A Scorching Day Chapter 45

“Gawon!”

From a distance, Ki Joon was visible, waving his arms enthusiastically. With his cool, sharp eyes and large, muscular frame, he had a rather cold-looking appearance when still, but when he was this happy to see Gawon, he was no different from a giant dog.

He paid no attention to the glances of the girls stealing looks at him. Ki Joon always rushed toward Gawon like the wind whenever he saw him. Even with his wind-tousled hair a mess, he was still handsome. Gawon welcomed Ki Joon with a smile.

“Don’t run, it’s hot. You’ll sweat.”

“I’m happy, what can I do?”

If we were a male-female couple… when we met like this on the street, could I have thrown myself into your arms? Even after a year of dating, every time he saw Ki Joon, who always welcomed him with the same unchanging joy, that thought lingered with a hint of regret. Pushing that feeling down, Gawon gently reached out and tapped Ki Joon’s face.

“Did you visit your father well?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“What’s that in your hand?”

“Ah, this? Bread and ramen. Manager Hwang gave me the bread.”

It was a truly enormous amount. Perhaps because Manager Hwang always looked after Ki Joon so generously, he had also left a good impression on Gawon. The intimidation he had felt when first meeting him had long since faded.

“Let’s go quickly. I’m hungry.”

“Okay, I’ll hurry and cook you some amazing ramen.”

Ki Joon can’t cook. The only thing he does well is make ramen. Since last night, Ki Joon had been singing about wanting to eat ramen. Gawon had barely managed to calm him down by promising to eat together today, and Ki Joon had even bought the ramen himself, saying he was going to eat a lot.

The weather was too hot for walking. They boarded the bus side by side. Perhaps because it was midday, the bus was fairly empty, and they could sit together on a two-seater. Gawon tapped the long thigh pressed tightly against his side with his palm.

As he enjoyed the firm sensation filling his hand, he could also feel Ki Joon’s knee twitching involuntarily. His ears and even the back of his neck turned red as he mumbled for Gawon to stop, and his voice was adorable. The corners of Gawon’s mouth curved upward.

They got off together at the stop near Gawon’s house. Once they left the main street and turned into the quiet back alley, it was okay to hold hands. Ki Joon knew that too and eagerly took Gawon’s hand first.

“Ki Joon, your hand is so hot.”

“Yeah, I know. But I’m still not letting go.”

“Who said let go? You’re the one who shouldn’t let go.”

They bickered childishly and laughed like fools. As they opened the familiar front door and stepped inside, the usual musty mildew smell hit them. Until a year ago, Gawon had felt like dying of shame showing his shabby house to Ki Joon, but now he was much more composed.

After washing his hands, Ki Joon skillfully took out pots and cooking utensils as if it were his own house. Since he was so tall, he always had to hunch his neck in the low-ceilinged kitchen, but he showed no sign of discomfort.

“Alright, let the cooking begin. Guest, please relax and take it easy.”

“Yes, sir.”

Humming a tune, he moved busily—his well-proportioned limbs stretching out beneath his shorts. The sight of his handsome boyfriend cooking for him was always heartwarming. After watching Ki Joon for a moment, Gawon set the table and laid out the kimchi and chopsticks he had bought from the convenience store the day before.

Soon, the bubbling, spicy aroma filled the house. As Ki Joon placed two pots on the table—one with a ladle stuck in it and another slightly larger one—Gawon laughed out loud.

“How many is that, exactly?”

“I boiled everything I bought, nice and clean.”

He said such astonishing things so casually and picked up his chopsticks. Earlier, Ki Joon had bought two packs, so that was a total of ten packs of ramen… Gawon, looking incredulous, rubbed Ki Joon’s belly.

“Anyway, you’re amazing. Where on earth does all that food go?”

Even though he ate this much normally, his stomach was flat enough to feel the rippling contours of his abs. Gawon found that fact newly fascinating.

“What’s this much? More importantly, hurry up and eat, Gawon.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

It must have been hard to control the water when boiling such a large quantity, but the ramen Ki Joon made was delicious. In contrast to Gawon, who quietly chewed his noodles, Ki Joon slurped his down noisily.

When other guys ate noisily, it was an eyesore, but somehow Ki Joon managed to make sounds that were hearty without being excessive.

“Phew— hot.”

“Right.”

They sat back for a moment, patting their full bellies. The whirring fan breeze was far too tepid to cool the suffocating heat. Still, just sitting across from each other, smiling with full stomachs, this moment was simply wonderful.

“I should start getting ready to go soon.”

Pushing down his reluctance, Gawon spoke first. Ki Joon bit his reddened lips and put on a pitiful expression.

“Just a little longer—. I’ll go in exactly 15 more minutes.”

“Take your time. I don’t mind.”

Gawon himself had been studying since early morning, so he planned to rest at home for a bit. After lunch and some housework, leaving around 2 PM would be perfect. It was Ki Joon who needed to hurry more than him. In two weeks was his competition, and the day after tomorrow he had to go to a training camp.

It was his first competition in a year and a half. Last year, he had been banned not only from competitions but also from the gym for an entire year. That was the punishment his father had handed down for Ki Joon beating up Heo Yeonggyu and the seniors.

‘That’s insane. Why are you suffering because of me…!’

Moreover, Gawon hadn’t even found out about that until several weeks later. Because Ki Joon had deliberately hidden it from him.

Ki Joon had actively helped Gawon secure a large settlement and a restraining order from Heo Yeonggyu. And yet, he himself had received such a harsh punishment from his father. When Gawon learned the truth, he was so sad and indignant he couldn’t bear it.

‘I told you, it’s not because of you. It was my choice. So it’s right that I take responsibility.’

‘Still…’

‘It’s okay. If I can’t go to the gym, I’ll just train at home. I’ll manage somehow, so don’t worry.’

When he said that a year ago, Ki Joon had seemed composed. Like someone who calmly accepted his situation and was used to taking responsibility commensurate with the weight of his actions.

But to Gawon, that sight was simply heartbreaking, and he felt sorry for him too. Because he knew how sincere and passionate Ki Joon was about his sport.

So for this competition, he was determined to go with him, hand him water, and wipe his sweat. That was Ki Joon’s desperately hoped-for dream.

“But… are you really sure you have time?”

Great minds think alike. Because they had been thinking the same thing, Gawon immediately understood Ki Joon’s words. He had worried several times about Gawon, who had readily agreed to come to the competition. Because he knew Gawon, who was always squeezing every minute to study.

“Of course. I’m studying an extra hour every day just to go see your competition, so it’s fine.”

“Ha… shit. I’m making a kid who’s already cutting sleep to study work even harder, aren’t I…”

Ki Joon sighed and muttered, and Gawon grinned at him.

“You promised to hang a medal around my neck. If I don’t get it, I’ll be so upset I probably won’t be able to study anymore.”

“A medal? That’s no problem.”

Ki Joon playfully raised an eyebrow.

“The day I collect a hundred trophies and medals, I’ll officially propose. It’s not that far off now, is it?”

Propose…. Gawon turned his head, ears bright red, pretending not to hear. But his heart, swaying like cosmos flowers, couldn’t be helped. Just hearing the word made his toes curl and his heart pound.

“Come to think of it, it’s less than a year until we said we’d live together…”

Gawon’s voice trembled slightly with anticipation. The sports university Ki Joon was aiming for and the university Gawon was aiming for were about a 20-minute walk apart. Ki Joon had said he would buy a car, so they’d get a place near Gawon’s university.

Living together with Ki Joon. That unbelievable scenario could become reality if they both got into their desired universities.

Ki Joon, with his brilliant competition record, would easily get in through the special admissions for athletes, and Gawon, maintaining good grades, had a solid chance as long as he didn’t make any mistakes.

That was Gawon’s only hope and the future he could hold onto and move forward with these days. Even when the grueling schedule was so tough his nose bled, just thinking about that fact made him break into a shy smile.

“Ha, how wonderful would that be. Eating at the same table as Yoon Gawon, doing homework together, watching TV together. Showering together… sleeping together…”

Ki Joon’s voice gradually faded and then suddenly died out. Gawon glanced at Ki Joon. Sure enough. With a red face, he cleared his throat and then awkwardly crossed his legs, which had been stretched out.

“Pervert.”

At the sharp rebuke, Ki Joon slyly lowered both hands and placed them politely between his thighs.

“…It’s physiological. I’m at that age where my blood runs hot.”

He suddenly sprang up. Then, letting out a huge exhale that puffed out his cheeks, he abruptly dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups.

Ki Joon, filling the already cramped room and doing push-ups like a madman, was hilarious. Gawon giggled.

“What are you doing?”

“Huff. This helps. It disperses the blood pooling a bit.”

“Where exactly is this blood pooling?”

“…Can you really act like this between two guys?”

In the end, Gawon burst out laughing, “Ahaha.” Even as he continued his push-ups, Ki Joon protested in an aggrieved voice, saying just imagining it made him nervous, so what could he do.

He looked just like a little groom waiting for the big day. Well, over the course of a year, all Ki Joon had ever done to Gawon was hold his hand or give him a peck on the cheek, so that said it all.

Once, Gawon had asked him outright. Why don’t you do more? Ki Joon had hesitated for a long time before saying, with a red face:

Because you’re too precious to me.

Because I don’t want to be a hindrance to you.

Because he knew how much Gawon threw himself into his studies. Because he had said he was living just waiting for the day they’d live together. Because they had promised each other that they would both enter top-tier schools in their respective fields, without shame.

They already knew how much they liked each other. And if their body heat were to overlap as well. They would both inevitably get lost in that act. That was why Gawon was so grateful to Ki Joon, who maintained a precarious distance and never tried to cross the line.

“Hah, hah… I’m going now.”

He sprang up, his face flushed.

“Yeah. Text me after you finish training.”

Ki Joon, who had risen first, quickly cleared the table. When he even tried to grab a scrubber and do the dishes, Gawon slapped his back and stopped him. Standing in front of the shoe cabinet, Ki Joon kissed Gawon on the cheek, and Gawon gently stroked the back of his head.

“Be careful not to get injured. Take it easy.”

“You too. Don’t overdo it, rest while you work. Oh, and I sent you a gift card earlier, so buy some coffee and go inside.”

“Why do you keep sending things like that. …Anyway, thanks.”

Ki Joon’s gaze, heavy with longing, showed no sign of leaving Gawon. After stroking Gawon’s hair several times, burying his face in his neck, and planting kisses on his crown and bangs, Ki Joon finally pulled away.

“I’ll just walk you. Just to the bus stop.”

“No, it’s too hot. Don’t come out. I’m going!”

He was only firm at times like this. Afraid that Gawon might come out, Ki Joon hurriedly opened the door. Gawon watched his back as he cheerfully ran off, waving his hand, for a long time.

Even as he reached the end of the alley, Ki Joon turned back several times, and Gawon waved back at him. They saw each other every single day, and they’d see each other again tomorrow. He didn’t know why it felt so hard to say goodbye.