PAP Chapter 10

Due to their close proximity, Yiwoon’s arm kept brushing against Yoohyun’s. Uncomfortable with even the slightest contact, Yoohyun moved ahead of Yiwoon. Even though they weren’t connected by magnets, Yiwoon continued to follow closely, maintaining a distance where their arms could touch.

Despite their height difference and presumably different strides, Yiwoon’s walking pace somehow matched Yoohyun’s. Yoohyun hoped it was just his imagination, but there was no need for Yiwoon to deliberately match his pace. It wasn’t important enough to warrant pointing out, so Yoohyun decided to increase his speed instead. 

Seeing Yiwoon’s quickening to match his own confirmed it wasn’t a misunderstanding. Taking increasingly faster steps, Yoohyun suddenly stopped, observing Yiwoon struggling to keep up with him.

“Ankle……”

A mumbled sound escaped from between Yoohyun’s parted lips. Because he had only muttered it, Yiwoon, who had also stopped, looked puzzled, unable to understand.

“Is something wrong?”

“…….”

“Sunbae-nim.”

Even when Yiwoon cautiously questioned, Yoohyun didn’t respond. With no change in his expression, it was impossible to tell what was wrong. Trying to follow Yoohyun’s sudden stop, Yiwoon’s feet were pointed in different directions. In particular, his injured ankle, which he had been rotating slightly, was now in a more awkward, twisted position. While Yiwoon showed no signs of pain, Yoohyun’s brows furrowed.

“Come slowly. Don’t push yourself.”

“……Yes?”

“You hurt your ankle, didn’t you?”

“…….”

“You don’t need to match my pace. Take your time.”

Yoohyun had long since concluded that Yiwoon had injured his ankle. If he pushed himself while in pain and it got worse, it would trouble the people around him. Especially, if the schedule was disrupted, it would affect Sujin.

It wasn’t that he was worried about Yiwoon, but rather he didn’t want his sister to have a hard time. There was also a part of Yoohyun trying to prevent Yiwoon from blaming him if he got injured while trying to keep up.

Of course, a small part of him was concerned about Yiwoon. Ankles, once injured, were prone to further problems. He meant it as a reminder for Yiwoon to take care of himself before the injury worsened, but Yiwoon’s reaction was unusual.

“Are you worried about me?”

In a situation like this, most people would ask how he knew. Whether out of genuine curiosity or as a reflex. It wasn’t usual, but it was common for people to react that way when someone knew something they hadn’t shared.

However, Yiwoon didn’t seem curious about that at all, instead focusing on an irrelevant question. He seemed to welcome the concern, as if it was something to be pleased about.

“So, you really are injured.”

Although he had already assumed it based on Yiwoon’s lack of denial, Yoohyun reiterated his observation once more. He began to wonder if he had been needlessly meddling, as Yiwoon seemed fine. Yoohyun was prepared to turn around without a second thought if Yiwoon claimed he wasn’t hurt.

As if sensing Yoohyun’s callous thoughts, Yiwoon’s shoulders, which had been standing perfectly fine just moments before, slumped to one side. He shifted his weight to his uninjured leg and drooped his thin lips.

“Actually, it’s been throbbing since earlier. I have a habit of putting weight on one leg when I’m focus. I didn’t even realize that I was using the injured one……”

“…….”

“I was trying to bear it because I didn’t want to be a burden, but I didn’t know you’d notice.”

His gentle, downcast eyes could move even a stranger. As if determined to appear pitiful, Yiwoon maintained his dejected expression without easing his frown. 

He doesn’t look that hurt, though. 

It didn’t seem entirely like an act, but it wasn’t entirely believable either. In any case, since Yoohyun had initiated it, he had no choice but to dismiss his suspicions.

Perhaps interpreting Yoohyun’s silence as sympathy for his pain, Yiwoon let out occasional groans, amplifying his suffering. As his center of gravity shifted, he bent his outstretched leg, bringing their eyes closer to the same height.

Watching Yiwoon’s increasingly twitching, innocent-looking eyes, Yoohyun suppressed a sigh. Had he known that a single word would cause this much trouble, he would have kept his mouth shut. He hadn’t intended to suggest anything other than Yiwoon should take care of himself. Though he hadn’t explicitly said anything, seeing Yiwoon’s groans deepen, he wondered if he wanted help after all.

“……Should I help you?”

Although Yiwoon didn’t look like he needed support, it was the most consideration Yoohyun could offer. He disliked physical contact with anyone other than his family, but there was no helping it.

He doesn’t have to come if it’s that hard. 

Since Sujin was the one who suggested the meal, Yoohyun couldn’t tell him not to come. He was just about to casually offer his shoulder for support when Yiwoon immediately refused.

“I don’t want people to know I’m injured, so it would be troublesome if you supported me……”

“Then just come slowly. I’ll wait.”

This was as far as he would go. If Yiwoon didn’t want his help, then fine. 

Yoohyun turned his back on Yiwoon without hesitation. 

He said he didn’t need help, so he’ll come on his own. 

As Yoohyun, having cleanly washed his hands of the matter, was about to head towards the entrance, an arm reached out from behind and grabbed his clothes.

“Can I ask you for something else instead?”

Pulled by a rather forceful tug, Yoohyun turned around emotionlessly. His loosely draped coat slipped down his straight shoulders.

“Ah.”

A small sigh escaped Yoohyun’s lips. He had offered to hold him, but he hadn’t said to grab him so carelessly. This person was annoying in many ways.

Exhausted from the pointless energy expenditure of their short conversation, Yoohyun was  already getting tired of Yiwoon. Suppressing a rising sigh, he tried to properly adjust his slipping coat, but a white, slender hand reached out and pulled it back up to his shoulders.

For a moment, Yoohyun was puzzled and tried to process what just happened. Yiwoon, still maintaining a pained expression, blinked his large eyes as if appealing for sympathy and continued.

“Could you hold my hand instead?”

The hand that lingered around Yoohyun’s collarbone extended towards his wrist. Sleek and neatly trimmed fingertips hovered near the back of Yoohyun’s hand. Yoohyun stared blankly at the hand, as beautiful as Yiwoon’s face, and then frowned. It had been a long time since he had frowned so openly.

Asking to hold hands with someone he’d just met? Even if they had met a few times, as Yiwoon claimed, asking to hold hands out of the blue was a sudden and strange request. Besides, there was no reason to hold hands now.

Usually, he would pretend not to hear such absurd requests. This tactic worked well in noisy environments or when surrounded by people, but unfortunately, neither applied now. Everyone seemed busy with their own tasks, and no one paid attention to them anymore. Yoohyun briefly considered ignoring him and slipping away, but asked back in a gruff tone,

“Why should I hold your hand?”

He resolved that if the answer wasn’t convincing, he would leave Yiwoon behind this time. He had already wasted several minutes engaging in this meaningless conversation. Enough time had passed for Sujin, who was ahead of them, to have already gotten into the car.

Yoohyun was ready to turn his back the moment Yiwoon’s reply was delayed. Unfortunately, Yiwoon continued the conversation without hesitation.

“I’m heavier than I look, so I think it’ll be hard for you to walk if I lean on your shoulder. If you just hold my hand, I can try to support myself.”

“If you need someone to support you that badly, it would be better to rest instead of coming along.”

“I told you I don’t like eating alone. And since the photographer is buying, I can’t just refuse…”

Yiwoon rubbed his forehead with a troubled expression. Considering how Yiwoon had smiled continuously at the invitation of eating together, the claim about disliking eating alone seemed valid. Moreover, it was rude to decline a colleague’s offer so late. Sujin would understand, of course, but Yiwoon didn’t know Sujin as well as he did. He also wasn’t inclined to relay the message for him, so Yoohyun closed his mouth.

“It doesn’t hurt that much, but it would be a big problem if I accidentally injure it further, so I’m trying to be careful. We still have the afternoon shoot left. If you noticed it, it means I must have been showing signs of pain without realizing it.”

“…….”

“Just hold my hand until we go down the stairs, and I’ll manage after that.”

Yiwoon’s fingertips, which stretched out a little further, touched the back of Yoohyun’s hand. Instead of brushing off the uninvited touch, Yoohyun reluctantly grasped Yiwoon’s fingers. It seemed like Yiwoon wouldn’t be persuaded otherwise.

Intending to just hold his hand briefly, Yoohyun wrapped his hand around Yiwoon’s whole hand. Yiwoon’s remaining fingers naturally clasped the back of Yoohyun’s hand. Yoohyun’s hand was almost completely hidden within Yiwoon’s much larger grip, despite not being small itself.

Although he held Yiwoon’s hand as requested, a small worry surfaced. He was concerned someone might see them holding hands and start baseless rumors.

Why were people so obsessed with other people’s private lives? 

The moment there was even the slightest contact with someone, rumors would spread like wildfire across the internet. Filming sets, especially crowded with people, were perfect breeding grounds for unnecessary gossip. Moreover, the two of them were celebrities everyone knew, making them even more susceptible to rumors.

Even Yoohyun, who avoided spending personal time with others, had been caught up in minor scandals. In those instances, Yoohyun didn’t tolerate it and had always taken a firm stance. Since he was quick to react whenever there was even the smallest physical contact anyone, regardless of gender, it was natural for him to be worried. 

Of course, the biggest concern was the potential for trouble. Holding hands, in particular, wasn’t something done lightly unless you were quite close.

Though there were many truths that could clear up misunderstandings, Yoohyun kept a certain distance to prevent rumors from starting in the first place.

“Sunbae-nim, can you come a little closer to my side?”

Yiwoon, who had been quietly following behind Yoohyun, added cautiously. Since Yoohyun was literally just holding his hand, it was far from supporting him. Preoccupied with avoiding any chance of misunderstanding, Yoohyun hadn’t considered Yiwoon’s situation. Right now, it looked as if Yiwoon was being dragged along by Yoohyun. Perhaps due to the faster pace, his ankle felt more painful than when he walked alone.

Noticing Yiwoon’s furrowed brow, Yoohyun gently pulled on his hand. He placed his hand under Yiwoon’s arm, firmly supporting him so that Yiwoon’s weight leaned on him. Satisfied now that they were walking side-by-side, the familiar laughter that Yoohyun had grown accustomed to spread through the air. Seeing how Yiwoon seemed fine despite claiming to be in pain made Yoohyun feel somewhat tricked.

Suppressing a sigh, Yoohyun dutifully supported Yiwoon’s weight. After diligently guiding Yiwoon down the flight of stairs as promised, Yoohyun coldly detached himself the moment they reached the bottom.

“You can come alone from here.”

It wasn’t like he couldn’t walk at all. Yoohyun’s patience had already been stretched to its limit. As expected, Yoohyun’s car had not only left the parking lot but was waiting right at the entrance. Spotting his car, Yoohyun headed towards it with brisk steps, leaving Yiwoon behind. He didn’t even look back once, as if the thought of sharing the car with the other person never crossed his mind.

How cold.