âFourth-year, why are you acting like this? Youâve become strange. Iâm not that insensitive that I canât feel that change. Why are you poking at me?â Sehun asked.
There was no way Sehun didnât know that Yoonshin was continuously feeling him out, and Yoonshin was vaguely aware of it. Sehun read that from Yoonshinâs quivering eyes and added, âIâm good at reading people. You donât like meâat least, not in that way.â
In one way, Sehun was right. However, there was one pitfall. Yoonshinâs feelings for Sehun werenât as simple to be summarized in one sentence. Although it was true that he didnât like Sehun âin that wayâ yet, Sehun was the only one that Yoonshin was currently open to having romantic feelings for.
Yoonshin thought about how to express his ambiguous feelings, then he slowly said, âI am interested in you though. I want to know what kind of person you are. Sometimes⊠I get confused by you. You must know since youâre so good at reading people.â
Sehun didnât deny that logic because Yoonshin was right.
Yoonshin felt Sehunâs intense stare heating up. When the older manâs languid gaze and Yoonshinâs tense eyes met, Yoonshin felt a peculiar ache squeezing his heart. Yoonshin said in a low voice, âIf I just got married before we could try anything when we had the chance, wouldnât that be a loss for both of us?â
âWhy is that my loss?â
âIf youâre upset about it, you could just say itâs my loss. I donât want to lose.â
âTheyâre trying to send you off to a well-off family, yet why do you have so many things you donât like? Marriage is also business. Use it to your advantage.â
âBut⊠I keep thinking that itâs wrong.â
Yoonshin couldnât bring himself to explain that feeling and hung his head instead. Sehun watched quietly, then he reached out for the mug, displeased with Yoonshin. After a sip of the steaming hot coffee, he placidly said while staring at the cup in his hands, âYou should have expected that much the moment your sister married into Soohan. Resent your father for allowing the marriage and your sister for marrying. Iâm not your dear diary.â
His long fingers wrapped firmly around the handle of the mug. Upon spitting out his calm and cool words, he took one more sip of coffee. That moment, Yoonshin retorted quietly, quiet enough that he could be talking to himself, âIf you were going to be like this, why did you kiss me? You must have felt pressed, pushing in your tongue first like that.â
Clunk. Yoonshinâs utterance made Sehun lose his grip on the mug, making it slip and fall instead of being set on the table. The wobbling cup dropped on the tray.
Clatter! The mug hit the hard surface and spun like a top. Black liquid tipped and surged in the cupâs mouth before it ultimately spilled on Sehunâs hand.
Sehun grimaced at the burning sensation on his hand. âUgh, hot. Damn it.â
Surprised, Yoonshin took out a handkerchief from his jacketâs inner pocket. He started to wipe off the fluid from Sehunâs hand, then Sehun snatched the cloth away and wiped himself off. Still, Yoonshin grabbed the other manâs hand and turned it over several times, inspecting it for any burns. He saw that the web between the older manâs long index and middle finger was red, so he rubbed that spot with his fingers. âOh no, are you all right?â
âLet go.â
âDoes it hurt? Should I go and buy some ointment? There should be some in the convenience store. Or if you have a first aid kit at your placeâŠâ
âIâm reaching the limit of my patience, so let my hand go. I told you, itâs hard to hold back!â