Black & Grey

Yoochan petted Gaang’s front paws, which looked like they were wearing white socks, and asked,“Gaang, should I buy you one?”Hearing his name, Gaang barked in response. Yoochan petted Gaang’s head and looked at the clothes. There were various types, but most were for small dogs, and they didn’t seem to fit Gaang, who was a medium-sized dog. Reluctant to leave, Yoochan’s eyes caught something else. It was a scarf for dogs.It was an orange reflective scarf. Yoochan picked one up and held it against Gaang’s back, and it matched well with his black coat.“I’ll take this one, please.”After paying, Yoochan petted Gaang’s droopy cheeks and said,“Gaang, I’m sorry for using you. But if things go well with Hyung, I’ll take you for walks every day and play with you all night. Okay?”While seeking Gaang’s approval, Yoochan saw Jungeol approaching from a distance. Checking his reflection on his phone screen, his face seemed to have calmed down. Yoochan hid Gaang’s gift behind his back, then stuffed it into his pocket and stood up. He waited for Jungeol with a barely suppressed smile.After walking around the neighborhood with Jungeol and Gaang, Yoochan woke up at 1 AM. He had drunk two beverages with Jungeol at an outdoor cafe, and now he needed to use the bathroom.With a sleepy expression, Yoochan went to the bathroom and then flopped back onto his bed. Just as he was about to fall asleep, he noticed his phone on the bed.He had intended to text Jungeol to thank him for dinner as soon as he got home, but he had fallen asleep immediately. Debating whether to contact him now, Yoochan glared at the clock, which showed it was past 1 AM, and opened the chat.Yoochan: …Are you awake?After sending it, Yoochan realized the time and thought it was overly sentimental. He threw his phone down and punched his pillow repeatedly. Even waiting for a reply felt unbearably embarrassing.“He must be asleep. Hyung was busy today, so he’ll be sleeping. Don’t expect a reply. Just go to sleep, Baek Yoochan.”Despite his words, Yoochan’s attention was entirely on his ears. Just then, a notification came.Jungeol: What are you doing up at this hour?“Wow, seriously!”Yoochan sat up in bed and typed quickly.Yoochan: I woke up. Wow, it’s already 1 AM. Sorry, I didn’t check the time.Even though he had checked the time, Yoochan smiled as he replied.Yoochan: Did my message wake you up?Jungeol: I haven’t slept yet.As Yoochan wrinkled his nose, desperately searching for something to talk about, his phone buzzed again.Yoochan: Don’t sleep yet. Wait a moment.By now, Yoochan was wide awake. Thinking Jungeol might be getting a drink of water, Yoochan lay on his stomach, staring intently at his phone.Soon, a photo arrived. It was Gaang wearing the orange reflective scarf, tied in a triangle around his neck. Yoochan had given the scarf to Jungeol just before they parted, and Jungeol had put it on Gaang.Yoochan: It looks nice. I thought it would suit Gaang well.Jungeol: Yeah. It’s good because it’s visible at night.Yoochan: I bought it on purpose because I thought he might get stepped on at night.Lying back on his bed, Yoochan accidentally dropped his phone on his cheek, letting out a short groan. Rubbing his aching cheek a few times, Yoochan focused intently on his phone screen. Jungeol, seemingly not ready to sleep, naturally changed the subject. Yoochan matched his pace, typing to keep the conversation going.While waiting for Jungeol’s reply, Yoochan buried his face in his pillow. A trembling voice came from the sunken pillow.“Crazy… I love this… Is this a dream?”As if to prove it wasn’t a dream, another reply came from Jungeol.* * *“Can’t put your phone down, huh? Did you coat it with honey?”“Ah, don’t touch it, man.”When Jinhong tried to snatch his phone, Yoochan raised his shoulder to avoid him. Jinhong glared at Yoochan, annoyed by his fussiness. Yoochan had been checking his phone since the morning run, during lectures, and even during their free time, barely listening to his friends’ conversations.“Looks like things are going really well.”Gikang, who was eating snacks, commented indifferently. Yoochan puffed up his cheeks without responding, causing Jinhong to frown.“Where did you meet? No profile picture? Let us see.”“No way. Get lost, you guys.”As Jinhong kept peeking, Yoochan moved to a corner of the student lounge. He laughed, dodging Jinhong’s long arms while holding his phone.“Seeing you constantly texting, things must be going well? Are you dating? Let me see too.”“Well, we’re not officially dating yet, but I’d say it’s about eighty percent there.”Yoochan boasted confidently, and Jinhong replied,“The aloof yet affectionate approach I taught you works wonders, right?”“Wow… I have so much to say about that… Seriously, don’t give me any more dating advice, Park Jinhong. Got it?”“Hey, it’s because you used it weirdly. If used correctly, it’s a surefire method.”Gikang, watching the two bicker, wiped his hands covered in snack crumbs and said,“I’m curious. How pretty must they be for you to be so smitten? You won’t even show us.”“What’s the point of telling you? They must be really pretty.”“Not just pretty.”Yoochan smirked. Jungeol had a perfectly shaped head, thin double eyelids, long eyes, a prominent nose bridge, and a sharp nose. Yoochan had been so impressed by Jungeol’s flawless face that he had involuntarily exclaimed when he first saw him.But Jungeol had something even more perfect than his face—his physique. Yoochan had never seen such perfect muscles in his life. He had been working out since he could walk, following his father to the gym while his friends attended after-school English and math classes.Among athletes specializing in bodybuilding, there were those taller or more bulked up than Jungeol, but Jungeol’s body was much more ‘beautiful.’For instance, Jungeol’s upper arm circumference was very thick. It might have seemed excessive if viewed separately. But with Jungeol’s height of over 190 cm, it was proportionate and made his build look sleek. His prominent trapezius muscles could have made his neck look short and bulky, but Jungeol’s long neck balanced it out.With a perfectly sculpted body enhanced by a skilled tattoo artist’s black and gray tattoos, Jungeol’s physique was a masterpiece. Yoochan’s eyes grew distant, recalling the awe he felt when he first saw Jungeol’s back. Even Daehan, who had been disinterestedly fiddling with his phone, seemed curious.“I want to see what they look like. Soojung was tall and model-like too. This guy has surprisingly high standards.”“What are you talking about? My high school girlfriend was petite and small. I usually like small and cute people.”“Really? How tall was she?”Yoochan furrowed his brow, trying to remember Eunbit’s height.“Um, around 168 cm, I think.”“Are you kidding? 168 cm is small? That’s pretty tall.”“168 cm is tall?”Yoochan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.Yoochan’s mother was 175 cm, and his father was 187 cm. Having only met tall friends and college peers, Yoochan considered women under 170 cm and men under 180 cm to be short. Although Yoochan was the tallest in his class during his school days, he firmly believed his friends were still growing.Hearing that 168 cm was considered tall, Yoochan felt as if his long-held belief had been shattered. Taking advantage of Yoochan’s distraction, Jinhong quickly snatched his phone.“Hey, give it back.”Yoochan panicked and rushed over, but Jinhong had already checked the screen. Although the chat with Jungeol was open, Jungeol hadn’t set his profile picture, which was a small relief.Moreover,“Jo Soonja? Is her name Soonja?”Yoochan hastily grabbed his phone back from Jinhong and sighed in relief. Even with the chat locked, the name “Jungeol Hyung” kept appearing in the status bar, making him anxious. He had quickly changed it to a woman’s name during class today.Out of all the names, the only one that came to mind was his mother’s, which was the only flaw.“Uh… yeah… Jo Soonja… our… Soonja…”Feeling guilty for using his mother’s name, Yoochan quickly locked his phone screen and put it in his pocket to prevent his friends from snooping.“Hey, Baek Yoochan… by any chance…”Jinhong, still wearing a serious expression, hesitated before carefully asking,“Is she… a lot… older?”“What?”“Her name… it sounds like she might be older…”Yoochan’s flustered response seemed to confirm Jinhong’s suspicion. Jinhong patted Yoochan’s shoulder firmly and exclaimed in a hearty voice,“Ah, man. Is that why you didn’t show us her picture? You don’t need to hide it, buddy. I was a bit surprised, but I don’t have any prejudices about that. Love knows no age, as long as you’re both adults. Hey… it’s okay. Feel free to text and call her when we’re around. I won’t pry anymore.”Yoochan barely managed to suppress his laughter, gritting his teeth. He thought about correcting Jinhong by saying there was only a seven-year age gap but quickly changed his mind. He figured pretending to be a couple facing challenges would divert his persistent friends’ attention.“…Thanks, man. Friends are the best for understanding.”“Yeah, that’s what friends are for. If you have any problems, talk to us right away. Don’t bottle it up. Got it?”Yoochan nodded with a feigned serious expression, lips tightly shut. Jinhong looked at Yoochan with pity before clicking his tongue and turning away. Gikang, who had been listening, also decided not to pry further and silently continued eating his snacks. Yoochan opened his phone in a corner where his friends couldn’t see the screen and resumed his conversation with Jungeol.The sudden late-night text exchange from three days ago had continued uninterrupted, except for their dinner together. Even when one of them fell asleep, Yoochan would send a morning text,Yoochan: Did you wake up?Soon, Jungeol would reply with,Jungeol: Yeah.Of course, the texts stopped while Jungeol was working. Sometimes there were no replies for three or four hours when he was busy. But Jungeol always replied, even if it was late. Yoochan cherished the time waiting for Jungeol’s replies. He was so engrossed in his conversation with Jungeol that he even got caught checking his phone during a morning lecture when he was supposed to be doing high jumps in the auditorium.Just as Yoochan wondered when the next reply would come, a message from Jungeol arrived.Jungeol: What do you mean by what I like?It was a response to Yoochan’s question, What do you like? Thinking the question might have been too broad, Yoochan rephrased it.Yoochan: I mean, do you have any hobbies? Besides working out. Just curious.Jungeol: Well. I don’t really have any hobbies these days.Thinking Jungeol might be too busy, Yoochan was relieved when another reply came.Jungeol: I used to do a lot of MTB. Oh, that’s also exercise.Today, Jungeol seemed more responsive than usual. Yoochan, feeling happy, smiled broadly and typed back.Yoochan: What’s MTB?Jungeol: Mountain biking.Yoochan: Is it fun?Jungeol: Yeah, it’s more fun than road biking because the terrain is unpredictable.Imagining Jungeol riding a bike through rough terrain made Yoochan almost giddy. Suppressing his laughter, he continued the conversation.Yoochan: It sounds cool. I’d like to try it sometime. Let’s go together.After sending the message, Yoochan flipped his phone over and rested his head on the desk, his legs trembling. His heart felt like it was about to jump out of his chest. Yoochan was always most nervous when suggesting something to Jungeol. After a while, Yoochan peeked at his phone.Jungeol: Sure.The uncomfortable tension melted away, replaced by a pleasant thrill that enveloped his entire body.Yoochan: What time are you having dinner tonight?Maybe Jungeol had started working, as he hadn’t read the message. Yoochan decided to check later and turned off his phone, eagerly anticipating dinner time.Time passed, and it was evening.Around seven o’clock, Yoochan met Jungeol and Taeho for grilled beef ribs near the officetel, and he was overjoyed. After Taeho left for a prior engagement, Yoochan felt like he was floating as he walked down a quiet road with Jungeol.Jungeol’s voice explaining mountain biking was sweet, and when he mentioned that Yoochan should ask him if he ever considered buying a mountain bike, the ordinary gray pavement felt like a scenic mountain path.Yoochan, who started and ended his day with messages from Jungeol, returned to the tattoo shop with a satisfied expression.“Jungeol Oppa, there’s a customer.”Manager, who was at the counter, gestured towards the sofa. Yoochan turned his head without much thought, but his expression hardened. He had completely forgotten about that person.Seeing Dahee after a long time, Yoochan swallowed hard.Dahee wore tight jeans that accentuated her slender legs and a white sleeveless top with decorative elements. The deep V-neck revealed a tattoo of flowers and part of a snake’s body below her collarbone, which suited her perfectly.“Why are you so late? I’ve been waiting for a while.”Dahee, who was chatting with Jaehyeok with a blanket over her knees, playfully addressed Jungeol. Jungeol placed his wallet and phone inside the counter and asked in a monotonous voice,“Is the last one swollen?”“No, it’s fine.”Dahee smiled, touching her collarbone. Jungeol nonchalantly gestured towards the first station and said,“Come in. I’ll take a look.”Dahee nodded in understanding and followed Jungeol. As the black curtain covered the first station, Yoochan, with a vein bulging in his forehead, asked Manager,“Take a look? At what?”“To see if the last tattoo turned out well.”Manager replied nonchalantly, typing on the keyboard. Yoochan raised his voice in frustration.“Why does Hyung have to check it?”“Who else would check Jungeol Oppa’s work? Me? You? Stop saying weird things and have an ice cream from the fridge.”Manager looked at Yoochan as if he were strange, then grabbed a tablet and went to the consultation room.“Seriously…”Left alone, Yoochan muttered in disbelief, then angrily approached the fridge. Opening the freezer, he found it full of ice cream bars. Yoochan grabbed one, tore off the wrapper aggressively, and took a big bite.Ignoring the brain freeze from the cold ice cream, Yoochan glared at the first station, then sighed deeply.“Don’t be petty and jealous. Fair play. Fair play.”Muttering to himself a few times, Yoochan returned to the sofa and sat quietly. A few more bites of ice cream brought back some rationality.“If that Noona makes a move, you just make twice the effort.”Despite his words, Yoochan anxiously glanced at the first station. Just then, Jungeol and Dahee came out. Dahee mentioned needing to reschedule the unfinished tattoo session and went to find Manager, while Jungeol suddenly remembered something and said to Yoochan,“I can’t have dinner tomorrow, so make plans with Taeho or someone.”“What?”Yoochan jumped up in shock and asked,“Why can’t you have dinner tomorrow? Do you have plans with someone?”Could it be a dinner date with Dahee? Yoochan’s clenched fists trembled as Jungeol, frowning in confusion, replied,“I have plans with my high school friends. I haven’t seen them in five months.”“Oh, I see…”Yoochan answered with a sullen face. Although relieved it wasn’t a date with Dahee, he still felt anxious. The thought of making a bold move swirled in Yoochan’s mind.* * *As the evening drinking session progressed, Jungeol left the room and sat at the empty bar. They had gathered to celebrate a close friend’s early marriage. Having had a few drinks to match the atmosphere, Jungeol drank some water to sober up and noticed four messages. He opened the chat.Lee Taeho, Min Yesul, Baek Yoochan, Jung Dahee.The names of the four people appeared in order.Gaang peed on my sneakers and bed because you weren’t here, Hyung… When will the drinking party end? Please come back soon.11:00Oppa, a customer with an 8 o’clock appointment tomorrow wants to move it up an hour. Is that okay? 10:50Hyung, movie on Saturday? Sunday works too.10:43I have something to talk about, do you want to have a drink over the weekend? Coffee is fine too. How about Saturday? 10:40Although he could see the content of the messages in the preview, Jungeol hadn’t opened the chats yet. Rubbing his tired eyes and momentarily closing them, he replied to the messages in the order he felt like, not in the order they were received.I can’t make time. If you have something to say, leave it in a message. 11:35…Wash the bedding and take Gaang for a walk. 11:35Tell them that’s fine. I’ll try to arrive around 7. 11:34Not sure if I’ll have time. What movie are you thinking? 11:31After sending the replies, Jungeol opened his calendar to check his schedule for Saturday.The last customer was getting a large wolf tattoo on their back. Even if it finished early, there wouldn’t be enough time to watch a movie. Trying to adjust the schedule with the customer wouldn’t work either, as his day was packed from noon until night, with only a 30-minute break in the evening.Frustrated, Jungeol ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up. He had been interacting almost exclusively with shop employees and hadn’t had much rest. It had been five months since he last met up with his close high school friends.In fact, he had initially said he couldn’t make it today, drawing complaints until a miracle happened, and a customer rescheduled, freeing up his time.There was no guarantee such a miracle would happen on Saturday too. He thought it best not to make promises he couldn’t keep.Jungeol: Probably not going to work.Jungeol paused as he was about to send the correction. He also wanted to carve out some time to spend with Yoochan. While spending time with Taeho, Jaehyeok, and Yesul, as well as other close friends, was comfortable, it felt different with Yoochan. The stress that usually burdened him seemed to dissolve when Yoochan chatted away cheerfully or simply because of his untroubled personality.After a brief consideration, Jungeol deleted the message and rewrote it.Jungeol: If possible, let’s see it. But it’s probably not going to work. My last appointment is in the evening.Leaving room for possibility made him feel more at ease. Waiting for a reply, he noticed that Yoochan hadn’t read the previous messages yet. It was 11:40. Yoochan, who would yawn as soon as it was past 10:30, would have fallen asleep by now.Recalling Yoochan dozing off and nodding his head while getting a tattoo from Youngsik, Jungeol chuckled at his phone. Just then, friends who had gone to the bathroom and for a smoke approached.“Who are you secretly texting?”One friend jokingly asked as he sat down at the bar. Hearing Jungeol say he was busy with work, they teased him about having a girlfriend.Jungeol shrugged, turning off his phone to indicate there was no such thing. His relaxed demeanor prompted another friend to sit beside him and say,“Doesn’t Jungeol have a girlfriend? I think I heard Taeho mention it. It was last year, though.”“Who? The one whose name is tattooed on his arm? Are you still seeing her?”Too tired to explain about the tattoo, Jungeol leaned back, resting one arm on the chair, and shook his head. Disappointed, his friend ordered a cocktail and said,“You’re not seeing anyone?”“No, I’m not.”“So, you’re really busy, huh? Are you just going to keep working like that and not date? Or should I set you up?”The mention of a blind date made Jungeol yawn. He hadn’t thought about dating recently. Living on a tight schedule that left him little time to sleep had killed his interest in hobbies or relationships. Actually, he was avoiding dating on purpose, thinking that adding it to his current life would be overwhelming.Seeing no reaction from Jungeol at the suggestion of a blind date, another friend asked curiously,“There must be someone interested in you. No one? Wow, Cho Jungeol has really fallen off.”Joking with his friends, Jungeol took a sip of water, and a certain voice suddenly echoed in his mind.— I was thinking, Hyung, what if you and Gaang stayed at my place on weekends?— I could take care of Gaang while you sleep comfortably, Hyung.— It’s just pitiful if Gaang whines all night.Jungeol tilted his head slightly. He usually considered himself perceptive, but Yoochan’s intentions were hard to read.Yoochan’s sudden declaration of calling him Hyung, asking for his SNS ID, hugging him at their reunion after two years, and offering his room without hesitation seemed typical of Yoochan’s personality. Yet, Yoochan would sometimes say and do things that could easily be misinterpreted.Thinking about how Yoochan had a girlfriend before, Jungeol frowned in confusion. He found Yoochan quite likable and cute, making him want to tease Yoochan often, but dating felt burdensome at the moment. Not having his basic needs met made him want to avoid any uncomfortable situation if possible.Dahee: When are you free then? I’ll wait.Jungeol looked at his phone again. It seemed obvious what Dahee wanted to talk about. She probably wanted to finish what she couldn’t last year. Although he had replied coldly to avoid meeting her, Dahee didn’t seem to back down, leaving Jungeol feeling troubled as he turned off the screen without replying.* * *The next day, as Jungeol finished a tattoo session for a customer whose appointment was moved to 7 AM, the shop staff began arriving one by one.“Gaang looks so good in that scarf. Taeho, did you buy it?” Manager said, squatting on the floor and taking pictures of Gaang on the table. Taeho, folding towels on the drying rack next to the sofa, replied.“No, not me. I don’t have money these days.”“Then was it Jungeol Oppa?”“Come on, Noona. Hyung doesn’t seem like the type to get something so cute. I thought you bought it.”“Not me either.”“Yoochan bought it.”Jungeol, who was eating sundae soup for a late breakfast and hangover cure on the sofa, answered briefly.“Yoochan?”Manager asked with wide eyes, then nodded as if it made sense.“He does seem to have a good sense. He always brings snacks when he comes.”Ding.“I’m here!”Hearing Yoochan’s lively voice, Jungeol raised his eyebrows and looked up. It wasn’t Yoochan but Jinwoo who walked in.“Oh, our incomplete canvas is here?”“Hyung, seriously…! I’ll finish my back piece once I save up more. But Jungeol Hyung, are you having breakfast now? I brought some bread too.”Jinwoo’s words made Jungeol frown subtly. He had just realized that Yoochan and Jinwoo’s voice tones were quite similar. Although it was normal for Jinwoo to be at the shop during this time on a weekday and Yoochan to be at school, he had assumed it was Yoochan without thinking.Watching Jinwoo eat bread for breakfast beside him, Jungeol remembered to ask Taeho.“Did you have dinner with Yoochan yesterday?”Taeho, holding a pile of folded towels, shook his head.“No. I had dinner with Noona. Yoochan said he was having dinner with his judo gym friends yesterday.”Taeho’s words sparked a glint of curiosity in Jungeol’s eyes.— I want to get closer to you, Hyung.Yoochan’s voice echoed in his mind again. The remark about wanting to get closer and have dinner together had initially been brushed off. Jungeol had assumed Yoochan was just looking for a meal companion since he lived alone, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.As Jungeol narrowed his eyes in thought, his phone buzzed.Yoochan: Hyung, what are you doing? I passed out after sending that text last night. Haha.Feeling Yoochan couldn’t hold his drink well, Jungeol chuckled and replied.Jungeol: Yeah, it seemed like it.Yoochan: Are you working now?Jungeol: I’m eating and resting.Yoochan: Can I call you then?“……”As Jungeol hesitated in surprise, the phone rang. Gesturing Jinwoo not to clear away his leftover dishes, he answered and moved to the smoking room on the balcony. Usually comfortable making calls in front of the staff, Jungeol found himself moving unconsciously.Puzzled by his special reaction to Yoochan’s call, Jungeol habitually searched his pocket for his cigarette pack when Yoochan asked.[Aren’t you smoking right now?]Jungeol paused, as if Yoochan could see him.“How did you know?”[You said you just ate. Hyung, you always smoke after eating and after finishing a session.]Amused by Yoochan’s knowledge of his habits, Jungeol chuckled and lit a cigarette, taking a drag before asking.“Why’d you call all of a sudden?”[Just because. I don’t have anything particular to do right now. I was bored. I keep thinking about Hyung’s tattoos. Maybe I’m a tattoo enthusiast.]“Stop saying weird things.”With a laugh in his voice, Jungeol’s chiding made Yoochan clear his throat a few times before getting to the point.[Anyway, about that text earlier, so it might or might not work out, right?]“It probably won’t. Don’t get your hopes up.”[But there’s a 0.00000001 percent chance, right?]“…Does it end with zero?”[Oh, I misspoke. 0.00000001 percent. So there’s a chance if we’re lucky, right?]Jungeol didn’t reply, not wanting to see Yoochan disappointed by a broken promise. “It’s okay,” Yoochan replied cheerfully.[I’m actually pretty lucky. I’ll book the tickets then. Let me know if it won’t work.]Worried about Yoochan’s high hopes, Jungeol exhaled cigarette smoke and replied skeptically.“…It probably won’t work.”[We can cancel on the day if needed. But Hyung, what kind of movies do you like? I feel like you’re into action. Do you like action?]“Yeah, sure.”[I like action movies too. I’ll book two tickets for Saturday night at 11 PM. Oh, and there’s something more important I need to tell you….]As Yoochan trailed off, mentioning something important, Jungeol took the cigarette out of his mouth and listened intently. Yoochan’s voice came through the phone.[Sigh… I have a mandatory department meeting tonight, and tomorrow is my dad’s birthday, so I don’t think I can have dinner with you.]Relieved that it was nothing serious, Jungeol’s expression brightened. Although he would miss having dinner with Yoochan, he could manage for two days.“Alright. Got it.”[Do you have to start working now?]“…No. Not yet.”[Then why do you sound like you’re about to hang up? That’s disappointing.]Jungeol sighed and replied,“Okay, I won’t hang up.”[Well, it’s fine. Before you hang up, can you help me choose my lunch? I’m not feeling the cafeteria food, so I’m planning to order delivery with my friends. Should I get honey combo or red combo?]“Honey combo.”[Okay. Honey combo it is. Can I choose your lunch too? How about pork ribs?]“…Sure.”[Then see you on Saturday, Hyung!]Before Jungeol could respond, the call ended abruptly. Checking the screen, he saw that about five minutes had passed. They had talked a lot in those five minutes, but nothing substantial. Jungeol, who was used to keeping conversations brief, found the experience intriguing. Hearing Manager calling for him, he headed out.* * *“Ah! Ahh…! Ouch…! Wait a moment, sir…! Just a moment!”It was Saturday afternoon, the day Jungeol was supposed to watch a movie with Yoochan. As Jungeol brought the machine to the side of the customer’s ribs where the front leg of a gray wolf was being tattooed, the customer screamed. Unable to bear the pain, the customer twisted his body, forcing Jungeol to stop and let him go.“Does it hurt that much?”“If you’re curious, you should try it.”The customer, tears welling up, replied to his friend who had come to watch.Jungeol sighed quietly and checked the time. It was already past ten. He had anticipated that it might take longer since it was a particularly painful area, but today’s customer was especially sensitive to pain.“Just ten minutes of rest, please.”The customer, fastening his gown, stood up and said. Jungeol, unable to force him to continue, agreed and calculated the remaining work. At this pace, it seemed unlikely to finish within two hours. Jungeol texted Yoochan.Jungeol: We need to cancel the reservation.He wondered if he should have declined more firmly from the start. Feeling uneasy, Jungeol soon received a reply from Yoochan.Yoochan: Got it, Hyung! Let’s definitely have dinner tomorrow!Relieved by Yoochan’s cheerful response, Jungeol put his phone down.The wolf tattoo on the customer’s back was finally completed after several more hours.The shop was unusually quiet, with all the staff, including Taeho, having left early. After finishing the cleanup and locking up, Jungeol was surprised to see a figure leaning against the wall.“Are you done now?”Yoochan, dressed comfortably in training clothes as if he had just woken up, asked. Jungeol checked his phone. It was 1 AM.“Isn’t it your bedtime?”Yoochan scratched the back of his head and laughed.“I couldn’t sleep, so I came down for a walk. I saw the shop lights on. Are you done with work?”“Yeah.”“Wow, you must have had a tough day, Hyung.”Yoochan mumbled, stretching his lips sideways. He seemed to be trying to manage his expression but looked more tired than usual. Concerned by Yoochan’s weak voice, Jungeol said,“Sorry for breaking our promise.”Yoochan, startled, waved his hands.“Hyung, why are you apologizing? You said it probably wouldn’t work out. Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t expecting much anyway. They say that movie is boring. Its ratings are low.”Yoochan said this, trying to downplay his feelings, then added as if he just remembered,“It’s late, so you should head home, Hyung. I’m just going to take a quick walk around the neighborhood and then go to bed.”He moved aside slightly to make it easier for Jungeol to leave.“…Alright. Get home early.”Adjusting his bag, Jungeol started to walk past Yoochan but felt an uneasy pull, as if someone was holding him back. Glancing back, he saw Yoochan looking at him before lowering his gaze and rubbing his neck.It didn’t sit right with Jungeol to see Yoochan, usually so bright, looking downcast. Without realizing it, he took a step towards Yoochan and, in an impulse, said something he wouldn’t normally say to Taeho, Manager, or Jinwoo.“If you have nothing to do tomorrow, want to go see the movie now?”Yoochan’s eyes widened in surprise.“Is that okay?”When Jungeol nodded, Yoochan’s expression lit up, and he smiled widely, his earlier gloom vanishing. Seeing Yoochan’s sudden happiness, Jungeol calmly gestured.“Let’s go. To the movies.”Yoochan quickly ran to stand beside Jungeol, who was grinning as he looked at his handsome profile. He smiled to himself. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have changed clothes and just waited.Despite knowing how hard it was for Jungeol to find time, Yoochan had secretly been hoping since yesterday. Up until Jungeol canceled the plan, he had been meticulously preparing.Yoochan, who usually wore comfortable hoodies or workout clothes after exercising all day, had chosen a bright-colored shirt for a change. Thinking Jungeol would wear black, he had picked out and ironed his black pants and placed his new sneakers bought the day before on the living room table.The only thing he couldn’t do anything about was his short, stiff hair. Yoochan had styled the ends of his bangs with wax and spent the day staring at the clock, waiting for Jungeol’s reply.After receiving the message to cancel the reservation, Yoochan hugged his new sneakers and felt dejected. Though he pretended it was fine and replied nonchalantly, he couldn’t hide his disappointment while putting the sneakers back and changing into workout clothes.He was so disheartened that he couldn’t sleep even long after bedtime. Thinking he might sleep better after sweating a bit, he went outside and noticed the shop lights still on, prompting him to check it out. Yoochan thought it would be nice just to see Jungeol’s face for a moment.When Jungeol suggested going to the movies, Yoochan thought he misheard. Even after getting in the car, his face was beaming with joy, prompting Jungeol to teasingly ask,“Do you like watching movies that much?”“Of course I do.”“You said its ratings were low.”“I was kidding. The ratings are really high. It’s currently number one at the box office.”In truth, Yoochan was more excited about spending time with Jungeol than watching the movie. Unable to suppress his grin, Yoochan suddenly checked his appearance in the side mirror. Startled, he lowered the sun visor to look in the mirror, dissatisfied.“I should have gone home briefly. My hair’s all flattened from lying down. I should have changed clothes too.”“There’s wax in there if you need it.”Yoochan found the round wax container in the glove compartment and applied it while looking in the mirror, carefully styling his hair. Though his short hair didn’t show much difference, he seemed pleased and leaned back in his seat.Not a minute later, he lowered the sun visor again, seriously inspecting his reflection.“How do I look today?”At the strange question, Jungeol glanced at Yoochan, pulling his lips into a tight line.“You look the same as usual.”“That’s not good. I need to look better than usual.”Yoochan rubbed his chin, inspecting his nonexistent beard, then resignedly put the sun visor up and looked at Jungeol. Feeling Jungeol’s persistent gaze, Yoochan smiled broadly and said,“Hyung, you look just as handsome as usual.”Jungeol seemed at a loss for words, then closed his lips and turned away. When Jungeol didn’t respond, Yoochan leaned towards the driver’s seat and asked,“Why do you always pretend you didn’t hear me when I say you’re handsome, Hyung? Are you embarrassed?”“…Well.”Seeing Jungeol looking awkward, Yoochan burst into hearty laughter.“Honestly, you’ve heard it from others too, right? There are tons of comments on Instagram saying the tattoo artist is handsome. Do you pretend not to hear those too?”Jungeol didn’t just pretend not to hear; he didn’t even read the compliments. Manager mostly managed the tattoo artist Jet’s SNS account, and Jungeol only responded to detailed design consultations that came through DMs.“Hey, it’s okay. If you’re as handsome as you are, you should enjoy being told you’re handsome. Because you’re not just handsome, you’re really handsome.”“Shouldn’t we book the movie tickets?”“There should be plenty of seats at this time. Oh? Are you changing the subject again?”Jungeol’s attempt to subtly change the topic failed, and his frown deepened. Yoochan, pleased with the sight of Jungeol’s furrowed brow, looked at Jungeol’s long, curly hair covering his forehead and asked,“Did you get a perm, Hyung? An ash perm?”Yoochan frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with his short hair.“Should I grow my hair out and get a perm like you, Hyung? I’ve had this hairstyle since elementary school.”“By the time you grow it out enough for a perm, you’ll be enlisting.”“Ah, Hyung…!”“I’m kidding. And I didn’t get a perm.”“Really? It’s naturally like this? Are you naturally wavy, Hyung?”Jungeol nodded. Yoochan looked curiously at the slightly off-center part and the bangs that leaned to the right. He had seen many people with wavy hair, but never hair that curled so uniformly and beautifully.“How does it look naturally? The roots seem to stand up a bit too. Is that natural?”“If you blow-dry it from below, it stays that way.”The idea that hair could stay in place after blow-drying was unimaginable for Yoochan, who had thick, stiff, and assertive straight hair. Yoochan’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. His hand, twitching on his thigh, slowly reached towards Jungeol.“Can I touch it?”Yoochan asked, wiggling his fingers near Jungeol’s face. Jungeol hesitated. People often wanted to touch his unusual hair, and he always refused. He disliked drawing attention for anything other than his work.Jungeol avoided places like swimming pools or bathhouses to avoid being ogled like a zoo monkey. Even before getting tattoos, he was tired of people staring at certain parts of his body in bathhouses.“Well, if you don’t want me to, I won’t.”As Jungeol hesitated, Yoochan lowered his hand and smiled, seemingly giving up on touching Jungeol’s hair. Yoochan bent down to adjust the seat, which had been uncomfortable as his knees kept hitting the dashboard.After moving the seat back, Yoochan straightened up and looked at Jungeol, who was still watching him.“What? Are you disappointed I won’t touch your hair? If you really want, I’ll touch it.”Yoochan wiggled his fingers again, making Jungeol laugh in disbelief. Taking the soft expression as permission, Yoochan reached out with wiggling fingers.“Here I go.”Yoochan’s hand touched Jungeol’s hair. Although Jungeol usually disliked being a spectacle, he remained still this time.Feeling the soft texture, Yoochan’s eyes widened. He spread his fingers, gently holding Jungeol’s side hair, and asked seriously,“Do you use conditioner, Hyung? I don’t use conditioner, so my hair doesn’t feel like this. Want to feel mine?”As the car stopped, Yoochan grabbed Jungeol’s right hand from the steering wheel and rubbed it against the back of his head.“Completely different, right?”Yoochan grinned. His hair was thick and stiff, like a long beard or Gaang’s tail fur.“……”Jungeol unconsciously stroked Yoochan’s hair a few more times, enjoying the rough texture. Yoochan chuckled and said,“My hair feels nice too, right?”As it was time to start driving again, Jungeol removed his hand from Yoochan’s hair and nodded briefly.“Yeah, it does.”“If your hands get bored, you can touch it once in a while. I’ll give you special permission.”Jungeol made a subtle expression and replied, “Alright.” Yoochan rubbed the back of his head, which Jungeol had touched, and adjusted his posture.After buying tickets at the cinema, Yoochan naturally led Jungeol to the concession stand.“Want to share a large cola?”“Sure.”Yoochan ordered a large cola first, then bought two hot dogs, nachos, caramel popcorn, and a bunch of dried squid. Jungeol frowned at the amount of food.“Are you going to eat all that?”“What are you talking about, Hyung? I usually order more, but I got less because it’s late and I didn’t want to upset my stomach.”“…”“Oh, it’s going to spill.”Seeing Yoochan struggling with the food, Jungeol took the cola and caramel popcorn. Yoochan tucked the packaged dried squid under his arm and started unwrapping the hot dogs.“Why not eat inside?”“The sauce drips, so it’s inconvenient to eat inside. We have to finish both before going in. We only have five minutes left, so hurry up and open your mouth, Hyung. Ah.”Saying this, Yoochan shoved a hot dog into Jungeol’s mouth. Not particularly hungry, Jungeol took a big bite of the hot dog. As Yoochan unwrapped the remaining hot dog, he moved slightly, causing mustard to smear on Jungeol’s lips.Jungeol wiped the mustard off his lips with his thumb and looked at Yoochan. Yoochan, seemingly hungry, was devouring the hot dog, unaware of the ketchup and mustard on his lips. Yoochan quickly finished one hot dog and offered the other to Jungeol. When Jungeol declined, Yoochan shrugged and finished the hot dog in just two bites.After chewing and swallowing the food, Yoochan glanced at his fingers, which were covered in sauce that had dripped from the packaging.He needed something to wipe with. Finding tissues a bit further away, Yoochan wiped his fingers and lips vigorously before asking,“Is there anything on my face now?”A tiny speck of red ketchup sauce was on the hollow between Yoochan’s lower lip and chin.“On your chin.”Yoochan wiped below the sauce with the back of his hand. Jungeol chuckled, then, holding the popcorn with his other arm, reached out to Yoochan.Yoochan smiled subtly as Jungeol’s fingers lightly brushed his. Jungeol, puzzled by the smile’s meaning, followed Yoochan inside, carrying the popcorn.Their seats were towards the middle-back. Although they expected the theater to be empty due to the late hour, it was even more deserted than anticipated.While Yoochan unwrapped the food, Jungeol placed the cola in the cup holder between them. As the lights dimmed and the ads started, Yoochan settled into his seat, tearing into the dried squid and focusing on the movie ads. When the ads continued, Yoochan offered a piece of dried squid to Jungeol. Jungeol hesitated, then lowered his head and opened his mouth.Watching Jungeol eat the dried squid, Yoochan admired his profile. The light from the screen cast a white glow along Jungeol’s sculpted facial features beneath his hair.“It’s like art.”Jungeol looked at him, and Yoochan added with a smile,“The ads. These days, ads are like art.”Feeling shy, Yoochan turned his head to look forward. Just then, the ads ended, and the movie studio’s opening began. Yoochan watched the screen with interest.Ten minutes into the movie.Jungeol, focused on the screen, noticed Yoochan moving beside him and chuckled. He thought Yoochan was moving to eat snacks, but Yoochan was actually dozing off. Yoochan, arms crossed tightly and head bowed, was fully asleep. Jungeol turned to check behind them, relieved to see no one there.Straightening up, Jungeol called,“Baek Yoochan.”When Yoochan didn’t respond, Jungeol tapped his crossed arms.“Yoochan.”Yoochan showed no sign of waking. Jungeol gave up trying to wake him and gently adjusted his slumped shoulders. Yoochan mumbled and settled into the seat, using the backrest as a pillow, and fell into a deep sleep.