Irresponsibility Chapter 4.5

“You need to eat well….”

He tapped the table as if anxious, then asked.

“Why aren’t you gaining any weight?”

“I d, did gain weight.”

“Where.”

“Everywhere….”

“Can I see?”

“C, can you?”

“Can I not?” Baek Geonhyuk chuckled and pulled the side dishes closer. As he also brought the frying pan closer, all the food ended up clustered on one side.

Joo Yeoun glanced between the table, where the side dishes were noticeably gathered toward his side, and Baek Geonhyuk. He can’t even eat that much. It would be better to at least move the meat closer to him.

But his outstretched hand couldn’t even reach the handle of the frying pan. It was because a large hand suddenly appeared in mid-air and blocked him.

“It’s hot.”

The low voice gave a warning. Joo Yeoun frowned. Going beyond being nice, isn’t this a bit like treating him like a child?

“I, I was going to grab the handle.”

“Where should I move it for you?”

Baek Geonhyuk, who had brushed off his complaint, asked casually. Joo Yeoun looked at him for a moment, then shook his head. It was because he felt embarrassed to be bickering over side dishes.

Hm? Baek Geonhyuk gave him a look, and when Yeoun didn’t answer, he let go of the handle. While also moving it even closer to Yeoun.

After the meal, Baek Geonhyuk cleaned up by himself. Joo Yeoun had tried to surreptitiously help with the cleaning, but he let go of his hands in surprise when he made a hissing sound.

After brushing his teeth, he sat on the sofa and did the hot pack. Since it had become a routine, he no longer got very tense when Baek Geonhyuk touched his hand. Occasionally, when the hard fingertips brushed against his palm, it was only ticklish.

“Are you ticklish?”

“Yeah….”

Joo Yeoun, who had answered, saw a glint in Baek Geonhyuk’s eyes. It felt a little scary, so he scooted his bottom back a bit, and Baek Geonhyuk looked down.

“Come closer.”

“……”

As he slowly approached as much as he had retreated, Baek Geonhyuk raised the corners of his mouth.

“You need to stretch often, too.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t just say you will.”

“I, I am doing it. Stretching….”

Yeoun said as he pulled his hand away from Baek Geonhyuk.

Baek Geonhyuk glanced at the withdrawn hand for a moment, then folded the towel. While doing so, he rolled his own neck. Perhaps he was going to stretch himself since he had brought it up, as he bent his neck this way and that and patted his shoulders.

Joo Yeoun quietly stood up. The sound was too threatening to just sit and listen to. The arm bent to pat his shoulder was also too thick.

“Aren’t you watching TV?”

“Yeah.”

“Then….”

Baek Geonhyuk, who had been hesitating, frowned slightly.

“Then what should we do.”

There’s nothing to do. Joo Yeoun looked strangely at the muttering Baek Geonhyuk. It’s not like they absolutely have to do something together.

After glancing at Baek Geonhyuk, who was lost in thought, he headed to his room. He felt a gaze following his back.

*

The next day.

“……”

Joo Yeoun stared blankly at the box Baek Geonhyuk had brought. The box, large enough for him to fit inside, was full of all sorts of amusements, from puzzles to game consoles. He thought he had come back from grocery shopping, but it was all things like that.

Is that a book underneath all that? As he was looking into the colorful and cluttered box, a low voice spoke.

“Let’s try these one by one after dinner.”

“…Why?”

At the question, Baek Geonhyuk looked at him. He was silent for a moment, then smiled and said.

“It’s fun when we do it together. There are all sorts of things these days.”

Joo Yeoun stared blankly at the back of Baek Geonhyuk, who was rummaging through the box.

Yeoun-ah, have you tried VR? I haven’t played any games. Baek Geonhyuk’s face was bright as he took out a game box to show him. Looking at him, who seemed excited, Joo Yeoun suddenly thought.

…Does he not have any friends?

He only thought it, but Baek Geonhyuk spoke as if he had read his mind.

“I don’t have any friends.”

“……”

Joo Yeoun, who was startled, bit his lip.

“While I was training and going on missions, I lost contact with everyone.”

The voice that flowed out again was calm.

I also bought a book in case you get bored during the day. It’s a bestseller, so it should be fun. Baek Geonhyuk took out the book and placed it on the dining table.

“What should we try tonight?”

Joo Yeoun stared blankly at the large box that he was sure he could never lift by himself, the enormous body kneeling in front of it, and the face that seemed to be full of anticipation.

He never said he would do it with him. Why would he and Baek Geonhyuk play games together….

*

“N, no. T, to the side. There’s blood, right there. Eat that.”

“Ah. This?”

“No! That’s a bomb!”

Click-clack-clack. The white hand that had been rapidly pressing the buttons dropped down limply.

GAME OVER

Joo Yeoun, who saw the words appear on the screen, whipped his head around. At the silent accusation, Baek Geonhyuk blinked and then said.

“Bombs don’t look like that.”

“……”

“Alright. I’ll do it properly this time.”

His controls weren’t completely clumsy, but it was obvious Baek Geonhyuk had never played this kind of game. Joo Yeoun glanced at the rough hand gripping the joystick. It was an appearance that didn’t match the white, smooth plastic object.

It was his first time playing the game as well, but it was natural for someone who had never played this type of game before to struggle a bit.

“Do as I, I tell you.”

“Okay.”

“When we start, I’ll be on the l, left. You’re on the right.”

Yeoun said with his eyes fixed on the TV. But he thought he heard a laugh like air escaping from beside him, so he whipped his head around.

“What? I’m on the right.”

Baek Geonhyuk answered nonchalantly. There was no trace of laughter. Joo Yeoun, who had been looking at him suspiciously for a moment, rolled up his sleeves. Perhaps because he had gotten worked up while playing the game, he felt a little hot.

Because his clothes were loose, the sleeves folded up neatly above his elbows. Baek Geonhyuk’s gaze immediately landed on the exposed white arm.

“Should I give you a short-sleeved shirt?”

“No. We have to do this r, right now.”

Watching the face focused as if it would enter the TV, Baek Geonhyuk bit his lip.

After seeing ‘GAME OVER’ a few more times, they started to get in sync. In Joo Yeoun’s opinion, Baek Geonhyuk’s foolish mistakes also gradually decreased.

After successfully clearing one stage, they paused for a moment before moving on to the next and had some snacks.

Perhaps because he had been talking continuously while playing, his throat was dry. As he gulped down the milk, Baek Geonhyuk asked.

“Should I bring some Choco Pies?”

He had never eaten any snacks other than drinks since coming to this house, but today he felt a little hungry. Yeoun finished one Choco Pie and a glass of milk that Baek Geonhyuk brought him and grabbed the joystick again.

It was after failing a few times and then clearing one more stage.

Joo Yeoun, who happened to look at the clock, widened his eyes. Wasn’t it already close to 12 o’clock? When did so much time pass? He had just planned to humor him for a bit and then go to his room.

Looking at that dazed face, Baek Geonhyuk laughed silently.

“Let’s finish it tomorrow.”

“……”

“Can I just turn it off like this?”

“N, no! Y, y, you have to save it.”

Joo Yeoun, who was horrified at him trying to press the exit button rashly, grabbed Baek Geonhyuk’s hand.

Only after Yeoun took the joystick from his hand, successfully saved, and exited the game did he realize his own actions. His knee was pressed against Baek Geonhyuk’s thigh, and his wrist was resting on his forearm, which was like a solid block of wood.

Joo Yeoun blinked his wide eyes and then moved back slightly. When he glanced at Baek Geonhyuk’s face, there was no particular expression on it.

“Um…. I, if you don’t save, you’ll lose the data….”

Yeoun said hesitantly. Baek Geonhyuk gradually lowered his gaze and looked down at his own hand intently.

“Oh, right.”

He gave a slow reply.

A moment of silence passed. In truth, there was nothing special about their bodies touching a bit. But for some reason, Yeoun became conscious of the sensation that had touched his hand. Was it because it was the first time he had grabbed Baek Geonhyuk?

“I’m going to sleep….”

Yeoun got up awkwardly. But then Baek Geonhyuk suddenly opened his mouth.

“Yeoun-ah. Let’s clear this to the last stage.”

“Huuh? Yeah….”

He had wondered what he was going to say, but it was about the game.

“And after we clear it, let’s try other games too.”

“……”

Was it that fun? Joo Yeoun looked at Baek Geonhyuk with a puzzled expression, then nodded his head.

In any case, he had lost track of time while playing the game, so he had also enjoyed himself very much.