CR | Chapter 6.6

Kim Chanyoung, who had been watching Wi Woori and Kim Donghwa closely, decided to side with Wi Woori. Not for any particular reason—he just thought it would be fun to watch what drunk people do.

Knowing their feelings were mutual, he figured popcorn would be the best snack and mentally prepared it in advance.

“Aren’t you meeting your girlfriend?”

“Oh, Yujin said she has a group meeting today. Hey, if you wipe your mouth here, you’re a real bastard. You know? I cleaned up after Wi Woori.”

“Hey, what did you do? You just scratched my nerves.”

“I scratched your nerves?”

Kim Chanyoung let out a breath of disbelief. But with Wi Woori glaring at him, there was no way to win with words. Eventually, he waved his hand in the air, conceding.

“Anyway, we’re drinking, right? Include me. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you two drink like a married couple.”

Wrapping up the conversation lightly, Kim Chanyoung packed his things. Even as he did, he found himself amused and let out a chuckle.

It was obvious that following these bastards would only cause him frustration, yet here he was, burning his frontal lobe thinking it would be fun—proof that he wasn’t quite normal either.

⛧⛧⛧

When they arrived at the barbecue restaurant, Kim Chanyoung watched the two bicker endlessly, as if he were watching a highly entertaining sitcom.

Back when he didn’t know their feelings were mutual, he had thought Kim Donghwa was just dancing all sorts of blues alone and felt sorry for him. But now, it was clear—they were a perfect pair.

Kim Chanyoung gritted his teeth as he watched Kim Donghwa repeatedly pour and then snatch away drinks. He closed his eyes tightly when Wi Woori, who had just been cursing and demanding his glass back, suddenly acted cute and said thank you when the drink was poured.

Yet, seeing them sneak glances at each other ignited a burning frustration inside him. He barely held back from shouting out loud.

When he didn’t know, he had just thought they seemed like a couple because they had been together for so long. But now that he did know their feelings, they were just really annoying—and hilariously funny—bastards.

“You guys are freaking hilarious.”

Adding his idle observation, both of them turned to look at him simultaneously. One glared with fiery eyes, while the other raised an eyebrow as if asking, “Are you crazy?” Even that matched perfectly, making him grind his teeth.

Why do they match better than I do with my own relationship?

“I’m going out for a smoke.”

“Oh! Kim Chanyoung, I can hear your lungs rotting.”

“Don’t you guys smoke?”

“Yeah, we agreed to smoke only twice a week.”

“What kind of agreement is that?”

Why do they even make such agreements?

It was even funnier that they insisted they weren’t dating while doing things like that. Kim Chanyoung clenched his fists at Kim Donghwa and Wi Woori—then promptly flipped them off with both middle fingers.

As Kim Chanyoung left the restaurant with a cigarette in his mouth, Wi Woori leaned his head against Kim Donghwa’s sturdy shoulder. His eyes blinked drowsily, already hazy from the alcohol, and Kim Donghwa patted his face.

“Go ahead, sleep.”

“But why twice? Wasn’t it three times?”

When Wi Woori asked, brushing Kim Donghwa’s hand away, Kim Donghwa casually replied while flipping the nicely grilled meat.

“We agreed on twice.”

“No, it was three times.”

“It was twice. I won rock-paper-scissors.”

“You said three times.”

“No, it was twice.”

No, it was definitely three times.

Wi Woori sat up slightly and looked at Kim Donghwa. There wasn’t any particular reason for agreeing on the number of times to smoke.

Since they liked each other’s pheromone scent, they had decided to cut down on the cigarette smell. But settling on the exact number wasn’t easy. After several rounds of bickering, they had finally reached an agreement—and now he was saying it was twice?

Even though Wi Woori didn’t smoke often, when he did, he chain-smoked, so he felt a bit regretful about the limit. As he frowned deeply, Kim Donghwa suddenly ran his large hand over his face.

“Ah, stop it.”

“It was twice.”

“You bastard, you’re lowering the number on purpose because I can’t remember properly, right?”

“Watch your language.”

“Anyone would think I’m the only one swearing.”

There probably isn’t anyone who can match Kim Donghwa’s foul mouth.

Wi Woori pouted his lips as if he was wronged, and Kim Donghwa pressed down on them with his palm.

“Who sticks out their lips like that? You’re the one who can’t remember.”

“Why do you keep telling me not to do things?”

“Who said not to do anything? Just remember, isn’t a promise a promise?”

“Ah, I’m not talking to Kim Donghwa anymore.”

In the end, Wi Woori turned his back on Kim Donghwa and sipped his drink in small gulps.

Kim Donghwa, who nitpicked at every little thing, was so annoying. Why couldn’t he just let it go? He never let anything slide.

As Woori grumbled in frustration, a voice called from behind.

“Hey.”

He hesitated, debating whether to turn around or not. Then, just as he did—

A piece of meat was suddenly shoved into his mouth.

“Eat some snacks while you drink. You’ll ruin your stomach.”

And he liked that. This time, he grinned and looked at him, and Kim Donghwa smiled back. Then he held up two fingers in front of him.

“Smoking is twice a week.”

Seriously, who can stop that kind of stubbornness?

He could have easily agreed to three times, but once something was decided, he never changed it—which was so frustrating. But what could he do? It’s not like he didn’t already know Kim Donghwa was like this.

In the end, when Wi Woori admitted defeat and raised both hands, he suddenly heard clapping in front of him.

What was this now?

When Wi Woori and Kim Donghwa looked up at the same time, they saw Kim Chanyoung—who had come back at some point—standing over them with a thoroughly fed-up expression.

“You guys are seriously like freaking cockroaches.”

“Cockroaches, my ass. Stop introducing yourself, you crazy bastard.”

“See, Kim Donghwa swears more.”

Wi Woori chuckled and leaned back against Kim Donghwa. In an instant, he lost his balance and nearly fell. Just as he let out a surprised sound, the ground rushed up to meet him, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

He thought he would fall straight down—but no. Kim Donghwa caught him in time. Patting his butt, he told him to sit up straight before pulling him in tightly to support him.

Watching them quietly, Kim Chanyoung came to a single conclusion: he couldn’t watch this anymore. It would be so much less painful if they just dated already.

When he opened his eyes after squeezing them shut in frustration, he was met with an even more ridiculous sight—Kim Donghwa feeding Wi Woori meat, and Wi Woori sneakily smiling at him every time Kim Donghwa flipped the meat.

They’re really doing some crazy shit.

⛧⛧⛧

Even as summer approached, a cool breeze blew. After parting ways with Kim Chanyoung, the two walked home at a leisurely pace, savoring the breeze and taking slow steps.

Before they knew it, they were naturally holding hands. Ever since one of them had mentioned that holding hands was better than kissing, they found themselves doing it more often. Every time their palms touched, a warm, fuzzy feeling spread through them. Even though it felt a bit warm, neither of them even considered letting go.

Kim Donghwa gently stroked Wi Woori’s fingers as they slipped between his. Despite being a guy, Woori had long, pretty fingers and soft skin—pleasant to the touch. Now that holding hands had become second nature, it felt even better to touch them naturally.

Lifting his head slightly, Kim Donghwa gazed up at the sky. The full moon, shining brightly in the clear night without a halo, seemed especially radiant tonight. The cool moonlight made his heart feel ticklish for some reason.

Whether it was because he was walking with Wi Woori, holding his hand, or perhaps the slight buzz from the alcohol—there was no need to distinguish.

“I’m drunk!”

“Yeah, you’re drunk.”

“Oh, I’m gonna fall!”

“Ah, be careful.”

Kim Donghwa quickly grabbed Wi Woori, who suddenly staggered. Once Wi Woori regained his balance, he slowly leaned against him. Thinking it might be better to just support him, Kim Donghwa quietly offered his shoulder, and Wi Woori leaned his face against it, mumbling.

“When I was at the cafe with Kim Chanyoung earlier, he spoke so loudly that everyone stared. It was so embarrassing.”

“Why did he speak so loudly?”

“…That’s a secret.”

Wi Woori, who had started speaking lightly, suddenly clammed up. After all, he couldn’t exactly say that he had confessed his feelings to Kim Chanyoung.

Kim Donghwa, curious about why Woori had gone silent after acting as if he would say anything, squinted at him.

“Did you make a mistake or something?”

Wi Woori frowned at the follow-up question.

“No, I didn’t.”

What do you take me for?

As Wi Woori glared at him, Kim Donghwa grinned and casually wiped his face with his hand. It was meant to say, Don’t look at me like that, but Kim Donghwa wasn’t the type to care about such things.

So, Wi Woori deliberately stared at him even harder.

Kim Donghwa’s gaze, which had been drifting away, now fixed straight ahead. Although his silent steps were slightly annoying, Wi Woori decided not to create any more friction since he was in a good mood.

Just as he was about to take another step—

“Oh, oh!”

With a short scream—thud!

A loud noise echoed around them. Startled, Kim Donghwa quickly turned to his side. Wi Woori, who had been leaning against him and walking unsteadily, was now sprawled on the ground.

“Hey! Are you okay?”

The surprise was short-lived, and he couldn’t help but laugh. Stifling his laughter, Kim Donghwa bent down to check on him. When he tried to turn Wi Woori’s shoulder, Woori resisted—perhaps out of embarrassment.

“Hey, Wi Woori.”

Kim Donghwa poked his side.