae Woowon could open it anyway. Thanks to that, Tae Woowon entered his space without interruption and without permission. For once, the fastidious Lee Yesin, who showered every day and changed clothes the moment he got home, lay face down on his bed in his outdoor clothes, still wearing his bag on his shoulder.“Let me see your face.”Tae Woowon sat down on the bed and lightly grabbed the back of Lee Yesin’s head. As his fingers slid through Lee Yesin’s hair, the latter finally turned his head. The cut on the corner of his mouth wasn’t too bad, but his cheek was noticeably swollen.“How’s the inside of your mouth?”“……”“How’s your mouth?”Lee Yesin silently stared at Tae Woowon, then raised his arm to push Tae Woowon’s hand away. He sat up, but even then, Tae Woowon still had to look down at him. Probably because he didn’t eat well, he wasn’t growing taller. As Tae Woowon watched him, thinking this, Lee Yesin suddenly lifted the corners of his lips. His smile curved perfectly on both sides. Even his eyes crinkled softly as he spoke quietly.“Did that person order you?”“…What?”“Did that person tell you to give me the meds?”It made sense that Lee Yesin was being difficult. Whoever had hit him, Chairman Lee wasn’t likely on his side. Lee Yesin didn’t even like his grandfather enough to pretend otherwise, so there was no way he would look favorably on Tae Woowon, who worked for the chairman.“No, he didn’t.”“Then why are you interfering?”Lee Yesin’s smile faded, and he fixed his gaze firmly on Tae Woowon. He looked like a young animal growling. Tae Woowon brushed off the small act of defiance and continued examining the various marks on Lee Yesin’s face.“Want me to wash your hair?”“…Get out.”“I won’t report something this trivial.”“Do whatever you want with your reports. Just get out.”Lee Yesin gave Tae Woowon a push on the shoulder. Tae Woowon glanced down at Lee Yesin’s hand, which was tightly gripping the bedsheet. Despite being the one who had picked a fight and hit someone, he was trembling in fear. Having had a previous unsettling experience after pushing him too far, Tae Woowon stood up and left the room, doing as Lee Yesin wished. He thought that would be the end of the night.In the quiet of early dawn, the sound of car tires crunching on gravel woke Tae Woowon. On any other night, he would have slept through it, but today he had been lightly sleeping, bothered by Park Jonghyeon’s comment about it being a perfect day to cause trouble.Tae Woowon quickly got up and left his room. The front entrance light was on. Without even grabbing a coat, he dashed outside. Lee Yesin was getting into a taxi. Before he could close the door, Tae Woowon grabbed it, stopping him. Startled by Tae Woowon’s sudden appearance, Lee Yesin looked up at him.“Where are you going without a word?”“…Do I have to tell you? I didn’t turn off the GPS.”Tae Woowon pulled the half-closed door open wide and dragged Lee Yesin out of the taxi.“What are you doing! Let go!”Ignoring his protests, Tae Woowon reached into Lee Yesin’s jacket pocket, pulled out some cash, and tossed it to the taxi driver. “Sorry,” he said, without much sincerity, before grabbing Lee Yesin by the wrist and dragging him back into the house. He was in such a rush that he hadn’t even put on his shoes.“Why! Why are you stopping me! What does it matter to you where I go?”Slam! Tae Woowon shut the door and pushed Lee Yesin up against it. Lee Yesin glared at him fiercely, breathing heavily in anger.“At night, you sleep. You don’t wander around.”“I can’t sleep.”“So you just go out because you can’t sleep?”“Am I trapped here? Can’t I leave? Why do you get to decide that?”Tae Woowon silently stared down at Lee Yesin. He was right. Lee Yesin wasn’t trapped, and he could leave the house whenever he wanted. Tae Woowon had no authority to decide whether he could go out or not. Realizing this, Tae Woowon found the truth unsettling.He roughly grabbed Lee Yesin and dragged him. “Let go!” Lee Yesin yelled, but Tae Woowon ignored him, pulling him into the large room. He pushed Lee Yesin past the opaque partition and practically threw him onto the bed.“Are you crazy?”Lee Yesin, frowning deeply, tried to sit up, but Tae Woowon silently pushed him back down and lay next to him. He slipped his hand under Lee Yesin’s neck and pulled him closer.“Hey, you…!”Ignoring his struggles, Tae Woowon wrapped his arms around Lee Yesin’s waist and draped his leg over him. Ha, ha, Lee Yesin’s warm breaths scattered across Tae Woowon’s collarbone. Tae Woowon gently stroked his hair as Lee Yesin, who had stopped resisting, took in the situation.“…What are you doing?”“Putting you to sleep.”Tae Woowon’s feet were dotted with bits of dirt, and Lee Yesin still had his shoes on. Tomorrow morning, Lee Yesin would probably be horrified when he saw the state of his bed. Tae Woowon imagined him getting angry in the morning light and gently stroked his hair.“…I won’t go out, so just give me the meds and leave.”Lee Yesin whispered in a cracked voice.“Just sleep. I’m tired.”“I’m not sleepy…”Tae Woowon shifted closer, holding him tighter. Startled, Lee Yesin went quiet, resting his forehead against Tae Woowon’s chest.“Sleep.”Tae Woowon stroked Lee Yesin’s back over his jacket. At first, Lee Yesin flinched, but soon he stayed still. Everything around them was quiet. The warmth of their bodies spread across the points where they touched, and Tae Woowon became aware of the soft beat of a heart he hadn’t noticed before. After what felt like a long time, Lee Yesin’s erratic and uneasy breathing finally evened out. Tae Woowon stopped moving. He buried his face in Lee Yesin’s hair and closed his eyes.