HPK 87

Why would he ask a question like that if he says he does not like me?

Does he not have the slightest idea what he is saying right now, or how it might appear to others?

Taejung’s words and actions were constantly at odds with each other. The bigger problem was that he seemed completely unaware that he was acting strangely.

For a brief moment, Wooseung pondered. What kind of answer would best exploit his weak point?

“……If I had to choose.”

“……”

“I think it’s younger guys.”

No particular response came back from Taejung. He just stared intently at Wooseung with eyes that seemed to be searching for something. A moment later, he grinned.

“That’s a lie.”

His voice was filled with conviction.

“What? It’s not a lie….”

“No, it’s a lie.”

His eyes sparkled like a child who had discovered a new toy. The smile that formed on his lips was also pure, without a single speck of guile.

“Every time you lie, you observe people like fucking crazy.”

“……”

“You’re the one lying, but your eyes are as busy as if someone else is the one lying. You didn’t know that, did you?”

“What? That was…!”

That was because I was trying to observe how Taejung would react……. However, Taejung seemed to have already concluded that Wooseung’s answer was a lie. You could tell just by looking at him smiling with such deep satisfaction.

“Drink.”

“……I don’t want to. I don’t know why I have to drink when I didn’t lie.”

Wooseung shook his head and took half a step back. He had no choice. If this continued, he would keep getting swept up by Taejung and be the only one drinking. The Taejung he knew was more than capable of doing that.

But Taejung, who he had expected to grimace and order him to drink at once, for some reason just said, “Really?” and leisurely stroked his chin.

“Then should we count the first round as a practice game?”

“……”

“If you don’t want to, then drink.”

Wooseung stared blankly at the glass that had been pushed toward him. It had been filled so full that the whiskey that had spilled over left a long trail where the glass had been moved. The color of the liquid, sloshing back and forth, was extremely dark.

He recalled the barley tea and alcohol he had been forced to drink under his coercion. He could not let this situation now flow in a similar way to back then. For what purpose had he suddenly suggested a drinking game? What did Taejung want from him right now? Wooseung thought about that.

Asking if he was close with Hoonyeong, and then the out-of-the-blue question about whether his type was older guys.

If so, couldn’t the answer be surprisingly simple?

He slowly raised his head and looked at him. His eyes, gleaming with interest, were needlessly clear.

“President, let’s not play a game….”

Taejung’s hand, which had been tracing the rim of the glass with his index finger, twitched. Taejung lowered his gaze to look at the small hand that had covered his own as if to stop him. The hand, which held a slight coolness unlike his own warm temperature, gently took the glass away from him.

“How about we just drink?”

At that moment, Taejung felt a sensation of his cheeks flushing hotly.

♡

Taejung, carrying the whiskey and two shot glasses, wordlessly went to the living room first. He sat right down on the sofa and stared intently at Wooseung, who was beyond the transparent door.

Wooseung could not readily follow him and just stood there blankly. Perhaps it was because he had no expectation whatsoever that he would comply with his wishes without a word of complaint; he found it difficult to keep up with the unfolding situation.

‘How about we just drink?’

It was something he had just thrown out there. He had thought that perhaps he had something he wanted to ask him, and that he wanted to get that answer, even by force. If that was the case, then it did not necessarily have to be a drinking game; that was the conclusion he had reached.

“You’re the one who said let’s drink.”

Taejung scowled and threw a fit, asking what he was doing not coming over.

Only then did Wooseung start walking and went to the living room. He was about to sit on the floor out of habit when his arm was suddenly grabbed. He was pulled straight up and plopped down onto the sofa.

“Why!”

“What, are you trying to serve me?”

He was just trying to sit on the floor because it was more comfortable, but Taejung sneered at him to his heart’s content, asking if it was in his nature. Wooseung did not talk back and found a comfortable position.

Now, all that was left was to drink together.

“……”

“……”

But for some reason, only an awkward silence flowed between them. Taejung stared at Wooseung without a word, and Wooseung just fidgeted with the hands resting on his knees. It was their first time in a situation like this, so he did not know how to start. On the other hand, it also seemed to be because it felt awkward and unfamiliar that Taejung had meekly done as he said.

“Shall I pour you a glass?”

He broke the uncomfortable silence that was tightening around his neck and spoke first. Taejung’s eyebrow rose crookedly. It was a sign that he was displeased with something.

“……Or you can pour it, President.”

Wooseung picked up the glass on the table and held it out in front of him. Taejung’s eyebrow, which had been filled with dissatisfaction, slowly returned to its original position.

This time, he poured the alcohol, which he had previously filled to the point of overflowing, to just a little over the halfway mark of the glass. And without returning the bottle to Wooseung, he poured one for himself in his own glass. Gurgle, gurgle. The sound of the alcohol pouring echoed needlessly loudly.

Wooseung fiddled with his glass and watched him cautiously. He wanted to lead this situation skillfully, but it was difficult because he lacked the necessary conversational skills. It was always like this when he worked. He could sing if they asked him to, but if they just threw out a command to be entertaining, sweat would start trickling down his temples.

“What’s your type, President?”

After agonizing for a long time, nothing came to mind, so he ended up completely stealing the question Taejung had asked.

“I mean, among older, same age, and younger….”

Wooseung thought Taejung would ask if he was kidding right now. Since he was just repeating the exact words he had said. However, Taejung rested his left arm casually on the back of the sofa and pondered with a rather profound look on his face.

“Same age?”

And then, just like that, he gave an answer that was quite answer-like.

“……”

Wooseung remained silent for a moment with a peculiar expression on his face. He did not know what to say in response, so his eyes rolled around.

“You’re the one who suggested we drink. Come on, make it a little fun.”

Without hesitation, Wooseung lifted the glass he had been holding and rolling in his hand. He tossed it back in one gulp, and a hot energy immediately warmed his esophagus. His breath became hot, as if it had caught on fire. He wanted to drink water, so he got up from the sofa.

“Where are you going.”

Taejung, who had been sitting in a reclining position, immediately sat up straight.

“I’m just going to get some water.”

“……”

“Would you like anything else to eat or drink?”

He was thinking of bringing something to eat while he was in the kitchen anyway. However, Taejung lay back down on the sofa with a thud, wearing a sullen expression without answering. His index finger tapped the back of the sofa. Tap, tap.

Wooseung brought two glasses of water, placed one in front of Taejung, and sat down again. When he used to work at the store, he was always so hungry that he would desperately pick up and eat even fruit, but after coming to live in Taejung’s house, the hunger that had clung to him had vanished as if by a ghost.

Gulp, gulp. Taejung’s gaze fell on the small Adam’s apple that moved. Wooseung wiped his wet lips with the palm and back of his hand, then set the glass down. The hot, flushing feeling subsided a little.

“So if your type is same age…… have you only ever dated people your age?”

He asked cautiously, gripping the edge of the sofa with his hand.

“No.”

The answer came surprisingly easily. He had thought he might not answer since it was a personal question. However, Wooseung was quite startled by the words that followed.

“I’ve never dated before.”

Taejung answered indifferently, rubbing his chin below his right jaw. As if it were no big deal.

Wooseung slowly chewed over his answer. He could not believe that he had never dated before. He was twenty-six years old……. But there was no reason for him to lie about such a trivial, personal question.

“What about you?”

“……”

“If you lie, you’re dead.”

The moment he noticed Wooseung averting his gaze, he growled. Wooseung scratched the edge of the sofa with his fingers and thought for a moment.

He had been in a relationship twice. At eighteen, and then at twenty. Unlike his first relationship, which lasted a little less than a year, the second one lasted for over two years. Both times, they were the same age. But telling the truth felt like handing him evidence for what he had claimed earlier with his own hands, so he was reluctant.

“My relationships…… were with people my age.”

He answered, mumbling as he looked at the floor. He figured there was no point in lying. Taejung’s face immediately brightened.

“See, didn’t I tell you you were lying?”

“……”

“Who are you trying to fool.”

Taejung drank his alcohol, chuckling. He immediately started refilling the empty glass, then his movement came to a halt. Thud. The hand that placed the bottle on the table was rough.

“Wait.”

His glaring gaze was also anything but ordinary.

“You’ve been in a relationship?”

And his voice was irritable as well.