The Night Of The Untraced

Shouldn’t there be some kind of response when you hear someone say they like you? It doesn’t have to be a full-on confirmation of liking them back, but I think there should be some form of definition to the relationship. However, Muheun didn’t say a single word about that.“Yeah, why?”Whether he knew what Seungjoo was thinking or not, Muheun met Seungjoo’s eyes and asked in that usual gentle voice of his. His gaze, fixed on Seungjoo, was filled with concern and affection.When Seungjoo didn’t immediately get to the point, Muheun tilted his head with a puzzled expression.“What’s wrong?”“…”‘Hyung, why don’t you say you like me?’ The words rose to the tip of his throat, but Seungjoo kept silent for a moment, carefully choosing his words. He hesitated to ask directly because there were minor concerns that weighed on his mind.It wasn’t because he lacked confidence or thought that Muheun didn’t like him. Seungjoo didn’t think Muheun was the type of person to recklessly engage without commitment. Even if it might be true with someone else, he was certain Muheun wouldn’t act that way with him.‘It’s okay… I won’t do anything scary. Don’t worry.’Besides, it was hard to misinterpret Muheun’s feelings after how gentle he had been the night before. While Muheun’s kindness wasn’t anything new, there was a difference between feeling it through actions and feeling it through his warmth. Sometimes, words aren’t needed when emotions are transmitted through touch.Kim Muheun likes me. Seungjoo had no doubts about that. What he was curious about now was why Muheun hadn’t expressed his feelings verbally.“…Hyung, don’t you have something to say to me?”Until now, whenever Seungjoo confessed to someone, there was always some kind of response. Whether it was, “Okay, let’s date,” “I don’t think we can date,” or “Let’s just go back to being friends,” the relationship was always defined through words before moving forward.“Something to say?”“Yes, something to say.”So, Muheun should give him a response of some kind to his confession as well. Not by apologizing and holding him, not by showering him with kisses like a child, and not by expressing love with actions—just one simple word.“Something to say…”As Muheun murmured, Seungjoo stared at his lips intently, his face slightly tense. He was both anticipating and, in some ways, anxious about the words that would come out. He always felt the thin line between expectation and tension when looking at Kim Muheun.“…Ah.”It was then that a low sound of realization escaped Muheun’s lips. Seungjoo’s eyes lit up in anticipation of what would follow. But instead, Muheun, after a brief moment of hesitation, handed over some clothes that had been left on the bed.“First, let’s put on some pants.”“…”Only then did Seungjoo realize—he had been standing proudly in front of Muheun wearing only a t-shirt. The shirt was large enough that nothing inappropriate was showing, but to Muheun, it must have been an unseemly sight.‘…How embarrassing.’Seungjoo cleared his throat awkwardly as he accepted the pants from Muheun. He wanted to go to the bathroom to change, but the thought of turning his back now felt even more embarrassing, so he decided to change right there. However, as he was about to put his legs into the pants, something felt off.“Wait, these are yours, Hyung.”He had assumed they were his own black shorts, but based on the size and design, they were clearly Muheun’s. There was enough of a size difference between them that the pants Muheun had handed him were a bit too long.“Yeah, they’re mine.”“I have my own, though. Why these?”Seungjoo had brought enough clothes to last for a whole trip. Muheun knew this, so he couldn’t understand why he was being given Muheun’s clothes.“These are way too big.”Despite his complaint, Seungjoo put on Muheun’s pants anyway. They weren’t so big that they were unwearable, and it felt like more effort to pull out his own clothes now. So he obediently pulled the pants on, but as he did, he felt a lingering gaze on him.“…What?”The source of the gaze was Muheun, who had been quietly watching Seungjoo the whole time. After confirming that Seungjoo had put the pants on, Muheun reached out.He tugged at the elastic waistband and tied it tight, his voice trailing off as he spoke.“No reason.”A smile crept onto his lips. Not just a smile, but a playful one.“It’s just, that’s what you kept saying a lot yesterday.”“…What?”Seungjoo blinked, momentarily dumbfounded by the sudden, random comment. What was he talking about? What had he just said…? These pants are too big…?“Ah, seriously!”The moment he understood, Seungjoo’s face crumpled. His neck flushed red with embarrassment as he swatted away Muheun’s hand. Of course, by then, Muheun had already tied a neat bow and was chuckling.“Hyung, why are you like this?”I don’t know how many times I’ve said this. Muheun was the one who said something strange, and he’s the one half-dressed, yet why am I always the one feeling embarrassed?“You know I live to tease our Seungjoo.”Muheun didn’t even think about wiping the smile off his face as he reached out to Seungjoo again. Seungjoo tried to back away, but Muheun was faster, wrapping his arms around his waist. It wasn’t a strong hold, but firm enough that Seungjoo couldn’t push him away, as Muheun pulled him close.“Do you really think you’ve slept enough?”“….”The softly spoken question was so sweet it was almost too much to bear. Seungjoo reflexively placed his hand on Muheun’s shoulder and furrowed his brow for a moment. He could see the clear bite mark he had left on Muheun’s tattooed shoulder.“I’m wide awake…”“Yeah, wide awake?”“…Doesn’t that hurt, Hyung?”Maybe I should have held back a bit more. I had bitten him because I was in so much pain, but seeing the wound now, I felt a little guilty. What if it left a scar? However, Muheun casually responded as if it was no big deal.“It’ll heal soon.”“Well… it will heal quickly, but it still hurts, doesn’t it?”Wounds heal with time, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t painful, even for Muheun, who might have faster healing abilities than most.“Are you worried about me?”Annoyingly, Kim Muheun squinted his eyes like a sly fox, his crescent-shaped eyes gleaming with satisfaction.“I bet it’s not me who’s in pain, but you, Seungjoo…”Since what he said was true, Seungjoo stayed silent with a pout. Muheun gently rubbed Seungjoo’s back and pulled him in tighter, making Seungjoo sit on his lap. Then, Muheun asked in a soft voice,“Is your back okay?”“…”I definitely had something to ask him earlier. But now that I was forcibly seated on his lap, all thoughts had vanished. I only felt an embarrassing urge to whine a little.“…It hurts.”It hurt, no doubt about it. My muscles were so sore that walking was difficult. Even after intense workouts, I hadn’t felt this bad. It must have been because I used muscles I don’t usually use.Hearing that, Muheun let out a soft laugh and started gently patting Seungjoo’s back.“I’ll give you a massage.”***Muheun wasn’t joking when he said he’d give a massage. He had Seungjoo lie down on the bed and started massaging him skillfully, pressing on the stiff spots along his back and stretching out his hips and the insides of his knees. His touch was so adept that Seungjoo couldn’t help but ask,‘…Have you done this for someone before?’‘Sometimes I do it for my team members. I learned sports massage because of injuries.’He did CPR last time, and now this? He really can do everything. Then again, he’s been an exorcist for 10 years. Spending a third of his life in this field, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had learned all sorts of things.‘You’re on Team 1, right?’‘Hmm, well…’The casual question was met with a lukewarm answer. Without giving a clear “yes” or “no,” Muheun responded ambiguously.‘Officially?’That sounded like he wasn’t actually on the team, but I missed the chance to ask further. By then, Muheun had finished the massage and whispered softly into Seungjoo’s ear,‘Are you hungry?’Humans are so fickle. As soon as he said that, I was hit with a wave of hunger. I realized that I hadn’t eaten since waking up late this morning. For someone like Seungjoo, who ate three meals a day religiously, it was no wonder he was hungry.So, Muheun went out and brought back some food for Seungjoo. Apparently, there was a cafeteria in the dormitory, and as expected for a place serving exorcists, the portions were huge. Naturally, Seungjoo only managed to eat half (and even that was a lot for him), while Muheun worried about how little Seungjoo ate.It wasn’t that I ate too little, it was that exorcists ate too much. Just look at Muryeong. Back in high school, didn’t he go for three helpings during lunch? Muheun, too, finished not only his meal but also what Seungjoo had left behind.Anyway, just as they were finishing their meal, Muheun received a call. It was from the head of the association, and Muheun prepared to leave as if he had been expecting it. Judging by his demeanor, he hadn’t planned on bringing Seungjoo along, but Seungjoo followed him regardless.‘I’ll go with you.’‘…’‘We need to discuss what was negotiated yesterday.’It was a reasonable argument, so Muheun didn’t say anything further and took Seungjoo with him to meet the association head. Before they left the dorm, though, he reminded Seungjoo to change his clothes. ‘At least wear underwear.’ His remark annoyed Seungjoo once again.“…”“……”The two of them were now crossing the same hallway that Seungjoo had walked through with Yunhee the previous day. This time, Seungjoo followed behind Muheun with a much more relaxed expression. He had been too tense yesterday to notice, but the walls of the hallway were lined with framed photographs.“Wow… it feels like a corporate office.”Curious about the photos, Seungjoo took a closer look and saw that they featured partner organizations and charitable groups. There were even some well-known corporations, environmental organizations, and politicians. As Seungjoo casually admired the pictures, he stopped in front of one particular frame.“First Yeonho Orphanage Donation Ceremony”“……Yeonho Orphanage?”It was a photo of the former association president shaking hands with someone in front of what looked like a kindergarten building. Seungjoo recognized the former president’s face, and even though there was a new president now, it wasn’t strange to see the old president’s photo hanging there. What bothered him was the unfamiliarity of the orphanage’s name.“What’s wrong?”“Well… this photo. It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”The Exorcist Association was a private organization known only to key government officials. It was said that they periodically donated a portion of their profits to public institutions. Seungjoo wasn’t sure how their profit structure worked, but one thing was clear: the founding capital was connected to the Seo family—his family. The association functioned much like a business, and because of that, Seungjoo was familiar with most of their donation recipients.“Where is Yeonho Orphanage?”It was the first time Seungjoo had ever heard of it. Normally, he would have come across the name at least once, but there was no orphanage he knew called “Yeonho.” He wondered if he had just forgotten, but that didn’t seem to be the case, especially since the picture only showed the first donation ceremony, with no follow-up.“You wouldn’t know it, Seungjoo.”Behind him, Muheun was gazing at the photo with a disinterested look. His pitch-black eyes seemed cold, but Seungjoo couldn’t think of any reason for that, so he brushed it off as his imagination. Muheun, his eyes narrowed, explained in a flat tone.“It burned down a few years ago.”“Ah…”If it no longer existed, it made sense that Seungjoo had never heard of it. After all, Seungjoo was only twenty years old and had been just a clueless kid a few years ago.But for an orphanage to be destroyed by a fire… How bad must it have been?“What happened to the kids there?”He asked, hoping for the best. He really wanted the answer to be a good one. But Muheun furrowed his brows slightly and answered ambiguously.“There were some survivors.”“……”Instead of asking more, Seungjoo just stayed silent. He felt like learning more would only upset him. There was a reason people said ignorance was bliss.They continued down the hallway until they finally arrived in front of an ornate wooden door. Based on his memory from yesterday, this was probably the president’s office. Muheun glanced briefly at Seungjoo before lightly knocking on the door.“It’s Kim Muheun.”The door opened immediately, making Seungjoo flinch in surprise. When he saw who had opened the door, he let out a small sigh of relief. It was the exorcist who had quietly served them tea the day before.“Let’s go in.”Seungjoo hesitated, wondering if he should greet the exorcist. But before he could decide, Muheun had already stepped inside, and the exorcist walked briskly as if he didn’t even notice Seungjoo. Seungjoo shrugged it off and followed Muheun closely.“Oh, you both came.”Unlike yesterday, when the president had rushed to greet them, today he remained seated on the sofa, merely watching them. He casually sipped his tea, but to Seungjoo, it felt like a staged scene.“Welcome. It’s good that you’re here together.”He set down his teacup and gestured for them to sit across from him. As the door behind them closed, Seungjoo flinched and instinctively turned his head. The soft thud of the door shutting echoed in his ears, making the air feel abruptly isolated.‘A barrier…’He hadn’t noticed yesterday, but it seemed there was a barrier separating the inside and outside. Muheun’s dormitory also had a similar barrier, but realizing it now filled Seungjoo with a sudden sense of unease. It felt like they were… trapped.“Oh dear, the barrier startled you?”The president chuckled as he spoke, clearly aware that Seungjoo had noticed the barrier. Judging by his direct mention of it, he seemed to have also realized that Seungjoo’s spiritual sight had awakened. As Seungjoo winced and looked at him, Muheun stepped in front of him, blocking the view.“Seungjoo tends to get startled easily.”The broad expanse of Muheun’s back in front of him made Seungjoo feel a sudden wave of calm wash over him. He hadn’t even realized it, but apparently, he’d been tense this whole time. The tension melted away entirely when Muheun glanced back at him with a reassuring smile.“It’s fine. The barrier is just for security.”“……”The uneasy feeling Seungjoo had disappeared in an instant. Remembering how they could hear the knock from outside earlier, he figured that only the sound from the outside was blocked. They weren’t actually trapped, and even if they were, having Muheun with him made him feel reassured.“……Did they only block sound?”“Yeah, just sound.”Despite the association president being right in front of him, Muheun’s demeanor toward Seungjoo didn’t change. He didn’t seem intimidated or nervous. Seungjoo had briefly wondered if following along might have been a bad idea, but it seemed there was nothing to worry about.“Don’t worry and sit down.”If Muheun said it was fine, then it was fine. Thinking that, Seungjoo followed him and sat on the sofa. The president watched the two of them, as if assessing something. After a moment, the president smiled kindly and clasped his hands on the table.“Well… it seems like you’re feeling uncomfortable, so I’ll get straight to the point. We would like to request your help in purifying a Gwimae.”Although the president had called Muheun in, the request was actually directed at Seungjoo. Seungjoo straightened up, glancing at Muheun. He had mentioned the situation to him before, but Muheun had gotten angry the moment he heard it.But unaware of this, the president continued speaking without waiting for a response.“The Gwimae is located in the West Sea. It was created after a large amount of waste oil was spilled some years ago. Our team sealed it at the time, but the seal seems to have broken recently.”The West Sea—so it was in the ocean? Seungjoo had only ever seen Gwimae in the mountains before, so encountering one in the sea was new to him. Then again, the Gwimae that had appeared at school had come from a lake.“As promised yesterday, if you purify the Gwimae, we’ll make sure you’re well compensated. Is that alright?”Even though the president was asking for his agreement, it didn’t seem like he was really expecting an answer. Seungjoo hesitated and glanced at Muheun, though he had already explained the situation to him. When he did, Muheun had been furious.But the president, unaware of these circumstances, continued speaking without waiting for a reply.“And for this, young master, you will be working with Kim Muheun, the team leader—”The president suddenly stopped mid-sentence. He had said “team leader,” but the moment he uttered the word, a faint, unreadable smile crept across his face.“Oh… I must apologize for my slip of the tongue.”His exclamation seemed unnaturally forced. The president furrowed his brow as if deeply regretting his mistake.“Do you not know why this friend is called ‘team leader’?”It was both a probing and a simple question, though it gave Seungjoo the feeling of something dark coiling in his gut.“……”Memories flashed through his mind—Gwangsik had called him “team leader,” and when asked, Muheun hadn’t denied it. Then there was the conversation from earlier, where they mentioned “Team 1” as a public face.It wasn’t hard to put the pieces together. Muheun was indeed a team leader in the Exorcist Association, though likely not officially part of Team 1, as Yunhee had always been recognized as that team’s leader. So Muheun must be the leader of an unofficial team.“Yeah, I didn’t know… exactly.”He had a rough idea, so he wasn’t completely unaware. Regardless, his answer wouldn’t have changed even if he knew for sure.“Does it really matter?”“…Excuse me?”Muheun’s gaze shifted toward Seungjoo. It was a rather bold question, and the president blinked in surprise, as if taken aback by Seungjoo’s bluntness. He seemed to be processing what Seungjoo had just said.“I’m an outsider.”“……”The president, clearly not expecting that response, fell silent. What did he think of me, Seungjoo wondered, as he continued speaking calmly, without changing his expression.“It doesn’t really concern me.”Whether Muheun was a team leader or not didn’t make much of a difference to Seungjoo. He was curious about why Muheun had that title, but knowing the reason wouldn’t change their relationship. Besides, even between close friends, people rarely knew each other’s exact roles in their workplaces.“Haha… You’re not an outsider, young master. You’ll soon become a supporter of our association.”While the president wasn’t wrong, Seungjoo didn’t want to acknowledge that just yet. Whether he would become a successor or not was something that couldn’t be determined now. For the time being, he was still an outsider.As Seungjoo silently stared at the president, the president’s confident smile seemed to falter just a bit.“Of course, there’s no need for you to know everything, but…”It was clear why the president was saying all this. For some reason, he was trying to create tension between Seungjoo and Muheun, to undermine the trust between them. Seungjoo could see through the president’s intentions, but even knowing that, learning new facts could still stir up some emotions.It seemed the president had thrown out a test, but Seungjoo had no intention of playing along.“I’ll ask him about it directly later.”Seungjoo spoke as if oblivious to the subtext, and someone let out a soft chuckle. It was none other than Muheun, seated beside him. Without even glancing at him, Seungjoo calmly added,“It’s better to hear it from the person themselves.”A bright white sedan cut across the open road. Perhaps because of the awkward time of day, there were no other cars in sight. Outside the window, the sky was heavy with dark clouds, and beneath them, the sea churned with waves.Seungjoo kept his eyes fixed on the window, staring blankly at the scenery outside. Maybe it was because the rainy season was approaching, but both the sky and sea lacked any clear color. The deep, dark blue of the ocean felt like it could swallow everything whole at any moment.“……You’ve really been raised well, Seungjoo.”After a while, Muheun, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, spoke softly. Seungjoo had heard this before, and his response was already set.“My parents raised me.”They were on their way to catch a Gwimae, driving toward the West Sea in Muheun’s car. In about 30 minutes, they would arrive. Muheun, who had been quiet the entire time, suddenly chuckled and brought this up. Still smiling, Muheun asked Seungjoo,“Aren’t you going to ask?”“Ask about what?”Seungjoo finally turned his head to look at Muheun. Since Muheun was facing forward, his sharp nose stood out. As Seungjoo unconsciously took in his side profile, Muheun slowly parted his lips.“Why I’m the team leader.”‘You should hear it from the person themselves.’That’s what Seungjoo had said earlier, after which the association president had quickly dropped the conversation with a defeated expression. He gave a brief explanation of the Gwimae and insisted they leave right away. The president had clearly given up on stirring trouble when he didn’t get the reaction he wanted. Seungjoo didn’t understand why he’d even tried if he was going to give up so easily.“Well, not really…”Although Seungjoo had said he’d ask Muheun later, he actually had no intention of doing so. The reason was simple—he didn’t want to make Muheun uncomfortable.“I told you, it doesn’t matter.”To say he wasn’t curious would be a lie. There were plenty of things he wanted to know—why Muheun was a team leader, why it was kept secret, and why he hadn’t told Seungjoo. But it was purely out of curiosity; he didn’t feel hurt that something had been kept from him. If Muheun hadn’t told him, there must have been a reason, and Seungjoo was fine with that. Muheun didn’t have any obligation to share work-related details with him, especially things about the association’s internal matters.Besides, Seungjoo wasn’t the only one left in the dark.‘Which team is Muheun on?’‘Hyung? Team 1.’When Seungjoo had asked Muryeong before, Muryeong had clearly answered that Muheun was part of Team 1. There was no reason for Muryeong to lie, meaning he didn’t know about Muheun being a team leader either. If even his family didn’t know, Seungjoo had no reason to dig into it.“Tell me when you’re ready. Honestly, I’m not interested in whether you’re a team leader or not… That’s not the important thing you need to tell me.”His last words came out in a bit of a grumble, though that hadn’t been his intention. He was trying to lighten the mood, but once he said it, he realized he was genuinely curious. The thing he had brushed off earlier that day (or more precisely, that afternoon), the thing he had convinced himself didn’t matter—that’s what was bothering him.“Something I need to tell you?”“Yeah, there is.”Why hasn’t he asked me to be his boyfriend yet?Even if Seungjoo could understand all the things Muheun was hiding, he couldn’t wrap his head around this one. He kept wondering if there was a reason, but since nothing came to mind, it only made him more frustrated. He had even considered asking directly, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt a surge of irritation.Do I really have to ask about this too?Seungjoo had been the one to fall for Muheun first, the one to confess first, and the one who had stopped Muheun from pulling away. And now, he was supposed to be the one to ask what their relationship was? It felt like he was the only one worrying about it. It wasn’t a matter of pride—it was more like a small pang of disappointment.“Just think about it.”Are all adults like this? Do they just naturally guess the status of their relationships without ever having clear conversations?Even now, on Muheun’s neck, there was a mark Seungjoo had left. It had faded quite a bit since the morning, but it would still take time to disappear completely. It was clearly a mark of intimacy, and Muheun wasn’t trying to hide it. And yet, despite all of that, he hadn’t said the words “I like you.”“Hmm…”Muheun hummed softly, tapping the steering wheel. Normally sharp and perceptive, his expression now was unreadable, as if he had too much on his mind to figure out what Seungjoo was talking about.“Got it.”After a long moment, Muheun responded in a serious tone. Though the response was casual, it didn’t feel light. His next words were the same.“I’ll think about it.”“……”Feeling awkward, Seungjoo let out a small cough and turned his head back to the window. He had nothing to say now that Muheun had responded earnestly. As he stared blankly out the window, a warm sensation touched his fingers.“Don’t be mad.”Muheun had gently intertwined his fingers with Seungjoo’s, which had been resting on his thigh. Their fingers squeezed together briefly before naturally pulling apart—Muheun had to drive, after all. The contact wasn’t long, but it was enough to melt away any lingering frustration.“…I’m not mad.”Seungjoo wasn’t truly upset. As he’d said before, it was just a little “pouting,” nothing more, nothing less. And even that feeling melted away the moment Muheun’s warmth touched him.They sat in silence for a while. Seungjoo clenched and unclenched his hand, trying to shake off the lingering sensation. It occurred to him that it had been a long time since they’d held hands.“Do you want me to open the window?”After a long stretch of staring out the window, Muheun asked lightly, assuming that Seungjoo wanted to see the ocean. But since he hadn’t really been paying attention to the view, Seungjoo turned to face forward and replied,“I’m fine. You can open it if you want.”“Then I’ll open it just a little.”With that, Muheun cracked open both the driver’s and passenger’s windows slightly. A humid sea breeze, carried by a cool wind, flowed into the car. It was warmer than the air-conditioned interior, but in its own way, it wasn’t bad.“When was the last time you came to the ocean?”“Not that long ago. I went to Haeundae with some friends on a graduation trip.”It was the winter after Seungjoo had finished his third year of high school. He and some friends had gone on a trip to Busan. Originally, Kim Muryeong was supposed to go as well, but he’d opted out, saying he had plans to go on a trip with his girlfriend. They’d gone to the East Sea, and although Seungjoo hadn’t wanted to know, Muryeong had shown him a bunch of photos from the trip, so now he did.“It’s almost my first time coming to the West Sea.”“Really? It’s been a long time for me too.”Muheun seemed pleased with the sea breeze he hadn’t felt in so long. Most likely, he had been traveling to the mountains to catch Gwimae, as Seungjoo had heard that certain hunters frequented specific terrains.“Did you go to Haeundae with just your guy friends?”“No, there were some girls too…”Seungjoo had almost finished his sentence before clamping his mouth shut. He quickly swallowed the rest of his words, but unfortunately, the important part had already reached Muheun’s ears. Muheun narrowed his eyes and repeated what Seungjoo had said.“Oh… so there were girls too?”Why is a bad feeling never wrong? Muheun’s voice was soft and calm as usual, but there was a hint of irritation in it, especially in the way he glanced at Seungjoo.“And how did you handle the room situation?”“Of course, we stayed in separate rooms. They’re just friends.”But Seungjoo could confidently say he was more innocent than anyone. All they’d done was enjoy the ocean, eat sashimi, and set off some fireworks. …Okay, maybe they had a little alcohol too.“Seungjoo, there’s no such thing as ‘just friends’ between guys and girls.”“Wow, you know you’re the last person who should be saying that, right?”Seungjoo retorted, his voice filled with disbelief. Muheun, of all people, was the one who was closest to his older sister, Seunghee. The two of them would get openly annoyed whenever anyone doubted their platonic friendship.“It might be friendship to you, but not necessarily to the other person. Are you saying none of those girls liked you?”“No…”Seungjoo’s confident response faltered. In reality, a few of them had shown interest in him. They hadn’t confessed, and it wasn’t like they were about to, so he had just pretended not to notice.“That’s all in the past.”Left without a good answer, Seungjoo replied in a half-hearted tone, trying to brush off the conversation. He didn’t understand why he felt so irritated when he hadn’t done anything wrong. Wasn’t it normal to go on trips? Besides, back then, he and Muheun hadn’t even been in regular contact.At that thought, Muheun asked again.“When did you go?”“…”Seungjoo, his brow furrowed, gave a small twitch. The trip had been in mid-January, but he knew exactly what Muheun was going to say if he answered.However, without needing a response, Muheun chuckled softly, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.“So, after kissing me on New Year’s Day… you went on a trip with some girls?”It just so happened that the timing was unfortunate. On New Year’s Day, Seungjoo had kissed Muheun, and then, just a few weeks later, he went on a trip with his friends. The trip had been planned before winter break, and he hadn’t thought for a second that Muheun would be bothered by it.“I couldn’t even sleep because of that…”“What are you talking about, seriously…”Seungjoo was dumbfounded by Muheun’s complaint, as if he was the one who had lost sleep. Who was the one really losing sleep here? Muheun’s exaggeration seemed too much. Even if he had lost sleep, it surely wasn’t because of that day’s events.“When have you ever lost sleep? You don’t even sleep much at night.”Despite Seungjoo’s indifferent reply, Muheun just smiled quietly. It seemed like he was either enjoying Seungjoo’s reaction or holding back something. Sensing the potential awkwardness, Seungjoo quickly added, trying to keep his tone light.“It wasn’t even that big of a deal. We just saw the ocean, stayed one night, and that was it.”In fact, Seungjoo had fallen asleep early while his friends drank. The next morning, he had half-heartedly cleaned up the mess and nudged his zombie-like friends awake. It was far from a romantic or exciting trip.“And besides, why would you care about the girls? You’re a guy.”He meant that, whether it was guys or girls, there was no reason to care. He wasn’t gay, but Muheun, the person he liked, was a guy, after all. However, Muheun turned to look at Seungjoo with a slight roll of his eyes, as if he interpreted that statement differently.“Do you think I only care about the girls?”“…”Seungjoo had no response. Muheun seemed entirely serious. That was why Seungjoo couldn’t ask why he even cared about such trivial things.‘…So he’s not just joking around?’Could he actually be jealous?Honestly, Seungjoo had thought Muheun was just playing the part of a concerned elder, like always. He figured Muheun was using any excuse to tease him. After all, their relationship was still… well, undefined, wasn’t it?“Well…”While Seungjoo remained silent, Muheun dragged out the end of his sentence. He had that familiar soft smile on his face, as though he had never been serious at all. Narrowing his eyes slightly, Muheun spoke in a lighthearted tone.“I’m just kidding.”But that comment felt like the real joke. Even though he thought so, Seungjoo didn’t point it out. Instead, he rubbed his cheek awkwardly, trying to read the room.In the meantime, Muheun turned the car toward the parking lot, signaling the end of the conversation.“We’re here.”***Since the beach was crowded, they had to wait until sunset to begin the main work.The more crowded the area, the weaker the barrier had to be, so Muheun carefully surveyed the surroundings before choosing a spot. Since it would be hard to move around on the sandy shore, he settled on a dike blocked by a breakwater and stone walls.“Be careful, it’s slippery.”There was a “No Entry” sign, but neither of them paid much attention to it. The tide had already receded, leaving behind dark watermarks in some areas. Muheun stuck a few talismans in certain spots and scanned the sea, as if calculating something.“It’s going to take a bit longer for the sun to set.”As he said, despite the cloudy sky, it was still bright like midday. The darkness would fall quickly, but they had to wait a little longer before starting.“When it gets dark, stay exactly where I tell you to. You can sit if you want. Don’t move around unnecessarily, it’ll be dangerous. I’ll lure it in and bring it to you, okay?”The ground beneath his feet did seem slippery and dangerous. Seungjoo, nodding silently, watched Muheun brush his hair back in the sea breeze and then spoke carefully.“…Hey, hyung.”“Hm?”Muheun, who answered softly, turned to look at Seungjoo. Today, like always, he was wearing a black t-shirt that went down to his wrists. Under his tousled hair, a row of piercings lined his ear.“Is it okay for me to purify the Gwimae?”Seungjoo should have asked this earlier, but he hadn’t had the chance. Last night was too hectic, and this morning, he’d been summoned by the association’s president. Now that he had gone ahead and gotten involved, he felt self-conscious about bringing it up.“Well… even if it’s not okay, what can we do?”Muheun’s answer was surprisingly nonchalant. It wasn’t a clear affirmation, but at least it didn’t sound like he was going to oppose it now. Still, Seungjoo frowned slightly, prompting Muheun to soften his expression as he reached out toward him.“We’ll find a baseline.”His fingers touched Seungjoo’s forehead, gently brushing aside some of the hair tickling his skin, then tucking the hair behind Seungjoo’s ear. Although his hair was too short to stay back, the warmth of Muheun’s hand against his ear made Seungjoo flinch without realizing it.“…Baseline?”“Yeah, when exactly you merge with the Gwimae, how far your senses connect, and what it takes to sever that connection. And also, how far your detection range extends.”It was something Seungjoo had never thought about before. He hadn’t even considered the idea of there being a “baseline.”“I know that even if I told you not to do it, you wouldn’t listen. I mean, look at how you showed up here after I told you to stay home.”“…”“So now, the best thing to do is minimize the risks. And for that, we need to know your condition precisely.”Although his tone wasn’t accusatory, Seungjoo couldn’t help but feel guilty. Muheun’s touch was so careful, yet Seungjoo could only imagine how shocked Muheun must have been when he showed up at the association. It probably felt like the sky was falling for him.“I know this might sound irresponsible.”With that, Seungjoo gently placed his hand over Muheun’s, which was cupping his cheek. As he subtly nuzzled into the touch, he noticed Muheun’s expression softening. Lowering his gaze, Seungjoo spoke calmly.“It’s just how I feel. When I came into contact with the Gwimae, it didn’t feel like my body was being strained. To be honest, it hurt, but there weren’t any aftereffects or anything…”Seungjoo knew that Muheun felt most reassured by his warmth. The way he had been explaining everything earlier, all the while touching here and there, was probably his way of suppressing his rising anxiety. So now wasn’t the time to push him away—it was the time to put him at ease.“So don’t worry too much. I won’t act recklessly again, and I won’t get hurt either.”While he wasn’t so sure about the first part, he was confident about the second. As long as he stayed by Muheun’s side, there wouldn’t be any major harm. And even if things did get dangerous, he knew that Muheun would find a way to save him.“…I’m sorry for making you worry.”His last words came out so softly they were barely audible. He wasn’t sorry for disobeying Muheun or coming to the association on his own; but for making him worry—that, he truly regretted.“So you do know that you worried me.”Muheun chuckled lightly, responding in a teasing tone. He gently rubbed under Seungjoo’s eye with his thumb and then used both hands to cradle his face. The affection in Muheun’s gaze was unmistakable as their eyes met.“I’m sorry, too. I won’t let it happen again.”Though he didn’t specify, Seungjoo could guess what he meant. He was apologizing for scaring him, for making him worry, and for raising his voice.For a while, Muheun continued to caress Seungjoo’s face—his eyes, cheeks, ears, and then down to his neck. The more Muheun touched him, the drier Seungjoo’s mouth became, while Muheun’s gaze grew heavier and more intense.“…Why are you looking at me like that?”When Seungjoo finally muttered in annoyance, Muheun narrowed his eyes, as if to say, Are we back to being formal now? But before Seungjoo could say anything more, Muheun tilted his head slightly.“…”Even someone as oblivious as Seungjoo would know what was coming next. In this atmosphere, in this moment, there was only one thing to do. Knowing that, Seungjoo obediently closed his eyes.As darkness covered his vision, Muheun softly pressed his lips against Seungjoo’s. The skin where they touched radiated warmth and softness. Instead of deepening the kiss, Muheun gently nibbled on Seungjoo’s lower lip.It was a slow and deliberate move. Despite all the physical intimacy they’d shared the night before, this kiss felt as tentative as their first. There was no exchange of tongues, no additional closeness—just a tender, lingering contact.Even though there was no one around, Muheun pulled away after a brief moment. Seungjoo instinctively furrowed his brows in disappointment, only for Muheun to let out a soft, amused breath.“…This won’t do.”There was no time to wonder what that meant. Through his slowly lifting eyelids, Seungjoo saw Muheun wink. But he wasn’t looking at Seungjoo anymore; he was looking elsewhere, and then he called out a familiar name.“Gwangsik.”“…Huh?”What’s Gwangsik doing here all of a sudden? That was Seungjoo’s first thought, but it was fleeting. Muheun wasn’t explaining; he was staring near the rocks, as if he had known someone was there all along.“What are you doing over there?” 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~