SANN | Chapter 5.1

Honestly, it started as half a joke.

To be fair, I hadn’t even considered the possibility that they’d actually show up. But to my surprise, the excuse I threw out so casually worked. Whether they were gullible or just plain dumb, I couldn’t tell. Judging by how they walked right into the poorly set trap without hesitation, I leaned toward dumb.

Sieon glanced at the watch strapped to his wrist. He had arrived at the meeting spot a little earlier than the agreed time on purpose. The location? A café.

Two drinks and some desserts he had just paid for were laid out on the table. There was no way he was going to let some kid who probably just got their ID ink dry treat him. Picking up his americano, Sieon crossed his legs carelessly and tapped his foot with an air of indifference.

He looked out the window. Fish 1 and Fish 2 were wandering aimlessly down the street. His brows furrowed instinctively.

“Don’t get your hopes up. Don’t.”

With a deep sigh, Sieon took a sip of his americano. This was all just a curiosity check. After all, there was no way this “Seongureum” character would be much different. If anything, they were probably worse. It wasn’t like Sieon was expecting anything groundbreaking.

While he was staring out the window like he was watching an aquarium, time crept closer to 2 PM. The agreed time.

If they were even a minute late, Sieon was prepared to leave without a second thought. It was 1:58 PM when he checked his watch again, the crease between his brows deepening.

“This little brat…”

If you’re going to be late, at least have the decency to send a message. Irritation bubbled up, and an unpleasant possibility suddenly flashed through Sieon’s mind.

It had only been three days since they set the meeting place and time. Not a single message had been exchanged since then. What if… they’d completely forgotten about the meeting?

A quiet scoff escaped his lips. Sieon’s eyes swept over the desserts on the table with an annoyed expression. It felt like he was the one who had been waiting around all day, eagerly anticipating this moment, and the thought made him even more irritated.

He checked his watch again. 2 PM on the dot. Without hesitation, Sieon pushed back his chair, ready to leave. Ready, but—

Someone burst through the café doors, panting heavily. Sieon froze mid-motion, every part of him stopping at once.

What the hell…? What is this?

Sieon blinked, questioning his own eyes.

Sieon was a person who had never felt guilt in his life. His confidence, piercing through the sky, was justifiable both subjectively and objectively. He chose his companions based purely on preference. Thus, age was not a constraint as long as it wasn’t about minors. In fact, he had embraced numerous young ones before without a shred of guilt. Rather, those young ones should have been grateful to have had an encounter with someone like him. And his view on this hadn’t changed even now.

But for the first time since his birth, Sieon was beginning to feel something akin to guilt weighing down on him.

Standing at roughly 180 centimeters, he had a slender body, jet-black hair, and clear, glassy black eyes. His hair looked so soft that it seemed it would melt away if touched. His small head and well-placed delicate features sat on a face so pale and creamy, it almost looked like he had smeared cream all over it. His cheeks appeared unusually soft and squishy. Even wearing a worn-out hoodie didn’t detract from his appearance… he stood there, a person utterly devoid of the typical ruggedness associated with men.

His eyes, filled with fear, darted around the store, seemingly looking for someone. As the weight of the stares inside the shop grew heavier, his shoulders shrank more. Sieon gritted his teeth.

It’s him. That’s definitely him.

Even if he’s not Gureum, I’m definitely going to pick him up today.

Frankly, Sieon was bewildered too. The guy was just twenty and didn’t seem to be attending school, considering his game login rates; he probably wasn’t much other than a homebound hermit, he thought. But this feeling was beyond any mere preference. He had never seen anyone like this before. Even in his strictly managed club, among those he considered pretty enough to embrace, there had never been anyone like him.

Sieon’s black eyes finally settled on him, and Sieon hastily adjusted from a relaxed pose to sit up properly. He plastered a synthetic, smooth smile on his face and waved.

“Gureum?”

Upon spotting Sieon, Gureum’s eyes widened. He hurried over with a flush on his pale cheeks. Sieon bit his lip, wishing he could just sell off his lower half right then.

“I’m sorry for being late…”

“It’s fine, you’re not late. Come sit here.”

Sieon stood up and guided Gureum to a seat. His hand naturally brushed against the shoulder blade. The sudden touch made Gureum stiffen for a moment, but he soon settled into the seat Sieon had led him to. Why did a grown man seem to emit a fabric softener scent with every move? Sieon inwardly cursed.

“Can I sit next to you?”

“Yes, yes…?”

“It would seem cold if I sat across from you, right?”

“Ah… Yes, yes, sit down…”

“Thank you.”

Sieon’s flirtation burst out effortlessly. He liked that the seat was a two-person sofa, ideal for couples. He smiled contentedly and sat down, narrowly restraining himself from draping an arm around Gureum. Instead, he gripped the back of the sofa behind Gureum’s shoulder. The size was just perfect.

Crammed into one side of the sofa by Sieon’s large frame, Gureum fidgeted and watched Sieon’s expressions, too timid to meet his eyes directly. Sieon leaned down to meet his gaze.

“It’s nice to meet you for the first time, Gureum.”

“Ah…! I’m glad to meet you too….”

“Are you nervous right now?”

“That…! Ah… yes…. Sorry…. It’s been a long time since I’ve been out…”

“Hmm… Let’s wait a bit.”

Sieon quickly headed to the counter and seemed to ask for something. He returned briskly, and his towering presence drew all eyes to him. Smoothly handling the attention, he whispered to Gureum and extended his hand.

“I moved us to a private room. Follow me.”

Gureum hesitated, looking at the extended hand, then finally grasped it. Sieon flashed a grin, unseen by Gureum, and held his hand tightly as he guided him into the room.

Sieon insisted on sitting next to Gureum even in the new spot. The server gave Sieon a meaningful look as he set the table, but Sieon casually ignored it.

“Drink this. I ordered it ahead for you, Gureum.”

“Ah… thank… you…”

Gureum accepted the strawberry latte that Sieon handed him. His drinking was quick, perhaps because he was too hot. Sieon raised an eyebrow. It was a beverage meant to be savored, not gulped down. Watching Gureum hastily slurp the latte, Sieon spoke up.

“You’ll get a stomachache, Gureum. Take it slow.”

“Ah…! Sorry, sorry…”

“It’s okay. You must have rushed here thinking you were late. Should I buy you something else to drink?”

“No, no…!”

Sieon patted Gureum’s back. It wasn’t a joke; he truly seemed like he might get sick. Gureum, startled by the offer, blankly stared at the desserts set on the table.

“Uh…, I wasn’t going to pay…”

“Hey. I wouldn’t dream of cleaning out the wallet of someone thirteen years younger like you.”

“Ah…….”

“We should get you some water. Hold on.”

Sieon got up again and soon returned with a glass of ice water.

“Drink this.”

“Thank you…”

Gureum drank the ice water. It seemed to relieve his thirst better than before. He quickly emptied the glass and began fidgeting with his fingers again, as if he had forgotten why he had come due to his nerves.

“Gureum… Aren’t you going to look at me?”

“Yes…?!”

“You said you would judge me fairly…”

“Ah…….”

Gureum finally mustered the courage to meet Sieon’s gaze, who also looked back earnestly. His eyes flitted about Sieon’s face, avoiding direct contact.

There was no need to worry. After all, he had summoned him with a made-up excuse. However, Sieon struggled to suppress the boiling lust in his eyes. Gureum’s eyelashes fluttered prettily. Sieon’s mouth watered from being so close.

Feigning seriousness, Gureum slowly opened his mouth. A peek of his bright red tongue showed. Sieon clenched his fist.

“Uh… you’re really handsome…”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes…. I was really surprised when I first saw you… You’re so… handsome…”

Gureum’s cheeks flushed with his confession. If not for the tears that suddenly welled up in his eyes, Sieon would have sat up proudly.

“…Gureum? Are you crying?”

Tears dripped down from Gureum’s innocent eyes. He roughly wiped them with his sleeve, worrying Sieon that he might hurt his skin. Sieon grabbed his hand to stop him and took a tissue to wipe his tears.

“Why are you crying, huh?”

“Sob… sorry…. Sieon, you’re so wonderful yet lack confidence… sob…. I just feel so inadequate and embarrassed…. That’s why I’m crying…”

Sieon let out an incredulous sigh. How was he supposed to comfort him? As he pondered, a brilliant idea struck him. He tried to conjure the saddest thing he could remember, but ironically, he couldn’t recall any sorrowful memories.

“Sigh…, so that’s how it is for you, Gureum…”

Sieon dabbed at Gureum’s eyes with the tissue while forcibly squeezing out his own tears. It didn’t work well. What could he do? He hadn’t cried before…. Maybe he should yawn to force some tears? As he looked around for a way, he noticed an Americano with melted ice on the table. The temperature difference had caused condensation on the outside of the cup.

That’s it. Sieon stealthily wiped his finger across the cup and then dabbed his eye with it. Unaware of the real situation, Gureum continued to sob. Sieon faked a sob as he breathed heavily.

“Ah… no. I feel relieved that Gureum, you objectively assess me… I’ve been so worried… sigh…”

“Sieon…? Are you crying…?”

Seeing Sieon suddenly show tears, Gureum’s tears retracted in shock.

“Sigh… sorry. Tears just came out… But you know, Gureum? You’re also very cute, handsome, beautiful, and lovely… I was surprised the moment I saw you too.”

“No, no…! You’re more…!”

“No, Gureum, you’re more.”

Confused, Gureum picked up a tissue to wipe Sieon’s eyes. No good, there wouldn’t be any tears. Sieon feigned more sobs and pushed down Gureum’s hands. Then, he spoke with a tone filled with relief and admiration, as if they were kindred spirits.

“Since we met like this, shall we give each other a comforting hug?”

“Ah… Yes, yes!”

Gureum looked up at Sieon with reddened eyes, nodding obediently. His expression was oddly submissive, and Sieon’s fists tightened again.

He could feel his pants tightening around his thighs. He loathed the crying look. If not for Gureum’s presence, he would have undressed, grabbed, and shaken him right then. Instead, he tightly embraced Gureum’s upper body, which was now allowed. The fit was perfect.

“…Thank you for meeting me.”

“Mm… me too…”

Sieon pulled Gureum’s thin back closer to his chest. One hand subtly slipped to his waist, causing Gureum to flinch and stiffen. Perhaps unfamiliar with physical contact, Gureum squirmed his hands, unsure of what to do. Ignoring this, Sieon buried his nose into Gureum’s neck. The scent of fabric softener mingled with Gureum’s unique fragrance. It was a warm scent. He felt like he could lose himself just from the smell.

Fighting the urge to sink his teeth into Gureum’s white neck and devour him, Sieon whispered seductively into Gureum’s ear, which was dotted with fine baby hairs.

“Let’s get along well from now on, Gureum.”

“Gasp… yes…!”