The Night Of The Untraced

“Hahng!”Muheun, pressed tightly against Seungjoo’s back, placed his hand on Seungjoo’s chest. He pinched and twisted the nipple he had bitten and sucked earlier, teasing it between his fingers. When Seungjoo flinched and lifted his buttocks, the already deeply inserted penis touched the inner walls.“Huh, ah…! Ahng……!”So this is what he meant by regretting it. There was nowhere to escape, no matter how comfortable he was. Muheun, with one hand on Seungjoo’s chest and the other on his penis, touched and caressed him everywhere as he continued to thrust.“Ah, ahng, this isn’t… huh…….”Seungjoo shook his head, but it was useless. If he tried to escape the hand in front, the penetration deepened, and if he tried to push away the penetration, the touch in front became more intense. Muheun, clinging to him like a leech, even started sucking on the back of his neck.“Hyung…… Hyung…… huh, huh……!”“Uhng…… Hyung is here.”Everywhere Muheun sucked left a dark mark. Although he tried to act like it was nothing, it was clear he had lost his senses. At least he was still responding to words, which was fortunate. There was no part of him, front or back, that wasn’t sensitive.“……Hahk!”Just as Seungjoo was about to reach his climax, Muheun blocked the tip of his penis with his thumb. The pleasure that couldn’t be released accumulated in his lower abdomen. Feeling like he couldn’t breathe, Seungjoo stiffened his entire body, and Muheun also tightened his arms around him.“Huh, uhng……!”His vision flickered. For the first time, he realized that he could reach a climax without ejaculating. Tears and saliva flowed freely as Muheun gently rubbed Seungjoo’s belly.“……Ah, no… wait… Hyung…….”Thud, the hard penis touched the inner walls. Seungjoo’s flat belly bulged out in the shape of Muheun’s penis. Startled, Seungjoo tried to get up on his knees, but it was impossible to escape from Muheun.“Hick, ah… huhng……!”It was similar to when Muheun had deeply penetrated him earlier. An unfamiliar pleasure struck his spine, and an unidentifiable liquid dripped from his limp penis. Muheun, who had been caressing Seungjoo’s legs from behind, pressed down on the swollen perineum under his testicles and thrust his penis deeply.“……Ahng!”“Ha…….”At the moment when Seungjoo tensed his lower abdomen, a heated moan escaped Muheun’s lips. Muheun’s traces were once again poured into the already full insides. Muheun, who had been slowly rubbing Seungjoo’s bulging lower abdomen, continued his hip movements even before the ejaculation ended.“Wait, huh, wait… please… huh…….”“Uhng, just a little…….”“Hyung, huhng…… huhng…….”He had said to hit him if he lost his senses, but in this position, there was nothing Seungjoo could do. It was a position he had chosen himself, so he couldn’t blame Muheun. Besides, his judgment was already clouded, and he couldn’t do anything.“Stop, no… huh, there… ah……!”Even Seungjoo himself couldn’t tell if he was saying to stop or if he was saying it felt good there. It was so exhausting, yet it felt so good that he thought he might go crazy. Oh, am I going to lose my mind? He even had such thoughts.So, Seungjoo grabbed Muheun’s arm that was holding him, trying to convey his feelings somehow. He thought that if he bit something, Muheun might understand his feelings, so he awkwardly brought his hand to his mouth. However, he couldn’t muster the strength to bite, so he could only mumble with his lips against Muheun’s skin.“Hyung, huh… me… uh, huhng, somehow…….”“…….”Muheun, who had paused, suddenly pulled Seungjoo tightly into his arms. The force was stronger than ever, and naturally, Seungjoo moaned and tightened his lower body. Simultaneously, there was a sound as if something had snapped.“Ha…….”Muheun, as if driven mad, buried his face in Seungjoo’s shoulder and panted. He seemed to mutter a curse under his breath, but Seungjoo was too out of it to hear properly. Muheun, holding Seungjoo as if to crush him, thrust his penis in and out with unprecedented force.“Hick……! Hyung, huh, huhng……!”“Uhng…….”The penis filling the inner walls throbbed. Muheun’s body trembled finely, making Seungjoo feel even more excited. With a loud slapping sound, Muheun thrust deeply and gritted his teeth, curling his upper body.“……!”The penis inside twitched and then released something. Seungjoo, startled, trembled his shoulders. The liquid that burst out inside was definitely not semen. It was more abundant and watery, similar to the time Seungjoo had ejaculated in Muheun’s hand.“Hyung, now, huh…….”He stammered but couldn’t finish his sentence. Muheun, with a trembling arm, pulled Seungjoo into his embrace and rubbed his lips against his neck. The excitement Muheun was feeling was fully conveyed through every point of contact.“Ha, Seungjoo……,”“……Haah, uh.”“Seungjoo, I love you…… okay?”Muheun’s breath, heavy and laden with unbridled heat, was like that of a sated beast. His confession was sweet, but Seungjoo could tell that he was at his limit. For Seungjoo, seeing his usually composed lover reveal his raw desire was immensely satisfying.“Uhng, huh… uh… hah…!”Muheun didn’t give Seungjoo a moment’s rest and pushed him again. The act was messy, but the underlying desire was clearly affection. The constant calling of his name was no different from a heartfelt confession.Perhaps that’s why Seungjoo couldn’t push Muheun away until the very end. Not until Muheun changed positions twice more and emptied the semen inside him. Not until he had sucked and marked every visible part of Seungjoo’s body.The last thing Seungjoo saw was the bright morning sun streaming through the window.He didn’t know when he had lost consciousness. Every time he was about to fall asleep, he would wake up, and every time his consciousness was about to slip away, a thread of reason would return. The repeated pleasure felt like torture at some point.Honestly, it was a more difficult full moon than he had prepared for. Muheun showed more than Seungjoo had expected. It wasn’t just excessive desire; it was a lack of self-control, like an animal in heat.No, that meant he was usually restraining himself. Normally, Seungjoo would be exhausted and fall asleep like he was passing out, but now he realized just how much Muheun had been holding back. Yesterday, he even thought, ‘I’m not dying from this?’“…….”When the sun was high in the sky, Seungjoo opened his eyes on the bed and thought, ‘Wow, I really need to exercise to survive this.’ No matter how much he exercised, he wouldn’t be able to match Muheun’s stamina, but at least he wouldn’t collapse from exhaustion. The problem was that Seungjoo, being an ordinary person, couldn’t handle Muheun with just any exercise.“Umm…….”Seungjoo, who had woken up, just blinked for a while before sensing a familiar presence nearby. Turning his gaze, he saw Muheun sleeping with his arm around Seungjoo’s waist. No wonder his whole body felt heavy; it wasn’t just muscle pain but Muheun’s weight.“……Go to sleep.”When Seungjoo tried to move Muheun’s arm, Muheun, without even opening his eyes, pulled Seungjoo closer and soothed him. Seungjoo, helplessly pulled into his embrace, slowly blinked his sleepy eyes. Seungjoo not closing his eyes seemed to register with Muheun, who added another word.“I called your parents… You can sleep more.”“Ah.”The soft exclamation was a belated realization. He hadn’t thought about contacting his parents at all, which was quite unfilial. He had forgotten to leave a note in his hurry to leave yesterday.“Go to sleep….”Muheun’s hand gently stroked Seungjoo’s hair. When Muheun was sleepy, he had a peculiar fondness for Seungjoo’s hair. Or rather, he just kept clinging to it. Pressing his nose into the crown of Seungjoo’s head and taking deep breaths was a given.“Shh…….”A faint scent of shampoo wafted from Muheun. The fluffy blanket smelled of sun-dried fabric softener, and the warmth of his body was comforting.‘……Feels good.’It was the perfect environment to fall asleep, but unfortunately, Seungjoo couldn’t sleep again. He was exhausted but felt strangely refreshed, making it impossible to close his eyes. So, he just blinked while being held, and Muheun looked down at him with sleepy eyes.“Not sleeping more?”His dark eyes were filled with sleepiness. He didn’t look as out of control as yesterday, just pleasantly drowsy. Seungjoo met his gaze and slowly opened his mouth.“I can’t sleep…….”But as soon as he spoke, both Seungjoo and Muheun widened their eyes. The voice that came out was so hoarse and pitiful that it was hard to listen to. It was so bad that Muheun, who had been momentarily speechless, let out an apologetic laugh.“……I’ll get you some water.”Muheun kissed Seungjoo’s forehead and got up. Unlike Seungjoo, who couldn’t move a finger, Muheun walked to the kitchen with his usual steady steps. There were a few nail marks on his broad back, but even those seemed half-healed.He’s really something else. Seungjoo thought to himself as he fumbled with the blanket. Unlike him, who had passed out, Muheun had cleaned up and even changed the sheets. Judging by the fact that his body didn’t feel sticky, Muheun must have cleaned him up as well.Seungjoo cleared his throat a few times to soothe his sore throat. Muheun returned to the bedroom with a glass of water. He supported Seungjoo’s upper body and personally fed him the water.Normally, Seungjoo would have refused, saying he wasn’t a patient, but he quietly accepted Muheun’s help. He really had no strength in his body, and if he tried to drink the water himself, he might spill it.“Do you want more water?”“No… I’m fine.”Fortunately, after drinking a glass of water, Seungjoo’s throat felt a bit better. Muheun placed the glass on the bedside table and gently stroked Seungjoo’s hair. Although his hair was already a mess, Seungjoo let Muheun tidy it up and just yawned.“Are you sure you don’t need to sleep a little more?”“Yes, I’ve slept enough.”Muheun gently wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, then cupped Seungjoo’s face with both hands and gave a light kiss on each eyelid.“Your eyes are swollen.”His voice, overly tender, tickled Seungjoo, making him scrunch his nose and avert his gaze. Maybe it was because it was morning—or rather, closer to noon. Muheun’s demeanor seemed unusually sweet.“Want to eat something? I’ll make you some food.”“No, I’m still… full.”Seungjoo almost finished his sentence without thinking but then closed his mouth tightly. After all, the reason he’d been full all night was none other than the man right in front of him. Muheun seemed to understand his meaning, giving a knowing wink and chuckling.“Then just stay lying down. You’re probably not feeling great.”Seungjoo, with no words to argue back this time, obediently lay down on the bed as Muheun suggested. Following suit, Muheun settled beside him, offering him one arm, which Seungjoo, burrowing closer, accepted. With his eyes closed, Seungjoo spoke softly.“Aren’t you going to say anything?”“About what?”“About last night…”He’d braced himself for a scolding first thing in the morning. Choosing his words carefully, Seungjoo thought there was at least one thing he might deserve a little reprimand for.“I showed up on my own, without asking.”At the very least, he’d expected a warning not to do that again. Maybe not angry or harsh words, but he thought Muheun would at least point out his recklessness.“Well… that’s nothing worth getting scolded over.”However, Muheun replied as if the notion was absurd, his voice vibrating with soft laughter that Seungjoo could feel where he lay against him.“It’d be pretty funny to scold you after enjoying myself so much.”“Enjoying yourself… Don’t say it like that; it makes you sound old.”Though he chided lightly, he couldn’t help but agree inwardly. It was true that Muheun wasn’t exactly in a position to lecture him.“If anything, it’s you who should be saying something to me…”Muheun, trailing off, hugged Seungjoo tighter, his hand stroking Seungjoo’s back with a careful touch, as if handling something fragile. Soon after, a heartfelt apology slipped from his lips.“I’m sorry. I was too much, wasn’t I?”“Well… it was a bit tough.”Seungjoo seized the chance to reply quickly. Truthfully, he’d wanted to say this earlier, but considering he’d dug his own grave, he’d held back.“Honestly, Hyung, your stamina is something else. The moment I opened my eyes, I thought I should start working out.”“Working out?”It wasn’t exactly a funny statement, yet Muheun laughed out loud, as if hearing the most amusing thing. He even suggested they work out together, which only left Seungjoo rolling his eyes.“No, it wouldn’t mean anything if I did it with you…”Seungjoo chuckled despite himself at the absurdity. Muheun’s contagious laughter seemed to lift his spirits as well.“Are you feeling okay, though, Hyung?”“I’m always fine as long as the sun’s up.”Like a werewolf, Seungjoo thought, peeking up at him. He kept the thought to himself, knowing Muheun would probably laugh aimlessly if he said it aloud.“Do you remember everything from last night?”“Yes, enough to reenact it exactly.”“No need for that…”Seungjoo quickly buried his face back in Muheun’s chest, backing down. It was a night he’d answer “yes” if asked whether he’d enjoyed it, but he didn’t have the courage to go through it all again.So instead, he simply tightened his hold around Muheun’s waist and spoke up.“Spend the next one with me too.”“…”“Don’t just stay wrapped up in a blanket alone.”It was a thought that had crossed his mind as soon as he arrived last night and saw Muheun wrapped up in his blanket, all alone. Though he wasn’t exactly the sentimental type, something about that lonely sight had tugged at him.“It’s better to be together than alone, right?”Even if it couldn’t be every day, maybe once a month wouldn’t be too much. It was exhausting, yes… and he did feel close to death, but he’d improve as he kept up with his exercise.“…Next time, if it’s too much, I’ll really hit you hard.”At that, Muheun let out a chuckle, pulling Seungjoo close as he gave a soft groan, as if overwhelmed.“Oh… I must have saved a nation in my past life.”Who knows if Hyung saved a nation or not, but Seungjoo certainly had stirred things up on his end. Thanks to that, they’d been bound together by fate, so it seemed close enough.“Seungjoo.”“Yes.”“I love you.”“…”Words of love that Seungjoo had heard countless times. Yet it still made him feel bashful, probably because Muheun poured genuine sincerity into each confession. And Seungjoo’s best response to such a confession was always the same.“…Me too.”That was enough to make Muheun look as if he owned the world, his slightly quickened heartbeat echoing where they touched.It was a peaceful afternoon, days past the full moon.* * *Rustling, a strange sound filled his ears. The quiet surroundings grew noisy, and a low humming tinnitus began to ring in his ears.“…Mu…”It was then that someone called out to Muheun. He frowned, trying to focus on the voice at his ear. Who could it be… Just as he wondered, a clearer voice followed.“Kim Muheun!”Muheun opened his eyes with a start. Beyond his brightened vision lay a familiar scene: a blackboard on the wall, desks packed close together, kids packing their bags, and a student standing beside him.“Were you asleep? Why didn’t you answer?”“……”The clear, ringing voice belonged to someone Muheun knew well. A girl with long, deep brown hair, looking at him with her monolid eyes. Her expression was mostly indifferent, but her smile was always bright and cheerful.“Well, this is unusual. You actually fell asleep at school.”“…Seo Seunghee?”Muheun blinked and called the person in front of him by name. She was his longtime childhood friend, Seunghee. They had lived next door since he could remember, spending practically every day of the year together.“Why are you here…?”As Muheun spoke in a hesitant tone, Seunghee tilted her head, frowning slightly. She picked up Muheun’s bag, which was lying next to him, and placed it on his desk.“Stop talking nonsense and let’s go home. The school closing ceremony is over.”“Closing ceremony?”Closing ceremony? What was she talking about? For a moment, Muheun couldn’t make sense of what she was saying. Why she was here, why he was here, or what was going on.“What’s with you today?”Annoyed by Muheun’s confusion, Seunghee frowned as she looked him up and down. Her expression was strikingly familiar, reminding him of someone he knew well, especially the way she casually added,“We’re on winter break starting today.”“…”Only then did Muheun look around the classroom more closely. On the blackboard, where the names of the cleaning duty students were usually written, there was a message from the teacher wishing everyone a good break. Surrounded by kids in school uniforms, Muheun finally glanced down at his own outfit.“What is going on…?”“What’s wrong with you, Kim Muheun?”Seeing Muheun like this, Seunghee’s gaze softened with concern. She bent down to meet his eyes and quietly lowered her voice.“Did you see something strange again?”The deep brown of her eyes calmed him down. He blinked once, then twice, and with each blink, his foggy mind gradually cleared.“…No.”It felt as though he was only now fully waking up. Right, today was the start of winter break. That thought finally settling in, Muheun instinctively packed his bag and stood up. The overwhelming sense of strangeness had disappeared without a trace.“It’s nothing. Let’s go home.”* * *The path home was blanketed in snow. Muheun walked silently, eyes fixed straight ahead, while Seunghee greeted every friend they passed with her usual liveliness. When she bumped into a boy she used to date, she blatantly turned away, a look of displeasure on her face.“Why did you even date him?”“How was I supposed to know he’d turn out like that…”Although Muheun had no interest in Seunghee’s love life, he inevitably found out about it from spending so much time with her. Especially since all her boyfriends seemed wary of Muheun, given his closeness with her.“Seo Seungjoo is probably at your house again today, right?”“Yeah, probably.”“I’m telling you, he might as well be named Kim Seungjoo.”The two arrived at Muheun’s house, just as Seunghee predicted. Seungjoo and Muryeong were there, playing excitedly in the yard. Spotting the pair coming through the gate, Seolgi ran over, panting.“Ah, Baek Seolgi! You always like Muheun Hyung more…”Seungjoo grumbled as he approached, soccer ball in hand. He seemed annoyed that Seolgi had left him, even after he’d gone out of his way to play with her. Muryeong, on the other hand, ran over to Muheun, tugging on his sleeve.“Hyung, did you and Seunghee noona get out of school today too?”“Yeah, everyone’s on break.”Muheun replied warmly, bending down to ruffle Seolgi’s fur. Gently, he plucked bits of grass from her coat, but she immediately flopped onto the ground, making his efforts to groom her useless.“Hyung.”As Muheun let out a soft chuckle at Seolgi’s antics, Seungjoo, hesitating a little, approached him. The little boy, barely half Muheun’s height, clutched Muheun’s fingers with his small hand and asked,“Are you going to move away when you graduate?”“…Huh?”The warmth of Seungjoo’s tiny fingers felt unusually vivid. Muheun stared down at Seungjoo in a daze, momentarily speechless. Seungjoo’s earnest gaze met his, unwavering.“Kim Muryeong says when Hyung turns twenty, he’s moving out.”Despite being ten years old, Seungjoo was much smaller than kids his age, looking more like a first or second grader. Yet he was surprisingly articulate, and when he spoke in his soft, thoughtful way, his cuteness was almost overwhelming.“Are you really going somewhere far away?”“…No, Hyung’s not moving.”Muheun responded a beat late, reaching out toward Seungjoo. Lifting him up under his arms, Seungjoo instinctively wrapped his arms around Muheun’s neck. The warmth unique to young children made Muheun feel a surge of emotion for no apparent reason.“I’ll go to college here with Seunghee noona.”“Yeah, you and Hyung got into Hanguk University, remember?”Seunghee, watching them from the side, playfully pinched Seungjoo’s cheek. While Muheun smiled gently, Seunghee’s face was full of mischief. When Seungjoo pouted, Seunghee made a “V” with her fingers and pinched his protruding lips.“Mmmph…”“Huh? What are you trying to say?”It fell to Muheun to calm Seungjoo down, especially before he got truly upset with Seunghee’s teasing. Muheun rescued Seungjoo, then gently rubbed his nose against Seungjoo’s soft cheek, speaking in a soothing voice.“Were you worried that Hyung might move away?”“…If Hyung leaves, Baek Seolgi will be sad.”“Oh, and our Seungjoo won’t be sad at all?”Move away? What a ridiculous thought. How could he ever leave behind something so precious? Even though he’d eventually need to move out after college for work, he’d gladly extend his time there if it meant he could stay close to Seungjoo.“Hyung will always be by Seungjoo’s side.”At these words, Seungjoo nodded and clung tightly to Muheun’s collar. The way his small hands gripped was endearingly adorable.“Seungjoo, give Hyung a kiss.”Though Seungjoo made a sullen face as if to say no, he didn’t resist when Muheun planted kisses on his cheeks. Muheun chuckled at the sight, but then, all of a sudden, the scene around him changed in a flash.“…?”Muheun blinked, opening his eyes. Across from him on the sofa sat an older Seunghee, no longer a girl, with her legs crossed and arms folded. Dressed in a suit, Seunghee alternated between glaring at him and the person beside him with a fierce look.“So… you two are dating?”“…What?”Muheun reflexively responded, then followed Seunghee’s gaze. Sitting beside him was Seungjoo, now looking away awkwardly. Seunghee, glancing between them, opened her mouth, her expression exasperated.“Hey, seriously, how could you date someone who’s barely twenty…?”“Oh, noona.”It was Seungjoo who intervened, letting out an exasperated sigh as he slammed his hand on the table in protest.“Enough with the lecture. I was the one who asked him out.”“Well, aren’t you speaking up.”Seunghee’s response seemed to only provoke her further. She let out a derisive laugh and pointed accusingly at Muheun.“So, you just agreed to date someone ten years younger because they asked? How would you feel if I brought home some twenty-year-old guy? Or if Seo Seungtae showed up with a kid?”“…”Seungjoo flinched, shrinking back. He didn’t look particularly scared, just as though he realized he’d stepped on a landmine. Taking in the scene, Muheun gently grasped Seungjoo’s hand and spoke in a calming tone.“Seungjoo, why don’t you wait in your room for a bit?”The hand he held was free of any scars, soft and unmarked, and that sense of emptiness stirred something within Muheun. With a huff, Seungjoo got up abruptly, storming off to his room. Once Seungjoo had quietly disappeared, Muheun found himself absently touching his ear.“I knew I should have made him change his name to Kim Seungjoo ages ago…”Seunghee’s muttering didn’t matter much. Confirming that his earlobe felt different—bare, somehow—he took a steadying breath and fixed his gaze on Seunghee. She met his eyes with her usual bluntness.“What are you staring at?”“…Seunghee.”He didn’t need much time to think about what to say. It was a feeling he’d always wanted to express first if given the chance. Something he wanted to say whenever he thought of Seunghee or looked at Seungjoo, who so closely resembled her.“I really care about Seungjoo.”Seunghee’s expression didn’t waver, even as he spoke so plainly. She simply stared at him, waiting for him to continue.“I thought long and hard about this… but I care about him enough to be with him.”“I know.”Her response was brief and, just like that, resolute. Her tone, laced with her characteristic cynicism, matched her firm answer.“I know, that’s why I’m letting it go.”Even though she hadn’t exactly let it go. Muheun wasn’t oblivious enough to point that out, so he simply smiled in silence, prompting Seunghee to sigh deeply, more than ever before.“If you make him cry, I swear, you’re dead meat.”“……”Muheun thought, What should I do about already making him cry once? It was likely that, unknowingly, he had made him cry countless times before. Even if it wasn’t intentional, circumstances had led to it.“Don’t apologize to me. Just treat him well,” Seunghee said, brushing back a stray strand of hair. Her gaze, unwavering and direct, was the same deep brown as Seungjoo’s.“I don’t hold any grudge against you.”“……”Why do those words linger so much? He didn’t fully understand their meaning, but upon hearing the word “grudge,” another name came to mind.“What’s Seungtae up to?” he asked.“Seo Seungtae?” Seunghee tilted her head curiously, then smirked without questioning why he brought up the name.“I don’t know, probably with Muyeon.”Though it was a simple response, Muheun felt a pang in his chest, and his throat tightened.“Ah, I should get going.” Seunghee picked up her bag from the couch and stood up without hesitation. Muheun tried to rise as well, but his feet seemed rooted to the ground.“Don’t just worry about Seungjoo. Take care of yourself, too.”“……”“I hate to see you cry.”Why would I cry? Muheun couldn’t bring himself to say it, as something ran down his cheek the moment he heard those words. Seunghee watched him with a bittersweet expression before giving him a radiant smile.“Take care, Muheun.”And with that, she was gone. The moment she said those words, Muheun finally “truly” opened his eyes. Now lying sprawled on the couch where he’d been talking to Seunghee, he looked around the living room as he woke up.“……”Seunghee was nowhere in sight, and Seungjoo, who had gone into his room earlier, was likely fast asleep at his parents’ house by now. Muheun raised his left hand to touch his ear, feeling the five piercings lined up there.“……What a dream,” he laughed hollowly, covering his eyes with one arm. The scenes from the dream were still vivid in his memory, as real as anything.Take care, Seo Seunghee. The quiet words filled the empty room.* * *It was as if the summer heat had never happened—winter was now quickly approaching. The mild weather had been brief, and soon schools nationwide would begin their winter break. As the days grew colder and accidents became more frequent, the exorcist association was busy.“Yes, Seungjoo?” Muheun answered his phone as he walked briskly down the association hallway, the long tails of his overcoat fluttering. From the other end of the line came the voice he had been hoping to hear.“Hyung, I’m on my way to school.”The cool, polite tone belonged to Seungjoo, who must have left the house for school by now. Today was a day with morning classes, so he had gotten up a bit earlier than usual, though Seungjoo was the type to rise around this time even if he had afternoon classes.“Are you finishing up around noon today?”“Yes, I’m done early today.”They had been dating for nearly six months now. Ever since most of the incidents at the association had been resolved, Muheun had made a habit of driving Seungjoo home every night. It was always the start of a routine, and Seungjoo would call him every morning.“Are you at home? It sounds like you’re outside….”“No, I stopped by the association for a bit.”How adorable. Muheun thought. Seungjoo had unexpectedly romantic sides—like calling every morning or sometimes expressing concern for him.“Aren’t you tired?” Seungjoo asked, his voice tinged with care.“I’m fine.”Truthfully, he was a bit tired, but hearing Seungjoo’s voice made it vanish. Actually, he had felt better as soon as he saw Seungjoo’s name on his phone screen. It was amazing how someone could lift another’s spirits so effortlessly.“Go home soon and get some rest. I’ll come over after school.”“Will you be able to get in? I don’t need to open the door?”“I know the passcode, so why would you have to?” Seungjoo replied dryly.Muheun stifled a laugh, covering the phone briefly. Good thing I gave him the code. It was delightful how he had gotten used to coming in like it was his own place. When they’d first started dating, Seungjoo would apologize profusely for coming over unannounced, making Muheun feel slightly disappointed. Now, he sometimes even let himself in and would be lounging on the couch by the time Muheun got home.“Hyung wants a kiss to wake up.”“Ugh, what are you saying?” Seungjoo replied flatly. Muheun couldn’t see him, but he was sure Seungjoo’s neck was turning red as he scrunched his face in irritation. The reaction was so endearing that he couldn’t help but tease him now and then, knowing what response he’d get.“Why would I wake up someone who works nights? I’ll just study,” Seungjoo said, brushing it off.Ah, so it’s the act of waking me up that’s the problem, not how he’d do it. Based on the lack of denial about the kiss, maybe someday he’d willingly do it.“Your exams are in two weeks, right?”“Yes… I feel like I’m going to die of boredom.”Despite his words, Muheun knew how diligent Seungjoo was. If they weren’t dating, he’d probably be heading to the library right after school. The library was more convenient for studying, but his choice to come over to Muheun’s place instead was his way of expressing affection.“Want me to buy you a desk? Studying at the dining table must be uncomfortable.”“I can just use the dining table. How much studying do I even do at your place to need a whole desk?”He wasn’t wrong, but Muheun felt a hint of disappointment. He just wanted to do something for him, even considering setting up a room for Seungjoo—minus a bed, of course.“If you had a desk, you could stay longer.”“You won’t even let me stay overnight,” Seungjoo retorted, his tone faintly disgruntled. Since they started dating, he’d been unhappy about always having to go home at night. After all he went through with the last full moon, Muheun thought, is he fearless, or does he just trust me that much?“Anyway, go home soon and rest. I’m hanging up now.”“Alright, have a good day at school… see you later.”The moment he ended the call, a wave of longing washed over him. He’d see him in a few hours, but the urge to go to his school right now was overwhelming. So Muheun, after staring at his phone screen for a long while, shook his head and managed to start walking.The reason Muheun was at the association was that the Gwimae Countermeasure Committee had summoned him. More specifically, they were asking if they could get Seungjoo’s assistance. Muheun had decisively rejected the association’s request. Until Seungjoo expressed a desire to be involved, he had no intention of acting as an intermediary.After shaking off the persistent committee, Muheun stopped by the break room for a cup of coffee. The timing was awkwardly off, and he decided to take a breather to wake himself up. Though he had an almost absurdly healthy body, caffeine still didn’t do much for him.“Oppa.”Just as Muheun was checking messages from his team members, a familiar face entered the break room. It was Muyeon, the leader of Team 4 and Muheun’s younger sister. Usually, there was little reason for her, as an exorcist, to visit the Gwimae office, but Muyeon casually walked over to him and held out her hand.“Make me a cup too.”Muheun, who had set his coffee down, pulled another cup from the machine. Though he planned to give her an Americano, Muyeon firmly added three spoons of sugar. You’ll get diabetes. His offhand comment, of course, was promptly ignored.“Are you done for the day, oppa?”“Yeah, heading home soon.”He didn’t ask why she’d come. If she had business to discuss, she’d bring it up, and if not, he had no intention of pressing her. So Muheun simply took another sip of coffee and asked jokingly.“You need money?”“If you’re offering, I’ll gladly accept.”Muyeon held out her hands, but Muheun didn’t give her any money. Instead, he simply placed a neatly folded tissue on them. Muyeon chuckled, waving the tissue around in her hand.“It’s nothing really….”She seemed hesitant, so it didn’t seem like she needed any help. If it were a work matter, she would’ve gotten straight to the point, and if she’d needed money, she would’ve gone to their parents instead.“I dreamt about Seungtae.”“…….”Muheun paused and looked at her. Muyeon scrunched her nose, twirling her eyes around in a slightly playful way.“You know I don’t usually dream, right?”“Yeah, I know.”It wasn’t just Muyeon; their other sibling, Muryeong, was the same. Once they fell asleep, they rarely dreamed. It was likely the same for Seungjoo, too.“But after 10 years… or maybe even longer? He’s been gone so long, and he suddenly appeared in my dream.”Dreams are a mysterious realm that bridges the boundaries of life and death. Sometimes, human longing can achieve something beyond the ordinary, so seeing the dead in dreams wasn’t unusual. Whether it was the longing of the living or of those who had already passed.“What did you do with Seungtae?”“Oh, just, well…”Muyeon shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. Taking a sip of the coffee Muheun had made, she smiled faintly, as if reminiscing about the past.“I teased him for messing up his mock test, tattled on his grades to Mom, and then we went to school together.”It wasn’t much different from their daily lives when Seunghee and Seungtae were alive. If they had still been here, things probably wouldn’t have changed much.“Then we watched a movie together. You know, that one Seungtae had won tickets for.”“The romance?”“Yeah, the tearjerker.”It was the last movie Seunghee and Seungtae had gone to see before they passed away. Perhaps the memory of that day also lingered with Muyeon as it did with Muheun. She might have also thought, like him, that if she had gone to watch it with them, nothing would have happened.“It’s funny, but I cried while watching it in the dream. I don’t even remember the plot, but it felt so sad…”“You cry at that kind of stuff?”“No way.”Muyeon shook her head, looking almost disgusted. Like Muheun, she wasn’t the type to cry over movies or shows. While she could feel the sadness, she didn’t get emotionally swept up in fictional stories.“But Seungtae told me not to cry.”“…….”“And he wasn’t crying at all.”Muheun chuckled. “That doesn’t make any sense.” Muyeon nodded in agreement. Seunghee and Seungtae, both of them were the type to bawl their eyes out at a sad movie.“He seemed to be doing well.”The quiet words that followed were filled with both a sense of relief and regret. They could’ve stayed a bit longer. They could’ve lived just a little longer. Those lingering feelings that would probably never fully fade away.“Yeah, it seems so.”It was a relief. While the living carried on with their regrets, if those who’d passed on had come to terms with everything, then maybe even the sadness felt like a deceitful indulgence.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~