SWAP 21

Of course, it was true that he didn’t want to do it, and it was also true that he was nervous about filming his first variety show. Since it was like jumping headfirst into a genre he had no interest in, he couldn’t deny the mountain of worries piling up in various ways. However, it was an agreed-upon matter, and since Seoul had made up his mind in his own way, there was nothing to feel truly upset about. In short, it was a ridiculous misunderstanding.

I bet you’re the one who’s actually upset.

Swallowing the sentence that felt like it might spill out as a sigh, Seoul looked up.

Misinterpreting his words and nitpicking them to tease him was Seo Saheon’s long-standing hobby. Thinking this was just an extension of that, Seoul had been avoiding his gaze, but the moment their eyes met, he froze.

Contrary to his expectation that Saheon would be putting on a sly, pitiful act, the expression on Saheon’s face as he looked over was extremely unstable.

The hazy look in his eyes, as if he were lost, made Seoul’s heart sink.

Unconsciously, Seoul squeezed the hand that was being held, his eyes downturning. His resolutions—to maintain a proper distance, to be more careful—all crumbled to pieces at the sight of that single expression from Seo Saheon.

“Saheon-ah.”

“…”

The voice calling him automatically softened.

At that, Saheon’s lips, which had been moving just fine until a moment ago, clamped shut.

It wasn’t a stance of protest, but one of listening. Regret washed over Seoul belatedly. Knowing that Saheon got anxious easily over things like this, he didn’t know why he’d acted that way. This guy just sleeps a lot. He can’t help his constitution of running hot, either. What was the problem with that? If he gets a fever while sleeping, he might take off some clothes…

Before he knew it, Seoul’s expression began to melt in real-time, unaware that his thoughts were flowing no differently than those of a doting fool.

And Seo Saheon, who noticed Seoul’s state more keenly than anyone else, secretly swallowed his bratty inner thoughts and lowered his head a bit more.

His disheveled bangs tumbled down, casting a shadow over his well-groomed face. Then, it was Seoul’s turn to feel anxious again. Despite having been together for decades, he remained invariably weak to that side of Saheon. It was even more so because Saheon was usually stoic and didn’t show much outward emotion. It felt like a gap that he only revealed to him.

“I’m not doing this against my will. Did you forget I was the one who suggested we do it first?”

So, naturally, a half-coaxing tone slipped out.

Because he wanted to somehow correct the ridiculous misunderstanding Saheon had poured out. Every subsequent movement was entirely tender. Not forgetting to gently shake their interlaced left hands, Saheon, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke. His voice was still low.

“That’s because of me, too. Because I said I wanted to go on it together. You said you were scared of appearing on variety shows.”

You’ve been holding onto that all this time.

Seoul thought he had explained it well enough, but it seemed it wasn’t the case for Saheon.

His mouth felt bitter for no reason, as if he had transferred a guilt that didn’t need to be felt. Worried that Saheon might have been agonizing over this ever since that day, Seoul busily chose his words. This time, he wanted to convey his sincerity somehow, using sentences that would make Seo Saheon feel most at ease.

“Heon-ah, I’m not upset. Being scared… well, it’s actually true. It’s just that I’ve never been on a program like this, so it’s awkward. You know. My daily life is standing in front of a camera after memorizing a script perfectly.”

“…”

“But right now there’s no script, and there isn’t a separate rehearsal. It’s just because I don’t really know what to do. It’s not that I don’t want to see you, and earlier was just…”

When the story that had been flowing smoothly came to a dead stop, Saheon, who had been listening quietly, asked back softly.

“Just?”

“…It was just because I felt like I was treating you too much like a child.”

Was it because they had known each other since they were so young? Even though he clearly knew Saheon would do just fine if left alone, he took care of him out of habit. He did so even while being aware of the fact that the other was a fully grown adult male. He’d joked that maybe it was because Saheon acted like a naughty four-year-old sometimes, but in truth, it was just an inertia that had seeped into his body. Even in his own opinion, he had a tendency to be a bit overprotective of Seo Saheon.

Whatever the catalyst, that was the form of the relationship the two had settled into. It was familiar to them, but it was difficult to objectively grasp how it looked to others. It was natural, since Seo Saheon had been by his side from the moment he was born, and they had never been apart. Considering they had supposedly even shared prenatal care, that said everything.

At this point, the only difference is that we were born from different wombs.

Chewing over words he had heard once before, Seoul relaxed the strength in the hand he was still gripping.

He was a pro at dry and superficial interpersonal relationships, but there was only one person positioned at the opposite pole. It was all the more frustrating because there was no subject group to dare compare him to. He didn’t care what kind of things people said about him, but he was suddenly terrified that Saheon might get caught up in it and hear strange rumors too.

He expressed that indirectly, but Saheon gave no answer.

Even though he understood exactly what it meant, he showed no sign of letting go of the hand he held.

Feeling awkward for no reason, Seoul tried to twist his wrist slightly, but Saheon was unmoving. He had expected it, but he couldn’t help the scratch to his pride, so just as he tried to apply pressure again, he saw Saheon’s face looking somewhat drained as a low sigh escaped right in front of him.

“I’m out of it so you take care of me, so what about it?”

The tone was so nonchalant that the interpretation was delayed.

Because his eyes looked so incredulous that someone listening might mistranslate it as something like ‘I’m eating because I’m hungry, so what,’ Seoul, overwhelmed by the momentum, couldn’t help but daze out for a few seconds. Out of it. He hadn’t expected such a retort at this timing. Seoul, who had been flustered, barely moved his lips. He had to say what needed to be said.

“I’m not exactly… out of it…”

“I can’t even pack a single bag properly without you. If that’s not being out of it, then what is it?”

“…”

That… could just be not knowing how to pack a bag.

He wanted to make an excuse on his behalf somehow, but he failed as the answer didn’t spring out immediately.

In the meantime, Saheon, who had completely erased his dark mood, carelessly swept back the hair tickling his forehead. His eyes, which were openly narrowed, looked full of grievance, so when Seoul sent a questioning look his way, Saheon sighed again and leaned his body in.

His large frame crumpled in an instant.

Settling on Seoul’s shoulder, Saheon rubbed his forehead against it familiarly and grumbled sulkily.

“Ah, I worried for nothing. I was scared that Lee Seoul was angry.”

The way he complained like a child was funny. Glad for his voice, which had lightened as if he had never trembled with anxiety, Seoul raised his free hand and patted Saheon’s back a couple of times. Scared, my foot; his ruse of acting weak and making a fuss was obvious, but Seoul, ignoring it, asked softly.

“Why would I be angry?”

“I don’t know. It’s because you’re being pointlessly conscious of the cameras. Spend that time worrying about me instead, Lee Seoul. Did you forget what the CEO said?”

He hadn’t forgotten. Since that was what he said every time he saw him lately. Thinking it meant he didn’t need to try too hard, he was about to nod, but Saheon’s following words contained entirely different content.

“He said we just have to show our usual selves. There isn’t a single person who doesn’t know we’re close, so why are you acting like strangers? That’s weirder. It’s a violation of the program’s purpose and a deception of the viewers.”

“…”

“Seoul-ah, do you want to be sued by Producer Jeon?”

Why would Producer Jeon Jaeyeon suddenly sue me? When the points to nitpick exceeded one or two, he lost his will instead. Since things had turned out like this, he felt like a fool for worrying so hard. No matter how careful he tried to be, Seo Saheon was going to talk nonsense like this anyway, so what was the point…

With hazy eyes, Seoul replied in a drained voice.

“Stop with the slander…”

“If the Producer won’t do it, I will.”

“Hah, what are you going to sue me for, you dummy?”

“Failure to perform best friend duties.”

Where does such a clause even exist? At the word that clearly reeked of being made up on the spot, Seoul just thumped Saheon’s back instead of answering. When he started nagging him to stop talking nonsense and get off him already, Saheon straightened his waist sluggishly with a dissatisfied expression. He felt like Saheon was acting even younger than usual today, but before he could even suspect it, Saheon furrowed his brows.

“I’m hungry from following you around.”

“Don’t use me as an excuse. You’re just hungry because it’s morning.”

Except for the time he was sleeping, Saheon was always hungry.

Knowing that full well, it was absurd that he was blaming him, so when Seoul pointed it out sharply, Saheon nodded obediently and finally let go of the hand he was holding. As if his bent body was stiff, Saheon stretched once and asked in passing.

“Did you have coffee earlier?”

“No. I only showered.”

“If you’re going to drink it, eat an apple first.”

“Are you going to eat half?”

“Yeah.”

At those words, Seoul spun around and headed to the fridge. It was a routine created by Saheon, who absolutely hated the act of drinking coffee on an empty stomach. It had already been several years since he’d been forced to consume at least two slices of apple if he wanted to enjoy morning coffee. Because he had a small appetite and couldn’t possibly eat more than half, the rest always became Saheon’s portion.

He washed an apple from the vegetable compartment thoroughly and sliced it in half.

He was going to cut it into bite-sized pieces, but Saheon approached him in no time and took the whole thing away.

Crunch, Saheon, who bit into the apple with the skin on, checked the time and spoke.

“I’m going for a run, so wait for me.”

Since it was a familiar routine, Seoul nodded moderately. Thinking it would take about an hour, he reopened the fridge to see if he should make breakfast in advance. Since they were planning to be away from home for two weeks, he had already finished organizing the ingredients that might spoil. It was the moment he was contemplating whether to just make do with instant food while looking at the empty interior.

Ta-da-da-da-da!

Startled by the loud sound coming from somewhere, Seoul looked around. While thinking it was a strangely familiar sound effect, Saheon, who had been heading to the entrance, returned. The gazes of the two, whose eyes met, naturally headed to one place.

The source of the noise was Seoul’s phone lying on the table.

As he approached, a strange push message arrived on the brightened standby screen…

(NEW!) ※Best Friend☆Exchange★

$$Urgent Notice$$

☞☞ Access Right Now

No, correction.

It was a spam message.