BHB 15

The idea of the mind and body being separate made Yeowon snort with laughter. Where could such a contradictory notion come from? It made his friend seem like a two-faced person. He hadn’t even known Taegang was so full of lust as to have a separate s3xual partner. He and Taegang didn’t often talk about those kinds of things.

‘Are you going to get it up for me instead?’

Yeowon couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at his words that came to mind unbidden. He felt Do Yeongjae’s questioning glance as he looked up from his phone, but he didn’t care.

It was infuriating. That he could say such an absurd thing with a straight face. It was an offensive statement that hurt his pride just hearing it.

Seriously, if he did get it up for him, was he really going to have s3x with him? Was he saying he could sleep with him?

Yeowon couldn’t hold back his exasperated sighs. Though he had gotten aroused because of Taegang, he hadn’t thought about wanting to sleep with him. The very idea of him getting it up for him was ridiculous. Wasn’t he clearly implying he would be on the bottom?

“I’ll pay for the taxi.”

It was Do Yeongjae’s voice that made him realize the car had stopped. They seemed to have arrived quickly since the distance wasn’t far.

After entering the mansion, Do Yeongjae looked around curiously. Once inside the apartment, he bounced around excitedly, examining everything.

“Wow, this is insane. How can you live alone in a three-room place?”

Do Yeongjae exclaimed in admiration as he opened the door to each room.

Yeowon carelessly tossed his coat aside and went straight for the coffee machine. Meanwhile, Do Yeongjae finished exploring all three rooms and scurried into the kitchen.

“I want to live at your place.”

“…Isn’t your place closer to school?”

“Living alone in a place like this has been my dream. I’m so jealous, Han Yeowon.”

Yeowon let out a self-deprecating sigh. The irony of them envying each other’s situations wasn’t lost on her.

“But who are you living with?”

“No one.”

“There are two toothbrushes, two cups, and shoes in the shoe rack that aren’t your size…”

Yeowon paused mid-sip of his coffee and glanced at Do Yeongjae, who was asking innocently. It was a bit creepy how he had noticed all that in such a short time.

“…Lee Taegang lives next door. He comes over often.”

“Oh right, he lives next door, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s practically like living together. I thought it seemed like there was too much stuff for someone living alone.”

What a detective… Yeowon was impressed by his unexpected perceptiveness.

“Just drink your coffee.”

Annoyed by his fuss, Yeowon handed Do Yeongjae a cup and headed to the living room. He sank deep into the sofa with a low sigh. It finally felt like he could relax. A drowsy feeling washed over him as he felt his tense body starting to unwind.

“But why did you suddenly invite me over?”

Do Yeongjae asked casually as he sat down next to him. Yeowon raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘What do you mean?’

“You never even pretended to listen when we begged to come over for drinks or a housewarming party.”

Ah… Yeowon nodded slightly as if just remembering. That’s right. Back when they were freshmen, several classmates had wanted to come over when they heard Yeowon was living alone. Each time, Yeowon had flatly refused. Why was that again? Yeowon took a sip of coffee as he unconsciously recalled a memory from high school.

It was a midsummer day. The sweltering heat was oppressive, making even breathing difficult. On that summer day when just standing still made you sweat, Yeowon headed home with his friends. His house, where his parents were absent, was practically their hideout. Most days after finishing or skipping classes, they gathered at Yeowon’s place. With no adults around and being a two-story detached house, it was the perfect spot for a dozen or so high schoolers to hang out.

“Damn, it’s so fucking hot!”

As soon as they entered, Kim Myeongjoo threw down his bag and stripped off his uniform. Yeowon did the same. He irritably tossed aside the short-sleeved shirt worn over his T-shirt and turned on the air conditioner right away. Unable to wait even a moment, he ran to the kitchen and stuck his face in the refrigerator.

I thought I was going to die. Yeowon, who was more sensitive to heat than cold, was absolutely hopeless in hot weather. He was the type to sweat a lot, and sometimes even felt dizzy if he stayed in strong sunlight for too long.

“Hey Han Yeowon! Ice!”

At someone’s shout, Yeowon briefly pulled away from the cooling air and carelessly tossed a bunch of ice onto the living room table. Everyone pounced on it as if they’d been waiting – one shoving it in their mouth, another hugging it desperately.

Seeing over a dozen high schoolers sprawled out after stripping off their summer uniforms, something came to mind.

‘It’s like a zoo in here.’

The sight of the half-naked guys was rather unpleasant to the eyes.

“Hey, Han Yeowon. Can we smoke?”

They were already lying around as if it was their own space, asking so casually. Yeowon just nodded vaguely and lay down on the sofa. But the discomfort from his sweat-soaked T-shirt and uniform pants wouldn’t easily go away.

“I’m going to wash up. Order some chicken, I’m hungry.”

Leaving behind the group eagerly agreeing to do their part, Yeowon headed straight for the bathroom. He wanted to quickly strip off his damp clothes and cool off in cold water.

After taking off everything including his underwear, Yeowon stood under the shower and caught his breath as the water poured down. It had been another tedious day. Throughout the boring classes, he alternated between dozing off, playing phone games, and quietly giggling with friends. Then at lunchtime, they ate noisily and went to smoke cigarettes behind the storage shed where teachers didn’t lurk. If it hadn’t been so hot, they would have played a game of soccer or basketball. Not being able to exercise for a while due to the heat made his body feel restless.

After leisurely finishing his shower, Yeowon roughly dried off and wrapped a towel around his lower body before leaving the bathroom. As he was shaking out his still-wet hair, Kim Myeongjoo, who happened to make eye contact, cheered and approached.

“Oh shit, Han Yeowon, what’s with those abs?”

Perhaps due to the effect of running around the playground since elementary school, Yeowon’s body was in pretty good shape. He was tall for his age and had no sagging flesh. Yeowon flexed playfully, making his abdominal muscles even more defined.

“Damn, that’s killer.”

It was a well-known fact among guys that getting six-pack abs wasn’t easy no matter how much you worked out. Kim Myeongjoo, being on the skinnier side compared to his peers, was more interested in physique than the others. Naturally, the group gathered around Yeowon, eyeing his body as they continued talking.

“Do you work out? Shit, maybe I should start going to the gym too.”

As Kim Myeongjoo muttered while feeling his own arms, one of the guys next to him jeered.

“Just study, you idiot.”

“Study what? I’m telling you, I’m going into business.”

“Business? You think anyone can do that? How can you even think about it when you can’t even handle the basics in Korean, English, and Math?”

Yeowon smirked at their chatter as he continued drying off. One gaze that had been scanning his body suddenly stopped at his lower half wrapped in the towel. Then a sly voice rang out.

“Our Yeowon, have you shed your skin yet?”

“Hey asshole, I did that in elementary school.”

“You shed your skin so early, but why are you so slow in losing your virginity?”

These were the kind of jokes boys that age often made. At that time, girls were the only topic for male students, so most conversations drifted in that direction. Yeowon had dated a girlfriend before but hadn’t gone as far as the other guys in terms of physical relationships. He wasn’t particularly interested and didn’t feel those urges. Seeing Yeowon like this, the group often questioned if he was really a man.

“Ah shit, you guys just fill your heads with school subjects. Always talking about weird stuff. Are we on this again?”

“But come on. You and Lee Taegang are dating the prettiest girls, how is it possible you’re still a virgin?”

“This guy must be gay.”

It was always a playful joke they made about Yeowon not having his first experience, but Yeowon felt disgusted every time he heard it.

“What the fvck are you saying?”

“If not, then what? Maybe… you’re not confident?”

Yeowon immediately frowned at the blatant stare directed just below his lower abdomen. It was a question that directly challenged a man’s pride.

“Ha. Fvck. This is ridiculous.”

Yeowon snorted and muttered curses. It was so absurd he could barely speak. How dare they question his confidence? He just had less interest in those things, but he was certainly more impressive than others. Just from the glances he got every time he went to the sauna, he knew he was above average.

Yeowon let out a deflated laugh and leisurely stroked his chin. He wasn’t one to avoid a fight when provoked.

“Well, I guess it’s understandable to be suspicious when even a mouse-d1cked bastard like you is doing it all.”

“What? Mouse d1ck? Who the fuck are you calling mouse d1ck!”

When Yeowon casually retorted, the guy who started it exploded in anger. The onlookers giggled, enjoying the situation.

“Your ex-girlfriend was spreading rumors about it. Everyone just pretended not to hear.”

“Fuck… No. That’s not true. Damn, this is pissing me off. I’m really huge, I’m telling you.”

The guy was huffing and puffing, trying to act confident. But everyone else seemed indifferent. Faced with their skeptical looks, he raised his voice even more heatedly.

“Want me to show you? Should I show it?”

As if he was about to take off his pants right then and there, the previously quiet group suddenly cheered enthusiastically. Seizing the opportunity, they egged him on to show it, and the guy, breathing heavily, nodded at Yeowon.

“You show yours too then.”

His eyes flashed with determination, as if his pride had been wounded.

People might think I threw the first punch at this rate.

Yeowon didn’t have the generosity to avoid a fight where the winner was obvious. Rather, he found enjoyment in crushing them even further.