His appearance was just as ruined as Han Jung Jihoo’s.

The cast on his left arm, which he had broken so decisively in order to claim self-defense, had been redone, and now a thicker cast than before was wrapped around it. A thin bandage was also wrapped around the right fist that had completely smashed the robber’s face.

If there was any relief, it was that his flower-like face did not have even the tiniest wound on it.

And yet, to think he had mangled his own casted arm like that just to argue self-defense.

The sight of him mercilessly beating the other man down in the bluish light suddenly came back to him.

He had never imagined that the one who had always shown a somewhat foolish and gentle face in front of him could make such a face.

He was truly grateful that he had helped him, but when he recalled how frightening he had looked, his own gaze began to waver before he knew it.

Han Jung Jihoo.

As he quietly raised his eyes, warm chocolate-colored irises were looking at him silently.

In those tearful eyes, as if he might burst into tears at any moment, there was only concern for him. Facing those gentle eyes, thoughts of fear vanished like snow melting away.

Come to think of it, he must have been very shocked and frantic from experiencing this for the first time too.

What he had thought was a cold, blue murderous glint in the shop might have been an illusion caused by the bluish light from the showcase. The cruel sight of him beating an unconscious man until blood splattered might also have been exaggerated in his mind, still not fully recovered from the shock.

More than anything, he was the one who had saved his life.

Thinking that this was a situation where he should thank him over and over, Han Jung Jihoo was sorting out his thoughts when he again felt a fluttering touch on his fingertips.

He had taken Han Jung Jihoo’s fingertips and was looking at him with teary eyes. At that gentle and beautiful gaze that worried only about Han Jung Jihoo, his heart melted before he knew it.

Ah, how could he still look so handsome no matter what angle he was viewed from?

This sweet, pretty boy had experienced such a terrible thing, so how scared and shocked must he have been?

He opened his mouth to say that he really was fine and that he was grateful for the help, but he spoke first.

Han Jung Jihoo, are you really insane?

Hey, honestly, you looked even crazier than me?

Before Han Jung Jihoo could even open his mouth in grievance, Jung Jihoo abruptly changed, as if switching out a filter, and began to scold him with blazing eyes.

How many times did I tell you to lock the door and tidy up when closing? How many times did I tell you to install an emergency bell? I told you I’d have someone install it for you, but every time you said you’d take care of it yourself and kept chewing up my words like gum, and then when you ignore everything others say and end up with your hands torn up and your face turned deathly pale and shaking, who the fuck is supposed to know and come save you?! Do you think the police in this country are superpowered or something?!

After firing off words that could not tell whether they were curses or comfort, the guy with his swollen face hunched back down again. In the end, Han Jung Jihoo, at a loss, opened his mouth.

Good grief. Hey, Jung Jihoo ssi, listen. Hey!

But just as he was about to snap back at him, Han Jung Jihoo had to close his mouth again at the wet breath reaching his fingertips. Jung Jihoo, burying his face against the hand he was holding, was trembling all over.

And if something really happened to you, if something really bad really happened, ha, damn, I really.

The hand that did not even dare touch all of his fingers for fear of hurting him instead fidgeted miserably around the nails. It was pitiful beyond words.

His heart, which had flared up at those sudden curses, melted again at that fragile touch, and a small sigh escaped him. He had always thought he drew boundaries with other people as sharply as a knife, but strangely, that boundary kept crumbling whenever it came to this man.

I’m sorry. For coming late.

Suddenly, he felt hot droplets falling one by one onto his fingertips.

I tried to come quickly, I really wanted to come as fast as I could, but the shoot kept getting delayed, and then there was an accident while filming an action scene, and the company forced me into the hospital, so no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get to you, Han Jung Jihoo.

His voice, syllable by syllable, was sorrowful and aching as it tickled the palm of his hand. Strangely, his own heart felt ticklish too.

If I had known it would be like this, I would have thrown everything away, the filming and the hospitalization and everything, and just come out.

The earnest monologue continued in broken fragments, mixed with sobs.

I thought about contacting you by phone, but you didn’t give me your number directly, and we still aren’t anything yet, and I was afraid you might think I was being too clingy, that you might get sick of me, so I hesitated about that too, and, shit, even if you hated me, I should have just contacted you and nagged you.

J, just, Jung Jihoo ssi, I get it, so could you raise your head for a moment?

With the moisture on his palm and the spring-breeze-like breath, Han Jung Jihoo’s face was growing redder and redder.

Worried that someone might walk in, he tried somehow to lift his face, but as if he had honey on his hands, Jung Jihoo had no intention of leaving Han Jung Jihoo’s hand.

I kept thinking about you, on set, in the hospital, even in the car on the way back. I wanted to see you, I really wanted to see you so badly it felt like I was dying.

Then it seemed that soft hair brushed against his palm, and lips soft like fluttering flower petals touched his hand here and there with little, wet kisses.

Hh, Jung Jihoo ssi. No, if you keep doing this here, let’s calm down first and talk properly, okay.

Startled by the sudden contact, he even forgot the dull pain all over his body from being beaten by the robber. In the meantime, his shameless heart kept pounding so hard he felt like he might hyperventilate.

And at last Jung Jihoo raised his head.

Pearl-like tears were bubbling out of his blurred eyes.

His face, soaked through with tears and shining even more, was so dazzling that Han Jung Jihoo could only blink in confusion when he whispered in a voice sunk deep and low.

I like you. From the first time we met, I really liked you like crazy. Your voice, your hands, your laugh, all of it, I like you so, so much.

It was a messy confession mixed with curses, reproaches, and tears.

And with that rambling confession, Han Jung Jihoo had no choice but to acknowledge the feelings he had been forcing down.

He liked this man.

The fact that he barged into his space and interfered, the fact that he nagged him about everything and came every day to linger by his side, he actually did not hate any of it. Even when he had given up after waiting for him, after he no longer came, he had actually been hurt by that broken promise.

And seeing the man cry like a child in front of him like this, he could no longer deceive himself.

It was obvious we would not last long.

He was three years younger than him, a man who lived in a glamorous world completely different from his own.

A relationship between a small flower shop owner and a top star, just looking at the two of them, there was no bright future to be seen.

And yet, facing that desperate, tear-soaked face, he even found himself thinking, what did that matter anyway?

I’ll really do well. But if you feel burdened, you can just think of it as casually dating a rich younger man and having some fun. If you just let me stay by your side, I’ll really stay quiet, as if I’m there and not there, and I’ll take good care of you too. So, just once, could we date just once?

It was obvious it would not last long.

Even if his feelings were sincere now, there would surely be many other temptations in the glamorous world he lived in, and someday he might change his mind.

Han Jung Jihoo had always feared a loved one’s betrayal or an unprepared breakup. So, as before, he should have firmly rejected him at the start.

That was definitely the right thing to do.

And yet.

Before he knew it, his hand was stroking the corner of the eye of the man whose tears were as beautiful as a painting. He had done it without even realizing it.

Not missing that opening, Jung Jihoo immediately rubbed his face against Han Jung Jihoo’s hand and kept babbling cutely.

Ah, cute.

The moment Han Jung Jihoo thought that, he flinched to himself and lightly bit his lip.

Who was it that said if the other person looks cute, the game is over?

This man, leaning into his hand and pouring out tears like a gentle large dog, had begun to look not just handsome, but incredibly cute and pretty.

So, halmeoni, may I gather my courage one more time, for the very last time?

Even if I end up regretting it later, with this person, I want to go all the way once.

Still, is that all right?

**

Even after they decided to date, there was no special change between the two for a while.

They finally exchanged contact information, but unexpectedly, there were not many chances to contact each other.

Han Jung Jihoo preferred phone calls over texts, and because Jung Jihoo’s schedule was busy, there were many times when he could not talk for long.

More than anything, every day at closing time, Jung Jihoo would show up carrying food without fail, so the two of them did not really need to make time to contact each other separately.

Every evening, after closing the shop and firmly locking the front door, they ate with only the table lamp on.

Sitting under the warm orange light, the scent of grass and flowers rose from all around. And facing Jung Jihoo’s honey-dripping gaze, it felt as though no date spot could be sweeter than this.

Yes, truly, there was no problem between the two. But.

But what’s the problem? You’ve been meeting every day without missing one since you started dating a month ago, bringing insanely delicious food, and even escorting you home every day, right? Whoever it is, they’re really putting in heartfelt effort.

Dongseop, who only knew that after much trial and error Han Jung Jihoo had started dating his crush, responded flatly to Han Jung Jihoo’s newly raised worry over the phone.

Um, no, it’s just.

Just what?

Han Jung Jihoo, who had been twisting a pointless flower stem and biting his lip, finally blurted out,

He just eats with me.

Huh?

He was already blushing because he wondered if he really had to tell a friend even this at his age, but it was a serious worry in his own way. Feeling the ear pressed to the phone growing hotter and hotter, Han Jung Jihoo continued haltingly.

We really get along well and he’s good to me and everything is great, but strangely, whenever the atmosphere is about to get a little, you know, that guy starts acting distracted, so we just end up eating a lot every day.