Harmonious Love

Yang Gi Thief (8)

***

Contrary to expectations, regret didn’t start in the morning but had already begun on the way home with him.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at drinking parties before. What made you come out today?”

First of all, Mo Yeon couldn’t get used to how flirtatiously Tae Young-won was speaking. Come to think of it, this was the image Mo Yeon had of Tae Young-won before they became neighbors.

“Just… I felt like drinking after a long time.”

“I see. That’s good then, you can drink more with me today.”

“…Yes.”

A person close to perfection, who smiles well, has good manners, and is praised not only by women but also among men.

“Watch out in front.”

Mo Yeon tended not to look ahead rashly when walking at night. You never know when something might jump out.

Because of this, whenever Mo Yeon failed to notice obstacles or stumbled, Tae Young-won supported him, seeming like someone with ingrained manners. It was also similar to how Mo Yeon had seen him treat other juniors.

Is it really just because of the senior-junior relationship?

“…Thank you, sunbae.”

Even though Mo Yeon now knew there was a completely different side to him, being charmed like this right in front of him made Mo Yeon feel like he might fall for it completely if he let his guard down even a little.

“It seems you can’t see well at night even with glasses on. Do you want to hold my hand if it’s difficult?”

“…”

“Maybe it’s a bit awkward between guys…”

Saying this, Tae Young-won offered his hand full of yang energy. Mo Yeon fixed his gaze on his hand, eyes widening.

“Is it okay for you to hold hands with a man?”

Honestly speaking, there couldn’t be a greater temptation for Mo Yeon.

“Ah, I’m pretty open-minded about these things.”

“…”

“Especially since Mo Yeon is my junior, this much shouldn’t be difficult.”

Focus returned to Mo Yeon’s eyes, which had been a bit dazed.

The homophobe was smiling and lying disgustingly well.

It seemed that whether someone was from school or not was quite important to Tae Young-won. He was saying that because Mo Yeon was from school, he would endure even things he disliked and hold his hand.

‘He says he’s okay with it. Should I just grab it pretending not to know?’

Just as the tension was starting to ease, Mo Yeon shook his head, eyes wide open. Don’t forget. This person is the one to be most wary of.

“Thank you, but I can go by myself.”

At Mo Yeon’s bold words, Tae Young-won smirked and said to do as he pleased.

Hopefully, it wasn’t noticeable that Mo Yeon had been tempted for a moment.

Although the world seemed to move when he stood still, his voice seemed a bit louder, and his pronunciation sometimes slurred… Mo Yeon still had that much ability to discern.

While it was unclear to what extent Tae Young-won put on an act for people at school, Mo Yeon knew best that Tae Young-won was someone who hated touching men terribly.

And if he wanted to keep seeing him in the future, it would be better not to upset him if possible.

A moment later, following Tae Young-won’s lead, Mo Yeon entered the all-too-familiar officetel elevator and unconsciously reached for the floor button.

“Not there, 8th floor.”

Tae Young-won grinned and naturally pressed the 8th floor button, bypassing Mo Yeon’s hand that had frozen reaching for ‘9’. Standing behind, he pressed his body close as if by accident, gripped Mo Yeon’s shoulder to press the button, then cleanly removed his hand from the shoulder.

“Is your place on the 9th floor?”

Just as Mo Yeon was about to feel relieved, Tae Young-won muttered softly.

At that low voice, Mo Yeon unknowingly held his breath again. But contrary to his worry, when he glanced at Tae Young-won’s expression, he was smiling playfully as if it was just a casual remark.

Mo Yeon, whose heart had sunk, finally felt relieved. It could have been considered quite strange, but thankfully it passed naturally because Tae Young-won wasn’t suspicious of him at all.

“I’m worried because Mo Yeon seems more drunk than he looks. Maybe I should have just sent you home?”

“Ah, no. I can drink more.”

“That’s good then.”

Mo Yeon, whose mind had been blank, started to worry even with the lingering effects of alcohol.

Should I go back now? Is this the right thing to do? What if I really get caught? What if I get caught inside once I enter…

“Go in first.”

But it was already too late to turn back. Finally standing in front of Tae Young-won’s front door, Mo Yeon opened his eyes wide, trying to stay sharp as if at the entrance of a tiger’s den.

As soon as he entered Tae Young-won’s house, a familiar scent hit him. Naturally, there was no sign of anything ghost-like. It might have been his imagination, but it felt like he had arrived at the safest place in the world.

In reality, he had walked right into the den of the tiger whose true identity he should never reveal.

Tae Young-won’s house was in the same building as Mo Yeon’s but had a slightly different layout. It was a bit larger, and it seemed he had put quite a bit of effort into the interior, as it felt like a completely different house from Mo Yeon’s, which was empty except for minimal furniture.

Mo Yeon hadn’t realized how nice his own place was since he had just moved in with only his body to a place his parents had found for him, but Tae Young-won’s house seemed like a comfortable, spacious nest, not too large for living alone with lonely, empty spaces.

“Ah.”

While Mo Yeon was looking around, Tae Young-won checked the refrigerator and sighed. It seemed they were out of alcohol.

“We’re out of beer. Mo Yeon, make yourself comfortable. I’ll go buy some alcohol quickly.”

“Okay.”

Mo Yeon answered readily. He had wanted to eat quickly and go home to rest, but now it was different.

Contrary to his anxious expectations, once he actually entered, he felt like he wanted to stay a bit longer. As he sat quietly looking around, Tae Young-won ruffled his hair and left.

He had been naturally initiating skinship since earlier. Of course, Mo Yeon had no reason to refuse.

Still, doesn’t that sunbae find it unpleasant? He should know if he’s heard the rumors…

Yet as neighbors, he disliked Mo Yeon from the start when they met without glasses.

Is this why he’s so popular at school? Because he takes care of everyone and treats them kindly, using the reason that he’s their senior?

The image of him familiarly taking care of the drunk freshmen earlier also came to mind.

Only silence remained in the house now that he was alone. As he was lost in various thoughts in this quiet and comfortable house, his relaxed body started to stretch out on the sofa where Tae Young-won had seated him.

Ah, really. How can someone else’s house be this comfortable?

The strange and unfamiliar comfort he had felt since entering was probably due to Tae Young-won’s yang energy. Mo Yeon could vaguely understand. That everything he lacked and suffered without, Tae Young-won had in abundance…

In the end, before Tae Young-won returned, Mo Yeon succumbed to the overwhelming sleepiness and dozed off.

***

The experience of waking up in someone else’s house after getting drunk was much more chilling than expected.

Mo Yeon was sleeping on the hard floor with just a blanket covering him, perhaps having fallen off the sofa. He felt his face and was relieved to find his glasses still on.

Hearing the door open, he turned his head to see Tae Young-won looking at him, fresh out of the bathroom.

“You’re awake?”

His body, barely covered with a towel around the waist, was dripping wet and packed with muscles without an ounce of fat. It reminded Mo Yeon of swimmers he had seen on TV. Not knowing where to look as the flesh-colored body approached, Mo Yeon turned his head away.

“Um, yesterday…”

“It must have been uncomfortable sleeping on the sofa, right? I tried to move you to the bed, but I thought you might wake up if I touched you, so I had no choice.”

“…”

“You were sleeping so soundly.”

It was as he said. Mo Yeon usually woke up easily, but yesterday he had slept like the dead without waking once. And it seemed Tae Young-won hadn’t noticed anything unusual yet.

Wouldn’t people normally remove someone’s glasses when they’re sleeping?

But somehow Tae Young-won’s gaze seemed to be directed not at Mo Yeon’s face, but lower. Mo Yeon lowered his head too. Following Tae Young-won’s gaze, he saw that his pants were slightly tented in greeting the morning.

Realizing this, Mo Yeon closed his legs and pulled up the blanket. When he looked up, Tae Young-won was smirking.

“The bathroom’s over there. Let’s have breakfast after you wash up.”

…He saw.

He wasn’t looking now, but his gaze had been quite blatant just before. Mo Yeon’s face burned hot. He headed to the bathroom, almost as if fleeing.

If they had encountered each other as neighbors, Tae Young-won might have already killed Mo Yeon. Hadn’t he raged like a paranoid patient, saying Mo Yeon was getting nosebleeds just from looking at him? However, just now, Tae Young-won had regarded the bulge in Mo Yeon’s pants as a natural physiological phenomenon.

“…So this is how terrifying first impressions can be.”

Mo Yeon muttered with a serious face, as if he had realized a frightening truth.

He placed his clothes neatly on the shelf and took off his glasses. Standing in front of the mirror, the face he disliked was staring back at him.

The light-colored pupils in his long-tailed eyes had always drawn people’s attention. Of course, most people said it made them uncomfortable. They said they were eyes that could see ghosts, that it would bring bad luck to make eye contact.

After glaring at the mirror, Mo Yeon turned away his gaze, put down the shower head, and squeezed shower gel onto a loofah to scrub his body.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

“Mo Yeon, I have something to ask…”

“Ah!”