LCS | Chapter 1.4

But it wasn’t very fun. At the theater Chaegong had been so focused on Hyeonjo that he had barely watched the movie, so it was practically like seeing it for the first time, and still it was disappointing. Maybe it was because there was no popcorn. Or maybe it was because there was no huge screen. And perhaps, just perhaps, it was because Hyeonjo wasn’t laughing beside him.

Chaegong hugged his knees a little forlornly. But he wasn’t sad. Hyeonjo was busy, and he was already pouring plenty of time into Chaegong. He couldn’t afford to be any greedier.

Though Chaegong liked watching TV, he did not really watch movies alone. The only time he watched them was sometimes on Friday nights with Hyeonjo. Hyeonjo did not care much about genre, whether comedy, romance, or thriller. And one Friday night, after the two of them watched a movie that had been rumored to be famous, they both let out a sigh at the same time.

Chaegong, who had been so tense next to Hyeonjo as he lazily kneaded Chaegong’s hand, finally relaxed enough to sigh. Hyeonjo sighed because the movie was more disappointing than he had expected.

“I had expectations, honestly, I’m disappointed.”

From that day on, during the free hours in the daytime, Chaegong endlessly replayed movies. He cried his eyes out over sad films, and his palms grew damp watching horror movies, but when he recommended a movie he had found entertaining and watched it together with Hyeonjo, then heard Hyeonjo say it was fun, he was simply happy.

Those brief moments, two or three times a month, when they sat side by side and watched a movie Chaegong had recommended, and Hyeonjo smiled saying it was fun, turned Chaegong into a movie maniac. But he did not hate that.

✿ • ✿ • ✿

“Hurry up and get dressed, come out and let me see!”

Hyeonjo, who had come home earlier than usual, saying there was a test, hurried Chaegong along. In a rush, Chaegong went outside wearing the shirt Hyeonjo had bought, the pants Hyeonjo had bought, and the shoes Hyeonjo had bought as well.

Since he did not go out very often, he opened the front door a little awkwardly, and Hyeonjo, waiting by the elevator, grinned. The two of them went to the parking lot in an instant, got into Hyeonjo’s car, and the expensive vehicle, the kind most people would step aside for as it sped down the road, began gliding smoothly forward.

Seated in the passenger seat, Chaegong watched the streets rush by. The cherry trees lined with pink blossoms made it feel as if spring had already arrived. He had started living at Hyeonjo’s house in the dead of winter, when it had been so cold it felt like his bones were freezing solid. And yet before he knew it, the snow had all melted, and buds had sprouted, already turning into flowers.

The days that once seemed to stand still had become so fast now that he almost wanted to hold them back. Before long, the car had left the city, and where they arrived was.

“Wow…”

A huge amusement park.

Having never once gone on a school trip because of his family circumstances, Chaegong had naturally never once ridden a Ferris wheel either. Hyeonjo, seeing Chaegong freeze in surprise, led him in and bought them admission passes. The little paper bands around their wrists were more expensive than Chaegong had expected, so he wanted to say they should just go back, but if he said that Hyeonjo would probably chide him for thinking he couldn’t afford even this much for him.

Since, to be honest, Chaegong did not want to stop him, he entered hesitantly. The amusement park was larger than he had expected, and scarier than he had expected too. The roller coaster was so thrilling his legs nearly went weak, and the ride that looked like a little boat had more to see than he had expected.

By the time they had eaten there and ridden most of the attractions, the sun had begun to set and a dazzling parade had started. But the two of them did not watch it.

Chaegong had not even known he had acrophobia until he got on the Ferris wheel.

He had certainly been living in a tall building twenty-three floors high, but when he looked down into the living room, he had never felt afraid, nor had his legs trembled. He had never thought he was about to fall from there.

But the Ferris wheel was different. It felt as if this heavy lump of iron might fall apart and shatter at any moment.

Chaegong, who had been trembling with his eyes tightly shut, sick with fear, slowly opened them at the warmth that brushed against his hand. Hyeonjo was looking at him, his sharp eyes softened as he smiled. When Chaegong realized that his own hand had slipped neatly into Hyeonjo’s, his face grew hot. It was the same even though they were already sleeping together at least twice a week.

“Look down.”

He didn’t want to see, but Lee Chaegong couldn’t refuse Kwon Hyeonjo’s words. Slowly turning his head to look below, what he saw was, quite simply.

“Ah…”

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

The ground glittered everywhere. Buildings that looked only huge when seen from below had turned tiny as nails, each one shining on its own. It was like the night sky had settled onto the earth. Sitting in the slowly moving Ferris wheel car, Chaegong stared dumbly outside with his mouth slightly open, then turned at a small laugh.

“I happened to pass by here a while ago, and when I saw the Ferris wheel, I thought of you. I wanted to show it to you.”

At the thought that Hyeonjo had remembered him even when Chaegong wasn’t by his side, his heart began to pound. No one had ever thought of Chaegong like that, so he didn’t know what to do and only rolled his eyes around in fluster. Hyeonjo, seeing that expression, let out a snort and reached out to cup Chaegong’s cheek. At last the Ferris wheel reached the top, and the two of them kissed.

All at once, Chaegong was no longer afraid of the high sky above him. If he was with Hyeonjo, then it made no difference whether it was the deep sea or the endless universe.

Chaegong’s pale cheeks flushed red, and his gentle eyes sparkled with shyness. Hyeonjo gazed quietly at those eyes glittering with excitement and happiness, saying nothing at all. He only wiped Chaegong’s lips and smiled softly.

✿ • ✿ • ✿

Hyeonjo was a college student, and sometimes he came home late smelling of alcohol. Waiting for him, Chaegong had once rushed out at the sound of the front door opening, only to freeze stiff at the strong smell of liquor. To him, alcohol always came with violence and curses.

But Hyeonjo was not like that. He didn’t hit Chaegong, and he didn’t curse him as some lowly omega. He only muttered why Chaegong was still awake, ruffled his hair roughly, and went into his room.

After that happened a few times, Chaegong realized alcohol was not something so frightening after all. When Chaegong said he had never drunk before, Hyeonjo brought out liquors and wines Chaegong had never even heard of or seen.

The first drink he ever had was bitter, but also sweet. He couldn’t understand why dad had lived so devotedly to it, but whenever he rubbed his reddening cheeks, Hyeonjo would burst out laughing as if he were cute. So Chaegong began to like alcohol a little.

But not too much. Hyeonjo’s weighty yet fragrant pheromones were hard to smell when he drank. And on days when Hyeonjo gave him alcohol, they always ended up sleeping together, and Chaegong’s brain, soaked in alcohol, took in pleasure more fiercely than usual, making him feel like a prostitute somewhere.

In any case, Chaegong learned a great deal from Hyeonjo. While he had learned and lived among his peers at school, he was now, stuck at home, learning far more than he ever had before.

As a housekeeper, he grew more and more skilled at housework, and as an omega, he became used to spending nights with alphas. He no longer stared wide-eyed at the internet and TV. From now on, it seemed as if he would simply be happy.

✿ • ✿ • ✿

But as always, Chaegong’s life did not move forward happily alone. About a year after he began living in Hyeonjo’s house, there was a day when Hyeonjo came home unusually late. The pheromones drifting out a little thicker than usual felt somehow ferocious.

Rubbing his sleepy eyes and forcing himself to stay awake, Chaegong hurried straight to Hyeonjo. The living room was dark, but the sensor light by the entrance was on, so Hyeonjo’s face was clearly visible. Unlike usual, his lips were pressed into a hard line, his eyes sharp. It looked as though something had made him feel bad. Chaegong’s body stiffened instinctively at the anger of a dominant alpha, but he swallowed and went closer.

“What happened?”

“No. Nothing. Why aren’t you asleep instead of waiting up?”

“I couldn’t sleep… Did you eat? Should I make you something light for a late-night snack?”

Chaegong trotted after Hyeonjo as he strode into the dark living room. Hyeonjo had gone on ahead, so Chaegong couldn’t see his face, but he could clearly hear the small sigh.

“Do you want to take a bath? Or…”

“Chaegong.”

“Hm?”

“You know this is presumptuous, right?”

At the voice thick with annoyance, Chaegong’s shoulders went rigid. At words so cold he could not imagine Hyeonjo saying them, Chaegong stopped in place. Hyeonjo clicked his tongue at how harshly he had spoken, then reached out with a smile.

“Sorry. I’m a little sensitive today.”

Terrified that he might be hit like dad used to hit him, Chaegong’s fears were not realized. Hyeonjo gently stroked his hair. He wasn’t hit, and he wasn’t cursed at. Even after receiving an apology, Chaegong’s heart did not calm easily. Lying alone on the bed, curled into a corner, his whole body filled with the worry that he might be thrown out tomorrow.

Fortunately, Hyeonjo did not kick Chaegong out. When Chaegong set out breakfast, Hyeonjo only came over with his usual face and said it looked delicious. Hyeonjo would never know how relieved Chaegong had been.

After that, even when Hyeonjo came home late, Chaegong no longer sat in the living room waiting. He would sit in his own room, listening closely and hugging his knees, and only when he heard the sound of the door opening did he finally relax and fall asleep.

How much time passed like that? One morning, while they were eating breakfast together, Hyeonjo suddenly opened his mouth as though he had just remembered something.

“Come to think of it, you don’t wait for me these days.”

Chaegong, who had been putting rolled omelet into his mouth, widened his eyes.

“You used to wait every day until I came home.”

His face, as if he were complaining that love had gone cold, was smiling brightly. What could he do?