A Scorching Day Chapter 28

“What’s that, that name. It’s so old-fashioned.”

“Why, what’s wrong with Munsik. It’s cute.”

Ki Joon fidgeted and scratched the back of his head. Eventually, a puhaha laugh burst out. Munsik, of all things. Ki Joon was cute, racking his brain to avoid hurting him in any way. He liked this kind, considerate side of this kid. He couldn’t help it.

“Okay, I got it. Hi, Munsik.”

Gawon squatted down and reached out his hand toward the cat. Sunny, who had suddenly been given the old-fashioned name Munsik, let out a meow and stared quietly at Gawon. The wariness toward the person in front of him was clear, but fortunately, she didn’t run away or hiss.

“She’s a bit shy around strangers. Maybe because you’re the first person to come into my room.”

Ki Joon said casually, and at that fact, Gawon’s mood felt a little strange.

When you say it like that, I can’t help but misunderstand. I end up thinking, maybe I’ve become someone a little special to you, overstepping my bounds like that…

“…Let’s start with the treatment.”

Misunderstanding on his own when the other party isn’t even thinking about giving anything is just foolish. To hide his agitation, he suggested in a deliberately calm voice. Gawon followed Ki Joon to the bathroom. He washed his hands thoroughly with a pleasantly scented hand wash.

As his words about often treating wounds at home suggested, the first aid kit was fully stocked with most necessary supplies. He didn’t have professional knowledge… but he’d treated his mother’s wounds and his own wounds at home a few times, so he figured he could just do it the way he usually did.

“Sit comfortably.”

“Yeah.”

At Gawon’s command, spoken like the owner of the house, Ki Joon obediently nodded. After taking off his school jacket and shirt, leaving him in a short-sleeved t-shirt, Ki Joon perched on the edge of the bed. Gawon sat down next to him and poured alcohol into a bowl with cotton balls.

He squeezed the soaked cotton thoroughly and picked it up with tweezers. Now that he was actually about to treat the wounds, he naturally tensed up. Gawon stared at Ki Joon’s face with a serious expression.

First… starting with the eye area.

As he pressed the cotton against the torn skin near the bruised eye, Ki Joon’s brow furrowed slightly. Gawon watched the sharp line of his brow contort, biting his own lips tightly. He felt like he was the one in more pain. Even though Ki Joon, who was actually receiving the treatment, showed no reaction beyond that.

He dabbed the wound to disinfect it without causing pain, and carefully applied the ointment he’d squeezed out beforehand. Concentrating so it wouldn’t get into his eyes, his brow furrowed involuntarily.

Before long, silence settled in the room. Only the faint sounds of breathing in and out filled the space. Ki Joon kept his eyes lowered, staying still and letting Gawon do whatever he wanted. Like a docile dog obediently following its owner’s touch.

Next was the mouth area. Looking at the swollen cheek and the torn edge of his lip, Gawon visibly frowned. The horrific scene from the classroom earlier kept coming to mind, making his chest pound unpleasantly. Ki Joon’s eyes crinkled faintly again, just like before.

“Hold on just a little longer. Your neck area is hurt too.”

“Yeah.”

Those bastards, they really made a rag out of him. Suppressing the curses rising within him, Gawon silently continued the treatment.

“Pull your shirt down a little more.”

Gawon, who had been applying medicine to the solid, tree-trunk-like neck, instructed. Ki Joon grabbed the neck of his t-shirt and pulled it down.

Then, a new wound near his collarbone came into view. He needed to treat this area too, but if he kept treating it with his clothes on, the medicine might get on the fabric, and the pulled-down part might stretch.

“This won’t work. Just take the shirt off.”

Ki Joon blinked for a moment, staring at Gawon, then crossed his arms without a word. With a smooth motion, he whipped the t-shirt off and tossed it aside.

Gawon, who had scooped up a generous amount of ointment with a cotton swab and raised his head, froze. Below Ki Joon’s face, which was staring intently at him, his bare torso was naturally visible. His mind, which had been solely focused on the treatment, snapped back to full awareness.

It’s fine. We’re both guys anyway… Gawon tried to force his attention solely on the wounds as he applied the medicine.

The wound near the collarbone was longer and deeper than he’d expected. It was good that he’d had him take the shirt off. Gawon meticulously applied the medicine over the scab and even put a bandage on it. Throughout it all, Ki Joon didn’t let out a single groan. But his faintly furrowed brows couldn’t be hidden.

“…It hurts a lot, doesn’t it.”

“I’m fine.”

“If it hurts, say it hurts. Don’t try to hide it just to look cool.”

It was a joke thrown in partly to break the awkward, tense atmosphere. Since Ki Joon was always going on about wanting to look cool in front of him.

“If I say it hurts, what will you do about it?”

“…Huh?”

“You said to say if it hurts. Then is Yoon Gawon going to make it not hurt?”

Ki Joon grinned playfully. Hmm. He didn’t really have anything to do… Gawon rolled his eyes and then looked straight at Ki Joon as he spoke.

“Hmm… I could blow on it.”

Even as he said it, he found it funny and let out a puff of air. Doing such silly, childish jokes with another guy was only possible when he was alone with Ki Joon. Gawon didn’t dislike these moments.

“Then blow on it for me.”

Ki Joon said in a languid voice. The content was a request, but oddly, the feel of it was like a command.

Did he think I couldn’t do it? A pointless sense of competitiveness surged. Gawon boldly brought his face closer. Even closer than when he’d been treating the wounds just moments ago.

Feeling like he might collapse, he fumbled and braced his palm against the bed. With the feel of the soft mattress sinking, Gawon’s upper body leaned in close to Ki Joon.

His face was right before his eyes. If he moved just a little closer, their noses would touch. The ointment he’d just applied with his own hands gleamed on Ki Joon’s split lip. Gawon pursed his lips like he was about to whistle.

Hoo—.

A tickling breath reached Ki Joon’s lips. Gawon curved his mouth in a satisfied smile. There, I blew on it, right? He was about to ask triumphantly when he froze.

“…”

“…”

His eyes slowly widened. Realization came several beats too late and struck his head.

Their faces. Their lips. Were too, too… close.

Gawon tried to pull his body back as if burned. But before his upper body could lean back, a firm grip caught his forearm first. Gawon’s body stopped in place.

Everything was too close. The face he’d always thought was neat. The masculine, prominent Adam’s apple and the thick, straight collarbone. The rugged, harshly defined pectoral muscles that didn’t match his youthful, boyish face.

And Ki Joon’s trembling breath.

Their gazes locked. Within his deep eyes, there was a flame. One whose identity or cause Gawon couldn’t even guess.

He only knew it was hot. A very, very high-temperature flame. Frightening enough that he feared it might ignite his own heart.

Thump, thump, thump… Somewhere, a drum sounded. Hearing the sound pounding against his eardrums, Gawon stopped his breath. Like an animal caught in a trap, he couldn’t breathe freely. The fact that they had been smiling, making eye contact, and trading silly jokes just moments ago all felt like a dream.

“It really doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“…”

“Is it because Yoon Gawon blew on it?”

Ki Joon whispered in a low voice. Sweetly, softly, like a man whispering sweet nothings into a lover’s ear.

It was a distance where their lips might touch. His gaze, entirely focused on Gawon, was steady. In an instant, all the strength left his body.

“…Ki, Ki Joon.”

The end of his voice calling that name trembled foolishly. At the same time, Ki Joon’s hand, which had been gripping his forearm, slipped away.

As soon as it did, Gawon pulled his body back. The breath he hadn’t been able to release while so close to Ki Joon finally poured out desperately.

The back of his neck was burning. He didn’t need a mirror to know his face was blazing hot. Gawon dropped his gaze and fidgeted with the innocent blanket. He felt like steam might start rising from his ears.

He absolutely couldn’t look at Ki Joon’s face. Why, why was this happening? They’d been perfectly fine eating together, walking side by side, and even treating his wounds just a moment ago.

Yes, no matter how he thought about it, blowing on it was the problem. No, telling him to take off his shirt was already overkill… He should have just left his clothes on. And shouldn’t have agreed when Ki Joon asked him to blow on it. Gawon writhed internally, blaming his own thoughtlessness.

“Hah… I got excited for nothing.”

Ki Joon ruffled his hair roughly with his hand and chuckled. Gawon forced himself to reply as casually as possible.

“Wh-what. What do you mean.”

“I thought Yoon Gawon was about to give me a kiss.”

The voice that said it so casually was sweet and soft. Like the chocolate milk Ki Joon always carried around.

Thump. His heart dropped. As if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have, Gawon trembled.

“Are you crazy? Why would I do… something like that to you!”

“Why, you could.”

“…I, I’m a guy.”

“Yeah. So am I?”

There he goes again, with that characteristic nonchalant reply of Ki Joon’s. Gawon was momentarily at a loss for words, chewing his lips, then yelped.

“Just, just put your clothes on!”

“Okay, okay. You’re the one who took them off and now you’re getting all angry.”

Ki Joon grinned and picked up the t-shirt he’d set aside. While he fumbled, pulling it over his head and putting it on, Gawon kept his face turned away the entire time. A flush spread from his earlobes to the bridge of his nose.