Black & Grey Vol. 4 Chapter 1

[JET BLACK] The first spot in the tattoo shop was always covered with blackout curtains. The owner of the spot had been almost cemented in place for over eleven hours since six in the morning, except for eating a sandwich for brunch and occasional bathroom breaks.

Three customers had visited the first spot in that time. Even though an hour had passed since the third customer left, the owner still did not show up.

Jungeol’s tight schedule had been going on for several months now. Although he used to have a packed schedule from the moment he arrived until just before he left, Jungeol’s recent schedule had become even more intense.

Unlike before, when he could at least go out for lunch and dinner and take breaks to smoke or have tea, Jungeol now had to rely on instant food for meals or sometimes skip them altogether due to his busy schedule.

The increased demand from people wanting tattoos from Jungeol was one reason, but the more direct cause was Jungeol himself.

It was in June when they started taking bookings for the second half of the year.

Since Yoochan enlisted last year until mid-this year, Manager, who couldn’t stand seeing Jungeol live a workaholic life, suggested reducing the number of reservations, but Jungeol insisted on taking as many as possible. Manager realized that Jungeol didn’t care about his own health when he replied that he would pay more attention to maintaining quality.

These days, Jungeol was almost obsessed with work. He was so buried in the shop that he often went home to unit 1401, which he had taken over from Yoochan, rather than the apartment an hour away where he lived with Taeho.

Gaang’s separation anxiety had also improved somewhat thanks to behavior correction. Although Gaang still didn’t want to be apart from Jungeol at night, he no longer woke him up or whimpered beside him. Thanks to Gaang, who had become accustomed to chewing on dog chews alone and quietly spending the early morning hours, Jungeol was able to sleep well and devote more time to his work.

The new employees at the Jet Black tattoo shop were taken aback by Jungeol’s dedication. They joked that he was more like a tattoo machine than a tattoo artist.

“Drink some water while you work.”

Concerned, Jaehyeok reached through the blackout curtain and handed Jungeol a 500ml bottle of water. Jungeol found talking while working annoying, so Jaehyeok made sure not to disturb him too much.

The reason for giving him water instead of the coffee Jungeol usually enjoyed was concern for his stomach, as he had quit smoking completely earlier this year and instead started drinking coffee at an addictive level. Fortunately, Jungeol, seemingly thirsty, briefly said, “Thank you,” beyond the curtain.

Manager, seeing Jaehyeok shrugging his shoulders, spoke with wide eyes.

“Tell him to come out and rest if he’s finished with the job. He’ll wear himself out like this.”

“He seems to be looking at designs. Don’t disturb him. He’ll come out and rest when he’s done.”

“I don’t think so.”

Manager shook his head, clearly not believing it. He had another reservation at seven o’clock. Although it was the last customer, it would take at least five hours, so it seemed unlikely that Jungeol would leave on time today. Of course, workaholic Jungeol probably had no intention of leaving early.

“Shouldn’t we force him to take a break?”

“Who would dare drag him out? Just leave him. He needs to collapse once to realize it.”

Despite the boiler being turned up high, Jaehyeok buried his hands deep in his padded jacket pockets and hunched his shoulders, feeling the cold. Taeho, who was looking around to find where the cold wind was coming from, noticed the window he had left open for ventilation while cleaning earlier. He closed it and said,

“But Jungeol Hyung really seems to have incredible stamina. He doesn’t go straight to bed at home either; he seems to do some work on the computer first. He doesn’t even look that tired.”

As Taeho mentioned that Jungeol didn’t rest even at home, Jaehyeok clicked his tongue in disapproval. Just then, Taeho’s phone rang. Seeing the number on the screen, Taeho scratched his scruffy beard and answered the call. He seemed to glance around at the people nearby before entering the smoking room to take the call.

Manager, who found it unusual for Taeho to take a call in secret, put down the tablet he was holding and said,

“I think I should go buy a lunchbox for Jungeol Oppa. Are you done for the day?”

“Yeah. Don’t forget to pay the dog walker when they come. Jungeol’s wallet is under the counter.”

“Didn’t Jungeol Oppa pay them in advance?”

“He seemed to forget because he was so busy.”

“Then I’ll take care of it. See you tomorrow, Oppa.”

Manager said this to Jaehyeok, who was preparing to leave, and then went out to buy a lunchbox.

While the shop employees were all concerned about their boss’s health, Jungeol himself sat at his spot, staring at the tablet with a calm expression, seemingly unaware of the seriousness.

His well-shaped forehead was visible above his furrowed eyebrows. He had trimmed his bangs, which he had grown for nearly six months, and slicked them back cleanly two weeks ago. Finding it convenient not to have hair dangling in his face while working out or moving his arms, Jungeol had kept this hairstyle lately.

The skin on the forearm above the fingers moving the pencil had become a little lighter than before. Although it was originally quite fair, it had naturally tanned in exposed areas due to frequent MTB and outdoor exercises, but lately, coming to the shop before sunrise and leaving after sunset, there was no time for his skin to tan.

Jungeol rotated the customer’s arm photo displayed on the screen, erasing parts of the arm and attaching designs one by one. It took only a few seconds to attach and examine each design, but choosing them took a while because there were countless designs he had drawn during his spare moments.

Staring at one design for a long time, Jungeol recalled the customer’s requirements and moved on to the next design. Rubbing his forehead with his fingertips, he seemed dissatisfied.

After rubbing his forehead for a while, Jungeol lowered his hand, clenched his fist, and propped his cheek. The phone vibrated next to his busy left hand, which was moving the pencil with a serious expression. As if familiar with it, Jungeol turned off the alarm and straightened his back. It was the alarm set for 30 minutes before 6 o’clock.

Only then did Jungeol realize he had been sitting for too long, put down the pencil, and stretched. Despite being quite flexible, his shoulders and back creaked. Sitting all day in a space without a single window and no light coming in, he lost track of time.

Nevertheless, he always looked forward to this time. For over a year, Jungeol had always set an alarm for 30 minutes before 6 o’clock and made sure to finish his work before 6 o’clock. Without the alarm, he would unconsciously keep checking his phone from around 4 or 5 o’clock, so he had no choice but to set it for smooth work.

Jungeol lightly shook one shoulder and unlocked his phone with a fingerprint. The number D-98 was displayed on the home screen. It was an app that Yoochan had installed as soon as he was allowed to go on his first leave, meaning Yoochan would finally be discharged in 98 days.

It felt like just yesterday when they were frustrated not being able to use their phones during basic training, but a year had already flown by. Jungeol involuntarily chuckled, recalling the once-a-week calls Yoochan was allowed during his training days. He remembered Yoochan doing something absurd.

When Jungeol asked why there was an occasional scraping sound, Yoochan gave a surprising answer.

“I’m making a necklace. I started a while ago, and I’ll give it to you as a gift when I go on leave, Hyung.”

Grateful for the almost daily letters Jungeol wrote to him online, Yoochan wanted to give him a necklace he had made with care. Suspecting something, Jungeol asked cautiously,

“Are you making it out of coins?”

Screech, screech.

“Yes. How did you know? Did they do that in your time too?”

Screech, screech, screech.

“Well, Yoochan.”

“Yes?”

Screech, screech, screech.

“Defacing coins is illegal.”

Screech.

“Five hundred thousand won fine.”

Suddenly, there was dead silence on the other end of the phone. A few seconds later, Yoochan’s tense voice came through.

“Wow, really?”

“…”

“Wow, I didn’t know. I thought it was okay because it was a 100 won coin. I won’t do it anymore. I think I’m okay since I’ve only scratched it for ten minutes.”

Recalling Yoochan, who spoke in a hushed voice out of fear of being overheard, Jungeol smiled as he looked at the photo of Yoochan on his home screen.

It was taken during Yoochan’s first leave as a private. They had closed the shop shutters and gone on their first trip to Jeju Island with the staff. On the first and second days, they drank and had fun at an onsen resort, and from the afternoon of the third day, Jungeol and Yoochan rented a car and went hiking.

Though Jungeol couldn’t understand the idea of hiking during leave, especially in the middle of winter, he gladly followed Yoochan, who was eager to hike Hallasan Mountain.

Jungeol swiped the screen to the left and looked at the picture of Yoochan without icons covering his face.

The photo was taken in front of Baengnokdam. Yoochan, wearing sunglasses and a padded hood, had a red nose that looked drunk but was smiling brightly, showing his upper teeth. Although the weather was unusually cold that day and Jungeol was still feeling the effects of the makgeolli Jaehyeok had brought, Yoochan’s constant encouragement helped Jungeol climb.

The thrill of reaching the top was exhilarating. Yoochan insisted they take a photo for their couple’s social media and pressed his palm into the dirt like a child. Then, they shared burdock tea that Yoochan had packed in a thermos, talking for over an hour.

Noticing Jungeol’s cold hands late, Yoochan hastily took off his gloves and gave them to him. When Jungeol tried to return them, Yoochan refused, saying he was fine, and instead slipped his arm into Jungeol’s open jacket to warm his armpits, much to Jungeol’s embarrassment.

That was already earlier this year. Remembering Yoochan’s call, Jungeol opened the photo album on his phone.

As he scrolled past the photos of Gaang wearing the orange scarf Yoochan had newly bought, the album was filled with pictures of Yoochan. The most recent photo of Yoochan was from two months ago when he was on a reward leave.

Yoochan had remarkably swept up all possible reward leaves. He received a reward leave for his excellent shooting skills and easily earned the elite soldier status.

— I did more than 72 push-ups in two minutes, more than 82 sit-ups, and ran 3km in under 12 minutes and 30 seconds. I came in first. It was a piece of cake. I guess everyone else was not in good condition.

Recalling Yoochan’s excited voice from the day he got a reward leave for becoming an elite soldier, Jungeol swiped the photo to the right.

There were also photos taken on the day Yoochan came out on a leave as a corporal, taken by Yoochan’s phone and sent to Jungeol. They had finished work early that day and gathered at Jungeol’s apartment to drink. The next day, Yoochan and Jungeol had planned to go mountain biking, but Yoochan, who had chatted with Taeho until dawn, woke up late, so they ended up cycling by the Han River until the evening.

Scrolling down a bit more, there were photos from a month ago when Jungeol and the Manager went to visit Yoochan. Remembering Yoochan’s request for a new brand of chicken, Jungeol and the Manager bought it and brought it to the military base. Seeing Yoochan hurriedly eating the cold, hard chicken with his index fingers made Jungeol feel a bit sad.

Yoochan, like outside, was getting along well without any major issues. Recently, he bragged to Jungeol about receiving one-on-one PT from a subordinate who used to be a fitness trainer and asked for sunscreen, saying his skin seemed damaged. Jungeol and the Manager went to the department store, bought sunscreen and lotion, and sent them by mail.

As Jungeol enjoyed a brief, pleasant break looking at his phone, he noticed it was 5:40 and grabbed his pencil. Weekdays, he could call Yoochan from 6 PM onwards. Yoochan called every single day, and on weekends, he would call once in the morning and once in the afternoon, recounting his daily activities like a verbal diary.

Anticipating the call with Yoochan at 6 PM, Jungeol hurried with his work, comparing the customer’s reference on his laptop with his design and making adjustments.

By the time he was engrossed in his work, it was already six o’clock.

After turning off the alarm, Jungeol looked at his phone. He had gotten quite used to the relatively free phone calls with Yoochan, even though they could only be made after work.

Originally, Jungeol was not the type to feel lonely, so he hardly felt loneliness while waiting for Yoochan. More than anything, he was too busy to feel such things. He had to be with the shop employees all day, deal with customers from early morning to late night, manage his worsened wrist pain by visiting the oriental clinic, care for his dog, and draw designs.

As Yoochan had wished, Jungeol lived his daily life diligently without feeling lonely. He focused on work, exercised daily, and occasionally helped Jinwoo and the Manager, who still lacked skills, with their drawings. He also occasionally opened the Spanish and Chinese self-study books Yoochan gifted and continued Gaang’s separation anxiety training whenever he had time.

The only odd thing was that Jungeol spent more time looking at his phone. Sometimes he waited for a call all day. Even on weekday mornings, knowing well Yoochan couldn’t call, he would hold his phone just in case.

Jungeol secretly hoped that Yoochan would miraculously call while on leave. When Yoochan’s call was a few minutes late on weekend mornings due to being at the gym or the table tennis room, his mouth would feel dry.

That’s how Jungeol spent his days. Though he wasn’t lonely, he missed Yoochan every day.

It was a symptom that worsened more recently than right after Yoochan enlisted. Nowadays, Jungeol felt that the shop was too quiet. Playing loud music or having Jinwoo’s noisy friends visit the shop wasn’t the issue. There was a hollow silence that couldn’t be filled by such things.

Jungeol stared at his phone, waiting for the voice that would pleasantly break this silence.

However, 10 seconds, 20 seconds passed, and even after a minute, two minutes, the phone didn’t ring. Jungeol’s brows furrowed slightly. Trying not to show his anxiety, he looked at the tablet screen, but his fingers kept tapping the phone’s screen, showing his discomfort.

Since Yoochan got his phone after being assigned to his unit, Jungeol became anxious at this time of day. Yoochan always kept his promise to call without being late by a single minute, so Jungeol had to schedule appointments carefully to avoid overlapping with Yoochan’s call time.

Ten minutes passed, and still, the phone didn’t ring. Jungeol, thinking of calling first, then figured Yoochan might be engrossed in table tennis and decided to stand up. Though late, Yoochan’s call would eventually come. Jungeol thought Yoochan would be a bit late today and went outside. Before starting his next work, he wanted to wash his face and clean the ink-stained wrist.

Even while walking the few seconds to the bathroom, Jungeol carried his phone. Even during his first relationship in school, he hadn’t kept his phone with him this consistently. It had become almost a habit. While washing his hands, with his phone on the shelf next to the sink, he heard the Manager’s voice.

“We generally try to accommodate customers as much as possible, but there are no free slots next week. No, it’s not that we don’t want to, but we can’t change your appointment. It’s not just a matter of one or two hours.”

The Manager’s voice sounded more agitated than usual, as if she had already repeated the same thing several times. Curious about what was happening, Jungeol placed the towel on the rack and stepped outside.

Taking off a thick coat, the Manager saw Jungeol and handed him a bag from a lunchbox specialty store. As Jungeol took the bag, the Manager sighed deeply and spoke into the phone.

“Our schedule is fully booked until the morning of Wednesday, the week after next. No, we can’t suddenly fit a five-hour appointment on Tuesday, but they keep…”

“What is it, mine?”

Hearing his stage name, Jungeol leaned on the counter and asked. Manager covered the phone and whispered.

“It’s the 7 PM client today. They suddenly want to change to next week, saying they’re going on holiday to Southeast Asia this week and asking if it can’t get wet. I said there are no cancellations next week, but they keep calling and asking to fit them in, even if it’s early morning.”

Seeing Manager’s troubled expression, Jungeol responded nonchalantly.

“Fit them in.”

“What? When will you sleep if you schedule it early morning, Oppa?”

“It’s okay, just fit them in.”

Gesturing for Manager to handle it, Jungeol sat on the sofa with the lunchbox that Manager had brought. Sighing deeply as if to say this wasn’t right, Manager wrote the client’s name on the schedule board with no other choice.

Jungeol wondered how to spend the now empty evening. He debated whether to go home after Yoochan’s call or to stay at the shop and work. He decided it was better to complete the design and then leave since going home early would only lead to more work. He considered contacting friends but decided against it as meeting up would end in drinking and suffering the next day from lack of sleep and a hangover.

Deciding to work until midnight and then sleep in unit 1401, Jungeol opened the lunchbox just as Taeho emerged from the balcony.

“Wow, it’s freezing. Can’t we keep the smoking room window closed except when smoking?”

Taeho’s cheeks were bright red from the cold smoking room with its window open. Jungeol opened the lid of the miso soup included in the lunch set and handed it to Taeho, who took a sip and said,

“Oh right, Hyung, what time are you leaving today?”

“I’ll probably stay, why?”

“You’re not leaving again? When does your last appointment finish?”

“The evening appointment got canceled. I’ll use the time to finish my design.”

Surprised as if it wasn’t an everyday thing, Taeho’s puzzled expression made Jungeol respond. Taeho, fiddling with his phone, said,

“My parents want me to go home, so I probably won’t be able to go home today.”

“…Alright.”

Jungeol ate his lunch, looking at Taeho as if to say why he was informing him of such things, especially when they weren’t dating. Taeho, seeming like he left something out, scratched his head and added,

“I forgot to hang the laundry I did this morning. I’m worried it might get moldy. Can you hang it for me?”

“What mold in the middle of winter?”

Having started work at the same time as Taeho today, Jungeol wondered when Taeho did the laundry. Taeho suddenly complained,

“Ah, but I have expensive clothes in there. Just hang them for me. You said you have no plans today anyway. Use this chance to go home and relax… I mean, rest properly. Gaang might forget our place since he’s always sleeping in Yoochan’s room.”

Sipping his miso soup as if running out of things to say, Taeho watched Jungeol’s reaction. Suspicious of Taeho’s intent to send him home, Jungeol ate his lunch while looking at Taeho. From behind, he heard Manager’s voice.

“Yeah, Oppa. On a day like today, go home and rest. If you work yourself to death, who will pay our shop rent?”

Finishing the call with the difficult client, Manager’s grim joke made even Jungeol, who was eating, laugh. While he had a lot of work lately, he was sleeping well and managing his condition, but apparently, it didn’t seem sufficient to those around him.

Seeing Manager and Taeho’s glistening eyes, Jungeol finally agreed. Worried he might change his mind, Manager quickly grabbed Jungeol’s bag from the counter and went to pack all his things from spot 1.

Thud.

Manager practically dropped the backpack next to Jungeol, signaling him to hurry and leave. Jungeol frowned, holding his chopsticks.

“Leave now?”

Gesturing to his half-eaten lunch, Jungeol seemed incredulous. Manager forcibly took the chopsticks from his hand and said,

“If you’re going home anyway, buy and eat something tasty and nutritious on your way. Stop eating lunch boxes and sandwiches all the time. Get up.”

With Manager pushing him with his whole body, Jungeol was almost chased out, holding his bag. Watching Manager push his half-eaten lunch to Taeho, Jungeol said,

“I need to take Gaang. The dog walker should be arriving soon.”

“I’ll take Gaang when I’m done.”

Taeho replied while shoveling rice into his mouth with a spoon. Jungeol straightened his back and tilted his head.

“You said you were going back to your parents’ place.”

“No, I mean I’ll leave Gaang at home and then go to my parents’ place.”

Jungeol thought Taeho could hang the wet laundry at that time, but he realized his friends just wanted him to leave work early, so he reluctantly picked up his coat. Taeho waved his chopstick-laden hand and yelled for him to have fun. Knowing full well that all he would do at home was exercise, shower, and watch his tablet, Jungeol thought it was strange and left.

Riding the elevator down to the basement, Jungeol checked his phone. Yoochan still hadn’t sent a text or called.

Should I call?

Busy?

Jungeol frowned as he sent the text while standing by his car. Growing anxious since Yoochan hadn’t read his messages, Jungeol thought he’d call if he still hadn’t heard back by the time he got home. He put his phone in his bag and got into the car.

The black BMW X6 smoothly exited the office building’s parking lot. Unfortunately, he hit rush hour traffic, causing Jungeol to clench and release his grip on the steering wheel.

“Are you sleepy? Should I play some music?”

Recalling the sudden voice, Jungeol instinctively glanced at the passenger seat. Below the spot where he placed his backpack was a Captain America car seat Yoochan had bought from somewhere. The empty seat’s strong presence on his commute made it feel like someone was there, but because it was a gift from Yoochan, Jungeol had no choice but to leave it.

Though it looked cumbersome, the car seat had its advantages. People who tried to sit in the front would see it and opt for the back seat. The seat, pushed back to fit long legs and adjusted to almost a 90-degree angle, was perfectly tailored for Yoochan. Occasionally, Jungeol gave rides home to Manager, Taeho, Jinwoo, Jaehyeok, and others, but they naturally sat in the back after spotting the flashy car seat and Jungeol’s backpack in the front.

There was also a tteokbokki sauce stain on the armrest from Yoochan spilling some when they bought snacks at a rest stop on a trip to Sokcho. He had tried to clean it that day, but time had passed, and part of it had permanently turned orange.

Rubbing his temple as if feeling empty, Jungeol glanced at Yoochan’s remnants while the traffic light changed. He pressed the accelerator with a blank expression.

A small package awaited him in front of his apartment door. Jungeol wondered if it was for Taeho since he hadn’t received any delivery notifications. He brought the package inside.

The sender’s address was missing, and the recipient’s address had just “Cho Jungeol” written in large letters. The handwriting resembled Yoochan’s, but it couldn’t have been sent by him from the military without going through proper channels. Someone from the neighborhood must have played a prank.

Leaving the box on the living room table, Jungeol recalled Taeho’s request to hang the laundry and walked to the utility room.

The washing machine was empty. Furrowing his brow, Jungeol checked the laundry basket beside it. It was full of a week’s worth of clothes for both of them, suggesting Taeho had been mistaken.

After running a cycle with just black clothes, Jungeol returned. Yoochan still hadn’t contacted him.

Exercise moderately. I’ll call you in 30 minutes.

Suppressing the urge to ask why Yoochan hadn’t called yet, Jungeol texted him and turned up his phone’s volume before heading to the bathroom.

Warm water streamed down his back from the shower, and the tattoos densely covering his back muscles flexed energetically as he moved his arms. Turning off the shower to brush his teeth, the bathroom suddenly went silent, evoking the same emptiness he felt seeing Yoochan’s remnants in the car.

Though Jungeol believed he managed well without Yoochan, the absence hit him hard once he stepped away from his busy routine. He subconsciously avoided coming home, burying himself in the shop and work, as if desperately ignoring the fact that Yoochan was far away.

Momentarily lost in thoughts of Yoochan, Jungeol finished brushing his teeth and rinsed his hair and body. Emerging from the bathroom, he reached for his phone, but there was still no message from Yoochan.

Impatient, Jungeol glanced at the clock. Yoochan could only make calls until 9 PM on weekdays, but it was already past 8.

Jungeol sat on the sofa, staring at his phone with a serious expression. Yoochan had never not read his messages or failed to call by this time.

Finally, Jungeol pressed the call button. After waiting for a while, the call didn’t go through. Wondering if something had happened at the base, another unsettling thought crept in.

“Hyung, when I get discharged, should we live together?”

Half a year ago, Yoochan had suddenly asked this during a call. Caught off guard, Jungeol had told him they’d think about it when the time came.

To justify delaying the answer about living together, the lease on the apartment Jungeol moved into with Taeho still had over a year left, and it seemed like a hasty decision for Yoochan, who would only be twenty-two after discharge.

— Oh, then take your time thinking about it. I was just saying it casually.

Though Jungeol had considered all circumstances, Yoochan’s excited voice quickly deflated, making Jungeol realize his mistake.

When Jungeol tried to bring up living together again, Yoochan quickly changed the subject, boasting about how well he played foot volleyball and how many times the ball touched his foot.

A month ago, Yoochan suddenly made the same suggestion again, despite not mentioning it during their daily calls. Jungeol seriously considered living with Yoochan for the first time but suggested discussing it later instead of giving a definite answer.

He wondered if that was why Yoochan suddenly became unreachable.

Calling for the third time, Jungeol furrowed his brow in frustration. Yoochan had been his usual self during their call yesterday. He even switched the call to Manager and Taeho, acting spoiled and saying he missed his Noona and Hyung, making Jungeol laugh.

But had Yoochan been hurt inside? After the third call disconnected, Jungeol pressed the call button for the fourth time and noticed the package on the table.

Holding the phone with his shoulder, Jungeol opened the package. The light weight had puzzled him, and opening it revealed it was indeed empty.

Thinking it was a prank, Jungeol furrowed his brow and checked the bottom of the box. There was a small post-it note.

“I left a present in your room, Hyung.”

The handwriting matched the one on the box. Jungeol wondered if Taeho or Yoochan was playing a prank. As he questioned why it was left at the door instead of the living room, the call disconnected again.

Sighing, Jungeol looked at his phone. Something must have happened.

Debating whether to call Yoochan’s unit directly, Jungeol decided to try one last time. Hearing the ringing tone, he grabbed the post-it and headed to his room.

As he got closer, he heard a faint vibrating sound. Thinking it was noise from the upstairs, Jungeol soon realized it was coming from nearby and took the phone away from his ear.

The vibration was indeed coming from his room. Half worried, half curious, Jungeol approached the bed where the sound was coming from. He noticed a summer blanket sticking out from under the bed. Pulling it out, he found a strange bag with the vibration coming from it.

Turning off his phone, Jungeol looked at the built-in closet. The summer blanket, which was now outside, had been stored in the bottom left compartment of the built-in closet in his bedroom. He had no memory of taking it out, so someone must have taken it out and put something else in.

His anxious expression softened.

Jungeol placed his phone on the floor and carefully opened the built-in closet. Between the long summer shirts, he saw military fatigues and socked feet.

Jungeol knelt down, pulling his lips into a smile. Seeing Yoochan sound asleep, hugging a pillow, Jungeol’s eyes softened instantly.

Unconsciously reaching out to Yoochan’s prickly hair, Jungeol pulled back his hand just before touching him. He wanted to let the tired Yoochan sleep more but also wanted to wake him up and hug him.

Hoping Yoochan would wake up naturally, Jungeol held his lover’s knee instead of his face. His eyes, which hadn’t smiled all day, softened, and a satisfied sigh escaped.

Sensing someone, Yoochan flinched and tilted his head back. The hem of the shirts hanging above covered part of Yoochan’s face and shoulders. Moving the shirts aside, Jungeol noticed the red ribbon tied around Yoochan’s chin and head, making him smile broadly. Yoochan had indeed tried to act like a present.

Gently pulling the long end of the ribbon tied under Yoochan’s chin, Jungeol watched as the bow unraveled, and the red ribbon came out in one piece. Yoochan, feeling ticklish, scratched his face and fell back asleep.

Jungeol squinted in slight frustration. If Yoochan had been sleeping on the sofa, he could have carried him to bed, but being crammed in the closet made it impossible to move him without waking him.

As Jungeol pondered, Yoochan shivered as if having a dream. Startled, Jungeol watched as Yoochan’s eyelids fluttered open. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like a bad dream. Yoochan blinked in confusion, then rolled his eyes to find Jungeol and smiled.

“Ah, I got caught.”

“…Yeah, you got caught.”

“I wanted to surprise you. When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

Yoochan stretched his arms, wrapping them around Jungeol’s neck. As Jungeol pulled him out and stood up, Yoochan stumbled, his legs numb, and hugged him tightly. Patting Yoochan’s back in his military uniform, Jungeol asked,

“Did you get a break?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I got it from the captain because my voice is too loud.”

Jungeol, who had been rubbing his cheek against Yoochan’s, let out a small laugh at the comment. Luck with breaks was always on his side.

“Ah, there was something I wanted to test.”

“Test?”

Jungeol tilted his head as Yoochan straightened himself and asked.

“Ho, hola?”

At the brief Spanish greeting, Jungeol curled his lips into a smile and replied, “Hola. Cómo estás?”

Yoochan’s eyes widened in amazement.

“Wow, did you actually study? Wasn’t it hard?”

Jungeol chuckled softly and shook his head.

“That’s all there is.”

Not out of modesty but because he’d genuinely only skimmed the introductory pages of the greeting section. Jungeol hugged Yoochan with a laugh in his voice.

Feeling proud that Jungeol had at least read a few pages of the book he gifted, Yoochan smiled contentedly. But then he noticed the increasing strength in Jungeol’s arms wrapped around him and raised an eyebrow.

“Hyung.”

Jungeol, with his large frame, embraced Yoochan as if trying to bury himself in his arms. Resting his face against Yoochan’s neck, he repeatedly stroked his back. Yoochan tilted his head, guessing Jungeol might have gone through something difficult, and returned the hug, saying,

“I came out on leave this morning. I thought about surprising Hyung by going to the shop, but it felt weird without my ring. So, I stopped by home to grab it, but my mom caught me, and I ended up being dragged to my grandmother’s house. I was stuck with my grandma and aunts for over four hours.”

Wanting to cheer Jungeol up, Yoochan chattered nonstop.

“After finally escaping from them, it was already evening… Since I’d have to wait outside while you worked at the shop anyway, I just came straight home. I even asked Taeho Hyung for the door code. But wasn’t the delivery event kind of nice?”

As Yoochan tilted his head playfully, their eyes met. Thinking Jungeol was feeling down, Yoochan noticed the growing desire in his half-lidded gaze and stopped talking for the first time.

As Jungeol approached, staring at his lips, Yoochan raised his eyebrows into a troubled expression and asked,

“Do you happen to have a condom?”

Jungeol glanced at the drawer with narrowed brows, unsure if he had restocked since the last time Yoochan visited.

“Should I go out and buy some? I don’t have any either.”

As Yoochan rummaged through his pockets, Jungeol leaned down as if such concerns no longer mattered.

When their lips met, the fresh scent of recently brushed teeth lingered. Yoochan swallowed the words he was about to say. A hand slipped under his military uniform, supporting his lower back. Yoochan closed his eyes happily, feeling the touch of a thick ring grazing his skin.

Jungeol hugged him tighter, savoring the moment. It hadn’t even been that long since they last saw each other, but Jungeol felt an overwhelming wave of satisfaction and relief.

Lifting Yoochan’s shirt, Jungeol kissed his now slightly tanned chest. Pulling Yoochan closer by the waist, he pressed his forehead against his chest, guiding him naturally to the bed.

As his back met the bed, Yoochan unzipped his pants and took out his aroused member. Seeing this, Jungeol knelt on one knee on the bed, removed his shirt, and climbed on top of him.

Yoochan, half-erect, lightly shook himself while looking up at Jungeol. Anticipation for what was to come made his neck and face flush with warmth. Jungeol slipped his hands under Yoochan’s armpits, pulling him closer to the head of the bed before reaching for the drawer.

Watching Jungeol search the drawer, Yoochan, filled with excitement, quickly stroked himself and let out a low moan. The drawer closed with a click.

“Turn over.”

Jungeol tossed a bottle of oil onto the bed instead of a condom, flipping Yoochan onto his stomach as he spoke. Understanding the position Jungeol wanted, Yoochan raised his knees and lowered his upper body. They had tried various positions during his leaves, but both particularly enjoyed rear entry. Jungeol removed Yoochan’s military pants and half-lowered underwear, drawing closer to the obediently waiting Yoochan.

The less-tanned skin accentuated the fullness of Yoochan’s exposed buttocks. Jungeol unbuckled his belt, unzipped his pants, and grabbed the bottle of oil with his other hand.

“Ugh…”

Yoochan flinched and trembled as the cold liquid trickled down between his cheeks. Jungeol gently spread the oil across Yoochan’s now-shiny skin, wetting his palms before rubbing the area around the tense entrance without hesitation. He then poured the remaining oil over his erect member.

“Ugh… ha…”

Jungeol alternated between massaging Yoochan’s entrance until it became pliant and stroking himself. Once the softened wrinkles gave way, he slowly inserted one finger into the tight opening.

“Ugh… ah…”

The untouched walls, neglected for over a month, tightened around his finger from all directions. Using his free hand, Jungeol pulled apart Yoochan’s cheeks to make the penetration smoother.

As he stretched the flesh apart, his finger moved with greater ease. Without hesitation, Jungeol slid in a second finger. Yoochan, lying face down, lifted his head as a wave of pleasure hit, letting out a pleased sound.

Jungeol lightly rubbed the sensitive spot inside with the pads of his fingers. Though he could have applied more pressure, he refrained, knowing Yoochan might climax prematurely. Jungeol wanted to draw out the experience, ensuring the reunion was thoroughly savored.

“Ah… ah… Hyung…”

Yoochan’s voice calling him “Hyung” was tinged with desperation. The low moans sounded like a tempting plea for something bigger and longer. Despite the temptation to give in, Jungeol restrained himself. Though rough encounters were enjoyable, they were only suitable once Yoochan’s body was thoroughly prepared.

“Ah… ah…!”

When Jungeol added two more fingers, Yoochan began panting heavily, moving his hips instinctively. His uncontrollable moans grew higher in pitch and frequency.

“Ah… ah… ah…!”

Gripping the sheets and burying his forehead into the pillow, Yoochan trembled. Though his hands strained as if in discomfort, his arched hips and firmly raised backside suggested the contrary. Jungeol, who had been leaking pre-cum for a while, placed one knee beside Yoochan’s waist, pondering the right moment to finally enter him.

“Ah…!”

Jungeol bit down lightly on the shoulder marked with a panther tattoo. The sting caused Yoochan to clench his backside and let out a short groan. By now, all four fingers moved freely inside him, grazing his inner walls. From a distance, it might even seem as though Jungeol’s muscular forearm had entered completely.

“Hngh! Ah! Ah!”

As Jungeol’s fingertips massaged his prostate, Yoochan’s body writhed, releasing guttural moans. Though the stimulation was internal, Yoochan moved his hips fluidly as if engaging with an invisible partner.

“Huh! Ah! Ahh! Hngh!”

Hugging the pillow tightly and shaking his head as though overwhelmed, Yoochan’s moans shortened in intervals. Suddenly, his body jerked violently, and he collapsed forward.

“Ahhh…!”

Seeing the convulsing hole and clenched toes, Jungeol thought Yoochan might have climaxed. Still, he kept his fingers inside, forcing Yoochan to straighten up. To his surprise, the sheets were dry, and Yoochan’s still-erect member trembled without releasing anything. Narrowing his eyes, Jungeol realized Yoochan had experienced a dry orgasm.

“Ugh… ah…”

Yoochan, still shuddering from the lingering sensation, trembled as Jungeol released his grip, letting him sink back down. Settling between Yoochan’s spread legs, Jungeol slowly withdrew his fingers, causing Yoochan to whimper and squirm.

“Ah…!”

Jungeol barely managed to pull his fingers free from the tight opening. Gripping Yoochan’s thigh with his oil-slicked hand, he noticed the tension in Yoochan’s body. Sensing his unease, Jungeol kissed his back lightly before aligning himself with the stretched, quivering entrance without forcing him to rise.

Snapping back to awareness, Yoochan turned his head and asked, “Are we doing it without a condom?”

Without responding, Jungeol began to push inside slowly.

“Hngh… ah…”

As the thick member stretched him open, Yoochan tensed, squeezing his arms to his sides. However, what seemed daunting slid smoothly into the well-prepared, relaxed space, bringing a surprising ease to the penetration.

“Ah… Ah…!”

As Jungeol’s penis entered halfway and his weight pressed down, Yoochan let out a desperate moan and tried to crawl forward. Jungeol grabbed Yoochan’s shoulder with one hand to prevent him from escaping and paused, glancing down at the remaining half of his penis.

“Haah… Haah….”

With Jungeol not moving, the only sound in the quiet room was Yoochan’s panting. Burying his arm and face in the pillow, Yoochan caught his breath and glanced back, puzzled by Jungeol’s stillness. At that moment, Jungeol pressed down on Yoochan’s shoulder and thrust deeper inside.

“Ah! Ah…!”

Tears welled up in Yoochan’s eyes as Jungeol’s thick penis stirred his sensitive insides. Jungeol used his leg to keep Yoochan from trying to stand up on his knees and pushed his body all the way in. Yoochan’s short scream signaled that they were now fully connected.

Yoochan lay stuck to the bed like a magnet, breathing heavily. He wanted to get up, but Jungeol’s arm and knee held him down. He could force himself up, but any movement made the penis inside him stimulate his sensitive spots, making it impossible to move.

Jungeol slipped his hand under Yoochan’s neck and pulled away the pillow. Now, with no pillow, Yoochan lay flat on the sheet, his body relaxing. Jungeol pressed his chest against Yoochan’s back, lying on top of him.

Instead of moving hastily, Jungeol kept his lower body tightly pressed against Yoochan’s buttocks, subtly grinding to help Yoochan’s hole get accustomed to his penis. The circular grinding motion made Yoochan feel his insides melting and his inner walls heating up again.

“Huh… Ah….”

Having grown accustomed to their long-awaited intimacy, Yoochan relaxed his body and accepted Jungeol’s movements. As Jungeol’s penis slowly withdrew, Yoochan’s inner walls had stretched enough to accommodate its length and girth.

When the tip of Jungeol’s penis rubbed against a sensitive spot, Yoochan’s hips twitched. Jungeol pulled his hips back until just the tip of his penis was at the entrance, then thrust deeply inside again.

“Hah… uh….”

Yoochan’s spine tingled, and he tensed his abs, tightening around Jungeol. Jungeol gripped Yoochan’s buttocks firmly, pushed in all the way, and then, as he had done initially, pressed his hips down and gently ground inside, soothingly.

“Haah… ah….”

Now accustomed, Yoochan no longer writhed intensely when Jungeol’s penis penetrated deeply. Jungeol quickened his pace, withdrawing and thrusting more urgently.

“Huh….”

As the speed increased, Yoochan clenched his fists in response. Jungeol grabbed Yoochan’s shoulder, pulling him closer, and straightened his back. Naturally, Yoochan also tensed his legs and got on his knees. In that position, Jungeol began shallow, quick thrusts.

“Huh, huh, uh, uh!”

Jungeol held Yoochan’s waist with both hands, looking down. Seeing his penis rapidly moving in and out of Yoochan’s body made his already fully erect penis feel even harder. The short, fast stimulation made Yoochan’s moans grow louder. Yoochan panted, supporting himself on his outstretched arms, and lifted his head. With his eyes closed, Yoochan felt Jungeol’s powerful thrusts from behind, like a large dog mounting him.

“Uh, huh, huh, huh….”

Jungeol’s body repeatedly slammed against Yoochan’s buttocks. Yoochan’s furrowed brow and closed eyelids twitched every time Jungeol’s lower body pressed against him. The relentless thrusting didn’t stop. Yoochan let out even rougher moans, moving his hips vigorously.

“Uh, huh, huh, huh, Hyung, uh…!”

A shiver ran from the soles of his feet up his spine to the top of his head. The sharp excitement made him dizzy. Yoochan, crazy with the sex, didn’t even think to wipe the drool flowing from his open mouth, eagerly moving his hips in sync. He had never imagined he would enjoy penetrative sex this much.

Sex with penetration was incomparable to anything done with hands or mouth. It felt like the peak of pleasure just before orgasm was sustained, never quite tipping over the edge. Every time Jungeol thrust, he reached the brink again.

Yoochan felt an urge to stroke himself to orgasm but also wanted to stay in this state of extreme pleasure, entirely at Jungeol’s mercy.

“Huh, huh, huh, uh, ah!”

Excited by Yoochan’s panting moans, Jungeol gently bit the top of Yoochan’s leopard tattoo. Yoochan threw his head back and arched his hips, making Jungeol pull Yoochan’s waist closer. As the penis thrust in to the root again, pressing hard against the upper wall, Yoochan suddenly trembled.

“Ah, ah!”

Soon, Yoochan’s hips shuddered violently, and a choked moan escaped him.

“Ah…!”

With the climax, Yoochan began to ejaculate. Amid Yoochan’s breaking voice, Jungeol’s low moan mixed in. Feeling the hole tighten around his penis, Jungeol barely suppressed his own urge to come, watching Yoochan’s semen spurt like a fountain onto the sheet. The sheet quickly became messy with the semen that gushed out in two or three spurts.