The Night Of The Untraced

Summer vacation had ended. After a particularly eventful and tumultuous time, it was finally time to return to daily life. No longer did Seungjoo need help from Muheun, nor did he have to visit the association to get Gwangsik’s attention. This was the reason Seungjoo was looking forward to the start of the semester, unlike others who dreaded it.“Seungjoo, long time no see.”“Wow, what’s this? Seungjoo was alive after all?”“Why didn’t he say anything in the group chat?”Since the first class was a major course, the classroom was full of familiar faces. Seungjoo, responding briefly to his classmates’ greetings, immediately had to deal with Jinwoo, who was upset. The reason was that Seungjoo hadn’t shown up or even sent a message throughout the entire vacation, which seemed to have left a lasting impression, especially since he had ignored Jinwoo’s messages halfway through the break.“Aah, Jinwoo, stop clinging to me.”As usual, Seungjoo gently pushed Jinwoo away and greeted Seohyun beside him as if nothing was wrong. Jinwoo grumbled that Seungjoo was being cold, but it was just a playful complaint, so there was no need to react. After all, Jinwoo wasn’t the type to take offense easily.Since it was the first class of the semester, the lecture consisted only of a simple orientation. But Jinwoo seemed restless, constantly shifting in his seat as the professor continued to speak.Then, as soon as the class ended, he abruptly turned to Seungjoo.“Seungjoo, want to go to a blind date?”“A blind date?”It was an unexpected topic. Jinwoo nodded eagerly with sparkling eyes.“Yeah, I know someone in the dance department. She’s arranging a blind date, but they’re one person short right now. What do you think?”Seungjoo had no interest at all. He didn’t even attend drinking parties, so the idea of a blind date was out of the question. Plus, if he did, there was one person who would surely cause trouble.“Hey, but if you take Seungjoo with you, won’t all the girls just talk to him?”“What are you talking about? He’s there to raise the average.”“Is that so?”“Of course. You always need one good-looking guy.”“Right, then it’s only Seungjoo.”The conversation turned into idle chatter as one male classmate started the topic, and everyone else joined in. Seungjoo, the subject of their discussion, didn’t say a word, but they all looked so serious about it. Even Seohyun, who was nearby, showed interest.“Why is the dance department setting up a blind date with our department? There are plenty of good-looking guys in other departments.”“Hey, Seohyun! What’s wrong with our department?”“No… What do you mean?”It was clearly a joke, but no one refuted her statement. Seohyun added, “There’s Gi Hwanyeong in Business Administration too,” causing an instant silence.Jinwoo cautiously broke the silence.“Actually, it seems like they’re expecting Seungjoo…”“…Me?”Seungjoo blinked, having been observing the conversation like it was someone else’s business. Jinwoo awkwardly scratched the back of his head.“Yeah, someone in your department is really good-looking, right? They said to bring him along.”“Seungjoo’s the one.”“Seungjoo, right?”“There’s no one but Seungjoo.”They had just been joking about their department, but when it came to the term “good-looking,” they all immediately pointed to Seungjoo. Seungjoo, now the center of attention, gave a bitter smile, clearly surprised by the sudden shift in focus.“I have someone I’m seeing.”“Whoa!”A scream echoed through the class. Even the female classmates, including Seohyun, couldn’t hide their shock.“You said you didn’t have anyone!”“Did you start dating during the break?”“Wow, this guy was hiding away because he was dating!”It wasn’t that Seungjoo had been actively dating, but it wasn’t an outright lie. He had spent the entire break with Muheun, and by the end, he had even stopped checking his phone while spending time together.“Is she pretty? How old is she?”“Who is she?”“How did you meet?”“Who confessed?”The topic quickly shifted to Seungjoo’s girlfriend. For these newly adult students, the idea of a friend having a partner was the most interesting subject. As everyone asked their questions, Seungjoo heard Seohyun’s voice.“…Could it be that person?”Seungjoo turned his head toward Seohyun. He had been planning to ignore the other questions, but for some reason, he couldn’t ignore her words. Her face looked somewhat shocked.“Yeah, that’s the one.”Once Seungjoo confirmed, Jinwoo’s eyes widened in surprise. He nodded, as if he understood. The other classmates, however, were completely confused.“Who is that? Why are you two the only ones who know?”“Tell us too, what’s the deal?”Seohyun looked a bit embarrassed, but Seungjoo didn’t mind. He had kept it quiet because he didn’t want to be the subject of gossip, but after hearing the blind date talk, he almost felt that it would be easier if rumors started circulating.“I dated someone and got rejected.”“Whoa.”Someone let out an amazed sigh. Seungjoo grabbed his bag and stood up, ready to leave for his next class. But just as he was about to go, a male classmate suddenly grabbed him.“Is she pretty?”Why was this even a big deal? It was such a serious question, almost too much for the situation. Was that really the only thing on his mind? Normally, Seungjoo would brush it off with a firm response, but today, he hesitated and trailed off.“Well… I guess…”Why did he feel the need to say this now? He wasn’t into these kinds of conversations, but somehow, the question sparked a desire to show off. He even caught himself smiling slightly, hiding it with his hand.“She’s pretty.”* * *The clattering sound echoed through the kitchen. Seungjoo rested his chin on the table and stared blankly at Muheun’s back. His long neck, broad shoulders, and the way his shoulder blades moved when he lifted his arms. Even the tattoos peeking out from under his white T-shirt.“I’m not lying, though…”“What?”Muheun, who was cooking, briefly glanced at Seungjoo. He was making lunch for Seungjoo, who had come home early from school. Seungjoo, still staring at Muheun’s nose, spoke slowly.“My friends were asking if my girlfriend is pretty.”“Hmm, and?”Muheun, sounding intrigued, finished plating the fried rice and topped it with a fried egg. Holding a plate in one hand and the frying pan in the other, he set the food down in front of Seungjoo, who responded flatly.“I said she’s pretty.”“Ah… Hyung, is she pretty?”Muheun smiled contentedly. She was, indeed, a pretty girl. Especially when she smiled. While Kim Muyeong’s eyes would turn into crescent moons, Muheun’s eyes curved like a fox’s, sharp and crescent-shaped.“I’m glad. It’s good that she looks pretty.”Then, Muheun placed a mountain of fried rice in front of Seungjoo. It was too much for just one person, but somehow, he had managed to serve it without spilling a bit. This was how it always was when Muheun made food for him.“I can’t eat all this.”“You can leave some if you don’t finish.”Seungjoo picked up one of the eggs with his chopsticks and transferred it to the frying pan. Even though Muheun would usually finish anything left behind, he didn’t like wasting food and always felt guilty if he left something for Muheun.“Why did you suddenly say you have a girlfriend?”Muheun, who had begun eating without saying much, asked casually. Given Seungjoo’s personality, he wouldn’t normally bring something like that up, so Muheun seemed curious. It was unusual for him to talk about his private life.“Oh, Choi Jinwoo asked me to go on a blind date.”“…A blind date?”“Yeah, so I said I already have someone. I don’t think I’ll talk about it again.”He said it as if to reassure Muheun, but Muheun just gazed at Seungjoo silently. Seungjoo took a big bite of the fried rice and met Muheun’s eyes. Slowly, Muheun’s lips twitched.“You’re popular at school, right?”“Me?”“Yeah, Seungjoo, you.”“No, not really…”Seungjoo replied somewhat reluctantly, but Muheun didn’t seem to fully believe it. His narrowed eyes suggested he didn’t quite buy the answer, though he quickly shifted his focus back to the meal.“By the way, Hyung.”Seungjoo had been chewing for a while, and then he suddenly remembered something his mother had said earlier that morning.“My mom wants you to come over to our house.”* * *“Me?”Muheun paused, surprised, and looked at Seungjoo. Seungjoo nodded slowly while taking another bite of his fried rice.“Yeah, she said she has something to talk to you about.”“Did she say anything else?”“No, just that you should come over for dinner tonight if you’re free.”Seungjoo thought it might have something to do with the association. He guessed that’s why his mother would want to talk to Muheun—otherwise, there’d be no reason for her to invite him.But for some reason, Muheun looked a bit stiff, frowning slightly.“Really…”His reaction was unusual. It was unlike him to hesitate. Seungjoo couldn’t understand why he seemed nervous. His mother calling him over shouldn’t be such a big deal.“Why? Did you do something wrong, Hyung?”“…”When Seungjoo asked, Muheun didn’t respond immediately. He just stared at Seungjoo with a deep gaze, then softened his expression and let out a small, almost reluctant smile.“Yeah, I did something wrong.”“…?”Even if he did something wrong, Seungjoo’s mother wasn’t the type to scold him. In fact, Seungjoo knew his mother trusted Muheun even more than she trusted him at times.“It’s fine. My mom really likes you.”Seungjoo meant to reassure him, but Muheun didn’t smile. Instead, he exhaled a sigh, his lips twitching as if he was trying to suppress something.That expression—it almost seemed determined.The place Muheun’s mother had called him to wasn’t Seungjoo’s family home, but the house next door. Muheun, who had looked tense as though anticipating something, appeared confused upon realizing the location was actually his own house. His expression became even more puzzled when he heard, “Kim Muryeong is coming too, I heard.”When they arrived at the family home, Muryeong, Hwanyeong, and even Muyeon were already there. Seolgi, who was nestled against Muyeon, hurried over to the security door as soon as Muheun entered, eager to squeeze through as though his size wouldn’t be an obstacle. Muheun firmly calmed Seolgi down.“Seolgi, sit.”Seolgi sat as commanded, but his tail kept wagging energetically. When Hwanyeong began to awkwardly rise upon seeing Muheun, Muheun gestured for him to stay seated, then opened the security door. Impatiently, Seolgi wiggled his rear, looking at him with eager, bright eyes.“Baek Seolgi, always so thrilled to see just Muheun hyung…”Seungjoo promptly grabbed Seolgi, flipped him onto his back, and started playfully squeezing his belly. Since Muheun was Seolgi’s favorite family member, Seungjoo couldn’t help but feel a little left out. Of course, oblivious to this, Seolgi was delightedly licking Seungjoo’s hand.“Did everyone get called over by Aunt?”“Yes, she said to make time and come,” Muyeon replied to Muheun’s question. Since Seungjoo hadn’t expected even Muyeon to show up, he shrugged and exchanged a look with Muheun. Muryeong, who was squeaking Seolgi’s toy, also tilted his head in confusion.“Seungjoo, didn’t you hear anything about this?”“No, not at all…”If he’d gotten any kind of hint, he might understand, but all he’d been told was to bring Muheun. Things had been calm lately at the association, so there seemed to be no reason for a family gathering like this.“Oppa, nothing happened with the association?”“Nothing recent.”“Then…what could this be?”After some time spent huddling their heads together, Seolgi, who had been sitting on Muheun’s lap, began to nod off. Their discussion came to an end without any conclusions, and the conversation drifted to a ghost story Muryeong had recently heard. Just as Seungjoo was covering his ears to escape the creepy tale, the front door opened at a perfect moment.“Everyone’s here.”The first to walk in was the head of the Kim family, the mother of the three siblings. Following her was their mother in a comfortable dress and their father in a suit. Seungjoo widened his eyes in surprise as he absentmindedly held Seolgi’s paw.“What? Dad’s here too?”What could be happening to bring the entire family together? His parents were usually so busy that they only came home around this time if something serious had happened to Seungjoo. He began feeling a little uneasy, but thankfully, the adults didn’t appear to be worried.“Since your mom said she was going to talk today, I came home early,” his father explained.“Yes, I was feeling a bit nervous talking alone,” his mom added.The exchange between his parents felt especially affectionate today, especially with his father gently holding his mother’s shoulders and smiling shyly. They were always close, but today there was an extra warmth that made it a little more… sentimental.“It must be tiring to sit like that. I’ll bring you something to drink. Muheun, could you help me out?” their aunt said, guiding their mother to a cushion and then disappearing into the kitchen with Muheun. They likely planned to bring some refreshments. Their father, now seated on the floor, took his wife’s hand and started massaging it gently.“You must be tired. I’ll prepare the bathwater when we get home.”“Oh, you’re such a fuss.”Seungjoo, who had been playing with Seolgi’s paw pads, subtly withdrew his hand. As he awkwardly straightened up, he noticed the glances exchanged among Muyeon, Muryeong, and Hwanyeong. While the four exchanged glances, his father gently brushed back his mother’s hair, tucking it behind her ear.“In this weather, you need to be more careful. I even saw you sweating earlier.”“When did you see that? I was just a little warm for a moment.”“That’s why you need to be careful. Next time, I’ll even fan you.”Muryeong rolled his eyes and sent a questioning look: What’s with this atmosphere? With a similarly perplexed expression, Seungjoo shrugged in response. I have no idea…“What should we have for dinner? Anything you’re craving?”“We should make what the kids want. We called them over when they’re all busy.”“The kids can eat whatever they like, and you can eat what you want.”While it was a pleasant and warm exchange, for the grown-up children, it felt a little too sweet. As much as his parents got along, they didn’t usually get this lovey-dovey. Even Seungjoo, their actual son, and the practically family Muyeon and Muryeong couldn’t help but feel awkward.“Uh… Dad, what’s with you today?”Seungjoo finally asked, just as Muheun came out from the kitchen with a tray. He set the tea on the table and sat beside Seungjoo. Their aunt, who had brought some rice crackers, sat cross-legged and motioned for the kids to come closer.“Come over, everyone. Let’s get straight to the point since you must be tired.”Or maybe it wasn’t their fatigue being considered. Watching their aunt carefully peeling crackers for their mother confirmed that the subject of her concern was undoubtedly their mom.“But why are we meeting here and not at the house next door? Wouldn’t it be easier on you, Aunt, if we met next door?”Muyeon, approaching on his knees, picked up a rice cracker and asked, “Why didn’t we just meet at Auntie’s place? Wouldn’t it be easier for her?”Seungjoo’s mother laughed, hugging Seolgi, who had scooted closer. “If I call you over to Auntie’s place, you all get uncomfortable. It’s hard to have a relaxed conversation there.”“That’s… true. It feels too stifling there,” Muyeon admitted, scrunching his eyes a bit. The house was lined with charms plastered across the walls, making most exorcists, including Seungjoo himself since developing spirit sight, feel a strange pressure within those walls.“Well, come by once we take down the charms. I’ll make galbijjim for you.”“You’re really going to go to the trouble of making galbijjim?” Seungjoo’s father chimed in. “Let me do it. You shouldn’t have to lift a finger.”His mother laughed playfully, holding his father’s hand. Ever since they had arrived, she seemed bright, as if she was carrying a secret joy. It wasn’t a look of stress or worry but rather one of barely contained excitement.“…Should I be here?” Hwanyeong quietly asked Muryeong, though Seungjoo, seated diagonally from him, overheard as well. Before Muryeong could answer, Muheun spoke softly.“Hwanyeong, of course you should be here. This is a family gathering.”No one disputed this, and even Seungjoo’s mother nodded in agreement. “Hwanyeong, you’re family too.”“…”Hwanyeong bit his lip, silenced by the kind reassurance. Seungjoo, observing, brought out a bag of rice crackers.“So, Mom, what did you want to tell us?”As he spoke, Muheun unwrapped the bag for him. When Muheun tried to feed him directly, Seungjoo snapped back to reality and grabbed the cracker himself. He’d gotten so used to Muheun’s fussing lately that he had almost adapted to being treated like a child.“Hmm…”His mother, watching them with an unreadable look, swallowed hard, briefly lowered her gaze, and then, with a determined glance at her husband, held his hand tightly.With a voice filled with both trepidation and joy, she finally said, “Kids… I’m pregnant.”* * *“…”The rice cracker slipped from Seungjoo’s hand and even fell from Muyeon’s mouth. Everyone seemed frozen, statuesque, with only Seolgi unaffected, wagging his tail as he made for the cracker on the floor.“No, Seolgi, don’t!” Muheun, recovering quickly, grabbed Seolgi’s muzzle. Seolgi whined softly, drooping his ears in disappointment. Still dazed, Seungjoo gathered up the crumbs, barely able to form a coherent sentence.“Wait… did you just say… you’re…?”Even though he’d clearly heard her, his mother’s words seemed to defy belief. He’d never expected something like this to come from his parents, least of all his mother.“Yes, I’m four months along now,” she confirmed, speaking with more confidence and exchanging a glance with her husband as they clasped hands even tighter.“I want to have this baby,” she added, her deep, gentle eyes filled with emotion. This wasn’t a joke. She wasn’t the type to make light of such matters, and he realized, in shock, that there truly was a new life growing inside her.“…Wow.”“Auntie, you’re pregnant?” Muyeon stood up from the table, reeling from the unexpected news. Muryeong and Hwanyeong, too, were wide-eyed, while Muheun asked the practical question.“Have you been to the hospital?”“Yes, thankfully everything’s fine,” she said with a smile. “The doctor said both the baby and I are healthy, though I should be careful because of my age.” Her expression was steady, proud even, as if defying anyone to worry about her.“Auntie, you’re already healthy as it is.”She was known to take excellent care of herself, staying vibrant and active, and always receiving a clean bill of health during annual check-ups. This diligence had kept her strong, even in her demanding role as the head of the Seo family.“Even though it might be a bit challenging at my age… I’ll do my best. Your father fully supports me.”“I’m behind you no matter what you want,” her husband said gently.Finally, Seungjoo understood. The doting attention his father had been giving her lately, the subtle tenderness in his care—everything made sense. Even his mother’s slightly delayed starts to her day now had an explanation.“I learned a while back, but I wanted to wait until things were stable before telling you,” she continued. “Now that I’m in the second trimester, I felt it was time.”“But, Mom, you’re not even showing…” Seungjoo murmured, glancing at her belly hidden beneath her dress. He wanted to reach out and touch, but the thought of a tiny life inside made him hesitate.Muheun, holding Seolgi, reassured him, “You weren’t showing much at four months either.”At this stage, a baby bump was often concealed by clothing. Seungjoo’s mother herself nodded with a warm smile, resting her hand lightly over her abdomen.“With Seungjoo, it was a tough time…”A strange feeling came over him. It seemed happy yet unfamiliar, as if the news was too bewildering for him to know how to react.“…Congratulations.”The one who softly spoke up was Hwanyeong, who had been quiet the whole time. Muryeong, who had been wide-eyed, nodded with his usual bright smile.“That’s right. Now we’re going to have a younger sibling!”Following suit, Muyeon and Muheun also congratulated his mother, who returned their wishes with a shy, pleased smile. Watching her expression, Seungjoo suddenly recalled something Gwimae had once said.“—A gesture of celebration, you might say…”Could that have been what it meant? The single white flower he’d received from Baekho might have been a herald of his new sibling. Perhaps Baekho, sensing the life force, had been the first to mark the occasion.“…Congratulations, Mom.”Finally, Seungjoo offered his words. This time, his mother responded with a bright smile, and Seungjoo let out a soft sigh, relaxing his expression.Good news is good news, he thought. It was sudden, but undeniably joyful.* * *The fact that three siblings were born in the same year was a coincidence, but in the past, both families had intentionally aimed to have children around the same time. With a child from the Seo family being born, it needed a friend and companion to guard them and share life’s journey.So, by tradition, a youngest sibling should have been born in the Kim family as well. Though they couldn’t force them to have a child at the same time, his mother would have hesitated to make such a decision without that assurance. Although, now, with all curses lifted, those concerns were no longer relevant.“March…”After finishing dinner, while his parents headed to the family’s main house, Seungjoo went for a walk with Muheun. Seungjoo had been spacing out so much that Muheun suggested they take a walk. Seolgi, who had joined them, eagerly led the way, but Seungjoo kept thinking deeply about something.“March is practically around the corner, huh?”“Yeah, it’ll be here soon.”Muheun replied softly, switching Seolgi’s leash to his other hand. The doctors had estimated the due date around March, making it a future that felt both distant and imminent.“Are you feeling a bit left out because of a new sibling?”“No, not left out…”Seungjoo frowned, shaking his head. He wasn’t at an age where he’d feel jealous over a new sibling. Even if he were younger, he didn’t think he’d feel upset about it.“It’s just that I’m… worried.”Muheun glanced at Seungjoo, who had shoved his hands into his pockets, his head lowered.“Mom’s older now. Having a baby isn’t easy… it’s dangerous.”That had been what weighed on his mind all along. His parents were happy, and that made him happy too, but he couldn’t help worrying. No matter how strong his mother seemed, to Seungjoo, she still seemed fragile.“She’ll be fine.”Without hesitation, Muheun replied firmly. When Seungjoo looked up at him, Muheun gave a gentle smile as if to reassure him.“She’ll have a healthy delivery.”Strangely, the moment he heard those words, he felt at ease. If Kim Muheun said so, it must be true. That was one of the reassurances Seungjoo had always carried with him.“Your uncle’s got it covered, but if you’re still worried, then you can look after her as best you can. When someone close to you is nervous, it only makes everyone more anxious.”“Yeah, you’re right.”Acting all fretful would only spoil the mood. He resolved to share only good thoughts with his mother. After all, it was undeniably joyous news.“Honestly… I’m happy to have a sibling.”With an earnest expression, Muheun narrowed his eyes, and a playful tone crept into his voice.“Did you always want a younger sibling?”“Just for a bit when I was little.”After all, doesn’t everyone sometimes dream of having a sibling they don’t have? For Seungjoo, who already had an older brother and sister—and grew up like a twin with Muryeong—it was only natural to be curious about a younger sibling. He imagined he’d treat a younger sibling well if he had one, though it was a vague thought.There was also a secret hope he never voiced: that maybe, with a younger sibling, his parents might ease up on their overprotectiveness. He even thought that if something happened to him, his younger sibling could fill the void. In hindsight, it was a naive and silly line of thought.“I bet Muryeong wanted a younger sibling, too. Remember when we first brought Seolgi home, and he called him his ‘little brother’?”Seolgi, sniffing around under a streetlamp, tilted his head as if he recognized his name. Seungjoo waved his hand, signaling Seolgi to keep sniffing around.“Did you ever wish you had an older brother or sister?”As the oldest among both families, Muheun must have, at some point, imagined having an older sibling. When Seungjoo asked, Muheun shrugged lightly.“Being the oldest suits me.”Though he said it half-jokingly, Seungjoo couldn’t argue. It was hard to picture Muheun as anything but the eldest. The idea of him calling someone “hyung” or “noona” felt foreign.“Well, lucky you, Seungjoo. Now you’re going to have a younger sibling.”“Well, it’s not quite that exciting…”Sure, he’d wanted one when he was younger, but now it felt strange. A sibling twenty years younger was almost like having a child of his own.“He’d probably adore them even more than I would.”He could already imagine his new sibling becoming the family’s little darling. Especially Muheun, who had always looked after him, would likely spoil this youngest sibling even more. Just seeing how he treated Seungjoo made it easy to picture.“Hmm, I wouldn’t say that.”But Muheun chuckled and gave a cryptic reply. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t dote on the new baby; rather, it seemed like he was denying that anyone could outdo Seungjoo in his affections.“Remember when we first got Seolgi? You even wanted to bring him to school with you.”“That was just when I was young…”Seungjoo trailed off, embarrassed. At the time, he simply wanted Seolgi with him at school. Back then, Seolgi had been small enough to fit in his bag.Smiling softly, Muheun murmured, as if reminiscing, “To me, our Seungjoo is still a baby… How can a baby take care of a baby?”* * *“Oh, come on…”It was a ridiculous thing to say, yet it didn’t even feel like a joke. He’d said it so plainly and matter-of-factly that Seungjoo could only respond with a baffled chuckle.“People will make fun of you if they hear that.”A baby? Where in the world was there a ‘baby’ this big? He wasn’t small enough to be joking about being a baby anymore.“If I walked around with my new sibling, people would probably think I was the one who had them.”“See, you’re already thinking about taking them around.”“I was just saying.”Their casual conversation continued until they arrived at a nearby park. Muheun guided Seungjoo to a bench and went to a vending machine, bringing back a bottle of water and a sports drink. The water was for Seolgi, while the sports drink was, of course, for Seungjoo.“Do you have to work again tonight?”“Yeah, but I’ll take you and Seolgi home first.”Opening the can and handing it to Seungjoo, Muheun crouched down and poured water into a dish for Seolgi, who eagerly lapped it up. After finishing half of the water himself, Muheun crushed the bottle and tossed it into a nearby trash can.“That sounds tiring.”“It’s not so bad lately since I’m not too busy.”Seungjoo sipped his drink and looked up at the clear sky. The moon was shining brightly in the middle, a thin crescent that, in about two weeks, would gradually become a full moon.“So, around the full moon, will you still be less busy?”“Hmm… probably not by then.”Muheun answered calmly from his seat beside Seungjoo. Unlike other exorcists, who generally found their condition improved during the full moon, Muheun’s Yeongi became volatile, straining his self-control. Because of this, he always completed his work before the full moon and stayed home on the day itself.“Looks like I won’t see him on the next full moon, either.”It had been the same last full moon. Muheun had packed his schedule to prepare in advance, meeting Seungjoo regularly. Yet, on the day itself, he’d made sure Seungjoo stayed nowhere near him.“Should I stay over at your place this weekend, Hyung?”“My place?”“Yeah, since I don’t have school anyway…”It’d only be for two days, but he figured it would be good to spend some extra time together before things got busy next week. Plus, meeting in a more relaxed setting wouldn’t be a bad idea.“I even have clothes at your place already.”“…”Seungjoo expected him to agree right away, but surprisingly, Muheun hesitated, looking at Seungjoo with a slight frown as if he were debating something. It wasn’t exactly a positive reaction, but even so, his response, spoken slowly, betrayed clear reluctance to say no.“I’d love that too, but… my parents might worry.”“…Now? All of a sudden?”In the past, Muheun would beg him to stay over, but ever since they’d started officially dating, he’d been careful to always send Seungjoo home. He’d say it was to avoid making his parents worry, but Seungjoo couldn’t understand why they’d suddenly be concerned. His parents were the type to sleep easy knowing he was with Muheun.“You always used to say it’d be fine as long as I was with you.”When Seungjoo repeated Muheun’s own words back to him, he laughed out loud. Seolgi, who had been lying by their feet, pressed his paws onto Muheun’s leg, curious about the noise. Muheun stroked Seolgi gently, his voice warm with amusement.“Still, I don’t want to risk getting on their bad side.”He really was cautious to a fault, Seungjoo thought. Considering how much his parents adored Muheun, what was there to worry about?“Honestly… I doubt they’d mind even if I moved in with you.”Seungjoo’s offhanded comment made Muheun narrow his eyes, as though weighing something in his mind. But before he could say anything, Seungjoo leaned forward and gave him a sidelong glance.“So… are you telling me not to come over this weekend?”He asked playfully, already knowing the answer. He could predict Muheun’s reaction perfectly, and sure enough, Muheun chuckled in defeat and placed a quick kiss on his lips.“I’ll come pick you up.”The brief kiss left Seungjoo wanting more, and he instinctively licked his lips as Muheun gazed at him with a look that could only be described as affectionate. Gently, he cupped Seungjoo’s cheek, his fingers brushing softly near his ear.“…Someone might see us.”“There’s no one around.”The quiet murmur faded as Muheun’s lips met his again, more deeply this time. Seungjoo couldn’t help but wonder if this was why they’d come here. That thought, however plausible, was soon lost as Muheun’s soft tongue teased his lips open, sending a thrill through him. Slowly, his fingers traced down Seungjoo’s neck and slipped under his collar, brushing along his collarbone and shoulder. Muheun then pulled back slightly.“Why so tense, Seungjoo?”“No, it’s just…”He had been a bit tense without realizing it, and of course, Muheun noticed right away. As he gently massaged Seungjoo’s neck, his lips found his again, as if telling him to relax, though it didn’t exactly work. The longer they kissed, the more a warm pressure built up inside him. Though he was more used to this than before, it was still impossible not to react. Feeling a jolt through him, he flinched slightly as Muheun tugged gently on his lower lip, making a soft sound.“…”Seungjoo slowly opened his eyes, meeting Muheun’s gaze, filled with a similar kind of excitement. After a moment of holding his gaze, Muheun murmured in a low voice.“…Maybe we should’ve just gone home.”In the quiet park, there was no one around but the two of them and Seolgi. They both knew they couldn’t do much here, but it didn’t stop a small pang of regret.“Let’s get going.”With that, they got up and started walking through the dark park with Seolgi in tow. After a short rest, Seolgi seemed energized, happily trotting along the path with them.The walk back home felt far too short, and by the time they reached the front gate, Seungjoo couldn’t help but feel a sense of lingering reluctance.“Call me when you wake up tomorrow.”Gone were the farewells that hinted at uncertainty. Muheun, hands fidgeting with Seungjoo’s, glanced around before pulling him into a tight hug.“Sleep well, okay?”“You too, Hyung.”Noticing the exchange, Seolgi pawed at Seungjoo’s leg, demanding attention. Seungjoo stepped back from Muheun’s embrace, crouching down to pick him up. Seolgi immediately rested his paws on Seungjoo’s shoulder, as if he’d been waiting for this.“All right, goodnight to you too, Baek Seolgi.”He ruffled Seolgi’s soft fur and even gave him a quick kiss on his slightly faded nose. When Seolgi tried to lick his face in return, Seungjoo dodged, leaning back.“Hyung, I’m going inside now.”After an intense goodbye, when Seungjoo stood up, Muheun was waiting for them, holding Seolgi’s leash. Muheun had an unreadable expression as he glanced back and forth between Seolgi and Seungjoo, letting out a sigh that seemed to deflate him.“Alright, dream of me, Hyung.”“I’ll try.”Though it would be a bit awkward if Kim Muheun showed up in his dreams, Seungjoo offered his best answer. Even as he opened the gate and stepped inside, Muheun remained where he was, not taking a single step.It was a night that left both of them—and Seolgi, too—with a sense of lingering regret.* * *The full moon came up in no time. As Seungjoo got used to the new semester, the days passed quickly, and before he realized it, two weeks had flown by. After school, he always headed to Muheun’s house, and sometimes they even went for drives in Muheun’s car.“I have a department gathering this Friday.”As it happened, the Friday of the gathering was also the night of the full moon. When Muheun realized he couldn’t pick him up that night, he looked hesitant. After Seungjoo reassured him three times that he’d be fine, Muheun finally let out a thin sigh.“Don’t drink too much, and if anything happens, call me.”It wasn’t as if he was too young to handle walking home at night. Seungjoo didn’t plan to drink much anyway, and it wasn’t far from the bar to his house. Although he now had a heightened awareness thanks to the vision he’d gained, since the curse was lifted, he hadn’t encountered Gwimae’s temptations anymore.“Hyung, call me if you’re struggling. You said it hurts when your Yeongi overflows.”Seungjoo was actually more worried about Muheun. He’d only seen Muheun on a full moon once, but he’d looked very troubled. Thankfully, with Seungjoo’s ability to absorb Yeongi, Muheun hadn’t lost consciousness entirely.“Wouldn’t it be better if I absorbed it like last time?”He genuinely thought it was a good solution, but Muheun’s lips curled up, dismissing the idea. With a hint of playful challenge in his voice, he spoke in a way that anyone could tell he was teasing.“With just a kiss?”It was a question that left Seungjoo at a loss for words. Muheun shook his head as if to say, “See?”“That won’t be enough.”Of course, Seungjoo was prepared for that. They’d already gone beyond just kissing, so it wouldn’t be a problem if things didn’t end there. But imagining it on his own was one thing; getting confirmation from Muheun made it feel entirely different.“Well, if you’re okay with it, I’ll call you.”“…Alright.”Muheun probably knew as well—Seungjoo wasn’t the kind of person who would bravely take up that offer without hesitation. So he just watched Seungjoo, who backed down quickly, with an affectionate look in his eyes.“Hey, what should we get for snacks?”“Boss, drinks first, please!”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~