Romantic Gangster

#72

Ji-woo, who was receiving Hyun-joon’s massage that made his body feel pleasantly tired while lying face down hugging a pillow, turned his head and looked up at Hyun-joon, who was gauging his reaction. His drooping face looked just like a sad puppy who got scolded by its owner after causing an accident.

“Hyun-joon.”

“…Yeah.”

“You didn’t do it roughly yesterday. You kept looking at my face and asking if it felt good, if it hurt… if it was okay. I said it was good, that it didn’t hurt much so it was fine, but why do you keep apologizing.”

“Because you’re kind, so I thought you might have endured it even if it hurt. I knew that, but yesterday I just wanted to do more so I didn’t want to think that far. I knew, but I just did it because I wanted to. I know that.”

Sometimes, Hyun-joon would unexpectedly be considerate of Ji-woo, agonize over his feelings, or be anxious. He would make a face that looked scared that Ji-woo might not forgive him again, might leave him, might not like him anymore, might hate him.

Other people might not understand why Hyun-joon acted that way, but Ji-woo knew and understood why Hyun-joon did that. 

It was because this moment was too precious. It was because he suddenly got scared, not wanting to lose this precious and desperate moment.

Because Ji-woo understood Hyun-joon, who easily became anxious that maybe one of his actions would ruin this moment, he found Hyun-joon cute when he was being considerate of him, but on the other hand, he also felt sorry for him. He felt that way even more because it was an emotion he had felt many times before too.

“Hyun-joon. If the standard for being kind is enduring things you don’t like and that hurt… then I’m not kind at all.”

“……”

“I like you. Really, a lot. But that doesn’t mean I’ll just endure everything even if it hurts me. Just enduring and persevering through everything isn’t good for either of us.”

“……”

“I endured it because I could endure it. That’s how much I… wanted to do it with you too. If it was unbearably painful and difficult, I would have said I can’t do it.”

Ji-woo, who was lying face down letting out small moans, turned his body and smiled, opening his arms. Hyun-joon’s large body crumpled as if collapsing and fell into Ji-woo’s embrace. Even though he couldn’t fully enclose him in his arms, it felt like a warm world had snuggled into his embrace. Ji-woo smiled and stroked Hyun-joon’s hair, shoulders, and back.

“And you endured a lot yesterday too. Every time I made even a small sound, you stopped and asked if I was okay, and if I grabbed your arm a little hard, you moved slowly… I know it all.”

“That’s fucking obvious. If I do whatever I want, I know you’ll definitely get hurt, so of course I have to be careful. Why would I break anything?”

“That’s what I’m saying… When you take care of me like that, why do you keep apologizing. Don’t do that. Okay?”

Hyun-joon, who hugged Ji-woo’s body tightly with both arms just enough not to hurt, nuzzled his face against his chest as if acting cute. It seemed he had made a foolish worry again.

“I guess it’s because I’ve never had anything like this before.”

“……”

“After living roughly however I wanted, suddenly trying to live properly, sometimes I don’t know if I’m doing it right. I think I shouldn’t push you like a thug as I did before… But the things ingrained in my body don’t disappear easily.”

Ji-woo, who had been stroking Hyun-joon’s hair with his fingers, lowered his hand and tickled the back of his neck, making Hyun-joon abruptly lift his head. His face was a little red from the sudden tickle attack.

“I like you.”

At the sweet confession spreading with a gentle smile, Hyun-joon’s body crumpled again. Hyun-joon, who completely enveloped Ji-woo’s body in his arms, pressed his lips against the sweet-smelling nape of his neck and exhaled his trembling breath.

“…I fucking like you too. I really liked it yesterday. I liked it so much that my head was spinning, but then I saw that it seemed like I didn’t take good care of you… I said that because I felt sorry about that.”

“Did you really like it? But I didn’t even do anything for you… I just received everything.”

“What are you talking about? Your insides were so fucking tight and hot and completely…”

“…Ah, okay. I-I believe you. That you liked it.”

Ji-woo, who lifted his head from Hyun-joon’s embrace and looked up, covered Hyun-joon’s mouth with both hands. Hyun-joon finally laughed out loud and playfully held Ji-woo’s fingers, palms, and the back of his hands with his lips here and there.

“Wow, but Seo Ji-woo speaks so fucking cool, really. Ah, why can’t I speak like that? I fucking like Seo Ji-woo, I fucking love you. It was fucking good. That’s all I can think of.”

“I like the way you talk. I like that you can’t speak indirectly well, and I like that you don’t try to speak cool by embellishing your words.”

“I fucking try to embellish my words. To look good to you. What, it didn’t seem like that?”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. Ah, shit. I thought I packaged my words well, but it all failed.”

Ji-woo, who had been looking up at Hyun-joon brushing his hair back, burst into laughter again. Hyun-joon trying hard to look good to him was so cute and also… his honest appearance was cool. He really liked that Hyun-joon never hid his feelings and always rushed to him at the fastest speed.

“Don’t laugh. It’s not something to laugh about right now.”

“Hyun-joon is really cute.”

“Hyun-joon?”

“No, my Hyun-joonie.”

Ji-woo, laughing out loud, pressed his lips firmly against Hyun-joon’s cheek and pulled away first. Hyun-joon lowered his head and showered about twenty kisses on Ji-woo’s cheeks here and there, then burst into laughter while looking at his face that kept laughing out loud.

“Ah, how’s your condition? Is the pain okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I think it’s not a cold but really my heat cycle is about to come like during the graduation ceremony. Yesterday… compared to before, my body felt weirder, and when I saw you, I just…”

“Just?”

“…I wanted to do it.”

At Ji-woo’s words, Hyun-joon recalled Ji-woo muttering that he wanted to do it on the way home. It seemed he was embarrassed and changed his words, saying he wanted to sleep, not that he wanted to do it.

“Yeah, I’m telling you your eyes were sexy. I saw it correctly. Next time, don’t hold back and tell me. If you’re embarrassed to say it, um… Ah, grab my pinky finger. Then I’ll take the hint.”

“Then what about you…? Hyun-joonie, when you want to… do it with me, what will you do? Will you grab my pinky finger too?”

Hyun-joon, who grinned playfully while looking at Ji-woo showing his cute pinky finger as if making a promise, tilted his head and said,

“No, I’m going to say I want to drink water.”

“…Why?”

“Think about it carefully.”

Ji-woo, who finally understood, struggled to escape from Hyun-joon’s arms, but Hyun-joon perfectly restrained Ji-woo with his arms and legs. 

“I love you, Seo Ji-woo.”

“Seo Ji-woo?”

“No, my Ji-woo.”

The struggling movement stopped and a pleasant laugh burst out at the same time. Ji-woo lifted his head, and Hyun-joon lowered his head, and their lips met with a smack without either of them going first. The first few times were ticklish, and the next few times were eager.

Smack, smack smack, smack. After four ticklish sounds, their lips deeply intertwined. And that kiss continued for a long time, holding several laughs and several love confessions.

* * *

Perhaps because it was Friday night, there were more people than usual at the chicken cafe. The number of teams waiting exceeded ten, and the hall was also very busy with people constantly ordering additional drinks and various side menus.

If it were usually, he might have been a little annoyed, wondering why there were so many customers, but not today. He was in a good mood thinking that after spending these busy few hours, he could stick closely to Ji-woo on Saturday, Sunday, and until Monday afternoon, and also, he smiled as he recalled Ji-woo kissing his lips first before going into the convenience store after leaving the house together to go to work.

“Four glasses of beer are ready. I’ll clear the empty glasses for you.”

“Yes, uh… You don’t work on weekends, right? I came on Sunday, but I don’t think you were here.”

“Ah, yes. I only work on weekdays.”

Hyun-joon lightly bowed his head to the long-haired customer who seemed to want to talk more, and placed the empty beer glasses and plates on the tray, moving his steps towards the kitchen. Even if he was in a good mood, he had no intention of chatting with customers. He wasn’t happy at all with the one-sided attraction towards him.

“Why are you in such a good mood today? Did something good happen?”

“I made plans to go on a date with my lover on the weekend.”

“That cheeseball?”

“Yes. He says the cheeseballs here are the most delicious.He doesn’t get tired of them either.”

“He has no taste. Take not just the cheeseballs but everything else too. I’ll fry cheeseballs and shrimp sticks for you today, so take them and eat. Ah, I’m in a good mood today. Why is business so good? I even got an order for twenty servings of takeout at once.”

The owner, who was laughing boisterously alone in a good mood, grabbed Hyun-joon’s arm as if he remembered something.

“Ah, Hyun-joon. Right. Please think about working on weekends just one more time. I’m telling you, customers are secretly looking for you. Some people ask directly, and many people come in and scan with their eyes to see if you’re here.”

Hyun-joon laughed it off roughly, looking at the owner who clasped his hands together and pleaded, and looked towards the kitchen when he was told that the takeout order was ready. Ten chicken bags were lined up on the table, each containing two chickens.

Then, the owner greeted and welcomed a customer in a loud voice. Hyun-joon only lifted his gaze and fixed his eyes on the man’s shoes and pants as he approached the counter, then moved his gaze up to his face.

“…Fuck.”

A suppressed curse flowed through his parted lips. The man who said he ordered chicken takeout was the face he had seen in Baek Ju-seung’s office. Although they hadn’t talked much, they had gone to work together a couple of times, so he could clearly recognize him.

“……”

The man finished paying with a card and looked at Hyun-joon. Without greeting or pretending to know him, he just looked at him and opened his mouth.

“I can’t carry them all alone. Come to the car with me.”

“Hyun-joon, go and load them in the car for him.”

Hyun-joon, who glanced at the owner smiling without knowing anything, chewed out a curse and picked up five bags lined up side by side. Fuck, what can’t he carry alone? He could carry ten bags in one hand.

Not wanting to make a fuss for no reason, Hyun-joon picked up the bags and followed the man out, glaring at the pitch-black car parked on the roadside in front of the store. As he approached, the rear window smoothly lowered.

“Long time no see, Hyun-joon. You’ve become more handsome.”

From inside the open window, Baek Ju-seung smiled and waved his hand.