Come Back

“I’ll arrange for someone to take you straight to your schedule tomorrow.”

“You have to leave at dawn… I feel like I’ll just be a burden to you.”

He tried to speak calmly, but his voice was slightly tense.

“I’ll get ready and go to work on my own. You can sleep in and leave when you’re ready.”

If he claimed he had never thought about spending the night with him, that would be a lie.

But picturing an actual night together was still difficult. Every time he imagined it, the scene would always end in the same place: lying in bed, fully clothed, gazing up at him.

Even though he hadn’t expected Haesung to ask him to stay the night, it wasn’t something he wanted to avoid. In fact, he wanted it.

But it seemed Haesung misunderstood his hesitation, thinking he was reluctant because it felt too soon for them to spend the night together.

“There’s a guest room as well.”

With those words, he was saying they wouldn’t be sharing a bed tonight.

Even if you sleep here tonight, we won’t be sleeping together, so you don’t need to worry. That’s what he meant.

“After spending this much time together tonight, I don’t want to let you go.”

Pressing his lips gently to the back of Hongseo’s hand, still interlaced with his, he sighed sweetly, almost pleadingly.

“Can’t you stay?”

Even if it didn’t mean spending the night together in that way, Hongseo didn’t want to part from him either. Looking at his hand, which was almost touching Haesung’s lips, he averted his gaze and replied softly.

“I’ll call my manager.”

“…”

“To tell him I’m staying out tonight.”

—

Haesung’s bedroom was upstairs, where he kept his camera collection and movie room, while the guest room was downstairs. He followed Hongseo all the way to the guest room, personally ensuring he was comfortable. Although there wasn’t much to prepare, Haesung seemed to want to handle even the smallest detail himself.

He fetched a charger from the drawer and plugged in his phone, pulled out the sheets neatly tucked under the mattress, and fluffed up the pillow. He even set out a set of pajamas for him—a simple blue striped set.

“There are guest pajamas, but I didn’t want to put you in those. These are mine—would you wear them?”

“Thank you.”

The pajamas were neatly folded, light, and soft to the touch.

“Alright, go ahead and wash up and get some rest. The bathroom’s attached, so you can use that… and there are fresh towels and a new toothbrush in the bathroom drawer… Is there anything else you might need?”

Haesung glanced around the room, his hand rubbing the back of his neck, before finally dropping his arms and turning to face Hongseo.

“Ah… But putting you up in the guest room just doesn’t feel right. Would you like to sleep in my room? I could stay in here instead.”

“No, this room is already perfect. It feels like a hotel.”

“That’s not the point… You’re my partner, not a guest. It doesn’t sit right with me to have you sleep here.”

With a look of reluctance, he reached out, brushing his fingers through Hongseo’s hair. Every time his warm hand grazed his ear, Hongseo’s grip on the pajamas tightened.

His hand drifted to the back of his neck, his fingertips gently scratching over his skin.

“Would it be okay… if I stayed here with you tonight?”

“What?”

“I mean, it’s still the same room, but it’s a twin. I’d be on the other bed.”

“Oh…”

“Even when guys go on business trips, they often share rooms with twin beds, you know.”

He pointed to the two beds set apart at a slight distance, trying to persuade him. But for Hongseo, there was no need for any of that explanation.

After all, they were officially dating now, so why would he need an excuse just to sleep in the same room?

“I don’t mind. If you’re okay with it, you can sleep here.”

The hand on the back of his neck seemed to freeze for a moment, then the thumb traced upwards, gently threading through his hair. Hongseo’s shoulders flinched slightly.

“Then I’ll take the bed over here.”

“…Alright.”

“I’ll just take a quick shower. Make yourself comfortable.”

Maybe because it was late at night, his voice sounded a little more hushed than usual.

While he showered, Hongseo felt completely out of it, like he was in a trance. He bumped his elbow on the shower door, dropped his toothbrush twice, and even over-squeezed the premium shampoo that he usually used sparingly.

He knew that when Haesung said he’d be taking a shower, it didn’t mean anything more than that. Still, he found himself washing more meticulously than usual, making his shower much longer.

When he finally dried his hair in the adjoining powder room and emerged, Haesung had already returned to the room.

Sitting on the bed with his back turned, he looked up at the sound of footsteps.

“…”

“…”

He was wearing long pajama pants and a plain black short-sleeved T-shirt. His hair, freshly washed, lay softly against his forehead instead of being styled as usual.

Seeing him like this—so unguarded, so intimate—made Hongseo’s heart race.

Perhaps Haesung was having similar thoughts, as his gaze traveled slowly over Hongseo, taking him in from head to toe.

“Oh, um… it’s my clothes, so they’re a bit big on you.”

Realizing he’d been staring in silence for too long, Haesung quickly looked away and stood up from the bed, setting aside the tablet he’d been holding and approaching him.

Given the height and build difference, it was inevitable that Haesung’s clothes would be big on him. The pant legs nearly covered his indoor slippers, and only his fingernails peeked out from the oversized sleeves. The loose fit even made the collar look deeper.

To maintain a stage-ready figure, he had always been mindful of his diet. Naturally thin, he’d still had to give up snacks he loved since becoming an idol. Despite dance practice and workouts, his body remained slender and toned.

“I probably should’ve given you the guest pajamas…”

Haesung seemed unusually flustered, even as he rolled up the pajama sleeves for him, never quite meeting his gaze.

Being this close, Hongseo could catch the fresh scent that lingered on him.

Whether he wore cologne or not, he always smelled good. But this was different—a clean, unadorned scent. Overcome with an urge, he wanted to reach out and embrace him, not out of desire but out of pure affection.

Instead, he raised the collar of the pajama top and buried his nose and lips in it. Even if it wasn’t his natural scent, this was the clothing he’d sleep in. He found the faint smell comforting.

“It’s fine, even if it’s big. It’s sleepwear, after all.”

“Oh… right. That’s good, then.”

He looked down at Hongseo sniffing his pajamas, but the moment their eyes met, he looked away again. This wasn’t the Haesung he was used to.

Could it be he was also a little nervous?

Even if they’d be in separate beds, they’d still be sleeping in the same room. It would have been strange not to feel some tension.

“It’s already 2 a.m. You have to leave at nine tomorrow, right? Let’s get some sleep.”

Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, he gently brushed the still-warm strands of Hongseo’s hair. His tone and actions seemed uncharacteristically flustered. He was clearly feeling unsettled and uncertain, a side Hongseo wasn’t familiar with. Even as he climbed into bed, he couldn’t look away from him.

Eventually, Haesung noticed his gaze and cautiously asked.

“Why… are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s just… I’ve never seen you dressed like this. You look a lot younger.”

“Do I?”

Normally, he’d make a playful comment to carry on the conversation, but this time he just looked down at himself, shyly scratching the back of his head.

He turned on the small reading light by his bed, then went to the switch by the door to turn off the room’s main lights. Coming back, he gently cupped Hongseo’s face and leaned down close.

Hongseo held his breath without realizing it.

“Good night.”

“…”

It was clearly a goodnight kiss. But…

Kissing him on his hair instead of his forehead or lips, Haesung made it clear. He didn’t intend to do anything more tonight. No matter how long he waited, he wouldn’t climb into his bed.

Lying on his side, Hongseo watched him get under the covers on the other bed.

It wasn’t as if this was Haesung’s first relationship with a man. It wasn’t his first time sleeping with a man, either. If he was holding back out of “respect,” Hongseo found it hard to accept.

Haesung lay staring at the ceiling, fingers interlaced behind his head. He didn’t look like someone ready to fall asleep. His sharply defined profile was still visible in the dim light, and after a while, Hongseo called out to him in a soft voice.

“Vice President…”

“Yes.”

“Can I come over there?”