Ju-eon couldn’t help but smile softly at Myung-hwon’s whisper. He had felt it even when he lost his memories, but Myung-hwon had changed so much from how he was right before the clinical trials that adjusting proved difficult. He experienced the same heart-fluttering sensation from the beginning of their relationship, with heat burning all the way to his ears.

“You’ve changed a lot from before.”

“Me?”

Ju-eon hit Myung-hwon’s chest at his puzzled expression.

“Since when did you start saying things like this so freely?”

The last Myung-hwon he remembered was always busy, sharp-edged, and without any room to breathe.

“If you don’t like it, I won’t do it.”

“That’s not what I meant…!”

Smooch.

“Let’s go.”

Hot lips brushed against the corner of Ju-eon’s mouth in an instant. Ju-eon stared at Myung-hwon with wide eyes. The kiss was so brief it seemed almost embarrassing to call it one. Just a childish peck, but for some reason, he couldn’t bear the embarrassment.

“Let’s go back. To our home.”

Myung-hwon turned around first. Ju-eon followed behind him, responding with a startled, “Oh, okay.” Seeing Myung-hwon’s neck turn red under his gaze, Ju-eon’s eyes curved into a smile.

We’re going back together. Ju-eon hadn’t decided where to go after graduation. After leaving the dormitory, he couldn’t return to where he had lived before.

As they walked across the sandy beach, Myung-hwon suddenly stopped.

“What is it?”

“Let’s say today doesn’t count as a trip.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s make proper travel plans.”

“Aren’t you going to be very busy for a while?”

“I can make time for that much.”

It seemed Myung-hwon had been thinking about traveling all this time. The way he had held onto Ju-eon’s words felt like a confession that he had never forgotten him, that he had loved him even when they were apart. Just as he had made mistakes, so had Yeo Myung-hwon. Their separation back then had been arrogant consideration born out of wanting to protect him.

Though the results of their selfish considerations differed, their intentions to care for each other remained the same. That’s why they couldn’t help but find each other again.

When they reached the parking lot, they saw a car haphazardly parked, seemingly left in a hurry.

Click.

“You haven’t changed your car either.”

Ju-eon muttered as he got into the passenger seat.

**

The journey back was quieter than expected. They drove in silence for a long time. Only their joined hands between the seats added warmth.

Being conscious of those hands, Ju-eon hardly noticed the darkness falling outside the window. It wasn’t until they reached District 1 that he remembered something he had forgotten while thinking only of them.

“…I heard he went missing.”

Even without saying who, it was clear who he meant. Though the change in international law had become a major issue and overshadowed it, the disappearance still received consistent mention.

“Yeah.”

“I saw him before I came to you. He was definitely wounded by a knife then. Lee Ho-yun…”

“I know.”

“…You know? Then that person…”

He had been stabbed and lost a lot of blood. It was hard to understand how he could have escaped and disappeared so quickly that even the police couldn’t find him.

“He’s probably dead.”

He was still breathing at the end, so if he had gone straight to a hospital, he might have survived. But such a death would have been too luxurious for Yeo Ji-woong.

“Huh?”

“Yeo Han-ol took him.”

“…I see.”

Since Ju-eon had asked him not to hide things, Myung-hwon answered all his questions. Ju-eon didn’t ask about Yeo Han-ol.

When everything ended, Myung-hwon, who had chased after Han-ol, returned alone. Ju-eon didn’t think Myung-hwon would have lost him, so he had assumed something must have been said between them.

‘I didn’t expect it would involve Yeo Ji-woong.’

Currently, the media focused on Myung-hwon, with little interest in Yeo Ji-woong’s death. Since no body had been found, and stronger suspicions existed that Ji-woong had voluntarily gone into hiding after the series of incidents, few people speculated that he was dead.

Whirr.

When Ju-eon opened the window slightly, the city’s distinctive acrid air seeped through the gap. He looked at Myung-hwon, who stared straight ahead.

A strong jawline highlighting his masculinity, a straight nose, eyes focused only forward. Yeo Myung-hwon looked peaceful. But Ju-eon knew that someone could appear fine on the outside while feeling differently inside.

“Are you okay?”

He was once a father, and once an enemy. Yeo Ji-woong’s existence had never been insignificant to Myung-hwon. And for the last few years, Myung-hwon’s life had revolved entirely around Yeo Ji-woong. After Ju-eon disappeared, he said he had methodically worked to crush Ji-woong. So that if Ju-eon ever returned, he could protect him then.

It couldn’t be easy to have the mountain he needed to tear down crumble pathetically because of someone else.

By now, they had arrived in front of their home. Neither made a move to get out first. Myung-hwon’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.

This must be difficult for Ju-eon to understand. He had always had a special affection for family ties.

“Honestly, I felt relieved when I heard he was dead.”

“……”

“Ah. Because I thought you wouldn’t be in danger anymore.”

“……”

“That feeling was stronger than any other emotion.”

Thinking it would be deceptive to say he understood, Ju-eon simply nodded.

“I see.”

Though they were blood-related, he understood intellectually that sharing blood doesn’t automatically make someone family. It was better than Myung-hwon feeling empty because Ji-woong had died before he could unleash all the anger he had accumulated. But more than that, it felt good that Myung-hwon thought of him more than blood ties.

‘I can’t say this out loud.’

While he believed family was important, this wasn’t the kind of thought someone who had cared for Myung-hwon’s mother without telling him would normally have. If asked, he would answer. But he carefully put aside the thought of bringing it up first.

“Is what I said making you uncomfortable?”

“No? I just want to get home quickly.”

When they returned home, an awkward silence fell. Seeing his belongings made tears well up again. Noticing the meaning behind those tears, Myung-hwon embraced Ju-eon from behind and said:

“Thinking you might never come back made me more obsessed with the past, but I won’t be like that anymore.”

“Don’t do that again.”

“Okay.”

Perhaps because they had already talked about it once, they didn’t dwell on their emotions for long. By the time they had processed their feelings, Myung-hwon’s hand had found its way inside Ju-eon’s clothes.

Huh?

When Ju-eon made no move to stop him, Myung-hwon’s hand slowly moved upward. His hand touched Ju-eon’s shoulder blade. The feeling of Myung-hwon’s hand on his bare skin was vivid.

“We agreed to be honest with each other,” Ju-eon said, breaking the warm atmosphere.

“Yes.”

Myung-hwon buried his head in Ju-eon’s shoulder and began moving his other hand downward. Hot breath touched his nape. Each time those fingers with obvious intent brushed against him, his skin grew hotter. Unconsciously, his breathing quickened.

“When we first met again… you didn’t recognize me and brought me home. Has that happened before?”

It was something that had been bothering him. It had bothered him when he lost his memories, but now it bothered him even more. He had asked briefly before, but Myung-hwon’s answer hadn’t been satisfactory.

Myung-hwon’s hand stopped moving.

“…Here?”

Myung-hwon looked at Ju-eon reproachfully for asking such a mood-k*lling question. Ju-eon stepped back awkwardly with an embarrassed smile.

“No. I was just curious…”

Before, even when they were alone, they spent simple time together. Though they didn’t dislike each other, spending time with Myung-hwon had been overwhelming while trying to balance it with work.

So sometimes Myung-hwon would take care of himself when Ju-eon wasn’t around.

“That never happened.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Thinking the conversation would be lengthy, Myung-hwon sat on the sofa. He patted his knee while looking at Ju-eon.

“You’re lying.”

As Ju-eon approached, Myung-hwon naturally seated him on his thigh.

“We agreed not to lie. That day was the first time anyone came to this house.”

“……”

“It’s true.”

“……”

“There was no response either.”

“…Huh?”

Unlike Myung-hwon’s straightforward confession, Ju-eon’s eyes widened at the expl*cit statement. Myung-hwon hugged Ju-eon tightly. Despite his words, the heat clearly transmitted even through their clothes, making Ju-eon swallow hard.

“Looks like you’re fine now. How bold, Woo Ju-eon.”

He should tell him not to tease, but he felt too embarrassed to lift his face. Ju-eon buried his face in Myung-hwon’s chest.

“…I’m being childish.”

“Yes.”

When Myung-hwon immediately agreed, Ju-eon pouted.

“I know I don’t have much right to say this, but I just wouldn’t like it if someone else had been in here.”

“It’s okay to be selfish.”

“Okay.”

Just as the warm atmosphere seemed to form again, Ju-eon couldn’t help but be surprised by Myung-hwon’s next words.

“In exchange, I’ll be a little selfish too.”

“Huh?”

Before Ju-eon could grasp the situation, Myung-hwon quickly scooped him up in his arms. Caught off guard by the sudden movement, Ju-eon instinctively wrapped his arms around Myung-hwon’s neck to maintain balance.

Their gazes met in mid-air, and soon Myung-hwon smiled deeply and whispered near Ju-eon’s ear.

“You do understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Ju-eon involuntarily shivered at the hot breath.

Smooch.

This time, Ju-eon was the one who briefly kissed Myung-hwon’s lips first. Myung-hwon smiled with curved eyes at the kiss that came instead of an answer.

“I guess you do understand.”

Slam.

The bedroom door closed roughly. It didn’t open again until the next day.

—

T/N: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)