CR | Chapter 6.7

Wi Woori’s large body flinched, but he still didn’t get up. Kim Donghwa raised an eyebrow before plopping down beside him, as if waiting to see how long Woori would hold out.

How much time had passed?

Wi Woori, seemingly unable to endure any longer, slowly lifted his head. Then, he cautiously turned his gaze toward Kim Donghwa.

The moment their eyes met, Wi Woori quickly turned his head away, burying his face in the ground.

Seriously, what’s with him?

If you’re going to get drunk, do it gracefully.

Kim Donghwa couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

“Hey, if you’re embarrassed, just get up. Staying like this is even more embarrassing.”

Kim Donghwa poked Wi Woori’s side rhythmically with both hands.

“Get up, Wi Woori.”

“You crazy jerk, stop it.”

“Look at that foul mouth. Hey, get up.”

“…Turn around. I’ll get up.”

“Why? Are you badly hurt? Your face looks fine.”

“Ah, stop!”

Wi Woori shouted, completely hiding his face.

He genuinely felt like crying a little.

“I mean, if you know I’m embarrassed about falling, can’t you just pretend you didn’t see? What’s with sitting down and teasing me like this? Of course, if Kim Donghwa fell in front of me, I wouldn’t let it slide either.”

Lying flat on the ground, covering his face with both hands, Wi Woori groaned. Meanwhile, Kim Donghwa’s hearty laughter echoed through the night—but only for a moment. The rustling sound of movement suggested he was stepping away.

Thinking it might finally be safe to get up, Wi Woori cautiously began to rise.

“Are you getting up?”

Kim Donghwa’s voice followed immediately.

Wi Woori, who had lifted himself about three centimeters, quickly pressed himself back against the asphalt and shook his head.

“If you keep watching like that, I’m never getting up.”

He answered nonchalantly while fumbling under his nose with the hand still covering his face. Did I get a nosebleed? If he did, lifting his head would be even more humiliating, so he decided to self-diagnose.

Fortunately, there was no moisture under his nose. Just as he let out a deep sigh of relief, Kim Donghwa poked his side again.

“But seriously, get up. People are staring too much. I’m sticking with you now, but if three more people pass by, I’m really going home.”

As if he’d actually leave me.

There had been countless times when Wi Woori had sprawled out on the street like this, and each time, instead of leaving, Kim Donghwa would often lie down beside him.

Knowing this well, Wi Woori stayed exactly where he was, his face still covered.

“One.”

Wait, counting right away wasn’t part of the plan.

With Kim Donghwa’s count, the sound of footsteps approached. Contrary to expectations, his firm action made Wi Woori flinch involuntarily.

“…Two.”

The cold count dropped to the ground. This time, Wi Woori wiggled his feet and tensed his body. Is he really going to leave…?

Cautiously, he turned his head to the side.

“Three.”

As the last passerby seemed to walk by, Kim Donghwa—who had been sitting still—suddenly stood up and dusted off his pants.

Panicking, Wi Woori scrambled to his feet and grabbed Kim Donghwa’s hand. His palm stung a bit from catching himself on the asphalt, but he couldn’t let go.

Despite the pain, he held on tightly. Expecting Kim Donghwa to shake his hand off coldly, Wi Woori was surprised when he didn’t. Instead, when Woori let out a short groan of pain, Kim Donghwa stepped closer.

“Let me see.”

“Your face seems fine. How’s your knee?”

“…It hurts.”

As soon as Kim Donghwa mentioned his knee, a sharp pain shot through Woori’s joint. Having hit the asphalt hard, it was difficult to straighten, so he limped while holding onto Kim Donghwa’s shoulder—prompting a long sigh from him.

Kim Donghwa’s gaze, as he looked around, seemed somewhat troubled.

Wi Woori, watching him curiously, wondered what he was up to—until Kim Donghwa suddenly turned his back to him and squatted down.

“…Are you telling me to get on?”

“When I offer to carry you, just get on. Don’t blame me tomorrow.”

Did I drink, or did he?

Wi Woori suddenly recalled telling Kim Chanyoung about how strangely kind Kim Donghwa had been lately. At the time, he hadn’t been able to give any examples, but this situation was definitely one of them.

Kim Donghwa was being oddly kind.

As Wi Woori hesitated, standing still, Kim Donghwa urged him again. Taking advantage of the alcohol, he reluctantly clung to Donghwa’s broad back. Without hesitation, Kim Donghwa firmly supported him under his thighs and stood up.

“Hold on tight, so you don’t fall.”

At those words, Wi Woori wrapped his arms around Kim Donghwa’s neck. As he buried his nose in the nape of his neck, his chest suddenly felt ticklish. Feeling a bit breathless, he slightly pulled away—only for Kim Donghwa’s nagging to follow.

“If you crack your head, it’s not my fault—it’s yours. And if your grades tank, that’s not my fault either, it’s because of your cracked head.”

“Geez, can’t you say something nice?”

“You complain even when I’m carrying you?”

Even though the conversation was casual, the tickling in his chest was hard to ignore. It was both exciting and a bit awkward. The air around him seemed to gently scratch his skin.

Worried that his heartbeat might reach Donghwa’s back, Wi Woori obediently pressed himself closer.

There was no conversation between them until they reached home.

Was Kim Donghwa feeling the same way?

As Wi Woori inhaled the faint scent of Kim Donghwa’s pheromones, he fervently hoped his heartbeat wouldn’t reach him.

It would be so embarrassing if it did. If it did, he might have to bury his face and shake hands with the King of the Underworld.

He didn’t know how long they had shared those tense breaths. The air, flowing with the gentle breeze, felt sometimes heavy, sometimes light.

Having never held his breath on someone’s back before, it felt even more awkward. The entire way home, all he could think about was getting off his back.

Yet, despite those thoughts, he pressed closer—enjoying the subtle pheromones.

Finally, when they arrived, Wi Woori swallowed dryly and stepped away from him. He checked Kim Donghwa’s expression, wondering if he had felt the loud thumping of his heart.

If he hadn’t noticed anything, then why—

Kim Donghwa casually patted his waist and said,

“Don’t let anyone else carry you.”

“Why?”

Wi Woori asked, eyes wide. He had been puzzled by Kim Donghwa’s recent comments about not doing this with anyone else. Even as he tilted his head, Kim Donghwa shrugged as if it was no big deal.

“I just don’t like it.”

His response was so simple.

It didn’t seem like there was anything more to gain from continuing the conversation.

⛧⛧⛧

While Wi Woori was taking a shower, Kim Donghwa rummaged through the emergency kit, searching for ointment and bandages.

“Wi Woori, I left the ointment and bandages on the table, so apply them before you go to bed.”

When he called out to Wi Woori in the shower, a short “Okay” came from beyond the door.

Although he pretended otherwise, the truth was that he felt a bit embarrassed to look at Wi Woori. Maybe it was because he had carried him on his back, but it felt like all his nerves were still tingling.

As he carried Wi Woori home, he had regretted doing so. The sensation of Woori’s breath near his ear had been far too clear, making his lower abdomen churn. At one point, his knees nearly buckled—but he gritted his teeth and endured.

Even now, just thinking about it made the feeling vivid.

Kim Donghwa gathered his clothes. Since Wi Woori was using the bathroom in the living room, he figured he could just shower in the one attached to his room and go straight to sleep.

“Kim Donghwa.”

At the voice calling from outside the door, Kim Donghwa stopped in his tracks.

“Can I come in for a moment?”

“Why?”

“Can you help me put on this bandage?”

What’s so hard about putting on a bandage…

After hesitating for a moment, Kim Donghwa slightly opened the door. At the same time, Wi Woori’s white hand suddenly thrust in front of him. It seemed the palm was also scraped, as Wi Woori had half-applied the bandage and was asking with his eyes for help to finish it.

“What about your knee?”

“My knee just got bruised, but this part stings.”

“You’re doing a great job, falling over like a kid.”

“I’m a kid, so what?”

Kim Donghwa pressed Wi Woori’s pouty lips gently and carefully applied the bandage. While fiddling with the firmly attached bandage a few more times with his thumb, Wi Woori just stared at it, lost in thought.

Then suddenly, he looked up at him. The moment Kim Donghwa met his gaze, Wi Woori swallowed dryly.

“…Come a little closer for a moment.”

“Why, again?”

Even though he spoke indifferently, Kim Donghwa approached him as if entranced. Somehow, his slightly flushed cheeks suddenly looked pretty. As he stared blankly at him and got closer.

“…!”

Their lips met with a peck. Startled, his eyes widened. There was no time to scold him for what he was doing. Wi Woori, who left a “Good night” greeting, had already disappeared in a flash, and Kim Donghwa had to feel all his nerves jumping from his lips.

“…”

Kim Donghwa unconsciously touched his lips. If the lips he had lived with all his life felt unfamiliar like someone else’s, was he crazy…

Nevertheless, he felt good and ended up smiling.

He had a goodnight kiss with Wi Woori.

The tips of Kim Donghwa’s ears burned bright red. Somehow, he felt a tingling sensation down to the peripheral nerves at his fingertips.