My Only One Chapter 1.5

Having finished paying at the counter, Hajun pulled Jinseo’s staggering body tightly against his side. It was because Jinseo had gotten thoroughly drunk after just two highballs. Hajun, who had vaguely known that he was a lightweight, but hadn’t known it was to this extent, finally burst out laughing. How could he be so defenseless, not knowing where Hajun might take him?

Hajun, who easily led Jinseo out to the street, called for a designated driver. Then he looked down at the round head of Jinseo, who was standing with his eyes squeezed shut, leaning on him for support.

An innocent child who doesn’t know how to hide his emotions.

In truth, Hajun had known about Jinseo’s feelings for a while now. He must have tried to hide them somehow, but it was a useless effort against someone like Hajun, who had learned to be quick-witted to survive. Jinseo couldn’t even make proper eye contact with him, and he would jump in surprise if their skin touched even slightly. Was that all? His face was so pale that it would flush bright red at the slightest bit of embarrassment. His actions, which came out unconsciously, were clearly telling Hajun that he liked him.

It was a relief that the object of his affection was him. If it had been someone else, they would have already seen this side of Jinseo and gossiped behind his back.

Just then, the designated driver arrived. After handing him the car keys and getting into the back seat, Hajun laid the soundly sleeping Jinseo down on his lap.

He wasn’t heavy at all. He didn’t even have an ounce of fat on his body; what on earth did he eat at home? His build was smaller than average, and even his face was tiny.

Looking at him like this, he was almost like a doll…

“Where would you like me to take you?”

Just then, a voice broke through his thoughts. Hajun, who had abruptly lifted his head, contemplated for a moment. It was past midnight. If he took him home now, the sleeping Jinseo wouldn’t be able to walk in on his own, so he would surely have to wake up the entire family.

More than anything… he didn’t want to send Jinseo home.

Having finished his deliberation, Hajun opened his mouth.

“Please press ‘Home’ on the navigation and go there.”

Soon, the car started moving. Hajun, who carefully held Jinseo’s body so as not to wake him, did not take his eyes off Jinseo until they arrived home.

Just then, the cell phone peeking slightly out of Jinseo’s pocket lit up. He was going to just leave it, but the number of missed calls displayed on the notification screen caught Hajun’s eye.

Cha Jeonghan. 16 calls.

Even a debt collector wouldn’t call like this at this time of night. Puzzled, Hajun picked up Jinseo’s phone to check the screen and saw that, in addition to the calls, there were also several messages. The last message that had come in was displayed plainly on the screen.

[Hyung, if you’re not coming home, just let me know where you are.]

Hyung… Hajun was lost in thought. Did Jinseo have a younger brother? Come to think of it, he had never once heard Jinseo talk about his family. Since Jinseo was always someone who didn’t talk about himself, he hadn’t thought much of it, but the current situation suddenly made him suspicious.

Are brothers usually this close? Hajun frowned for the first time that day. It was because he was reminded of his own siblings, who were always clashing with him.

After thinking for a moment, Hajun soon turned off the screen and put the phone back in Jinseo’s pocket. Whatever it was, it was none of his business.

By the way, if I end up living with Jinseo, will I have to find a new place? Or should I just tell him to move into the house I’ve been living in? If I bring this up with Jinseo, he’ll definitely break down and stammer. Just imagining it made a soft chuckle rise up.

He was a severe case, too. If he had known it would be like this, he should have let on that he knew sooner. Hajun smiled faintly and, without the sleeping Jinseo knowing, carefully fiddled with his slender fingers.

Jinseo’s body, which had been sleeping soundly while holding its breath, stirred slightly. Soon, Jinseo, who let out a short groan while furrowing his brow, opened his eyes halfway. It was due to a headache from his hangover.

Jinseo rolled his eyes around, taking in the bright room where sunlight was streaming in. His dazed mind snapped back to reality. This wasn’t his room. If so, it must be… Hajun’s house.

The last thing he remembered was clinking glasses with Hajun. He couldn’t remember anything after that. What was he thinking, drinking so much? The thought of Hajun having to somehow drag a drunk him here made his face burn with shame. He looked around, but Hajun was nowhere to be seen. Jinseo, who immediately sat up, quickly straightened his bedhead first.

And when he brought his hands to his face to fix it, he felt a slippery liquid. What was on his hand was none other than a whitish ointment.

His heart felt strangely buoyant. How could he not like him when he was like this…

Just then, he heard the sound of the door clicking open. Had he just finished washing up? His hair, which was usually styled halfway up, was wet and covering his forehead, with water droplets forming at the tips. In the moment he unthinkingly thought he was sexy, Hajun smiled and spoke.

“How’s your stomach? Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes. I’m okay.”

At Hajun’s single remark, the shame he had forgotten for a moment came rushing back like a tide. Jinseo immediately got off the bed and apologized to Hajun.

“I’m sorry. You went through so much trouble because of me…”

“Hmm…”

At Jinseo’s words, Hajun became deceptively serious. At that sight, Jinseo felt his heart drop. Did he… did he make a mistake? Did he act like a belligerent drunk? Or did he throw up? As Jinseo became restless, his imagination running wild at Hajun’s smallest gesture, Hajun finally opened his mouth.

“If you’re sorry, have something for your hangover before you go.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ve set the table, but if you leave, I’ll have to eat alone.”

“Ah… yes, yes. I’ll do that.”

Jinseo nodded his head in a daze. At Hajun’s urging to come out quickly, Jinseo wondered if he was still lost in a dream. A hangover soup made by a sunbae… He felt like he was getting an appetite he didn’t even have. He had a morning lecture, but Jinseo, who thought it was fine to skip for one day, headed towards the kitchen, from which a delicious smell was wafting.

After Jinseo left the room, Jinseo’s coat pocket lit up. The number of missed calls that had piled up overnight had already surpassed fifty. Perhaps because of that, a notification window popped up, saying the battery was low.

Soon, the phone screen turned on one more time, and the message Jeonghan had sent was visible.

[You didn’t go to school either. Should I go to where you are, hyung?]

The message, which had been visible for a short while, was quickly deleted. Then, not even a few minutes later, another message arrived.

[Come home before evening. Dad is coming back to Korea today.]

Jinseo arrived home only after 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

After he finished eating the food Hajun had prepared, Hajun served him some cute cookies and coffee. As they chatted while eating the sweet dessert together, he ended up staying longer than he had thought.

Jinseo recalled the conversation he had with Hajun while eating dessert. Hajun had suddenly asked when he was thinking of moving out on his own, causing him to almost spit out the coffee he was swallowing. He had thought Hajun would just let it go since it was a conversation they had while drunk, but Hajun seemed to be serious. Since nothing had been decided yet, he had answered all of Hajun’s questions vaguely. More than anything, it was because his father’s permission was a necessary condition.

Still, he felt good. It felt as if Hajun also wanted to live with him. It felt like his feelings were the same as mine. His heart fluttered without rest.

With lighter footsteps than ever, he opened the main gate and crossed the yard. In the time it took to open the front door and go inside, his mind was filled with thoughts of Hajun.

He was about to take off his shoes at the entrance with a slight smile on his lips when he felt a presence from the direction of the living room sofa. No one should be home at this hour.

When he turned his head to the side, he saw Jeonghan sitting on the sofa. He was in casual clothes, as if he hadn’t gone to school.

“What about school?”

When he asked in surprise, Jeonghan didn’t give any answer. He just looked at Jinseo with an expressionless face. Jeonghan, who stared intently at Jinseo’s face in silence for a moment, opened his mouth.

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“What… no, I’m not.”

Feeling as if Jeonghan had seen through him, he mumbled and avoided Jeonghan’s gaze. Just then, Jeonghan, who had strode over to stand in front of him, spoke.

“What about your phone? I kept trying to contact you.”

“It died. The battery ran out.”

“Where did you go? Did you have a lot of fun?”

Hearing Jeonghan’s question, which was close to an interrogation, Jinseo’s brow furrowed. It was because he was unknowingly displeased that he was trying to pry into his personal life. However, Jeonghan, standing there with an unmoving expression, blocked his path even until Jinseo had completely taken off his shoes.

“Why are you curious? Move.”

Jinseo, who had left the entranceway, brushed past Jeonghan, his shoulder bumping against his body. Just then, from behind, Jeonghan pulled Jinseo into a hug and immediately rested his head on Jinseo’s shoulder. The horrified Jinseo twisted his body, but Jeonghan wouldn’t let go of his body, holding him with a strong force.

“Hey, you crazy…!”

“I’m sick.”

Jinseo’s body, which had been struggling for a while, froze for a moment. Jeonghan, who noticed it immediately, buried his forehead deeper into Jinseo’s shoulder and opened his mouth.

“My head hurts, so I didn’t go to school.”

At Jeonghan’s pitiful voice, Jinseo only clenched his fists. Because of that one phrase, “I’m sick,” all his elated feelings disappeared, and once again, his heart sank heavily.

“…There’s medicine.”

“I took it, but it still hurts.”

“…”

“Mom and Dad aren’t here… so I’ve been trying to contact you since yesterday, hyung. That’s too much, really.”

“…You should have contacted Secretary Kang.”

At Jinseo’s words, Jeonghan let out a short laugh.

“You told me not to bother a busy person.”

He hadn’t known he would remember what he said and act on it. He always did as he pleased, but only at times like this was he a good little brother who listened well to his hyung.

“If it’s bad enough to go to the hospital, call Secretary Kang. That’s faster.”

At Jinseo’s words, Jeonghan shook his head back and forth.

“I think I’ll be fine if I take more medicine and get some sleep.”

“…Then go be in your room. I’ll get the medicine and come up.”

Was it because the answer he wanted had finally come? The strength in Jeonghan’s arms, which were holding Jinseo, loosened.

Carrying the medicine and a cup of water, Jinseo let out a low sigh as he entered Jeonghan’s room. The smile he had been wearing when he came into the house had long since disappeared.

Jeonghan was sitting on the bed, waiting for him. Even though he said he was sick, he looked so happy that, unlike before, his expression was bright.

When he approached and handed him the medicine and water, Jeonghan swallowed the medicine without hesitation. Perhaps because it was the medicine he had been taking since his forehead injury, the act was natural, without any awkwardness.

He was about to leave after taking the water glass he had handed over, but Jeonghan spoke.

“Stay with me until I fall asleep.”

Jeonghan went to the edge of the bed and lay down, patting the spot next to him with his palm. Jinseo was dumbfounded that Jeonghan, who was bigger than him, would say such a thing.

“You’re not a kid… I have to change my clothes.”

As he turned to walk away in refusal, his wrist was suddenly grabbed. Before Jinseo could even pull his wrist away, he was pulled right over and ended up half-sprawled on the bed. Jinseo, who had collapsed as if into an embrace near Jeonghan’s arm, lifted his head. Jeonghan was looking down at him with a mischievous look in his eyes.

Jinseo glared at Jeonghan and sat up without hesitation.

“Stop messing around. You said you were sick.”

Jeonghan, who was chuckling, gently took the tips of Jinseo’s fingers as he sat on the bed. It was a careful touch, as if handling something precious.

“I’m going to sleep like this. Don’t pull your hand away.”

“…Just hurry up and sleep.”

Jinseo eventually gave up. He knew that if he pulled his hand away here, Jeonghan would somehow be stubborn again and do what he wanted.