If You Want Me - Episode 55
<Episode 55>
Seeing Seo-won’s reaction, a mischievous urge arose in Do-gyeom. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously and asked, “You saw something, didn’t you? Did you peep? Are you a pervert?”
“Ah, no… I didn’t intend to look, but when you slightly exposed your stomach while sleeping, I happened to see it…”
Do-gyeom expected an answer like “Even with clothes on, your good physique is noticeable,” but Seo-won’s response was different. It seemed like he really saw Do-gyeom’s bare body.
Hmm… Did my clothes ride up while I was napping here last time? I’ve never slept here completely naked, so that must be it.
It’s not a big deal, but he’s getting extremely embarrassed. Even though Do-gyeom realized it wasn’t anything significant that Seo-won saw, he found the situation amusing and continued teasing him.
“So, did you take a good look?”
“I didn’t look closely, I was forced to see…”
“What do you mean forced to see? If you liked it, just say so.”
“What’s there to like… Sigh…”
Seo-won reacted as if it was unfair for him to be treated like a pervert, but he let out a deep sigh as if he had no energy to retort.
Do-gyeom barely held back a smile seeing Seo-won’s reaction. Whenever he teased him, the response was good, so Seo-won would likely get teased a lot at school too.
Do-gyeom asked him, pretending not to laugh, “So why did you ask about that?”
“Ah, that’s… I was wondering how you got your abs.”
“Abs?”
“I, I didn’t mean to look. Just… It’s kind of cool to have them, you know.”
When Do-gyeom asked with his head tilted, Seo-won answered with his face flushed red. He didn’t even say much about seeing Do-gyeom’s stomach.
But why is he asking about that? Does he want to have abs too? With that mochi-like body of his…
He says he wants to be a dominant alpha, and now he wants abs. He’s desiring things that don’t suit him at all. It’s ridiculous…
“I didn’t particularly try to make them. They just naturally developed as I exercised.”
“Is that so?”
“You’ll naturally get them too when you’re my age. Kids who build muscle too young don’t grow tall.”
“Ah, again with the height…”
Seo-won made a sulky face, upset about being attacked over his height again. However, it seemed he couldn’t refute the well-known fact that excessive muscle hinders height growth.
Though sulking, he seemed to have given up on the idea of abs. Do-gyeom was inwardly relieved and was about to move on when Seo-won suddenly said something out of the blue.
“Then… can I touch them?”
“What?”
“Your abs. It’s my first time seeing them in person, so can’t I touch them?”
What… What’s wrong with him?
Do-gyeom was rarely flustered. He wants to… touch me?
There was no issue with touching. Even now, as Do-gyeom was acting as Seo-won’s arm pillow, part of his body was in contact with him. But wanting to touch his abs felt a bit weird. It’s not like it had any special meaning; he just wanted to touch out of curiosity.
“Don’t do unnecessary things and go to sleep.”
“…”
Do-gyeom refused, pretending to be unfazed, and closed his eyes. It meant he wouldn’t listen even if Seo-won said more.
Perhaps understanding his intention, Seo-won didn’t ask further. With nothing more to discuss, Do-gyeom tried to fall back asleep, but his mind was wide awake even with his eyes closed. It seemed like Seo-won’s nonsensical words had chased away his sleepiness.
Since he couldn’t sleep anyway, he could just get up, but he had dragged Seo-won away from his studies to sleep together. It would be awkward to get up now.
I’ll just pretend to sleep and lie still for about five minutes. As he kept his eyes closed and breathed steadily, after some time, he felt a strange sensation below. Something was groping and touching his stomach.
Do-gyeom slightly opened his eyes and saw Seo-won curiously touching his stomach with a surprised expression, his lips pursed into a small circle.
… I told you not to touch.
“Hey.”
“Y-Yes?!”
When Do-gyeom finally opened his mouth, Seo-won was startled as if he didn’t expect him to be awake, trembling with fear. He resembled a quivering white hamster.
If he was going to be so surprised, why did he touch Do-gyeom’s stomach without permission? Do-gyeom exhaled deeply and said, “I told you not to do unnecessary things.”
“I’m sorry.”
Seo-won quickly withdrew his hand and apologized, looking like he had committed a grave sin, yet he was still lying with his head on Do-gyeom’s arm.
Do-gyeom pulled his arm out from under Seo-won, making him get up, and he also sluggishly sat up.
“You said you had homework, right? Let’s do that.”
“What about your nap?”
“I’m wide awake now.”
Even if he lay down longer, it didn’t seem like he would fall asleep. He already couldn’t sleep, and Seo-won touching him made it worse.
Seo-won was the person he felt most comfortable with, but for some reason, whenever Seo-won touched him, he felt the most uneasy and strange. It was as if his body wasn’t his own, like it was malfunctioning.
Why is that? Do-gyeom scratched the back of his heated neck and focused his attention on solving the problem.
* * *
The next memory that came to mind was after Seo-won had become a middle school student.
In Do-gyeom’s eyes, he still looked like an elementary student, but seeing him in a middle school uniform made it seem like he was wearing someone else’s clothes. His small frame made him look young, and the uniform size was also too big for him, making it even more apparent.
Even as years passed, Do-gyeom still sneaked into his small room to hang out. Being a third-year high school student now, it would be natural not to play with a middle school student, but with Seo-won, he never felt like it was childish or that they were incompatible. Just being in the same space was enjoyable.
Neither the age difference nor the fact that Seo-won was the housekeeper’s son mattered. Seo-won’s existence was the most delightful thing in Do-gyeom’s life.
It was also close to the exam period, so they had planned to study together at the library today. To avoid drawing attention, they decided to depart separately and meet in front of the library.
Do-gyeom packed some simple study materials and arrived at the library entrance, where he spotted Seo-won carrying a backpack as large as a turtle’s shell. It was an exaggeration, but the backpack seemed as big as Seo-won himself.
What is he carrying in that backpack to make it so heavy? No wonder he’s not growing taller. Do-gyeom clicked his tongue inwardly and approached Seo-won, snatching the backpack from him.
“What did you pack so much?”
“Oh, young master.”
Seo-won, who had been looking vigilant, relaxed his expression as soon as he saw Do-gyeom.
The way he had sharp, cat-like eyes but immediately softened his expression upon confirming it was Do-gyeom… was strangely thrilling.
As Do-gyeom took the backpack and carried it for him, Seo-won awkwardly said, “I can carry the backpack myself…”
“It’s fine. But what did you pack so heavily?”
“It’s the things I’m studying today.”
Do-gyeom unzipped the backpack Seo-won had been carrying and checked its contents. There were about five or six thick books inside.
He’s going to study all this? Should I call him diligent or ignorant…? Do-gyeom wanted to tell him that studying should be done strategically, but he held back, fearing Seo-won would think of it as nagging.
As they were about to go inside, Seo-won grabbed the door handle and stopped. Why is he suddenly blocking the way? When Do-gyeom tilted his head in confusion, Seo-won looked back and earnestly said to him, “We’re here to study. Don’t distract me.”
“Hah… I’m a third-year high school student, and I have to hear this from a middle schooler?”
Who’s in more of a rush to study? It was absurd to be told such things by a middle school student. Of course… He did distract him a bit, but how much did he really distract him?
When Do-gyeom responded sarcastically, Seo-won’s ears and neck flushed red as he entered the library.
The library interior was pleasantly cool with the air conditioning running. Since it was a free space and close to the exam period, there were quite a few people studying.
Do-gyeom thought he should have gone to the single-person reading room he usually used. However, seeing the round back of Seo-won’s head as he earnestly contemplated where to sit, Do-gyeom quickly dismissed the thought.
As they looked around, a couple conveniently left their seats. When adjacent seats became available, Seo-won quickly claimed them with his short legs.
“We’re lucky seats opened up right then.”
Seo-won chuckled with a deflating laugh and whispered. He seemed to have been worried there might not be any seats.
Instead of answering, Do-gyeom nodded with the corners of his mouth raised. When he returned the backpack he had been carrying, Seo-won diligently took out the books inside. The first subject he chose was mathematics. He had mentioned that math was the most difficult for him, so he studied it the most.
Vaguely recalling that, Do-gyeom also took out the book he brought and started studying. Although it was a slightly different environment from his usual study setting and being with Seo-won made it hard to concentrate, when he also took out his math book and started solving problems, he was able to focus consciously.
They forced themselves to concentrate and studied silently for about three or four hours. Sitting for so long without even stretching made his body feel stiff.
As Do-gyeom stretched and glanced at Seo-won, he saw him frowning deeply, tapping the math problem with his mechanical pencil. The way he pouted his lips indicated he was having trouble solving it.
Do-gyeom secretly watched him, finding his varied expressions interesting, but Seo-won noticed his gaze and looked his way. As soon as their eyes met, Seo-won’s eyes sparkled as if he had found a savior, and he leaned towards Do-gyeom.
“How do you solve this?”
Seo-won whispered softly near Do-gyeom’s ear.
It was a voice he heard every day. But perhaps because he spoke quietly near his ear, it felt unusually fluttering like a spring breeze.
Do-gyeom was in a daze for a moment, and Seo-won tilted his head, looking at him strangely.
“Young master?”
“Ah… You mean this one?”
“Yes.”
At Seo-won’s question, Do-gyeom snapped out of his thoughts and naturally pulled Seo-won’s workbook closer, pretending not to have been lost in thought.
Do-gyeom familiarly solved the problem and explained the formula to Seo-won. He had taught him math problems many times before, but studying together in the library like this was a first, so he lowered his voice and explained.
As he whispered the explanation, the already close distance between them became even more intimate. The touch of their arms felt a bit hot.
The library’s air conditioning was running strong, but for some reason, Do-gyeom felt inexplicably warm.