PAO 70

“Do you have a lot of money? Not your father’s, your money. How much money did you exactly make lying in that bed? And how did you make it?”

While on the topic, he asked out of curiosity. Just how much had he made to be able to lend his father money so readily?

“Through stocks…”

Since it had come to this, Junghoo explained what he did to pass the time when he was alone in the hospital.

“The money I gave Mister is only a part of it. If you want, I can give it all to you.”

“Uh, sure.”

“When are you going to leave?”

“Today or tomorrow? Wouldn’t it be fine to go home whenever is convenient?”

“Really? Then can I suck your dick today?”

Seowon gulped and glared at Junghoo.

“Why do you want to suck mine.”

“We don’t have much time left.”

So there was a reason he’d said the time they shared at the villa was enough. What consideration for Seowon not to feel responsible? It just seemed like a scheme to suck all of his stamina dry before leaving the villa…

Seowon, who had answered noncommittally, was drinking his juice because his throat felt strangely dry, when Junghoo stopped talking and pointed somewhere.

“Should I squeeze more?”

Just turning his eyes, Seowon confirmed the remains of the orange peel, its flesh completely sucked dry, and let the juice he was drinking flow back into the glass.

“Why?”

“It’s nothing.”

For some reason, that orange felt like his future.

“We’re finally going home.”

Yoo Taeha’s voice sounded as if it were laced with moisture. So Seowon leaned forward to see Yoo Taeha’s face, but Junghoo stopped him.

“It’s dangerous.”

Instead of answering, Seowon looked at the seatbelt stretched diagonally across his upper body. He looked over, wondering what was so dangerous, and Yoo Taeha clicked his tongue.

“It’s not like he’s treating me like some chauffeur. No, he’s not the kind of kid to think about things like that.”

At Yoo Taeha’s complaint, Seowon let out a troubled smile.

“Hey, hyung. Why would you say that? Why wouldn’t Junghoo think of you.”

“He doesn’t.”

He jabbed the clueless Yoo Junghoo in the side with his elbow and looked at Yoo Taeha, who was reflected in the rearview mirror.

“What are you going to do, being away from your position for so long because of us.”

“Are you worried about me now?”

Yoo Taeha, who had come along to match the university student’s vacation schedule, was a proper doctor.

“Do you know what a capable talent I am? I’m a person who shouldn’t take such a long break for personal reasons…”

“Seowon, want to eat this?”

“What is it?”

Taking the small box Junghoo held out, Seowon turned it this way and that, wondering if there was a logo on the outside.

“Just by looking at it, it seems like it would have something like macarons in it.”

This was the reason why Seowon, who didn’t like sweets, didn’t readily open the box. It would be a problem if there were really macarons inside, but then again, it was also difficult to ignore something Junghoo had given him with thought.

“Go on, take a look.”

Junghoo gestured toward the box with his eyes, as if telling him not to worry. His hand even hovered in the air, as if he would open it himself if Seowon didn’t.

Since he’d taken it, Seowon decided to do as Junghoo said, and after looking at the box with slightly nervous eyes, he opened it. And seeing the flower-shaped snack inside, Seowon quickly turned his eyes to Junghoo.

“It’s not a macaron.”

“I know your tastes, so of course I wouldn’t prepare that.”

“Still, yakgwa is unexpected.”

As Seowon held up the mini-sized yakgwa and turned it this way and that, Junghoo watched him with anticipation, as if urging him to try it quickly.

“It’s not sticky either.”

Finding it acceptable that his hand didn’t get sticky when he picked it up, Seowon tried the yakgwa. After chewing a few times, his eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s delicious.”

It wasn’t too sweet, nor was it soaked in oil. Yet it was soft, and he felt like this was the first time he had ever eaten such a delicious yakgwa.

“Should I buy you more?”

“Yeah. Where did you buy this? I could buy a few boxes to take with me.”

As Seowon picked up another one, Junghoo, looking pleased, also offered the sikhye he had prepared.

“Eat this with it.”

“Where on earth did you buy all this?”

Seowon was delighted to see the traditional snacks that kept appearing from somewhere, and Junghoo also smiled with pride.

At some point, one person was completely forgotten.

After arriving in Seoul, Seowon headed straight home. Since he wasn’t living with Junghoo anymore, it was natural for them to part ways, but the more he saw the familiar neighborhood streets, the more he felt a slight sense of disappointment.

For two months, he had been attached to Junghoo all day long.

Not just when sleeping, but also when eating, and sometimes they even washed up together.

But now, that was no longer possible. Seowon had to go home and prepare for school, and Junghoo had to go get tested.

He didn’t know when they would have free time in the future, but they would now only be able to meet when their schedules aligned.

Thinking about it that way made the road home feel even shorter…

“But…”

Yoo Taeha, the driver who seemed like a driver but wasn’t, opened his mouth for the first time in a while.

“Are you two dating?”

“Pardon? That is…”

Seowon couldn’t answer easily. He and Junghoo got along naturally, but to say they were dating…

It was a similar situation to when he was asked at the playground if he loved Junghoo. He did like him, but they weren’t yet dating or anything, so the words got stuck in his throat.

“Why are you asking such a useless question.”

On Seowon’s behalf, Junghoo snapped back, sounding displeased.

“Did I ask something I shouldn’t have?”

Yoo Taeha grumbled about why he was being so sensitive, and Junghoo’s brow furrowed even more.

“It’s not like that.”

Was he that upset? While Seowon looked at Junghoo, Yoo Taeha also looked at his cousin in the rearview mirror.

What’s wrong with that crazy bastard.

After his nephew had asked him for an introduction, he had been helping them out so that if they weren’t dating, they would at least become something similar, but Yoo Junghoo was ruining everything.

The guy who had confidently said, to put it bluntly, that it would happen soon—what was he thinking now?

“It’s not such a casual relationship.”

Junghoo was organizing Seowon’s things in the car. Things like the tablet he had taken out during the drive up to Seoul, his charger, and pens.

“Then what is it.”

“He is someone I revere like the heavens.”

At Junghoo’s answer, both Yoo Taeha and Seowon froze.

“Like the heavens, what?”

Yoo Taeha, flabbergasted, repeated Junghoo’s words and asked again.

“He’s my sky.”

When Junghoo answered without a change in expression, Yoo Taeha naturally looked at Seowon. He wasn’t looking through the rearview mirror. He had braked because they had arrived at Seowon’s house, and turned around to look at him directly.

“He says you’re his sky.”

“I heard him too.”

Seowon held up a hand to stop him, as if to say he didn’t need to say more, and was lost in thought for a moment. It seemed that various complex emotions were rushing in.

That made Yoo Taeha even more curious about Seowon’s reaction. Would he treat Junghoo like a crazy person, like he did, or would he secretly like it? Or would he feel burdened?

“Yoo Junghoo.”

“Yeah, Seowon. I’ve packed all your things.”

Junghoo helpfully held out the bag. But since he wasn’t handing over the handle, it seemed he planned to carry it to the house for him.

“Am I your sky?”

Seowon asked calmly for the time being.

“Yeah.”