TWELVE 57

[Kijun.. I’m sorry.. but do you think Seoin could join us for our meeting?]

[Since my body is still uncomfortable.. Seoin seems to be worried.]

[It felt a bit awkward to just ask him for a ride.. if it’s uncomfortable for you, we can meet another time!!]

Even as I sent the messages, I doubted if this was right, but my finger steadily pressed the send button.

Yoon Kijun read the messages right away, and even the reply came through without a hitch.

[Yoon Kijun Benwood: It’s the person I’m thinking of, right?]

[Yoon Kijun Benwood: It’s fine. Since your body is uncomfortable, that’s better than coming out alone.]

If Yoon Kijun had been in front of me, I felt as if I would have bowed down to him. Because I hadn’t expected him to agree so easily, I felt even more apologetic. Knowing he must have said yes out of consideration for me made me all the more grateful.

[Thank you.. I’ll buy dinner!!]

Now that things had turned out this way, even if Yoon Kijun flatly refused, I must be the one to pay for the meal. If I didn’t do at least that much, I wouldn’t have the face to see him.

“Did you ask?”

Gi Seoin, who was nibbling on his straw, asked suggestively. I put down my mobile phone and answered.

“Yeah. The reply just came. He said it’s fine, and that we should see each other together.”

“I see.”

Gi Seoin replied with an expression and tone that were hard to read, then took another long sip of his drink through the straw. I also tossed my coffee into my mouth along with the ice.

“That person’s name, did you say it was Yoon Kijun?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

I observed the expression of the guy who had suddenly asked the question. When he was expressionless, it was truly difficult to look into his inner thoughts.

“Why?”

“Just trying to know exactly before meeting him.”

It was a logical answer, but anxiety bloomed in my chest like streaks of smoke. What on earth was Gi Seoin’s real intention? Last time, he went so far as to suggest meeting Jeon Juseok… .

Come to think of it, had I ever met someone around me together with Gi Seoin? If my memory wasn’t mistaken, I hadn’t.

Excluding Jang Cheolwoo, there hadn’t been a single time.

No one would want a meeting where the guy and a third party were gathered in one place by design. Of course, I also declined the idea.

Regardless of whether they were close to me or not, Gi Seoin was wary of anyone around me. He was fussy to a degree that even a knight guarding a princess wouldn’t be.

On the days when I happened to run into my acquaintances with Gi Seoin, I would end up breaking out in a cold sweat. After accumulating a few such experiences, I naturally stopped telling Gi Seoin stories about my friends, let alone meeting them. Well, later on, almost no one who could be called a friend was left, so that worry lessened.

For that Gi Seoin to say he would directly meet my friend following Jeon Juseok, honestly, anxiety and concern took precedence over feeling glad or excited.

Furthermore, Yoon Kijun also didn’t have good feelings toward Gi Seoin. He had heard stories from me, and there was also the incident at Benwood. He wasn’t the type to show his emotions, but since Gi Seoin was quite quick-witted and a guy whose actions were unpredictable, I couldn’t help but be worried.

Surely… Gi Seoin and Yoon Kijun won’t fight, right?

“Seoin.”

Gi Seoin, with the straw in his mouth, tilted his head slightly as if asking why I was calling. My insides were burning, so why was he acting so cute?

“What?”

“No, I’m just saying this just in case, truly just in case… about meeting Kijun. People can’t always be perfectly compatible, right? While talking, opinions might differ, and then… .”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Even before my words were finished, as if he had already heard everything, Gi Seoin snickered. The guy, who set down his cup, looked straight at me.

“Woo Seungkyung, in your eyes, am I some kind of seven-year-old? To make you have such worries.”

Honestly, I couldn’t say he wasn’t.

“Sometimes you do seem like a seven-year-old… .”

“Is that so? Got it. So I just have to meet your friend, not fight, and get along well?”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that what you were saying?”

“You’re right.”

“Don’t worry.”

Gi Seoin placed one foot on the chair and rested his chin on his knee.

“I met your older cousin with a smile and all went well, didn’t it?”

“That’s true… on the surface.”

“Isn’t it fine as long as it’s good on the surface? It’s not like we’re in a relationship where we’ll be seeing each other for a long time.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Gi Seoin had a talent for saying things that were ambiguous to either agree with or deny. I felt somewhat uneasy, but since it seemed he understood for now, I had nothing more to say. Showing any more overprotectiveness would be a discourtesy to him too.

Instead, I gave him a tip about Yoon Kijun. I thought if he knew a bit about the person, Gi Seoin might lower his guard a little.

When I mentioned that Yoon Kijun was ahead of the actor debut he had dreamed of for a long time, Gi Seoin, who had been listening with his chin propped up, straightened his head.

“Is that person handsome?”

“Yeah, he’s on that side. But you’ve seen Kijun before.”

Gi Seoin furrowed his eyebrows.

“I don’t remember. Even then, I only looked at you.”

“What was so pretty about a guy soaked in alcohol that you looked at him.”

“Don’t you know? You’re pretty even when soaked in alcohol. That’s why I worry.”

“What the… .”

If you’re going to give such a nonsensical compliment, at least give a warning. Making a person flustered.

“Your worrying is a real talent at this point. If we’re talking about being pretty, you’re the pretty one.”

“That’s why Woo Seungkyung is… .”

Gi Seoin, who changed his posture, placed his elbows on his knees and supported his face with his palms.

“Do you like handsome, or do you like pretty?”

Is that even a question.

Of course I like pretty.

In my whole life, the only face I had ever stared at in a daze was Gi Seoin’s.

And Gi Seoin is pretty. More than anyone I have ever seen in my life.

I felt embarrassed because it seemed like I was revealing my whole heart, but since Gi Seoin looked like he wanted an answer, I willingly let him hear it.

“Of course I like pretty.”

“Really?”

Gi Seoin grinned.

“Then I won.”

“Who were you fighting with?”

“Yoon Kijun.”

“… Why are you fighting with him.”

“Ah, you told me to get along.”

The guy revealed his good mood in its entirety. Right now, he is an easy-to-understand, simple, and therefore lovely Gi Seoin. Seeing his beaming, fair face made me smile for no reason too.

“Right, right. Our Seoin, you have to get along well without fighting.”

“I’ll try.”

“Good boy.”

Be this good even when you meet Yoon Kijun. Please.

∞ ∞ ∞

“Seungkyung. Pick out clothes for me.”

“Me?”

“You picked them out for me before.”

He was talking about the day we met Jeon Juseok. On that day, I used a bit of effort so that Gi Seoin would look at least a little less noble. Not that it was of much use, though.

“It would probably be better if you picked them… .”

But this time was different from then. Although it was a bit late, I hoped Gi Seoin would appear as a wonderful person to Yoon Kijun. To do that, it was better for Gi Seoin, who had excellent eye and knew himself well, to pick out the clothes himself.

“If you pick them out, I’ll take a look.”

“Fine.”

Gi Seoin rummaged through the dressing room with a quite serious face. Even for a guy who has a calm attitude toward everything and is abnormally uninterested in others, I wondered if he was concerned since it was a place to meet my friend.

Before long, the guy, who had picked out a shirt, pants, and even a coat and gathered them in one place, threw off the clothes he was wearing without hesitation.

For a split second, I whipped my head away, then flickered my eyes just to peek. Then, I turned my face completely to look at him. It seemed the guy wouldn’t mind even if I watched him openly.

“You’re going to wear this?”

Still, since it felt awkward to just stare blankly without saying anything, I spoke while pointing to the clothes Gi Seoin had set aside. Gi Seoin reached out and lifted up a shirt.

“Yeah. How is it?”

“Yes, it’s cool… ?”

“No. Not my body, the clothes.”

“Oh, huh? Right, I’m saying your clothes are cool.”

“You didn’t even look at the clothes.”

Ah, damn… . Did I?

“No, no. I looked. It suits you well. Hurry and try it on.”

Only if you try it on can I watch you proudly.

It felt as if the soul of a perverted old man had possessed my insides, as I simply couldn’t take my eyes off Gi Seoin’s bare body. Even though I knew it was blatant, I couldn’t even pretend otherwise.

If I were to make an excuse, it wasn’t me, but Gi Seoin’s body that was the problem. I declare that anyone who encountered that physique would gape and admire it just like me.

Why did humans evolve to wear clothes, having to cover up that world-class heritage… . No, they should cover up. It would be a waste if someone else’s gaze wore it down.

“How is it?”

It was a shame, but Gi Seoin, who had finished dressing, asked.

The sky-blue shirt was a different style from the dress shirts Gi Seoin usually wore. It had a bit more room and looked comfortable. It went well with the pants too… . As for whether it suited Gi Seoin, it would only make my mouth tired to even talk about it.

Did clothes that didn’t suit Gi Seoin even exist in this world? I had thought this several times before, but the guy would look wonderful even if you made him wear a rice sack.

“It’s very pretty. Everyone will stare.”

“I don’t like that.”

“If you don’t like it, you’ll have to go around covering your face.”

“Should I wear a mask?”

“No, I’m not saying to do that… .”

“Is the coat, okay?”

Gi Seoin asked after even putting on the coat. I just held up a thumb. The guy smiled slightly as if he was satisfied. It was a sight like a star smiling lightly toward adoring fans.

For a guy who is so blunt, he has a subtle flair. But I don’t know how lucky I am that that flair is only manifested in front of me.

“Gi Seoin, by any chance, you don’t have any plans to debut, do you?”

“Why. Should I debut?”

“No, don’t.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

Every time Gi Seoin smiles, my chest throbs painfully.

If being handsome goes too far, it’s all a sin, a sin.

And I suffered from a strange desire for monopoly, wanting to conceal the shining sinner before my eyes forever.