"You always say you didn’t an it after you’ve already fucked soone over."
"......."
"Do I look like a joke to you? Is it fun, playing with like so pathetic idiot who lets himself be dragged around?"
"......."
"Fucking hell."
When Heemin remained silent, only shaking his head, Iheon cursed under his breath like he was talking to himself. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and placed it between his lips. Just as he flicked his lighter open, he glanced sideways at Heemin.
The mont he did, Heemin instinctively let out a cough, his mind flashing back to the mory of Iheon blowing smoke directly into his face.
"Tch. Fucking hell."
Maybe the image of Heemin’s violent coughing fit resurfaced in his mind, because Iheon clicked his tongue and scowled, tossing the cigarette away before he could even light it. Then, as if he had finally reached his breaking point, he slamd his fist against the steering wheel.
A deafening honk reverberated through the parking lot, sharp and jarring. The force of the impact split the skin on his knuckles again, reopening a wound that had only just begun to heal.
When the ringing echo of the horn finally faded, a heavy silence settled over them—cold and desolate, like the empty streets of dawn. The tension was unbearable, teetering on the edge of breaking. Iheon looked like a wounded animal, barely holding itself together.
If this had been right after Heemin had first arrived in this world, he probably would’ve trembled in fear, terrified of being hit. But now, the fear didn’t claw at his throat. There was only a quiet, aching sense of regret spreading in his chest.
Despite Heemin sitting right next to him, well within arm’s reach, Iheon didn’t lay a finger on him.
No matter how angry he was, Heemin couldn’t ignore the feeling—Iheon still saw him as sothing precious. It was hard to put into words, but a strange warmth rippled through his heart.
"I wanted to see the cherry blossoms at the lake park with you, hyung."
Iheon slowly lifted his head at the quiet confession. His pitch-black eyes, dark like a forest swallowed in shadows, locked onto Heemin’s. Heemin didn’t shy away. He t his gaze, holding it for a long mont before speaking again.
"If I don’t do sothing like this, I can’t go outside... And you won’t spend ti with anyway... I didn’t have a choice."
"You ran away for that?"
Iheon’s eyes glead coldly, his expression utterly unforgiving.
"I called you, didn’t I? I asked you to co get . Where the hell would I even go? Your house is my ho. I just stepped out for so air."
You can’t get mad at soone smiling at you. That was the rule.
And so, Heemin grinned. He responded with an innocent, cheerful expression, as if there was nothing to be angry about.
Iheon let out a dry chuckle, completely at a loss. He lowered his head for a mont, as if trying to suppress his rising temper, then ran a rough hand through his hair before speaking again.
"If you just wanted fresh air, why did you go to the hospital? What kind of bullshit were you trying to pull this ti?"
"That’s..."
"That’s what?"
Iheon pressed him when he hesitated.
"Last ti, when we... kissed, I passed out. I wanted to fix that. I went to get trauma treatnt."
Iheon’s expression shifted in an instant. His lips remained pressed together in a firm line, but the sharpness in his eyes dulled. Like the edge of a blade that had been worn down.
He tilted his head slightly, as if giving Heemin the chance to elaborate. Feeling the tension ease just a little, Heemin spoke again, his tone softening.
"I could’ve gone to any hospital, but I ca here because Dr. Eunkyung knows all about Seo Heemin’s past. I thought I’d get better treatnt, faster. If I went to a new doctor, I’d have to start from the beginning, explaining where my trauma even ca from."
He could feel Iheon’s gaze lingering on his face, studying him in silence.
Every ti Heemin said the word trauma, Iheon’s expression grew just a little more forgiving.
So, even if it was a little manipulative, Heemin had to use it. He had to dig into that weak spot, sink his words into the cracks in Iheon’s armor.
Seeing that Iheon wasn’t responding, Heemin pushed further.
"Hyung, you’re the only one I have. What, do I have to kiss you first for you to believe again?"
"What you did last ti—"
Iheon, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. But when he trailed off, Heemin gave him a puzzled look. Then, in a slightly lighter tone, Iheon continued.
"That wasn’t a kiss. That was just a peck."
"Ah. Seriously? Is that what matters right now? Shouldn’t it be more important that I was the one who made the first move?"
Unbelievable.
So what, was he saying Heemin had to give him a real kiss, full of love and devotion, before he’d believe him? Was he so kind of sleeping beauty, waiting for true love’s kiss? Was this a joke?
"What’s that?"
While Heemin was still fuming at the absurdity of it all, Iheon gestured toward the black plastic bag sitting on his lap with a flick of his chin.
"Tteokbokki and kimbap. I skipped lunch, so I bought it to eat later."
Heemin opened the bag’s handles, showing him the foil-wrapped kimbap and the disposable plastic container filled with tteokbokki. For so reason, Iheon frowned slightly when he saw the food.
"Let’s go."
Iheon fastened his seatbelt and started the car. He didn’t enter any address into the GPS—clearly, he intended to head straight ho.
It would be a lie to say Heemin wasn’t disappointed. But after all the back-and-forth, the tension, and the little power struggle they’d just had, he was feeling drained.
And starving.
Instead of begging to go to the lake park, he slumped against the seat and closed his eyes.
"Huh? Wait, we’re not going ho?"
He wasn’t sure how much ti had passed, but when he opened his eyes again, the car was pulling into a parking lot with a sign that read Lake Park, Section 1 Parking.
Heemin turned to Iheon in confusion, and Iheon answered in a low voice.
"I don’t want the car slling like kimbap. Hurry up and eat it."
...He could’ve just said he wanted to go on a date.
A soft chuckle escaped Heemin’s lips.
No matter how much he yelled, no matter how much he acted like he wanted revenge, at the end of the day, Iheon still loved Seo Heemin.
Now, Heemin was sure of it.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
If he kept chipping away at him like this, bit by bit, he could bring back the person Seo Heemin once knew.
Since it was a weekday afternoon, the parking lot was relatively empty.
As soon as Heemin stepped out of the car, Iheon was suddenly right next to him, holding out a hand.
"Take it."
"I told you, I’m not running away."
"I don’t trust you. Take it."
...Well, he wasn’t exactly in a position to refuse.
With a sigh, Heemin let their fingers intertwine.
Iheon’s hands, usually cold and distant, were surprisingly warm. And the grip was tight—whether it was because of sheer strength or because he was silently vowing never to let go, Heemin didn’t know.
Led by that firm grip, he followed Iheon into the park. The gentle spring breeze wrapped around him, the fresh air filling his lungs in a way that felt entirely different from their earlier walk near the hospital.
The blue sky stretched above them, scattered with puffy white clouds. Cherry blossoms blood in abundance, painting the park in soft pink hues. The sunlight was warm, the lake’s surface shimring like silver.
It was beautiful.
All that effort sneaking out had been worth it.
Knowing he wouldn’t be able to walk for too long, Heemin dragged Iheon toward the nearest empty bench by the lake.
"This is perfect."
Surrounded by cherry blossom trees, the view was breathtaking.
Satisfied, Heemin began unpacking the food—only to realize there was only one pair of chopsticks.
"Ah."
It must’ve been because he only bought one portion.
He couldn’t exactly hog the food all to himself, so he split the wooden chopsticks in half.
"Here."
He handed Iheon the shorter half, like a child offering a broken crayon.
Iheon took them reluctantly, his expression unreadable.
Grinning, Heemin picked up a piece of kimbap, dipped it in the spicy tteokbokki sauce, and popped it into his mouth. The mix of rich tuna and fiery sauce spread across his tongue.
"Why aren’t you eating? Is it the chopsticks? Should I feed you?"
As a special service for their little outing, Heemin speared a piece of tteokbokki, holding it up to Iheon’s lips.
"Co on. Say ‘ah.’"
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