WTSG 14

Let’s Go See the Sea (3)

At that moment, Kang Junwoo’s hand, which was bringing the wine to his lips, flinched.

“…What do you mean?”

“Are you seriously asking when you were the one who brought it up?”

Tae Ijae chuckled lazily as he sliced the meat, his movements as graceful as a painting.

Kang Junwoo watched his elegant knife work intently, his lips moving.

“Don’t tell me… You’re saying you’ve never dated anyone before?”

“Why do you think that’s not possible?”

“…”

“Not even once. Never been in a relationship.”

Wow. That was truly unexpected.

Kang Junwoo lifted his head to look at Tae Ijae. Tae Ijae met his gaze as he brought a forkful of meat to his mouth.

“You look like you don’t believe me. Why not?”

“…Ah, well…”

Yeah, why? Why had it never even crossed his mind that Tae Ijae might have never dated anyone before? Actually, even now, it was difficult to believe. No one in the Guide Department would believe it either. Had Tae Ijae never been in a relationship?

Unbelievable.

Then, suddenly, it hit him. The outrageous rumors about Tae Ijae never really required him to have been in a relationship.

After all, he was an SS-class Esper.

Just because he didn’t receive guiding didn’t mean he hadn’t engaged in physical interactions.

Kang Junwoo himself, after becoming romantically involved with his assigned Esper, frequently had regular intimate moments outside of third-stage guiding.

‘Right, just because he doesn’t date or receive guidance doesn’t mean he wouldn’t have such relationships.’

“What are you thinking about so hard that your eyes are darting all over the place?”

“…Pardon?”

“I can see right through you.”

“See what?”

“You’re overthinking.”

“…I’m not.”

“If you’re curious, just ask. Don’t overthink it.”

“…”

Even though he had just denied it, his curiosity got the better of him.

“If you’ve never been in a relationship… were they just one-night stands?”

He asked carefully, politely even. But for a moment, Tae Ijae’s face twisted into something terrifying.

“…Were they?”

“Well… the rumors…”

“What rumors?”

There were so many, it was hard to even begin listing them all.

“Well, there’s a lot…”

“Yeah? Then out of all those rumors, which one exactly made you bring up one-night stands?”

Tae Ijae put down his knife and fork and crossed his arms. Kang Junwoo was bewildered at how a simple curiosity about who Tae Ijae might be dating had led to this situation. But with Tae Ijae glaring at him as if demanding an answer, he couldn’t back out now by saying it was nothing.

Recalling a story Kim Junha had excitedly told him once, Kang Junwoo hesitantly spoke up.

“I heard… that once you start, twenty rounds is just the warm-up…”

At Kang Junwoo’s words, Tae Ijae let out a dry laugh.

Kang Junwoo studied his expression. Did that mean the rumors were just exaggerated gossip?

“What am I, a beast? How the hell is anyone supposed to go twenty times in one go?”

“…”

“Seriously, what kind of weird fantasies does your department have about my lower half? It’s ridiculous.”

“W-well, yeah, I thought it sounded ridiculous when I first heard it too…”

“Yeah? You say that, but you clearly believed it.”

“No, I mean—come on, no matter what, I wouldn’t believe twenty times. I’m not that inexperienced.”

Suddenly, Tae Ijae tilted his head to the side. With his arms crossed and his head tilted, his expression was full of disapproval.

“So how many times for you, Hyung?”

He suddenly asked in formal speech, his voice quite chilly. Kang Junwoo felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively brought the wine glass to his lips. Tae Ijae, without taking his eyes off Kang Junwoo, asked again.

“Oh, should I be asking how many times your ex did it?”

At that, Kang Junwoo’s face momentarily stiffened. Although he had mentioned having experience, he didn’t want Han Dokyung’s name to come up here. It seemed Tae Ijae didn’t like it either—the mention of an ex from his mouth.

Kang Junwoo took a sip of wine and set the glass back on the table.

“If I offended you, I’m sorry. I just…”

“Don’t ever bring up your ex in front of me again.”

“…If we’re being technical, it was Tae Ijae who brought up my ex.”

He had only mentioned that he wasn’t inexperienced, but the talk about his ex came from Tae Ijae, not him.

“You said you’re not inexperienced.”

“That’s not the same as talking about my ex, is it?”

“Sounds the same to me.”

“Maybe there’s something wrong with your ears?”

“Watch your words. If I start having ear problems because of your doubts, Moon Taejoo will have to work hard for over a month.”

As an SS-class Esper, if anything went wrong with his body, his assigned doctor, Moon Taejoo, would be very busy—a rather cheeky remark.

“In any case, it wasn’t twenty times, right? ”

Kang Junwoo, wanting to end this abnormal and nonsensical conversation, forced a smile as he asked. But Tae Ijae still seemed dissatisfied, his eyebrows twitching as he looked at Kang Junwoo.

“If you’re that curious, why don’t you find out for yourself?”

Kang Junwoo’s eyes widened at Tae Ijae’s words.

“…What?”

“Why are you surprised? Aren’t you curious? Would you believe me if I told you how many times I can do it in one go?”

“…”

“Instead of half-hearted doubts, wouldn’t it be better to experience it directly?”

Tae Ijae leaned back comfortably against the chair, gazing lazily at Kang Junwoo.

“So just say the word.”

His eyes are practically saying, “I’ll let you experience it.” Kang Junwoo could feel his face burning. Avoiding Tae Ijae’s gaze, he quickly looked down.

***

He wasn’t sure how the meal ended. He had been in a daze, repeatedly stuffing his mouth with meat to cool his face that felt like it was about to explode. When he came to his senses, he found himself walking side by side with Tae Ijae by the sea, with the sunset painting the sky. In Tae Ijae’s hand was a tumbler filled with coffee that Kang Junwoo had brewed.

The season was transitioning from autumn to winter, and it was quite chilly. However, the wind brushing against his face felt pleasant, making the chill not so bad.

‘I should have brought a cardigan.’

He pondered whether he should go back to get the cardigan he had brought, thinking it might get colder as they walked further. But that thought quickly vanished when Tae Ijae draped his own jumper over Kang Junwoo’s shoulders.

It was surprising to see someone who didn’t seem capable of being gentle do something so kind. The words “What wouldn’t he do to lure me?” echoed in his mind.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

Concerned about Tae Ijae, who was only wearing a thin, short-sleeved t-shirt, Kang Junwoo took off the jumper and offered it back to him.

“It’s hot. So you wear it.”

“Don’t lie. The wind is really cold.”

“Does it sound like a lie?”

Tae Ijae stopped walking with a peculiar smile. Kang Junwoo, who had instinctively stopped alongside him, looked puzzled. Tae Ijae then draped the jumper back over Kang Junwoo and said,

“I’m more sensitive to stimuli than you’d think.”

He kindly slipped his hand inside the sleeve and zipped it up for him. Due to Tae Ijae’s build, the jumper made Kang Junwoo look like a child wearing his father’s clothes.

“Oh, this too.”

Tae Ijae let out a sigh that sounded almost like a groan. Kang Junwoo looked down at the oversized jumper that was already hiding his hands and then looked up again.

“You’ll really catch a cold…”

“I told you, it’s hot!”

“…Why?”

“Don’t try to find out, you’ll get hurt.”

Tae Ijae chuckled softly and lightly tapped Kang Junwoo on the head. Kang Junwoo found it absurd that Tae Ijae, who was younger than him, was treating him like a younger brother. Yet, he couldn’t grasp the context of Tae Ijae’s words, leaving him with a bewildered expression.

Before he knew it, Tae Ijae started walking again, and Kang Junwoo followed suit.

Wearing Tae Ijae’s jumper made him feel much better than before. His body was warm, his face was cool, and the vast sea before him made his heart feel open and free. He felt like he could walk until the nightfall. But he was still worried that Tae Ijae, in his short sleeves, might catch a cold.

“Shall we head back now?”

“Why? You’re feeling good, aren’t you? Let’s walk a bit more.”

Tae Ijae spoke as if he could see right through Kang Junwoo.

“But…”

“It’s best to avoid going into an enclosed space with me until this calms down.”

Tae Ijae gestured downward with his chin. Instinctively, Kang Junwoo’s gaze followed where Tae Ijae pointed. There was a noticeable tent in his pants, so prominent it seemed like it might burst out at any moment. Kang Junwoo’s face turned pale as he finally understood all the talk about being hot and sensitive to stimuli.

What on earth was the source of his arousal?

Kang Junwoo looked up at Tae Ijae with a bewildered expression.

“What? Why?”

“…”

“You made it like this, Hyung. Don’t look at me with those eyes.”

“What??”

“I’m not saying you have to take responsibility right now, so just walk.”

“…Can you really walk like that?”

“Yeah. If I don’t walk, I’ll have to deal with it by hand, so I need to walk. So stop staring and just walk. You’re making it worse.”

“…!! …”

Startled by Tae Ijae’s words, Kang Junwoo quickly turned his head and began walking briskly.

“But don’t leave me behind and go off on your own.”

“…”

“Hyung, don’t leave me, okay? I can’t walk fast with this… Hyung… Hyung?”

He had been calling him “you” comfortably before, but now he kept calling him “Hyung.” Kang Junwoo thought Tae Ijae was truly a crazy guy.

***

As they walked aimlessly, the surroundings grew dark. Fortunately, Tae Ijae’s lower half had calmed down a bit. However, whether due to its naturally large size or because it was still partially aroused, it continued to protrude noticeably. Once he became aware of it, Kang Junwoo found his eyes repeatedly drawn to that area.