Chapter 4

Having organized his minimal belongings, Kang Yu-han found himself with nothing left to do.

He dropped onto the bed, briefly considering a return to the audiovisual room to watch the half-finished movie again but quickly dismissed the thought. He’d seen it countless times; there was no need to watch it once more.

It seemed a better idea to get some sleep. The room was so dark, not a sliver of light seeping in, and it seemed perfect for a quick nap.

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Kang Yu-han took off his uniform jacket and hung it up before lying down on the bed. The mattress was so stiff it felt as if the springs would pop out at any moment, but he could tolerate it. Lifting his arm to cover his eyes, he let out a long sigh, one that carried a trace of the mixed feelings he’d been suppressing all day.

‘He didn’t notice… right?’

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Reflecting on the events of the day, he tried to remember if he’d made any missteps. He believed he’d behaved as usual, but when his gaze had crossed with Seo Ji-hyuk’s, had he inadvertently let slip any of the emotions he’d long since buried deep within him?

Seo Ji-hyuk wouldn’t know. He couldn’t know—he had to remain unaware of his feelings.

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It had been an exhausting day. Closing his eyes, Kang Yu-han soon drifted off into sleep.

* * *

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Creak—bang.

The sound of the metal door opening jolted Kang Yu-han awake.

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“Major, come on, stay with me.”

“Ah, let go of me.”

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The entryway was filled with noise. It seemed Seo Ji-hyuk had been brought back to the room, heavily drunk, by one of the junior officers.

Kang Yu-han remained still, lying on the bed on the inner side of the room. There was no need for him to get up to help Seo Ji-hyuk. He’d stumble his way inside eventually.

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“All right, then. I’ll be going now. Careful, Major!”

“I’m fine. Go on.”

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Through his slurred speech, Seo Ji-hyuk dismissed the junior officer. As the officer left, Seo Ji-hyuk’s distinct scent, mixed with the pungent smell of alcohol and sweat, filled the bedroom.

For a brief moment, Kang Yu-han’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his eyes shut, hoping not to betray that he was awake. Surely, Seo Ji-hyuk would just pass out soon enough on his own.

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But then something unexpected happened. Seo Ji-hyuk, unable to hold himself up, collapsed right onto Kang Yu-han’s body.

“Ugh.”

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Kang Yu-han was pinned down by Seo Ji-hyuk’s large frame, making it hard to breathe. The heat from Seo Ji-hyuk’s body, combined with the smell of alcohol and his steady breath brushing against Kang Yu-han’s neck, sent a chill down his spine.

“Get off.”

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Kang Yu-han, trying to mask the slight tremor in his voice, pushed at Seo Ji-hyuk irritably. But with his towering height over 190 cm and his solid build, Seo Ji-hyuk was not easily moved.

No matter how many times he tried, Seo Ji-hyuk remained immovable. The weight of his drunken, limp body was even heavier and warmer than usual.

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Kang Yu-han’s heartbeat quickened. The heat from Seo Ji-hyuk’s body seeped through their clothing, overwhelming him with the sensation of being engulfed.

“I said… move.”

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Just as Kang Yu-han, feeling that he couldn’t endure any longer, tried to forcefully push Seo Ji-hyuk away, his wrist was seized in Seo Ji-hyuk’s large hand. He was pinned to the bed, unable to resist.

Though Kang Yu-han was no stranger to strength himself, Seo Ji-hyuk’s grip was overwhelming. Caught in a situation where he’d tried to push away but ended up restrained instead, he was thrown into confusion.

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Seo Ji-hyuk raised himself slightly, allowing Kang Yu-han a breath of relief as he exhaled sharply. Even in the complete darkness, Kang Yu-han felt the piercing sensation of Seo Ji-hyuk’s gaze fixed directly on him, like the eyes of a predator in the shadows.

With one hand, Seo Ji-hyuk pinned Kang Yu-han’s wrists above his head. Maybe, if he struggled with all his might, he could break free. But…

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A strange fear kept him frozen, dreading what might happen next. Seo Ji-hyuk, his free hand now roaming, gripped Kang Yu-han’s jaw in his large palm, as if assessing him. Rough fingers traced across his face, and in the darkness, Seo Ji-hyuk’s intense gaze gleamed.

“Hey, I feel like I’ve seen you before…”

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Kang Yu-han’s body tensed. Seo Ji-hyuk didn’t recognize him, that much was clear.

“Where did I…?”

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But before he could answer, Seo Ji-hyuk’s lips descended, capturing his in a bruising kiss. Kang Yu-han’s eyes widened in shock.

This was no tentative, exploratory kiss—it was raw and consuming, like he intended to devour him whole.

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Kang Yu-han’s jaw ached from the pressure of Seo Ji-hyuk’s grip. As he tried to pull away, Seo Ji-hyuk’s persistent tongue chased him, refusing to let go.

“W-wait…!”

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There was no chance to protest. Just as he thought there’d be a reprieve, Seo Ji-hyuk’s hot breath returned, smothering him.

An overwhelming sensation washed over Kang Yu-han, as if the world had vanished and only the two of them remained, caught in this intense moment.

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“Hah… hah…”

As soon as Seo Ji-hyuk’s tongue withdrew, Kang Yu-han gasped for air, their faces mere inches apart. He couldn’t believe how insignificant the 60 cm distance he’d noted earlier had become.

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Now, they were pressed together in a vacuum, their bodies melded as if to expel any trace of coolness between them.

Wait.

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A frown formed on Kang Yu-han’s face as he registered an uncomfortable pressure against his hip—it was unmistakably Seo Ji-hyuk’s arousal, rigid and pressing insistently against his lower abdomen.

“Damn it…”

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A cold sweat formed on Kang Yu-han’s brow. Did Seo Ji-hyuk realize who he was, or did he not care who he was touching? His head spun, thoughts blurring.

Then, Seo Ji-hyuk’s lips found his neck, the unfamiliar warmth making Kang Yu-han’s body go rigid.

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“Ah…”

The sensation of Seo Ji-hyuk’s lips exploring his neck, sucking and biting, sent an involuntary sound past his lips, one that sounded foreign to him.

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Mortified, he moved to cover his mouth, but Seo Ji-hyuk was faster, gripping his wrists firmly. In a voice soft and unlike anything he’d heard from him before, Seo Ji-hyuk whispered,

“Don’t cover it. I like hearing you.”

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And then, he resumed his assault on Kang Yu-han’s neck, biting and sucking, until electric jolts shot through his entire body. Tilting his head back, Kang Yu-han squeezed his eyes shut, staring blankly at the darkened ceiling.

He knew what would come next. Seo Ji-hyuk’s large hand slid down to his waist, lifting his shirt and slipping beneath without hesitation. The calloused fingers moved over his skin, drawing shuddered breaths from Kang Yu-han.

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“Hah… ngh…”

But that was the limit.

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Clinging to the last threads of his composure, Kang Yu-han mustered all his strength and pushed Seo Ji-hyuk away.

“Enough!”

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With all his strength, Kang Yu-han shoved Seo Ji-hyuk, sending him tumbling off the bed and crashing onto the floor.

The loud thud didn’t concern Kang Yu-han in the slightest. Panting heavily, he straightened his clothes and sat up quickly, feeling as though he were a deer escaping a hungry lion.

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But the next moment, a dry chuckle escaped his lips. After all that commotion, Seo Ji-hyuk had fallen asleep—right there on the floor, sprawled out, limbs loose.

“…Damn idiot.”

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Kang Yu-han slumped back onto the bed, muttering to himself. His heart was still racing uncontrollably. Just below him, Seo Ji-hyuk lay curled up, deep in sleep, completely oblivious to the world.

“Jerk.”

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Muttering curses under his breath, Kang Yu-han shut his eyes tight. He couldn’t begin to imagine how he’d face Seo Ji-hyuk in the morning. Leaving the room to sleep elsewhere would mean his exit would be recorded, and the center chief would be promptly informed.

If he left, he’d be the one questioned about the incident, which was the last thing he wanted. Reluctantly, he accepted that he had no choice but to sleep in this room. Grabbing a pillow, he tossed it at the back of Seo Ji-hyuk’s head, but Seo Ji-hyuk didn’t so much as flinch.

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* * *

Sleep eluded him for hours, and it was almost dawn by the time he finally drifted off. Barely awake, Kang Yu-han eventually stirred to the sound of his alarm. He silenced it groggily, pulling himself upright.

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As his mind cleared, memories of the early morning began surfacing. He quickly glanced toward the side of the bed, checking if Seo Ji-hyuk was still on the floor. But to his surprise, the spot was empty, as was Seo Ji-hyuk’s own bed.

‘Where…?’

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Kang Yu-han got up abruptly and walked to the shower room. There was no trace of anyone having used it; it was spotless and dry.

He distinctly remembered Seo Ji-hyuk sprawled out on the floor. Where could he have gone? Deep in thought, Kang Yu-han began removing his clothes, moving toward the sink.

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When he looked in the mirror, he noticed the vivid red marks left on his neck. He cursed under his breath, covering the bruised skin where faint bite marks and bloodstains remained. Leaving his neck exposed had been a grave mistake.

Perhaps it was for the best that Seo Ji-hyuk was out of sight now. They’d inevitably cross paths later as teammates, but facing him immediately would have been far worse.

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Standing under the stream of the shower, he tried to wash away the traces of last night’s encounter, though they stubbornly lingered.

When he finally emerged, sweeping back his wet hair, he froze as he heard the sound of the front door opening. He tensed instinctively; Seo Ji-hyuk had returned.

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Seo Ji-hyuk strolled into the bedroom, humming lightly, but stopped abruptly when he saw Kang Yu-han.

Kang Yu-han stiffened, then quickly wrapped a towel around his neck. A silence settled between them, broken finally by Seo Ji-hyuk.

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“Are you done in the bathroom?”

“…Yeah.”

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“Then I’ll go wash up.”

Seo Ji-hyuk’s tone was casual, as if nothing unusual had happened. He gave Kang Yu-han a quick once-over, his lips parting as if to say something, but he held back, turning instead and heading into the bathroom without another word.

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