Touching Distance

Clatter.

Jaeyoung woke to the irritating sound.

After unpacking, he’d lain down on the sofa just to rest for a bit, but it seemed he’d fallen fully asleep.

He must have slept deeply, because the place was pitch-dark.

Then he noticed a bright light leaking out from the kitchen.

“Did someone come over?”

He figured there might be someone who handled the housework in place of the busy Saheon.

‘What time is it?’

Still groggy, Jaeyoung swayed as he picked up his smartphone.

The bright light stabbed his half-lidded eyes.

Frowning, he checked the time.

9 p.m.

The last time he’d checked had been around 5, so he’d slept a solid four hours.

“Ah, shit…”

A hoarse voice slipped out of his dry throat.

Thinking he should at least greet whoever had come, Jaeyoung hurriedly stood up from the sofa—and kicked something.

He looked down.

Something was lying on the dark floor.

“What is this?”

He picked up what his foot had hit.

It was Saheon’s device.

“Why is this here?”

All important calls from the Center should come through this.

Biting his lip anxiously, Jaeyoung looked around.

Leaving something like this on the floor—Saheon seemed diligent about work, yet oddly careless.

But if Saheon’s device was here, then the person who’d turned on the kitchen lights must be him.

“Hyung! Are you back?”

Jaeyoung raised his voice, calling out for Saheon.

“If you’re up, come to the dining area.”

Saheon’s voice came from deeper inside the lit kitchen.

Jaeyoung quickened his pace.

“Hyung?”

Stopping at the wide-open kitchen entrance, Jaeyoung froze.

His face went blank with disbelief.

The sight of Saheon in the kitchen felt completely out of place.

“Did something happen…?”

With trembling eyes, Jaeyoung scanned the apron Saheon was wearing, front and back.

He was worried there might be stains—blood, maybe.

“Hurry up and eat, then guide.”

Saheon didn’t really answer.

He simply set a low bowl down in front of Jaeyoung.

After signing a proper contract, Saheon had grown bolder about demanding guiding.

And since he was getting paid, Jaeyoung had to be more diligent too.

“I was just gonna boil some ramen real quick!”

Clutching his hungry stomach, Jaeyoung tried to circle around the table.

But Saheon narrowed his eyes, grabbed Jaeyoung by the shoulder, and made him sit.

“I told you to eat.”

Only then did Jaeyoung actually look at what was in the bowl.

“W-what is this?”

Fresh-looking vegetables, chunks of meat, and on top, something the color of vanilla ice cream.

“It looks like ricotta cheese salad…”

Uncertain, Jaeyoung looked up at Saheon for confirmation.

“That’s right.”

At the short reply, Jaeyoung’s face brightened.

It was late, so salad felt easier on the stomach than ramen.

“This—who made it?”

“Why?”

“So I can at least say thank you before eating.”

Saheon stared at Jaeyoung, who looked ready to jump up at any moment.

“Go ahead.”

Then he tilted his chin.

“Oh, they’re behind me?”

Jaeyoung followed the direction of Saheon’s chin and turned around.

No one was there.

As he looked around in confusion, Saheon frowned sharply.

“…Don’t tell me—you made this, hyung?”

Saheon nodded at Jaeyoung’s wide, shaking brown eyes.

“W-wow.”

Even the short exclamation came out haltingly.

“Why. You don’t want to eat it?”

Saheon planted a hand on the table near Jaeyoung’s bowl.

The way he loomed made it feel like he’d shove it into Jaeyoung’s mouth himself if he refused.

“No! It just looks really good!”

Jaeyoung shook his head quickly, smiling sweetly, and immediately began mixing the cheese and salad with his fork.

It was hard to picture Saheon with wet hands in the kitchen, and that thought alone made him hesitate.

“Are you going to keep cooking for me?”

Jaeyoung smiled innocently, probing.

If Saheon kept feeding him like this, something was bound to go wrong.

“The housekeeper will come and handle side dishes.”

Saheon continued, eyeing Jaeyoung with mild displeasure.

“If there’s something you want, leave a note.”

“Cleaning gets done daily.”

“You won’t even notice them, so don’t worry.”

He spoke as if deciding to explain everything at once.

Jaeyoung tilted his head.

“Every day? Don’t most people come two or three times a week?”

“If you’re fine living in a trash can, sure.”

Saheon replied flatly, as if it didn’t concern him.

Jaeyoung suddenly remembered the device he’d kicked earlier.

“So it’s really okay if I eat this?”

“Balsamic’s fine, right?”

Ignoring Jaeyoung’s question, Saheon drizzled sauce over the salad.

Jaeyoung stared blankly at the dark brown sauce, then looked back up.

“Did you really make this? Why?”

At the repeated questions, even Saheon seemed bothered.

He set the sauce bottle down and looked at Jaeyoung steadily.

“I thought you said someone else would come.”

Jaeyoung waved his hands, as if to say he meant nothing by it.

“I don’t eat food other people make.”

Clicking his tongue, Saheon replied.

Jaeyoung nodded.

He did look picky enough for that to be true.

“Then… I’ll eat well.”

Only after Jaeyoung finally agreed did Saheon sit down with an identical bowl.

Seeing that Saheon was eating too put Jaeyoung at ease.

He spread cheese on a piece of chicken breast, picked up some greens, and put it into his mouth.

“It’s really good!”

After chewing a few times, Jaeyoung suddenly looked up and exclaimed.

“The cheese is store-bought.”

Saheon said indifferently, like there was no need for such fuss.

“You made the sauce, though, right?”

Jaeyoung pressed, having caught the omission.

Saheon didn’t answer.

‘So he really can cook.’

Finding it fascinating, Jaeyoung took another bite of chicken.

“The chicken’s super tender too.”

Saheon shot him an annoyed look every time Jaeyoung commented.

“That’s pre-marinated.”

“Picking good food is a skill too.”

Despite Saheon’s clearly irritated tone, Jaeyoung remained cheerful.

His fork never stopped.

“Getting the balance right is hard, you know.”

“Too much cheese and it’s salty, too much chicken and it’s dry.”

Jaeyoung praised it with every bite.

Eventually, Saheon stared at him like he was strange.

Deciding it was easier to ignore him, Saheon resumed eating.

At some point, a faint smile had settled on Saheon’s lips.

After applying toner and lotion, Jaeyoung stepped out of his room and crossed the living room, stopping in front of another door.

‘Get ready and come to the bedroom.’

They’d agreed to guide while lying together when sleeping.

But actually entering Saheon’s room made his heart tremble.

“Planning to spend the night out there?”

Saheon’s venom-laced voice came from behind the closed door.

For a moment, Jaeyoung thought that might not be so bad.

But remembering the contract, he couldn’t stay put.

Click.

Opening the door, Jaeyoung froze again.

Saheon was already in bed, fully ready to sleep.

Ready, but—

“W-why are you naked?”

Saheon’s muscular upper body was completely exposed.

From his abs downward he was covered by a blanket, but the thin fabric made one part stand out far too clearly.

Jaeyoung fought to keep his gaze from drifting down.

“I usually sleep like this.”

Leaning lazily against the headboard, Saheon answered calmly.

He was far too composed compared to Jaeyoung, whose face was burning red.

“You didn’t forget, did you?”

“The wider the contact area, the more effective guiding is.”

Saheon spoke as he looked at Jaeyoung, who couldn’t bring himself to approach the bed.

It sounded like a reminder that this was just business.

Almost like a rebuke for Jaeyoung’s obvious agitation.

“K-kissing is enough. I’ll just kiss you.”

Jaeyoung immediately abandoned his plan to avoid physical contact as much as possible.

“I’m just going to sleep.”

Saheon rejected him bluntly.

The same man who’d been eager for kisses earlier now looked thoroughly amused by Jaeyoung’s flustered state.

“If you keep making this awkward, I’ll go sleep alone.”

Flustered, Jaeyoung bit the inside of his lip and glared.

Saheon watched him quietly, then let out a deep sigh.

“Fine. I’ll keep my underwear on.”

His tone made it clear there would be no further compromise.

Only then did Jaeyoung relax and walk toward the bed.

He lay down beside Saheon with about a person’s worth of space between them, facing upward.

Jaeyoung felt a prickling sensation on the side of his face and rolled his eyes.

Saheon had turned onto his side and was looking down at him with a heavy gaze.

“I’d like it if you unbuttoned too.”

Jaeyoung swallowed sharply.

Saheon stretched an arm toward him.

Despite the distance, he was close enough to touch.

Jaeyoung felt something move on his chest.

Lowering his chin, he saw long, pale fingers fiddling with his buttons.

“Hyung, your hand—”

Saheon looked at him as if waiting for him to speak, while his hand traced over Jaeyoung’s torso through the fabric.

Even without direct skin contact, it felt strange.

Jaeyoung’s breathing gradually grew shallow.

“I’ll just hold you and sleep.”

Saheon said it again.

He looked at Jaeyoung as if asking for permission, then popped open the top button.

Jaeyoung couldn’t push the hand away.

He only swallowed dryly.

When there was no resistance, Saheon grew bolder.

He undid the buttons quickly, like he might rip them off, and pulled the pajama top open.

Jaeyoung flinched at his exposed chest.

The sudden contact with cool air made goosebumps break out.

Then Saheon’s palm touched bare skin.

His temperature was neither too hot nor too cold.

The gentle caress made Jaeyoung’s stomach flutter.

He squeezed his eyes shut and steadied his breathing.

The hand roaming his torso gradually slowed.

Even breathing could be heard.

With a sinking feeling, Jaeyoung opened his eyes.

Saheon had fallen asleep with his hand resting on Jaeyoung’s chest.

A strange sense of emptiness washed over him.

It was the beginning of a very long night.