âWhere are we having dinner tonight?â Yoonshin asked.
âEvery man for himself.â
âThe timing is a bit awkward to make dinner after getting home. Letâs just eat on the way back. I saw a kalguksu restaurant while we were on the way hereâhow does that sound? Iâll forgive the assault you incurred to my forehead if you do.â
âBeg. Then, Iâll consider between kalguksu and sujebi.â
âBuy me dinner, Sehun-sunbae,â Yoonshin pleaded.
Sehunâs shoulders shook, then he bent his head and kissed Yoonshin. It seemed like he was given permission. Yoonshin, who had been chasing after him smiling, stopped in his tracks. He couldnât move because of all the emotional states that jumped out of his bag of feelings. Sehun started the engine from outside his car and slowly turned to look at Yoonshin, who was frozen to the spot.
âArenât you getting in? Iâll leave you,â Sehun stated.
âYouâre not getting angry this time,â Yoonshin said.
âWhat do I need to get angry about? Youâve made more than one mistake.â
âCan I call you by your name now?â
Sehun, who had only been glancing at Yoonshin, now lightly tapped on his vehicle. He wasnât judging the rights and wrongs in Yoonshinâs remark but was contemplating why Yoonshin said what he did. After combing through their conversations, Sehun merely gestured to the passenger seat.
Yoonshin hurried into the car and fastened his seatbelt. He stared at Sehun, who was still outside. There was something unusual about Sehunâs reaction, so Yoonshin felt slightly perturbed. Sehun, after watching Yoonshin from outside, bent over. He grabbed Yoonshinâs cheeks with both hands and stamped his lips firmly on Yoonshinâs.
Their eyes met, sending sparks flying within their close distance.
After the lengthy, pregnant silence, Yoonshin blurted, âIf you say that Iâm not allowed to, I wonât. I just felt good when you called me by my name, soâŚâ
âYou can.â Sehunâs permission was granted so easily that Yoonshin was rather astonished.
Yoonshin stuttered, âN-no taking back.â
âOkay.â
Yoonshinâs hands fidgeted, his heart leaping wildly. Noticing the younger manâs anxiety, Sehun brought Yoonshinâs right hand to his lips, planting a kiss on the back of his hand. He then whispered, his voice swathing Yoonshinâs eardrums like silk, âIâll buy you dinner at a nice place, Yoonshin Do.â
Blood rose to Yoonshinâs face. He nodded.
* * *
Perhaps because it was the end of the year, the roads were more congested than expected. By the time they finished dinner and were close to the apartment, the power struggle between night and day had ended with the victory of darkness.
Yoonshin looked up at the dark sky from the window near their apartment, then he lightly grabbed onto Sehunâs wrist as he was driving. Sehun turned his head slightly, questioning what Yoonshin wanted. However, Yoonshinâs eyes were glued to the window.
âPlease let me off here,â Yoonshin demanded.
âWeâre almost home. Where are you thinking of going?â Sehun asked.
âThereâs something that I need to buy. Could you wait here for a moment? Iâll be right back, so donât leave me stranded.â
After making Sehun stop his car on the side of the road, Yoonshin got off without hesitationâhe didnât turn around once. Sehun considered getting off as well but decided to remain in the car. Instead, he watched Yoonshin.
After persistently chasing Yoonshin with his eyes, he saw the younger man go to a shopping complex that housed mostly clothing stores. His destination seemed to be the flower shop in the innermost corner of the arcade of stores. Sehun had always gotten off work late, so he never saw that shop open, but due to the year-end rush for the holidays, the shop was open until now.