LM 40

Though Kwon Siyul believed Kwon Yuwon’s promise to come back in a month, since the other man had never lied before, and wanted to trust that he left just because he felt stifled…

Kwon Siyul couldn’t help but sigh heavily, nearly breaking the table in the process when the bell chimed as the door opened. He quickly changed his expression and put on a customer service smile as he looked up.

“Welcome to—Oh?”

He couldn’t finish his greeting. The face entering with friends looked familiar. The other person also raised his eyebrows, pointing at Kwon Siyul. Though their previous encounter wasn’t entirely wholesome, it didn’t mean they could ignore each other as strangers.

“Woo Taeju?”

At the mention of his name, Woo Taeju smiled brightly. His friends seemed to be asking if they knew each other, patting Woo Taeju’s shoulder and pointing at Kwon Siyul. Woo Taeju nodded his head emphatically and sent his friends to a table first. He then strode over to Kwon Siyul, taking long steps before stopping before him.

“Wow, you work here? If I’d known, I would’ve come sooner.”

“What brings you here?”

“Oh, I know a noona who works here. I’ve always been saying I’d visit her, but only found the time now…”

Woo Taeju’s friends at the table were peering over curiously at them. They seemed interested in who Kwon Siyul was. Not wanting to be the focus of their attention, Kwon Siyul quickly shooed Woo Taeju away.

“I’ll be over to take your order soon. Oh, if you’d like, order the salmon. The chef said it’s good today.”

“Is that a recommendation? I’ll tell the guys right away. Thanks!”

Woo Taeju grinned broadly and returned to his table. It turned out to be an unexpected but welcome encounter. It somewhat lifted Kwon Siyul’s heavy heart after news of Kwon Yuwon’s disappearance had dampened his spirits. With a lighter expression on his face, Kwon Siyul picked up the menu.

Woo Taeju knew Manager Kang. Though it was her day off, Kang Jiwon came to the restaurant herself that day, perhaps having contacted the other man in advance to meet her here. After warmly greeting Woo Taeju and instructing the staff to provide plenty of good service to him and his friends, she left, citing urgent business.

Woo Taeju drank as if there was no tomorrow. He was a born drinker with a bright personality. He laughed and chatted as if in his own world, and even went on stage to sing karaoke with his friends. He confidently held the microphone in front of his face without a hint of shyness. He seemed like a naturally optimistic and extroverted person.

As a result, Kwon Siyul was incredibly busy. Between serving food and clearing empty bottles, he dashed around the hall until his feet felt like they were on fire, and time flew by. Closing time was just around the corner.

All other customers had left, leaving only Woo Taeju’s group. Seeing them sprawled on sofas or slumped over tables, it seemed they were also almost done here as well. Thinking they probably wouldn’t order anything else and that he could leave the hall briefly, Kwon Siyul grabbed a garbage bag.

As he was taking out the trash in the back alley of the first floor, he saw someone who hadn’t been visible from the hall. Upon seeing Kwon Siyul, Woo Taeju waved with the slow motion typical of a drunk, moving the cigarette from his mouth to between his fingers. He was smiling happily, showing all of his even teeth.

No matter how Kwon Siyul looked at him, Woo Taeju’s smiling face definitely resembled Woo Hyunse’s. If Woo Hyunse were a bit more youthful, wouldn’t he look similar to Woo Taeju? Especially the build and the way his eyes crinkled whenever he smiled.

“It looks like it’s almost closing time.”

Kwon Siyul waved away the smoke that had crawled up to his face. Woo Taeju exclaimed in surprise, quickly dropping the cigarette and grinding it out with the toe of his shoe. He scratched the back of his head, smiling sheepishly.

“You don’t smoke?”

“No. But you could have kept on smoking. It’s a waste of a cigarette, isn’t it?”

“Ah, it’s better not to smoke in front of non-smokers if possible.”

“I need to go back inside. Please, finish your cigarette.”

“—Wait!”

Just as Kwon Siyul was turning away, Woo Taeju called out to him again. Kwon Siyul had one foot inside the door as he leaned back to look at Woo Taeju. Woo Taeju hesitated, as if he’d forgotten what he was about to say, but then spoke up under Kwon Siyul’s expectant gaze.

“Can’t you stay for a bit? Just while I smoke. No, I don’t mean that. I’m not going to smoke anymore in front of you.”

“I need to close up.”

“I’ll help you. As thanks for all the service we received.”

Kwon Siyul hesitated, not really wanting to. He was about to turn him down and go inside when Woo Taeju quickly grabbed the hem of his clothes.

“Just 5 minutes. Only 5 minutes.”

Woo Taeju looked at Kwon Siyul with his eyebrows furrowed into a ‘八’ shape. That expression, resembling Woo Hyunse, slightly had the power to sway Kwon Siyul’s heart. Even if he finished work today, he wouldn’t see Woo Hyunse. The other man had said he was busy. So there was no reason to rush.

“Alright.”

Woo Taeju grinned, seeming both embarrassed and pleased all at once. Kwon Siyul checked the time on his phone and put his hands in his pockets.

“Come to think of it, we don’t even know each other’s ages. How old are you, Siyul?”

“Twenty-four.”

“Really? No way. You look much younger than me…Do you have an ID?”

Kwon Siyul chuckled briefly. The word ‘ID’ reminded him of Woo Hyunse. His ID was still stuck in Woo Hyunse’s wallet. It seemed like it would stay there forever.

“It’s true. I don’t have my ID with me now.”

“I’m a year younger than you. Can I call you hyung? No, I will. You can speak comfortably to me too.”

He decided on his own and called Kwon Siyul ‘hyung’. Kwon Siyul didn’t care much about titles and let Woo Taeju call him whatever he wanted.

It was chilly and cold since he hadn’t worn a coat, thinking he’d return to the bar soon. It seemed impossible to last 5 minutes out here in the cold. Kwon Siyul hunched his shoulders, shrugging them, and looked up at Woo Taeju. Woo Taeju was staring at him, just as Kwon Siyul had done before entering the building earlier.

“I’m going in first. It’s too cold out here.”

“Oh, I didn’t think about the cold. I’m warm because I’ve been drinking. Let’s go in together, hyung. I’m sorry. I’m an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot.”

Woo Taeju followed Kwon Siyul closely from behind. As in the motel, he was quite talkative. In the elevator and even after entering the store, he chattered like a sparrow, sticking close to Kwon Siyul’s side.

Thanks to Woo Taeju, closing up finished much earlier than usual. Leaving Woo Taeju to take care of his friends, Kwon Siyul walked alone. He thought about calling Woo Hyunse but lowered his phone, not wanting to bother him while he was busy.

As he was about to put it in his pocket, his phone vibrated. He quickly checked the screen to see Woo Hyunse’s name. He seemed to have called right at closing time. Impressed by his promptness, Kwon Siyul answered the phone. His voice was full of excitement as he said hello.

“Are you done?”

“Yes. Are you very busy?”

“No. My work is mostly finished. Should I come pick you up?”

“Didn’t you say you couldn’t come yesterday and today? I thought so.”

“I did. But work finished earlier than expected.”

His chest tingled. So did his ear where Woo Hyunse’s voice touched. Not knowing where to scratch first, Kwon Siyul simply bit down on his lower lip. He looked down, tapping the sidewalk with the toe of his sneaker.

“I’ll leave now.”

It was cold. But for Woo Hyunse, he could wait. Even if his feet froze and his nose turned red in the process. Kwon Siyul rubbed his already reddened nose and pressed the phone tightly to his ear.

“Come quickly.”

After hearing an “Okay” in response, Kwon Siyul hung up first. When he left the bar, his earlobes were red from the cold, but now they were red for a very different reason.

Just as he ended the call, a text message arrived with a ‘ding’, as if it were timed. Thinking it might be from Kwon Yuwon, he hurriedly checked his phone.

[It was so nice to meet you today, hyung. Let’s definitely have a meal together next time.]

But it wasn’t from who he was waiting for. His sparkling eyes dimmed. Kwon Siyul only read the preview. While meeting Woo Taeju had been pleasant, he didn’t feel anything beyond that of mere acquaintances. There were other people he truly missed.

* * *

When Woo Hyunse heard that Kwon Yuwon had left for a trip, he brought Kwon Siyul to his house as if kidnapping him. Though it had been a tiring day and Kwon Siyul just wanted to lie down and rest, the moment they kissed, the ‘don’t’ immediately became ‘do’.

They ended up in bed in a matter of time. Kwon Siyul was exhausted. Despite saying he had been busy too, Woo Hyunse thoroughly devoured Kwon Siyul from head to toe. If he were meat, not a scrap would have been left on the bone. No, Woo Hyunse would have chewed and crushed even the bones with his strong teeth and swallowed them. That’s how ravenous he was.

“Stay here until your friend returns.”

It was hard to even lift his head. Kwon Siyul, lying face down on the bed, could barely muster the strength to turn his head. Woo Hyunse was also lying with his head toward the foot of the bed, not the headboard. When their eyes met, he stretched out his arm and patted the bed next to him.

Understanding perfectly that it meant ‘come here’, Kwon Siyul rolled over with a groan. He rested his head on Woo Hyunse’s arm and buried himself into his side.

“I can’t. The rent would be a waste.”

“It would be better than being alone, wouldn’t it?”

He was right. Unless Kwon Yuwon was there, Kwon Siyul didn’t want to stay alone in the inn. Besides the poor living conditions, he dreaded the loneliness he’d have to endure until Kwon Yuwon returned. But he couldn’t just accept Woo Hyunse’s offer without further consideration. People should have a sense of propriety.

“Still…Yuwon might come back early…”

Wondering if Kwon Yuwon had contacted him in the meantime, Kwon Siyul reached out toward the table on the opposite side, using Woo Hyunse’s chest for support. Woo Hyunse immediately turned on his side to block him from accessing his phone.