TM | Chapter 16

His tongue flicked at the cut on the tip of my finger, where the faint trace of blood had gathered. The blood was smeared onto his tongue, and it disappeared into his mouth, even redder than the blood itself.

Soon, my fingertip was completely swallowed by his moist lips. His actions, sucking at my finger so persistently, made my fingers curl in discomfort. I pulled my hand back, giving him a firm squeeze as if to say it was fine.

Lee Seol, misunderstanding it as a more active gesture, couldn’t hide the pleased look on his face. He moved closer, his lips curling upward, and took hold of my hand. His hand, longer and thicker than mine, felt surprisingly unfamiliar.

Yoon Sung gave an awkward smile, pulling his hand away subtly. Lee Seol, unsure of what to do with his hand, fiddled with the end of his robe’s string. He glanced at Yoon Sung, noticing his unease, and shyly lowered his head. He carefully extended the string from his robe toward Yoon Sung.

At that moment, Yoon Sung’s face was drained of color. His eyes widened in surprise, and his gaze wandered through the air, confused. As his eyes turned, they landed on the tray of food.

“Sh-should we have a drink?”

It wasn’t really a question; it was more like a forced suggestion, though Yoon Sung didn’t have time to realize that. He poured some liquor into a cup and offered it to Lee Seol. Lee Seol quickly took the cup from him.

“I’m nervous, Sung-ah…”

“Ah, no, that is… um, yes.”

While he was full of anticipation, I trembled for an entirely different reason. As I accepted the drink from Lee Seol, my mind was racing, trying to figure out how to get out of this situation.

This was my doing. I had acted on a drunken impulse, doing something I wouldn’t normally dare to do. But now it was an engagement. Of all people, with Lee Seol!

To marry the strangest one of my friends…

The alcohol wore off, and my mind became clear. As Lee Seol smiled brightly in front of me, my nervousness sharpened my senses, and I felt the sweat trickling down. The situation was making my discomfort even more palpable.

“Sung-ah, are you hot? Want me to help you take off your clothes?”

“No! No!!”

I waved my hands frantically, and Lee Seol, who had been leaning forward, pulled back, clearly startled. He watched my throat nervously as he poured the drink into his mouth. His skin, damp with sweat, became the base for his slow, deliberate sipping.

“The liquor tastes sweet.”

“…The liquor is bitter. How do you drink it…”

I didn’t join in his enthusiasm and brought the cup to my lips. The bitter drink stuck to my tongue. Even the taste of the alcohol wasn’t going as I expected, and a sigh escaped me before I realized it.

A sigh on the first night.

Surprised, Yoon Sung quickly closed his mouth. Glancing at Lee Seol, I saw him grinning subtly.

“Maybe it’s because of the drink, but it’s so hot.”

Lee Seol fanned himself with his hand and pulled his robe open. The white skin hidden under the pale garment was exposed. As soon as Yoon Sung saw his sharp collarbones, he quickly turned his gaze away. In embarrassment, he raised his hand to cover his eyes.

“Sung-ah…”

At Lee Seol’s call, Yoon Sung reluctantly parted his fingers and peeked through them. Lee Seol blushed deeply, pushing the tray of food aside. The tray bumped against the wall in the distance, making a soft clink as it hit the cup and bowl.

With nothing left to block them, Lee Seol radiated warmth as he moved closer, his body filling the space. Slowly crawling on his knees, he approached Yoon Sung, who retreated with awkward steps, his body trembling under the weight of Lee Seol’s gaze.

Lee Seol’s intense eyes made Yoon Sung’s brows twitch in discomfort. The folding screen behind him knocked softly against the wall. With nowhere else to retreat, Yoon Sung panicked and hurriedly spoke up.

“Wait, wait just a moment!”

“I’m nervous too. I didn’t know our engagement would happen so quickly. If I had known we’d be sharing a room—”

“I’m not ready for this.”

Yoon Sung pushed against Lee Seol’s shoulders with both hands, attempting to shove him away. But despite his effort, Lee Seol’s shoulders barely budged, providing only enough resistance to keep him in place. Moreover, Yoon Sung was taken aback by how broad and solid Lee Seol’s shoulders felt.

Was his body always this firm? I knew he was strong, and yes, tall, but…

Although I was somewhat aware of it, seeing him as a man in such a direct way suddenly felt overwhelmingly intimidating. No, it was more than intimidating; it was suffocating, especially considering what was expected of us now.

“Seol-ah… you’re still just a friend to me. Still…”

“We’re engaged now, we’re betrothed.”

“I know, but…”

Panicking, Yoon Sung flipped himself over and crawled in the opposite direction. Lee Seol caught his waist and laid him back down on the blanket. Yoon Sung looked up at Lee Seol, feeling breathless under the intense heat of his gaze.

His mouth seemed dry, for he licked his red lips with the tip of his tongue. The sight made Yoon Sung’s shoulders tense. Lee Seol’s face, flushed like a peach blossom, sparkled as he climbed over Yoon Sung. As Lee Seol bent down to kiss him, Yoon Sung tightly closed his eyes. The plush of his lips softly landed on my cheek.

“It won’t stand. I’m telling you, it won’t!”

“It’s okay. I’ll make it stand.”

His voice, firm with a hint of moisture, carried the full weight of his desire. Yoon Sung felt it resonate through his entire body, making it hard to breathe. Lee Seol’s hands grasped the ties of his clothes. Yoon Sung, curling up tightly, raised his voice.

“You don’t look like a man to me!”

“…”

Lee Seol froze at Yoon Sung’s chilling words, his passionate gaze quickly cooling.

He stared down silently at Yoon Sung, who had now covered his face with both hands, expressing his refusal with his entire body. “You don’t look like a man to me.” These unexpected words wounded his pride deeply. Lee Seol’s handsome brows furrowed with suppressed anger.

Yoon Sung liked my face. As a child, he would openly gaze at it, and even when I annoyed him, a little sweet talking would quickly soothe him.

Even today, a gentle smile at him, who was terrified of making the blood pact, had prompted him to reach out to me.

But now he says I don’t look like a man? Because I haven’t shown him my body properly?

Lee Seol reached for the knot at his waist while taking Yoon Sung’s hand and guiding it towards his own groin. Yoon Sung flinched, clenching his fist, trying not to make contact.

“Feel it, Sung-ah. I’m not lacking as a man.”

Lee Seol spoke anxiously, managing Yoon Sung’s fingers as they tried to pull away. Yoon Sung grasped his hand, preventing him from undoing his pants, and pleaded urgently.

“No, that’s not what I mean. I see you as a friend.”

Yoon Sung’s eyes were tightly shut, and his hands were clasped over his chest as he spoke in a choked voice.

“Seol-ah… can we just delay the wedding until? I… I need some time to see you as a man.”

Lee Seol stared intensely at the severely cringing Yoon Sung. He was clearly uncomfortable, like a mouse in front of a cat. That was not the reaction Lee Seol wanted. He had wanted to strip down and be one with Yoon Sung, but doing so seemed like it would only scare him away.

He wanted to stir different emotions, not these. Becoming one was meant to be a sharing of hearts, something that couldn’t be forced. It was hard enough for the receiving partner, and starting their first experience with discomfort could lead to rejection and avoidance later.

Biting his lip in deep thought, Lee Seol finally withdrew, changing his expression as if nothing had happened. The future was more important than the present, after all.

Yoon Sung, feeling the weight lift off him, cautiously opened one eye.

Seeing Lee Seol seated at a distance, Yoon Sung cautiously got to his feet. Lee Seol’s calm demeanor made Yoon Sung uneasy. Just moments before, Lee Seol had been filled with a sinister energy, eager to be physically close. Now, he sat with an air of dignity, a stark contrast to his earlier fervor.

Yoon Sung, who had once boldly proclaimed his readiness for marriage, now looked utterly deflated. He glanced nervously towards the door, as if he might bolt out at the slightest move from Lee Seol. Observing Yoon Sung’s tense demeanor, Lee Seol took a deep, suppressed breath, closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.

“I can’t wait until the wedding.”

His voice was soft yet firm, causing Yoon Sung to bow his head deeply.

“Then, when… when it happens naturally for me…”

“Yes.”

Lee Seol’s straightforward response met Yoon Sung’s gaze. Unlike his earlier calm expression, now he smiled, his eyes curving beautifully. Though his lips were pressed tightly, they twitched as if struggling to restrain his smile. Yoon Sung’s brow furrowed at the confident look on Lee Seol’s face.

It seemed like an imprudent claim about standing up.

“Sung-ah, don’t be afraid. I’ll be satisfied today with just having decided on the marriage quickly.”

“Quickly?”

“Yes. I thought it would take at least a few months.”

Lee Seol’s relaxed smile made Yoon Sung feel a chill.

“You thought I would accept your proposal?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ll do my best. I was determined to ensure our marriage happens, by any means necessary.”

“Any means?”

“I don’t want to say; you might hate me for it.”

As Lee Seol averted his gaze, Yoon Sung squinted and frowned.

“Try saying it nicely.”

“There are many ways. The easiest is to bribe the matchmakers who come to your house. If a marriage proposal comes along, just incapacitate that fool. If all else fails, I could threaten to end my life in front of my father if he doesn’t agree to our marriage.”

Yoon Sung’s brow furrowed deeper.

Right. This person is exactly that kind of man.

From the moment he proposed to me, it seems I never had a choice.