Vol 7 Chapter 31

"Really? Your parents must be happy having such handsome sons."

"My mother passed away."

Though it seemed like a casual answer, the atmosphere instantly became chilly.

"Oh my. I'm sorry. You must have been sad, and I said something unnecessary."

Je-hwan shook his head at Master's wife's apology.

"It's fine, it was long ago."

This too was something Kapros was hearing for the first time. He truly realized that he knew less about Je-hwan than he had thought.

"Really, not only handsome but such a good personality too. Our Mu-heon still gives us worries. I'm worried you might look like a prince and servant when walking together with Mu-heon. What should we do?"

Master's wife... Kapros could only swallow the rice punch that tasted bitter as mugwort without being able to say anything. He had nothing to say since it was true that Je-hwan was incomparably better looking than him. However, the one who broke that atmosphere was Je-hwan himself who had received the praise.

"I think Mu-heon is better looking than me."

"Hmm?"

"What did you say?"

"Rather than a face like mine that's too harsh on the eyes and makes others uncomfortable, someone with deep eyes and a strong will like that is better. And..."

Kapros also opened his mouth blankly while watching both their eyes widen. What was this guy trying to do?

"Jin Je-hwan, you..."

Just as Kapros was about to tell him to stop doing embarrassing things immediately, Master's hearty laughter suddenly burst out.

"This friend knows something. I like him."

What kind of situation was this now? While Kapros was confused facing an incomprehensible situation, Master's wife stopped laughing and gladly grasped Je-hwan's hand.

"Since you're Mu-heon's friend, you're like a son to us too. Yes, would you perhaps consider joining our dojo? Someone like Je-hwan-gun would be good..."

"Master's wife!"

When Kapros finally cut in, a slight painted-on smile appeared on Je-hwan's face.

"I'm grateful just for the words. I'll think about it."

What was there to think about?

But with just that one smile, Master and Master's wife seemed to gain even more trust in Je-hwan. When they stood up to leave after his part-time hours were over, Master's wife seemed even more regretful about Je-hwan leaving than Kapros.

"Mu-heon, contact us when you arrive and get home safely. Je-hwan-gun, please come again next time."

After exchanging goodbyes, it took somewhat longer than coming to return home by bike. This was because the roads were quite congested overlapping with office workers' commute time.

"Today... thanks for various things. Take care."

When Kapros thanked Je-hwan, who had insisted on dropping him off in front of his house even though he said the road would be fine, Je-hwan slightly raised his arm while still wearing his helmet and gestured for him to come closer.

"What?"

"..."

Ah right. Since he was wearing his helmet now, Kapros couldn't hear him even if he spoke. When Kapros approached Je-hwan's side, suddenly with a zing sound, the black reinforced glass covering Je-hwan's face disappeared and his neck was quickly pulled forward.

"..."

"Hah."

When their lips parted after a hot tongue had entangled between them, Je-hwan let out a small breath and whispered.

"...This will be your service fee."

"Didn't you say you wouldn't take any?"

Though the sensation of his tongue being strongly sucked made his spine tingle strangely, Kapros couldn't help but ask back in disbelief. Je-hwan wiped Kapros's saliva-wet lips while tilting his head.

"That was the fare. This is the service fee."

"..."

If this was meant as a joke, it really wasn't funny at all. When Kapros slightly frowned while looking at him, Je-hwan smiled slightly.

"It's strange."

"What is?"

"The more I get to know you, the more I like you."

Is that so. Though Kapros had learned quite a lot about things he hadn't known about Je-hwan today...

'Though it's not the first time hearing it, still... these kinds of words are a bit embarrassing.'

But more serious than that was the fact that even in this situation, he still wasn't feeling angry or repulsed at all.

'It should be natural not to be okay doing this kind of thing with a friend... I really don't know what this is.'

While slightly turning his gaze away thinking this, Je-hwan gently moved his fingers that had been wiping below Kapros's lips up to caress his cheek. When Kapros swatted away his hand, feeling goosebumps for some reason at that moment, Je-hwan quietly laughed.

"I don't know if you realize, but you're actually very sensitive."

Before Kapros could ask back "Sensitive?" the swollen sensation of his stinging lips properly reminded him what Je-hwan was talking about.

"...You, don't come to the kendo dojo next time."

"Why?"

Are you really asking because you don't know? Though Kapros looked at him with complete disbelief, Je-hwan calmly made a shocking statement.

"I'm going to come since they told me to come again."

"I said no. Don't come."

Could it be that the reason he had been unusually gentle with Master and Master's wife was for this very moment! Though Kapros firmly refused with the shock of being blindsided, Je-hwan showed no intention of listening to him.

"No matter what you say, only the people there can tell me not to come now."

Looking at Je-hwan's bright smile, Kapros properly felt in reality his considerable unpleasantness that he hadn't felt for a while since Yu-wan left.

'Right. Come to think of it, he was this stubborn. I had forgotten.'

It was so regrettable that Master and Master's wife couldn't see this side of him.

"...Are you happy?"

"I was curious when you said those people were like parents to you, and now I'm happy because I know the answer."

Looking at his face that seemed genuinely happy, Kapros finally just let out a long sigh and gave up any will to say more.

Je-hwan adjusted his helmet to make the black reinforced glass reappear before getting on his bike.

"Then I'll go now. Go in."

After leaving just those words, Je-hwan instantly started the bike and left so quickly the front wheel lifted slightly for a moment.

Vroom!!!!

Kapros stood there for a while where Je-hwan had left. Strangely, Je-hwan's face as he smiled saying he was glad to have met Master and Master's wife wouldn't leave his mind for a long time...