Chapter 71: Chapter 71.

“For two?”

Woojin nodded when the woman at the front desk of the resort asked. Shin coughed lightly and looked at Woojin, but Woojin looked blank as he took the key card from the woman. The hotel worker, who was wearing a neat uniform, glanced at Shin and looked down quickly to check her list. It seemed that she was looking through the guest list. She seemed a bit thoughtful, but Woojin remained calm.

She asked, “Is there any other guest who will be staying with you?”

“No.”

“Anyone that might come later…”

“No.”

Woojin Choi was a very cold person to those he didn’t consider ‘his people.’ Shin watched Woojin, whose face was beginning to form a small frustrated frown and secretly smiled. He knew how Woojin firmly believed in personal boundaries and also strongly believed in logic. Woojin found it hard to show or give affection to others.

The woman offered, “I can take you to the room…”

“There is no need.”

Woojin grabbed his luggage and turned around. Shin, who remained quiet so far, stood up and followed him. Woojin held Shin’s hand without a word.

Shin smiled and said to him, “You are so cool.”

“What are you talking about?”

“When you just said, ‘There is no need.’ It was so cold that I thought you looked super hot.”

Shin tickled Woojin’s nose lightly, making him cringe. Woojin’s neck was turning red again, and Shin’s heart tightened. They were able to find the elevator quickly since it was right in the lobby near the front desk. The resort was big and extravagant. It was an exclusive place, which meant only members could use it. Shin had never been in a place like this before.

In the lobby, there were five elevators.

Shin was impressed. “There are individual elevators for different sections of the building.”

“I guess. I never noticed.”

Woojin seemed very familiar with this place, and Shin was again reminded of how Woojin lived in a different world than he did. Today, Woojin was wearing a lavender knitted sweater and a grey padding with a blue hoodie. His bang was down, making him look like a college student. Woojin had one of those faces that could forever look youthful.

They got into the elevator and Woojin pressed the 15th floor. When Shin stared at Woojin, Woojin touched Shin’s cheek and pushed him away.

Shin asked, “Why did you do that?”

“…”

Ting!

The elevator door opened and Woojin left without saying a word. Shin followed him, but Woojin quickly opened the door and tried to close it behind him before Shin could enter as well.

Shin asked in surprise, “What are you doing? You aren’t going to let me in?”

“…no.”

“Why not?”

“… come in later.”

“What? Why? Open the door!”

Shin pushed and placed his luggage in the doorway. Woojin sighed and opened the door a little more. Shin, looking shocked, stared at Woojin and asked, “Where did you learn this kind of prank?”

“It’s not a prank, Mr. Shin Kim.”

“Why are you being all of a sudden so formal?”

“I am trying to keep a distance.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Shin stared for a long time, wondering if Woojin was teasing him or just joking. Woojin finally sighed and walked into the room quickly with his luggage.

Was Woojin trying to avoid him?

Shin sighed anxiously and Woojin turned around, biting his lip.

Shin asked, “Why are you trying to keep a distance from me?”

When Shin caught up to him and grabbed Woojin’s shoulder, he shrugged him off. Shin was surprised and when he looked at Woojin, he noticed that Woojin was trembling slightly.

Was Woojin sick?

When Shin held Woojin’s face with both hands, Woojin touched Shin’s neck.

Shin asked, “What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

“Then why are you trying to stay away from me?”

“… I think something’s wrong with me.”

Woojin looked down, revealing his reddened neck. His fingers were trembling and his cheeks were flushed.

Shin murmured in disbelief, “Could it be… Are you…”

“…”

“Are you aroused?”

Shin bit his lip in surprise. Woojin mumbled, “We haven’t seen each other for a long time and…”

Woojin had been trying his best to hide his arousal. He didn’t want Shin to think he was a pervert, a dog in heat. He had always prided himself on being a logical and rational person, not controlled by his emotions.

Suddenly, Shin leaned towards him and took his lips hard. Woojin dropped his luggage as he felt Shin’s scorching tongue. When Shin held Woojin’s waist, he didn’t have to pull him closer because Woojin stepped towards him. They clumsily moved into the room. Shin saw the sofa and pushed Woojin down on it. Shin licked his ear and neck, and when he placed his hand underneath Woojin’s sweater, Woojin shivered. Woojin couldn’t seem to get close enough to Shin; he continued to grind his lower body against Shin. Shin laughed and Woojin looked up at him with his dreamy eyes.

Woojin asked, “Aren’t you annoyed by me?”

“You are talking nonsense again.”

“…”

“How could anyone find your behavior annoying?”

Their room was huge. When Shin bit Woojin’s lips a few times, Woojin twisted his body in excitement. Stepping back a little, Shin enjoyed the view of the aroused Woojin. Woojin’s entire body seemed to be flushed.

His eyes and his lips looked too delicious.

Shin murmured, “I want you to be like this more often.”

“…”

“You have no idea what a pervert I am, Mr. Woojin.”

When Shin laughed quietly, Woojin frowned. Shin learned a long time ago that Woojin’s frown in this context meant that he liked what Shin had said.

It felt like a dream. The wonderful time they spent with each other… perhaps it really was only a dream.

***

Shin opened the door to the balcony and looked at Woojin. He smiled broadly and asked, “Are you trying to seduce me again?”

Woojin, who wasn’t wearing a shirt, was lying down on the sofa on the balcony. He turned towards Shin slowly as the sun shone on his smooth upper body.

Shin said to him quietly, “I had no idea there was such a luxurious private pool on the balcony.” When Shin got close to him, he grabbed Shin’s wrist. Shin grinned and asked teasingly, “You want to go one more time? Are you serious?”

Woojin was still a bit breathless when he replied, “I feel weak now.”

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“Can you really not swim at all anymore? Even now?”

Woojin remembered coming to this resort with his father when he was little. The place was decorated Japanese style, and the building was located near the ocean. Because it was very well taken care of, the place looked almost the same as when Woojin came 10 years ago.

The building was also surrounded by beautiful parks and the rooms on the upper levels included large private pools.

Shin replied, “I’m not sure.”

“…”

“I will try it tonight.”

Woojin slowly stood up and picked up Shin’s sweater. Their eyes met and Woojin could see the painful old memories in his eyes. However, they were very brief and gone before Woojin could even blink. Woojin guessed that he would never completely understand the true depth of Shin’s sadness when he lost what he loved the most.

Swimming.

Woojin slowly traced the scar on Shin’s chest. Most of it was white, but some parts were still slightly pink. Shin’s eyes crinkled in a small smile.

Woojin asked impulsively, “How did it feel when you could no longer swim?”