Sweet Shot

#9

The atmosphere in the group turned cold at the inappropriate remark. Of course, neither Chae-rin nor Ha-min could let such a comment slide.

“Um…”

Ha-min, whose face had hardened at the rude words, quietly spoke up. The awkward smile he had been maintaining disappeared.

“…You shouldn’t say things like that carelessly.”

His gaze was cautious but firm. Cha Jun-seong’s face, which had been consistently smirking since he arrived, finally stiffened.

“She cursed at me first, you know?”

He then pointed at Chae-rin and shouted, as if feeling wronged. At this childish response, Ha-min let out a short sigh and spoke to Chae-rin in a soothing manner.

“Chae-rin, next time, try to use milder language…”

“He was talking too much nonsense.”

Chae-rin replied curtly, swallowing her irritation. Ha-min looked at both sides with an uncomfortable expression, worried that a fight might break out. But seeing Chae-rin’s unyielding attitude, Jun-seong couldn’t say anything more and just muttered a curse under his breath.

“…Shit…”

Ha-min had a feeling that this group project wasn’t going to go smoothly.

**

The end of a long day was marked by having a drink with Tae-in. It was a day off from his part-time job, and after finishing the uncomfortable group project meeting, even though it had been a long day, the mood wasn’t bad. Although group member Cha Jun-seong had maintained a stiff expression throughout the meeting, Ha-min tried his best to ignore it and focus on the task at hand, repeating to himself that they should just do their work. Having uncomfortable people around was difficult for Ha-min, given his personality. His mind wasn’t fully healed yet.

“Hey, this is killer.”

The place Tae-in had suddenly brought him to cheer him up was a cocktail bar in Cheongdam-dong. He had bragged about teaching Ha-min, who had earned the nickname “alcohol novice” among his department peers, how to drink. It was a refined and glamorous place with a clear view of the night scenery. The soft jazz music and fragrant scent created a mature atmosphere.

Tae-in’s timing was impeccable. The day had already been long, and this was perfect for a mood change. Ha-min’s gaze was momentarily captured by the night view spread out below.

“A friend of hyung’s runs this place. I came here for the first time recently, and it was amazing.”

A lounge bar in Cheongdam-dong with a view of the night scenery – the saying “birds of a feather flock together” certainly held true.

“…It’s expensive.”

Ha-min whispered quietly. It was clearly a high-end bar.

“What does that matter when you have this hyung?”

Tae-in smirked and pulled out a black card with a flourish. It was childishly dramatic, as if he was revealing a secret weapon. Ha-min looked at him questioningly.

“It’s a card hyung gave me.”

“Hyung?”

“Yeah. When I asked for money to buy you something delicious, he gave me this card.”

Tae-in boasted proudly.

“Don’t use my name like that.”

Ha-min replied seriously. Tae-in didn’t budge.

“He only gives it when I use your name. Last time, when I asked to borrow money to buy your birthday present, he gave me a check.”

“Hey, you have a lot of money too.”

“My money is my parents’ money. Hyung’s money is hyung’s money.”

“Still…”

“Your birthday is coming up soon, right? This isn’t a lie, is it?”

Ah. Ha-min blinked with a look of realization. Was it? Time flies…

Ha-min rested his chin on his hand, tapping the table. He couldn’t celebrate his birthday last year because he was in the military. Except for when he came home on leave and his mother prepared a belated birthday meal. In high school, he didn’t do much besides eating the birthday meal his mother prepared. Before Tae-in moved away, they used to exchange gifts and have proper birthday celebrations.

“Whose birthday are you talking about?”

“Oh, hyung, you were here?”

A unfamiliar man interjected during their conversation. Ha-min turned around with surprised eyes at the voice from behind. A handsome man with brown hair had his hand on Ha-min’s chair. He was wearing a shirt that fit perfectly across his chest and shoulders, dress pants with a belt – a perfect outfit. With the woody scent of cologne that tickled the nose, he was clearly an adult by anyone’s standards.

“I dropped by because I heard Tae-rim and Hee-jae were coming. Who’s this?”

“Ah, this is my best friend Song Ha-min. Hey, this hyung is the owner here. But did you say Lee Tae-rim is coming here? Ah, shit, what timing.”

It was the owner, who was apparently Tae-rim’s friend. Ha-min bowed his head politely.

“Hello, I’m Song Ha-min.”

“Hi. Kim Sa-hyun, Tae-rim’s friend. Oh, do you know Tae-rim too?”

He introduced himself and then asked Tae-in with a look of sudden realization.

“Of course. He’s my best friend. Hyung likes him more than me.”

“Really? First time hearing about this.”

The man named Kim Sa-hyun looked Ha-min up and down. He had a somewhat different vibe from Tae-rim. From the cologne he was wearing to his attire and speech. Especially the way he scrutinized people was not ordinary.

“Why did that guy hide someone who looks like this?”

Sa-hyun muttered with a smirk. Just then, a couple entered through the entrance. It was who they expected.

“You’re here?”

Sa-hyun’s gaze finally left Ha-min. Tae-rim and his girlfriend were entering side by side.

“Ah, should we just go somewhere else?”

“…”

“There are so many places we could go, why did we have to come here today, sigh.”

Tae-in muttered discontentedly as he saw the approaching couple. But Ha-min didn’t hear him. He was momentarily lost in the sight of Tae-rim approaching from not too far away.

Ha-min’s gaze met Tae-rim’s in mid-air for a moment. Tae-rim looked surprised to see Ha-min, his eyes widening, but then he smiled softly. His eyes curved and the mole under his eye moved.

Tae-rim’s girlfriend, who was entering with him, spoke first.

“Oh, Tae-in is here too?”

“Yes, noona. Hello.”

“Who’s next to you?”

It was the woman Ha-min had seen at the convenience store recently. She was definitely his girlfriend. Ha-min’s mouth closed automatically. His feelings were complicated. He was happy to meet Tae-rim unexpectedly, but seeing his girlfriend in person made him feel bitter… It was a complex emotional state.

“Ah, it’s your first time seeing him, noona. He’s my friend…”

“You don’t need to know, you guys.”

As Tae-in was about to introduce them to the woman who had naturally joined their table, Tae-rim suddenly pulled Ha-min’s face into his chest. Ha-min’s face touched somewhere around Tae-rim’s abdomen. There was a nice scent as if he had sprayed cologne, but it wasn’t artificial, and it tickled Ha-min’s nose.

“I didn’t want to introduce him to anyone.”

Tae-rim said playfully, holding Ha-min’s face tightly.

“What’s going on, why is he like that?”

Tae-in responded as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“I’ve already greeted him though.”

The second response came from Kim Sa-hyun, Tae-rim’s friend.

“What’s this, who is he that you’re acting like that?”

Only Tae-rim’s girlfriend, who didn’t understand what was happening, looked at Tae-in with a confused expression.

Ha-min alone remained frozen, turned to ice. He could feel the firm muscles through Tae-rim’s clothes touching his cheek, and the fragrant scent tickling his nose made his head spin.

“Why are you drinking in a place like this? I thought you said you were going to feed him something delicious.”

Tae-rim scolded Tae-in without releasing his arms from around Ha-min.

“Mind your own business.”

“I was already worried because he’s so thin, you should feed him something like meat. Something good.”

He slightly loosened his embrace and naturally caressed Ha-min’s cheek. As he touched him sympathetically, saying his face was thin, the closeness and the tickling touch made Ha-min’s lower abdomen tingle.

“Oh my, he’s handsome. Who is he really?”

When Tae-rim finally released his hands, revealing Ha-min’s face, she exclaimed in admiration with a surprised look.

“A dongsaeng I cherish.”

Tae-rim answered, stroking Ha-min’s hair.

“You have something you cherish?”

It was Kim Sa-hyun, Tae-rim’s friend, who scoffed at his answer. His tone purely suggested disbelief.

“Yes. I don’t show what I cherish to the outside world.”

Tae-rim bluntly stated the reason why he had never mentioned Ha-min to his close friends. Although Ha-min knew it didn’t have a deep meaning, his ears still grew hot for no reason.

…He says he cherishes me.

It was a phrase that made him feel good every time he heard it, no matter how many times.

“Would the elders mind going to another table? I’d like to have a cozy drink alone with my best friend today.”

Tae-in pleaded with the group, seemingly uninterested in whatever his brother was saying. He appeared to absolutely detest hanging out with his brother’s crowd.

Regardless, Tae-rim sat down next to Ha-min. Sa-hyun sat next to Tae-rim’s girlfriend. Tae-in let out a long sigh and gulped down some ice water.

“No part-time job today?”

Seated next to him, Tae-rim turned his body completely towards Ha-min and crossed his legs. He rested his chin on his hand, looking at Ha-min intently with a smile.

“…No. I only work three times a week.”

“That’s still a lot.”

He gazed steadily at Ha-min and gently brushed aside a few strands of his messy bangs with a delicate touch. Ha-min flinched at the naturally flowing action but hid it and smiled. Looking at his smiling face, Tae-rim asked kindly.

“Is there anything you want?”

“Huh?”

“I heard your birthday is coming up soon.”

“Ah… No, it’s okay.”

Ha-min’s expression turned blank at Tae-rim’s unexpected words, but he quickly composed himself. Ha-min shook his head, saying it was fine. But Tae-rim didn’t give up.

“Should I give you some pocket money?”

“I said it’s okay…”

“Ah, is that not thoughtful enough?”

That’s not what I meant… Ha-min let out a small sigh. He didn’t appreciate Tae-rim’s attempts to do something for him. Because those actions were just kindness towards a ‘cherished dongsaeng’.

“Anyone would think he’s your real brother.”

“He doesn’t even do this much for his real brother.”

It was Tae-in who responded to Sa-hyun’s words laced with a chuckle.