Simmering Heat Chapter 12.1

Tap, tap tap. Tap.

A quiet, rhythmic tapping, like fingers drumming on a table, filled the air. Taeun snuggled deeper into his blankets, enjoying the pleasant white noise. The humid air made the cotton filling slightly damp. He curled up, burying his face in the pillow, inhaling the familiar yet strange scent. He wanted to sleep more, deliberately pushing away his returning consciousness. The peaceful slumber didn’t last.

The gentle patter of rain against the window intensified, transforming into a drumming roar that pulled Taeun from his sleep. His consciousness flickered back online. His eyelids fluttered open, and he slowly sat up.

“Ugh…”

He immediately slumped back down, a wave of nausea rising in his stomach. He covered his mouth and took deep breaths, his eyes darting around the room. He saw the closed closet and the neatly organized desk. It was a familiar space, but not his own room. He slowly sat up again, his face clouded with confusion.

“…….”

The heavy rain hammered against the windowpane like running footsteps. He rubbed his swollen lips, fragmented memories of the previous night surfacing. His hangover-hazy eyes widened.

“…It wasn’t a dream?”

He jumped out of bed like Archimedes in his bathtub.

“It wasn’t a dream!”

He repeated his silly exclamation, still in disbelief.

He stood there for a moment, dazed, then a mischievous grin spread across his face, ignoring his pounding headache. He walked to the kitchen. His parched throat, now that the nausea had subsided, screamed for hydration. He gulped down a glass of cold water, the memories becoming sharper. His hand, holding the empty glass, trembled slightly.

He’d kissed Cha Jinhyun.

The fragmented memories, flashing like a panorama, blurred the lines between dream and reality. It felt too surreal to be true. Kissing Jinhyun was a forbidden fantasy, something that wouldn’t even happen in his dreams. It couldn’t possibly have happened in real life.

But when he woke up and saw his surroundings, he knew. It wasn’t a dream. It was real. He remembered their conversation just before their lips met. He put down his glass and turned his head sharply.

The grey sky framed by the balcony window, the dimly lit living room – everything was quiet. There was no sound of running water from the bathroom. Only the sound of rain filled the silent apartment.

Where did he go?

His heart plummeting, Taeun started walking aimlessly. He stopped, his gaze drawn to a paper bag on the dining table. He walked towards it.

He lifted the bag, which bore the logo of a popular porridge chain, and a sticky note fluttered to the floor. He bent down and picked it up.

[This is for your hangover. Hangover cure in the fridge. Headache pills on the TV stand.]

The handwriting was neat and precise, just like Jinhyun. A warm feeling spread through Taeun, melting his anxiety like a snowman in front of a fireplace. He sat down and opened the large container. The porridge was still warm, meaning it had been bought recently. He picked up the spoon that came with it.

Did he go out for a cigarette? Does he have an appointment? But if he had an appointment, why would he go out and buy me porridge?

“What the…”

He took a large spoonful of beef porridge, mumbling to himself. The savory sesame oil aroma made his mouth water.

“What is this?”

He swallowed another spoonful, still puzzled.

“…Seriously… what is this?”

He kept muttering to himself. After finishing the porridge and drinking another glass of water, his hangover subsided slightly, but his mind was still buzzing with unanswered questions.

‘He probably didn’t go out for a cigarette.’

Jinhyun still wasn’t back when he finished washing his bowl and brushing his teeth. Taeun tidied up the bedding and went back to his room, lying down. His head was still pounding.

…Did I succeed?

Just like that?

“I didn’t even do anything?”

He hadn’t even executed half of his seduction plan. They hadn’t been on a proper date, there hadn’t been any romantic moments. He’d just been aggressively pursuing Jinhyun. There was no sign of success anywhere. Conflicting thoughts swirled in his mind, a barrage of unanswered questions.

Why didn’t he push me away? Why did he kiss me? Where is he now? Why did he buy me porridge? Was he worried about me? What if, what if…

What if he’s started liking me?

“Ah, Teacher Seo!”

Taeun, who had been lying there like a sloth, suddenly sat up. Even in his fragmented memories, he clearly remembered Jaeoh taking him home. He grabbed his phone from the corner of his bed. I should thank him. It was already past noon.

[Flower Boy Teacher Seo: You got home safely, right? Call me when you wake up, I’m worried] 00:42

The nickname they’d jokingly given each other while drunk caught his eye. I wonder what he saved my number as. He couldn’t remember.

[Flower Boy Teacher Seo: Are you still sleeping?] 9:48

[Flower Boy Teacher Seo: Dying of guilt, please contact me] 10:23

Though it was Taeun’s own fault for getting drunk after challenging Jaeoh to a drinking match, Jaeoh seemed genuinely concerned.

[Just woke up I was a mess last night I’m so sorry] 12:08

Taeun quickly replied, feeling embarrassed and apologetic. There was a text message from an unknown number in his notification bar. DDP. It was a club announcement about their upcoming MT, detailing the meeting place and time. He skimmed through it and turned off his phone. He felt a mix of excitement, confusion, anxiety, and hope. Everything was a jumble. He wondered where Jinhyun had gone after leaving him with only the porridge.

He was about to lie down again but then headed to his desk. He was tired, but the club announcement had jolted him awake. Their midterm project was due soon, the MT was just around the corner, and their club project was about to start. Knowing his tendency to procrastinate, he needed to start working on his assignments.

He reluctantly turned on his laptop. The project file he’d been working on two days ago opened, showing his messy drafts and unfinished icons. His mouse cursor darted across the white screen.

Fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes was the turning point for any task. Even if he started reluctantly, once he’d worked for fifteen minutes, he usually became focused. He soon found himself engrossed in his work, humming along to the music playing through his speakers.

It wasn’t a dream, it wasn’t a dream, it wasn’t a dream…

He made up silly lyrics, repeating the same phrase with slight variations. His initial bewilderment gradually morphed into elation.

How could he describe it? It was like he’d been battling slimes with a flimsy weapon from an NPC, and suddenly, he’d become a hero who’d defeated the final boss. It was bewildering and unbelievable, but he didn’t want to deny it.

When will he be back? What should I say when I see him?

The embarrassment he’d buried beneath his excitement and confusion resurfaced. His memories were hazy from the alcohol, but the sensations were vivid. It was his first kiss.

It was also his first time experiencing the passionate entanglement of tongues, the urgent yearning for more. The memory of Jinhyun’s tongue tracing his teeth, caressing the inside of his cheek, sent a shiver down his spine. He blushed furiously.

I wonder if he’s embarrassed too.

“…Maybe that’s why he left.”

Taeun, who had been mechanically clicking his mouse, suddenly stopped and mumbled to himself.

“Crazy bastard… so cute.”

He stomped his foot, interpreting Jinhyun’s absence in the most favorable way possible, and grinned, burying his face in his desk. He made a decision. When Jinhyun came back, he would ask casually, without revealing his excitement. He didn’t want to scare him away. Even if he didn’t get the answer he wanted, it was still progress. He couldn’t waste this opportunity. I shouldn’t pressure him.

So Taeun resisted the urge to contact Jinhyun. He found it difficult to focus even after fifteen minutes had passed, constantly glancing towards the door.

As the gloomy sky darkened and his hopeful anticipation turned into anxious impatience, he heard the sound of the front door opening. He jumped up and ran to the door like a puppy greeting its owner. Jinhyun walked in, dressed casually, car keys in hand.

“Oh, you’re back?”

“Yeah.”

Jinhyun’s curt reply confused Taeun.

“Where did you go?”

“Nowhere. Did you eat?”

“I had porridge this morning… Did you buy that for me? You left it for me, right?”

“Yeah. You were really drunk last night. Are you okay?”

“I took everything you left for me. Th… thank you.”

“Then be more careful next time.”

Jinhyun spoke casually, as if nothing had happened, and went into his room. Taeun stared at the closed door, dumbfounded by his nonchalant behavior. The possibility he’d dismissed earlier resurfaced.

What the…

…Was it a dream?

🔥

No. It wasn’t a dream. After pondering their brief, anticlimactic exchange, Taeun reached that conclusion.

He had a flimsy suspicion.

On Monday, after the rainy Sunday, Jinhyun, despite having no classes, was out all day, returning late at night. When Taeun asked where he’d been, he simply replied, “Drinking with friends,” and disappeared into the bathroom.

He wanted to ask how anyone could spend twelve hours drinking, but he held back. Jinhyun’s strange behavior continued. He spent less time at home, and whenever Taeun approached him, an awkward silence would fall between them. By Thursday night, Taeun was certain.

We kissed. That happened.

So Taeun created an opportunity. He used their now-faded “once-a-week dinner” agreement as an excuse to get Jinhyun to the dining table. When Jinhyun tried to retreat to his room after dinner, Taeun quickly stopped him, claiming that dessert was part of the meal, and brought out a tub of ice cream he’d bought recently.

“You filled it with all your favorite flavors.”

Jinhyun grumbled, reluctantly sitting back down.

“What? It’s good.”

“Just eat toothpaste. It’s the same thing.”

“What are you talking about? It’s completely different. Mint chocolate is refreshing and sweet, and it makes you crave more. Don’t say that anywhere else, you’ll get judged.”

“Don’t overreact.”

Taeun, momentarily forgetting his objective, launched into a passionate defense of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Jinhyun gave a noncommittal reply and carefully avoided the mint-flavored sections as he scooped out some ice cream. Taeun watched him secretly.

The sight of Jinhyun seriously eating ice cream with a cute pink spoon… was adorable. Taeun barely touched his own ice cream, his gaze fixed on Jinhyun.

“Hey, Taeun.”

“Huh?”

Startled, Taeun’s shoulders jumped as he blurted out a reply.

“Energetic, aren’t we?”

“What? Why? What is it?”

Jinhyun, the pink spoon sticking out of his mouth, paused. His rosy lips looked almost… seductive. Have I finally lost it? I kissed those lips. I sucked on them… Taeun’s mind drifted.

“Who is ‘Flower Boy Teacher Seo’?”

“Huh?”

The question came out of the blue. Kiss, kiss, kiss. Taeun, whose mind had been consumed by the kiss, didn’t understand and hesitated.

“How do you know about Teacher Seo?”

“He called while you were passed out.”

Jinhyun replied casually, resuming his ice cream consumption. He didn’t seem particularly interested. Taeun, who’d been waiting for the right moment to bring up the kiss, decided to soften the mood first.

“He was an instructor at my art academy.”

He decided to share the amazing coincidence. That was all.

“…You drink with your teacher?”

“He’s not that much older than me. He was a university student back then. It’s so crazy, he was the DDP design mentor this time. And even crazier, he’s Sunghyun’s senior. Same university as you. Isn’t that awesome?”

It was still unbelievable to him. Taeun continued, shoveling ice cream into his mouth. Whenever he looked at Jinhyun, his mind became filled with thoughts of their kiss. He kept his eyes fixed on the ice cream to avoid saying something stupid.

“I lost contact with Teacher Seo after my freshman year. He practically got me into university, and I was wondering how to repay him, but then he suddenly disappeared…”

He didn’t notice Jinhyun’s expression hardening.

“…….”

“I kept asking the other guys at the academy, but no one knew what he was up to, so I was really bummed. Wow, but then how could this…”

“Hey.”

The air around them suddenly froze.

“That’s not something you should be saying in front of someone you ignored for three years.”

Taeun looked up, startled. He was momentarily speechless, his eyes meeting Jinhyun’s cold, piercing gaze.

“You ignored me, but you went through all that trouble to contact your teacher?”

“…No.”

“Impressive…”

He finally realized his mistake. It was an unintentional, but undeniable slip-up.

“Think before you speak. You’re pissing me off.”

Jinhyun put down his spoon, the rough, almost aggressive movement betraying his annoyance. He didn’t seem to be trying to hide it. He stood up, and Taeun quickly followed. He knew he’d made a mistake, bringing up his embarrassing past. But Jinhyun’s cold words had a sobering effect.

“Hey, I know I was wrong back then, but…”

Taeun grabbed Jinhyun’s shoulder and turned him around. Their eyes met.

“…You know why I did it…”

Jinhyun’s gaze remained cold, unmoved by Taeun’s pleading tone.

“I, I, why I…”

“So?”

“…….”

“You want me to pretend it never happened because you were pathetic? If that’s what you want, just say it. I’ll think about it.”

It was a spiteful response, deliberately meant to hurt. Taeun, stunned by the harsh words, stood there silently, his mouth opening and closing without making a sound. He suddenly felt resentful, remembering who it was that hadn’t let go of his hand that night.

“…That’s not what I meant.”

You asked me if I would be hurt again if you let go of my hand. You acted like you cared about my feelings. You know I like you.

“You’re right, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said that without thinking… I’m sorry.”

Taeun swallowed the words he wanted to shout and apologized instead. He didn’t want to ruin everything again by letting his emotions get the better of him.

“But… did you have to say it like that? Just because I like you, doesn’t mean you have to put up with everything I do. If you were upset, you could have just… told me…”

“Same goes for you. Just because you like me, doesn’t mean I have to put up with everything you do.”

We can resolve this through conversation. If I acknowledge my mistake and we talk it out, things won’t get worse. Taeun suppressed his rising emotions and tried to remain calm. He didn’t want to ruin things. Clinging to this fraying rope, he held on desperately.

“You were so excited about meeting that man, I thought you’d turned completely gay.”

“…Hey.”

“Do you really need me?”

But all that awaited him was another fall.

Why does this keep happening? His bruised and battered heart could only form one question.

Why. Why are you doing this? You weren’t like this when we were just friends. In front of you, the me who likes you becomes insignificant. Is that why you don’t like me? No one likes someone insignificant and pathetic.

Jinhyun shrugged and turned away. Taeun stared at the floor, listlessly. He hated himself.

“…Who was the one who kissed that ‘gay guy’?”

He hated himself for needing to stop Jinhyun from leaving. Jinhyun stopped, as if taking pity on him. Taeun hated himself for feeling relieved by that small gesture.

“…I was just playing along.”

“…….”

“I told you. I’d play along.”

The same lips that had promised to play along were now tearing him apart.

“…Is that all?”

“What were you expecting?”

He shouldn’t have asked. Taeun closed his mouth.

“…I just thought…”

…that maybe, just maybe, you might have started liking me…

Taeun slowly walked towards Jinhyun, his chest aching with a fresh wound, his fading rationality giving way to impulse. He stood on his tiptoes and kissed Jinhyun. Jinhyun recoiled as if burned, the fleeting kiss ending abruptly.

“What are you…”

“How far are you willing to play along?”

“What?”

“Can you sleep with me?”

“Are you crazy?”

Taeun scoffed at Jinhyun’s genuine shock.

“Oh, so kissing is the limit.”

Suddenly, everything felt meaningless. Falling endlessly was sometimes like floating in mid-air. He started to long for the inevitable crash against the ground.

“…Taeun.”

“I’m going to kiss you.”

He was still falling. That was all. Longing for the impact, Taeun placed his hands on Jinhyun’s shoulders.

“Play along.”

He wasn’t sure if it was the ridiculous warning or the pathetic plea that worked, but Jinhyun didn’t push him away. Taeun slowly closed his eyes and kissed Jinhyun’s unyielding lips. He parted his lips slightly and tentatively licked Jinhyun’s lips, pleading for entrance. Jinhyun’s lips reluctantly parted, their tongues tangling. The bitter mint flavor was unpleasant.

🔥

There was no conversation after that pathetic kiss. A heavy silence, heavier than the one after Jinhyun’s initial rejection, settled between them for days. This was mostly Taeun’s doing.

Jinhyun tried to talk to him a couple of times, awkwardly. Each time, Taeun would simply retreat to his room without replying. Jinhyun didn’t seem to want to push it, and they continued their separate existences within the same apartment.

Taeun was exhausted, his confidence dwindling. That desperate, one-sided kiss had been humiliating, and the deep sense of exhaustion lingered. He was at another dead end, but he didn’t have the strength to turn back.

Exposing his heart had made him vulnerable. He felt like a sapling exposed to a relentless storm, its roots rotting in the never-ending rain.

“Please head to your assigned buses! We’ll be departing in 10 minutes!”

“Please sit with your team members if possible!”

Time marched on, regardless of his feelings. Taeun, stuck in his emotional turmoil while the world continued moving, often felt resentful and frustrated. But he couldn’t skip the club MT. He couldn’t help but search for Jinhyun, who was chatting and laughing with their teammates, seemingly unaffected.

Taeun listlessly boarded bus number 2. With nine members in their team, pairing up would inevitably leave one person alone.

“What should we do?”

He heard a worried murmur. Some suggested playing rock-paper-scissors.

“I’ll sit alone.”

Taeun spoke up and quickly sat down before anyone could protest. He knew he’d lose at rock-paper-scissors anyway… It was better this way. He didn’t have the energy to make small talk with Sunghyun or the others, and he definitely didn’t want to sit with Jinhyun.

He wanted to wallow in his misery with another lonely soul and sleep through the ride. He pointedly ignored the feeling of someone staring at him. His teammates, after a moment of hesitation, joked about giving him priority seating on the way back and settled down. Jinhyun and Sunghyun sat together in the row behind him.

Why are they sitting behind me? Taeun fidgeted, annoyed, and pulled out his phone. He needed a distraction to avoid turning around. The bus doors closed, and the large vehicle slowly started moving.

“Is this seat taken?”

“Ah, no.”

A gentle voice startled Taeun, who had been reading a random news article. Not recognizing the voice, he shifted closer to the window and replied, his vision obscured by the brim of his cap. He vaguely registered someone sitting down next to him.

“You seem to be reading something interesting. It’s a little rude not to even look up.”

“What?”

Taeun stopped scrolling and looked up, annoyed. He was surprised to see Seo Jaeoh sitting beside him.

“Whoa, what?”

He jumped in surprise, dropping his phone.

“Look at your reaction. I’m actually getting offended.”

Jaeoh picked up the phone, checked the screen, and handed it back to Taeun.

“Teacher, what are you doing here?”

“You didn’t read the itinerary properly, did you?”

“I did… kind of.”

Jaeoh chuckled at his sheepish admission and reached for Taeun’s name tag, flipping it over. He tapped it with his long index finger.

“My name’s here.”

Jaeoh’s name was clearly printed on the list of participants besides the club members. There were several external advisors, like Jaeoh, and faculty members who would be assisting the program.

“They asked me to participate in this program for the semester. They said your professor might be here too.”

“What?”

I didn’t see that. Taeun sat up abruptly. His eyes met Jinhyun’s as he glanced back. Jinhyun was leaning forward, seemingly absorbed in something. He quickly looked away and sat up straight. Sunghyun, sitting next to him, had been asleep with his headphones on for a while. Jaeoh pulled Taeun back down, steadying him as he swayed.

“He’s probably driving his own car.”

“Why are you on the bus, Teacher?”

“It’s nice. Feels like I’m a student again.”

“Wow… No. That makes you sound like an old man.”

Taeun teased, pushing aside his gloomy mood. He’d wanted to be alone, but having someone to talk to wasn’t so bad.

“Where do you find such a young and handsome old man?”

Jaeoh retorted, chuckling.

“And so shameless… You’re a perfect old man, Teacher.”

“That’s because you keep calling me ‘Teacher.’”

Jaeoh untangled Taeun’s twisted name tag lanyard, bringing up the topic he’d been meaning to address.

“Are you going to keep calling me that? I’m not your teacher anymore.”

“It’s a habit… Does it bother you?”

“Not really, but it feels a little distant. Just call me ‘hyung.’”

“But how can I call my mentor…”

“Hey, anyone would think I was a full-fledged professor.”

Is he right? Taeun thought it over. They’d both left the academy a long time ago. It would be strange to keep calling him “Teacher” outside the academy.

“Hy… hyung…”

He was about to try out the new title when—

Thud! His seat jolted unexpectedly.

What was that? Someone kicked my seat… But since the bus braked suddenly at the same time, Taeun assumed it was because of that. The bus passed through a toll booth and entered the highway.

“Teacher, want some snacks?”

“Hyung.”

“Ah, right. Hy…”

Thud!

Another kick landed before he could finish. This time, he lurched forward more violently. They were on the highway now, so there was no reason for the bus to brake suddenly. Taeun frowned.

What the hell is his problem?

After all that had happened – the harsh words, the kiss (even though he’d just stood there like a statue), the days of silence – now Jinhyun was playing pranks? Taeun tried to ignore him and rummaged through his bag.

“Hyuuung, do you like… these…?”

He still felt awkward calling Jaeoh “hyung,” having always addressed him as “Teacher.” He drew out the word awkwardly as he pulled out a bag of snacks.

Thump!

His seat jolted again. This time, Jaeoh seemed to notice and glanced back. That little… Taeun turned around, unable to take it anymore.

“Hey, stop it.”

“Sorry. Long legs.”

It was their first conversation in three days. Cha Jinhyun was sitting with his arms crossed, legs stretched out, his expression smug.

“…Be more careful.”

It was obviously deliberate, but Taeun didn’t want to start an argument on the quiet bus. He sat back down. Thump! The moment his butt touched the seat, another kick landed. His thoughts spiraled from ‘What’s his problem?’ to ‘Was my kiss that bad?’ He felt a pang of dejection.

“Taeun, let’s switch seats.”

Jaeoh’s calm voice reached Taeun just as he was about to eat his snack. He leaned closer, his face close to Taeun’s, his voice low so as not to disturb the sleeping passengers. Taeun instinctively shivered at the proximity. A little too close… The thought flitted through his mind.

“It’s okay. That idiot’s just messing with me.”

“I get carsick, and it helps if I sit by the window.”

“Is it bad? Should I ask if they have any medicine?”

He didn’t use to get carsick, did he? His own claim seemed more credible than his hazy memory, so Taeun expressed his concern.

“It’s not that bad. Just switching seats should be enough.”

“Okay.”

Jaeoh stood up and moved into the aisle. Taeun followed, and Jaeoh took the window seat. Before sitting down, Taeun glanced back. He froze, his eyes meeting an unexpected face.

Cha Jinhyun looked like a monkey whose banana had been stolen.

“……?”

No, even more wronged than that… He looked like a woodcutter whose own axe had betrayed him.

What does he have to be upset about? Taeun stuck his tongue out at him, teasingly, and sat down. He heard a scoff from behind him.

🔥

They arrived in Daecheon. Taeun was used to the East Sea, so it had been a while since he’d visited the West Sea. The April sea was slightly chilly but pleasant. The timing was perfect. The unusually warm weather, well above 20 degrees Celsius, had transformed the usually dreary coast into a pleasant resort destination.

Taeun entered the lodging and unpacked his bag, pulling out a comfortable, brightly colored, and disposable outfit as instructed – a faded t-shirt and comfortable pants he couldn’t even remember buying.

Jinhyun was already changed, leaning against the window, scrolling through his phone. When did he even change? Taeun, who had been subtly hoping to catch a glimpse of Jinhyun changing, felt a pang of disappointment. The light navy t-shirt and sporty knee-length shorts looked like they were made for Jinhyun, accentuating his toned physique.

Taeun’s gaze, traveling upwards from Jinhyun’s feet, suddenly stopped. Jinhyun’s eyes, which had been glued to his phone, were now looking directly at him.

Jinhyun flinched in surprise, then scowled and turned away. It was a ridiculous reaction. Jinhyun was the one who’d been rude, and Taeun was the one who’d been hurt. He was baffled by Jinhyun’s behavior – first, the incessant teasing on the bus, and now this blatant display of annoyance. That inconsiderate jerk. Taeun grabbed his clothes and went into the bathroom to change.

After the short break, they left the lodging and headed towards the beach. The salty sea air grew stronger with each step, and Taeun’s spirits, which had been dragging on the ground, started to lift. He felt it would be a waste to spend the entire trip sulking.

Why should I ruin this MT, which I paid good money for? He straightened his back, lifted his chin, and walked with a renewed sense of confidence, determined to enjoy himself.

“Taeun!”

A finger poked him in the back, and his confident posture deflated instantly. He turned around.

“Oh, hello!”

He quickly bowed his head upon seeing who it was. It was the Media Interaction professor, walking with a group of people, including Seo Jaeoh. Jaeoh greeted him with a smile.

“Are you enjoying the club activities?”

“Thanks to you, Professor. Thank you,” Taeun replied politely, forcing a smile. The professor patted his back and continued walking. Coincidentally, they were headed in the same direction.

‘This is a bit awkward.’

Taeun slowed down, trying to create some distance.

“Are you heading to the meeting point?”

Fortunately, Jaeoh spoke to him, breaking the awkward silence.

“Yes. I heard there’s some kind of game. Teacher, I mean, hyung, where are you going?”

“Going for some day drinking.”

“Whoa, the professor’s in trouble.”

Remembering how Jaeoh had out-drunk him by a mile, Taeun expressed his sincere concern for the professor.

“I’m the designated driver. Gotta be responsible.”

“Ah.”

Jaeoh was clearly the youngest in his group. Taeun nodded, enlightened.

“What about you, aren’t you going to miss drinking?”

“I can drink with Taeun later.”

Taeun shuddered dramatically, pretending to be scared by Jaeoh’s nonchalant suggestion.

“Ah, hyung, please go easy on me this ti… oof!”

Taeun suddenly disappeared downwards. He’d been tripped. He stumbled, regained his balance, and turned around. Cha Jinhyun, his face a mask of indifference, was standing there with his knee slightly bent.

He was speechless. Jinhyun had tripped him, a childish prank, and was now walking away nonchalantly. What the hell is wrong with him? Taeun wished he could punch him, just once. He imagined slamming his fist into the back of Jinhyun’s head.

“Taeun, did you do something to upset your friend?”

“…Not entirely not…”

Taeun muttered, biting his lip. He wasn’t entirely innocent, but Jinhyun wasn’t exactly blameless either. Weren’t we ignoring each other?

“See you later. Have fun.”

Jaeoh patted Taeun’s shoulder and said goodbye as they reached the fork in the road leading to the parking lot. Taeun nodded absently. The vast expanse of the sea stretched out before him.

🔥

The game the organizers had prepared was a water gun fight. The head organizer, wearing a straw hat and a Hawaiian shirt, looked slightly out of season, but the beach backdrop made it work. She explained the rules through a megaphone.

One, only those who wanted to participate from each team could play, but if no one participated, the team would automatically lose. Two, water was readily available, so refill as needed. Three, no pushing or shoving people while they were refilling. Also, no pushing people into the ocean.

The wettest team would lose. The losing team would have to help the organizers with cleaning up and preparing the barbecue. So that’s why they told us to wear colorful clothes. Taeun glanced at his t-shirt. Grey is a color… right?

Team 5’s participation rate was abysmal. Taeun desperately wanted to play but felt too embarrassed to volunteer. He secretly hoped Sunghyun would drag him into it. As if reading his mind, Sunghyun grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the pile of water guns. Taeun pretended to be reluctant, but his hurried steps betrayed his eagerness.

To his surprise, Cha Jinhyun was there too, picking out a water gun. Jinhyun chose the largest one, filled it with water, slung it over his shoulder, and walked towards the designated battle area on the sand. Taeun quickly followed.

“The weather is perfect for our first game! We look forward to your enthusiastic water gun battles!”

Each team took their positions and prepared.

“Alright, get ready…”

Taeun gripped his water gun, his hand tightening at the organizer’s suspenseful tone. Who should I target first? Team 2 is closest… He looked around, formulating an attack plan.

“Start!”

The cheerful command echoed across the beach. Just as Taeun was about to make his move, he felt a cold splash against his chest. He froze. He looked down at his right pectoral, where a perfect circle of water marked his shirt. He looked up to see Jinhyun standing beside him, water gun aimed directly at him.

“…Are you crazy? Why did you shoot me?”

“You were annoying.”

What a jerk. Everyone else was busy running around, attacking and dodging, while they just stood there.

“Hey, if we lose because of this, you’re buying me drinks…”

Taeun took a deep breath, trying to calm himself despite Jinhyun’s ridiculous answer. Jinhyun, ignoring him, shot him again. This time, on his left pectoral. Taeun gasped, speechless.

“Your nipples are huge.”

He was speechless.

He really didn’t want to, but he couldn’t help but glance down at his chest. The two water circles, positioned horizontally, did resemble nipples, but thankfully, his actual nipples weren’t visible. Relieved, Taeun finally found his voice.

“They’re not! They’re average! Have you even seen them?”

“Yeah. They’re getting bigger.”

But the crazy lunatic didn’t seem to hear him. Jinhyun, showcasing his marksmanship honed in the military, continued to target the same spots. Taeun’s face burned with embarrassment and anger. He gripped his water gun. He couldn’t let this stand.

Forgetting their past disagreements, he pumped his water gun furiously and aimed at Jinhyun’s crotch. Psssssh. The stream of water, like a reverse stream of urine, soaked Jinhyun’s groin. Taeun smirked, unable to contain his smug grin.

“You crazy bastard, you peed your pants. What are you going to…”

He’d shot too much water. Jinhyun’s soaked pants clung to him, revealing a rather embarrassing outline. Fortunately, they were dark-colored, so it wasn’t too noticeable unless you looked closely.

“…Hey, you… you…”

“Fuck, what are you looking at?”

A strong stream of water hit Taeun in the face, the salty seawater stinging his eyes. He wiped his face, then asked in a dazed voice,

“Why are you hard?”

Jinhyun looked down at his crotch, then reached down and adjusted himself, as if checking something.

“What the hell are you talking about? I’m not.”

‘But why is he doing that?’

Taeun barely suppressed the words that almost slipped out. …Was he always like this? He couldn’t remember; it had been a long time.

Jinhyun’s ears turned red under Taeun’s intense stare. The memory of being hard against Taeun that night surfaced. He felt a slight pang of relief. If he’d remembered how hard he’d been, he wouldn’t have been so surprised by Taeun’s question.

He shot Taeun with his water gun. Taeun’s flustered attempts to escape, his eyes squeezed shut, were amusing. Jinhyun pumped his water gun relentlessly, targeting the fleeing Taeun.

“Oof! Stop it, crazy! No friendly fire!”

“I’ll knock some sense into you, you pervert.”

“Ah, get lost!”

Despite Kim Sunghyun’s best efforts, Team 5 suffered the humiliation of last place, thanks to the water fight between Jinhyun and Taeun. The game ended. While Taeun returned, head hung low in shame, Jinhyun said nonchalantly,

“Sorry, we lost because of him.”

Taeun seriously considered breaking Jinhyun’s pointing finger.

Though they were stuck with the chores for losing, the non-participants had no right to complain.

“Jaesung, Wonhyuk, just help us with starting the fire. We’ll handle the rest.”

Jinhyun, at least having some conscience, didn’t seem to want to burden everyone with the consequences of his actions. Taeun felt slightly aggrieved that he was included in the “we,” but he followed Jinhyun without complaint. Only Sunghyun, truly wronged, complained about how hard he’d tried and how well he’d dodged, but no one listened.

The highlight of the MT, the drinking party, was waiting. Taeun felt uneasy. He couldn’t understand Jinhyun’s constant bad mood.