Sunshine Shower Chapter 96

The place Moon Seoyoon headed toward was the large window that connected to the living room. The structure had a spacious balcony attached to the living room, so he could go outside as soon as he opened the door. Being on the top floor, there was no concern about disturbing neighbors, making it a suitable spot for smoking.

As he stepped outside and the lukewarm breeze tousled his hair, it felt like early summer with the quiet sound of insects that one might hear on a peaceful walking path.

Moon Seoyoon instinctively put his hand in his pocket and fumbled with the cigarette pack. He could feel the distinct edges of the square shape against his fingertips. Pressing down on the jutting corner without much thought, he felt a dull sensation poke at his fingertips. It wasn’t painful since it was just a paper object, but it was just the right amount of discomfort to suppress the mounting tension.

He only slowly turned his head after Woo Yeonjae approached with a languid stride.

“Are you really going to smoke?”

“Yeah.”

“…You don’t like the smell of cigarettes.”

“I don’t mind if it’s with you.”

Woo Yeonjae rested his arm on the railing as if leaning on it.

“I’m curious about what kind of hell Moon Seoyoon was going through to start smoking in the military.”

“That was when I was young…”

Though he didn’t smoke a lot, he felt slightly embarrassed about starting for such a childish reason. Moon Seoyoon mumbled and took out the cigarette pack.

‘I forgot to return it.’

He felt like he would need to repay Nam Tae-eun with two packs once the semester started.

As he opened the lid, which was already half-open, he felt Woo Yeonjae’s gaze fixed on him. Even though it wasn’t something to be nervous about, he felt anxious as if playing a petty prank in front of an old friend. Moon Seoyoon nervously pressed his lips with his teeth and took out a cigarette.

“Ask me.”

Woo Yeonjae, with his head slightly lowered, parted his lips. Moon Seoyoon hesitated before extending his arm to place the cigarette between those lips. He must have gotten too close, as the jutting bone of his finger brushed against Woo Yeonjae’s lips. Surprised, he instinctively tried to pull back, but Woo Yeonjae grabbed his wrist.

“I have to teach you properly.”

The lips that were about to take the cigarette now clearly spoke.

“Am I dirty?”

“What?”

“Why are you so surprised? You’re going to drop it…”

The hand gripping the wrist withdrew as soon as the lips, which had touched the protruding bone, had properly held the cigarette.

Woo Yeonjae applied pressure with his lips and lowered his gaze. As Moon Seoyoon, feeling awkward, pulled away and retrieved a new cigarette, he averted his eyes like someone who had been caught off guard. He then tilted his head down against the wind and lit the cigarette.

Woo Yeonjae observed the whole process without blinking. Thanks to that, he could see the red lips moving as the flame touched the end of the cigarette.

The reason Moon Seoyoon had pretended to be weak was simple. It worked much better this way.

Woo Yeonjae seized the opportunity. That was also why he had let his only childhood friend go to meet someone unsatisfactory. After the meeting, Moon Seoyoon would recall their argument, and inevitably, he would feel sorry.

‘Moon Seoyoon doesn’t need to tell me everything about his life.’

As expected, when he drew the line first, Moon Seoyoon was visibly flustered.

‘I wasn’t trying to draw a line with you.’

Woo Yeonjae easily got the answer he wanted.

He felt no guilt at all from the series of acts like pretending to be pretty, feigning distress, or apologizing. That was just how he was born.

The reason for yielding first was to avoid being trapped in a momentary emotional turmoil and wanting to continue being angry at Moon Seoyoon. It wasn’t Moon Seoyoon’s fault that strange guys were drawn to him. The problem lay with those who were attracted because he was attractive; Moon Seoyoon was blameless.

The reason he calmed the intense emotions that burned his mind momentarily was because he reached this conclusion. Anyway, it was better for Moon Seoyoon not to know his true nature.

However, his jealousy over seeing Moon Seoyoon’s troubled face while considering how to apologize was genuine. That’s why he was learning to smoke, a worthless indulgence.

If Moon Seoyoon had learned and smoked together with him, it would have been different, but he didn’t want to share this time with anyone else.

Let them see that. Woo Yeonjae’s persistent gaze traced Moon Seoyoon’s lips. The white cigarette, now lit, hung between his long fingers.

Sensing the overtly scrutinizing gaze, Moon Seoyoon’s gentle eyes turned toward him. Without realizing it, Woo Yeonjae touched the cigarette between his lips with his tongue. The white object wobbled slightly up and down.

“I’ll light it for you…”

Moon Seoyoon licked his lips again, perhaps feeling awkward about teaching him how to smoke. The red tongue briefly showed and then disappeared.

“Yeah.”

As Woo Yeonjae watched closely, he answered obediently.

“Take a breath.”

“Why?”

“So it will catch fire.”

Moon Seoyoon turned the flint on the lighter. Woo Yeonjae kept his gaze fixed on him, only lowering his head.

“Take a puff.”

Moon Seoyoon complied and inhaled the cigarette as instructed. With a short breath, the flame ignited.

“After taking a puff?”

Woo Yeonjae asked with a deliberately playful smile. Moon Seoyoon, looking confused, took a step back as if startled by something.

“Just… smoke it.”

“Just smoke it.” Woo Yeonjae brought the cigarette back to his lips and inhaled the smoke. It tasted terrible.

“Cough.”

As he grimaced and let out a loud cough, Moon Seoyoon hurriedly grabbed his wrist holding the cigarette.

“You’ve tried it once, that’s enough. Stop smoking. This stuff is strong.”

Wasn’t it a bit hypocritical to say that while smoking strong cigarettes himself? As Woo Yeonjae stared blankly at the fingers that once pressed piano keys, Moon Seoyoon seemed to catch on to his meaning and bit his lip as he made excuses.

“I don’t usually smoke ones this strong… Anyway, stop smoking. You know what it tastes like now. I’ll go find something to use as an ashtray, so hold it for a moment.”

Moon Seoyoon, unsure what to do, handed over the cigarette and disappeared toward the living room.

Instead of coughing again, Woo Yeonjae cast a cold gaze at the cigarette Moon Seoyoon had passed him. Not his usual brand, huh? That would mean the cigarette and lighter weren’t Moon Seoyoon’s, but someone else’s.

Why do you have it in your pocket then? The headache, like the cigarette smoke clouding his mind, surged despite his earlier resolve to stay calm.

“Hah.”

With a twisted smile, Woo Yeonjae placed the cigarette Moon Seoyoon had smoked between his lips. As he took a deep drag and exhaled, the headache only intensified.

“I said stop smoking.”

Moon Seoyoon had approached from behind without him noticing, now glaring at him with surprising severity as he snatched the cigarette from his fingers and stuffed it into a paper cup. Then, he took the cigarette that was hanging from Woo Yeonjae’s lips.

“Cough, ah…”

Woo Yeonjae let out another cough, his brows furrowing as his usually neat eyebrows scrunched together. After a few more small coughs, he leaned his large frame into Moon Seoyoon, mimicking the behavior of a large dog as he rested his head on Seoyoon’s shoulder. His broad body folded itself to match Seoyoon’s smaller frame.

“I feel dizzy.”

“Really?”

Since he mumbled his complaint so pitifully, Moon Seoyoon couldn’t push away the arm around his waist. Instead, he looked genuinely concerned, startled by the situation.

Sensing this, Woo Yeonjae pressed his body closer and took a deep breath. If he didn’t do something like this, he felt like he might actually act on the wild desires swirling in his head. It was a bit disappointing that he couldn’t smell the familiar scent of Seoyoon because of the cigarette smoke, but hugging him made it somewhat bearable.

“Yeah, it feels like my head is spinning.”

Even though he knew Moon Seoyoon wanted to put some distance between them, he didn’t let go. Instead, he tightened the arm around Seoyoon’s waist as if fully leaning on him.

“Moon Seoyoon.”

“Should I help you inside? Do you want to go in? Maybe getting some fresh air is better…”

“Don’t come back smelling like someone else.”

Maybe it was his perfectionism or maybe the headache was messing with his senses, but Woo Yeonjae had always been sensitive to smells. That’s why he was quick to notice any foreign scent on Moon Seoyoon, be it cigarettes or even cologne.

“I just smoked it once. You know I don’t smoke often.”

“I told you not to come back smelling like something else, and all you’re doing is making excuses…”

Moon Seoyoon fidgeted in his arms.

“What excuses? Fine, I’ll quit smoking… Just don’t get jealous or whatever over something like this.”

His last words sounded like they were spoken after some hesitation. Even though Woo Yeonjae clearly noticed that, he chose to feign ignorance once again.

It wasn’t just the cigarettes that Moon Seoyoon needed to quit.

“And the other smells?”

“I won’t smell like anything else, I promise.”

Finally, he got the answer he wanted.

“Good. That’s how it should be.”

Woo Yeonjae pulled Moon Seoyoon into a full embrace, burying his nose into the nape of Seoyoon’s neck. The cigarette smell covering Seoyoon’s natural scent made his stomach churn for some reason.