Jaeyoungâs cheeks were colored by the street lights. The orange-colored eyes looked exceptionally bright. There were too many difficult parts of his words to interpret correctly. He could assume the reason for his anger and what he wanted them to do, but he needed to make sure.
âSo, sunbae, youâre saying that youâre going to keep doing stuff like that⌠with me⌠â
The words that came out of his mouth were much more vague than he thought and his voice was cracked.
âStuff like that?â
âEven if Iâm a man, to relieve sexual desire. There will be holding of hands, kissing, and having sex. Youâre saying that youâre going to act like we are a straight couple that is dating.â
âAct like dating? What are youâŚâ
As Jaeyoungâs forehead wrinkled, the hand on Sangwooâs wrist tightened. As he approached him with his head down, a shadow was cast around Sangwooâs eyes.
âLet me just ask you one thing. What do you think dating is?â
âA straight couple meeting on the premise of marriage. Itâs like a trial version of a formal program.â
âAh, so it doesnât work between men?â
âYouâre calling that a question?â
Suddenly, both hands, which had been caught, were freed. Jaeyoung separated himself from Sangwoo and sat down on the ground with a flustered expression. The skin, which was soaked in streetlight, was glistening orange. He muttered.
âWait for me to think. If you run away, Iâll kill you.â
Jaeyoung threw his gum into the trash can and grabbed a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. Soon, the tip of the cigarette shone red in the dark, and smoke rose from his lips into the sky. The air in Jaeyoungâs cheeks swelled and was emptied repeatedly. Sangwoo got up and sat hugging his knees a bit away from him.
Jaeyoung kept silent until he finished his cigarette. He stubbed the butt out with his shoe and rubbed his face with his palms as if he were washing his face. He wasnât exactly sure because he didnât check his watch, but it seemed like a long time had passed. At the end of the wait, Sangwoo made eye contact with Jaeyoung.
âYeah. Itâs better to be clear. If thatâs all you can comprehend, letâs call it lust,â he cynically muttered and nodded. It was a signal to come closer. Sangwoo was a bit nervous as Jaeyoung wasnât smiling one bit.
âCome here now before I get even more mad.â
Sangwoo approached him little by little by crawling on his knees. Jaeyoung kept moving his fingers with a dry gaze. Forward, forward, forward. Then, it became the distance of sitting face-to-face with a desk between them. Sangwoo stopped there.
âWhat?â
In an instant, Jaeyoung crawled forward. So he wouldnât be able to escape, he held Sangwooâs hand on the ground and clasped his fingers. Sangwoo hardened like a rock.
âHold hands with me.â
His opposite hand got closer and held Sangwooâs cheek. His thumb slowly swept through his lips.
âWeâve already kissed.â
Sangwoo slightly moved back while trembling, but Jaeyoung wrapped his hand around his neck and pulled him back into his arms. His whispering voice gave him goosebumps on his arms.
âThen all we have left to do is to have sex. Correct?â
Jaeyoungâs forehead pushed Sangwooâs cap away.
Thump. He heard something fall behind him. It was hard to tell what was on his mind with those pale eyes. Whether he was being sarcastic or if he was seriously suggesting it. Most of all, he couldnât concentrate because his heartbeat was too loud, and because his skin failed to regulate his body temperature.
âI have two questions,â Sangwoo spat out after managing to grab a string of reason.
Jaeyoung made a gesture with his chin as if was saying, try.
âFirst, sex isnât possible between men. Then in what way would the sexual desireâŚâ
âItâs possible.â
âWhat? Where⌠How?â
âIf you donât know, stay still. Cause Iâll take care of it then.â
âWhy are you so confident? You have even tri..â
âIâve tried. Next question.â
Jaeyoung, whose eyes were pierced on Sangwoo, turned his head while scratching his neck. Sangwoo didnât get any answer except for that he was an experienced person, but decided to do independent research on that and moved on to the next question.
âSecondly, whatâs good about having such an abnormal type of relationship?â
âThink of yourself as a Qing merchant,â Jaeyoung answered in a low voice. Then he whispered while adding more strength into the hand that was still gripping him: âThereâs an enemy camp out there. If we leave it like this, theyâll surround the castle, shoot arrows, cut off the water supply, and make all kinds of fuss. Now, there are two methods.â
Jaeyoungâs index finger flicked up.
âOne, ignore it and wait until it disappears.â
Sangwoo was silent. He already got the gist of what he was trying to say. Jaeyoungâs middle finger slowly stretched out.
âTwo, go out and kick those bastardsâ asses. Which one is to your liking?â
ââŚâ
âWhen thereâs a problem, the fastest way to eliminate the cause is by getting to the core. I think youâd be that kind of person.â