YY Extra 15

Extra 15

Ordinary Day

The city’s ice rink was packed with skaters. Juwon observed them for a bit, finding greater enjoyment in watching people skate with excitement rather than doing it himself.

Red and blue decorations hung from tree branches. Winter sunlight streamed through the gaps in between them. Every time the metal ornaments swayed in the breeze, their light scattered in all directions.

Street stalls were selling pretzels adorned with gingerbread men, candy canes, and tree-shaped sprinkles. Meanwhile, a street singer with a guitar was singing some carols, which merrily spread throughout the surroundings.

Joy to the world, the lord is come. Let earth receive her King.

In the distance, Inheon was holding two cups of hot chocolate while making his way through the crowd. Despite looking quite conspicuous standing a whole head taller than everyone else, no one had recognised him since he was wearing a hat, sunglasses, and even had his scarf pulled up all the way to his chin and wrapped tightly around him.

Yet Juwon found himself unable to tear his gaze away from him. Even in an all-black ensemble, Inheon was still shining in the winter sunlight.

Before Juwon even realised it, Inheon had arrived at his side and passed him his cup of hot chocolate.

The green paper cup was warm, with a slightly melted snowman-shaped marshmallow releasing a sweet fragrance. As Juwon took a sip, the rich chocolate blended with cream gently spread throughout his mouth. He let out a small bit of admiration. “It’s good.”

He could feel Inheon smiling as sweetly as the marshmallow. He couldn’t see his expression since his huge sunglasses and thick scarf were covering it, but even so, he still knew.

The song had reached its climax now. Juwon gestured with his chin at the busker singing the carol.

“Do you remember? The day we had our interview, this song was playing in the cafe.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It felt like the saviour who’d save December had descended upon us.”

Inheon awkwardly said, “The song didn’t even register to me back then… I wasn’t able to hear a thing.”

Juwon dropped a bill into the guitar case in front of the busker. The man who was singing responded with a crinkle of his eyes, as if to thank him. Juwon said, as if humming to himself, “Back then, I thought you were persecuting us for being a small and newly-founded company. An S-Class hunter sitting there, silent and expressionless—do you know how scared I was? Still, I smiled to try and look good to you, but Inhunter-nim, you just went all straight-faced on me…”

“…I think you’ve got a text?”

Bzz, Juwon’s phone buzzed. Mumbling, “Who is it?”, he took out his phone.

“Oh, it seems like the prosecutor is going to demand life imprisonment.”

When Juwon relayed the content of the message, Inheon nodded. The trial hadn’t taken place yet, so although there was no sentence, it was evident that the punishment was going to be severe.

Cases involving hunters attacking civilians often incurred additional charges, such as attempted murder. Not only did the man have a criminal record for causing harm with his abilities, he had even attempted an act of terrorism at the party hall, so the nature of his crime was even worse.

Furthermore, the release of the motive for the crime through the media had a significant social impact. This situation, which involved the CEO, who had taken the lead in publicising information, being put in danger because of it, was enough to anger the masses. This also led to a situation where, propagated by the foreign press, hunter companies worldwide had no choice but to comply with the request to disclose information.

Due to the situation, a sudden meeting was held at the International Hunter Association. On the day Inheon wrapped up his schedule, both he and Juwon made their way to New York. Despite initially thinking they wouldn’t have the opportunity for a trip this year due to their busy company commitments, they found themselves spending Christmas Eve in New York, just as they had said before. Although they had to go back the next day since there were pressing matters they could no longer delay, the time they currently enjoyed was fun.

The giant tree had been glimmering all day long. The streets were adorned with a multitude of decorations and twinkling lights, crafting a beautiful atmosphere. The faces of those wandering through the streets were bright.

With unexpected free time and no set plans, they decided to stroll around, but even then, they hadn’t realised how much time had passed by. At a street market, they purchased two fur gloves, dividing them between themselves and wearing one each, and also bought some ornaments to hang on their tree. Inheon seemed interested in the kitchen props, so Juwon bought him a sponge shaped like a sunny-side-up egg and a snowman pepper shaker.

Pointing at peculiar hippy-style clothing and bantering over who it would suit better, they strolled past an astrology and tarot booth.

In contrast to the lively atmosphere of the surrounding booths, the fortune-telling house stood strangely deserted and quiet. Perhaps that was why, upon making eye contact with Juwon, the old woman sitting inside the booth jumped up from her seat and actively beckoned him over.

[I’ll give you a deal, one question for the small price of ten dollars. I’m real skillful, you know?]

Although he didn’t trust her, the fact that this booth was the only one not attracting customers made him feel unusually conscious of it, and he entered inside. Under the curtain adorned with suns and moons intersecting like taegeuk patterns, the fortune-teller spoke in a hoarse voice, saying,

[What type of luck would you like to see? Love, wealth, health—whatever it is, just say the word!]

Juwon rubbed the end of his chin. His love luck was already at its peak, and his wealth luck was overflowing, so there wasn’t really anything he was curious about.

[Um… health?]

The old woman nodded, extending a set of cards. Juwon followed her instructions, shuffling and dividing the cards before picking one.

Silently staring at the card Juwon had picked, the old woman tilted her head.

[Hmm? Did you perhaps almost die last year?]

[…Yes, I did?]

The fortune-teller nodded, as if she already knew.

[Your fate was twisted. You were originally supposed to die, but it diverged into fortune.]

[Really?]

Internally amazed, Juwon looked to Inheon. Inheon raised an eyebrow and said, [Then, is it okay now?]

[His bad luck has completely gone away, so only good things are left now. He’ll live a long and healthy life.]

Even though she was just saying whatever, it wasn’t bad to listen for the fun of it, so Juwon inquired about Inheon’s fortune as well. Even though Inheon had no interest whatsoever in fortune-telling, he had no intention of rejecting Juwon’s request when he suggested it. The fortune-teller handed her cards over to Inheon.

Inheon selected a card, but unlike before, the fortune-teller gazed at the chosen card for a long time. The fortune-teller parted her lips and said in a low tone, [Will you give it another try?]

Inheon chose another card. The fortune-teller, studying the card, remained silent and instead mumbled to herself in a phlegmy voice. Curious, Juwon asked, [What’s his fortune?]

The fortune-teller swept her face, which unintentionally displayed a frown of confusion and helplessness, with her hands.

[…He has no fortune.]

[What?]

[I am incapable of reading his past, present, and future…]

She closed her eyes to try and focus again, but she still couldn’t see anything. She felt as though she were standing in front of an indecipherable puzzle.

It was the first time she felt severed from her connection as a psychic, able only to sense a cold, blue energy. The old woman slowly shook her head as she faintly mumbled, [Oh, Derick… Has the time come for me to join your side…?]

Juwon casually took out some cash from his pocket.

[Well, since you only read mine…]

The fortune-teller, who had her eyes closed in quiet contemplation, suddenly opened them and quickly said, [Anyway, since his energy is so strong and clear, no one will be able to face him unless he harms himself.]

[…Didn’t you just say you couldn’t read it?]

[Anyhow, his energy is all clear! Twenty dollars!]

The old woman extended her hand, which resembled an ancient tree.

Having been made to pay in the heat of the moment, they both faced each other and burst into low laughter, feeling like dumb customers.

Before they knew it, they started feeling a little peckish. Juwon pointed to the rows of food stalls selling hot dogs, waffles, hotteoks, and various other types of food and said, “Want to get something to eat?”

Leisurely surveying the surroundings, Inheon pointed to a booth.

“New York is all about pizza…”

“Ha, as expected of Kang Inheon, you know what’s up.”

They joined the line in front of the nearest pizza stall. It seemed to be a popular chain store, as the place was teeming with people. Newspapers featuring articles about the store and the signatures of celebrities were framed and placed on several different areas of the wall.

The pizzas that came straight from the oven were placed inside the display stand and sliced into large pieces before being sold. There were many people lining up to order, but so few tables that were already full.

The hotel they reserved was nearby, so they opted to get the pizza to go. Juwon went to the washroom for a bit, and upon his return, he noticed someone approaching and engaging in conversation with Inheon, who was still standing in line.

The woman, radiating charm with just a glance, casually swept back her wavy blonde hair. Sporting a lively smile, she asked, [What’s the best type of pizza here?]

Inheon shrugged. [I don’t know, it’s my first time coming.]

The woman clapped her hands, as if finding it fascinating.

[Oh, it’s my first time as well! I was actually wondering what I should get. I saw people on Insta say the margherita is the best one, so should I get that…?]

Inheon gave a light nod, and the woman continued with a smile, [What are you going to order? The margherita?]

The woman nudged Inheon’s sneaker with the tip of her sleek ankle boots. Inheon took half a step back and said, [Hawaiian, my husband likes that one.]

The woman was momentarily speechless. Soon grasping the situation, she let out a long sigh and grumbled, [Ha… I knew it, all the decent men in New York are either gay or married…]

Quiet chuckles escaped from the people in line, pretending not to listen while subtly eavesdropping on the conversation. The woman laughed to herself as she said, [But the margherita here is actually good. I’m a regular at this place.]

[Thank you for the recommendation.]

[No problem, enjoy your meal.]

As the woman turned around, the middle-aged man standing in line behind them chimed in, as if to encourage her, [Nevertheless, you win when it comes to taste in pizza.]

[I guess I do.]

The woman grinned and approached her friends, who had been waiting for her at the pick-up corner. She spread her palm in the air for her friends to see and shook her head. They gave her a light hug, comforting her as they headed to another stall.

The pizza was coming out quickly, so the line had shrunk in no time. When it soon became Inheon’s turn, someone approached him once more and said, [Excuse me.]

It was a curly-haired man with a small physique and a cute face. When Inheon cast a brief glance downward, the man’s pale and freckled cheeks turned red. The man gulped before rattling on, [If you ever feel like trying a different kind of pizza, contact me!]

The man slipped a piece of paper with his number written on it into the pocket of the down jacket Inheon was wearing. That seemed to be the greatest display of courage he could muster as he quickly ran back, face lowered, without even placing an order. He was soon buried in the crowd of people, no longer to be seen. [Next person!]

The staff called, and Inheon approached the counter as if nothing had happened and placed his pizza order.

[Four slices of Hawaiian, two slices margherita, and two slices regular…]

While the employee prepared the pizza, Inheon took the piece of paper from his pocket and tossed it into the recycling bin without giving it a second glance.

The aroma of olive oil and basil, the scent of fresh fruit, and the aromatic smell of cheese blended together, and based on the smell alone, it seemed like Juwon would like it. The thought of Juwon enjoying the meal made Inheon want to bring the pizza back to the hotel before it cooled.

[Pizza’s ready.]

However, even as he received the packaged pizza, Juwon was still nowhere to be seen. He might have been held up, given the congestion of people in the area, but Inheon felt his heart needlessly sink.

Should he have followed him after all? Juwon had said that they’d be able to eat quicker if one person lined up, but Inheon was worried about sending him off alone.

Of course, Team Leader Cha was tailing him, so there shouldn’t be any danger, but… Inheon wondered whether coming to such a crowded area was a mistake. He truly wanted to follow Juwon’s opinion that there was no need to change their daily routine just because of one crazy bastard, but unease began to seep in.

As if his nervousness had been unfounded, he locked eyes with Juwon as soon as he stepped outside the stall. Acting as though nothing was amiss, Inheon shook the large pizza box and smiled. “Took less time to buy it than expected, right?”

However, Juwon stood in a tilted posture with his hands in his pockets, saying, “You’re pretty used to being omnidirectional, huh?”

“Huh?” Inheon asked back with puzzlement, and Juwon added on with dissatisfaction, “Quite the natural with both men and women, aren’t you?”

Even though they didn’t realise his actual identity, Inheon was still overflowing with popularity. It seemed that, despite having covered both his face and his body, it still couldn’t hide the sense of excellence flowing from him.

The manner in which he handled all those who approached him seemed as natural as flowing water, so it appeared to be something quite familiar to him. Juwon lamented, “Even though you’re all bundled up, who’s the one people aren’t supposed to be able to take their eyes off of?”

Only then understanding what Juwon was getting at, Inheon grinned.

“That’s right… You said you wouldn’t sit still if anyone tried to flirt with me.” He lightly touched Juwon’s shoulder and then asked, “Honey, were you standing here to give them a harsh scolding?”

As Inheon harmlessly laughed, oblivious to the turmoil he was causing others, Juwon found himself with no choice but to resignedly laugh as well.

“Yeah, I tripped them.”

Laughter erupted once more as Juwon extended his leg onto the roadside.

 

 

 

Christmas decorations were twinkling even inside the hotel. A wreath made of fresh pine needles and large socks could be seen hanging above the fireplace in the living room of their hotel suite.

Juwon took out a chocolate from the stocking and ate it as he grabbed a beer from the minibar. He and Inheon, who was sitting across from him at a table beside the window, clinked their beer cans together. The cheerful sound of aluminium cans bumping into each other could be heard above the pizza, which was placed in between them.

Nibbling on the edge of the pizza, which was still warm, the sweet taste of the fruit as well as the savoury flavour of the sauce spread throughout their mouths. Although it was cold outside, the interior was toasty, so it was the perfect time to have a cool beer.

Since they were on the top floor, a panoramic view of the city could be seen from below the open window. They could overlook the area they had just been, now looking as small as a box of matches. The winter sky was clear without any clouds.

Juwon took a sip of his beer as he said, “Seems like there won’t be any snow this Christmas…”

“Honestly, there’d be traffic if it snows.”

Juwon idly laughed upon hearing his words.

“Planes also won’t be flying if it snows. Don’t you think it’d be kind of nice to be stuck in New York for a few days?”

“That does sound a bit nice, doesn’t it?”

“Well, you always say you’re fine with everything.”

“Because I am fine with everything.”

Time quickly passed by as they shared miscellaneous conversations. They wondered if they should go see a performance at Broadway in the evening. The tickets would’ve already been sold out, but there were many ways to acquire some if they wanted to, so that didn’t matter.

Empty cans began to slowly pile up beneath the table, and the late afternoon sunlight seeped in through the window. The entirety of the city was dyed in a golden light as a faint shadow stretched itself over it.

The television that they had left on as white noise instead of watching was currently playing some Christmas special. The carols heard on the streets calmly flowed by.

A faint sense of tipsiness began to gather in his drowsy mood, and Juwon’s eyelids lowered a bit. Juwon sluggishly leaned back against the couch as he stared outside the window, saying, “It looks prettier in the afternoon.”

“You look even prettier, though.”

Feeling his ears tickle, Juwon looked to him, but Inheon just had a calm expression on, as if he were talking about the sun setting westward.

Inheon, who had been quietly staring at him, opened his mouth, “At first…”

Inheon stretched out his arm and rubbed Juwon’s eyebrow with the tip of his finger.

“At first, it was because I was nervous, but later on, it was because I was sulking. You didn’t remember me, and I was being narrow-minded… I’m sorry, the memory from back then was special to me.”

His fingerprint pressed against Juwon’s scar as he rubbed his left eyebrow. The wound he had suffered from the monster was left behind as an unerasable scar. Inheon’s eyes slightly furrowed.

On the Christmas Eve of his fifteenth year, the no17 bus he rode after having parted with Juwon arrived at its last stop, the intercity bus terminal.

He entered the terminal, which was still bustling despite it being night. Inheon had stood in line in front of the ticket office.

When it came his turn, he tried to buy a ticket, but he had no money. Only the coin from the arcade rattled in his pocket. He thought about how the 10,000 won he had brought had been all used to pay for the pizza. He still had the wallet he had stolen, but…

Inheon left the terminal and dropped the wallet in a red mailbox. As he sat in the waiting room located in front of the terminal all night long, dawn began to break.

On Christmas morning, he walked back to the orphanage.

Even though he was severely reprimanded for staying out all night without saying a word, Inheon was thinking about something else. He wanted today to pass by quickly and go to school tomorrow. He wanted to see Juwon.

However, his wish wasn’t granted this time either. The school had to take an early break due to the unidentified virus that had originated from a dungeon.

Unable to wait for a few days, he even came to the front of Juwon’s home in Seongil-dong, but even though he waited all day long, the lights stayed off. No matter how long he waited, the lights of Sungil Villa, apartment number 1109 never turned on.

Juwon disappeared without a trace.

He wondered if that moment had just been a dream. However, he was still wearing Juwon’s Nike sneakers. Choi Seorim had asked him where he got them on and tried to put them on, which led to Inheon’s very first fight in the orphanage. It was a very easy win. Everyone had stared at him with surprised eyes, but he didn’t care.

School finally ended up resuming again, but, as if it were only natural, Juwon didn’t show up. Even when he asked the homeroom teacher about it, all they said was that he had transferred schools, and they never mentioned where he had gone.

He dispiritedly sat down in his seat, and the mathematics teacher entered the classroom. In response to the jokes she had mixed into her greeting, asking if they’d been doing well and if they had done the homework she handed out before the break, the students burst into complaints and asked if homework was what was important right now.

However, Inheon wasn’t listening to any of that. A worksheet had been sandwiched in between the pages containing the story of Alexander the Great. The maths problems had been solved in a clean and pretty handwriting, along with a post-it note written in the same handwriting.

When they met again after a few years had passed, Juwon didn’t remember him. He offered him a handshake as if they were meeting for the very first time. It was the same even if he knew they’d once been classmates. He tilted his head, furrowing the brow with the mark of the wound he had procured saving him.

Maybe the reason he acted more brusque than usual was because he was more upset about the fact Juwon didn’t remember him rather than the fact he had changed from the Juwon he knew in the past.

The Christmas Eve of his thirty-third year, Inheon looked at Juwon, who was sitting across from him, and said in a subdued voice, “I regret it. If I could go back to the day of our first interview, I would’ve said it properly back then. That I want to become your hunter because I love you… That, even if you don’t remember me, it doesn’t matter to me what you’re like…”

Juwon blinked and set his beer can down on the table.

“I wanted to talk about that too, but…”

Juwon slightly clenched his fist before releasing it. He had brought it up earlier because he wanted to talk about it today, but now that it actually came down to it, he couldn’t get the words out. Juwon licked his lips before continuing, “To be honest… it’s not that I can’t remember.”

“…Huh?”

“No, it is true that I couldn’t remember anything at first, but I did find out about things later on.”

“…Are you saying that you ended up remembering?”

Inheon tilted his head in wonder. Juwon licked his lips with his tongue. He raised his beer can and gulped it down, but his thirst wouldn’t go away. However, it seemed like it was time to spill everything now.

“It might be hard to believe, but back when I was trapped in Gnipahellir…”

Juwon confessed everything that happened when he was trapped in Gnipahellir, from the future he had seen to the young Inheon he had met and even the illusion created by the butterfly.

When he finished telling his story, the late afternoon’s golden sunlight was waning towards the west, and a rosy sunset dyed the sky.

“…The reason I haven’t told you this until now is… because I’m narrow-minded and selfish.”

Inheon seemed a little surprised by the unexpected story, but he was earnestly lending him an ear. Juwon rubbed his face and took a moment to catch his breath before continuing, “I wasn’t sure at first… I was wondering if the current you actually remembered what the fifteen year old you experienced in the dungeon that Christmas Eve. I tried to brush it off as something impossible. But, honestly… I was scared that, if I told you everything, you’d think the reason I love you is because you love me. I hadn’t realised it, but I’ve liked you ever since we first met at the cafe…”

Juwon looked at Inheon, who was dyed in the colours of the sunset. The black eyes beneath the shade of his eyebrow bone, his nose bridge, still sharp despite the dim light, and even the lips he wanted to kiss, were still as beautiful as they were the moment they first met.

From the moment he first saw him, Juwon couldn’t tear his gaze away from Inheon. The feeling only strengthened the longer they stayed together. Although he had criticised him as being two-faced for never leaving December despite being committed to keeping his upright beliefs, it was actually something that drew him to Inheon even more.

However, he didn’t know what to do. At the time, Juwon was frugal with everything, but he was especially frugal when it came to love. That was why he had considered those feelings that had sprouted without his knowledge as a waste. Suppressed by the habit of blocking out luxuries such as feelings, he wasn’t even aware of it himself.

He had held everything close to him, trying not to get anything taken away, but his feelings were stolen anyway. He didn’t even realise they had already been stolen away.

The cars passing through the roads turned their headlights on and the street lamps switched on, shining an orange light. The panoramic view spread out beneath the window looked like an illusion, as if it were a part of a different world from when it was still day. Juwon slowly continued, “But it was true that you remembered everything, and… I came to learn that you took the words I had said back as a life guide and loved me. It was fascinating, and it felt just like fate. But I was also scared of what to do if you ended up feeling deceived. Because I actually wasn’t a fifteen year old who knew nothing back then.”

Juwon gently dented the empty beer can.

“…No, I’m just making excuses. This wasn’t for your sake, but for mine. Because I was being selfish, wanting that time to remain as a good memory to you. I’ve never really given you any good memories apart from that time, have I?”

Faintly laughing, Juwon raised his head and looked at Inheon. Their eyes immediately locked on each other since Inheon was looking just straight back at him.

“The reason I’m able to tell you this now is because I’ve come to like you so much more. Even if, on the off chance, what happened in the dungeon served as an opportunity for me to love you… The feelings I’ve cultivated right until this moment is entirely my share of love towards the real you.”

At first, the amount of anxiety and caution he felt was in equal amounts to his feelings. However, his love had now solidified itself and given Juwon certainty.

“It’s no longer important when my love for you started. Because we have more good memories together now, and there’ll be much more to come in the future.”

Sensing the intensity of the lights outside, the chandelier attached to the living room’s ceiling faintly lit up. Inheon’s eyelashes trembled, creating a long shadow beneath the warm light. Juwon grabbed his hand.

“So, even if I had the chance to go back to the day of the interview, I’d act the exact same as I did before. I’ll repeat the exact same mistakes and live like Scrooge, and seven years later, on a snowy eve, I’ll be trapped in Gnipahellir.”

The hand that had grown much larger and stronger than when he was younger was still warm. This warmth was more precious than anything. Juwon’s voice calmly fell upon them, “Because I had to meet and tell the fifteen year old you. To not go near any riversides, and to live a long and happy life. If my words had helped the young you endure everything back then… I won’t create any variables that might change the future.”

He looked straight at Inheon and concluded, “I’ve done enough regretting in the dungeon. I don’t regret anything now. You shouldn’t regret anything either now.”

After having spoken the words he had held in his heart and honed for so long, Juwon let out a small sigh. When he released his subconscious grip, born out of his nervousness when speaking, on Inheon’s hand, he felt that Inheon’s hand was shaking as well.

A varied blend of emotions could be read off Inheon’s expression, like a black mixed from various colours. Silence hung in the well-insulated and quiet area.

A cobalt darkness came down upon the sky where the sun had completely set. The night streets of the city, much sparklier than it was during the day, drew trajectories of lights that had become so much more convoluted.

Inheon woved his fingers in between Juwon’s and squeezed them again. His mouth opened and closed with difficulty, finding it hard to start speaking.

“…Lee Juwon.”

The first words he had spoken were Juwon’s name.

He liked calling out Juwon’s name. With even the slightest movement of his lips, the sound lingered inside his mouth. So, there were often times when he’d repeat Juwon’s name to himself again and again. Sometimes, it’d make his longing for him wane, and other times, it’d only pierce him deeper in the heart.

Their eyes met. Inheon pulled Juwon’s hand towards him. He tightly hugged Juwon’s body, which had suddenly lost its balance and fell towards him, with both arms.

They could feel the thumping of their hearts, which were pressed against each other. It was meaningless to try and determine whose heartbeat it was. It just seemed as though their hearts had connected into one.

The rims of Inheon’s eyes were flushed. His watery eyes glimmered in the light. His lips moved, forming a faint smile as his hoarse throat allowed for a lower voice to come out.

“December’s saviour was you after all…”

Looking back on it, Juwon had always been like that. He was cold, but always lost his composure when it concerned Inheon, and although he was calculating, he always put Inheon’s safety and stability first.

Even though Juwon would always repeat that the careeer of a hunter was one where you could not avoid getting injured in, he would react sensitively whenever Inheon got even the littlest wound. He wanted to choose and give him the easiest jobs that still had a good pay.

That was Juwon’s love. There wasn’t a moment he didn’t love him.

There was a time when he couldn’t trust Juwon and hurt him.

Juwon had endured all alone in the dungeon, escaping the grasps of death, but… he couldn’t even hug him, and had only pressured him. He was the one who made it difficult for Juwon to be honest. He felt so sorry for that.

It was possible to tell just how badly Juwon had gotten hurt and how much he had suffered in the dungeon just from taking a look at his wounds from back then. But he said that he would go back in there in order to save him.

Inheon knew how good Juwon’s memory was. Juwon would readily live his exhausting life once more, not changing a single thing. Knowing that Juwon’s promise was composed of his wholehearted sincerity, Inheon regretted it deep down to his bones again.

Inheon closed his eyes, unable to find a way to control his agitated emotions.

After a while had passed, Inheon opened his eyes, and on his face was a blend of tears and a smile, creating a strange expression that made it difficult to tell whether he was smiling or crying. In the end, he smiled helplessly.

He wasn’t going to regret anything now, for his God had told him not to.

Inheon held Juwon’s cheek and carefully kissed him. There was both a sweet and savoury taste, as well as the scent of autumn roses.

 

 

 

Before they knew it, the regular broadcast had ended and the TV started playing an old Christmas movie. Even then, the affair that had started with a kiss showed no signs of ending.

As always, it had started out gentle and sweet, but the further they went, the heat burning in their breaths reached the tip of their chin. The intense pleasure ate away at their entire bodies, and they couldn’t think of anything else.

Their eyes, blurry from the heat, reflected each other’s appearance.

Every time he locked eyes with Juwon, Inheon would slightly crinkle his eyes and laugh. He pushed his finger in between Juwon’s lips and rubbed his red tongue and white teeth. Slipping his finger out, he used the saliva as a lube and held his cock in his hands.

The wet skin of their cocks rubbed against each other, covered in semen that could’ve belonged to either of them. The wet sound of two bits of skin that were of different colours, shapes, and sizes bumping against each other rung in their ears.

It was about time for it to become tired as it wasn’t the first time it had gotten erect, but the cock steadily reacted to the touch and lifted its head once more. When it was rubbed against as though intending to remove its heated surface, pre-cum leaked from its tip.

The fishy smell of bodily fluids mixed together with sweat spread throughout the large living room. The sound of wet friction only added to the arousal. They were seized by the firm shudders as a dizzying heat spread throughout them.

“Ugh, ngh, let, go…”

As Juwon shook his head, lost in the unrelenting rush of pleasure, Inheon released his grip on his cock. But his cock, erect from the stimulation it was provided, was now stirring of its own accord without being touched, rubbing against the other cock like snakes in heat.

His breathing turned ragged.

“Haa, ugh! Hngh…”

Juwon’s cock trembled in Inheon’s grasp. However, having already came as much as he did, whether it was semen or water, the leather sofa was completely soiled, and no more fluid leaked from his tip. All he could do was pant, as if his quick breaths were sobs.

Inheon kissed his wet eyelashes, the flushed tip of his nose, and his reddened lips as his whispered, “Haa, right… my honey needs to be fucked from behind in order to cum…”

“N, ngh…!”

Juwon opened his mouth to try and say something, but a thick tongue dug inside it, blocking him, and a moan that couldn’t be constituted as words leaked from his mouth.

Inheon pushed his cock, which was on the verge of climax, into Juwon’s softened and loosened walls. Another wet sound came from below, as if that were also a kiss.

“Hng, ah, agh…”

Juwon scratched Inheon’s back. He was already filled with cum, so all he felt was a dull pain. Even that was transformed into stimuli accompanied by heat.

The inner walls, wet and sticky with bodily fluids, warmly wrapped around the swollen cock. Their lower halves connected to each other without leaving any space.

“Ugh… ha, it feels like my dick is going to explode…”

“Ha, y-you, ugh, really are two-faced…” Juwon mumbled, exhausted as he rested his forehead against Inheon’s shoulder.

The suspicion he had had since before they started dating was proven true. The atmosphere before they had started kissing earlier had so clearly been noble, so he didn’t know why things turned out like this when they began to have sex.

Inheon let out a hot breath as he laughed, as if Juwon was unaware of how much he held back on the things he said and the things he did during sex.

Inheon covered the back of Juwon’s head with his large hand. He could feel the warm heat of his scalp in his palm. His brown hair, wet with sweat, clung to his fingers. Inheon gently tugged the soft hair and made Juwon raise his head.

“But Juwon-ah…”

Juwon slowly blinked his reddened eyes. The watery brown eyes were both obscene and beautiful.

Inheon kissed his eyelid before rubbing the tip of his nose against Juwon’s nose bridge, flushed with heat. He lay soft kisses on his cheeks, the corners of his mouth, and his chin. With his lips still on him, Inheon whispered, “Did that butterfly kiss you?”

Juwon’s chest, which had grown red from all the licking and sucking it had suffered, was then squeezed by a firm hand. When Inheon scratched his stiff nipple with the tip of his fingernail, a melted moan escape from Juwon’s lips, which was still touching Inheon’s.

“Hngh, ah, ugh…”

“Did it touch your nipples too?”

Inheon’s hand slowly lowered and stroked his slightly thin sides and pelvis. Supporting Juwon’s butt as he held him, Inheon got up from the couch they had made love on.

“Did it tell you dirty things too?”

Juwon’s eyes wandered about, not knowing where to look. He had omitted that part on his own since it didn’t seem like it would please Inheon to hear very much, nor did it seem necessary to mention. However, he couldn’t figure out how Inheon still knew about it.

Since he was holding him, Inheon wasn’t able to see Juwon’s expression, but he could clearly feel the reactions of their still-connected bodies. Kissing Juwon’s flinching shoulders, Inheon said in a low tone, “You said it was a manifestation of my subconscious. If so, then of course it would’ve done that.”

Inheon could even feel the movement of Juwon’s Adam’s apple moving as he gulped as he held his body. Unlike his calm tone, the cock digging into him was roughly twitching. His voice became lower and lower.

“How was it? Did you like it?”

Inheon, who had been stroking Juwon’s butt, tightly gripped it. As the soft skin was pressed into his firm clutch, Juwon felt a mix of pain and pleasure.

“Ah, hngh!”

“Did it feel like this?”

Juwon hurriedly shook his head side to side.

“Haa, that butterfly was you. It’s existence is the same as yours…”

“Well…”

Inheon smiled, his eyes narrowed. Hugging Juwon, who was breathing heavily in his arms, he entered the bedroom and placed him on the bed.

“Anyway, that is true…”

Juwon’s back touched the soft mattress. Inheon quietly looked down at him. He was still inside him.

For some reason, Juwon felt an ominous premonition, and chills ran up his spine. He felt like he was trapped between arms that were covered in muscles, leaving no space for any fat. Juwon placed a hand on Inheon’s shoulder and rubbed it, as if trying to placate him, as he emphasised once more, “T-there’s no need for you to be jealous of yourself. Plus, that was just an illusion, so…”

Inheon squeezed Juwon’s other wrist and rubbed the area where his pulse could be felt thumping with his thumb. The skin on the inside of his wrist was especially pale and soft. He placed that hand above his shoulder as well before grabbing Juwon’s waist. He began to slide his cock out as he slowly nodded.

“I see…”

Wanting to show him a little taste of what a manifestation of his subconscious would really be like, Inheon relentlessly thrust into him with the head of his cock.

Fwop! His cock cut through his inner walls and roughly dug into him. A creak came from the large and soft bed, sounding as if it were going to break. Having been thrust into hard enough for it to reach his colon, Juwon had no choice but to tightly hold onto Inheon’s shoulders. His chin tilted backwards, and an indistinct moan escaped from him.

“Hnngh, ugh, ah…!”

Every time the cock penetrated deep inside him, a violant wave spread from his stomach and overwhelmed his entire body. Light flashed through his corneas, and warm heat bloomed like sparks.

“Haa, how does it feel to, have butterflies in your stomach?”

Juwon strongly shook his head.

“How can this, hngh! Be butterflies…?!”

Leaving traces that were closer to heated iron than butterflies, it penetrated deep inside him. Nevertheless, his wollen insides burned up as all his senses became sensitive.

The throbbing that went down to his bones made it so Juwon was unable to control his body. Not only was his heart thumping every time his prostrate was thrust into from above to below, but it even felt like his breath was being taken away.

“Aah, ugh!”

Liquid spilled from his cock, which was standing erect in the air, like thin fissures. The overwhelming stimulation made his vision flicker, like a television that had lost reception. Juwon hugged Inheon’s neck, feeling like he was being lifted into the air before falling to the ground.

“Hng… ugh, agh!”

“H-hold me tighter…”

Juwon hugged him tighter, like a person who was about to fall, which Inheon loved. It felt like the colours of everything in the world were becoming both clearer and more vivid, but it also felt like he was losing focus and couldn’t see anything apart from Juwon. A violent shudder ran down his spine. Every sensory cell of his was alive and shaking, and the sound of his beating heart could be clearly heard.

The feeling of life became clearer whenever he was with Juwon. So, it was alright to leave illusions as just illusions.

The pace of his thrusting hips became quicker. Juwon had no choice but to helplessly shake beneath that large shadow all night long. He had to yell in a hoarse voice, “You’re no butterfly, you’re a son of a bitch,” later on.

 

 

 

Sunlight gently leaked through the gaps in the white curtains. The marble flooring, doused in sunlight, retained its warm and made the bedroom much warmer.

Inheon supported the side of his head with an arm as he lay, staring at Juwon. His eyebrows drawing an elegant arch, his clearly defined nose, and his slightly parted lips… Time flew by whenever he was staring at his face as he peacefully slept.

The higher the sun rose, the more the light began to slowly creep in in long streams, casting light on the dishevelled blanket above the bed. The pure white blanket began to shine even brighter. Inheon used his large hand to cover the sunshine as the light touched upon Juwon’s smooth and clear skin.

“Juwon-ah, just how long are you going to sleep for…?”

Before they knew it, it was already lunch time.

He liked seeing Juwon sleep soundly, but he also wanted to wake him up. Maybe it was because the faint anxiety that Juwon wouldn’t recognise him once he woke up had disappeared.

When he slightly lifted the cosy blanket that was covering him, Juwon curled up, as if feeling the cold in his sleep. He instinctively searched for warmth and burrowed into Inheon’s arms.

Finding his reaction amusing, Inheon gently kissed his forehead, which caused Juwon’s brows to slightly furrow. Whenever he kissed the corners of his eyes, his eyes would crinkle, and whenever he kissed his cheek, it would slightly twitch.

Seeing how he wasn’t opening his eyes even though he was this sensitive, Inheon wondered if he really was that tired from last night, and stopped playing around to just quietly stare at him.

After a while had passed, Juwon’s eyelashes began to tremble. Juwon slowly opened his eyes. Since his eyelashes were long and plentiful, it made Inheon wonder if his eyelids felt heavy. He blinked a few times before his hazy eyes found their focus.

“…Hm?”

Whenever Juwon woke up in an unfamiliar place, his eyes would take on its habitual wariness.

“Are you awake?”

“…Yeah.”

However, when he heard his voice, he became defenceless, as if he had never acted wary. When their eyes met, he gently smiled. Seeing the drowsy look full of trust in Juwon’s eyes bloomed Inheon’s wrongful desire to only want to put him to sleep in unfamiliar places.

“It snowed at dawn.”

“…Really?”

Juwon slowly pushed himself up. After getting up, he narrowed his eyes as he massage his back with his fist. The white blanket that had been covering him slid down to reveal his naked body.

“Didn’t the weather report say it’d be clear…?”

Mumbling in a voice with traces of sleepiness still present within it, Juwon walked barefoot across the marble floor warmed up by the sunlight. He slightly stumbled, and Inheon tried to catch him, but Juwon had quickly approached the window with his long legs anyway.

Juwon stood in front of the large window and pulled back the curtains. As soon as the thin obstacle disappeared, sunlight poured down like sparkling diamonds. His naked body, full of bites and hickeys, shone brightly in the light.

Although he wanted to continue and take his time admiring Juwon’s dishevelled hair, his prominent wing bones, smooth waist, rounded butt, slender legs, and the red marks he had left all over his body, Inheon ended up draping the white blanket around his shoulders again.

Juwon grabbed the ends of the blanket and wrapped it around himself. Wearing the blanket like a pupa, he leaned his forehead against the cold window and looked down.

Large snowflakes had been quietly descending since dawn, covering the grass, trees, and buildings in snow and ice.

The cars slowed down, and people walked at a slower pace as well. The dizzying and bustling scenery had been dyed in one single colour, turning it quiet and serene. The weather was good, so Inheon had been secretly nervous that the snow would met before Juwon woke up. Thankfully, though, the white snowfields had remained undiminished.

“Huh…?”

Powdery snow fluttered in the wind, as if the snow that had ceased at dawn had begun once more. It scattered about, as though it were dancing in the sky. Unable to take his gaze away from the snow’s waltz, Juwon said, “Don’t you think we’ll actually be able to do the New Year countdown in Time Square?”

It was certain that there wouldn’t be any air planes flying today or tomorrow, so the plan was to celebrate his husband’s birthday here, but how were they going to make seaweed soup? Did they need to go to a Korean market? A hint of laughter could be found in Juwon’s voice, still drowsy and calm.

Looking down the window, Juwon hummed a familiar carol.

The monotonous humming gently spread throughout the quiet bedroom. Inheon quietly stared at him as he did so before opening his mouth and saying, “Juwon-ah.”

Juwon turned his head.

His gaze met with Inheon, who was sitting at the end of the bed.

“I love you,” Inheon confessed. They were common words they exchanged from time to time every day, but he was still sincere every time he said it.

He loved him both as a lover and a friend. He cherished him as a brother and as family. He revered him as his saviour and his God.

“I love you too,” Juwon replied with the same answer and faintly laughed. The snowflakes fluttered down outside the window, white sunlight shimmering above them.

The moments that had been both dazzling and brilliant enough to make him want to stop time were now his every moment. He used to think that a happy life was a duty he had perform, but it had now become his everyday life.

Inheon laughed as well.

Today was another ordinary and happy day.

 

 

 

<The End>

 

 

 

t/n:

There's still a special extra after this!!  

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