Unexpected Request

Seo Junwon’s mouth hung open. He had entered the bathroom at Inwoo’s summons, but what transpired was utterly unexpected. Like a freshly caught fish, he could only gape, until Inwoo beckoned him closer from inside the shower stall. Seo Junwon hesitated, then cautiously stepped inside.

“It’s nothing else, but… the spot where I was hit by the ball earlier seems to be acting up?”

“Acting up…?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’ve become the nation’s eunuch.”

Seo Junwon’s mouth dropped even wider. Was he not joking? His face stiffened, and his gaze involuntarily darted to Inwoo’s nether regions. Oh my god. I’m looking at Lee Inwoo’s… that place. He stared in utter bewilderment, a tremor running beneath his eyes.

“The doctor said there’s nothing wrong, but why won’t it stand up?”

“I am truly sorry. I will take responsibility and compensate you somehow,”

“Oh, come on.” Inwoo reached out and clasped Seo Junwon’s arm. His hand, which had been subtly stroking down from the forearm, paused at the wrist, gently caressing it. As Inwoo’s hand moved, Seo Junwon’s face shifted, his cheeks and nape flushing crimson in an instant.

“Wh-why are you doing this?”

Although flustered, he did not pull his hand away. Seeing this, Inwoo felt a surge of certainty within him.

“So, I was thinking, what if Seo Junwon were to… touch mine?”

“Excuse me?”

“It might be different when I touch it compared to someone else, you know. But there’s no one I can really ask to touch it. You understand, for someone as famous as I am.”

“……”

“It wouldn’t work, would it?”

He deliberately lowered his eyebrows, adopting the most pitiful expression he could muster. As if understanding belatedly, Seo Junwon’s eyes trembled like an earthquake. He still only mouthed words, unable to give a ready answer. As time dragged on, Inwoo’s expression turned disappointed.

“Ah, never mind. I shouldn’t have asked. Even for a fan, that’s difficult, right?”

“……”

“If Junwon refuses, I’ll have to find someone else.”

“I’ll do it!”

The bathroom echoed with the force of his shout. Inwoo, struggling to suppress a burst of laughter, told him to stop if it was too hard—words he didn’t mean—but Seo Junwon shook his head, denying it. Despite his firm answer, his face was a picture of utter confusion.

“Then, I’ll trust you with this.”

Inwoo slipped his fingers into the waistband of his hospital pants and pulled them down. A moment later, a dejected ‘thing’ appeared.

A gasp.

Seeing it, Seo Junwon swallowed his breath and quickly averted his gaze to the ceiling. Inwoo’s face, as he looked down at ‘his own,’ was filled with sorrow.

“It’s not usually this spiritless….”

“……”

“It used to perk right up at the slightest touch of a fingertip….”

Seo Junwon stared upwards, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

“Are you listening to me?”

Yes, yes. I’m listening.

Yet his gaze remained fixed on empty space.

“What are you doing? Seeing ghosts?”

No, no. Please speak.

Seeing his hands clenching and unclenching in distress, Inwoo grabbed one. Pretending not to notice Seo Junwon’s startled flinch, Inwoo pulled him closer, feeling tension in his arm. When he pulled harder, Seo Junwon finally looked down in a rush.

“Inwoo! Wait. Just a moment!”

Seo Junwon’s expression froze as he belatedly registered Inwoo’s member. There was not a single hair there. As he stood agape in bewilderment, his hand, now devoid of resistance, was guided to Inwoo’s thigh.

“Is this your first time seeing a smooth d*ck?”

At the explicit remark and the sensation of skin against his hand, Seo Junwon’s pupils severely trembled. Before he could even grasp the fraying thread of his reason, Inwoo pulled his hand from his thigh and placed it directly onto his member.

Although it was the same ‘thing’ as his own, the sensation of the flesh felt alien. It was far softer, warmer, and perhaps because of the lack of hair, the feeling was even more surreal. As he stared at it, his pupils unfocused, Inwoo pressed in close, standing right against him. From a distance where their faces were nearly touching, Inwoo moved his lips. His gaze fixed directly on Seo Junwon’s eyes.

“You claim to be a fan. So why do your eyes hold such a masculine gaze?”

Even his breath was sweet. Seo Junwon stared blankly at that clear face, unable to even breathe. He already knew this, but Lee Inwoo up close was even more alluring. He was far more provocative and sensual than any image in his imagination. Even in his mid-twenties, the mischievous glint in his eyes still held a boyish charm that made hearts flutter.

“Move your hand.”

His words grew terse. Plump, smooth lips began to draw closer. He tried to move his hand, but it trembled uncontrollably. It became an unintentional grip and shake. Then, Inwoo opened his mouth and let out a moan.

“f*ck, ahh, that’s good. Shaking it like that, it feels like I’m jerking off, ugh.”

As curses and lewd words spilled from those smooth lips, Seo Junwon involuntarily tore his hand away from Lee Inwoo and quickly retreated. Then, before anyone could stop him, he bowed 90 degrees and shouted.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to defile Lee Inwoo with my hands!”

Seo Junwon spun around and bolted out of the bathroom. He vanished in the blink of an eye. Left alone, Inwoo blinked, staring at the bathroom entrance where Seo Junwon had disappeared. What the hell kind of fucked-up situation is this? He was so bewildered and dumbfounded that he couldn’t even laugh when he heard the hospital room door open. Adjusting his pants, he stepped out. CEO Yang had returned with eel rice bowls.

“Inwoo. Was that Seo Junwon who just ran out?”

“Probably.”

“That’s strange. The coach said he’d stop by around nine…”

“He did?”

“What did he say? Did he apologize? Say he was sorry?”

Inwoo scoffed.

“Yeah. He was very sorry.”

“See? Coach Kim said he couldn’t even focus on today’s game because of you, and he was having a hard time.”

“Really?”

“So don’t hate him too much. Come here, I brought you your favorite eel rice bowl. And coffee from your favorite cafe. Good job, right?”

While he placated Inwoo and set the food on the table, Inwoo went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. Then, a fruit basket beside the refrigerator caught his eye. It was what Seo Junwon had brought just moments ago. Looking closely, he saw a card tucked among the fruit. As he opened the water bottle and took a sip, he pulled the card out.

Walking to the bed, he unfolded it to find a short message. ‘I have been your fan for a long time, and I am truly sorry that something like this happened. It was not intentional, and I hope you recover quickly. I will always cheer you on. From your eternal fan.’

Contrary to his expectations, the handwriting was neat and elegant. So much so that it seemed someone else had written it. He glared at the card, crumpled it, and tossed it into the trash. As he brought the bottled water to his lips, his cry seemed to echo in his ears.

[I don’t want to defile Lee Inwoo with my hands!]

Ha. He might not have defiled my body, but he sure as hell defiled my mood.

He walked to the window and looked outside. In the distance, a large man was running. The man, sprinting across the lawn, stumbled and couldn’t get up for a while. What in the world is he doing? He stared in disbelief, but the man remained sprawled. Is he so embarrassed he’s dead?

“Inwoo. Come eat this. Before it gets cold.”

“Just a moment.”

“What’s out there?”

CEO Yang, who had approached, looked out the window and tilted his head. Seo Junwon, who had been sitting, dusted himself off, stood up, and trudged towards the parking lot. Just seeing his dejected back was enough to make Inwoo burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing all of a sudden?”

“No reason.”

Inwoo couldn’t easily stop the laughter once it started. He chuckled intermittently even as he sat down to eat the eel rice bowl and while sipping water. Seeing this, a look of concern clouded CEO Yang’s face. He seemed to worry that the shock might have affected Inwoo’s mind.

Thump. Rain began to pour from the overcast sky. Being Friday night, the roads were utterly jammed, making traffic impossible. Taehoon, gripping the steering wheel, looked worriedly at Seo Junwon, who sat in the passenger seat, pressing his head against the window.

“What’s wrong? Did he say something to you? Did he chew you out?”

Seo Junwon shook his head, still leaning against the window. He would have preferred if Inwoo had chewed him out; at least then he would feel better. As Lee Inwoo’s long-time fan, he knew his personality wasn’t exactly pleasant. Yet, he never in his wildest dreams imagined Inwoo would suddenly ask him to touch that. He stared at his right hand, still with an incredulous expression. He could still feel that soft sensation. Clenching his fist, he looked out the window with a miserable face.

[I don’t want to defile Lee Inwoo with my hands!]

What was his expression like? He had fled so quickly that he hadn’t seen it clearly, but the fleeting glimpse suggested bewilderment. Ugh, you idiot. Couldn’t you have said something a little more eloquent? Thump, thump. He banged his head against the window, biting his lower lip, when his phone rang. He thought it was his, but it wasn’t. It was his manager Taehoon’s, who was in the driver’s seat. As Taehoon pressed the button, the coach’s voice came through.

“Yes, Coach.”

[Did you meet Lee Inwoo? What did he say? The director on their side said they’d treat it as just a mishap, but did Lee Inwoo agree? His personality isn’t usually easygoing, is it?]

“No, it’s fine. It seems to have been resolved well. Junwon is next to me; should I pass him the phone?”

[Really? But why isn’t that guy answering his phone? I’ve called him several times.]

At the scolding tone, Seo Junwon fumbled in his pocket. His wallet was there, but his phone was nowhere to be seen. Huh? He searched every inch of the floor and beside the seat, but it was useless. He had definitely set it to silent before entering the hospital room. If it were in the car, it should at least be flashing a light, but there was no trace of it. His face, as he pondered, quickly darkened like the storm clouds in the sky.