ASCP Ch 9
by kisses“Do you have a fuck buddy or something? You seem like the type.”
As soon as he heard Cheongdam’s question, Myeongseon chuckled inwardly.
You want to be fuck buddies with me, don’t you?
You’re laying the groundwork with this kind of talk, and then you’ll gradually steer the conversation, and then ask, ‘How about we do it too?’
But too bad. I’m not interested in that kind of thing anymore.
“I haven’t really felt the need to have one,”
Myeongseon said as he slowly turned the steering wheel, pulling out of the empty lot. He didn’t forget to flash Cheongdam a brief, killer smile.
It wasn’t that Myeongseon hadn’t had sex partners before. It was just that, after three experiences where they caught feelings and things ended badly, he had become tired of forming any kind of ongoing relationship. As usual, during those relationships with them, Myeongseon had habitually acted affectionate and sweet, as if he was devoting all the love in the world, and unfortunately, all three of them ended up falling for him.
“You goddamn black hole of a human being.”
One of them had said that, tears welling up in his eyes, as he turned away from Myeongseon, who wouldn’t reciprocate his feelings.
Myeongseon hadn’t taken those incidents seriously, but ultimately, they were tiring. Exhausted by it all, he had long since decided to stick to one-night stands.
“I see.”
Cheongdam murmured, looking out the window.
Myeongseon glanced at Cheongdam’s profile and focused on driving.
I guess I won’t be seeing him again.
He’s got a pretty good attitude compared to Dodo, so seeing him once more wouldn’t be a problem, but he might keep bringing up the fuck buddy thing, fall in love on his own, and make a fuss.
It’s better to block him just in case.
Still… if that Charcoal Grill Guy asked me to be his fuck buddy, I’d do it till the day I die.
He seems to have a nasty temper, so I doubt he’d get attached to anyone easily. Honestly, if I could regularly hook up with a 100 percent body, there’d be no need to mess around with small fries.
Myeongseon stifled a sigh without Cheongdam noticing. Right now, the possibility of Jaekang becoming his sex partner seemed next to none. Forget becoming a sex partner, he didn’t even know how to have sex with Jaekang even once.
* * *
“He seems dangerous. Stop hanging around him.”
Daeyong said, putting a jacket on a mannequin. Myeongseon, who had been loitering in Daeyong’s vintage clothing store, had just finished telling him everything that had happened with Jaekang.
“No, he seems all talk. He seems to get along fine with the other garden staff.”
Myeongseon said, swinging his legs, which were draped over the armrest of a single-person vintage sofa.
“Sunny’s self-justification has kicked in.”
“Honestly, I can talk tough too. What can’t you do with words? But am I a dangerous person? No.”
“What are you talking about? You’re dangerous enough, Sunny.”
“You should have seen him with his shirt off. His back, chest, and abs… oh my…”
“…And this guy says he’s not dangerous?”
Daeyong clicked his tongue and walked towards the counter, adjusting the mannequin’s clothes.
Myeongseon, oblivious, smacked his lips, then suddenly sat up and looked at Daeyong.
“Our Yong Yong… your gaydar is pretty good, isn’t it?”
Daeyong, who was looking at his laptop, glanced at Myeongseon.
“Huh?”
“You’re good at recognizing those kinds of people, aren’t you?”
“Not bad, I guess.”
“Right?”
“Oh, there was this one time when all the gays around me said this guy was absolutely not gay, and I was the only one who insisted he was. Turns out, I was right.”
“Our Daeyong’s got good performance!”
Daeyong tapped his forehead and chuckled.
“But why?”
“Well…”
Myeongseon closed his mouth and thought for a moment.
What if, despite what Daeyong saw, Jaekang was a complete, utter, genuine heterosexual?
Then it would be really, truly, completely over, isn’t it?
“You want me to check out that Charcoal Grill Guy?”
“As expected, our Daeyong know me so well!”
“Just give up already, will you?”
“I have to try as much as I can until the end.”
“Try what? Just hearing about him makes him reek of macho man. What if you get caught and he really hurts you?”
“There are plenty of macho types among gays too.”
“Sunny, Sunny, Myeong-Sunny…”
Daeyong sighed and shook his head.
“Just come with me and take a look, just once. My gaydar is really bad.”
“Your gaydar is truly shit. Worse than having none at all.”
“That’s why I’m asking you to come and appraise him. If even you think he’s straight, I’ll back off cleanly.”
Daeyong stared at Myeongseon intently.
“Yong Yong, Daeyong. You’ll go, right? You’ll go and see him, right?”
Myeongseon tilted his head back and forth, smiling brightly.
Daeyong looked at Myeongseon with an expression of disbelief before opening his mouth.
“So, do I get a pick-up service?”
“Of course. I’ll take you all the way to the garden nice and smoothly.”
“Hmm…”
“I’ll provide the best service, Yong Yong.”
“Well… it’s been a while since I’ve seen your parents. I guess I could at least go and have a look.”
“Yes!”
“The expert is on the move!”
Daeyong thrust his fist in the air. Excited, Myeongseon quickly jumped in front of him and crossed his own fist with Daeyong’s.
“Let’s go!”
If there’s even the slightest hint of him being this way, I’ll hang around a bit more, and if even Daeyong thinks he’s a genuinely straight, I’ll just cleanly give up.
* * *
Early Monday evening.
Myeongseon, desperately wanting to go straight to the backyard charcoal grilling area, restrained himself and led Daeyong into the main hall of the restaurant.
“Daeyong, welcome!”
Jeongsik, who was sweeping the front of the counter with a broom, greeted him warmly.
“Father! Father-in-law1!”
“How’s business going?”
“It’s less of a business and more like me leeching off someone, haha. Just barely scraping by.”
“No, Daeyong, you’re doing great. Running a shop like that at such a young age. I wish Myeongseon would do the same..”
“Just as I met a benefactor, doesn’t Sunny also have benefactors like Father and Mother?”
Hearing Daeyong’s words, Myeongseon scoffed inwardly. He was sure Daeyong was scoffing inwardly, too.
The benefactor Daeyong was referring to was Seungkyu, the owner of the vintage clothing store where he worked. Daeyong started working part-time at Seungkyu’s store managing the shop and ended up dating him. Whether it was special treatment for his lover or because of his usual knack for business, Daeyong became his business partner not long after. Although their relationship didn’t last long, they were a good match as business partners, as they were still running the store together.
Myeongseon’s parents greatly admired how Daeyong, the same age as their son, had settled down early and was living life as a “vice president.”
“It’s all thanks to my boss pulling me along so well that I’ve been able to secure my position firmly. If you continue to guide Myeongseon well, he’ll get there too.”
“He’s not the one to be easily guided. I guess his mind is still too immature.”
As the conversation between Daeyong and Jeongsik seemed to drag on, Myeongseon anxiously looked around the hall and then towards the entrance. He was worried that Jaekang might suddenly appear before he was mentally prepared.
“He seemed interested for a while, but he’s lost interest again.”
Jeongsik chuckled sadly.
“Once he gets closer to the staff, he might be able to secure his position more easily.”
Daeyong said, looking at Myeongseon with a sly smile.
“Cut it out and let’s go inside.”
Myeongseon glared at Daeyong and pulled him into the dining hall.
“We’re just going to eat and leave, Dad.”
“Alright. Daeyong, eat a lot.”
“Yes!”
“Yeom, don’t say anything unnecessary. Today, just eat your meat quietly and let your gaydar do its work. That’s it.”
Myeongseon said to Daeyong in a low voice as he dragged him along.
“Relax, Myeongsunny.”
“And what’s this about the boss pulling you along so you could secure your position? You planted your ‘stake’ alright, in the boss.”
“There’s such a thing as a white lie, Sunny. There’s also such a thing as too much information.”
“Oh, Daeyong’s here!”
“Oh my, oh my, Mother! Mother-in-law!”
As Yangja, who was coming out of the kitchen, exchanged greetings with Daeyong for a while, Myeongseon fidgeted restlessly before finally settling down at a table.
“And so, where is he? Where is the one who will activate my precise and sophisticated gaydar?”
“I ordered galbi2, so the charcoal will be here soon. Watch the person who brings it carefully.”
“I feel the suspense!”
“Look closely. I’m serious.”
“Not kidding, I’m also serious!”
Haa. I don’t know if this will work.
Myeongseon sighed.
Sitting with his back to the entrance, he couldn’t tell whether Jaekang was coming or not. The back of hisneck felt constantly itchy.
“Yeom, stop looking elsewhere and keep an eye towards the door. He’ll come in that way.”
Daeyong munched on his salad and nodded, then suddenly widened his eyes as he looked towards the entrance.
“Hallelujah.”
“Why. Why. What. What is it. What.”
Myeongseon strained his voice, barely suppressing the urge to turn around, fixing his gaze on Daeyong.
Daeyong, whose eyes had been wide open as if they were about to pop out, chuckled and went back to picking at his salad.
“Just kidding.”
“Fucking shi……! You bastard, I told you to be serious.”
Myeongseon blurted out before quickly lowering his voice and kicking Daeyong’s foot under the table.
“Don’t use such foul language with your pretty mouth, Sunny.”
“Don’t forget, serious.”
“From now on, serious!”
Daeyong danced around and dropped his chopsticks on the floor.
“Just for one hour, let’s refrain from being goofy, Daeyong.”
Myeongseon sighed and took out a new pair of chopsticks from the drawer.
“Sunny, you’re awfully nervous for someone who usually isn’t…”
Daeyong trailed off as he slowly straightened up, still picking up the dropped chopsticks. His gaze remained fixed on the entrance.
“…….”
Seeing Daeyong’s expression, Myeongseon nervously clenched his hands and picked up his phone.
Suddenly, the nape of his neck and back prickled with goosebumps.
Soon, a familiar heat approached. Along with a familiar scent.