The next morning, they both explored the place; mostly Hyun did. Within and around the house. He even found his favorite spots to watch the view from.
Before lunch, they both settled into the living room. Do-Jin made a movie plan. This was the first time they ever watched something together.
Do-Jin was too busy before, so Hyun-So spent most of the time reading and watching TV to understand the world better. He has watched a lot of content, along with series and movies.
Do-Jin asked if he was cool with the action genre that he was totally interested in.
With some snacks, they plopped onto the couch, almost cuddling together.
Hyun-So felt the awe-filled stares of staff around him. But he wasn't annoyed by it, nor did he try to correct them.
That was their day; the whole time they just stayed in like sloths.
The next morning, Do-Jin broke into his room at fricking 5 AM, all excited and ready for hiking.
He dragged Hyun-So from his bed, and by the time he became aware of the situation, they were already climbing the mountain.
"When did I agree to this?" Hyun-So huffed, breathing harshly, trying to endure his weight over the stick.
"You didn't." Do-Jin was walking straight in front of him without any problem, like he does this daily. "Want to take a break?"
He asked, and that was all Hyun-So needed to hear before he threw himself near a tree, his back supported by it.
Do-Jin took off the bag and settled down beside him. "Come on, it's not that bad."
"Yeah, you say it when—" Hyun-So gripped his shaking knees. "When my legs are wobbly."
Do-Jin let out a scuffed laugh as Hyun-So continued.
"It wasn't this painful when I walked for hours after leaving my home."
To that, Do-Jin fell silent.
He walked for hours?
"Talking about that now. What was your reason to leave? If you are okay with sharing it." Do-Jin watched him for any signs of discomfort from it.
But Hyun-So was relaxed.
"I was in this band—" Hyun-So was cut off after that.
"You mean like pop, rockstar?"
"Yeah, something like that, just on a small level though. I played guitar; we performed in small clubs and restaurants."
Hyun-So heard a little 'oh,' but he never looked in his direction.
"Dad never liked it, and I ditched my graduation in the middle for it."
Hyun-So fell silent for a while. Do-Jin kept quiet for a few moments before it felt like too much.
"That's it? I mean, it's a pretty good reason, but still, you never talked to them because of it? You said that you even ignored them in public places."
Hyun-So took a breath; he thought it would be enough as a reason, and he wouldn't need to share the real one, but Do-Jin wasn't buying it, clearly.
He knew that he didn't need to keep going if it was too much, but it was about time; he had been holding on to it for too long.
He needed to let it out, and finally someone cared enough to ask him.
"It was one of the reasons. I came out to my family as ga—I mean, I told them I prefer men."
Another pause.
"Oh, so what? Is that not allowed in your world or something?"
"Well, take it as two omegas being in love. It's not accepted as normal, right? Even if their first gender is different. I watched this movie here before, about two girls who were omegas being in love and how they were criticized by everyone around them."
Do-Jin exhaled slowly. "Oh, I got it. It is legal now; people can be with anyone."
Hyun-So scratched his legs. "Not in my world; some countries don't allow people to marry the one they love, and even if it is allowed in some, people still judge."
"And your dad was one of them?" Do-Jin's eyes were fixed on him still, with what looked like empathy in them.
"Yeah, everyone was okay with it except my dad. So the very next day I left."
There was pain in his voice, like he was tired. The scrunchy feeling of walking just to get away from that house, the time he had to spend on the road because he had no job, no place to stay at.
The silence was heavy, but they kept it despite the million attempts of Do-Jin trying to break it. They reached another point to take a rest.
After Hyun-So put down his bag, Do-Jin backed him up to a tree trunk, keeping his arms around him so he couldn't escape.
"Look, I know it was bad and that you don't want to hear anything. But I don't care about your past; no one does. Here, you are too important. Take it as a Pry or a Relic. I know the moment anyone finds out about you, they will want to keep you forever."
Hyun-So he was startled by the sudden push, but he listened until this point. "What?"
The words that came out of Do-Jin's mouth were messed up, not making any sense.
"I mean, I didn't run here with you because of my dad. I just felt like I didn't know enough about you. I wanted to understand you. But you were too quiet. So please, you can ask me anything and share anything with me. Please share everything with me. Even if it is painful."
If it didn't make sense before, it was even worse this time. He said two entirely different things at once.
Relic? He wants to understand me?
The thought of someone being this interested in him was definitely strange.
But somehow he liked this feeling.
He let out a small chuckle before answering.
"Alright."
They rested a while longer before setting off again, their steps lighter than before.
This time Hyun-So looked happy. His mood gradually improved. Do-Jin still looked like a worried puppy trying to follow him around.
This was definitely a good idea. Even if he needed to wake up so early just to tire himself out more, it was worth it.
They reached the top, with Hyun-So almost dying.
The whole way there and back, they talked about things, about life. Do-Jin told him how he was so done with his dad pushing him for the CEO's position that he left in the end. His mom talks to him and meets him outside just to make sure he is still alive.
They laughed; this was definitely the longest they talked to each other without a fight over Hyun-So being a spy.
Maybe this place is not that bad.
Maybe he likes Do-Jin.
But what if Do-Jin didn't mean it that way? The things he said were meant for a friend, not a potential lover.
Maybe he is not in love with him either.
He just got a really good friend. The friend he thinks he likes.
But all of this can just be his heart trying to grip hard on this friendship.
The joy he felt just moments ago was gone in an instant.
- - -
The next few days felt long; the realization that he might be in love with Do-Jin was too much for him to ignore.
Do-Jin couldn't understand the sudden change in his behavior; he was distancing himself like he did when they first stayed together before the fight.
He did his best to cheer him up. But Hyun-So was ignoring him somewhat. Trying not to let him actually realize it.
But the signs were clear enough.
Do-Jin took them out again despite millions of protests; Hyun-So, in fact, went with him.
By the corner of a mountain. They walked until they reached a sightseeing area. Just a small platform with fencing around it, high above to watch the beautiful valley underneath.
"So what do you like better, mountains or beaches?" Do-Jin started as they walked over to the place. "As for me, it's obvious, I guess."
"I don't have a favorite." Hyun-So commented coldly, his hands tucked into his pant pockets.
"Come on now, there must be something you like better." Do-Jin pleaded, but maybe it was not a good idea.
"I don't, I told you already. In fact, this is my first 'vacation' after middle school." Hyun-So was too stiff; he watched, down was a lake surrounded by the mountains.
Do-Jin couldn't mutter anything out; he just wanted to have a conversation in the hope that the sudden distance between them would slip away.
He doesn't want to see the broken look on Hyun-So. Like he had lost something.
Please just look at me. Tell me if I have done something wrong.
"Hey," Hyun So gives a gentle smile, reaching for the troubled man to get him out of his thoughts.
He had finally accepted his feelings; that's what it looked like. Two days were all he needed in the end.
Just say it; it's always been easy to accept 'rejections.'
He told himself all the negative things in the past two days, but somewhere he still had a single feeling that Do-Jin liked him too. That even if he rejects Hyun-So, it won't be the same as in high school. So why don't we start with that?
"I had a crush on this guy in high school." A little awkward thing to start with, but Do-Jin was still there listening like he promised him.
"I... He found a girl, and they got together. I couldn't confess when I had the time."
Do-Jin rubbed his fingers over Hyun-So's hand, the one he was using to hold Do-Jin's hand.
"I did tell him about it later; we were at a college party, I said it like it was a joke, and—he made fun of him in front of everyone."
Do-Jin listened without rushing to conclusions.
"I guess I never let that slide. I never got a 'crush'; I never got the courage to love. Until today. Maybe not today—"
Hyun-So stumbled trying to find the right words but couldn't until Do-Jin gripped his hands, taking them closer to his heart.
"Maybe it's been a week or a month. You couldn't love again until you got here."
Hyun-So looked up, finding the eyes staring at him with warmth or something similar.
"Yeah, I... Can I like you?"
Hyun-So held his breath for merely a second as Do-Jin answered him back.
"That's a weird way to confess... But I'll take it." Do-Jin smiled before continuing, "Though I wouldn't mind hearing it properly one day."
Hyun-So breathed out and punched his shoulder with his free hand.
"Idiot."
Do-Jin laughed in pain.
"Well, it's you who fell for an idiot then. As for me, I like this alien from another world."
Fuck, this was such a relief.
They both laughed, and then slowly the laugh turned into a smile as they stared into each other's eyes.
The sun was going down behind them, leaving the sky in beautiful shades of blue, red, and orange.
"Can I?" Do-Jin asked, but Hyun-So rushed instead of answering. Just an aggressive tap of lips, but they both froze there for a moment, not moving for a moment, and then they backed away.
A silly smile and another kiss; this time they reached for each other in a passionate way, a spiral of lips then tongues.
Time stopped for a while. No, it was still passing, the Sun, their biggest sign of that.
But they didn't care anymore.
Finally, something felt right.