The Night Of The Untraced

“…”“…”Through the blurry, tear-filled vision, Seungjoo could see Muheun pause. Neither Seungjoo, who had just snapped in anger, nor Muheun, who had quietly listened to him, said anything. In the midst of it all, Seungjoo let out a low sigh and hung his head.“…Ah.”Damn it, he hadn’t meant to cry like a child. If he cried here and now, everything he’d done would only seem like a childish tantrum.“Ha, damn it…”He tried to hold back, but all he could do was focus on not letting his shoulders shake from the heavy breaths. He covered his eyes with one hand, but that didn’t stop the tears that had already begun to flow.Seungjoo, struggling to catch his breath between sobs, spoke in a shaky voice instead of lifting his head.“…I know I’m not much help.”“…”“I know, but…”Muheun had called himself incompetent, but Seungjoo felt that the truly incompetent one was himself. No matter how much he tried to comfort himself by thinking he was just an ordinary person, it didn’t change the fact that he couldn’t solve this situation on his own and needed help. He couldn’t even go to school without needing protection—how could he help anyone?“…But I can’t help feeling anxious.”He felt like he’d go crazy if he just sat around, so he tried to find a way to help. He was confident it wasn’t dangerous and that he wouldn’t be a burden. And since things had turned out smoothly, he didn’t think he’d made a big mistake.“You have no idea what I’m thinking in times like this.”But once again, Muheun was acting like the world was ending. Before worrying about right or wrong, Seungjoo didn’t want to see him like that.So if his very existence caused him so much anxiety…“Maybe it would be better if…”He couldn’t finish the sentence. He couldn’t say those words in front of Muheun, and before he could, a warm embrace enveloped him. Muheun had pulled him into a somewhat hurried hug, pressing Seungjoo’s head against his chest as he bowed his own.“…I’m sorry.”“…”“It’s my fault.”Muheun’s voice, calm and soft, echoed in Seungjoo’s ears. Muheun rubbed his chin against Seungjoo’s hair and hugged him tighter. His voice, low and gentle, carried a hint of anxiety.“I won’t get mad. I won’t yell.”His tone was uncharacteristically uneasy. He trembled slightly as he slowly patted the back of Seungjoo’s head. With his other hand, Muheun wrapped his arm around Seungjoo’s shoulders and spoke in a barely audible whisper.“So please, don’t say things like that.”It sounded almost like a plea. Muheun must have picked up on what Seungjoo had been about to say. He was always perceptive, so perhaps he understood exactly how Seungjoo was feeling.“I didn’t think it through.”“…”“I’m sorry.”Muheun kept repeating apologies, as if he didn’t know what else to say. He carefully stroked Seungjoo’s back while holding him a bit tighter, as if afraid of letting go. Then, pressing his lips against Seungjoo’s hair, Muheun spoke in a voice that trembled as if he might cry.“…Please don’t cry. Okay?”Hearing someone tell you not to cry often makes you cry even more. Though Seungjoo was the one crying, it was Muheun who seemed more on edge. Despite that, Muheun’s comforting pats on Seungjoo’s back were as skilled as ever.“…”Afraid that he might let out a sob, Seungjoo clenched his jaw and bit his lip. But it was useless, as each breath he took came out as a pitiful hiccup. Shaking with sobs, Seungjoo clenched his fists, and Muheun spoke to him in an even softer voice.“I was worried.”It was a reason Seungjoo already knew. But the words that followed were something Seungjoo had never heard from Muheun before.“I was scared too…”“…”“That’s why I acted that way, Seungjoo.”Seungjoo knew this was the truth, even if it sounded like an excuse. That’s why, even though he resented Muheun, he couldn’t bring himself to truly hate him. Just as he had been scared, Muheun had been scared too, and just as Muheun had worried, Seungjoo had worried too.“But our Seungjoo was scared too, wasn’t he?”The gentle voice trying to soothe him was the catalyst that broke the dam holding back Seungjoo’s tears. The sorrow that had been building up inside him finally overflowed the moment he heard those words.“I didn’t realize it. I’m sorry.”“…”The truth was, Seungjoo had been scared the whole time. From the moment he got into Yunhee’s car to head to the association, to talking with the director and standing in front of Muheun’s dorm. Even a moment ago, when he was startled by Muheun’s cold reaction instead of the familiar face he had hoped to see.“…”It had been so long since he last cried like this. When he was younger, he would cry whenever Muheun teased him, but since growing older, he hardly ever shed tears. Especially not like this, being held in someone’s arms while sobbing uncontrollably.“I…”Seungjoo tried to speak, but it was hard to get a word out. After a couple of gasping breaths, he finally managed to speak in a voice thick with tears.“I told you I liked you…”Slowly, Seungjoo extended his arms and wrapped them around Muheun’s waist. He buried his face in Muheun’s neck, gripping his clothes tightly with his hands. The flood of sorrowful emotions overwhelmed him, and the words he had been holding back spilled out uncontrollably.“You know all of that… yet, you’re still like this, hyung.”Was it because of the crying or because his face was buried? The muffled words that came out of Seungjoo’s mouth sounded pitiful even to his own ears.“When I said we should see each other once every six months… hic… and go back to how we used to be, did you think I meant this?”It wasn’t about cutting ties without resolving anything. He meant that after everything was resolved, they could return to the peaceful past. A time when the only worry he had was his feelings for Muheun, and there was no need to think about life and death.“Why do you always disappear alone…?”“…”“Why do you always…”Seungjoo sobbed loudly, his forehead bumping against Muheun’s shoulder. Even then, his anger didn’t subside, and he hugged Muheun tightly as if he was going to crush him. Although it was halfway a release of his pent-up emotions, Muheun didn’t mind at all and hugged Seungjoo even tighter.“No, it’s not like that.”Muheun’s large hand gently stroked Seungjoo’s back, sliding down to his waist. The hand that had been cradling the back of Seungjoo’s head pressed down, ensuring that he couldn’t leave his embrace.“I didn’t think that way. It was a mistake on my part.”Instead of feeling suffocated, Seungjoo felt like he might melt into the warmth surrounding him. The body heat that enveloped him, the scent that brushed against his nose, and the voice that echoed in his ears were all unbearably warm.“I wasn’t trying to disappear. How could I leave you behind, Seungjoo? Hm?”Muheun had always been exceptional at comforting and soothing others. But now that Seungjoo was all grown up, it didn’t work as well. The usually calm and composed Muheun now showed signs of being flustered.“You need to stop crying. If you keep going, you’ll get a headache later.”Instead of answering, Seungjoo shook his head. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to stop crying, but rather that he didn’t know how to. His emotions had reached a boiling point, and he could no longer control them.“…Hic, huh…”Perhaps realizing that it was no use, Muheun gently pulled Seungjoo away from his chest. Seungjoo, disappointed by the sudden loss of warmth, tried to lean back into him, but Muheun carefully cupped Seungjoo’s cheeks with both hands. Then, he gently kissed Seungjoo’s damp eyelashes.“Let’s stop crying, okay?”Muheun gave him a short kiss, speaking in a tender tone. When Seungjoo surprisingly closed his eyes obediently, Muheun lingered a little longer this time. He kissed his reddened eyelids, his tear-streaked cheeks, and finally, his tightly closed lips. Afterward, he carefully wiped away the tears from Seungjoo’s eyes.“Don’t cry.”“…”It was something Muheun used to do often when they were young. He would tease Seungjoo until he cried, then comfort him by holding him close and kissing him here and there. Muheun would meet Seungjoo’s gaze and apologize with a loving expression in his eyes.“Let’s stop crying.”Although his tears had stopped, Seungjoo didn’t respond. He wasn’t five years old anymore, and it had been far too long for a simple kiss to comfort him. He was no longer a small child, so the fact that Muheun kissed him so naturally felt quite irritating.“If you keep crying…”Without thinking, Seungjoo reached out and grabbed Muheun’s collar. Just like he had done on the first day of the new year, right in front of the gate. Before the courage that the darkness had given him could fade away, Seungjoo forcefully pulled Muheun closer and pressed his lips to his.“…”“…”With a soft, embarrassed sound, Muheun froze for a moment. The surroundings were still dark, but at this distance, Seungjoo could guess Muheun’s expression. Despite being the one who had kissed him all over, Muheun had widened his eyes in surprise at this slight contact.And Seungjoo could tell that those dark eyes were slowly filling with a different emotion.“…”It all happened in a split second. Muheun cupped the back of Seungjoo’s head and pushed him against the door. With a loud thud, Seungjoo lifted his head, and this time, unlike before, Muheun roughly captured his lips.“Hup…”It felt like his breath was getting caught in his throat. The warmth that touched him wasn’t particularly hot, yet Seungjoo felt as though he might suffocate from the heat. The way their lips fit together, the breath that was stolen from him, and the sudden rush of excitement—it was all overwhelmingly intense.Despite his aggressive approach, Muheun didn’t continue harshly. He simply held Seungjoo’s shoulder with his free hand, keeping their lips together while catching his breath. It felt as if something was being restrained, which only made Seungjoo more anxious.Without realizing it, Seungjoo licked his lips, as if savoring the taste. There was no closer position to press into, yet it still felt insufficient. Just like before, he intended to suck on Muheun’s lips, but at the same time, the hand cradling the back of his head began to slide down.“…Hmph.”The hand moved slowly, carefully caressing the back of Seungjoo’s neck. Even such a simple gesture was stimulating enough to make his shoulders tense.Muheun, as if telling him to relax, continued to gently stroke him for a while before shifting his hand to lightly support Seungjoo’s chin. As Seungjoo’s lips parted when he lifted his chin, Muheun deliberately pressed down on his chin with his thumb. With his other hand, he held Seungjoo’s arm and wrapped it around his neck, tilting his head to deepen the kiss.Seungjoo unconsciously let his tongue slip out. He thought they were about to kiss properly, but Muheun let out a short breath and placed one hand beside Seungjoo’s face.“…”Thud. The door behind them made a loud noise. Muheun leaned in closer, his upper body pressing more firmly against Seungjoo. Trapped between the door and Muheun, Seungjoo clung tightly to Muheun’s neck with both arms.“Hng…”Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like Muheun intended to go as far as using his tongue. No matter how much Seungjoo tried to slip his tongue out, Muheun subtly refused, only sucking on his lips. Occasionally, he would tease Seungjoo by flicking his tongue across his lips, but when Seungjoo willingly opened his mouth, Muheun would retreat again.‘…Teasing me.’When he had kissed Seungjoo before, he did so without hesitation, but now, when Seungjoo was desperate, why was he holding back? His grip on the door was fierce enough to break it, yet his touch on Seungjoo’s face was unbelievably gentle. Even as he rubbed his lips with anxious movements, he carefully maintained a fine line to avoid getting too deeply entangled.In the end, Seungjoo pulled back, forcibly breaking the kiss. Muheun hesitated for a moment, narrowing his eyes as he looked down at Seungjoo. The emotion in that gaze was clearly lust, and Seungjoo blinked in a daze, his breath heavy.“If you’re going to do it, haa…”“…”“Then do it properly…”Before he could finish speaking, Muheun captured his lips again. Wherever his rationality had flown off to, there was no hesitation left this time. Muheun firmly held Seungjoo’s face and forced his tongue into his mouth.“Hmph…!”Thud. The door behind them made another loud noise. Muheun pushed his soft tongue deep into Seungjoo’s mouth, rubbing it against Seungjoo’s tongue with a sense of urgency. Seungjoo, unable to withstand the sensation, staggered, prompting Muheun to wedge his thigh between Seungjoo’s legs to keep him from escaping.It felt like he was prey cornered by a predator. Even though Seungjoo had initiated it, a sudden sense of danger washed over him. Ah, I should have just stayed still when he was holding back. As he thought this, a cold sensation began to well up from deep within his abdomen.‘Spiritual energy…’The energy accumulating beneath his navel was none other than Muheun’s spiritual energy. The spiritual energy mixed with saliva and breath was slowly being absorbed into Seungjoo’s body. As a cooling sensation spread through him, his senses became increasingly heightened.The ringing in his ears was evidence of the barrier that sealed off the dormitory. His spiritual sight has awakened. It wasn’t difficult to realize this. Muheun had likely hesitated to kiss him out of concern that Seungjoo’s spiritual sight would awaken.“…Hn.”Well, that was until just a moment ago. There’s no way to close spiritual sight once it’s been opened.“Uhm…”Unintentionally, Seungjoo’s throat began to hum with each breath. The sensation of Muheun’s tongue exploring his mouth, the heat of their mingled breaths, the sticky saliva and the messy entanglement of their tongues—all of it made Seungjoo’s overheated body even more sensitive.Muheun didn’t let up, pushing Seungjoo to his limits. When Seungjoo stumbled, Muheun wrapped an arm around his waist, and when Seungjoo tried to turn his head away, Muheun persistently followed. Even when Seungjoo was gasping for breath, Muheun shared his breath rather than letting go, stubbornly refusing to part as if something terrible would happen if their lips separated.Seungjoo could feel his rationality slipping away in real-time, and he gradually succumbed to the excitement. He didn’t even realize that he was leaning more and more into Muheun as a shiver ran up his spine.‘Ah, damn…’This feels way too good. It wasn’t just physical pleasure. It was a thrilling, tingling sensation that filled his entire body at the thought that Muheun was craving and desperately wanting him.The hand that had been cradling his face was now caressing Seungjoo’s ear. With his right hand, Muheun played with Seungjoo’s earlobe and the outer edge of his ear, while his left hand gently stroked the exposed nape of his neck. The slow, deliberate touches were intensely sensual.“…Hup, mm.”“…”Muheun pulled back slightly, then tilted his head to the other side. Their lips met again without giving Seungjoo a moment to catch his breath. As Seungjoo accepted Muheun’s tongue with a moan, Muheun slipped his hand inside Seungjoo’s collar and rubbed his collarbone and shoulder.“Mm…”Even though it wasn’t a particularly erotic area, his body flinched wherever Muheun touched. The spiritual sight that had awakened made Muheun’s touch on his bare skin feel slightly cool. As Seungjoo twisted his body in response to the heightened sensitivity, Muheun pressed his thigh firmly between Seungjoo’s legs.“…!”Startled, Seungjoo jerked his head away, making an embarrassed sound as their lips parted. But this time, without even a moment’s hesitation, Muheun turned Seungjoo’s chin back and kissed him deeply again.“Wait, hngh…”“Hmph.”Muheun’s half-hearted response and his deliberately slow movements made it clear that he was doing this on purpose. Seungjoo’s body had been on edge for a while, so there was no way he wouldn’t react to such direct stimulation. Although his ears were burning red, Seungjoo tried to push him away, but his hands had no strength, making it impossible.“Heup…”It felt like his breath was caught in his throat. The warmth he felt wasn’t particularly hot, but Seungjoo still thought he might suffocate from it. The tightly locked lips, the breath Muheun had taken away, and the excitement that was transmitted in an instant were all overwhelmingly intense.Despite his aggressive approach, Muheun didn’t act rough. He simply grabbed Seungjoo’s shoulder with his free hand and caught his breath while their lips were still joined. It felt like he was holding something back, which only made Seungjoo more impatient.Unconsciously, Seungjoo’s lips parted slightly, as if he were licking them. Though there was no closer space left between them, he felt like it wasn’t enough. He intended to suck on Muheun’s lips as he had before, but at the same time, the hand that had been holding the back of his head slid down.“Hm.”The hand that slowly moved down began to gently stroke the back of Seungjoo’s neck. Even that small gesture was enough to make his shoulders flinch.As if to soothe him, Muheun spent a long time caressing Seungjoo, then moved his hand to gently lift Seungjoo’s chin. As Seungjoo’s head tilted back and their lips parted, Muheun deliberately pressed his thumb against Seungjoo’s chin. With his other hand, he grabbed Seungjoo’s arm and wrapped it around his neck before tilting his head to deepen the kiss.Seungjoo instinctively stuck his tongue out slightly, thinking they would kiss again, but Muheun, letting out a short breath, placed one hand on the wall beside Seungjoo’s face.“…”The door behind them made a loud noise. Still bracing himself against the door, Muheun leaned in closer to Seungjoo. Trapped between the door and Kim Muheun, Seungjoo wrapped his arms tightly around Muheun’s neck.“Mmm…”Unfortunately, Muheun didn’t seem to have any intention of engaging in a deeper kiss. No matter how much Seungjoo tried to press his tongue forward, Muheun subtly refused, only sucking on Seungjoo’s lips. Occasionally, Muheun would tease Seungjoo’s lips with his tongue, but whenever Seungjoo tried to open his mouth willingly, Muheun would immediately pull back.‘…How frustrating.’When Muheun had kissed him earlier, he had been so reckless and fierce. Now that Seungjoo was desperate, why was Muheun holding back? Even though he pressed against the door as if he were about to break it, his touch on Seungjoo’s face was gentle, even cautious. His movements were so eager that he rubbed his lips with urgency, but he kept just enough distance to avoid deepening the kiss.In the end, Seungjoo pulled away from Muheun, forcing their lips apart. For a moment, Muheun hesitated, narrowing his eyes as he looked down at Seungjoo. The emotion in Muheun’s gaze was clearly lust, and Seungjoo blinked slowly, breathing heavily.“If you’re going to do it, haah…”“…”“At least do it properly…”Before Seungjoo could finish his sentence, his lips were captured again. Wherever Muheun’s restraint had gone, there was no trace of it now. With no hesitation, Muheun grabbed Seungjoo’s face and forced his tongue into Seungjoo’s mouth.“Mmph…!”Thud. The door behind them made another loud noise. As Muheun impatiently pushed his soft tongue deep into Seungjoo’s mouth, he rubbed it against Seungjoo’s tongue. Overwhelmed by the sensation, Seungjoo’s posture collapsed, but Muheun trapped him by sliding his thigh between Seungjoo’s legs.It felt like being prey cornered by a predator. Even though he had initiated this, Seungjoo suddenly felt a pang of fear. Maybe I should have stayed still earlier, he thought, as a chill started to settle deep in his stomach.‘His energy…’The energy accumulating just below his navel was none other than Muheun’s. The spiritual energy mixed with Muheun’s saliva and breath was slowly being absorbed into Seungjoo’s body. The cool sensation, like a breeze, made his senses feel heightened and sharp.The ringing in his ears signaled that the barrier around the dormitory had been activated. My spiritual sight is opening. Seungjoo quickly realized this. The reason Muheun had hesitated to kiss him must have been that he was worried Seungjoo’s spiritual sight would open.“Hmph.”Well, that was only a concern until a moment ago. Now that my spiritual sight has opened, there’s no way to close it again.“Uhh…”Seungjoo’s throat unintentionally let out a sound. The sensation of Muheun exploring his mouth, the feeling of their mingling breaths, and the sticky mix of saliva and tongues intertwining—it all made Seungjoo’s heated body even more sensitive.Muheun didn’t let up, pushing Seungjoo to the edge. Whenever Seungjoo staggered, Muheun would support his waist, and whenever Seungjoo tried to turn his head away, Muheun would stubbornly follow him. Even when Seungjoo gasped for breath, overwhelmed, Muheun would share his breath but never let go. It was as if their lips would fall apart if they stopped.Seungjoo could feel his mind slipping away in real-time, his excitement consuming him. He leaned more and more into Muheun, not even realizing it.‘Ah, damn…’This feels too good, way too good. Is this what fulfillment feels like? It wasn’t just physical pleasure. The fact that Muheun was so eager and desperate for him made Seungjoo’s entire body tingle with excitement.The hand that had been cupping Seungjoo’s face was now stroking his ear. Muheun’s right hand played with Seungjoo’s earlobe and the curve of his ear, while his left hand gently caressed Seungjoo’s exposed neck. The slow, lingering touches were unbearably sensual.“Mm, uh.”“…”Muheun slightly pulled back, tilting his head to the other side. The brief separation didn’t last long; their lips met again before Seungjoo could even catch his breath. As Seungjoo accepted Muheun’s tongue and moaned, Muheun slipped a hand inside Seungjoo’s shirt, rubbing his collarbone and shoulder.“Ugh…”It wasn’t even like Muheun was touching particularly sensitive areas, but wherever his hands went, Seungjoo’s body flinched. The sensation was partly because Seungjoo’s heightened spiritual senses made Muheun’s hands feel a bit cooler against his bare skin. When Seungjoo squirmed in response, Muheun pressed his thigh more firmly between Seungjoo’s legs.“!”Seungjoo flinched, quickly turning his head away. The sound of their lips parting was embarrassingly loud. But Muheun, showing no hesitation this time, turned Seungjoo’s face back to him and kissed him deeply again.“Wait, mmm, mmph…”“Mmm.”Muheun’s half-hearted response and the subtle way he rubbed against Seungjoo made it clear that this was intentional. Seungjoo’s body had already been on edge, and the direct stimulation was impossible to ignore. Flustered, Seungjoo tried to push Muheun away, but his hands lacked the strength.While this was happening, Muheun’s hand, which had been touching Seungjoo’s shoulder, moved out from under his shirt and wrapped around Seungjoo’s waist. Muheun pulled Seungjoo closer to him, pressing their lower bodies together with no space in between. Seungjoo, who had instinctively tried to pull away, froze as he felt something heavy pressing against him from below.“…?”Noticing Seungjoo’s reaction, Muheun briefly broke the kiss. Their lips didn’t separate far, staying close enough that they could still feel each other’s breath. Even knowing this, Seungjoo’s voice trembled as he managed to get out a single, shaky sentence.“You’re…hard.”The object pressing against him through Muheun’s pants had been radiating the same heat as Seungjoo for some time now. He had known Muheun was aroused, but he hadn’t expected to feel such a solid confirmation of it. So, even Muheun gets hard just from kissing. The realization was new and, strangely, fascinating.“…”Muheun didn’t respond verbally, instead softly pressing his lips against Seungjoo’s again. The soft chuckle that escaped him seemed to say, “Why state the obvious?” Even though the room was still shrouded in darkness, Seungjoo’s eyes had adjusted enough to see Muheun’s gently curved smile.“…Seungjoo.”When Muheun called his name in a low voice, Seungjoo was too focused on the sensation against his lower abdomen. He could barely manage to stay still, his breath held tight, as Muheun continued to kiss him.“Seungjoo… hm?”Muheun gave Seungjoo a short, light kiss and then dragged out his words, coaxing him. It didn’t seem like he was expecting an answer; rather, his tone was like he was whining for attention. At the same time, he subtly moved his waist, causing Seungjoo to tense his lower abdomen.“Why, huh… why do you keep calling me…”Why does he keep calling my name when I’m so out of it? Either stop kissing me or back off a bit. If not, just kiss me like before. Muheun is teasing me with his lips, making me more anxious, and being playful like a cat while he continues to kiss me. Meanwhile, his soft laughter was an added distraction.“Hmm, just…”His voice was languid, but the atmosphere didn’t relax. The slow and careful movements didn’t bring relief but rather felt even more dangerous. Despite his calm demeanor, it seemed like he was hiding his true nature to avoid scaring Seungjoo.Thump, thump. Seungjoo’s heart began to beat irregularly. While it had been merely excitement before, now there was also a fear of the unknown. The hand that had slipped inside Seungjoo’s shirt had moved up to his bare waist, reaching near his shoulder blades.Then suddenly, Muheun pressed his lips against Seungjoo’s ear and asked in a soft, coaxing voice.“…Do you want to wash up?”The implication of his words was obvious. Seungjoo wasn’t naive enough not to understand that. After a moment of silence, Seungjoo, with a face flushed bright red, barely nodded his head.Throughout the shower, Seungjoo stood under the stream of water, trying to calm his racing heart. If only they had gone through with it, maybe he wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed, but as soon as his rationality returned, it was enough to drive him mad. Was it embarrassment? Or was it anticipation? Either way, it was a feeling he had never experienced before.He considered switching to cold water but decided against it due to the unexpectedly cold air. Instead, he stuck with warm water. He wasn’t the type to shamelessly indulge in self-relief with just a door between them, so singing the national anthem to calm his nerves was the best he could do. After washing his hair twice, he felt ready enough to step out.The dorm was a studio apartment, with the bed in direct view from the bathroom door. As Seungjoo stepped out, he noticed some clothes—presumably Muheun’s—placed in front of the door. There wasn’t any underwear this time, but Seungjoo didn’t mind, quickly putting on the t-shirt and pants.When he emerged, Muheun was sitting on the bed, rummaging through Seungjoo’s bag. It seemed like he had picked it up from where it had fallen near the entrance, and the way he was inspecting its contents felt oddly familiar, as if it were his own. Without looking at Seungjoo, Muheun spoke in a flat tone.“You really ran away from home.”“…”Feeling oddly like a runaway teenager, Seungjoo averted his eyes in embarrassment. He pretended to examine the dorm interior as he slowly made his way toward the bed.“…Why are you going through someone else’s bag?”“Are we strangers?”Muheun replied playfully and set the bag aside. Then, tapping his thigh with his hand, he gestured with his chin.“Come sit. I’ll dry your hair.”Surely, he didn’t mean on his lap, right? Seungjoo thought, opting to sit on the floor in front of Muheun instead. As soon as he plopped down with his legs crossed, he heard Muheun chuckle from above.“I meant on my lap.”“…How would you dry my hair like that?”“Why not? I used to do it all the time when you were little.”That was back when he was small. Now, with his bigger frame, that position seemed impossible. Perhaps Muheun thought the same, as he just laughed and didn’t push the idea further.Before using the dryer, Muheun carefully patted Seungjoo’s damp hair with a towel, even wiping behind his ears. Then, with the dryer placed on the bed, he gently started drying Seungjoo’s hair, beginning from the top.“Let me know if it gets too hot.”The warm air blew softly through his hair, and Seungjoo blinked slowly, leaning back against the bed a little more comfortably. Maybe it was because Muheun’s fingers were long, but each time they ran through his hair, it tickled in a pleasant way.“Hyung.”“Hmm?”“Have you dried anyone else’s hair besides mine?”It was just a casual question born of curiosity. He assumed the answer would be no, but then again, Muheun’s touch was so practiced that he wondered. Perhaps the habit from their childhood had stuck with him? While Seungjoo pondered, Muheun replied gently.“Yeah, I have.”“…Who?”Seungjoo hesitated, lifting his head. Muheun angled the dryer so the air wouldn’t blow into Seungjoo’s face and smiled playfully.“Our Seolgi?”“Oh, come on.”Seungjoo couldn’t help but scowl for a second, the absurdity of it catching him off guard. Then he remembered their scruffy dog, Seolgi, and let out a soft laugh.“Seolgi doesn’t have hair; it’s fur.”If it was Seolgi, then Seungjoo had experience, too. Sometimes, he and Muyeong would give Seolgi a bath, both of them getting soaked and drying off the dog until its fur puffed out.“Is that so? Well, other than Seolgi, no.”“I figured.”At Seungjoo’s curt response, Muheun chuckled, turning off the dryer. He softly patted Seungjoo’s now-dry hair and leaned down to plant a small kiss on the top of his head.“All done.”“…”Seungjoo had relaxed for a moment, but as soon as the room grew quiet again, tension returned to his shoulders. His neck stiffened, and for some reason, the tips of his ears started to feel warm.“Well…”Seungjoo nervously darted his eyes around, glancing at Muheun. Muheun, still sitting on the bed, tilted his head slightly, meeting Seungjoo’s gaze.“…Could you turn off the lights?”It’s too bright like this. It was better when everything had been invisible in the dark earlier. Otherwise, every little action would be too clear, too real.“You can still see, even with the lights off.”“Hmm, do you mind if I do?”Muheun smiled, eyes crinkling, and without any hesitation, he reached over to flick the switch beside the bed. The room plunged into darkness, and in the stillness, he gently wrapped his arms around Seungjoo, effortlessly lifting him from the floor.“Come here.”Despite the bed being too small for two grown men, Muheun pulled Seungjoo close, holding him without a second thought. Normally, Seungjoo would have protested, but tonight, he obediently rested his head on Muheun’s arm and settled in.‘…Is this it?’His heart pounded loudly in his chest. He hadn’t been this nervous even during his college entrance exams, but now he felt so anxious his throat was dry.Meanwhile, Muheun pulled the blanket over both of them, enveloping them in warmth. As Seungjoo shifted slightly, Muheun cradled him close, gently patting his back.“…”Seungjoo spent the entire shower standing under the water, trying to calm his racing thoughts. If they had just gone through with it, it would have been one thing, but with his rational mind returning, he felt like he was about to lose it. Embarrassment—no, maybe anticipation—filled him, and it was definitely a feeling he had never experienced before.He thought about using cold water to snap out of it, but the air was colder than expected, so he opted for warm water instead. He wasn’t the type to shamelessly deal with things while separated by a mere bathroom door, so humming the national anthem to calm himself down was the best he could do. After washing his hair twice, he finally felt ready to leave the bathroom.The dorm was a studio apartment, and when Seungjoo opened the bathroom door, the bed was directly in view. After stepping out of the shower, he noticed some clothes, presumably Muheun’s, left right in front of the door. There was no underwear this time, but Seungjoo didn’t mind and quickly put on the T-shirt and pants.As he stepped outside, he saw Muheun sitting on the bed, casually going through Seungjoo’s bag. It seemed he had picked it up from where it had fallen by the entrance, and he was rifling through it like it was his own. Without even looking at Seungjoo, Muheun spoke in a flat tone.“You’ve really run away from home, huh?”“…”Feeling like a runaway teenager, Seungjoo awkwardly turned his head away and pretended to inspect the room while slowly walking towards the bed.“…Why are you rummaging through my bag?”“Are we strangers?”Muheun replied playfully and set the bag aside. Then, patting his thigh, he gestured for Seungjoo to come over with a tilt of his head.“Sit down. I’ll dry your hair.”Surely, he didn’t mean for him to sit on his lap, right? Thinking this, Seungjoo sat on the floor in front of Muheun instead. As soon as he sat cross-legged, he heard a laugh from above.“I meant sit on my lap.”“How are you going to dry my hair like that?”“You used to sit on my lap all the time when you were a kid.”That was when he was much smaller. Now, they were both too big for that to work. Muheun must have thought the same, as he didn’t press the matter and just laughed.Before using the hair dryer, Muheun used a towel to dry off the excess water in Seungjoo’s hair. He carefully wiped behind Seungjoo’s ears and then began drying his hair from the crown down with the dryer that had been left on the bed.“Tell me if the air gets too hot.”The warm air from the dryer ruffled Seungjoo’s hair. He blinked slowly and leaned more comfortably against the bed. Maybe it was because of Muheun’s long fingers, but each time they swept through his hair, it made Seungjoo feel oddly ticklish.“Hyung.”“Yeah?”“Have you dried anyone else’s hair before?”It was just a casual question, something he was curious about. He didn’t think anyone else would have had their hair dried by Muheun, but his hands were surprisingly skilled, so Seungjoo wondered if it was a habit from when they were younger. While thinking this, Muheun replied softly.“Yeah, I have.”“…Who?”Seungjoo quickly looked up at him, surprised. Muheun angled the dryer so it wouldn’t blow in Seungjoo’s face, smiling with his eyes.“Our Seolgi.”“Oh, come on.”Seungjoo couldn’t help but grimace at the ridiculousness of the answer. But then, the image of their scruffy dog Seolgi popped into his head, and he found himself laughing.“He’s got fur, not hair.”Seungjoo had helped dry Seolgi too, after bath time, soaking wet and fur flying everywhere as he and Muryeong worked to dry the dog.“Right? Besides that, no one.”“I figured.”Seungjoo’s blunt reply made Muheun laugh as he turned off the dryer. Gently patting Seungjoo’s now dry head, he leaned down and lightly kissed the top of it.“All done.”“…”Seungjoo had finally started to relax, but the quietness that followed made his shoulders tense up again. His neck felt stiff, and for some reason, his ears started to burn.“Uh…”Seungjoo glanced at Muheun out of the corner of his eye. Muheun was still sitting on the bed, looking down at him with a slight tilt of his head. When he cocked his head to one side, Seungjoo frowned and asked quietly,“…Can you turn off the light?”It was way too bright in the room. It would’ve been much better if they couldn’t see anything, like earlier. This way, everything felt way too clear.“You can still see me even if I turn it off.”“So? I don’t mind if you can see.”Muheun smiled and hit the switch beside the bed, plunging the room into darkness. In the next moment, he gently wrapped his arm around Seungjoo and effortlessly lifted him up from where he sat.“Come here.”The bed was too small for two grown men, but Muheun had no qualms about pulling Seungjoo close and lying down together. Normally, Seungjoo would have made a fuss, but tonight he quietly rested his head on Muheun’s arm.‘…So, are we going to do it?’His heart was pounding loudly. He hadn’t even been this nervous taking the college entrance exam, but now his throat was dry, and he felt anxious.In the meantime, Muheun pulled the blanket over both of them and, as Seungjoo wriggled and shifted, wrapped an arm around him, softly patting his back.“…”This… isn’t how I imagined it going. As he lay there, Seungjoo thought that the atmosphere now was completely different from when they kissed earlier. He was just starting to wonder why when Muheun said something unbelievable.“Let’s just sleep.”“…”Seungjoo’s eyes snapped open, fully awake now. He wasn’t sure what conversation he should be having right now, but he was certain that it wasn’t one about sleeping. There are different meanings to the word “sleep,” but with Muheun’s gentle touch, the implication was clear.“Wait… Hyung, wait a second.”Something felt wrong. Seungjoo hurriedly lifted his head. Muheun flinched slightly at the tickle of Seungjoo’s hair brushing his chin and looked down at him. Seungjoo blinked and asked again.“Are we really just going to sleep like this?”“It’s way past bedtime.”It wasn’t untrue. It was well past the time Seungjoo would normally have been fast asleep. But there were moments when even the desire for sleep couldn’t win against the strength of certain impulses.“Are you sleepy right now?”“…”Seungjoo asked a little impatiently, but Muheun didn’t say anything, just looked at him. Should’ve told him not to turn off the light. Regretting it now, Seungjoo narrowed his eyes. Muheun let out something like a sigh and then cupped the back of Seungjoo’s head, pulling him back into his chest.“Ah…”“…Yeah, there’s no way I’m sleeping.”With his face pressed against Muheun’s chest, Seungjoo could clearly feel the fast, pounding heartbeat. There was no way Muheun was ready to fall asleep either. Despite how composed he had seemed, he was clearly sharing the same nerves and tension as Seungjoo.“…But I don’t think I can hold back.”That quiet, almost to-himself comment made Seungjoo feel an inexplicable sense of urgency. Now that he thought about it, wasn’t it just a few days ago that there was a full moon? Maybe Muheun wasn’t as stable as he appeared.Seungjoo swallowed dryly, and Muheun rubbed his back as if to calm him down.“Well, there’s also a matter of conscience…”It felt like déjà vu. He had heard something similar earlier from Yunhee in the car. Whether it was due to the age gap, being a friend’s younger brother, or a younger sibling’s friend, Seungjoo wasn’t sure.“…Since when have you cared about conscience?”You can kiss, but not go further? What’s the difference? Seungjoo’s tone was somewhat challenging, which made Muheun chuckle softly. He pressed his lips gently against the top of Seungjoo’s head, whispering in a calm voice.“Don’t get swept up in the mood, Seungjoo.”“…”“What if you end up regretting this?”Seungjoo finally understood why Muheun had pushed him into the bathroom earlier, telling him to take a shower. The heat between them had risen so quickly, and Muheun had been giving him some time to think things over, letting him cool down before they got carried away.“I won’t regret it.”But Seungjoo had already made up his mind under the shower’s stream. In fact, it didn’t even require a decision—anything with Muheun would be okay. It wasn’t a rash choice; it was built on trust that had never wavered since the day he was born.“It’s not even the first time…”That last part was said to ease any lingering guilt Muheun might have. It also served to hide Seungjoo’s own embarrassment over being so firm in his resolve.“…”But as soon as Seungjoo said that, Muheun froze. The hand that had been softly running through Seungjoo’s hair suddenly stopped mid-air.After a brief pause, Muheun asked in a low, steady voice,“…When did you…?”His tone was much quieter than usual. Before Seungjoo could answer, Muheun clicked his tongue and clamped his mouth shut. It seemed he hadn’t meant to ask that, but Seungjoo’s answer was already prepared.“What do you mean? Don’t you remember that night, Hyung?”Why was he pretending not to know? Even if Muheun had been avoiding it, the events of that night weren’t erased. Hadn’t Seungjoo even brought it up once during an argument, saying something like, “You’ve done everything, so why are you acting like this?”“I was the one who drank, so how could you have forgotten?”Seungjoo complained, half out of frustration, half out of disbelief. Muheun was silent for a long while, then finally let out a faint sigh.“Ah…”That sound was drawn out, filled with a mix of realization and something close to futility. After a pause, Muheun resumed running his hand through Seungjoo’s hair, but there was a slight, amused smile in his voice now.“…I see.”Maybe it was Seungjoo’s imagination, but Muheun sounded a little relieved. Before Seungjoo could say anything, Muheun shifted and pulled Seungjoo’s waist closer. In the small bed, their legs became tangled, and Seungjoo found himself unintentionally tensing his back.“Seungjoo.”Muheun’s gentle voice whispered into Seungjoo’s ear. His hand, now resting inside Seungjoo’s shirt, slowly slid up from his waist, tracing the line of his spine until it reached his shoulder blades. Muheun’s fingers brushed over the prominent bones as he spoke in a low, serious tone.“If we had slept together that night… you wouldn’t have been able to walk out of here on your own.”The chapters have been revised, edited, and compressed, and the complete main story has been released for free, as I’m concerned it might be taken down or worse. I didn’t want to disappoint the readers, so I apologize for any inconvenience, and I hope you enjoy reading the complete story! The side stories will be coming soon, so don't worry~