Irresponsibility Chapter 7.6

“I, uh, haven’t thought about that.”

“What a shame.”

Sit down for a moment. Baek Geonhyuk pulled the slender hand. Joo Yeoun fell into his arms without any resistance.

“I, I have to take off my shoes.”

He only whispered in a small voice.

Baek Geonhyuk furrowed his brow and pulled Joo Yeoun’s nape closer. He repeatedly kissed the lips and the corners of the mouth that drew a perfect curve when they smiled. Then, he reached out and took off the shoes Joo Yeoun was wearing before readjusting the weightless body sitting on his thigh. With his white, bare feet stretched out behind Baek Geonhyuk’s back, Joo Yeoun slowly blinked his eyes.

“Were you inside the house all day?”

“Yes…”

A docile answer returned.

Baek Geonhyuk swept Joo Yeoun’s hair back. His hair, which had grown long enough to cover the nape of his neck, would have a few strands fall forward even when pushed back like this. Sometimes, that looked pitiful, and other times, it looked pretty.

He wasn’t sure if the latter had always been the case. Baek Geonhyuk gently caressed the soft cheek and spoke in a gentle voice.

“Let’s have dinner on the wooden bench when the rain stops.”

“Okay…”

“What should we eat.”

No answer came back to that question. The way he blinked his eyes looked as if he had heard a question that was difficult to answer. Baek Geonhyuk kissed him below his flustered eyes and said softly.

“Tell me what you don’t want to eat.”

“Th, things I don’t want to eat?”

Joo Yeoun, who had been glancing around for a moment, hesitated before parting his lips.

“Pork belly…”

“What else.”

“Porridge, and… uh… Ah. G, ginseng chicken soup.”

“You disliked ginseng chicken soup too?”

Baek Geonhyuk, who had been listening quietly, asked, raising his eyebrows.

“No. I, I just feel like I’ve had enough restorative food…”

He quickly understood the roundabout words.

“It’s because of the medicinal herbs before, isn’t it.”

Joo Yeoun said, No, denying it, but soon confessed honestly.

“I, I thought I was drinking herbal medicine.”

Baek Geonhyuk let out a low laugh. As his body bobbed up and down, Joo Yeoun gripped his shoulders tightly.

“You ate all of that without being able to say anything because it was a time when you wanted to get away from me.”

“…Yes.”

He let out a laugh and hugged Yeoun. A large hand lightly tousled the back of his head, and his lips showered his cheek with small kisses.

Joo Yeoun lowered his gaze and meekly entrusted his body to him. That sight tickled his heart again, so Baek Geonhyuk kissed him for a good while.

Then he suddenly raised his head and stared intently at Joo Yeoun’s face.

“Yeoun. Do you just… not push away people who say they like you?”

“……”

What do you take me for. Joo Yeoun silently gazed at Baek Geonhyuk before opening his mouth.

“Yes. If someone says they like me, I, I’ll at least meet them all.”

“Ah…”

Letting out a low sound, Baek Geonhyuk soon cupped Joo Yeoun’s cheeks and said, as if making a request.

“That won’t be happening anymore, though.”

“Is, is that so?”

Joo Yeoun answered, feigning indifference.

“Yes. From now on, if someone says they like you, tell them to stop talking nonsense.”

Looking quietly at Baek Geonhyuk, who was saying something that could be a joke or could be serious, Joo Yeoun raised his body.

“That’s s, socially a little difficult.”

He said casually and picked up his shoes. Seeing the box, he noticed there were slippers too, so he held them together in his arms and headed for the entrance. Baek Geonhyuk silently followed behind him.

Having a large shadow following close behind him was quite unnerving. When he gave a sidelong glance, he saw a face lost in thought.

The sight of him looking troubled by what he himself had said was gratifying. Wasn’t it always Baek Geonhyuk who teased him?

It was only when he had neatly placed his two pairs of shoes to one side of the entrance and was straightening his back that he opened his mouth.

“That’s a lie, isn’t it.”

When he glanced over with a flick of his eyes, Baek Geonhyuk smiled languidly.

“There must have been a lot of people who liked you, how could you meet them all.”

He said it as if stating an undeniable fact. Joo Yeoun looked at the faintly curved lips for a moment before turning his head.

He’s not denying it. Baek Geonhyuk laughed lightly and ruffled Joo Yeoun’s hair. He soon said, with a slight hint of playfulness.

“There must have been a truckload of people who liked you.”

At those words, Joo Yeoun asked.

“How many people can fit in a truck?”

“About 20 or 30 people.”

Joo Yeoun blinked his eyes slowly. His gaze was fixed on the empty air, and the way he occasionally muttered looked as if he were counting numbers, and that went on for quite a while. The corners of Baek Geonhyuk’s mouth, which had been grinning, gradually formed a straight line.

“…Yeoun, you can stop counting.”

“Huh?”

Joo Yeoun looked up at him with wide eyes. His round pupils were clear. Looking into the delicate, well-defined face, Baek Geonhyuk muttered softly.

“How am I supposed to send you to school.”

He cupped Yeoun’s cheeks and met his eyes. Feeling as if he could see the emotions surging in his eyes, Yeoun pointlessly fixed his gaze on the entrance.

In the place where there had only ever been Baek Geonhyuk’s shoes, several pairs of shoes of different sizes were now lined up. It felt like the spacious entryway was now a little more filled.