Chapter 48: Chapter 48.

Chapter 48.

“Oh, you are back?”

When Shin entered their group room 502 with his key card, Woojin was sitting on a sofa, resting. Shin walked up to him quickly and leaned forward. Shin mentioned, “You sound like you’re out of breath.”

“And whose fault is that?”

Shin checked Woojin’s forehead. He didn’t have a fever but Woojin looked very cold. When Shin hugged him, Woojin didn’t resist.

Shin complained, “If you were sick, you should’ve told me.”

“Are you angry?”

“It’s fine. I’m just worried about you. You said you didn’t feel well… Let me have a look at you.”

Shin looked into Woojin’s eyes. When Woojin tried to close them, Shin held Woojin’s cheeks gently, making him purr. When he acted like this, Woojin definitely reminded Shin of a kitten. The problem was that Woojin was very fragile. He seemed to get tired very easily, yet he abused his body by overworking himself.

Woojin finally sighed and replied, “It’s just indigestion.”

“But you didn’t even eat much for lunch.”

“…”

“Did you feel uncomfortable and awkward during lunch?”

Woojin nodded as Shin patted his back. Shin asked, “Did you go alone? To the pharmacy?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t want to bother you. Waste your time…”

Shin looked at Woojin slowly. Woojin’s lips seemed dry. Instead of getting him some water, Shin kissed him gently.

Looking at Woojin’s eyes widen, Shin replied, “It’s this stupid sports competition that is wasting my time away from you.”

When Shin smiled, Woojin said to him, “Your expression looks strange.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“It’s probably because I was thinking about something dirty. My mind is in the gutter.”

“Hmm…”

Woojin’s neck turned pink again, like a drop of red paint in a bowl of cream. It was so beautiful that Shin couldn’t help but kiss Woojin’s neck and breathe in deeply. Woojin’s scent was like the sunrise. Cool yet warm and sweet. Somewhat a little sad as well.

Woojin murmured, “… It tickles.” He then grabbed Shin’s face and kissed him. Just a moment ago, Woojin seemed so shy, almost embarrassed at Shin’s touch, but now, Woojin wrapped his arms around Shin’s neck and kissed him deeply. Woojin laid down on the sofa, bringing Shin on top of him. Shin was worried that his weight would be too much for Woojin, so Shin supported himself with his arms. Woojin moaned lightly, making Shin feel almost faint. He bit Woojin’s lower lip.

“Ahh…”

“Does it hurt?”

Woojin giggled a little at Shin’s anxious tone. Woojin whispered, “What if someone comes in?”

“I know…”

Shin chuckled as well as he pushed back Woojin’s hair gently. Shin felt breathless so he tried to get off the sofa, but Woojin wrapped his arms around Shin’s neck again and made him turn towards him.

Shin said to him, “Are you acting childish because you are ill?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm… I like it.”

Just then, they heard the door opening. Shin fell off the sofa in surprise.

Thankfully, because of the curtains, the room was dim. By the time Minjae walked in, Shin was slowly standing up. Minjae said to him, “Oh, Shin, you were here?”

Shin looked at him as Minjae noticed Woojin on the sofa.

“Oh, Assistant Manager Choi was here too?”

“…”

“Oh, is he sleeping?”

Minjae began to whisper, and when Shin turned to look at Woojin, he realized that Woojin indeed had his eyes closed. Was he pretending to be asleep?

Yes, he was. Shin turned to Minjae quickly and whispered back, “Yeah, I think so.”

“Oh, then we better get out right now.”

Minjae walked quietly into his bedroom to grab something and Shin grinned secretly. He didn’t know Woojin could act this well. Shin looked down at him again and saw that his eyes were still closed.

There was no time to waste. As soon as Minjae came out from his bedroom, Shin followed him out of their place. After locking the door behind them, Minjae sighed and said to Shin, “Phew. I don’t know why I feel so awkward around that guy. He looks so fragile to me.”

“What?”

Shin knew he had an odd look on his face. He tried to control it, but thankfully, it was unnecessary because Minjae wasn’t paying attention at all. They walked together to the elevator.

Minjae continued, “I just found Assistant Manger Woojin very strange. He looks like he will break if I just push him.”

“You are talking nonsense.”

“By the way, you went into the room so you could talk to your girlfriend privately, right? Were you super shocked to find him there sleeping?”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you go in there to talk to your girlfriend on the phone?”

“Oh, yes…Umm, we better get going. The director is probably looking for us.”

Shin quickly changed the subject. They went into the elevator. Inside, Shin found it difficult to breathe as his heart pounded wildly. Just then, his phone beeped. It was a message from Woojin.

-Seeing you made me feel much better. Thank you.

Shin’s blood turned hot. It felt like all of his blood was rushing to his heart. He couldn’t stop grinning like an idiot.

“… Did you hear what I just said, Shin?”

“What?”

“You are such a dumbass. Let’s go. Stop making that stupid face by the way, Shin.”

But it was impossible. Shin continued to grin happily.

***

When Woojin opened his eyes, it was very dark inside the living room. He couldn’t tell what time it was. It seemed that Woojin had really fallen asleep.

Woojin reached out to check, and as usual, he was alone. It felt cold, but again, that was normal for him as well. He sat up feeling very thirsty.

On the side table, there were a few bottles of water. He opened one and drank from it. He felt a little hungry too. When he checked his phone, he saw that there were three messages.

-Are you sleeping?

-You may have indigestion, but you must also be hungry too… I am about to start the competition. I will see you as soon as I’m done here.

-Woojin Choi, why aren’t you answering your phone?

The first two were from Shin Kim, while the last one was from Jihoon Kang. Woojin walked into his bedroom and grabbed a cardigan. He really wanted to see Shin playing sports, so Woojin moved quickly. Thankfully, Shin’s last message was sent only 5 minutes ago. If he went to the gymnasium right now, he could probably catch Shin in action. Woojin held the water bottle and grabbed his key card before leaving the place.

Woojin fixed his hair quickly. As he walked the hallway, Woojin could feel his body feeling much better.

‘That’s strange.’

Once he got sick, he often suffered for a long time. He always felt tired, so whenever he got ill, it left him feeling heavy and fatigued for a while.

When he went to the pharmacy, he purchased indigestion medication. It usually didn’t work on him, but there was no other option. When he took it, he expected his headache to continue and he thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep. But apparently, his nap lasted a whole hour. When he woke up, he felt much better. In fact, he was hungry. He was craving something sweet.

‘Shin likes sweets.’

Woojin recently learned that Shin was like a big teddy bear. He was rather large, but there was a puppyish side to him. Shin wasn’t a picky eater, but he especially liked sweets. One time after dinner, Shin took out two chocolate bars from his pocket. He unwrapped one to give it to Woojin, and he took the other one. When Woojin looked at him curiously, Shin smiled and explained, “I like sweet things.”

“…”

“I know I don’t look like the type, but I do.”

Shin looked so shy. Woojin thought he was too cute. He decided to go to the convenience store and get some chocolates to share with him. Just then, someone said to him in the lobby, “You have a strange look on your face.”

“…”

It was Eejun Bae.