Vol 1 Bonus track 2

‘Inseop, you’re selfish.’

The day the bed arrived, Lee Wooyeon had muttered that line, looking at it disapprovingly once they were alone. Thinking there might be a hidden meaning behind the word “selfish,” Inseop searched his mind for a while before asking, 

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘In this cramped bed, how are the two of us supposed to sleep? Are you sure we can even…?’

Uh, well… it does hold a certain weight…’

Inseop stammered, answering as if in excuse, but Lee Wooyeon didn’t look any more satisfied.

‘Then tonight, I’ll sleep on the floor.’

When Inseop cautiously suggested that, Lee Wooyeon stifled a laugh.

‘What nonsense.’

Lee Wooyeon pulled Inseop into his arms, trapping him.

‘The bed is small; it might make you uncomfortable, Wooyeon…’

Lying on the bed, Wooyeon held Inseop close. Then, they lay facing each other, with Inseop’s head resting on Wooyeon’s arm.

‘…Wooyeon.’

Inseop looked up at Wooyeon worriedly. When their eyes met, the man placed a soft kiss at the corner of Inseop’s eye.

‘So what if it’s uncomfortable? Gotta bear with it.’

Though he said that, a gentle smile danced in the man’s eyes.

‘If your arm gets tired, you can pull it away.’

‘Alright, I’ll do that.’

Inseop lay there with his eyes closed, resting his head on Wooyeon’s arm. He could hear the man’s breathing above him. That night, Wooyeon never once removed his arm. Not that night, or the ones that followed.

Though he cursed the narrow bed, Wooyeon would always hold Inseop close and fall asleep by his side.

Reaching out, Inseop groped for the spot where Wooyeon usually lay. He should’ve just done what Wooyeon suggested. After all, Wooyeon’s place had plenty of empty rooms… No, that won’t do.

Inseop quickly shook his head.

He recalled a line from a book about not being overly dependent on each other to maintain a long-lasting relationship. Right now, meeting every day was good because they hadn’t seen each other for a while, but Wooyeon needed his own space too.

Inseop forced himself to focus.

Left alone, worries he’d pushed to the corner started creeping in. Could he really manage? He’d have to look for a job while attending school… he missed his Mom and Dad. When will he be able to visit home again?… No, he couldn’t start with such weak thoughts.

Inseop closed his eyes and began counting sheep. Imagining fluffy, soft sheep hopping over a fence, his heart felt a little calmer. At some point, he drifted off to sleep.

He wasn’t sure how long it had been when the doorbell rang, waking him up.

…Am I still dreaming?

In a daze, he rose and heard a knock at the door. Inseop quickly got up, saying, “Yes,” and ran out.

Who could it be? There was no one he expected to come.

He quickly opened the door.

“Are you going to open the door without even checking who it is?”

Lee Wooyeon frowned slightly as he spoke. Inseop looked up at him in surprise.

“What brings you here…?”

“I remembered I left something. Were you sleeping?”

“…Yes.”

It was around midnight. Naturally, he’d been sleeping.

“Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

“I’m sorry. I must not have heard it because it wasn’t set to ring.” Inseop, still bleary-eyed, looked up at Wooyeon, who lightly patted his messy hair and laughed.

“Are you planning to keep me standing out here?”

“Oh, please, come in.”

Inseop quickly closed the door and stepped aside. Wooyeon took off his shoes and came inside. He brushed off the moisture from his clothes.

“Is it raining?”

“Yes. It started a while ago.”

“Didn’t you bring your car?”

“There was no space to park in the underground lot, so I parked further down and walked up.”

“I… I’m sorry. I should have brought an umbrella.” Inseop, looking guilty, tried to brush the water off Wooyeon’s clothes. Watching him, Wooyeon took Inseop’s hand and lowered it.

“Leave it. It’ll dry. Here, take this.” Wooyeon handed Inseop a large paper bag.

“What’s this?”

“A cast iron skillet.”

“…Where would I use this?”

Wooyeon answered with a grin.

“I figured there might be at least one thief stupid enough to try something here.”

“Pardon?”

“If a thief breaks in, hit him with this. It’ll break most heads. Want to practice?”

When Inseop shook his head in alarm, Wooyeon laughed and said, “I’m joking,” then put the skillet away in the kitchen cabinet himself.

Then he walked over to the window and opened it without hesitation.

“I knew it.”

Wooyeon clicked his tongue, clearly displeased.

“What’s wrong?”

Inseop quickly went over and stood beside Wooyeon.

“The rain’s leaking in. Do you have any towels you don’t use?” Just as he said, the window frame was soaked with rainwater leaking through a small gap that hadn’t been shut tightly.

“Oh, yes. Just a second.” Inseop hurried to grab a towel, and Lee Wooyeon wiped down the window frame, then wedged the towel into the gap to keep more water from coming in.  

“This will do for now, call a repairman first thing tomorrow.”  

“Yes, I got it.”

Meanwhile, Inseop noticed Lee Wooyeon’s sleeves were soaked and looked at him with concern. Sensing his gaze, Lee Wooyeon chuckled softly and shrugged off his shirt.  

“I’ll take a shower.”  

“Yes, yes. Go ahead.”

Surprised by Lee Wooyeon’s sudden bareness, Inseop quickly averted his gaze. While he showered, Inseop tidied up by the window and left a change of clothes outside the bathroom. Before long, Lee Wooyeon emerged, towel-drying his damp hair.

…It felt like a scene from a movie.

Inseop stared blankly at his lover until, meeting his gaze, he hurriedly looked away, feeling caught red-handed.  

“Is that all you ate for dinner?” Lee Wooyeon asked, noticing the leftover salad on the table.  

“Oh, yes.”  

“Is that enough to fill you?”  

“……”

As Inseop hesitated, Lee Wooyeon opened the cabinet with an air of resignation and took out a pot.  

“Wait here. I’ll make you some ramen.”  

“It’s alright. There’s no need for you to go to the trouble…”  

“I came all the way here in the rain. The least I can do is make some ramen, right?”

In response to his playful scolding, Inseop hurried to his side.  

“Please, let me make it for you.”  

“It’s fine. All I need to do is boil the water.”  

“But still, I should…”  

“Just clear the table and set the chopsticks.”

“Oh, okay.” Inseop cleaned up the table and set the chopsticks neatly, then sat down. Lee Wooyeon’s broad back came into view in front of the stove.  

“Do you even know how to make ramen?”  

“…A little,” Inseop replied sheepishly. Ramen was a bit challenging for him, as he couldn’t handle spicy food well. Lee Wooyeon, amused, added another cup of water to the pot.

“Oh, right.” Inseop suddenly got up.  

“What did you leave behind? If you tell me, I’ll find it for you.”  

Lee Wooyeon looked over his shoulder, a faint smile in his eyes.  

“Let’s see. I think I left something here… what was it?”  

“……”

“We’ll look for it later,” he said, turning back to the ramen. Inseop watched him silently from beside the stove.

“Can I sleep over?” he asked out of the blue.  

“Sorry?”  

“That book we were reading together yesterday. I’m curious about the rest, so I thought I’d finish it here.” Lee Wooyeon smiled, and when Inseop didn’t respond right away, he added, “If it’s uncomfortable, I’ll just go.”

“No, not at all. Please, stay the night,” Inseop replied, watching as Lee Wooyeon smiled and opened the fridge to grab an egg. Inseop recalled that Lee Wooyeon wasn’t particularly fond of ramen. And late-night drives, especially in the rain, weren’t his favorite either.

…They probably wouldn’t find that “important item” he left behind.

“Inseop?”  

“Yes, yes?”  

“Should I skip the egg?”  

“No, it’s fine. You can add it.”  

“Anything else you want?”  

“…No, nothing.”

“Alright,” Lee Wooyeon said, turning back to the stove.  

The weight of his parents’ disapproval lay heavy on Inseop’s heart, but he remained resolute. He wanted to see Lee Wooyeon. To be by his side. To share his life with him. So he’d made the decision to return to Korea, slowly closing chapters in his old life before calling Lee Wooyeon to share his choice. Lee Wooyeon had immediately booked him a flight.

He couldn’t say he wasn’t afraid. From the moment he stepped onto the plane, he kept asking himself if he was doing the right thing. Was it worth giving up everything for one man? What if he grew bored of him? Even among ordinary couples, love often faded. They would break up and move on… but between two men, especially when one of them was…  

Inseop looked at Lee Wooyeon’s broad back, standing by the stove.

Remembering how he’d come all the way here on a rainy night, just because of a poorly closed window, his heart ached. It didn’t matter if the man couldn’t feel ordinary emotions. Inseop loved him. He wished they shared the same feelings. That was all he wanted right now, his only wish.

… I love you. I really do. So much that it scares me to feel this happiness, something I can’t even tell anyone.

With his head lowered, Inseop clutched his shirt tightly.  

“…Thank you.”

The simple words brought a brief chuckle from Lee Wooyeon. Inseop had to drink five cups of water while eating the ramen, but it was a satisfying meal, one that filled him with happiness.

Outside, the sound of rain surrounded them.

** Bonus Track End**