As they walked slowly through the corridor, Alex froze in place, his eyes wide with mesmerization. Jin noticed the sudden pause and was immediately worried that Alex was feeling weak.
Turning around, Jin caught the sheer awe in Alex's expression and noticed the deep blush creeping across his cheeks.
"Alex... are you alright?" Jin asked, feeling a slight warmth rise up his own face.
Alex shyly avoided his gaze.
"Why don't you bathe first, then I'll..." Jin was cut in his sentence.
"Together," Alex cut him off, his voice hesitant but clear. "Let's bathe together."
"What! No, I can't... I mean, we can't do that," Jin answered nervously.
"But we used to bathe together," Alex softly reminded him.
"That was back then in the army camps, when everyone had to bathe in the same place," Jin countered.
"Then why hesitate now? Are you afraid I'll do something to you?" Alex asked, staring intently at him.
Taken aback by the intensity of that stare, Jin turned on his heel and hurried towards his room, blushing deeply. Alex watched him go, completely confused by the sudden retreat. "Jin... so you're..."
"I'll be there! Just go on without me," Jin called back, cutting him off.
Left with no answers, Alex slowly walked towards his room. Meanwhile, Jin was frantically clearing the clothes off his bed and changing the covers. His bedsheets carried a faint, spicy scent then a fragrance that suddenly grew sharper and closer from behind. When Jin turned around, Alex was already standing quietly at the doorway, watching him.
"He's so desperate. Can't he see I'm trying to keep my distance?" Jin thought anxiously, folding the remaining clothes and gathering the laundry to keep his hands busy.
"Are you really that afraid of me?" Alex asked, a sharp pinch of hurt bleeding into his tone.
At the sound of that heavy sadness, Jin's urge to refuse completely melted away. He couldn't bear that expression.
In the end, he gave in. They stepped into the bathroom together, where several lit lamps cast a bright, warm glow over the space. A built-in tap connected to an outside water tank sat against the wall. In the center of the room stood a huge, oval-shaped wooden tub, smoothly carved and beautifully varnished. A polished stool rested beside it, near a medium-sized bucket by the tap, while two smaller buckets hung from nails driven into the wall.
"Let me start filling the tub," Jin said, keeping his back firmly turned towards Alex as he rushed to the tap.
Alex noticed the lingering nervousness but pushed it aside. He began taking off his clothes, hanging them carefully on the nails hammered behind the door. Soon, the room was filled with the rhythmic sound of rushing water, Jin's quiet humming, and a faint, swirling blend of vanilla, cedar, and bitter orange.Alex strode towards the wooden stool then looked at Jin and stepped away from the it then slowly approached Jin. Seeing how rigid and tense Jin's shoulders were, Alex couldn't help but wonder why.
It certainly wasn't their first time being in the same space naked and ready to bathe, yet Jin's posture radiated pure discomfort.
Passing quietly behind him, Alex reached for one of the small buckets hanging against the wall. From his belongings, he pulled out two neon red gems and dropped them into the tub. The stones immediately cast a brilliant, fiery glow through the water, heating it up until thick ribbons of steam began to rise, filling the room and mingling with the heavy entanglement of their pheromones.
As the water warmed, Alex began washing his hair, eventually pouring a bucket of water over himself to rinse away the soap. By then, Jin had finally taken off his clothes and was sitting on the smooth wooden stool, focusing entirely on washing his own hair. His back was still turned completely towards Alex.
Confused by the stubborn distance, Alex took a few steps forward and gently tapped Jin on the shoulder. "Aren't you tired of washing your hair only?" he asked softly.
Jin tensed up instantly at the touch. "No, not at all. Uhm... Alex, your water is hot enough now. You should get into the tub, okay?" he nervously answered, deflecting with a quick question.
The lingering awkwardness brought a wave of sadness over Alex.
Stepping out of his slippers, he stepped into the tub. The hot water instantly worked its magic, soothing his bubbling emotions and relaxing his tired muscles. He leaned back against the smooth, varnished wood, his gaze locked onto Jin.
After a few quiet moments, Jin tried to steal a quick glance over his shoulder to check on him,only to catch Alex staring right back. Jin immediately whipped his head around, looking away. Alex was left partly confused, but a small, secret smile touched his lips, a flicker of happiness warming him at the sight of Jin blushing so deeply.