SMS | Chapter 9.4

This was no time to be lying around. Today was clearly a weekday, and it wasn’t a situation where he could take a day off. The boss wouldn’t have given everyone a holiday, so any delay meant being late. With his hair a mess, he barely managed to throw off the heavy blanket and got up from the bed, only for Dohoon to sit him down again.

“It’s earlier than the usual time you go to work, so don’t worry too much. I’ll take you to the company.”

He calmly brought a mug to Mino’s dry lips. Mino took the tepid water between his lips with a dazed heart. Like a young bird drinking water, Dohoon gently tidied Mino’s hair and smiled faintly.

“You drink well. Should I put it in a dog bowl next time?”

“…Krup!”

Was he attempting a humiliation play so early in the morning? Mino flushed and coughed out his reply. Honestly, it tickled his heart with anticipation. Just imagining being treated like an animal and lying down on the floor right after waking up made his toes tingle. After finally finishing the glass of water, Dohoon casually remarked.

“You have quite the bad sleeping habits.”

“Me, me, me?”

“Who else would it be?”

He had been told he talked in his sleep during Christmas, and it seemed he had done it again today. He couldn’t lift his face, not now.

“Are you pretending not to know?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Dohoon seemed amused by his reaction, continually laughing. Mino, once again, rolled his eyes at the perfect state of Dohoon. He could imagine his own disheveled state without needing a mirror. It would be a stark contrast to Dohoon’s perfection.

“I’m sorry…”

He felt like dying of embarrassment showing such a mess and displaying his sleeping habits. It was even more embarrassing than during Christmas. Dohoon must have expected the sleep-talking, but to comment on his sleeping habits again, it must have been quite spectacular.

“But how did I…”

“You were talking in your sleep, burrowing into things, and rolling up the blankets.”

“Really, I am very sorry…”

It seemed he had done quite a bit. If he could, he would have punched the pillows and kicked the blankets.

“Actually, I said you talked in your sleep during Christmas just to tease you. But you really did it today. I guess I’ve become quite comfortable with you.”

“What? No, that can’t be.”

Mino denied it halfway, then made an aggrieved face. But what’s the use of blaming the past?

“So you’re not comfortable? That would be troublesome. How can you date and have sex with someone you’re uncomfortable with?”

“No, that’s not what I mean…”

Dohoon’s casual cornering was a bit annoying. Mino, after a brief consideration, struck back at his weak point.

“Then, are you uncomfortable with me?”

Good. Dohoon’s eyes seemed a bit dazed, and Mino felt triumphant.

“Does it look that way?”

“You’re too perfect. I’m just… a mess.”

But as he spoke, he felt depressed. Thinking comfortably enough to show natural behavior meant showing artificial behavior to someone uncomfortable. Mino, unable to believe Dohoon was in such a state just after waking up, used it as a point of argument. However, Dohoon raised an eyebrow as if it were obvious and replied.

“I’ve washed up, so I might look relatively okay.”

He knew that Dohoon had even showered, evidenced by the lack of a single hair on his beard this morning. Dohoon, overflowing with testosterone here and there, had already experienced mornings together. That’s why he knew Dohoon had visited the bathroom just by seeing his smooth chin.

“So you washed up first because you’re uncomfortable with me?”

Christmas morning, they had definitely woken up together in bed, but it was a bit strange to be treated so cleanly suddenly.

“No, it’s just a habit. It’s not because I’m uncomfortable with Mino.”

“You didn’t do that during Christmas. Maybe you’ve become uncomfortable with me now—”

“What misunderstanding is this?”

The difference between Christmas and today was only that he had fully revealed his preferences. It was a moment when his cringeworthy personality had been exposed.

“I just wanted to show you a cool side since we woke up early, but I didn’t expect you to feel bad about it.”

So, in the end, Dohoon also wanted to look good to him. Mino, embarrassed by his own rash reaction, rolled his eyes and retorted grumpily.

“Even with a beard, you look cool.”

It sounded like a complaint even to his ears. Honestly, he regretted it a bit. Next time, he should cultivate the habit of waking up early. Missing such a precious natural appearance of Dohoon was a pity.

“At my home, I wasn’t allowed to be scruffy. I was a bit tired during Christmas, but not today.”

His statement that he wasn’t tired today felt strange. Mino wasn’t tired either, although his throat was a bit sore. His words meant that to Dohoon, ordinary sex might be more tiring than the play they had last night.

It seemed the same to Mino as well. Objectively, although play was physically more demanding, it was a mentally satisfying activity that seemed to relieve stress. Mino cleared his throat and continued the conversation as calmly as possible.

“…You must have grown up in a very strict home.”

“That’s why I became a pervert.”

A self-deprecating joke was thrown. What to do in such a situation?

“I became a pervert without growing up in a strict home…”

“Good for you. You became a kinky adult without being raised strictly.”

He couldn’t win. Mino’s ears turned red from Dohoon’s effortless embarrassing remarks.

“Let’s have breakfast and go to work. We have plenty of time.”

The curtains revealed that it was still dark outside, typical of the long winter nights. Mino hurried to the bathroom and began to wash his face by pouring cold water on his swollen cheeks.

The hotel breakfast buffet was a rare treat. When he traveled alone, he always skipped breakfast to sleep more, but the last time was when Seongjun dragged him there on a trip they took together years ago.

“Eggs.”

A perfectly fried egg was casually placed in front of Mino.

“You need to make sure you’re getting enough protein.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

Having someone take care of him still felt a bit awkward. However, the thought that this could become an everyday routine made his heart flutter. Even the egg fry Dohoon had given him felt precious, something he wanted to save for last. While picking raisins out of his salad and popping them into his mouth, Mino noticed Dohoon’s slight frown as he spoke casually.

“‘Thank you’ sounds stiff between lovers. It’s more suitable for addressing a master. But even then, it’s not quite appropriate for this setting. Or… is outdoor play your thing?”

“Keuh! Cough!”

The unexpected comment, blurted out in a public setting, caught Mino completely off guard, causing him to choke. Here was someone who could endure having his throat stretched by a cock but couldn’t swallow a mere raisin properly. It was an amusingly adorable sight, though most of the blame lay with Dohoon’s knack for invoking risqué thoughts.

“Drink some water. Slowly.”

Dohoon handed him a glass of water with a picture-perfect smile. After finally calming his cough, Mino reflexively started to thank him again but stopped, biting his lips instead. This was a test. The earlier comment had been a clue. Dohoon was now prompting him to make a choice.

The phrase, “A moment’s decision can determine a lifetime,” flitted through his mind. While it might not be for a lifetime, the choice here could lead to two very different outcomes: saying “thank you” might signify agreement to outdoor play, whereas a more neutral response could imply rejection, potentially shutting down future opportunities. What should he say?

“Hmm. You don’t like public places, do you?”

The silence had gone on longer than expected, prompting Dohoon to repeat the question. Offering water to a partner wasn’t something that required gratitude, so remaining silent could also be interpreted as a response. Mino, desperate to break the tension, blurted out:

“I do! I like it!”

“That’s a relief.”

In his haste, Mino’s response came out overly enthusiastic, making him feel utterly mortified at his own overeagerness. But at least he had safeguarded the possibility of outdoor play.

Dohoon, ever meticulous, seemed to be gauging Mino’s preferences as an extension of yesterday’s play. Mino, nervously sipping his water, quickly added:

“Ah, but… in places with lots of people, exposure might be… a little…”

The thought of anyone seeing them felt overwhelmingly daunting. After all, he still had parents and a job. While outdoor play was exciting in theory, being too blatant about it was something he wanted to avoid. Mino gripped the glass tightly in his hands, apprehension creeping in. What if Dohoon liked more daring activities? Picking up on his unease, Dohoon gently placed his hand over Mino’s and took the cup from him, offering a reassuring reply.

“That’s fine. I don’t like anyone seeing what’s mine either.”

At the word “mine,” Mino’s heart thudded as if it had fallen to the floor—or maybe it was pounding in overdrive. Relishing the feeling, he allowed himself to savor the sensation for a moment.

“…As long as I’m clothed, it’s okay.”

“Hmm. What about something under the clothes?”

Dohoon’s words were ambiguous. What could he mean by something under the clothes? Mino, puzzled, mulled over the question until Dohoon offered a more specific explanation.

“To be precise, I mean something inside your body.”

Inside his body… Mino’s toes curled tightly in his shoes, and his gaze dropped to the table. His line of sight caught the neatly cooked fried egg, but his mind was utterly preoccupied with other thoughts.

“I-I like that.”

“Didn’t even say much, but your ears are already red.”

Without giving Mino time to fully process, Dohoon’s next comment drove his imagination even further.

“Sounds fun. Next time we go on a date outside, there’ll be a lot between your body and your clothes.”

Dohoon smiled deeply, as if just thinking about it amused him. This weekend, when Mino would visit his place, seemed like the start of a dream come true. The mention of something between his body and his clothes left him buzzing with anticipation. Fortunately, it was winter—the thick clothing would make it easier to hide things.

“Seonsaeng-nim…”

Unable to contain his mounting impatience, Mino called out to Dohoon. In the meantime, Dohoon, having neatly cut the fried egg into bite-sized pieces, slid the plate toward him.

“It’ll be troublesome if you get worked up now. You have to go to work, remember? Focus on eating.”

Ah, this was one of those days when he really, truly didn’t want to go to work. All thoughts of Junhyuk had been entirely forgotten.